A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers!
Title: The Sorority
Author: Nancy Bush
Series: n/a
Thank you to Nancy Bush, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve seen Bush’s name around for a long time but never got around to trying her work, so when I saw this galley I thought it was time to give her a try. And she’s not for me. I got to 60% and paid progressively less and less attention, so I’m calling it quits because I’m bored and I have other things to listen to.
The narration was fine, but I just couldn’t find any shits to give to the narrative. The biggest problems were POV and character. There’s so much head hopping, which I hate in general, that I was struggling to get to know the supposed protagonist, Mac. On top of that, Mac was given the conflict of a sprained ankle and the status of a wannabe PI, which lent her an overall bumbling, incompetent quality, which only encouraged me to not pay attention to her. So little time spent with her plus a vibe that no one takes her seriously equals a reader who doesn’t care about the main character. Not good.
Next, too many characters! Too many names to keep straight! If I were reading a print version, my photographic memory would help me remember who was who, but audio goes straight to my adhd brain, so any unnecessary exposition just muddies the waters. Entering each of their POVs and experiencing their memories and home lives and work lives—too much to keep straight. On top of that, they were all unsympathetic dinglefritzes, so I didn’t care enough about them to try to remember.
The victims weren’t all that sympathetic either, except the sister, so I didn’t care that they were murdered. And the writing style was dry, and—there was just nothing to care about. Don’t start a book from the POV of an arrogant teenage jackass who views females as sexual playthings and expect me to care about how he died. Don’t immediately lame the protagonist, give her no occupational power to accomplish anything, throw in a player boyfriend, and expect me to take her seriously. Don’t pad your word count by hopping from unsympathetic POV to unsympathetic POV and expect me to keep up.
This is how not to write a novel.
Title: An Irish Bookshop Murder
Author: Lucy Connelly
Series: Mercy McCarthy Mystery #1
Much thanks to Lucy Connelly, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great mystery! I really enjoyed this book, though I’ve lost count of how many cozies I’ve read with this same premise (X inherits a house/shop/castle/etc. in Ireland/Scotland from an unknown or estranged relative; they move in and, shit, someone’s dead). Mercy and Lizzie were very endearing, and their new Irish neighbors were as well. Liam was adorable, especially at the end. I’m on board with the love interest, and Connelly did an excellent job balancing the emotional lows with the humorous highs.
What knocked a star off was Mercy’s occupation as a writer. I’ve always felt it’s cheating for an author to make their MC an author; it requires little research, the character’s life and schedule are more flexible, and it’s a convenient excuse for them to know random skills and information. Also they’re successful, of course, so no money troubles. On top of that, though, Mercy seemed to constantly talk about being a writer, and it became incredibly annoying. She needed to write, she learned this because of writing, she learned that because of writing, she developed this habit because of writing, she developed that habit because of writing, she thinks like this because of writing, she eats like that because of writing, she talks like this because of writing, she does that because of writing. On and on. Toward the end I wanted to scream at her YOU’RE A WRITER, WE GET IT, SHUT UP ABOUT WRITING. It made her feel rather self-involved.
But other than that, it was a great book, and I look forward to the next in the series.
Title: Wild Scottish Fortune
Author: Tricia O’Malley
Series: The Enchanted Highlands #6
Thank you to Tricia O’Malley, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice, average romance. Clyde the playful Highland coo was again the star of the show, followed closely by Harris the puppy, but the other characters were okay. Orla was likeable and sympathetic, though I feel like more could have been done with her impoverished background. And she herself needed to confront Fin’s mother, at the very least, if not address that whole charity. But the part of her arc that was learning to trust Fin and the life she was building for herself was beautiful.
Fin, however, while likeable, was unremarkable. I don’t recall anything distinguishable about him. I’m not even sure what his arc was. Oh, right, something about lies. He hated when he found out Orla hadn’t told him she was a witch, but honestly that was pretty ridiculous to me. She’s known you for five minutes, of course she wasn’t going to tell you she was a witch who could see and communicate with ghosts. Most people would run the other way. Personally I think it was a little entitled of you to be angry about it.
I think I understand the fantasy subplot a little better now, but it’s still pretty lame, and it’s full of plot holes. They’re gathering an order of people with supernatural abilities to protect a stone. Doesn’t say why the stone needs protecting or what it does. Just protect it, damn it!
If you don’t need a super deep or complex plot, just need to scratch your Scottish romance itch, this’ll do.
Title: Haunted Ever After
Author: Jen DeLuca
Series: Boneyard Key #1
Thank you to Jen DeLuca, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Finally, a book that knows its genre! Primarily romance with a ghost story subplot. Someone did their job right. *thumbs up* Another marketing team would have called it gothic or horror simply because there’s a ghost story, and readers would have been disappointed.
I enjoyed this novel but wasn’t blown away by it. I tried reading it months ago, but the opening scene was so boring I kept falling asleep, so I waited for the audiobook. There had to have been a more interesting way to start, either a hint of the haunting or Buster checking Cassie’s electricity. NOT ordering a fucking coffee and getting attitude from the barista. *eye roll* Cassie could have gone to Hallowed Grounds on Buster’s recommendation and she and Nick could have met through a mutual friend and not an argument that makes them both look like presumptive jackasses.
The only other thing that bothered me was (view spoiler) Otherwise this was a good, average romance with lots of ghost lore. I was just as appalled and frustrated as the characters to learn that the book about Boneyard Key’s history was inaccurate (though I’m sure many history texts are the world over) and I loved that Sophie and Theo are working on a better one. War on the patriarchy seemed a bit shoehorned in, as if DeLuca just used it where she needed it: “Hmm, how do I get rid of C.S.’s ghost? Well, he hates women’s rights, so let’s have a woman mock the crap out of him.” That was a pretty lame climax.
Cassie and Nick were both likeable and relatable. More could have been done with Cassie’s inability to get pregnant—that was snuck into the story so subtly I almost forgot about it. Nick’s conflict about leaving town seemed a bit blown out of proportion to make it more dramatic and emotional, but I forgive it. More could have been done with their families, but I didn’t feel the lack. The secondaries were scene-stealers—Ramon, Libby and Nan, Elmer and Sarah, Sophie and Theo, who will obviously be getting their own book, I assume the next one, which I want very much.
I’d challenge DeLuca to swap her genre and try her hand at a ghost story mystery with romantic elements. I think she’d knock it out of the park.
Title: The Hotel Maid
Author: Michelle Dunne
Series: n/a
Thank you to Michelle Dunne, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is disturbing. Trigger warning for self harm and suicide, among other darknesses.
I don’t entirely understand the story.
I don’t think I want to.
No one in this book was likeable, but I’m pretty sure that was intentional.
It didn’t really have a plot…..it’s kind of all just setup for a twist.
Not my cuppa.
Title: The Perfect Putt
Author: Annah Conwell
Series: More Than a Game #2
Thank you to Annah Conwell, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good, average sports romance. I’ve actually been procrastinating this review for days because I don’t have much to say about it and feel bad for leaving a lame review.
I guess I had a hard time believing someone who hated golf would get hired on as a golfer’s assistant, though the book tried to explain it away. Otherwise it was an amusing and entertaining listen with likeable characters.
Title: Wished
Author: Sarah Ready
Series: Ghosted #4
Thank you to Sarah Ready, Swift and Lewis Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This installment was only meh. Max and Anna were both likeable, but their plot seemed to go in circles, probably due to all the philosophical discussion (snooooozefest), and at times it read more like a love letter to French tourist destinations than a novel. It seemed strange that important aspects of Max’s life were barely explored—we never met Fiona, his best friend, or rather, Fiona never met Anna; the very tragic deaths of his family was a mere mention. It was as if he was a prop in Anna’s story more than a character in his own right. And he took the fantastical shift of his entire life pretty well in stride. Overall a sweet story but narratively off balance.
Title: Murder Most Owl
Author: Sarah Fox
Series: Magical Menagerie Mystery #1
Thank you to Sarah Fox, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Better than I expected! I guessed whodunit, but the why was a bit out of left field. Nevertheless, the mystery was intriguing. If you like this book, though, it’s because you adore the animals. Georgie is likeable and endearing, as is Auntie O and Callum, but the mysteriously talented Flossy, Fancy, and Euclid are what entertained me most. It bordered on too many characters, but I think I kept track of them all. I’m a little disappointed that Callum’s an affluent celebrity; I wanted him to be just an ordinary guy who likes working with animals, but it’s inconsequential. I also expected the magic to be more overt, but it’s fine that it’s not. Overall a pleasant cozy mystery with great characters. The narrator, Hallie Bee Bard, delivered the narrative with personality and warmth, she was excellent.
Title: Haunt Sweet Home
Author: Sarah Pinsker
Series: n/a
Thank you to Sarah Pinsker, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting story, but I’m rather baffled by it. The TV show really has nothing to do with the ghost who ends up haunting Mara. There’s no need for the transcript devices because how the episodes turn out really doesn’t matter. Also, I’m confused—the ghost appeared as an actual person? To everyone? And will continue as one? Would that not have complicated consequences? I’m also not sure Mara had much of a character arc; sure she had her carving and her grandma liked it, but Mara didn’t decide on a direction for her life. I don’t think she planned to take the position. I guess my overall problem with the narrative is that it was all kinda pointless.
I’m not sure if the main narrator is Jessica Blom or Jess Nahikian, but whoever it was read like her voice was coming from the very back of her throat and like she never quite had a full breath. Low and gutteral. Kind of sounded like a really bored teenage girl. I didn’t hate it but didn’t like it either.
Title: Death by Misadventure
Author: Tasha Alexander
Series: Lady Emily #18
Thank you to Tasha Alexander, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a while to get into this book. Part I wasn’t focused, part the beginning lacked an interesting hook, and part the B storyline confused me. I did not absorb anything prior to the one guy’s ski boot breaking. It’s a little murky after, too, but I started paying attention around 45% when the suspicious happenings started building up and tension began to escalate. I figured out the B story and sorted who was who.
I cared little about the B storyline, and I’m not a huge fan of dual timelines in general, so I was usually impatient to move on from those segments. It was a sad story about miserable people with no HEA. No, thank you. The only thing that interested me about that bit was the king’s suspicious death and the associated conspiracy.
The main storyline didn’t thrill me either. Revenge by the resentful “other” child or “other” lover/spouse is so utterly trite. If that’s your twist, you better tell a damn entertaining story with very charismatic leads, or it’ll just be so much forgettable cliche. This one was not entertaining or energetic, and Emily and Colin ceased being interesting leads several books ago. Every fall I remind myself I don’t like this series anymore, but for some reason I click request. Nostalgia, I suppose, or hope. Or the gorgeous covers. Alexander needs a fresh new series, or to give up the mysteries and just do straight historical fiction.
