Mara's Reviews > Stolen Fury

Contemporary romance shouldn't be different from a fantasy. Even if the world is real, things like world and plot should be well "done".

Clearly I do not expect an author to explain to me the real world, as its mine too. But I do expect it to be real, coherent, not a make-believe to suit their mood.

At the same time I expect characters to show at least some remembrance of a real person.

Living in Europe, I know for an unfortunate fact that treasure hunters exists and so do historical/art thieves. I admit do not like to see them "elevated" to hero status, but even I am a fan of Indy to let it go.
Unfortunately, the hero is a real thief and, whatever his holy reasons (he will have them), he is still a thief. He has no problem in duping and betraying someone to take what he wants, making the theft more personal and cruel.
He has no problem keeping on, either.

I have a bigger problem in accepting a university professor as a tomb rider. And a bigger one in accepting that a guy with a BA in Arts could dupe an Archaeology professor into believing he's one of her colleagues.
(As I said even a cont. needs coherence, just of a different type.)

I didn't like the heroine either. I'm not a fan of one-night stands, but this is judgemental and shouldn't be considered. :) I didn't. < grin > I did take into account the fact she knows he's a thief, that he has seduced and drugged her to gain access to what he wanted. She knows he'll do it again, that he's using her. But of course she pants after him, she lusts after his body every time she looks at him.

And I'm sorry I can't really stand this kind of stories anymore. Women are not stupid, are not driven by sex hormones. We have a brain and can use it too.

I have nothing against a love story between this two. But make this such, for God's sake. Make them realize they fell in love, make this a real enemy to lover story. Make me believe these characters are real. As it is I don't know anyone (male or female) who is so much hormone/lust blinded. The people I know are everyday folks.They wouldn't like to be duped, they might react in all different ways, but react they would. And without lust.

I suspect this kind of stories works better at the theatre. On the big screen you'll fall for Michael Douglass' charms too. Quite easily too :D But on the page, unless the author is really great and makes you feel the heroine, it doesn't really work.


At Chapter 8 while he plots how to dupe her again (even if he feels guilty, heh, as this should make the situation any better), while sexing her, I quit. Too many books, too little time.