Worth the Risk

Each time you pick up a book you're taking a risk.  Is it going to be a good read or is it going to be one that you battle to get through?  All you can do is take a chance and hope that it was worth your time and Worth the Risk. 

Neither Alicia Waters or Jeff Finch have had a long, fulfilling relationship since their friendship ended when Jeff ditched Alicia for another girl on Prom night.  It's been ten years since then and Alicia has moved back in with her mom, into her childhood home, in Pine Valley.  Since her parents divorce Alicia's mom has became a recluse and a hoarder, turning into a ghost of her former self.  Alicia hopes that her moving back in will help her mom stop hoarding and get back on a healthier path.

Jeff has done pretty well for himself and is now a very successful realtor in Pine Valley.  He has a nice, big house, expensive cars, and dates supermodels, with no relationship lasting longer than a few months.  It's not until he sees Alicia again after all these years that his priorities quickly change and feelings that he did not know he even had begin to surface.

Through the entire book Alicia and Jeff fight their attraction for one another and each do eventually find happiness with a happy ending but I ended the book not feeling too happy.

Of all the books that I've read by Heather B. Moore, this one was by far my least favorite.  The story was painfully predictable and the whole story felt forced.  At first I thought it was my mood, so I put it down for awhile, but when I picked it back up I had the same feeling.  The writing was good but the story lacked depth and I fought to find that connection between the characters and the reader.  It did break my heart that Alicia's mom struggled with hoarding as I have known people that have suffered from the effects of hoarding and it is incredibly heartbreaking, but I could not relate to Alicia or Jeff no matter how hard I tried.

This is the first book in the Pine Valley series and, even though I wasn't crazy about this particular book, I do not want to give up on the series just yet. Even though Worth the Risk just wasn't worth it for me I hope the other two books can deliver.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.