Not your typical Modern Romance
Thoroughly enjoyed a different sort of beginning that didn't make the rest of the story too predictable. But the rescue from leaking roof felt like a second first meet--when really page 31 is probably too late to wait for the relationship proper to start?
That said, India's writing is very readable and entertaining enough to overcome this.
Both the hero and heroine are sad and the sadness imbues the writing, which I really felt and loved. But Sarah's image problem is overplayed at times. Her low self esteem and feelings of inadequacy as a mother are easy to relate to, but start to grate.
I like that Lorenzo's older and bitter, and a film director. I like the deep characterisation and emotion. I also liked the cast of characters; it somehow adds to the central conflict and makes Sarah and Lorenzo more rounded in context, and is very entertaining, but does dilute relationship intensity.
The same way the scenes between the hero and daughter and dog are lovely interaction at the expense of hero alphaness. The scene with Sarah's daughter in her bridesmaid's dress seen through Lorenzo's eyes made me cry. Again, pace is compensated for by depth of emotion and characterisation and page turning quality--I found myself deeply immersed and couldn't put it down.
It did strike me that really these two don't have a relationship--I mean not married or pretend married, and hadn't slept together, but they do have a deeper relationship than lots of books where it progresses faster. (I know what I mean) and this slow developing relationship probably affects pace too--but it is lovely.
The ending is also lovely and Sarah's conflict is dealt with beautifully but probably--if I'm being picky and I know that I am--it was more the heroine's story and Lorenzo's conflict/relationship conflict wasn't really addressed properly, only in that by marrying Sarah he'd be getting a daughter.