I was very disappointed in Seared on My Soul. I had high expectations after enjoying Written on My Heart so much. ~ Java Girl, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
She’s so young, so full of life…
I couldn’t let her die…
Even if she made the world’s worst coffee.
Emily Garret never asked to be rescued, let alone by a walking JCrew ad whose idea of fun is probably managing his stock portfolio and watching the nightly news. Then again, she never thought she would wind upside-down in a ditch after a night having a little too much fun.
Reece Montgomery never planned on being anyone’s hero, especially the foul-mouthed, bleach-blonde barista from the local coffee shop. He thinks there’s more to Emily than her tattoos, and lip ring, but getting close means letting her into his past and meeting his ghosts.
And he’s not sure she’s ready for that battlefield.
Review copy provided for an honest review
I can’t say that I liked either of these main characters, Reece and Emily, very much, although I felt more sympathetic toward Reece. It’s easier to feel sympathy and compassion toward a disabled war veteran, with PTSD and survivor’s guilt than an obnoxious, immature young woman, drowning in self-pity and booze, whose challenges are mostly of her own making. To be blunt, I didn’t find much to like in Emily. She needed help, but I didn’t feel her character was developed much beyond the irresponsible party girl with a fondness for no-strings sex. Reece’s character was more fleshed out, but still not much substance beyond his war experience/injury/PTSD.
For the majority of the book, Reece and Emily are both too messed up to be in a relationship. While Reece’s issues felt authentic to me, Emily’s didn’t ring true. Not only were they of her own making, but her attitude and outlook often felt like that of a much older, jaded woman, rather than a 21 year-old. Other times, she was so immature and annoying, without enough depth to her character to make me truly invested in her.
The resolution, and road to their HEA was very rushed and not believable, for me.
I was very disappointed in Seared on My Soul. I had high expectations after enjoying Written on My Heart so much.
I hate when that happens