Tuesday 13 February 2018

Mini-Reviews & Giveaway: The Wedding Date & Next Year in Havana

It's really hard to give up on a book, especially when it seems everyone else and their brother loved it!  Anyhow, this is probably a case of "it's me not you", but these two books just didn't work for me.  Like I said, most readers loved both of these books so I thought I'd pass along my copies to someone who'll probably enjoy them more than I did.  Scroll down to fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Publication date: January 30th 2018
Publisher: Berkley Books
My rating: DNF
Amazon | B & N | Kobo

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...

They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...



My Thoughts:
DNF @38%.  I had a hard time buying into this romance, because I didn’t feel any chemistry between Alexa and Drew.  Also, Alexa’s lack of self-confidence was disappointing.  I didn’t feel engaged enough to continue.





Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Publication date: February 6th 2018
Publisher: Berkley Books
My rating: DNF
Amazon | B & N | Kobo

After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.
 


My Thoughts:
I loved Chanel Cleeton’s Wild Aces series, but this was nothing like it. That was fine, but this just had such a slow start, I was really bored out of my mind.  I ended up skimming a large portion.  I just wasn’t in the mood for the tragic historical romance that takes up much of the story. 





 The giveaway is for a Paperback copy of The Wedding Date by Jasmin Guillory (my ARC copy) and a Paperback Copy of Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton.  The giveaway is open to US residents only.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

17 comments:

Lindsi said...

I've heard wonderful things about The Wedding Date and cannot wait to read it! Ironically, I recently won a copy of it! I did enter your giveaway, but only because my mom wants a copy and I won't share! ;)

I haven't heard of the other book, but I'm sorry you were bored with the story!

Do You Dog-ear?

Greg said...

That's too bad these didn't work- Next Year in Havana looks like it could have been maybe interesting, but a slow start plus a romance on the tragic side- yup I can see that not being so fun!

Grace @ RebelMommyBookBlog said...

Oh boo! Sorry these didn't work for you!

Kindlemom said...

Sorry you didn't enjoy Next Year in Havana, it did have a slow start but it really was good and so much history for sure! Thanks for the giveaways!

Keertana said...

Thanks for these honest reviews, Rachel! The Wedding Date was quite disappointing for me, too. I didn't feel the chemistry and wasn't impressed by the storyline, either, since it didn't add anything new to the romance genre, IMO. Anyway, I'll be picking up the author's sophomore novel and hopefully it's an improvement...I'll keep you posted!!

erin said...

huh... I've been reading great reviews for both of these. But I totally feel ya as I've DNF'd or didn't like popular books that everyone gushes about (J.R. Ward is forever off my TBR pile). Thanks for sharing!

Lauren said...

Sorry these didn't work for you! Sometimes really popular books just don't work for others - we all have different wants/tastes. :)

-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net

traveler said...

Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. The novels sounds captivating and I am especially interested in Next Year in Havana.

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

I am sorry you didn’t like either one of these. I loved them both, and I have been in a major reading funk. Hopefully your next read will be better.

Karen said...

I did enjoy The Wedding Date although I liked the first 1/2 more than the second so maybe it's good you quit before they got really annoying lol

Karen @ For What It's Worth

Boyishbookworm said...

I'm very curious about Next Year in Havana, I'm sorry to hear you didn't like it. I mostly read good reviews about it.

Ronnie @ Paradise Found

Bonnie said...

OMGosh thank you!! I've been holding off on posting my DNF review of Wedding Date because I totally felt like it was just me. I didn't even get as far as you did but the chemistry was totally non-existent.

Rachel said...

Glad to hear I'm not the only one! :)

Lily B said...

aww sorry you did not finish Next Year in Havana, I enjoyed it, but I agree it was a bit slow at start

Carina Olsen said...

Ugh, I'm sorry these books ended up being so disappointing Rachel :\ That is the worst feeling. Aw. But yay for giving them away; you are awesome :) Lovely post sweetie. <3

John Smith said...

These both look sophisticated and delightful!

holdenj said...

I have seen both of these on what to watch for lists for 2018, so looking forward to checking them out.

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