Official Review: not today by stephen o'shea
Posted: 30 Sep 2019, 08:09
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "not today" by stephen o'shea.]
2 out of 4 stars
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A young boutique owner, Jesse, is pursued by a wealthy businessman, Naveen, in the romance story, Not Today by Stephen O’Shea. Readers meet the pair in the middle of their complicated relationship where Jesse has misgivings about her feelings for Naveen, who she believes is still married. She tries to escape him by taking off on a holiday to Vienna, but coincidentally, the pair meets up again. Even if Jesse succumbs to Naveen’s sweet romance, can she escape his jealous ex-wife, Drizella? Only time will tell whether this duo will end up parting ways or if fate will give them another reason to stay together.
This was a very short romance book, but the plot moved quickly. The characters were given very stereotypical personalities, so reading this book felt more like watching a romantic comedy movie. For example, Naveen played the handsome wealthy hero who saved Jesse, the damsel in distress. Drizella played the villainous ex-wife who tried to ruin their romance. The plot had a few interesting twists, but some were predictable for this genre. Overall, the story was enjoyable, not because of its predictability, but because of its familiarity. As someone who has read many romance books and watched many romance shows, I can confidently say that Not Today had popular character personalities and plot.
What I disliked the most about the book was the sudden side story that popped up at the end. Suddenly, Jesse’s best friend, Corinne, takes center stage with a story of her own. I thought this was the prequel to an entirely different book, but it wasn’t. However, Corinne’s mysterious past seems like a story worth reading. Honestly, it seems more interesting and culturally diverse than Not Today. I think their story could be told in a separate book.
Moreover, I think the romantic aspect of the book could have been fleshed out a bit more. I’m not certain Jesse and Naveen fit together as a romantic couple. The romance was a tad dry and perhaps a little shallow. Apart from physical attraction, there doesn’t seem to be much that holds them together. Jesse’s feelings for Naveen or thoughts about being involved with him aren’t quite clear in the story. The book also lacked ample details from the couple’s past, such as how they fell in love. Additionally, this story lacked at least one intimate scene. This would have concreted the intimacy and love between Jesse and Naveen.
I was disappointed that this book wasn’t professionally edited. There were more than ten errors in the first seven pages, including typos and poor punctuation. Based on this, and the aforementioned reasons, I rate Not Today 2 out of 4 stars. Adults who are looking for a familiar, predictable romance story without steamy scenes will enjoy this book. However, if you like complex romances with more realistic characters, then you may find this story to be a bit boring.
******
not today
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
A young boutique owner, Jesse, is pursued by a wealthy businessman, Naveen, in the romance story, Not Today by Stephen O’Shea. Readers meet the pair in the middle of their complicated relationship where Jesse has misgivings about her feelings for Naveen, who she believes is still married. She tries to escape him by taking off on a holiday to Vienna, but coincidentally, the pair meets up again. Even if Jesse succumbs to Naveen’s sweet romance, can she escape his jealous ex-wife, Drizella? Only time will tell whether this duo will end up parting ways or if fate will give them another reason to stay together.
This was a very short romance book, but the plot moved quickly. The characters were given very stereotypical personalities, so reading this book felt more like watching a romantic comedy movie. For example, Naveen played the handsome wealthy hero who saved Jesse, the damsel in distress. Drizella played the villainous ex-wife who tried to ruin their romance. The plot had a few interesting twists, but some were predictable for this genre. Overall, the story was enjoyable, not because of its predictability, but because of its familiarity. As someone who has read many romance books and watched many romance shows, I can confidently say that Not Today had popular character personalities and plot.
What I disliked the most about the book was the sudden side story that popped up at the end. Suddenly, Jesse’s best friend, Corinne, takes center stage with a story of her own. I thought this was the prequel to an entirely different book, but it wasn’t. However, Corinne’s mysterious past seems like a story worth reading. Honestly, it seems more interesting and culturally diverse than Not Today. I think their story could be told in a separate book.
Moreover, I think the romantic aspect of the book could have been fleshed out a bit more. I’m not certain Jesse and Naveen fit together as a romantic couple. The romance was a tad dry and perhaps a little shallow. Apart from physical attraction, there doesn’t seem to be much that holds them together. Jesse’s feelings for Naveen or thoughts about being involved with him aren’t quite clear in the story. The book also lacked ample details from the couple’s past, such as how they fell in love. Additionally, this story lacked at least one intimate scene. This would have concreted the intimacy and love between Jesse and Naveen.
I was disappointed that this book wasn’t professionally edited. There were more than ten errors in the first seven pages, including typos and poor punctuation. Based on this, and the aforementioned reasons, I rate Not Today 2 out of 4 stars. Adults who are looking for a familiar, predictable romance story without steamy scenes will enjoy this book. However, if you like complex romances with more realistic characters, then you may find this story to be a bit boring.
******
not today
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon