Skye's West: Bannack Book

First of all, had I known this book was a revamp from 1985, I would not have even given this book a thought. Romance novels from the eighties just don't do it for me. Born in 1990, I can't relate to them often.

My issue with this book is not that I can't relate to it. On the contrary, after I finished Chances Are, I found the copyright and was shocked. It didn't make any references (to my knowledge) that alluded to the age of the book.
My issue isn't even that it was poorly written. The author is obviously well established in the writing world. The story flowed well and the writing style was nice.

My issues with this book are the characters.
In my opinion, the characters were undeveloped, inconsistent and all around awful.
All of the characters acted as though they were 16 and 17 years old. But in reality, they were in their 30's and 40's.
The main character, Liz, has insecurities like nothing I've ever seen. Granted she did have reason for these insecurities, but still at 30 something years old, I'd like to think that at some point, you learn to deal with them better. But at the same time, she's one of the best in her field of work. A field in which she need serious confidence to be able to pull off. How can she have debilitating insecurities, but still have the confidence for her job?

Donovan, the love interest, is this sweet, soft spoken hippie man that will do just about anything for anyone. But at the same time, he views everything as a game. He views the people in his life as pieces in his games. He envisions the end game in which he always wins. Again, two very different qualities for one person. It doesn't make sense.
Now that is not to say that it doesn't happen. I'm sure it does. But it didn't flow with these characters.

There are some books out there that you read and then afterwards you think "Man, that was kinda awful, but at least I was entertained." I did not feel that way at all. It started out slowly and quite a bit confusing and then ended so quickly and superficially.
I do not recommend this book.

SPOILER ALERT

I can't even begin to understand Donovan who claims to love Liz after only knowing her for such a short amount of time. Not only that, but this man FORCES HIMSELF ON LIZ AND MAKES HER KISS HIM (while she pleads over and over for him to stop) AND THEN LATER HE FORCES HER TO LIVE WITH HIM UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT HE'LL CALL THE POLICE ON HER FOR SOMETHING SHE DID (while she pleads over and over for him to stop). AND THEN HE FORCES HER TO UNDRESS IN FRONT OF HIM WHILE SHE'S CRYING HYSTERICALLY (WHILE SHE PLEADS OVER AND OVER FOR HIM TO STOP). In the same chapter she realizes she's in love with him.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. A man who is supposed to be wonderful and sweet and have great intentions DOES NOT MAKE A SOBBING, FRIGHTENED, WOMAN UNDRESS IN FRONT OF HIM AND TELL HER THAT IF SHE DOESN'T, HE'LL TURN HER IN TO THE POLICE. And she certainly doesn't fall in love with him that night. I was livid the whole time reading this book.

I'm not going to even get into the fact that Liz brother is seeing a therapist for some serious issues and while she's constantly telling him that he has to talk to the therapist more, not once does she think "hmm we had similar lives, and issues, maybe I should see a therapist too."

I would not recommend this book to anyone.