Book Review: Live by Mary Ann Rivers

Title: Live
Series: Burnside, Book 1
Author: Mary Ann Rivers
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: January 21, 2014 by Loveswept

If there’s an upside to unemployment, Destiny Burnside may have found it. Job searching at her local library in Lakefield, Ohio, gives her plenty of time to ogle the hottest man she has ever laid eyes on: the sexy wood-carver who’s restoring the building. But as the rejection letters pile up, Destiny finds an unexpected shoulder to cry on. With his rich Welsh accent, Hefin Thomas stirs Destiny so completely that, even though he’s leaving soon, she lets herself believe the memory of his scorching kisses will be enough.

Hefin can’t help but notice the slender, confident woman with ginger hair who returns each day, so hopeful and determined. So when the tears start to fall, his silence—penance for a failed marriage—finally cracks. Once he’s touched her, what Hefin wants is to take her back to Wales and hold her forever. But Destiny’s roots run too deep. What they both need is each other—to learn how to live and love again.

I DNF this book at 47%. And let me tell you, it really bums me out that I was not able to finish reading this book.

I loved and adored this author’s debut novella, The Story Guy (my review), so I had to read Live. While I liked Hefin and Des, there was too much dwelling on Hefin’s fast approaching departure. Even though they both know his time here in the States is limited, they decided to spend some time together. And by “time together” I mean some sexy time. But their relationship was deep and heavy from the get go. What I struggled with most was all of the excessive inner monologue and thinking. Too much thought, not enough actually happening. If that aspect would have been condensed some, I think I would have been able to finish reading the book. While I do appreciate an author painting as vivid of a picture as possible, sometimes I want less description and more happening with the characters. There was also a lot of focus on Sarah, Des’ sister, and her injury. It took me away from Des and Hefin’s story arc.

Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting to the characters and the story didn’t grabbed me like The Story Guy did.

Brianna’s Rating:
DNF

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