Miniviews # 24: Tangled Webs & A Million Miles Away

Tangled Webs by Lee Bross

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: June 23rd, 2015

Pages: 304

Series: Tangled Webs #1

Source: ARC from publisher**I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Rating: DNF @ page 101

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Sigh. That's just my frustration over not being able to get through Tangled Webs. I'm sure I could have pushed myself through the last two thirds. There just really wasn't a point. I was so ridiculously bored in those first hundred pages. Tangled Webs made me believe that I was going to meet this kick ass Lady A. Well that's not what happened. We meet Lady A at some sort of masquerade well she's whining and pining over her best friend, Nick, who is flirting with someone that isn't her. Is that really how we want to start the ton of this book? A book that is supposed to be filled with intrigue, crime and secrets. But I didn't give up right away because that's not fair. Unfortunately it didn't get better from there, for me anyhow. Lady A met a mysterious, handsome stranger. So now she had two boys to cry over. Ugh. Lady A works for what I guess you would liken to one of the top mob bosses in London. Apparently she can get any secret out of a man and fully take care of herself well doing it. Great, she sounds bad ass. Except in a hundred pages not once did I see her kicking ass. For some reason the rival mob boss is trying to get Lady A to come work for him. That's really not believable at this point. I was still bored but not giving up yet. That is until the last boring straw when Lady A spent over ten pages being scared of a bath and than finally getting in the bath. How does this progress the story? Especially for a book that is not five hundred pages long. That was the end of my patience. You guys get me, right? 

That cover though. It is beautiful...

A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: July 7th, 2015
Pages: 320
Source: ARC from publisher**I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Rating: 2/5
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On paper A Million Miles Away sounded right up my alley. Super angsty. A MC dealing with loss in a flawed way. A cute romance. But that's not really how it turned out for me. Unfortunately I just had no strong emotional connection to the story. It was like there was a barrier between me and the book. I would get to parts and be like this is sad. Poor Kelsey. Poor Peter. But nothing. I was so disconnected that it did hinder my enjoyment.
It's great to see a flawed character trying and not succeeding in dealing with her loss. Because that's certainly realistic and truthful. And I could understand why Kelsey couldn't tell Peter the truth about Michelle's death. Kelsey was trying to spare him having an emotional break down well on tour. But really subconsciously that really wasn't why Kelsey wasn't telling Peter. This was her outlet to keep Michelle alive.  Because Peter is the only person who deeply cares for Michelle and doesn't know she's gone. Which means in Kelsey's mind Michelle is still alive. Makes sense. But there's still consequences to come of this epic lie and that's where the story really failed me. Kelsey was given a slap on the wrist. Clearly the girl needs help with her grieving. She's pretending to be Michelle. She's falling in love with her boyfriend. That's the tip of it. Forgiveness and how easily her(nonexistent) parents over look this cry for help is sad. Same could be said with Peter. Obviously he's mad. But for someone who loves Michelle the lack of emotion he gives the situation is a little shocking. And how could Kelsey and Peter really survive in a relationship? Not only does he not really know who Kelsey is(honestly she doesn't know herself either), but your love is based on a lie. I can't comprehend how a loving and strong relationship can really develop from that kind of lie. I thought it would be romantic, but reading through the story and how dishonest the whole situation was, nope, it is really not that romantic.
Now don't get me wrong. There were some really honesty and adorable Skype conversations between Kelsey and Peter. Kelsey also has a strong core of girlfriends. Just overall the lack of emotional pull was missing and I couldn't over look that.

Happy reading!

Brittany