Meh.

[jmc_bks]

I'm reading Linda Howard's Drop Dead Gorgeous and isn't working for me on the character level. First of all, I'm only about 1/3 of the way through the book, but I'm pretty sure I know who the bad guy is. I guessed the minute that character appeared on the scene, even down to who and why. Second, Blair, the main character. She's got a lot of admirable qualities (smart, independent, good businesswoman, knows herself well, loves her family, etc.), but she's nosy and whiny and high maintenance, and it's getting old fast. In the back of my mind, I wondering about her fiance's tolerance for that. In To Die For, he admitted that he'd stopped calling her when they dated originally because she was too high maintenance. What's happened to change that? Nothing. And frankly, the constant manipulation is supposed to be cute but bothers me.

Y'know, I'm sure there are other relationships in Romancelandia that are equally manipulative, but Blair's mental perambulations about how she gets Wyatt to do things really bothers me, and the 1st person POV highlights it in this case.

Despite all of that, LH's pacing and style work for me here, much better in fact that her last several hardbacks. :shrug: I'll probably finish DDG this afternoon or tomorrow, but I doubt it'll be a keeper.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

The manipulation is my big problem with this book. I don't understand how that is loving or romantic.

I agree.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Not romantic. And it doesn't seem really healthy to me. Of course, much of what occurs in relationships in Romancelandia wouldn't be healthy IRL....

[rosario001.livejournal.com]

And frankly, the constant manipulation is supposed to be cute but bothers me.

Amen! That was exactly what I most disliked of To Die For, and the reason I don't think I'll be picking up this one. I got the feeling there that Wyatt and Blair's relationship was going to be a constant power struggle, Blair trying to manipulate Wyatt into doing things and Wyatt trying not to be manipulated, and that sounds exhausting and horrible to me, not romantic!

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

One of the Cafe ladies just posted this morning how disappointed they were in this book. Since LH is hit-or-miss for me, I'm leery.

<q>nosy and whiny and high maintenance</q>

[(Anonymous)]

That's exactly why the first book didn't work for me! And I SO wanted to like this one since it seemed like I was in the minority about TDF and wanted to give this one a try. Darn it. Well, I'll probably try it anyway.

Crud

[(Anonymous)]

I just bought this book because I was in a bookstore and it was the only book that I thought I could buy. Ugh. I hate when this happens - maybe I'll luck out and love the manipulation. Nope. Doubt it. Crud.

CindyS