Short Take Reviews: The Dark Light of Day, Risky Play, Filthy Vows


Three reviews that run the gamut from good to medium to... meh.

  

I’ve had Frazier’s King series on my TBR for years but I chose to start with The Dark Light of Day because it happened to be available on audio via the Hoopla app. I was in the mood for something dark and twisted and Frazier delivered (although, to be honest, I had expected even darker). Abby and Jake are both seriously damaged characters, with backgrounds that had long lasting effects and shaped who they were. Abby found herself unexpectedly on her own and when she and Jake meet it’s a case of two lonely, damaged people recognizing each other. Their story was unconventional but I totally bought in to their connection. But it’s not like things turned rosy once Abby and Jake were together. Outside forces (and their reactions to them) wreaked havoc with their lives. This was far from a “typical” romance and didn’t follow the usual conventions. I’m not even sure Jake could be considered an anti-hero much less an actual hero, but he did have his own (some would say skewed) sense of morality and justice. Frazier didn’t shy away from showing the darker side of human nature, or from putting her characters through hell, and some scenes were downright  disturbing. But it was just what I wanted at the time and I’ll definitely be reading more from Frazier. 

Risky Play is the rather unlikely tale of an heiress who is ditched at the altar, months later has a one night stand in Mexico, and returns to the States only to find herself employed as the guy’s personal assistant. Now there’s a lot here that stretches the imagination. Like the fact that Mackenzie was 30 years old, she and her fiancé had been together for years, and yet she was still a virgin. Not saying it couldn’t happen… but really? Also, she was an heiress, and a highly paid sommelier at her father’s wine empire, and yet when she decided to take a break after the wedding-that-wasn’t, she got a job as a personal assistant. She’s a millionaire heiress, why would she take a job as a P.A.??? Sure, it made for a convenient plot device, but it also made zero sense. Beyond the believability issues, Risky Play was actually a fun story. Mackenzie was likable and her insecurity issues were understandable and relatable. She also took no crap from Slade. Which was good because Slade spent the first quarter of the book being a total jerk. Once he came around he was a fun mix of cocky and charming and I really enjoyed the interactions between he and Mackenzie. Their banter was great and it felt almost like a second-chance romance since their initial tryst ended so badly. With a couple of great side characters adding to the story, namely Slade’s manager Matt and his teammate Jagger, this one ended up being an enjoyable read.

FILTHY VOWS by Alessandra Torre | 3 STARS (more like 2.75)
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting with Filthy Vows – I mean, with a title like Filthy Vows you kind of know what you’re going to get, right? – but somehow I expected more. Overall I felt like not a whole lot happened. Elle and Easton met in college and with Easton being drafted by a major league baseball team, their future seemed golden. Fast forward a couple years and things are vastly different. Easton’s career ended with an injury, they were in debt and living beyond their means, and Elle was devastated by infertility issues. She also had incredibly detailed sexual fantasies. (Supposedly a side effect of the fertility medication?  I just went with it.) To be honest, her fantasies grew tiresome. The reader is in Elle’s head a lot which was boring and also not a lot of fun because Elle wasn’t all that likable. She was a bit of a prima donna. I was also confused by Elle and Easton’s relationship. Inwardly she talked about him like he was sheer perfection and how their marriage was so rock solid, but their interactions were filled with petty bickering and she acted like a total princess most of the time. So the story plodded along with Elle and her fantasies until finally she opened up to Easton and they agreed to make one a reality. They did and… boom, story over. It was kind of open-ended and there is a follow-on book but I don’t think I care enough to find out what happened after.


Have you read any of these books?


30 comments

  1. The DarkLight of Day sounds like one I’d enjoy. Risky Play does too. Hope you have a great weekend!

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    1. The Dark Light of Day was plenty dark at times but I was so in the mood for that. And Risky Play was fun - once I got past the "oh come on, I'm not buying that" issues. LOL

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  2. I haven't read any of these but I do love immersing myself into a Frazier book. She does some great dark romance that is captivating. For some reason Torre's books haven't appealed to me that much maybe one day I will grab her up. :)

    Great mini reviews

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    1. The Dark Light of Day was my first by Frazier but definitely won't be my last. I'm ready to dive into the King series now. Filthy Vows was my first by Torre and it didn't wow me (obviously). But I've also heard that it is unlike her other stuff so I might still try something else by her.

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  3. Risky Play was definitely the most unlikely story ever and you have to have to suspend your belief and then some lol. But I enjoyed it too ♥.
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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    1. LOL It really was, Jen, but I just went with it and enjoyed it for what it was. :)

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  4. You weren't lying. These are kind of all over the place in terms of quality, but I'm glad you got something different from each one.

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    1. They really were, but there was something to enjoy in each of them and I'm good with that. :)

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  5. I loved The Dark Light of the Day! I read it when she published it for the first time.

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    1. I loved how Frazier made me totally okay with falling for a killer. lol

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  6. I have not yet read The Dark Light of Day. I need to remedy that because I've read the rest of the King series.
    I read Filthy Vows... the next part gives that more you were probably expecting. There are other books of hers that I enjoyed more.

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    1. I'm excited to continue on with the King series. I don't know about Twisted Marriage... I'm not sure I care enough. LOL

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  7. Haven't read any of these but my attention span is basically 0 right now.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Same here, Karen. I've had to be super choosy about what I read because otherwise I'm struggling with my reading.

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  8. If I was an heiress, I probably would not work, and why would I want to be a PA? The whole setup for the book is sort of laughable, but honestly, I would probably read it anyway. I don't need it to be believable, as long as it's entertaining.

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    1. Right? I mean, in reality should would have her own PA, not spend her time walking someone else's dog and doing their laundry. But, like you mentioned, if I like the characters and the story I can usually set aside believability issues and just go with a lot. :)

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  9. The Dark Light of Day sounds really good. I've been mostly sticking with lighter reads these days but will definitely keep it in mind for when I'm in the mood for dark and twisty. Sorry the other two books were great reads for you.

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    1. I haven't been much in the mood for dark reads lately, either. But when I read The Dark Light of Day back in February it was just what I wanted.

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  10. The Dark Light of Day sounds like a book that I would enjoy. I like unconventional romance, as well as conventional. The characters sound like they would be interesting to read about, especially Jake, with his skewed sense of morality! I've never read anything by Frazier, but am adding this author to my TBR. Thanks for sharing :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. I hope you'll like The Dark Light of Day if you decide to give t a try, Lindy. Jake was an interesting character, for sure!

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  11. Well the reviews started well and they went downhill. The Dark Light Of Day sounds dark and a very different to my usual romance but I am interested by these characters and everything they've been through. I just want to see what happens I might check it out because why not? And ugh to the MC in Risky Play being a virgin in her 30s. I mean, she had a long engagement and we're meant to expect she's a virgin? I hate that part alone about that book but then she's an heiress who decides to work as a PA? Nope, don't believe it. I can't suspend my disbelief that much. I think the rest sounds good but I just couldn't. As for Filthy Vows? Yeah, I'm giving that one a wide berth, nothing sounds like I'll enjoy it.

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    1. The Dark Light of Day definitely got dark and graphic but it was exactly what I wanted at the time. And now I really want to continue on with the King series.

      The Van Dyken book totally strained believability. Beyond that it was nice enough, but it's hard to get past a 30 year old millionaire virgin working as a PA. LOL

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  12. Rachel Van Dykens books have always been hit or miss for me and I stopped reading her a few years ago so am completely out of the loop on her newer ones. From the sounds of it, nothing much has changed! lol

    I'm curious about Frazier's books and own King but haven't read it. I didn't realise dark and twisted was her "thing" I assumed it was just the one series! Who knew? :)

    Torres is one I've never tried... Don't think I'm in a hurry to after your review of this one! Maybe some of her others books are better?

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    1. Too bad I didn't talk to you first, Nicci. LOL The Van Dyken book wasn't bad by any means but it also wasn't anything memorable. I probably won't seek her stuff out.

      I think T.M. Frazier's books all are on the dark side. And there was definitely some triggering content in The Dark Light of Day (for those that would be sensitive to it).

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  13. T.M.Frazier is an author I've been curious about. Not sure if I want a darker romance right now, though. Rachel Van Dyken's stories haven't wowed me, didn't hate them, but didn't love them either. I'll pass on Filthy Vows. :)

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    1. Yeah, the Rachel Van Dyken books was fine, but she's not one I'll make a point to seek out again.

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  14. I have not read T.M. Frazier before but The Dark Light of Day sounds good. I will have to add it to my favorite on Hoopla for the next time I am browsing. I have only read part one of Rachel Van Dyken's books. This one sounds good but I do agree that parts sound very unbelievable. I don't think that Filthy Vows is going to be one for me.

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    1. If you're in the mood for something darker, and don't mind some graphic/disturbing content, I definitely recommend The Dark Light of Day. I thought it was great.

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  15. It looks like you were wanting a bit of dark and gritty but just got mediocre. I haven't read a Frazier book yet, but like you I've been wanting to read the King series I hear so much about. I have read Dyken and Torre but not these specific books.

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    1. I'm not sure why The Dark Light of Day is considered King #0 but I'm looking forward to finding out once I actually start King and the rest of the series.

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