Magnolia Book

4.5 stars.

Be careful what you wish for.

So yes, I've always wanted an asshole hero who is forced to marry the heroine while he is in love with someone else. In fact, I've dreamed about this trope for months. It came to me in a dream once, this type of marriage. And I loved it, been fantasising for it since, like, forever. Guy in love with someone else is forced by circumstances to marry girl. And even after marriage and sex (with heroine), said fantasy guy is stubborn and blind and still believes himself in love with the OW. (Don't start on me, I know I'm an emotional masochism junkie.) So, why, why on earth did I feel so uneasy and hurt and angry when I got exactly what I want??



To be honest, I loved this book. I loved it so. Damned. Much. So much that I could cry with my love for it.



But then why did I give it a 4.5? Because I didn't like the ending. No no, don't get me wrong, I loved everything about this book,



but yes, I admit it, the ending wasn't as epic as I wanted it to be. (Am I using too many italics?) I think I expected an ending more in line with the rest of the book. I didn't want The Great Arrest to be as easy as it was. I would have liked it better if both Diane and Eli (the antagonists) would have led them a merry chase before the neatly wrapped arrest. Because I don't mind neatly wrapped arrests or endings. I love them. I'm a sweet-and-slow-ansgty-HEA junkie, remember? But I like the angst and pain in the middle. And because the rest of the book was just so good, I wanted the ending to be that way too. The put-the-evil-people-in-jail ending, not the H-and-h-have-a-sob-worthily-HEA ending. Because that ending was perfect.



Before I get into details, I would like to comment on how smooth a writer Diana Palmer is. She executes the scenes so well, the plots are so beautifully carried on. Even the detail to setting was astonishing, especially in regard to the dresses. It's not easy writing a historical. I love her writing. AND I DON'T CARE IF IT'S CHEESY, AND I CARE LESS IT THAT MAKES ME CHEESY AND SHALLOW AS WELL, I LOVE THIS WOMAN.



I wish I could go and meet her. She's such a wonderful person :')


Anyways, I'll start with the heroine first. I loved her. 'Nuf said. She was so sweet and caring and such a...such a... *bursts into tears* I completely understood her bitterness, and I also loved that she wasn't a doormat. Diana Palmer writes heroines that are strong and independent but don't come off as bitches so damned well. There was one part I didn't like, though. Even though Claire knew that John was in love with Diana (evil OW), she still went on with the wedding. To say that I was pissed off at that is an understatement. But meh, minor grievances are okay. It's the big ones that matter.
Anyways, like I said, I loved how she wouldn't give up the car, and loved how she went on sewing and earned money under the name 'Magnolia'. I loved that name.

Now the hero. Like all Diana Palmer heroes, he was a Class A asshole. But like all other DP heroes, he grovels really well too :') The emotions I felt towards him were so intense, so strong, and so very jumbled. I hated him, loved him. Felt sorry for him, felt like throwing him in the sea. Wanted to kiss him, wanted to kick his ass. God.

The *ahem* in the book was amazingly wonderful too. Like I've said before, Diana Palmer gives me everything I want in a book. Literally.



It was amazing, this book. And know what? I'm going to change the rating to a 5 star because I effin' loved it so much.



Diana Palmer, I just want to say that