Mini-Reviews Monday is a monthly series in which I attempt to get caught up on reviews in bulk. These reviews are a highlight reel instead of an in-depth look into my time reading these novels. If you would like an in-depth version of my review, let me know in the comments!
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Getting Hot With The Scot by Melonie Johnson
Genres: Romance
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: April 30th 2019
Source: Netgalley
Format: eARC
Rating:
This was not the book for me. I requested it because of it’s blurb by Christina Lauren of it being “Playful, passionate, and positively unputdownable”; yeah, well unfortunately, I didn’t feel like it was playful nor passionate and I was definitely able to set this bad boy down on several occasions. I felt like there was absolutely no chemistry or connection between our Scot, Logan, and our heroine, Cassie; and the lengths this guys went to get what he wanted from her was borderline creepy. I was really overall put off by our hero the entire time.
I also felt like the author tried way to hard to make Logan authentic that it came entirely fake (almost like she got way to happy with the scottish slang dictionary and decided to throw as much of it in the book as she could). Maybe this is a case of right book, wrong reader–but this wasn’t the book for me sadly.
ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Smitten by the Brit by Melanie Johnson
Genres: Fantasy
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: May 28th 2019
Source: Netgalley
Format: eARC
Rating: DNF
I don’t know why I did this to myself.
Honestly, I should have known not to request three books by the same unknown author–but alas, here we are. Much like Johnson’s debut novel, Getting Hot With The Scot, My attention just wasn’t grabbed by our main characters. I tried to keep an open mind with this one, but even through my attempts I felt like there was no growth with the author’s writing which made it all but feel like the exact same as her Debut. I was forced to suspend belief a lot with the plot (more than I was comfortable with in a contemporary genre) and almost the entire story was completely predictable. With no connection, chemistry, or sexual tension I couldn’t waddle my through this one any longer and gave myself permission to DNF it at 34%.
ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Sakina’s Restaurant by Aasif Mandvi
Genres: Plays
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: January 3rd 2019
Source: Audible
Format: Audiobook
Rating: .5
So this was an experience.
This is my first time listening to a one act show rather than visually seeing it, and overall it was okay? Every part is played by one guy (Aasif Mandvi), however, there isn’t much of a character shift in voice that makes it easier to discern who is talking and when we have changed scenes/characters. I found myself having to go back a couple times to figure out who was talking and when we shifted because I got really confused. I did, however, love the play itself and the story it is trying to express and revealing the differences between American and Indian culture and the hardships immigrants from India have to face when moving to the States all the while trying to maintain their roots/heritage. For that alone I give it the 2.5 stars.
Kayla @ Books and Blends says
I’m sorry that these didn’t work for you, Sam. I hope your next reads are better!
Sam || Fictionally Sam says
Thanks, as do I!