Stripped by Jasinda WilderMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again.
Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.
He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes?
I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not.And then things get complicated.
My Review
I totally have and STD...
Star ratings are like a pair of really big tits; sometimes that's all people see. As a reviewer, that makes my job really hard. Really, really hard. Readers see a a three star book and assume the worst, but by assuming not only do they christen the world an ass; they have the potential of missing out on something pretty spectactular. Stripped was a good book, but lately "good" has somehow become synonymous with "bad".
Flow with me here; my three star rating means absolutely one thing. It. Was. Good. The reason or reasons behind my three stars may be the very thing that draws you to a book. Google the word "good", and if you're still confused about my rating, you are beyond help. I think Stripped was a very well written book, and Jasinda Wilder has unquestionably earned her way onto my instant approval list. I will continue to read anything she writes; anything. I also think there's a large audience out there that is totally going to love this book, but a few of my personal preferences kept me in "like" with Stripped, not in love.
I'm a very tough nut to crack when it comes to insta-anything. I totally have an STD! Sexual Tension Disorder. Love at first sight and quick romance just isn't my thing. It's extremely hard to pull it off because I'm usually the one left not understanding the feelings.
I loved Dawson...LOVED!! He fell for Grey hard and fast. His persitence was perfectly endearing, but I didn't understand it.
Why?
Probably because I thought Grey was completely insane; totally stripping her way around the cray cray pole. It did create drama, and intesnity, and I guess I sort of understood her "outbursts" and irrationability, but it was too much. As much as it pains me to say, I didn't like Grey.
That being said, Dawson's devotion to her in spite of all the crazy made me love him even more, but it also pulled me away from the story. He possessed an unconditional devotion of someone in love, but why? I just couldn't buy someone tolerating so much push and pull, so much eye widening drama. My heart just couldn't accept that there was enough time between Dawson and Grey causing feelings to develop that were deep enough to elicit that kind of devotion. I didn't undertsand the love; I didn't feel it. Damn my cynical heart!!
None of this was Jasinda Wilder's fault because many, many readers love the idea of soul mates, but as a reader without feeling what they feel, it's hard for me to, well...feel.
The premise of this story was fantastic and the plot, entertaining, but without me being invested in the relationship I couldn't love it.
READ ON!
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Check out my review of Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder*A MUST READ!
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great review Mollie
ReplyDeleteMollie - I'm a reviewer too - and totally agree about 3 stars. Thats how I see it, its a "good" rating but its become synonymous with bad somehow :( There are loads of books I read that are three stars, good books but just not good enough that I loved them, want to re read etc. Like you I write why I didn't like them, in the hope that readers will take note and what I don't like about a book may just be the exact thing someone else loves and wants. I often use Pratchett, Tolkien, Rowlings as an example - to me persnally they'd all be two star reads, jt not the type of books i enjoy even though they're fantasy and yet...they sell in the millions so clearly others love them. Ditto the old M&B and the Barbara Cartland style romances, I love romance but just not that type.
ReplyDeleteAs a reviewer I feel really guilty sometimes giving a low star rating when I can see author has worked hard on a book, but as reviewers we're writing for readers in the end and we have to stick to our priniciples. Otherwise we might as well go that line of " 5 stars!!!! Great Boook, Buy it NOW!!!!" and those reviews don't help readers and if they do buy a book and don't like it then it doesn't help authors either. When I'm looking to buy a book by an author new to me I look at the two and one star reviews often as they may tell me more and mean that the book is one I want to read. A good review to me is one that is constructive and tells me something about the book type, and adds to the description but on a more personal level. I've a number of reviewers whose taste I share and if they like/don't like a book then often I find I share their veiw, and that helps me to choose. Money is tight for most of us and with the millions of books out we need to choose carefully.
WOW Jeannie!! I couldn't agree more! Well said <3
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