Author Behaving Graciously.

About a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from someone at Inkspell Publishing. She wanted to know if I would be interested in joining a blog tour for Brooke Moss' new book, The Carny. If you've been interacting with me at all, either here or on Twitter, you'd know that I've stopped requesting ARCs and had also steered clear of blog tours. I've been blogging for almost a year now and have only been in four tours - and this is by choice. Don't get me wrong, I don't get invited that often; but I also don't go out of my way to join one. I have a hard time committing to a tour when I can't foresee how I would react to a book after reading it. I also don't like the pressure so yeah, I guess you can say that I've more or less realized that I am not in this for the free reads and that perhaps I'm doing this book blogging thing wrong. To each to their own, I suppose.

Anyway, I've worked with Brooke Moss with What If Guy so I'm not new to her work. When her publisher emailed me, I agreed to host her on the blog without any quibble. She sent me a copy of Brooke's book for review and I, in turn sent her what I required for the Shelf Envy post that she guested on. 

I read her book, liked about 35% of it, then didn't really like the rest. 

Herein lies the crux of my problem with blog tours: how do I provide an honest review without it becoming deterrent to what the author and the publisher was trying to accomplish? That is, to promote their book in the most positive way possible? Now, some of you would probably disagree and say, 'bloggers are not marketing tools' but I digress. Regardless of what our reasons were when we started blogging, our opinions on books are exactly that: a way to get our words out there regarding the books we've read - an advertisement, if I may. What we say about them have some sway on whether or not other people would want to read the book. So now what do I do?

I wrote my review. And then sent a copy of it to the publisher prior to posting. See, I have this policy on the blog, where I don't post unfavourable reviews on books that were given to me specifically for review, unless the author and, or the publicist has given me the nod to do so. My email to the publisher went like this:

Hi there. 

First, I’d like to thank you and Brooke for being on the blog. Please let me know if I can help you again. 

Second, I read The Carny and unfortunately, my review is not that favourable. I have a policy on the blog that if a book was given to me for review and it turns out that it was something I didn’t like, I always give the publicist and or the author privy to the review first. This way, they could let me know whether or not they still want me to post it.  

(FULL REVIEW HERE)

This may not be the conventional way of doing things and perhaps I may be giving too much power over to the author regarding what I post on my blog, but I established this policy just so I'm not running the risk of compromising my integrity. I also feel that since they sent me a free book to read, I owe  them my honesty.

I'm not going to lie; I was on tenterhooks while I waited for her response. Since it was the weekend, I didn't really expect any response. So I was surprised when I got an email from Brooke Moss herself.

Hi Joy,

I just got an email from my publisher, Shilpa, asking me how I felt about your review of The Carny, and whether or not I felt it should run. I left the ultimate decision up to Shilpa, but I wanted to make sure you knew what my response was, in case she tells you not to run the review. Here is what I wrote:

"You know, I think that Joy has every right to say whatever she wants to say about The Carny.  And honestly, I agree. Charlotte's character absolutely is wishy-washy and immature. I wanted her to be that way.  Also, as a life time resident of small towns, I created the Davenport family with the intent of making them entirely too focused on social status, backwards/old fashioned thinking. Sadly, that's the honest to goodness way things are in these towns. It's hard for non-small-town-people to believe that this sort of old fashioned mentality still exists. So in all honesty, Joy actually read the book the way it was intended to be interpreted. I think what I'm getting from her review is that she interpreted the characters and location the way I wanted her to, but it simply didn't sit well with her. That's absolutely acceptable. As we all know painfully well, books are very subjective, and what touches ones heart, might piss another person off. :)

I say, let her put it on her website. I am not afraid of a less than stellar review, so long as it is written in a fair, honest way, and my skills as an author aren't being insulted. I respect Joy as a book reviewer, and hope to continue a long relationship with her in the future, and with future books, so I don't feel like we need to ask her to hide her true feelings about The Carny. However, as my publisher, you get the final say, and if you feel like it is too negative to have out there in the blogosphere, then I trust your judgment. Be sure to let me know what you choose, and I'll support that decision.

Thanks,
Brooke"

Joy, I want you to know that I appreciate your honesty and positivity about my latest book. I have a tremendous amount of respect for book reviewers, especially those who can read a book that didn't particularly speak to them, and still manage to write a fairly positive review. I wanted to be sure to thank you for that, thank you for your honesty, and I hope that I can continue sharing my books with you in the future.

Thanks for everything, Joy.

--Brooke

I was...speechless and awe-struck. With all the drama that has been plaguing the book reviewing blogosphere lately, I did not expect this - this gracious acceptance of criticism. I wanted to share this just because authors have been getting some pretty bad rep lately and I want everyone to know that we shouldn't lose our faith. There are authors like Brooke who will gladly accept your not-so positive thoughts on their work with a grain of salt.

I'd like to thank Brooke Moss again for allowing me to post her email. A little positivity goes a long way. Also, Shilpa Mudiganti of Inkspell Publishing for agreeing to post my review.

The Carny by Brooke Moss

Publication Date: July 7^th, 2012

Inskpell Publishing

Format: Paperback, 401 pages

RATING: 2 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then he disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored.

Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to--reluctantly--take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago.

As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He's back to run his father's carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival?

After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover.

One kiss was all it took for Charlotte to know Vincent Youngblood will be someone that she'll not soon forget, and for the next ten years, she couldn't go to a carnival without ever searching for the familiar long, dark hair and tall stature of Vincent. When they meet again, Charlotte's romantic notions were replaced by disillusionment. Jilted at the altar by a man she thought she loved, Charlotte moved back home and took over the reigns at her father's hotel. Family life remained the same: controlled by the dictates of what's expected of her by her family and the society, keeping her mother from finally taking that leap off of a bridge and pretending to be happy when she's far from it. But she's not without hope. So when Vincent walked back into her life, she was more than ready to take a chance. Odds are definitely not in her favour this time, as her family's disapproval of Vin and Vin's family secrets threatened to break their budding romance. 

Charlotte Davenport is one of those characters that I'm generally not a fan of. She's easily overwhelmed by her family and more often, she comes off weak. If not for her friend Kasey strong-arming her to finally stand up for herself and do the things she wants to do, Charlotte would probably remain everyone's doormat. I also didn't like that she keeps adding one and one and coming up with five. I get that she couldn't trust any man in general because of her history, but boy, does she jump to conclusions like it's nobody's business! I do like her fresh innocence despite the life mileage she's clocked in her twenty-nine years. Above all else, she's very loyal to a family who only seemed to love her when she's serving her purpose.

Speaking of her family, they're like the ugly relatives whom you wish you didn't know. They're very judgmental, and sometimes, borderline derogatory. They seemed to be stuck in an era when stature was more important than anything else. It was hard to see how Charlotte could be related to these people.

As usual, Brooke Moss shows her masterful skills in bringing small town living to life through her descriptive writing. Coastal Oregon couldn't have been more picturesque than if the reader had been there herself.

VERDICT: It's unfortunate that I couldn't love this more than I should have; after all, Brooke Moss brought forth a new offering to the romance genre where the hero is of Native American descent. It is rare. I just had a terrible time with Charlotte's wishy-washy attitude and the tidy way in which this book ended. Don't get me wrong, I love me some HEA. But the entire ending just felt too contrived for me. Fans of contemporary romance that also deals with some racial and social issues will be enamoured with Brooke's new book. Despite my complaints, I think Brooke is a fantastic romance writer who finds inspiration anywhere and from anyone. She's definitely one of select authors on my radar whose work I'll always look forward to reading.

The Syndicate by Shelena Shorts

Publication Date: July 9^th, 2012

Lands Atlantic Publishing

Format: Hardcover, 301 pages

RATING: 2 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now, he'll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.

The action, mystery, and conspiracy in The Syndicate will take readers on an immersing journey in which decisions are not only life changing, but irreversible.

Vasi Petrescu has only ever known one life: the role of a Guardian who protects the humans from Hybrids - humans infected by a virus that turns them into rabid animals. But when he was given an assignment to kill a suspected female hybrid, he began to question just how reliable their Readers and Elders are. One look at Riley Bennett and he knew instantly that someone made a mistake. First of all, she's female; Hybrids aren't able to infect those of the xx chromosomes. Second of all, Riley isn't even infected. Caught between duty to protect his family and protecting a girl he barely knew, he was forced to make a decision that will ultimately change the future of The Syndicates.

The Syndicate wasn't...bad. But it wasn't that good for me either. Consider me apathetic. There were just things that Ms. Shorts had fallen, er, short on and it starts with her writing. Male POVs from a female writer is such a different ballgame and more often the story itself suffers if not done well. I can only name a few female authors that have excelled in this. Unfortunately, I found Vasi's voice dry and a little too matter-of-fact that he comes off cold.

This isn't a very long book pages wise but for some reason, I found myself bored and consequently, skimming a lot. My main problem is the slow pace for which Riley's role as the catalyst was revealed. It literally took the entire book. It wouldn't be such a problem if not for the fact that I felt detached for the most part. The mark of a good mystery is the author's ability to keep a reader engrossed and interested right from the beginning till the end. This reader, however, wasn't. The history and the much-needed information to acquaint the readers to the world Shelena Shorts was trying to sell was ambiguous and sometimes convoluted. Which is surprising since she only spent about a page or two on the history of how The Syndicate came to be.

It's hard to picture Riley as a girl plagued with endless nightmares involving monsters. If anything, I thought she was well-adjusted. I couldn't decide if she was an incredibly strong-willed character that she wasn't at all bothered by the nightmares or the author forgot that Riley needed to show any indications that her nerves were fried. She's a religious girl who was told by God not have sex before marriage but I guess He was a little late since she's already done it. Uhm. Okay. I guess it all boils down to the underdevelopment her character has suffered. There's not much you'd know about her. And the little interactions she had with Vasi didn't really give the readers much to go on but then again, I can say the same thing about Vasi.

VERDICT: At first glance, The Syndicate will lure you with the forbidden romance it alludes to. If not, it's the young executioner who hunts 'hybrids' and therefore, the expectations of action galore. Unfortunately, both story arcs weren't really executed well. However, some readers may still enjoy this take on the lycanthrope myth and the secret society that protects the people from ever knowing they exist.

Hoarders: Books Edition, Episode 40

Hoarders Books Edition is a feature on the blog inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox. This is my version of an IMM...on steroids. 

For Review:

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter

Big thanks to Tor Teen and Thomas Allen for these copies! 

Kindle

Try Me by Olivia Cunning

His Forbidden Submissive by Brandi Evans

Breathe by Kristen Ashley

Making Chase by Lauren Dane

Chased by Lauren Dane

My Madness.

The Breakdown

The Classics.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nïn

The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway

I 'unintentionally' wandered into the Erotica section...

Perfect Play by Jaci Burton | Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton | Changing the Game by Jaci Burton

Bared to You by Sylvia Day | What Happens After Dark by Jasmine Haynes

The Principal's Office by Jasmine Haynes | Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning

Indie Love.

Daystar by Darcy Town

Naughty Little Secret by Shelley Bradley

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

The Rest.

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves | The Carny by Brooke Moss | 

Dream Bound by Kate Douglas | Burning Emerald by Jaime Reed | 

Living Violet by Jaime Reed | Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson | Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

Quarantine by Lex Thomas | Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs | Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt | Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Never Enough by Denise Jaden | The Forsaken by Lisa Stasse | 

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter | Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown | Diva by Jillian Larkin |

Dark Waters by Tricia Rayburn | Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Link me up! What did you get?

What Happens After Dark [DeKnight #2] by Jasmine Haynes

Publication Date: November 1^st, 2011

HEAT

Format: Paperback, 337 pages

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

By day she’s a mild-mannered accountant, but after dark she’s a willing slave to his wildest fantasies…

Bree Mason longs to be a successful career woman, but secrets keep her chained to the past, afraid to take that next step. At night, her frustrations are released by the domineering Luke Raven, who gives her what she asks for and more in a sensuous game of master and slave.

But to take control of her life, Bree will have to look within and face the demons of her childhood. Luke knows the ins and outs of Bree’s body, knows what makes her gasp and sigh and beg. Now he’s willing to push their relationship to the limit, to stand by her side in the light of day and take the greatest risk of all…for love. 

It's a little bit hard to rate this book; I went with four because readability wise, I was so caught up with it. Bree Mason is one of those characters that would take an open mind and an open heart for you to actually like. On the one hand, you want to sympathize with her on the basis of what she'd had to endure. And on the other, you have to fight off the urge to slap her silly and tell her she needs therapy. But then again...she might like the slapping a bit too much.

Bree Mason is a slave - a slave to Luke Raven, a slave to her job and a slave to her past. The degradation that she craves from Luke is a salve to a painful past that has kept her imprisoned for most of her life. At times, I want to understand her but most of the times, I am completely aghast by what she forces Luke to do. Luke is what you could call as a reluctant Dominant. He only indulges Bree's need for abuse because she thinks she needs it and deserves it. The girl is a complete basket case in the head. What she doesn't know is that his fantasies include a normal date, and her formally meeting his two daughters but she's adamant to keep their farce of a relationship under the master/slave code.

This book is so twisted. While the author will make you think that Luke has all the control in the relationship, she also doesn't really hide the fact that it's actually the contrary. I've never heard of a submissive who actually controls the Dom. And it couldn't be truer in Bree's case. She pretty much dictates when and where and how often.

I haven't read much BDSM books but I think this is the first time when each sex-play has a deeper meaning. It's painful to watch Bree disintegrates into a person of no value by her choice. And at the same time, I think Luke could've been more open about what he wanted from Bree. But I also get his reservations to do exactly that. After all, it's hard to decipher the difference between a request and an order from a man of his stature in their relationship.

VERDICT: Disturbing. Not for the weak of the stomach and the faint of heart. Why did I like this enough to give it a four star? I think it's the idea that a dominant can be manipulated by his/her sub and not all BDSM stories are alike. Again, Jasmine Haynes shows that she's got more to offer than just titillating scenes to sate your erotica fancy. This novel tackled the nightmare of child abuse that unfortunately shaped the character of the abused long into adulthood. Her wounds didn't heal; they just festered over the years.

Shelf Envy [2]: Brooke Moss {G!veaway Alert!}

Welcome to another edition of Shelf Envy! I'm actually killing two birds in one stone here, as I'm a part of The Carny Blog Tour. Today, romance author, Brooke Moss is with us to share just what kind of books she has on her shelves. This time, we've been given privy to her Nook. Let's see what she has, shall we?

I can make out a couple of Tammara Webber's books and what looks to be Beautiful Disaster by Jaime McGuire. But let's ask her some burning questions about her E-book collection. 

J: What was the last book you’ve purchased?

BM: It's called "Between The Lines" by Tammara Webber. I just finished her Upper YA/New Adult book, "Easy" and almost died. It was so good. Now I'm obsessed with reading all of her books. 

J: Name the top 5 books in your shelves.

BM: Wow...that's a hard one. I can't pick between all of my books. I never could. However, my current top 5 favorite books (all of which I own on my Nook) are:

1.    "Catch Of The Day" by Kristan Higgins

2.    "On The Island" by Tracey Garvis Graves

3.    "Delirium" by Lauren Oliver

4.    "Pandemonium" by Lauren Oliver and,

5.    "Conversations With The Fat Girl" by Liza Palmer.

J: What is the most controversial book on your shelf?

BM: Oh, wow....probably "Beautiful Disaster" by Jamie McGuire. This book ticked me off, and drove me crazy, and people all around the world are FREAKING out about how dysfunctional the couple in this story is...but it's like literary crack. I couldn't stop reading. I loved it. But I hated it. But I also loved it. I can't explain...

J: Name one book in your shelf that you wished you wrote.

BM: Hands down: "On The Island" by Tracey Garvis Graves. It. Was. Amazing. Read this book now. Other than that, ANYTHING by Kristan Higgins.

           J: Which book would you recommend for me to read?

  BM: All of them! If you want something that you can't stop reading, but might tick you off? Try "Beautiful Disaster". If you want something that will leave you breathless and anxious and totally dying for the next installment, try the "Delirium" series by Lauren Oliver. If you want something that is good from cover to cover, with nary a complaint from me...try "Easy" by Tammara Webber. 

Thanks, Brooke! Ah yes, Beautiful Disaster. I read that book a month after its release and before all the drama and the hullabaloo that followed it. I loved it, regardless of all the dysfunctionality that some have been crying about. To each to their own, yeah? 

I definitely have to check out your top 5 picks! 

About Brooke:


"I write because if I don't...my head will explode, and ruin the drapes."


Brooke Moss is the name, contemporary romance, fantasy YA, and contemporary romance are the game.


Brooke writes complex, character-driven stories about kismet, reunited lovers, first love, and the kind of romance that we should all have the chance at finding. She prefers her stories laced with some humor just for fun, and enough drama to keep her readers flipping the pages, and begging for more!

When Brooke isn't spinning tales, she spends her time drawing/cartooning, reading two books a week (ask her who her faves are), watching movies then comparing them to books, and, of course, wrangling four kids, one hubby she lovingly refers to as her "nerd", and attempting to conquer the Mount Everest of laundry that is the bane of her existence.

~From Goodreads

The Carny is now available for purchase here.

You can find Brooke Moss here: Twitter | Website | Facebook

And don't forget that you can enter The Carny giveaway simply by filling out the Rafflecopter form below! An Inkspell Publishing Giveaway

The Principal's Office [DeKnight #3] by Jasmine Haynes

Publication Date: February 7^th, 2012

HEAT

Format: Paperback, 308 pages

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Rachel Delaney, a divorced mother with two boys, isn’t complaining. Her life is fine. Really. There is one thing that could make it better, though: a strong, warm male body to help her make it through the occasional lonely night. No strings, and no relationship, thanks. Just a little fun with a perfect stranger. And there’s no more perfect stranger than Rand.

He’s tall, blond, unattached, smokin’ hot, and looking for the same thing Rachel is: wild, abandoned sex with no limits, no last names, and no complications – until Rachel’s eldest son gets in trouble in class.

Only then does Rachel discover that her down-and-dirty, dangerously sexy mystery lover is also the new school principal. They’re not exactly the ideal role models for a troubled student acting out his own frustrations. With Rachel’s life turned upside down, Rand is the only one who can make it right – by taking their hot-bodied hookups in a warm new direction…

This is book number three of a series I've not heard of. I don't know about you but I love reading random serial books that enables me to follow the story without ever having read the rest of the series. In all honesty, after reading this one, I'm dying to read the rest of the series and probably even more from this author. Her books are steamy, to say the least. But in The Principal's Office's case, I also found some substance in it.

This follows the story of Rachel, newly-divorced and looking for some much-needed stress outlet. Colour her happy when she meets a tall, handsome, sexy Viking in Rand. But she's also not looking for a relationship; the woman just wants someone to show her a good time. Lucky for her, Rand is game to do her bidding. Everything was hunky-dory right up until the part when she gets called in the principal's office of her eldest son. It turns out that the man who tutors her on the wicked sins of the flesh is the same person who seems to have it out for her son.

Oh boy. If you're not ready to indulge in some unbridled, unadulterated erotica read, this book may not be for you. I, on the other hand, embraced Ms. Haynes wicked tales of consenting adults discovering the joys of forbidden lust.

I did mention some substance, didn't I? Well, don't fret. This book is not all about sex. The story also shows how Rand helped Rachel find her place in her sons' lives and how to fight for the things she cares about. I love the give-and-take relationship between these two; it's quite refreshing to read a romance where the man isn't bulldozing his way into his woman's life. The best thing about this book (besides the copious amounts of smexy times), is the much-needed lesson Rand taught Rachel's son. It was a touching story about standing up to bullies and protecting those who can't protect themselves. This was also a lesson that Rachel learned while standing up to her ex.

Though the book's cover will deceive you into believing that this is just another Dom/sub play which involves the principal and the unsuspecting single mom, it was way more than that. And this is why I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the author simply didn't write erotica, she wrote about self-discovery and  showing courage when it counts.

VERDICT: A hot and steamy read with valuable life lessons to boot. Jasmine Haynes gave dimensions to characters when some erotica authors would not. I believe this is the beginning of yet another addiction. :)

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

Publication Date: October 11^th, 2011

Plume

Format: Paperback, 319 pages

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island.

Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

What a lovely, lovely read…

…Oh heck, whom am I kidding? This book filled me with anxiety for some odd reason. Besides the fact that I knew the plane was going to go down, the characters were going to get stuck on an island for the next three years, and the fact that they would be involved in a May-December affair, I wasn’t expecting a freaking HEA. This maybe the reason why I’ve put off reading this book just because. While the romance was something that caused some fluttering in my chest, I also expected the worst – not with the writing but with how the story was going to end.

Ms. Graves lull me into complacency but the trepidation didn’t really dissipate. At first, I was thinking that this book lacked conflict...and then I thought, what? As if getting stuck on an island for three years wasn’t enough of a conflict for you? I just thought that the relationship was going way too perfect. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did I just wanted to go fetal in a corner and start sucking on my thumb.

From time to time, you get asked the question, "who would you rather get stuck on an island with?" And you think of some incredibly handsome heartthrob that you’ve crushed on for years. Or perhaps a literary crush you may have? An actor? Well, if I get stuck on an island I’d rather have Les Stroud than Christian Bale because, damn, Les can find us shelter and food. Though he may not be as pleasing to the eye than Christian. My point is, getting stuck on an island in reality is really not that romantic. Imagine being thirsty and hungry and dirty all the time - the author did a tremendous job in showing just how difficult it could be. I swear I drank so much water while reading just because I was having some sympathetic thirst. Ms. Graves' writing was that potent. 


I did have some reservations about how long they held off on the sex. While I understand that Ms. Graves was trying to keep everything legal, I just didn't think it was convincing. The cynical part of me thinks that a teenage boy wouldn't be as sensible as T.J. was, and a woman in her prime wouldn't be as levelheaded as Anna was when it came to giving in to their sexual attraction. But...that's just me though. 


VERDICT: On the Island is a heady combination of  sweet and seemingly impossible romance, spurred on by a realistic, frightening scenario that will have you reading non-stop until you know for sure that the characters got their happily ever after. Perfect beach read!

Infamous (The Chronicles of Nick 3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publication Date: March 13^th, 2012

St. Martin’s Griffin

Format: Hardcover, 480 pages

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Go to school. Get good grades. Stay out of trouble. That’s the mandate for most kids. But Nick Gautier isn’t the average teenager. He’s a boy with a destiny not even he fully understands. And his first mandate is to stay alive while everyone, even his own father, tries to kill him.

He’s learned to annihilate zombies and raise the dead, divination and clairvoyance, so why is learning to drive and keep a girlfriend so dang hard? But that isn’t the primary skill he has to master. Survival is.

And in order to survive, his next lesson makes all the others pale in comparison. He is on the brink of becoming either the greatest hero mankind has ever known, or he’ll be the one who ends the world. With enemies new and old gathering forces, he will have to call on every part of himself to fight or he’ll lose everyone he cares about. Even himself.

I think I finally have a better understanding of what this series is all about. I also think that I've misjudged just how far I needed to get into Sherrilyn Kenyon's PNR series Dark Hunters in order to fully appreciate this series. There are some characters that may or may not have been introduced that I'm not familiar with and situations that may have happened in that world that I'd have known if I'd read further into them. Regardless, I think that I have a better grasp of Nick's world and have come to finally enjoy Kenyon's YA offering.

*May contain spoilers*


At the end of Invincible, the cliff hanger was that Nick finally figured out who 'Uncle' Ambrosius truly was; and I'm not going to lie, up until the beginning of Infamous, I was convinced that he was legit. I did have an inkling at some point and I think may have tweeted this very question: "Is Ambrosius and Nick one in the same?" But then again, I also thought that Ambrosius was Adarian's brother and that he  harboured feelings toward Cherise, Nick's mother. Well, colour me disturbed when I found out the real truth.

The future Nick is trying to prevent whatever disaster he'd caused by changing the past; and I think this is where reading further into the DH series would've been essential. I have no idea how far back I needed to get into those books to find out what happened. On the last book that I've read, I know that Nick was set on destroying Acheron but I'm not going to spill why. I wondered if the next few books after that revealed if Nick was able to do just that.

Anyway, like I've mentioned previously, I have a brand new appreciation for this series. Other than the fact that I should really read more into the DH series, I felt that this book has a better direction than the previous two books. However, I still didn't get the whole nasty online rumour mill that was the subplot in here. It seems that Ms. Kenyon was trying her best to insinuate some situations that would be worth the YA stamp on this series and in my opinion, this series could do without them. The demon that have possessed one of the students to start this on-line gossip mongering wasn't really necessary and to me, truthfully unnecessary.

I'm very interested to find out how Adarian and Cherise got together. This sum of all evil incarnate seemed to have a good side in him that he's hiding but his need to kill his heir (Nick) was so severe that he couldn't get past it.

VERDICT: Over all, I have enjoyed this book the most. Although there were some instances when there's not a seamless transition between Nick's dreams and reality and therefore confusing, Sherrilyn Kenyon was very adept in distracting you from that fact.

Morningstar by Darcy Town

Publication Date: October 11, 2011

Self-Published

Format: Paperback, 337 pages

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

When she meets Belial, Dahlia can't wish for a better distraction from life. But a fun night of drinking turns bizarre when Belial introduces Dahlia to Lucien and the rest of her friends, men who are exceedingly rich, in short supply of morals, overflowing with violent tendencies, and interested in everything about her. Dahlia is charmed by her new friends, but something about them seems strangely familiar and it should. Lucien is Lucifer Morningstar, his friends are fallen angels, and Dahlia is no ordinary woman; she is the very reason they were tossed out of Heaven. She is the reincarnated spirit of Lucifer's equal and former lover, the imprisoned Primangel Ladriam. Within her, lies the power to restart and win the war against Heaven, but first she needs to survive dating the devil.

The story starts off with Lucifer in complete despair, in so much despair that he stayed in the same spot, unmoving for years and years. Plants grew around, and on him until the very house became a forest itself. Right off the bat, this scene enamored me. What has caused his anguish? What great force could sink perhaps one of the powerful biblical figures ever known to man? The next scene jumped to a year later where a couple of strangers stood before an unattended baby carriage. The baby girl who seemed just as enthralled captivated the strangers. And then there was a conversation between the two that hinted on the fact that they knew the baby’s soul as the reincarnation of someone they used to know. I was hooked right then. I was dying to know how Lucifer would react to “seeing” Ladriam again. His soul mate – his better half and the only being equally powerful than Satan himself. Lucifer was both terrified and anxious to see Ladriam again; after all, she was the reason for his world stopping. But seeing Ladriam would also mean her eventual realization for his role in her torture and imprisonment in the hands of Michael. Seriously, after this brief synopsis, why wouldn’t you be freaking pumped to read this refreshing take on angels and demons story? The history is so evolved and heavily laden with complicated myths.

So what went wrong?

I’ll tell you.

Sadly, there was only about 10% of the story that focused on this myth. The rest was spent with the Fallen trying to show Dahlia a good time. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol, partaking in hallucinogens such as ‘shrooms and fairy wine, and basically just showing her what she’s been missing from her sheltered life. I have no idea how these all became relevant to Dahlia remembering who she truly was. I think at some point, Lucifer was given a timeline as to how long the rest of the Fallen would give him before they stepped in and intervene. They wanted to wake up the side of Dahlia that represents the formerly imprisoned and tortured Ladriam. But the whole thing dragged. I don’t know about you, but makeovers, baking cookies, pool parties – they just didn’t seem like the kind of things these angels-gone-bad would do.

I do like the author’s writing. It’s nicely polarized. She could switch from modern slang to an old language that suited the angels. I am also a fan of how well conceptualized her myth was. I just wish she didn’t spend a lot of time focusing on the lighter side of being friends with the devils.

I also like the idea that for every Fallen angel is a sibling counterpart. Lucifer and Michael, Belial and Helion, Berith and Uriel, Paimon and Gabriel…and so on. Like I said, I wish the author cultivated this element of the story even more. It had such great potential.

VERDICT:  Despite my misgivings, I liked this book – liked it enough to continue with the series. I have big hopes that the next two books would involve some fierce sword fights and ass-kicking of the heavenly variety. It’s frustrating to see a great story fall flat because the author took it to a direction it had no business of going. This could’ve been so great. 

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
HarperTeen

Format: Paperback, 454 pages

RATING: 1 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

I have a thing for drummers.

I have a thing for English boys. 

Kaidan Rowe is an English drummer boy. That alone is enough enticement for me.  With all the campaigns going around on Kai’s bid to beat every boy in the YA Tourney of Crushes, it was inevitable that I pulled this from the TBR pile just so I could check him out. After my first introduction to Kai, I must admit, I got the appeal. Unfortunately, this book isn’t all about him. And even if it was, Kai’s charms ended right there. He’s the son of the Duke of Lust, ergo; he needs to have gratuitous sex to survive. Uhm. No thanks.

There are 789 reviews posted for this book on Goodreads, with 3,491 ratings averaging 4.23 stars.  Everyone loves this; I mean, practically, everyone.

Kool-Aid, anyone? I Pass.

I had a hell of a time with this book; at some point, I got close to giving up on it. I am not a fan of the incredibly, unbelievably good, naive, innocent heroine. She wasn’t someone a lot of us mortals could relate to. And how could we? She’s a genetic mixture of angel and demon. The thing is I think everyone has a mixture of both; we just have to figure out for ourselves which side we would allow to win – the good side? Or the evil side? Apparently, it didn’t matter that she was partly spawned by a demon. She was more angel than anything else. And I get it; truly, I do. I just wish that she’d shown a glimmer of weakness by fighting off the side of daddy dearest that's within her.

Anna also cries a lot, which is one of the traits that I could never like from a character. She thinks herself as plain (eyeroll) and was annoyed by a freckle on her upper lip - all while the boys in school jonesed after her. 

The writing is juvenile  - and perhaps it was the author’s intention to do so. Maybe Ms. Higgins was trying to immortalized Anna Whitt’s sixteen year-old persona through her writing. But I couldn’t get through most of her inner ramblings. I rolled my eyes so much; I developed a headache. 


“Kai, like Thai only yummier.” (eyeroll)

“Good gracious, he was sexy—a word that had not existed in my personal vocabulary until that moment.” (eyeroll)

I’m sure there were more. But those two are the ones that just about did me in. By the way, does anyone know what the exact hue is of a honeymoon colour? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t in the colour wheel. FYI, That’s how she described his eyes. Oh man, her fascination with the rainbow...wow. Even my five year-old didn't show that much enthusiasm when he saw one.

Drug use. Alcohol. I’m not a fan; even if they’re essential to the story.

Patti, Anna’s adoptive mother. Boy, was she inconsistent, or what? First, she told Anna to stay away from the boy. Then, she told her that she should go with the boy on a road trip. Say, what? Never mind that these two teens are minors and had to fend for themselves with accommodations and such. Details. If she only knew how her precious Anna practically asked Kai to have his way with her…

VERDICT: Kai’s hawtness couldn’t save this book. I’m also inclined to include this on my review: JUDGE FOR YERSELF but I didn't like this at all. 

Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: December 28^th, 2011

Self-Published

Format: Kindle Edition

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

SUMMARY

After making a bad decision when she was very young, Kia Clementine finds herself in hell. Then, suddenly, within the time it takes for a shotgun to blast, her hell changes. Completely. Then out-of-the-blue she sees Sampson Cooper, her celebrity crush. A man the whole world knows is decent. A man the world knows is loyal. A man the world knows is good. All of these very unlike her now dead husband.

He’s sitting at a table right next to hers. And she catches his eye.

Terrified of the interest Sam shows in her, Kia finds the courage to go out with him. Not long after, she shares her dark secrets and Sam shares that he’ll stop at nothing to gain her trust.

As Sam leads Kia to heaven, Kia realizes that Sam is living his own hell. But although he gives her beauty and she gives him everything, he withholds his trust.

Even with all the beauty Sam shows her, Kia wants it all. But Sam forces Kia to make a heartbreaking decision and only she can decide. It’s all or nothing.

I had crow for breakfast. It was hardly delicious.

I followed that up with humble pie, extra tart for dessert (though, I only had a bite…it was too sour for my taste!).

Riiiight. I promised myself I’ll never read another book by Kristen Ashley again. But goddamit, the woman has power over me. Well, her books anyway, not necessarily her, personally.

Last night, I was browsing on my Kindle looking for something to follow up I Hunt Killers. I needed something easy; and by easy, I really mean smutty. Heaven and Hell caught my eye. Once upon a time, I found Kristen Ashley’s books in the Buy-by-Bulk section of Amazon (okay, not really). I downloaded a sh*t ton of her books on blind faith.  I gorged myself on all things Kristen Ashley. A week or so later, I had my fill of her pushy men and less than perfect writing so I quit. But then last night happened. And I knew – I just knew that being reacquainted with her characters will lead to some self-inflicted migraines and will trigger a reaction that literally disables my will to stop reading no matter how bad the writing was.

At this juncture, I’m admitting defeat. I can no longer resist her. I will swallow the proverbial bitter pill (which represents the awful writing), wave the white flag and open my arms in welcome to who ever character she’d recycle conjure up next.

Despite how methodical Kristen Ashley was, is with her characters, I still find myself eating anything she serves up. She’s a fantastic plot-weaver but very unoriginal with everything else. Unoriginal because she repeats herself. I’ve mentioned it before: her characters speak the same (the males, especially), their attitudes and traits are the same. Sam Cooper is character #124 (I’m just guessing) in her assembly line. More than once, I had the urge to scream at my Kindle and yet I couldn't stop reading. Sam's annoyingly forceful attitude seemed magnified because of Kia’s history. But when does any men in KA’s world ever listen to their women? or let them speak for that matter?

Speaking of Kia's history, I’d like to say, in all honesty, that this book actually induced some unwelcomed waterworks toward the end. I did feel for her. And though my emotions waffled between sympathy and annoyance, it was still much better than detachment, yeah?

VERDICT: I understand why she doesn’t want to change a thing about her writing because it’s been a proven and successful formula. But at some point in any writer’s career, you have to show your readers that you’ve got a lot more to offer. Then again, who am I to tell Kristen Ashley to stop doing what she's doing?

So to you, Ms. Ashley. Well done. You've managed to make me doubt my taste in books, shattered my confidence in recc'ing anything, and have come to question just what kind of woman I am for liking the Neanderthals that roam the pages of your books. I give up. I will buy anything you write. There. Happy?