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Majorly flawed novel
This is my first review of a book, but I felt that I needed to warn people away from this book. I have a lot of problems with this novel, but there was a major plot device that I could not wrap my head around. Another reviewer mentions it, but I really need to reinforce just how absurd the story begins and ends.
The MC is described as a more solitary type that would never randomly hook up with some shady pirate guy at a bar, but she does. Alright, this happens, people getting over a bad breakup make decisions that would seem out of character, fine. Pirate guy is framed for the murder of a member of her crew, so she goes down to give the alibi to get him out of jail, as they spent the night together. This is where I should mention that her previous lover completely betrayed her trust and she has also felt abandoned by her best friend and captain. She has serious trust issues and it is mentioned multiple times that she can't really trust others. Remember this, it's important.
Here's where the story becomes unbelievable and completely derails the novel. Pirate is arrested again, as new evidence is brought to light. MC draws on the police officer, fully intending to shoot the arresting investigator dead. Pirate convinces here otherwise, while "gazing at her with a deep abiding affection" or something similar. They only learned the name of each other twelve hours ago and he's gazing at her with strong feelings of affection?! What? They've known each other for approximately twenty-four hours. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS and she's willing to murder a potentially corrupt investigator, while getting killed herself, as officers had drawn on her. She is 32 - a grown adult with many years of experience. Not some teenager that has little to no experience. It's completely unbelievable and it just gets worse from there.
She then defies the reasonable orders from her Captain and goes AWOL, to bust him out of jail with a rolling pin. She has no plan whatsoever for this, beyond using a reporter to help her break in. Granted, she has little time to plot, but the sister of the Pirate says they could go to the countryside to escape, that's reasonable. Of course, she doesn't even consider this plan but holds up an engineer at gun point and illegally steals a random ship at port. Instead of going 'home' to the ship she serves on to find the Pirate some justice, she decides to fly off to one of these 'Pirate' ships. Why? Because she had a falling out with her captain and doesn't trust him, despite serving with him for 7 years and being best of friends during that time. This is after I don't know how many times it is mentioned that the people on the ship are family and she trusts and loves them.
At this point, she's completely destroyed her prestigious 10 year career(becoming the chief of engineering), broken a number of laws, threatened to kill an an investigator, beat said investigator unconscious in a jailbreak, turned her back on the only family she loves... FOR A MAN SHE HAS KNOWN FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. At this point, I honestly cannot see how anyone reading this can see her as being other than mentally unstable or so unbelievable that the story is ruined.
During the escape, the Pirate is surprised by something the MC does. The jarring disbelief kicks right back in, tearing you from the narrative. You've known her for twenty-four hours, how do you know her well enough to be able to expect any of her reactions? Every three chapters this sort of narrative or thought pops up, you'll be rolling your eyes constantly. Here's an example quoted from the book about 75% in. They have known each other for approximately thirty-six hours.
"Why what?"
"Why me?"
After a moment he saw her posture begin to soften, her hands opening up. She turned around. He could still see anger in her face, and frustration, but he caught a glimpse of sympathy there as well. She took a step toward him again.
"Because you are kind," she said firmly. "Because you are strong, and you are honest and brave and you stand up and do what must be done. Because you trust me to do the same. Because you've stood next to me through all of this, looking at me like I really am strong enough to do it. Also," she finished, "because you make the best lemon hazelnut custard I have ever tasted."
GUOUGHHHHH. Just typing that made me nauseous! What is this s***?!!? Remember her recent aversion in trusting people? The captain she fought through thick and thin with over 7 years but had a recent falling out and doesn't trust him?? She knows this guy for thirty-six hours and knows all these things about him?!?! I can't even! I'm done pointing out levels of absurdity this novel will reach. Just don't bother with the book.
October 2016 · Kindle Store · verified purchase