Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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Nora Roberts
2014 Challenge Archive
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Year Long Nora Roberts Read-A-Thon
I just have to get this out. NR and/or her publisher needs to reevaluate her pricing ASAP. Her ebooks are ridiculously expensive. It's why I've fallen so far behind, and not kept up. I shouldn't have to pay 12 bucks for an ebook. That's insane to me. Why would I do that when I can get at least 2 other books for that? UGH.
I feel that way about s few authors and their books. Though I know that authors have no control over the pricing of their books. I found her newest one st the library. Thank goodness!
Just finished
. This is the second book about the brothers. Really enjoyed both stories, Shanes story more than Devins.Think I will probable head back to the Macgregors family as I still have 2 books of them to read. Am trying to finish some of the series I have started.
Just got in
from the library. So excited to read this one!Tania, the McKade Brothers look good! I like her older series that feature a family. I'll also be reading
this month.
^tell me when are u gona read...i have a copy but havent read it yet.
I'm hoping to get to it by the end of the week. I have several other books I have to read for other challenges.I finished
and really enjoyed it. Love this family!
Started The Witness, about 70ish% done with it, and I can't stand Brooks. He is the absolute WORST "hero" I've ever read from Nora.
I've heard others say they don't like this book. What is it about him you don't like?
First he starts by stalking Abigail, invading her personal space, ignores her repeated "no"s, he abuses his position of power as sheriff to run an unnecessary background check PURELY because he's "curious", he unethically keeps her discarded coke can so he can run it for prints and/or DNA in the future(keep in mind that she's not a suspect in any crime), his wants and wishes constantly override hers, he manipulates and out talks her(which he gets away with because she's so socially uneducated that she doesn't know what's normal or not so she assumes she's always in the wrong), hence she is CONSTANTLY apologizing to him for EVERY misunderstanding (that is really just her disagreeing with him and trying to have some independence but no that's not okay because of course since he has a penis, he knows better than her), he is very subtle in his machinations. After she confesses her big secret, it shifts from being about her, to him deciding he's going to handle it and she better go along with what he decides. He threatens her with his temper. And that's just everything that came to mind as I'm sitting here. I've probably forgotten stuff that bugged me "in the moment". TLDR: Basically Abigail traded one controlling entity, her mother, for another one, Brooks,. Only we're supposed to hate the Mom because she's "uncaring and robotic" but we're supposed to find Brooks "affable and charming".
Also when his mom(might be actually be Brooks that says what I'm thinking of, not his mom) and friend describe his personality, it just makes me think "SERIAL KILLER".
Oh wow! Now I feel like I have to read it just to meet this paragon!! LOL!!
~Leslie~ wrote: "Oh wow! Now I feel like I have to read it just to meet this paragon!! LOL!!"LOL sorry! I mean he has nice moments.
I should add that aside from him i like the story. I like Abigail, and I like the "suspense" storyline.
No, don't be sorry. That was an amazing job of dissecting him. I loved it. I like the part where you say he must be right because he has a penis. This reminds me of a rant I went on once about men in general!!
Calila wrote: "Started The Witness, about 70ish% done with it, and I can't stand Brooks. He is the absolute WORST "hero" I've ever read from Nora."Lol! I found him kind of bland - He is almost too perfect - too understanding, too sympathetic, too patient - there is no conflict to his and Abigail's relationship, which made it kind of boring.
Now that I've read your second post, Calila, I'm starting to think he wasn't as perfect as I thought he was :0)Aside from the romance, I liked the book. Abigail was great - she reminded me a lot of Temperance Brennan in the TV series Bones and the plot was quite good.
So I've finished it now. The ending was really rushed and a bit absurd. But whatever, by that point I just wanted it over. @Lauren, I've seen that comparison in some of the reviews, and I don't really agree. Aside from being geniuses, and social awkward there's really not much in common.
Just thought I'd check in since it's been awhile. Working wreaks havoc on my GR time!Finished
and loved it! Looking forward to reading the third one in the trilogy.Also read
and it's my favorite so far in the Stanislawski series. I love this series! I would love to meet this family.And now I'm reading
which is a mixed bag so far. I like it but it's a little slow and the heroine Abra makes me want to whack her! But still enjoyable!
OMG!!! I seriously forgot this challenge!!!but then again, it's still half a year...so i still have a few months to cover V(",)V
I'm behind on this challenge too but I'll catch up soon :0)
Okay so it's not really a "Nora Roberts" book, but Nora Roberts Land is free on amazon right now and it sounded interesting, so I thought I'd share a heads up. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP64BN8
That looks like a really fun book! Thanks for posting. I'm definitely going to pick it up.
And no worries on the challenge!! I'm behind on all my challenges!!
Tania wrote: "Just finished. This is the second book about the brothers. Really enjoyed both storie..."I loved the McKade brothers. I think Shane had a pretty cool story, from what I remember. I think my favorite was Rafe but then, I liked the heroine in that one a lot. I can't really remember Devin's story now. Was Jared the businessman? Or was that Devin? Or none of them? LOL.
~Leslie~ wrote: "Just got in from the library. So excited to read this one!Tania, the McKade Brothers look good! I like her older series that feature a family. I'll also be readi..."
I have not read the O'Dwyer books yet. And I loved the Stanislaskis.
Calila wrote: "First he starts by stalking Abigail, invading her personal space, ignores her repeated "no"s, he abuses his position of power as sheriff to run an unnecessary background check PURELY because he's "..."Wow, that is a lot of stuff I had forgotten about. I read it a year or two ago and I didn't care for it after Abigail grew up. I didn't like the "hero", either, and probably for all the same reasons you didn't, but at the time I remember just thinking, "Ugh, can't stand him." I like how thorough you are in your dislike for him. You know, I can't help but wonder how many women read about men like that and they just think he's so wonderful, all because it seems women are sort of prone to falling for the 'bad boy' and we tend to overlook and forgive a lot of qualities that are really just abuse disguised as love. Or maybe I'm reading too much into things, I don't know. Either way, loved your assessment of him!
Lauren wrote: "Calila wrote: "Started The Witness, about 70ish% done with it, and I can't stand Brooks. He is the absolute WORST "hero" I've ever read from Nora."Lol! I found him kind of bland -..."
I found him to be very bland, too. In addition to all the other negative stuff that Calila already mentioned, haha. I honestly would have enjoyed reading only about Abigail being at risk and having to deal with her stalkers (whatever the big bads were in that book... I can't recall now) on her own, rather than him butting in and "saving the day." Really, as far as Nora heroes go, he was a dud and he felt completely unnecessary to the story for me. It felt like he was tacked on just so she could call it a romance.
I started reading
and it started out fine enough but it's starting to turn into a Danielle Steele, "all the beautiful people with all the wonderful jobs and all of the money and no worries" trap that I am not a fan of. Plus, there are too many coincidences going on right now that leave me unable to suspend my disbelief. You expect me to believe that in a city as large as NYC all of these people are intertwined by coincidence? Ugh. Oh, and then there's the trope of "Asian assassin badass who wears high heels when she kills people"-- gag. And she works for or with a Russian named Ivan. (not spoilers). I want to read the book because it feels like it could be nice brain candy but I made the mistake of reading some reviews that make it sound like everything that already annoys me is just going to annoy me through the entire book, plus new annoyances will crop up. I don't know... maybe I'll just leave it alone and move onto something else of hers.
ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "You know, I can't help but wonder how many women read about men like that and they just think he's so wonderful, all because it seems women are sort of prone to falling for the 'bad boy' and we tend to overlook and forgive a lot of qualities that are really just abuse disguised as love. Or maybe I'm reading too much into things, I don't know"I don't think you're reading into things too much, Brooks (specifically) comes off very pre-abusive if that's a thing. He's not there yet, but a lot of the things he does are subtle precursors. IMO
Now more generally and socially, it's very true. Women think they or their love will reform the bad boy into a good man. When really only the bad boy can reform himself. Plus I think the myth of unconditional love plays a big part in it. "But I love him!", like love is a magic emotion that makes everything okay because it's there.
ETA: Nothing like noticing a typo a month and a half later. LOL
So I just read The Last Boyfriend, a nice sweet read, not really much angst, two moments of it really. But it just didn't grip me the way I'd like it to have. Nothing really wrong with it, just a bit lacking a little. Owen and Avery didn't make me love them together as much as Beckett/Claire did. Still, I am really interested and loving Lizzy, I want to know her story, and I want her to get her happy ending. Even though it's kind of impossible LOL.
I'm halfway through
and it is definitely one of her better books in recent times. I'm particularly enjoying (view spoiler)
Glad you enjoyed it, Lauren. I have that on my list to read and now I'm really curious.I've been slowly working my way through the Stanislaski series and really enjoying it. They are quick easy reads with enjoyable characters.
OMG!!! i think i m a bit left off in this challenge. though i read Gabriel's Angel. still haven't decided what NR to read.keep putting of reading the 2nd book of her latest series...
Just checked out The Collector from the library, excited to see how I like it. Also, on the PIFM challenge, my picker recommended Sea Swept. Has anyone read that one?And no worries, Questian! No one is keeping track! Just come on and chat when you read something by her.
I read Shadow Spell and I'm really loving this series, though I think I shouldn't have read two Nora Roberts' "life long friends-to-lovers" books so close together. This one was definitely the better one. I loved Meara and Conner together. Loved getting to see Eamon/Brannaugh/Teagan as they grew up. I can see why it's a tad repetitive to some. It is. But I don't mind it really. It's comfortable. I know I won't be disappointed.
I completely agree, Calila! I really love that series - but I'm not a life long NR reader. I'm new to her books for the most part. But I don't mind repetition - find it comforting as well. If I like something, I'm happy to stick with the formula.
~Leslie~ wrote: "Just checked out The Collector from the library, excited to see how I like it. Also, on the PIFM challenge, my picker recommended Sea Swept. Has anyone read that one?And no worries, Questian! No ..."
Sea Swept is wonderful. The whole Chesapeake Bay series is fantastic although the third book is my favorite (I'm in the minority on that one though)
@Calila - I've also been putting that one off ... should get to it next month though. @Leslie - one of the reasons I love Nora's writing is because I know exactly what to expect.
~Leslie~ wrote: "I liked that one, Lauren!"Its actually a re-read for me. I remember enjoying it a lot even though its been years and years since I first read it.
Lauren wrote: "~Leslie~ wrote: "I liked that one, Lauren!"Its actually a re-read for me. I remember enjoying it a lot even though its been years and years since I first read it."
That's a good one, in book and movie form.
Just finished 2 more NR books.Read
and really enjoyed it. I didn't have any of the problems with it you did ilbg(Teresa). But I tend to gloss over things. But you are right, there were some pretty big stereotypes. But I liked Lila a lot and that saved it for me.
I also finished
and while I liked it - it was a little creepy reading about these two having sex when I had just been reading about them at the age of 12. But I do love this series and I want to go to dinner at their house!
Forgot to post that I finished
and enjoyed it just as much as the first time around.
I've read a few lately, though the year is half way through. I will list the ones that I have read and will read.
Great, Shan!! I look forward to seeing your list.Lauren - I read that one a while ago. I remember liking it a lot.
Not sure what I'll be reading next. Thinking of starting the Chesapeake Bay (is that right?) series.
Keep forgetting to update and say that I read The Perfect Hope, great ending to the series. I knew some of the twists coming because hey It's Nora! But still it doesn't really detract from my enjoyment. I didn't really like Hope all that much. didn't hate her. Just indifferent I guess. Or maybe just didn't LOVE her. Love Ryder. Gruff and surly but with a good heart is always a nice combo. Heartbroke for Lizzy and Billy. But happy they "reunited".
I finished Montana Sky in June and it was rather good, I gave it 4 stars.I got my membership in local library after 4 years of being out of it and there are plenty of Nora Roberts books translated. As I prefer reading her in Slovene, I should finish them this year.
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Nice summation, Lauren."
Thanks Leslie.
No worries - sometimes its hard to keep track :0)