"Arriving in Little Cove as the village’s new French teacher, mainlander Rachel is a fish out of water. Can she learn to love her new community?" Nope! My prediction is that she goes psycho on their quirky asses, gunning them all down mercilessly before rampaging gloriously across Ireland - or wherever this is set - and then the globe, wiping out humanity until she's all that's left - she and her little friend, who now no one can meet....
Monday, September 20, 2021
This Body of Death by Elizabeth George
"After his wife’s murder, inspector Thomas Lynley stepped away from Scotland Yard… but a disturbing crime deep in a secluded cemetery requires his return." And yet again with the 'coming out of retirement' meme. How many scores of times has this been done? I read and negatively reviewed a novel by this author in 2016 and evidently she's shown no sign of improvement in five years. Yawn.
After Anna by Alex Lake
Performed by an Earphones Award–winning narrator: A week after Julia’s five-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace, she returns home, seemingly unharmed - but has no memory of what happened or where she’s been." How many times has this same plot been warmed over now? Yawn.
His Wife's Sister by AJ Wills
A chilling thriller read by dual narrators!" Barf. "After disappearing 19 years earlier, Damian’s sister-in-law Mara is found in the woods - alone, starving, and telling a harrowing tale of an underground cell and a miraculous escape." Automatic no to any novel where the title renders t he female as an appendage of someone else - evne when she's the "wife's sister." Doesntl she have a name? And isn't this the exact plot of the 1997 movie Kiss the Girls? Yawn.
Reawakened by Colleen Houck
While visiting a museum, 17-year-old Lily meets a handsome stranger - who turns out to be an ancient Egyptian prince!" Of course he does because Cleo forbid we should actually have a story about a 17 year old woman who doesn't need validation from a man. I'll bet the prince speak perfect English with an American idiom too. Barf.
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Extra Dirty by Mia Gold
"Former MMA fighter Ruby Steele" Stop right there! Another main character in a 'tough guy' novel, who is unoriginally named Steele? While I do approve of the seven latter author name (!), I have to rate this one a barf. And a Yawn.
Straits of Power by Joe Buff
"In the midst of war, Commander Jeffrey Fuller must navigate his cutting-edge submarine to reach a German informant. Wait, the German informant is hiding in his submarine? How hard can it be to find him? "But when he suspects the man of being a double agent, the fate of his mission — and the globe — hang in the balance." Yeah right. Yawn. Another obsessed story about World War Two. When are we going to remember never to forget, but move the fuck on from these tired old, repetitive stories?
Mercy River by Glen Erik Hamilton
The title alone is warning enough to avoid this novel. Any novel with 'river' in the title is a losing proposition, period, and especially so when coupled with a term like 'mercy'!
Fallen by Lexxi James
Isn't that first name of the author missing an X? "After tragedy struck, Kathryn was there for former soldier Jake. He’s been secretly watching over her ever since." Great - a stalker novel where the weak woman falls in love with the strong savior guy - but wait, if he's to be the dominant BDSM partner, why was he so subjugated that he let her take care of him? Barf.
Boop and Eve’s Road Trip by Mary Helen Sheriff
“Warm, witty, and wise” (National Book Award–winning author Han Nolan) - whom I've never heard of so why would I take that as a recommendation? if they're an award-winning writer that's actually a disrecommendation to me! "When struggling Eve sets out on a journey to find her missing best friend, her grandmother, Boop, decides to tag along" Finally a story about what happened to Betty Boop after she left showbiz. But Boop? Seriously? Barf.
Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman
"From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes an anthology that is both enthralling and unsettling. 'Exciting, often musical writing' (The Boston Globe), with over 17,000 five-star ratings on Goodreads." That was perfect. A book blurb that doesn't tell you shit about what's actually in the book other than that it's a collection of short stories. Great. I'm sure going to rush out and buy that one! Seriously? I don't have a great relationship with Neil Gaiman. I haven't liked a lot of what I've read of his, but he did once write a kick-ass Doctor Who episode. Definite mega-warty on the book blurb though!
Horses of the Sun by Leanne Owens
"In the remote Australian outback," isn't all outback remote by definition? That's why it's called outback, isn't it? "...siblings Dane, Lani, and Matthew pursue their goal of becoming champion horseback riders." If they were going to be horse front riders I'd find it a compelling read, but otherwise, it's just another bunch of horses asses. I do wonder, though, do these horses of the sun like to eat golden apples of the sun?
Only the Pretty Lies by Rebekah Crane
"High school senior Amoris" Stop right there. Amoris? Really? WTF?! "...when her old crush, Jamison, moves in next door, Amoris is forced to confront the community’s dark side…" This is "a YA novel with love and substance." Sorry but that's a contradiction in terms. YA novels are almost universally insubstantial shit conflating infatuation with love, and there's every reason to believe a novel with a female character named Amoris is going to be exactly the same as all the other dumb-ass cookie-cutter clone YA novels that have gone before it into blessed oblivion. Yawn.
Darker Ages The Complete Series by Aron Lewes
If you can publish "the complete series" as one book, why is it a series in the first place? "Alice, a girl with quadriplegia, lives out an alternate existence in a virtual world, where she’s known as Princess Arienne. There, she finds herself betrothed to an infuriating prince, abducted by a devilishly charming pirate, and more." More what? More YA love triangle garbage whereby a girl is useless unless she has a guy to rescue her? Way to diss a quadriplegic woman. Barf.
Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn
Clay born? Doesn't that make this author wonder Woman?! "When risk-averse scientist Kit wins the lottery, her only plan is to buy a fixer-upper. But she’s about to deal with unexpected changes — and may lose her heart in the process." Despite the loss of that heart, her body continues to function. She's not called 'First Aid Kit" for nothing. As a zombie, she's able to go on to live a full life, proving that it really does just take brains. Barf.
Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird
"After Henrietta’s mother is found dead on the road in a sleepy English village, an autopsy delivers shocking news: Mrs Jenkins never had children — and her death may not have been an accident… Can Inspector CD Sloan crack the case?" My guess is no, because he's a necrophiliac who becomes so obsessed with Herietta's mother's corpse that he can't focus on his work anymore, but the two do live happily every after once her body has been been stuffed properly.... Seriously what kind of a dumbass question is that? Does the book blurb writer really think readers are so irremediably stupid?
Cut and Run by Matt Hilton
"In this high-octane read, former special forces operative Joe Hunter," the Special forces operative is called Hunter? Really? Yawn. Yet another in a tediously long line of "I wanted out, but they keep pulling me back in" stories. These have been done to death and they're as boring as watching shit dry.
Daughters of the Moon by Susan Sallis
A title like this is a definite warning sign although I woulsn't automatically write off a novel for a title like this one. "Born in Plymouth during World War II, identical twins Miranda and Meg grow up inseparable - but when Meg moves to Cornwall, they're drawn down different paths... Can they find their way back to each other, or has their bond been broken for good?" And who gives a shit, really?
The Drafter by Kim Harrison aka Dawn Cook
"Peri Reed is a government agent with the ability to alter time - and now she's on the run" Why - when she can alter time? Sounds like another dumb-ass series from this book description. A big yawn from yet another author publishing under a fake name.
Not So Fake by Emma Lyon
"When Lane hires Zach to pose as his boyfriend at a wedding, their powerful attraction takes them both by surprise." But surprises no readers who have seen this exact same story ten quintillion times already. Yawn. "As their phony romance heats up, can they find the courage to take a chance on true love?" Is that a serious question or do you just think your readers are idiots? Once again a moronic plot insists on conflating sex with love. These are the dumbest, lowest common denomiator kinds of stories you can write. Or maybe you can't write and that's why you do these?
Saturday, September 18, 2021
The Dixon Brothers Trilogy by Anna Durand
"An anonymous one-night stand, an accidental roommate, and a pretend relationship take unexpected turns as American girls get seduced by sexy Brits! Meet the Dixon brothers in this collection of steamy erotic romances" Why not just call them the Dick Brothers, then the title of the novel could be "The Swinging Dicks" Be sure to pack extra antibiotics for this one since it's undoubtedly pretty much The McTaggert Brothers with a search and replace done on character names. Barf.
Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton aka John Lange
Shouldn't this be titled 'Ripped-off of the Dead' since Crichton, who died in 2008, isn't now going to earn a penny from the resale of this 1976 novel? If you must read it, get it from the library or a used book store.
Duty and Honor by Grant Blackwood aka David Michaels
So the novel is purportedly by Grant Blackwood, yet the name taking up fully half the cover in bright red lettering is 'Tom Clancy', and Grant Blackwood is really David Michaels? WTF?! Can you say 'misrepresentation'? "Forced out of his intelligence organization, Jack Ryan Jr has only himself to rely on as he goes after a philanthropist with a murderous, world-threatening secret." Does anyone really care? I sure as fuck don't.
A Thread So Thin by Marie Bostwick
"From a New York Times bestselling author" who apparently still has to offer her books at a discount to get sales. Hmm. "As winter arrives in her small New England town, quilt shop owner Evelyn must come to terms with her son’s unexpected engagement. Because what a tragedy his happiness has proven to be!
The Consort by KA Linde
"After losing nearly everything, Cyrene turns to her enemy, Prince Kael, for help." Another idiot woman penned by a female author, who can't make it without a guy's help. What a great role model. Barf.
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