bostick communications

I normally try to read every book, even ones that I find difficult to read, but it is time for me to set aside these books for good.  I either didn’t like the writing style or the subject matter.  But look for an opportunity to grab ahold of these and give them a try for yourself.

I will provide a synopsis from either the publisher, author, or Amazon.com site for your review and a couple sentences why I didn’t finish these books despite my normal penchant for finishing everything I read.

1.  Gold Dust on His Shirt by Irene Howard

Gold Dust on His Shirt is an evocative telling of the experience of a Scandinavian immigrant family of hard-rock miners at the turn of the century and up to World War II. Based on fascinating historical research, these are tales of arriving in ‘Amerika,’ blasting the Grand Trunk Pacific railway, work in the mines, and domestic life and labour struggles in company towns throughout British Columbia.

While initially the prologue drew me in with the writer’s inspiration for writing the book, I soon discovered a more textbook-like writing style in the subsequent chapters, which were too dry for me to continue.  Although I am sure this book contains some great historical information about the immigrant experience of miners, I was not as interested in the subject matter as I had hoped.

2.  Little Stories by Jeff Roberts


Little Stories takes a critical look at the inevitable moments of betrayal and loneliness in our awkward quest to love and be loved, but the reader will discover the value – and even joy – to be had by looking backward and facing the past. This brilliant collection of tales should not be missed.

I found the dialogue in the first story to be pedestrian, and I didn’t feel a connection to the characters.  With a compilation of short stories, it is difficult to connect with characters in those stories, but some collections do better than others.  Unfortunately, this was not one of those collections for me.

3.  The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer

In The Reluctant Widow, Eleanor Rochdale, a young woman of good birth but straitened circumstances, sets out to accept a position as a governess and ends up plunged into a tangle of foreign intrigue instead.

Georgette Heyer has received great reviews from other bloggers in the blogosphere, but for some reason The Reluctant Widow failed to hold my attention on more than on occasion. 

4.  Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

Darcy and Lizzy venture away from Pemberley to journey through England, finding friends, relatives, fun, love, and an even deeper and more sacred bond along the way. Having embarked on the greatest adventure of all, marriage and the start of a new life together, now the Darcys take the reader on a journey through a time of prosperity, enjoyment, and security. They experience all the adventures of travel, with friends and relatives providing both companionship and complications, and with fun as their focus.

This is the second book in Sharon Lathan’s Pride & Prejudice spin-off based loosely upon the 2005 movie and Austen’s work. I picked up my copy at last year’s Book Expo America, but I’ve realized that the endearments and lack of plot action and character development leave me cold.  I must warn readers that Lathan will enter the bedroom with Darcy and Elizabeth, so if you prefer something more sedate, this is not for you.

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title links or images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

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