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chelseaj91's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Pure Wicked by Shayla Black 2.75 Stars!
I think my main issue with this is that it was super short. There wasn't really any time to get to actually know Jesse or Brooke. There were also a couple things that happened that I was just NO about (Brooke's snooping on the cell phone, his assistant, etc). I did like the fact that Jesse jumped in so quickly and how he handled Hayden.
Hard as Steel by Laura Kaye 3.5 Stars!
I actually really liked this one. I did have some issues with the timelines/continuity because there were a lot of references to events in the rest of the overall series and a lot of it was done in a way where you really had to be in the know to keep up (of course I'm also interested enough that I'm planning on reading those books but that's besides the point). I did like the way Ike was so protective of Jessica even though there were several times I wanted someone to smack him. I did like how Jessica went after him, especially after he told her his secret and why he thought he didn't deserve her.
Stroke of Midnight by Lara Adrian 3.5 Stars!
It was interesting getting to see more of Jehan. I liked him when I read Tempted by Midnight in a previous 1001 Dark Nights bundle. It was interesting seeing him try to resist the whole bond thing, and also seeing his reasons behind it. Although I'll admit that I'd like to see the original story that brought the need for the bond/truce into being. I did wish things had been a little longer, especially since both Jehan and Seraphina were both on the "I don't want this" train. I did like how Jehan helped out when they went to the border and his way of getting to stay with the Order but also keeping Seraphina. I did kind of laugh/roll my eyes when she eavesdropped because that's how that always goes.
All Hallows Eve by Heather Graham 3 Stars!
I seem to have a hit/miss relationship with this series. The novellas that I've read through the various 1001 Dark Nights anthologies have been pretty decent but I haven't been all that impressed with the main novels. Not sure why. That being said, I did have a few issues with this one. Even acknowledging that this is a novella and supposed to be shorter, it felt like things went from 0 to case closed really fast. And I'll admit that the reasons behind the murders were just...based on the summary I was expecting something a lot different. There were also a few grammatical and spelling errors (Jenna's aunt is referred to as Myna and Mina for example) that made me do a double take. Like I mentioned, things went really fast. It felt like it was going okay, Sam and Jenna were doing their respective investigations and suddenly Sam's getting the ransom call with the threats against Jenna. The threats felt like they came out of nowhere; I mean, why not threaten Sam too if it was a matter of just not wanting to have things exposed?
Rendezvous by Skye Jordan 2.75 Stars!
The overall premise of this one was interesting but I just couldn't quite get behind it. I liked the initial reconnect between Brooke and Keaton, but then things were revealed and I almost lost interest in the book. I knew that Jillian was going to throw a wrench into things because a)that's the way these things work and b)the author tried to make things all mysterious about Brooke's job so you just had to know that something was coming. That being said, I feel like Jillian's bitchiness was dialed up to 11 and I just hated it. I feel like there's a difference between the ex who the hero/heroine realized wasn't right for them but the ex doesn't get it and "witch who wants to ruin everyone's life because she can". I felt like half the crap she pulled was the author trying to give you a reason to be sympathetic to Brooke and cheer for her and Keaton. Then the way that things blew up because Jillian was the witch from hell, I just wanted to throw something. Especially because Brooke had so many chances to explain to Keaton; there were ways she could have gotten around Jillian's supposed threats. Overall, it was okay but I don't know if I'm going to be exploring the rest of the series.
Secret Sins by CD Reiss 2.5 Stars
I had trouble with this one. Overall, the premise was interesting but I just couldn't really get behind the author's writing style. The way everything jumped timeline-wise wasn't executed all that well because I felt like Margie didn't really grow as a character. In the past, she's lying about her age and trying to hide her family and must never experience a feeling. We get to the present and she's still basically lying about her age (you never really find out and I'm not sure what the point in that particular mystery is besides the author using it as wiggle room to get around statutory rape), she's not quite hiding her family but it also feels like there was supposed to be more there but it was dropped in a quest to go back to the past again and feelings are still forbidden. When the secret was revealed, I felt like it was this big thing that then got swept under the rug. Like, all that happened with that (even though you only get the bare bones on the fact that it happened and there was the extra piece about keeping family around) and it doesn't warrant anything more than "I'll sew my lips shut before I tell this secret"? I also had an issue with the whole Strat/Margie/Indy thing at the house. Not so much the act itself (although again, we get back to the whole age thing where I'm pretty sure Margie was a lot younger than she said) but the fact that all three of them went "hey this is the best idea in the world!" I mean, she was forced to take a drug in an attempt to rape her by one person. A drug that all of them seem to be aware of the fact that it heightens libido and seems to do away with inhibitions. And I know that Margie initiated and Indy was at least high as well but Strat didn't seem to be high and the fact that all three of them were like "this is amazing" was just a little bit squicky to me
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