Review: Because of Low by Abbi Glines

Publish Date: February 7, 2012
Hardcover {p. 290}
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Sea Breeze #2
Source: Public Library
Willow Foster, Marcus Hardy

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

The story played out a little predictably when I heard both Marcus and Willow's family situation. Before it ever came out in the story, I already knew how it was going to play out.

I ended up hating Low's sister Tawny on sight. The way Tawny treated her sister and her own daughter, I found it very difficult to believe anyone would voluntarily chose to be with her.

Low and Cage's relationship was that of a brother and sister to me even though Cage claimed to that he was going to marry her one day. Still, I continued to wonder if maybe Cage's feelings for Low were more than that of a brother even with all his sleeping around. He would drop everything for her, and seemed to be the only one who could reach her during her panic attacks.

Marcus, I liked, but never really loved. Sure he came across as a nice guy. He was from a well-to-do family but was never a snob about it. What truly bothered me about Marcus was that he claimed to love Low, but automatically assumed the worst of her and refused to listen to any explanation from her.

I felt both characters were in need of a bit more maturing. They read more of that of early high school (freshman or sophomore) students than that of college students.