Normally I don't give my DNFs higher than 1 star, but I do think that's a little unfair. If I'd been in a different mood I'd have probably finDNF ~25%
Normally I don't give my DNFs higher than 1 star, but I do think that's a little unfair. If I'd been in a different mood I'd have probably finished it and I think 2 stars would have been about right. The feelings moved far too quickly for me, and I'm just not a fan of the "dead past lover" trope. Not terrible, but Andrews has definitely improved a lot over the past 15 years.
Merged review:
DNF ~25%
Normally I don't give my DNFs higher than 1 star, but I do think that's a little unfair. If I'd been in a different mood I'd have probably finished it and I think 2 stars would have been about right. The feelings moved far too quickly for me, and I'm just not a fan of the "dead past lover" trope. Not terrible, but Andrews has definitely improved a lot over the past 15 years....more
After all the rave reviews I was prepared to love this book, but it was super disappointing. I love a good sex scene as much as (frankly, pDNF at ~60%
After all the rave reviews I was prepared to love this book, but it was super disappointing. I love a good sex scene as much as (frankly, probably more than) the next person, but that was literally all this book was, at least in the first 2/3. The flimsiest excuse for a plot and relationship development ever, and though the author kept telling us the MCs were falling for each other, it was so ridiculously unbelievable given their minimal positive interactions and/or conversations of ANY kind that I just couldn't get into it. Plus, I thought the POV character was kind of a dick, and while I actually had no problems with the random threesome, I wasn't really sure what the purpose was or what it brought to the plot. It felt gratuitous and unnecessary, and frankly this whole book seemed hugely self-indulgent.
Merged review:
DNF at ~60%
After all the rave reviews I was prepared to love this book, but it was super disappointing. I love a good sex scene as much as (frankly, probably more than) the next person, but that was literally all this book was, at least in the first 2/3. The flimsiest excuse for a plot and relationship development ever, and though the author kept telling us the MCs were falling for each other, it was so ridiculously unbelievable given their minimal positive interactions and/or conversations of ANY kind that I just couldn't get into it. Plus, I thought the POV character was kind of a dick, and while I actually had no problems with the random threesome, I wasn't really sure what the purpose was or what it brought to the plot. It felt gratuitous and unnecessary, and frankly this whole book seemed hugely self-indulgent....more
I really tried with this one, but I just couldn't do it. The writing was really bad, with TONS of exposition and really awkward dialogue. Add DNF ~40%
I really tried with this one, but I just couldn't do it. The writing was really bad, with TONS of exposition and really awkward dialogue. Add to that a plot that felt a little ridiculously unbelievable, and that the book seemed to go on FOREVER, and I just couldn't make myself continue. :/
Merged review:
DNF ~40%
I really tried with this one, but I just couldn't do it. The writing was really bad, with TONS of exposition and really awkward dialogue. Add to that a plot that felt a little ridiculously unbelievable, and that the book seemed to go on FOREVER, and I just couldn't make myself continue. :/...more
I really gave this one a solid try, but I wasn't enjoying it terrible in the first 50% and then shit managed to go off the rails in the next 6DNF ~56%
I really gave this one a solid try, but I wasn't enjoying it terrible in the first 50% and then shit managed to go off the rails in the next 6%, and I just couldn't. The build between Henry and Michael just felt really weird and sudden--Henry 100% seemed like he was just being nice, and Michael kept saying he was getting ~vibes~ but I don't actually feel like the author wrote that. And then we have the (for me) mildly squicky aspect that Michael was in love with Henry's (now dead) brother, a fact he still hasn't mentioned to Henry because "Henry must already know"... what?? Henry has not indicated that at all, has in fact said he's had a crush on you for ages, and you're not talking about being in love with his brother because he probably already knows? It makes no sense and is so clearly a setup for a future dramatic reveal that I want no part of. And then the incredibly odd reveal right at the 50% mark that I know is gonna make things even squickier for me and frankly felt super unnecessary. Second book by this author in this series and neither of them have worked for me so I think they just might not be my cup of tea.
Merged review:
DNF ~56%
I really gave this one a solid try, but I wasn't enjoying it terrible in the first 50% and then shit managed to go off the rails in the next 6%, and I just couldn't. The build between Henry and Michael just felt really weird and sudden--Henry 100% seemed like he was just being nice, and Michael kept saying he was getting ~vibes~ but I don't actually feel like the author wrote that. And then we have the (for me) mildly squicky aspect that Michael was in love with Henry's (now dead) brother, a fact he still hasn't mentioned to Henry because "Henry must already know"... what?? Henry has not indicated that at all, has in fact said he's had a crush on you for ages, and you're not talking about being in love with his brother because he probably already knows? It makes no sense and is so clearly a setup for a future dramatic reveal that I want no part of. And then the incredibly odd reveal right at the 50% mark that I know is gonna make things even squickier for me and frankly felt super unnecessary. Second book by this author in this series and neither of them have worked for me so I think they just might not be my cup of tea....more
Rating this a two stars despite not finishing, because it wasn't as awful as most of the books I have to stop reading. I just wasn't pulledDNF at ~20%
Rating this a two stars despite not finishing, because it wasn't as awful as most of the books I have to stop reading. I just wasn't pulled in and reading it felt like a bit of chore. Which was probably partially influenced by my mood, because I think normally I would have kept reading.
Merged review:
DNF at ~20%
Rating this a two stars despite not finishing, because it wasn't as awful as most of the books I have to stop reading. I just wasn't pulled in and reading it felt like a bit of chore. Which was probably partially influenced by my mood, because I think normally I would have kept reading....more
Not sure why, but I just couldn't with this one. The concept was so much more up my alley than the first, but the writing here seemed waaaaay DNF ~10%
Not sure why, but I just couldn't with this one. The concept was so much more up my alley than the first, but the writing here seemed waaaaay worse. The dialogue was awkward and stilted and made me think the author had never been around anybody from Texas... They were already beginning their first sex scene when I stopped reading and it was utterly boring and unsexy.
Merged review:
DNF ~10%
Not sure why, but I just couldn't with this one. The concept was so much more up my alley than the first, but the writing here seemed waaaaay worse. The dialogue was awkward and stilted and made me think the author had never been around anybody from Texas... They were already beginning their first sex scene when I stopped reading and it was utterly boring and unsexy....more
Not particularly captivated by the plot which is just a bit strange, and there's absolutely no chemistry at all between the main characters. MDNF @32%
Not particularly captivated by the plot which is just a bit strange, and there's absolutely no chemistry at all between the main characters. Morgan is, frankly, a massive wanker, which is impressive considering his is the only POV we get, and I still find him incredibly annoying and a total dick.
Merged review:
DNF @32%
Not particularly captivated by the plot which is just a bit strange, and there's absolutely no chemistry at all between the main characters. Morgan is, frankly, a massive wanker, which is impressive considering his is the only POV we get, and I still find him incredibly annoying and a total dick....more
I usually really enjoy this author's books, but their contributions to this series haven't done it for me. The premise of this one sounded reaDNF ~40%
I usually really enjoy this author's books, but their contributions to this series haven't done it for me. The premise of this one sounded really interesting, and so far the writing is great (as expected) and the representation of a Black customs officer trying to move up in the world felt really well researched and incorporated into the story. Unfortunately, I didn't find him, nor his "love interest" particularly enjoyable to read, nor did I find them to have any actual chemistry or connection. At 40% in, they've barely interacted, and said interactions have all felt genuinely acrimonious with no real thread of sexual tension. Dean's inability to believe that the magistrate whom he's working for is corrupt honestly felt unbelievable for a man of his age, experience, and background, and we've not had enough of Tomas's POV yet in the book for me to care much about him one way or another, especially given how little they've interacted. I'm not enjoying myself, so I'm giving it a pass.
Merged review:
DNF ~40%
I usually really enjoy this author's books, but their contributions to this series haven't done it for me. The premise of this one sounded really interesting, and so far the writing is great (as expected) and the representation of a Black customs officer trying to move up in the world felt really well researched and incorporated into the story. Unfortunately, I didn't find him, nor his "love interest" particularly enjoyable to read, nor did I find them to have any actual chemistry or connection. At 40% in, they've barely interacted, and said interactions have all felt genuinely acrimonious with no real thread of sexual tension. Dean's inability to believe that the magistrate whom he's working for is corrupt honestly felt unbelievable for a man of his age, experience, and background, and we've not had enough of Tomas's POV yet in the book for me to care much about him one way or another, especially given how little they've interacted. I'm not enjoying myself, so I'm giving it a pass....more
Another book by an author I generally enjoy that just didn't work for me. I really did try, but the plot was a bit convoluted, and I felt absoDNF ~48%
Another book by an author I generally enjoy that just didn't work for me. I really did try, but the plot was a bit convoluted, and I felt absolutely no connection between the main characters. I was just bored.
Merged review:
DNF ~48%
Another book by an author I generally enjoy that just didn't work for me. I really did try, but the plot was a bit convoluted, and I felt absolutely no connection between the main characters. I was just bored....more
I was almost able to get through this one and not totally hate it, but the twin plot stuff was so unbelievable and convoluted that it kept thrDnf ~50%
I was almost able to get through this one and not totally hate it, but the twin plot stuff was so unbelievable and convoluted that it kept throwing me out of the story, and the smut went from 0 to 100 in a way that felt pretty rushed. There were also approximately 8000 references to other books by this author, which I'm just very over....more
I've read pretty much all of Butler's books and generally enjoyed them, so when I saw they were writing a trilogy I got very excited, and planDNF ~28%
I've read pretty much all of Butler's books and generally enjoyed them, so when I saw they were writing a trilogy I got very excited, and planned to hold off reading the first two until the 3rd was about to come out. Based on some of the reviews I'd seen about book 1, I was a little nervous it wouldn't be for me, and unfortunately, those fears proved justified. :/
The writing was fine, but from the beginning the setup just wasn't that appealing to me. The dynamic between the two main characters verges into the uncomfy territory with the weird power dynamics at play, and based on how things played out in the first quarter (and from other reviews) I don't have faith that the author is going to resolve them in a way that feels satisfying -- I think maybe the author went into territory that was a little too dark and complex for what they wanted (or perhaps are capable) to be writing. The intrigue and "secrets kept from the audience" writing tropes are in full force here and I often get annoyed by that device. The conversations also were incredibly repetitive even just in the first 25% -- how many times can they talk about needed to trust one another and be open and share information??
Suuuuper bummed about this, because I really did think I would like this one despite the foreboding reviews and had really been looking forward to have this trilogy to dive into, but alas, it was not meant to be. At least the author is (hopefully) moving on to a new project soon, and fingers crossed that concept resonates more with me! ...more
I keep telling myself that I won't read this author anymore, but each time I keep picking up her newest release, hoping this time will be diffDNF ~47%
I keep telling myself that I won't read this author anymore, but each time I keep picking up her newest release, hoping this time will be different...
To be fair, I was actually quite enjoying myself, right up until they finally started acting on all the pining between them. By the time they admitted their feelings to one another, it honestly felt like I was reading two entirely different characters. The personalities that were established in the first 1/3 or so of the book seemed to be entirely disregarded so that, I can only assume, the author could achieve a certain kind of dynamic she was looking for. But that could have absolutely been done without making the characters feel totally unrecognizable. Albie, despite being only one year older than Percy and just as inexperienced (one has to assume even less so, given he had far less exposure to people his own age) turns into a suave sex god, and Percy, who's been quite bold and confident throughout the book, suddenly turns into a shy, submissive flower--not sure why we couldn't have had the sweet, bumbling, first-time exploration from them both, which was what I'd been expecteing from the set-up. The shift in personality for me was jarring and I lost all interest in the characters that had previously been engaging. Possibly things get better as you read on, but the book wasn't good enough to make me persevere....more
Couldn't even make it 10% into this one.... I really expected to love it, but the writing was really clunky and try-hard, and the whole vibe instantlyCouldn't even make it 10% into this one.... I really expected to love it, but the writing was really clunky and try-hard, and the whole vibe instantly annoyed me....more
While I've frequently enjoyed Lynn Van Dorn's works, I tend not to vibe with the stuff she writes under her Virgina Kelly pseud, and unfortunaDNF ~30%
While I've frequently enjoyed Lynn Van Dorn's works, I tend not to vibe with the stuff she writes under her Virgina Kelly pseud, and unfortunately this was no different. The dynamic here is just not at all what I'm looking for in a vampire romance, and I didn't quite feel like she hit the right balance....more
This one seemed right up my alley, but something about the characters and dynamic just wasn't working for me. This felt more like a me/mood prDNF ~30%
This one seemed right up my alley, but something about the characters and dynamic just wasn't working for me. This felt more like a me/mood problem then a book problem, so I'm going to leave unrated....more
This was fine, so I'm not going to rate, the dynamic just wasn't really what I was in the mood for, and the characters' chemistry didn't grab DNF ~25%
This was fine, so I'm not going to rate, the dynamic just wasn't really what I was in the mood for, and the characters' chemistry didn't grab me....more
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