Review by ShwetaDandy -- One Way or Another
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- Latest Review: One Way or Another by Mary J. Williams
Review by ShwetaDandy -- One Way or Another

2 out of 4 stars
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Calder Benedict is old-money rich and lives in the most sophisticated part of New York City. Having grown up with a mother who falls in "true love" every few years and a father who visits her once in a while as a courtesy call, she finds it difficult to trust others easily. The people she does feel at home with are her three sisters, and it's difficult for her to imagine a future where a man could be a part of her inner circle. With uncertainty about whether someone could love her for who she is rather than her money, will she ever find someone with whom she could spend the rest of her life?
One Way or Another by Mary J. Williams is the first romance novel of 'The Sisters Quartet' series that focuses on Calder and Adam Stone's love story. When Adam first walks into Calder's life, there is an instant, undeniable attraction between the two. With just the right amount of mystery about Adam, Calder is hooked and can't seem to stay away from him. Luckily, it's not one-sided; the feeling is mutual, and the two begin to explore how deep their relationship can go.
This chick-lit is a quick read, ideal for those who don't want to get into anything too serious. I was interested to know what happens next, and the author did a great job of building the story up. However, I was disappointed that it didn't lead to anything exciting. While I usually enjoy this genre, I just could not connect with this book.
There is hardly any drama in the story (not even the frivolous kind), and the little that is there feels forced. For instance, throughout the story, Calder mentions that she can't trust Adam easily - a perfect setup for potential conflict. But for someone who keeps saying this in many different ways, she trusts him pretty quickly without any hiccups. The author is also in the process of setting up a drama outside of the two of them, but I think it will take off in the next novel.
What threw me off completely was a sudden change of character for Calder. She is shown to be extremely mature, understanding, and adept at handling tricky situations within their relationship throughout. However, something that could have been solved with a simple phone call was blown completely out of proportion.
I would rate One Way or Another 2 out of 4 stars. There is hardly any story, despite the build-up. The romance between the two felt bland, and I think that the premise could have been a little different. The story of a rich girl meeting a not-so-rich boy has been told through the centuries, and I wish this one could have been spun a little differently. I sincerely hope the next book featuring one of her sisters is very different from this one.
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One Way or Another
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