I don’t know why I asked for this book. I mean I haven’t liked a Simon Green book since the nineties. I keep trying, maybe it’s the magic of Paris that keeps me coming back for more. I mean I tried three times to read Ghost of a Chance, but I just couldn’t get into it.
The Dark Side of the Road just sounded so interesting. Maybe like a paranormal ending to Clue, it made me curious.
The book started off pretty good, but the farther in I got the more “surprises” I got that just kept on bringing the rating down.
1. Aliens: I didn’t know this was going to be sci fi.
2. The Romance: No chemistry…none. It was just really awkward.
3. The Mystery: Really? You are really going with that?
4. The Killer: see above
5. The Aftermath: A lot of eyerolls. Lots.
So I think I have learned my lesson. Green and I just need to part ways…but we will always have Paris.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall
I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
I love the cover of this.
I really liked parts of this story, but then a part would come along and confuse the fuck out of me. It left me with a feeling like I was missing the punch line in a joke or the key points of a conversation.
Oh well. It was short and sweet with a boot scene ending. No sexcapades here.
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆
- E
I love the cover of this.
I really liked parts of this story, but then a part would come along and confuse the fuck out of me. It left me with a feeling like I was missing the punch line in a joke or the key points of a conversation.
Oh well. It was short and sweet with a boot scene ending. No sexcapades here.
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆
- E
Monday, January 12, 2015
Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars by Kevin Hearne
Beware: There be spoilers ahead.
Wow, what a letdown, I was so looking forward to this book
too. I mean Kevin Hearne doing a Star
Wars book, what is not to love about that.
Well for starters the book was just plain boring. It’s
pretty much Luke racking up some SkyMiles, going from planet to planet picking
up things, and talking to people.
I mean I went in thinking this was going to be exciting and
action packed with a lot of Hearne’s witty banter tossed in.
No it was Luke running errands for the Alliance.
My husband and I used to play Everquest II, and in that game
there were what we dubbed “Gnome Quests”. These quests were pretty much goose
chases, or the fucking quest giver asking for items for a recipe one thing at a
time.
In the beginning Luke gets a quest to go meet up with some
people to get a pricing list for weapons and such for the Alliance. So he
borrows a nice anonymous ship from, you guessed it, a pretty girl. Cause we got
to have some romance here. So off Luke flies off, cue cut scene, where he just
happens upon a ship in distress whom he helps out even though it risks him and
the whole Rebellion. Anonymous ship not
so anonymous anymore.
*face palm*
He arrives get the list, and does a little side quest and
achieves a new weapon which was total bull shit. I played SWTOR, a purple
lightsaber is a bitch to get. He gets back and finds out that the Alliance is
broke, and that he needs shiny upgrades to his borrowed ship before he can do
his next quest. Oh look another side quest time. So off he goes with the pretty
girl to make some money…along with all the fucks I gave for this book.
I mean I finished it,
and really I didn’t HATE it. It was just so not what I expected, and not what I
wanted. Ok, I need to stop ranting now.
Rating: ⋆⋆
- E
Rating: ⋆⋆
- E
Tame a Wild Human by Kari Gregg
I received this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I suppose if I had been able to take this seriously I would have found this book one of the most offensive things I've ever read. Make no mistakes about it, this is non con. Wyatt may be resigned to his circumstances, might even get it worse back in the human lands, but he in no ways consents, or is even able to consent. This doesn't change. There is some silly non-sense with Alpha blood, mates, evil humans, and Wyatt's own good, but, in the end, Wyatt never really, with a clear head, consents.
Which is terrible, it really is, but I think why I was able to read it without losing my mind was just how over the top ridiculous is was. I just could take anything, or anyone seriously. Cole, the alpha. I know he was supposed to be big, and bad ass, but really? Part of me wondered if the author was trying to subvert the tropes of the genre by upholding them, but probably that is just me.
If you are looking for a deep meaningful book, one without gang rape, rape, and other sort of potentially triggering incidents look elsewhere. If you are, like me, looking for something mindless, dirty, and easy to read this is the book for you. The sex is a bit silly, yes, but it was just the sort of raunchy read I was looking for. I didn't have to pay attention, didn't have to worry about plot, or characters, or anything else. I could just sit back, and get lost in smut. Mmmmm....unapologetic smut. Perfect for a day when I was stuck home in bed, miserable with a cold. On a different day, in a different mood, maybe not hacking up a lung, I probably would have rated this book lower, but today is not that day.
mle
I suppose if I had been able to take this seriously I would have found this book one of the most offensive things I've ever read. Make no mistakes about it, this is non con. Wyatt may be resigned to his circumstances, might even get it worse back in the human lands, but he in no ways consents, or is even able to consent. This doesn't change. There is some silly non-sense with Alpha blood, mates, evil humans, and Wyatt's own good, but, in the end, Wyatt never really, with a clear head, consents.
Which is terrible, it really is, but I think why I was able to read it without losing my mind was just how over the top ridiculous is was. I just could take anything, or anyone seriously. Cole, the alpha. I know he was supposed to be big, and bad ass, but really? Part of me wondered if the author was trying to subvert the tropes of the genre by upholding them, but probably that is just me.
If you are looking for a deep meaningful book, one without gang rape, rape, and other sort of potentially triggering incidents look elsewhere. If you are, like me, looking for something mindless, dirty, and easy to read this is the book for you. The sex is a bit silly, yes, but it was just the sort of raunchy read I was looking for. I didn't have to pay attention, didn't have to worry about plot, or characters, or anything else. I could just sit back, and get lost in smut. Mmmmm....unapologetic smut. Perfect for a day when I was stuck home in bed, miserable with a cold. On a different day, in a different mood, maybe not hacking up a lung, I probably would have rated this book lower, but today is not that day.
mle
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Served Hot by Annabeth Albert
I received this as an ARC though Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice romance story. I liked that both Robby and David have their own issues an insecurities. Neither man is fixing the other, and they both have to learn how to be in an adult relationship. There are misunderstanding, but no silly big understanding. I liked that while Robby can be jealous, and insecure he takes ownership of his feelings, and understands how many of his problems with David are really Robby's own problems. I do have a few issues. I would love is m/m authors stopped using statements like "I'm not a girl" especially in an pejorative manner. I see it a lot, and I wouldn't miss it if m/m stopped reinforcing traditional ideas of female passivity, and emotional weakness. I also wouldn't have minded a little more awkwardness in the sexual encounters in this book. I think it would have felt a little more honest to the characters, and a little less romance novel than too perfect sex. The plot was simple, and perfect reading for my cold. When I don't have quite the attention span to pay attention to anything too deep, or involved.
mle
This was a nice romance story. I liked that both Robby and David have their own issues an insecurities. Neither man is fixing the other, and they both have to learn how to be in an adult relationship. There are misunderstanding, but no silly big understanding. I liked that while Robby can be jealous, and insecure he takes ownership of his feelings, and understands how many of his problems with David are really Robby's own problems. I do have a few issues. I would love is m/m authors stopped using statements like "I'm not a girl" especially in an pejorative manner. I see it a lot, and I wouldn't miss it if m/m stopped reinforcing traditional ideas of female passivity, and emotional weakness. I also wouldn't have minded a little more awkwardness in the sexual encounters in this book. I think it would have felt a little more honest to the characters, and a little less romance novel than too perfect sex. The plot was simple, and perfect reading for my cold. When I don't have quite the attention span to pay attention to anything too deep, or involved.
mle
Friday, January 9, 2015
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
I received this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little bit apprehensive when I requested this. It sounded like a really good premise, and I wanted to read it, but I didn't love the author's first series, it wasn't badly written, just too relentlessly dark for me. So, I waited before I started this. What was I thinking. I really loved this book, and sometimes it's hard for me to write a review for a book I really love, but I will endeavor to do so.
First of the world building was really well done. The setting was so well drawn it felt like a real place to me, and I loved the complexity of the society, and religion. I especially loved how the religion was structured. It felt different, and I appreciate that it wasn't an existing religion reformatted for a fantasy setting. The writing was engrossing, and it was one of the books I found myself getting lost in, and I love that.
I really liked Yarvi. He was a complicated, and deeply flawed character without being a complete ass. It was refreshing reading about someone this clever who has been trained to always look for an opening, or an opportunity. Someone who doesn't spend 90% of the book whining about how his life didn't turn out the way he wanted, and how horrible his situation is. Not that he doesn't have moments where he feels bad for himself, he is young, but the book isn't entirely comprised of his bitching, and complaining.
The secondary cast was well developed, and interesting. No one, not even incidental characters, felt like stereotypes or archetypes. There were no simple mustache twirling villains, or simpering, innocent maids. Characters had a diversity of motives and personalities. I really loved the way the characters interacted. It was smart, clever, and funny. The banter was a highlight for me, and reminded me a lot of the Princess Bride, high praise in my book. I also loved the bond that develops between Yarvi and his company. They have to learn to trust in each other, and I enjoyed seeing that develop. The lack of focus on romantic relationships was refreshing especially considering the situation they were in.
The plot was well drawn, and I loved the twists and turns. It felt authentic without feeling to relentlessly bleak or happy. I can't take a book where it feels like the author has to crush every momentary happiness the characters might happen to feel. On the other hand I hate when a book tries to convince you that the characters are suffering, and it feels more like that they are only mildly inconvenienced. The last twist was well done, and it fed into the ending really well. I really loved that ending. It was happy, but in a more unexpected sort of way. I'm sad to see it end, but I can't wait to read the next one.
mle
I was a little bit apprehensive when I requested this. It sounded like a really good premise, and I wanted to read it, but I didn't love the author's first series, it wasn't badly written, just too relentlessly dark for me. So, I waited before I started this. What was I thinking. I really loved this book, and sometimes it's hard for me to write a review for a book I really love, but I will endeavor to do so.
First of the world building was really well done. The setting was so well drawn it felt like a real place to me, and I loved the complexity of the society, and religion. I especially loved how the religion was structured. It felt different, and I appreciate that it wasn't an existing religion reformatted for a fantasy setting. The writing was engrossing, and it was one of the books I found myself getting lost in, and I love that.
I really liked Yarvi. He was a complicated, and deeply flawed character without being a complete ass. It was refreshing reading about someone this clever who has been trained to always look for an opening, or an opportunity. Someone who doesn't spend 90% of the book whining about how his life didn't turn out the way he wanted, and how horrible his situation is. Not that he doesn't have moments where he feels bad for himself, he is young, but the book isn't entirely comprised of his bitching, and complaining.
The secondary cast was well developed, and interesting. No one, not even incidental characters, felt like stereotypes or archetypes. There were no simple mustache twirling villains, or simpering, innocent maids. Characters had a diversity of motives and personalities. I really loved the way the characters interacted. It was smart, clever, and funny. The banter was a highlight for me, and reminded me a lot of the Princess Bride, high praise in my book. I also loved the bond that develops between Yarvi and his company. They have to learn to trust in each other, and I enjoyed seeing that develop. The lack of focus on romantic relationships was refreshing especially considering the situation they were in.
The plot was well drawn, and I loved the twists and turns. It felt authentic without feeling to relentlessly bleak or happy. I can't take a book where it feels like the author has to crush every momentary happiness the characters might happen to feel. On the other hand I hate when a book tries to convince you that the characters are suffering, and it feels more like that they are only mildly inconvenienced. The last twist was well done, and it fed into the ending really well. I really loved that ending. It was happy, but in a more unexpected sort of way. I'm sad to see it end, but I can't wait to read the next one.
mle
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, I went into this expecting something, fun, sexy, and pretty light on plot, and character, and somehow I ended up with three men I grew to really like, and many feels. The plot is pretty simple, and it was easy to understand the background, and what was going on even without having read any of the seven books that came before it. Maybe reading them would have given me more of an idea who the secondary cast was, but I didn't feel lost without that knowledge, and I felt like I came to know them pretty well though what I saw of them in this novelette.
I really liked the main cast of characters. Things between them might have developed fairly quickly, but it felt authentic to me. It was more about them making a decision to make a relationship work then them falling instantly in love. I liked that it took compromise on all of their parts, and that had to make a very clear decision to listen to, and trust each other. I liked that the relationship, while sexy, wasn't just about physical connection, but the support, and trust they have to each other. I liked that it wasn't about one, or two men taking care of a weaker man, but about all of them taking care of each other equally. It was sweet, and I appreciated that.
I liked the writing style, It was simple, and it made the emotions seem that much more real to me. Nothing too flowery, or purple even when it came to the sex scenes. I liked how the author phrased things, and the last lines really did me in especially from a book I didn't expect it from. I'm such a sucker for books about families, especially families of choice. Overall a really great read, especially for a very cold day.
MLE
So, I went into this expecting something, fun, sexy, and pretty light on plot, and character, and somehow I ended up with three men I grew to really like, and many feels. The plot is pretty simple, and it was easy to understand the background, and what was going on even without having read any of the seven books that came before it. Maybe reading them would have given me more of an idea who the secondary cast was, but I didn't feel lost without that knowledge, and I felt like I came to know them pretty well though what I saw of them in this novelette.
I really liked the main cast of characters. Things between them might have developed fairly quickly, but it felt authentic to me. It was more about them making a decision to make a relationship work then them falling instantly in love. I liked that it took compromise on all of their parts, and that had to make a very clear decision to listen to, and trust each other. I liked that the relationship, while sexy, wasn't just about physical connection, but the support, and trust they have to each other. I liked that it wasn't about one, or two men taking care of a weaker man, but about all of them taking care of each other equally. It was sweet, and I appreciated that.
I liked the writing style, It was simple, and it made the emotions seem that much more real to me. Nothing too flowery, or purple even when it came to the sex scenes. I liked how the author phrased things, and the last lines really did me in especially from a book I didn't expect it from. I'm such a sucker for books about families, especially families of choice. Overall a really great read, especially for a very cold day.
MLE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)