Comments on: Review: Holy Smokes (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 4) by Katie MacAlister

By: Devon

Devon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:32:51 +0000

Is it just me or does ’step’ parents marrying seem…. squicky.

I just found it majorly confusing. I felt like I had missed backstory somewhere. And it seems I did–Thanks, Sylvia! I just didn’t know why he was referred to as her stepfather sometimes and father others.

When I first discovered Katie MacAlister, I really enjoyed her sense of humor and didn’t find it forced. I’m not enjoying her more recent titles, and I’m thinking that the fact that she always uses first person makes for a similarity in tone that feels overdone and forced.

The Corset Diaries was the only contemporary of hers that I enjoyed, but I don’t remember the details. My favorite of the “Dark Ones” is Sex, Lies and Vampires.

By: Sybil

Sybil — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:30:10 +0000

Is it just me or does ’step’ parents marrying seem…. squicky.

Loved MiK, couldn’t finish TCD. LOL But you must member I don’t do much funny in my romance novels. I find her somewhat slapstick but have been collecting these to try… youknow… one day.

By: Bev(QB)

Bev(QB) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:20:20 +0000

Lisabea, I know EXACTLY what you mean– sometimes her humor seems too deliberate, like she thought “Oh! It’s now time to write an oh-so-wacky scene” but the Aisling Grey series has stayed relatively clear of it (until now).

I LOVED Men in Kilts and it was so understated, wasn’t it? And The Corset Diaries has the single most funny, scream-out-loud-with-laughter (and I did) scene I’ve read in ANY book. EVER! I will always love KatieMac for that scene alone. If you’ve read it, you know EXACTLY what I mean, and if you haven’t read it, there will be no mistaking which scene I’m referring to.

*barking spiders indeed*

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:33:53 +0000

Oh, the step-parent thing that confused me too but I have it figured out know… Her stepfather was married to her mother and her stepmother married to her father, ok stating the obvious I know. So Aisling mother and father both died then her stepfather and stepmother married eachother so they both are her step parents.

I haven’t finished it either as (wow) Aisling is coming across as pretty dumb. I’m more interested in the bad guys.

By: Sybil

Sybil — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:37:07 +0000

ohhhh lisabea I loved Men in Kilts! Only one really. Haven’t read this series yet.

By: lisabea

lisabea — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:29:38 +0000

Hey Devon! Love the burying the bone link.:)

As stated previously, I roll my eyes when book titles have the name Chance in them. So unless Ghost of a Chance is exceptional, I can’t see myself buying it. I’ve had difficulty getting into her recent books. They’re a little too, um, forced in their cleverness. Which is sad because, as I recall, I liked Corset Diaries an awful lot.

By: Bev(QB)

Bev(QB) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:46:57 +0000

UGH! That’s so disappointing! I’ve got this near the top of my TBR mountain, but it sounds like I shouldn’t be in any hurry to get to it.

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:54:25 +0000

It took me a week to read, which is unusual for me. And for her books.

By: Angela James

Angela James — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:54:17 +0000

I’ve been “reading” this book for almost a month. I pick it up every so often and read a few pages. It’s definitely not the strongest offering in the series.

The father/stepfather thing, I totally noticed too. I had to go back and reread a few times. I think he’s her father, Paula is the stepmother.

In a way, Aisling reminds me of Stephanie Plum, but I don’t think the series or the incidents are as funny, so Aisling doesn’t come off as well in her cluelessness, as Stephanie Plum can (and I still get impatient with Stephanie so imagine how I get to feeling about Aisling).

I think a C is a fair grade.