Laura C’s review of Until There Was You by Jessica Scott
Contemporary Romance published by Loveswept 08 Oct 12
I really enjoyed Ms. Scott’s first book, Because of You, which I reviewed when it came out. My one complaint was that it didn’t actually finish the story. A big complaint I have about this book is that it doesn’t even touch that book…there is a tangential relationship between the books, but that’s it. They might as well have not been written by the same author at all.
And that’s not the only place there’s a distinct disjunction between the two books. The first is tightly focused. There are plenty of secondary characters, but neither they nor their plotlines distract from the main romance. The transitions are smooth and the scenes long. This time I’m fairly confused and distracted for about the first third of the book because of the tangential conversations, quick scene breaks, and flipping around in time and space. In fact, I read it on my Kindle and when I looked down to see where I was in the story, because I thought I was finally getting somewhere, it indicated 34%.
Unfortunately, even once things stop being so choppy and distracting, I never get a real sense of blossoming intimacy or romance between the two main characters. They’re attracted to each other, they disagree, they fight, they are attracted, they have sex, they disagree, they respect each other, they disagree, they argue, they admire each other, they disagree…. it’s hard to imagine them actually making it in the long run because, while it’s a complicated relationship, it doesn’t feel as if it’s actually growing. In fact, the relationship between Claire and her best (male) buddy is far more interesting than that between her and Evan.
This book isn’t terrible. It just isn’t very good, which is a real disappointment, given the excellence of her first book. I’ll definitely go back and check out her third when it comes out, as it promises to continue the story from the first book.
Grade: C
Summary:
A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure–except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.
Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else–including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.
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