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Too many events, seemingly unreleated and rambly. Camden continues to angst about her tiff with Lia and I just find it more annoying the more she mentions it, compares Brynn's behavior to Lia...and then runs away from her crush.

Chapters 4-5: Hmmm, mixed feelings, lots of character intro, no interesting characters, and Camden is still pretty annoying. Writing quality is inconsistent, but not bad.

Completed the sample and enjoyed the writing enough to purchase the book. Chapter 3 is definitely creepy, but I hope the whole novel doesn't focus on how downtrodden Camden is in her friendship with Lia.

Prologue and Ch. 1: Camden sounds like a fool. Goes to her friend's room to borrow an old swimsuit because she's too self-conscious to wear her own swimsuit. Then she helps herself to best friend's brand new swimsuit "because it looks so much prettier" than the older one ... and when best friend is offended by this Camden assumes "she's mad because I don't look ugly."

Really liked this almost until the "fat girl gag" at the novel's end. When will author's stop stereotyping?

I'm currently listening to the audio version of this book. I'm on Chapter 2 and I really like the protagonist. Very warm and genuine.

ALSO... WHY is an Anglo girl featured on the novel's cover art? Haven's description clearly indicates she is a young woman of color ("caramel skin, dark honey hair, dark amber eyes"). The artist could have at least deepened the model's skin tones.

Chapter 1 -- Okay, the writing's a bit scattered and clumsy and way too tell-y. I get the feeling Agresti crammed a prologue and a chapter into this opening chapter. The backstory would have more impact if it were less rushed.

Hmmm ... Not as good as I'd hoped. Really liked the characterizations, but all the anti-Southern culture social commentary really became a bit much over this superfatted overwritten novel. The movies was better.

Read the prologue and first two chapters. I'm pretty intrigued, loving the genuine southern writer's voice.

I read the sample chapter and liked enough to pay a ridiculous amount for an ebook. Hope it's worth it but the writer's voice and style really hooked me.

I read the sample chapter and liked enough to pay a ridiculous amount for an ebook. Hope it's worth it but the writer's voice and style really hooked me.

OMG! I'm so excited! Didn't know a new Waite read was available! :)

AT LAST I'M FINISHED! Review to come.

Chapter 21-23: Can't believe I've nearly finished this super-long book and the story, really, has never gotten off the ground. I get this is the story of this couple's beginning, and I think some growth has occurred, but it's appallingly slow-paced. Looking forward to finishing this.

Chapters 18-20: I'm determined to complete this read before the New Year! These chapters flowed pretty well together and read easily, but I wish the pacing in this novel was a bit more consistent.

Chapter 17: This is the first time I've actually liked Christian. : )

It's taken me a few chapters to really "warm" to this story, but it's pretty entertaining. : )

Chapter 16: What a chapter. All the elements in the story really "popped" here, and it was both sexy and emotionally chaotic. Really beautiful writing, too.

Read Chapters 12-14: I find the pacing of this book way too slow. To some extent, it's preferable to stories too fast-paced and lacking in detail, but it still gets a bit tedious. The style reminds me of the serialized stories popular in Victorian newspapers. After a chapter or two, I'm ready to stop for a week.

Not bad -- better than the first book -- but not fabulous. Review to come. : )

HOT DOG! Namby-pamby hurricane scare = more reading time! At last I can try to finish this book. Friends, don't worry about us. God loves New Orleans.

*dreamy sighs* Mircea's so delicious. I don't care that he's evil, I don't care that he may take unfair advantage of Cassandra. I still think he's adorable.

*sighs* I slogged through the last third or so of this book, hoping things would fall into place, but they never did. This is an extremely angst-ridden read. Review to come.

I'm beginning Part V. I'm a little disappointed with the directions this novel took after a relatively strong start. My interest in the protagonist has just evaporated. Hoping to get it back.

Chapters 7-12: Hmmmm ... I'm enjoying the read (basically the heroine is reliving "Jane Eyre" in a condensed form) but I'm not sure I shouldn't thank Bronte for most of the good writing.