Pamela Britton
Dangerous Curves
Harlequin HQN (US: 1st March 2005; UK: July 2008 [eBook only])
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I’m not violent, but if I were one to physically throw a book against a wall, I’d throw this one. Nothing to do with the writing’s quality, but with a particular story element. I’m offended. Not personally offended, but it still feels insulting in general. Perhaps you’ll feel different.
In the big climax scene (involving a civilian grandmother aiming a rocket launcher, no less) the heroine’s spine is damaged. Not fully severed, though, so I could’ve predicted the ending, but with most books I find it best to just read – and not think.
So Cece’s in a wheelchair, feeling sorry for herself and shutting everyone out. This goes on for about three months. Then Blain proposes to her, and Cece agrees conditionally. Then she manages to stand up – swaying, but unassisted. That condition: the wedding will only happen when she can walk down the aisle. About a year later, they’re married and pregnant.
So that’s a happy ending? Why couldn’t Cece have remained paralysed? Do wheelchair people not deserve love and marriage? Maybe the short-term paralysis was only put in the story to create conflict, so it shouldn’t be such a big deal, but I am freaking pissed off. What the hell? Are the author and publisher saying that love cures disabilities, or that paraplegics don’t deserve love and marriage? This was probably not their intention, but that’s how it comes across. Admittedly, this book was published back in…2005, perhaps, but I think my point of view would have been the same then. But I could be in the minority – I’m able-bodied, so I may not have a right to feel offended in this case. Huh.
