2015 Reading Letdowns

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Thanks Dickens. Alas, it is true. Last week I highlighted my favorite reads from 2015. This week I simply must mention five books that I was looking forward too, but instead I experienced a 'worst of times'. And they all have some great covers!! These five books not only let me down, but I also ended up giving them poor ratings. 

Shall we??

Whenever You Come Around {Review}

Whenever You Come Around by Robin Lee Hatcher

Kings Meadow Book #3

Visit the Author's Website HERE

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publishing Date: May 12, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

Will writing a romance help this author find a real-life hero?

Charity Anderson turned her back on Kings Meadow years ago, with good reason, and has avoided visits to her hometown whenever possible. But with her house in Boise damaged by floodwaters and a book deadline bearing down, staying in her parents’ empty home seems her only option. However, being in Kings Meadow dredges up a painful secret, and old fears threaten to overwhelm her.

Charity’s former high school classmate Buck Malone never left town, instead sacrificing his dreams to take care of his family. Now he enjoys an uncomplicated life as a wilderness guide and confirmed bachelor. The last thing on his mind is settling down.

When Charity’s dog causes an accident that leaves Buck with a broken ankle and wrist at the start of prime tourist season, Charity has little choice but to render aid while he recuperates. Soon Buck becomes the inspiration for Charity’s hero, both on the page and off. Can he also help her face and overcome her fears so they might find their own happily ever after? 

Blood Soaked Ashes {Review}

Blood Soaked Ashes by Frankie Ash 

Book Two in Eramane Trilogy

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: Self-published

Publishing Date: January 21, 2015

Goodreads Summary: 

A legion from across the sea wants her dead. The man she loves would die a thousand deaths to keep her alive. The demon she fears would cover the lands in blood-soaked ashes to have her again. Eramane is learning to accept her new life, a life that demands much from her. She is a Breather, and she has no idea how to be one. But when Eramane learns that a passage she opened between her world and the Reach cannot be closed, she will find herself on a treacherous journey searching for dangerous allies. In the north are the Cloud Walkers; across the South Sea is a kingdom with a massive army. Both could end up destroying her and all that she loves, if the demon she thought was dead doesn't do it first.

Doctor Who: Touched by an Angel Review

Doctor Who: Touched by an Angel by Jonathan Morris
Visit the author's website HERE
Publisher: BBC Digital
Publishing Date: June 23, 2011
Goodreads Summary:

'The past is like a foreign country. Nice to visit, but you really wouldn't want to live there.'

In 2003, Rebecca Whitaker died in a road accident. Her husband Mark is still grieving. He receives a battered envelope, posted eight years earlier, containing a set of instructions with a simple message: 'You can save her.'

As Mark is given the chance to save Rebecca, it's up to the Doctor, Amy and Rory to save the whole world. Because this time the Weeping Angels are using history itself as a weapon.

An adventure featuring the Eleventh Doctor, as played by Matt Smith, and his companions Amy and Rory

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Buy the Kindle edition for $9.43 today (5/2 /14)

My Thoughts:
If you don't know that I am obsessed with Doctor Who, we apparently aren't friends. And if you LOVE some Who like I do, than we are insta-friends. My name is Alyssa, nice to meet you! Previously, I have read two other Doctor Who books before, both featuring 10 and Donna. Perhaps it is the difference in Doctor, but "Touched by an Angel" was way less enjoyable to read.

First, it should be mentioned that one should only be reading this book if they are already fans of the show, which I would assume to be the case anyhow. All manner-isms of the Doctor, Amy, and Rory expect previous knowledge. Also relationships between the three aren't explained, and even the basic knowledge of Weeping Angels and who the Doctor IS are all assumed.

Along that same train of thought, much in this book isn't fully explained. I suppose that is the nature of Doctor Who. Some of the science has to be made up, some of the 'real' science goes over my head, and sometimes they blatantly gloss over things. Being a fan of DW calls for some suspension of belief at times, goes with the sci-fi name. While I can tolerate, and even love it in the show, I found it didn't translate as well into writing. I could picture the Doctor doing his quirky things like straightening his bow tie and brandishing his sonic, but they just didn't carry the same weight. Weeping Angels are also a lot less scary if you are only reading about them. I think DW is just made for its TV show format.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU CONTINUE....

As for the actual story itself, it was a sad one with not a completely happy ending. I also found it a bit boring compared to most DW adventures. The story revolves around Mark who lost his wife Rebecca in a car crash. Weeping Angels send Mark back into his past where he believes he will be able to save Rebecca. We tag along as readers, getting glimpses into college life and hoping he doesn't create a paradox.

I found myself confused often, which I know happens a lot in DW, but this time it was specific to the writing. I never knew which Mark's perspective I was reading from, the Younger Mark, or the Original Mark. It often took a good bit of reading, and guessing, to discover who was who and what was going on.

The overarching idea that the Angels picked Mark to help them create a paradox to feed off of was also a bit of a moot point when you stop to ask 'Why him?' I guess we will never know, but logic does ask why the Angels wouldn't just randomly pick someone else and start again. Nothing is really stopping them from repeating this idea over and over again until they are all finally time locked.

Overall, this book made me realize that I really should just stick to DW television, no matter how bad I am craving some Tennant...er Who, in my life. I can only give it 2.5 stars out of a possible 5 stars. I found it bland, confusing, and lacking in actual Doctor. I'd recommend it to superfans only, and also those who are fans of the Weeping Angels.

Now off to watch 'The Family of Blood'!!

Quick Review: Beyond the Pasta

Beyond the Pasta by Mark Leslie
Publication Date: December 30th, 2013
Goodreads Summary:

Several years ago, on a break between theatrical gigs in Alabama, Mark traveled to Italy and fell in love with the people, food and culture. Armed with just enough courage, minimal Italian language skills, and a certain proficiency in the kitchen, he enrolled in a full-immersion cooking and language program. He would travel to Viterbo, Italy and live with an Italian family. His teachers were beyond his wildest dreams-he learned to cook from the grandmother, or Nonna, of the family, who prepared every meal in a bustling, busy household, as women in her family have done for generations. Her daughter, Alessandra, taught him the language with patience and precision. Besides culinary secrets and prepositions, they opened their lives to him, and made him a real part of their extensive family. Though the book contains authentic, delicious family recipes Nonna shared with Mark, Beyond the Pasta delves into food memoir subject matter not found in a typical cookbook. It was the day-to-day shopping with Nonna, exploring the countryside and le gelaterie, where he truly developed his language skills, and a new, more joyful and uniquely Italian way of looking at the world.

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Find it on Amazon for $9.99 today (4/7/14)

My Thoughts:
"Beyond the Pasta" was written journal style by Leslie. I love journal styled books of all sorts, so this was a plus for me. It shared his personal journey and growth. Leslie was completely honest and open about everything. Anything he wrote down while in Italy was shared here. Thus, we got to experience things in 'real time'. If Leslie didn't know something, we didn't know it either. And of course, since it was set in Italy, "Beyond the Pasta" satisfied a small part of my ever-growing wanderlust.

As you might imagine from some of my 'pluses', they were also negatives. Because the journal was so personal and 'real time', I was frustrated by not knowing. I would have like some tighter editing, cutting out the things that pertained to just Leslie and focused more on Italy and the cooking. I would have LOVED more recipes! We got one for each chapter, but Leslie mentioned dozens more that I would love to have.

Overall, it just wasn't the book for me. I found Leslie's voice chunky and repetitive. I wanted so much more, more travel aspects, more recipes, more! Perhaps it will be the right book for others, but it wasn't for me. 2 out of 5 stars from me. 

John Dreamer: Review

John Dreamer By Elise Celine
Publication Date: February 1, 2014
Visit the author's website HERE
Goodreads Summary:

Andy wasn’t usually sure about much, but she was absolutely certain this was the weirdest day of her life as she stood stranded in the middle of a great white room with six strangers. Well, they were mostly strangers. She could have sworn she’d seen the guy with the green eyes before, and maybe that was why he kept staring at her. 

When a man calling himself the Guardian appeared and said they had come to make their deepest dreams come true, they embark on an adventure none of them ever imagined, and the consequences of their actions would change them forever.

"John Dreamer" is the first in a series of books set in the confines of the Great White Room

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Find the Kindle edition for $5.99 today (3/31/14).

My Thoughts:
Can you believe it:: this was my third fiction book in 2014!! It's March already and I have only just completed my third fiction book. Please don't leave! I swear I AM normal! But not only should you find that a little crazy and weird, but I also want you to know that I probably found this book enjoyable on that fact alone. I was desperate for story! "John Dreamer" is a short book, around 200 pages or so, but I am a pretty slow reader, still I finished it in one afternoon.

This is a warning that things I discuss about what I like and didn't like about this novel could be considered a spoiler. Please continue at your own risk!!

I am going to start with things I didn't like so we can end on a positive note. First of all, the author does a good job of leading the reader. I wanted to know exactly what was happening: what was this white room? How did all the characters get there? Why were they chosen? And with a great amount of frustration, we never find out. We never get answers to any of our questions! This book is all about what is happening in that moment and nothing else. The reader must completely suspend all belief and just be ready to go with the flow. I think this book is the beginning of the series so I am assuming that book two will, hopefully, bring us back to our multitude of questions and answer at least a few of them. However, I am not sure I will continue on with the series. In the process of trying to lead the reader, I was lead right into confusion. I have NO clue what was going on in this story and I don't want to make the effort to find out :(

Along the same lines, we know nothing about the characters beyond what is occurring in the present. I didn't learn anything about their history, their memories, who they are and where they come from. In the White Room we get to see all the characters face a Big Moment and make a decision. After they do so, they get to leave the White Room, then the characters left and the reader get to see what they become. But it is just so hard to root for them. We don't know anything about them so we can't understand why they make the decisions that they do. Confused yet? I was.

The relationships between the two main characters was, as you can probably guess by now, lackluster. It needed more detail, it needed more history. The ending was so dramatic for hardly knowing each other beyond a few hours. And it was a great ending and would have been super great...if we'd been given more to go on throughout the novel. I STILL don't know anything about any of the characters involved.

My favorite part of it all? The photographs. Each chapter starts off with a great photograph that represents the characters in the novel perfectly. You can tell a lot of thought went into each picture and I can really appreciate that. It was a fun added benefit. You can get a small preview of what I mean by checking the author's website (link above).

I rated this one with 2 stars. I know I am not an author, but I feel like I can safely say: this one had a lot of potential. It lacks a lot of detail that could really draw the reader in. I did read it quickly (for me!) and was interested in it the whole way though. Other readers will be able to fly through in a few hours. Give this one a shot and let me know if I am off the mark!

Before I Met You

Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell
Visit the author's website HERE
Goodreads Summary:

Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Betty Dean can't wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle - the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother's will - she arrives in grungy, 1990s Soho, ready for whatever life has to throw at her. Or so she thinks... 

In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette - Betty's grandmother - is starting her new life in a time of post-war change. Beautiful and charismatic, Arlette is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But less than two years later, tragedy strikes and she flees back to Guernsey for the rest of her life.

As Betty searches for Clara, she is taken on a journey through Arlette's extraordinary time in London, uncovering a tale of love, loss and heartbreak. Will the secrets of Arlette's past help Betty on her path to happiness? 

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Find if for your Kindle today for $10.38 (11/8/13).


My Thoughts:
I feel the need to be very frank and upfront first:  The one redeeming quality about this book were the 'flashback' scenes about Arlette, set in the 1920s. I feel this needs to be said first to get it out of the way, the rest of this review will take the long way around to point out this simple fact. Read this statement and check out the 'recommend' for at the end, and you are good to go.

So. 'Before I Met You' is mostly a story about Betty, a Guernsey girl trying to find her way in London in the 1990s. She spent most of her teenage and young adult life taking care of her elderly and dying grandmother, Arlette. Upon Arlette's death, a mysterious beneficiary named Clara Pickle is to inherit a substantial amount of money. Betty sets off to find Clara, and in turn discover more about her late, grumpy grandmother. 

As Betty makes her way and begins to taste life, we also get to glimpse Arlette's life, set in the bohemian 1920s of London life. Arlette, as well, is working on finding her own life and discovering who and what she is made of. Betty's boring life of a dingy flat, job flipping burgers, and even the most exciting thing about her: nanny-ing for a rock star, completely pales in comparison to the rock-and-roll lifestyle that Arlette experiences. Arlette is making weird, artsy friends, falling in love with a 'colored' man (giant gasp for that time period!), hitting up the jazz clubs, and running into some huge, disappointing surprises. The mystery of Clara Pickle truly unfolds here. I found myself constantly wanting to skip over boring Betty to jump back into the glitz and glam of her grandmother. 

Betty's story is nothing special. She leaves behind her boring island to try and find some glitz and glam of her own. She drinks and smokes a lot, falls into the lap of recently divorced rock star and becomes his childrens' nanny. Along the way she slowly, and quietly falls for a 'normal boring' boy who sells records outside her building. Wow. That sounds a lot cooler than it turned out to be.

This bland coming of age story only served to remind me why I am drifting away from 'adult' fiction. The writing is too arbitrary, too descriptive over silly details trying to pull in all my senses, yet keeping me distanced from the characters. Also, I really stumbled over a lot of the vocabulary. The time period verbiage, the fact that it is a British novel, and the author trying to use 'literary words' made for a lot of stumbling points for me. 


Officially rated as 2.5 stars. Recommended for fans of coming of age-esque stories, 1920 jazz age historical love stories, and people who don't mind a slooow read.