Sunday, April 6, 2014

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: MY SWEETEST ESCAPE by CHELSEA M. CAMERON

My Sweetest Escape (My Favorite Mistake, #2)Series: My Favorite Mistake #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: 1/28/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 363
Source: Publisher
Rating: 2.5 stars

The past will always find you.

Jos Archer was the girl with the perfect life; until the night it all came crashing down around her. Now, nine months later, she still hasn't begun to pick up the pieces. Even transferring to a new college and living under the watchful eye of her older sister, Renee, isn't enough to help her feel normal again.

And then she meets Dusty Sharp. For reasons Jos can't begin to fathom, the newly reformed campus bad boy seems determined to draw her out of her shell. And if she's not careful, his knowing green eyes and wicked smile will make her feel things she's no longer sure she deserves.

But even as Dusty coaxes Jos to open up about the past, he's hiding secrets of his own. Secrets about the night her old life fell apart. When the truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together;or tear them apart for good?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17279511-my-sweetest-escape?from_search=true

I looked forward to reading My Sweetest Escape, but unfortunately, it didn't really work for me. I didn't hate it by any stretch, but I found the heroine to be extremely hard to get behind and the plot to be too slow-paced for my liking.

This book had lots and lots of snark. Jos's voice is very similar to Taylor's from My Favorite Mistake. So if you like Taylor you'll likely enjoy Jos. If you wished Taylor would cut the shit, you'll probably wish the same of Jos. Though her life is in upheaval, the first two hundred pages is mostly mundane daily tasks, less than exciting conversations, and lots of inner dialogue. Jos also made multiple references about a "time before....everything." I really wanted less vague references and just let me know what happened and if it's worth putting up with her snark. Oh, and she was extremely prone to getting upset and running out of the room a lot, leaving someone to chase her down, and convince to come back out. Over and again.

Jos's sister Renee is a complete ass. She was controlling, hateful, and plain rude. I mean, who tells Hunter to shut up in his own house? I've never understood why people let one person terrorize them and just boss everyone around. Renee is that person. And my gosh, I have a really hard time buying anyone taking that kind of bullying and nagging from their sibling, especially someone like Jos. It was just over the top.

I did like Hunter and (a much nicer) Taylor, as well as Mase.

Dusty was nice and sweet and yes, vague. Of course he used to be a man-whore, and of course he has secrets. The big secret though kind of fell flat for me, and I'm not sure why other than it was really convenient. Honestly, though, this poor guy got screamed at so much by Jos, and then Renee would threaten him without knowing what the hell she was talking about, that I felt pretty bad for him. Dusty, I hope she's worth the hearing damage, man.

In the end, I can handle hard-to-like characters, I really can. But if that's the case, I need more plot or the promise of something great. My Sweetest Escape, though, didn't have a strong plot. It's a character-driven story with a few really hard to like characters. I will say the back-end of the book had more momentum. And while I wasn't on board with everything, I did think the ending was really sweet.

Bottom line: If you liked the tone of My Favorite Mistake, and like a slower-paced story, My Sweetest Escape may work for you.


Here is a positive GoodReads review from Katie.





My Favorite Mistake Series
 
My Favorite Mistake (My Favorite Mistake, #1)  My Sweetest Escape (My Favorite Mistake, #2)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 








Purchase Links
    Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks




GIVEAWAY
Open to US only; must be 18+ years of age. 
About the author
  
Chelsea M. CameronChelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.
 

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24 comments:

  1. Strong, sweet, amazing guys but bitchy over bearing heroines? I see a pattern. I loved Hunter in MFM. Great review babe

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  2. I'm sorry but I haven't read this series. It does look like one that I should add to my list.

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  3. I haven't read this series yet but its on my TBR.

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  4. I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list.

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  5. Sorry this one didn't work for you Andrea! But I really appreciate your honesty. I have this series, but haven't gotten to them yet. I'm not sure I like the sound of Jos, based on what you've described, and I definitely will hate Renee. I do look forward to meeting Hunter and Dusty though. Excellent review friend!

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  6. I have not read this one, but I would like to!

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  7. :( This makes me sad. I'm sure I'd feel similar. I don't like characters like Renee and she would ruin this for me. Great review.

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  8. ugha inner monologue.. well that's unfortunate.

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  9. I haven't read this series. But I think it sounds really good, and I'd love to read it.

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  10. I haven't read this series yet either but it sounds great :) Thanks for sharing!

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  11. I have not had a chance to read the series but it is on my TBR list.

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  12. I read My Favorite Mistake and loved it!! Have really been looking forward to My Sweetest Escape because Chelsea rocks and I know this book will be just as spellbinding as the first.

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  13. I have read My Favorite Mistake, and I LOVED it! Hope to win! Thank you for the chance!

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  14. I have read My Favorite Mistake and loved it. I haven't read My Sweetest Escape yet. Thank for the giveaway!

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  15. I haven't read it yet, but I'm dying to!

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  16. Sorry this one didn't work for you. It is so hard to enjoy a book when you hate the characters and it's character driven. Thanks for the honest review.

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  17. Ooh, so sorry this one didn't trip your trigger, Andrea. I think I can understand though, after reading your review. And you did a great job of explaining what didn't work for you as well as what little did. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, hon!

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  18. I have this to read, but haven't started yet. I typically enjoy Chelsea Cameron's books, but I have noticed that her character seem to be snarky - which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I am going to put this one on the back burner for now. Thanks for the honest and informative review.

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  19. not yet but it's on my list of summer reading!

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  20. I just judged that book by its totally hot cover :)

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  21. Too much inner dialogue bores me. Jos sounds really whinny, and Renee sounds like a bully. It's hard to enjoy a story when the characters are annoying. It's disappointing when the big reveal or surprise in a story falls flat! Thanks for sharing :)

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  22. Oh man, I still have to read this. Sucks you didn't enjoy it very much. Hoping it works for me.

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  23. Since we chatted about this one, I skimmed your review. I have this, but I'm not sure I want to read it now. :/

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