Category: C reviews (Page 17 of 20)

Last Stop by Lou Harper

December 31, 2012 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: This book has been on my radar for a while and I bought it the other day at the ARe sale.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When love drifts into his life, danger isn’t far behind.

Sam Mayne’s life is as dull as the dishwater in his small-town Montana diner, and that’s just how he wants it. Quiet, uneventful, safe from his shadowy past. The breezy young drifter who answers his help-wanted ad makes him uneasy in ways he dare not examine too closely. Except he can’t help but be pulled in by Jay Colby’s spunky attitude, endless stories, and undeniable sex appeal.

Fresh off yet another romantic disaster, Jay doesn’t understand his attraction to the taciturn line cook, but there’s no fighting the chemistry that lands them in bed together. Where Sam’s subtly dominant streak takes command, and Jay delights in discovering the pleasures of his submissive side.

Safe in the assumption their relationship is temporary, neither lover holds back when the heat is on. Until Sam’s deadly past catches up with them with a vengeance, forcing him to drop the life he’s built, pick up his lover, and run. As danger cuts closer to the bone, Sam and Jay are forced to face the truth. About themselves, about the depth of their love-and the newly forged bonds that are about to be tested to the limit.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The main lack, for me, was the relationship build. I didn’t see Sam and Jay fall in love. I saw a lot of (pretty hot) sex and some action but the falling in love part was kind of missing for me. Jay seemed fairly sad – someone who’d been rejected time and time again, who traded a roof over his head for sex and nothing really changed in his relationship with Sam, other than that they ended up staying together. I didn’t see any cue which told me this relationship was different to Jay’s other relationships – other than that I knew that Sam was the hero. Jay didn’t seem empowereed to me, he seemed unhappy. I didn’t see Sam falling for Jay really, there wasn’t much introspection on his part so I couldn’t see why Sam fell for Jay other than that he was available for sex.

Also, (and this is mildly spoilerish) I found it hard to like Sam once I knew about his past. While people can change and redemption and rehabilitation is a good thing, Sam didn’t fit my own personal preference for hero material. Because I didn’t feel any particular emotional connection to either Sam or Jay, his past bothered me.

Still, the sex was hot and there was the occasional line which struck me somehow and was enough to keep me reading.

“Look, I’m not good with words. All I know is I want to put a big fucking brand on your ass that says you’re mine, so everybody knows. Don’t look so happy. I mean it literally.”

I needed more romance and courtship and emotion to really buy into the story. Unfortunately, this one was shy of “just okay” for me.

Grade: C-

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly

December 29, 2012 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I picked this one up from NetGalley, having heard a lot of good things about this author and the story sounded fun.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Her first thought: “Who are you?”

It’s the morning after her cousin’s bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she’s in a stranger’s penthouse having woken up with something else as well—a funny, arrogant, sexy…husband!

Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible—been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter…no, Connor Reed and she’s gone from first meet to marriage in one night!

Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor’s shocking bombshell?

“I don’t want a divorce.”

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Some of my Goodreads friends have read this one and looking at their reviews, it’s like they were reading a different book. Unfortunately, Connor and I got off on the wrong foot and we never recovered.

The story was well written and easy to read, with some stand out moments (one being the scene at the grocery store with Pete and immediately after at home with Connor) and some really good lines, like this one.

This guy had one of those slanted smiles going on. The kind so lazy only half of it bothered to go to work.

But, ultimately, I couldn’t get over what an asshole I thought Connor was. Which is odd, because I really don’t think of myself as a feminist, but his manner got on my last nerve.

Apart from that, I did have a little trouble buying into Connor’s idea of a partnership marriage, as opposed to a romantic one.

“If it’s not about love, then what?”

Connor gave her a satisfied grin. “All the vital components that make a relationship successful, without any of the emotional messiness to drag it down. It’s about respect, caring and commitment. Shared goals and compatible priorities. It’s about treating a marriage like a partnership instead of some romantic fantasy. It’s about two people liking each other.”

Connor’s definition also included fidelity and given that they had already demonstrated an abundance of passion between them, I was left thinking, well isn’t that love? And, why doesn’t he see that? He’s a smart guy. And then, he goes and contradicts himself, in order to convince her to give things a go.

“We’re good together, Megan. It’s not about glass slippers or fairy tales or love at any sight. It’s not about private schools or mutual goals or any of the other things we’ve talked about today. It’s about you and me fitting together. It’s about this feeling of rightness you told me about last night. The one I’ve had since I met you. And I keep seeing signs of it today. Tell me. Tell me you feel it too.

If I had liked Connor better, I think I would have been more able to roll with the plot which essentially was an excuse to get them together so the sparks could fly.

Connor is very definite in what he wants. He struck me as mercenary, calculating and extremely self-serving. I thought there might be some kind of redemption for him but after about 3/4 of the way through, I realised that the parts where I found him most annoying, was him being charming and seductive.

“WHAT IN THE HELL do you think you’re doing?” Megan demanded from the far side of the elevator where she stood, hands on hips, eyes boring into him like little embers of hell.

Connor snapped the picture from his phone then slipped the device back into his tux pocket before it ended up incinerated beneath his wife’s fiery glare, or more likely crushed beneath the spike of her sexy glass slipper.

“Documenting our first fight.”

For a moment, all the red-hot rage directed his way turned to utter shock, leaving her sputtering in a way he couldn’t deny he was getting a serious kick out of. But in a blink, she rocketed back to fury, leaning into the space between them, her voice going lethally low. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Come on, it’s something for the scrapbook. You’ll thank me later.”

“You know good and well I’m not talking about a picture.”

Yeah, he did. The way he knew taking a snap of her when she was this cranked up was probably a move just short of suicide, but like his decision to break his promise to her back in the club, it was one he wouldn’t regret.

In the example above, Connor has disregarded an agreement he made with Megan not to announce their wedding to her cousin on her own wedding day. Megan didn’t want to steal her cousin’s thunder. Connor agreed. But then he changed his mind. To add insult to injury, he treats her fury over his disregard of her wishes with amusement. And, here’s the condescension again “You’ll thank me later.” Um, no thanks.

I also didn’t like his judgment of women which was another thing prevalent in the book. Like this.

Connor had to have her.

His wife didn’t flaunt it for everyone to see—thank God—but she was the sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

(my emphasis)

He was always telling Megan what was best for her, manipulating her into agreeing with him, putting himself and his desires first.

What else? I’ll read this author again because I enjoyed the writing style and I think I would have liked the book a lot more if I had not developed a dislike of the hero. But, according to Goodreads, I’m something of an outlier, so YMMV.

Grade: C-

I’m over at ARRA with…

December 20, 2012 / Kaetrin

a review of Michelle Diener’s The Emporer’s Conspiracy. There’s a giveaway for ARRA members. I gave it a C- but that was largely because I was expecting a romance and it’s more a historical novel with some romantic elements.

Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Katie Porter

December 12, 2012 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I have Double Down and Inside Bet on my TBR and I was really excited to see an m/m romance was next up. I pre-ordered and, after being assured by the Book Pushers that it was a stand alone, I dived in.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Lights, lovers…action!

Born to old Virginia money, film producer Kyle Wakefield’s conservative upbringing kept him in the closet. Only once did he venture outside: for a tempestuous teenage affair with Nathan Carnes. When Nathan’s self-destructive streak landed him in prison, Kyle slammed the door on youthful hopes. Despite Hollywood successes, he still hides his true self.

He thought he’d moved on, until his production company hires Nathan and his Second Chances stunt crew to work on the London set of a big-budget action flick. Watching Nathan risk life and limb with fellow ex-cons looking for a fresh start makes it tough for Kyle to keep his desires hidden.

Thirteen years have passed since Nathan’s teenage self-doubt led him to sabotage any chance of a future with Kyle. He’s come a long way since then, but despite their explosive sexual chemistry, Kyle treats their attraction like a deep dark secret.

Their matched Hollywood ambitions and a pain-in-the-ass director make cooperation essential. As the London holiday season casts its spell, the two men find themselves on the verge of falling in love again—even as old secrets and pain keep them shackled. The only hope of unlocking their hearts is a Christmas miracle.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’m not sure why this book didn’t work as well for me as I’d hoped it would. Possibly it suffered from being so close to my reading of the excellent Private Dicks (which is a completely different book so, maybe not). But, for some reason, I didn’t really connect with the characters.

Kyle’s reasons to remain in the closet for so long seemed thin to me (to be fair, even he realises this later on) and his assertion late in the book that if only Nate had stuck around Kyle would have come out much earlier was unfair. I’m no expert on coming out but it seems to me that it should be something done for oneself and not as a result of anyone else. Just my thoughts. In any event, it was hardly Nate’s fault.

The book blurb says that Kyle and Nate had had a temporary affair, but they were together in high school for 2 years. They made plans to run off together. Plans which turned to custard and led to their breakup. What exactly happened between the two men all those years before is not really spelled out until the book has nearly finished and during the read I had the sensation that I was repeatedly missing something. I didn’t understand why Kyle and Nate were the way they were and the pieces didn’t really fit until the explanation was given. In other stories, this device has worked for me but here, it kept me somewhat confused and at a distance.

There were some oddly worded sentences which jarred. This is kind of a chicken and egg thing – do I notice the sentences because the story isn’t grabbing me or do the sentences pull me out of the story? I think perhaps it was the former. Here’s an example of what I mean:

Kyle’s strokes reaped the fast, throbbing rhythm of the music that was around them, in them, taking over their lungs and blood.

and this:

Yes, he’d be forced to watch that footage again, but Nate’s body heat next to his thigh was a grounding potency.

I’m not sure if this is something to do with two authors collaborating or something else but there were a number of times in the book where I went over and over sentences trying to work them out.

There were also some inconsistencies in characterisation/description which I noticed. For example, within the first chapter, Nate is described in these two ways:

Nate had run scared like the fucking stubborn asshole he’d always been.

and

He’d never been afraid of wielding his sexuality like a machete.

It made it just a little more difficult for me to get a handle on the two main characters.

On the positive side, the sex was super steamy (although I wouldn’t have minded if their reaction on seeing each other for the first time in ten years had not been to fuck like bunnies) and the sense of place throughout the book was very well done. The scene describing the Christmas pantomime was authentic and fun, as were the other English traditions referred to in the book.

I’m left with the nagging feeling that I’m somehow responsible for my lack of engagement with the story. It should have worked better for me but it didn’t and I’m sorry but I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Grade: C+

Cost of Repairs by AM Arthur

November 24, 2012 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: Various of my Goodreads friends have read and liked this one and I bought it on impulse. Sometimes when I can’t decide what to read from what’s on my TBR, I just go and buy something else. (This may explain the size of my TBR *sigh*).

What it’s about (from Goodreads): “Fixing the home can heal the heart-if you can find all the pieces.”

Police officer Samuel Briggs is getting to know the people on his new, third-shift beat, but he’d prefer they not know too much about him-or the painful past that drove him away from New Mexico to start fresh in small-town Stratton, PA.

All he wants is peace, a manageable routine, and time to fix up his project home. There’s no room in his broken heart for a new relationship. It’s crowded with too many memories. But there’s something about the Dixie’s Cup short-order cook, who’s flirty one minute, distracted the next, that piques Sam’s interest.

Part-time cook, part-time hardware salesman and full-time handyman Rey King lives to work-but not because he loves it. Relationships? No time. Until one glance at Sam’s haunted eyes sends a plumb line straight to his wary heart.

One afternoon of impulsive, no-strings sex begins to grow into a cautious friendship. But when Rey is seriously injured protecting a friend, the cracks in their already shaky foundation begin to show. Falling in love wasn’t in either man’s recovery plan…and this time, the risk could be too great.

Warning: Contains one emotionally wrecked cop, one angsty short-order cook, a few too many secrets, some meddling small-town folk, and plenty of hot man-on-man action.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I enjoyed this story, but ultimately, found it a bit too overwrought and somewhat incomplete to truly satisfy. I like an angsty story. I don’t shy away from tortured characters – in fact, just the opposite. Here, both Sam and Rey are very broken and hurt, each having major issues to deal with. That was one of the things which attracted me to the story, but for such a tale to completely win me over, I need to see the characters triumph over their adversity and there wasn’t quite enough of it in this one for me.

Sam’s lover had been horribly murdered and he is still coping with the after effects of that trauma. I could see that by the end of the story, he had mostly moved on and made a home for himself in Stratton but Rey’s story felt incomplete to me. I really wanted to know what was going to happen with his daughter – surely he wasn’t going to leave things that way? I was hoping for that story to be resolved and instead, there was a suspense subplot which I didn’t entirely buy, involving Sam’s previous trauma.

It seemed to me that the angst and adversity were just piled on these two characters so much, they could hardly get a break. Rey’s hand injury wasn’t completely resolved by the end of the story and I didn’t understand the mechanism of how he got out from under his loans (this may be a US thing that I don’t understand though). As for Sam, late in the book, further past trauma is revealed, in case they don’t already have enough going on.

The relationship between Sam and Rey was lovely though. I would have liked more of it in fact. I liked how they were together and the sex was pretty hot. I would have liked to see the story focus more on them and leave the suspense-y part out altogether.

What else? There was some strange word choices/sentence structure in the book which seemed clumsy to me (mostly in the front section of the book). For example:

“He deferred to her to lead them there.”

“Regaled with the image of Dixie standing next to a bathroom sink sucking on a candy cane made him chuckle.”

And in the first section of the book, there was way too much chuffing and huffing. It was used 10 times in the first 40 pages, 4 times within 2 paragraphs. But, after about page 40 I didn’t see it again which improved my experience of the story markedly.

I think the writing improved as the book went on but there were aspects to the story left undone that left me unsatisfied, ultimately changing the book from around the B/B- mark to the C+.

Grade? C+