Killing It by Asia Mackay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I adored this book! Honestly, my only complaint would be the pacing. In-between the action scenes (which, thankfully, there were quite a few of), there was a lot of internal dialogue, reminiscing, and some pointless bits of information that really didn't need to be put in. The extra, fiddly tangents dragged the story a bit, but ultimately, I really enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend this book. View all my reviews
Beta Test by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another lovely book in this series! I'm officially in love with the #gaymers! I'm so glad that I picked up these books. Will definitely read again. View all my reviews
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars I have many feelings about this book, and even some notes about specific scenes that particularly bothered me, but I'm honestly just too tired to get into it. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed the plot, but I do not like this author's way of writing. I've tried reading her books before, and while she has a decent sense of humour, and her descriptions can be lovely, I don't like the omniscient POV (I prefer tight third in HR novels), among other things. Honestly, I look forward to when this comes out on Netflix, because I think that I'll like the way it's portrayed far better on film than how it's written. Not sure if I'll read the others in the series, despite having already bought the next one. View all my reviews
Nothing Special by A.E. Via
My rating: 1 of 5 stars **Spoiler Alert** I'm sorry, I have to rant. I really don't like leaving bad reviews, but this book genuinely upset me. I'll start with the plot. The story idea was common enough, but this book failed to deliver. There was no intrigue, no suspense, and no mystery. What little action that there was was such a short blip in the book that it was barely noticeable. Additionally, the story concluded about half way through the book, but the narrative continued on for no reason other than to drag the readers through a nonsensical changing of all of the characters' personalities. I'll get into that more later. There are constant inconsistencies and typing errors throughout. This book *really* needed more editors. Why, and how, do all of the characters' problems get wrapped up so tidily? There's a problem? Ooh! A character just remembered that they have a handy dandy solution right here. Please. A little realism would have been appreciated, at least to keep up the illusion that the story could be plausible. I really would have liked for the characters to have to *think* about a solution, and perhaps show some of their amazing detective skills that all of the side characters raved about. On that note, where was the police work? Seemed to me that the heroes got everything handed to them (interviews, appointments, etc.) without the heroes even having to ask. I hate to say it, but more research was required in order to write this book. The author knew the terminology, but everything else felt wrong. Like cheesy TV. Things with Godfrey's family wrapped-up too neatly, as well. It was literally unbelievable how quickly he could just put aside what had happened to him, particularly after years of hatred from his mom and brother, and after their last encounter. The romance. There is no build-up, no natural progression to God and Day's romantic relationship. We as readers are merely expected to understand that their years of partnership had apparently bonded them in love, yet we don't get to see any evidence of this until they proclaim their love and start using pet names. It's very abrupt, and entirely unbelievable. In the second half of the book, once the plot had actually run its course, the main (and side) characters all take a 180 in their personalities. It comes out of nowhere, with no explanation. Our heroes went from loving, devoted, and highly possessive men, to willingly sharing each other in a foursome. Now, even if this wasn't a plot ploy (partner swapping) that I completely despise in romance novels, it made absolutely no sense in this book. Not only were our heroes possessively in love, but they had actively hated the two men they ended up having sex with until the offer was put out for the orgy. Ronowski went from being a homophobic ass that relentlessly verbally assaulted Day, to a willing party in the sex, and the last we'd seen Johnson, he had been pursuing Day, not the doe-eyed lover that joined them in the sack. None of this made sense. It made me cold and angry. I finished this book several days ago, but had to allow my outrage to subside before I wrote the review, though I fear that some of it may have come through, anyway. This book was definitely not for me, and I will not read another of this author's books. View all my reviews
Felix and the Prince by Lucy Lennox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the second Lucy Lennox book that I've read, and my feelings about this one are almost identical to the other. This author knows how to write dialogue, plot, and characters in such a way that their story pulls you in, but all of the novel's other aspects are weak, which ultimately ruins the overall experience of the book. Scene-setting and descriptions are lacking, which is a big disappointment. I found myself focusing less on what was happening in the story, and more on attempting to picture what was occurring and where they were in relation to everything around them. It was all so vague that I never quite knew where the characters were positioned and what the space looked like. I firmly believe that this author needs a new editor, because there were far too many occurrences of "I could hear", "I could feel", and "I could see", etc. I don't know if I'll read another book by this author. View all my reviews
Fake Out by Eden Finley
My rating: 2 of 5 stars This one really disappointed me. Based on the blurb, I was excited to read it, but it fell decidedly short. The characters read as very young (younger than their early twenties) and awfully immature. The dialogue was youthful and quick, which would have made for good banter if it were written more maturely and with more dialogue tags. Honestly, there were times in which I had no idea who was talking, and I found it very frustrating. There were a lot of repetitive cyclical thought processes that became boring after a while. Also, I really didn't like the obvious discrimination against vegetarians, women, and Canada in this book. Overall, not my favourite. Won't read it again, and I won't recommend it. View all my reviews
Winter by Josh Lanyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Let me start out by saying that this one barely scratches the surface of what could possibly be considered an M/M romance. The main focus with this one is the paranormal mystery. Also **TRIGGER WARNING** One of our heroes is depressed and dealing with attempted suicide and thoughts of trying again. This one does not have an HEA for our heroes, as one has suffered a recent heartbreaking loss, and is clearly suffering, but a friendship is forming, and we can see how this bond might morph into more in future book(s)--if and when we get to see them. The mystery is really where the story was fun for me. It's something so bizarre, and yet so straight-forward, but entirely entertaining. I found it delightful. View all my reviews
The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks by Josh Lanyon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars This one is definitely not a favourite, and the bar is usually set pretty low for Josh Lanyon books. With JL, I know that the romance will be basically non-existent and the sex will be disappointing, but this one had one hero that was a homophobic jerk for the first 2/3, not enough character development, and a convoluted mystery. I have to admit, I loved Perry; his character felt well-rounded and well thought-out. Nick, on the other hand, was uptight, rude--and not just in his behaviours, but in his thoughts, as well--and as the reader, we never really get to know much about him, despite being in his head for a good portion of the book. As a result, his character was flat and not really likeable. Additionally, I couldn't see what Perry liked in Nick, aside from the fact that he used to be a SEAL and was apparently good-looking. Their relationship was totally unbelievable. The mystery, while convoluted, was what kept me reading. I got confused with all of the names and different characters, especially when they all felt so similar to one another, but I enjoyed it, regardless. Overall, this book was simultaneously disappointing and entertaining. 1* for romance, 3* for the mystery. View all my reviews Welcome to Cheri's 20 Questions! My interviewee today is the talented Laura Ellen Scott. Born and raised in Northern Ohio, Laura is named after the classic noir film and song, Laura, so it makes sense that she likes writing stories with dark themes and quirky characters, in the tradition of Tom Robbins, Kelly Link, and Robert Altman. She currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia where she teaches creative writing at George Mason University. Most weekends, you can find her hiding from the Mothman in her cabin in West Virginia. Tell us a little something about what you write: I write dark mysteries that are inflected with humor. My current series is The New Royal Mysteries, and they’re set in a college/prison town in Ohio where the local university has launched a crime writing program in partnership with the corrections industry. Subconsciously, I’m probably using the series to say that creative minds and criminal minds have a lot in common. Interview Questions: Cheri: What is the first book that made you cry? Laura Ellen: I’m sure it was something like Heidi or Anne of Green Gables. I was always a sucker for shamelessly manipulative stories about orphan girls who persevered and never lost their positivity. Those kinds of books really target your trust issues. Cheri: Does writing energize or exhaust you? Laura Ellen: Fixing to write exhausts me. That is, before I start any new project my body tries to stop me. Maybe it’s because once I really get going, that’s my life until I’m done. Cheri: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Laura Ellen: I can’t tell any of my selves anything; I won’t listen, not at any stage of my life. I suppose I could tell my younger self, “you will be a novelist,” but I know that person would just smirk at me and say, “No duh.” Cheri: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing? Laura Ellen: It sped me up. When someone (like a publisher) confirms what you thought all along—that what you’re doing is professional level stuff—that fundamentally changes you as an artist. Doubt is my biggest enemy. Cheri: What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? Laura Ellen: Ha! Terrible confession time—up through The Mean Bone in Her Body, I bought a new computer for each book. That wasn’t planned, it just happened that way. My last computer has lived to produce two books going on three, so maybe I’ve broken the spell. Best “smart” money would have to be Scrivener and candles. Cheri: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? Laura Ellen: My mother says I was trying to write a book before I could read, so it sounds like I always knew. Growing up, I was an independent, weird kid with real authority problems, and my peers and teachers wanted me to be more girly/polite and less goofy. The only way to shut them up/out was to write. Cheri: What’s your favourite under-appreciated novel? Laura Ellen: Jen Michalski’s The Tide King. It’s a historical fantasy about an herb that grants immortality and its effects on several generations of a polish family. This book was a huge influence on The Juliet. Cheri: As a writer, what would you say is your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Laura Ellen: This crew lives on my desk. They solve crimes together when I’m not around: Cheri: How many published, unpublished, and half-finished books do you have? Laura Ellen: Published: 4 novels, 1 chapbook. Unpublished: 2 novels, 1 short story collection. Half-finished: 2 novels. Cheri: What does literary success look like to you? Laura Ellen: It changes every time I meet a goal. The next goal is completing the New Royal Mysteries series. I had a taste of low-key “fame” for about a day during the 2012 Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, when I happened to be on a terrifically successful panel, and my book sold out. People recognized me on the street. It was weird, but that’s New Orleans. Cheri: What do you feel is the best way to market your books? Laura Ellen: I’m not sure, but I know that I sell more books when I’m in the room to talk about them, and of course, nothing beats a great concept and cover art. I’ve never really noticed an uptick that I could attribute to a review or an interview. Cheri: What kind of research do you do, and how much time do you typically spend researching before beginning a new book? Laura Ellen: No idea how much time I spend on research, because time is meaningless down in the rabbit hole. Research is crucial for the concept but also for discovering where the plot will take me. For The Juliet, I knew I wanted to write about a cursed emerald in Death Valley, but it wasn’t until I went there that I found the Mona Bell cenotaph in Rhyolite, and that led directly to the development of the Lily Joy legend. For Crybaby Lane, I dove into history again, this time using a journal written by one of my ancestors to create an authentic sense of the Ohio “voice” in the 18th/19th century. Cheri: How do you select the names for your characters? Laura Ellen: My characters are born with their names, but they almost always connect to someone I know or something that amuses me. For example, the names in Mean Bone & Crybaby Lane: Elizabeth Murgatroyd comes from the phrases “Heavens to Betsy” and “Heavens to Murgatroyd.” Mitch Brugada comes from a syndrome. Alma Bell is named for my Aunt Alma and Matt Bell. Crocus Rowe got her last name from a student twitter contest. Jeaneane Lewis is no one in particular, but the repeated vowel combo of “ea” in both halves of her first name is deliberately intended as a speed bump. Same with the extra “n” in Brianna Shaler’s name. Not sure I needed it, but I personally enjoy the odd resistant word. Cheri: Do you hide secrets (or Easter Eggs) in your books for people to find? Laura Ellen: Definitely. The most obvious ones are when I name characters after friends, but I also plant clues about what might happen in the next book. Cheri: What was your hardest scene to write? Laura Ellen: The sequence of scenes in the Shaler’s house, where Jeaneane’s mania feeds off of Brianna’s decline in Mean Bone was challenging because there was no room for humor in the situation. It was just dark-dark-dark. Cheri: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Laura Ellen: Time and making good use of it. Cheri: How long, on average, does it take you to write a book? Laura Ellen: Current speed—most of a year. Cheri: What is your favourite childhood book? Laura Ellen: The Four Little Puppies, by Ruth Dixon. It’s one of those books that is illustrated with photos of dressed up puppies posed as if they are cleaning the house or riding in a plane, etc. Cheri: Where/when do you find yourself most inspired? Laura Ellen: When I travel or when I’m neglecting some other task. Cheri: Lastly, do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Laura Ellen: It’s on the syllabus! Lol, I’m a creative writing professor, so I kind of make my living advising aspiring writers. Free tuition version: don’t be shy, write new things, and success comes quickest to those who write every day. (psst, I don’t write every day. Please refer to question #3. Can’t tell myself a thing) Cheri: Thank you so much for answering my questions, Laura Ellen! It's been a pleasure having you! You can find Laura's Amazon page here. Check us out next week for another edition of Cheri's 20 Questions.
On Point by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 2 of 5 stars This book really disappointed me. The plot was so promising, and the bit in the jungle was so exciting. I just...didn't like much of the rest. There were some redeeming qualities to each character, and the sex scenes were decent (except for the flashback scenes, which I despised), but other than that, I couldn't wrap my head around the motivation behind what went on here--for Ben, in particular. In addition to the characterization and motivation being way off for me, there was something about this writing that I just didn't like. There wasn't enough description, especially outside of the jungle, there were a lot of scenes that felt rushed or totally unnecessary, there wasn't enough of a sizzling moment when their relationship began, everything was just a bit bland, and when our heroes reconcile after the inevitable fallout, there wasn't enough raw emotion. Honestly, this book just left me feeling very blah, when it had such potential. At this point, I'll probably give this author another try, and read a different one of her books, because there were some very specific things about this book that I didn't like that might be unique to this title. Here's to hoping. As it is, this is not a book that I would recommend. View all my reviews |
Cheri Champagne
Award winning queer and autistic historical romance author. Chronically ill wife, and sahm of four neuro-spicy kids. Nerd & mug enthusiast. She/they. Archives
May 2024
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