Released: March 11th, 2014
Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life.
Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter.
But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought.
Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner?
"In an endless sea of overindulgence, find time to indulge in something worthwhile and make an informed, educated decision for yourself. What matters to you in here, will matter to you out there."
Although the novel had a rocky beginning, and middle, and close to the end, the ending of the novel was what won me over. Liz and Brady pissed me off throughout the whole thing but the way they matured in the end was absolutely flawless. The character development in the book was shaky but very well ended in the last chapter.
In all honesty, I've only read two of K.A. Linde's books. Although both had such great ideas and great plots, I've never found myself rooting for the main couple. Or hell, for the main character.
Liz Dougherty is an example of a typical heroine that I would loathe both in the fictional world and in real life. She is weak with no resolution and easily influenced. Although in the beginning she leaves such a strong impression of an independent, intelligent woman, after meeting Brady, all her resolve goes out the window.
I was so angry with her character development. She gave him a question on politics that absolutely stunned him at the start. I thought that, "Holy shit, this girl is my kind of girl." However, how she changed after meeting Brady, was unbelievably shitty.
Brady was her number one priority. Maybe it was supposed to be that way but I wasn't a huge fan of it, especially of the fact that she did not realize herself that she was putting Brady above all else. What pissed me off the most was her lack of willpower. After every argument they have, even though it's Brady's fucking fault, she would apologize. Woman, you do not apologize for something you didn't do.
For example:
Liz: “We aren’t doing what we started out doing anymore. If you want the girl who you met in May, then sorry… she’s long gone.”Brady: “You’re not leaving, Liz. I don’t want that girl. I want you. Do you hear me? I want you.”
And that was at the end of a chapter. By the next one, on the very first page:
Liz: "[whispers] I want you too."
Brady was similar to Liz. Initially, I admired him because he was this influential political figure and he was well-prepared for his future. He was also very romantic and sweet.
And then it just went downhill from there. He became overbearing, over-controlling, possessive, sex-crazed douchebag. All he wanted from her was the fucking sex and it was as if she was just some tool. Even though others managed to convince her of his bullshit, I was just thinking: "You actually believe that fuckery?"
[insert deep sigh here]
But, the good thing was, the ending. The ending just totally nailed it right on the head. Liz finally matures and realizes what she had to do. I fell in love with the ending. It wasn't overdramatic, like her screaming at him and throwing shit at his face, but it was more like a resolution. Yes, it was a cliffy.
The ending just saved the whole damn book. I am definitely looking forward to the next one but if this problem gets solved in the first few pages - and she fALLS PUTTY INTO HIS HANDS AGAIN, I SWEAR. I hate books that had so much potential for its sequel but it just sucks. Even in this book, there were so many issues and conflicts that could've been developed from their political constraints as well as their inexperience. But it was never done.
So yes, what I'm hoping for in the second book:
- Character development (MUST MUST MUST)
- REAL problems instead of childish arguments
- Plot development too
MY RATING:
3 – 3.25 APPLES!!!!!
♕ Off the Record (Record #1) ♕
K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.
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