Badass Bloggettes: *** REVIEW *** THE CORSET MAKER 2 by K.T. Frederick

When it comes to Julien, Amelia doesn’t know what’s really going on between them. Friends with benefits? Client with benefits? All she knows is she’s being blackmailed out of her company by her ex-boss, Derek Wiggleby, even as he tries to ruin her chances of being Julien’s lover.

As for the hot movie director himself, Julien, Amelia feels like nothing more than a reprieve, a place to unleash and find comfort after a long day’s work. Yet there are moments when he opens, revealing a vulnerable interior that offer glimpses – and hope – that their affair may mean something more to him.

In the end, Amelia is forced to make a decision, will she choose to keep her company and a roof over her head or lose the man she has yet to admit she’s fallen in love with?

I love this story! Really !--but I’m so conflicted writing this review.

Oh how I was looking forward to this book. From the first page of book one I connected with these characters. They are complex and interesting and I love them wholeheartedly. Even the villain is a character developed in such a way that the reader can’t help but hate him completely and curious how he is going to react next.

Julien Wolfe, a very hot hero, is slightly dark. What we are learning about his troubled background shows a deeply burdened man with difficulty trusting others. He is vulnerable, commanding, successful and often brooding but oh so loveable.

Amelia Jacobs is such a strongly written, well thought out character with a big heart. She really stands out for me with the actions she takes and the decisions she makes that have the potential to hurt her career. She has an obsession for Julien that we can see growing into love. Regardless she thinks more of Julien than her own personal needs and acts accordingly.

Amelia has a strange relationship with her mother. She loves Claudia Worthington, her mother, even if she is a little conflicted about her mother’s past. Amelia is my favorite type of female heroine. She takes responsibility for her actions. She is a strong woman who worries about letting her friends down. She has a big heart and a huge capacity to love. While she might kick herself for her mistakes she isn’t whiny.

The writing is excellent, fast paced, and the story flows smoothly. It is told from Amelia’s point of view. The reader is right there experiencing the highs and lows with this character. There is an underlying anxiety because of the unknown. Amelia and Julien have a lot to work through and there is a thread of disaster or revenge throughout the pages. All the same these is a hopeful atmosphere too that makes the reader want to know what’s next.

So--why am I conflicted. I have to go back to the fact that this is an open ended serial. I like serials in magazines and/or on TV. I know that the story will continue for X number of episodes and then the plot is going to shift and one story arc will resolve. I’m not a fan of the novella serial. I can’t wrap my head around why this is so popular among some new indie authors. Why keep your readers guessing? Why not commit to a trilogy of full length novels so readers know how long they will need to wait for a conclusion? For me, it is easier to get on board for a duet or a trilogy. I know that I can purchase 2, 3, 4 or 5 books and have my questions answered, an HEA, the murder solved or whatever journey I’m on will see the light at the end of a tunnel.

Ms. Frederick is a very talented author. I still find it hard to believe that this is her debut as a writer. K.T. is using some of the conventions familiar to the readers of romance novels but it isn’t a cookie cutter story.

My personal preference is to read a full length novel even if it has a cliff hanger. Any way if you like serial novellas, book one is free right now, book two is ready to read and there is another novella scheduled for January. Trust me when I tell you this is a great story thus far. It is worth adding to your library and I look forward to seeing what K.T. Frederick is going to write in the future.

4.5 STARS