Book: Aftershock
Author: Jill Sorenson
Article Type: Review
Author
Goodreads / Library Thing
About the Book: THERE’S A FINE LINE As an emergency paramedic, Lauren Boyer is dedicated and highly capable. Until an earthquake strikes, trapping her beneath the freeway with a group of strangers-including Iraq war veteran Garrett Wright…
BETWEEN PERIL AND PASSION
Handsome and take-charge Garrett aids Lauren in her rescue efforts, even as the steely look in his eyes seems to hide dark secrets. When a gang of escaped convicts goes on the attack, Garrett’s bravery makes him more than a courageous bystander to Lauren. If they can save the others before time runs out, maybe, just maybe, they can explore the fire igniting between them-if the truth about who he really is doesn’t pull them apart forever…
Overall Rating: 2.50
Story Rating: 3.00
Character Rating: 2.00
First Thought When Finished: Do you know how occasionally as readers we run into stories (or characters) that we just can’t connect with? That was me with these characters.
Story Talk: If this book had not been a romantic suspense novel it probably would have rated higher in my mind. I felt the natural disaster and aftermath were done with brutal honesty and beautiful storytelling. The actions of a few survivors and their journey was horrific to read but very poignant. The only distracting part was the romance between Garrett and Lauren. The fact that I felt more drawn to the pregnant Latina teenager and the young white supremacist convict sub-story than the main couple says a lot. I just wasn’t feeling the romance at all. The sex I bought but the romance not so much!
Character Talk: I am not sure who I was more disappointed in: Garrett or Lauren. Garrett has some secrets (that I won’t give away)that he chooses not to divulge to Lauren before sleeping with her. He did make it clear that he wasn’t available for a relationship though. Lauren was frustrating. She was mad at Garrett for making her stay away, mad at Garrett for getting involved, and then mad at Garrett for not telling her the whole truth. She was willing to sleep with a man that was involved with someone else and then was furious when she found out the truth. I think it was a no win situation that somehow lead to “I love you”. It just did not feel organic at all.
Writing Talk: I normally don’t do this section but I think it is important to point out how well I think Jill Sorenson writes. I might not have loved the characters but the story flowed smoothly. The parts about the natural disaster and aftermath showed she did her homework. Also, the fact that she was willing to tell a story that might not sit well with people shows gumption. I will be continuing this series because I did feel drawn to all the side characters. The fact that I finished the book after having such a disconnect from the main characters is a huge testament to Jill’s writing.
Final Thought: This is a book that I know others have loved so please give it a shot!
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Wow, this is such a helpful review. I love it! I can understand your feelings. If I expect a romantic suspense, I need the romance to take center stage and be quite delightful. If it falls flat, then I am not amused despite the presence of an otherwise lovely story.
Love how you shared the positives, but sucks that you had to slug through the negatives.
One of the good things about Tackling the TBR is most should be good ;)
Maybe a romance and natural disaster story just don’t go together, Ahh well, it happens can’t love them all :)
Bummer and I so feel you, when you cannot connect to the characters it makes the story fall flat, sorry this one didn’t work for you!
I just do not know, yes and no. Which means I would not read this one, but perhaps another book by her
Even though I love being connected to secondary characters, I’m not liking the sound of the amount of disconnect with the main characters. Too bad… I still may pick up a book of hers tho!
Wait. Garrett is with someone else when he sleeps with Lauren? Ummmm. No. That would be a monstrous black mark next to his name for me! It’s always frustrating when you can’t connect to the characters at all, no matter how interesting the actual plot may be, the book always falls flat in that situation.
Sent you an email with what was really going on :) Needless to say not much of a better scenerio!
Sounds like romantic suspense that totally missed the romance part. :( Interesting premise, though…
The suspense was fantastic. I just did not feel the romance at all!