I'm trying to get caught up on some of my overdue review books that have been lurking in the backs of my shelves for far too long. Here are two quick reviews for books I have recently caught up on.
Premise: Sarah Winston is getting adjusted to life as a military ex-spouse when she comes across a blood stained shirt while out collecting donations for the base thrift store. And it's not just any bloodstained shirt but the bloodstained uniform shirt of the woman Sarah's husband cheated on her with. The woman who just happens to be missing.
My Thoughts: There was a lot I liked about this one. The mystery was interesting and definitely puzzling. I really liked Sarah and her friends (especially Stella) and her stabs and creating a new life for herself. Unfortunately, even though I really liked Sarah her focus on investigating and her continued involvement with base-life were kind of cringe-y and a bit odd. She is having to make major life adjustments so I understand that that would be difficult but I did kind of want to shake her. There is character progression as the book goes on (and redemption of a few characters) so I think the series will improve but for the first book the cringe factor was a bit too high for full enjoyment. My Rating: Liked It
Premise: Olivia Norley and Thorn aka Marlowe Drake, Duke of Thornstock, have met twice before. The first was when they were caught in an embrace, the second was when she turned down his proposal of marriage and now he is shocked to discover that his half brother has hired her to help prove his father was poisoned.
My Thoughts: Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favorite romance authors and I really liked Olivia and pretty much all of the side characters. Unfortunately, I really really really disliked Thorn to the point it clouded my enjoyment of the book. Olivia is intelligent, practical, and comes off as a nice straightforward woman. Thorn is convinced that the kiss (that he initiated with no encouragement from her) was all part of a blackmail/forced marriage scheme that she and her stepmother cooked up. Even though Thorn's nearest and dearest point out that since she turned down his marriage proposal that hardly seems very likely he is insistent and becomes dismissive and demeaning of Olivia's accomplishments and intelligence. I wanted to hit him if you can't tell. Because Sabrina Jeffries is a fantastic romance writer the book is incredibly readable and I enjoyed any scene that didn't involve Thorn. While he does redeem himself somewhat by the end I can't help but think that Olivia deserved better. I will always recommend Sabrina Jeffries if you want to read historical romances but this isn't the book I would recommend. My Rating: Just Okay
When my book club met last night, one member proposed that we each read a Christmas cozy mystery in December, and no one else, except me, knew what a cozy mystery was.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree on the Sabrina Jeffries book. I enjoyed the rest of the series, but that one set my teeth on edge... not just Thorn, but also Olivia. I liked her, but I didn't like the way she was trying to deceive and manipulate Thorn. I've never been a fan of the "make him jealous by pretending to like someone else" ploy.
ReplyDeleteUh oh. Cringe-y is not good. That's, like, my teenagers' ultimate insult, LOL.
ReplyDeleteTagged for Death is in my TBR. I hope to get to it soon.
ReplyDeleteI have had luck with Jeffries before but it can be hard to enjoy a romance when you do not like one of the main characters.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a mixed bag of books! Some good points but not the total read. These days you have to be careful with male hero's in historicals. (the author I mean!)
ReplyDeleteI like to read a HR every so often. Too bad about the SJ book. I would find it distracting to be so annoyed with the hero. Better luck with the next one!
ReplyDeleteAh to bad you just thought the Sabrina Jefferies book was just okay...I still need to read that one! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to catch up on around 50 NetGalley books. 😯
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