Annabelle Jacobs

3 stars

Sam gets a new next door neighbour, and his best friend recognizes the guy as someone they went to school with. Sam didn't like Charlie in school, and decides that any and all transgressions will follow him forever. But then they start to get to know one another, and even though Sam can't let go of the past, he likes who Charlie is now. When circumstances put them in even closer proximity, feelings start to happen, but Sam doesn't know if he can let go of the past long enough to start a relationship.

I don't know. I understood Sam's reasons for not liking Charlie, but the fact that he got to know him and the type of person he is, and Sam's knowledge of other events, not to mention his best friend's opinion, should have had some weight on letting the past be in the past. Instead, Sam clung to it like a security blanket. I really liked Sam's best mate, who doled out sensible advice, and called Sam on his crap, but was there for him always. I finished reading this last night, but I barely remembered what it was about, so it wasn't memorable at all, and I'm sure it will be completely gone from my consciousness by the end of the day today.… (meer)

I skipped stories from authors that rate all their books. It's not the case with those that only rate antologies; I still don't like it but I can understand it like a recognition to their co-authors.

Ninety-nine Problems by Becky Black - 3 stars

Bread and Butter Pudding by Jules Jones - 3 stars

Chanctonbury Ring by Sarah Madison - 3,5 stars

Wrong Number by Megan Redd away - 2,5 stars

In the Doghouse by Chris Quinton - 2,5 stars

The Benefits of Hindsight by MA Ford - 2 stars

Misadventures of Mislaid Men by Penny Hudson - 3 stars

Best Vacation Ever by Rob Rosen - Skipped

Rough Tackle by Annabelle Jacobs - 2,5 stars

Illumination by Sam Evans - 2,5 stars

The Jacobite by Bette Browne - 2 stars

Wag, Not a Dog by Theo Fenraven - 2 stars

Tops Down, Bottoms Up by Jay Northcote - 3,5 stars

First Contact by Rhidian Brenig Jones - 1 star

Apollo, Heathcliff, and Hercules by S.A. García - 2, 5 stars
… (meer)

Well, it's not terrible, plus I got to read it free. But it's by far not the best shifter romance I've read, either. The reasons are several. For one, the prose is full of unnecessary words. To the point where I was skimming or I'd have had to bail. For another, denial of reality, particularly when the denial and reasons are repeated many times, gets really old. The lack of action in crisis makes me think this author doesn't watch or read much action media. The bad guy monologued. Which isn't terrible generally, but we already KNEW most of that, so I was bored. The worry Daniel leaves London with isn't addressed in the Epilogue. There's more, but you get the gist. It's readable. But there are flaws, the worst one being boring stuff that'll make readers leave. Or skim, as I did.… (meer)