Book Review – Gemini by Penelope Ward

Gemini
You know what? This one was so gooood!!! Holy twist that I didn’t see coming, batman!  I mean… sure, I saw *something* coming. After all, it was no secret that there was a BIG secret to be revealed. But for the life of me, I could never have guessed that.

Kristie: Gemini by Penelope Ward was soooo amazing. One of the best so far!! Check it out!

Kandace: I finished it last night. The anticipation of the ‘secret’ nearly killed me. I had so many different theories and none of them were it.

Kristie: Me too!!!!!! I felt hooked from the beginning and that hasn’t happened since unbeautifully. I loved Cedric.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I kept wondering… What the heck could be so bad that he just wouldn’t tell her. I couldn’t have guessed. Yep. I could understand his point once I knew. Hehe. Whoa.

Kristi: I just got to the part when you find out!!! I was like NO WAY!!!! I did not guess that at all…WHOA! Reading on!

S. Camargo: Uhhh I know… I’m glad I wasn’t Allison because I would be soooo freaking torn. I loved it though.

Kathy: Wow!! Just finished it. Was wracking my brain as to what the secret could be and was not close!! One of the best reads for me this year!!

Yep. See? None of us had a clue.

I’ll admit I hesitated a bit during the first part (slightly irritated by this unknown “secret” that kept teasing me, and other angsty things that I was hoping would be worth the journey in the end). But still, there was something about the energy, and the characters that kept me reading, even if I wasn’t overwhelmed by it yet. It had all of the elements I was in the mood for. A story about adults (she’s in her late twenties, he’s in his early thirties). It had romantic tension and an ever-looming reveal. Poooor Allison. Of alllll the diners he had to walk into, he walks into hers. Hehe (I was inspired by that famous Casablanca line. Can you believe, I haven’t ever seen that move? I know, right!? )

But I digress. The attraction between the two was mutual, intense and immediate, BUT nothing happened, at first. He ran away! And I know… the “instalove” attraction/obsession sometimes happens too fast for us, but I’m not against it if done right. After all, as a youngin’, I too have been afflicted with a version of insta-attraction/love/crush… whatever you wanna call it. I have “eye-met” a handsome stranger and experienced that piercing feeling that had me reeling for days. Weeks. Even if no words were ever spoken! Yep. I’m sure we’ve all had that happen at some point.

It happened to me, so when it happens to the characters, I’m not too quick to roll my eyes. I enjoyed and connected to the heroine’s thought process and initial reaction, her desperation when he left without a trace and her daily hope to see him walk into her diner again.

He had such an effect on me and now, I could quite possibly never see him again.

*nods* I liked that… anxiety. Butterflies at the start of her shift, and then disappointment when yet again, he didn’t show up. And while I did have a sort of “nothing too different or exciting here” reaction at first, her hope kept me reading. I basked in their “pining”, but it wasn’t an all nighter for me, yet.

That is… until I reached the second half. The next night? I stayed up until all hours of the morning to finish it, because with such an unexpected reveal comes a surge of adrenaline, and there’s no sleep for me at that point.

Oh sure, at first I was all… “Oh COME ON!!! How bad is this secret that Mr. Blueeyes Hero is hiding anyway?”

I want to make up for my past mistakes. God, this is all too much to handle. My life was so simple before I found Allison.

It can’t be that bad. I mean, I’m in his head when it’s his POV, and from what I can tell, I’m sure he’s not a “bad guy” . Whatever it was must be a mistake. A misunderstanding. Forgivable. Right? Not his fault and all that. So this “not telling her the truth ’cause we can never be together once she knows” better be good or else! I’m just sayin’.

It was. Oh sure, it was soap opera-ish in it’s crazy circumstances. But it all came together, and started to make sense with a big resounding BOOM. Yep.  I could see where *this* might be a problem. Tee hee!!!

So what’s it about?

Allison serves Cedric in her restaurant, and the mutual attraction between them is palpable. There is no denying there could be something so profound between them.

And while at first, he races out of her life before she can even ask his name, he finds his way back to her (out of a coincidental obligation) but is plenty happy to see her again. After all, he’s been purposely seeking her out (although she doesn’t know that part). He’s got something to tell her. But now that he’s crushing on her (and thinks she might feel the same way), he decides to entertain the notion of “dating” her. Pretending what he knows doesn’t exist, and indulging in what they “could” be, if the truth were never known.

I looked up at the ceiling, thinking about the woman who mesmerized me at the diner today, wishing I could have met her under different circumstances and knowing that the truth would turn her world upside down.

He’s got a few secrets up his sleeve. A few things that she unhappily discovers on her own. And one that… okay. I’m stopping there. Let the fun commence, ’cause once it was finally out, I was IN!

Great GREAT second half, (soooooo much better than the first). In fact, I found that, in the beginning, this had a more “new adult” very young college aged feel, but really grew into itself as the story progressed and the characters developed. And then, I could see them as thirty-something dealing with life, and these “issues”, and it was smooth sailing (reading-wise) for me.  I felt a tug on my heart and flutters in my stomach for a few integral scenes causing me to slow-motion read (which I love ’cause that means I’m totally feeling it).

And WHAT a fantastic epilogue. Truly, well done. I didn’t get that “rushed to the end” impression. Sure, I had issues with the… “issues”. My feelings went from surprised shock, to shock, to kinda angry, to… curious how it could possibly work out.

But I let the author work it out for me, and instead of over-thinking it for too long (’cause I did over think it for a bit), I just decided to go with it, which worked out for me in the end. Will it work out for you? Well I dunno. Depends on how you react to that secret. *grins*

I love crazy twisty reveals. SO much fun, and I’m glad I stuck with it. This book gave me a jolt, and that is one way to ensure my reading enjoyment. “Gemini” is a fun guilty pleasure, with plenty of steam and emotion to boot!

4 stars!!

Tagged as: 4 stars, contemporary romance