![White Pawn by [Cole, SJ]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51UbkEkuNJL._SY346_.jpg)
Reviewed by Klaire Sutherland for #KFF
I don’t even know where to start with this book, I’m not sure whether I loved or hated it in a…. weird way. I couldn’t put my kindle down; the whole thing was so monumentally screwed up that I had to keep reading. I didn’t get the characters, in fact in retrospect, I didn’t like the characters. Both Justin and Marisa seemed all over the place but the book just had something that pulled me in. There’s every single conceivable romantic cliché you can find in there but it’s done so tongue in cheek, mocking at some points and it’s brilliant. The word satirical sprang to mind a lot of the time. Yet romantic comedy it is not. Love story it most definitely is in a very convoluted kind of way.
There were many connotations to things that may or may not have happened within our lovely book world, but with an author/book themed plot I’d expect that, and I think Stevie J Cole has pegged it beautifully. Loved the co-author/self-author reference, I always find these little references humorous. I’m not sure I would have categorised it as ‘Romantic Suspense’, however I’m struggling a little to think of the niche it belongs to. The book cover is an anomaly for me, I can’t quite fit the image with the books’ theme and while striking, that’s about it for me.
The story was like bouncing on a Pogo stick, up and down, up and down, yet wasn’t too hard to keep up with the plot. The author gives all the history on Marisa you need in the first chapter, there’s no hiding and the she does this throughout, doesn’t keep you guessing, lets the reader know exactly what’s going on. I liked the frankness in all honesty. There’s certainly plenty of questions to be asked, it isn’t a case of make the reader feel dumb by telling them everything. I had some thoughts to what might come further in the book and I have to admit I was way off track with those assumptions. But I liked being proved wrong.
You see trouble with a capital in Chapter 2, almost immediately you know you’re in for one hell of a messed up ride. This cannot end well surely? You have Justin who hit big time with a book he wrote about his past, he seems to be riding off the coat tails of that success. I’m thinking he’s just looking for a good time, for the chase, bedding and treating women however he likes. Justin is extremely shallow but underneath all his cocky bravado you find a scared little boy really. I’d like to say it’s quite endearing but I didn’t catch that emotion whatsoever. He meets Marisa, who I have to say is absolutely deluded. I mean the woman is a nutcase in a very unassuming way, which is dangerous. Very dangerous. Marisa wants the story book ending and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Maybe there was something I liked about Marisa – her no nonsense, matter of fact attitude often coupled with her humour, made for some fun moments. By Chapter 8 you’re getting a feel for what the characters are about.
“I miss you.”
For a dual POV I found a fair bit of Justin’s story missing, you don’t ever really get the details about his ex-girlfriend and his past as blatantly as you do Marisa’s. His signature line; “I miss you,” loses all meaning by the time you get half way through the book. I fear every time I hear those word, Justin Wild will enter my head. Thank you very much dear author!
I found little finesse within any of the intimate scenes, actually there’s no finesse in any of Justin and Marisa’s relationship. There’s an odd moment here and there, never coming across as truly romantic however. That’s fine, the style absolutely suits the book. The author has such a rudimentary way of describing the little things;
“…the heat radiates up from the asphalt in squiggly waves…”
What’s not to love about the simplistic nature of that type of descriptive narrative? The book doesn’t read like a tangled mess of analogies; doesn’t sound like it’s trying to be clever despite the fact that it most certainly is. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is top notch; easy to read and didn’t confuse my head too much with over complicated sentences or words. It works, works beautifully.
For those readers that are a little worried that perhaps this is going to be a dark read, I’d like to put your mind at ease. There are some questionable parts to it but in my opinion I’d say you were looking at a grey in terms of the dark factor. Most definitely suitable for those who like to keep their breakfast or dinner down.
A huge hat’s off to the author. If you can make me dislike your characters but absolutely love your book, then you have me! I do believe that this lives up to my favourite book from this author. I can’t award this anything other than the five stars it utterly deserves.
Kindle Friends Forever reviewer Klaire recommends this read – with a side of snark.
Product Description
Two authors. Obsessed with the idea of love. . .what could possibly go wrong?
This should be a love story. Everything's in place for it to be. The perfect lines, the perfect souls, but you see, Justin thinks it's a game. He thinks I'm his pawn, but he couldn't be more wrong.
Every move he makes, I'll block him.
Every time he thinks he's about to seize me, I'll run.
Some men underestimate the power of the queen because they're too busy playing king. Justin may think the game is over, but he’s wrong. The game’s not over until the king is dead.
Love is not a game, but the chase certainly is.
This should be a love story. Everything's in place for it to be. The perfect lines, the perfect souls, but you see, Justin thinks it's a game. He thinks I'm his pawn, but he couldn't be more wrong.
Every move he makes, I'll block him.
Every time he thinks he's about to seize me, I'll run.
Some men underestimate the power of the queen because they're too busy playing king. Justin may think the game is over, but he’s wrong. The game’s not over until the king is dead.
Love is not a game, but the chase certainly is.
