Tesla's Fire

Ridiculous

Revisado: 01-09-24

I like Christina Dodd but I could not get past the first few chapters of this book. I appreciate the author’s quirky and different characters but this was just too improbable and ridiculous to the point of becoming annoying. I just couldn’t finish it after multiple tries. I will read her other books and reread those I have enjoyed but this one was a total waste of a credit. I hate to be so critical of someone’s hard work but this book just not my cup of tea.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Twist on Pride & Prejudice

Revisado: 09-09-22

Beautiful writing, narration , and production. Don’t miss this wonderful and satisfying perspective from the irrepressible Mrs. Wickham. Brilliant!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Unthrilling

Revisado: 10-03-20

I know I am in the minority in this but this book did absolutely nothing for me. I am not discouraging anyone from reading it but merely stating my opinion. Some may agree and many more will not. The plot was bland, the characters annoying, and the thrills were just not there. I guessed early on who the sneaky pyro was even with all the herrings being thrown at the other guy. The female characters, Joan and Ann, were disturbing in some ways, secretive and illogical in others. Most of the time we don't know their motivations and when we do they are weak and immature. Joan has a penchant for running away when things get hot but yet becomes a homicide detective. She runs from the guy she loves and yet he wants to start something back up 10 years later? Sure there were things that happened in between. But would you risk your heart and son on someone with as many issues as this woman has?

Joan's relationship with Elijah was disconcerting. It was a pseudo friendship dancing around suspicion and vigilance. I can't elaborate much on this point without giving away a part of the plot. Ann is annoyingly secretive and a liar by omission. I could not connect in any way with these women. So I really did not care what happened to them. The men in the story were just as lackluster. Gideon, the main male character, felt like a secondary prop. Just there to move the plot along and interact with Joan.

If you think that the romance might add any interest and fire to the story, well there wasn't any. The relationship between Joan and Gideon was as interesting as tuna salad and just as cold. They do make an effort towards the end but by then I didn't care if they got together or not. The epilogue, usually a story saver, was as emotionally charged and riveting as watching my front loader struggle with a load of towels. That is it. This was just not for me but it may be for you especially if you are a Mary Burton fan.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

"Left Cold"

Revisado: 06-14-20

This is the first time I am posting a review without finishing the book. I am not in the habit of doing this because I think it is terribly unfair to criticize a piece of work that I have not read cover to cover. I appreciate that the author has spent an enormous amount of time and emotion writing this story. But I could not get past the first four chapters of this book. I respect and I am glad for the readers that found true enjoyment in reading it. I wanted to feel the same but was disturbed by the characterization of Hayley and the lack of understanding from the author on cultural mores outside of the US.

I think we can infer from some of Haley's ruminations early on that she has experienced some sort of assault or humiliation in her life. But this has not made her a careful. I believe a woman has the right to choose her own path and express her own sexuality but intelligently. Hayley is just reckless. First lets consider the location. She is at a security conference in Indonesia by herself. A country with a strict moral code and traditional. She is unaccompanied, inappropriately dressed, and her behavior questionable. She has demonstrated no respect for or knowledge of the traditions of the host country. Secondly she acknowledges that fellow attendants may see her as sleeping her way to a lucrative contract but she still walks off with the potentially lucrative client while he is giving off wrong vibes. She then agrees to go alone with him to his room, bypassing all her instinctual alarms. She not only places herself in jeopardy but puts at risk her and her company's reputation. This is a business conference, not a wedding, or party. Nor is it Las Vegas.

During her escape from possible assault from the client she then ends up in the room of stranger she locked eyes with in the conference room. He happens to be a FBI agent and the male lead. She knows nothing about the man but decides to have sex with him within minutes of meeting by dropping her towel after a shower. No questions asked. Is he married? Is he safe? Obviously this was of no concern to either. Clearly a man that is so easily seduced makes you wonder if you really want this guy protecting our country's interest even if the seducer is a compatriot.

Perhaps this story is just not for me. I have read some of Anderson's other books and have enjoyed them. This one not so much. Maybe if the location was somewhere in the US and the attraction given more time to simmer I would have found it more palatable. There was a definite disconnect between the characters, their behaviors, and the setting for me. I prefer my heroines a bit smarter, with better honed instincts, and more professional when called for. In the regards to the hero, well, lets just say I prefer a FBI agent to be a little more cautious. The world today requires it.

These are just my perceptions and may not be yours. I am not discouraging anyone from reading it. But perhaps someone who is bothered by the same details will save the credit and time for another Anderson book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

Desperately Seeking Susan

Revisado: 12-02-18

The Bow Street Runner Series is one of my favorites from Lisa Kleypas. The stories are grittier and the characters are a bit more edgier. "Someone to Watch Over Me" is the first in the series but last to the Audible format. There are plenty of reviews posted in Amazon that summarize the plot and characters nicely so I won't be redundant. This is not the strongest one among them. Quite far from it but still an entertaining read. The biggest issue to me was not having Susan Duerdan narrate this book. Although Ms. Parker-Naples is a good narrator, it was jarring not to listen to Ms.Duerden perform this story. At times a change in narrator may work but in this case, it was annoying. I am not certain who makes these choices or what circumstances may lead to changes in a narrator but it is important enough to listeners that writers and producers should take heed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 33 personas

To the Point...

Revisado: 12-02-18

I did not read these books in order and ended up reading this one last. I am glad I did because I think I would have skipped the rest which I found entertaining. I was baffled by this one. The best analogy that comes to mind is that of a continuous chalk scratch on a black board. Really. I mean it. It is that bad unless you are an individual that enjoys root canals and brain freezes. The main female character starts out logical, intelligent, and a fighter. But quickly her thoughts and actions are mired with irrational lust, stupidity, and confounding behavior. The main male character (not a hero) and his band of misogynistic frat boys are truly amoral, not very smart, abusive,and just downright irritating. Does lust in the end justify spending a precious credit on? That is up to you. I would skip and enjoy the rest.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Time to Shake it Up

Revisado: 09-27-18

***This review may contain some spoilers. Read at your own risk***
I finished Cross Breed last night after much anticipation, hoping for an improvement over the lack luster narrative of Wake a Sleeping Tiger. I must say I was sorely disappointed. Ms. Leigh is capable of so much more. After all there is a reason I keep reading these books. If I am honest with myself at this point I am more interested in the plot and in the relationships than the erotic aspects of the book. I think the reason for that is that the main story around which all of these relationships evolve has been missing for some time. It seems to pop up here and there or inserted in as an afterthought. At times it takes such a convoluted road that after it is all said and done I cannot say where the breeds or the genetics council are at this point in time. I found myself skipping over the erotic scenes for the first time. But I think the reason for that is that I could not engage with this book. In fairness to other readers Cassie has never been one of my favorite characters. I don't dislike the character, but to me she was more of a plot device to make things happen. Like wise, Dog never peaked my interest other than the reason for being included in a scene. So I was interested to see how Leigh was going bring these two together.

Unfortunately the relationship didn't have the impact I expected. It lacked something. The strong emotions and conflicts found Harmony's Way, Soul Deep, others in the series were just not there. There were also some serious short falls that challenged what we know about these characters. Such as Jonas and Cassie not being aware that Dog was Cassie's mate. Jonas the omniscient matchmaker? Cassie felt an attraction over the years but never knew it was Dog? Not even a teeny bit? A breed she has known for years? Not once did she consider the possibility that this could end up in a mating although she had unlimited access to breed information.

We have been told book after book that mating heat was evolving and changing but there is no proof of such here. As soon as Cassie is mated to Dog, her IQ begins to drop and she becomes the sexualized version of a Stepford Wife. It was truly annoying to see a supposedly intelligent professional woman loose all objectivity. Things for me hit rock bottom when she apologizes to Rey Delgado for representing his mate during a request for separation. Therefore confirming my belief that mating heat made certain that Cassie could not longer represent Breed law. Objectivity and all that. Dog..well what can I say? Our canine hero, also in the throes of quickly devolving brain matter decides to leave Cassie in the middle of mating heat to deal with his evil pawpaw. Now we all know what happens when you leave a mate during this very delicate time. But hey, he signs a quick claim deed. No! Sorry. He signs a disavowal form to ensure that Cassie is not held responsible for his actions. Really folks? But in a twist, Cassie sprouts a backbone (sorry folks there is no neuronal regrowth here) and along with Gideon and a spectral mom in law decides to rescue Dog mostly from himself. Some reviewers have complained about a lack of an apology and some sort of grand love scene. Me..all I saw was my pup's face looking at me in sheer adoration after having filleted a very expensive pair of shoes. I patted his little head, kissed him, and told him he was a bad boy. I am such a sucker for love sick mongrels.

So here we are, thirty two books into the series and progress against the genetic council is slow and painful. Cross Breed just gives us some tidbits and very little on other Breed characters. For this reason it felt more like a novella than a novel. But I keep hoping that Leigh will take a chance and dare to shake up the breed world in her next installment. I am not ready to give up yet.

So what did I like about this book? The epilogue. I must confess that I adore Gideon/Graeme and his madness although he can be terribly misogynistic. He is an interesting character for whom we forgive multiple transgressions without further thought. I have always thought that Gideon/Graeme possessed the intelligence needed to resolve mating heat but has chosen not to for reasons of his own. Hence he lies to Khileen and feeds her to the wolf. I must confess that certain matters revealed in the epilogue made me squirm and not in a good way. I must agree with Khileen that there are some lines one does not wish to cross. What I hope to finally see is a heroine that kicks mating heat to the curb, brings her mate to his knees, and teaches Gideon a lesson in choice. I hope Khileen is that heroine. Go girl.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

A Promising Start

Revisado: 09-27-18

I came across this title in my search for a historical romance just for indulgence sake. When I read that Nicholas Boulton was the narrator and published by Hedgehog, Inc. (Laura Kinsale) I knew I could not go wrong. Needless to say that Susanna Malcolm is a new to me.
The writing is intelligent although at times contemporary phrases or situations were distracting and annoying but not enough to detract from the story. The main leads were fleshed out well but at times their behaviors were disconcerting or too much in conflict with their own experiences or personalities. Ms. Malcom's writing has a mature voice reminding me of writers like Laura Kinsale and Sherry Thomas but still in need of more seasoning. The story has a fair amount of angst but it does not overwhelm the story. There is a cast of secondary characters including the town that assist in driving the plot to a lovely conclusion.
I look forward to reading more stories from Ms.Malcolm. Although I appreciate lighter fare this book is a refreshing change to the onslaught of books masquerading teenagers as adults.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

I can't believe I listened to the whole thing..

Revisado: 09-21-18

Bumbling cast of idiots + a controlling relationship+ historical inaccuracies +moronic plot+ improbable situations= this train wreck of a book. The good? Nice book cover and a brilliant narration by McCallister Lee (aka Mary Jane Wells). By the way, there is no way Jack's horse could have caught up to Kit's arabian. These horses are known for their speed and endurance. Kit's much lighter weight would have made it easy to outrun Jack's horse.Oh yeah I forgot..poorly researched also.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

It all about Daphne, others please step aside.

Revisado: 06-04-18

Rarely do I find heroines of a romance novel to be truly detestable. So far I can think of one and she did the same thing in that book that Daphne did in this one...rape the hero. The Duke and I started out interesting and engaging but quickly devolved into something disturbing and manipulative. Daphne's actions were not only incongruous with the time period but even by today's accepted behaviors. The only saving grace is the brilliant narration by Rosalyn Landor. I honestly could not finish and thankfully I was able to return it. Now if I could only figure out how to get my time back.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 123 personas