Vanessa’s Comments (group member since Jun 15, 2017)

Vanessa’s comments from the Read, Reading, Planning to Read and More group.

Osh, (one of the good guys), is the immortal who was the bargainer and was also a slave. He has escaped the hell realm and can defend against Satan's demons. He is Beep's, (Charley and Reyes's daughter), guardian. They have to protect her because of world ending consequences. Heavy stuff!! ;-)

For those worried about the love triangle in the Throne of Glass series, it's really not what you think and not a major part of the story. She grows up and so do the other people. I agree with LAB, her other series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, isn't for me although I already have the second and possibly the third books on audio.

I have been listening to Someone to Hold. The second book in Balogh's Wescott novel series. In the first book a not very nice Earl dies and when his will is read it was revealed that his marriage and subsequent 3 children were all illegitimate. He was already married to a dying woman and has a daughter by that union. The children take an instant dislike to the heir and refuse any offers to share in her fortune. This book is about the second daughter, Camille, and her struggle to get on with her life. She consequently ends up teaching at the same orphanage that the "heir" grew up in and taught at. For me this angst is a bit much, but I happen to love the H, Joel who grew up with Anna, (the heir), and is her best friend. He is an accomplished portrait artist and is very much in demand.

On kindle, I am reading Of Thrones and Crowns: An Anthology of Fantasy Standalones. The first story started out really well, then rushed to a dramatic conclusion, add a dump of what happened to these characters, no word on what happened to a couple of the main bad guys, or even the MC, and then announce that it is a prequel to a series that is set in the future. I hate when authors do that. At least throw us a bone and give us the MC's story. 2*'s!

Thanks Melindeloo, I read about McMasters story in her newsletter, but I didn't realize that the anthology was out already. I checked last week, but maybe that was on Monday.

Yay Doug, that's a great number. No matter how they come up with the ratings. I don't get how they do anything. My review for one of my ARC's should have been somewhere in the first 4 reviews, but I was relegated to the 5th page, buried with people who posted 2 or 3 days later. So weird! That said, you should be excited you have broken through the top 200. :-)

On a totally different topic. We in the States are freezing and our friends in Australia are burning up. Stay warm and cool everyone.

Thanks Vinity I got the Kinsale trio. I, (like you), happen to really like her writing.

I finally finished the last of the Throne of Glass books, Kingdom of Ash . It was one of the better finales that I have read. I do get frustrated with the books when I really want to read the conclusion and we bog down with all of the "other stuff".
Maas did a fine job of giving a HEA for most, a potential HEA for others, and a sad loss for a few.
I probably should have read the books again to refresh my memory, it would have been a little bit easier, considering she called in nearly every character from the books and even from the novellas.
All in all, I would give it 4.5*-5*'s. I don't usually like YA but this is one of the few series that I have stuck with since the beginning. Someone, (maybe Lisa or Paula) recommended it quite a long time ago and I took a chance.

Now I'm going to seek out a simple historical, perhaps from my Audible romance package, that won't take me days to listen to. The Kingdom of Ash book is over 33 hours on audio. I need a St. Mary's Chronicles book.

On kindle, I finished a book that I have had in my TBR for a while. The Undomestic Goddess. It is by Sophia Kinsella, (the shopaholic series), and she is a go to for simple contemporary stories.
I think that I am going to jump right into the Kinsale books.

Carol wrote: "Vanessa - I'm not sure what to think of Sarah Maas. I've had Throne of Glass on my TBR pile for years. I think her writing is just too YA for me. (love triangle trope/angst)

Where are you Jim Butc..."

Carol... I actually really enjoyed the first few books in the Throne of Glass series. I don't usually care for YA books at all, but I liked this particular series. My problem with this final book is that it is way too long, has a hundred characters and there is practically no progress on all of the good guys meeting up together and eliminating the super bad threats. I just want to yell let's get on with it!! I think that my patience is thin. I have a lot of outside events happening and my listening time is rare, so I want to get to the HEA.

Wow Paula, that's really hot. Or as they say in Maine, that's wicked hot!! Please take care and drink lots of water, I work outside, and have for more than 30 years.
I took a screen shot on my phone on Monday. It was 1* F with a real feel of -18* at 11:00 in the morning My father had been complaining of the "cold" in Georgia. It was in the 20's-30's. I sent him my temperature. He said that he didn't feel so bad. ;-)

Aelin not Aeslin. Still getting it wrong. lol!

I have to laugh, when I type on my phone on this site, auto correct runs rampant. I typed prologue not prelude, and it won't let me put Aeislin's name in correctly.

Thanks Doug I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Speaking of re-reads, I'm listening to the conclusion of the Throne of Glass series. Because it has been so long since the last book w/Aelein in it, I was having a rough time with all of the different names and fighting factions. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through this book, and it is nearly overwhelming. I do want to read the grand ending. but I'm still at the point where everyone is still separate. I just want to say with all of the armies roaming around that someone is bound to find someone else pretty soon. I have a love/ hate relationship with this book. It was so much easier when she was an assassin. Ugh! It's not like I can't remember a large cast of characters, Song of Ice and Fire series anyone? It's just that I feel like I'm being run through the ringer for pages and pages of "build up", just get to it already.

On another topic, I received what I thought was an ARC of Laurenston's next badger book. I was so excited about it, but come to find out it is just the prelude and the first chapter. I've never had that happen to me on NetGalley before. Usually it's just yes you get it or no you don't. So weird!

Melindeeloo... I do like the time police chief's assistant and the guy, (who's name escapes me), who Max saved and has been a friend to her when their paths have crossed would be suitable candidates. Otherwise, I agree with you, Max, Markham, Peterson, Leon make this series. I am not actually concerned about the bad guys so much, so I'm not sure the series would work for me. I don't like the Time Police Chief she's an A**.

Doug... I recently received an ARC for The Winter of the Witch. I posted my review as soon as Ammy would take it. My review is at the bottom of page 5. Behind such glorious declarations like--
"What an amazing, magical story. So well written and a perfect ending to Vasya's story."
or
"Extremely well written"

Both of which were written days after my review, and appear on page 2. I don't know what their process is, but I have never been a page 1 or even a page 2 reviewer.

HappyBookWorm2020 wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "Thanks Happy! That's quite a comprehensive list."

Vanessa, you should see my bookshelves. I swear, ebooks saved me from actual hoarderhood. I have *a lot* of historical romance."

Happy... I know what you mean. Once, (when I had huge bookshelves full of books complete with piles of books stacked on the sides), my husband picked up most of a pile and they were all historicals. He looked puzzled and looked at me and said "Did someone have a sale on these?" I said no, they were all part of some series that I was reading. Then he asked me if the guy on the front was the same guy in all of the books, and why were they not showing his head? It was at that point that I decided to donate a ton of books and to download everything to my "new" kindle. Less embarrassing conversations are the norm now. LOL!!

Melindeeloo... I felt the exact same way after listening to the St. Mary's series. I read the short stories, (but I would buy an audio version of them all), and listen to the books. I love them in audio, this is one of the best series to listen to. It is such a fun world, it gets my vote for most awkward romances, ever!

Faith Hunter's January newsletter has an excerpt from Circle of the Moon
It is a snippet between Occam and Nell. Circle of the Moon comes out February 26th. This is one of my most anticipated books of 2019. I can't wait to return to the Soulwood series.

I finished the 8th book in the Dragon Kin series, Feel the Burn I am attempting to catch up on series that I have neglected. I do feel that the series is less about the humor and relationships and more about the fighting, which can be among the family members or during the actual war. I started the last, (latest), book, Bring the Heat.

The article is long and a bit disjointed but here is more on the Kenyon story.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...

Thanks Happy! That's quite a comprehensive list.

The Sherrilyn Kenyon story is supposed to be on "Inside Edition" tonight. For those who don't know, that is broadcasted on the CBS Network affiliates.

Doug.. I agree with Lulu, I happen to love the Wallflowers and the Hathaways. While they are entertaining, there are also some very serious issues that occur in both series. I also love the unconventional females in both series.

I have been listening to the Aiken's Dragon Kin series and I am on Feel the Burn which is book #8. All of the books are in Audible's Romance package.

On kindle, I finished Lionheart I liked the Doctor and the King's story very much. I especially liked Robin, I would like to see a story with Robin and someone special.

I am reading an ARC that I received by Demon's Mercy It is a bit slow for me, but I had better finish it before Tuesday! :-)

I am shocked about Kenyon's news. What a horrible thing. I am not caught up on her DH series, but I have almost all of her DH books. I don't have her latest, but I do plan on buying it. What cruel, and evil things people will do to another in the pursuit of money. I might be wrong, but I think that she wrote about being abused in her childhood. I can almost see why she would be with such a manipulative bastard. I used to visit her web site and check out her blog regularly, but it has been quite some time. What a travesty.

Doug... I got the first book in Graham's "Dead" series a couple of years ago. I'm going to have to look for it again. Are all 3 books out?

Vinity.. I feel your pain. My sister called today, her living room furniture arrived today. When I was there we only had really tall kitchen chairs to sit in or you could sit on the bed. I kept threatening to throw the dogs off of the extremely large dog bed, put a sheet over them and sit on those. Feel better soon!
On a different note I will be in NC February 6th -12th. We should try to meet half way.