Just a Few Books I Thought I’d Love #review #dnf

Posted September 4, 2017 by Berls in Just a Few Books I Read, Review / 8 Comments

I think after two months it’s finally time to call this one a DNF. I started off really liking it, but as it progressed it turned into nonstop sex – and I wasn’t comfortable with the type of relationship they had. He started off good alpha and crossed into bad. And then I just stopped caring about picking it up and now I’ve forgotten enough that I’m just done. The sad thing is, there was a cool paranormal premise I would have liked to explore a lot more, but it was like the back drop to nonstep sex that got very old.
DNF

Just a Few Books I Thought I’d Love #review #dnfFurthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Published by Dutton Books for Young Readers on August 30th 2016
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
DNF

Alice Alexis Queensmeadow 12 rates three things most important: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. Father disappeared from Ferenwood with only a ruler, almost three years ago. But she will have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is Oliver whose own magic is based in lies and deceit. Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

I stood in line for this… had others stand in line for it. Needless to say I WANTED it and WANTED to love it. But there was a major disconnect for me and I’m finally accepting what actually happened months ago. DNF. I’ll still cherish the signature and the beautiful cover, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to connect with the main character or make sense of the world. I’ll still pick up Tahereh Mafi’s future work and give it a shot though- her writing continues to be lovely.
DNF

Just a Few Books I Thought I’d Love #review #dnfSweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #1
Published by Avon on June 28th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
DNF

Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .

As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.

Fall for him—hard . . .

Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.

And then tell him the truth.

Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .

As much as I enjoy Jill Shalvis, I just couldn’t get into this book 🙁 I really liked it at first – the whole concept was fun. But the secrets didn’t work for me, nor did some of the relationships. And then one day I put my bookmark in the book and just never picked it back up. I do get the feeling that I’m supposed to know some of the characters and perhaps, had I read whatever series this spins off of, I would have made the connection and loved it. Perhaps.
DNF

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
Just a Few Books I Thought I’d Love #review #dnfConspiracy of Ravens by Lila Bowen
Series: The Shadow #2
Published by Orbit on October 11th 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 359
Goodreads
two-stars

Monsters, magic and the supernatural combine in this sequel to Wake of Vultures, in which a young woman must defeat the evil hiding beneath the surface.

Nettie Lonesome made a leap -- not knowing what she'd become. But now the destiny of the Shadow is calling.

A powerful alchemist is leaving a trail of dead across the prairie. And the Shadow must face the ultimate challenge: side with her friends and the badge on her chest or take off alone on the dangerous mission pulling her inexorably toward the fight of her life.

When it comes to monsters and men, the world isn't black and white. What good are two wings and a gun when your enemy can command a conspiracy of ravens?

Conspiracy of Ravens continues the exciting journey begun in Wake of Vultures as Nettie Lonesome discovers that she, and the world, are more than what they seem.

After how much I loved the first book, I’m sad to say I had to DNF this one. I probably could have pushed myself to finish it – it wasn’t horrible (hence 2 stars despite my DNF), I just lost interest. It was in many ways a repeat plot – same story, different bad guys – and that just lost my interest.

I continue to be interested, however, in the way that Lila Bowen is writing the complexities of a transgender individual. On one hand, there’s this marvelous point in this book where a mental shift happens and our main character is no longer thinking of themselves in the feminine – suddenly she isn’t a woman struggling with wanting to be a man; now he is a man, trapped firmly in a man’s body. I loved this moment, though I have no idea how the trans community would feel about it.

On the other hand, I disliked that with this change in thinking about himself he also seemed to have a kind of personality transplant – at least sexually. The person who was once awkward about sex now seems comfortable with sex and not in a “I’m finally comfortable in my head” kind of way but in a “I’m a man and men rut around” kind of way.

Anyway, I lost interest, but I could see it being worthy of continued reading.

DNF

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About Berls

Michelle adopted me as part of her blog when I decided to close down my blog, Fantasy is More Fun. The blog was dying, but my love of reading and the blogosphere was still strong as ever - so I found my new home here at Because Reading!

I'm not just a book lover, but a one time author (that hopes to be more in the future), wife, mom to the cutest, happiest, best 2 year old and step-mom to the craziest, sweetest 22 year old on the planet. My family mean everything to me and they appear frequently in the Sunday Post with Berls. So grab a glass of wine and chat books, blogging, and family with me!

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8 responses to “Just a Few Books I Thought I’d Love #review #dnf

  1. I haven’t read any of these, except for Sweet Little Lies. I wasn’t a fan of the secrets, I don’t like the secrets keeping in general in books, but I did enjoy the book overall. But while I do enjoy her books, the last two books in this series have been 3 stars for me. I often have some issues with her books as well, but I do really like her books as well.

    Furthermore does sound good and that’s awesome you got it signed, but what a bummer it didn’t work for you :(. Sometimes that happens and you think you will really enjoy a book and then it doesn’t work for you. It’s always sad when that happens.

    Lola recently posted: Sunday Post #247
    • Its so sad when a book you’re looking forward to ends up disappointing 🙁 I’m keeping Furthermore though, it’s too pretty and signed! Lol!

  2. It’s so hard to DNF a book when they have so much potential and it sounds like all of these really do. I love the cover of Furthermore. Too bad it just didn’t work. Shalvis is usually pretty reliable but every once in awhile one of her books will be just meh and while I haven’t DNF’d any there are a couple I wish I had.

    • I hate when a DNF comes from a book I thought I’d love. Furthermore has the best cover – and my copy is signed! – so I’l be keeping it, DNF or not!

  3. Aww, bummer about the DNF’s but then again DNF’s can be good because they clear out the chaff! Furthermore in particular sounds like it could have been fun, but sometimes they just don’t work. 🙂

    Greg recently posted: On the Run X
    • Furthermore I so wanted to love – stood in line for it, got an autograph, everything! I was so disappointed, but it happens 🙁