Looking for a non-adventurous, too perfect love story?
341793
I like the cover, it looks sexy, but I think the cover is better than the story.
Don't get me wrong, the writing is good, it's not awfully written. But there's just not enough to sink your literary teeth into.
The story is cute and sweet and almost completely without conflict. There's some basic conflict there, couples have arguments, but even their arguments are almost adorable in their predictability. Except it's so predictable that it's not so adorable.
Um so, I feel I should mention that there's a mention of rape in the story. Just a mention of a past event but it might not be what someone wants to read.
And that's it. It's a pretty bland, non-adventurous story. Basically everything in their lives is super perfect. They both have loads of money, great friends, great loving family, and they both find that they love each other in a few days. Again, there might be a small argument here or there but even the antagonists are cleared up in a paragraph.
2783723
This book is nice... and that is not a bad thing. If you are looking for a read that is slightly predictable, where everything falls into place, even the bad guys, then you will probably like this book. However, as my review title states it's too pat for me. The main characters fell in love with zero conflict; they were predestined to mate anyways! The main idea that that story revolved around was resolved quite easily for me and even the 'big' fight  i felt was underwhelming. When I read a book I like to be drawn into the story and have the reader elicit some emotional response from me, love, hate, curiosity, intrigue.... something. This story didn't. In fact, for me it was just safe!!
4957124
Finally, a love story that is for us "not so young" lovers!  Just the right amount of fable mixed with it-could-really-happen reality leaves you with a lovely recipe for an enjoyable read that allows you to suspend the cold hard facts of love as we know it today and enjoy a love story for what you imagine it could really be!
544988
Somebody gave this a two star review? Shaking my head and wondering why.

Susan R. Hughes writes a sweet story. Predictable? Aren't most romances? We all know they go to the "happily-ever-after" that's why we read them. We want an ending that leaves us with a good feeling.

I've loved all of her books. There's not one rotten apple in the bunch. They are well-written and easy to read. Grab one and curl up for a few hours. Be prepared to be whisked away. When you reach the end, you will be happy and also slightly sad because the story has ended.

Hughes talent is in taking nice characters that you'd like in real life and putting them together. She doesn't create larger-than-life heroes for her male leads, she creates men who might be your brother or your best friend's brother or maybe the guy you wish you knew. They are not chest-beating alpha males! Then she pairs them with women who also possess the same qualities as your best friend.

She writes well-developed characters, interesting situations, and then spins her magic to create a story that will keep you turning the pages as you are transported into their lives. I don't want my heart racing as I read a book. I read to escape the stress of real life, not add to it. I want to read to relax. AND I'm not looking for a heat level that will crisp my screen.

Hughes doesn't hide the natural feelings between a man and a woman, but she doesn't toss it in our faces and make us squirm as we read it. Need a gentle escape from life? Grab a Susan R. Hughes book, your favorite beverage, and snuggle in for a read that leaves you with that warm fuzzy feeling that love provides. Secret Vow is going to leave you wanting more from this author!
1689721
Above all else this is a love story: about a young Canadian girl named Anne who falls hard & passionately for the exotic Cambodian musician Serey. But The Disappeared is also an exploration of the sadness in national scars inflicted by cruel governments, in this case the Khmer Rouge dictatorship upon Cambodia. Certainly the latter of these two elements is the most captivating.

I admit it: I don't care for the original Romeo & Juliet & I don't care for this romance much either. The affection between Anne & Serey isn't so much true love as it is rash, teenaged infatuation with stiff, lifeless chemistry. It is all passion, passion, passion; lacking the warmth & texture shared by true soul-mates. I would have enjoyed more quiet moments, more silly moments. Sometimes the most simple of conversations can hold the most depth.
The fact that Anne is so consumed by Serey also means we never see her with any dimension. Romance is all the characterization we get of our two lovers. They're icons, symbols, but hardly human.
I know it's a love story, I acknowledge that in my very first sentence, but it is just so syrupy & superficial, devoid of the soft, sweet nuances of genuine love. I just can't buy into it.

But by God the prose is exhilarating, poetic, filled with haunting grace, lush & beautiful like a waterfall. It sparkles like fire. It shimmers like pearl. & it rains down upon the wounded souls of Cambodia. The profound misery of their tragic situations whispers in the background, looming like fog, & make this a story worth my time.
3965937
They warn you at the beginning and its true. It's just a beautifully told story about 2 people (one in love, the other experimenting with the idea of love).

Maybe this could be a love story for people who consider themselves realists or logical. It's definitely not one for the rom-com crowd.
4403613
If u like just a simple  love story this would be for u. The characters are developed well and writing is fine. I didn't like to jump forward moments paragraphs than start off where u left off.  One on those books that doesn't have a emotinoal rollercoaster and leaving it wondering bout a climax.
2326227
Such an awesome set of stories! Summer love at its finest!

Sutton Summer by Sasha Hibbs
This story was lovely. McKenzie's journey shows her growing up and learning that there's more than looks. Dylan is so sweet. Such a winner!

Exquisite Torture by S.D. Wasley
I loved this story. It was so cool getting Ryan's perspective on a budding relationship, and it was great to see his attitude change. I absolutely love Connie's style, and the little paranormal twist is super cool!

Forbidden by Melissa Frost
Frost said in an interview that she was going for a story that reminds readers of Taylor Swift's Love Story. This does that without fail. Olivia and Gavin's story is classic and beautiful. So good!

Taking the Plunge by Dianna Stager
This story was so raw and real. I've never read a romance with a teen mom protagonist, and it was such a unique perspective. Jessica grows up so much in this story, and Erik is so willing to help her get fully on her feet. This is a great story!

Boarderline Love is my contribution to the anthology. Since I'm not going to review my own story, I'lll say it was a blast to write and that I hope people enjoy it. :)

An Ocean of Their Own by Bridie Hall
This story held so much passion. Lola and Sarah such interesting, complex characters. I wanted more of their stories. I feel like there's a world to explore here. Just so awesome!
3840658
Loved the creativeness behind the story, just wish I could find good books without the sex.  Like just simple love stories.
2666810
The Cute Girl Network looks like a modern romance novel, but theres more to it than just a love story. Jane and Jack meet when she wipes out in front of him in a hipster-stocked town. Jack is something of a clumsy loser, selling soup from a food cart. Jane has recently moved to town, working at a skateboard shop and putting up with stupid guys who think she cant skate because shes a girl.

The two slowly grow on each other and start dating (with a great list of cheap things to do, including a visit to a vending machine graveyard). As written by Greg Means and MK Reed, they live in a world of roommates, shared meals, crafts, crazy public art, and energy without enough outlet.

While Jack gets bad advice from his clueless Neanderthal roommate, Jane is taken under the wing of the Network, a group of women who want to prevent awesome girls from going out with total losers. Harriet introduces Jane to some of Jacks former dates, all of whom have horrible (but funny to the reader) stories about how much of a dork he was.

Joe Floods art is full of background detail, setting up a strong sense of place and lifestyle. His characters are likable in their expressiveness. Jack looks like Shaggy, with an exaggerated nose and chin that reinforces his inadvertent clownishness.

The Network is a neat idea, until you start thinking about it. Even with the best intentions, the women wind up perpetuating the idea that guys cant improve, when they just need to find the right girl to match and appreciate them. I understand why friends would want to prevent intelligent girls from settling for less than she deserves, but the fact is, no one else can determine that for you. Theres a subtle air of jealousy  why does she see something in him I didnt?  and a feeling of dating as an achievement activity, with resentment over time wasted if it doesnt work out.

Good dating stories at some point give me the feeling wow, Im glad Im happily married, because for all of the exhilaration of new romance, theres also a lot of uncertainty and discouragement. This book fits that description, although with plenty of imagination and friendship to get through the rough spots. Theres an air of aimlessness underlying the story, evocative of life today as a young adult until one figures out what matters. (The publisher provided a review copy; review originally posted at ComicsWorthReading.com.)
4729518
Marrying a stranger as a social experiment sounds like an exciting adventure, until reality hits and the man at the end of the altar is the exact opposite of everything Asia was looking for a man. And worse? She is not what he was looking for either.

Neither Asia nor Talon are successful at relationship. Asia has abandonment and attachment hangups, no one sticks with her. Talon cant shake his reputation and stardom to know if a woman really wants him for him or for what he can do in the sack.

Marrying a stranger sounds like the perfect solution for both of these characters. But living as husband and wife for six months sounds easy enough, until it becomes their reality.

From the initial meeting, the wedding night, and attempts at joining their lives together, these two had a crash course in relationships and intimacy. From the beginning there were misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and thoughtless comments. But whats to be expected when one finds oneself married to everything they are trying to avoid?

I loved Asias desire to maintain her independence, in spite of finding herself married to a rock star. She was hesitant to jump into his world, but slowly started making small influences on his look and his habits. They may have been polar opposites in life experiences, but they had some surprising commonalities when they chipped beyond the surface.

The Valentine family as a whole is so supportive of each other, and Talon is one of the few single brothers left, so there are plenty of people around to offer advice and help. I love this family. Between his moms influence on the study, and everyones interest in settling the single brothers down, the support and love are evident. There are more stories simmering behind the scenes that are asking for their own books to share.

This was a great, well paced story with plenty of drama, angst, and learning. Talon was equal parts light, easy read and emotional rollercoaster. Normally I like the conflict to come from outside the relationship, but with the premise as it is, the internal conflict throughout this book is perfect for the couple. There is so much they each have to figure out about themselves, about supporting a spouse, about communicating wants and needs.
2998185
If you're looking for a romantic love story, this may not be the book for you... but if you're open minded enough about the alternative sexual lifestyle of swingers and could be interested in a story about strong attraction, you should give this book a shot. please ignore the cover, it's really not a good cover for the book. overall i thought the characters were refreshing, the story line was different with amusing interaction between the characters, and it was a hot read! i really enjoyed following julia's character - it was good to see a strong, independent, and confident female character in this type of book.  i don't agree with the comments describing the male character as a pig - i saw him more of a man who knew what works for him and was honest enough about it!
1847855
Wonderful very uncoventional love story.  Maybe you have had one yourself??! Lovely, tender and so much compassion.  Absolutely beautiful.  Everyone of us should have this kind of love in our lives, as "in random acts of kindness".....
2588965
Finally, a recently produced movie which is not filled with profanity, obvious sex scenes and improbable situations. Ordinary people can become attached to the characters as their relationship grows, but without extreme breakups or car chases. Just a nice developing love story.
I loved it. It almost calls for a sequel.!
1624906
I was fortunate enough to hear David Levithan speak about how he came up with the idea for the book at last year's National Bookfest. A love story told solely via dictionary entries?! As a Valentine's Day present for friends?! Count me in! The concept was so unique that I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. And I did. And I read the entire thing in a single sitting. On my lunch hour. At work. That's how quick, easy and engaging this book is. I'm kinda kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. So yeah, now I guess I'm a lover of love.

The Lover's Dictionary is not only unique in how it tells the story but also because we never really get to know the subjects of whom it's about. I mean, we get to see some of the most personal and intimate segments of their relationship, but there are no names or descriptions of the couple to be found. At first, this was kind of distracting because I spent so much time trying to put faces to these people, but after awhile, I realized that it didn't matter. Your focus turns solely to the relationship and the internal dialogue of the narrator instead of the usual details that anchor down a story. You stop thinking about the people and start thinking about the love drives them. And that's where the genius of the book lies --- in its simplicty.

Visa vie small passages, The Lover's Dictionary reveals anecdotes of love, both the good kind and the bad, narrated by one half of this couple. These snippets are not in chronological order but each entry touches on the mundane and the special moments between the two. We're shown the various stages of their relationship --- from the butterflies of a first kiss to the irksome habits that go hand in hand with living with someone --- and in a way, each and every one of these moments was relatable to me. We've all be there in some way at some point in our lives. I know I've experienced the nagging doubts as well as the euphoria that accompanies a new relationship. And that's what makes the story so compelling. It felt like Levithan was in my head, putting every feeling I've ever had in just about every relationship right down there on that page... only much more eloquently.

And though we get to see the many wonderful things that go along with being in a relationship, this book isn't all sunshine and rainbows. In addition to the good, we're privy to the bad. There's nagging self doubt, betrayals of the worst kind, hardships to endure and that unfiltered emotion that plagues the narrator. It's a very real, very raw, uncensored look inside the narrator's head as we go through the various stages of the relationship. And while it might not always be pleasant, while it might conjure up some tough memories from my own past, it was unfaltering and honest. We learn that love can sometimes be fleeting but it is also complex and oh so worth it.

Food for Thought: The Lover's Dictionary is a sad yet hopeful, raw and incredibly clever book about love and relationships. It's simple and compelling and heartbreaking and swoony all at the same time. The book is compact and easy to read. In fact, it reads more like a short story than a novel, cutting out all the nonsense and shooting straight for the core. For such a fighter, this book definitely made a lover out of me.
771758
This story was just beautifully done.
You want romance? Well, it is here. You want a snooty Ice Queen type? Oh, she is definitely here. You want to laugh and chuckle your way on the road from Portugal to the UK and beyond? Well, you can with this book. But it really is simplifying everything by saying those things. When you start the book you may think that Arabella and Rebecca, who are so different from each other when we first meet them, will get together during the road trip. I mean that's what love stories do, right? I'm not saying anything to spoil the story but there are so many different things that could happen, and I promise you some of the things that do happen are not what you will expect. As usual, we are treated to that wonderful AE Radley view of the world and as always I am just waiting for more.
3075227
This is such a love story, and I mean that in a straightforward way: girl mets boy, they flirt, date, fall in love, and eventually live happily ever after. They aren't thwarted by dark pasts, silly misunderstandings, or villainous exes. They simply learn to fit into each others' lives and commit to each other. It's very sweet. Maybe a little slow in parts, maybe a little long, but overall an enjoyable journey.

Paige is a Philadelphia girl who likes loud clothes, tall shoes, and speaking her mind. Her life is pretty good, she thinks, until her best friend/roommate moves out of state. Then Paige loses her job. She moves in with her boyfriend, who quickly tells her that she's not worth the effort of a relationship. Homeless and jobless, Paige moves in with her parents.

The problem is, her parents have retired to Mirabelle, a small town on the Florida panhandle. Paige hits Mirabelle like a mini-hurricane, causing the old biddies and gossips to turn against her and prevent her from finding a job. Her new life sucks just about as much as her old life. And then her car breaks down.

Brendan, the hot mechanic, tows her car, and that's pretty much the last bad day Paige ever has. You know what's cool about Brendan? He's not an aggressive silent type who thinks he's not good enough for her. No, Brendan tells her plainly, "And Paige, it's just a matter of time." I'd be lying if I said that didn't give me the shivers.

They circle around each other for about a week, then they kiss, and that's when I noticed how much this book differed from most books I read. Paige and Brendan date for over three months without having sex. I know! His narration doesn't constantly point out how uncomfortable his pants are, he doesn't narrate explicit fantasies, he just takes cold showers and waits because Paige wants to take things slow. When they do get down to business, the scenes are hot enough but not scorching.

Paige's parents are just about the most normal, supportive parents you can get in a book. Brendan's grandparents, sister, and friends are also normal and supportive. By the time I met the full cast of characters and saw how nice everyone was, I began to wonder if this book would have any conflict at all.

Paige's snippy coworkers and nosy neighbor contribute to the town gossip who writes an actual gossip blog, with fake names and innuendos and everything. I know small town novels always have gossips, but I was surprised that old ladies were high-tech enough to write blogs that people read. The rumors cause some drama but not enough to shake up the romance.

Basically this is a happy, feel-good love story with fun partners who support each other and talk to each other. This is the first in a series, and I am definitely interested in the next book. Undone is not very suspenseful, which made it seem more like real life. Sometimes in life you just date, hang out with your friends, and eat dinner with your parents. And that's pretty cool.

Rating: B+

This review also posted on Red Hot Books