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sadstrumpetjenny

sad strumpet jenny

Romance forum refugee, often prone to snark.

Currently reading

Close to You: A Downside Ghosts Story (A Heroes and Heartbreakers Original)
Stacia Kane
After Hours: (InterMix) - Cara McKenna I have really wanted to love this author in the past, but her books never clicked for me. This one did. And that is about as much of a review as I can muster, because I kind of want to read it again...
The Firebird - Susanna Kearsley I was not enjoying this at all in the beginning. The central conceit was bugging me to no end, and it was so annoying to slog through chunks of grade school exposition as the various historical figures explained Scottish politics to an eight year old. But I wound up enjoying it more once things settled down, and liked the author's notes at the end. Not my favorite, and would probably only recommend for fans of The Winter Sea.
Aftershock (Hqn) - Jill Sorenson Would have probably worked better for me with the more typical action movie plotline: survive disaster with hot McGyver type; rely on and impress each other through endless crises; throw in some sexual tension that relies on banter not body parts; and indulge in your smooches after you've gotten proper medical attention and a thorough hosing down with antibacterial soap. As it was, the inappropriate boners and sexy thoughts were very jarring amidst piles of rotting corpses, cartoonish villains, dying patients, a pregnant teen, and a sweet gal and her nice grandpa to worry about. It was enough that they were trapped in a tunnel and running out of food and water. Less might have been more.
Somebody to Love - Kristan Higgins I swore off Higgins since her heroines usually drive me bananas, but I was desperate during a long commute and downloaded this from the library (what did I ever do without Overdrive?). She actually deviated from the usual formula - had a SEP feel to it. Parker was surprisingly matter-of-fact and capable, and grudge free about her new situation. She just went on a bit too long with the "Thing One" business, but at least she wasn't a 12 year old in the romance department. Oy. The town was cloyingly sweet of course. Maggie is still supremely irritating, but Vin made up for it. As did the internal drafts of Worst Kid Stories ever.
The Story Guy - Mary Ann Rivers If you liked Megan Hart's older works, you may like this - it sort of reminded me of Broken. I loved the writing, and the very simple story -it can be hard to find 'normal' people in contemporary romances.
Lick - Kylie Scott Started off trashy and fun - Evelyn is a typical pickled 21 year old on her birthday, and her groggy 'lost weekend' recollections are definitely entertaining, especially as she tries and fails not to puke all over her brandy-new sensitive emo-type rock star husband.But then it stayed very true to a typical NA - O ZEE ISSUES and tantrums and fighting about nonsense and make-up angry sex and jealous exes and money-solves-all-and-so-do-bum-tattoos (new shelf idea?). It got tiresome fast and the sex was bo-ring because I am an old woman, youth wasted on young, etc. etc., cry me a river, I know. But three stars for the beginning, and because Ev was largely no-nonsense and kind of hilarious. 'Til she was not, alas.
A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3) - George R.R. Martin I have some quibbles (hi Sansa) but I am eating up everything dished out. Do I wish Martin realized he didn't need to rely repetitively on soap operatic red herring cliffhangers at the end of each chapter? Yes. Do I wish there was a bit more cheer and dark humor to offset the unrelenting horror? Definitely. But no matter.
The Mad Earl's Bride - Loretta Chase A sweet little novella, with just a tiny bit of trademark zip.
An Introduction to Pleasure - Jess Michaels Another freebie. I tend to skim right over anachronisms if I am entertained enough, so it's bad news if I get pulled out of a story repeatedly. This was carelessly plotted, and the sex was annoying. Why the hell would you contrive a traditional type HEA for 'erotica' about a middle-class courtesan-in-training and an emo viscount? It makes no sense, and involves way too many cringingly awkward conversations about following your heart, etc. etc.
Against the Dark (Associates, #1) - Carolyn Crane 3 - 3.5 stars - I am sensing a bit more Annika Martin, not a bad thing.(Odin's extra G still makes me laugh for those of you who have read [b:The Hostage Bargain|18043730|The Hostage Bargain (Taken Hostage by Hunky Bank Robbers, #1)|Annika Martin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370540894s/18043730.jpg|25320967]). Fun premise, sassy dialogue, and a Mission Impossible-style action movie feel.
Try Me - Olivia Cunning One night stand with closet nerd rocker - their straightforward pillow talk was kind of cute. Cage match win goes to Olivia over Kristen Ashley.

A Woman Entangled

A Woman Entangled - Cecilia Grant

I wanted to love this more than I did, and it's hard to put into words why. I wasn't crazy about the Austen theme (holy P&P fatigue) for one, and that delicious slow burn arc that I loved in the last two books was missing. In A Lady Awakened, Martha was frozen, then thawed as a true connection developed; and A Gentleman Undone had some of the best sexual tension ever. I didn't feel much of that here at all.

 

Their shenanigans at the end really bothered me too. The oral sex was awkward, but more jarringly - WHY ON EARTH would she have had actual sex with him, after all the talk and reasoning? It made zero kinds of sense given how realistic a character she was. I didn't buy that she was swept away by love and passion.

A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin This was much smoother and faster paced than book 1, and I felt gripped by each plot thread instead of wanting to skip around like I did with the first. I was completely sucked in and under.
Against the Tide - Elizabeth Camden Amateurish writing, with lots of ill-timed Christian anvils.
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover - Sarah MacLean Sometimes a visual overpowers a story. I could not quite get past the ginger and his goggle eyed spinster, nor my most hated trope - Love In A Gaming Hell.
Beauty and the Blacksmith - Tessa Dare I wasn't expecting the sun and stars, but...this was not good. I gave up and followed the eel out the window.