Series: Houston, We Have a ProblemGenre: Contemporary Romance
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 352
Rating: 3/5 Crowns
Synopsis: Josie Adkins has a serious case of the klutziness as the orthopedic resident under genius, and handsome Dr. Houston Hayes, orthopedic surgeon at a Florida hospital. Why does this surgeon cause her to be so nervous, and is the heat she’s feeling anything the same for him? The answer to that is a sincere yes, and Houston is serious about bringing the tension between them to an end by offering one night together to get it out of their system. (Seriously, does that ever work?) Obviously, Houston and Josie are continually drawn to one another, and after a serious accident that threatens Houston’s career, does their relationship have more to draw on than chemistry?
Review: In the beginning, I had serious issues with this novel. I was annoyed by the instant sexual tension between the two characters, that was built on nothing more than sexual magnetism (pretty graphically described). Where was the relationship, where was the build up in the story? Besides the relationship element being missing, I had my doubts that a surgeon would come on so strong to a resident. A friend of mine is in med school, and I can’t say she’s ever had any sort of licentious interaction with any of the doctors she’s worked with. In fact, she’s been more paranoid about being yelled at than in starting a relationship with them. Maybe therein lies the “fantasy” of this contemporary romance? In essence, Josie and Houston are the fantasy side of the “what if” in a surgeon/resident relationship?
Although I initially felt pretty annoyed by the shallow relationship between Josie and Houston, I am happy to say that the remainder of the novel switches gears and builds a much stronger bond between the two. After a debilitating accident, Houston is forced to depend on Josie, and to even expose that he has more feelings for Josie than just those of a physical kind. The two become emotionally connected, and finally become believable as a couple.
In the end, I will say that I enjoyed the journey of these two characters. Yes, I found the initial sexual content a bit annoying, and not very likely, but thought the second half of the novel developed their relationship enough to help me buy into their love. Altogether, I think this is a story built on a fantasy, and sometimes the unbelievable can be fun to consider.
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5 comments:
Sounds like a fun entertaining read! Great review!
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I haven't read this one yet by Erin, but the last two of her books I've noticed the same thing. Both of her characters are instantly about to jump each other, but she still does a good job of weaving in a nice plot.
This has been a main complaint of mine lately. Man meets woman and they have to having sex by chapter 2 or 3. I want character and relationship development first. I want romance which means there is a relationship between the couple. Even if the relationship build as the story progresses, it is a bit like putting the cart before the horse, to use an old cliche.
Alaine --Thanks! It got better by the end, and was more convincing after that initial kick off.
Wendy -- Thanks Wendy. I'm horrible at recognizing awards, so let me say thank you if I don't get it up in time!
Just Your Typical Book Blog & librarypat -- I totally agree about needing some relationship to make the sex work. While I'm not a big prude, I just shake my head when all the main characters have is animal chemistry. That doesn't hold a relationship together, and it doesn't hold a story together. It definitely bothered me, but I was SO thankful that the last half of the book really developed the story between the two and made me like what they had together...outside of the bedroom! :)
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