Nina Corbett

****THIS IS MY AMAZON.COM REVIEW****

I won't give a synopsis of the book (other reviewers have done an excellent job of that), but I will give my general impressions of the book.
**********WARNING!!!!!**********
This synopsis will contain spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the book, but if you are debating whether or not your should buy it, you may want to continue reading.
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First, I felt the last 100 pages was redundant. I could see the general conclusion way before it actually came, mostly because this book had "Happily Ever After" written all over it. Its very premise encourages you to expect that only the best things in life could happen to the main characters. So finding out that Maya finally kicked David to the curb was no surprise, as was finding out that Ashley and Kevin decided to make a go of it. The "Happily Ever After" finish to the book was such a let-down that it was actually what compelled me to write this review. It was the way the ending was written, in contrast to the way it ended, that was the disappointment. It was almost as if the author was 3/4 done and decided to end it quickly. The ending might have benefitted from a stronger finish and cleaner conclusions, which leads into my second impression...

Second, there were too many unanswered questions at the end of this book. Why did Ashley's mother treat Ashley as she did? Why didn't she treat Vivian the same way? Was it because the girls had different fathers, features, situations in life, etc.? I didn't buy the bogus explanation in the last few chapters. No mother is that vindictive to her child without some more compelling reason. Clara (Ashley's mother) reminded me of Savannah's mother in "Waiting to Exhale," only without the good intentions or compelling reasons. Moreover, she made this change of heart because the younger sister demanded it of her? No way, something more is going on there and Ms. Corbett left all the goodies for herself. Also, after all that drama between Ashley and Wendy (Ashley's new boss), what happened? Did Ashley put Wendy in her place or did she simply choke down her feelings and deliver? Did she explain what was going on in her life, allowing Wendy to become a more 3-D character than just a cardboard cut-out of some super-controlling b****? There was nothing of redeeming value to the boss, almost to the point that I felt she could've been left out of the book entirely.

Third, let's talk about the men. I hate to start with David first but he's such a ...I don't even know what to term his characterization. You could see it coming within two chapters of meeting him. All I wanted to know was, "Is she going to file a restraining order on him or does her new man beat him up?" I figured that would make her story interesting and I was waiting for it to happen. Alas, I was doomed to disappointment. Even now, I am still trying to determine why Maya didn't simply kick him out of the apartment the moment she returned from New York. Mark (a guy she was dating and really feeling) said it best, "I was really feeling you and I liked the way things were flowing but now you call me up weeks later...telling me all this...and ol' boy is still living with you. I don't have time for all that. He was hanging around for a reason and now he's nice and comfortable. He's got you right were he wants you. You just haven't figured it out yet." Truer words never spoken.

Then there's Kevin, North Carolina's answer to the knight in shining armor, the one who will make Ashley rethink her commitment to in-vitro fertilization. Except he has his own set of demands, namely her ceasing the in-vitro while attempting to pursue a relationship with him. Now granted, I understand that not every man wants to date a woman who is actively trying to get pregnant while they're dating, but a baby is the one thing Ashley has wanted for a long time. It's not like Kevin is asking to be her baby's daddy, nor did she ask him to. It simply seems to me that if he was really interested in her, he would understand why this baby was so important to her and where she is in her life that makes the baby so important. If Kevin didn't want to date an expectant mother, he doesn't have to, but don't ask her to give up something she wanted for so long.

Well, I think that's enough for this synopsis. There are other small issues I have, but those are the biggest ones that will prevent me from buying the book. I will look forward to Ms. Corbett's next book and I hope that the characterization, plot, and story are stronger.… (mais)