book recs, author services, general badassery
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Remedy
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Remedy
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
Picture

Night Shifts Black by Alyson Santos

6/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Publication date: 03/20/2016
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: I dunno

This is another one of those beautifully written books that I couldn’t finish reading. The writing itself flows nicely, the pacing is good, the characters are intriguing, and the dialogue is fresh and snappy. So, why a DNF rating? Well, it’s like this…

This is a little spoilery, but nothing you wouldn’t see already on the other Goodreads and Amazon reviews, so let me just say that when I see a man’s name in the book blurb of a romance novel, I assume that man is the hero. So, I get all invested in him and start to care about his HEA with the heroine. When stuff starts shifting at around the 35% mark of the book and I realize that the male character—who’s name was in the blurb, mind you—is actually NOT the hero, I feel a little deceived. Like my time’s been wasted learning about a guy who isn’t the hero. And a blogger who feels like her time’s been wasted and that she’s been deceived is not a happy blogger.
But honestly, even before all that nonsense, I was pretty sure I was going to DNF this book. Luke (aka: guy who I became invested in who IS NOT THE HERO) is a complete trainwreck. Not brooding and angsty in a sexy way. I’m talking emotionally FUBAR, to the point that I’m not entirely convinced he wouldn’t hurt the heroine. When she shows up at his hotel room after he’s displayed lots of freaky, kind of disturbed behavior, I was side-eyeing her pretty hard, wondering what the hell she could possibly be thinking. I don’t care how handsome the dude is, a smart girl would NEVER go the hotel room of a disturbed individual who has been carrying on conversations with an empty chair for the first 30% of the book.

On a positive note, there’s a description of depression somewhere around the 28%-30% of the story that is the most eloquent I’ve ever read. It should be printed in all psychology textbooks, in my opinion.

And on a final positive note, there’s nothing wrong with the guy who actually IS the hero of the book. He’s a decent dude, swoon-worthy and sexy in his own not-crazy way. He just wasn’t swoon-worthy and sexy enough for me to get over my feelings of betrayal.

Long-story-short: technically, there’s nothing wrong with this book. It’s a beautifully written mind-fuck. A more open-minded reader could probably enjoy the crap out of this one. (Haters of angst should stay far, far away, though.)        

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s not stigma-y at all. It’s just not my cuppa.     

Other reading suggestions
For an angsty, tortured rocker in a romance that totally works on all levels, try Scarlett Cole’s Lennon Reborn. ​

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Romance Rehab newsletter sign up

    FOLLOW US 
    Reedsy Top Book Reviewer 2019

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

Picture

BLOG
FREE Romance books
​Book Recommendations

Our Thoughts
1-Click Wonders
5-Star Reads
Authors on Authors
Chattin' with Authors
So You're New To...
What Not to Read
REVIEWS
​
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
New Adult Romance
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Erotica
Romantic Suspense
Teen/Young Adult
ABOUT
Contact
Review Policy
Guest Post Guidelines
Advertising on
​Romance Rehab

​
FOR AUTHORS
Online Writer's Resources
Proofreading Test
ROMANCE AUTHOR SERVICES 
Romance novel blurb help
Romance Remedy program

Referral program

Romance author services
  • Book cover critique
  • Animated book covers and social media graphics
  • Beta reading
FREE Romance Rehab newsletter: ​Subscribe here
KnockinBooks LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
​© 2020 KnockinBooks LLC