3 stars I received an ARC of this book from the author, but I didn’t read it immediately. Normally, I love Lauren Smith’s books, and I enjoyed this one, but I didn’t love it (for reasons I will explain shortly). One of the things I did love about it was that it tied to the League of Rogues series which is one of my favorites. I think there were appearances from all of the Rogues, all enjoying wedded bliss, and many with families. They were friends with Beau Boudreaux, and in the beginning, Philippa was a maid in the Lennox household. The plot is an intriguing one and it immediately hooked me—a reimagining of The Prince and the Pauper. I was engaged by the characters and found much of it realistic enough, for a fictional story. But one of the biggest problems for me was the editing. I realize it may have been because I was reading an ARC, but there were so many errors that it kept pulling me out of the story to decipher what I was reading. There were things like “roles” instead of “rolls,” and “write” instead of “ride,” and “clinched” instead of “clenched,” in addition to normal typos like “would was” and “they” instead of “the.” The worst was “kosh,” for which I could find no meaning because it was supposed to be “cosh.” I had to Google that to figure it out because the dictionary didn’t help. And this is a tricky one because it is often difficult to determine the correct usage, but “affect” was used when it should have been “effect.” It was clearly a noun and it was not describing Philippa’s demeanor. I imagine most readers would be able to overlook these errors, but it’s difficult for me to do so. Here I’m going to insert one of my favorite exchanges in the book: “Philippa isn’t most ladies,” Beau said. “She’s braver than anyone I’ve ever known.” Lennox and Sheridan shared a knowing look before Sheridan clapped a hand on Beau’s shoulder. “That my friend, is how it begins.” “How what begins?” Beau asked. “Sheridan’s brown eyes glinted with mischief. “Why spoil the surprise?” Unfortunately, I also had some trouble with plot loopholes. I’ll do my best not to include any spoilers, but it’s difficult to do without revealing at least hints. Although not technically a loophole, this anachronism jumped out at me—Beau referred to Philippa as Ms. Wilson. This is a term that was definitely not in usage in the 1800s. Philippa blamed herself for the death of someone before she had been told that someone had been murdered. Lennox had spies watching someone’s house and they informed him that people had been safely extricated from the fire after the fact, but for some inexplicable reason they never saw anyone setting the fire. Wasn’t that their whole purpose for being there? They decided not to tell anyone how Mr. & Mrs. Wilson were related to Philippa, but how were they planning to explain the same last name? Sheridan and Beaux were closely watching Philippa to be sure no harm could come to her, but somehow they got distracted and completely missed her abduction? That was ridiculous. Lastly, I know a lot of readers particularly love Lauren Smith’s love scenes, and I’m normally one of those readers, but this time, it felt contrived. When Philippa said to Beau, “...But when you touch me...the way it makes me feel? I want more. Please, teach me?” I rolled my eyes. It seemed so out of character and forced. I just didn’t believe she would say that. It felt like, because we had reached just past the half-way point in the book, it was time to introduce the intimacy between them. But they weren’t ready for it. There hadn’t been enough to lead up to that. Just a few kisses and a growing friendship. The tension between the two of them could have been stretched a bit longer and I believe it would have made for a stronger connection when it came. So, I guess what I’m saying is that I could have loved this story, but for the plot loopholes, and to a lesser degree, the mistakes. In light of this, I cannot necessarily recommend the book. If it is, at some point, re-edited, and if these issues are addressed, I think it would be worth reading. As is, it was just okay. December 19, 2020
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5 stars I am quite honestly blown away by how good this book is. Based on another reader’s review, I skipped ahead to the section “About the Author” to learn more about Sam Sumac. I wondered whether it was a continuation of the story somehow, but looked it up and there is an actual Sam Sumac Association devoted to sharing his work. I, for one, am thankful because this is a talent that deserves recognition. It seems that Sam wrote this book (and others) after his return from deployment in Vietnam. I point that out to draw attention to the fact that his futuristic science fiction was sent in 1984, when he envisioned President Ted Kennedy (and I don’t think he particularly cared for him). The story is not entirely original (he even references the old black and white alien movies), but it is told in an original way with many elements that I have not seen prior to this. For example, what if an alien ship arrived carrying two species of aliens? And what if what the aliens had to offer us presented a devil’s bargain for what we might be willing to give up in exchange? I appreciated the fact that alien ships landed in multiple places throughout the world simultaneously. It’s nice when the US isn’t considered the capital of the world by invading aliens, as is too often the case (at least in movies). Sam Sumac’s insight into domestic terrorist groups and their connections to white supremacy and Christianity is surprisingly timely. The story is told from the POV of Vice President James Fenimore Hunter (first-person past-tense). He is journaling the events leading up to the destruction of the world and he starts from the end, then works his way back to the beginning, ending up with a present-tense telling. It is masterfully done. VP Hunter is plagued with regret for all of the decisions he made and the actions he took that led to the annihilation of so many, and he hopes to absolve himself of the guilt he feels. Unfortunately, after writing of the events, he rereads his writing and sees himself as the villain and wonders how he can make things right. If nothing else, he hopes his journal will help guide those who seek to rebuild after he made such a mess of things. He is a sympathetic character and it’s difficult to read this without wondering how you would react in the same situation. What mistakes would you make? Is he really such a bad guy? Or was he just weak? The writing is clever (calling a government operation code-name Pajama Bottoms) and engaging and the plot moves forward at a relentless pace. It never drags and it never feels rushed. I just wanted to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next, and it really is nothing I could have entirely predicted. There were some great quotes too, none of which really need context to be appreciated: “I’d been involved in politics long enough to know more swallowing than spitting happens in Washington.” “Isn’t it sad to say it is those people who are the most focused on doing something positive for the greater good who are the easiest to bamboozle and lead astray?” “I was suddenly struck by the funny notion that the day’s actions were going to be like a tap-dancing faerie in golf shoes atop the pimple on a giant's ass, and the inanity of this thought made me laugh out loud.” I am now a fan of Sam Sumac and I will be anxiously awaiting the release of more of his works. Even if this is his best, I cannot imagine any of the rest being bad. I am so glad someone found his works and bothered to assimilate the pages. They uncovered a treasure. I received an ARC from Reedsy (https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/piss-vinegar-sam-sumac?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=mandrill#review). December 18, 2020 5 stars This book starts with a powerful hook—turbulence in the air and items falling from overhead bins, people panicking and holding on for dear life. It seems certain that the plane will be crashing, but the horror of that comes later, in the helicopter. The description of the helicopter crash and the ensuing mayhem is crazy-real and scary. The terror is palpable and the actions of the participants are very telling about their character. It’s difficult to write a review for this book without including spoilers, but I think it’s important for the reader to be surprised by events. The frightening predator referenced in the summary is about as scary as one can be and the ordeal Savannah experiences is scarring. She’s not the same person afterwards, understandably so. It was hard to read about what she experienced, but it was so well done and absolutely riveting and believable. The book was told from her POV so I knew she would survive, but I couldn’t imagine how. Ryan is surprisingly intuitive (and persistent) and able to get her to open up and trust him. This is an emotional read. Whether addressing Savannah’s guilt and feelings that she had been the cause of all of the suffering as a result of the fated helicopter trip or simply struggling with her growing affection for Ryan, the feelings expressed are easy to imagine. She’s smart and calm in the face of danger. Ryan is sensitive and willing to express his sorrow at the loss of his friend without trying to hide his tears, yet he is a strong protector and wastes no time taking control of the situation. Together, they make a formidable team. The two of them make very sympathetic characters. The tension is unrelenting and Ryan and Savannah swing from one danger to the next, repeatedly proving their commitment to one another and their will to survive. The relationship that builds between Ryan and Savannah is inevitable, and yet, it never feels rushed or wrong. It also seems inevitable that they will be found, partly because Savannah is keeping a journal and mentions if she ever writes about the experience, she will call it The Stranding. Because they have grown so close to one another, the reader is left to wonder how they will handle that, since Savannah is still married and has a teenaged daughter. (SOMEWHAT SPOILER-ISH) I’ll readily admit, I was disappointed by Savannah’s initial decision and thought she was wrong, but I understood her motivation because it was in keeping with her personality, her religion, and her commitment to keeping her promises. Once she found out things were not as she had hoped, I found some of her decisions questionable and was a bit frustrated about her desire to remain stoic and not tell Ryan what was going on. Luckily, he was persistent, just as he had been on the island, and Savannah was unable to hide from him. The direction of their lives changes abruptly (almost too much so) and the book ends on a hopeful note. I received an ARC from Reedsy (https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the-stranding-amy-nelson?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=mandrill#review). December 17, 2020 5 stars Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC, part of a series that is new to me from writers also unknown to me. Now, however, I would be happy to read more from these authors. I really enjoyed this book and found Jane to be relatable and likable. She’s independent, tough, and compassionate, and although she tries to pretend that she is hardened, she has a soft heart underneath her crusty exterior. The book is told from her POV in first-person past-tense. She describes people, events, and locations in a straightforward, unemotional manner that pulls the reader into the story and makes it possible to visualize the setting and the characters. And there are some really memorable characters. One in particular, Em, made me chuckle because this was part of her description: “She had dyed her hair pale purple and had cut it in a way that defied analysis.” Jane is also self-effacing and sardonic, like when she comments, “Indeed, the gods laugh when we humans make our plans.” Jane wasn’t exactly a comedian, but some of the things she said were amusing and relatable, like when she described the equipment in the Y gym as having “...exercise machines, each designed to inflict pain on a slightly different portion of the body.” I was a bit confused about why sometimes a character was referred to as Kevin Whyte and other times as Kevin White. Since it didn’t make sense, I have to assume it was a typo. If not, the reason was not adequately explained.. As I mentioned, I enjoyed the book immensely. I was able to lose myself in the plot for a few hours before checking back in to real life. I was not particularly thrilled with the ending, but it wasn’t completely unpredictable or unimaginable. It just didn’t make me happy. December 16, 2020 5 stars I was so excited when I saw this book offered on Netgalley because I knew I was going to love it. Maryjanice Davidson has a sense of humor that I love. I know not everyone does, but it’s not worth talking to people like that. There were silly things like the Crisp and Gross Funeral Home. I mean, who thinks of a name like that? Some of the character descriptions were awesome. Pat Monahan, family patriarch, is described as “Methuselah. Or one of his close relatives.” And the family matriarch is described like this: “...who when she wasn’t wringing her bird-like hand, was cracking her bird-like knuckles. Wait. Do birds have knuckles?” And the idea of a sushi place combined with a comedy club called Konishi-ha? That, right there, is comedy gold. I also laughed when the narrator said that Ava “carpe’d the diem.” Ava is a wonderful character and I found everything she did amusing, whether it was saying absurd things over the speaker to the passengers on the plane or pretending to be a blind pilot. Tom made for a great foil to her antics, taking most things literally, but thankfully, recognizing when she was joking. I’m not one to recap the plot of a book, but there were some things that I highlighted because I found them particularly clever or they made me laugh out loud. Ava’s friend Dennis had too much to drink and was lying in the back seat of the car with an emesis basin. “Dennis was using the hell out of the thing. Or he was being devoured by dinosaurs.” At another point, Ava describes her skin as being so dry, she “felt like an animated piece of bark.” And when surprised by something: “She gaped—she’d almost used up her gape allowance for the month, but it was definitely warranted.” And when a group of people accused her of something she hadn’t done, she briefly wondered whether she’d “stumbled into Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery.’” Tom is clearly on the autism spectrum so when he was faced with a circumstance for which he had not prepared a response, this is what happened: “Tom opened his mouth, and then locked up. Just stood there. You could almost see 01010101 does not compute 01010101 behind his eyes.” Naturally, Ava surrounds herself with wise-asses so it’s no surprise when her friend G.B. accuses her of having,“The mind of a poet, the speech of a concussed cheerleader.” Tom’s niece Hannah, for whom he is the guardian, is a child genius. Ava considers herself “Outclassed, outgunned, outsmarted by a kid younger than my favorite bra.” But I loved this exchange between Tom and Hannah after she used his phone without his permission and then defended herself by saying his password was too easy: “My password this week is follicle,” he protested. “See? Easy. You shaved your head earlier this week, you’ve been reminding me I’m overdue for a trim, and you’ve mentioned Ava’s curly hair twice. I can only assume you wanted me to hack your phone.” This is a murder-mystery-romance so when Ava is inevitably faced with the murdered, she’s her typical smart-ass self. She refers to herself as a teenager saying she was “‘...Resentful and prissy, as only teenagers can be.’ Well, teenagers and cats.” But the best part is when she starts explaining the killer’s motivations to the killer and he says, “Why are you narrating?” I really had only one problem with the book, and it’s something that may not even be noticed by most readers. Unfortunately, having a degree in gerontology and working in so many nursing home-type settings, it immediately struck me. Ava and Danielle volunteered in a nursing home and Ava hated it. “The third time she’d had to wipe shit off Mr. Wilkin’s ass, she’d decided enough was enough and told her folks she was quitting.” I realize it wasn’t a good nursing home and they eventually were shut down, but even the worst place wouldn’t have a volunteer doing something like that. Incidentally, my very first paid job was in a nursing home working in the kitchen, the only place teenagers my age were allowed to work. And the thought that we might have anything at all to do with patient meds is ridiculous. Other than that, the book was great. TLDR: This book is awesome, it’s funny, and you should read it. December 16, 2020 2 Stars There’s not much worse than getting to the end of a book and thinking the best part of it was that it was short. This book started off with so much promise. I found myself chuckling, enjoying the sense of humor. For example, we’ve all said stupid stuff, but this description made me laugh: “But what came out of my mouth was the worst part. My mind, in its overstimulated state, broke. It malfunctioned, and my mouth was doing its best to help but only caused more harm.” One of the first things mentioned in the book, by way of introducing the characters was Rock’s back story. I burst out laughing when I read this: “We may have started out as just an average middle-class family, but due to my brothers and me coming together as a family to support one another, and the money we got to invest from the court case, we were billionaires.” Ah, the American dream at work—pulling yourself up by your bootstraps after winning a wrongful death suit. Please. But, I was willing to overlook how silly it was because the narrator, Laura, was funny. Sometimes Rock took over POV, but he was more serious so I didn’t enjoy him as much. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the book took a turn. The first time the main characters became intimate, I kept reading and expecting to find out that it was a dream sequence. It was surreal. It was just so far-fetched and ridiculous, I was shaking my head and thinking come on let's get to the real story. Unfortunately, this was the real story. It continued on in this manner, the story turning into a vehicle to allow the characters to engage in sex and very little else. I'm not a prude, but I became embarrassed to be reading something that was so flimsily held together. It was as if the author decided it was time for Laura and Rock to act on their attraction and didn’t bother to create a reasonable circumstance to facilitate that. I began skimming the book, hoping to find a thread of the plot that had initially interested me. Eventually, the plot picked up again and the book became interesting to me. There was a scene between Rock and his brother James that was funny. I liked Rock’s observation: “What’s family for, if not to shame you when you need it the least?” But it got better. Lamenting the fact that he had allowed Laura to leave, Rock says: “When she left, so did a part of my being… I’m slipping back to nothing but a shell.” There was silence for a moment. “Wow, that was both eye-opening and utterly pathetic. I love you, Rock, but you could have stopped after the whole ‘I love her’ part. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat shellfish again without thinking of your little speech.” I wish I could say that the book redeemed itself eventually. However, the funny parts just couldn't make up for the lack of substance that comprised a good portion of the book. The conclusion of the book, therefore, was rushed and a bit of a letdown. I'm sad to say I cannot recommend this story. December 15, 2020 5 stars I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series, but this is my favorite. I fell in love with Weston and Amelie because, despite their issues, they were both fun-loving and full of life. Between the two of them, they share a sense of humor and are able to laugh and tease one another. Sometimes these alphas are just so serious, which to me, is definitely a turn-off. I’m not saying Weston isn’t serious because he is, but in the face of Amelie’s exuberance and silliness, he doesn’t stand a chance. She weasels her way into his heart despite his best efforts to prevent it. Whether it’s using desserts as swear words or just sharing her silly random thoughts with him, Amelie slowly chips away at the walls Weston has built around his heart, and yes, the fact that he’s a heart surgeon is not unimportant. After a lot of fits and starts, Wes finally figures out what his heart is telling him and becomes quite the romantic. I liked the banter between the various characters, but particularly between Wes and Damian and Arpad. I was surprised how often he turned to Damian for help. Damian was unexpectedly emotionally intelligent and had good advice for Wes. The Seven like to pretend that they don’t care about one another, but their actions suggest otherwise. It’s fun getting to know these characters better through each of these books. It looks like Damian is going to be the next one to fall. There’s something about this particular story, something I can’t quite put my finger on, that makes these characters seem more real and more relatable. It’s not that I haven’t cared about the others, but I care more about Wes and Amelie. Although Wes does some stupid, self-destructive, and hurtful things, he doesn’t play games like Sin and Saint did. He doesn’t try to hide anything else going on in his life, he’s not screwing around with anyone else, and he doesn’t manipulate Amelie any more than he is fooling himself. His relationship with his family, and particularly with his nieces, makes him a much more likable character, and his sister helps to shed light on his issues. I guess what I’m saying is that there is a good person buried underneath the alphahole facade that he wears, and it is easier to see than it has been in some of the other Seven. Also, as I try to process why I like Wes so much better than Sin and Saint, I think it’s this. I hoped for Saint and Summer and Saint and Victoria to find their HEAs because the guys were jerks and the girls deserved guys who were no longer jerks. Wes is a jerk, yes, but he is also considerate. He’ll never force himself on Amelie, ensuring he always has her consent before proceeding. Even when he’s “commanding” she do something, there’s always a sense that she can say no. That’s not always clear with Sin and Saint. Ultimately, Wes is in tune with what Amelie needs and that overrides his own desires, but she also intuitively knows what he needs and makes sure he gets it. They’re on more equal footing than some of the other couples and I find that much more appealing. (I edited this book, but I would love it even if I hadn’t.) December 14, 2020 5 stars Of the three books in this series, I’m not sure why this is the one I chose to read last, but I can say without a doubt, this one is my favorite. And it is aptly named. This is the story of Zachariah Garrett and Savannah Connor (Elle’s friend from NYC). I was amused to find that the author was not setting up a future romance between Zach and Savannah when she wrote the end of Tides of Love. It seemed like a clear hint of what was to come. I guess when you allow the characters to tell the story, you end up with serendipitous circumstances like that. I found myself smiling for every interaction between Savannah and Zach because it was so clear they were enjoying themselves. Zach, unable to forgive himself for the death of his wife during childbirth, feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, while Savannah is a ball of energy and excitement, ushering in hope he thought he’d never feel again. Watching her from afar, Zach decides that “She looked magnificent. Radiant. Like a star thrust into a dark box.” He admires her brains and her passion as much as her beauty and, wisely, knows that he must never try to constrain her. At one point, when she has done something he doesn't like, he suspects she feels clever and “He imagined she would clap her hands if she thought she could get away with it.” And the banter between them is captivating and wonderful, like when they engage in a bit of negotiation and she says to him, “Fine then, don’t you have another stipulation tucked away in that dusty jar atop your neck?” Everyone knows that Zach will never marry again, never love another. Elle, knowing Savannah never wishes to marry, tries to convince her to partake in carnal pleasures with Zach, telling her, “Do it once, and you’ll never be able to think of anything else. Every time he walks into the room, boom, like a bolt of lightning, there goes your mind right out the door.” Savannah doesn’t need much convincing, and as it turns out, neither does Zach. Thus, begins their secret trysts, both committed to never marrying and never falling in love. Of course, it’s never really possible to prevent love, and times being what they were, it wasn’t always possible to prevent marriage either. As Zach observed to himself, “Didn't God just have a fun time up there, throwing huge boulders in a man’s path?” Indeed. Aside from the scenes involving Savannah and Zach, of which there were many and they were intense, there are also some really fun scenes with Zach and his brothers—horsing around, pushing one another (literally and figuratively), and demonstrating what it means to be a family. It’s an enlightening thing for Savannah to experience, and for someone who has always felt like she was on the outside looking in, “It almost felt as if she had lifted her nose from the glass pane and come inside. For the first time ever.” Zach, big brother to Caleb and Noah, and protector to everyone else, is surprisingly in need of guidance and his brothers are there to help him. Noah, in particular, helps Zach to see a few things that have been staring him in the face for a while. Asked a probing question, “Zach couldn’t have predicted his answer, so the one that popped out had all the earmarks of truth he should have known but didn’t.” Pushed further, he felt “thought seeping from his brain like water from a leaky bucket.” There is never really any doubt that they will fall in love with one another, but when Zach says, “I was lost until you came into my life,” it is the truest thing he could have said. December 14, 2020 5 stars I think I’m in love with Dane Furman. Okay, I know he’s a fictional character, but omg, he is just the sweetest thing. I love how he practices meditation and the daily practice of gratitude to help him to forgive those who hurt him in the past. It’s odd to imagine someone like him as the drummer for a heavy metal band, proving I’ve totally bought in to the stereotypes. The story starts with Dane being distraught and drinking way too much prior to a show as a way of coping with his feelings. I love this description of what happens as a result: “Unfortunately, by the fourth song, he felt like he was going to puke all over. Twice, he turned his head one way and then the other, trying to decide if it would be better to vomit toward the big fan (which guaranteed he’d get in on him) or toward the other side where he wouldn’t be able to avoid hitting a drum.” Now, that’s something I would have never considered as something a drummer might need to contemplate. Charlie is hard to like, although the reader is privy to some of her internal thoughts, and therefore, understands that she actually cares about people. I don’t think her back story was explored sufficiently to explain her reluctance to date anyone, but I think this comment about someone she’d dated in the past went some way toward justifying her hesitancy: “While the guy had turned out to be a major asshole, who’d broken both her hymen and her heart…” At first, I had trouble imagining what Dane saw in her, but it turns out, he was right. The challenges they face are not entirely predictable. Of course, there are insecurities that play into their fears of rejection, but there are also other players working to thwart their happiness (although they may not necessarily view it that way). Ultimately, the actions taken by Dane and Charlie surprised me, but I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t say more than that. Of course, it’s an HEA, told from alternating POVs in third-person. And thanks to the author for an ARC. I really need to remember to say this more often. December 13, 2020 5 stars Alternating POVs of Sam and Grace provide the reader with an understanding of the emotions plaguing each of them. Sam struggles with the fact that he is so much older than Grace, while Grace struggles with the fact that her parents really don’t approve of Sam. The feelings expressed are sincere and relatable. Sam is surprisingly in touch with his emotions, especially considering how he was portrayed by Debbie in the previous book. There is much depth to him. Grace is naive and wears her heart on her sleeve. They are remarkably well suited. Grace’s parents fear that she is too young to know whether she is in love and they believe Sam will take advantage of her innocence. Sam explains that, although he is older, that is why he knows his feelings and he knows that he loves her and that won’t change. It’s tough to argue with that kind of certainty. I guess the only question at the end is how they can possibly overcome their religious differences, but it seems like Grace is confident it can be done. December 12, 2020 |
Elizabeth J ConnorWriter. Editor. Proofreader. Archives
September 2022
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