Stef Ann Holm

A contemporary romance. Perhaps I wasn't engrossed to being reading a contemporary romance at this time but the novel seemed rather ‘typical' or ‘ordinary' to me. Damsel in distress. Male comes into damsel's life at moment of distress. Tall, handsome guy and damsel live “happily ever after.”

I think the reason that I was disappointed in this novel is due to the missed opportunity. The main character, Lanie Prescott, is deputy in Majestic, Colorado and feels invisible at work, compared with male colleagues. Police Chief Herb Deutsch (nickname Dutch) has kept Lanie on mundane assignments (e.g. meter maid, funeral procession director, school safety crossing guard, crowd control at a local grocery store's grand reopening) and without challenge or action.

An online definition of Gender Equality shares: “Gender Equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored.”

Lanie Prescott has chosen to pursue another law enforcement position in a neighboring community as the past four (4) years on the Majestic police force have not given her the decision-making and same rights and opportunities as her male colleagues on the force. This novel had an opportunity to have Lanie as main character be more assertive in bringing the issue to light not merely complain (almost to the extent of whining in an “Oh, woe is me!” way).

Reminiscent of reading a Danielle Steel novel - Predictable. But then sometimes a reader is looking to engage in light reading and then it could be the perfect novel that readers coming in the bookstore would ask for as a “beach book.”… (meer)