Going Home **Rhona R. Dennis**

Publication Date: August 3, 2011
Genre: Contemporary/Mystery
Series: A Green Bayou Novel
List Price: $9.95
Sensuality Rating: PG-13
Stars: 2/5

Synopsis:

Paramedic Emily Boudreaux believes New Orleans is the perfect place for a young trauma junkie to see some action. Things start out fine enough, but years pass, and the job brings nothing but strife. Emily decides to make a fresh start by returning to her roots. She moves to the small town of Green Bayou, Louisiana. Thinking she will find peace and tranquility, Emily quickly learns that her imagination steered her wrong. Small town life offers far more tumult than she remembered! Mystery, excitement, deceit, and passion run rampant along the murky waters of Bayou Assumption. She struggles with the decision of which man to love: her amazing, new Paramedic partner, Jacob Templet or her handsome, former high school sweetheart, Deputy Pete Bergeron. Her ultimate struggle won't involve the decision of which man to be with. It is a quest for her personal survival! Praying to get out of a disastrous situation alive, Emily hopes that going home won't be the wrong decision.

My Opinion:

Going Home starts off very amusingly. I was instantly attracted to the characters (not, ooh he's so hot, but I love them!), unfortunately, it was down hill from there. I really thought I was going to love this book, but after the first chapter, the book starts to disappoint.

For one thing, Emily is attracted to far too many men, and just in the first couple of chapters! She's flighty and annoying, and I started to resent her. I do not like women who are ditzy and immature. They get on my nerves, and I kinda just wanna go up and smack them and say, "Act your age, idiot!"

 Which brings me to my next point. I can't tell if Ms. Dennis's writing is juvenile, or if Emily is. From her taste in clothes, to her favorite "vampire book series" I can't tell if she's in her twenties or her early teens. She acts like some of the girls I used to go to school with. Her annoying obsession with shopping also grates on my nerves. Sorry if I sound obsessive, myself, but I'm just stating how I feel.

I always say I like a good, descriptive story, but there is a point where the author is going to far. For example, In Going Home the author tells us about the stripes on Emily's bikini and what is in the sauce at a restaurant. It's irrelevant and distracts from the important parts of the story.

Emily's relationships with Jacob and Pete move way to fast. Even if Emily and Pete are starting where they left off a date within the first three or four chapters is quite speedy. Not only are the relationships going too fast, each scene in the book is, as well. I understand if Ms. Dennis is trying to make it so a reader doesn't get bored, but how can we get to know a character or what's going on plot-wise if the story is moving at an outlandish speed? Just a thought...

This book is too mainstream! Addicted to shopping, in love with shopping, loves to sing pop at the top of her lungs...what is new about Emily? I'll be honest, I love vampires (especially hotties with six pacts and gorgeous eyes), but when I was reading this novel I felt like I've read about Emily over and over. It's boring. It needs something new, unique, unheard of. That's how you become best-seller. Take the Twilight series. Even if people aren't so much into Edward and Bella, at least "sparkling vampires" was a new thing.

I'm not here to be rude and nag, but I need to tell the truth, my opinion. To make readers interested, it takes pizazz and originality, and I'm afraid Going Home isn't any of the sort.

Recommendations??

Honestly, I'm stuck. I have no idea  who would enjoy this. Mainstreamers? Probably. How about you read it and tell me how you think!

REVIEW BY SARAH

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