Book Review: Fairest

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest by Marissa Meyer is a bridge between the books Cress and Winter.  This book is part of the Lunar Chronicles Series, and is a futuristic, young adult novel.  While the other four stories follow a fairytale theme, this book is more like a window into the evil step-mother life.  While this book isn't a part of the series, I felt that it was a great read and set up for the final book in the series, Winter.  This story was shorter, but explained and introduced other characters that play huge roles in the final book.

Queen Levana is known as the ruthless ruler of Luna and their people the Lunars.  Known for her glamour you follow Queen Levana as a young teenager up to her adult years.  You feel for the insecure girl who was badly scared from a fire when she was a child.  Verbally abused, she becomes obsessed with a palace guard who is older than her and happily married into another woman.  She soon realizes the power she has not just with her glamour (Which is where they can change their physical appearance) but also with other people.  With the ambition of being not only the most beautiful Queen, but also the greatest ruler of Luna, she isn't afraid to hurt, kill and destroy anyone who stands in her way.  Including family.

I loved this book.  While it wasn't necessary to the Lunar Chronicles series, I was a great way to understand the madness that is Queen Levana.  One thing that I loved about this story is that even though you find out what she went through and you start to understand how she became who she was, you don't change your opinion on her.  You don't in the end hope that she gets a happy ending.  You still want to see her get what she has coming to her in the final story Winter.  While it isn't necessary to read this book as part of the Lunar Chronicles, it was still a great read.  Yes, you can read the Lunar Chronicles book without this and they explain everything that you need, I found it was interesting to go deep into the character which is Levana.  Finding out how she became the loose cannon that she was, was interesting.  I loved every second of this book.

Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Fifty Shades Darker

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker by EL James, is the second book in the Fifty Shades series.  This book is an erotica romance that touches on the BDSM lifestyle.  I finished this book in August of 2014, so I apologize if this review seems not that great.

Fifty Shades Darker picks up where Fifty Shades of Grey left off when Anastasia Steele leaves Christian Grey.  But the two lovers can't avoid each other and end up back with a each other.  Wanting a career, Anastasia feels daunted by Christian's need to control everything in her life.  But she feels frustrated with the secrets that he's keeping from her.

So I have to be honest, I didn't like this book, nor the first one.  I don't have an issue with the BDSM lifestyle that the author has wrote about, but I do have issue with her lack of development that she seems to have with the characters.  This book opened up a lot of issues that never seemed to get resolved or have a conclusion to.  I felt that the characters were so polar opposites that I couldn't relate them.  Ana is a weak person that doesn't have a back bone, and Christian is a manipulative dominate.  I felt that Christian's disregard of Ana's opinion on things was a huge turn off.  One thing that irritated me in the first book and it followed through to this book, and that was the constant mention of Ana's inner goddess.  I seriously wanted that inner goddess to get hit by a bus or something.   There were a lot of issues with this book, but one of the major ones for me have been was Christian's relationship with Elena (who was commonly referred as Mrs. Robinson), their relationship turned intimate and was a BDSM relationship right from the beginning when Christian was 15 and Elena was much older.  Ana is clearly uncomfortable with this but Christian disregards her voice on this matter.  This was something that could have been discussed and it just never happened.  And in the end, Ana can't live without Christian so she says yes to marriage even though they've known each other for a short amount of time and they have a ton of issues.  I have to be honest, if Christian wasn't rich or good looking, any normal girl would probably run the other way.

In the end, I didn't like this book.  If it had stayed as a fan fiction that I could have read for free, I would probably enjoy it.  But it is mediocre at best.  It really didn't deserve the hype and I think it gave a false image to the BDSM culture.  If you're interested in reading books like that, and that are done properly, I suggest reading something by Jaid Black.  She knows what she's writing about.  I personally feel that I'm being too generous with a 2 out of 5 stars rating, but I think I gave it an extra star because of it's origin.  I've read a lot of fan fiction over the years, some have been horrible, some decent, and others spectacular!  I have to honestly say that this one would have been in between decent and spectacular, but as a novel, and a series, I just don't get the hype.  I really don't.

Rating: 

2 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Thumped

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped by Megan McCafferty is the conclusion to Bumped.  This is a dystopian, young adult novel set in the year 2036 and starts right after Bumped ended.  This book is geared more towards the older teens, but as an adult I understood that context, over and undertones of this book.

Thumped the sequel to Bumped, it continues the story of separated-at-birth twins, Melody and Harmony.  These sisters are now the most popular teen girls on the planet.  To their fans, they seem to be living ideal lives.  Harmony is married to Ram (a boy from her commune) and living in Goodside, the religious community that once meant everything to her.  Melody has the genetically flawless Jondoe as her coupling partner, which means money and status, and a bright future.  But both girls are hiding secrets, and both are pining for guys they can't have.  Telling the truth could mean losing everything.

Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this book, it was a fast read, and I couldn't put it down.  The issues that were touched upon in the first book get fully explored in this one.  Both sisters are trying really hard to find their own identity but also their back bone.  When Harmony is back in the religious community, she's a prisoner and under house arrest from escaping the first time but despite their displeasure in her previous antics, they are enjoying the fame and media attention that she is bringing to their community.  Melody is also a prisoner with the expectations that has happened from her "bumping" with Jondoe that may or may not have happened.  Compared to the first book, this one had more action and romance.  I really enjoyed how the events fell into place with this series.  While some could argue that the ending was cliche and typical, I really enjoyed it.  I do have to say though, a part of me wishes that this was a trilogy instead of a duo.  Even though the major issues were resolved, I couldn't help but feel attached to the characters and I wanted to see what happens next.  Again I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this book my friends.



Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Bumped

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty, is a young adult, dystopian novel and takes place in Princeton, New Jersey in the hear 2036.  This book is the first in a duology.  While this book is geared towards the young adult audience, I feel that this is for the older young adult audience.  Megan McCafferty, is best known for her Jessica Darling series, and I found that like those books her writing was similar aiming for an older young adult audience and makes it some what enjoyable for adult readers.

Bumped starts off as a virus has swept the world, making everyone over the age of eighteen infertile.  Because of this teenagers are now the most prized members of society, and adults who wish to be parents desperately bid for "conception contracts" with the prettiest, healthiest, and smartest girls.  The teens receive things like cash, college tuition, and other favors in exchange for a baby.  At sixteen, Melody as scored a record-breaking contract with a rich couple and and she's been matched with the hottest "bumping" partner in the world, Jondoe.  Melody discovers that she has an identical twin, Harmony, whom has grown up in a strict religious community and believes that her calling is to save Melody from her sinful intentions.  While Melody is trying to come to terms what she has signed up for, Harmony has been mistaken for her and is now meeting with Jondoe.  

As I've already mentioned, due to the subject matter, I feel that this book and following book are better suited for older teens.  The book was published in 2012, so during that time, shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom were really popular.  One of the things that I loved so much about this book was how the brainwashing of these teens happened.  Instead of saying intercourse, they called it bumped.  Or instead of calling it a baby and forming an attachment they told to call it a bump or call it something like burrito.  They popularized and marketed selling teen pregnancy in order to fulfill a demographic of adults that can't have children.  I thought that Megan McCafferty writing was brilliant, and kind poked fun at the popularization of TV shoes like Teen Mom.  I also felt for both of the characters, both of the sisters, even though they weren't raised together, do feel a bond and both recognize how the other is being manipulated by their parents and society.  The one thing that I thought was very powerful was that how these two girls were willing to lose their individuality and self worth in order to belong and please others.  This book was a quick read, and I couldn't put it down.  With all of the different dystopian books and series out there, I feel that this book carved out its own little niche out where it stands apart from the rest out there.  There is humor, action, angst, romance, and a message that isn't shoved down your throat.  I truly enjoyed this book.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Cress

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series and it is geared towards the young adult audience.  The first two in the series are Cinder and Scarlet.  Just like the first two books in the series, Cress is a futuristic take on a classic fairy tale of Rapunzel.  

In Cress, the plot is a continuation from the first two books.  You follow the previous characters, Cinder, Captain Throne, Scarlet, Wolf, and a little bit of Prince Kai.  The four main characters, are plotting to overthrow the evil Queen Levana and her army.  They meet a girl Cress, who is a shell (which is a Lunar who can see through a Lunar person's glamour and doesn't have any of their abilities) and has been imprisoned on a satellite since she was a young girl.  She was forced to monitor and hack vital information of the people of Earth to help Levana.  The four decides to stage a daring rescue, but unfortunately it doesn't go as planned and they find themselves separated.  Cress finds herself alone Carswell Thorne, and they try to meet up with Cinder and the others.

So if you guys couldn't tell, I loved this book as much as the first two.  This book felt like there was more action and plot twists than the first two and I enjoyed every second that I read this book.  Of course, there was a bit of romance, but it didn't over power the plot and story line.  Which is something I appreciated.   You find out more about the characters involved and also there is hints of the future characters that will be major players in the final book of the series which is, Winter (Which at this moment I am patiently waiting for my book order.  I had a birthday gift card that I was waiting to use until this baby got released.)  I unfortunately find that with books that I love I have such a hard time talking about what I loved about them.  Because this series has had me hooked since I first read Cinder, I couldn't put it down.  As I said this was a refreshing change from the normal books that I normally read, and I also felt that this series stands out from the other young adult books that seem to get a lot of hype.  It has action and romance, with a fairytale and futuristic twist.  It's not quite dystopian nor is it quite science fiction.  I feel that it is in a genre on its own.

On a sad (or possibly happy) note, I've read a few articles that this series is going to be turned into a movie.  And for those of you who don't know, I have a love hate relationship with books that get turned into movies.  Especially if I really enjoyed it.  I just hope that who ever is writing the script, casting the actors and directing, gives this series the justice that it deserves.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Charmed Thirds

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Charmed Thirds is the third book in a series written by Megan McCafferty.  The first two books are Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.  Yes I have read both books before this one.  But I did read them quite sometime ago but surprisingly I remembered a lot of important details from the first two books to know what was going on with this one.  This is one of those series where I think it would be more beneficial to read the books in chronological order first, because the novel is written like a diary/journal by the main character. This book is in the young adult genre and is based on real life topics.

The novel and series is based off the life of Jessica Darling.  It is written in a diary/journal style but also with a slight first person point of view.  The book is about her life in college and dealing with her boyfriend going to a Buddhist school in California while she is going to Columbia in New York.  The character of Jessica Darling is your typical college student who is too aware of her surroundings and curses her not so glamorous life in Pineville, New Jersey.  While the first two books in the series is about Jessica in high school.  This book covers her whole college career.  There are a lot of conflicts in this story that shape the the plot but I think the main one were when Jessica cheats on her boyfriend Marcus and her parents decide to cut her off financially.  The whole book seemed very realistic and to a certain extent I think it is very easy to relate with.  The book end with graduation and Jessica going off to try and find her next step beyond college so of course there is a sequel to this book called Fourth Comings. What I liked most about this book and the two before is that Megan McCafferty is really good at adding humor into her stories.  It's almost as if Jessica Darling was a real life person, she would be a stand up comedian.

This was a really quick read and it was kind of hard to put down.  It was very addicting and I constantly wanted to know what would happen next to the character Jessica Darling.  I love the humor and plot in the story.  While it was kind of typical drama plot I think the style of McCafferty's writing kept it fresh.  There are definitely little parts and scenes that are easy to replay in your head and make you chuckle.  While there is sex and relationships in this book, there is no detail of the acts.  You just know that it happened.

I think anyone who is in the mood for a quick read with a little bit of drama and humor this is the book for you.  While there is a little bit of course language it isn't enough to turn me off from the book.  While it is addictive and a quick read, the chapters are broken up in year/semesters/months so it is easy to find a stopping point.  Again I really enjoyed reading the books.  McCafferty has done a good job developing her lead character through out the three books into an easy transition that is realistic.

Rating:
4 out of 5

On Deck:
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Secrets VOL. 3

Secrets VOL. 3

This book is an anthology with four short stories from four different authors.  This book and the series that it is a part of is in the erotica genre.  The four authors of this book are Angela Knight, Ann Jacobs, B.J. McCall, Jeanie Cesarini.  I've read books from both Angela Knight and Jeanie Cesarini but I have never heard the other two before.  The one thing that I love about anthologies is that you get a chance to read pieces from different authors that you may never think to read.

'The Spy Who Loved Me' by Jeanie Cesarini is about two FBI agents Paige Ellison and Christopher Sharp sent in a undercover mission to infiltrate Lewis Goddar's compound because he is guilty of murder by making snuff porn films.  The two lead characters have a past and attraction and Cesarini did a really good job of making the reader aware of the history between the two without making the story too long or wordy.  She gave both characters enough description and direction that you really got into the story.

'Love Undercover' by B.J. McCall  is about Police lieutenant Amanda Forbes is in a sting at a strip club to catch a robber.  She is partnered with Detective Wes Cooper who will be the bouncer while she dances.  There is an attraction between the two but if they act on it they could both lose their jobs or their promotions.  This story was pretty well written but the love, but the ending was really rushed.  And the action that could have happened in the story never happened, instead it ended with the two driving to Las Vegas to get married.

' Blood and Kisses' by Angela Knight is a futuristic story plot with a supernatural twist.  A lot of stories that I have read by Knight are vampire based and this one is no exception.  The story starts off where human mercenary Beryl St. Cloud is in need of help.  She's being hunted by ruthless vampire Tagliar who was paid to assassinate her.  She goes to 300 year old Jim Decker for protection.  Because she doesn't have any money she agrees to be his mistress for a year to pay her debt.  During their time they slowly start to fall in love with each other but because Beryl had been hurt and betrayed she tries to stop herself.  Even though this this story is short like the others.  Knight writes a really descriptive plot and follows through with the actions the the story involved.

'The Barbarian' by Ann Jacobs is set in the medieval times and is about Lady Brianna and Giles deVere.  He is the barbarian who is promised Lady Brianna's land.  She refuses to except him but he forces her to be with him.  This story wasn't easy to get through.  Mainly because a lot of it I thought wasn't very believable.

Out of the four stories I like, 'The Spy Who Loved Me' the best.  I liked the plot and the fact that the two main characters had a history and Jeanie Cesarini was able to write in the past without over weighing the 80 page story too much.  The romantic scenes were descriptive but I think it was the least vulgar out of the four.

The one story that I had the hardest time trying to get though though was 'The Barbarian' by Ann Jacobs.  Nothing made sense in this story.  Supposedly Lady Brianna refuses to fall in love with him and give her body.  He kills a lot of her people that she had known since she was a child and in the story that doesn't seem to carry over through the plot.  Also the book hints that Giles deVere was in the holy lands and supposedly brought back customs for pleasing women but for that time frame it doesn't make any sense to me at all.  In the end once this story was finished I felt like the author make the female character very weak and a push over and also glorified rape.  The other three stories I felt the authors made the females very strong and a little independent.

For the most part I did enjoy the short stories.  They were quick reads and easy to follow along for the most part.  There is very descriptive sex scenes and depending on the author different levels of vulgarity in the language.  The Secrets series is all about erotica and the stories are never more than 100 pages long (most of them a lot less between 60 to 80 pages).  Now like I said if you do not like reading anything with any hit of sex this is not the book for you.  Because the stories are so short, sex happens with in the first 15 pages of the story.  But if you're interested in reading erotica and also by authors that you have never heard of before give this book a shot.

Rating:
3.5 out of 5

On Deck:
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Invincible

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Invincible is the second book in the Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  The book leaves off from where the first book, Infinity, left off.  I do suggest reading the books in order since this series seems to leave off right were the first one ended, but then I also don't think it will be overly confusing if you don't.

Another school year has started for Nick Gautier and after the trouble of before this time seems to multiply.  He's being blackmailed to join his new high school foot ball coach in this scheme to steal students belongings.  But he's more than that he steals souls.  Then add on other demons trying to kill him.  Nick finds out more about himself that terrifies him.

I loved this story.  It was a really quick read and if I wasn't so tired I probably would have read it in one day.  Even though this was a quick read, the book had plenty of details and action to keep you interesting.  This book (and series) is in the young adult genre but I would definitely consider older teens as the appropriate age group for the books.  There is some course language and descriptive fight scenes.

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's progression of her characters and how she is developing them.  She isn't just developing them for this story but for also future stories.  I definitely can't wait too read the other books.

Rating:
5 out of 5

On Deck:
Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Secrets VOL. 3 anthology
Bubble's A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Bakers Dozen 13

The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

Ok so I'm cheating with this one and I'm using the whole series.  I really couldn't pick just one book in this series that I have read.  Seriously with all of the funny antics that Janet Evanovich writes in her stories, how can you just pick one.  Again this was another series/author that Kristi suggested (honestly if she had her own blog I'd probably be linking her all the time on this site.)

The basic plot for the whole series starts when Stephanie Plum gets let go from her job and she's desperate for money.  It just so happens that her cousin Vinny has a bail bonds agency and needs some help, so Stephanie decided to become a bounty hunter (or a Bail Bonds Agent, the more correct job title).  Honestly because she isn't equip for it, hilarity ensues.  Through out the books there is an array of crazy characters and some are recurring.  I have to say Grandma Mazur is my favorite, I fell in love with her character from the first book when she shot the butt end off the turkey at the dinner table, and as the series progresses Grandma's character never fails to pump up the hilarity factor.

These books, seriously have me staying up all of hours of the night giggling my ass off.  How Janet Evanovich was able to come up with the crazy characters and scenarios and yet they seem normal I have no idea.  I do have to say though, there is a bit of romance.  But the romance is very plausible and Stephanie's emotions are written in a way that everyone can relate too.  While a majority of the book is based off of the bounty jobs, there is underlying story lines that continue through out the stories concerning family, romance, and the fact that Stephanie Plum always has a car destroyed.

If you ever need a good belly laugh, I suggest the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.  You will no be disappointed.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ok, I have to admit I was skeptical about this book just because everyone raved about the Twilight Series. Now while I enjoyed the the twilight series I personally feel that it didn't live up to the hype (especially the movies).  But surprisingly this book kept me interested from the first to last word.  This is a young adult novel but I have to say because of the type of violence in the books I would say that the later teens would probably understand the nature of the book without being freaked out.

The book is set in the future, and is based on the idea of a major calamity happened and the United States as we know it changes and we're under a communist ruling nation.  The Hunger Games are created to remind the residents that the government has absolute power.  While I'm sure everyone knows the base of the book, I'll still give a quick overview.  The starts where each 12 districts give two tributes one boy and one girl to participate in the hunger games, which is a battle royal to the death.  The only one person will win the games.  The main female character Katniss Everdeen volunteer's as tribute when her 12 year-old sister is selected.  Also with her is Peeta Mellark, during their whole time they are thrown together as a "romantic" couple.  During the whole novel Katniss is struggling with her feelings for Peeta and her determination to survive for her family's sake.

This book is the first in a series of three, and the ending is definitely open for another book.  Because of the nature of Suzanne Collins writing in the books, I see this series as one where you can just pick up a random book with out reading the other ones in concession without being lost.  I think that these book appeal for young adult and also adult.  Collins didn't dummy down anything nor did she simplify any of the situations to entice a younger crowd.

I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the sequels but I will hold off because I have a massive book sale coming up, plus Christmas.  Collins got to the human side of the the characters but also tapped into the fact that when we're pushed into a situation like the hunger games our animistic and survival side kicks in.

Rating:
4.5 out of 5

On Deck:
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James