**Blogger 'Duel" Review ~ Fearsome ~ S.A. Wolfe**

Fearsome by S.A. Wolfe

Publication date: October 2013

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Source: I received an ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis
Fearsome

Jessica Channing’s big city life should be more exciting than sixty-hour work weeks and popcorn nights with her girlfriends, but it’s not. She has worked hard fulfilling her role as a child prodigy and graduating college years before her peers. She’s the good girl, the brilliant girl.

Unfortunately, she’s also the dateless young woman.

That all changes with one phone call. Jess’s rigid, predictable life upends when she must visit a small, obscure town to deal with a relative’s death. This isn’t just any little speck of a town, though. Long lost memories come crashing down on Jess’s world when two men, the Blackard brothers, seem to lure her in.

Dylan is cover model handsome, and pursues Jess the minute she comes to town. Then there is tall, dark and gorgeous Carson, who hides his own secrets behind his hardened reserve.

For someone who has been governed by her own obsessive behaviors and fears, Jess lets her guard down and jumps at the opportunity to have an affair with a man she actually finds attractive for a change.

There’s just one problem. Jess discovers that she can’t have a simple romantic fling because true passion does indeed come with some very big strings attached to it. She will have to own up to her own truths about love and face the two extraordinary men; both troubled in their own ways and both determined to have her.

I'm thrilled to be 'dueling' with Lexxie @Unconventional Book Views over this book. We actually read it awhile ago, and while we both enjoyed it, we also had a few issues with it.

My initial reaction to this book was that overall, I really enjoyed it! I gave it 4 Bookworms because I liked the characters, the story and the small town camaraderie of Hera. But the more I thought about it, and talked with Lexxie about it, the more I waffled on my rating. 

***

Our heroine, Jessica, is very logical and analytical. She's come to Hera to deal with the house she's inherited from her aunt - an aunt she only vaguely remembers. While in Hera, she becomes reacquainted with the Blackard brothers, whom she spent time with as a child. Dylan is affable, gorgeous, and relentless in his pursuit of Jessica. Carson is serious, intense, and just as gorgeous as his brother. Jessica, not have much experience with boys, finds herself torn between these two brothers.

***

Here's a little of what Lexxie and I chatted about:

I liked it but there were things that could have been fleshed out better...like I didn't ever 'feel' that Jessica was a math genius.

LOL, me neither! We were told several times how smart she was, but she didn't show it to us that much. The same with her programming skills -- we were told she did it, but we never actually saw her do anything special.

Exactly! I liked her though, despite that. Some of her decisions were questionable, but then, I have to remember her age.

And how sheltered she has lived up until she arrives at her aunt's house. I liked her too, but I thought it was a little icky that she got it on with both brothers.

Oh yeah, that too.

***

I've edited our conversation because I don't want to be spoiler-y. I will say there were some literary devices used by Ms. Wolfe that we both took issue with. 

***

It was like she wanted to try different things but didn't have the guts to go through with her choices completely. I did enjoy the story though.

I wanted to know more about her aunt and why there was a rift in the family - that wasn't explored to my satisfaction.

Yeah, some of the storylines weren't completed, and some information just got thrown in there without any followup.

I was looking over my notes and remembering my frustration over Jessica's inability to make a decision. I understand that feeling of having had all your decisions made for you - but if she's such a math whiz, shouldn't she approach things a bit more logically?

Yes, she should have made a spreadsheet or something. :) Or an equation.

LOL

***

My finals thoughts ended up as this:

Jessica has led a very sheltered life and was raised by very controlling and stoic parents. Her father made almost all her life decisions for her, even those dealing with college. Fearsome essentially chronicles the beginning of Jessica's journey towards being fearsome...making her own decisions, figuring out what she wants in life. 

Fearsome has a great cast of characters. I delighted in seeing Jessica's friendships with Lauren and Imogene, girls from Hera, blossom. I liked both Carson and Dylan, but for different reasons. And I look forward to getting to know them even better.

Despite my issues with some of the plot devices and feeling as though parts of the story weren't explored enough, I still liked Fearsome. And, since it was the first in a series, I'm hoping eventually all my questions will be answered. :)