Helpful Score: 3
I've read most of Megan Hart's other books, so felt I was somewhat used to her characters and what goes on with them. I loved Olivia, her character was well developed and nuanced. Alex was more of a mystery. It might have helped the book if his point of view had been used occasionally, but Hart doesn't do that.
The back cover of the book gives away the whole story, yet nothing is addressed until the last few pages. Then, everything seems to get wrapped up in a fairly neat bow. Come on, Olivia finds out this new truth about Alex, spends some time away from him and has processed it within a week or so??? This girl has been betrayed before, how is this different - just an omission? "We can work this out together" is all it takes to resolve things? A very dissatisfying ending for me.
The back cover of the book gives away the whole story, yet nothing is addressed until the last few pages. Then, everything seems to get wrapped up in a fairly neat bow. Come on, Olivia finds out this new truth about Alex, spends some time away from him and has processed it within a week or so??? This girl has been betrayed before, how is this different - just an omission? "We can work this out together" is all it takes to resolve things? A very dissatisfying ending for me.
Helpful Score: 3
Well, the long-awaited "Alex's Story"...for me turned out to be more Olivia's story with a side order of Alex thrown in. I was hoping Megan would delve into Alex's thoughts and feelings and let me know how he coped with and moved on after his time with Anne and James, which I thought made a huge impact on his life, but that didn't happen. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even mentioned until the end. I caught glimpses of "lessons learned" from his past but I am not sure they would have been that obvious to someone that had not read about him before. The ending of the book had a few revelations that were unexpected but were more like what I had longed for this book to be from beginning to end.
After reading the e-book "Everything Changes" which was Tempted from Alex's POV, I was expecting more from Naked. For me he is just as much a man of mystery after reading Naked as he was in Tempted and I wanted so much more. Alex got his HEA but I didn't feel their connection quite as much as I would have liked.
Olivia is a hardworking photographer focused on being a success, dealing with an ex-fiance that broke up with her because he was gay but still wants to be a huge part of her life. She comes from a broken family, with both sides practicing a different religion, and she feels torn between the two factions and is trying to find her way. She is cautious with Alex at first having been burned before but they slowly build a relationship and learn to love and trust each other.
I love Megan's writing style and enjoyed appearances in Naked by Dan and Elle as well as Anne and James. As usual her writing covers lots of real life dynamics and in this one there was an interracial relationship, homosexuality, adoption, religion and family issues. All of these topics were covered with Megan's flare of putting it out there in a laid back way.
After reading the e-book "Everything Changes" which was Tempted from Alex's POV, I was expecting more from Naked. For me he is just as much a man of mystery after reading Naked as he was in Tempted and I wanted so much more. Alex got his HEA but I didn't feel their connection quite as much as I would have liked.
Olivia is a hardworking photographer focused on being a success, dealing with an ex-fiance that broke up with her because he was gay but still wants to be a huge part of her life. She comes from a broken family, with both sides practicing a different religion, and she feels torn between the two factions and is trying to find her way. She is cautious with Alex at first having been burned before but they slowly build a relationship and learn to love and trust each other.
I love Megan's writing style and enjoyed appearances in Naked by Dan and Elle as well as Anne and James. As usual her writing covers lots of real life dynamics and in this one there was an interracial relationship, homosexuality, adoption, religion and family issues. All of these topics were covered with Megan's flare of putting it out there in a laid back way.
Helpful Score: 2
Grade C+
Naked is loosely connected to Megan Hart's book Tempted. It continues with Alex Kennedy meeting Olivia Mackey the morning after a Holiday celebration. It turns out that Alex needs a place to stay for a few months and Olivia has an apartment she can rent out to him while he is in town on business. Both are attracted to each other but Olivia is very hesitant to become involved in a relationship with a man who might swing both ways. She was already hurt once by her former fiancé Patrick who finally came out of the closet.
Megan Hart's writing is so difficult for me to give a grade when reviewing. I think she is such a fabulous writer. Her characters are completely fleshed out and so human that it is hard not to be drawn in by them and have an emotional reaction. But at the same time sometimes the characters are so human, faults and all, that the very same thing that drew you in pushes you away. Am I making any sense at all?
Let's start with Alex. On the outside he seems so completely put together. All posh and circumstance, yet just past the surface the man is a mess. He thinks he knows what he wants, but I am not convinced that he does. Olivia's perception when it comes to relationships is very skewed and much of this is due to the fact that the only serious relationship she has had is with a gay man.
But despite all these obstacles it is obvious that these two when together are happy. They have baggage that they will have to work to overcome. I like that the author doesn't sugar coat things and faces the fact that for the relationship to be successful, Olivia and Alex will have to work for it. I really liked how Ms. Hart ties themes of acceptance throughout the book. She took religion, race and sexual orientation all without being preachy, and showed how these things can affect a person or people. I thought that was very well done of her and it gave the book quite a bit of depth.
I must admit the way the book was going I thought it was going to end badly. Fortunately, things were resolved in the end, but I felt that the ending was VERY abrupt. I wish that things could have been hammered out a little better and eventually this is what led me to lower the grade rating. I am not entirely convinced of the happy ever after.
Naked is loosely connected to Megan Hart's book Tempted. It continues with Alex Kennedy meeting Olivia Mackey the morning after a Holiday celebration. It turns out that Alex needs a place to stay for a few months and Olivia has an apartment she can rent out to him while he is in town on business. Both are attracted to each other but Olivia is very hesitant to become involved in a relationship with a man who might swing both ways. She was already hurt once by her former fiancé Patrick who finally came out of the closet.
Megan Hart's writing is so difficult for me to give a grade when reviewing. I think she is such a fabulous writer. Her characters are completely fleshed out and so human that it is hard not to be drawn in by them and have an emotional reaction. But at the same time sometimes the characters are so human, faults and all, that the very same thing that drew you in pushes you away. Am I making any sense at all?
Let's start with Alex. On the outside he seems so completely put together. All posh and circumstance, yet just past the surface the man is a mess. He thinks he knows what he wants, but I am not convinced that he does. Olivia's perception when it comes to relationships is very skewed and much of this is due to the fact that the only serious relationship she has had is with a gay man.
But despite all these obstacles it is obvious that these two when together are happy. They have baggage that they will have to work to overcome. I like that the author doesn't sugar coat things and faces the fact that for the relationship to be successful, Olivia and Alex will have to work for it. I really liked how Ms. Hart ties themes of acceptance throughout the book. She took religion, race and sexual orientation all without being preachy, and showed how these things can affect a person or people. I thought that was very well done of her and it gave the book quite a bit of depth.
I must admit the way the book was going I thought it was going to end badly. Fortunately, things were resolved in the end, but I felt that the ending was VERY abrupt. I wish that things could have been hammered out a little better and eventually this is what led me to lower the grade rating. I am not entirely convinced of the happy ever after.
Helpful Score: 1
*** Spoiler Alert ***
I don't even know where to start. The book was ok. It took me so long to get into it. I started this book in July and seven months later finally decided to finish it because I was tired of seeing it on my list when I logged into this site. And when I did finally get into it, I could only read about 50 pages in one sitting due to too much angst, emotion, not knowing.
The reasons it took me so long to get into it? I did not like the main female character, Olivia. She was too indecisive. She made me tired. She could not make up her mind on anything. She was in the midst of an idenitity for all of her life. I was 2/3 of the way through before I realized this was a white female who wrote a bi-racial black-white female character.
This became significant in one of the reasons as to my dislike of the character. While I think the author did some very good things in this book, I don't think she truly capatured black side of this character. What I do believe she did capture, though was the constant searching that bi-racial children have when adopted. And this follows them into adulthood.
I did not like Patrick. He was so controlling. Of everyone and especailly Olivia. Why she allowed him to still be a part of her life, pissed me off everytime I read something about him. And why does everyone let him have his way? And why couldn't Olivia see that Patrick was jealous of her?
Some of the author's lines were great. On page 122, "He shuddered and made a small sound I want to eat, that's how delicious it was," was one such line. Page 247, "time's river," is another. And I liked the referrance to being judged by all people, and not just white.
Details that seemed just tossed in. Alex is a millionaire. Not a big deal made of this. I know that people can be self made millionaires, but I'm thinking this is still a big deal. The fact Olivia has a daughter that is adopted by a gay couple and she still has contact with her. One of the dad's attmpts to keep her connected and the other not so much. Then there is a ghost. Not sure what the function of the ghost is aside from telling the dauther who her biological mother is. And why does she turn up at the end of the book? The other Jewish family. What was the purpose? Olivia could not think that other Jews celebrate High Holy Holidays other ways? Alex was able to bond with her mother and help her heal that breech.
And the ending. So very confused. Can someone explain it to me? I'm not sure how she was able to figure out that Alex was lovers with his best friend Jaime and Jaime's wife. And their son may actually be Alex's son. I did like how Olivia did not have her camera and could not hide behind it. She had to finally make a decision for herself. Not allow someone else to make it and go along with it like she did with Patrick.
I will probably give this author another try. Will be ready for all the angst and emoition.
I don't even know where to start. The book was ok. It took me so long to get into it. I started this book in July and seven months later finally decided to finish it because I was tired of seeing it on my list when I logged into this site. And when I did finally get into it, I could only read about 50 pages in one sitting due to too much angst, emotion, not knowing.
The reasons it took me so long to get into it? I did not like the main female character, Olivia. She was too indecisive. She made me tired. She could not make up her mind on anything. She was in the midst of an idenitity for all of her life. I was 2/3 of the way through before I realized this was a white female who wrote a bi-racial black-white female character.
This became significant in one of the reasons as to my dislike of the character. While I think the author did some very good things in this book, I don't think she truly capatured black side of this character. What I do believe she did capture, though was the constant searching that bi-racial children have when adopted. And this follows them into adulthood.
I did not like Patrick. He was so controlling. Of everyone and especailly Olivia. Why she allowed him to still be a part of her life, pissed me off everytime I read something about him. And why does everyone let him have his way? And why couldn't Olivia see that Patrick was jealous of her?
Some of the author's lines were great. On page 122, "He shuddered and made a small sound I want to eat, that's how delicious it was," was one such line. Page 247, "time's river," is another. And I liked the referrance to being judged by all people, and not just white.
Details that seemed just tossed in. Alex is a millionaire. Not a big deal made of this. I know that people can be self made millionaires, but I'm thinking this is still a big deal. The fact Olivia has a daughter that is adopted by a gay couple and she still has contact with her. One of the dad's attmpts to keep her connected and the other not so much. Then there is a ghost. Not sure what the function of the ghost is aside from telling the dauther who her biological mother is. And why does she turn up at the end of the book? The other Jewish family. What was the purpose? Olivia could not think that other Jews celebrate High Holy Holidays other ways? Alex was able to bond with her mother and help her heal that breech.
And the ending. So very confused. Can someone explain it to me? I'm not sure how she was able to figure out that Alex was lovers with his best friend Jaime and Jaime's wife. And their son may actually be Alex's son. I did like how Olivia did not have her camera and could not hide behind it. She had to finally make a decision for herself. Not allow someone else to make it and go along with it like she did with Patrick.
I will probably give this author another try. Will be ready for all the angst and emoition.
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting, bi men are not my thing but it was definately a peak into the life of a woman who tries to date one. Ending was a little dramatic and edgy.
