Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I debated between three and four stars on this one, finally settling on four. Mostly because I can't, in good faith, give three stars to a book I stayed up until 1.30am on a work night finishing. If a book keeps me that wrapped up, it gets rounded up.

The story itself was good. Not perfect, but a story worth reading. Alex broke my heart on so many levels - in good ways and bad. I wanted to shake him for choices I knew he had no control over (something confirmed later in the story in further heartbreaking fashion.) I think I warmed more to Alex than I did to Brittany, but she tugged at my heart-strings as well, fighting for her sister and trying to craft the perfect image.

I did love the use of Spanglish. Even though I didn't always understand the perjoratives used, I got the gist of them in context and it really helped seat me in Alex's world.

One thing that seemed jarring was the decision to move Shelley to a facility in Colorado. As this takes place near Chicago, I have a hard time believing that the best place for her was five states away. While it suited the story well, and provided a way well away from the barrio for Alex.

For me, as ever, it comes down to the love story and this one warmed me, thrilled me, and sold me. Watching them gravitate, connect, and holy hell that first kiss. And, gotta say it, the motorcycle kiss. On top of that were the ways they helped each other, comforted each other, and found that safe haven in each other's touch, arms, even just a look.

The epilogue was cute, but kind of jarring, too, and since the series continues well before that epilogue (following Carlos' and Luis' lives), probably unnecessary and probably written when this was meant only as a stand alone. Also jarring were the time jumps at the end - two weeks later, two months later, five months later, but not jarring enough to detract from the story.

Overall a strong read - and one I may flat out buy now that I'm finished (this was a Kindle library book read) and truly enjoyed it.

View all my reviews

Monday, October 29, 2012

Review: finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Finale (Hush, Hush, #4)Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We've come to the end of the series...and what a roller coaster its been.

I still remember the day I finished hush, hush. It was my first real book hangover in a long time. I hummed along for three days with a very stupid Patch smile on my face, cracked open the book to reread favorite parts. It was bliss.

Then came crescendo...and I was utterly let down. Then came silence (which I thought would be the last and didn't realize it wasn't until the end) and I was kind of meh.

In that mindset, I started finale...and preceded to read it in two days because I couldn't put it down. It was like hush, hush all over again. Not as much of a book hangover, but just as much bliss. I'd like to say it's because of some lofty plot or resolution points...but really, it was Patch and Nora the way I seriously wanted to see them together again. Really together.

I did still want to smack Nora occasionally for her reactionary, jump-to-conclusions ways, especially when they got her into worse trouble, but she redeemed herself by fixing those mistakes and taking charge. I wanted to get on her ass for lying by omission to Patch, but since she wasn't in control of that choice, she gets a pass there.

The end was...just what I wanted it to be. And more. Overall, a brilliant end to a series that had a few bumps, a few misses, but ended strong and left me not only satisfied but also wanting to read the whole thing straight through again.

View all my reviews

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2)The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yet another book that illustrates why I almost never read trilogies until they're complete.

In fact, I only read Unbecoming because I saw the second one and the description called it a sequel. For some reason, I interpreted that as conclusion. Damn it.

So now here I sit. For a year. A YEAR. A BLOODY YEAR.

Only one word fits here. And it rhymes with fire truck. Sorta.

Anyway. Rant over. Onto Evolution.

Overall, I liked it. The part of me that reads these types of books all the time knew there were things under the surface, that what I was being lead to believe probably wasn't the way it really was...but even with that skeptical mindset, I still didn't see the twists coming. Or the blindsides. Full marks there.

And can I just add my everlasting joy that there is no triangle in this series? No triangle and I'm still riveted. What a concept!

I loved Noah as much in this as I did in Unbecoming. Every sardonic, sarcastic word out of his mouth. "You'll do." indeed. Only Noah can get away with saying something like that and making it sound sexy as hell. And I was tickled to see Jamie back again. Probably should have perked up my radar, but at the time I was too thrilled to have him back in the story.

The bits from Mara's genetic memory, if that's what it is, creeped me out just slightly and the part when Mara finds the composition book sent chills up my spine in a way they haven't since I read The Shining back in high school.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to reread both of these again, to see if any of the questions I have are hidden in there, but probably not until we're closer to Retribution.

So now the wait begins. And the questions start to turn around in my head. The one that really pokes at me (and the one that's not a spoiler), though, is what does Mara's mother know (because she knows something, for a woman so intent on getting Mara to talk, she clams up tight whenever her own mother is mentioned.)

Damned trilogies. Damned cliffhangers.

My former readers would call this payback for the torture I once inflicted on them. Though in my own defense, I rarely made them wait more than a month.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Review: Almost by Anne Eliot

AlmostAlmost by Anne Eliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where to begin?

I have some pretty strong rape-triggers, strong to the point that there's a very popular and beloved series out there that fills me with rage if I even see the author's name. That said, I went into reading this with caution.

I worried for nothing. The subject was handled very well, respectfully, honestly, and without a trigger...well, triggered.

What this story is - besides a beautiful love story of hurt, healing, acceptance and redemption - is a full on case study of good intentions truly paving the road to hell. Jess' hell.

As much as I wanted to shake her parents for keeping her from remembering, for keeping vital things from her, as a parent, I know why they did it. Was it right? Probably not. But in the stress of the moment, it was the best they could do. That's all any parent *can* do until they develop the hindsight machine that lets us see all the consequences of each decision in advance of making it.

Jess and Gray. They broke my heart even as they warmed it. Jess was brilliantly written as the broken girl covering the cracks with ice and an epic bitchface. Gray was well portrayed with guilt, love, and the teenaged boy who can't stop staring at her lips, her legs, and thinking dirty thoughts about peach cobbler. They frustrated me, thrilled me, made me laugh, cry and sigh. I wanted to shake each of them...and then I wanted to give them a hug.

And I finished the book today, hiding my Kindle on my desk because there was *no* way I could wait until tonight to finish reading.

I also have a feeling I'll be reading this one again, too.


*sidenote - if I can get my thoughts together, there might be a separate post about the trigger thing later.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Review: Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine

Sophie & CarterSophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow.

That's about the only word I can come up with for this novella. Just seriously wow.

The story is told from alternating points of view, Sophie's and Carter's, and while that has never been a favorite of mine (Time Travelers Wife..ugh) it was truly the best way to tell this story. And what a story. Two very broken people, literally in Carter's case, enduring life more than living it because of the vermin they unfortunately called parents.

Despite that, they've found each other, found a way to cope together with the horrors of their home lives, finding ways to make it through together...even though they've never so much as held hands in the lifetime they've spent living next door to one another.

The author uses short sentences and very little description or long paragraphs of internal monologue. Sometimes that can be bad, you're left feeling that half the story is missing or something. Not true in this one. Sophie's and Carter's pasts are revealed not through detailed description but through random thoughts that leave the reader to fill in the blanks as the narrative goes on.

My heart broke over and over for S & C, watching them fumble through finding each other, seeing past mere survival to what's been under the surface all along. I cried with them, laughed with them, and my heart tripped over itself the first time Carter held her hand.




View all my reviews

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Review: Kindred by JA Redmerski

KindredKindred by J.A. Redmerski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always a good sign when I'm up until 1.30am on a work night to finish reading. There was no way I was putting it down until I finished. Of course, that only caused the primal scream of frustration when I remembered that book 3 isn't out yet. SIGH. I only have a few months to wait for the conclusion at least.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this series. It does have a few parallels to Twilight, yes, but with a more real-to-life bent. Adria *is* afraid of Isaac, even though she loves him. And she isn't obsessed with "becoming like him" since he's immortal. She's willing to take the time they have now and worry about aging later. The book also treats sex in a more realistic fashion - and as much as I appreciated Edward's wanting to embrace the customs of "his time," it always felt more like a convenient excuse from an author unwilling (for personal reasons) to write sex before marriage. I loved the "jumping off a cliff" metaphor - it was well employed. She used it just enough to get the feeling across, but didn't lace it into every scene they had together, or even every time they were passionate.

Just a few little quibbles though. For one, the two fight scenes. To me, the use of capslock was more jarring than effective and seemed to just jump out of nowhere. The emotion in these scenes is enough to convey the emphasis (and exclamation point would have probably done fine to put the punch in there.) Also, the sex scene. It was natural, it fit the intensity of the moment Adria confronts Isaac, but...I couldn't tell if their conversation took place after they'd finished...or during the act. The first would make sense, the second...not so much.

The end, seen partially through Isaac's eyes, was where I had to keep reading until I got to the end...and I nearly woke my husband up, cackling out a laugh, during Isacc's scene with Zia.

A very good job with a difficult middle book - the trilogy arc was set up well while still answering the questions raised in Mayfair Moon and not leaving the reader with absolutely NO answers. Its a fine balance and the author did a great job with it. I'm not all frustrated and in the dark about everything, but I'm still hungry for more in the conclusion.



View all my reviews

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Review: The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski

The Mayfair MoonThe Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holding this one at four because there are (more than) a few SpaG errors throughout, sometimes jarring enough to have me grinding my teeth a little. But for me, the story outweighed the errors and kept me reading.

I do like the world-building of these wolves - not full on wolf-form like you see in so many others. These werewolves are the walk-upright kind. I found it kind of refreshing that the one clan, even though they're the bad guys and it's expected...but they're vicious and not all emo about it. I think that's what I liked about Isaac - as much as he has his emo side about what he is, he's also not about to stay away from Adria because of it. Nice to see selfish without going all Dimmesdale about it.

I'm curious enough about Adria's dreams, about her healing, and what happens next to already have the next one loaded on my Kindle.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The 50 Fiasco

...or why you won't see anything 50-related here.

Much as I'd love to, I will not expound at length over my expanded feelings about 50 Shades, but I will leave this to keep from answering the same statements over and over.

You don't like it because you're a prude.

Anyone who knew me, or has followed my fanfiction or role-playing career, would probably laugh themselves into a ruptured spleen if they heard this. I've written my share of NC-17 stories - some het, some slash, some threesomes and I do love to read them when they're well-written and enhance the story.

I don't consider 50 erotica, though. For my definition of erotica doesn't include body parts that act as "inner goddesses" or, at any time, the words "down there." Unless the heroine is asked where the wine cellar is, and says the phrase while pointing to the basement door. 

The hype of this series has also created a copy cat environment that has a majority of the newer adult fiction focusing on sex, sex, and more sex. Fine if that's what floats your boat, but imho, you can only read Tab A into Slot B before it starts getting boring and nothing has me hitting the back button faster than a plot synopsis that focuses on the sexual aspect of a story over the actual story itself. They've become the bodice rippers of our time...and I can only hope they fall out of fashion again.

This is the main reason I read mostly Young Adult/College Adult fiction for the time being.

How can you not find Christian hot???

Easiest one ever. Because he's not. I don't care how rich he is, or how big his penis is (still trying to figure out how Ana, a self-admitted virgin, knew how well endowed he was as she had nothing for comparison.) Christian is an abusive misogynist with severe control and psychological issues that have very little place in any D/s society. As far as I know, Ted Bundy was attractive enough to lure co-eds into his little VW bug. Didn't work out too well for them, either.

Let me state this for the record. 50 Shades is *not* BDSM. In any D/s relationship, the main purpose is pleasure. For the Dom and the sub. And yes, sometimes that pleasure is obtained through pain, through the use of floggers, whips, gags, ropes, etc. These are used to enhance the pleasure/pain - not to cause it. A Dom will use these to bring out the sub's pleasure, or if the sub is collared, to correct indiscretions. 

No Dom I've ever met has ever considered himself "fucked up." No Dom I've ever met has ever threatened to "tie you down and gag you and fuck you anyway if you say no again" unless that was part of the scene they were playing out.

Take note - in a D/s relationship, in most cases, the submissive has the control. If this lifestyle was researched more than spending five minutes on Google, or if the lifestyle was thought of with anything more than disdain by the author, this book might have an accurate representation. 

Rec note: If you want a quick read that portrays the lifestyle accurately, I suggest spending an hour or two with Tara Sue Me and her lovely story <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4764216/1/The-Submissive>The Submissive</a> and it's companion piece <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4918631/1/The-Dominant">The Dominant</a>. She does better than any. Yes, this is a Twilight fan fiction....but so was 50 Shades.

So you've read Twilight fan fiction, you should like this.

I've read it, and I've written it. And 50 was the "It Fic" along with "University of Edward Masen" (aka Gabriel's Inferno) when I started out in the Twilight Fandom. I tried to read both. I never even *got* to the sex in these stories. The writing was so abysmally bad, I closed the tab in Firefox and never looked back.

To quote Forrest Gump....and that's all I have to say about that.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

EasyEasy by Tammara Webber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm going to be right up front. This is one of the rare books I loved to the point of dancing, twirling, immediately going back and re-reading sections. There aren't many of them, but they do happen.

Easy pulled me in and held me until the very last page. Fair warning, however, if you have strong rape triggers, you might want to give this a pass.

The Good:

* The sorority girls reactions to Buck's actions and the temptation to sweep his crime under a rug in the name of not making waves with their brother fraternity were uncomfortably spot on. Groupthink at its worst. The fact that they rally around their sisters, even to the point one girl loses the guy she loves, warmed my heart.

* Lucas. Oh Lucas. Intriguing to read a older young adult novel where the heroine is not the troubled, damaged one. His story broke my heart into a thousand pieces, and his tentative approach with Jacqueline touched the eternal romance junkie inside me.

* The emails between Jacqueline and "Landon" were well done and there weren't any cheats there - no ways the author deliberately misled the reader to keep the suspense up.

* Jacqueline and Lucas' whole story - the whole way they gravitated around each other until the pull was just too strong to deny, even though Lucas tried.


The Meh:

* Kennedy - I didn't really connect with him, or figure out why Jacqueline was soo taken with him that she went to pieces for two weeks after they broke up.

* I have my own rape triggers, so parts of this were difficult to read, but when Jacqueline was able to think her way through the way he trapped her in the stairwell helped. Okay, it wasn't on calibre with Lisbeth Salander's revenge, but she was able to get herself to safety.

The Bad:

* Buck. I wanted to kick him in the teeth...and I cheered loudly when it happened.


The Summation:

Just writing this retro-review makes me want to read it again. Highly recommend this book. And anything by this author, for that matter. Her Between the Lines series is an interesting spin on a young adult story, told from differing points of view, but better for it because you tend to draw conclusions that aren't always right (and she writes guys really well - which means they act, and think, like guys. Not girls with junk in their jeans.

View all my reviews