Texas Rose that took forever to finish

This book started with all the right ingredients – a wonderfully intelligent, quick witted and very funny h, and an equally intelligent, very appealing H. Initially the romance was fabulous, but I quickly got bored with repeated references to their respective ex partners who were both so awful it made the H and h seem a bit stupid for getting involved with them. The more details I read about both exs, the more respect I lost for the H and h for putting up with them.

The plot moved at a snail’s pace. By chapter 20 nothing much had happened apart from our happy couple declaring mutual love a mere few days after meeting, and constant, never-ending reflection (and comparisons) to their ex partners. Apparently the H only got married because his girlfriend claimed to be pregnant - who does that anymore? She was such a b**** she only wrote thank you letters to people who sent engagement presents worth over $100. She didn’t cook, never even managed to make him a sandwich, and took his credit card on a massive spending spree without his knowledge - but he still went ahead and married her. Meanwhile the h had an ex who stole her manuscript, published her book in his name, took all her money and left her homeless and broke.

This book could have been so good. The writing is eloquent and flows well. The repartee between the couple is the best I have read in a long time. But the plot just failed to move along, and got bogged down in trivia. The cooking of mashed potato described the peeling of each individual potato, selecting a pot, turning on the gas ring, adding butter, finding a masher, doing the mashing, and putting a lid on to keep it warm. The production of fried chicken and gravy that was described in so much detail I could cook it myself without needing a recipe.

There was also a prank playing side plot that was more suitable for a slapstick comedy (or teenagers) and just felt false, and a family history mystery that was blindingly obvious from the start. The final few chapters involved a blackmail plot that was so weak it was laughable, and a “misunderstanding” that was completely implausible. I was sorely tempted to not finish the book, but the “blackmail” and “misunderstanding” storyline were suddenly swept away in declarations of love and the obligatory marriage proposal which, as the couple had only known each other a couple of weeks, was a bit far fetched. The book then quickly ended without a conclusion to the blackmail plotline, or any of the issues associated with it.

This is a very frustrating book because the writer is obviously very talented, and writes fabulous and funny repartee. Unfortunately this is let down by a lack of a decent and believable plot line.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful