Nothing connects in this story. It's like "A Day in the Life" and it's painfully boring. The father is a horrible person and the mother isn't that mucNothing connects in this story. It's like "A Day in the Life" and it's painfully boring. The father is a horrible person and the mother isn't that much better. The little boy tries to get some attention but is basically treated like trash at every turn and you don't know why. Then there's a Mexican guy who appears --and disappears and then the grandfather --no idea what these people are doing in the novel. And what about the red pony? Well that story is over and done with in about the first 5 pages. The ending makes no sense at all and I thought I might have had an abridged copy but nope, that was it. This is one of those novels where you're scratching your heading going "what the ???". I can't believe they make/made kids read this in school. This is a great way to turn them off reading forever :-/ A complete waste of time. ...more
Strong heroine, alpha hero and they hate each other right off the bat because she’s spreading a nice tidbit of gossip about him ---something I haven’tStrong heroine, alpha hero and they hate each other right off the bat because she’s spreading a nice tidbit of gossip about him ---something I haven’t seen yet in a straight up historical so I was VERY surprised at how well the scene that fuels the rumor was done.
Lady Julianna Somerset is a gossip columnist who was burned big time by her rake of a husband (now dead) so when she gets set to take down Lord Simon Roxbury (a charming love ‘em and leave ‘em rake and a nice piece of eye candy to boot) she’s in for quite a ride. As for the hero, he’ll do whatever he can to stop her. All along the way they trade quips, banter and some very good slicing/go for the jugular word play. It’s not Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels but it’s on the outskirts which is a far cry from a lot of authors who try to do this theme and have both the h/h loving each other in a sickly sweet way after 30 pages. So yes it’s well done.
The story is fast paced and written with a very British regency feel to it which is refreshing seeing as more and more authors forget about the tone of their book which takes away from the historical feel. There’s some action too and a side story about another gossip columnist (a rival who happens to be man --maybe) but it never detracts from the love story. My only complaint is that the steam scenes were few and far between and very brief. I felt a bit short-charged what with all the tension building throughout but because that was well-done, and I really wanted to keep reading, it’s still worth 4 stars.
Her writing reminds me a little of Suzanne Enoch and Olivia Parker --not quite as good but in the vicinity. Actually if you liked Olivia Parker’s At the Bride Hunt Ball with the Bachelor theme you’ll like this one because it reads like Gossip Girl all that was missing at the end of the column entries was the “xo xo, Gossip Girl” (lol!)
Rodale is a new author for me. I may just have to keep an eye on her ;-)
Very cute story and pull out barn fence with animals from the story, the only problem is that the book doesn't separate from the barn so the child canVery cute story and pull out barn fence with animals from the story, the only problem is that the book doesn't separate from the barn so the child can't see the pictures as you read and play with the animals in the barn at the same time :(...more
I’ve been having no luck with Anna Campbell’s latest books and this one was no exception :( It’s a story that tries way too hard making every emotion I’ve been having no luck with Anna Campbell’s latest books and this one was no exception :( It’s a story that tries way too hard making every emotion and action so extreme and over the top that nothing seems plausible and it gets irritating. The characters are pretty good at the beginning and show some originality, but then the heroine turns into every other heroine I’ve ever read and the hero is just plain unlikable reminding me more of Anne Stuart’s mean/unfeeling/uncaring sob historical heroes which I don’t like. The steam scenes are smoking hot for a historical and a little different which was good to see, but with the non-stop "emotional highs" it missed out on the feeling sometimes. The author did do a good job of tension building so that when the two finally came together you could certainly appreciate the sizzle, I just would've liked more variety in the emotions which tends to make the reader connect more with the characters.
Some of the writing skirts the edge of purple prose with the crazy adjectives one after another. The revenge story is well-done for the most part as the hero sets out to destroy the charge of the woman he really loves. He goes pretty far too but then the story veers into the stupid and stereotypical romance (view spoiler)[ where the hero fights in a duel for the heroine and is on his death bed because he gets himself shot like an idiot suddenly thinking of her beautiful eyes--what the???!! (hide spoiler)]. The way he handles the duel doesn’t coincide with his character so the story went downhill from there.
There are a few too many "coincidences" from the (view spoiler)[ long lost heroine’s lover who accidentally stumbles across the hero and later her, to the heroine’s brother suddenly finding out that she’s not dead. (hide spoiler)]. It was just too much. Campbell can create an amazing story (just read Claiming the Courtesan and Tempt the Devil) but here it’s as if she ran out of ideas and fell back on the same ol’ cookie cutter regarding writing and just tried desperately to make it all work. It’s disappointing knowing how well she can craft a story and you can see that in this story but it gets bogged down in the stereotypes unfortunately. That said, maybe if you don’t read a lot of historical romances you may think it’s great because you won’t have seen this all before. As for me, I’m still hoping and praying for another CtC from her. ...more
I’ve read this book by Sandra Hill countless times already only with a different title and characters :-/ It’s so superficial, filled with bad romanceI’ve read this book by Sandra Hill countless times already only with a different title and characters :-/ It’s so superficial, filled with bad romance novel stereotypes and now that she’s venturing into light erotica it’s also dumb with just plain bad writing.
I had high hopes for this book because the (misleading) back blurb sounded good. Well the “strong” SEAL/WEAL trainee heroine turns into a weakling who never once tries to take down the oafish Viking hero who appears to be suffering from depression. The author sets up the heroine to be this independent minded, physically strong character only to have her mind turn to mush when faced with the hero. The heroine has moments where she gets all in his face but she backs down or pouts most of the time. Of course there's also her love for the small children of the clan (how sickly sweet) and she turns into a court jester practically with her trying to loosen things up --typical time travel nonsense. The so-called banter/arguing is laughable with an outdated/old-fashioned contemporary language (feels very 80s) and the steam is either icky or just plain eye-rolling/stupid. There is no depth whatsoever to the characters, the humor is mostly 14 year old boy toilet humor and the writing just feels like she had to slap out a book fast.
This was a total waste of time. The series is actually continuing, though who knows why. If it’s to repeat what’s already been done then just end it and move on. Hill seems to have turned into a has been author who now just takes out the cookie cutter à la Connie Mason boring the reader to tears. ...more
I listened to the audio book version and it was funny and interesting for the most part. Fey describes her childhood, how she got into show business, I listened to the audio book version and it was funny and interesting for the most part. Fey describes her childhood, how she got into show business, her subsequent fame and then she jumps into her life now as a mom and working woman.
The show biz details get a bit boring and the book tends to drag around that point in the middle but it picks up when she starts talking about how her career took off when she took on the role of Sarah Palin. She's funniest when she talks about her childhood, being a mom and the nasty email letters she sometimes received.
I think I may have preferred the printed book instead of the audiobook because at times some things didn't sound as funny spoken as they may have written especially when there's this sudden bout of coarse language that just doesn't blend all that well. The ending felt like it was missing something and that it just came out of nowhere.
As far as memoirs go though it's pretty good and easy to listen to....more
A smartly written paranormal that draws you in from the first few pages mixing the world of witches, vampires and demons with the human world. I'm tirA smartly written paranormal that draws you in from the first few pages mixing the world of witches, vampires and demons with the human world. I'm tired of reading about vampires but the author did a very good job with this novel. It weaves the history of alchemy with a very good story that turns into a suspenseful mystery. There's also a romance story between the hero and the heroine that's well-done and considering it's not a romance novel you can still feel what the two share.
4 and 3/4 stars for me only because it got a bit dumb and gross at one point (view spoiler)[ when Matthew had to feed off Diana (hide spoiler)] falling into the stereotype of the vampire story. Apart from that though, it's a great read and a real page turner if you're looking for something that will take you up and down the emotional roller coaster ride of a good book :D...more
If you like the captive/captor/you're-so-dead-when-I-get-you revenge romance then this should work for you, BUT (and I can’t stress this “but” enough)If you like the captive/captor/you're-so-dead-when-I-get-you revenge romance then this should work for you, BUT (and I can’t stress this “but” enough), if “forced seduction” (basically the hero does what he wants and the heroine says no but in her head she wants it as badly as he does) is not your thing, then don’t read this book. The whole forced seduction bit gets very borderline at times but it’s turn on the broiler hot and will likely leave you panting when it’s over. Ashworth does a fine job of building tension and then taking the reader right over the cliff with some very smoldering steam and down and dirty OMG take-me-now-dammit sex ;D
Ashworth teases the reader with a mystery right off the bat so there’s no wasting time with setting the scene for endless pages. Rest assured that it’s not one of those annoying RS/caper romances either. Each chapter starts with a partial entry from the heroine’s diary from five years ago which heightens the mystery of what in the world happened and why, who is Lady Cheshire and what’s her involvement with the Duke of Chatwin? The Duke has one thing in mind that’s been eating at him like a disease for five years and he wants retribution so he sets out on the blackest of black revenge against Lady Cheshire. This isn’t one of those “Oooo, I’ll get you missy” revenge stories. The hatred he has for her consumes him day and night and nearly right to the end of the story. The author does a brilliant job with tit for tat as the two battle it out to get the upper hand. Slowly though they both realize that there is a profound love they share underneath all the hatred and you’d be surprised at how well the author brings them from one extreme to next with a hearty dose of fast and furious sex in between –this is unadulterated lust at its finest ;)
There are a number of surprising secrets throughout the novel but they never interfere with the h/h’s relationship. The chapters devoted to the Duke’s confinement of Lady Cheshire are scorching hot but again tread very close to the “she said no a-hole leave her alone” side. Those of you who liked Anna Campbell’s endearingly psychotic Duke of Kylemore from Claiming the Courtesan will likely love this guy.
Ian (the Duke) is 100% alpha, but he is so broken because of what happened to him that the author really makes you feel that he’s doing all he can to keep his head above water. He's at war with himself really to try to find some peace. Viola (Lady Cheshire) is no pushover either and does everything she can to head him off at the pass as he tries to destroy her life.
Though the book is a 5 star read, it doesn’t make the favourites shelf for me because it’s missing a more regency “sound” to it –which is not to say that it doesn’t have a regency feel because it does have that, but the characters don’t have that Julia Quinn/Lisa Kleypas regency speak which is too bad because it would have made the book even better. Another thing is that the author overused every possible image of discomfort with the heroine's “stays” –she squirmed in them, slouched in them, felt tight in them, got hot in them, felt altogether restricted by them etc etc etc etc and it was annoying to read it repeatedly. She needed some variety basically. I would have also liked to have read an epilogue because it all ended too abruptly. But all this is minor to the emotion that’s conveyed through the characters and their struggles. It’s a rare read to find an alpha hero with serious issues who still remains alpha and doesn't fall apart at the seams. The only other author I’ve read who did this well was Suzanne Enoch in England's Perfect Hero.
So here you have some serious hot tamale sex with edge of your seat sexual tension, meaner than mean an eye for an eye, a sometimes disturbingly dark emotional roller coaster ride and all wrapped around a well-written story. This was definitely a good read :D ...more
This book didn’t really work for me and I love dragons in PNRs. Some of the reviews I read for it were misleading and there’s so much hype around thisThis book didn’t really work for me and I love dragons in PNRs. Some of the reviews I read for it were misleading and there’s so much hype around this new series that I was just doubly disappointed. I didn’t find anything phenomenal about the characters or the story when all was said and done. It took me a while to get through it and even at the last few pages I didn’t really care what happened.
One of the biggest problems was that the writing tone changes too much throughout the book. The hero, Dragos, has a more formal way of speaking sometimes and then starts talking like Joe Cool and then back again all formal. It reminded me of some of Gena Showalter’s characters (whose books I’ve never had any luck with). It was almost like Harrison was trying to be like JR Ward but just doesn’t have the skill to pull it off. I’d say it’s like the poor man’s BDB. The writing was weak overall despite the interesting world that was set up but if I was interested in reading about new worlds I’d read fantasy novels not paranormal romances. It just seemed like there was too much happening and too many substories taking away from the h/h’s story. Speaking of the h/h, there isn’t enough interaction between them and the heroine, Pia, who’s supposed to be “kick-ass” is a bit of a boob and a wannabe kickass heroine. She'll suddenly start screaming like an idiot at the hero throwing up all this attitude out of the blue for no reason –this is what I mean by weak writing. The characters aren’t consistent in how they speak or behave.
Dragos is a sexy, powerful dragon who starts out as a very interesting character but I didn’t think that the relationship building with Pia was well-developed. They just sort of started jumping on each other and it was “love”. The steam scenes are pretty good but because there wasn’t enough emotional development between the two it sort of lost its punch.
There are a few twists that were interesting but it’s not really enough to have me read book 2. I think you really have to enjoy UF romances to like this one because there’s a lot of so-so UF and just not enough of a good romance. So it’s a mediocre read at best for me. ...more
A good story overall that moves well right up to the end. The tone could've been more regency like but maybe it's not because the hero was very differA good story overall that moves well right up to the end. The tone could've been more regency like but maybe it's not because the hero was very different from your standard regency hero. He's very much like the modern day tv Dr House he's modeled on. The writing is vivid and you really feel everything from the scenery to the steam to how the heroine feels at key moments (some are quite heart-breaking). The hero is a bit too irascible for me which is why I can't give it 5 stars. I think the author could've made Piers less caustic at the end when he finally got a clue. ...more
I'm not a fan of short stories because I always feel like more should've been said/done. They feel short. I wanted to try this one because it's three I'm not a fan of short stories because I always feel like more should've been said/done. They feel short. I wanted to try this one because it's three authors writing one story but taking up different parts of it and for the most part they did a good job of giving it a good flow. All three stories showcase a particular character at a party hosted by the Earl of Briarly's sister who's determined to find him a wife. The novel blends well in terms of story telling, but the three authors are distinctly different. In between each story there are a few co-authored pages that allow one story to finish and another to start.
The first two stories are fade to black so there's virtually no steam. The characters there are underdeveloped so their story seems to end too quickly and gives you a "where did that come from" feel when they're suddenly "maddly in love". Julia Quinn's story (the first one) is a gazillion times better than Connie Brockway's (the second story). Quinn's is typically light with lots of fun dialog and an interesting heroine, while Brockway's is nothing but dense narration with a painfully boring and blah hero. The h/h of that story had a lot of potential but they were just mired in description and nothing really happens. I almost tossed the book at this point --thankfully I slogged on to the last one by Eloisa James.
James' story is well-written, the characters are well-developed (especially the sizzling hero), the story is spicy with very good tension building for a short story and there's none of that PG fade to black crap ;)
The Quinn story is a 3, the Brockway is a 2 and the James is a good 4. ...more
Some funny biting strips divided into themes. Some strips are along the same lines as The Far Side but with more scratchy drawings. The filler info abSome funny biting strips divided into themes. Some strips are along the same lines as The Far Side but with more scratchy drawings. The filler info about getting the book to print was no doubt intended to be funny but I found it boring....more
You can tell that this is one of Quinn's earlier books because it lacks the polish of her more recent stories. All the key elements are there but theyYou can tell that this is one of Quinn's earlier books because it lacks the polish of her more recent stories. All the key elements are there but they're not nuanced like she does now. In this novel they're sort of plunked down for the reader to see. There's lots of dialog but too much repetition and the last few chapters felt like she didn't know how to bring the book to a satisfying ending so it dragged on and on.
The heroine was a bit too unreasonable at times making me wonder why the hero pursued her for as long as he did. They picked silly fights too many times and it started to feel like filler instead of advancing the story. You really have to buy the love at first sight idea otherwise it makes for not the most believable of stories. Luckily Quinn develops the h/h enough to make you feel that they do have something when all is said and done.
There's some fun comic relief from the hero's aunt Brightbill and her daughter Harriet --classic Julia Quinn here.
A book that needs tightening and reworking all around but still has a few good moments scattered throughout the story....more