Lori Wick - Bamboo and Lace

I found this book very similar to "The Princess" in a lot of ways.

I liked the premise. Lily is a girl from a tiny asian country where she has been raised not to look men in the eye. It creates amazing opportunities for awkwardness and curious interactions between characters. I liked Lily and her love interest, Gabe. I hated Lily's domineering and almost over-the-top stern father. I loved that the story was set in Hawaii.

But yet again, the romance falls flat. It could have been wonderful. It could have been sweet and beautiful. Shy, beautiful girl is coaxed out of her restrictive shell and shown that true love does not demand silent, unobtrusiveness servitude. So what is with the hero being talked into even considering the girl as a potential wife? The confident wooing of said girl after being convinced of its sound logic and assured that Lily will take anyone who shows an interest in her? Instead of just letting the characters fall in love naturally, which the plot certainly allows for, they are more or less shoved together by friends who seem to see that they should be falling in love... but aren't.

All I can say is, Lori Wick has a weird idea of what love is. Kind of cool story. Not the kind of relationship I'm looking for, though.