DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. UDNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more.
Merged review:
DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more....more
DNF at 38%, 2.75 stars I could not get into this book. Both Jacinda and Rydstrom were pretty uninteresting and got on my nerves. I also didn't like theDNF at 38%, 2.75 stars I could not get into this book. Both Jacinda and Rydstrom were pretty uninteresting and got on my nerves. I also didn't like the instant attraction they had to each other, in spite of the fact that they're acting like enemies of one another. Jacinda is trying to uncover Rydstrom's secrets (one of them being about a woman named Sybil, who it turns out is his ten-year-old illegitimate half-sister whom he's trying to hide from the ton in order to protect her), and he's trying to stop her. I'm not sure what her losing her memory added to the book, besides for creating a situation where they're in close proximity for two weeks ... Not a hit, though I already own the other books in the series so I will be trying those. Lorret has some much better books that I would recommend over this one, including The Wrong Marquess, The Debutante Is Mine, Daring Miss Danvers, and Finding Miss McFarland.
Merged review:
DNF at 38%, 2.75 stars I could not get into this book. Both Jacinda and Rydstrom were pretty uninteresting and got on my nerves. I also didn't like the instant attraction they had to each other, in spite of the fact that they're acting like enemies of one another. Jacinda is trying to uncover Rydstrom's secrets (one of them being about a woman named Sybil, who it turns out is his ten-year-old illegitimate half-sister whom he's trying to hide from the ton in order to protect her), and he's trying to stop her. I'm not sure what her losing her memory added to the book, besides for creating a situation where they're in close proximity for two weeks ... Not a hit, though I already own the other books in the series so I will be trying those. Lorret has some much better books that I would recommend over this one, including The Wrong Marquess, The Debutante Is Mine, Daring Miss Danvers, and Finding Miss McFarland....more
1.5 stars DNF From the beginning, I wasn't sold on this book. I didn't like how cavalierly the set of friends decided to have kids with aliens; they se1.5 stars DNF From the beginning, I wasn't sold on this book. I didn't like how cavalierly the set of friends decided to have kids with aliens; they seemed to put no real thought into it and it was like a group decision, like what restaurant you're going to dinner for the night. As someone who's thinking of having a kid by themselves, I know all the thought that goes into it and the implications and there was no deliberation by these women. It just seemed so unrealistic. And yes, I know, we're talking about aliens, but there can still be realism.
Second, it was like jump into smexy times RIGHT AWAY and I wasn't really prepared for that. It kind of took me off guard. I know they're fated mates ::eye roll:: but I'm kind of over the alien fated mates, because they just jump to love/lust right away and it's like ... based on what?...more
2.5 stars - DNF at 53% The world building was okay, but the fact that the hero and heroine couldn’t communicate with one another—and didn’t go all out 2.5 stars - DNF at 53% The world building was okay, but the fact that the hero and heroine couldn’t communicate with one another—and didn’t go all out in trying to communicate with one another—made it difficult for me to believe in any relationship development for them. I know they’re “fated,” but I hate when authors fall back on that and think that should be all the evidence we need that they’re supposed to be together.
They can’t communicate, she’s supposedly scared for her fellow students who were taken by another clan, yet he’s managed to give her two orgasms. Now, I’m all for hot alien sex, but I want to feel like there’s something between the characters other than just lust—and even if it is just lust, at least that the lust makes sense given the circumstances (especially when dealing with alien/abduction romance). Don’t know if I’ll give the others in the series a try, since I would assume there are the same communication issues?? Maybe it gets worked out somehow.
Also, what’s with the title? Makes no sense....more
1.5 stars, DNF at 20% Still haven’t really met the hero and the heroine, Jade, is annoying. The writing wasn’t bad and the world-building was interesti1.5 stars, DNF at 20% Still haven’t really met the hero and the heroine, Jade, is annoying. The writing wasn’t bad and the world-building was interesting. Available on Kindle Unlimited....more
DNF at 29% Couldn't handle the "man decides everything and woman has no decision-making power about her life at all." Also thought that Scuba's move thDNF at 29% Couldn't handle the "man decides everything and woman has no decision-making power about her life at all." Also thought that Scuba's move that everyone mentions was such a dick move and totally inexcusable. He doesn't even give her a chance to explain and even if she was thinking about what he thought she was thinking about, that's not the way to react. He was just a total dick. And I didn't feel invested enough in their relationship to continue; it's pure sex between them and doesn't feel like much else, even though she's apparently "in love" with him. (Unclear why)....more
DNF at 43% I was so excited about this book, both because I had heard such great things and I love wallflowers and blue collar working heroes. But unfoDNF at 43% I was so excited about this book, both because I had heard such great things and I love wallflowers and blue collar working heroes. But unfortunately, this didn't live up to my expectations. Heroine's attraction was solely based on looks (still, and I'm at 43%) and the hero's attraction was based on ... it's actually unclear to me. He is attracted to her, but I'm not sure why—and it's definitely not because she's nice to him at all. At 43% and she's still being a prissy little bitch to him with almost every encounter, looking down her nose at him, and partly because she's annoyed at herself for being attracted to him and so takes it out on him. I just wasn't buying the relationship between the two of them and didn't have much interest in seeing how it all turned out....more
1 star — DNF at 21% I did not enjoy this book, similar to the first in the series, though this one I DNF'd much earlier than that one. I couldn't take 1 star — DNF at 21% I did not enjoy this book, similar to the first in the series, though this one I DNF'd much earlier than that one. I couldn't take it when they had sex, that was the clincher for me. It happens out of seemingly nowhere; Campbell's only discovered Jo's a woman a day or two ago (she's dressed like a boy) and her face has been all swollen from being beat up. Anyway, one night he all of a sudden can't help himself and puts the moves on her and she responds, and we're 20% in. Now, I'm not a prude, I normally wouldn't necessarily have a problem with that if it were a contemporary romance, but it's a historical, she's a virgin, and most importantly: both of them have stressed to the reader how they don't want to have kids. His first wife died in labor and that forever changed him, yet he doesn't withdraw when he comes and he comes inside Jo (though we all know the withdrawal method isn't 100%, but at least that would have shown some effort). And Jo grew up following her mother around, who was a healer, and saw many women die from childbirth and so never wants to get pregnant, yet has sex with no other thought. They are both so strong in these convictions, that them just having sex like that seemed so disparate and made no sense, either for the story or for their respective characters....more
DNF at 50%. I was excited about this book because of the premise—specifically the heroine who was raised to be a nun, but is then dragged to take the DNF at 50%. I was excited about this book because of the premise—specifically the heroine who was raised to be a nun, but is then dragged to take the place of her sister who had been promised in marriage to a Scottish clan. Sands created a great opportunity for herself to provide us with great character development and a lot of emotional upheaval and grappling.
Unfortunately, everything was dealt with quite glibly and simply (in a childlike-sense). It was so disappointing. The heroine right away feels an attraction to the hero, he's right away attracted to her, and they're basically immediately set for their HEA except for an evildoer who seems to be after her for we're-not-sure-what-reason. It completely lacked any character and/or emotional depth and complexity....more
DNF. Got through a third of the book and decided to stop. I was interested by the premise, with the hero being a "tosher" (making his living in the seDNF. Got through a third of the book and decided to stop. I was interested by the premise, with the hero being a "tosher" (making his living in the sewers) and the heroine a 30-year-old reporter, but it got to be too eye-rolling for me quite quickly and too hard to believe. Verity wants to find the Lost Lord, her tip is that he's a tosher, ... so she decides to go down into the sewers and ... wander around? Until she finds him? Definitely a sound plan, especially since London is such a small city—it's not like there's going to be much ground to cover!!
Caldwell writes quite angst-free romances, which I often appreciate, because too much angst is not for me. However—and I promise I'm not trying to be difficult—sometimes I don't like it when couples fall too quickly and easily for one another, and for no absolute discernible reason. I have adored some CC books, but when I haven't, it's usually because of this type of thing....more
DNF Christi Caldwell is such a hit or miss with me, and it's often on the extreme end. Either it's a book I adore and can't wait to reread, or it's oneDNF Christi Caldwell is such a hit or miss with me, and it's often on the extreme end. Either it's a book I adore and can't wait to reread, or it's one that I want to DNF. I always feel badly writing these types of reviews, so when I can at least soften it with other books that I DO recommend by the author, I am very happy to be able to include those!
REVIEW (AKA MY RANT). I liked the premise and was excited, because it included a working woman (or woman trying to work, at least—it's one of her main challenges), and with HR being my favorite romance genre, I don't get to read those too often. The hero is also a non-lord and non-rich, which is additionally quite rare. He's a lawyer and she happens to love the law and want to work assisting a lawyer, so perfect match!
Unfortunately, their exchanges were too annoying and over-the-top, and during their second scene together, I decided I didn't want to waste my time and I would DNF it. The heroine runs into Charlemagne, the hero's daughter, on the streets, and decides to scold whomever her father is. She goes to his place (umm what?), knocks, no one answers, she goes to peek into the window, he sees her but ignores her, then closes the curtains, she keeps yellow, he opens the window at one point and gives her money, then closes it and ignores her again, and then she breaks the window. To yell at him about letting his daughter wander around London, which hey, I agree, is totally not cool nor a responsible parent move. But ummm what??
He keeps thinking about her for days, she decides to come back and try to become his assistant. They're all breathy with each other and staring-into-eyes-for-way-too-long and admiring a stunning-speech-that-shows-what-a-good-law-fan-she-must-be even though it was like 3 sentences. And so on. And apparently she did her research on him before going back, which means she would have found it he was accused and charged with murdering his wife, and though he got off, everyone still believes he did it. But yeah, totally go and offer to hang out with the guy alone at his place. Smart choice.
What really did it for me was when, in that second scene, he argues the point that the circumstances of a crime should be taken into account when judging/deciding it—an abused wife killing her husband is different than a national traitor assassinating someone? There could be a difference between murder and manslaughter? OMG wow, he's so brilliant, genius realization. Girl, what the fuck? We're supposed to believe that you have been studying law books for ever, have a deep understanding of the law, justice, etc., and are constantly reflecting on this issues ... But that never occurred to you? Sorry, no.
And she wants them to call each other by their first names right away? Okay, I could go on. Not my cup of tea, you got the message, I'll stop....more
DNF. I'm not even sure I should count this book as one of my reads of 2020 and probably won't; I got through so little of it before deciding to put itDNF. I'm not even sure I should count this book as one of my reads of 2020 and probably won't; I got through so little of it before deciding to put it down.
I don't know why, but I have been striking out, it seems, with HRs recently, particularly books from new (or relatively new) HR authors. I'm consistently finding that these books, to me, feel so forced! As if they're written by people who have been reading romance books forever, and then thought they would go ahead and write one; I can best compare it to when you see a TV show or a movie and you don't believe the actor's role, because you can feel that the actor is acting—you don't perceive them as the character, but as someone playing the character. That's what it feels like with these books, as if these authors think they just need to combine certain ingredients and boom.
This is my first book by Kate Bateman and I probably won't pick up another one of hers. From the beginning I was wary and thinking I was maybe going to have to DNF, because the book starts with the heroine approaching the hero at a masked ball and asking him to dance. She's basically never met him, but she's in love with him.
He's never met her, can't see her face, and they talk for a hot second (there's probably 5 lines of dialogue exchange, even though apparently they're dancing a waltz from beginning to end), but he's totally into her. Sure, maybe he's just horny, but that's not how it's setup—no, there's just something about her!!!
They go into the garden, makeout for a bit, and they'll both never be the same.
I'm sorry, but WHAT??
"I want to breathe you in and keep you in my lungs forever. Does that sound mad?" Umm, let me answer that for you: YES!!!!!! Sounds like it would be a hot and romantic line 75% into the book, but not in the fucking Prologue.
And then the book is back in present day and although it's four years later, our hero is still thinking of her, because she is "the woman of his dreams. A woman who'd not only excited him physically but challenged him mentally" (emphasis my own). Either he's dumb as rocks and mental stimulation comes from basically any human interaction, or it's a stupid line. They barely exchanged a word. She was flirty. That's it.
I'm firmly on the DNF train nowadays; the "too many books, too little time" adage is just too true to waste time reading a book I'm not enjoying.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version....more
DNF. I have a profound love for (most of) Sybil Bartel's books, but when her books don't work for me, they really don't work for me. This is probably DNF. I have a profound love for (most of) Sybil Bartel's books, but when her books don't work for me, they really don't work for me. This is probably one of the worst, in that I couldn't even get through the first 15 or so pages. I skimmed some of the rest and the ending, though none of that helped with my impression.
Bartel's books always have a component that I normally abhor: insta-love/lust. I still don't know why she does it in a way that works for me, but she does. Anyway, regardless of the fact that this happens every time, that I know it's going to happen every time, and that it's totally unbelievable the way it happened—in this instance, it was HORRID. I feel like it's even faster than "insta." She's in a car with her bodyguard, Ty comes out to greet her, she lays eyes on him and her world falls apart and shatters; he sees her and the same thing happens. He helps her out of the car and they both go crazy internally. I mean ... come on. Seriously. It was SO over-the-top, it honestly read like a parody—that description just occurred to me, and it really is spot-on.
Then another point in a section I skimmed was just so weird and something I find personally unappealing: they have sex while she's on his period and he's totally into it and if I remember correctly, he even goes down on her. Umm ... what?? Now, to be clear, I am totally on this recent train of demystifying and destigmatizing The Period; it is a natural process of a woman's body and should not be seen as gross or unspeakable or a shameful thing. It doesn't make us disgusting. That's how I feel about our menstrual cycle in general. The idea of having sex while having one's period has never appealed to me, either personally or when I've read it, but then that he goes down on her too?? I just thought it was weird, I'm sorry. They've known each other for like 12 hours. And he's licking blood from her vagina.
Bottom line: totally regret the $3.99 I spent on this eBook and would like to return it. I had been looking forward to this book, though not specifically because of Ty, but because it's Sybil Bartel. For what (I'm assuming) will be the next one, I am truly excited, because it's featuring that hero who is unlike any of the others we've seen thus far; I'm forgetting his name right now, because we haven't seen him very much and only in the last 2 or so books, but he's the jittery guy who has crazy Mentalist-like observation skills, had a rough childhood, etc. Keeping my fingers crossed I like it like the ones below. (Next book announced on her website is called Callous, hopefully it's his). Ugh, I wish I knew the publication date.
SYBIL BARTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
The Alpha Escort Series Book 1: Thrust (4 stars) Book 2: Rough (4 stars) Book 3: Grind (2.5 stars)
The Uncompromising Series Book 1: Talon (3 stars) Book 2: Neil (4 stars) Book 3: André (TBR) Book 4: Bennett (3 stars) Book 5: Callan (3.75 stars) Book 6: Roark (To Be Released)
The Alpha Bodyguard Series Book 1: Scandalous (TBR) Book 2: Merciless (3.75 stars) Book 3: Reckless (3.5 stars) Book 4: Ruthless (3.75 stars) Book 5: Fearless (DNF) Book 6: Callous (TBR) Book 7: Relentless (TBR) Book 8: Shameless (To Be Released) Book 9: Heartless (To Be Released)
2.5 stars I have loved the books of this series that I have read thus far, but this one rubbed me a bit the wrong way from the beginning. It reminded m2.5 stars I have loved the books of this series that I have read thus far, but this one rubbed me a bit the wrong way from the beginning. It reminded me of the first Stacy Gail book that I tried, Branded, with which I kind of had the same problem. Both start with the main characters having a history together and secretly buried sexual tension-crushing situations.
In this instance, it made no sense to me, or rather how things got back on track so quickly was very wrong in my view. The heroine and hero went separate ways a year ago, in a manner which required SO much groveling from the hero. He embarrassed the heroine on national television, said mean things, and fired her. He shows up on the scene back in Chicago now and I was shocked by how quickly she lets him back in. They start getting hot and heavy way too early and it just didn't make sense to me.
I DNF'd it, so you may be wondering why I gave it 2.5 stars and not 1 or 0, but essentially that's because it's still Stacy Gail (i.e. well-written), and the characters and storyline are compelling to a certain extent, and I think others might enjoy, but just wasn't my cup of tea and wouldn't recommend to others.
Instead, I recommend these stellar reads by Stacy Gail: Steele (SO GOOD!!), Twist, and Max....more
DNF I got till about 20% and decided to return this book to Kindle for a refund (and thankfully they allowed it). I'd just gotten off reading RaidDNF I got till about 20% and decided to return this book to Kindle for a refund (and thankfully they allowed it). I'd just gotten off reading Raid and Deacon in the same day, and had really enjoyed those books and seeing Knight in them intrigued me. But for some reason, I didn't like the instant attraction that happened in this book and I couldn't really get into Anya's character. She seemed weak and uninteresting and I didn't get Knight's sudden attraction to her. The other two books are also pretty much insta-lust, but for some reason they didn't bother me as much as this one....more
Okay, so if this is your first Anna Campbell, do NOT judge her by this book (though given the ratings thus far, it seems like I may be alone in this).Okay, so if this is your first Anna Campbell, do NOT judge her by this book (though given the ratings thus far, it seems like I may be alone in this). Campbell can write a killer novella—Her Christmas Earl (5 stars, my review) and A Match Made in Mistletoe (4 stars, my review)—and novel—Midnight Wild's Passion (4 stars, my review).
When it came to this one though ... wow, I was rolling my eyes within a few pages. It was just so over-the-top and not believable. We start off with our heroine giving herself a talking to that she's not going to be in love with the hero anymore (if one can even call it love—it was basically a schoolgirl's infatuation). Now, of course, within 5 minutes of him starting to notice her, all that has changed, though she keeps scolding herself for forgetting her new vow.
Now let's come to him noticing her. He wakes up hungover, comes down to breakfast, she's the only one there, and WOAH, although they've spent the holidays with each other for years and she's one of his closest friends' younger sisters, all of a sudden she has beautiful, intelligent eyes and her standoffish ways are fascinating to him—because normally girls just bat their eyelashes at him and giggle, we hear this from him time and time again. Now by 13% (13%!!!) we're already having him start to fall for her, wanting to kiss her in a room full of their friends and family, squeezing her hand at "the hint of wistfulness in her voice"—I'm sorry, but come on.
It was all too much for me, and too many books, WAY too little time, decided to stop while I was not ahead. I was disappointed, because I do so love the shy, quiet heroines, but they both came off as immature (she's 20, he's 25), her love for him is substantiated by nothing, and his sudden feelings shift for her makes no sense and its speed is over-the-top....more
DNF. Maybe I'm at the end of my Brides of the Kindred journey ... for awhile at least, but I couldn't make it through this one. I'm leaving it unrated,DNF. Maybe I'm at the end of my Brides of the Kindred journey ... for awhile at least, but I couldn't make it through this one. I'm leaving it unrated, because although I got very far along, don't really feel like I was able to get into it enough to rate it.
This series has been addictive (even though I actually haven't loved many of them—it's the weirdest thing), but this one didn't do it for me....more
Juliana Philippa
>
Books:
did-not-finish
(56)
Loading...
