Redeeming Characters by Jennifer L. Hart
Passion in Print Press
Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-60820-229-4
Reviewed by G Loch









Drue is thirty-two and working a dead end job at a bookstore when he comes across a book written by an old college friend. Upon further review of the novel, that old college friend appears to have taken several elements from a story they wrote together years ago in college. Under the pen name, Diane Whitney, Dakota Whitmore has become a one hit wonder in the romance genre and is desperate to get back in the game and out of her writing slump. Drue makes her an offer she can’t refuse by helping her as a writing assistant with her next book in lieu of suing her for his half of the royalties from Dakota’s previous best-seller. As the two write romance together, will they realize that their mutual friendship is really something much more? Will these two lonely souls take the leap of faith and find the love that’s been missing in their lives?

Redeeming Characters by Jennifer L. Hart simply stands out from other books I’ve read due to sheer character development. I adored the supporting characters; even each dog had their own personality shine throughout the book! Never have I felt like I knew characters as thoroughly as I do these two main characters.

 

I am absolutely in love with Drue. He is by far, the most unconventional hero I have ever read. Normally, I develop a crush on alpha males, but I was simply captivated by his scarred chest and facial/body piercings. Drue simply screamed bad boy with his thin veneer of civility! He captured my heart from his acerbic, snarky remarks to his unconventional gallantry. His need to make Dakota feel better by diverting her sadness into anger appealed to me.

 

In Redeeming Characters, Dakota appears to be the type of character that grows on you. Because I was so taken with Drue, I wanted to despise her for her perceived betrayal. But throughout the story, the complexity of the decisions Dakota had to make made me understand her drive to succeed damn the consequences. And damn morality for that matter when there was a need to put food on the table. I admired Dakota’s fortitude to keep her family intact regardless of the cruel hand fate had dealt her. By the end of the book, I not only liked Dakota but I felt her actions were completely justified. Dakota’s character simply shined when she sparred verbally with Drue.

 

Redeeming Characters by Jennifer L. Hart is a book I simply could not put down. I finished it in a matter of two days! The premise of the book was unconventional and unique but as the story progressed everything made sense. Normally, I would quibble over the length of a book however I felt that every page was necessary. I finished the story well satisfied. The mutual friendship and love between the two characters was incredibly realistic. I loved the building of trust considering that both characters carried severe baggage caused by painful betrayals. What made this such a lovely story was that these characters needed each other – it wasn’t just about what they both wanted. Dakota had been searching for her soulmate for such a long time and Drue was looking for a family and a place to belong. Together these two complete each other’s dreams. If you love realistic characters with snarky attitudes and beautifully detailed scenery then this story is for you. Kudos to Ms. Hart on magnificent world building and character development! I would not hesitate to pick up another of Ms. Hart’s works as she definitely made me with one book a lifelong fan.