A Million Reasons

by AJ Nuest

[Cocktails and Books]

I fell in love with the male hero in this book. He was possibly the sweetest book boyfriend/husband I've ever read. I think this book also gets the award for being the one that caused me to shed the most tears. "Dibs" short for David Brenner and Rex a nickname for Tessa Adams are so perfect for each other. He loves to help and she's still nursing a previous heartache. The author did an incredible job of bringing the two together. The greatest strength of this book is the emotion it pulls from the reader. I felt their turmoil, confusion, hurt, etc. just as if it was me. I couldn't put this book down. I had to make sure they were going to be okay. The entire time I'm reading the book I am cheering for Tessa to emerge from her cocoon to live and love, and I'm hoping Dibs will be the man she needs. It was the best emotional rollercoaster ride I've had in a long time.

Now for the downside....

I would love, love to have given this book a 5, but Tessa's character was annoying at the beginning, improved in the middle, and became nearly unbearable at the end. The author prolonged the resolution of Tessa and Dibs' conflict for a far longer time than was necessary or believable. Tessa and Dibs had multiple opportunities to clear up their miscommunication. However the author chose to drag it out for several chapters. There was a nice tidy epilogue at the end, but by that time I was so frustrated with circling the HEA, reading overly dramatic antics of Rex(dry heaving and fainting), and an avalanche of small, tedious details that leant absolutely nothing to the story that I could have cared less. The book would have been so much better if Tessa's character had been a lot less over the top drama queen and a lot more strong independent woman.

Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books