Question from Wendi: Were you aware of the Early Reviewer Program? Have you received any books from the program? If you have, how have you liked the book(s)? Any other thoughts on the LTER program?
I've been a member of the Early Reviewer program for quite a while now, and I've received several books from the program (5 read and reviewed, 3 pending):
Winter Haven by Athol Dickson - a Gothic Christian thriller. I gave it 3 stars. This really wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't realize it was Christian fiction when I requested it, so I was apprehensive. Ultimately though, the heroine did a lot more to turn me off the book than the Christian elements. I found her really irritating.
The Arthurian Omen by G.G. Vandagriff - an Arthurian-themed thriller. I was really excited about this one when I first saw it. It didn't really live up to my expectations. I gave it 3 stars because it was quite a page-turner. But there wasn't nearly enough Arthur, and I thought the heroine was Too Stupid To Live.
The Fire by Katherine Neville - another 3 stars. I'm sensing a trend. I wasn't as enamored of The Eight as everyone else seemed to be, so this wasn't as big of a disappointment to me as it was to some. That said, the heroine seemed to be floundering for 3/4 of the book...which meant I floundered along with her.
Gladiatrix by Russell Whitfield - 2 1/2 stars here. I'm becoming more picky? I didn't like the heroine, and while I was fine with the amount of gladiator gore, I felt that the rape scenes were too much. Clearly it was not the intention of the author, but some of the rape fantasies seemed almost lovingly described - that's not quite what I wanted to say...but it's the phrase that keeps leaping to mind. Did anyone else feel this way?
Finally! The Knock-it-out-of-the-Park: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Absolutely 5 stars. Gorgeous and tender, a beautiful love story, a look at culture clash, a historical novel. Everything I want out of a story. One of my new favorites.
I've gotten lucky in the past few months as well, so I'm waiting for: Sonnets by Warwick Collins, Breakneck by Erica Spindler, and Darling Jim by Christian Moerk!
4 comments:
Wow...lucky! I have GOT to read Hotel on the Corner...everyone just raves about it!
BTW - how are you liking the Cornwell book you're reading? I read it when it first came out and enjoyed it.
I liked Hotel a great deal too.
But I did not get it through ER, but through an add on Shelf Awareness...since I am having the Bad Luck Mojo on ER it seems.
Sorry to hear the Arthurian one didn't have more Arthur! :) I've got Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet on my tbr pile and can't wait to get to it!
Thanks for stopping by and participating in Thingers last week! I've got the post up for this week, we're taking a look at the section called LT Member Giveaways. ~ Wendi
Amy - I'm kind of iffy on the Cornwell book actually. I find her tone pretty jarring (hopelessly arrogant is the word that comes to mind), and her organization is driving me batty. I think she lost me near the beginning, though, when she confessed she didn't know anything about Jack the Ripper before she embarked on this quest. A crime fiction writer who deals with serial killers not knowing about The Ripper just makes me sad... But as the guide on my JtR tour said last weekend - she made $37 million on it, so more power to her!
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