I just finished reading Stella Cameron's True Bliss and I'm so happy. Happy it's over, that is. Because this is one very disappointing book. Sadly, I think it had potential - with a fairly intriguing plot. But the ridiculous characters just bring everything down.

Basic Plot

Bliss and Sebastian were high-school sweethearts. In love, and secretly engaged, they planned to run off together. But that night, Sebastian didn't show up. Instead his sister shows up and tells Bliss that Sebastian left town. With another girl. A girl he raped who is now pregnant with his child.

Fast forward 15 years. Professor Bliss has been reasonably happy with her career and her life, even if true love has eluded her. But her safe world is shattered when Sebastian arrives on her doorstep. Now divorced and highly successful, he's come back for Bliss.

Next thing we know, Bliss starts receiving messages threatening her life if she goes near Sebastian. It seems someone wants to make absolutely sure that Bliss and Sebastian stay apart. There are many suspects - too many - from Bliss's own family, to Sebastian's alcoholic sister, to his business partners, and even Bliss's own friends.

The rest of the book follows along as Sebastian chases after Bliss, telling him he'll protect her and keep her safe, even though they have no idea who's behind the threats. Bliss waffles between wanting to be with Sebastian, but at the same time being afraid of him. And several times along the way she asks him what really happened all those years ago, and he refuses to tell her.

What I Liked and What I Didn't Like

I'll start with what I liked since that'll be a much shorter list.

To be honest, the only reason I kept reading was to find out what really happened 15 years ago. I didn't really believe that Sebastian raped that girl. He's painted as a ruthless businessman, but an otherwise fairly nice guy. It just didn't make any kind of sense that he raped her, nor that she'd want to marry him if he did so. So despite the fact that this is the story Bliss was given, I didn't believe it. But I knew something had to have happened, or Sebastian never would have left Bliss like that. So my interest in the book lay completely at finding out what happened.

Because, frankly, everything else about the book was just awful.

For starters, the characters were completely ridiculous. Bliss, herself, acts like a child through much of the book. She has no idea what she wants, nor how to achieve it. She will eagerly go to bed with Sebastian one minute, then claim to want him gone from her life for good the next moment. This back and forth behavior is demonstrated more than once. Other times she yells at him and runs away from him, only to fall back into his arms - and bed - the second he comes after her.

Then there are Bliss's parents who are the least parental people you've ever read about. Her father has ambitions to become the next President, yet it's made clear very early on just how many skeletons he has buried in his closet. Let's just say that this is not a man you'd want to lead you anywhere. Bliss's mother turns a blind eye to her husband's shenanigans, yet finds the time to butt into parts Bliss's life where she completely does not belong.

Then there's Sebastian's alcoholic sister and her "boy toy" Ron. In far more detail than I needed, we learn what it's like to be a needy woman with lots of money, and a man who will do anything - yes I do mean anything - for a share of that wealth.

As if these people aren't bad enough, we have Bliss's tenants, twins Polly and Fabiola, who for some reason think they also have the right to dictate to Bliss how she should live her life. No matter where she turns, these two are always there to give their advice, whether asked for, or not. On top of that, their crazy mother stops by constantly declaring to all about her psychic visions of doom and gloom.

Good grief... If I were Bliss I'd leave town - with or without Sebastian - and not give any of these loonies my new address!

Besides the loony characters, I found some parts of the story annoying. Like the fact that Sebastian refuses to tell Bliss what really happened the night he left her. If I were Bliss I would demand the truth, and have nothing to do with Sebastian until I got it. Because until I knew for sure what happened, how could I possibly know if a life with him is feasible, or not. For Sebastian's part, he owes her an explanation, as far as I'm concerned. How can he possibly expect her to trust him, and to make a life with him, without giving her the truth?

In the end, I was happy to finally find out what really happened, but I was left wondering what the BIG DEAL was? There was nothing so shocking, so devastating, that Sebastian couldn't have told her all along. Perhaps if he'd told her the story when he first came back to town, a lot of grief could have been avoided. But then, of course, there couldn't have been nearly 400 pages of ridiculous fluff for readers to get through. So, I suppose the author knew what she was doing. For my part, I found this book a complete waste of time and I won't be seeking any more Stella Cameron novels.


Recommended: No