Book review: Alpha by Jasinda Wilder
Posted: 10 Jan 2016, 04:00
“Alpha” is book #1 in the series with the same title, first published on April 29 2014 and classified as Contemporary Romance and Erotica.
Story is told from the female character’s point of view. First pages give information about Kyrie’s life, which is very accurately summarized by her mysterious man later in the book: “You are Kyrie Abigail St. Claire. Twenty-six years old. Daughter of Katharine Eileen Tilson St. Claire and Nicholas Calvin St. Claire. Your mother suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and is currently residing at the Ravenwood Care Home in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Your father is deceased. You have one brother, Calvin Matthew St. Claire, who is currently attending Columbia College in Chicago. Your best friend is Lyla Irene Campari. You have one living set of grandparents, maternal (…). You have been supporting your mother and brother on your own since your father’s passing, seven years ago.”
The novel is built in seventeen chapters, each title catching the main idea or the most important point in the events to be presented. I must admit that the plot is weak and the story does not have a solid ground. Kyrie has had to deal with a lot of ugly situations in her life and struggled to provide for her family, but our mystery man has always been there, watching over her not only financially after her father’s murder. When she is at her lowest point, he starts sending her monthly checks and after one year he intends to collect the debt. I do believe she accepted lightly going along with the man’s agreement. For a woman who’s had a rough life lately, given the opportunity to go back home , even if without any more financial support from him, she would have managed as she’s done so far.
Moreover, the writing is not too good either There are recurrent paragraphs all over the book. For example one spends the first pages of it learning about our heroine’s life, just to read later the “short version” (quoted above) as told by the mystery man. As well, close to the end, when she tells Lyla the story about her so called protector is again like a summary of the action.
Additionally, one can observe contradictions: Kyrie is a tough, matured young woman, but easily gives in to the man’s proposal. Also, he keeps telling her she is free to go at any time and that she has no obligations, but his financial support will be gone as well. This is more blackmail that romance.
On the other hand, the erotic scenes are many and well developed. I would consider the novel more like erotic and less like romantic. Still, I do believe that some paragraphs were inflated and as well repetitive. Her ceaseless adoration of his body and of how well developed he is becomes some point annoying and dull.
To sum up, it is somewhat difficult to give a score for this book. I have read other Jasinda Wilder books and she can write great novels and this is why I am mostly disappointed. I’m going with a 3 star rating for the erotic parts and a 2 star rating for the action and characters. But taking into account my previous arguments, my final rating is 2 out of 4 stars. I cannot move past the weak plot, predictive ending, repetitive moments, contradictions and exaggerated parts of the erotic scenes.
I have read other reviewers’ opinions about this book and they were quite impressed. Please let me know your thoughts about it, your pros and cons.
Story is told from the female character’s point of view. First pages give information about Kyrie’s life, which is very accurately summarized by her mysterious man later in the book: “You are Kyrie Abigail St. Claire. Twenty-six years old. Daughter of Katharine Eileen Tilson St. Claire and Nicholas Calvin St. Claire. Your mother suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and is currently residing at the Ravenwood Care Home in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Your father is deceased. You have one brother, Calvin Matthew St. Claire, who is currently attending Columbia College in Chicago. Your best friend is Lyla Irene Campari. You have one living set of grandparents, maternal (…). You have been supporting your mother and brother on your own since your father’s passing, seven years ago.”
The novel is built in seventeen chapters, each title catching the main idea or the most important point in the events to be presented. I must admit that the plot is weak and the story does not have a solid ground. Kyrie has had to deal with a lot of ugly situations in her life and struggled to provide for her family, but our mystery man has always been there, watching over her not only financially after her father’s murder. When she is at her lowest point, he starts sending her monthly checks and after one year he intends to collect the debt. I do believe she accepted lightly going along with the man’s agreement. For a woman who’s had a rough life lately, given the opportunity to go back home , even if without any more financial support from him, she would have managed as she’s done so far.
Moreover, the writing is not too good either There are recurrent paragraphs all over the book. For example one spends the first pages of it learning about our heroine’s life, just to read later the “short version” (quoted above) as told by the mystery man. As well, close to the end, when she tells Lyla the story about her so called protector is again like a summary of the action.
Additionally, one can observe contradictions: Kyrie is a tough, matured young woman, but easily gives in to the man’s proposal. Also, he keeps telling her she is free to go at any time and that she has no obligations, but his financial support will be gone as well. This is more blackmail that romance.
On the other hand, the erotic scenes are many and well developed. I would consider the novel more like erotic and less like romantic. Still, I do believe that some paragraphs were inflated and as well repetitive. Her ceaseless adoration of his body and of how well developed he is becomes some point annoying and dull.
To sum up, it is somewhat difficult to give a score for this book. I have read other Jasinda Wilder books and she can write great novels and this is why I am mostly disappointed. I’m going with a 3 star rating for the erotic parts and a 2 star rating for the action and characters. But taking into account my previous arguments, my final rating is 2 out of 4 stars. I cannot move past the weak plot, predictive ending, repetitive moments, contradictions and exaggerated parts of the erotic scenes.
I have read other reviewers’ opinions about this book and they were quite impressed. Please let me know your thoughts about it, your pros and cons.