Penned Perspective

Maybe Someday is a contemporary romance written by Colleen Hoover and tells the story of Sydney and Ridge. Sydney is a 20  something  woman who did all the right things, she has a steady job, a longtime boyfriend and is rooming with her best friend. Though she is interested in the coming and goings of her neighbor Ridge, she is a typical good girl. Her life is thrown off track when she discovers that her boyfriend and best friend have been hooking up behind her back thanks to Ridge's observations.

Good Impressions

I liked Ridge and Sydney together. Most of their relationship is built on desire and frustration, These are two people who want desperately to do the right thing by each other and the other people in their circle.  After meeting Sydney, Ridge struggles whether to admit to her that he's witnessed the affair between her boyfriend and best friend. Once he tells her, she moves in with him after punching the for mentioned people and they struggle with a strong attraction.

I liked that their connection is fairly easy. Nothing feels forced and they don't end up in bed after one drunken night. This story takes is time developing their relationship so that it feels natural. Despite the fact Ridge is in a committed relationship to Maggie you really feel as though he loves them both just differently.

Not so Good Impressions

The secondary story line with Bridget and Warren was not as endearing as Sydney and Ridge's. I understood the awkwardness of their relationship initially but found that it wasn't as interesting or engaging as Sydney and Ridge's. They hooked up because it was convenient by found they had genuine feelings for each other later. I don't fault that type of relationship but find it paled in comparison to the "epic" desire between the main characters.

Also there is no epilogue!!! What happens to these couples? What happens to Tori and Hunter (Sydney's ex)? Does Sydney ever speak to either again especially now that she's over their betrayal?

My Verdict: 4 Stars




There wasn't much to dislike about this one. It was romantic and well written. I personally don't care for lyrics to be written in the story but found even I enjoyed their prose. I'm sure that I will be adding Colleen Hoover to my "to read" authors.

Grey ( Fifty Shades of Grey as told by Christian) by E J James tells the the extremely popular story of the romance (sexual relationship) between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Christian is a millionaire entrepreneur who is entranced by Ana after she interviews him for her college newspaper. Christian seduces virginal Ana and introduces her to the world of S&M and Bondage culminating in her awakening.

Honestly after reading the original version Fifty Shades of Grey, I still found the story interesting even in this new version. This version just re tells the same events only this time from Christian's perspective. Readers who fell in love with the premise like myself were able to revisit some of our favorite scenes from the story, like Ana and Christian's first meeting.

I particularly liked to be invited into Christian's memories of his childhood. It was heartbreaking to read about how hungry he always was in the care of a junkie mother and her abusive boyfriend. The author also took us with Christian into his early days with his adoptive parents.  I understood some of his issues with food better which was one of the things that I didn't like much in the original version. I hated the way he always seemed so obsessive about feeding Ana but the reader was treated to another more vulnerable side of the control freak we've all grown to love.

This book's focus on Christian brought up some other things I really didn't like in the original version. Christian's interest in Ana seemed more like an obsession than someone falling in love. This was downplayed in the original but through Christian's eyes I felt more uncomfortable for Ana. When he shows up at her house after she sends the initial goodbye message, I felt compelled to call the authorities for her.

Also Christian felt less charming and overbearingly controlling. As the story progressed I didn't feel the same interest or attraction to the character. I was almost relieved when it was over and felt that I probably should have skipped this book.

My Rating:

I really enjoyed the first book but after spending more time with Christian my interest in the series has changed quite a bit. I read the trilogy and really liked the characters but this is probably because as a reader I only read Ana's POV. Christian's POV troubles me and I hope that this was a one time thing for the author.