I didn't realize that this was a Christian/sweet romance until I started reading the book. Even though that's not my cup of tea (at all) I figured I'll give the book a chance. I don't like God or church in my romance but as long as the book wasn't preachy, I was going to continue reading. My first issue was the early declaration of love. Jake and Livi haven't seen nor heard from each other in 10 years. 10 years!!!!! People change. How can you still love someone that you've had no communication with after 10 years. Color me a realist but I was not buying it. I figured from the tone of the book that there would be either no sex or fade to black sex scenes. There was a little heavy petting and badly worded sentences where Jake and Livi did get a little sexual. But because it was fade to black, it was difficult to figure out if they actually had sex or if they were dry humping and they both felt their excitement release (blech). Then Jake and Livi decide to not have sex at all until they DTR (determined the relationship)which I was cool with. Until they got naked (but left their underwear on)and dry humped each other with some finger action at the end. Ummm....ok.The second half of the book was just a bit ridiculous with the new General Counsel, Edward, working at Livi's company. The portrayal of Nadine as the immoral bad girl because she has had sex with lots of men and the overall over-the-topness (not a word, I know) of Livi trying to save her job, Hamilton Steele and ruining her relationship with Jake in the process. More time should have been spent of developing the relationship and romance and less time on that nonsense. Maybe it was a way to portray Livi's dedication to her career but it could have been done without the soap opera antics and drama.We don't find out much about Jake, his time in Iraq or if he's a righty or a lefty. Pretty much Jake is background noise even in scenes with him and Livi together. He's paste.I'm all for former high school sweethearts getting back together as adults but this story did not work for me at all. The romance was flat, unimaginative and uninspiring.
