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Sarah

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Turning Thirty-Twelve

by Sandy James (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 2nd time

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Sarah said: " I wanted to like this one because it is rare that a romance features a more mature heroine and I would love to see more 35+ characters kicking ass and getting the guy. I tried hard but eight chapters in need to tirade about this character. I'll likel I wanted to like this one because it is rare that a romance features a more mature heroine and I would love to see more 35+ characters kicking ass and getting the guy. I tried hard but eight chapters in need to tirade about this character. I'll likely end up quitting the book because I find her so annoying.
Jackie, a 42 year old high school teacher, and recently divorced empty nester is incredibly hard to like. She goes on, and on about how ancient and dried up she is at 42.She is a complete victim. Her husband left her for his younger secretary, who he had a baby with.
I get where that would be an ego slam but I choose romantic comedies with the expectation of an empowered heroine and escapist fiction. The author has the characters friends describe her as being funny and out going but nearly half way through no word, thought, or deed has shown that.
I have friends who have been in similar situations. But they actually showed character and gumption and actively went out and rebuilt their lives with no apologies. Where as I found Jackie so grating in her self pity and negativity I would actively avoid her if she was a real person in my sphere. Every other sentence is about how decrepit she is or how pathetic she feels. It gets old really fast.
The hero may be a decent guy but the lost his perfect high school sweetheart of a wife to cancer plot line is too much exposition along with the divorce stuff for an oops baby story line. The editor has at least as much to answer for as the author on this one. The pacing doesn't work. It relies on the thoughts and feelings of the heroine with little action or dialogue. Maybe that wouldn't be a chore if she was entertaining instead of emotionally draining.
I was listening to the Audible version so I am not sure how much was the voice of the author and how much was the voice of the narrator but she came across as considerably older. 50s at least.
If you like your romance light and fast paced, and your heroines positive and young at heart give this one a hard pass. ...more "

Apr 22, 2019 08:36PM · see review