ebook report

[jmc_bks]

Work is completely kicking my ass right now, so I haven't written any full reviews lately....in awhile, really. But here's an ebook report:

Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee (purchased after reading Bam's review).

In the fall of 1946, grieving war widow Sarah goes to the carnival with her friends and is riveted by the tattooed man in the freak show, sporting head to toe body art. Later she discovers him hiding in her hayloft, escaped from virtual imprisonment since childhood by the carnival's evil owner. She shelters him on her farm, fighting a powerful sexual attraction while learning about his mysterious past and gentle nature. When a local child goes missing, Tom uses his psychic gifts to locate her, but his assistance in the case doesn't allay the town's mistrust of such an exotic stranger in their midst. Small-town prejudice tears the lovers apart and a very real threat from carnival owner Art Reed endangers them. Can they rise above obstacles of fear and hate to create the family both have always craved?

The set up of the story was interesting and quite different -- a post WW II small town widow shelters the tattoo'd man who has left (escaped) the traveling circus. I liked Sara and Tom, heroine and hero, but parts of the story didn't work for me. The ending was a little too fast and pat, which is in part probably necessary for the genre and the space limitations: HEA needed, but only so many words/pages in the release. Also, I felt a little bit squicked by the relationship between the h/h. He's been damaged and abused for most of his life; while a healthy relationship is possible, I found it hard to believe that a single person could "heal" him, just by being his friend and lover and protector and almost-parent. B for me.

Sacking the Quarterback by Tiffany Aaron.

Ten years of playing pro football has gotten Donovan Klasek two bad knees, a bad shoulder and an addiction to pain killers. Now he's free of the addiction and ready to watch his younger brother play in the Super Bowl. Donovan loves his bar, but part of him wishes he had another chance at the big game. Johnni Aitken has always been her daddy's girl. She can rattle off football stats with the best. When she gets a job waiting tables at Donovan's bar, she can't believe her luck. Football is a religion to her and Donovan has been the star in several of her fantasies. But a football star like Donovan would never look at a tomboy like her. What happens when a man beat up by life meets a woman longing to heal his heart?

I was looking for a romance with a sports theme. Eh. DNF. Just didn't really care about the hero or heroine, and the "conflict" described in the blurb never really materialized. I may go back to this one later, if only to ogle the cover...which isn't bad, despite the rampant man-nipple on one pec and missing nipple on the other pec.



Forbidden Fruit by Caitlyn Willows.

Abby Strickland has always had crush on Richard Braddock, her best friend's father ... her father's best friend. With Richard's divorce six years before, that crush turned to longing, longing to love. If only Richard knew. At Melanie Braddock's wedding, Abby decides it's time to get this out of her system. No matter how forbidden, Abby knows she'll regret it more if she never tries ... Richard Braddock hasn't seen Abby Strickland in six years, and he blesses the distance those years have given him. Not only can he see the beauty in the woman she's become, he can also fully appreciate it ... and want her more than he's ever wanted a woman. And while Richard knows he risks the wrath of their families if he acts on his feelings, he also knows he cannot resist a taste of forbidden fruit this sweet.

This books was pretty average. It reminded me a lot of the Friends story arc in which Monica dated Richard, who was a contemporary of her parents. Except the Friends story arc was better done. The eeeevil exwife was way too over the top. C- for me.

Other ebooks that I've started but not finished:
Half-Breed by Marcia Collette
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout

Still trying to get into Zusak's The Book Thief.

Comments

Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

[(Anonymous)]

I pretty much agree with you about Bone Deep, except I'd give a C. Outside of the relationship, everything else was fine. I think the author created a character that was just too damaged to portray as having a healthy relationship with someone who didn't need to be a mother, lover, protector and teacher for him. It bordered on ick for me as well because I felt that Tom needed some serious therapy. He'd had to be young to start with the carnivalor how else would you justify having him endure such abuse for so long? Alas, it didn't work for me so I read/skimmed the rest. I have The Book Thief TBR. I hope that I can get into it, too. Your starting to worry me, JMC. You've started three books? I'm reading Touch the Dark right now. Hope to have a review soon.

Keishon

Re: Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Keishon, I've abandoned those three books -- I probably should've said that, since it sounds like I'm trying to read three books at a time. Couldn't get interested. I'm feeling really grouchy lately with some stuff going on IRL, and its bleeding into my reading. If a book doesn't grab me within 10 pages, I've been setting it aside. My tolerance and willingness to keep reading used to extend farther.

I like the style and the voice and the narrator of The Book Thief, but I keep reading the same 5-10 pages and can't move past them. But I peeked at the last page, and LOVED the ending line, so I want to get through the book to get there. When I posted on another reader's blog(ballsandwalnuts.com; he loved the book) about being stuck, he encouraged me, but I think I need to set it aside for a time when I have more patience.

jmc

Re: Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, you should probably give reading a break for a bit or reading something completely different, out of your usual genre. Usually works for me. I've been reading a lot of romantica lately and I'm tired of it. I miss my fantasy stuff. Hope you get back to enjoying to read soon and have a good weekend! Rest and relax.

Keishon