TMST: Authors/Books I Just Can't Love

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. 

  

Are there authors/books that everyone seems to love but you don’t?

This is a tough one....but I do have some. 

- Stephen King. Not crazy about his works because of his writing style. Too wordy. 
- Nora Roberts. She is okay...just super overrated. 
- Sarah Maas. I only tried one by her...but ugh, I had an issue with the story. 
- 'Anna Karenia'. I could not get through that book. Everyone seems to love it, but alas...not for me. 


Just a few I can think of. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: A Very Austen Valentine

Six beloved authors deliver romantic Valentine novellas set in Jane Austen's Regency world. Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, and Barbara Cornthwaite, together with Susan Kaye and Mandy Cook, share variations of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility, featuring your favorite characters in sequels, adaptations, and spinoffs of Austen's adored novels. 

Experience uplifting romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and poignant regret as these authors deftly tug on your heartstrings this Valentine's Day. 

Kindle Edition, 479 pages

Published December 29th 2018

Series: Austen Anthology #2

Jane Austen variation

Own

I Dream of You by Robin Helm

A P&P sequel

Darcy is working too much, I should have written this review when I finished this short. I guess ok?

Sir Walter Takes A Wife by Laura Hile

A Persuasion sequel and P&P variation

This was interesting, Sir Walter is courting Lady de Bourgh. LOL. Funny

My Forever Valentine by Wendi Sotis

A P&P sequel variation

A rather sweet story

Pretense and Prejudice by Barbara Cornthwaite

A P&P variation

They both think the other one is a spy, I also liked that they met during other circumstances 

My Valentine by Mandy Cook

A P&P and a S&S sequel

This one was really dull, and was about lizzy and Darcy's kid

The Lover's Ruse by Susan Kaye

Persuasion Variation

Another boring one.

Some good, some not so good. You know, like all other anthologies.

Book Review: You, Me and Other Stuff by L.M. Barrett

Author: L.M. Barrett
Title: You, Me and Other Stuff
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: ebook
Expected to be Published: September 28th 2019
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given it to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



A witty, coming-of-age, romantic comedy about friendship, unrequited love and betrayal.

Declan's a tad annoyed; not only has the love of his life run off with 'Superman' but she's also unwittingly caused his current hostage status.

Find out what Sarah did to cause this unusual situation.


Can Declan overcome his hatred for Sarah and can Sarah overcome her doubts to end up with the right man?

I could not resist picking this up and reading it! I enjoyed a previous book by this author and this just sounded so good. 

The story follows Declan and Sarah. They have been friends for years and have been in love but didn't really know it. Years pass and now Declan is held hostage and it is Sarah's fault. Will they get it figured out and finally end up together? 

Oooooo Declan and Sarah. I wanted to shake them and kick them. You love each other! But they don't realize it and make stupid, stupid decisions that end up blowing up in each others' faces. Especially Sarah's. Girl! NO!

I did really enjoy this even though the two drove me bananas. There was some humor and sadness. It was a nice balance of those things. Wonderful writing! Hooks you in from page one.  

The format of telling the story was fun and I didn't expect it. It worked well for these characters to tell others about their sides of their story. They needed to talk it out with others I think in order to get some perspective. 

My only issue was the bits with Lisa near the end there. I didn't hate her but I sure didn't like her. I also feel like her part made the story go a bit longer then I wanted. I could be biased because I just wanted the two knuckleheads to FINALLY get it and be together, but yea...not a fan of Lisa and her part. 

Besides that, I really enjoyed this story. I wanted to shake our main characters, but shake them with love. And I didn't really care about the Lisa bits. I'll give this 4 stars. Really good and a fun story. Humor and sadness all mixed in. 

Movie Review: A Star Is Born (1976)

Film Title: A Star is Born

Length:   2h 19min
Released:   1976
Genre:   Drama, Music, Romance 
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Watched at a friend's house

SUMMARY:
A has-been rock star falls in love with a young, up-and-coming songstress.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:
Watched this forever ago and I couldn't remember much from it. I didn't really care for it back then, but I was a teen and teens don't care much about anything. My friend is watching all the movie renditions and she started this so I sat down to join her. 

This follows Esther and John. John is on a dark path of burning out because if his drinking and drugs. Esther is an up-comer that he sees a talent and love in her. They get together and he helps her shine as his career goes down the drain. 

I remembered bits and pieces of this film as we were going through, but I totally forgot how cheesy this was. Sooooo 70s/80s! There was one scene that had us simply laughing into tears and it was meant to be so intimate and so romantic, but my goodness sooooo cheesy. There was another scene that was just so awkward that I wanted to look away but I couldn't. Someone needed to be edit this and refilm it and change the scene.

I did like Esther and John BUT I wanted more back-story. We didn't get anything. I think Esther said she had been married before? But that was about it. We just jumped into this world and characters and we didn't get to KNOW the characters. So some of the actions and feelings didn't connect with me. WHY was John falling apart? WHY did he have an addiction? Did he always have it and it just escalated? We just needed more as the audience to feel connected for them. I wanted them to be happy and for John to find his way, but it felt hollow to me. 

The ending. OOO my heart. Barbra Streisand can for sure act. She really gave it her all. I wasn't 100% keen on the song at the end when it turned to rock, BUT I get it because John was a rocker. Sooo it makes sense to blend their styles there. 

Overall, not bad. It was for sure a 70s/80s indie film. SO campy. SO cheesy. Be prepared like I was. I wasn't shocked at the awkward scenes. I like the modern version better with Gaga though. This needed more back-story for our couple in order for me to really connect. But I shall give this 3 stars. Good for what it is. :)