Posts Tagged ‘100 challenge’
Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Title: Catching Fire (Hunger Games, book 2)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
SPOILER FREE, I PROMISE! 
You may notice, I left out the blurb above…. I was posting it but then I realized its way too spoilery for those of you who have not read book 1 yet. In fact I am really not sure how to review Catching Fire without spoiling book 1, so I am going to keep this brief.
Just as they did in Hunger Games, the characters in Catching Fire captured my heart and didn’t let go. I sobbed several times and I will even admit there were times I wanted to throw the book. The story and the situation surrounding Katniss feels so desperate, its emotionally exhausting. I kept muttering to myself how things weren’t fair and at times I questioned my sanity for becoming so emotionally connected to this story. But isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do for you? A great book binds you to its world and the people in it, it keeps you reading even when your heart is breaking.
Catching Fire easily earns a 5 star rating from me. Once again Suzanne Collins delivers on the emotion, character depth, and suspenseful plot that keeps this Vixen coming back for more. If you haven’t started this series yet, I ask… what are you waiting for? The final book, Mockingjay, comes out this summer and you won’t want to miss it.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Title: Hunger Games (Book 1)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
Hunger Games drops you into a future where the United States has been destroyed and all that remains is Panem, a dystopian civilization made up of 12 districts and a Capital city. The Capital controls everything with an iron fist and a previous attempt at rebellion by the 12 districts resulted in the creation of a disturbing event known as the The Hunger Games. Every year each of the 12 districts has to choose one girl and one boy to compete in this televised game of survivor where you either win or you die, and there can only be one winner.
Katniss is a 16 year old girl with far too much responsibility on her shoulders. She protects and provides for her mother and sister with no regard for herself. She is independent, caring, and humble. When her sister’s name gets pulled from the glass bowl as this year’s female tribute to the Hunger Games, there is no question that Katniss will take her place. I loved Katniss from page 1 of this book. She is so strong, and yet still a vulnerable 16 year old when no one is looking. I had tears in my eyes and a sob in my throat before I had even gotten to page 25 because of the lengths she went to for her family. Katniss is a character you will root for and become emotionally attached to.
The beginning of the novel started a bit slow for me, it was all necessary to the story but I was anxious to get to the games and to find out whether Katniss even had a chance at staying alive. Once I got a third of the way through, I simply could not put this book down. The story was action packed, smart, and captivating. My pulse raced and I held my breath along with Katniss every step of the way. I felt her despair and desperation. I felt her joys and her I cheered her on.
If you are looking for a smart, fascinating, unique story with noble and likable characters then Hunger Games will not disappoint you. Don’t let the Young Adult genre designation dissuade you, book lovers of all ages with enjoy this one.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Primal Attraction by Sydney Somers
Title: Primal Attraction (Pendragon Gargoyles, book 2)
Author: Sydney Somers
Release: January 12, 2010
Purchase this book: My Books & More | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4 Stars
A lethal huntress, Sorcha lives to track and eliminate rogue immortals—until her latest assignment turns out to be a sexy, gargoyle shape-shifter. From the start she’s shaken by the lust his touch awakens inside her. Not only that, but the cat is convinced she’s his mate, and for the first time, she’s unable to kill her target.
Still mourning the loss of his mate, Cale is stunned to find Sorcha alive. Yet the woman he aches to possess doesn’t recognize him and is after the only thing that will save his brother—a mystical weapon that will lead to Excalibur.
Determined to protect his family and reclaim his mate, Cale ruthlessly takes advantage of Sorcha’s one weakness—her desire for him. Desire that could unlock their past…or cause him to lose her all over again.
Sorcha is an immortal huntress for the goddess Rhiannon. She is blessed with immortal strength and powers but it comes with the price of losing her memories every 100 years. She is cool, collected, and intimidating…. until she is assigned with killing a shape-shifter named Cale.
Cale is a shape-shifting gargoyle. His mate was killed 80 years ago and his brother is forever trapped in stone unless he can use a magical dagger to release him. This same magical dagger has a goddess and her huntress set on killing him. His world stands still when he comes face to face with the huntress set on taking his head off his body, Sorcha, his mate.
Now before you start thinking…. shape shifting gargoyles? what the heck? Let me explain. Sydney Somers has created a fun new paranormal world set in the world of Camelot. The Goddesses Rhiannon and Morgana wrestle for control over this supernatural world, both looking for Excalibur for very different reasons. The shape shifters in this world shift to animal form like any other shifter, but they are cursed to shift to stone gargoyles during the daylight hours.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in this story, including Sorcha’s friend and fellow huntress Nessa. Even more than the characters tho, I enjoyed the romance. Cale was steadfast and strong in his belief that Sorcha was his mate and that he could convince her of it. He was passionate, strong, dominating, yet trusting. Sorcha wanted desperately to deny she was his mate but couldn’t deny the effect he had on her heart or body. The emotional chemistry between them was smoldering and the physical chemistry was sizzling hot.
My only disappointment was that this book wasn’t long enough to give do the story justice. The action plot wasn’t fleshed out enough in more than one spot and left me wanting more. The ending felt incomplete as the conflicts surrounding Cale’s brother were glossed over and the reader is left with only a vague idea of what happened.
Primal Attraction is a great read for paranormal romance lovers everywhere. Fans of Ilona Andrews will love the stubborn and witty character interactions while fans of Kresley Cole will fan themselves at the sizzling passion. I will be picking up the first book in this series and look forward to more!
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FTC Disclaimer: Book recieved from author for review
Review: and FALLING, fly by Skyler White
Title: and FALLING, fly
Author: Skyler White
Release: March 2nd, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 2 Stars
Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless…and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L’OtelMathillide- a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.
I wanted to love this book. I really really did. I love the cover (tho there is no sword that I can remember in the story) and I love the idea behind it, unfortunately I found the plot to be a hot mess of confusion.
Olivia is a vampire and in the world of and FALLING, fly vampires are also fallen angels. They feed on blood, but only when a person fears or desires them. I am at a loss at how to truly describe her because I never felt like I knew who her character was, but maybe she didn’t either. She has spent her whole life searching for love, hoping for a loophole that will release her from her fate.
Dominic is a doctor, or rather a researcher. He suffers from memories of his past lives, tho he attributes them to a mental disorder and has worked continuously to find a solution. He goes to Ireland on a paid research trip, looking for a cure. He has spent this life alone, avoiding love and the painful memories it brings up within him. Somehow Olivia makes him question all that he has believed and all that is a part of him.
Let’s start with the good stuff, shall we? Skyler White writes beautiful prose. Her sentences flow on the tongue and make you feel like you are reading something truly beautiful. Additionally, the ideas behind the book are good ones! Are these supernatural abilities real or are they caused by some biophysical problem? Is it love that set’s us free?
Unfortunately the beautifully written words were not enough to keep me interested in this story. I wanted to set this book down and give up several times over, even as far as 100 pages away from the end. The paragraphs may be beautiful, but they were also wordy and often lacking in clarity. Many times I felt like I was shoved into a scene, given only an vague outline and expected to make up what actually happened on my own. Far too often I read a paragraph or section two to three times only to still have no idea what just happened. The lack of clarity and wordiness provided me with no imagery and kept the characters and their story from becoming something I could connect to.
I had hope that the plot line would be able to pull me in if the characters could not….and at around 100 pages thought maybe I had finally found something to grab ahold of. Yet I was thrown off the bus with seemingly unnecessary sexual activity between the vampire “sisters” and memories involving stone dildos. I am certainly no prude, but the scenes didn’t make sense to the story and only caused to push me further away. I was further disappointed by the ending, but will leave the details of why and how out as to not spoil anyone… just to say that I predicted it around page 75 but hoped I was wrong.
and FALLING, fly was a difficult and disappointing read. I am a big fan of dark fantasy, but this just didn’t connect with me, tho many other book bloggers have really enjoyed it. You can always try downloading a free sample from Amazon.com and decide for yourself!
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FTC Disclaimer: Book was given to me for review by author.
Review: Gobsmacked and Cover Me by L.B. Gregg
Title: Gobsmacked (Men of Smithfield, book 1 )
Author: L.B. Gregg
Release: February 6, 2009
Purchase this book: Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: M/M Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Mild mannered Mark Meehan’s good judgment flies out the window when he finds his lover banging another man. Things go from bad to worse as Mark’s crazy revenge scheme uncovers shocking secrets—sending him straight into the arms of hunky lawman and old friend, Tony Gervase, a man of limited patience and secrets of his own
I have been hesitant to start another M/M Romance series, worried that none could match up with Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English series. However, I have been overloaded with homework lately and really needed a couple of quick reads and these novellas by L.B. Gregg fit right into that at only about 120 pages each.
Gobsmacked is about Mark, a seemingly normal and calm gay man who absolutely loses his cool when he finds out his lover is cheating on him. I absolutely loved his character, he was funny, witty, slightly sarcastic…. all the things I love in my gay book boyfriends. And he wears red Crocs…. i mean how can you not love him?? In contrast to Mark’s erratic and hilarious behavior, Tony was cool and calm and the perfect alpha hero. He balanced the story out nicely and I was fully invested in their relationship from the start.
The story opens with a bang and had me hooked from the very beginning. Gobsmacked kept me awake into the wee hours of the morning because of the well done plot and laugh out loud funny lines. I will never be able to watch my hubby eat a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal again with a straight face.
Title: Cover Me (Men of Smithfield, book 3 )
Author: L.B. Gregg
Release: October 2, 2009
Purchase this book: Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: M/M Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
That was the initial conclusion enigmatic security specialist Max Douglas had drawn of Michael “Finn” Finnegan—Dalton Prep’s beloved English teacher. When Max arrives at Smithfield’s exclusive boarding school to protect a high profile student against a mysterious stalker, he’s hell bent on enforcing his style of leadership on students and teachers alike. Warring tempers turn to passionate lovemaking between the former marine and the easy going drama coach. But danger is closer than either man expects and all too quickly violence rocks the homey campus—putting both men at risk.
I must say that I really love L.B. Gregg’s writing style. I enjoyed this installment of the series (tho I use the term loosely, the stories are mostly stand alone) but I have to admit I liked Gobsmacked better.
Cover Me is told from the perspective of Michael “Finn” Finnegan, a college english and drama teacher. While tutoring one summer he meets Max, a sexy security specialist, and they have a crazy hot scene on an office desk. Yet something goes awry and Michael storms out of there angry and feeling used. The two meet up again as they are forced to work together to keep one of Michael’s students safe, and sparks fly.
The smut scenes in this book were hot and the lines were funny. My problems with the story were based on the relationship between Michael and Max, I just didn’t connect with the two of them as a couple. I felt that Max gave in too easily and Max was too hard and distant. The entire relationship felt rushed and unrealistic. That said, the interactions between the two of them and they way they connect in the end when they are finally honest and coupled was wonderful. It was the arc of the coupling that didn’t sit right with me. Overall Cover Me is a good read with funny moments and L.B. Gregg’s next book, Catch Me If You Can, has made it to my “must read” pile.
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FTC Disclaimer: These books were purchased by me
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
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