I read so many books that I am sometimes amazed that I like almost all of them. Usually I can find something to latch onto even if the overall story doesn’t do it for me.
But it was bound to happen sooner or later. Y’know, finding a book that I just couldn’t get behind. Unfortunately, this is that book.
Now, I do have to start with a mention that I greatly admire authors. They have a talent that is unique, and it takes a lot of guts to share that talent and open themselves to criticism.
I’ll also say that just because this book didn’t do it for me, doesn’t mean that one of you won’t love it. Everyone has different tastes. So please take this as it should be: my opinions on what the book did (or didn’t) do for me.
It took me forever to get into the plot. I spent the first few chapters trying to figure out exactly what was going on, and I could not get a grip on it. I’m all for an author not revealing secrets, or building slowly to a reveal. But I was so lost on this one that it put constantly on the wrong foot. I didn’t have anything to latch onto to help pull me to that revelation where everything would suddenly make sense.
And once that reveal occurred, it caused me to have even more questions (instead of being an “Aha!” moment where things all of a sudden make sense). You know the premise from the blurb, but it still didn’t clarify a whole lot as I read further.
With paranormal romance (or paranormal anything) there has to be a certain amount of belief in the supernatural, as well as a suspension of disbelief. I’m really into the supernatural, so I usually don’t have a problem with that. But for some reason, and I think it’s because the beginning put me in the wrong frame of mind, I kept questioning the relationship between Milo and Rachel. There were too many things that just didn’t work for me.
I know this probably doesn’t help some of you very much, but I don’t do plot-heavy reviews because I think people should be able to experience a story with on their own with as little interference as possible.
If you are a fan of paranormal romance then you should absolutely give this novel a try. I will still look forward to the author’s next books. This one just wasn’t the one for me.
My Goodreads review is below.
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Haunted Melody: A Ghost Story by
Alyson Santos
My rating:
2 of 5 stars
I’m all for trying new genres and finding new authors. I know a lot of people love this author, so I was excited to be able to read an ARC of her latest. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed early on, and that disappointment never let up. I’m sure other people may love this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I do not like to give DNFs if at all possible; if I’ve been entrusted to read it, I will read to completion. But this one was a struggle. I spent the first half of the book wondering what was going on and the second half in disbelief (and not just because it was paranormal – I’m cool with that part). There were too many logical fallacies and unsupported issues for me to be able to enjoy the story. I’ll give another one of this author’s books a try, but I didn’t like this one. This review was written based on a pre-release copy.
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