I bought this sweet contemporary romance as a 99c Kindle special, thinking that this sounded like a nice change of pace from the "he done her wrong anI bought this sweet contemporary romance as a 99c Kindle special, thinking that this sounded like a nice change of pace from the "he done her wrong and is now trying to win her back" type of plots that Jennifer Peel tends to gravitate to. Kenadie (she of the "sable-colored eyes") is the owner of a successful personal relationship company (matchmaking, though she hates the word), but she's refused to date any man since she was abandoned at the altar seven years ago, after her fiancé made a cruel, dismissive statement. Still: seven. years. ago. And she won't give any man the time of day.
Enter Jason, the best friend of Kenadie's work partner Zander. Jason clearly wants to get to know Kenadie better, but because he's aware of her personal issues he plays the long game: becoming a client of their company, asking Kenadie to go out with him on a trial basis, inviting her to go on platonic-ish outings with him, dating the ladies she sets him up with ...
This story dragged on and on, and Kenadie took forever to start to take off her armor, even in the slightest degree. It was highly frustrating and veered into boring territory for me; I had to start skimming to get through this book. I liked Jason, he's a nice guy, but I spent most of the book wanting to slap Kenadie upside the head. And I've never seen a heroine who's so blind to what's going on in her life, right in front of her face. Okay, she's purposely put blinders on, but I just couldn't buy into that degree of obliviousness, at all.
Now where's another good "he done her wrong" book?...more
Powder and Patch is ... wait for it ... about guys wearing makeup, not women. This is Georgette Heyer's second-published novel, originally published uPowder and Patch is ... wait for it ... about guys wearing makeup, not women. This is Georgette Heyer's second-published novel, originally published under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan in 1923.
Philip, a straightforward, plainly dressed country gentleman, gets totally shot down by Cleone, the girl he loves, for not being sophisticated enough. So he gets in a huff and hares off to Paris to learn how to be a charmer in the Georgian period ... which means white wig, makeup (face powdered, rouge, strategically placed beauty patches on the face), fancy clothes and high heels, and also learning to sweet-talk the ladies.
[image] [image]
Ooh la la! It's a Cinderfella type of story, and Philip - once he's finally convinced to go along with the fashions of the time - throws himself into it wholeheartedly. Within six months, he's fluent in French, suave with the ladies, expert with the sword, and the darling of Parisian high society. It's all highly unrealistic but good fun.
But Philip is still nurturing the hope in his heart that Cleone will love him for who he really is. When he meets up with her again in London, he decides to give her his best French dandy mannerisms. Hah! Served her right! Unfortunately it all backfires, and the two of them spend most of the rest of the book at cross purposes, trying to make each other jealous, saying hurtful things they don't really mean, and other types of nonsense like that.
I did like Philip as a main character (except when he got a little too carried away with the high fashion routine) but Cleone was one of those silly heroines who acts like an idiot too often for me. Other than her being lovely, there's really not much to recommend her. She's not memorable in any good way.
Now this novel was written almost 100 years ago, BUT. It still was a jaw dropper for me when Cleone's Aunt Sarah spent about 3 pages lecturing Philip on how to handle Cleone and win her love. A sampling of her good (NOT) advice:
♥ "You walked off when you should have mastered her. I'll wager my best necklet she was waiting for you to assert yourself. And now she's probably miserable."
♥ "You should know by now that no woman means what she says when it's to a man."
♥ "Women don't reason. That's a man's part. Why, do you suppose that if Cleone thought as you think, and had a brain like a man's you'd be in love with her? Of course you'd not. You'd not be able to feel your superiority over her."
♥ "Take that girl and shake her. Tell her you'll not be flouted. Tell her she's a little fool, and kiss her. And if she protests, go on kissing her."
No. Just no. Even for a hundred years ago, this advice is appalling, especially when it's coming from, and written by, another woman.
Also, Aunt Sarah has a little black page who speaks with, apparently, a southern drawl, and whose name, it pains me to say, is Sambo. Luckily he only shows up in two extremely brief scenes.
Finally, it's very helpful if you speak French, because there's a lot of it in this book, including a whole poem written by Philip to a French lady's little pearl earring, and Heyer rarely bothers to translate it for the reader.
There were some cute moments in this story, and it's kind of a fun, frothy, silly romp of a romance, but you have to make major allowances for old-time societal norms and values.
A soft 3 stars for me, maybe 2.75.
Bonus content: When this book was originally published, it had a final chapter that Heyer and her publisher decided to drop when they republished it several years later under Heyer's own name. I'm firmly in the camp that the story is better without this last chapter (unusual for me; I typically like epilogues), but it's worth reading to see how Heyer's view of the later lives of Cleone and Philip seems to have changed as she got a little older. (view spoiler)[ In one version they presumably settle down at Philip's country estate; in the other they go to Paris and re-enter high society there, with Philip letting loose his inner fashion hound again, spending 4 hours personally getting Cleone ready for her first Parisian ball. (hide spoiler)] You decide which ending you prefer! Here's the lost chapter, from an old copy of the first edition of this book found in the British Library by a diligent Heyer fan and copied by her for our benefit: http://www.shelaghlewins.com/other_st...
How can a historical romance that contains so much manufactured drama be so banal? How many different ways can a heroine find to be an idiot? How hardHow can a historical romance that contains so much manufactured drama be so banal? How many different ways can a heroine find to be an idiot? How hard is it to find a competent proofreader to fix your punctuation?
I'm not sure why I went into this thinking that a combination of werewolf PNR + Kindle freebie could possibly amount to anything really praiseworthy, I'm not sure why I went into this thinking that a combination of werewolf PNR + Kindle freebie could possibly amount to anything really praiseworthy, but with free ebooks I'm always thinking there's nothing to lose. Except time. And maybe some self-respect. But I was sucked in by the idea that one GR friend, Jessica, thought this was pretty good, even though another friend, Jacob, gave it one star, and I was all, hey, I could be the Great Tiebreaker!
So here's the setup: MacKenzie is a human girl living with a pack of weres (wolves, bears, and other animal weres). As a human, she's not supposed to be with them or even know they exist, but her mother put some kind of witchy geas on the pack so they would protect her and not blab about her to the Brethren, the ruling pack, who might kill them all for breaking this rule.
When her pack leader dies and a new one needs to be appointed, a delegation of Brethren shows up to stay for three days. Mack can't leave because the Brethren know how many weres are supposed to be in the pack, but there's a lotion she can put on that makes her smell like a were, and ALL SHE HAS TO DO is keep a low profile for three days until the Brethren leave. And remember, everyone in her pack thinks their lives depend on her ability to not attract attention.
So far so good, but here's where things kind of went off the rails for me. Mack is redheaded and, literally, hotblooded. [image]
She dyes her hair to look more nondescript, but apparently there ain't nothing she can do about her fiery temper. Time after time after time she mouths off or does other stupid things that attract the attention of the Brethren, especially their (of course) hunky and incredibly good-looking leader, Corrigan, or that put herself and others in danger. Even up to the very last scenes in the book.
[image] "Gurl, your ego is writing checks that your body can't cash."
I just have a hard time dredging up any respect for a main character who has no self-control. I get that in the context of the story there are Reasons for this, but I'd rather read about someone who's more smart and less rash.
Add to this mix: (a) a romantic interest that was stereotypical but, at the same time, went absolutely nowhere (gotta read the sequels for that); (b) an unresolved, cliffhanger ending; and (c) superficial writing, awkward wording and grammar issues (not too terrible considering this is a self-pub book, but still). Put that all together, top it off with a large dollop of Special Snowflake-ism, and the result is that I'm just not interested in reading any more about Mack and her Issues. Even though it was 1:00 a.m. when I finished this book, I had to immediately go read the first couple of chapters of Burn for Me so I could get the taste of sub-par urban fantasy out of my mouth.
This is a paranormal fantasy based on the library of Alexandria and Egyptian mythology. Our main character, Anna, has a mysterious heritage tied to anThis is a paranormal fantasy based on the library of Alexandria and Egyptian mythology. Our main character, Anna, has a mysterious heritage tied to ancient secrets, but when her mother disappears and Anna inexplicably loses a year from her life (which, by the way, is never explained), Anna is left to try to make sense of her life, while trying to find her mother and avoid getting killed by werebeasts.
It's an interesting premise but, unfortunately, this book is plagued with a teenage protagonist who combines cluelessness and obstinacy in a truly maddening way. Anna also has a voice in her head for most of the book, also never really explained, which gives her very insistent advice, shouted in all caps. Not that Anna follows its advice much. It felt like half the book was Anna arguing either with the voice in her head, or with her mother, or with other characters who are trying to protect her . . . or kill her. Most of the time it's not clear who Anna can trust.
Anna does show some personal growth in the end, but by that time I was just ready to be done with her and this book. The plot was unclear and meandered a little, and the writing kind of muddled, which added to my frustration level. Also, while the book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, the overall plot is unresolved and will be continued in the sequel(s).
2.5 stars. I think teen readers might enjoy this book more than I did, and it's a debut novel, so I'm cutting it a little extra slack.
Content advisory: scattered F-bombs.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
One of my two least favorite Georgette Heyer novels that I've read (the other being April Lady, which may not count since I DNF'd that one). Who knew One of my two least favorite Georgette Heyer novels that I've read (the other being April Lady, which may not count since I DNF'd that one). Who knew a marriage of convenience story could be so boring? It has soo many annoying elements:
* one of those very young, impetuous, immature TSTL heroines I dislike so much * she has a stammer that is written out Every.Single.Time. * lots of frantic, farcical running around * an evil ex-mistress and a cardboard dastardly villain * a hero who's twice the age of the heroine
Anyway, it all adds up to way too many things I found dislikeable about this novel. Frankly, I skimmed through most of it....more
Update: Well, it appears the buddy read has fallen apart, no big loss (sorry, Sarah), but I have to confess to paging through (in a Kindle-y kind of wUpdate: Well, it appears the buddy read has fallen apart, no big loss (sorry, Sarah), but I have to confess to paging through (in a Kindle-y kind of way) this old-timey 1979 Harlequin romance very late one night when my normal defenses against crappy romances were down.
This--THIS--is why I give some romances two stars that other reviewers hit with one star. This is the one-star book to end all one-star books. This book defines awfulness. It's the most screwed up imaginable mix of virginity-prizing 70's attitudes and brutal, hurtful, torturing alpha males. And there's a happily ever after ending! The mind, it boggles.
If you're interested in a play-by-play recap of the plot, check out karen's amazing and very funny review. I can only add my heartfelt agreement to everything karen says.
Now excuse me while I go wash my hands and look for that bottle of brain bleach.
Prior post: End of May 2015 buddy read with Karly and Sarah. Ignore whatever else you may read, it's really all Sarah's fault!
Sarah is looking for horrible, awful romances to rant about, and since karen's fantastic review of this one was permanently imprinted on my brain, I suggested it. And somehow the sticky web has spread to capture Karly and me. ETA: and Nenia! Let the rantfest begin!
I have to admit I still have a soft spot for alpha male romances (albeit not the torturing, rapey type), but I suspect this book may kill it right off.
Seriously? The silliness quotient in this book is off the charts.
This is about a 16 year old Twi-hard girl who honestly and determinedly believes thatSeriously? The silliness quotient in this book is off the charts.
This is about a 16 year old Twi-hard girl who honestly and determinedly believes that the two hot guys she's met in Seattle are a vampire and a werewolf (a la Edward and Jacob). This is a girl who stamps her foot when she's angry and faints when she's overcome by emotion. I thought a couple of the earlier books in this series were cute YA books, but this one I wouldn't even recommend to my teenager. I'd hand this one to a pre-teen girl who loves the Twilight series and probably Justin Bieber, too....more
More teenage dystopian romance. If you liked the first book, this is an okay follow-up, but doesn't cover much new ground with the plot (Ooh! More girMore teenage dystopian romance. If you liked the first book, this is an okay follow-up, but doesn't cover much new ground with the plot (Ooh! More girls are eliminated! How unexpected! Ooooh! More attacks on the castle where nothing much happens to any character we care about!)
I got highly frustrated with the love triangle. The heroine kept making up her mind for one guy or the other and then something would happen to change her mind. Over and over and over. It's unbelievable that the guys haven't both blown her off permanently....more
This was my first Marcia McClure book. I really should've stopped there, but at that stage of my life Kindle freebies were hard to resist. I'm tougherThis was my first Marcia McClure book. I really should've stopped there, but at that stage of my life Kindle freebies were hard to resist. I'm tougher and pickier now.
Old West romance: Self-hating heroine has love/hate relationship with the guy she loved who left and has now come back several years later. Stolen kisses and purple prose abound.
Kate Worthington has decided to skip the whole marriage thing and travel instead. This being Regency times and a romance novel, there are complicationKate Worthington has decided to skip the whole marriage thing and travel instead. This being Regency times and a romance novel, there are complications. Kate’s mother is determined to see her married. Kate resists, and somehow she and her mother come up with this bargain that Kate needs to get three marriage proposals. If she rejects them all, Kate's mother will get off her back.
So there's a house party at Blackmoore manor with several guests - clearly the perfect venue for leading along some guys and then dumping them. (Not.) Somehow Kate convinces her best friend, Henry Delafield, to help with this bizarre and - have I said coldhearted yet? how about idiotic? - plan.
When you have to force yourself to finish a romance novel - which, c'mon, should be like scarfing down chocolates; it's not like it's great for your intellectual development - you know there's a problem with that book. Keep in mind that this is coming from a reviewer who enjoyed Edenbrooke, the author's other (much more popular) romance novel.
My main issues were too many dislikeable characters and the heroine constantly dancing on the edges of being TSTL (too stupid to live). When I'm cringing in embarrassment for the way the main character is acting, that is just not an enjoyable read for me. Also, most of the joy that made Edenbrooke a fun read is missing from Blackmoore; what you're left with is a lot of angst that takes way too long to resolve. To top it off, the epilogue was a head-scratcher, and not in a good way. (view spoiler)[It wasn't clear to me whether the hero's mother had un-disinherited (re-inherited?) him for marrying the wrong girl. I'm assuming not, but I thought it was a little ambiguous. (hide spoiler)]
I'll read Julianne Donaldson's next book, but I'll look for it at the library instead of automatically buying it as I did this one. Once burned, twice shy....more
This is one of the more painful contemporary novels hitching their wagon to the Austen star. In this book the main character, Elizabeth (!) has develoThis is one of the more painful contemporary novels hitching their wagon to the Austen star. In this book the main character, Elizabeth (!) has developed an unhealthy obsession with the Kiera Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice, or more specifically, with the actor Matthew Macfadyen, which she saw when she was 16 years old. She will only consider seriously dating a guy who looks like Macfadyen and acts like he did in P&P. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds.
Eventually (seriously, years after she first develops her obsession) she finds Matt, a guy she thinks will fit the bill, and after she stalks him a while they actually start dating, even though he's really not particularly into her. But meanwhile there's this perfectly kind, handsome, charming, but very unDarcy-like other guy, Chad, who's been falling in love with her. It's sort of a love triangle, except that Matt is so standoffish that you're never really sure he cares much about Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's obsession with finding someone who looked like Macfadyen was over the top and seemed to focus primarily on appearance, combined with a British accent and a dollop of standoffishness. I thought it was way too weak of a hook to hold an entire novel together. Along the same lines, the Matt character needed more charm (view spoiler)[to make her sticking around him for so long more believeable. I never understood what his type of guy would have seen in her, and what kind of girl would stick around for his careless treatment when there's a great guy like Chad who wants you, even if he doesn't meet your pre-conceived notions of your soulmate. (hide spoiler)]
Another complaint: The wrap-up of the story was far too abrupt. (view spoiler)[ Elizabeth finally realizes that she loves the right guy and tracks him down to confess her love and apologize for blowing him off before, then Boom! the novel ends just a few paragraphs later. I guess I can understand Chad already being so in love with Elizabeth that he doesn't keep her hanging while he ponders the wisdom of taking her back (which he SHOULD ponder), but it does kind of lack drama, and it was very unsatisfying. The author should at least have given us a decent epilogue if she was going to play it that way. (hide spoiler)]
Not a book I'm likely to ever re-read, not being into TSTL main characters.
Group read with the Happily Ever After group....more
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽
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