Pages:
270
Publisher:
Hot Key Books
Release
Date: 7th
March 2013
Edition:
UK paperback,
won from Lynsey
Other
titles in this Series: The
Vincent Boys
Smouldering Sawyer Vincent is in a bad way after
his break-up with Ashton Gray. Losing the girl he dreamed of marrying is bad
enough, but to lose her to his brother Beau is plain humiliating.
But Sawyer won’t be alone for long – not if
Ashton’s cousin Lana has her way. Lana’s grown up to be a femme
fatale and she wants Sawyer, real bad.
But deep down, will Lana ever feel good enough to
compete with Ashton in Sawyer’s eyes? She’s red hot, but inside, Lana’s still
the shy geeky girl she used to be.
Lana’s gonna need all her sexy powers of persuasion
to make this gorgeous Vincent boy her man...
I had problems with The Vincent Boys when I read it, but my
enjoyment outweighed them. Not this time – I have a scary number of problems
with The Vincent Brothers.
Before I go off on one I’m
going to start with the positives. I do love the setting of a good sultry,
summer in the South and it makes me hate rainy, cold Britain with a passion! I want
to have a summer of continual sun and everything that comes with it. Partly due
to this, The Vincent Brothers was
also incredibly quick and easy to read – I read it in two short sittings. I’m
afraid these are the only good elements of this novel for me.
This book was very poorly
written. The prose is endlessly clucky and clichéd; either it had gone straight
from self-published e-book to the paperback without being edited or it was a
hurried and cursory edit. This resulted in the meaning being frequently lost in
a forced attempt at drama, tension or humour.
As for the clichés, I thought
the plot of a heartbroken guy using a pretty innocent girl as a way to get over
his previous girlfriend and then falling in love with her was a cliché in
itself. There were also the name-checked songs with a cringe-worthy theme or
character appropriate lyrics which always makes me feel like I’m having my
music taste dictated to, even if I actually like a song that’s mentioned. And the
final niggling cliché is also intensely cheesy: the epilogues. Yes, plural –
there are three of them. I’m pretty good with cheese and I love a good
epilogue, but this went too far even for me.
I was able to look past all of
these things in the first book but when paired with the misogyny in The Vincent Brothers, my blood boiled. It
started when Sawyer didn't notice Lana until she had undergone a makeover and
started to wear short shorts and tiny tops with a sexy hair style and
rejuvenated make-up. That is not something
to base a relationship on, but moreover, what sort of message is that? It’s
like telling the fourteen years olds that are going to read this book that the
only way you’re going to get the guy you want is by dressing provocatively.
It continues with a tendency
for sex or violence to be the answer to every one of the problems that the
characters encounter. Some guy threatens ‘their girl’ and fists go flying, girl
is upset and runs straight in to physical intimacy with the boy. There was a
really strong example of this in each novel which resulted in sexual acts they
hadn’t taken part in before for both girls. I just thought that was such a bad
idea! That’s not the answer and again, such a bad message to give girls and
guys. It also pushes the idea that the female characters in the novel,
especially Ash and Lana, can’t do anything without their boyfriends coming to
their rescue or stepping in for some reason.
Even when you ignore the
misogyny and sloppy prose the characters just aren’t likable. Lana who takes
the lead in The Vincent Brothers is
so distinctly blah. The only personality traits she seems to have are being
hot, being Ash’s cousin and that was about it. She only even spiked interest in
me when she stood up for herself and let Sawyer know what a shit he was being. Ash
and Beau from The Vincent Boys were
also featured in this one, a lot more than I expected them to be actually. Now,
I really loved Beau in the first book; he’s a bad boy with a heart, he
genuinely loves Ash and he's seriously hot, but he turned into a manipulative jerk who frequently bordered
on psycho in this instalment. I really disliked Ash this time as well – she’s so whiny!
Well, now I've got that all out
of my system I feel much better! I really hated this and it worries me that
some people had no problems with The
Vincent Brothers and yet I’m still planning to give her other series ago. I
just want more from Abbi Glines.
Sophie
Wow, now I know why you were worried about writing such a negative review! I haven't read this series, but like you, have heard both good and bad things. I want to give at least the first book I try - I'm hopeful like that :)
ReplyDeleteI really disliked Ash as well and I agree with the comment on the epilogues plus the bad image and lesson portrayed in the story., :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, I quite enjoyed the first book but I agree - this second one was quite bad. It didnt do much for me and I spent much of the time wanting to slap the charcters lol. Yet I still want to read her other series...
ReplyDeleteYou are so right in everything you said in this review Sophie! I couldn't agree more :o)
ReplyDeleteI find the Sea Breeze series much better than the Vincent Boys. Similar setting but better plot and characters!
ReplyDeleteThis blog always brings a smile to my face; thank you for spreading happiness! Can't get enough of Little Big Snake on IOGames Top. It's so addictive and fun! This site has the best selection of IO games. Start playing and see for yourself!
ReplyDelete