Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Kentucky Home by Sarah Title

Kentucky Home is a fast read that initally appealed to me in a few ways: I liked the idea of a book set in Kentucky, especially on a horse farm. I liked the description of the heroine, I liked the idea of a romance about folks starting over, and while the part of the cover copy where the heroine "wins the hearts" of the hero's family one by one gave me a pause, I wanted to read more.

Unfortunately, the book had wildly huge jumps in emotional development that I did not believe in the least, and was mostly populated by one-note characters who served a purpose to the story instead of being actual people.

Mallory Thompson gave up a lot, little by little, at the behest of her surgeon husband. If you've ever heard things about how surgeons are egomaniacal douchebags who care for no one else but themselves and their own egos, those are the elements that made up Mallory's husband. She leaves him, finally, and, posing as the fiancee of her sort-of friend Luke, arrives on his family's horse… read more »

Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher: A Guest Review by Carrie S

Ghost Planet was depressingly terrible as only a promising book can be.

The premise was wonderfully intriguing and the author (Sharon Lynn Fisher) writes good descriptions and has an overall good use of language, with a few scenes that were genuinely harrowing.  The writing technique is polished and smooth.  This high level of potential made it almost insulting when the book became progressively lost in scientific bullshit and stock, annoying characters. 

Fair disclosure - Ghost Planet is getting great reviews elsewhere on the net, so if you loved Ghost Planet don't be shy about defending its honor in the comments - you are not alone.

Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams

This is it for romantic suspense for me, and not merely because I don't enjoy it. I can't tell if I dislike this book more because I'm not enjoying the romantic suspense parts, or more because of the other flaws I found with the characters and the plot. I'm pretty much opening this entire review with, "Take this with a grain of salt because Romantic Suspense and I are breaking up for good, that's it, no more. We are never ever ever getting back together."

Grain of salt out of the way, this story required me to make huge leaps of faith when it came to believing the characters, and once I reconciled myself to accepting the characters and their assorted superpowers, the book introduced a villain who was terribly clumsy and inept. Asking me to be afraid of the villain was just too much.

Monster In My Closet by R.L. Naquin:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

In honor of Halloween, I'm reviewing a couple of monster-iffic books this month.  If you'll allow an incredibly hackneyed Halloween analogy, Monster In My Closet looked like a treat at first but turned out to be more of a trick - the kind that is gross and depressing, like having your car egged.

It starts off as a fun and quirky urban fantasy but then the villain appears and suddenly there are all these long, graphic scenes of rape and murder.  In between the rape and murder stuff the book tries to go back to being a light fantasy, which just adds to the squick.  Add a perfunctory romance with a completely undeveloped character, and a heroine who is too stupid to live, and the book falls apart.

Twisted in Tulips by Nikki Duncan

This might be the first time I've written this on a review, but I want to warn you: this review, and the excerpts contained within it, might be triggering of emotions and recollections in people who have suffered assault or been victims of abusive relationships. As I was typing out the excerpts, I got a very sick feeling in my stomach when I wasn't rolling my eyes, and I want to warn you before you read on that you might experience similar. 

Also, fair warning: this review is very spoilery. It was difficult for me to talk about what I didn't like without going into great detail about the problems I found with this novella.

…

Twisted in Tulips is a novella, but it made me so angry that I could barely finish it. I was so angry at the hero, I wanted to break him in half. I was never convinced of his heroism, never convinced that the he'd amended his… read more »

Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair: A Guest Review by CarrieS

Several people in the comments threads had mentioned Linea Sinclair as a great writer of Science Fiction Romance so I tried out Gabriel's Ghost. 

Guys, I am not getting it.  Help me out here!  The writing is solid enough, the world building is decent, but I barely made it through this book.  What am I missing?

RITA Reader Challenge: Nothing but the Truth by Kara Lennox

This review was written by Elyssa. This story was nominated in the Contemporary Series Suspense/Adventure Romance category.

The summary:     

As chief legal council for Project Justice, widow Raleigh Shinn doesn't seem the type to accept bribes. Still, Griffin Benedict has an anonymous tip that points to her guilt. And if he wants to make the move to national news anchor, he needs a sensational story.

But nothing is as it seems. Including the do-good lawyer. Underneath shapeless suits and oversize glasses hides an exceptional beauty. Now Griffin not only seeks an exclusive, he wants to uncover Raleigh's secrets for himself. When lies turn to attempted murder, they must hunt down the truth togetherto prove her innocence, protect an honest man and save both their lives.

And here is Elyssa's review:

I mainly picked this book to review because of two things. One: the blurb on the back referred… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Nothing but the Truth by Kara Lennox

This review was written by Shevaun. This story was nominated in the Contemporary Series Suspense/Adventure Romance category.

The summary:     

As chief legal council for Project Justice, widow Raleigh Shinn doesn't seem the type to accept bribes. Still, Griffin Benedict has an anonymous tip that points to her guilt. And if he wants to make the move to national news anchor, he needs a sensational story.

But nothing is as it seems. Including the do-good lawyer. Underneath shapeless suits and oversize glasses hides an exceptional beauty. Now Griffin not only seeks an exclusive, he wants to uncover Raleigh's secrets for himself. When lies turn to attempted murder, they must hunt down the truth togetherto prove her innocence, protect an honest man and save both their lives.

And here is Shevaun's review:

I knew going in to this that this book was going to be difficult one for me when… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

This review was written by Jamarleo. This story was nominated in the Best First Book category.

The summary:     

From London's slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet transports the reader to the tumultuous world of seventeenth-century England, charting the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II-and becomes one of the century's most famous courtesans.

Witty and beautiful, Nell was born into poverty but is drawn into the enthralling world of the theater, where her saucy humor and sensuous charm earn her a place in the King's Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly-opened playhouses, she catapults to fame, winning the affection of legions of fans-and the heart of the most powerful man in all of England, the King himself.

Surrendering herself to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court-and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined possible.

… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd

This review was written by Donna. This story was nominated in the Best Romantic Suspense category.

The summary:     

Brooding and sexy Rafe Di Luca has returned to his family's luxurious vineyard resort and discovers that a long-ago quarrel has ignited once more, forcing him to work with Brooke Petersson, the woman he seduced ... and betrayed.     

As the danger escalates and their passion threatens to rage out of control, Brooke fights her treacherous longing for a man who will never truly share his life with any woman. Remembering the anguish of the love they shared, she vows that Rafe may possess her body, but never again will he reach her fiercely guarded heart.     

The peril they face will either bring them together, or destroy them both ... unless they uncover the secret that will change everything.

And here is Donna's review:

I'll say up front that Christina Dodd wrote one of my all time favorite… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: True Colors by Joyce Lamb

This review was written by Katherine. This story was nominated in the Best Romantic Suspense category.

The summary:      


Detective John Logan moved to Lake Avalon, Florida, to put a lifetime of hardship and tragedy out of sight. But when Logan's darkest secret comes to town with revenge in mind, he puts the woman of his dreams in a serial killer's crosshairs.

And here is Katherine's review: 

I was worried about reviewing True Colors because I don't usually read romantic suspense (A I don't like being scared, B if you're on the run from imminent danger and you keep stopping to have sex I can only hope neither you nor your children survive to contaminate the gene pool and C I am even more bored by the ubiquitous serial killers of suspense than I am by the limitless eligible dukes of historical romance).

RITA Reader Challenge: A Bravo Homecoming by Christine Rimmer

This review was written by Crysta. This story was nominated in the Best Contemporary Series Romance category.

The summary:     

Travis Bravo was sick of his meddling mother and her matchmaking ways. So what better way to stop her than to bring a fiancée home for the holidays? One catch—he wasn't even dating anyone.

But that was where his rough-and-tumble oil-rig friend, Samantha Jaworski, came in. An unpolished tomboy, Sam was game for anything for a good friend. But after her girlfriend-ready makeover, she fell easily into the role of Travis's loving partner—and into his arms.

Would she be standing under his mistletoe…for keeps?

And here is Crysta's review:

I am not a petite and delicate woman. I am 5’8”, 150, and I have big feet. I make grunting noises when I’m doing something difficult. I have calluses on my hands. I don’t get my body waxed, and quite frankly, I can’t imagine paying someone to inflict that pain on me.… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer

This review was written by LisaLisa . This story was nominated in the Best Historical Romance category.

The summary: Captain Harry Lidge has done his duty. After losing too many good men on the battlefield, he's ready to put his responsibilities behind him and live a life free of care. But first he has one last mission: find out what the most outrageous woman in London, the same woman who betrayed him nearly a decade earlier, is concealing, before her secrets take down the crown. Surrounded by ardent admirers and a few loyal friends, Lady Kate Seaton glides through the ton on a confection of couture gowns and bon mots. No one suspects that beneath her lighthearted façade Kate hides a sorrow so scandalous she'll do anything to keep it hidden. But only when she trusts Harry with the truth and only when he trusts her with his heart can they stop the villains all too willing to kill Kate to attain their ultimate goal: destroy England

And here… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: “The Storm Within” from A Royal Engagement, by Trish Morey

This review was submitted by Qualisign, and get ready, for it is majestic. This novella was nominated in the Romance Novella category.

The summary: Dr. Grace Hunter seeks an ancient text beneath the castle of Count Alessandro Volta.

The reclusive count wasn't expecting scientist Grace to be a beautiful woman who stirs his scarred soul. Outside, a media storm is brewing, but inside the count's world the heat between them is sizzling!

And now, Qualisign's review:

Alternate title cum synopsis: “How a scar(r)y Count Count was possessed by the Cookie Monster only to be exorcized by a fame-seeking scientifically-minded Sunshine Bear with scraped-back hair” Seriously. This was horrible. And I paid for it – just so that I could review it for SBTB. AAARRRGGGHHH! It has such promise: a long-lost manuscript containing healing secrets-of-the-ages, a PhD-carrying-manuscript-curator of a heroine, a wounded hero with a title and a castle on an island with secret tunnels, caves and wicked storms. It was SO good – until I… read more »

College Boys by Daisy Harris

I was intrigued by the description of this book: 

When soccer star Chris Fischer moves next door to an openly gay classmate, he doesn't realize the wall between their rooms will be so thin he'll hear his neighbor's every move. But soon he and Peter become friends, and Chris is intrigued—imagining what happens on the other side of the wall.

Active on the Queer Student Council, Peter Cohen wishes he wasn't so damn hot for his straight neighbor. He can't tell if Chris is flirting or in denial or what, but Chris's innocent overtures lure Peter into flirtation that throws his world into chaos. Peter doesn't want to date a closet case, but he desperately, passionately wants Chris.

Soon Chris must choose whether to run away from his new feelings or embrace a relationship with the guy he loves. And Peter must decide if he can give his heart to a guy who hasn't yet figured it all out.

However, that summary contains things that don't appear in the book. For example, Peter isn't on the Queer Student Council in any scenes in the book, though the narration mentions it in passing, nor does he… read more »