Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart - Beth Patillo

I liked Beth Patillo's Jane Austen Ruined My Life, and I was hoping this book would be just as fun. It wasn't just as fun, but it was pretty amusing. I enjoyed the romance, the little that there was, and I enjoyed the possibility of a missing first draft of Pride and Prejudice. The only thing I didn't like about the story was the sister relationship, which was the main part of the story. I never really warmed up to the main character, but I enjoyed her little adventure and the relationship drama she went through.

I'll probably never read this again, but I don't think it was a waste of my time. If you like Jane Austen related stuff, you'll probably like this...if not for the main story then for the fake missing manuscript.

A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks

Sparks is a pro at building real and emotional love stories, but he decontructs the romances he creates just as easily. A Bend in the Road centers mostly around Miles and his new love, Sarah, but their relationship is clouded by Miles' unwillingness to let go of his dead wife, Missy. Missy was the victim of a hit and run accident, and the person responsible has never been found.

If you read this book, don't read the summary before you start it because it might give too much of the story away. Since I read the summary, I was able to figure out the whodunit part after just a few chapters so the ending was bittersweet because I was right. I like a mystery that stays a mystery until the end of the book.

Overall, the story was decent, and the romance was sweet. I like Sparks, and I don't get tired of reading his books. I like his characters; they are always so welcoming and likable. He's a reliable author, and I guess that is why I keep going back to him.