@WeekendReader
@Tan_Trumps @JennaMark I HOPE IT'S OK T - I assumed it was ok to invite Wendy to your page. I hope I predicted that correctly. If I didn't - or you want me to get pre-approval before I refer people to your page moving forward -- then: (1) I apologize for over-stepping, here, and (2) please let me know so that I am NOT presumptuous at your expense ever again.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps ITA Sorry to constantly nitpick, but already, the sentence the boys are discussing the Cubs chances next season… it’s MAY in the book… the Cubs season would’ve just started in April. I cannot believe the writer cannot keep track of her own timeline better. Every chapter could be marked internally for the alleged day/date it’s taking place, or something like that. I realize it’s fiction but that doesn’t mean it needs to be all over the space-time continuum! Is it just me?
@JennaMark @Tan_trumps ITA (The Boys) -- Can I Gripe? If I may -- ALSO -- if you're David -- and you desperately LOVE Emily -- and desperately cannot live without Emily -- and desperately will do anything to get your Emily back -- would you open the convo w/ your kids as you sit in the living room with a STARTING line of: "Your Mom and I are DIVORCING"? Would you? I wouldn't. No. I'd say -- "Mom and I are separated -- and she has filed for divorce because I fcked up. She has a right to -- but I will always love her and hope she may reconsider -- but don't blame her because I did something very unforgiveable" -- at least something more like that, maybe? I don't buy that David (Mr. Top Trial Lawyer of the Century) just BEGINS the conversation w/: "hey kids - we're divorcing" -- any more than he begins his Opening Statements at trial w/: "My client is guilty." Just a gripe -- but that's not a man fighting for Emily. And - that's definitely not Mr. Trial Lawyer Extraordinaire's opening statement to his own kids -- not from a guy who wants to reconcile -- is it? Am I wrong????
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Re: ITA S, once again, you're spot on. David can’t finish those sentences without a ton more lying. It’s a challenge every time to imagine him as a successful lawyer because he’s unable to articulate anything. It seemed like the scene had very little reassurance for the kids, but of course, they never saw him before anyway. I thought the almost 16-yr-old wasn’t too bad on his dialogue… I liked the parting shot Was she worth it? They didn’t connect nearly as much as I’d hoped… for example, the NYC weekend, which was only about 5-6 weeks prior. Theo got a few lines in but he’s always been written as much younger than 12-13 years old. It didn’t help that there were several comments with no easy attribution as to who was speaking. Overall, David again got off too easy. The anger was good but not enough of it. The idiot talk was stupid. Teens are actually pretty quick to call you out when they see you’ve made a mistake. I agree that I couldn’t see teens using the language in the chapter (except the f-word). And “hooking up” would have been used. And David continues to make it obvious he doesn’t truly care about much other than he’s sorry he was caught and he “had ended it.” Every time he says that, it’s like he thinks it erases the seven months of his affair with Ava.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps - Nan's Comments on ITA I posted to T's page -- my comments on today's Chp. I felt parts of it were good - but felt it was a BIG let down to have 15yo Max explaining to 12yo Theo (who talks like he's 8-10yo in the universe of a Chicago-kid) that David was "just an idiot" for fooling around instead of choosing Ava over them and their mother. I was disappointed, because this is how 30 (and 40) yo men talk to "explain" that they "lost their head" by having an affair. It is NOT how pre-teens/teenagers talk -- because they don't understand how sexual affairs are described as idiocy by older men sowing their oats. It's an older perspective. So -- I felt it was a huge loss for Max NOT to call his father out for (1) never being home, (2) for being a shitty father and husband - which a 15yo would KNOW, and (3) CHOOSING the Mistress over THEM. Maybe Nan - you'll disagree. But, I will (fondly) take the challenge - I don't think teenagers would talk this way. (But, would Jerome - via the voice of a 41yo? Yes. An older speaker would.) As for David not finishing sentences - you know what that tells Readers like me? It tells me David cannot come up with words because he was totally into Ava - he was totally NOT into being married - he was totally NOT into being a father/dad/family man - and he's struggling to come up with words to explain his behavior (or to validate his "love" for Emily) since they're all radical lies. Another man - maybe one who legit broke up because he was over the Mistress (which was NOT what happened w/ David) - would be able to articulate after a few weeks something like: "I had a midlife crisis - I felt you didn't love me - I felt powerful and young w/ her - I loved the fantasy - but I didn't like the girl - so I dumped her and started counseling 3 weeks ago." David, by contrast? Can't finish the sentence -- and hasn't even bothered to call a counselor yet. So....yeah.
@WeekendReader @Tsaysshesays Silent Flames by Cate C Wells This is a dark romance — talk about toxic! He cheats on page in the first chapter, and is then such a horrible jerk, you want to get the sharp objects ready. But as the story unfolds, there are so many secrets and twists that the cheating isn’t the most shocking thing here. The H and the h are both mentally messed up in ways I’ve never read about. I’m not sure why, but eventually you see that they should stay together and be a family with their little girls. I like how the h does not feel his cheating is forgivable, because of course it isn’t. He wasn’t “sorry” in the traditional sense for a long time but I do think he learned to regret it. The story is nothing like anything I’ve ever read, and I’d actually recommend it just because of the sheer novelty of the plot. I believe it’s on Kindle Unlimited. It’s part of the series of 4 but there’s absolutely no need to read the others to read this one. If you want to give it a try, I do not think you’ll be bored!
@JennaMark Was Silent Flames one of our HEA books? I don't mind super flawed characters -- sometimes they're a lot of fun. But, it sounds like the H was unlikeable. Do you recommend the book?
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Lol! Emily cant drive it into Ava’s apartment because it’s now a total mystery where she lives! :) Forget employee records or David’s hundreds of visits! That Silent Flames wife was nuts and so interesting as a result. She was passive-aggressive, regular aggressive, conniving, snarky… I’ve never read a character like her. There were a few times I thought she might try to kill him, but she stopped herself. Too bad.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps -- I would have thoroughly enjoyed a scene like that in ITA! I forgot to mention earlier -- I, too, was annoyed how Emily was still sticking up for David when speaking to her children. Defending him -- downplaying things -- telling her kids to behave. She's just protecting him -- still. So -- Yeah - I would have LOVED to see her drive that Maybach right into Ava's apartment.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps TSH Sorry that I only rant lately… I cannot believe how the writer opted to absolutely destroy Ethan’s character in TSH. She’s making him an anxious, scattered, brainless fool. In a scene with Julia, she talked to and thought about with him such utter disrespect, it was diametrically opposed to where they started. She acted like their 10+ years were a complete waste of her time. AND, if she and Saint are going to be flinging his 20 minutes with Lila in his face in EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION then I was it had been a freaking massively hot love affair because it sure was not worth how they mention it every single day. It’s unbelievable that people are being killed all around them and his mistakes are always in the discussions. I wish he’d walk far away from all of them, but like I’ve said, since the writer has completely destroyed who he is, her killing him off would greatly sadden me and yet seem on point for this train wreck story. As I’ve said, I’m VERY sick of these writers who kill their own work. And I’m also tired of readers cheering them on as they make terrible literary choices. It’s impossible to trust a writer who cannot write consistent characterizations.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps I’m already aggravated — he taught his kid to ride a bike on a gravel driveway? A completely uneven surface? Where the kid would get hurt on all the rocks if he fell? Really?! The sycophants are doing this writer and the Frustrated author a real disservice.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps LEARNING TO RIDE ON GRAVEL Thaaaaaannnnk you, for noting this, N! I caught it, too, and thought -- what A-hole of a father teaches a kid to ride on gravel (which is uneven and harder for balance) AND tears the crap out of your skin when you fall?!!! I caught it immediately -- thank you for pointing it out!
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Frustrated as all get-out - Warning, mean words ahead So before I check the ITA chapter I am suddenly fearful of, I fast-fast-skimmed Frustrated. It’s over. Maya got out of jail early. The dad had a stroke and was completely paralyzed and could only blink. Ceci had three kids with the new guy. And Colin had no girlfriend EVER. She even wrote him as having white hair showing up at age 48. Years after the divorce, Ceci and A were still rude to him. Ethan was polite but never fully forgave him. I’m sorry but WTAF… ?? Yes, he had an affair he shouldn’t have, but to have him ruined and alone forever, not even forgiven by son some five years later? I’ve never read such narrow-minded, unhappy closure. Give me a break that she DARED to put a redemption tag on a book yet held a grudge to the words THE END. I’ve never seen anything like it. I will absolutely be giving the worst ratings I can when she dares to publish it. What is wrong that we have one author that glorifies the affair partner to the detriment of every other single person… and another book that ensures the affair person is punished and alone for the rest of his life? Honestly, both are so extreme, making both of their works equally impossible to like. My negative reactions to books are generally pretty limited. I’ve had some I didn’t like and wouldn’t reread. But I actually hate that author for misleading, baiting and switching, and refusing to let a character move forward despite their every effort to repent, change, improve, and rehabilitate. And the people in the comments who are still holding grudges against the character after five book years scare me. Forgiveness and second chances apparently do not exist in their worlds. Along those lines, I do have comments on Enzio, so I’ll circle back to that too. Have you ever seen GroveltoHEA jump in in defense of a character like she is with Enzio? I think she’s a bit peeved.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Re: “I Hate Cheating Men” You and my son are 100% aligned on the author’s issues. I forgot to mention… at the end of the book, Ceci and Alexander had another baby and they were so excited because it was a “Full Circle Moment” to the DATE they FIRST MET — first met in the HAMPTONS — when she was still married!! So, once again, it underlined that Ceci was already eyes open for an exit strategy long before she knew anything about Colin. I hate how people think she’s the only one worthy of a happy ending.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps -- Frustrated Should be Re-Titled "I Hate Cheatin' Men" Then - sure -- I might enjoy this book during a break up. But, otherwise? A little balance would've been nice. I think your son is right -- the author is absolutely still working through current rage toward whoever wronged her. She has not healed.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Frustrated I could only skim myself but in the Epilogues, they were still cold, rude, and dismissive with Colin when he was picking up Alicia. Alexander kept thinking throughout how he was so much of a better man, etc. Well, as you said before, let us know in 17 years of living with that “my way or the highway” cold witch. Colin was a faithful husband and good provider for a long time (and Ceci, Ethan, and Alicia ALL gained mightily from his efforts) yet he will never deserve anything good in life as a result of those 5 bad months, according to them and the author. My son agreed with you exactly on the Me, Me, Me. He hasn’t even read it and when I briefly shared the hospital scene, he said, there’s nothing that woman can’t make about herself. He thinks the writer has a lot of unresolved issues to make Colin prematurely grey and alone forever, and to paralyze the dad so drastically. I cannot disagree. The author seems to think she’s done a great job because the same people keep commenting about how great it is. But a drop off of 90% of the readers is a large change and shouldn’t be ignored. Anyway, it’s only on Wattpad for a few more days. I’ll try hard to stop stewing about it. Thank you for letting me rant. Oh, there’s a follow-up story with Ethan as the lead. He’s as bitter as ever in the Prologue. Kid needed a much, much better therapist.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Welcome me to the Terrible Side! SO, apparently the Colin torturer is going to publish the first part of Frustrated on Kindle. (The author is STILL ruining his life even though it's been about 15 book months, he's done therapy and everything right, and Ceci's moved on big-time to the new guy and is happily rubbing her new sex life in Colin's face. Ceci continues to be a cold witch.) Anyway, I cannot wait to see how she markets Part 1 of that story. If there's even a shred of misleading info, I will be posting negative reviews on KU and GR. No way should she be allowed to lie to other people. My Terrible Side is ready to play.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Re: Frustrated Chp 57 Thank you!! Yes — the me, me, me was what got me. She’s in a hospital room with her incapacitated father (who she hasn’t seen in months) and made it ALL about her!! You wouldn’t even think that could be possible, yet she did it. She is selfish, unkind, cold, and judgmental. I don’t read any of the Alexander stuff… I agree, I get icked and the two of them hold ZERO appeal to me. Colin cheated for 5 months… now 15 months later, they’re acting like it was yesterday. If it weren’t for Alicia, he could’ve moved far away. Thank you so much for putting yourself through that for me. You made total sense of it!
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps Frustrated, Chp 57 I stopped reading the book long ago -- but I skimmed and see that the author has taken the "once a cheater, always a cheater" theme -- presumably to let the reader know Cecilia was smart to dump cheating Colin. And - Cecilia was an a-hole to her mother to take this opportunity to condemn her mother as a loser and claim she's never been there for her. Me, Me, Me. In her 30's -- her behavior is selfish and unkind. Every time I read Alexander -- I get icked out. I just don't like him whatsoever.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Wish for a favor... If/when you have a spare moment, I wish you gals would skim Frustrated chapter 57... Ceci's dad had a stroke and is in the hospital and Ceci goes in and just SHREDS the mom. She obliterates her in the hospital room with the sedated father right there. I really want other opinions because I was floored by her timing. The mom is a bizarre character but Ceci is a relentlessly judgmental witch, IMHO. But maybe I'm not seeing it clearly? Apparently, the book is done this week. I still am meanly observing that comments dropped to 10% of what they used to be. 80 vs. 800.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps Touching Base Hey, S, hope the luncheon went well! I'm sneaking in reading updates when I can... I loved forceful Selene wanting to see her son! I'm behind on R&R. Hey, T, I tried to read that Silent book by Eve Black and I gave up at some point. Here's what got me... The "betrayal" was a few (several? Not sure, got bored waiting) chapters in. And the H came home and just went bats*** on her verbally for no apparent reason. She ran out of the house upset -- without bringing a coat, purse, or phone. She goes to her literary agent's house, where she gets a burner phone and a small amount of cash. She runs away to one of her estates she owns with her husband. From there, she calls her bestie on the burner phone. The bestie is her husband's SISTER-IN-LAW. Yep, she called someone *directly* connected to her husband! Needless to say, he found her in less than three days. He finds her and using only sweet words, convinces her to come home. Apparently screaming at her and telling her he married her because she was a worthless dupe can be forgiven in a few sentences. WHAT? I think I gave up mid his speech. Oh, and the couple where the guy cheats in book 4? In this book, they're arguing "off to the side" in each scene, and the brothers suspect he's up to no good. Anyway, I need to get back to work... it's going to be a crazy few days trying to meet deadlines. Your "censored" recaps are very much welcome. The torture scenes seem to be my biggest problem.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps ITA SELFISH Is this book telling me David waited until almost 1 in the morning on the weekend to tell Jerome the truth?! Tell me I’m misunderstanding that. And for this whole book, it’s been about poor tired Jerome with the new baby… so we finally hope the baby is sleeping better and David wakes Jerome up to confess something that’s been happening for seven months??? Please tell me David is not THAT selfish. He is literally getting worse in every single chapter. And BTW, that pen — used for important deals — would be in his freaking office. Not at home. She has no logic with these characters and what they would be doing.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps -- ITA was a little "off" -- I'm not the only one, right? And - I don't catch what you do, Nancy, on Chicago -- because I just don't know the city that well. But, it would REALLY BUG me if I were you because it takes so little research by an author to make sure her story works (assuming she doesn't really know the city she's chosen to base her story). I know when I read stories based in LA that feel like they have been written by someone who has never visited (and never visited Google to orient themselves) -- it is so jarring. I remember one book where they were leaving DTLA (downtown LA) after work -- on a work week -- and walking in a bar in Newport Beach 20 minutes later -- and I was like, "you mean 2 hours and 20 minutes later (on a light day of traffic). It's lazy writing. Anyway -- so Ava walks to work -- in heels -- and it's a 3 mile walk 1 way. Got it. Google maps for the US does work in Europe where this author lives, no???
@WeekendReader @Tsaysshesays ITA and ANOTHER THING It’s like there’s a time warp, yet as you said, it was like 5 days ago!! It was jarring to me because she said lived 10 blocks from office and Lincoln Park is almost 3 miles away so I don’t think those match up. I’ll go back later and look at where he bought the flowers and check again… but it looks like it was an idiot comment on his part, and incorrect in the story? His “we broke up” sure is supposed to excuse a lot of sins, isn’t it?
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps --ITA...AND ANOTHER THING! i forgot -- did it drive any of you NUTS like me that when Jerome confronted where Ava lives (and if she still lives there) -- and David was all like "uhhhh....I dunno if she still lives there." WTF, David? You fckd 3x a week at her apartment -- you probably have a "drawer" there w/ your underwear -- and you broke up like 5 days ago. WHAT DO YOU MEAN you don't know if she still lives there?! Oh - and did you notice when Jerome asked if they have been fcking in the office for 7 mos -- David's answer "we broke up." What a loser.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trump ITA new chapter — , " . . . JC, . **** f****** *****." (I’m censoring that for myself.) So, finally Jerome wakes up. Here’s the thing… Jerome has been completely worthless this entire story. He’s been oblivious. I get maybe a month of new baby tiredness but NOW, even the baby is probably smart enough to recognize the office affair! The words in the teaser are strong (and offensive!!) but Jerome needs to maintain that intensity of anger for an entire chapter. David has jeopardized everything with the firm AND their personal relationships. Jerome adores Emily, and so does his wife. This creates a multilayered mess. Jerome should absolutely refuse to honor Ava’s promotion but there’s a legal mess. I’m just wary of getting too excited because Jerome has been a letdown since the beginning. Not noticing anything?! And waiting days after the process server without aggressively looking for answers? Unreal. You can tell this is fiction because there’s No Way these two idiots are hugely successful in corporate law. Finally, a Montblanc pen in the title? The brand name dropping has gone from intriguing to annoying.
@JennaMark @Tan_Trumps - ITA Teaser I don't do FB -- but it sounds like Jerome finally finds out and hands David his tail? Good. But for David being such a huge rainmaker (bringing $$$ into the firm) -- he'd be fired for this. And, in Book 1, David describes Jerome as his moral conscience -- and one who is far tougher on David than he needs to be. So, I'd like that Jerome to show up. You're right -- too -- the constant references to name brands is becoming tiresome the more David is written like a petty, uncaring, a-hole. So, everything about him annoys me now.
@WeekendReader @Tan_trumps ITA teaser Sorry, I didn’t realize FB text doesn’t copy/paste correctly. Friday, Chapter 7 teaser Five boxes, a pair of cuff links, and a Montblanc pen “You just threw a live grenade into my life. Into our firm. Into everything we built. J*C*, David. JFC” I object to the word “just”… he didn’t just do it. He’s been doing it repeatedly for over seven months.
