Instruct: Classify the given Amazon review as either positive or negative.
Query: Not a very good book...

I purchased this book based on the high ratings here, but was very disappointed. The writing was stilted and the characterizations were shallow. Many pivotal actions taken by the characters seem to occur for no reason other than the writer needing them to happen in order to advance the plot. I don't know much about this author, but I'm guessing that she's inexperienced. Maybe when she gets a few more books under her belt she'll be worth reading. Until then, I'll stick to Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Sandra Brown, Iris Johansen, etc.