La-Shauna F. (SHADY) reviewed A Deal Before the Altar (Harlequin Presents, No 3280) on + 1266 more book reviews
This story had too much going on and too many characters that were presented as major elements of the story. Unfortunately, everyone can't have a complete character portrait in such a short book. The result is an incomplete sketch of all: the hero with his family issues, the heroine with her previous history of sacrifice, her sister and his half-brother, whose relationship was the fulcrum for the story. We were told a lot about these folks, but shown very little.
Another problem I had was the motivation for these characters. The whole premise was just too shallow SPOILER: The big brother H is an impediment to his half-brother's marriage, but the two men don't know each other well enough to talk about some of the issues they are supposed to have about a contested inheritance? If their relationship is so distant and tenuous, why would it matter to his half-brother if he didn't approve the marriage?
All of that got in my way. I kept waiting for that moment when the story turned a corner and became plausible (by Harlequin standards) and it never happened. It just ...ended.
Another problem I had was the motivation for these characters. The whole premise was just too shallow SPOILER: The big brother H is an impediment to his half-brother's marriage, but the two men don't know each other well enough to talk about some of the issues they are supposed to have about a contested inheritance? If their relationship is so distant and tenuous, why would it matter to his half-brother if he didn't approve the marriage?
All of that got in my way. I kept waiting for that moment when the story turned a corner and became plausible (by Harlequin standards) and it never happened. It just ...ended.
