Review: No Interest In Love by Cassie Mae

From Goodreads:
When Jace Carver snags a minor part in his buddy’s zombie flick, he suddenly starts getting noticed all over the place. Even Hollywood megastar Carletta Ocean—known for her extensive “research” with her male co-stars—wants Jace for her new rom-com. The role could be a game-changer . . . if Jace nails the audition.

As Jace’s agent, Shaylene Kwak is all business, and isn’t about to let her favorite client blow this opportunity. Since their college years, Shay has been immune to Jace’s charm and rock-hard body. But long hours in close company have a way of wearing down even the best defenses, and when their platonic teasing turns into serious flirting, Jace and Shay are no longer able to resist what’s been right in front of them the entire time.
 
Shay knows Jace’s love-’em-and-leave-’em history with women. She’s not about to be just another notch in his belt. And it’s true, Jace has never wanted more than a one-night stand—until now. But at the end of the line, he’s got a choice: sleep with Carletta and seal the deal, or risk his career for a shot at true love with Shay.

My Thoughts:
I love Cassie Mae's books, so I was so excited to get my hands on this one. I wanted so much to love this book because Mae's writing is always funny, and sharp, and her characters have strong voices. But I really struggled with this book.
Jace is an incredibly difficult character to like, and since the book is in his point of view, he really started to irritate me quickly. Shay is equally difficult to like, and I struggled to root for them to get together. They just had too much contention and not enough romantic tension.
But I pushed through, hoping the character arc paid off. The problem was, the book takes place primarily on their journey, and it rapidly became monotonous.
I'm still a fan of Mae's works, and still consider her my go-to for happy, feel good reads, but this one just didn't work out for me.

Review: Her Perfect Game (Hot & Nerdy #2) by Shannyn Schroeder

From Goodreads:
Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun in the sun for three childhood friends about to graduate from college. But one of them is ready to get her game on somewhere else…

Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn't quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she's entering a "hackfest" over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who's been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can't fight the desire that comes rushing back. 

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they're face to face again, he doesn't know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he's offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

My Thoughts:
This was a light, fun read. Quick and easy, the writing was snappy and direct. I sped through this novella. Charlie and Jonah are likable and highly compatible.
The only downside is that it felt a bit generic New Adult sexy romance-ish. The plotline was simple, but that kept it light. It did touch on some real issues, like sexism problems in the heavily male dominant world of gaming and IT, but there were a few things I felt didn't get resolved, and then ending was kind of abrupt.
If you want something light and quick, with a bit of heat, this novella is perfect for you.

Review: Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon by Rena Rocford

From Goodreads:
Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon’s fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers.

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he’s been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit. 

My Thoughts:
I first saw this in the Pitcharama contest run by Aussie Owned and Read. It intrigued me back then, and so I waited for this release eagerly.
This story didn't disappoint! Action packed, full of adventure, friendship, and a sassy heroine, this novel with an extremely long title that really grabs your attention, has the makings of a fun read for anyone seeking something for pure pleasure. 
Allyson was an absolute delight to follow as she rushed through a steep learning curve. She reacted naturally, and often humorously to the situations thrust upon her, and with a heart full of fierce loyalty.
A clean read I'd definitely recommend!

Review: The Body Institute by Carol Riggs

From Goodreads:
Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute.
Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl's body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body--leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches...
For one, Morgan won't remember what happens in her "Loaner" body. Once she's done, she won't recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she's been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it's all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start...
Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan's mind. She's feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti-Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she'll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul... 


My Thoughts:
I do have a weak spot for Dystopian, and this premise definitely interested me as well. Being someone who has a chronic condition that makes weight loss hard, especially after having babies, I was like "give me one of those!" Ha ha ha! But seriously, the prospect of someone else, one of those gym junkies, doing all the work, intrigued me.
At first, I was kind of disgruntled by the hypocrisy of the system. The divide of socioeconomic groups, enforced health protocols, but mostly the dreaded "fat shaming." But this is a dystopian society, it's supposed to be off at first. But even later on, there were things that bugged me, like when the weight is mentioned and made sound so grossly overweight, when it really wasn't.
The big "turn of events" I will call it so as not to give spoilers, upset me so much I had to set the book aside for several days. That shows how enthralled I was by the story.
The insulting fat implications aside, the plot was interesting and held my interest. I felt for the characters, and their concerns.
All in all, an interesting read, and clean.

Review: Dead Girl Running by Ann M. Noser

From Goodreads:
Eight years ago, SILVIA WOOD's father died in an industrial accident. After suffering through years of Psychotherapy Services and Mandated Medications for depression and multiple suicide attempts, she longs to work in Botanical Sciences. When the Occupation Exam determines she must work in Mortuary Sciences instead, she wonders if the New Order assigned her to the morgue to push her over the edge.

To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in an attempt to stand out in the crowd of Equals. After she begins training with "golden boy" LIAM HARMAN, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her father. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she's running for her life.


My Thoughts:
I read and LOVE Noser's first novel; How to Date Dead Guys, so I just had to get my hands on this when it became available.
Dead Girl Running follows Silvia, who lives in a dystopian city in the not so distant future, post WWIII. After an explosion took her father from her and her mother, both have battled depression, but are ready to move on with their lives. When a peer at the gym, Liam, talks her into the Race for Citizen Glory, she uses it as an opportunity to please her mother.
I have to say, although I shouldn't compare, I did prefer Dead Guys to this. The writing was stronger and the characters more developed. But this novel is more plot based I believe.
When I first picked up the book, I thought I'd be spending most of the time in this big elaborate race. This isn't so. Most of the book is in training for the race, the race itself is about one chapter long. As a result, it kind of comes off as a runner's training log at times.
The first third or so felt pretty slow, but I stayed with it because I had a feeling Noser was going somewhere. And I was right! Once I got through the slow start, I was enthralled. The ending I was in shock, and a little heartbroken.
This is a clean read.
I'll definitely be continuing this series to see where it goes. 

The Life Cycle of Book Reviews

Book reviews. Such an essential part of an author's existence. They give an author validation and confidence, and they can make the author feel like utter failure. But I have noticed certain patterns with the life cycle of reviews.

Book release! Yay!
Here's when you get a solid number of four and five star reviews. This is so great! These reviews come from fans, friends, family, and fellow authors the author is in contact with. They also come from carefully selected reviewers who were approached before the release with ARCs. All of these people went in with a desire to read the book. Yay!

Soon we see the slammers...
Yes, with all this positive attention, the trolls emerge. They see a high rating, and pick it up in search of a way to pick it apart. Yes, people do this. It's crazy, but that's life. An author is best ignoring these reviews, and taking them as proof that the book is getting enough attention to attract those wanting to tear it down.
Around this time too, the Netgalley reviewers start rolling in. In Netgalley, these reviews seem to come in extremes. They love it or hate it. I honestly think trolls patrol the site, but luckily, more honest people head there than they do. I've picked up some beloved reviewers through Netgalley.

After about 3 months...
Things start to stabilize here. you get the mid range reviews of three and four stars, while still getting five stars and the odd two. Usually by this point the one star hate diminishes.

After 6 months...
If things are still rolling nicely, these reviews usually stay at 3+ star ratings, and very few are people connected with the author in any way. Rarely are they from requests or Netgalley.

What are your observations and experiences with reviews?

Review: Fall (The Ragnarök Prophesies #2) by A.K. Morgen

From Goodreads:
How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?

Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren't strong enough to stop it. 

Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared. 

It's up to Arionna to stop him before it's too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self destruction. This time, Arionna isn't sure she can save him from himself. Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?
Talk about a cliffhanger ending! But no spoilers here.
Fall continues right where Fade finishes; with Arionna recovering in the hospital. Dace is at Arionna's side to help her recover, but Skoll and Hati are still around.
Like book 1, this one was a little heavy on the internal dialogue for my taste. But I like that it delves deeper into Norse Mythology.
It also develops Ronan's character, which I enjoyed. He's a good old fashioned bad boy, with a hidden good guy side.
I wouldn't call this fast paced, in fact, I found the first half a bit slow, but once Arionna leaves with Ronan and Fuki, things start to really get interesting until you reach that cliffhanger ending I mentioned. I flicked the page on my kindle and thought, "No! You can't leave it like that!" It definitely leaves you needing to know what happens next.

Featuring... Some of My Reviewed Favorites!

I have a nice build up of book covers and author pics on this blog. So, I have decided to feature several of these every once in a while. Today I have these babies :-) These are books I have read and enjoyed, and you can find reviews for them on my blog. They all come highly recommended by me!

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Review: Everybody's Got a Story by Heather Wardell

From Goodreads:
Both personally and professionally, Alexa knows all too well the power of words. Two years after her boyfriend Christophe's vicious attack, she's still trying to see herself as more than simply 'his victim', still trying to figure out her own story.

After his trial, she moves from New York City to Toronto in an attempt to start over, but his words cling to her and even in a new country she can't see how to move into relationships with the new people in her life while hiding the secret of Christophe's worst offense.

She can't hide that secret from her coworker Jake, though, because the news buff has recognized her from the coverage of the assault and trial and knows every word she can't bring herself to say about her ordeal.

With Jake's help, can Alexa reclaim her story and her life?

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

My feelings on this book are fairly neutral. I liked it, but that's it. I don't regret reading it by any means, but it didn't grab me and keep me flipping pages for hours on end and late into the night.
The main character, Alexa, has certainly gone through something truly awful, and is coming out the other end of it. It's her story about how she moves on and allows herself to trust and love again. It was nice and dealt with the issue respectfully and with taste.
Internal dialogue got a bit heavy in places, which frustrated me in scenes where I wanted to just get to the point. But aside from that, the writing was good.
I'd recommend it for people who want a light, HEA book.

Review: Daughter of Camelot by Glynis Cooney

From Goodreads: Filled with terrific suspense and budding romance, Daughter of Camelot is a fast paced adventure set against the turmoil at the end of the Arthurian era.

Raised in the shadow of a fort dedicated to training Knights of the Round Table, Deirdre thirsts for adventure. 

Instead, at 14, she is sent to court to learn the etiquette and talents of a young woman. 

Court life, however, is more fraught with danger than she expected, and Deirdre finds herself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the very heart of Camelot. 

All Deirdre thought she knew and believed in—loyalty, love, bravery—is challenged when she embarks on a quest to defy Fate and save the King.


Note: This is a Netgalley. I received this free for an honest review.

So, the cover on this is pretty boring, but the story isn't. It starts off slowly. The main character, Deirdre, is very young, sheltered and naive. As a result, she comes across a little bratty to begin with. But, as she faces the real world and struggles with what it means to be a lady in a world ripping apart at the seams, she is forced to grow up very quickly. In the end, she has grown and developed enormously.
Her sister, Nia, has good intentions for her, but while she tries to protect Deirdre, she ends up doing more harm than good by not telling her things she should know.
Deirdre makes friends with another young lady, Sioned, who becomes her traveling companion. Sioned is the perfect friend for Deirdre as she wants to look out for her, but she's open to teaching her a guiding her. I think without Sioned, Deirdre would have failed and probably would have ended up dead. Sioned's gentle hand and spirit make her incredibly strong.
Deirdre's twin, Rhys you don't see all that much of, but he is important not only because of the love she holds for him, but because she wants to prove herself as capable as he is.
My favorite characters are by far Dewey and Ronan. Both are brave and, although unconventional, they are the truest knights in the story.
All in all, a good read for anyone who enjoys Arthurian tales. It follows the legend, but gives it a new angle, from a "normal" person's perspective. As I said, it starts off a little slow, but once it's rolling, it snowballs. I'd be happy to follow on with the rest of this series.

Review: Stern by Brenda Jackson

From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson, comes a new trilogy starring three Westmorelands who are impossible to resist: Zane, Canyon and Stern.
Stern Westmoreland never makes mistakes; until he helps his best friend Jovonnie "JoJo" Jones with a makeover for another man. Now Stern wants JoJo for himself. Their attraction is undeniable and there's only one way to test it: one long, steamy night together as much more than friends!

This was a fun read. I enjoyed both Stern and JoJo as characters. Their chemistry is unmistakable, and it's a nice sweet romance with two best friends realizing their feelings for one another. I'd definitely look into the rest of the Westmoreland series to get to know all the character better and understand some of the back story I missed out on in this book.

I'd recommend this for people who like sweet romances, with some steamy scenes thrown in.

Review: Chameleon: The Awakening by Maggie Faire

Here's another NetGalley. I've had this one waiting for a while... sorry about that. Having a Kindle makes life so much easier.

From Goodreads:

No identity. That’s what it’s like to be a human chameleon, and sixteen-year-old Camryn Painter wonders if she'll ever figure out who the real Camryn is—or should be. Just looking at someone else will cause her body to change into that person. Her parents called it her gift. She calls it her curse.

Then Ohar, a man with impossibly good looks and an ethereal manner offers her a way to claim her birthright by joining the Mazikeen as part of the Forest People. He says she is “the chosen” of the Forest People. The prophecy indicates her powers are beyond any others and she will save their world.

Camryn had always loved the Redwoods at her back door. The stories her mother spun of its inhabitants kept her entertained for much of her childhood. The problem is the stories are real. The forest people are real, human yet not human. They are faery and beasts, evil and angels, mutations of humans and animals over thousands of years. Then there's Dagger, a young man who distrusts the Mazikeen and Ohar, but admits to being a thief and only interested in his own pleasure. All of them want the Chameleon for their own agenda.

With the help of Ohar and Dagger, Camryn learns to control her identity so that she can walk among more than one world. Yet the more Camryn learns, the more she suspects there are too many secrets — dangerous secrets. There are no easy answers, and every decision she makes puts someone’s life in danger.


My thoughts:

I wanted to like this more than I did. The concept, plot, and scenes were very good. The first few chapters I enjoyed, but the deeper in I went, I found myself skipping the excessive and repetitive internal dialogue and descriptions of body language. I felt like they were distracting me from the moment of the plot, where I wanted to throw myself into a tension riddled scene I was getting frustrated at the broken conversations and too much thought from Camryn.
I didn't like Ohar from the very first encouter, and I mean this in a good way. His character made me mad, that he loved someone else but still wanted to "mate" with Camryn. Garg. I'm really glad Dagger came along, and I want to see her open to him because her closed off attitude toward him when he's so honest and nice to her, even though he says over and over he is bad, kind of frustrated me.
All in all, I think it just needs a good edit down and I'd enjoy the next book thoroughly.