Review: Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Title: Love Story

Author: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books

Publication Date: 18 Aug 2011
Source: Gifted from the wonderful Kirsty at The Overflowing Library
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

REVIEW

I am writing this review about a week after finishing this book and I can honestly say I am still unsure how I feel about it. I adored Going Too Far and Forget You the way in which Jennifer Echols manages to convey the chemistry between the characters is amazing, often resulting in the release of steam from the collar. However, I don't think I connected with the characters in this book as much as the previous books. Nevertheless I did devour it in one sitting.

The story starts with a story within a story. Initially a bit disconcerting, the placing of these 'stories' sometimes interrupting the flow of the main plot. Although their use is a very clever way to share the joint history of the main characters, this aspect only becomes apparent as the book progresses. In some instances these 'stories' were cringe-worthy and actually made me dislike the characters rather than enduring them to me.

I can't say I fully connected with Erin, her poor little rich girl situation annoyed me. Her preference for enclosed spaces was slightly odd but understandable when past events unfold. I spent most of the time wanting to hit her over the head to knock some sense into her. The phrase 'cutting your nose off to spite your face' comes to mind. Erin certainly goes about things the hard way.

Hunter on the other hand is totally swoon worthy. Although some of his actions are questionable I think his intentions were ultimately honorable. The very complicated and long history between Erin and himself did make me wonder as to why Hunter was still so emotionally tied to her. Its as if they were destined for each other. I have to admit they were the perfect balance when they were together. The communication breakdown between them was utterly frustrating.

I love the way Jennifer Echols writes relationships, romance and chemistry however I didn't enjoy the overall story as much as the previous books I have read by this author. I have high hopes for Such a Rush and have firmly on my wish-list.