Review: Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight

Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight
Release Date: June 26, 2010
Format: Paperback, 291 pages
Series: Destiny #1
Source: Won in a giveaway on http://escapingonebookatatime.blogspot.com/!

Description from Goodreads:
Lauren is visited in her dreams for years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with her high school sweetheart is not her only secret…someone else knows about her keen intuition and sixth sense.A mysterious clairvoyant seeks Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold. Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger…Sinister forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren’s abilities.

After reading the description, I thought Meeting Destiny looked like a very intriguing read. I was SO happy when I won it, and I'm still happy that I did. I got really into this book and read it fast--fast, but not in a day like some of my other reading endeavors. Sometimes I have other things to do, sadly. Still, most of the time, I was happy when I got to pick this book back up and continue on with my reading.

The beginning of this book is AMAZING. I was so enthralled by it, I was reluctant to put it down even to get some much needed sleep. We jump right into a robber (literally) and then we meet Max. And then a whole bunch more things happen that are so cool and fun to read about. Meeting Max was the big thing for me, though. Whenever he was around, I was content. I also enjoyed the concept of this story. The idea of everyone predetermining their own destinies and then being born to live out what they choose. It was so different from what we usually read in insta-love stories. There was a SUPER good reason for the insta-love in this book.

And that brings me to something that didn't really sit too well with me. Reasons for things and whatnot. I didn't understand a lot of the "why" questions in this book. By this I mean that some things were just not really explained. They were fun to read but didn't fit together all that well because there was no explanation stringing certain things together.

Character rundown. Lauren and Max. There are a bunch of other characters, too, but these are the two main characters. Lauren is a truly brave character that is so independent it can be surprising sometimes. I mean, for certain things that I KNOW I would have accepted some help with, she was adamant to do it herself. I respect that. And Max. OH MAX. Max is the guy. The guy who falls in love with Lauren instantly. The guy who is amazingly sweet and self-sacrificing (or he tries to be) but none of these are in an irritating way. What DOES get bothersome, though, is his protectiveness. I always think these things are sweet, but even I have to admit that Max being overprotective was getting annoying. Still, he was so great.

Sweetness. The sweetness is what MAKES this book for me. If there weren't to be a Max, I'm not sure I'd like it as much as I do. This said, the sweetness in this book is kind of mushy. Remember, there was insta-love in there. So mushiness should be expected. A whole bunch of "I love you" and "You complete me." I'm okay with that, but it is a wee bit unrealistic.

The ending. There is no better way to put this, and I'm sorry for that, but the ending is horrible. Seriously, something monumental happens, and then Lauren wakes up and we find out a few things and then BOOM. The book ends. Very frustrating. Luckily, I had the next book to start on right away, but otherwise, I would have probably been seriously mad. Huge cliff-hanger. Plus, the book ends with zero explanation of what the heck had just happened. So we are left with crushed hope and confusion. Not a good combo, in my opinion.

All in all, this book was okay. Not exactly my favorite read ever, but I enjoyed it. I'm so glad I won it and I can't wait to read the third book in the trilogy when I get a chance (since I had no choice but to begin reading the second book IMMEDIATELY after finishing this one). Thank you to Nancy and Tiff for this book! You two rock!

Thank y'all for reading my review!

Until next time, Friends!

♥Jessica(: