Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: Taking Risks
AUTHOR: L.J. Hamlin
PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press
LENGTH: 33 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 5, 2018
BLURB:
Take a Chance—In a desperate bid to get the life—and the girl—she’s always wanted, Lynn confesses all her secrets to her disapproving parents, hoping desperately that she’ll land on her feet.
Icy Reception—Annabel has no love for ice skating, after a childhood accident left her scared and scarred. But when she finally has to get back on her skates, who better than her crush to ask for help?
REVIEW:
This book is only 33 pages long, but it contains two complete short stories—neither of which are very good. I know from past reads that L.J. Hamlin can craft sweet, believable characters and steamy love scenes, but this is not a shining example of her skills.
The first story, “Take a Chance,” is so brief that it fails to make any kind of impact. The title of the collection comes into play in nearly every paragraph as the main character repeats over and over again that she’s taking a risk or a chance by coming out. But there are no stakes in such a vague story. We know nothing about Lynn. She mentions in passing that she’s refusing an arranged marriage, which sounds very intense, but is never mentioned again in regards to plot of Lynn’s possible culture/background. We pretty much only know what the women look like, that Lynn took a chance, and that they have sex in a car. There’s really no story to be had.
The second story, “Icy Reception,” has better characters and an actual plot. Annabel and Bettie have good chemistry, and they communicate like really friends who might become something more. I’m always game for stories about girlfriends helping each other face their fears. I also like how Annabel’s chronic pain is treated as an element of her character, not just a one-off trait. But if you’re reading this story as a cute, contemporary romance, you’re going to be very disappointed when Bettie casually reveals she’s a penguin shifter and that shifters are a known element within this seemingly-realistic world. I actually had to put the book down after this. It makes no sense, it has no plot significance, and it pulls you right out of what could be a totally adorable little love story. It reads as a hugely amateurish move for an already established author.
I can’t recommend this one. It doesn’t work as either a set of standalones or a duology. You can’t write a themed collection with only two unrelated stories that achieve a very vague goal. The writing does now showcase the author’s skill, even when her characters made me smile.
Also, that cover. Gorgeous, sexy, a little playful—and completely detached from the story content. A disappointing cherry on top of the reading experience.
RATING: 
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