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She Never Let’s Me Down

December 1st, 2011

I have this little black book I carry everywhere in my purse, it’s small, tattered and to most people looks like it is filled with junk, but to me it’s important. See…a few years ago (ok…like 15) when I wrote my first book I strived to be just like everyone else. I thought conformity is what the world wanted, (an a-typical 3 part story with exactly 2 upsets and 1 very dramatic ending.) Then one day when I was curled up in a chair in the library I spotted (laying on the floor in a corner) this beautifully bound book with gold inlays and pages so old they looked as though they would crack when turning them. Curiosity obviously getting the best of me I picked it up. On the first page I saw this:

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville

That one phrase changed my life, AND my perception of what people expected. So I wrote it down, in a little black book, and put it in my purse.

Now, I can’t tell you exactly how many times I have read that 1 phrase since I wrote it down, but every time I read a book, and then bask in the brilliance of it’s originality I think of Herman and his wise advice. THEN…I think of the authors that exude this quality more than most.

Imogen Rose is one of these authors.

Synopsis:

“Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk… but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all.”

There are, (and quite frankly always have been) a few prominent characteristics to Imogen’s writing that I go gaga over.

1. She (like I stated above) has this uncanny ability to create unique and often action packed plot lines. Yes, there are a fair share of paranormal “private school” series out there (For example the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead) but Imogen always manages to find a way to make her’s stand out. This time (as with it’s predecessor Faustine) the school does not limit itself to paranormal “standards,” (1 race, 1 book) instead her world is as wide open as her imagination will allow; drawing from all aspects of the paranormal/occult world and mingling them into 1 very seamless thought.

2. She can write emotional entanglements like she herself is currently engaged in one. While most people focus solely on one angle of teenage “lust” or rather “angst,” Imogen explores the more rational side of the relationships as well (aka allowing her cast to admit their reservations and overall a-moral inhibitions and grow from them.) This alone enables us as readers to connect to the characters on a more personal level, AND do all of this while enjoying the push and pull of the always present teenage love triangle.

3. Though she may not realize it herself she is funny. Not slap stick, of course, (unless you consider a very nervous demon upchucking on a hot boy funny) but in more of a “wow…she is so totally cute with her wanna-be homespun slang” type of funny; other wise known as the word “hoot” (which for the record I think she uses about 400 times in this book.)

What about the concept of the book overall? Well…as per usual (because at this point if she writes “crap” I would be stunned and disappointed) it was spot on. (<– God I love that ridiculous British phrase.) I will be honest though, when I first heard that Imogen had opted for a “prequel” instead of a book 2 (Faustine being the 1st.) for her Bonfire Chronicles, I was a tad bit apprehensive. While I enjoy going back to the “roots” of a story and learning about a charachter’s past I was a tad concerned that she may have jumped the gun (considering most prequels don’t appear until several books into a series AFTER all of the characters have been feted out.) Again (which is becoming a horrible habit by the way) I was wrong and Imogen’s choice to show her “lady balls” and gamble with her timeline paid off. As a matter of fact, (though I thoroughly enjoy Faustine) I have to say I am much more excited about “Integration” (which is the NEXT book in this series) than I was about this one.

There is 1 thing however that I did NOT like (drum roll please cause you knew it was coming) the cover art. Though it makes sense (the emo black eye liner and the mountains in the background) there is just something about it that tickles the wrong toe. Is this a deal breaker? No, Imogen’s writing could stand up against a paper-bag, but that’s not to say that she won’t loose a few readers because of it. (Let’s just say it’s a good damn thing we all know how experienced of a writer she is.)

So do I think you should run right out and snag you a copy of this little ditty?

If you are a lover of YA, or any type of paranormal fantasy then yes, you will love it.

Do you have to read Faustine first to understand it?

No, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it as well. The two are very obviously meant to be read together so just save yourself the trouble and pick up both of them.

Well done Ms. Rose and congrats on another fantastic job.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: when in doubt, shout it out.

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(4.5/5)

Click HERE to read an excerpt of Initiation

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Bonfire Chronicles, Faustine, Imogen Rose, Initiation

Can’t Take it Back

November 30th, 2011

I really wish there was a graceful way to present this book, but there isn’t. When it comes right down to it, this book is awful. Not in the way you are thinking, (mind you) but in a more dramatic, I can’t believe what I’m reading, does this shit really happen, I don’t know if I hate this or understand the author’s point — kind of awful.

To be perfectly clear about “I Wish I Would’ve”, (because Lord forbid someone purchase this on “accident” and then be subjected to months of high-priced therapy to regain a sense of self) this book is about molestation, incest, child abuse and sex slavery. (No, I didn’t “give the story away” in case you were wondering…all of these things are very obvious once you are past page 3.) And while yes…it has a very important message it’s presentation lacked the sensitivity required for it to be considered (at least to me anyways) Fiction. Instead, let’s call this a sermon in non-fiction sheep’s clothing.

I assure you that I am not a prude, and/or naive, and up until this point I (knowingly at least) have had no aversion to “harsh” literature, but I do believe there is a more “productive” way to approach it. (For example: “Invisible Tears” by Abilgail Lawrence which was in fact based on a true story, and horrifyingly graphic.)

Ashor’s approach, (though effective at getting her point across due to it’s crass writing style) read more as a slap across the face, than the lesson in morality/self-preservation that I’m sure she was striving for, (almost as if she’s impling that the human race “as a whole” is blind to what happens behind closed doors.)

To illustrate my point… I’ll give you a glimpse at how the novel starts.

A Note from Aynoit:

“As you read this story, you will notice a few things. There are not many characters that have names and most of the places/settings have vague descriptions. Many people have asked, “Why didn’t you name anyone? Why weren’t you more descriptive?” My answer is this: When you read this story, I want you to see your nieces, daughters, cousins, friends and neighbors.

This story was written for mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, aunts and nieces, uncles and nephews. This story was written for you. It was written to open your eyes and your heart.

Who comes to your mind while reading this story? Who does this family secret make you think of?

I hope you enjoy this story and yes, I hope it makes you feel a little uneasy, that lets me know that I did what I set out to do. What’s that? I wanted to make you think. I hope it makes you think of your like and your own family secrets.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I firmly believe that if you have to preface your novel with a note like this, than your execution in the books “purpose” must not be up to par. I get her point, I do, but if you write with the intention of getting a message across, then the story should speak for itself. Readers as a whole are fairly intelligent people and should NOT have to be led to water. Tell us your story and let us gather from it its intentions.

Anyways…I digress, and…have yet to actually tell you what the story is about (other than my less than appealing spill of descriptives above.)

“Follow a daughter on her quest for the truth and a mother who wants to keep her safe by any means necessary. Who is right? Who is wrong? Who will say, I wish I would’ve? She only has loving memories of her beloved G-Pa and can’t understand why her mom calls him “”devil”". On her eighteenth birthday she goes on a quest for the truth, without her mom’s knowledge. While visiting her G-Pa she discovers her dark family secrets.”

So was there nothing I liked about this very short (72 page) book? To be honest…not much, though I will compliment Ms. Ashor on her bravery at tackling such a taboo topic.

Like I said before, I do think it addresses a serious issue, and I do think that it (ultimately) teaches a very important lesson, I just think that there was a better way to approach it, one that maintained it’s dignity while telling us “how it is!”

Read at your own risk, I am not recommending this to anyone…there are several other books out there that illustrate the same point in a better setting.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Just because you CAN say it, doesn’t always mean that you should.

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(1/5)

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Aynoit Ashor, Child Abuse, I Wish I Would've, Incest

Wait…That’s It?!

November 28th, 2011

With the exception of a very few (for example Chelsea Fine’s “Sophie & Carter“) I get unabashedly irritated with short novels. Not all short novels mind you; the ones that have a beginning, middle and an end (aka novellas) aren’t so bad. But series novels that stop when they just get started drive me insane. So imagine my angst when I found out that I (excitedly) agreed to review an 89 page fantasy novel. (*gasp*)

Luckily for me (and Ms. Tyler since I tend to go off on people that annoy me) if this novel had been even 1 page longer my opinion of it may not be quite so friendly.

See…contrary to popular belief (and by popular belief I mean my son) I do enjoy things other than books. One of those things is TV. That’s right…I am a TV whore. One of the reasons I like TV so much is the anticipation of what will come next. (kind of like books without the years worth of waiting in between) What does this have to do with “Two Moons of Sera?” Absolutely nothing…I enjoy being wildly random. (Just kidding; I’m not that mean.) What struck me about Tyler’s work was that it read like a very well written pilot episode that flipped to credits at the exact moment that you were sucked in.

So why wasn’t I horrified by this? To be honest…I’m not quite sure (maybe I’m feeling generous due to the holiday season) but the fact remains that despite it’s untimely ending, I REALLY enjoyed this book!

Now, before I go on…let me first tell you what the book is actually about.

“In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother’s water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?”

For a book so short, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out how beautifully detailed it was. Despite it’s lightning pace and it’s under-developed plot (only because this was very obviously a “set-up” novel for the series) Tyler’s descriptions were vast and abundant, creating a world only her artists mind could dream up. In fact…this detail alone makes me wonder what Tyler could have created if she had allowed her writing scale (length) a little more freedom.

The dialogue (and character building) however is where I think Tyler really left her mark. While her lead character Serafay was well spoken her counterpart Tor was not. His language skills where underdeveloped and his mannerisms brusk causing tension and moments of emotional flare-ups that may have been absent if they were on the same level.

And…as if that wasn’t enough, there were some killer life lessons strewn throughout the read.

For instance:

“It’s easy not to care when you have what you want. It’s the longing that makes us act the fool.”

“It’s difficult to identify the void within you until something fills it, showing you the piece that had been missing all along.”

So what is my overall impression of this teeny tiny teaser of a novel?

Great start to a promising series that, (if Tyler maintains her style of writing) won’t take up too much of your time but is sure to entertain.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: share your similarities and celebrate your differences.

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(4/5)

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Paranormal, Pavarti K Tyler, Two Moons of Sera

Payback is a B!

November 18th, 2011

Oh dear Jesus in Heaven…I don’t even know where to start with this book without sounding like Ozzy on a bender. So… I guess I could always start at the beginning. Sound good to you? (Nod your head yes.)

The beginning (aka the synopsis)

“A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town’s inhabitants. As Jane’s memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.”

Horror takes a certain brand of person to enjoy it. More often than not we are amused by disturbing descriptions (for instance splattered bodily fluids) the more mentally incompetent a person is the better, we take pleasure in disillusionment, the unrealistic, and the depraved; and more importantly…we enjoy books that are crude and make about as much sense as a uni-cycle riding donkey until the last 50 or so pages.

Why? Because we are gluttons for punishment I assume; well, either that or we love to stare at the ceiling and wonder what the hell the author was thinking.

“Jane Was Here” (by the very talented screenwriter Sarah Kernochan) was one of those books that makes you go, “huh?”

When I was little I readily believed in reincarnation. “When I die…I wanna come back as a rich ladies cat!” I used to tell my mom. “All they do is eat and sleep all day. What a wonderful way to live.” As a child this was naivety talking, but as I get older, (or…more “after this book”) I’m not so sure that reincarnation is the answer for me.

Imagine for just a second that you were killed in a most horrific way. Imagine that you did the killing. Imagine that you lost a string of loved ones due to your bad decisions and selfishness. Imagine, just for a second that reincarnation was a proven fact, BUT it came with a few catches, the most important being that you are either to be punished for your “past lives” transgressions, or you are forced to re-live them.

Would you still want to be reincarnated?

Relying on the ability to “write” a small town into a festering pool of “insanity” Kernochan did exactly that; she staged a crime and then she retold it…from several different points of view.

In “Part 1″ (yes, this book has been sectioned off into 3 very different, all frustrating parts) we are introduced to the townsfolk of Graynier, MA. Not the “normal” townsfolk mind you, (the ones that are in charge of carpool or bake cookies their husband’s lunch) we are introduced to the waste-a-ways, those that have already sunk themselves into a man-made whole of despair (ala Vodka and booty-calls.)

In “Part 2″ we are offered a glimpse into Jane’s (aka…mystery girl’s) identity through a series of very artfully crafted letters to a cult leader. (Ok, Kernochan said religious sect…I say “move over David Koresh we need more room on the crazy train”)

I know, I know…”A whole section with just letters? Ugh!” Trust me when I say that this was a genius way of building a character. Not only are we introduced to who Jane really is, but we get to see how the people around her influenced the path in which her life would eventually take.

And finally, in “Part 3″ (the piece de resistance) we get to find out what the hell any of it means. The characters, who before seemed unconnected, (or at the very least useless) come together in what can only be described as an explosive finale, weaving together past lives and current incarnations into a knock down drag out of the “a-moral.”

So what made this story worth reading or leaving? Hum..that’s a toughy…How about I throw you a bone in both categories.

Reading it: The writing “quality” was actually quite good. The characters are well-developed, the identity of the town is well established and the plot (as a whole) is an intriguing one. (Hello…they are dead people come back to wreck havoc!)

Leaving it: Though intriguing, the plot had a few hiccups that needed to be smoothed over. (As in…”What? I don’t get it…Can someone please explain this to me…I know I’m not this dumb”) There were several sections throughout that felt as though I was reading through muddy water, and when it was all said and done…I pretty much wanted to beat the living crap out of every damn character in the book. (Especially Gita!)

So what does this mean as a whole? It means it’s a bit of a toss-up, a very hard to describe toss up. Let me put it to you this way…if you are a fan of authors like Scott Nicholson, or Brian Keene (authors that may or may not be insane themselves.) I’m sure you will be delighted with this book. As for everyone else…leave the “mind F’s” to the professionals and pick a something else.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: The past doesn’t always stay in the past. A kids aren’t always where they say they are.

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(3/5)

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Horror, Jane Was Here, Reincarnation, Sarah Kernochan

A Title Rings True

November 14th, 2011

About once a month I ask myself the same question, “Why do I do this?” I am (of course) referring to reviewing. See…I LOVE books. I could do away with every other form of entertainment and be completely satisfied as long as a library or book store was close at hand, but as with most “jobs” (and I use that term very loosely) reviewing comes with a downside, (a couple in fact) the biggest being that it takes much more to “move” me.

I used to be easily captivated by a book, regardless of how mundane or average it was, but now…after reading, well…too many damn books to keep track of, it takes a real diamond in the rough to tickle my fancy.

When…however, one of these books DOES come along, I am instantly reminded of why it is I do this; to lead YOU (my lovely readers) to the light. At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done I do this “job” for 1 reason and 1 reason only: to introduce you to awe-worthy books you may have never even considered reading before.

So… with that 1 reason in mind, let me tell you a little about “Shatter Me” by Tehereh Mafi.

“You can’t touch me,” I whisper.

I’m lying, is what I don’t tell him.

He can touch me, is what I’ll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

After a lifetime without freedom, she’s finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she’d lost forever.”

Knowing that I’m not talented enough to do this book justice I’ve decided to write this review a little differently than normal. Instead of me going on and on about the writing style, (and confusing you more than enlightening you.) I’ve decided to use quotes directly from the book to illustrate my points. That said…I’m certain that I’ll still ramble more than is necessary (kind of like I’m doing now *cough*)

To the point.

Aside from Ms. Mafi being all of 23 (and this being her debut novel) the most impressive aspect to this book is the writing style. Huh? Well, in the simplest of terms it is “not generic.” Most authors strive for conformity when writing, sentence structure, subjective descriptives and leading passages. (etc) but Mafi pretty much said, “to hell with all of that.” Instead of reading what the lead (Juliette) said/thought (either or) we are given both. Simultaneously.

For example:

“I want to be bigger, better, stronger.

~~I want to be~~ angry-angry-angry.

I want to be the bird that flies away.

“What are you writing?” Cellmate speaks again.

~~These words are vomit.~~

This shaky pen is my esophagus.

~~This sheet of paper is my porcelain bowl.~~

“Why won’t you answer me?” He’s too close too close too close.”

Notice the repetition? That is Mafi’s way of illustrating distress. This little quirk alone sucks the reader into a state of panic that mimics that of Juliette’s. The striked wording is her “original” thought and the “plain” text is what she “ought to think.” For the record…the entire books is written this way, and as a result makes the actual dialogue that much more fascinating.

Now, if the shift in language skills wasn’t enough to convince you, (which it was for me) how about we take a quick looksy at Mafi’s amazing imagery.

“I wish I could stuff my mouth full of raindrops and fill my pockets full of snow. I wish I could trace the veins in a fallen leaf and fell the wind pinch my nose.

Instead, I ignore the desperation sticking my fingers together and watch for the bird I’ve only seen in my dreams. Birds used to fly, is what they stories say. Before the ozone layer deteriorated, before the pollutants mutated the creatures into something ~~horrible~~ different.”

In most novels this type of flouncy writing would concern me, but in “Shatter Me” it just fit. The plot seemed to wrap itself comfortably around the poem-esq paragraphs and transport the reader into something much more beautiful than just a book with hundreds of words. As for the plot itself?

WOW!

The back cover says “The Hunger Games” meets “X-Men” and though I rarely agree with these (more often than not) hyped up blurbs….this one is on the money. The story is nothing short of fantastic and the journey is well worth the 343 pages of heart-pounding agony that the writing invokes.

This book has moved up to the very top of my ranks, and I urge you to grab yourself a copy when it goes on sale tomorrow.

And what the hey…why not one more quote for the road?

“I tried so hard to fix what I’d ruined. I tried every single day to be what they wanted. I tried all the time to be better but I never really knew how.

I only know now that the scientists are wrong.

The world is flat.

I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I’ve been trying to hold on for seventeen years. I’ve been trying to climb back up for seventeen years but it’s nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand.

When no one wants to risk touching you.”

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Insane is a relative term.

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(5/5)

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Distopian, Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi

A World Divided

November 10th, 2011

Well…in the interest of saving everyone time, (because this review is going to be a long one) I’ve decided to skip the witty banter and start this review with an epic sized SIGHHHHHHH.

That’s right folks…I am sighing, which if you know me at all means I am swimming in a pool of disappointment. A pool, (mind you) that I insist you join me in, so for the love of all that is holy, keep reading.

When Aurora meets Trey, a famous singer and musician, she’s only hoping to get her fill of human blood for the week. The last thing Aurora expects is for Trey to make her feel alive for the first time since she was, well, alive. It begins with a casual painting lesson at her art studio, The Waking Moon, and quickly turns into a forbidden romance. Aurora is forced to hide her true identity from Trey, while keeping her relationship with the human a secret from other vampires in her Brood.

Trey’s band is recording a new album and with Aurora as his muse, Trey is writing songs like never before. After being hired by their record label to paint the cover of the new album, Aurora has a legitimate reason for spending so much time with Trey and his band mates. Aurora can’t deny the unexpected connection she has with Trey, which is fueled by glimpses into his emotions every time they share a kiss. Caught between two worlds, Aurora must attend celebrity award shows and vampire rituals, find time to feed, and protect Trey from the dangers of the night, all while preserving her secrets.

I would have loved to jump into this review raving about the next great vampire book. I would have loved to tell you that Jensen catapulted me into a world that I haven’t read before; that her take on the “night’s” special brand of blood loving freaks was unique and fresh. What I really wanted, (damn it!) was to start this review with my new favorite phrase: “Shut The Front Door!” But I couldn’t.

Why?

Because let’s face it…when it comes to “generalized” vamp stories it’s pretty much a been there done that world.

Now, keeping all of that (and by “that” I mean the 3 evil heads of the vampire community, the loaner vampire, the sudden and unexplainable fascination with a particular human) the A-typical vampire behavior and the blatant cliché’s that surrounded it were NOT what actually did me in. It was the disjointedness of the story that did.

Here’s the thing. This story was narrated by 2 different characters, (the girl and the boy) which is not all that unusual. What IS unusual however is the authors negligence towards one of the narrators, (particularly the one that opened the story.) For three whole chapters I was sucked in. There was dissention in the vamp ranks, there was the obsessed best-friend, there were even a few self-loathing monologues thrown into the mix.

So what happened?

That my friend IS the question of the day.

I’m not sure if Jensen got side tract or if her love of music producing got in the way, but the plot all but stopped. For eleven chapters. To be honest, I thought I had lost my mind, that maybe (just maybe) I had read the first few chapters wrong and that Trey had been talking all along, but NOPE…I was right. The story was in a holding pattern.

Now, of course the story didn’t STAY that way, (or I’d still be reading it) but regardless of its eventual landing back on the tarmac there was still a very obvious lack of concern when it came to Jensen’s other characters. In short…this was the Trey show. For a story that was supposed to intertwine (into some epic love story) it was shockingly separated and more often than not could have been mistaken for two entirely different books.

Even worse…there were plot points that weren’t even addressed at all after the first half of the book, (can someone say “random fledgling alert!”) I know that this book is supposed to be only the 1st in a series, and that yes…authors like to throw in things that can be useful “plot wise” in the next edition, but for God’s sake…don’t make it sound so important and life changing in one chapter and the never mention it again, (it kind of second guesses it’s importance…if you catch what I’m saying.)

So was there absolutely NOTHING I liked about this book? Everything has a few bright shiny moments, but unfortunately this time they were just to far apart to keep me interested.

In a world FULL of vampires books, I say this one needs some work. Purchase at your own risk; $4.99 is a little steep for this read.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Sometimes less IS actually more.

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(2/5)

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Blood and Guitars, Heather Jensen, Vampires

Questioning Everything

November 8th, 2011

I am sure that most of you have noticed by now that I am abstract. I say things that are often misconstrued and my opinions on things like faith, marriage and politics tend to vary from the norm. When I was in high-school this was a problem for me. As a matter of fact, it eventually broke me. I was, of course, well liked in my own circle of friends, but everyone else saw me as mouthy, opinionated and naive. It took a while for me (if I’m being honest with myself) to get past these “labels” (I guess you could say,) and view them in a different light.

Expressive. Passionate. Hopeful.

See, to everyone else I was just this girl who growled a lot and refused to go on weekend benders with my friends, but to me…well…I was just trying to be myself.

Why?

Because years earlier, someone much smarter than myself, told me that it was a good idea. His name was Dr. Seuss.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Peer pressure is a bitch. There really is no better way to describe it. As humans we crave acceptance, but as teenagers we are told that acceptance comes at a price. Some times it is our dignity. Sometimes our pride. But most of the time…it’s at the cost of our morals.

In Craig Hansen’s novel “Most Likely” Becky gets to learn about pressure the hard way.

“Becky Howard is a teen under pressure. Pressure from her best friend not to breathe a word about the abuse she’s suffering by her mother. Pressure from her sister to understand her marital difficulties. Pressure from her boyfriend to get more physical than she’s ready for. And pressure from the rumors about her boyfriend that are eroding her trust in him. As she prepares for the biggest track meet of her life, Becky’s about to learn that sometimes growing up is about more than having sex, and that clinging to ideals might not be as helpful as learning to expect whatever is MOST LIKELY.”

Let me first start by saying that this is, (in every way shape and form,) a Christian Themed novel. Now, while this doesn’t bother me, (since I’m a Christian and I have been known to dive into a faith filled read once or twice in my lifetime.) I DO know that people tend to get frustrated if that’s not divulged up front. So…in case you didn’t notice the cross on the cover of this book…God is a main character.

Now, moving on.

While I wasn’t all that impressed with the plot as a whole, (sorry Craig) there were parts of “Most Likely” that I really admired.

First…the characterization. Becky was clearly going through a crises of faith and her actions reflected this. She was lost, she had trouble concentrating and she second guessed even her most minute of actions, all of which displayed the wrenching inner turmoil she was dealing with in both her heart and her head. If the writing (as far as Becky’s traits are concerned) hadn’t been as strong as they were, the novel as a whole would have crashed and burned.

Second…Hansen’s ability to handle a touchy subject (child abuse) with grace was wildly impressive. While most authors shoot for “shock and awe” when dealing with a sensitive subject, Hansen chose a different road. Does that mean we aren’t given details as to what happened? Of course not, but instead of focusing on the bruises themselves, he chose to focus on the emotional ramifications of them which was a refreshing new take.

So…why wasn’t I a fan of the plot? Well…to be honest, I think it needed to be tightened up. (Don’t roll your eyes at my choice of verbs…let me explain.)

There were several moments throughout this book in which I thought Hansen started to repeat himself, (Most of these came after Becky’s sister showed up, if you were wondering) and because of this, the book started to drag about halfway through. The elements of the story were great, I just think the execution lacked finesse. If these issues were to be addressed, I think my opinion of the book would be slightly higher.

Overall…I think it was a nice CHRISTIAN read that could be helpful to any teen that is having an identity crises or at the very least pressure issues. For everyone else? I leave that up to you…you know your faith better than I do. I know books, and this one was average.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Sometimes it’s not about how FAST you are, but rather…about how STRONG you are.

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(3/5)

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Christian Literature, Craig Hansen, Most Likely

Coming Home

November 4th, 2011

I was sitting in the living room watching TV the other day when this ridiculous commercial for Dr. Pepper 10 comes on. “This is a MAN’s drink!” it spouted as some slightly less than average looking man jumped a canyon in a dune-buggy. (*eye roll*) Anyways, at the end of this commercial he charges the TV camera, drink in fist and throws out the phrase, “So you can keep your romantic comedies and lady drinks…” because blah ditty blah blah. Now, normally I would pay absolutely no attention to this AT ALL, but when the screen faded to black and something infinitely more ridiculous came on the screen I heard my husband chuckle. (*insert raised eyebrow*)

“What’s so funny?” I asked glaring at the man to my right.

“You are soooo not a girl.” He says.

“WTH are you talking about?” I spit back. “The last time I checked homey…I had boobs.”

“Romantic comedies and lady drinks (chuckle) You…my lovely bride are so not a girl.”

“Am so!” Sticks tongue out in true 2-year-old fashion.

“Hand me your phone.”

(I have to admit, this is the part where I started to get a little concerned.)

“What do you need my phone for?” I ask.

“I’m going to prove something to you.”

(Chuckle.)

(Glare.)

“Look…right here. Look at the movies you have on your phone.”

I (of course) took the phone in a huge huff about to disprove my arrogant husband. Yeah…no such luck. As it turns out, I am indeed a dude. (In case you were wonder the movies were “28 Days Later” “Daybreakers” “Legion” “Zombieland” and “Avatar”)

Well…all of this got me thinking. I don’t read enough romance. Yes…I read my fair share of “I’m a warewolf…aren’t I hot” but true unadulterated romance? Not so much. Then I realized (smacks forehead) that most of my followers are women and (unlike me) they are probably really into the whole “swooning” thing, (aka “romantic comedies and girly drinks.”) So…I decided enough was enough. I would read a girl book. It’s not like I’ve never done it before, hell…I used to be addicted to Nora Roberts and (hangs head) Danielle Steele. I would dissect my TBR, I WOULD find a damn lady book, and dag nabbit…I was going to present this damn book to the masses.

Here is what I found, (cue indignant smile) “Return of the Runaway Bride” by Donna Fasano.

Once upon a time…

There lived a lovely young woman named Savanna who was engaged to Daniel, a handsome law student. Theirs was to be a fairy-tale wedding. But Savanna’s second thoughts were too big to be ignored, so the would-be bride ran away.

As the years passed…

Daniel’s heart turned to ice. It was this unfeeling man that Savanna faced upon her return. The love of her youth was now a stranger. Could Savanna ever make Daniel understand why she abandoned him? And could she convince the man of her dreams he would always be her Prince Charming?

So what did I actually think about my lady-venture when it was all said and done? Not to shabby. I will admit, the whole “I’m running from my perfect life” had me a little baffled at first, but once the concept was fully formed it made perfect sense. This what not a book about a girl who made a mistake and then came back 6 years later to grovel at the feet of her “perfect” Prince Charming, this was about a girl who needed to get her hands dirty to realize what life is really all about. ( <–wow, that was very Yoda like of me. *takes a bow*)

If I’m to break it down further…the story wasn’t really about Savanna running away at all, (Ok, that’s only partially true) but more about the characters that eventually surround her “new” life and the changes she has made to make amends. So what did I think about these characters? Spot-on!

I don’t know about the rest of you but I grew up in a painfully tiny town, and can contest to the amount of nosy-ness they possess. In regards to this particular aspect, I think Fasano captured it perfectly. As for the leads themselves, (Savanna and Daniel) I think their internal turmoil led to some fascinating encounters and their inability to trust one another created fantastic doors for Fasano to navigate their “less than normal” relationship through.

The writing? It was pleasant. There were no major editing issues, there was just enough push and pull to keep you fully engaged in the relationship and there were no obvious plot lulls (which I have to admit..is a nice change of pace.)

So where exactly does this leave me overall?

Well, beside the fact that I need to find a new word for “so” (what was that, like 50 times in 4 paragraphs?) It was a nice pleasant read, with a nice pleasant story, that wasn’t too long or too short. Perfect for those of you who like easy reads or beachy type romantic romps.

Was it the best dip into “Girl World” I’ve ever had? No, but well worth the $1 if you are clean romance fan.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Never trust a mother who uses your head as a pin cushion.

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(3.5/5)

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Donna Fasano, Return of the Runaway Bride, Romance Novel

Lying in Wait…

November 2nd, 2011

When I was a teenager I used to have this horrible reoccurring dream. I was always running from something, a person, a ghost, an abnormally large tomato with teeth, (the “what” is not really important) what is important is that I always got caught. I never saw my death (thank God for small miracles) but I did get to go to my funeral. My very empty, no one was there, dear Lord this is a waste of Father Mackelhaney’s time, empty. I would walk very slowly up the aisle to where my (extremely F*cking ugly) casket lay and then take a peek inside, and every time I would see the same thing…me in a very pink, very ruffled dress (insert horrified scream.) Ok, so maybe my dream wasn’t all that horrible, and yes…I was smart enough to figure out it stemmed from my ridiculous fear of pink and being shunned in death, but I’m sure you see where I’m going with this.

No? Damn it… I guess I was a little abstract. Anyways, my point is/was/should have been that we all have scary dreams, but what would you do if your dreams starting coming true?

What if…one night you dreamed that your Great Aunt Juju died in a horrific fire only to wake up and find it actually happened?

These are the questions Thacher Cleveland dares to ask in his novel “Shadow of the Past.”

Mark Watson thought high school was hell enough as it was, but when he starts seeing visions of a young boy from the 50’s that was kidnapped and forced to watch a series of grisly murders, he’ll find out that the supernatural force behind those killings has plans to show him that there are worse hells than bullies and gym class.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to him. Everything has always been against Mark. He’s poor, unpopular, orphaned to an uncaring uncle and with zero prospects for the future. It seemed like that was going to change when he literally runs into Christine Baker, a new girl at school who doesn’t know anything about Mark’s embarrassing past and begins showing interest in him. He’s falling in love for the first time, his bullying nemesis at school is out for blood, and the few loved ones he has are being picked off by a supernatural force of darkness and fire. There’s no peace anywhere he turns, and that looks to be exactly where the resurrected killer wants him: broken, alone, and facing his end in the house that saw the deaths of four children and still holds a terrible evil waiting to be reborn.

So, lets talk about the first chapter first, (yeah…I’m taking a big leap here.) Wow…that was freaking fantastic. I have never been that drawn in by a first chapter in my life. If was mysterious, it was a tad creepy, and it left you hanging. Now, unfortunatly…as thrilled as I was to keep reading after that grand-pumba of an opening I was equally disappointed by the halting stop the book took. Ok, I know…mysteries/thrillers/horror novels, whatever the hell you want to actually call this book requires set up, but to say I was bored by the first 10 or so chapters would be a gross understatement.

Here I was, hoping to read about a haunted house and the kids that it was eating when I suddenly found myself reading pages of self-loathing monologues. I assure you, I’m down for a good pity-party myself once in a while, and I DO think that this “trait building” in the character was necessary (for the end of the book) but I think Thacher could have knocked a few meaningless chapters out of the middle.

As for the character building as a whole? Great job. (For the record: I think Steve is an ass and I would be happy to punch him in the…um…throat?) Each personality in the story was very well-developed and the alternating perspectives made for an interesting twist when it came to figuring out what the hell was actually going on.

“Hey Misty…what about the freaking book?” You are right…I should get to the good stuff.

Man, what a creative ass story. (Geez…does anyone else feel like I’m cussing a lot today? May I should watch that.) Besides the initial hiccups, and what I will call “newbie jitters” the story was a very well thought out and intricate one. Once the “resurrected killer” started making his presence known, the action took over and before I knew it I was back to chapter 1 and my inability to put it down.

So where does this leave me overall?

I say…if you are a ghost/thriller/suspense/horror lover you will be happy with your $1 purchase, for the rest of you…take a pass and wait for something more fru-fruey (like my pink casket dress.)

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: If its large, red and has suspiciously large teeth…run like hell!

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(4/5)

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Horror, Possession, Shadow of the Past, Thacher Cleveland

Coffee = Crack

October 20th, 2011

“In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.”

Ok…if I’m being honest, the first thing that drew me to this novel was it’s “Dystopian-esq” synopsis.

“In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty.”

Interesting right? I thought so too. BUT…don’t let the synopsis fool you. Even though I found the book entertaining, it is less of a dystopian and more of a prohibition type read. Why? Well for starters there’s a heavy mob footing in this book, (starting with Anya’s father…a dead crime boss.) if that wasn’t enough, there are dirty politicians, bribes, hits (as in.. “Hey Vinny, I need you to make Carl swim with the fishes”) and enough illegal activity to make Tony Montoya proud.

So what does this mean for the book itself? Let’s start with the writing.

As a whole, the writing was good, but if you break it down and really pay attention, there are little nuances throughout the book that are going to drive you crazy. First there is the flagrant use of the word “Daddy.” Since Anya is now solely responsible for keeping her family together (her grandma is bed ridden and her older brother’s development is slightly stunted due to a wreck) she relies a lot on left over wisdom from her father. This would actually be ok, (endearing in fact) if every other sentences wasn’t a rehashing of “My Daddy said…” After 4 or so chapters you will find yourself wishing “daddy” were still alive so he could just speak for himself. My second issue is the lack of plot focus. This doesn’t necessarily effect the entire book, but there are several occasions where the forward movement of the book almost stops completely, (yeah, that’s NOT a good thing.) AND…most of these little pauses come with a note from the “narrator” telling you things like “I’m not boy crazy, keep reading.” Luckily for Zevin, she had enough action (and angst) in her story to bring it back around, but there were definitely a few chapters that could have been edited out.

As for the characters themselves…I LOVED Win. He was honest, persistent, funny and (by the end of the book) tough. How so? Well, out of all of the characters Win had the most difficult task. (This is going to sound weird considering the book was about Anya) He was forced to make hard decisions that would effect not only the his life, but his family’s, he was forced to grow in unforeseen ways, and in the end was broken. All of these things made up one hell of an interesting person. Anya on the other hand was a tad grating. I’m not saying I didn’t like her (or appreciate her familial sacrifices) I just think the author could have spent a little more time developing HER instead of developing her “perceptions” (Does that make sense?)

Overall…I thought the book was interesting. It definitely had it’s up and down moments, and I did (despite my effort) find I was drawn to the characters by the end of the book. So do I think it is worth your time? Sure..why not, but my advice would be to wait until you have a lull in your “to be read list” before you pounce on it.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Not everyone can be bought…some people have morals. Not me of course…but some people.

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(3/5)

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