Book Review: Preservation by Rachael Wade

Title: Preservation
Author: Rachael Wade
Paperback: 217 pages
Publisher: Rabbit Hole Press (May 25th 2012)
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Read: eBook
Stars: ***/5
Summary: (GoodReads)
Kate has no time for meaningless romantic charades, and definitely no time for hot college professors who are full of themselves and smitten with her. Constantly battling eviction notices, tuition she can’t afford, and a sick, dependent mother, the last thing she needs is to be distracted with someone else’s complicated baggage.

When she stumbles into Ryan Campbell’s creative writing class, he is only “Mr. Campbell” to her, until Ryan finds himself captivated by her writing and she is forced to face their mutual attraction. His cocky know-it-all syndrome is enough to send her running in the other direction, and his posse of female admirers and playboy reputation are enough to squander any odds in her favor.

But underneath Ryan’s abrasive facade is something to behold, and she can’t stay away for long. Ryan and Kate must decide who they’re willing to become and fight against their former selves if they want to make things work. That’s if academia, vicious vixens, old skeletons, and their own mastery at self-destruction don’t pummel their efforts first.

My Review:

Preservation is the first book I’ve read by Rachael Wade. I’d heard about her paranormal books so when I saw this one free for the Kindle I picked it up.

The book is a nice read though I am starting to think I am more of a historical fan rather than contemporary, so I may not be the best judge here.

The characters are interesting and I quite liked crisp Ryan though he seemed too loose (for want of a better word; promiscuous was too tame a word). I agree, he had been ‘burned’ by a woman but using women and discarding them just isn’t my kind of hero.

I understand Kate’s need to be independent in the story and found Ryan a little too controlling. That said this might be because Wade hasn’t seemed to spend too much time on romance. The characters meet briefly a couple of times, then Ryan declares he won’t sleep with Kate while she’s in his class and then promptly the two fall into bed. I just like a bit of love and romance before sex I guess. :)

The first 12% of the book is quite draggy but it picks up after that. The story seemed to me more about two people who have found great sex together rather than true love. A bit more romance would have been nice.

In the second half of the story Ryan sets Kate up with a chance to publish her book and then double-crosses her to get the deal for himself. This is something Kate later forgives. Really!!! How do you forgive that in a relationship? What about integrity? At this point in the story I expected a real surprise, coming from a woman I didn’t expect to see the lead female character just give her self-esteem up so easily.

Wade though has put Kate through her paces – her mother dies and she is almost raped. The bit about her mother seemed a bit over dramatic but Wade has dealt well with the almost rape and I could feel for Kate.

Two endearing characters in this story are Kate’s best friends – Carter and Dean. They make it easier to endure Ryan and Kate :) Carter loves Kate and frankly I did expect him to be Kate’s soulmate. When Ryan double-crossed Kate I really expected Kate and Carter to get together. Now that would have been a cool end.

What I did get though was an OK read. You can get through the book for sure but I don’t guarantee enjoying it. I think Wade could have done better.