Books That Didn't Make the Cut Pt.13

Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.

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The Disappearance of Catherine Brodie by Grace Harper

My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary New Adult Romance

BLURB - Catherine Brodie has a happy life in Brighton, she has friends, a secret boyfriend and almost at the end of her law degree. However, everything changes when she reaches her twentieth birthday. She tells a white lie to get out of a family dinner to celebrate her birthday and sneaks off to a party. The repercussions upend her secure and stable life. Two weeks later, she attends the funeral of her brother and parents. Each birthday following sends Catherine into turmoil with more heartache and misery. There are those that wish her harm. Alexander Devlin was there the night of her birthday and by coincidence, he crosses paths with her every year. Catherine dismisses the coincidence, but her best friend Tara Adkins is convinced fate is throwing them together. The first novel of a new quartet that tells the story of Catherine Brodie and her struggle to come to terms with what she did that had far-reaching consequences. It is an epic tale of love, passion, and revenge. Devastated with her loss, Catherine carves out a new life and starting her own business. The group of friends she picks up along the way helps her hide from those who wish her harm. It doesn't take long for her harasser to find her and make her life a misery once more. The question is, will Alexander Devlin be there in time to save her?

Where do I even start?
The heroine was a mess. She was 20, living at home, and I'm guessing the story was supposed to have this 'coming of age' feel about it, but I didn't get any of that. All I got was an immature person who tried to act grown up and kept reverting to childhood. It was weird and I couldn't, in good conscience, continue. Nothing about this book appealed to me and I'm still a little upset by the many times it was recommended to me! It was so bad (for me) that I couldn't even give the hero or the romance a chance.

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His Virgin by Vivian Wood

My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary Romance

BLURB - Whatever she wants, I want it ten times harder.
My name is Elijah Scott, and I’m going to be your next president. I’m a rich, ripped, and ready to conquer the campaign trail. When it comes to women, I’m not looking for anything serious. Not now, not ever.
Until I see Meredith.
The sweet little blonde with curves in all the right places. One look into those beautiful blue eyes, and I can’t help imagining how her hips would fit just right in my hands.
I’ll never forget the secret she whispers in my ear: she’s never been with anyone before. She’s a temptation I can’t resist.
She’s fresh out of college, just twenty-two years old and on the campaign trail with me… as a reporter. One leak exposed by Meredith, and my entire future goes up in flames.
As my secrets pile up, I can’t stop fantasizing about Meredith. She’s dangerous, a risk I can’t afford… but her taste, her voice moaning my name over and over… I can’t stop. Worse, I don’t want to watch her walk away.

You'd read that blurb and think hot and sexy too, right? Wrong!
Not hot. Not sexy. Not good. Not worth it.
Which sounds bad, but honest.
It was recommended on both Goodreads and Amazon, so I thought I'd try it.
My bad.

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Nero by Sarah Brianne

My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary Mafia Romance

BLURB - Nero is the king of Legacy Prep, living a life of power.
Elle is the school’s punching bag, living a life of fear.
The only good girls Nero knows jump in his bed when he tells them to.
The closest Elle has come to a bad boy like him is in the cafeteria line.
The mob boss gave him orders to find out what she knows.
Her mouth is sealed.

Hey! Everyone who told me that because I love mafia romance, I'll love this series...

I can't unread what I've seen.

Why did this chick, Elle, do nothing to hold my attention?
She was completely flat. Aside from being bullied and protecting her friend from being bullied more, she didn't exist. She had no personality, no character, no depth. And you expect me to punish myself with more of this?

It was bad enough that this story is set in high school. It was even worse that the trope was so familiar to me (like I haven't read tons of stories with the EXACT same set up). But the fact that Elle was the primary storyteller...