Saturday, August 12

One Campy, One DNF, One Reread

I finally finished Thea Devine's The Forever Kiss and enjoyed it. I thought it on the better side of okay. It's a little campy and a little gothic. I found the "foiled again" attitude of the real "Ducas" funny, how he referred to Dar as the "Other" was campy at it's best. I really need to pick up more of her books.

I'm sorry to say I found this one unreadable. I'll be sending it off to Sybil, which seems to be rather apropos since the heroine's name should have been Sybil and not Emma, Abigail or Abby as she seemed to suffer from multiple personality disorder, no offense to our Sybil, please. I thought Ms. Valdal's first novel had potential, but Her One And Only was a DNF for me. I never even made it to their sex scene. Never reached the point that Grey becomes an idiot. I read until the school piano money was stolen and then read the last 25 pages. I still think Ms. Valdal has potential, her writing voice is pretty good and her style isn't bad, but her character development needs work.


So after my failure to finish HOAO I decided to pick up a favorite. Devonna has been reading Eloisa James' Duchess series and for some strange reason I love reading about Helene and Rees. He's such a clueless jerk, but I still thoroughly enjoy this book.

Next up, HelenKay Dimon's Viva Las Bad Boys.

Have a good one and happy reading.

11 comments:

Wendy said...

Well that cinches it. I didn't think HOAO was that bad because I had to read those horrible westerns by Nan Ryan and Bobbi Smith earlier this year. I've been so beaten down that anything a smidge above awful has become readable....

sybil said...

hmmmm I did read the last NaN Ryan so maybe I will like it ;)

never tried bobbi though *g*

CindyS said...

Did you like the last book out by Eloisa James? She did that thing where you had to go to her website so she could tell you how her heroine knew who she was kissing the whole time. I figure if you need a step by step tutorial then something bad happened ;)

Would you consider her books sensual? Like Linda Howard? or more on the sweet side because I sooo don't do that ;)

CindyS

Tara Marie said...

Wendy, the Ryan and Smith books must have been as bad as it gets--LOL, because this one was pretty bad.

Sybil, it will be heading your way soon.

Cindy, I did NOT like the last Eloisa James book at all. It was a mess, but I think her books fall between sweet and hot, leaning toward hot.

Dev said...

I didn't read the last Eloisa James book ~ it'll get added on to my TBR pile eventually.

Tara ~ I finished Your Wicked Ways AND Scandal in Spring yesterday. First time in a long time I've been able to just read.

Valeen said...

Well crap I just bought this book at Walmart, the one by Alice Valdal. Guess it will get bumped further down the pile.

Anonymous said...

Why is it the books with the good covers are never as good as the covers? And the books with the bad covers are great? Do I need to start picking my books based upon bad covers?

Megan Frampton said...

I just love Eloisa James' voice, and her way with female characters. I do agree Taming of the Duke was missing a few crucial bits, though.

I can't believe she can keep all those story lines straight, either.

Tara Marie said...

Devonna, I checked your review of YWW, obviously I liked it more, that's okay.

Valeen, I'd tell you to bump it back to the store, but maybe I missed something and it's really better than I thought?!?

Jane, wasn't the cover of HOAO great. I'm at a total loss there, maybe it's the publishers way of pushing a bad book. The new Nan Ryan has a beautiful cover, yet it's never entering my house.

Megan, I completely agree about EJ's voice, one of the best in romance, that's why I'll keep her on my autobuy list even after not loving The Taming...

Devon said...

I enjoyed Your Wicked Ways as well. A lot of people don't like it. I wish Rees had groveled more (love grovelling), but I found him rather endearing after awhile in his efforts to figure out what pleased Helene.

Tara Marie said...

devon, groveling is always good--LOL. but you're right he was endearing and a little clueless.