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A review by bananatricky
Feel Me by Cecy Robson
3.0
Melissa Fenske is the hearing impaired head of Victim Services working with the head of the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit, or SACU for short, run by her father District Attorney Miles Fenske. Melissa's father has a recurrence of his cancer and he has asked Declan O'Brien to take over SACU and become acting District Attorney in his place. Melissa is amused by the way that every other woman in the building practically swoons when Declan walks past, okay he might be tall, blonde and handsome but his personality leaves a lot to be desired. Melissa isn't Miles' biological daughter, her mother was a drug addict and tried to sell her for drugs money when she was a child, Miles was a police officer who helped rescue Melissa and went on to adopt her. But her early childhood, her hearing impairment and the bullying she endured at school as a result of her delayed speech have meant that Melissa finds it difficult to trust others.
Declan O'Brien is a young Assistant District Attorney, ever since the first time he met Melissa he has managed to say or do something to embarrass himself. Declan wants to be head of the Murder Unit or Violent Crimes, not SACU. He has big political ambitions for Mayor and beyond, but when he realises that Miles is asking him to do this because his cancer has returned he accepts the position. Declan is the second oldest of seven children, his mother brought them up single-handed whilst their father went to live with his mistress. Despite the happy marriages/ relationships of his sister and two of his brothers he just doesn't believe that love can conquer all, in fact he doesn't believe in love full stop.
Together Declan and Melissa work a series of cases involving child abuse and sexual assault. They try to keep things professional between them but eventually give into their feelings. But can a man who doesn't believe in love and a woman who can't trust others really have a long-term relationship?
Although this is the fourth book in the series it can easily be read as a stand-alone, I did. However, I wonder whether some of the early interactions, such as what Declan said when he first met Melissa, were included in previous books which may have shed more light on the relationship.
I liked this but I didn't love it. It felt as though the book was more about:
1. Melissa's hearing impairment and how it felt and affected her life (don't get me wrong, I liked this and thought it was very insightful);
2. The stories of various victims of child abuse; and
3. Melissa and Declan having sex in various public places
than the development of the romance between them. In fact, both their original antagonism and their subsequent falling in love seem to happen off-screen as if there isn't enough time to show the reader what is happening which is a pity because otherwise I enjoyed the writing.
I am intrigued to read the other books in this series, featuring Declan's brothers and sister.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Declan O'Brien is a young Assistant District Attorney, ever since the first time he met Melissa he has managed to say or do something to embarrass himself. Declan wants to be head of the Murder Unit or Violent Crimes, not SACU. He has big political ambitions for Mayor and beyond, but when he realises that Miles is asking him to do this because his cancer has returned he accepts the position. Declan is the second oldest of seven children, his mother brought them up single-handed whilst their father went to live with his mistress. Despite the happy marriages/ relationships of his sister and two of his brothers he just doesn't believe that love can conquer all, in fact he doesn't believe in love full stop.
Together Declan and Melissa work a series of cases involving child abuse and sexual assault. They try to keep things professional between them but eventually give into their feelings. But can a man who doesn't believe in love and a woman who can't trust others really have a long-term relationship?
Although this is the fourth book in the series it can easily be read as a stand-alone, I did. However, I wonder whether some of the early interactions, such as what Declan said when he first met Melissa, were included in previous books which may have shed more light on the relationship.
I liked this but I didn't love it. It felt as though the book was more about:
1. Melissa's hearing impairment and how it felt and affected her life (don't get me wrong, I liked this and thought it was very insightful);
2. The stories of various victims of child abuse; and
3. Melissa and Declan having sex in various public places
than the development of the romance between them. In fact, both their original antagonism and their subsequent falling in love seem to happen off-screen as if there isn't enough time to show the reader what is happening which is a pity because otherwise I enjoyed the writing.
I am intrigued to read the other books in this series, featuring Declan's brothers and sister.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.