Ick factor

[jmc_bks]

After reading P.Devi's review of A Willing Surrender, a 1987 HP by Robyn Donald, I had to find a copy. After all, it was one of the few older Donald books that I hadn't found yet. Thank you, thank you, P.Devi, for the recommendation, because I really enjoyed it. The only thing that really bothered me was the recent romantic/sexual relationship between the hero (Morgan) and the heroine's (Clary's) sister-in-law (Helen). No, Morgan didn't know Helen was married when they started their affair...but he didn't break it off when he found out that she was married, either. In fact, Morgan only ended his ongoing relationship with Helen when he met Clary. Ultimately the brother (Angus) accepted Morgan as the love of Clary's life and her husband to be, although he was not thrilled with it, so what is my problem? There's just something icky to me about following a person you were related to, sloppy seconds and all that. A couple of degrees of separation are needed for me, I guess.

But then, as a result of a conversation going on in chat group over at DelphiForums, I realized that one of my favorite books by Jennifer Crusie, Crazy for You, has the heroine Quinn ending up with Nick, her sister's ex-husband. Why does that relationship not bother me when the Morgan-Clary one does? I think because there was a cushion of years between the two relationships, and the early marriage of Nick and the older sister was dissolved by mutual unhappiness. Plus, Nick was Quinn's friend after the divorce for years before anything romantic developed, with intervening relationships for them all (Nick, Quinn, and sister). I could see how/why Quinn and Nick cared about each other, while the Morgan-Clary relationship was a love at first sight situation. Further, Q&N worried about the ick factor themselves, while Morgan seemed pretty indifferent to the pain he had caused Clary's brother and was causing for Clary.

I just skimmed what I've written above. It seems awfully critical, and as if I don't like AWS...but I do! Despite the fact that it has a medium-high ick factor for me, I think it was very well written, and I agree with P.Devi's review.

I think I'm finished with reading and reviewing HPs for a while. I still have reviews for The Givenchy Code and The Manolo Matrix to post, and I've got a bunch of newish releases to read. Plus, if I don't stop reading them, I'll soon expect a handsome Greek billionaire to blackmail me into a marriage of convenience in order to protect our illegitimate child...or something like that. Reading them warps my perspective for reading other stuff.

Comments

[riley-merrick.livejournal.com]

How funny is it that we're both talking about "ick factor" on the same day?!

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

That is funny! I'll have to go check your post now :)

[(Anonymous)]

I know. The ick is part of what made it more memorable across the ocean of years. I have, sadly, read hundreds of Harlequin Presents, and this was one of the few that stuck out. BTW, if you run across the jilted brother's story, let me know.

Will do

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

n/t