Sandy M’s review of Where Aspens Quake by Tory Cates
Contemporary Romance published by Simon and Schuster Digital Sales 25 Mar 14
From the title to the cover to the blurb of this book, I had high hopes for it being a good emotional read. Once I started reading, however, I had the feeling maybe this was a debut book. Not so, I found out. Having not read any of Tory Cates’ previous books, I couldn’t put my finger on anything other than the fact the characters fall short of being sympathetic, no matter how likable they may be, and the story doesn’t live up to the blurb at all.
First, the book is told pretty much in the heroine’s point of view. We get the hero’s POV only in head hopping. At times the back and forth is like watching a tennis match. To me, if you’re going to head hop, you need to be really good at it so it’s seamless. Like Nora Roberts. But since there’s only one Nora Roberts, the constant change in POV stands out too much and pulls the reader from the story way too often.
While the beginning starts out well with Kristin being panned by a local critic in her first photographic art exhibit, you feel her need to get away and refresh to continue her passion. However, when it comes to Grayson’s reasons for not wanting to get romantically involved, I rolled my eyes at the reason for that. It’s definitely not “deep, dark and secret” as described in the summary. It may be a reason to stay away from women for a while, but it’s not like a lot of men don’t go through it, for heaven’s sake. And women too, for that matter.
Kristin and Gray meet when she decides to hightail it out of Albuquerque to his ski lodge high in the mountains to take on a cross-country ski instructor’s position. She has the experience, growing up skiing with her father, trying to be the son he never had. There’s a slight attraction, but nothing to lead you to believe they’d have their hands all over each other in no time. There’s no heat, no chemistry and I just couldn’t buy that they’d have any kind of sex so quickly. They also fly off the handle at each other just as fast as they nearly jump into bed. It’s because Gray is the one who pulls back when things flare between them. Kristin is hurt, so she lashes out, causing him to do the same. He later apologizes, and the circle begins again. This happens several times before they start communicating better.
One bright spot in the story is Gray’s daughter, Laurie. She’s a Down Syndrome child, and I really do like the interaction between father and daughter. Gray loves Laurie to pieces and it shows. I realize a lot of his hesitance in getting involved with Kristin has to do with Laurie and what she’s endured, young as she is, but along with his other fear, they just don’t work together that well to make it totally plausible. Another bright spot is Punkin’, Kristin’s Golden Retriever. And when Laurie and Punkin’ are in scenes together, happiness on a stick.
Though both Kristin and Gray are likable enough characters, they’re not sympathetic enough to really engage the reader for the long term. If Gray had been that tortured hero with some other darkness in his life, I think this book would have been so much better. As it stands, there’s too much too quick and not enough depth for the story to hold your attention as it should.
Grade: D
Summary:
Kristin Jonsson’s life in Albuquerque is falling apart— a critic pans her photographs, the gallery owner pulls her show, and her boyfriend proves to have no respect for her art or affection for her. Kristin, however, is determined to transform the wreckage into a wonderful opportunity. Quitting her mindless job as a graphic artist for an electronics firm, she heads for the high peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a cross-country ski instructor.
There she meets Grayson Lawrey, the ruggedly handsome resort owner, and his delightful company is like balm for her wounded spirits. Then, just as she is losing her heart to him, Gray turns away. Yet Kristin feels that their attraction was mutual and genuine. . . . Something deep, dark, and secret is haunting Gray, something Kristin must bring into the clear light of day before they can fully share their love.
No excerpt available.
