When You Dare: A Rollercoaster of Expectations and Disappointments
As a 25-year-old gay man, I often find myself drawn to romantic stories, especially those with a touch of suspense. I originally picked up "When You Dare" by Lori Foster because I wanted to dive into Chris’ story in the follow-up, "What Chris Wants." I figured starting at the beginning of the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series would set the stage nicely. Unfortunately, my initial intrigue quickly turned into a series of head-scratching moments that soured my reading experience.
The book begins in a rather intriguing way, thrusting readers into the aftermath of previous action without much context. A curious choice, but one that could have worked if it maintained momentum. Instead, as I neared the halfway mark, I found myself stuck in a tedious loop of the two main characters—Dare and Molly—spending way too much time together without meaningful progression. It felt like watching an endless loop of the same rom-com scene, where the characters banter cutely but never really go anywhere.
Let’s talk about Dare, our supposed hero. While he’s described as a god-like figure with perfect attributes—physically and in character—the result comes off as unrelatable. I found myself rolling my eyes at how often Molly was picked up, placed on counters, and described in over-the-top terms about her physique. I mean, how many ways can we reference her "impressive rack" before it gets old? And while the conversations between them are intended to be flirty, they often crossed into cringe territory, making me wonder if I was reading a romance novel or a teenage diary entry.
The pacing was another sore point. Every time I hoped the plot would finally pick up, we returned to awkward moments of sexual tension that felt more tedious than titillating. Honestly, when one of the few action scenes finally arrived at 94%, it felt like a weak anticlimax, and I was left wondering why I had endured so much buildup for so little payoff.
Despite the focus on romance and budding connections, the lack of chemistry between Dare and Molly made it hard for me to root for them. Recovering from past trauma, Molly is often portrayed as passive—she blushes at every mention of sex, which only reinforces this trope of the delicate flower that becomes tiresome. I craved a dialogue that felt more real and less cliched, but instead, they kept devolving into predictable patterns.
Given all this, who might still enjoy When You Dare? If you revel in exposing the quirks of romantic clichés or enjoy a slower-paced read that allows for character familiarity, you might find something endearing about Foster’s approach. However, if you’re looking for depth, authentic chemistry, or particularly engaging conflict, consider exploring other contemporary romances that may better feed your quest for dynamism.
Ultimately, this reading experience left me feeling disappointed, particularly given how much I wanted to enjoy it, especially as a stepping stone to Chris’ story. Maybe my expectations were too high, but it’s a shame that the potential for a gripping romantic thriller seemed to crumble under its own weight. I hope my next read provides a much-needed lift!
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