Bakers Dozen 2013: 13

Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz

Just like Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz, Crystal Flame is a romantic, futuristic, supernatural, Sci-Fi type novel.  So as I've mentioned before, this book came in a double bound edition with Sweet Starfire so I just ended up reading this one right after I finished with the first book.  Just like the other book, I don't remember as many little details like I have with other books that I have read but I just remember the feeling and emotion of this book.  I remember a little more detail about this book than other one but for some odd reason my amazing memory to remember little details has just failed me.  I might just have to reread this one also.

Anyway, the book is about female trained assassin Kalena and her mission to kill the man that was behind the destruction of her family.  She has to kill him in order to be free of her familial obligations.  She enters into a marriage contract with a man named Ridge but people call him the Fire Whip.  Neither know that they are in danger from the people who are closest to them and that they trust.  Or course even though their marriage is just really a contract, this is important because even though it's not a forever marriage, it is in a sense permission to be physical.

Again this is another one of those books that I ended up falling in love with just because of the impression that it left on me.  This might just be one of those books that I reread instead of guessing the little details that I wished I could remember.  Again even though I can't remember the specifics, I still love this book.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 12

Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz

Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz is a futuristic, supernatural romance novel.  Before I read this book I had only read one of her other books before this and I remember not being all that enthused by it.  But this book was awesome.  Now I have to admit that there is a lot that I don't really remember about this book but it left just one of those feelings and impressions that just makes me love this book so much.  I bought this book in a double set so it also had Crystal Flame with it and I read both back to back.  But I'm not really all that clear whether or not these two stories are tied together tightly.  They both were set into the future and use the same solar system, but other than that I don't remember

The story follows two people Cidra and Teague.  Cidra is from a race of people who have special telepathic skills, that she apparently lack.  She's considered an outsider and is on the mission to discover the secret that will allow her mind to communicate with others.  Teague Severance is a delivery man, the ultimate delivery man in the Stanza Nine System.  As long as the price is right he'll deliver it.  Cidra takes the risk of hiring him to bring her to the rough area with Stanza Nine system.  Even though Teague is certain that Cidra isn't his type they soon find themselves in a passion that flares between them that could put their lives in jeopardy.

Again, the little details aren't floating in my head as much as other books that I have read, but I just remember the emotion and the sense of awe.  The book just left a magical feeling over me that to this day I still remember.  I think I might have to reread this story just so I can relive how much I loved this story.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 9

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Almost one year ago I reviewed this book, Jennifer Government by Max Barry and LOVED it.  I gave this book a 5 out of 5 because I loved it so much.  This was one of those suggestions by my former boss at the book store and I bought this book at another discount book store almost eight years ago.  SO I had this book in my collection for about 7 years before I had even picked it up and started to read it.  I remember thinking to myself, "why didn't I read this sooner?  I had it this whole time and never read it!"  I can honestly say I was a little mad at myself for that.

So in case you haven't read my book review (here) I'll do a quick overview of what Jennifer Government was about.  So the book is set some point in the future, exactly when was never stated, but you got the sense that there was a decent amount of time for the world to become like this.  Now in this future, we are essentially owned by corporations.  So if your name is Jane Smith but you work for Barnes and Nobles you would be known as Jane Barnes and Nobles.  The government is also pretty much dictated by the high powered corporations that have the most money.  Jennifer works for the government and and is investigating the murders of a dozen or so kids because the company Nike put at hit out on them to promote the newest shoes.  This story you see corruption with in companies and Jennifer's fight to uphold the law to her best.

This was an incredibly fun book to read, but it also made you think.  The plot didn't seem all that far fetched and that is kind of a scary thing to think about.  Usually books like this don't appeal to me, but the author wrote it just like how I would watch a movie.  No it isn't written like a script, but when reading it I could easily picture what was going on.  I remember so much of this book vividly that it will stay in my mind for a long time.

Book Review: Jennifer Government

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Imagine living in a society where instead of being an independent person you're essentially owned by a corporation.  Government is non-existent.  While this book isn't set in a time period, meaning it could be now , the soon future, or distant future, it does seem like a plausible scenario if we choose to live life like this.

Jennifer Government is based around an incident involving Jennifer Government (she works for the government now and in the society your last name is the company work for.  Like if you're working at Target you'd be Jane Target or Jane Home Depot).  Jennifer now works for the government as an agent and she's on the case of investigating the murders of a dozen or so kids because Hack Nike put a hit out on them, by going to the police (crazy scenario, I know).  But this goes deeper, because one power hungry maniac John Nike wishes to take over what little government that is left.  Now with this story there is a lot of off shoots that go with the main plot and are all tied to Jennifer one way or another.

Now I have to be honest, I finished this book before the new year, but it has been really hard to write a review for it, not because it was an epic failure, no, just the opposite, IT WAS AWESOME!  Seriously, if you liked future scenarios like Hunger Games (not saying that this book is anything like The Hunger Games I was just trying to find something to help you get an idea of the type of plot), this will blow you out of the freaking water.  Max Barry wrote this in a way where you can see your self living in a society like this and wanting out, but you just don't know how.  In this book there are people who are OK with living like this, people who are uncomfortable, people who take advantage, and people who are setting out to change how things are.

Jennifer Government is a fun read but it is also a thinker.  You get everything you need about the society quickly and you're not loaded down with a bunch of information but it definitely makes you think.  In a good way of course.

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I couldn't put it down once I started to read and I wasn't really in a reading mood either.  This book will make you laugh, think, feel for the characters, and also question what is happening now.

Again, thanks for another book suggestion Kristi!

Rating:
5 out of 5

On Deck:
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber by Adele Lang