Review of Rough New Prizes, The Frailest Leaves of Me, That Shadow My Likeness

[Sam Ibeh]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rough New Prizes, The Frailest Leaves of Me, That Shadow My Likeness" by Mercedes-Mary McPherson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Romance is not my favorite genre because I find most of the stories a tad predictable. So when I picked up Always and Forever: Rough New Prizes, The Frailest Leaves of Me, That Shadow My Likeness, I was expecting the same mold, but I was pleasantly surprised. As I read on and strangers became friends, I had no idea how I wanted it to end.

Kelly's life changed when she stepped into a bar with her best friend, Gabriella. A brief introduction to Sebastian by Roger, who had always loved her in secret, started a budding romance that led to the joy of marriage, the betrayal of trust, and the shadow of impending death from a past that wouldn't stay in the past. Losing Sebastian brought her to a new nadir, where she was saved by love from the background that blossomed into something extraordinary. Kelly and Roger explored the depth of their love while dealing with a message and hope from the grave. Gabriella and her husband, Raffaele, Sebastian's brother, dealt with the storm of their marriage and new revelations made the web more tangled. A new threat loomed on the horizon.

First of all, this trilogy is quite erotic, although it got toned down midway through the second book. I had to re-adjust my pants several times. Mercedes-Mary McPherson took no prisoners when it came to the imagination, and the rape scene was well detailed as it was horrific. The sex scenes were a bit much to the point I lost interest in some of the details. However, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. Trying to keep readers' interest for such a long period to finish this trilogy was no easy task, and she did pretty well for a book set in mundane scenery.

The character development was excellent. Mercedes-Mary McPherson made sure every character got their due. There was a sense of closure for all involved that was satisfying to see. Knowing she did her research diligently in scenes that were vital for a modern-day setting helped add to the trilogy's appeal. The Italian expression of romance gave the French a run for their money. I saw "I love you" more times than I had ever seen in any other book. The characters did like their words of affirmation.

The first book was a rollercoaster of emotions; the dramatic turn of events was top-notch, and the ending with such a cliffhanger made me quickly turn over to the second book. The second book followed the aftermath of Sebastian's death and threw more light on the lead character's past. The third and final book started on a high note then slowly mellowed into a calm tune of familial responsibilities while tying up all the events of the previous books. It had a perfect ending for a trilogy.

The editing was well done, though there were minor let-offs on two occasions. I'd give this trilogy 4 out of 4 stars because there was nothing dire to dislike. I'd recommend it solely to adults and romance readers because it contains heavy graphic scenes.

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Rough New Prizes, The Frailest Leaves of Me, That Shadow My Likeness
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[TheGayOne12]

Your review is very detailed and very well written, but I don't think this book is for me. Great job with the review!

[Aisha Yakub]

I'd like to read a romance novel that isn't predictable. Great review.

[Essy Nma]

Why always heavy romance content. Great book but not for me. Thanks for the review.

[Precious_Nzeakor]

I happen to be a lover of romance, predictable or not.

[Mmaduabuchi Eze]

This is an outstanding review. As a lover of literary works of different genres, I can't help admitting that this review has made me fall in love with this book.

[GNerd]

Love stories are mostly predictable and always a joy to read. Excellent review.

[GNerd]

I love romance stories. It Sparks my curiosity. Great review

[Tim Toby]

I'm not really into romantic stories but I like the way your review is perfectly detailed .
Informing us about all the necessary things. Nice review

[Nyagar]

Seems the book has heavy romance. Not a book I would read. Thank you for the honest review.

[GNerd]

Wow. The book was well delivered. Kudos to the author and you too.