These are the books that I decided not to finish this past month. I really like keeping track of them this way so I can also share why I didn’t finish them, and that way others can see what issues I had and make their own decisions! I thought maybe I’d have less this year, but not starting out that great!
On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews Series: The Edge #1
Narrator: Renee Raudman
Published by Tantor Audio on January 7, 2010
Genres: Adult Paranormal Romance, Adult Urban Fantasy
Length: 12:08
Source: the library
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
My Rating:
Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either. Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive.
Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power). But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them - or they'll devour the Edge and everyone in it.
My thoughts:
So, technically I’ve put this on the “might finish/read at another time” list on Goodreads instead of a straight DNF. But I’m not feeling any urge that I want to go back and read it, other than I am going to miss doing the read-along with everyone again. I’m not saying it was bad. I’m just saying it kind of was a little bit what I expected it to be, and that unfortunately just isn’t the kind of story that grabs me? Maybe it if had been in first person? I don’t know. There was too much description in a plant in a how something looked, and when I’m listening to a book, that zones me out. Third person also makes it harder for me personally to connect and get “into” the story. We’ll see if I get back to it, because reading the physical book fits differently into my schedule than an audiobook because I have all the review books I need to read, plus trying to get my backlist/TBR read down, and this one was never on it, so I don’t want to add more when I have enough there already. So, don’t skip this one because of me, I just wanted to talk about why I quit, everyone else seems to love the series and the authors! I got to about 9%, but that was over an hour of listening.
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee
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.
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee Published by Union Square and Co on January 21, 2025
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance, Adult LGBTQ Romance
Pages: 332
Source: the publisher
Format: ARC
Goodreads
My Rating:
Zoe Brennan may be the loneliest lesbian in Blue Ridge, but at least she has her family vineyard, a deep, abiding vendetta against her ex-best-friend-now-enemy, and the occasional meaningless hook-up to keep her busy.
When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to Blue Ridge, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—getting chosen would put Brennan Vineyards on the map while also sticking it to the rival vineyard next door. But disaster strikes when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, leaving Brennan Vineyards without a vintner.
Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend and, excitingly, a stranger. After having the best sex of her life, Zoe’s horrified to discover the butch beneath the blindfold is none other than Laine Woods, Napa-trained vintner, Zoe’s first crush, and her enemy's big sister.The Napa-trained vintner, Zoe discovers, her father’s just hired as his replacement.
Laine assures Zoe they can put their sizzling one-night stand behind them, but Laine’s snobbery and Zoe’s pride collide at every step, creating a potent pour of sexual and professional tension. Zoe and Laine must learn to work together to win the wine festival, but when working together means late nights under the stars, letting go of the past, and learning each other all over again, Zoe has to be careful or Laine Woods might crush her heart for good.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the other book by this author, Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair, and so I was excited to read this next one, especially as we’d met Zoe I think in that book. Even knowing this book was pretty much going to start with a steamy scene, it was almost just too much for me to start with and still want to root for the characters. I just had a lot of trouble getting into it. When I set this down to pick up another book I’d forgot I needed to read to review, I didn’t feel like picking this one back up when I was done. I did, and gave it another try, but I knew after about 62 pages I wasn’t going to finish sadly. I did recall some of the things about the writing in the first book that kept that one from being perfect for me, and in this one it just didn’t work. I think I’ve had issues with other books set at wineries too? Not that I haven’t loved some winery stories too!
How Do I Tell You? by Nicola May
I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
How Do I Tell You? by Nicola May Published by Storm Publishing on January 20, 2025
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 298
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Format: E-galley
Goodreads
My Rating:
An uplifting, heartwarming story from the number one bestselling author.
How do you rebuild your life when it changes forever in an instant?
Thirty-five-year-old Victoria Sharpe has a decent job as an illustrator, a perfectly good if predictable relationship, and great friends. So why can’t she shake the feeling that something is missing?
Keen to let off steam, she sets off on a night out with her best friends. Next morning – one reckless decision later – she resolves to make some seriously overdue changes to achieve the fulfilment she craves.
Then she gets devastating news that shatters everything she ever wanted for her future.
Or so she thinks. Because as friends and family rally around to support her, and an unexpected new romance causes her heart to skip a beat, Victoria discovers that sometimes in the deepest darkness the brightest light can shine through. But, after all she’s been through, can she let it in?
This uplifting, heartwarming story from number one bestselling author Nicola May will have you reaching for the tissues. An unputdownable, unforgettable read, perfect for fans of Shari Low, Jill Mansell and Amanda Prowse.
My thoughts:
Okay, so I swear I honestly didn’t get to the part where what she is asking how she tells him was in the story. I didn’t realize what the heavy topic was, because I didn’t get that far in the story before I kind of gave up. It just wasn’t hooking me. As I go read other reviews to see what the title was about, now I kind of want to go back and see if I can get back into it. But I know I won’t. Spoiler? Because the other reviews say it, and it says when you first start the book, it has to do with HIV. This was my first book by this author, although I’ve thought about reading her before. I gave up at 9%. I think I was in a bit of a book slump between this one and the book above and just couldn’t get back into reading with either.
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I know it’s hard to start with all the world building but On the Edge is a great story. A different format, or different time might help.
Yeah, I might try again later if I have time, and not other books I want to read instead. I’ll have to be in the mood at this point to pick it back up.
I’ve read quite a few of Ilona Andrews’ books and On the Edge is my least favorite so far. I think you make some valid points for it not necessarily being a good fit for you. If you do try it again, I hope you like it. If you decide not to–that is perfectly okay. So many great sounding books are calling your name, after all! I haven’t tried anything by the other two authors whose books you didn’t finish. Thank you for sharing your DNF reasons with us. It’s always interesting to me to see why people didn’t like a book, whether I liked the book or not myself.
Yeah, and the pressure to read it just for the group is making me not want to try it again even more. I like to share why I DNF, because sometimes it isn’t because the book isn’t good, it’s just not for me, or maybe I’m not in the right head space.
Wow that’s quite a few DNF’s Lisa. I hope you find something you love to read.
I seem to be averaging about 3 a month when I have as packed full of a month with review books as I did this month. I did find several good books too though this month!
Sorry about On the Edge. I still want to try Ilona Andrew’s at some point.
I might try reading the next series they’re doing for the Read Along, but will try reading instead of listening.
Sorry to hear On the Edge didn’t work for you. It is a slow start and very much a first book in a series. Hope if you decide to pick it up again it works. We miss you on the chat!
I doubt at this point I’ll pick it up. But I might try to find the first book in the next series for the read-along and see if I like reading it!
Too bad On the Edge didn’t work for you. I like the sound of the series and want to give it a try eventually, maybe it would be easier in ecopy than audio?
I am not a big fan of books starting with steamy scenes either as it can be hard to get into the book, so I can see why that didn’t work for you with the second one. Book slumps can be tough, I hope you got out of your slump again.
I might try the next series that is by the same authors for the Read Along. Yeah, steamy scenes too soon can make it hard to get in. I seem to be out of the book slump, have had a few good ones in a row!