I was, like you, dissatisfied with a lot of it, for a lot of the same reasons.

I can suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy a book even when the plot insults my intelligence, as long as I am entertained in the process. The oblivious-ness and/or over-the-top-ness of a lot of the characters, as well as the way she wrapped up the story at the end, left me dissatisfied.

I think what was missing most, for me, was that a lot of the humor wasn’t there to keep me entertained. As a result, much of the hijinx that went into the book (actions of bad guys, resolution of plot, ass-hattery of characters, etc) left me unimpressed and rolling my eyes a lot of the time.

It was well-written on one level, but not so much on others. It also suffered from a lot of ‘yeah, buts’ afterward. This is a book that loses a lot of its charm when one starts to really think about it afterwards. LOL You’re right… it goes down okay, but doesn’t digest well. (Note to self: remember that very apt description for future use, as it’s a good one.)

I was really looking forward to this book. It was good enough on some levels, but I expected better. I have to agree with your grade. Damn it. It was an okay read, but not up to Donovan’s earlier caliber. I wonder, if I hadn’t been familiar with her earlier stuff, if I would have been disappointed in this one?

I don’t remember being dissatisfied with The Kept Woman, tho I can’t say I’ve had any great desire to re-read it, either. I’ll have to do that sometime, just to see. Maybe it had more humor in it? Or maybe it just didn’t push the same buttons for me as it did for you, Robin.

I don’t want to say it wasn’t a nice diversion for a few hours — it was. It just could have been so much more. I live in hope the next one will be.

Diane :o)

The goofy dog thing is probably a byproduct of Crusie’s massive popularity. Didn’t she kind of start that trend?

Janet Evanovich uses a goofy dog in a lot of her early categories that are being re-released as single-title books, too, and I think those date from the late 1980s? I’m nowhere near as well-versed on the history as I should be.

Regardless, the contemporary author who writes a cat-owning heroine gets an autobuy from me. *g*

Kalen: I really think Donovan validates Riley’s position, although IMO Kat gets off too easy for her deception, especially in depriving her son of a father for so many years. He forgives her way to easily, IMO, and has far too few emotional complications from the deprivation.

Chicklet: I have found this pattern in all of Donovan’s books, and it confuses me a bit, because if you’re going to acknowledge the difficulty of the problems, then why have them solved so easily? And I struggle trying to decide whether half credit is better than no credit for acknowledging the problem. I have to say, though, that I’m still largely a fan of the goofy dog (although it can even be too much for me, lol).

These two characters have real, substantive reasons to be hurt and wary, and there is so much potential in their reconciliation that gets brushed past or pushed out of the picture by the external conflicts manufactured to keep their relationship on the wire.

Oh, I know this would bug the snot out of me if I were to read this book. In this case, it sounds like the emotional conflicts between the hero and heroine would be fascinating if they were fully explored, instead of relying on external elements like the crazy ex. It feels like a cop-out.

Also, I’m asking yet again if the contemporary subgenre could just stop it with the goofy dog. Please?

Until, that is, she shows back up in Persuasion to give Riley a much belated dressing down for dumping her and leaving her alone and pregnant. All grown up and newly rich (thanks to Phyllis – her Baltimore savior – leaving Kat her substantial investment earnings), Kat is completely dumbfounded when Riley – who is still as hot as ever – tears into Kat first for running away and keeping his son away from her.

This is why I don’t–often–read contemps. I’m sooooooooo with Riley on this one (HTF was he supposed to know?). I don’t like women like this, and I don’t want to read about them getting their HEA. Heck, I’m not sure I think they deserve one.