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xennicole's Reviews (2.27k)
Overall, it was a good, safe romance book. But I was confused by a few things.
To be honest, I didn't know that it was an “inspirational” fictional romance when I started reading it, I got suspicious when the author would drop they God phrases and sentences that felt very force the few times she writes them in the book. The sentence would just appear and then disappears and then no discussion about the discussion of religion at all. Honestly, it felt like this book needed to be Christian, so throw a few sentences in so it would appeased the publishers.
Here is the thing, the characters lived together and were engaged 10 years ago and then meet each other again and the only thing they do is kiss? I would think that the passion they obviously had ten years before and still be there, but not to act on it is a little weird. Both of them are in their thirties and other relationships but there is this chaste thing going on that isn't really explained. If it had to do with their religious beliefs (I am assuming they had them because they were never discussed outright, which made it more confusing.)
I think that I was confused because the God element felt really forced and that if those lines were taken out, the story would not change - at all. But there obviously needed to have a sentence or conversation with the characters about taking it slow, which they really weren't taking slow expect in regards to sex. Ian after having two conversations with Grace after not seeing her for 10 years, takes her on a “First Date” again and within a month remakes the engagement ring.
I guess the only thing about this being inspirational is we are inspired to rekindle a past flame so quickly.
Okay, but not what I was expecting at all. Granted, I wasn't expecting anything but the storyline and lack of information and to forced feeling of religion in a few spots, made me stop a few times and go “What?”
Yes, London Tides is a safe, chaste romance for those who like inspirational fiction, but it reminds me that inspirational fictions can be good and even great, I have yet to read a one that is good.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
To be honest, I didn't know that it was an “inspirational” fictional romance when I started reading it, I got suspicious when the author would drop they God phrases and sentences that felt very force the few times she writes them in the book. The sentence would just appear and then disappears and then no discussion about the discussion of religion at all. Honestly, it felt like this book needed to be Christian, so throw a few sentences in so it would appeased the publishers.
Here is the thing, the characters lived together and were engaged 10 years ago and then meet each other again and the only thing they do is kiss? I would think that the passion they obviously had ten years before and still be there, but not to act on it is a little weird. Both of them are in their thirties and other relationships but there is this chaste thing going on that isn't really explained. If it had to do with their religious beliefs (I am assuming they had them because they were never discussed outright, which made it more confusing.)
I think that I was confused because the God element felt really forced and that if those lines were taken out, the story would not change - at all. But there obviously needed to have a sentence or conversation with the characters about taking it slow, which they really weren't taking slow expect in regards to sex. Ian after having two conversations with Grace after not seeing her for 10 years, takes her on a “First Date” again and within a month remakes the engagement ring.
I guess the only thing about this being inspirational is we are inspired to rekindle a past flame so quickly.
Okay, but not what I was expecting at all. Granted, I wasn't expecting anything but the storyline and lack of information and to forced feeling of religion in a few spots, made me stop a few times and go “What?”
Yes, London Tides is a safe, chaste romance for those who like inspirational fiction, but it reminds me that inspirational fictions can be good and even great, I have yet to read a one that is good.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I didn't read Judy Blume as a kid growing up, but I did read Summer Sisters in high school (Judy Blume for Adults!), while I don't remember that exact plot line from that book I do remembered I liked it because I owned a paperback of that book until recently (I moved cross country and books had to be purged).
I liked this book and I have been in a book slump of not being able to read or finishing a book, so I was excited when I borrowed this from the library because she was safe and prose is simple. But what bugged me most about this book was all the characters. I started having a hard time keeping track and I then just focused only on the family of the main character towards the end. The action and the pacing of the book does pick up around 2/3rds in but I was going to plow through for the characters I was interested in, which meant when headings for certain characters appears, I quickly scan to see if anything major to the plot was happening and moved on.
I liked this book and I have been in a book slump of not being able to read or finishing a book, so I was excited when I borrowed this from the library because she was safe and prose is simple. But what bugged me most about this book was all the characters. I started having a hard time keeping track and I then just focused only on the family of the main character towards the end. The action and the pacing of the book does pick up around 2/3rds in but I was going to plow through for the characters I was interested in, which meant when headings for certain characters appears, I quickly scan to see if anything major to the plot was happening and moved on.
