Amanda
Written on Jun 30, 2014
Back in May, I read a book called Wired for Story. It changed how I read (and write) stories. What it talks about is ultimately what I find Katharine Ashe's books to be lacking: a deeper understanding of character motivation.
The reason motivation -- often found in a life-changing event in the character's past -- is so important is that it tells the reader how the characters will react to the situations they're put in. To truly feel like we're a part of the story, some element of predictability needs to be there; we need to understand why a character acts a certain way.
And that, for me, is why I can't get flaily about Katharine Ashe's books (of which I've now read two and both had the same issue). They're good stories, for sure. But things just seem to happen, and I didn't always understand why. Because I didn't "get" the characters.
So, we know that Valerie and Steven have some kind of event in their past that shapes who they are from the very beginning, but it often takes a couple hundred pages before we get the full picture. But by then, it's not enough to make a true connection with either character.
What I liked about this book over When a Scot Loves a Lady, though, is no Scottish brogue to decipher. Win. Still a good story, but I'm uncertain at this point whether I want to continue reading more Katharine Ashe.