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Twimom227

That's What I'm Talking About

I generally review romance, paranormal and urban fantasy. I tend to pick review books that I want to read, so generally my reviews will be positive. I always give my honest opinion: good, bad, and indifferent. 

 

Note: on my blog I use a letter grading system. I've listed the ratings below. For sites with stars, I have listed the equivalent rating. If I didn't finish the book, I will not rate it with stars.

 

A+  Personal Favorite (5 stars)
A    Loved It (4.5 or 5 stars)
A-   Enjoyed A Lot (4 or 4.5 stars)
B+  Liked It A Lot (4 stars)
B    Liked It -- Recommend (4 stars)
B-   Liked It -- But I had a few small issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C+  Liked It -- But I had issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C    Finished It -- Liked some, didn't like some (3 stars)
C-   Finished It -- Liked a little, didn't like a lot (2 or 2.5 stars)
D    Not A Big Fan (2 stars)
E    Don’t Waste Your Time (1 star)
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TW: Reading this book was like watching a Train Wreck
DNF: Did Not Finish

 

updated July 9, 2015

Currently reading

Operation: Endgame (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Book 6) (English Edition)
Philippa Ballantine, Jeanne H. Ballantine, William Morris
Just You and Me (A Contemporary Romance Collection)
Fiona Miers, Caitlyn Lynch, Liz Durano, Deelylah Mullin, Cate Farren, Jacquie Biggar, Vicki Batman, Kate Richards, Brenna Zinn, Dalton Diaz, Tierney O'Malley, Desiree Holt, Nicole Morgan, Ashlyn Chase
Bitter Bite: Elemental Assassin, Book 14
Audible Studios, Jennifer Estep, Lauren Fortgang
Progress: 27 %
The Trouble With Fate - Leigh Evans My Rating: 3 stars: Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2013/01/review-trouble-with-fate-by-leigh-evans.html

The Trouble with Fate is the exciting first book in Leigh Evan’s new urban fantasy series. The story is told from first person point of view by Hedi, half Fae and half werewolf. I really like Hedi. She is FAR from perfect: she steals, has a temper and is pretty grumpy on her best day. She leaves a trail of destruction in her wake and doesn’t apologize for doing what she needs in order to survive. She isn’t nobel - she didn’t confront those that killed her parents, and when trouble arises, she looks for the easy way out, but she is loyal. And like a true UF heroine, she shines when she needs to and steps up when it counts.

Robson Trowbridge is the son of the former werewolf pack leader. Hedi has felt “more than a crush” for him, sensing there was a special connection, since she was young. So when he off and married someone else when she was a youth, it broke her prepubescent heart. We find out early on that Robson left his pack shortly after Hedi’s parents were killed because his family, to include his wife, was also killed that same night. Due to Robson’s remorse over losing his wife, it was hard for me to root for Robson and Hedi’s union at first.

However, as the pair spends time together, we inevitably find out the duo’s history, to include Robson’s relationship with his deceased wife, isn’t as black and white as we were first lead to believe. The couple have chemistry, which is at times simultaneously sexy and hilarious. I was laughing out loud when the pair consummate their relationship. The passion is high, but for the first time I think I’ve ever read, our virgin heroine doesn't feel that "exquisite pleasure pain," she hurts and wants to stop intercourse! It "ruined" the romantic and sexy feel of the moment, but it was great!

As delightful and engrossing as the first half plus of The Trouble with Fate was, there were parts that I didn’t enjoy so much. The first comes right at the midpoint of the book, when Hedi astrally projects to the land of Fae dreams, Threall. The whole trip was confusing, and the reader is burdened with even more mythology and background which doesn’t appear relevant to the story at all. I felt it went on way too long without much of an explanation of why Hedi even benefited from going there. All it did was raise questions that don’t get answered, which seemingly have nothing to do with this story.

Overall, I enjoyed The Trouble with Fate, but it was a bumpy ride. The first half of the book was full of great information, and I enjoyed getting to know Hedi, Robson and their histories. However, at the midpoint, I found Hedi’s trip to Threall confusing and distracting. After the focus shifted back to the primary story and we got to watch the couple grow, I was hooked again. However, once the pair was captured, I found it to be extremely long-winded, and a tad too gruesome. I was left with little to no hope, and the story kind of ended on that note.

I certainly want to read the next book because I did enjoy large chunks of The Trouble with Fate. I hope that the second story will address some of the loose ends that left me frustrated with this book.