Unforgettable in every way. Not.
“Unforgettable” by Julie Ortolon
I’m a sucker for those “wrong side of the tracks” kind of books. I think it’s the sense that chemical attraction can be so strong that it overwhelms everything, including different income brackets. All the better if they’re set in the South, because there’s that secret hope that I’m going to stumble across another Bobby Tom. I loved “After the Night” by Linda Howard, which featured one of those plots. And when I was lurking in the aisles of our local bookshop like the ghost of Christmas past, trying to find a new book to read, I happened to pick up “Unforgettable” by Julie Ortolon, which had just this kind of plot.
“Unforgettable” is an easy, competent read. It’s well-plotted, doesn’t have a spy/suspense plot. In fact, it’s straightforward romance. I should be thrilled right? This is just the sort of book I was clamouring to read. But “Unforgettable” is a vanilla book, and I’m a rocky road with caramel and chocolate chips kind of girl. I’m glad that there aren’t any nefarious spy plots or murder mysteries with all the complexity of a Scooby Doo episode. But I want some zing, some emotional intensity. I want some caramel sauce dammit!
Riley Stone was considered the wild child of Hope, Texas. She’s thought to be the town tramp, when it was actually all a show to keep lecherous men away from her. She’s always been in love with Jackson Hope, the grandson of the town scion, but was afraid that she’d never be good enough for him. Jackson on his part, has always had a crush on Riley as well, but was intimidated by her man-eater reputation.
2 decades (or so) later, Riley is trying to stop the dance hall in the town from being demolished. After a bit of persuasion, Jackson is on her side. But there’s a proverbial spanner in the works when Jackson’s late grandad is found to have had a secret affair with the madame/owner of the dance hall, who also happens to be a bank-robber. Will family secrets keep them both apart? (Jackson and Riley, not Grandad and Owner of Dance Hall, who have both gone to that big donut in the sky). Will Riley and Jackson be able to overcome their social differences and live happily ever after?
Riley and Jackson are both well-developed characters who think before they act. And behave like normal people. Which is all to the good, except it’s a bit of a snore. I detest too stupid to breed characters, and Riley and Jackson are far from that. They plan their actions and when there are things which bother them about the other person, they talk this through like rational adults. And when I thought The Misunderstanding was looming over their heads like the shadow of an anvil over Wile E. Coyote, this was averted when Riley just explained to Jackson her actions, and he understood them, even if he was a bit angry at first.
But I honestly didn’t get a sense of any fireworks between the couple. I thought the relationship between Grandad and Dance Hall Owner was way more interesting. And both of them were dead. That’s saying something.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Julie Ortolon has a very smooth, readable writing style. And I do appreciate the fact that I’m not left wanting to go after Riley and Jackson with a shovel (to build sand castles of course!) But seeing as how I expected a wealthy arrogant golden boy who falls in love with a girl whose brain is bigger than her trust fund, I was disappointed with Jackson Hope. Jackson’s an all round nice guy, but I guess in romance novels, nice guys finish last. At least in my book. I mean, Jackson had an ex-wife who cheated on him for years with strangers she picked up in motels, and he forgave her! This is rather startling to Lola, who has been weaned on a steady diet of heroes who are never able to recover from the betrayal of their ex/dead wives forgetting to feed the dog. Jackson is either a saint, or too boring to be believed.
So “Unforgettable” sadly doesn’t live up to its name. I remember scores of romance plots and heroes/heroines and minor plot details (as Sheridan and Mimi can attest, I am the idiot savant of the romance world). But ask me next week who were the main characters in this book, and I’ll be at a loss for words. Excuse me while I go and find my copy of “After the Night” for some hot Southern lovin’.
lauren said,
November 19, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
This book just affirmed to me that I need an Alpha Hero to enjoy a book. I liked Jackson, but I too got annoyed with him because he wasn’t very proactive. And I agree about the secondery romance of sorts that would have made for a better book, well except for the adultery part.
Wendy said,
November 20, 2007 @ 4:15 am
Hmmm… judging from your recent reviews, I wonder if “caramel sauce” a euphemism for “several penises, with spikes.”
La Lola said,
November 20, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Totally with you on that one Lauren. I thought the whole idea of keeping your second family in the same town as your wife and children was quite despicable.
And Wendy, I may be a caramel kind of girl, but when it comes to “several penises with spikes” then it’s vanilla all the way!
La Lola said,
November 20, 2007 @ 10:26 am
P.S you guys have GOT to read “Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night” by Kresley Cole. Fabulous book! Review coming soon.