People are raging about this tale, and granted there was a lot not to like, but you have to give credit where credit is due... the FL build her own reputation! I'm not saying I agree with the way she was treated, but she was the one who choose to use the worst vices possible to beg for attention, and she stated it herself, each time she got kicked out of one school they would send her to one farther away. Some describe the definition of stupidity as doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. And with her father's marriage, she had an opportunity to start things right; at least it appeared the ML was going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Now, granted, she was a kid, and a teen at that, so clarity of thought is not a hallmark of the age, but what made me want to slap HER was how she acted during and after the incident in the wine celler. Yes, she was the victim, but as the victim of a near rape, the last thing you should be thinking about is throwing yourself into a passionate kiss (frankly, I thought it was a rather unnatural reaction, but it was intragal to the plot, so what can you do). A hug I could understand, but not a 'take me; I'm yours' sort of kiss! And, yes, her asinine pseudo family didn't even consider she might be telling the truth, but she didn't have to ACCEPT AND CONFIRM THEIR ACCUSATIONS!! As soon as she did, she lost any claim to innocence and 'proved' herself 'guilty as charged'.
That said, that doesn't give the family a free pass. I hold every boarding school counciler, and her father especially, equally if not more culpable. After the first or second dismissal, the councilers should have had her on their radar and been trying to identify issues. The father should have been, well, acting like a father! It's pretty much a given when you start mixing families that there may be issues, and he should have been there to be her advocate, but he was - for all appearances - AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave - missing without permission or explanation).
And the ML? I actually ended up liking him. Yes, it was rude of him to kidnap her, but again, BASED ON HER BEHAVIOR, what was he supposed to think? She SAID she wanted to reconcile with her father, and then went out of her way to FLIRT with the groom IN FRONT OF THE BRIDE! Anyone remember the old cliche about actions speaking louder than words? We can sympathize because we know what the FL is thinking and feeling, but the ML and family don't have that benifit. But once they had a serious talk on his island, he again gave her the benefit of the doubt! If it weren't for the storm, they would have been at the wedding! I'm sure the ML would have escorted her, but I'm also sure he would have made an opportunity for her to meet her father. But they didn't go. Instead, in the wake of their BBV (Bed before Vows), she again lies to reconfirm her 'hussy' image and leaves. I can't see how the ML has to take the blame for this part.
Now, the way he acted AFTER the wedding? Yeah. She had to be losing weight from not eating. She had to be looking haggard. I don't care if she has a history of lying to you in the past.. please note the difference! She's not painting herself as a hussy; she's saying she's afraid! There is a big difference! I'm sure even her doctor was concerned, but the ML won't believe until HIS MOTHER advocates for her? Until HE receives a threat? He's lucky she didn't have a nervous break down or miscarriage. The ML gets full credit and full fault, and I don't care if there was a reason he let her go to New York. To leave her heartbroken and making her own way while pregnant? Also unconscionable! It doesn't matter if she's being targeted. A man of his power and ties would have some way to make contact, even if indirectly. Heck, he said he was in touch with her security. There is NO reason that security couldn't have discreetly passed something on to her, bare minimum, so while I might give him a pass (some grace required) on the other stuff, he gets a failing grade here.
So did I like it? When all is said and done, I loved the art, and I'll give the story a passing grade... barely. Just be prepared when you read it. You will also need to give the characters the benifit of the doubt or you may really hating it.
People are raging about this tale, and granted there was a lot not to like, but you have to give credit where credit is due... the FL build her own reputation! I'm not saying I agree with the way she was treated, but she was the one who choose to use the worst vices possible to beg for attention, and she stated it herself, each time she got kicked out of one school they would send her to one farther away. Some describe the definition of stupidity as doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. And with her father's marriage, she had an opportunity to start things right; at least it appeared the ML was going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Now, granted, she was a kid, and a teen at that, so clarity of thought is not a hallmark of the age, but what made me want to slap HER was how she acted during and after the incident in the wine celler. Yes, she was the victim, but as the victim of a near rape, the last thing you should be thinking about is throwing yourself into a passionate kiss (frankly, I thought it was a rather unnatural reaction, but it was intragal to the plot, so what can you do). A hug I could understand, but not a 'take me; I'm yours' sort of kiss! And, yes, her asinine pseudo family didn't even consider she might be telling the truth, but she didn't have to ACCEPT AND CONFIRM THEIR ACCUSATIONS!! As soon as she did, she lost any claim to innocence and 'proved' herself 'guilty as charged'.
That said, that doesn't give the family a free pass. I hold every boarding school counciler, and her father especially, equally if not more culpable. After the first or second dismissal, the councilers should have had her on their radar and been trying to identify issues. The father should have been, well, acting like a father! It's pretty much a given when you start mixing families that there may be issues, and he should have been there to be her advocate, but he was - for all appearances - AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave - missing without permission or explanation).
And the ML? I actually ended up liking him. Yes, it was rude of him to kidnap her, but again, BASED ON HER BEHAVIOR, what was he supposed to think? She SAID she wanted to reconcile with her father, and then went out of her way to FLIRT with the groom IN FRONT OF THE BRIDE! Anyone remember the old cliche about actions speaking louder than words? We can sympathize because we know what the FL is thinking and feeling, but the ML and family don't have that benifit. But once they had a serious talk on his island, he again gave her the benefit of the doubt! If it weren't for the storm, they would have been at the wedding! I'm sure the ML would have escorted her, but I'm also sure he would have made an opportunity for her to meet her father. But they didn't go. Instead, in the wake of their BBV (Bed before Vows), she again lies to reconfirm her 'hussy' image and leaves. I can't see how the ML has to take the blame for this part.
Now, the way he acted AFTER the wedding? Yeah. She had to be losing weight from not eating. She had to be looking haggard. I don't care if she has a history of lying to you in the past.. please note the difference! She's not painting herself as a hussy; she's saying she's afraid! There is a big difference! I'm sure even her doctor was concerned, but the ML won't believe until HIS MOTHER advocates for her? Until HE receives a threat? He's lucky she didn't have a nervous break down or miscarriage. The ML gets full credit and full fault, and I don't care if there was a reason he let her go to New York. To leave her heartbroken and making her own way while pregnant? Also unconscionable! It doesn't matter if she's being targeted. A man of his power and ties would have some way to make contact, even if indirectly. Heck, he said he was in touch with her security. There is NO reason that security couldn't have discreetly passed something on to her, bare minimum, so while I might give him a pass (some grace required) on the other stuff, he gets a failing grade here.
So did I like it? When all is said and done, I loved the art, and I'll give the story a passing grade... barely. Just be prepared when you read it. You will also need to give the characters the benifit of the doubt or you may really hating it.