Son: Whatcha reading, Mom? Me: A book about a jewel thief and an Interpol agent trying to catch him. It's fun. Son: Uh huh. And... Me: Son: Me, in a soft Son: Whatcha reading, Mom? Me: A book about a jewel thief and an Interpol agent trying to catch him. It's fun. Son: Uh huh. And... Me: Son: Me, in a soft voice: and they fall in love... Son: There it is.
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Stupid smart kids! Anyway, this book was cute because neither guy knew who the other was for a long time. They were arch-nemesis's who end up in love and I kinda dug it.
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I have a weakness for heroes and villains falling for each other. Judging by the amount of results I found in my search it seems like I'm not the only one.
The only downside, I suppose, is that it is a little open-ended at the end of the book. It didn't bother me, but it did bother a lot of other reviewers.
Merged review:
Son: Whatcha reading, Mom? Me: A book about a jewel thief and an Interpol agent trying to catch him. It's fun. Son: Uh huh. And... Me: Son: Me, in a soft voice: and they fall in love... Son: There it is.
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Stupid smart kids! Anyway, this book was cute because neither guy knew who the other was for a long time. They were arch-nemesis's who end up in love and I kinda dug it.
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I have a weakness for heroes and villains falling for each other. Judging by the amount of results I found in my search it seems like I'm not the only one.
The only downside, I suppose, is that it is a little open-ended at the end of the book. It didn't bother me, but it did bother a lot of other reviewers....more
This book was being in the head of someone who is really fucked up, and I get enough of that in my own head. I read for a break from that, dammit! I mThis book was being in the head of someone who is really fucked up, and I get enough of that in my own head. I read for a break from that, dammit! I mean, I'm not trying to thought-life-shame anyone, but... geez, I need a drink after dealing with this guy's shit.
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Our main guy is Alex and he is a vet with severe PTSD. He lives with his twin brother after being released from the Army, going completely crazy and living on the streets for a year, and then ending up in a mental hospital. This guy is more broken than a McDonald's ice cream machine.
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Alex gets a job working with an occult shop and ghost tour group in New Orleans because what could be better for a crazy person who thinks evil ghosts are chasing him than doing ghost tours? I guess he's qualified, but is this really the best way to treat his PTSD? I feel like there are better ideas out there.
[image] Not all ideas are good.
The guy he ends up working for, Micah, is also fucked up - so they have a lot in common. Micah has some paranormal PTSD of his own, so the two of them end up helping each other. Kinda. I guess the whole thing is a hurt/comfort trope, but it just isn't my thing.
The other problem I had with the story is that we never really found out what the "big bad" was. As a matter of fact nothing was resolved and questions were never answered. You have to read the next book for answers, I guess. But honestly? I will see you in hell before that happens. And, this book will be required reading there.
Talk about problematic! Sheesh, this book is really strange and full of triggers.
[image] (The horse is named Trigger. He needs help. Stat.)
One of the stTalk about problematic! Sheesh, this book is really strange and full of triggers.
[image] (The horse is named Trigger. He needs help. Stat.)
One of the strangest things is when it is supposed to be set. I would have sworn it was the late 1980's or early '90's because there are pay phones for a quarter, kids playing Pogs, no smart phones and little computer usage, along with serious fashion police moments. The main guy wears painter's pants with a floral shirt to look sexy?
[image] Well, I don't. Also, go shave that rug off your chest. Ew.
The homophobia is also super old-fashioned. Using derogatory terms, being gay is super weird, nobody on the police force is gay, and our hero is fired for it. This stuff is very old-school. And not in a fun retro way.
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The other strange thing is just how Hawaiian everything is. Do people who live in Hawaii really wake up each morning to macadamia pancakes and read a surfing magazine and then head to their parent's house for a luau? (Straight from the book) Or, are these stereotypes trying to shove anything Hawaii related into the pages? Because it was endless. Every single Hawaiian thing you can think of was mentioned. It seemed OTT. Like, I live in Texas, right? But, do I wake up everyday and put on my cowboy boots, eat grits, and read horse magazines before I head out to the rodeo?
[image] Okay, you got me. I'm sitting on a horse right now.
The mystery itself was mediocre. It was pretty obvious from the start whodunnit, but I like police procedurals in general so that part was okay. Also, the MC was a pretty likable guy.
Still, overall I found the strangeness too much to overcome. I hate the gay-bashing and some of the exploitation that went on. Not worth it....more
I've had this book for years and this is the first time I actually got past the first few pages. Here's why:
"Just do it. Fuckin' do it. You can liveI've had this book for years and this is the first time I actually got past the first few pages. Here's why:
"Just do it. Fuckin' do it. You can live with it. You cain't live with what'll happen if you don't, and that ain't no figure a speech. Only takes a second. Two shots. Shut them eyes a his lookin' at you like they see through ta yer bones..."
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Authors: I cannot stress this enough: Don't try to write out accents phonetically! FFS!
Plus, I spent the entire book trying to figure out what this accent was supposed to be. It doesn't work for any accent I've heard. My daughter and I guess that it was supposed to be Southern, but... we are here, in the South, and that is NOT a Southern accent. Not even close. It doesn't flow in Southern, believe me I tried. Even my very British husband, OfJilly, speaks in more of a Southern accent than this. Plus, he never once uttered the word "y'all". I mean, come on! There isn't a self-respecting Southerner in this here Bible Belt that doesn't say y'all. That and the plural form of y'all, which is all-y'all. And, he never was fixin' to do anything either. How can you do something if you aren't fixin' to do it first? You would be vastly unprepared for the task!
[image] This cat is so damn smart! He really knows how to trigger that chick.
My list of complaints about this book will be vast and laced with profanity. So, giddy-up folks cuz I'm fixin' to unload on this fucker.
List of Grievances
1. The accent. As mentioned above. It sucked. Just write the words normally and say there was a drawl or something. It would make reading it easier and probably be nicer for the writer to not freak out their spell-check before it auto-dials the ambulance because it thinks you're stroking out.
[image] Clippy -Man's true best friend. Suck it, dogs!
2. The angst. The hitman guy is supposed to be a shell without human emotions, right? Well, fucking wrong! His shell was fuller than a pinata, but instead of delicious candy that you totally knock over the blindfolded kid who bust it open to get to, you get angst. I mean he was angstier than middle school student with PMS and a hopeless crush on the cutest boy in school. His mental whining was endless. He could easily get a job in hell just by following people around and telling them what he is thinking about.
[image] Yeah, sorry, and hey, will you be my wingman with the hitman dude? I'll take the other guy.... any other guy.
3. The OTT everything. Nothing was believable. Not one thing. I mean, I am willing to suspend belief for books at a normal level, but this one was just asking too much. If you are trying to set-up a story set in modern days with regular humans and a law enforcement deal going on, your artistic liberties can only go so far before they get to be eye-rolling material. Humans just cannot do some of the things we were supposed to believe in this story. Running from bullets, setting a line of gasoline on fire to make something explode? Those things aren't real. They are cheesy movie shit.
[image] Right? It's so dumb. I mean, how many helicopters are out there each day and how many blow up? Very few, right? It has to be very few or else we would probably hear about it. I don't think they are as explosive as movies try to make them out to be. I feel like that would be a problem IRL.
4. It was way too long. I don't need to read 100 pages of them doing mundane shit like making dinner and doing yard work, and then suddenly read a scene from the A Team, and then right back to them dusting the house. Just condense it, please, for the love of all that is holy! I felt like I aged while I tried to get through this thing.
[image] Wow, I really need a lip wax. Unless OfJilly wants to explore bisexuality.. I think I'll wake him up and ask him. He loves when I wake him up to ask him random shit.
5. .... oh screw it. That's enough to make my case. The accent alone was enough. I don't need to mention Stockholm Syndrome, too many long sex scenes, or the fact that the author made HUGE mistakes in writing out those sex scenes. Do your homework on gay porn before trying to write it! The assholes of the world will thank you. Except this asshole. I'm not a fan, y'all.
It was painful to read about a couple of dumbasses that angst over each other for 8 years in secret while spending every day together. And, just one conversation would have prevented it. And what about the alphahole being married to another man?
[image] yeah, you better hold me back! I'm gonna smack the shit out of those bitches.
Sigh
I feel victimized by this book. It was just too much angst and stupidity for me to handle. Am I supposed to cry? Over idiots? What are you trying to get out of me here? Cuz I don't have it - whatever it is.
Look, you don't read a 12th book in a series unless you are seriously invested in the characters and story, and I am both. I loved this latest installLook, you don't read a 12th book in a series unless you are seriously invested in the characters and story, and I am both. I loved this latest installment of Vic & Jacob's adventures! They are an amazing book couple.
[image] Some things are meant to be.
If you haven't read any of the series, the premise is that there are psychic cops mixed in with the non-psychic ones to solve crime better. Victor is a high level medium - which is a good thing except when it isn't. Like trying to drive a car when there are ghosts in the street might be a little tough. Or, trying to walk down the street when a ghost hooker is trying to pick you up can be annoying. So, he starts out this series as a druggie because he is trying to tune the ghosts out.
Jacob is a non-psychic cop who is partnered with a different psychic, but he has the hots for Vic. They meet and the series takes off.
[image] They had a very... interesting... first encounter.... *fans self* (But the sex is a minor part in the series considering how they started.)
Each book is building their world, their abilities, and their relationship. Plus, there is always a case they are trying to solve. And, it is so much fun! Very original world-building and paranormal ideas are happening throughout. The ghosts are always fun.
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This one is about them planning their wedding while also trying to solve a mystery that came up in the last book. There are plenty of intriguing things going on, some ghosts, hilarious wedding prep hassles, and the usual Victor sarcasm that I love.
If you haven't read the series at all, you should think about it, because it is awesome....more
Do you ever want a book just to end before you go around killing people just to do anything other than finish it? Prison time doesn't seem so bad as lDo you ever want a book just to end before you go around killing people just to do anything other than finish it? Prison time doesn't seem so bad as long as I can read something else between things like making toilet wine and a shank out of my toothbrush.
[image] hehe. Prisoner me is funny.
The thing is, the first book was awesome. Read that one and then stop. It was a brilliant "Silence of the Lambs" type of story that kept me on the edge of my seat. It devolved though. By the end I was on a three-legged stool with one short leg that was killing my ass and I couldn't get away fast enough.
[image] It went as expected.
What went wrong: This started as a wonderful cat-and-mouse story with a deranged serial killer and the cop chasing him. But, somewhere along the line it tried to become more of a psychological thriller with a gazillion twists. And, hey, I like twists as much as the next person. I eat pretzels. But, there is a point when they lose their impact. By the end of it I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out I was the murderer. And, I didn't care.
[image] Or maybe I am too salty. Whatever.
The other problem was the constant movement of locations. Everything became so frantic that you could hardly keep up with who was where and why. It was annoying. And, again, by the end I didn't care anymore anyway.
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My last complaint: it was too fucking long. There were pages and pages of thoughts or someone describing a dark room or other equally unimportant things that should have been edited out so the story was more focused. It was just a hot mess. And, although I am a hot mess by this time in the pandemic, I am not a very patient hot mess. The last thing I want to do is read the rambling ravings of other hot messes.
[image] Except this. Whatever it is - i'm in!
If the books had stayed on track and kept the story of serial killer versus cop I would have loved it.
Yeah, I'm not going to even try to review this. The series blended together enough for me to not remember which book had which event and mystery. I wiYeah, I'm not going to even try to review this. The series blended together enough for me to not remember which book had which event and mystery. I will say that it got better as the series went on and that I liked the side characters enough to start the spin-off series....more