2 out of 4 stars
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Hello, My Love by Evy Journey, Book One of her Between Two Worlds series, receives 2 out of 4 stars as an introspective romance that flirts with a hint of mystery. Billed as somewhat of a whodunit, it fails to invoke the expected suspense and tension deserving of such a description.
Law student Elise Halverson is an ambitious young woman with her sights set on a life fulfilled by helping the less fortunate. She prides herself on her strong work ethic and high moral compass, never one to meander off the path of the straight and narrow. Until she meets Greg Thorpe.
The notorious playboy receives nothing but contempt from the beautiful daughter of his business consultant, Dr. Charles Halverson, yet he can’t stop thinking about her. The fact that she is nothing like the women he usually spends time with only serves to further pique his interest. He is determined to win her over despite the fact that he is engaged to another woman.
The two eventually form a flirtatious friendship as they dance around their feelings for one another while his wedding day approaches. But, when one night together brings about life-altering consequences, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome everything that stands in their way. There may be something sinister plaguing them and only with the discovery of the truth can they ever begin to move forward together.
Hello, My Love starts out promising enough as the book opens in the middle of Greg and Elise’s playfully sarcastic friendship, allowing the reader to get a sense of their light-hearted camaraderie and the underlying romantic feelings that accompany it. In these scenes, both characters are likeable and the reader can sympathize with the forbidden love angle. The book bounces around a bit as the author tells the backstory that led to the couple’s friendship after months of Elise’s rebuking all of Greg’s attempts at conversation. But, it all ties together neatly in what appears to be a sturdy foundation for a blossoming romance.
As their love for each other is revealed, the complications that arise lead to a chain of events in which the couple is left at a loss for the next step. Readers who have suffered through the trials of romantic relationships can relate to the ebbs and flows of certainty, especially in the early stages when love is new. This further strengthens the characters and, thus, the link of commonality they have with the audience.
Unfortunately, that is where the growth of the storyline comes to a screeching halt. The events that follow as Greg and Elise suffer through their soul-searching are suddenly dull where they had once been intriguing. After reuniting, the friendly rapport between the couple changes as well, replaced by formal speak as one would talk to a business associate. What began as two strong, well-formulated characters slowly dissipates into a much weaker form, leaving them both uninteresting and unlikeable.
As an afterthought (developing late into the second half of the story), the author throws in a plot twist, aforementioned as a ‘whodunit.’ However, the mystery falls flat, not inciting any sense of suspense or interest. It’s resolved with just as little enthusiasm, almost as though it had no real bearing on the story to begin with.
There is an impression of unfulfilled potential in this storyline, which is regrettable when accompanied by such a strong beginning. It’s almost as if the author lost her passion for it along the way, or perhaps, felt rushed to reach its completion. Either way, Hello, My Love finishes below expectations.
******
Hello, My Love
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