Continuing this post into the new year as I like keeping track of these too!
The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond Published by Del Rey on February 13, 2024
Genres: Adult Fantasy Romance, Adult Magical Realism, Adult Mystery
Pages: 352
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
A magically gifted con artist must gather her estranged mother's old crew for a once-in-a-lifetime heist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Suspicious Minds.
Dani Poissant is the daughter and former accomplice of the world's most famous art thief, as well as being an expert forger in her own right. The secret to their success? A little thing called magic, kept rigorously secret from the non-magical world. Dani’s mother possesses the power of persuasion, able to bend people to her will, whereas Dani has the ability to make any forgery she undertakes feel like the genuine article.
At seventeen, concerned about the corrupting influence of her mother’s shadowy partner, Archer, Dani impulsively sold her mother out to the FBI—an act she has always regretted. Ten years later, Archer seeks her out, asking her to steal a particular painting for him, since her mother's still in jail. In return, he will reconcile her with her mother and reunite her with her mother’s old gang—including her former best friend, Mia, and Elliott, the love of her life.
The problem is, it’s a nearly impossible job—even with the magical talents of the people she once considered family backing her up. The painting is in the never-before-viewed private collection of deceased billionaire William Hackworth—otherwise known as the Fortress of Art. It’s a job that needs a year to plan, and Dani has just over one week. Worse, she’s not exactly gotten a warm welcome from her former colleagues—especially not from Elliott, who has grown from a weedy teen to a smoking-hot adult. And then there is the biggest puzzle of why Archer wants her to steal a portrait of himself, which clearly dates from the 1890s, instead of the much more valuable works by Vermeer or Rothko. Who is her mother’s partner, really, and what does he want?
The more Dani learns, the more she understands she may be in way over her head—and that there is far more at stake in this job than she ever realized.
My thoughts:
The button for this month’s DNF post really stands out as my heart is broken in a way that I just didn’t care for this one. To be fair I didn’t give it that much time, but I knew from the start that it wasn’t going to be a story I was going to get into. And I’m sad because I always love this author’s books, even when other people don’t, I always do and always feel like she is an underrated author. Unfortunately this type of story just isn’t for me, nothing wrong, just not one I like to read.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen Series: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy #1
Published by Orbit books on August 23, 2022
Genres: Adult Fantasy Romance, Adult Paranormal Romance
Pages: 448
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
My Rating:
Goodreads
Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.
Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.
After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.
If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other?
Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library.
My thoughts:
So I’ve enjoyed this author’s YA books. And she is a local author, lives in Kansas. I wasn’t sure this was my type from the synopsis, so I didn’t grab it as soon as it came out. But then I was reading so many glowing reviews, and since I’d loved her other books, I decided to buy a copy. Unfortunately I just was kind of bored and had no desire to pick it up when I put it down. To be fair, once again I didn’t make it very far in to the story, only like 25 pages, but when you know, you know!
Dirty Little Rendezvous (The Burke Brothers #5) by Emma Hart
Dirty Little Rendezvous by Emma Hart Series: The Burke Brothers #5
on May 10, 2016
Genres: NA Rock Star Romance
Pages: 222
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
My Rating:
Goodreads
Sometimes the past becomes the present... And he's hot, cocky, and British.
DIRTY LITTLE RENDEZVOUS is the highly anticipated spin-off novel to The Burke Brothers series, and tells the story of Leila Burke.
Although DIRTY LITTLE RENDEZVOUS is connected to the Burke Brothers series, it is a standalone novel and can be read without reading Dirty Secret, Dirty Past, Dirty Lies, and Dirty Tricks, although it is advised to read them prior.
My thoughts:
So I usually love Emma Hart. However I think I prefer her more silly rom-coms, this one just did not keep my attention. Even though it wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t constantly wanting to pick it back up. It had been sitting on my bedside table to be picked up in between review books when I had time, but I just didn’t ever do for about the last three years. So I decided I just need to give it up and move on after the 77 pages I’d managed to read.
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I just posted my DNF report too and added books I DNF’d in January and February. I also had 3 DNF’s in February. Now I am a bit worries about The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy as I have that on my to-read list, It sounds really good. I’ll keep in mind that it starts slow and try to make sure I pick it up in a mood where I don’t mind that.
And that’s too bad you DNF’d a book by Emma Hart as you usually love her books. Definitely makes sense to DNF it if you don’t pick it up often over the course of 3 years. And I get what you mean about The Frame-Up sometimes you just know form the moment you start a book that it’s not going to be one for you.
I’ll be sure to check out your DNF post when I finally get around to some commenting this weekend. I like keeping track of it for myself as well.
I am glad you gave me the idea to do DNF posts like this. It’s been nice keeping track of my DNF reviews and being able to still share them on my blog this way.
Sorry these did not work for you. It happens sometimes.
I just find it easier to DNF and move on to a book I might like more instead of struggling.
I’m not surprised you didn’t finish The Frame Up, it had a lot of issues for me too, even though I enjoyed the second half.
I didn’t get far. I realized right away it just wasn’t the type of story I like to read and it didn’t suck me in enough to keep going. I’ll still try any of her other books though, because I’ve loved all the others!
VERY sad to see Hart and Mercy here, as I loved that one, but hey, if it isn’t for you, it isn’t for you! I had a bad feeling about The Frame Up, idk why, even though I loved the cover, I just did not want to read it, and now I am pretty happy with that decision!
I think that it’s just not my type of read? I can see that other people loved it, and I’ve loved the author’s YA books, so I was disappointed to not be blown away.
Sorry none of these were for you. You win som, you lose some, right?! And, life would be really boring if we all loved the same things.
My thought too! I don’t ever want to rate it low just because it didn’t work for me. I feel like someone else might love it.
Yes, better to just move on rather that force yourself to finish a book you’re not enjoying! Sorry these didn’t work out for you.
And I decided today that I’m making 2024 my year of just saying no to a book I’m not enjoying. I have a couple I’ve started this year but kept telling myself I’d go back. Today I decided to just DNF those and move on so I’m not stressing.