Smashbomb

I could almost tag this book as a straight up romance given how much time is dedicated to Sam and Jules’ love story. While the romance could be a good hook for some I personally just found it distracting and kind of eye roll worthy. Sam and Jules were high school sweethearts, Sam cheats, and after getting dumped Jules finds her way into the arms of his brother, who took care of her through her family troubles. The book spends an inordinate amount of time on Sam’s miserable love life and how he never got over his first love despite a plethora of women throwing themselves at him. This made the earlier parts of the novel slow down to a crawl as the narrative focus was more about the romance than the actual murder.

It got worse when Jules started getting her memory back and remembers nothing of the love she shared with her husband and instead keeps thinking about Sam and all the great sex they had. Days after her husband is murdered. I groaned. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised and it’s predictable, it’s just so distasteful and was just sort of a big middle finger to Sam’s brother Joe. I couldn’t get behind the romance in the story at all and it really decreased my enjoyment. So much that I actually was really struggling to like the book and had been thinking about rating it lower until I got to the second half of the book.

Thank goodness for the second half, when the mystery really started to come together. The thrill killers were an interesting pair that bring to mind several serial killer couples. It was a confusing twist on an otherwise average murder mystery and at first I had been wondering why they were even in the story at all. As I dug deeper into the story, however, things pulled together nicely and I actually found these characters to be pretty interesting.

This was the part of the book that was actually good, and the ending alone convinced me to push my rating just a little bit higher. It was worth slogging through the romance to get to the good stuff. While I found certain parts predictable and had figured out the dastardly duo immediately when they were introduced I still enjoyed unraveling the mystery and finding a few surprises along the way.

Kudos

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Sun is Also a Star in Books

Sep 22, 2017

Surprisingly bittersweet, well crafted

I was initially apprehensive with this book as I assumed it was for young adults, however I was surprised to find how well written and intricately constructed it was.

The narrative shifts between a young undocumented woman, originally from Jamaica but brought up in the U.S., and an American-born Korean, who find each other on her last day before she is deported. In between are segways of an unknown voice who delves into the different characters and their backgrounds. The book explores fate and free will and whether there is an overarching hand that shapes this.

Their romance resembles that of 'Before Sunset', which was enjoyable but obviously the dialogue in this novel is not as intelligent. It's bittersweet, coming-of-age, and takes you back to young love.

Kudos

Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) in Books

Feb 25, 2019

*This is a re-read for me, but my first review of the books*

A stellar novel of angst, suspense, blood sucking and romance when you least expect!

J.R. Ward is a phenomenal story teller. She pulled me from page one, and held me captive with Wrath's angst and pain, and with Mary's confusion and love. These characters weren't just created....they were molded into beautiful creatures of the night, and woven into the story line in just the right way.

This story of pain, unexpected love, sorrow and confusion is one that will sit with the reader long after the last page is turn. The Brotherhood is family now, and I look forward to continuing the journeys of each Brother's love story.

Definitely recommended with the highest of 5 stars!