I need to ditch KU. This read like yet another book where the author hates women, debases them then calls it true love.
Admittedly the heroine is a doI need to ditch KU. This read like yet another book where the author hates women, debases them then calls it true love.
Admittedly the heroine is a doormat and admits herself, but does everyone have to treat her like garbage? I'm not much of a feminist, but when a man humiliates and slut shames you, how pathetic are you to slaver at having sex with him.
Triggers and (view spoiler)[I had to finish as it literally nauseated me. The heroine has a two week old baby, TWO WEEK, and is back to doing tricDNF.
Triggers and (view spoiler)[I had to finish as it literally nauseated me. The heroine has a two week old baby, TWO WEEK, and is back to doing tricks to support her cruel and nasty brother and cruel and even nastier mother. Then she gets raped from a twosome her brother sets up all so she can pay his debt. She's too smart to do all this, but does it anyway.
The. fact that the heroine is a prostitute is nothing to the timing of the post-natal sex and the abuse. She can't nurse her child because of all the abuse, but then has lots of sex with the hero.
Strangely enough the heroine's inner thoughts don't come off as poor me, I'm a doormat, but her actions belie that. When I read the first sex scene I literally cringed at the thought.
The H has some explaining as well since he's, let's just use the word courting another woman, while he has sex with the h. Big no for me. He also lies to the other woman that there is nothing between him and Luna. Nope, nothing more than sex. From what I read at 56%, both women deserved better. (hide spoiler)]...more
This is a new generation Susan Fox channeling The Black Sheep, The Bad Penny, Wild at Heart and more. Romance complete with a downtrodden heroine thatThis is a new generation Susan Fox channeling The Black Sheep, The Bad Penny, Wild at Heart and more. Romance complete with a downtrodden heroine that no one loves, a cruel hero, a dead paternal nightmare, an evil OW and an even more evil mama. I mean EVIL. Loved it.
This poor bland chick can't cut a break. I still felt sorry for her even when she got her happy ever after. Trying to think if he even attempted a grovel, and nope....more
A serious lack of trigger warnings. If the author wants to write dark, fine, but give a freaking head's up.
Just too much rape/gang bang rape as well aA serious lack of trigger warnings. If the author wants to write dark, fine, but give a freaking head's up.
Just too much rape/gang bang rape as well as flashback rape in graphic detail for me. I don't need to read the extent of what orifice is raped and how the bad guys humiliate and debase the heroine. I could have spared the author a 1 star if I had known. Ironically, while the author has no problem describing the pain the heroine goes through, I don't recall much written about the death of the bad guys. Now they deserved a painful death.
A revenge marriage is one thing, but the H emotionally abuses the heroine, and the author uses good sex as a means of therapy. I have a hard time buying that a young girl that was gang raped and tied to a pole for years is going to enjoy sex the first time she has "real sex" no matter how magical the hero's penis is....more
What seems to be an intelligent heroine drops IQ points and ruins her character. She's unknowinglD.N.F.
Heroine is TSTL, and too stupid to care about.
What seems to be an intelligent heroine drops IQ points and ruins her character. She's unknowingly has an affair with a married DEA agent. Clarification, she knows he's a DEA agent but does not know he's married with kids. She ditches him when she finds out (view spoiler)[ so he digitally rapes her, bruises her face and bites her lip. (hide spoiler)] Does she A) file a police report, B) contact his supervisor, C) shoot him, D) at least have a friend take photos of the bruising and teeth marks. Yes, teeth marks. Nope to all of the above. He shows up later to threaten that more stalking will be coming soon and she still does nothing. So DNF'ing at 10%.
I suspect based on other similar plots that she will get beaten up/kidnapped/insert some level of violence that fictional female characters are so often doomed to at least one more time, her new boyfriend will be attacked, and the villain will end up dead. She'll have nightmares that she is responsible for the death of a man and boo hoo.
I just don't have time for recycled misogynistic BS especially when written by women. The heroine in Starting Over was celibate while the H moved on for hookups until they meet up again, he prioritized his friendship with her brothers over her, and she was then stalked, roofied, totally beaten up and almost killed by a really bad guy.
I was at least hoping that she would be a stand up heroine and file a report then the villain would go rogue, or be protected by his police buds, or, hey here's a thought, let his police force abduct buddies condemn him and find a more original way to insert angst in the story. Or she and the furious ex-wife could plot and bring him down together....more
The zero hero isn't just stupid he's inconsiderate. He's either thinking with his male parts or he's buying the evil sister's story hook, line and sinThe zero hero isn't just stupid he's inconsiderate. He's either thinking with his male parts or he's buying the evil sister's story hook, line and sinker. All that with a heroine who's lead around by her parts and the fact that she hears the zero having sex with her sister is YUCK....more
There once was a man called Dean Whose fiancee was really mean. At least the h was good in bed And he liked she gave good #ead. Too bad all she did was clThere once was a man called Dean Whose fiancee was really mean. At least the h was good in bed And he liked she gave good #ead. Too bad all she did was clean.
Cinderella story where the h is besieged by evil relatives that stoop to all kinds if shenanigans with a Prince Charming that is lacking. It's no coincidence that he decides to really go after her after he finds out she once had ambitions beyond being a maid. Be happy the heroine is happy I guess.
There was a Harlequin with almost the exact same plot I'll try and post.
I would say I have no words, but I do. I'll keep them to myself except to say another hero lucky to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth as anotheI would say I have no words, but I do. I'll keep them to myself except to say another hero lucky to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth as another hero that is dumber than dirt.
Unlike most Alden heroines, this one has tossed her doormat away and tells off her parents as well as the hero. I don't think there's much of a grovel as a sad face.
Ending was way too abrupt, and please, Ms. Alden, can you please, please toss in some comeuppance to the evildoers? It doesn't even have to be epic comeuppance....more
Sexual six degrees of separation and a sad, sad backstory. Not a fun romance at all.
The heroine has popped up in previous books (I don't remember her)Sexual six degrees of separation and a sad, sad backstory. Not a fun romance at all.
The heroine has popped up in previous books (I don't remember her). She and the other characters have slept with various people in all the books which really creeped me out. The H meets two of the men she's had sex with and vice versa. On top of that, the H is a grieving widow who has used sex as a means of anesthetizing his grief since a few months after his beloved wife's death. Trying to keep an open mind., but again, yikes. He really did love her.
The h's backstory is one of abuse, and she too has used sex as a means of getting affection. This was written very plausibly which only makes it all the sadder to see a bright woman allow men to use her for sex.
High in the angst love, I can't recommend it as a romance given the nature of the two main characters's crosses to bear....more
12% He is SO stupid. How do these H's survive in the business world when they are so horrible at reading people, everyone. GHoo boy. Girding my loins.
12% He is SO stupid. How do these H's survive in the business world when they are so horrible at reading people, everyone. Good God Almighty, Fallon, the judgmental child psychologist!!! These heroes remind me of Ron and Harry in Harry Potter. Did they EVER judge a person correctly? Thank God for Hermione.
46% It's official. He's an utter idiot. Why ignore the evidence in front of your face when you can simply believe the report of people you've never met before.
DONE Well, the hero does come through with a pretty epic grovel, but what a sad story for the heroine. he would have to be an even bigger idiot than he is not to want this girl in his life.
Mira's sad story made me cry. Alden is nothing if not a master at drudging up emotions and showing the sad, but Mira's plight came through very believably and not overly manipulative. Her trauma was very real, and unlike most authors Alden states quite clearly what the triggers are. There's nothing blatant or salacious on page in what the father did to Mira and her sister, but the after effect is real.
Then there is the hero. Heavy, heavy sigh. I don't know why it was so important to not only make him a manwhore but guy that visits sex clubs and has foursomes and I'm not talking golf. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know it's to show how Mira changes him but yuck. His utter idiotic and stupid gullible acceptance of her parents was just too much. Honestly he did not question one thing that was said which makes him inexcusably worthless as a hero in any story. This is the biggest hole in the plot.
Surprising 3 stars. In part because I couldn't put the damn thing down despite wanting to toss my computer, but the heroine is a winner and her relationship with her niece is so sweet.
Evil doers get their comeuppance but I could have seen a little more retribution for her parents and some more shunning for Fallon who seriously needs to reconsider her career choice/...more
This started out so promising. Love a stolen fiancee trope where the h comes out ahead. The heroine was pretty cute and self-deprecating, the hero wasThis started out so promising. Love a stolen fiancee trope where the h comes out ahead. The heroine was pretty cute and self-deprecating, the hero was a handsome and totally sweet hunk, the h gets a Pretty Woman shopping trip and makeover, the family's jealous of her new hunka hunka boring love, and then she turns into a mega bitch. Any sympathy I had for her over the evil stepsis taking her beau was gone.
(view spoiler)[Imma just going to skip over the off page death of the plot moppet that shows up mid book. I guess giving the mother an abusive new boyfriend AND cancer with only weeks to go was her punishment for keeping the moppet a sekret baby. (hide spoiler)]
The kicker though was the treatment of the evil OW/stepsis. She was pretty entertaining and I LOVE a good comeuppance...this was not a good comeuppance. It was gross and totally unnecessary....more
I just finished this a week ago and can't remember it really. Hoping it's the book and not my memory going. Ack.I just finished this a week ago and can't remember it really. Hoping it's the book and not my memory going. Ack....more
Hero is perfectly awful. Not in a fun Harlequin hero kind of way, but a real life misogynist way. He's suspicious of her because she looks too innocenHero is perfectly awful. Not in a fun Harlequin hero kind of way, but a real life misogynist way. He's suspicious of her because she looks too innocent and all women are treacherous. Yawn. He pushed his hatred and distrust by pulling a gun on her as she tries to save a man, is thrilled when he finally gets to run a background check, essentially rapes her, and ultimate betrayal of all. (view spoiler)[ calls her evil parents (hide spoiler)].
The heroine is pretty strong until the bitter end. She honestly doesn't like the hero and who could blame her except she thinks he's a hunk. I felt no love, no pull. He says, "Sorry," and suddenly it's true love.
Also, as a reader that liked the heroine I really wanted a confrontation with her parents for using her. Missed opportunity....more
This was a Dynasty meets A Long Hot Summer southern romance revenge story. On a scale of one to ten for a cruel H where the typical Maya Alden ranks aThis was a Dynasty meets A Long Hot Summer southern romance revenge story. On a scale of one to ten for a cruel H where the typical Maya Alden ranks around 100, this H was a good 7. I think he only calls her bitch and slut a couple of times.
Part of a trilogy and more drama than you can shake a hot and humid stick since this is set in New Orleans or as Alden insists on writing it N'awlins. I think I'm going to stroke out as she does it in the next book too. Even when characters aren't talking in their Cajun accents but just thinking about the city, she spells it N'Awlins. Foghorn Leghorn says STOP!!!!!
Suspense thriller about the murder of a 7 year old boy.
Interesting but rough listening with multiple triggers: death/murder of children/ domestic vi Suspense thriller about the murder of a 7 year old boy.
Interesting but rough listening with multiple triggers: death/murder of children/ domestic violence/ strong abusive language, Stepford wife/mother.
The Boy is the second book starring Broussard and Fourcade who are now married with a child. Set about 7 or 8 years after A Thin Dark Line, it was written about twenty years later. The OTT misogyny is gone and what was a nasty contentious relationship between Broussard and pretty much all the detectives has been defanged into a big brother/little sister dynamics. Most of the work action is between the two detectives and their smarmy new boss. Numerous victims from the dead little boy, a sexually assaulted autistic girl who is off page, and others.
The book is set in Southern LA and there's a lot about Foucard's Cajun background and accent. The narrator is decent overall, but a terrible Cajun accent if you are interested in hearing it. Too bad as it's a fascinating and charming accent to hear and a surprise it still exists in the US.
The story gets three stories, but in terms of suspense they are better out there and Hoag could have edited more cleanly in some areas while fleshed out certain relationships more clearly. Not one you want to read or listen to late at night....more
Another book that would have been better off as a thriller or horror story than a romance. (view spoiler)[On the eve of her wedding, the heroine is imAnother book that would have been better off as a thriller or horror story than a romance. (view spoiler)[On the eve of her wedding, the heroine is imprisoned by her crazy mom. No soft soap and no sympathy here, she was crazy. Unknowingly pregnant, things don't go well for the heroine, one being her fiancé is either too stupid, too lazy or too inert to actually look for her. The info spewed to him by his own awful mother is so flimsy a child could see through it. (hide spoiler)]
After his little brother finally get in touch with him, the H comes home after about 8 or 10 years, and is both dying to see the h and reluctant. While he's been gone, his mother who has gone the extra mile to give Medea a run for her money on Bad Mommy stakes, isolates him further from his father and four brothers. Four brothers and not one ponies up to tell him the truth, the truth that the whole town knew...that instead of running away this poor little drab of an h was imrpisoned by her mother for six months.
They end up together surprisingly quick, okay this is a romance so not that surprising. Little angst left and not much comeuppance for the horrible mother and the equally horrible father who weakly stood by and let his wife ruin one of his son's life.
I've skimmed the others and they seem to be a little low energy as well. ...more
After wallowing in a sea KU books, I forgot what a very good writer Tami Hoag is. She can string the suspense along as well as create a very creepy atAfter wallowing in a sea KU books, I forgot what a very good writer Tami Hoag is. She can string the suspense along as well as create a very creepy atmosphere. Fun reminder is she got her start writing romances, Loveswept no less.
There's a hint of romance here, but it's primarily a very creepy thriller/suspense story of who is the real killer. Toss in a TON of ver sadly very realistic 1990s misogyny of a woman trying to break into the detective ranks and it's a great read. The misogyny is tough to read as it's real and visceral, and this is in an era where fighting it could cause more problems than figuring out ways to circumvent it.
Recent Olympic controversy over Bob Ballard getting fired over a silly remark has been frustrating to me. There's a joke then there is real sexism. Some of the men are out there,but are a refection of what a real toxic male environment could be.
I've read darker, but there are some violent scenes so beware....more
Problematic book for me as it's listed as a romance.
A revenge plot gone very, very bad as the usual with a romance hero/villain, the true victim is cProblematic book for me as it's listed as a romance.
A revenge plot gone very, very bad as the usual with a romance hero/villain, the true victim is collateral damage aka the heroine. After a several month seduction, the hero films the heroine having sex. No, he doesn't film them having sex because he's very careful to make sure he isn't identifiable as the heroine points out later. He shows the tape to her father who immediately strikes out...at the heroine. The hero gets his deal, the father gets the tape while the heroine loses everything: her rotten family, her partnership, the house she renovated, the garden she created and nourished her soul, and her trust in people. She devolves.
If the hero hated the heroine or thought she was remotely involved it might have been more understandable, but the hero knows how horrible he's being, in fact vomits at the thought of it, but hands the video over anyway. The video itself isn't just sex, but a graphic scene with the heroine calling herself "his whore" and "his slut". It made any subsequent sex scenes stomach churning when she calls herself that again.
Again and again, the heroine is betrayed, humiliated and debased while more than one evil doer gets away with no retribution. (view spoiler)[ The evil OW gets her hands on it and publishes the video and gets off scot free although distributing porn as well as revenge porn is a felony. Heroine's half brother who tipped off the OW doesn't get a full acceptance on his apology for being mean and throwing her under the bus all their lives, the hero wallows in self-pity and gets frustrated the heroine can't see how bad he feels, boo hoo. (hide spoiler)]
The heroine devolves into a shadow of herself, but does finally get a backbone of sorts when she gets cranky but it's not enough when her life is destroyed and the man who destroyed her life puts her life back together the way he wants it, not what she wants. The portrayal of her slow decline was well done and gets the extra star. And the ending is incredibly abrupt, boom.
I signed up for the epilogue but haven't received it, but from what I've read on FB it just confirms that the evil OW and the equally awful father get off without any real consequences. In real life, revenge porn can result in prison. Also makes me question what kind of an idiot the hero is. He pats himself in the back about being a great big business man but can't protect the heroine? I know, I know, if the video wasn't released we would have no book, but let's call a spade a spade.
Once a tape is out there, it's out. Out there for colleagues, friends, family, acquaintances, her future children to see. No coming back from the damage the H caused.
There are plenty of readers who will love the angst of the debasement of a pathetic heroine who loses control of her life through no fault of her own, but by the love of her life, but I have a stomach ache because of it....more
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