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A review by pam_h
Blind Side by Josh Lanyon
4.0
I just realized I never finished reviewing this series...grrrrr. Three weeks and 13 books later is way too much for my memory, but I will say I did not have the problems with this finale that a lot of readers did. But I can also see why it would have been a disappointment after waiting SIX YEARS!!! What an interesting writer you are, Josh Lanyon.
I actually considered stopping after Book 5 since there were such mixed reviews on this one, but the guys didn't quite feel settled enough for me to be fully satisfied. And this one did the work of getting them there in my mind, so I was happy with it.
I do think she made some odd choices all things considered, but I really don't know how much of that would have even registered if I weren't such a prolific review reader. The stakes felt the same as the rest of the series, and something was going to have to come to a head with the new business one way or another.
The whole reason I liked this series so much was how real their complex personal dynamic feels to me, regardless of all the shenanigans that may be going on around them, and JL impresses me so much as an author because of how much of that dynamic is in the undercurrents of their interactions without being spelled out moment by moment. Which I'm sure means we all have our own spin on them based on our own experiences, and mine meant I really needed this half-baked business they both quit their jobs for, with what turned out to be a major imbalance of power in such a life-altering decision, to have a serious impact on their lives and their relationship. That is not something that just works itself out. (As much as I loved Book 5, and I really, really did.)
I think that's why the book felt like a disaster to some, while to me the disaster of it just felt like the natural result of this ridiculous situation they found themselves in. Chaos breeds chaos, you reap what you sow, etc., etc.
So yes, they lost the plot of their lives a bit, but I guess it felt like if they could come through the other side of that wack-ness and pull it back together, they can officially make it through anything. And I hadn't been quite convinced they could before this point.
And my interpretation is that Taylor hadn't been convinced either, which can lead to ... extreme or unusual behaviors, let's say -- lashing out, self-destructive, pushing boundaries on a subconscious level to get your answer one way or the other. And I think this particular ex, whose, was the one person who could trigger such a strange, subconscious spiral.
Ok, maybe I *do* remember some details after all! I really did love this series, finale and all
I actually considered stopping after Book 5 since there were such mixed reviews on this one, but the guys didn't quite feel settled enough for me to be fully satisfied. And this one did the work of getting them there in my mind, so I was happy with it.
I do think she made some odd choices all things considered, but I really don't know how much of that would have even registered if I weren't such a prolific review reader. The stakes felt the same as the rest of the series, and something was going to have to come to a head with the new business one way or another.
The whole reason I liked this series so much was how real their complex personal dynamic feels to me, regardless of all the shenanigans that may be going on around them, and JL impresses me so much as an author because of how much of that dynamic is in the undercurrents of their interactions without being spelled out moment by moment. Which I'm sure means we all have our own spin on them based on our own experiences, and mine meant I really needed this half-baked business they both quit their jobs for, with what turned out to be a major imbalance of power in such a life-altering decision, to have a serious impact on their lives and their relationship. That is not something that just works itself out. (As much as I loved Book 5, and I really, really did.)
I think that's why the book felt like a disaster to some, while to me the disaster of it just felt like the natural result of this ridiculous situation they found themselves in. Chaos breeds chaos, you reap what you sow, etc., etc.
So yes, they lost the plot of their lives a bit, but I guess it felt like if they could come through the other side of that wack-ness and pull it back together, they can officially make it through anything. And I hadn't been quite convinced they could before this point.
And my interpretation is that Taylor hadn't been convinced either, which can lead to ... extreme or unusual behaviors, let's say -- lashing out, self-destructive, pushing boundaries on a subconscious level to get your answer one way or the other. And I think this particular ex, whose
Spoiler
heart he'd broken in the way he's always known Will could break hisOk, maybe I *do* remember some details after all! I really did love this series, finale and all