Tag: reviews

Books, fantasy, funny, great reads, indie author, Out of the Box Blogs, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, scifi, steampunk, Urban Fantasy

Rant Alert: mistakes in books

Les

Ok, anyone who knows me, knows one of my biggest pet peeves is grammar and spelling mistakes in a book.
That being said, I will overlook occasional mistakes, no one is perfect. However, I was recently reading a book series that I bought as a bundle, and it was riddled with mistakes.
It drove me crazy!!! I almost stopped reading it. I didn’t stop, because of 2 reasons.
1. This was a really good story. I really liked the idea.
2. I just have a feeling this is a small publishing company, and or an indie author.
I have a love for indie authors, who have amazing stories and just haven’t gotten that “big break” yet. I respect their efforts, their time, and their amazing abilities to write some of the best stories.
Please, before you attack me, know that I DO NOT blame the authors for these errors. Their job is to create magic, a world I can escape to, not to know how to spell every word or know every grammar rule. I blame proofreaders, editors, and beta readers.
If these mistakes were missed by the proofreader, then I am sorry you need a new profession in the case of this story. The editor should probably move on too, they should have seen the errors before it went to publishing. Also, what beta readers would read this book and not at least tell the author about the errors.
I just had to say something. I even tried to find the author on social media and other places, just to talk to her before I posted my review on Amazon, and to offer my services as a beta reader or proofreader.

I think she has an amazing gift and it is being short changed because of errors that should have been fixed.
I also want to know about the other people who reviewed the books. They were giving 5 stars and not one mentioned the errors. Some of these were ARC reviews. When I do an ARC review I will always let the author or publisher know of the errors if I can. If not, it will still be mentioned in my review. I think it’s a poor excuse for a reviewer, if they are not going to be honest.
I was nice and gave 3 stars. I feel like without the errors the story would have been a 4 or 4.5 star book.

Do excessive errors in books drive you crazy?

Peace! ✌🏻

Les

Books, Reviews, Romance

Yours, Truly by Krista Lakes

debra

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3.0 stars.  I hate giving this rating but for me, I truly feel it is accurate. First, I actually enjoyed the story. This is a modern day re-telling of Cinderella and I love fairy tales. Part of loving fairy tales is the willingness to suspend belief. I willingly do this to enjoy a story. However, a few things are hard to suspend belief in. Let me explain. AJ and Kat meet and hookup at a wedding. AJ is Kat’s boss, even though they have never met. This is not unusual, however the company is a national shoe company so I have to ask how do you work for a national company and not know what the owner looks like even though you have never met. Kat has to leave the morning after before AJ wakes up. She leaves a note for him (which subsequently is partially destroyed and AJ can’t find Kat with the leftover note) and she also leaves behind a shoe (a Loubatin). (This is the proverbial glass slipper). Now, I am not a shoe person, but I do know Loubatins are well known, sought after, expensive shoes. How do you leave behind a Loubatin and how do you not find the second shoe when you find the first apparently because we only hear about one shoe AJ found? AJ and Kat meet 2 weeks later when Kat makes a work presentation to AJ. Of course, they hook up again. Now, in the middle of all of this, AJ is dealing with his partner’s sex scandal with employees. Obviously, AJ and Kat decide to keep their relationship quiet because AJ needs to get past this scandal and save his company. Kat finds out she is pregnant and decides she is going to tell AJ (albeit, later than she should have). Before she can tell him, she faints and AJ rushes her to the hospital. Once he finds out about the pregancy, the happily ever after happens!! What??!! Where is the resolution to the company scandal? I don’t know where it went. This is my big problem–it does not get resolved in this story. The scandal that has occupied AJ’s thoughts and decision making just disappears from the page. This disappointed me and is the reason for the rating.

The author’s writing style was fine and I liked the characters. My rating is almost exclusively because of the lack of resolution for the subplot (that I felt was interesting). I have heard good things about this author’s books and would consider trying another one in the future.

Books, fantasy, funny, great reads, Out of the Box Blogs, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance

The Curse of the Tenth Grave by: Darynda Jones

Les

 

Ok I just finished this like 5 minutes ago. I couldn’t wait to share it!!!

It’s no secret, I obviously got the ARC for this book, since it won’t be out until June 28th.

If you are a fan of the Charley Davidson series, then preorder it and clear that day on your schedule, because you aren’t gonna want to miss a single moment.
I loved this book!!!!!! Darynda Jones has done it again!! I usually lose interest in a series around book 3 or 4. This is book 10 and I am no where ready for this series to end!!!!! I love the ending!

In this book Charley is kicking asses. She is coming into her powers and it shows. She is still funny and quirky, but she is more self aware this time around.

It’s like in the beginning of the series when Charley was comfortable with herself and knew what she was at that time. She was amazing. Then, in later books I feel like she lost herself because she didn’t know who or what she actually was, or what she is capable of. Now I feel like she is back to being comfortable. And boy is she enjoying her new tricks!!!!

Reyes is as hot as always!!! Sometimes I wish I was Aunt Lillian, so I could check Reyes out while he is using George.

Read this book right now!!! I couldn’t put it down. It won’t disappoint!!!
Peace,

Les

Books, fantasy, funny, great reads, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance

Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampire Novel by: Chloe Neill

Les

So I don’t even know how I came across this book! But, I did so here you go.

Grad student Merit has her life pretty much where she wants it. She’s a geek and working on her dissertation in English Literature. Then one night she is attack and everything changes….

Merit is attacked and almost killed, a vampire Ethan saves her life by turning her into a vampire. Plot twist, humans know the vampires exist. The vampires run by select houses have come out of hiding and are living among the mortals. There are also other supernaturals in the story just for shits and giggles. Kidding, they are important too.

Now she must decide if she wants to be an outcast vampire, or pledge allegiance to Ethan and his house. The vampires are run by houses and Ethan is the master of his, one of the oldest houses. She must come to terms with the fact she can never have the future she planned and decide whether to accept her new life or become a rogue vampire cast aside. Also, she will need to help figure out why humans are being murdered just as she almost was.

Ok now that I got that out of the way. I can tell you my thoughts. This is actually a good story. It has a good bit of whity humor. I like Merit most of the time. I think sometimes she is whiny, but I got over it. Most of this story is leading up to what Merit will decide and how her future will be formed. Of course, her and Ethan have the hots for each other. I wouldn’t have expected anything else. I must inform you that this is not a “oh my gosh he saved my life, I love him” story. Thank you for that!!!!

Merit is strong willed and spunky and sometimes gets herself into trouble, but she is not in need of someone to save her. That is refreshing.

I did however think that the human murders seemed really important in the beginning then got pushed to the background, so that made the ending feel rushed.

THIS IS A SERIES!!!!! I will be reading the second book.

So go check it out and see how it all plays out.
Peace!

Les