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Anni Jaye

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Anni is Currently Reading

Anni Jaye is currently reading

Taken

by Koko Brown (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in August 2014

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Anni Jaye said: "
As with any story, the plot, setting, and characters are the backbone; without a specific synergy between these facets, a potentially phenomenal story could spiral out of control quickly. If even one of those facets is missing or under developed, th
As with any story, the plot, setting, and characters are the backbone; without a specific synergy between these facets, a potentially phenomenal story could spiral out of control quickly. If even one of those facets is missing or under developed, the story suffers, leaving the reader to wonder just what happened.
This is the case with Taken.
I was thoroughly intrigued by the premise of Taken, so much so that initially, I started with a sort of simmering excitement, believing that I would be thrust into a visceral, romantic adventure. I was ready to invest in Olivia and Khalid, ready to take that journey toward love with them but then… they met each other. And despite the passionate embers that smoldered between them, the more they interacted with each other, the more I began to question if I cared enough about following them on their path. Olivia begins the story as a strong willed, educated, self- aware woman, determined to break the mold. The moment she meets Khalid, a self-proclaimed cad who delights loving and leaving women when they get too clingy, all of that determination and strength seems to dissipate. I take issue with using sex as a tool to debase and weaken a character. The sex, although titillating enough, was profuse, often eclipsing the growth of the story; there was no forward momentum because scene after scene was nothing more than Khalid ravaging Olivia or Olivia darting between loving Khalid and despising him or her self-depreciating thoughts. Olivia was marginalized, defined only by her rising libido rather than her logic, intelligence, and character. Her indecisiveness was cumbersome and distractive and her willingness to fall into Khalid’s arms even after knowing that he merely wanted to possess her was somewhat annoying. Khalid was equally one dimensional; his chauvinistic ideals and singular obsession was disturbing and although he was described as “beautiful” and “handsome” I found that I wasn’t the least bit interested in him- that is until he took a downward spiral and was humbled. By then, I’d lost interest in Olivia and Khalid as a couple. It isn’t until they part ways that the story begins to find its depth with Khalid fighting to resurface from the brink of destruction and Olivia moving on with her life. By then, however, it’s too little too late.
That isn’t to say that this story is lacking everywhere else. Ms. Brown did a phenomenal job in describing the different locales that I did feel as if I were there in the heat of the desert or in the thick of city life. She did, however, stumble a bit on capturing the flavor of the period. The prose and the dialogue, although generally free of errors, flitted between contemporary and the past so much that I never felt like it was an authentic experience.
Taken was a decent read and intriguing enough for me to consider reading more of Ms. Brown’s work in the future. I just wished that the characters were developed past the insatiable passion and given more depth. ...more "

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(page 285 of 285)
"Review forthcoming..." — Aug 01, 2014 05:34PM

Aug 01, 2014 06:51PM · see review

Anni Jaye is currently reading

Taste of Lacey

by Linden Hughes

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— Aug 01, 2014 05:34PM

Jul 22, 2014 03:05PM

Anni Jaye is currently reading

Chained (Brides of the Kindred, #9)

by Evangeline Anderson (Goodreads Author)

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"Review forthcoming!" — Jun 17, 2014 06:42AM

Jun 16, 2014 06:28AM

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Anni’s Quotes

“There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

tags: hope, life, pain, strength, tragedy

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“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

tags: 1970, inspirational, stories, writing

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“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

tags: ataraxy, inner-strength, inspiration, self-control, strength

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“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

tags: inspirational, life

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“There are women who make things better... simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who- through strength and courage- make it through. There are women who change the world everyday... Women like you.”
― Ashley Rice

tags: change, strength, wisdom, women

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