Friday, December 28, 2018

Books I have not finished in 2018 #3

For the second half of 2018 my reading slowed right down. Hence, a lot fewer books read, a lot less trying new-to-me authors, and a lot less duds. Nonetheless, there were a couple. Only a couple, and one of them only in the last week because the book blurb drew me in and it sounded cute as heck. Alas, it did not live up to the anticipation of the blurb.

Not to be a Debbie-downer so close to the end of the year, but I'm closing out the last of the year with the last of the books I have not finished. There aren't many!



Five Immortal Hearts by Savannah Rose

Review: Five Immortal Hearts by Savannah Rose

This book is just weird. Everything about it is weird right from its opening scene and how Misty meets Kane and bonds with him (hello, didn't she just meet him? and how the heck did that happen so fast?), to the structure of her relationship with Kane's four other brothers. All I could think of while reading was weird, weird, weird. The world building is strange and disjointed, and the opening is abrupt. It throws you into the middle of a scene, and the story with no preamble and you're left wondering what the heck is going on with no choice but to read more to find out (maybe that's a good technique on Ms Rose's part?), and even as you read more, information is slow in coming. This is not a seamless read where you fall into the story and let it take you for a right. This is a battle where you struggle with the words, the style, the pacing, and you are often left in a state of confusion. I expect reading more will slowly unfold all that is happening in this world of immortal princes, gods, and dragons, with a mortal woman at the heart of it, but I didn't have the energy for it since I was battling a chest infection. When I started reading it, I was in fine health, and while it was weird, I had the energy to persevere. Now with a chest infection, I simply don't. And my best bud, Gem, told me, don't struggle with it if it's only a three star read. You don't have much time to read as it is. Might as well read something you enjoy wholeheartedly. The writing didn't move me. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters. It's a common lament of mine in the reverse harem genre — not enough character development. Misty got a fair bit of character development pertaining to her career and her attitude towards being a journalist - fortunately, she's the more altruistic sort, and it didn't rub me wrong, but the men needed more development. And don't even get me started on the sex scenes because they were very wham bam, thank you, ma'am. They seemed more matter of fact than sexy, and they did not make me feel anything. I want my sex scenes to be sexy, dammit!! Finally, this book could do with a serious line edit and proofread. I'm not usually picky about this stuff because goodness knows I read enough drafts to know to overlook it, but this was the final version loaded onto Amazon and downloaded to my Kindle. There were at least ten typos if not more in the first 25% of the book as I was reading. Anyway, I can't say this author's style engaged me even though I was drawn in and intrigued by the blurb and the cover.



Love Sincerely Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn

Review: Love Sincerely Yours by Sara Nay & Meghan Quinn

I read the blurb for this book and thought it was something I'd enjoy. It sounded really cute. Then I read the prologue and first chapter before one-clicking because it cost a bit more than I usually spend on a book. But I bought it anyway, and I read it, and I regretted it. Because it was cute at first with the email exchanges and the banter, but it dragged on and on and on, and Rome didn't find out it was Peyton for far too long. And once he found out, accusations were flung around, and they had a combative relationship that got old fast. I got bored. Then I complained to my BFF I was bored, but I bought the book, and I wanted to find out how it ended so I skipped to the end when I started getting bored. Then went back and skimmed the rest of the book as fast as I could but eventually couldn't stand it anymore and gave up. I didn't like Peyton. She was supposed to be sassy and cute. She wasn't. She came across as argumentative. Rome was your typical broody, arrogant hero and he's usually the kind of hero I adore, but it went too far. He spent way too much time being an unmitigated ass. Neither of them was willing to bend and meet in the middle. They fought all the time. It was not cute. Did I mention I got bored quickly? This book was a lot longer than it had to be. It should have been wrapped up a lot sooner than the almost 300 pages I had to endure. And the typos! So many typos for a final version of the book. At one point, even Peyton's name was spelled wrong. I won't be reading the next book in the series.



There you have it. A couple of books that were a bit lacklustre for me.

Tell me, are there any hot buttons that don't work for you in books? Something that will make you shut the book and not keep reading? How many books have you not finished so far this year?


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6 comments:

  1. Hi Deanna

    I think I have only had book that was DNF for me, and it was so all over the place hopping from one place to another, I couldn't keep track of what was going on, I read about 3 chapters before I said no not for me, I just didn't understand it at all, and that rarely happens for me.

    Hot buttons is if I can't keep up with the characters and what is happening and if the hero or heroine is difficult and hard to get along with

    Have Fun

    Helen

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    1. Helen, you do seem to love most everything you read. Maybe you're just a much nicer person than I am?

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  2. I had considered Love Sincerely Yours, wow! I'm glad I didn't! And many typos!

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    1. The typos will drive you bonkers. I know how much of a stickler you are for that.

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    2. There aren't any books I dnf'd this year. Although there was a couple of books with loads of typos. As they were so good I tried to ignore them. Even the updated version, after I contacted the author, came with the same errors!
      What about a list of the top books/series of books read this year?
      Gill

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    3. Gill, Happy New Year!!! I do have a top books read for the year coming out next week. Stay tuned. Almost forgot to do it for this year but fortunately, remembered in time. :-)

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