I bought this because of the high praise and what seemed like a different story line. The book summary reads as: "Haunted by nightmares of her father's street murder 15 years ago, Kat Lane decides to face her fears and uphold his legacy of helping others by teaching inmates at a New York prison. There she meets arrogant Wesley Carter, who's as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick witted, and with a reputation that ensures people will keep their distance. As teacher and student, Kat and Carter are forced to leave their animosities at the door and learn that one should never judge a book by its cover. As Carter's barriers begin to crumble, Kat realizes there's much more to her angry student than she thought, leaving them to face a new, perilous obstacle: their undeniable attraction to one another. When Carter is released and Kat continues to tutor him on the outside, the obstacles mount. Can they fight the odds to make their relationship work? Will Kat's family and friends ever accept her being with someone of his background? And will Kat's discovery of Carter's role on the night her father died force them apart forever...or unite them?
Some of the negative reviews of this book have a ring of truth to them. It feels predictable. The main characters are a little juvenile. However, all of that doesn't discount this is a very unique love story. I thought that the relationship between Wes and Kat was well written and I was definitely invested in seeing how things would work for them. Wes had a very tragic childhood. Kat's childhood is also punctuated by the violent and traumatic loss of her father. Their lives intersect as children when Wes performs an extraordinary act of courage and save Kat's life. When their lives intersect more than a decade later, their attraction is immediate. There is a feeling of inevitability about them- and this is where I think calling the story predictable is wrong. Rather than being predictable, I see the author as having crafted a story where it is obvious that the characters are experiencing the kind of attraction that is more than just physical. Their souls see each other and there is an immediate recognition of their mate. I know that sounds a bit fantastic, but this is a real love story.It is full of angst and frustration, but also lots of passion. I like their balls to the wall, at all costs desire to be with each other.
Most romance novels are predictable. Most readers of romance novels expect them have a HEA. It's what lets us endure big misunderstandings, separations and seemingly insurmountable obstacles between the protagonists. In my opinion,the mark of a good writer is one who creates tension and uncertainty for the reader even though we know it is all going to end well. This book does that. So, yes- this story lets you figure out where this is going. But, I still had moments of worry and confusion during this story. I enjoyed it. I have bought the sequel novella and excited to see them navigate their issues with Kat's family and friends.
