Review ~ Mad Love by Colet Abedi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am not sure I understand why in the title there is no indication at all that this book is part of a series. Not on here nor on Amazon does it say book #1, (series), nothing. I’m pissed, absolutely pissed. I hate series, and I hate cliff hangers even more. Seriously! I would have waited until all the books were out to read if I had known. I’m seriously debating a 3 Star rating because of this.
I’m going to have to sleep on this and review it later.
I just looked on her author page and there’s not even a section for series there either. So, if there’s another book, when is it coming out? And how come I didn’t know before I read this? Argh!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A night’s sleep later and I’m back to finish this review. I still don’t feel differently about it, but now I’m able to discuss the actual storyline.
Okay, we have an instant attraction between a mysterious man and an unexperienced girl. Sophie, a girl who claims she’s confident but never acts that way. Throughout the whole book she is insecure and afraid. She’s a virgin and it’s the grand topic of conversation by everyone.
Now, I love instant attractions, and this one started off really great. Until our hero, Clayton became a creepy hunter-stalker type of guy. He was controlling and just weird. I don’t know what power he has over his friends either, but on several occasions, he shut them up with just a look and had them bowing their heads like they were submissive to him. 
Picture 50 Shades and that is the dynamics between the hero and heroine. However, we never learn anything about Clayton in this story except that he’s a business man, rich, and travels a lot. He’s not afraid to throw his money around at all.
So, our supposed confident Sophie is stuck in her head, jumping to conclusions most of the time. It’s annoying and does not reflect how she says she sees herself, instead it reflects how she really is: an innocent, insecure, virgin with no backbone. Clayton treats her as if she was a submissive and she tries to fight it with these stupid bursts of indignance. As if, all of a sudden she’s going to show him how confident and independent she really is. It just didn’t fit.
Her best friend Erik, a Hollywood stylist, and his boyfriend are the best characters. I loved them and they really try to help Sophie, until the end of the book, which really pissed me off. Because when Erik should have used his knowledge of Hollywood and gossip rags, he didn’t. Instead, he and his boyfriend both jumped to conclusions right along with Sophie. Then you all know what happens… it ends and without ANY prior notice that this is not a stand alone book.
This story had great potential, and, honestly, I enjoyed the author’s writing style, but her character development lacked. I would have loved to see this explored deeper and fleshed out a lot more.
Summary:
23-year-old aspiring artist Sophie Walker can think of no better place than the exotic paradise of the Maldives to escape the wrath of her controlling parents, the monotony of her boring legal work and her passionless boyfriend. With her two best friends along for the ride and to help her find herself again, Sophie is not prepared for the enigmatic Clayton Sinclair. Clayton comes from another world of privilege that seems like a fantasy to Sophie. Can this man introduce her to the passion & seduction she never realized she was desperately searching for? Sophie quickly becomes ensnared in Clayton’s seductive web until a shocking treachery makes her question her judgment and actions…
