Header PromotionSweet Talk by Susan Mallery
I feel as though I'm way behind here as everyone else, it seems, has already read this one. lol I'd read a couple of mixed reviews though, so I was interested in seeing for myself.
I hafta say, I have mixed feelings about it. Don't get me wrong, I (mostly) enjoyed Claire and Wyatt just--I wanted to slap the snot out of Nicole. I don't think I'm looking all that forward to reading her story, though I'm interested to see how the talented Ms. Mallery is able to redeem her. Honestly, were I Claire, I'd have walked out with full assurance I was doing myself a major favor. I don't care how alone or lonely you are, no one deserves to be treated so cruelly.
And I suppose that's one of the things I equally loved and disliked about Claire. She was sort of...I don't know. Wishy washy. One minute she was wet noodle taking whatever abuse anyone wanted to dish out and the next she was stomping her foot and telling folks off. And she was waaaayyy too forgiving of people's bad behavior.
Nicole told her she wished Claire was dead and then ten pages later all's forgiven because Nicole decides maybe she should be nicer to the sister who's taking such good care of her, even though she still can't quite forgive her for things that happened that were entirely beyond Claire's control. Claire's so freakin' grateful for some kindness she doesn't even ask for an actual apology. She just accepts Nicole's aweful behavior.
Her manager, Lisa, is basically a tyrant over Claire's life. Robs her of her childhood and other other unspeakably terrible things (making her sing the night after her mother died--hello! Unforgivable!) But at the end Lisa's like, "oh hey, if you'd just said something" and Claire's all, "Oh, okay. I'd love to continue working with you."
Even Wyatt, to some extent, basically tells her he thinks she's trying to trap him and he doesn't even have to say "sorry" before all's forgiven and a HEA? WTC is WRONG with this girl?
BUT, all that being said, I can sort of understand why she is the way she is. The way she was raised, the adults who were supposed to teach her things, show affection, protect her--basically abandoned her all because she had this enormous talent. And she does show an impressive strength in that she was willing to learn anything and everything she'd been denied. Things normal people take for granted.
Wyatt, I don't really know how I feel about him. He's not the most wonderful H I've ever read but certainly not the worse. I don't have an actual problem with him. Maybe the way he (and everyone else) treated poor Claire at the start as though she were evil in the flesh and Nicole was a saint. Even that, I can sort of understand, even if I don't agree with the behavior.
Even after all that, though, I did enjoy the book. LOL I know, what would I have said if I hadn't enjoyed it?
"It's not denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept."
Jana's Off-site blog
September's Member of the Month
Hey Jana - I had a bit of the same problem
okay I know they have to be portrayed as negative so there'll be the nice long character arc, but frankly I have no desire to read the other sisters' books - I bought them and they'll get here eventually or even sooner, but the books might languish a while in the TBR because of all the negative points you brought to our attention.
And yes I come from a family where so many things were not said, even if you disagreed with someone, you didn't necessarily want to burn bridges by saying so; but still and all there's a difference between being noncommitally silent and agreeing with the people who are dissing you!
It's a good thing you've posted this review now, because I'll hopefully forget and calm down before the other two books arrive, and then maybe I'll just react to the author name (we can hope, can't we?)
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Mallery is hit ot miss
Mallery has always been a hit or miss author for me. I will either flat out love, can not put down, her book or I end up reading it thinking..... am I actually enjoying this book or just reading it because I like the author?
Thanks for the review. I've got this in my TBR, chances are it'll hang there a bit longer.
Oh Dear Y'all
These three are almost to the top of my tbr and I was just thinking that this weekend might be the right time to get through them. Now......I don't know.....well, I might anyway, but will be looking at them just a bit differently. These mixed emotions is how I felt about the Buchanans too
Bonsal
Bonsal - the Buchanans were more okay with me than this
one, there was only one brother that didn't work for me (and of course the grandmother!)
Here it's genuinely two thirds of the trilogy, starting odds like that just are a bit ...
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Bonsal
I say go ahead and read it. I've read other reviewers who loved it. And I didn't hate it, it just irritated me in places. It hasn't deterred me from reading the other two when I get the chance. In fact, it makes me want to read them MORE to see if the stories improve. Like jillyan said, Mallery's are usually hit or miss. Maybe it'll hit for you where it didn't for me. *shrugs*
"It's not denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept."
Jana's Off-site blog
September's Member of the Month
Jillyan
I know exactly what you mean. The last couple of Mallerys I read I absolutely loved. The one before them? Meh. This one definitely goes in the "meh" catagory. Doesn't mean the next ones will suck.
"It's not denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept."
Jana's Off-site blog
September's Member of the Month
Sadhbh
I agree. Some things should go unsaid. I have a great relationship with both of my sisters mainly because I would NEVER tell them the things that annoyed/hurt/angered me when we were younger. I think that's the point Nicole missed so blatantly. When you're young you see things differently. Her perspective should have changed as she grew up but somehow it didn't. She stupidly and blindly held on to things that were beyond hers or Claire's control and refused to see things any other way. Well, until the story demanded it. lol
I'm sorry if my review put you even further off of the next two books in the series. Want me to read them first so you'll know whether or not to ever bother with them? hehehehe
"It's not denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I accept."
Jana's Off-site blog
September's Member of the Month