perscoot's reviews
18 reviews

How Not to Date a Dragon by Lana Kole

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Very cute, very enjoyable. I do think it went off the rails a bit in places, but it certainly does what it sets out to do. 

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I did enjoy reading it, but I found myself a little disappointed by the end. It's not at all a bad story, the writing is well done, the characters are well rounded. It's just not the right book for me in particular. 

Get It Right by Skye Kilaen

emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I loved this story SO much, it made me wish I could've had longer to spend with it. I definitely put it down and was immediately in agony from the desire for more. 

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The main kick off for this entire plot is that the main character lies about something to save face in front of her family. She lies to make her life easier. Somehow, this perfectly juicy and interesting flaw doesn't come up more often. She literally lies one time and then spends most of the rest of the story...being pretty honest and communicating openly. 

I liked the premise of this book, it was very readable and easy to get through. The author definitely understands that a compelling story (particularly romance) is supposed to have tension-release-tension but...it's just not utilized as well as it could have been. The tension needed to be a LOT higher before being released in several cases. It's a shame because I came into this book SO excited, the prose is great, it's just...a little under seasoned.

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.

It went from a promising adventure with thrills and romance to...extremely preachy (there was no indication that this was a religiously themed book) and frankly repetitive. The characters fall flat, I don't really buy that the main character is actually wrong in her assumptions that she has to mind her family for their (and her) own good, and there's a lot of promise that isn't picked up on. The first three chapters are intriguing, but not enough to slog through the last half. I gave it my best shot but I have other books I want to read and I'm tired of dragging my heels through this one. 

My Boss's Stalker: Spoiler It's Not Me by Adrian J. Smith
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.

I usually try to get through at least the first chapter before DNFing a book, but this one very obviously needed another round of editing/revising. Not to my taste, but may be to someone else's.

Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I desperately want to sit and write out all my thoughts in detail, because I had such high hopes coming into this book. In fact, the first 50% of the book is extremely strong, tapering off slowly until about the 80% point and then it just nosedives completely. A good portion of the story has the main characters slowly learning more about one another past their initial instant attraction. The chemistry is palpable and their interactions are natural, easy. As eager as I was for the polyamory aspect of the novel, I have to say I was deeply disappointed by the execution of it. The third side of the triad feels very shoehorned in. It was hard to keep myself in the story during the scenes where she was getting to know the main pairing, as they all sort of...instantly fell together. It was a stark difference to the slower build of the main pairing. Overall I did enjoy the book, but the ending did no favors for it.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous challenging funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I've had friends recommend this book to me so often that I was determined not to read it sheerly because I was sick of hearing about it. Then I read the first one and it was even better than any of them had said it was. Incredible writing, AMAZING characterization, I couldn't put the book down until it was done. I'm delighted there are seven in the series because I need more RIGHT NOW.

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This was a really frustrating read. Gabriela is introduced as this Lara Croft type character, badass, brave, adventurous, fiercely independent, and delightfully greedy. She has a charming love of pirates and dedication to her family. But as soon as her ex-husband/love interest enters the picture, she becomes bland and Bella Swan-esque. Also, her ex is...creepy. I don't care that they grew up together and he 'knows her', he crosses all of her boundaries and Gabriela never actually puts her foot down, which turns her from badass adventurer to basic doormat. The actual plot was a little messy and unrefined, but it was the most fun part of the book. That's not entirely a compliment.

I feel like the author has a lot of love for these characters, but unfortunately, she wasn't able to show us, the audience, what the hell there is to love about them. Gabriela is flat and boring, Rafer is creepy and drags the story. I went into this wanting romance, but as I read further in, I kept thinking that it would be so much better if the love interest wasn't in the story at all. His presence seemed to neuter Gabriela's competency in every scene, and I was not convinced that they actually cared about each other by the end. 

The premise of this story gave me a lot of hope and I was really excited going in, but the writing was flat and boring. Finishing this book felt like a chore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

adventurous medium-paced

5.0