What books did you start reading but couldn't finish and why?

[Ramla Zareen]

What books did you start reading but couldn't finish and why?

[Ramla Zareen]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "What books did you start reading but couldn't finish and why?"

There was a time I read pretty much anything I could lay my hands on. However, over the years, I developed specific preferences. My reading time also got limited. I now try to keep my TBR list as focused and streamlined as possible. I've become quite adept at weeding out books I know I won't enjoy, but every now and then, a few books slip through my rigorous screening process. I'm listing some of them below. They're the ones I couldn't finish. It doesn't mean the books were bad. It's obvious from the reviews a lot of people enjoyed them. They just weren't for me.

2022

1) The Heart-Shaped Murders by Denise N. Wheatley. It's the first book of her West Coast Crime Story Series.

I think I failed to finish this book but I'm not sure. I remember I bought it because the plot and the beginning hooked me, but I stopped reading it after a few chapters as I wasn't enjoying it much. However, maybe I revisited it later and ended up enjoying it after all? I really can't say.

2) Hot Pursuit by Lynn Raye Harris. It's the first book of her Hostile Operations Team Series.

3) One Good Man by Julie Miller. It's the first book of her Taylor Clan Series.

2023

4) Lawman to the Core by Delores Fossen. It's the third book of her Law in Lubbock County Series.

As far as I remember, one of my issues was the repeated use of the word "mercy". Characters kept using it as an exclamation. I don't know why but it felt forced and jarring. By the time I reached the third book of the series, I could no longer ignore it. Also, the book—like the others on this list—failed to keep my interest.

5) Protected by the Lawman by Rhonda Lee Carver. It's the first book of her Lawmen of Wyoming Series.

6) One Texas Night by Sylvie Kurtz. It's the first book of her Midnight Whispers Series.

2024 (Quarter 1—Jan, Feb, March)

7) Her Deadly End by Tikiri Herath. It's the first book of her Tanya Stone FBI K9 Mystery Thriller Series.

[PamG]

I've finished all of the books that I've started in the last few years.

[Karen]

I always finish what I start. I may start speed-reading to get to the end of something awful or hard to get into, but if I start it,..

I do let other reads interrupt. For example, I read a I Am Not a Psychic! by Richard Belzer. It took me nearly 18 weeks to finish because I kept picking up other things. I had gotten the book from the library and renewed the max number of times one could renew and finally had to power through to get it done before its final due date. It wasn't that I didn't like the overall story; I just could not get into the writing style--and I love Richard Belzer.

The last romance I HATED (but finished!) was Terri Anne Browning's Kari. It was one of a set of novellas rereleased as part of Our Broken Love. *** My Review ***

Though I don't like to read series out of order, my romance reading eye had been captivated by a description of a book in Browning's Rocker Universe, which all her books pretty much fit in. I loved it and decided to seek out more in the series (group of series). Kari--or the set of novellas in the noted book--were the firsts in the reading order. I'm grateful I didn't read it first. I would not have sought out more.

[Ramla Zareen]

LIST CONTINUED...

There have been no books I didn't finish since I last posted here. However, there were a few books that I found hard to finish. I thought I'd list them here:

2024 (Quarter 4—Oct, Nov, Dec)

8) Laura's Safe Haven by Danielle M. Haas. It's the first book of the Safe Haven Women's Shelter Series.

I found it hard to stay interested in this book. I did manage to finish it but decided not to continue with the series. However, I have read some other books by this author that I enjoyed, such as Matched with Murder and Booked to Kill. (The first two books of the Murders of Convenience Series).

2025 (Quarter 1—Jan, Feb, March)

9) Copper Lake Encounter by Marilyn Pappano. It's the eleventh book of the Copper Lake Series.

I've only read the first and the eleventh book of this series. I found it hard to stay interested in this one. I did manage to finish it but decided not to read any more books from this series. However, I have read some other books by this author that I enjoyed, such as Killer Secrets (the first book of the Cedar Creek Series) and More Than a Hero (a standalone book).

10) Shattered Dreams by Christina Sol. It's the third book of the Hudson Island Series.

I read the first three books of this series. I found it hard to stay interested in the third one. I did manage to finish it but decided not to continue with the series.

11) Zane by Brenda Jackson. It's the twenty-fifth book of the Westmorelands Series.

I read this after specifically searching for a book starting with "Z" for the Read Your Name Challenge. I found it hard to stay interested in the book plus it contained too many explicit scenes for my liking. I did manage to finish it but decided not to read any more books from this series.

Well, this is it for now. In the end, I wish to reiterate that just because I didn't enjoy these books doesn't mean the books were bad. It's obvious from the reviews a lot of people enjoyed them. They just weren't for me.

Thanks and Happy Reading :-)

[PamG]

I rarely DNF any books and haven't had any in several years. My lowest rated book in January was a non-fiction history book that I rated 3 stars. A Rage to Conquer: Twelve Battles That Changed the Course of Western History by Michael Walsh. While it was well-researched and I learned some new-to-me information, it read more like a textbook except where the author's views came through rather than providing a balanced view of events. I also wanted the history to come to life, but it didn't.

[Tampatha]

Credence. I got about 4 chapters in and I just got bored. I am going to try and read it again this year.

[Laura]

I DNF A Muse for the Lonely Marquess by Abby Ayles at 40% because I could not stand the cartoonish characters any longer, nor the writing style. I do not plan on reading anything else by this author.

[Laura]

Could not stomach Engaging Sir Isaac by Sally Britton, the fourth book in the Inglewood series past 50%. It was supposed to be a wholesome romance, but the villain was just too evil for me. Should have finished it sooner.

My 1* review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Laura]

Gave up halfway through An Arrangement of Sorts by Rebecca Connolly because the same thing happened over and over again. It was all dialogue and no action. No setting either. Ugh. Was not a fan. Left a 2** rating and review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...