THE DATING DARE

A photographer on the verge of an international move and an ambitious craft-brewery owner agree to a casual fling that quickly grows into something more.

Tara Park doesn't exactly hit it off with Seth Kim when she's the maid of honor and he's the best man at her best friend's wedding to his brother. She tells him to quit ogling her, and he claims he can't help it: "I'm a photographer. It's hard for me to ignore things of beauty." What a line! But with the chemistry sparking, the two of them head to Tara's craft brewery to continue the festivities—and a highly alcoholic game of truth or dare heats things up. When Seth dares Tara to go on four dates with him, her competitive nature makes her say yes, but they both know that time is fleeting. Seth is only in town to housesit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, and then he's relocating to Paris. The California setting is vibrant, and the details about the craft-beer industry and Tara's experience as a brewer are fascinating. It's in the relationships, both romantic and platonic, where things go wrong. This isn't a romance for the modern reader, as red flags from both characters are too easily explained away as the result of passion. Seth's initially unwanted attention is quickly forgotten as the drinks start flowing, and Tara routinely acts petty and downright rude at the mention of Seth's previous romantic partners even though she's had plenty of physical connections with men. Both characters ultimately lack maturity, especially Tara, who repeatedly insists love doesn't fit into her life. It's hard to care when the main characters border on unlikable.

A frustrating read.