Category Archives: Blog Features

So i’ll admit, I’ve been a complete slacker when it comes to doing updates for this challenge. I have been reading, but between work, school and triathlon training, my blog posts have really fallen off, so I apologize. But never fear, here is one of my updates – I’ve read enough of my books over the last few months that I’ll probably spread this out over several updates.

Spider Bones – Kathy Reichs

I’ll admit that I was disappointed in this 13th installment in the Tempe Brennan series. While the mystery was decent (bones found believed to be a MIA from the Vietnam but are they really?), but i felt like the drama between the secondary characters took up too much time in the story and kind of started to overpower it. There were also moments where it felt like the author was trying to show the readers just how much she knew, rather than developing the mystery. It was kind of disappointing, since I normally enjoy this series. I did enjoying seeing the insights into the location out in Hawaii where a location of the unknown solider identification goes on, it is something that has intrigued me since I first read about various soldiers who died in wars being identified, it is a place that I would love to visit.

Helsinki White – James Thompson

I’ve been putting off reading this book because a friend and reviewer that I trust gave it a bad review and then turned around and revised her review – so I was conflicted. Most of her comments revolved around how the character had done a total 180 in his character following the twist at the end of book 2. And now having read the book, I totally agree with her. I finished the book scratching my head and wondering what happened to the Kari Vaara that I had enjoyed in the previous books, in this one, he left a real dirty taste in my mouth – I guess it just goes to show that good and evil can be just a flip of a coin. But I was intrigued enough by how it ended to continue on with the series.

This Side of the Grave – Jeaniene Frost

I know everyone seems to rave about this series, but I don’t know, for me, yeah, its mildly entertaining but I dunno – I guess I keep reading because I like the mindless entertainment that it gives me enough to be willing to sacrifice the time to read. And this installment was no different – in all honesty, I’m struggling to remember what happened in this book. I remember that it took place after Cat found out about all her cool new vampire powers, and that there were weird stuff going on with ghoul’s and vampires in New Orleans. Hmmm…yeah, I’m sure i’ll finish the series, but yeah…I know that sounds like kind of a downer, but when I really can’t remember all that much of the book, I guess it didn’t impress all that much

Come Home to Me – Brenda Novak

This was an ARC that I received from the author, but like my other books in this post, it seems like this one was also a disappointment. For me, it deviated too far from a traditional romance and there was too much going on, that it felt like the primary characters kind of took a backseat. Plus there were some actions by the secondary characters that almost made me throw the book across the room, in fact, I may have if I hadn’t been reading it on my kindle…but I persevered even though the book didn’t get a good review (although I wasn’t the only person who apparently felt that way…)

It really seems like all of the books in my series continuation challenge were downers, but they really weren’t, I did manage to read some I enjoyed…they were just few and far between…

I had every intention of really digging in in February, that whole hit the ground running type routine…but like always, that totally didn’t happen. Its not that I didn’t want to read any of the books in the series that I had picked, but that I was trying to finish up another challenge and none of my series books seemed to fit into it. But that being said, I’m managed to slot in multiple books into my new challenge that starts today (March 1). But back to a review of the books I did read.

Wild Things – Chloe Neill
This is the 9th book in Ms Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series – I really enjoyed the series when it started, but the last few books have been very so-so, but they weren’t quite to the stage where I would consider giving it up. Anyways, I was kind of wavering on the to-buy, not to buy when I noticed that my library had it ordered, so I reserved it before there was even a copy in stock, so I literally got it fresh off the press (have I mentioned how much I love my library recently). For me, Wild Things was much more in line with the earlier books in the series. It was more focused on the mystery/suspense, than the romance between Merit/Ethan (or Methan in fandom) – and was definately less angst filled than the last few. After reading Wild Things, I hope Ms Neill stays on the track she is on with the storyline, because it is highly intriguing.

The Seduction of Elliot McBride – Jennifer Ashley
This is another series that has been very hit and miss for me – I really liked the 3rd and 4th books, the earlier ones were ok (although a lot of people raved about the first one – I will say that I enjoyed it more in audiobook than print). This was really only tangentially connected to the original characters – the main male – Elliot – is the brother of one of the wives of one of the original pairings…so a bit convoluted. While I like the unrequited love theme, this just felt too empty to me – it was too quick and I never got a good vibe on their relationship. I did enjoy the mystery aspect, but the romance was only so-so and since it was a romance novel, I wish it had played a more significant role. Hopefully, the next book will be more in line with the more enjoyable books in the series.

Summary:
Of the 29 books I have planned, I have finished 2, so 27 remain – now on to March – check back April 5th for my next update. And make sure to swing by Cassi’s blog, to check her update.