Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

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.

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Review: finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

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.

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Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

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.

Review: Almost by Anne Eliot

Almost 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.

Review: Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine

Sophie & 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.




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Review: Kindred by JA Redmerski

Kindred 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.



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Review: The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski

The 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.

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