First of all - there's no bride in this book...so the title makes no sense. Could have been called, "The Shy Pianist." So, Cassandra is a world renowned pianist with agoraphobia - although not really so much...she has sociophobia for sure though. Neo's friend bought him a year's worth of piano lessons with Cassandra to give him something else to do besides work. The two become intrigued with one another, they become friends and it eventually develops into more. The characters were pretty great. Cassandra didn't feel too sorry for herself all the time - she had moments where she was self-deprecating or insecure because of her fears, but on the whole she seemed well-adjusted (especially considering her past). And Neo wasn't an asshole. He was pretty domineering and arrogant, but I think I loved more than anything that he noticed a real friendship blossoming and he didn't want to muck it up. And he wasn't insensitive to her...he was really quite caring. Although, I did at times struggle with his seemingly not realizing how his insistence in updating Cass's home and changing things in her life affected her. And despite all his claims about wanting life to be better for her, I couldn't help thinking at times that it seemed like he was trying to fix her...even if it was for her benefit. My biggest peeve with this book though, has nothing to do with plot or characters, but with the author's apparent rush to finish the book at the 80% mark. Suddenly she starts telling instead of showing. They're kissing downstairs on the piano bench, then suddenly they're upstairs in the next paragraph and then boom, it's over, they're done and it's several weeks later. Things started feeling very disjointed in the last couple chapters and I didn't like how rushed it felt. "Why yes my cripplingly anxious and traumatized new age pianist, I can cure all your problems because I am so fabulously good looking and rich." "And you, poor fabulously wealthy man who I will now call "tycoon" a dozen times even though no one uses that word, I can see past your gym-toned exterior to the unloved little orphan boy who secretly yearns for the home life he never had and will teach you to listen to the music of your heart while I give you piano lessons."
What do You think about The Shy Bride (2010)?
I love reading Harlequins!! They a easy quick reads, when I need a book-fix :)
—Ellie
Loved this story! I couldn't put the book down.
—Gen
