Amita4ever's Topics (94)

Others may not agree, but I don't think women have a right to kill an inconvenient baby. I'm pro-choice... you choose whether to engage in sex before marriage or not, and if you choose to do so, you are also accountable for the consequences. There are enough people desperate to adopt a newborn, a woman doesn't need to be responsible past the birth if she doesn't want to be. So that said, I really appreciated that the hero was willing to fight for his child's life when their choices resulted in a pregnancy.

The second thing I appreciated was that not only was the heroine saving herself for marriage, but she was able to give good and valid reasons why. The fact is, that RL shows that the marriages of those who wait

... her dream was actually his dream too. This was an excellent reconciliation tale. The heroine was strong, loving, independent, resilient and intelligent, and - imo - the stronger of the two characters after pain matured her, and independence honed her. SPOILER ALERT: The two had separated when her dream of a family clashed with his past and his dream of succeeding in business after his father committed suicide. They drifted apart and then parted to live out separate lives. She knew what her dream was missing, but learned to be content with what she had. His dream shifted, and he didn’t even realize he’d lost his way until success left him unfulfilled. I loved that the heroine never accepted second best. She did let herself get talked into bed again, but they were married, so there was nothing wrong with that. And in the process, I liked that the hero reminded us that strong men control their hormones rather than the other way around. If she’d said no, he was ready to accept it despite the passion reaching a critical level. Now THAT’S a man! I loved how she was always in control of the situation by being in control of herself. Even when angry, she didn’t name call and accuse, but stated facts and how they affected her, and she wasn’t willing to compromise her own emotional integrity. The one exception was the “cat fight”, but when it was done you find out even it was all quite calculated (and humorously well illustrated). What can I say? I thought, ‘I wanna be like her,’ more than once. All in all, it was a good reconciliation tale, and I liked that it ended with adoption as a welcome option. I really enjoyed the art, and loved hearing the animals involved getting to be a part of the story as well. This one is going on my faves list!

She may be ten years younger, but she's clearly the more mature of the pair. I give her kudos for realizing the real issue here was not necessarily if or how they would have a child, but rather if and how they could work together to overcome that and every other problem life would throw at them.

This was only the first test of their ability to overcome big things TOGETHER. If they couldn't pass this one, they had no business getting married, because starting married life with 3 adoptive babies... their marriage would already be starting off as an up hill climb. They need to be in step.

Certain elements may very well bring tears to your eyes, while others may just make your brows knit. It started as a marriage of convienence, so 'I love you's were probably not initially expected, but you'd think after five years some sort of proof of affection would have been established and SOMEONE would have told him saying the words were important. And that leads us to the miscarriages. One is bad enough, but 4!!! With a husband who thinks supporting is being strong and not breaking down. That's another thing SOMEONE should have spoken to him about. And, yeah, I have SOMEONE in mind, and the fact he didn't doesn't make any sense to me at all... even kinda ruins the story for me.

I understand how the ML got where he was with his back history and all, and quite honestly if you edited the grandfather out, this story would have made a lot more sense to me. But the fact is, there IS a grandpa and he's the kind and loving patriarch of the family. He's not perfect. He's realized he was too busy to do what he ought when he should have when the ML was young, but that was back then. Now he is available and loving and well respected by the whole family, so where was he?!? Yes, the husband should have been standing up to mom, but why didn't grandpa step in to correct his daughter when his grandson failed? Yes, the husband didn't comfort his wife the way he should, but why didn't grandpa take him aside for a man-to-man when he saw the heartache she was going through with each successive tragedy. It wasn't like grandpa and the ML had had a falling out. There was absolutely no reason grandpa could not have intervened on her behalf. In fact, the way he'd listen to her sob, and console her, and then not advocate for her with his grandson and family really bothered me.

It really leaves me in an awkward spot, because the person I'm most angry with is not the cold, impersonal ML who was ignorantly coping as best he knew how. The person who I'm most angry with is the kind, loving grandpa who could have done something to stop the hurt and, it would seem, didn't even TRY.

And in a way thats why its of the sort I dislike the most. Both characters were decent people who had experienced negative things, but nothing unrealistically tragic. They had their miscommunications, but they talked about it and worked it out, and we get a wonderfully happy ending with a happy families and a beautiful wedding and all is right in the world, except there is a chance, maybe even a good chance, it won't stay that way. I dislike stories that perpetuate the myth that out of wedlock pregnancies are a reliable avenue to true love and a happy marriage when based on RL statistics, they are anything but.

RL statistics show that the martiages of couples who engaged in premarital sex are more likely to fail than those who waited, and while some might argue a baby might provides more incentive to stay together, the fact is the additional stresses an infant can put on an new, and not yet stable, relationship can take a tragic toll. One study I saw said marriages based on pregnancy were 90% likely to fail in the first 6 years, and another indicated that older couples and more educated couples were not exempt from a detriment.

Now granted, this story shifts from that slightly in the regard that he planned to purpose BEFORE pregnancy was an issue, so this wasn't actually a pregnancy induced wedding, but there is no arguing that they will be dealing with whatever detrimental effects premarital sex bring to the relationship on top of the 'baby added before truly bonded' issues. I can only hope the fact they worked together for so long helps accelerate the martial bonding, because their married life is starting out with signifigant trials to overcome already in place.

I know we are supposed to separate this Harlequin fantasy world from RL, but it can be frustrating to see unnatural expectations so often promoted and, potentially, setting up unrealistic RL expectations in the naive and inexperienced, and a good story like this only promotes them more effectively. I really wish we had more good romances that applied to RL as well like the one I read recently where the couple actually went to a marriage counciler. It wasn't just a good romance, it was informative as well and you left that story really feeling like that couple had overcome and was going to last. Those are the sort I really enjoy. The ones where you see a positive future ahead of our couple, as opposed to this one where I see the story ending on a positive interlude before a major trial.

SPOILERS INCLUDED: And that word is “mistake” and the trouble is, no matter how I think on it, I can’t find a way to make it fit. There is a miscarriage involved, but she breaks the news with, “It was a mistake,” Just what exactly does she mean by "mistake"?.

It was a mistake to get married? Pretty sure that’s not it. She was doing it for love, so no reason to think that. The pregnancy test? No. She was pregnant. Was she prescribed the wrong medicine and it caused the miscarriage? Did she take the wrong herbal supplement? Did someone screw up a medical procedure? Was she mistaken for someone else and assaulted? Did she miss a step and fall down the stairs (although I’d call that an accident, not a mistake)?

No, from what you see it was a completely unexpected, naturally induced miscarriage, so how does this word ‘mistake’ apply? Well, I can think of one - it was a mistake to get involved in BBV (Bed before Vows), but I’m pretty sure that’s not what was being said, so it just didn’t make sense to me. So when she follows up with, “I’m no longer with child.” you really can’t blame the hero for missing the past tense and jumping to a conclusion, although that’s about as much slack as I’ll cut him.

The fact was, he was just a jerk, and really wasn’t committed. He wanted a way out and jumped at the thought she was handing him a ‘get out of vows free’ card. I appreciate the situation the author was trying to create, but the word ‘mistake’ was, well, a mistake IMO, and just didn’t fit. I felt like it left a big crack in the plot’s foundation. Maybe I’m just nit picking. The rest of the story, however, flowed smoothly and the artist did a good job pulling in the angst, especially after they meet up again and go on to build on that original mistake. Yep. Like a proper Harlequin FL, she has no will power and instead of learning her lesson, she lets herself get pulled into ANOTHER round of BBV and all the heart twisting that brings on before we get our happy ending. Simply put, the art was excellent and expressive, but the story could have been better.

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.

CONTAINS SPOILERS: So much stupidity here its hard to wrap your head around the illogic. First of all, who just assumes because a guy is rich and Italian, that he has to be mafia? Seriously?! But frankly, that's the worse I'll say regarding the heroine. She might not be a bastion of courage, and it irritated me that she accepted blame for "betraying" him, but she really does feel like a gal just trying to make the best of a bad situation to stay with her son. I mean, how can you fight back against a rich guy who acknowledges, "Yeah, I paid you off, but now I want your son. Do what I say or lose him." You think the whole misunderstanding would have been over as soon as he found out someone 'dumped' her on his behalf, but for some reason he perpetuates it.

I lay everything else at the hero's feet. I mean, he accused her of leaving him, and yet he accepts responsibility for having her paid off to leave him without batting an eye. I'm sorry. As soon as you do that, you have NO ground left to stand on. Regardless of whether its true or not, you just confirmed her experience - You broke up with her! You paid her off. You absolved yourself of any responsibility. There is no blame that can be laid on her beyond being stupid enough to climb in bed with a guy before she had a wedding ring on her finger. It doesn't matter that he didn't actually do it. He was aware she'd been paid off and he didn't correct her.

Then we go into the blackmail marriage terms of convenience despite her responding to his kiss and signaling there might be something that could be revived (after all, he KNOWS, according to her POV, she WASN'T the one who did the leaving!!!), but NO. No serious attempts to reconcile with her after 'dumping' her. Instead he persists in being cold and distant and holding a grudge. For what?!? He knows she thinks HE dumped HER so what is there to hold a grudge against her?!?

And to top it off, it turns out he's learned about the letters too, and HE choose to let them be kept a secret! She wasn't responsible for not answering them and he knows it! But he has the gall to be hurt when she comes to his bed and doesn't say, "I love you" after he 'dumped' her, blackmailed her to get his kid, skipped the honeymoon (yeah, that'll make things look legit), left her alone to go to work, only gave her gifts before public appearances.... Seriously! What's wrong with YOU telling her YOU love HER, you jerk. When did you say, even once, you missed her? When did you give her a clue that you still had any affection for her? When did you make any attempt to 'woo her back' after 'dumping' her? You have absolutely no right to expect her to say, "I love you". You may actually be another victim, but you KNOW what she believed and you'd rather keep blaming her rather than fix her misconceptions. It was the hero that spoiled this tale.

I'm the sort who loves reconciliation stories, and I appreciate the heroine's ability to turn the other cheek, but I'm sorry, this was just a little more than I could stomach. And I can't believe none of his assumptions were ever corrected by his brother. Did he never ask for his brother's opinion of her? Isn't that something one brother would ask the other if he were interested in the same girl? Feel him out... even round aboutly? How serious are they? And did the brother - who encouraged her to marry him - never encourage his brother likewise?). That makes me think he must be REALLY pigheaded that he wouldn't even TRY to listen... ever. And just how did he manage to hide all this animosity from the parents AND the brother - who wanted them to be a couple! - all those years? Too many inconsistencies there.

Now, I fully believe that a woman can forgive a world of hurt when she sees real contritness and repentance (i think its a bit like child birth - in labor you're screaming, "never again" but once you hold that baby, you forget all that pain in the rush of love and the promise of the future), but that didn't happen here. He said the words, but beyond a hug, he didn't do much to indicate any real depth of sincerity to it. Heck! He even started his arrogant 'kissing and claiming' before he even tried to apologize, and then when he did say sorry, he might as well have been saying, "oh, forgive me. I spilled wine on your tablecloth." And on top of that, there was all that justification! As if just because he assumed (without a single investigation) wrong, his attitude was therefore reasonable and, clearly, forgivable on the basis of his (intentional) ignorance. I don't think so!!

And then there is the whole, 'really, nothing happened because he's gay.' As if the hero (and the reader's) can't possibly believe, nor the hero trust, a step sister could live with and support her step brother and best friend through his trials without climbing in bed with him unless we give her an external excuse that just prevents the guy from even being interested... oh, yeah. I forgot. Harlequin women get so mindlessly turned on by a sideways glance that no one would believe it otherwise. Got it.

So many things about this story to dislike. I kept hoping they were going to somehow redeem it in the end, but no. They actually managed to make it worse.

Makes the plot feasible, but would she really have no reaction other than, "Oh? So I can be with you?" to find out that her entire life thinking she was these folk's daughter by birth was a lie?

I've known adopted kids. They love their adoptive parents, but being actually related is a big deal too. Just like the hero sought out his biological mom even though he had a family. Somehow, I just can't imagine her taking that news so lightly even if it had a happy side to it.