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Monday, February 15, 2021

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine

 Heartbreak Bay is the 5th book in the Stilhouse Lake series.  Although I didn't love the first book in the series, I've been entertained by the others.  Maybe I simply had to accept certain implausible and often bizarre elements of the plot in Stillhouse Lake.

The books are fast-paced and yes, pretty far out, but once I tried the second book, I became accustomed to the unrealistic elements and went with the flow.

This one started with interest, but ended with a completely off- the-reality-charts conclusion.

In between, I was engaged, but the conclusion was enough to make me wonder if I'll try another one in the series.  Perhaps this series has run it course for me.  I may like Gwen, Sam, the kids, and Kezia, but their adventures have become a bit frustrating.

Read in September; blog post scheduled for Feb. 15, 2021.

NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer                                                                                                                

Thriller.  March 9, 2021.   

16 comments:

  1. I don't always last through an entire series. And with some I like to pick and choose the plots that interest me the most and skip the rest because life is short and I want to have time to read the series that I really love. Like Orphan X and the Rockton series. :D

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    1. Orphan X and Rockton are two that I have no intention of abandoning. :)

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  2. I'm having more and more trouble suspending my disbelief these days - when current events say I should probably be moving in the other direction, so I think I'll pass on these. Curious, though.

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    1. Some books are too much of a challenge to believe, aren't they?

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  3. I don't think I've read any of her books but I know they are quite popular. Might be good to check out when I'm in the mood for a new series to start.

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    1. They are the kind that you read when you are willing to accept the unbelievable premises. :)

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  4. I don't think I've read anything by this author. I'm not good in reading series partly because I'm always behind! This one sounds like a hit-or-miss and I guess I'll probably check them out when the right mood strikes.

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    1. Orphan X and Rockton are both hard to believe, but are so good! Try those, Melody.

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  5. Oh dear, I didn't expect this series to be so unrealistic!

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    1. A couple in the middle of the series, I did enjoy, but this last one--not so much.

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  6. The first one was really weird, and I didn't read the series for a while. Then I tried again, but it is a bizarre series.

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  7. I have trouble staying engaged with a book when things get unrealistic. There's too many other books out there.

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    1. There are certain books that you begin with the knowledge they are going to be fantastic, magical, or lacking in realistic situations, but others, lose me by creating situations that feel too...exaggerated?

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  8. Implausibility is usually my biggest stumbling block with thrillers. I understand that this is what makes the plot move but if it is too unrealistic, it definitely takes me out of the story. I especially dislike it when the reader is "told" that the main character is smart but then has them make bone-head moves in order to move the story along.

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    1. :) I get that smart characters can make mistakes, but when they are totally oblivious, the frustration takes me out of the story!

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  9. That's frustrating. I do want to give this series a try at some point to see what I think. It's too bad the ending to this one was such a disappointment. I can take unrealistic if it's done well and is consistent throughout the book. But it depends on how it's presented--and if it fits the novel.

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