2015 challenges completed

This year is almost done and I've completed the two challenges I've decided to do. While both provided interesting reads, I will only repeat one of them in 2016.

This is the challenge's page, which will be updated soon.

 

The thing is, I like challenges with themes and ones that can allow me to use my TBR list titles. I have so many, it feels a waste of time to look for books on purpose to suit a theme. I like to use my books to do that. So many challenges don't allow me that and I feel sad to not participate in them, but it's the way I am.

 

The two challenges I've done this year were different in the way they suit me.

The TBR Challenge is actually perfect for me. I could read one book a month, I had a generic enough theme to follow, something I truly appreciate.

 

The Alphabet Challenge didn't have a theme, I only had to pick titles to suit each alphabet letter, but some letters were more difficult and in one or two cases I had to not only look for a book I didn't have to fulfill the letter or I had to choose a book I wouldn't in this point for the same reason. That certainly stressed me out and got the fun out of it.

 

To me, the best challenge is the TBR one, at least personally.

I can use my own books, I can think about broad concepts and it's only one book, so I can basically use time on my own way.

This year, for the TBR challenge, I picked interesting books, some weren't that good but that's part of the fun, not knowing how good or how bad the book is, but it would be read so...why not ally the good to the useful?

 

The Alphabet challenge was interesting too, most books were successes, but the ones I had to use to just fill up gaps didn't win me over as much and that felt like a duty, which wasn't as fun. It felt something more restrictive, I can't explain it. Part of the challenge was actually very interesting, but I wasn't as amazed as I thought, despite recognizing it's only a personal pet peeve of mine and not a resemblance on the challenge's purpose or intent.

 

All in all, I like to follow challenges but I've come to realize I'm very picky and I want certain ideas to match my own goals. Maybe that's wrong if I belong to a group with rules, but it's the way I want things to happen.

This experience was quite interesting though and despite only participating in two, I was still quite busy with the challenges, plus my book clubs and personal choices.

Reading is what matters but challenges are for me more about the hows than the actual management to complete them. 

TBR Challenge: A Western Winter Wonderland anthology

19th century. Three heartwarming stories full of holiday sparkle and romance!
Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St.John
Marvel Henley thought she was content until the new handsome doctor Seth Paxton and his adorable kids crashed into her life! Suddenly she began to yearn for things she had long stopped wishing for... Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan
When Abby March is accidentally shot, she and her young boy are taken into a rugged stranger's care. Dark and mysterious, Ford Statler hides a softer side and offers much more than just a Christmas to remember...
One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks
Chet Latimer is attracted to Sonja Kaplan despite local gossip, and he finds himself asking Sonja for help with his motherless little boy. With Christmas on the horizon and magic in the air, their lives may just change...forever!  

Comment: Here we are the final TBR challenge post of the year and, as usual, for December we have a holiday read. It doesn't have to be about Christmas but is sure looks suitable. Again this year I picked an anthology that has been on my radar for quite a long time and I kept it on hold until this month purposely to this challenge.

 

Each story features a small plot centered around Christmas and the spirit of sharing and helping others. Even more important, there's love to happen as well.

Being the stories short stories obviously they have to follow some rules, namely in terms of limited time to set the pace and present a HEA. I found it interesting that all stories featured children. The problem is that, because there's not much time to develop the relationships, even in an historical context where some situations would be dealt with more politeness and behavioral rules than we have nowadays when it comes to said relationships, I felt not enough time was passing for things to be very credible. It's very difficult to fully believe that in such a short amount of time things happen with enough depth and solidity to make a relationship based on true love become real. I know it's complicated to juggle the need for limits with a believable love story development but some authors have done it! And without recurring to the lovers reunited trope, which I dislike. This doesn't happen here, all three couples fall in love after some time talking and there are sweet, cute scenes around the Christmas time but they really didn't work out completely for me.

Just a few words about each story...

 

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St.John

This story focuses on Marvel, a spinster lady who took care of her father in his illness and now has a boarding house and recently turned down the offer of marriage by one of her father's friends. Marvel feels she doesn't have to settle just because of her age and she tells herself she likes her lonely life just fine. Things change when Seth Paxton, the new doctor, arrives in town with his children and starts living there until his own house is ready.

The relationship between them is cautious at first but then Marvel falls for his children and then for Seth himself. Marvel is suspicious of happiness after such a long time not living for herself but this cute story tells us it's never too late to be happy, to trust someone and to fulfill the dreams we might have. What I didn't like was how Marvel was seven years older than Seth. Personally, in real life nothing against it, but in romances I prefer when the opposite happens. It doesn't suit me much and often I can't put it aside. Apart from that, it was a sweet story.

 

Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan

Abby is trying to get a Christmas tree with her son when a bounty hunter accidently shoots her while trying to hit a wanted man. Abby grew up in a sheltered life but everything changed when she believed the words of a man and left her family for him. he turned out to be a cad, only after her for her money, money that her parents never gave her anyway. She is now wary of men, especially Ford who takes up the task of caring for her until she's back on her feet. The close proximity of the hotel where they're staying makes the feelings between them hard to resist and the small boy really needs a father, but Abby wants to take care of her son and she gladly traded her good life to protect and love her son.

This story is sweet too, but the relationship between Ford and Abby happens too fast. It was more convincing how Ford and Abby's son bonded, actually. Ford is one of those "I don't deserve you" types and that gets so annoying, although believable. It was nice when things got solved and Ford realize it's better to love and cherish than to live in the past.

 

One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks

Here we meet Sonya, who works as the caretaker of pigeons for the army and the whole town believes her to be something she's not, receiving so many army men in her house and being unmarried. The man she was supposed to marry died in a an attack by an Indian but Sonya takes her job very seriously because the pigeons carrying messages help the army to protect people.

Chet Lattimer's son and a friend save a baby fox and ask Sonya for help but then the friend leaves Chet's son there and when he goes there to get him, we learn both Chet and Sonya are attracted to each other but the prejudice is keeping Chet away despite Sonya having developed stronger feelings for him and feeling very sad he doesn't try to understand her side. The best part was to see how Sonya, someone others misjudged, finally got the family she needed to love and loved them back. I think Chet was a bit too condescending but the HEA made up for that.

 

All in all, the three stories are warm tales of the redemption of Christmas and how we should let go of past issues and embrace happiness, a second chance at love or even a first attempt at being with people who could love and want you. I also liked how children had an important role in all the stories, for they were part of the reason the couples got closer and became a family at the end.

Many situations would have gained a lot with a bigger page count so certain issues could have been better developed, but in general, the goals were achieved.

I still think more could have been done, not any of them won me over completely, but all of them are slightly balanced, there isn't one, for instance, that's so much better or vice versa. They are nice, warm stories to read in this season and that's it, really.

Grade: 6/10 

TBR Challenge: Julie Anne Long - The Legend of Lyon Redmond

Bound by centuries of bad blood, England's two most powerful families maintain a veneer of civility...until the heir to the staggering Redmond fortune disappears, reviving rumors of an ancient curse: a Redmond and an Eversea are destined to fall disastrously in love once per generation.
Rumor has it she broke Lyon Redmond's heart. But while many a man has since wooed the dazzling Olivia Eversea, none has ever won her—which is why jaws drop when she suddenly accepts a viscount's proposal. Now London waits with bated breath for the wedding of a decade . . . and wagers on the return of an heir.
It was instant and irresistible, forbidden . . . and unforgettable. And Lyon—now a driven, dangerous, infinitely devastating man—decides it's time for a reckoning. As the day of her wedding races toward them, Lyon and Olivia will decide whether their love is a curse destined to tear their families apart...or the stuff of which legends are made.

Comment: This is the last installment in the successful Pennyroyal Green series by author Julie Anne Long. After ten books wondering what had happened to Lyon Redmond and whether he would find his HEA with Olivia Eversea, finally their story was told and we could find out if they belong together or not.

I picked this one for the Hype theme of November because I'm sure many readers were more than eager to read this book. I was actually eagerly awaiting its release.

 

This book features the ultimate mystery of the series, did Lyon Redmond really disappeared because Olivia, the woman he loved, broke his heart? Olivia and Lyon are the oldest of both their parents and their families have had this feud of common hate between them and it's told a couple would fall in love in each generation but never be happy. In this series we've been trying to see if the same would happen to these two and it appeared so when Olivia finally accepted to marry someone else. But is their story at its end? Can Lyon and Olivia talk and settle their issues? Is there a happy future for them?

 

Although the author didn't make this the key point of all the books, I have to say it was quite ingenious of her to insert little scenes or little details here and there through the past 10 books in a way that we wouldn't forget about Olivia and Lyon. Sure, in one or two books that subject was more prominent than in the majority of them, but it was never a focus point. Still, at the back of our minds, it was there. I think it was quite clever, subtle, but a well placed strategy to make the mystery be something we would look forward to know more about.

 

We arrive at this book with many HEAs behind, many characters already happy and with amazing lives and loves, but the couple never forgotten could finally have their story.

Olivia has been described as someone difficult to approach, she now has a fiancé because she gave up on waiting. At least it looked so. Clever author making a path clear for her to do so.

Lyon seemed a ghost, rarely were his appearances, but did he really stay away from what was happening? Does he have a plan we didn't know about?

 

In general, I liked this story but I have two issues with this book.

The first thing was the type of plot. Of course this is a lovers reunited. One of the plots I hate the most. I confess some of the scenes of how things used to be between them bored me, even if I recognize how important they are so we can really know what happened. But I wanted more of them now, and not as much of what was. I'm glad we got that too and, of course, the scenes from the past are a handy bridge not only to understand things but to make it look like not too much time has passed. But personally, I can't get away from the fact I had to read about the before knowing something would go wrong. This is an historical so there is a lot of intimacy and elements they didn't share which made this look better for me. But as a whole it's still annoying, even if necessary for their romance.

The second thing I got annoyed at was the epilogue. I appreciate the idea of knowing what happened in the future but not like this! I mean, why? I would have preferred a thousand times more a regular epilogue with all of them maybe 10 years into the future and seeing them well, with their families. That would have warmed up my heart and my romantic side! Not the epilogue we had which is cute but not what I wanted, no.

 

Someone mentioned on GR this was the book the author should write. In a way I agree because we do see Lyon and Olivia together, dealing with things, in a stage in their lives where, maybe, they did gain from a separation, from a time where they weren't ready to acknowledge their feelings. It hurt but now they can try. But Olivia is engaged, who will she choose? We have a pretty good idea obviously, but I liked how there's this side of uncertainty until the end. Still, not all is bad if one pays attention to details. The author is wonderful with those, I admit it.

 

The characters are a huge part of things. Lyon was adventurous and mysterious but I liked seeing his softer, more family man side. I like the lesson he's supposed to teach but I feel sad at the same time he had to be away to become the person he had to. I'm glad he found happiness.

Olivia we've saw more of through the books, I confess there was a point where I thought she wasn't who she should but...everyone has weaker moments, doubt moments. We learn and we live with our decisions, so...

The solution of some situations was intriguing because of character's personalities. That affected some things and the "hows" of it. There's a certain bittersweet feel to some aspects because people aren't all the same, because we make choices, we follow some things and not others. I think it's amazing how the author makes her point with seemingly easy and hidden details. She does write beautifully.

 

In the end, this was the perfect end for the series. I liked knowing about the characters and their obstacles towards happiness. I cried here and there over some things. I really thought this was on the way to be close to perfect (except for the lovers reunited elements) but then the epilogue brought this down. Still, a well thought and structured series, wonderfully written by the author and presented in a way where a fan can read and re-read without thinking this would end in disgrace. I liked it and will cherish the good parts forever, that I will.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Tess Gerritsen - Die Again

When Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are summoned to a

crime scene, they find a killing worthy of the most ferocious beast—right down to the claw marks on the corpse. But only the most sinister human hands could have left renowned big-game hunter and taxidermist Leon Gott gruesomely displayed like the once-proud animals whose heads adorn his walls. Did Gott unwittingly awaken a predator more dangerous than any he’s ever hunted?
Maura fears that this isn’t the killer’s first slaughter, and that it won’t be the last. After linking the crime to a series of unsolved homicides in wilderness areas across the country, she wonders if the answers might actually be found in a remote corner of Africa.
Six years earlier, a group of tourists on safari fell prey to a killer in their midst. Marooned deep in the bush of Botswana, with no means of communication and nothing but a rifle-toting guide for protection, the terrified tourists desperately hoped for rescue before their worst instincts—or the wild animals prowling in the shadows—could tear them apart. But the deadliest predator was already among them, and within a week, he walked away with the blood of all but one of them on his hands.
Now this killer has chosen Boston as his new hunting ground, and Rizzoli and Isles must find a way to lure him out of the shadows and into a cage. Even if it means dangling the bait no hunter can resist: the one victim who got away.

Comment: Another month, another TBR read to cross off the list. I picked this book by Gerritsen mostly because of the suspense in the "paranormal or romantic suspense" of October's theme. I did have some other books more appropriate but sincerely, Gerritsen writes wonderful books with a little bit of romance and lots of suspense so I just had to read it.

 

In this book, Rizzolli and Isles face a new case and a new adventure where they have to use their skills and knowledge to catch a murderer.

From Africa to Boston, the case seems to start with a group of people on their holidays in Botswana. But things go badly very soon. Back in Boston, Rizzolli has a new case, a taxidermist was killed in his own house and it seems someone wanted to make it look an animal did it. After consulting the city's zoo, Rizzolli and Isles start to get an idea of why the victim was killed that way. But then, an accident happens at the zoo and someone else dies. How can these deaths be connected to Africa? And why?

 

Once more, I was engrossed, engaged, entertained by another Rizzolli and Isles' installment. I really think the author has come a long way since her first romantic suspense novels. The more recent books, which would be more like thrillers or suspense books, are wonderful, so very balanced and logical and appealing, I can't described them good enough.

 

This story features another interesting theme in the author's choices of setting. The issue is wild animals and how they kill, how they plan their attacks and how without mercy they are. Even zoo animals would kill if allowed. I think it's an interesting thought because we assume that, just because they are in a cage and see those who feed them everyday, they wouldn't attack but that's not true. Interesting ideas the author inserts... and even the more surprising notions like the leopard man's theories expressed here add to the story and aren't used as just a means to make everything even weirder.

At some point I admit I started to suspect of the murderer's identity because a little detail never added up in my way of thinking. But the author does an amazing job in creating all the layers in the story, in presenting them slow and carefully so that we get the big picture one step at a time. The reasons for all the deaths, the amount of work it took... again, only someone madly genius could have done it and only someone as talented as Gerritsen could have written it in a way that is doesn't sound silly or pointless.

 

The characters are the basis of everything. Again, apart from the recurrent characters. the author has imagined fascinating characters to fulfill this story. I liked the personalities imagined, the connections between everyone, the complexity of everyone's actions and motives...really, the idea that a little detail could provoke all the bad things present here and that in real life the little details also lead us to bigger things...

I didn't become afraid of cats but I surely think about them differently, especially the big predators.

Rizzolli and Isles keep on being the amazing women we've been knowing. I liked seeing Jane with her husband, how much she cares about her mother - we see glimpses of that situation as well - and then Maura and her guilt over her awful mother who tries to manipulate her. I wonder how that will be developed. It's fascinating and amazing how the author can include such domestic and personal development scenes without making it out of place or unimportant. The balance in her books is exceptional.

 

All in all, without going into many details, this book is another wonderful installment in the series. I do have to point out one thing though. Not bad, just something that I can't put aside. One of the characters in Africa at some point has feelings for someone and we get little glimpses of it until she admits it. Then, in the end there's this bittersweet conclusion about the whole thing and the character thinks about how things would have been like, had she made a different choice. That notion left me thinking...sometimes we miss opportunities and we can just feel guilty over them and have a hard time processing. Somehow this aspect in this book made me a bit contemplative...

 

Anyway, I loved this book, I couldn't put it down and I liked even more how the author never tried to make her opinions matter most. This was all about the story and the readers take on it. Wonderful and I can't wait for more.

Grade: 9/10

TBR Challenge: Maggie Osborne - I Do, I Do, I Do

A rich, proper spinster aching for a man's touch, Juliette March is an easy target for the seductive Jean Jacques Villette. When he disappears with her inheritance after their wedding, Juliette sets out to find the scoundrel. She never expects to meet Clara Klaus, who ran a boardinghouse until Jean Jacques swept her off her feet, then swept himself out of town.
While following the trail of their no-good husband, Clara and Juliette run into Zoe Wilder, another victim of the debonair Jean Jacques. Now Juliette's ready to put a bullet in his cheating heart. When these three vengeful ladies embark on a misbegotten quest to Alaska, things get downright dangerous--especially for the unsuspecting men they entice along the way. . . .

Comment: Here we are in another TBR read, this time the theme is historical and like many of the readers that participate in the challenge, I had many historicals to choose from. I picked this one because the blurb seemed promising and I wanted to be positively entertained.

 

This is the story of three women that randomly meet and realize they are married to the same man. They decided to unite their efforts to find him and clues lead them to Alaska, where their husband is rumored to have gone in search of gold.

In the way, they have to deal with the fact they all were with the same man without really knowing him but believed the things he said. The journey to Alaska has many obstacles for them but they find help along the way as well a friendship and a kinship they never imagined.

Could it be that they could also find true love with men that loved them for real?

 

This book is my second attempt in reading something by the author. Precisely one year ago, in 2014, I've read Silver Lining and enjoyed it, so I had high hopes to read another book by the author and that it would be as special as the other one. I know no book is the same, even written by the same person, but I liked how my expectations were met even if, comparing the two of them, I still prefer the other one.

 

I liked the idea of this book. I liked that three women would be the protagonists and each one would find love on the journey to solve a situation that caused them embarrassment and anger. I imagined how angry and in need of revenge they must have be in, trying to find reasons for something not their fault but in which they ended up humiliated. I was very curious to know the story would end because I assumed they would learn their lesson and be in love with men that were right for them but still get some sort of revenge not only finding true love. I have to say that the end disappointed me a bit because not only was the plot crazy enough - although not impossible - but the way it was solved? Not buying it and it felt like a let down after all the effort and troubles the women went through.

 

The story focus on three women, Juliette, Clara and Zoe, each one with a different background and reason to have felt she was falling in love with Jacques, the French supposed husband. Of course each one had something to learn, some sort of morale to understand before getting a proper HEA. It was difficult not to think about it to simply enjoy the story... It also felt like the story had to lead to a personal path among all the common tribulations. I get this but it was so obvious I don't think this was the purpose but I can't help seeing it that way.

 

My favorite woman was Juliette because I empathize more with her. Her sheltered life and her fear of doing things on her own but still trying anyway spoke to me. I liked Zoe too because she's practical and very like myself in temperament and thoughts...Clara was more difficult to visualize, she's what I think most people would like to be, adventurous, practical and assured of herself.

The men they find and fall in love are convenient to each of their personalities and that's one of the things I struggled with. they're too perfect for them, I wanted a bit more contrast, I think. The HEAs make sense but are too picture perfect. This isn't a bad thing but everything seemed orchestred somehow, so this story doesn't have the depth I expected. In that aspect I much preferred the other book.

Some readers didn't like how the couples dealt with intimacy issues (yes, the sex part). I wasn't bothered by it considering their marital situations simply because I also felt this was just another thing to cross off the list of necessary scenes to include. Too handy and prepared that I didn't think those scenes were that important to the plot and could have been easily dismissed.

 

I enjoyed the friendship that developed between the women, I don't think they became best friends despite the professions of real care for each other but it was good to see the slow development of that while they were forced to be so close together in the journey and how much they endured. In a way, this was my favorite thing about the book.

At the same time, I think the author intended too many things for such a short story altogether. The friendship and relationships were done well enough but all personal development I felt was necessary wasn't exploited as deeply as I think it should. I understand why but it was something I anticipated.

 

If I think about the whole story, I can't say I didn't like it. I did like it and enjoyed reading it. But I admit I thought it would be more emotional, more heartfelt and epic. The story isn't bad, I do think it's readable and I would re-read again if I ever had the time, but it wasn't as memorable as that.

Still, if one compares to many other things out there, it's a good effort and story.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Kristen Ashley - The Gamble

Nina Sheridan desperately needs a timeout vacation. With a fiancé who can't even remember how she takes her coffee, Nina wants some distance to rethink her engagement. Flying halfway around the world from England to a mountain town in Colorado should do the trick. But when she finds a gorgeous man at her rental cabin, Nina's cold, lonely adventure suddenly heats up.
The owner of the house, Holden "Max" Maxwell is surprised by the beautiful woman who turns up at his door. But when Nina becomes ill, Max spends days nursing her back to health. A private man with a broken heart, Max finds himself drawn to the strong-willed woman. Soon it becomes impossible for Nina and Max to deny their growing attraction to one another. Yet even as these two wounded lovebirds think about taking a chance on a relationship, a dangerous secret from Max's past emerges-and threatens to end their love for good.

Comment: Here's a new challenge read. This month the theme is about a book you bought on impulse, or that you forgot why you bought. I picked this title because I've heard about the author a lot and got curious, so I bought one book whose blurb seemed something I might appreciate. I bought my book around an year ago and I thought it would suit this theme quite well.

 

This is the story of Nina, a woman who needs a time-out and travels to Colorado from England to think about her relationship and the fact she needs to break up with her fiancé. However, there's a mix up at the house she rented and the owner, Max, is there. After a misunderstanding, Nina leaves but her car falls into a ditch and she falls asleep. She wakes up in Max's house while he takes care of her because she's very sick.

The attraction between them leads them into relationship level, but there are many obstacles to overcome and many people to deal with while still trying to figure out if they can actually make it.

 

This book is very big. It has a lot of pages and many times I thought all those pages weren't really necessary and the author could have economized several parts and that wouldn't "ruin" the plot. I get this is the author's style but I also admit being bored here and there. 

To be really honest there were some things that bothered me in terms of rationality and plot evolution. I wasn't as amazed by the book as I imagined based on so many good reviews of other readers, including people whose taste I trust. I know everyone's different and sees different things in the same book, but I was surprised nevertheless.

 

The story features many themes and that, I would say, is one of the problems. Why so many things to deal with, to have to focus on? There is murder, crime investigation, suicide, disability issues, relationship issues, what is an alpha ideas, domestic abuse, psychological parental abuse, etc. Maybe in a different story I could not notice all of them so much but in this very extensive book (more than 600 pages) it was obvious and not in the best way, I think. I wonder if less subjects could be better presented and not as tiresome to read about.

 

There are some incongruences I found annoying. For instance when Max looks through Nina's things when she's sick so he can check her phone number and so on and even later on tells her he saw her plane tickets, then why in the middle of the book there's a situation where he can't believe her age? Didn't he see her cards, why was it such a big deal how old she is vs how young she looks? It seemed silly to me.

There are other things I found eye rolling, especially when it came to their behavior towards each other. Sure they were attracted, falling in love, but the constant "darling", "honey", babe" endearments in their conversations went from boring to annoying.

Max and Nina doubted the other too in some aspects. Max in particular seemed to be right many times and when he got mad at Nina because she didn't explain her ideas or her thoughts I got surprised. Why would she have to explain things if he was the one who didn't tell her about those same things? It seems stupid to ask for her understanding about things he never mentioned himself.

 

Overall, the writing seemed ok but when it came to the dialogs and character's actions...many information seemed irrelevant and the dialogs were annoying because the majority of them were always interrupted, so people would be talking and someone would interrupt or the people talking wouldn't let the other finish their thought. It was very annoying. As it would be in real life.

Apart from these things, the plot itself seemed quite interesting. Some plot situations were interesting to see develop and I got interested in the characters and their lives, their goals and personality.

 

The main couple was ok apart from the annoying habits they had. Max sure is an alpha male and I didn't mind that per se but it did become slightly irritating when he assumed many things but got mad if Nina did the same. I don't think they were that balanced, but in the end there's an HEA and all is well.

 

Overall, this was average to me. I admit I got curious about the feel of the story, I liked some things and I'm curious if this is an author's skill or if it's only this book. I also wonder if the other stories by her are all the same - some readers have told me yes - if this lengthy plots are as annoying in places like this one, if the writing style is as evidenced in other books as in this one... if so I'll try another book later, maybe next year.

I wanted to love this author but apparently she didn't win me over...

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Teresa Medeiros - A Kiss to Remember

Laura Fairleigh needs a husband. If she is to keep a roof over her siblings’ heads, the prim rector’s daughter must wed by her twenty-first birthday. When she finds a mysterious stranger with the face of an angel and the body of Adonis unconscious in the forest and with no memory of his name or his past, she decides to claim him for her own. Little does she know that her fallen angel is really the devil in disguise.
Sterling Harlow, the notorious rakehell known as the “Devil of Devonbrooke,” awakens to the enchanting kiss of a lovely young woman who informs him he is her long-lost betrothed. With her sun-kissed cheeks and smattering of freckles, she looks every inch the innocent, but her curves possess a woman’s allure. When she assures him he is the perfect gentleman, he wonders if he’s lost his wits as well as his memory. He would have sworn he was not a man to be satisfied with mere kisses—especially from lips as sweet and luscious as Laura’s.As he attempts to uncover the truth before their wedding night, A Kiss To Remember ignites a passion neither of them will ever be able to forget....

Comment: Here's another TBR read. This is a complicated month for reading because I have the house cleaning and I've started a temporary job, but I couldn't miss the challenges I'm in, so I grabbed a book that was suited for this month and in the pile I had this one, which was nominated to a RITA in 2001, therefore why I picked it.

 

This is mix of amnesia/sleeping beauty story. The hero is traveling to his old childhood house to see what he has to deal with and take some orphans who live there to other places but on the way he falls of his horse and hits his head. He is rescued by the heroine, the oldest sister of the orphans who need to leave. However, Laura, the heroine, thinks if she marries the deed to the house will go to her. When she sees the stranger she makes a plan pretending they are engaged so she can marry and save the house for herself and her brother and sister.

There's a problem, though, because the hero remembers who he really is after the marriage and then how can Laura fix their problems and the fact their identities belong exactly the person they wanted to get rid of?

 

This story has many romantic elements I liked. However, I think some narrative points and clichés used weren't exploited in the best way to make this a success for me.

I understand that some of my personal preferences influence a lot of what I wished this had, but at the same time this is the goal of reading, of trying to see if we like it, if it matches our reader preferences.

For me, the least achieved element was the relationship between hero and heroine and how they treated each other. I think the author wanted to make some situations funny, namely the whole amnesia related scenes and the charades but the effect it had on my perspective wasn't as smooth and easy as a comedy scene should be like. At least I didn't laugh at Laura and the children's antics towards the hero or anything.

 

After the marriage, the truth comes up and a second part of the story starts to take place. Now the hero has the upper hand and can control the heroine's reactions and the choices she could make.

This part reads like any other story out there set in this time... I wasn't very impressed and some plot actions seemed too obvious to be simply the natural path characters would take.

 

Sterling, the hero is good enough I suppose. He's not magnificent but he proves to be the man any woman would want in the end. It's just the path that seems fake and sometimes inconsistent. Because we have to see his struggle to accept some facts, he seems doubtful. I understand this plot move to make him perfect in the end, but at the same time it's one of those tactics I have no patience for.

Or it was made to look like it to me.

The heroine is likable but she isn't very practical. I don't think the author has ever convinced me she has a steady head on her shoulders because despite all the things she is entitled, many of her actions only reflect impulsiveness. Ok, anyone can argue that this is what makes it an imaginative story, that something had to happen, but it seemed to me that some personality was exaggerated in the characters which I couldn't not think about.

 

The secondary characters are interesting for the most part, especially the children, but not to an amazing point. There's also another romance going on, not as exploited but it's another point of interest in my opinion.

All in all, the story has good aspects but it's not presented in the best way, in the most captivating way.

I think it's a good story, but after reading many other books where I was impressed and marveled, when I read a story not as rich or addictive, I can't help but notice.

But on its own, this romance is good enough. If I stop to think about the time it was written, then it's probably very good, the person I am today, reading it now...it affects me differently, thus... average to me.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Beth Williamson - Jake

On the surface, Jake Sheridan is an easygoing man whose problems roll off him like water off a ducks back. Truth is, Jake holds so many past demons inside him, he darent let them out for fear hell never get them all back in. He and the Devils are hired to help rebuild a town ransacked by marauders. Everywhere they turn, they encounter secretsenough secrets to turn the town to dust if they dont uncover the truth. Only one person in town isnt glad to see them: Gabrielle Rinaldi, the millers daughter. A strong and independent woman who is used to being disrespected for speaking her mind, she makes no secret that she doesnt believe hired guns are the answer to the towns woes. Yet she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic and charming Jake. In spite of himself, Jake falls hard and fast for Gabby. But shes wary of handing her heart to a man who lives by his guns. When tragedy strikes, Jake and Gabby must fight to find a way to save the townand their hearts.

Comment: Here we are again in another TBR challenge pick! This month the theme is More Than One (An author who has more than one book in your TBR). I could have picked many but I sticked with Beth Williamson anyway because 1) I'm a good person and I give second chances - usually and 2) I wanted to see if I'd be proven wrong.

You see, last month I've read the first installment in this Devils in Horseback series and it wasn't a success for me. This is sad because like I said then, I had read most books in another series by the author once and they were - ARE - amazing with some titles being very good.

What I don't understand is, how could the author write such amazing stories in the first written series and later writing the one where this Jake is inserted? It seems very strange how these things happen but I swear it doesn't feel the same thing at all! The other series has amazing characters, the plots/development feels amazing, it shows the author thought about emotion and continuity. In this one it looks like a bunch of romance ideas thrown together and then the execution is sloppy and meaningless.

I can't explain it and in the end it's not something that I care about, but it annoys me how writing can be so different in terms of talent from one year to another.

The first book, Nate, had a weak plot, weak characters and a weak execution. I was hoping this one would prove me wrong and tat the first one was a fluke, an error in execution, a glitch in the author's career, all author have worst books after all.

Unfortunately I was not proven wrong and this one isn't any better. I got that from the start but I like to finish my books, I want to congratulate myself on trying, on being able to grade and rant with all knowledge if that's the case. I picked this author in the end because I have the third book in the series to be read too. And I'll read it too which may seem weird but it's one less book to wonder and to feel guilty about but I tell you, it will be another disappointment for sure.

One of the worst things about this Devils in Horseback series is the fact the ideas in the stories are actually good and done well they could turn this into good books. But somehow the author doesn't develop anything properly.

Jake opens up with the guys - minus Nate now, he married - arriving at another small town and something weird is going on. No one walks the streets, houses are closed, there's a strange vibe in the air. I think the suggestion and possibility was quite interesting but the development was really bad. The author uses clichés that don't match the type of environment that exists and many characters don't serve any valuable purpose. Even the villain - despite not being such a surprise - was mistreated because the reasons were so stupid it removed the uniqueness of the whole situation.

The town is facing problems and the Devils are supposed to help but there's no polished execution of the scenes where they could solve the mystery and what happens becomes pointless.

The romance is stupid, sorry. If they were described as two people just sharing a special time I think it would matter less, but to say they were falling in love like that - and it's not the sex that makes me say this it's their interactions apart from that - is diminishing what falling in love should be in the first place. I never felt convinced of the feelings between hero and heroine and honestly who cared, I was so annoyed at how the author didn't seem to even try to make their relationship important.

In the end, this book and the previous one and most likely the others too, there's one huge issue that makes everything bad and disappointing: the ideas are there but the author apparently didn't respect her own concepts and the execution is beyond poor, there's no substance, no heartfelt emotion, everything feels automated to start, go and finish.

What a poor dealing of potential characters and ideas.

Maybe it's me and I'm being unfair but sincerely this series seems to be unpalatable.

Grade: 3/10

TBR Challenge: Pamela Morsi - Simple Jess

The last thing widow Althea Winsloe wanted to do was remarry. Unfortunately, her meddlesome mountain neighbors had other plans. So, one autumn night they banded together and gave Althea a shocking ultimatum: She was to find herself a husband by Christmas...or the town would do it for her!
Althea knew she had her choice of any single man in Marrying Stone, Arkansas. Yet the only one she felt truly comfortable with was Simple Jess.
Sweet and gentle, Jess wasn't as smart as your average man. But his tender manner stirred Althea's heart in ways she had never dreamed possible.
It would take a miracle to find a husband in Marrying Stone. But sometimes miracles are right under your nose.

Comment: Here's another book for the TBR challenge of this year. May is the month for a Kickin' It Old School (Copyright 10 years or older) story. I confess I have lots of these in my pile because I like to save for a rainy day... The day I won't be able to buy more books I'll have plenty to keep me busy until I can do it again. I'm like a good ant. 

Anyway, this title fits the bill as it was published in 1996, so closer to 20 years than 10. Also, I've read the first in these series/trilogy so another good reason why I would pick it. 

This is the story of Simple Jess, a young man who lives in the Ozark mountains with his family and a small community. Jess is different from most man because of a problem with his birth but apart from that he does what everyone else does and he can be reliable and trustworthy. He just needs help interpreting some things and in learning things the first time. He's honest and innocent but he wants to be as respected as everyone else.

Althea Winsloe is also young, a widow with a small child to take care of. She wants to do things her own way but the community apparently can't leave her alone especially with a good farm on her hands. With another two suitors and a lot of problems, can Althea see past Jess's obvious issues to the wonderful man he is?

This isn't the first time I've read a story with a character who has difficulties and what we would call a mental impairment. I've read Tim by Colleen McCullough which, in a different way, also shows us such people can be as worthy and deserving as everyone else. (Those of you who haven't read it, you'll like it! More serious than this one though but so beautiful...)

Simple Jess is a man who is scorned, mocked and easily dismissed but he also has unique traits that make him beautiful to those who really appreciate and love him. Of course Jess' personality was the most interesting thing to look for here and I enjoyed all scenes with him.

However, one of the things I kind of expected in this book was to see how Jess would behave as a married man and I thought this would focus more on Jess' feelings and POV but regretfully that didn't happen. In my opinion too much happened with secondary characters and the development of Jess and Althea's relationship and romance was too slow and too subtle. Until the end, where Althea finally admitted her feelings, things between them weren't as obvious as I thought they should. 

Sure, Jess is different and he couldn't reply as other men most likely would have, but he had feelings for her and he had proved he could be worthy and dependable. I know it's difficult to accept someone like him easily, I understand Althea's initial setbacks but this is a romance, I wanted them to talk more about it, to share something more before those final scenes. It's not that it wasn't done well or romantically, I just hoped that, since this is about Jess mostly, he would be a more high profiled protagonist.

In general terms, this is a good book. I liked the writing, the protagonists, even when Althea did things I don't agree with, I liked the interactions between Jess and the other characters because we could see his values shine through despite any prejudice of others. Even Jess' actions with Althea's son and the way he is a grown up with him and teaches him things too, even morally speaking.

Other things annoyed me though. Eben is one of those characters we are suppose to dislike but forgive everything because he is redeemed. Sincerely I don't mind the lesson that all people who ask sincere forgiveness should be given a second chance but his behavior is inexcusable in my opinion.

I do understand plot workings and the meaning here but still...

Another thing that really made me want to scream at someone was how the people felt "enabled" to discuss and demand things from Althea's life. In a way I know this is supposed to be funny and/or exaggerated to the point where the sort of rural community has the power they shouldn't have. But it irritated me to no end how Althea couldn't make a decision without their almost bullying. Of course historical facts and times are part of the explanation, especially in small villages and remote places, but it was very hard to keep reading how Althea couldn't just make her decisions, even if the romance needs "had" to push her into a path.

So,some things stopped me from fully swooning about this novel.

It's not that it is bad because it isn't. But I just couldn't put aside my contemporary views and maybe it's my fault and maybe it's the way it's written didn't allow me to go from reality to fantasy enough.

In the end things end well for everyone of course. I'm happy for them, Jess in particular, but I feel a bit bad he didn't get to be a hero with more pump and circumstance as I think he deserved.

All in all, a good enough story. Many details the author used about rural life  - like killing hogs and farm practices which don't seem important for the romance but I liked seeing - gave atmosphere to the plot and I think in that, the book is successful.

Still, the romance, despite its good parts and charming scenes, wasn't completely perfect for my taste and for what I kind of wanted for Jess. The book does work well as far as the time period details is concerned, though. Still... could be better for me.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: RK Lilley - Bad Things

Danika hasn’t had an easy life. Being insanely attracted to bad boys has never helped make it easier.
One look at Tristan, and every brain cell she possessed went up in smoke. This man was trouble with a capital T. It was a given.
She knew better. Bad boys were bad. Especially for her. Considering her history, it was crazy to think otherwise. So why did crazy have to feel so damn fine?
For as long as she could remember, Danika had been focused on the future with single-minded purpose. Tristan came along and taught her everything there was to know about letting go, and living in the present. She fell, hard and deep. Of course, that only made her impact with the ground that much more devastating.
Bad Things is about Tristan and Danika, and their train wreck of a love story. This series can be read as a standalone, or with the Up in the Air series.

Comment: Here it is, another challenge post and this month the theme is Contemporary, which means a story set in the contemporary times or featuring a contemporary romance. As it happens with most themes, I could have chosen any number of books but I ended up with this one because I was going to read it for one of my clubs and it would be something ready to post today.

This is the story of Danika, a young woman (21) who works for a family of lawyers as a nanny, housekeeper, so on. Danika is someone with a not so good past and to make it worse she always likes bad boys which isn't great. She thinks she will go down the spiral again when she meets Tristan, a guy who says he's in a upcoming new rock band and that is going to move in to the house, temporarily, invited by her boss who wants to be the manager of said band.

Tristan has a complicated family but he seems a good guy and he and Danika become friends. But there's attraction between them which is difficult to ignore and there's the other band members, there's the problems with Danika's ex and there's their relationship that starts one way and ends up another.

This story was suggested for the book club, not my original pick. Still, I like to give all books a chance so I got it without any real big expectations.

Then the first page is an author's dedication to all of those who had to see loved ones fighting addictions and I figured this was what the person who suggested the book meant with "angsty read but with a HEA". I was immediately put off because I don't really like stories with people having to battle vices, it's a too depressing theme for me. But I got it already so I went with it.

The story, of course, starts with Danika and Tristan fighting their attraction while becoming friends. I liked the sweet moments between them but they went out all the time because Tristan enjoyed going out and he needed to be in the concert related environments, he invited Danika and their routine would be it for the most part. However I found it that they did it too much and at some point Danika even says she's neglecting her work but her bosses are understanding.

The thing is, Danika has had a difficult life which we only know more about closer to the end of the book, but she is thankful her bosses helped her when she needed and besides that she feels good working. So is this in par with her need to go out with Tristan all the time? I guess falling in love will make you o crazy things but I had a hard time believing someone described as professional would leave her responsibilities so much to go out, no matter what. And she is realistic, so...

Danika is the center of this story, even when things happen with other characters. I wanted to empathize with her because of what she went through and her attempts to be an adult, despite the disappointments in her life. But her behavior wasn't always up to the seriousness the author wanted to give and as soon as she and Tristan got together, I think there was too much sex too. I understand this "calls" readers? This might be an author's style, wishes? But in dealing with serious themes you have to be perfect in how you present things and I never felt that.

In a way, Danika's behavior while falling in love can be described as an addict behavior. When the need to do something or be with someone overrules our realistic knowledge of daily life. But I just wasn't feeling those two.

Spoilers ahead!!!

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Then something happens, they fight and while they're apart he sleeps with someone else thinking they've broken up. Come on! If you're so dedicated to someone even if not admitting to yourself you're in love, would you really be with another person so soon after a break up? This might be a guy thing but I didn't think it fair..although contemporary it certainly is.

round this time we learn how Danika's past was and why she seems sad sometimes. It's heartbreaking, true, but my opinion of her didn't change even after knowing she was abused.

Then a tragedy in Tristan's family happens and it's also sad but my emotions weren't as engaged in the story and while it was sad, I can't help but feeling cynical because people make choices and battling vices should be a person's most important goal. Although this can have extenuate reasons like a mother feeling cool enough to share joints with her children for years...WTF?.

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I think this story has many interesting elements. But I can't really say I enjoyed how things were told or shared with the readers. I can't say this is a romance because nothing romantic happened. Apparently there are two more installments and in the end there's a HEA that surely will be good for who invested in this, but personally I don't think I'll read more.

There's something to be said about blurbs, personal opinions and suggestions that make us see a potential and then our own taste prevails and sometimes an interesting idea isn't more than only that.

I don't recommend this book because for me it didn't work, but who knows if it won't for others, after all on GR of the so many ratings most of them are positive!

Grade: 5/10

TBR Challenge: Kristen Callihan - Winterblaze

Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .
Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

Comment: Here is another TBR pick, and this month the theme is Series Catch-Up. Since I enjoy following the themes, I picked this book, which is #3 in Darkest London series and that I had for some time now. 

In fact, the series is now up to 6 books, and I've read the one before this third one in 2012.

I wasn't very eager to get to it, but this challenge seemed the better "excuse" to do so.

This story starts after the end of Moonglow - whose story I liked but abhorred the end -and how the two main characters, Winston and Poppy have to face the fact their long marriage had many secrets. Most of them come from Poppy, whose dedication to the paranormal and protection of innocents led her to hide who she is from the man she loves with all her heart.

But Winston came close to that world where Poppy is a key player and he couldn't believe the secrets between them. Even worse, a demon claimed bargains from them and now they have to talk, deal with each other, work together among the distrust in their marriage to salvage much more than just their bruised feelings. But there are more surprises to show up and they might not be good ones...

I wasn't pleased with the end of Moonglow. That is the biggest reason why I put off reading this book for so long. I was kind of mad about something I thought would have been better differently.

Another "no" about this book was the fact the protagonists were a married couple who would need to deal with problems which would certainly mean talking, remembering, working with known facts about the other one, all the things I dislike in the lovers reunited troupe, my least favorite of them all.

I was really not looking for to read about any issues pertaining these things, so I delayed and delayed the reading until now. I thought it was time to just get it over with and perhaps I might even be positively surprised.

I wasn't.

I mean, it's not a bad book and not that annoying considering my personal tastes. It's just that after the things I dreaded being an obvious part of the story just like I always imagined, I also had to deal with the villain being one of those who acts clever and superior to everyone else and having key scenes throughout the plot. I also really don't like that type of villain interactions.

It seemed that, one thing after the other, things just piled up to make me not like the book after all.

However, I do have to acknowledge the author for creating original ideas and ways of constructing her characters, her development of things. Even when I thought I couldn't be surprised, I was, when the protagonists find a certain detail about the villain and his importance in their lives which I surely wasn't expecting. That counts for something.

Just like I predicted, the main couple talks about their marriage and spends a lot of time thinking about what happened, how things were and there are chapters dedicated to show us how their relationship began, although short ones. This is done to obviously to assure us of their bond, their perfection for each other, their absolute devotion and complement. Sure, but for me it's also annoying and boring to read. The new things they find out kind of help of making it not that bad overall, but I still struggled to read about them without wanting to skip pages. I found their difficulty in being intimate more interesting because it was something new and believable after the issues between them.

Still, they do get their HEA - again - and this time it's meant to be forever, after all.

Secondary characters play an important part in the book. Being them just there to fill a space or handy for a situation of being set up for the next installment, there are many faces to consider. We see a certain couple getting ready to be protagonist in the next book. 
Just like in the book by Catherine Bybee I've recently read too, this author starts up the next story in the current one to make the reader invested in what happens and in getting us eager to keep reading. Sure I want to know what happens but I don't feel the urge to do it soon. One day...

After all things considered, I can understand why the series is popular for so many readers. I admit the first book was refreshing and amazing in the genre. But for me some things don't work as time goes by and the way things are told, the way the author makes the path for her characters isn't that appealing for me anymore. While it has good things to speak about, for me it isn't the marvel it could be and that is why it's not going to be something highlighted in my reading future.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Shelly Laurenston - The Mane Event

Christmas Pride
How come all the good-looking ones are insane?
That's what runs through NYPD cop Desiree "Dez" MacDermot's mind the minute she hooks up again with her childhood buddy, Mace Llewellyn. It isn't just the way he stares at her with those too-sexy gold eyes―as if he could devour her on the spot. Or the six-four, built-like-a-Navy Seal bod-o-death. It isn't even that he sniffs her neck and purrs, making her entire body tingle. It's more about that disconcerting, shifting-from-man-to-lion thing that unhinges her...and makes her want more.
Mace likes making Dez crazy. In fact, he likes her any way he can get her―in bed, on the desk, here, now, again. Together, they'd always been trouble, but Dez has no idea just how good trouble can feel...
 Shaw's Tail
Brendon Shaw, hotel owner and lion shifter, has seen better days. He's been beaten, had a gun to the back of his head, and had to be rescued by a Pack of shape-shifting wolves. He didn't think he'd survive the night, much less find the woman of his dreams. And he never thought the woman of his dreams would have a Tennessee accent and wear cowboy boots. Once he sets his sights on her, the predator in him is ready to pounce and never let go.
Ronnie Lee Reed is ready to change her life, and New York City is the place where any girl―even one who runs with a Pack―can redefine herself. First order of business: find a mate, settle down, and stop using men for sex. Even big, gorgeous, lion-shifting, oh-my-what-big-um-paws-you-have men. Then again...

Comment: It's time again for a TBR read and this month the theme - which I like to follow - is a recommended read, meaning something someone said you might like or should read. As you know (maybe) I like to make monthly lists of books to be read and usually I pick something that might be suitable for the challenge from that list. 

Sometimes it happens some books are chosen for a purpose or a specific theme (like my pickings for the December theme) but for the most part I just choose something from my list randomly.

For this month's theme I picked a book that was actually the read for one of my book clubs on Goodreads. This book was a recommendation from years ago and that is why I had it (in fact I bought the first three together) but since we were reading it because someone recommended it for the club's purpose, it was two in one and I thought it would be more than suitable.

This book is actually two stories, with related characters. It's the first of the Pride series by the author and as far as I know, quite successful and likable even by many of my friends.

I have to say this isn't the first book by the author that I try. I've read her Magnus Pack trilogy and sincerely it wasn't my cup of tea because I didn't like the tone of the books nor the heroines. 

I also have read her dragon series which she writes as GA Aiken and I really, really love it, I'm crazy over that fantastic series!

So, based on this I thought I might not like this book that much, but I wanted to try it because 1) I already had it anyway and 2) it was the intended read and I try to honor our pickings as much as possible.

I think a reading experience isn't only the opening of a book and an eventual closing up. It's the expectation, the waiting, the thinking about it, the things we think will happen, the idea of sharing our thoughts after...so in the end, despite not going into it that confident, I had my hopes of being surprised based on so many positive opinions and the fact the series was long and successful.

I won't go into much details about the plots because honestly, the way I see it, there isn't one. The world is contemporary set, which should follow a certain set of implicit rules, namely a purpose for the story, characters' dealings with their surroundings and their place in the world. I think the tone of the story is too silly to actually meet these and although I could see some characters were rich, had families and things to do, a living to make, I couldn't go past the silliness of everything.

The characters are always making fun, laughing, saying allegedly funny things and being ferocious according to their shifter status. Ok...but the rules of this world are never explained, why do shifters exist? Do humans know about them? I guess not based on the 1st story, but they behave so crazy I wonder how anyone never found out more!

Most people who I've talked to about this say the purpose of the stories is to be funny, is to put the sarcasm and funny on evidence. Ok... but then I ask, why? Why does it matter? There are ways to make a story funny and crazy without being so aimless and untethered to reality which is how I felt while reading. I couldn0t connect with any character, I didn't follow the world's working and I couldn't care less about hat was happening, only that I wanted to finish quickly.

At least we get to see some characters caring about their families and those they love. That's something. But what's the point of their lives? I'm sorry for I really didn't feel empathy towards any character.

I guess I couldn't relax and just go with the flow. But even in silly books like this one, for instance, I felt something was happening, something mattered and I didn't get that here.

In the end I think this author's style just isn't for me. What I love and cherish in her dragon series doesn't happen here. Someone told me because it's fantasy we accept it better. I guess but I also think there's a different touch to those books, something that makes them well done and perfect and I wonder why the same doesn't happen here.

This book is the first of many, meant to be funny and sexy, but I didn't laugh and I was bored with so many sex scenes, which I skipped for the most part. I think it's important to try things you don't think you will be comfortable with but this only serves to point out sometimes we just can't all enjoy and see the same books like everyone else does.

I still have the following two to read. I plan on giving them away here eventually because I also get books for free but I just can't give them without reading them, which will be boring but well. I couldn't just give them unread.

So, this recommendation was on my shelf for 6 years and now I see why I felt like waiting. I'm afraid the author as Laurenston just isn't for me. I can understand why so many people like this but the way I saw it, it wasn't even salvageable, except for some elements here and there. This isn't the author's fault, of course! Readers just see differently and I didn't see what most people did, that's all.

But why we don't like something can be as important as why we do.

Grade: 3/10