Love is Dangerous

Love Is Dangerous by Barbara Cartland

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a different sort of Barbara Cartland romance, one with a bit of a mystery and intrigue. And limited stilted dialogue, so it didn't break my brain.

Melina is working as a secretary in Morocco, and is dismissed out of jealousy. Insert eye-rolling here. Dame Barbara, your age is showing. But worry not, as her balcony is invaded by a dashing young man on the run. She gamely jumps to his rescue and they embark on a tale of intrigue and drama. Bing (Bing, really?) isn't very nice, but somehow she falls for him anyway. And then we encounter a Deus ex machina so large we need a separate room for it. As with all Cartland romances, the ending will be abrupt and you will wonder what hit you when it was done.

Giving this an extra star due to her controlling herself around--the stilted--dialogue she--loves and the twist on a late 60's spy novel.



View all my reviews

Born with Teeth

Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Captain Janeway is my favorite Starfleet captain, so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Kate Mulgrew has lead an interesting life. Impulsive, a bit crazy. Pretty much what you would imagine an actress's life to be like.

She shares the stories of her childhood, stories of getting stared as a young actress, and stories of her marriage and family. Entertaining and interesting, but I feel like it was very surface. While she let us catch glimpses of her world, she didn't actually let us in. Even during her story of giving her daughter up for adoption, a heart wrenching tale, she kept the reader at arm's length. The ending was abrupt, as well, and I actually thought I was missing chapters in my book at first.

I was expecting more, but enjoyed what I read. 3 stars.



View all my reviews

A Charming Spell (Magical Cures Mystery #4)

A Charming Spell by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I know I said I was done with this series, but apparently I am a glutton for punishment. Plus I own books 4 and 5, so I guess I need to finish up what I have.

June is inexplicably still village president with absolutely no qualifications for the position and is doing the job you would expect. Oliver is still missing his memory of June and the magical world. Why did we hit the reset button in book 3? Oh, right, because the plot wasn't working. Anyway, June is still incompetent, and self-centered, and eating those damn Ding Dongs. And sticking her nose in everyone's business. I can take annoying from my characters. What I can't take is stupidity. She makes bad decisions, puts herself and other in danger, and is consistently selfish. She lost me completely when she chose to pick on Oliver's new girlfriend. Very "Mean Girls", and is the perfect example of why June is a bad character. I pretty much hate her at this point.

Aside from the atrocities of the plot and characters, these books are riddled with typos and grammatical errors that are unforgivable and make the books read like a high school writing project. The dialogue is stilted and amateurish, and the plots are inane. Don't waste your time and money on this series--there are much better options out there.

P.S. Every time I had to read, "Hidden Hall A Spiritualist University" (which was about 100 times) I wanted to gouge my eyes out. The name is stupid and you don't need to write out the full name every. damn. time.



View all my reviews

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We enter a world where the youth either die at puberty or develop amazing powers. Once you develop powers, the government is coming to get you and put you in a camp. To rehabilitate you. Right? Trust your government. But no! You are now too dangerous, and you must either be locked up, or die. The choice is yours.

Ruby develops her power at the age of 10, and off to the camp she goes. How it happened and what she can do with her power will be unfolded along the way. We also get a prison break, road trip, and buddy comedy. Plus love. Because it wouldn't be young adult dystopian without it. The side characters are decent and you might find you are more attached to them than fearless Ruby, but I'll leave that to you to decide.

So much here that I wanted to love! But in the end, I rated it 3 stars. I liked it, but didn't fall in love with it. I will continue to the next book to see where this is all going.



View all my reviews

A Letter of Mary (Mary Russell #3)

A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I love everything about this series. Holmes and Russell are my favorite duo of all time.

Mary is the perfect balance for the arrogant aging Holmes. She is independent, and intelligent, and very secure in her own skin. She's truly one of my favorite characters ever. You get the cleverness you expect from Sherlock Holmes, but with a new twist that makes Holmes more human, and more likable.

In this one, the newly married Russell and Holmes are visited by an old friend who leaves them with an artifact of dubious provenance. It's the perfect blend of theology and mystery to get the couple on the case when their friend is killed. Along the way we get time with my favorite brother Mycroft and Inspector Lestrade, and the quartet works together to unwind the clues and bring the killers to justice. A solid 3 1/2 stars.



View all my reviews

Death of an Outsider (Hamish Macbeth #3)

Death of an Outsider by M.C. Beaton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Oh Hamish. What have you gotten yourself into this time?

We find ourselves exiled with Hamish to Cnothan to cover the local Constable's three month vacation. We step away from our regular band of locals to a more hostile crowd. But gangly Hamish, with his red hair and easy smile, wins them over in the end. Or at least most of them. The crime in this one wasn't one you could look back and solve. Lots of clues were missing, and even when it was explained you didn't know it was coming. But Hamish is fun and it was nice to get to see him in a new environment. I'm hoping we've seen the last of Blair--he's incredibly two-dimensional. And in the end our boy returns home to the life he knows best. A quick read and an average mystery, but still three stars. Hey, what can I say, Hamish has grown on me.



View all my reviews

Fascination in France

114. Fascination in France by Barbara Cartland

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Oh Barbara---your stilting---prose makes--my head--hurt.

Silly, fast read about two young ladies who are sent to a rich man's house, one to be married off in the interest of a business partnership. The other sent to chaperone her cousin. Expect a classic Cartland switch-a-roo with the Duc falling for the other one unexpectedly. Yes, there will be perils for our young heroine. She will be in danger, but will pluckily save the day and everyone will live happily ever after. But if you weren't looking for a HEA, you wouldn't have read a Barbara Cartland romance.

Plus for the book being short, and the main characters not horrible in the end. Minus for the dumb cousin who was annoying and nothing but a plot device.



View all my reviews

The One (The Selection #3)

The One by Kiera Cass

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Somewhat surprised at the resolution to the series, but I liked it.

We are in the finals for the Selection, and you just know America will become "The One". But the road along the way actually surprised me. There were some frustrating parts, some sad parts, and some overall really good parts. I would say I ended up liking it enough to give it a solid three stars. Maxon was my high point. I didn't hate Celeste by the end, and America grew up, mostly. If you read the first two you will read this one to learn how it all resolves.



View all my reviews

Fallen (Fallen #1)

Fallen by Lauren Kate

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Well, I find myself a bit underwhelmed by the kick off to this series. Color me disappointed.

It's not necessarily the characters. I liked Luce, I liked Daniel, and I loved Penn. It wasn't the setting. The boarding school was interesting and colorful. And I didn't hate the writing style. I can't put my finger on what was lacking, but I find myself torn about continuing to book 2. Maybe it was the whole over-the-topness of the good vs.evil, maybe it was because I wanted more backstory. Anyway, lukewarm for me at best. 2 1/2 stars for the gorgeous cover.



View all my reviews

The Elite (The Selection #2)

The Elite by Kiera Cass

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Continuing from book 1, but now with 50% more love triangle. Seriously...glad I'm interested in the journey here, folks. The constant waffling about the two boys just about made me lose my mind.

America is still in the Selection. Maxon is convinced she is the girl for him. I'm not entirely sure why. She is a bit ridiculous at times and strings him along. Anyway. I won't spoil anything but a lot of political drama happens and we are mainly as in the dark about it as America. But we get more insights into Maxon and his way of thinking, and that is enough for me to read the next book. 2 1/2 stars for the selfish love triangle nonsense, but I'm in it until the end now.

I need more time with the Queen. Crossing my fingers that happens in book 3.



View all my reviews