Review: A Beautiful Struggle by Lilliana Anderson

Title: A Beautiful Struggle
Author: Lilliana Anderson
Published: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Indie
Reviewer: Talia Caston
  Katrina Mahoney has a very full life attending university to study a law degree, training for triathlons and now she is working part time as well. She couldn’t possibly find time for a relationship, especially after her last one ended so catastrophically.

Right now she is content focusing on work, study and training while hanging out with her best friend David Taylor, a womaniser with a heart of gold that would do anything for Katrina – except watch her get hurt again.

That is, until the dashing Elliot Roberts, a junior solicitor from her work, shows an interest in her despite their office’s ‘No Dating’ policy.

Katrina struggles with following her heart or following her mind and has trouble seeing where her heart truly lies.

             Hello everyone, before I begin this review I thought I would introduce myself.  I'm Talia Caston- you'd already know this if you read the reviewer tab where I told you it wasn't Courtney reviewing. I'm a 19 year old female from Idaho going through her freshman year of college at Boise State. (Go Broncos!)  I met Courtney when she commented on one of my reviews on Goodreads.  We have been emailing back and fourth for a few months and she asked me to be a co-reviewer on her blog because she needed a person to review new adult. So here I am. 

Disclaimer:    I feel melancholy since my first review on CBN is a negative one.  I just don't do unhonest book reviews.  I feel it is unfair to the author, the readers of the review, and myself.  The meaning of this little paragraph is that I am not trying to down the author or the book.  Just stating my opinion in the kindest fashion.

  This book is lacking three major areas that are crucial to the success of a book. The central plot is confusing, the author is telling us the story- not showing us the story, and lastly, the characters are way underdeveloped and unbelievable. It just isn't my cup of tea. 

  I read all 250 pages ,and even at the end I was still scratching my head and thinking, the point of the story being?  I get that it was suppose to be simple, and simple it was. Enough for me to wonder what I was suppose to get out of it.  If you asked me to point out the central plot, I wouldn't be able to give you an accurate summary other than:  2 people who are not suppose to like each, well- like each other.

   I don't think the author has found her click in writing yet.  Or at least not in this book.  When reading a book that captures your attention, the author's style and writing just have to flow to effectively draw in readers.  This book just didn't because she just told us the story, she didn't show it.  Example: 
      " Cute car," Elliott commented, walking over to me.  I turned towards him and leaned casually against the driver's side of my car.  "So Friday?" he checked with me, smoothing my hair and pulling me towards him, kissing me tenderly.

  "Friday," I agreed, opening my car door and getting inside.  Elliott shut the door for me as I started the car, waving and returning to his car as I drove away."

    And the last reason why I just didn't enjoy the book is undeveloped and unrealistic characters.  All the people in the office, I found them more and more annoying as the book goes on.  And I think they took away from the story as a whole.  I didn't feel any relationship form, and the people in the office are like from a soap opera.  The characters just were not my thing in this particular book. 

  This book just wasn't for me.  And I honestly, don't know if it is yours.  But several other reviewers have fell in love with it.  So maybe I am just the odd ball in this case.  If you want to go try it out, then go for it.  I just can't recommend it, since I personally didn't enjoy it.