Review: The One You Want by Gena Showalter (Original Heartbreakers #0.5)

Kenna Starr and Dane Michaelson knew one another when they were children, but sixteen years ago, their respective families and worlds were torn apart by the illicit affair her mother and his father were engaged in. Thirteen-year-old Dane called seven-year-old Kenna names that hurt her but she understood that he was angry by what happened. After the death of her father two years ago, Dane's father went ahead and divorced his wife, and now her mother and Dane's father are engaged. Which will make Kenna and Dane step-siblings, something neither of them is thrilled about, to say the least.

When Dane sees that the girl he once hurt with his thoughtless words was now a beautiful woman, he stops himself, refusing to be attracted to the daughter of the woman who destroyed his family. But even as he tries to keep his distance from Kenna, he realizes he's in the middle of a losing battle. They try to be friends, but their mutual attraction is a difficult hurdle to get over. If they agree to do something about it, will the man who's never committed to a woman his entire life be prepared to do so for the very first time with his soon-to-be step-sister and who just happens to have a daughter?

The One You Want is the prequel to the new contemporary romance series The Original Heartbreakers by bestselling author Gena Showalter. This was a freebie pre-order on Amazon some time ago and I had never read any of the author's previous books, though her highly popular paranormal series Lords of the Underworld is on my never-ending TBR list. This review is based solely on this prequel and not on any preconceived notions I may have because, obviously, I can't compare her writing in the paranormal romance genre and her in the contemporary romance genre. 

As a series starter, this one was a quick enough read, though it did feel that the pacing was rushed. While Kenna and Dane were fine as lead characters and there was enough back story provided for both, the speed in which their feelings developed was too unrealistic. I mean, Dane had never committed to anyone in the past and the fact that he had an aversion to women who were single mothers made his falling for Kenna somewhat difficult to believe, especially since it all happened so fast. His initial reaction to Kenna's daughter Norrie was also different to his reaction to her the second time.

I felt there was something missing between the last two chapters. It was like there was this gap that hadn't been filled. Also, Kenna's issues with her mother were never really resolved satisfactorily. Don't get me wrong. The One You Want isn't a terrible novella. It had it's good points: there were some sweet and steamy moments, the whole step-sibling aspect wasn't played up too much, and supporting characters like Lincoln West and Brook Lynn Hollis were interesting. I just feel a few tweaks here and there would have made it a more concise and better read. I'm giving this prequel three stars. ♥

Date read: 31 March 2015

Learn more about author Gena Showalter here.

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