New month, new books. Let’s go!
Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney
I have mentioned before that I enjoy reading mysteries and it is my favorite genre. I tend to read books that are not contemporary mysteries but every once in awhile, I read a book that is new and everyone is absolutely raving about, hence Rock, Paper, Scissors.
I loved Feeney’s previous book His & Hers but this book was not one I would recommend. It started off really slow and I almost stopped reading it but right when I was about to close the book, the author hooked me in, and I kept reading till the inevitable end. I did not like this book at all. It had too many red herrings, too many left turns, too many pieces added just to make it “thrilling”. Many times when I was reading this book, I was like, “Really?” or “Ugh, seriously?”
Again, I enjoyed her previous book. But absolutely not this one.
The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O’Neal
I enjoyed this book so much. The atmosphere especially because I am a sucker for books that take place in England. I felt emotional at times reading this book because of the intergenerational trauma between the women and I personally could relate to that on a very familiar level.
The Hollywood Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
I am sure that we all have a series we love and eagerly wait in anticipation for the next book to be released and are so excited and we open the book and start reading and then…
*picture a balloon deflating*
I know authors put their hearts into writing a book and kudos to them for doing it because that is just not in my wheelhouse, but when you are in the tenth book of a series and you have the main character doing things that are contrary to the very nature of who they are, well long-time readers are going to get a little angsty.
Also, it is a pet-peeve of mine when authors write books and have them “just happening” to meet famous people, a bunch of them, randomly. The Hollywood Spy takes place in 1940’s Hollywood, and our main character in the space of a few days, met Walt Disney, Howard Hughes, Hattie MacDaniel, Cab Calloway, and a bunch of other people that I can’t remember right now, all while solving a murder mystery which it turns out, isn’t even the main plot of the story.
I really do hope the series gets back on track because the previous book in this series was not good either. I am hoping 11 is the author’s lucky number and that the next book which would be the eleventh in the series, returns main character Maggie Hope back to her former glory.
What did you read this month? Let me know!
Confuzzled Bev says
Interesting that you didn’t enjoy Rock, Paper, Scissors – like you I’ve seen many reviews raving about it.
Mackenzie says
I saw all the good reviews too, that’s why I checked it out, but I felt less alone in my dislike when I read the 1- and 2-star reviews for the book on Goodreads, lol 🙂
Joanne says
I HATE when one of my predictable series/ books takes a turn for the worse and I almost feel like I am in mourning for that story I really had my heart set on.
Mackenzie says
That is a GREAT way of putting it!
SMD says
The Feeney book creeped me the F out.
I loved the Barbara O’Neal
Mackenzie says
The Feeney book was definitely creepy; I just felt the author went overboard in trying to make it “as thrilling as possible”, you know what I mean?
Loved, loved, loved the Barbara O’Neal book! Thank you for recommending it 🙂
ShootingStarsMag says
I really loved Rock, Paper, Scissors but I haven’t read anything else by the author yet.
Mackenzie says
I am probably in the minority in not liking Rock Paper Scissors but Feeney’s other book His & Hers was really good!
Carly says
I did really like Rock, Paper, Scissors, I think it was one of the only (if not, only) thrillers I read last year. I’ve definitely had it happen where a book everyone seems to love just falls waaaay flat for me.
Mackenzie says
I wish I had liked it more! I know writing a book is hard work so I definitely don’t discount her effort 🙂