I wrote my original review way back in 2011, because I know just how long it would be before I'd actually get to read more Vic and Jacob. Those two yeI wrote my original review way back in 2011, because I know just how long it would be before I'd actually get to read more Vic and Jacob. Those two years were complete torture. It was horrible. But yay, because book 7 comes out in 8 flippin days!
Soooo, with that said, I have some more things to say that I think are a bit more legit then my ramblings below.
First, Oh oh, how the love between Jacob and Vic gets to me. This reread, I didn't even start at the beginning of the series. I only read THIS book. And it didn't matter! I was just as in love with Vic and Jacob now as I was back then. I mean, ugh... it's just so damn beautiful! Jacob's protecting Vic, Vic's love and need for Jacob. I couldn't even contain myself.
Second, Crash. How can you talk about these books without bringing him up. As a secondary character, he's one of my favorites. Big mouth, flippant, but underneath it all there's something vulnerable about him. Did I mention damn sexy?
And lastly, I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with my review for Cut & Run, but let me just point out that Jordan Castillo Price knows how to get it right. Check it out:
"you're going to astral project and fly right out of your body? I thought it was the type of skill that takes people whole lifetimes to perfect." "I won't know until I try." I took off my shoes and jacket, removed my holster, loosened my tie and sat down on the bed. "Do you want a drink? Something weak, like a hard lemonade."
Big Men + Hard Lemonade = weak, get it?! Not a wild bender. Jeez
5 brilliant stars!
Original review:
I'm so sad! I've dreaded this moment since I read the first Psy-Cop book. There's no more!
What am I going to do if I don't have Vic and Jacob to look forward to?!
This book was awesome, and wonderful and everything I excpect from this series. The sex was hot, the love was romantic, the plot was interesting...
Woe is me, Oh woe. I need to start them all over again.
Merged review:
I wrote my original review way back in 2011, because I know just how long it would be before I'd actually get to read more Vic and Jacob. Those two years were complete torture. It was horrible. But yay, because book 7 comes out in 8 flippin days!
Soooo, with that said, I have some more things to say that I think are a bit more legit then my ramblings below.
First, Oh oh, how the love between Jacob and Vic gets to me. This reread, I didn't even start at the beginning of the series. I only read THIS book. And it didn't matter! I was just as in love with Vic and Jacob now as I was back then. I mean, ugh... it's just so damn beautiful! Jacob's protecting Vic, Vic's love and need for Jacob. I couldn't even contain myself.
Second, Crash. How can you talk about these books without bringing him up. As a secondary character, he's one of my favorites. Big mouth, flippant, but underneath it all there's something vulnerable about him. Did I mention damn sexy?
And lastly, I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with my review for Cut & Run, but let me just point out that Jordan Castillo Price knows how to get it right. Check it out:
"you're going to astral project and fly right out of your body? I thought it was the type of skill that takes people whole lifetimes to perfect." "I won't know until I try." I took off my shoes and jacket, removed my holster, loosened my tie and sat down on the bed. "Do you want a drink? Something weak, like a hard lemonade."
Big Men + Hard Lemonade = weak, get it?! Not a wild bender. Jeez
5 brilliant stars!
Original review:
I'm so sad! I've dreaded this moment since I read the first Psy-Cop book. There's no more!
What am I going to do if I don't have Vic and Jacob to look forward to?!
This book was awesome, and wonderful and everything I excpect from this series. The sex was hot, the love was romantic, the plot was interesting...
Woe is me, Oh woe. I need to start them all over again....more
This wasn't your usual vampire/werewolf/witch story, this was a completely new spin. It was like Urban SciFi. The Witch was an How absolutely unique!
This wasn't your usual vampire/werewolf/witch story, this was a completely new spin. It was like Urban SciFi. The Witch was an Innkeeper who draws her powers from her Inn, which is like a weigh station and a sanctuary to traveling creatures. I think I've found the powers that I'd want.
It was so good. Short, but packing a punch. I hope the next one is a bit longer. And I hope we get some more of Sean, the Alpha-werewolf....more
I'm not a huge fan of the term post-coital, but other than that one little nitpick is nothing compared to how sweet (and sexy,So adorable! 4.5 stars!
I'm not a huge fan of the term post-coital, but other than that one little nitpick is nothing compared to how sweet (and sexy, but mostly sweet) this story was. ...more
I mean, that was just excellent! It was exactly what I needed right now! Ultra-romantic comedy, awesome adorable chemistry between the quirky hYAY!!!
I mean, that was just excellent! It was exactly what I needed right now! Ultra-romantic comedy, awesome adorable chemistry between the quirky hero and his sexy alpha man, and waaaaaaay Hott!
When he finally did end the kiss, pulling slowly away and letting go of Sam, he couldn't catch his breath. He stood there panting into Sam's face, unable to make himself move more than an inch or two. He needed to keep that mouth nearby. It was some kind of national treasure only Ian knew about.
Sam is a self-proclaimed 'gawky awkward dork'. One with big romantic dreams of finding his one true love, being swept off his feet by Prince Charming. So, when he gets hit in the head with a ball and Ian is suddenly there in all his glory Sam indulges in thinking that this may be his man. That initial meeting doesn't go well, but that's okay, every single time they bump into each other it gets better and better!
Every single scene was toe tingling romantic. Every single interaction was full of passion. Sam and Ian tore the pages up, and not just between the sheets, but every time they were talking, snuggling, or verbally bantering.
What more can I say about this book... I don't think anything. It doesn't have some big giant plot that I need to spell out for you. It really is just the trials and tribulations of two men falling in love. With comedy woven in to lighten it up. Really really loved it. Really. I just finished and I already can't wait to read it again.
So, in closing, a huge thanks to BarksLessWagMore for posting the review of this book that sparked my initial interest. That review was what caused me to quickly obtain a copy of this book and read it as soon as possible. And thank you, Leea, for trusting my random buddy read pick and going along for the ride. I hope you loved it as much as I did!
"What was it like, coming out to your family?" Sam blinked. "I never came out to my family." Ian pulled away and peered at him more intently. "They don't know?" "Of course they know! Sheesh. I mean I never had to tell anyone. It was sort of just... general knowledge." Sam thought about it while Ian laid his head back on the pillow they were sharing and nuzzled at his cheek. "Well, I guess I told my grandma." "What did she say?" Ian murmured. "I got to the part where I was telling her, 'Grandma, I like boys,' but she interrupted me and said, 'What kind of fool do you think I am? We had fancy boys back in my day. I know one when I see one.'" Ian laughed so hard Sam was torn between squirming pleasure at having amused him and indignation at being the subject of his laughter. Squirming pleasure won when Ian wrapped his arm tighter around Sam and squeezed him against his chest, saying into his ear, "You're so cute."
Drat! I really wanted to like this. Really I did. It's got a cute romance, hot guys, interesting plot. It's sporty. I love cute little YA books, but tDrat! I really wanted to like this. Really I did. It's got a cute romance, hot guys, interesting plot. It's sporty. I love cute little YA books, but this one just did not do it for me.
spoilers galore ahead!
The whole time I was reading I just kept thinking of things that were just so annoying. So, with that in mind I decided to keep one of my lists. In lieu of a review, here is my list.
(For my friends who loved this book... I'm sorry! You may not want to read further.)
1. Ty! What is it about some YA books that write characters that are controlling and shitty and then never address it. Ty ordering Jordan around was seriously not okay. And the amount of emotional blackmail he was emitting was nauseating. I understand, he lost his family and he was traumatized and he's under a lot of stress. Fine, but then ADDRESS this. Because demanding that Jordan answer her phone when he calls, or telling her how hard it was for HIM when she hurt her knee, sickened me. The boy needs some psychological help, and the book just ended with them splitting up and everything was just hunky dory.
2. Jordan. I absolutely can not stand whiny heroines. All Jordan did was whine and cry about EVERYTHING. Hey, Jordan, was it too much of a stretch to think that your dad had a hard time with you playing football because he loved you so much and was afraid that you would be seriously injured? Daddy's love their little girls differently than their little boys. Is it fair, probably not, but to warrant the constant tears and rudeness? Yeah, no way. I couldn't believe that your mother fed into that crap. Trust me, as a daughter who doesn't always see eye to eye with my mother, find a different way to bond. Jeez. Self-centered much!
3. Henry, of the three he was the one that got on my nerves the least. At least he had funny touchdown dances and a cute personality, that way when he was acting like a selfish coward I at least had something to hold onto. (Not to mention he sounded pretty hot and I thought, outside the later angst bullshit, his friendship with Jordan was sweet.)
4. The entire book was incredibly superficial. It's not even that I doubt that it's realistic. Alabama is interested in the beautiful female quarterback because they want to use her as a pinup mascot for their team. Sure, I buy that. It was more just the whole. The constant talk about 'hotness' and 'ripped abs' and what color eyes the boys have and the color of Jordan's underwear. You know what's hot? not saying something is hot alllll the dang time.
5. And lastly, never ever is it okay for one of the Protagonists to punch the other protag in the face. I don't care if it's out of anger, or some kind of weird bitter/loving foreplay. It's not okay, it's not cute, and I don't enjoy reading it. Let's reverse that ending and Henry punches Jordan in the jaw, is it okay? Hell no. So, in a book that is attempting to speak about sexism, it was NOT okay for Jordan to punch Henry either. It ruined the end for me, and sadly I was just starting to enjoy it.
The best part of the book (other than the sweetness between Jordan and Henry in the first 30%) were Carter, JJ, Mike and Jake. Hilarious they were. It was the first that I've ever read a book and wished I'd had best friends that were sweet football jocks.
How I wish the book would have gone: Jordan realizes she has feelings for Ty. Ty isn't an emotional controlling mess and they begin a relationship. It's rough at first because Ty is such a good football player that they start putting him more and more into the games. While she's drawn to him she feels him taking her spot on the team. At the same time her best friend Henry is going through something serious, something that he's not telling anyone about and she can tell he's miserable about it. I don't care what that could be, I ran through a few different scenarios like he was gay or he's sick, or he's failing somehow, drugs even. Anything but the idea that he was just in love with her.
I think this book, for me, was just another case of something that had a lot of potential but something just went wrong in the execution of it. Oh well, I guess you can't win them all. At least it fulfilled another of challenge reads....more
Vic... A few weeks ago I did a 30 day challenge, going through a list and finding a book to fit each listed category. One was for 'character I most reVic... A few weeks ago I did a 30 day challenge, going through a list and finding a book to fit each listed category. One was for 'character I most relate to'. I chose Josie Alibrandi, but I was so wrong. The character I relate to the absolute most is Victor Bane.
Okay, sure he's a male psychic medium, in his 40's, who's addicted to prescription pills (to stop seeing the ghosts). None of that is like me. I swear! However, his reactions and his inner dialogue is spot on. I have never read a character who's thoughts and fears so mirrored my own. I love it. I love Vic. I know Vic. I am Vic. The girly version anyway.
In this installment Vic is paying Con Dreyfus with his psychic talent by ridding Con's office of those pesky ghosts. Ghosts that include Dr. Chance. This leads to secrets revealed and his forced partnership with F-Pimp, despite his misgivings.
We get Lisa back, with secrets of her own, and we get more fun times with Con Dreyfus. We meet a new host of characters, some I liked and some I wasn't sure about.
And the best part, other than the awesomeness of Vic, was all the good times between Jacob and Vic. They're just characters in a book but they mean so much to me. They have a really amazing connection, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It's beautiful. Sure I love the sexy times, but more than that I love the protective instincts they both have. I love when Vic calls Jacob 'my man'. I love when Jacob takes care of Vic. Love love love.
(Also, I hear Crash gets his own book! YAY!)
There's not enough gushing in the world I can do for this series. I adore it. It's more than just an M/M book. It surpasses that label. It's a great series regardless of the main characters orientation. It's brilliant....more
When he gets nervous his voice squeaks. It isn't funny but it makes me grin just the same.
What I loved: The entiWho Could Ask For Anything More
When he gets nervous his voice squeaks. It isn't funny but it makes me grin just the same.
What I loved: The entire 12% that takes place in 1978! This section was a-fricking-dorable. I couldn't get enough of Travis and Craig discovering themselves and hanging out, making out, shooting the shit and teasing each other. I wish that this section had been longer because it's my favorite section of the whole book and it was so short. Any time we were reading about Craig and Travis together I was thrilled, actually. They had so much chemistry, I honestly believed that these two high school seniors were falling in love.
Craig-I kissed him. I fucking kissed him. First our noses touched and then I kissed him. I shouldn't have smoked the joint. I knew that was a mistake! But what else can you do when you're playing catch by a lake and it starts to pour? If there hadn't been one of those metal arch things with the benches underneath, it never would have happened-we'd have jogged back to school, wet and unkissed. This was a conspiracy! Say no to drugs. They'll only ruin you. And I'm the proof: one toke and his eyes got bluer, two tokes and I'd have killed for his smile, three tokes and I couldn't remember a time we didn't know each other, four tokes and I would have woken up Brigadoon for him.
Travis-These are the facts: (1) I haven't eaten in fourteen hours but I'm not hungry; (2) I can't sleep because my bed's turned into the loneliest place in the world; (3) I have bruises all over my body from bumping into three doors and a carpet-cleaner; and (4) I can't remember what 'fluctuate' means. Do people really survive this? He didn't just kiss me. He ran his fingers through my hair and he made little circles on my nose with his pinky and he tickled me under my arms, and when the sun came out we walked in the woods where nobody could see us and held hands.
AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
Also, what else I liked, (and this is a potential spoiler, so skip this paragraph if you plan to read this) 1998 when Travis went searching for Craig, that Travis decided not to run over anyone to get him back. Yes, this might mean that they didn't get a happily ever after, but Craig had a whole life (20 years worth) that didn't include Travis. He had someone he loved, and someone who loved him back. Clayton wasn't villainous just to make it easier on the reader for Travis to steal Craig away. I was sad, but I was also glad because it would have felt wrong for them to end up together at the expense of good people.
Annnnd quickly we pause here to throw in what i didn't like: I wasn't very fond of much that happened in 1998. I understand why the author went around and about the way he did, why we got to know the people in Travis and Craigs life. Like I said above, I thought that those were good characters and it showed how healthy love isn't selfish, and that's what Travis and Craig shared.
Mostly what I didn't love was that huuuuge chunks of the book were pretty boring. I didn't care about Craig's cases, though Noah was cute and reminded me of Joe from Last Days of Summer, and while I understand why Craig was running for office and applauded his gumption when it came to standing up for LGBT rights, a lot of the reading of it was pretty boring. The same can be said of Joe and his lesson plans at the college. I am more of a character emotion/connection reader, and that's why those are the scenes that I enjoyed most. (This is why I am only giving this book 4 stars.)
Though I do want to pause here a moment and say, despite the fact that I didn't enjoy the political/historical aspect of this book, there was one scene in particular that I looooved... here it is:
"They won't let you and Clayton get married, right?" he asked pensively, collecting the pertinent facts. "Right." "And a long time ago, they wouldn't let Rosa Parks sit in a bus either-right?" I could see where this was going and I loved him for it. "Right." "And now everybody thinks the people who arrested her were skanks, right?" "Right." Noah shrugged and swung himself into the sky again. As far as he was concerned, it was an open-shut case. "So how come they don't know that in a hundred years we'll think the same things about the skanky guys who won't let you get married?" Since there was no practical answer, I stopped looking for one and hugged him instead. He had it coming.
From the mouths of babes...
Back to what I loved! The end! Natasha, there was Totally an HEA! Did you finish the last chapter of the book or did you give up when you thought Travis was throwing in the towel?
Granted, I would have loved to have gotten MORE time with Travis and Craig in the end, what we did get was so beautiful and so perfect. (Another spoiler) I'm sure a lot of people would say that this book wrapped up too nicely with everyone happy and getting the best in the end, but in this situation it really didn't bother me at all. This is how relationships should be and end. When it's time to part, you part. Nobody had to be ripped apart and brokenhearted and that made Travis and Craig's finally being together that much sweeter, because you know that in the end they didn't crush anyone to get there!
"Hey, Trav?" I murmured, chin-in-the-necking him while I played with his hair. "What do you call it when there's a smile in your stomach that starts when you wake up in the morning and doesn't go away until you're asleep?" Travis sighed audibly in my arms before glancing up from my chest in wonder. "You mean you have one of those too?" Flora was right. It's a quiet thing.
Forget about Smith and Jones; they were Butts and Goodnight, and if that didn't sound like a vaudeville team she didn
That Vital, Rhythmic Surge
Forget about Smith and Jones; they were Butts and Goodnight, and if that didn't sound like a vaudeville team she didn't know what did.
(ahem... probably some slight spoilers down there. Just warning you...)
I went into this book with trepidation. I'm not sure why. I think because even with as much as I enjoyed Mr. Perfect I still feel a block inside when it comes to reading more Contemporary suspense romances. Perhaps it's the covers? Maybe it's because I feel like if you've read one, you've read them all. I mean, I do think that's true. Sometimes these types of books bleed together for me and I can't remember which Contemp Romance is which. I'm sure that when it's time to pick up another of Linda Howard's books I'll still feel a sense of trepidation. It's probably not fair, but I just can't help it.
Here's what I say, I think that makes my four stars that much more of a compliment! Because I go into these on a sigh, when I really like them it's like the book has gotten over a hurdle. And I did really like this one! Maybe it's Linda Howard. I told my friend Leea that I think it's because Howard knows how to write one reaaaaaally hot man. Whatever the reason, I started this book and was hooked! I read 98% of this book yesterday because I just couldn't put it down. I was on a freight train that was flying straight to the end.
That's not to say I didn't have issues with Death Angel, because I did. I think if I had to pick between Mr. Perfect and Death Angel as which one was a better all around book I'd go with Mr. Perfect. (Just like if you asked me which male MC I'd want in my bed, I'd go with Simon over Sam for sure, YUM.) Death Angel started in a very strange place. It felt wrong to root for this man who seemed to have such disregard for the heroine of the story, but I did. Right from the start I hoped he'd be the hero of the story, even though he wasn't a very good man. Then, after that first strange but sexy scene, the ball started rolling and I liked where it was going. The cat and mouse between 'assassin' and Drea was fun and full of adrenaline. Then it stops. And like the flip of a switch it felt like I was reading a whole different book. It was disconcerting and I wasn't sure how to take this abrupt subtle genre change, and the insertion of spirituality. It threw me for a loop, and it wasn't a fun loop either. I felt duped. If it hadn't been for the ending, and the build up to the ending, it wouldn't be a four star rating. But luckily after a few odd chapters, and a few odd interspersed sentences, the story got back on track and in the end I was happy.
It doesn't have your typical 'romance novel' ending. For me, though, that made it even better. I've read a million romances where the character sees the light and they go to the good side and live happily ever after with their white picket fences. This felt more like the end of Fast & the Furious. It ended as it should for these characters, keeping them true to who they are. Or at least who Simon is.
And that is why it went back up to 4 stars. Well, that and the fact that I'd love to pull Simon right out of the book and into my arms. Delicious! Shhh, don't tell my husband.
"I don't expect much," he murmured, staring at the ceiling while he stroked her hair. "At the end. If remorse is a requirement for redemption, then I'm not there. I don't imagine I ever will be. All I can offer is... revenge, maybe, and retribution. I can offer restraint-unless you're threatened, and then all bets are off. But I don't feel remorse. Some people need killing, and I did the job. So... this life with you is probably all I'll have, but it's enough, sweetheart. It's enough."
This was a funny cute little story about burying your personality out of fear that someone will judge you. Maddie lOh Crap, Did I Just Say "Love"?
This was a funny cute little story about burying your personality out of fear that someone will judge you. Maddie loves comics and things that the world of middle school would label as 'dorky'. And after a particularly embarrassing moment she decides she can no longer share that side of her with the world, and so she hides everything about her that would make her stand out and strives to do nothing but fit in.
That is until the end of her Junior year when circumstances toss her into Logan. Fun times ensue.
What I liked Logan was a doll. Maybe it's my love for sexy nerd men, but he was definitely a plus. LARPing! I mean, this is the real reason I picked up this book. I am a nerd girl, I've always wanted to LARP. Nerdcon sounds AWESOME! And a romance that centers around this was unique and fun!
The book was funny, chock full of one liners and cute flirting.
"Can I get your real phone number?" a girl named Capri asks, and I frown at the radio. That was a little forward. And who names their kid after a pair of pants? Might as well just call her "Stirrup" or "Bootcut."
The end was awesome! I felt like (even if I had a hard time with Maddie) she really worked hard to try to redeem herself in the end. I was proud of her.
What I didn't like In the beginning you read this story of Maddie's big embarrassment and I kept waiting for it to be addressed. It wasn't. She never explained to anyone why she suddenly changed back then, and I kept waiting for Dan or Logan to say they remembered the day and how cool they thought she was... but it was just dropped. I suppose it was the launchpad of the book, but I just wanted more.
How about how Maddie was so consumed with being cool and popular, and she was so embarrassed about comics, but she was comfortable doing this: "...the elaborate greeting we made up back in ninth grade. It starts with two high fives, then goes into two shoe kicks, one hand heart, a hug, and finishes with a big kiss on the cheek" I mean, a secret handshake?! And I'm proud of being a nerd! (I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a secret handshake. If you have one, SWEET! I'm saying that a girl who is so concerned with other people's opinions wouldn't have a choreographed handshake with a friend, at least not one that she does in public. I mean, it was practically the Monica and Ross New Years dance routine!)
And lastly, probably my biggest problem, our main character Maddie is incredibly self-centered. But even worse than that! She completely discredits and underestimates absolutely every single person she knows. I knew what the premise of the book was, but I anticipated that somebody would know what happened to her and the choice she'd made but she didn't tell anyone. She assumed that everyone she knew would not understand what she was going through, and beyond that she thought that people who said they loved her would ditch her if they knew she had a passion for comic books. Even her own best friend, and to a certain degree her own family in a different way. I couldn't stomach it. Not only was she hiding from herself, her actions were insulting to her friend and family.
I didn't hate Maddie though. And like I said, I thought she really worked hard to redeem herself in the end, so that's why it's getting a 3.5....more
I hate to start a review saying that I'm a little disappointed. It's a little strong a sentiment anyway. I'm not really disappointed because I wasn't I hate to start a review saying that I'm a little disappointed. It's a little strong a sentiment anyway. I'm not really disappointed because I wasn't surprised by anything that happened in this book. If anything it actually met my expectations. Maybe that was why it felt just a little bit dull.
"The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength."
That just about sums up both Javier and Camden perfectly. Probably the best line in the whole book, besides my last quote of Javier's.
If you haven't read the first two books, read no further.
In this final installment Javier, Ellie and Camden are working together in an effort to save Gus. Tensions run high between Javier and Camden, and Ellie is wrecked inside over where her relationship with Camden is at.
What can I say about this one to sum up the feelings... the relationships were there between the characters, but maybe it was just too much? I understand how much love is between them, but maybe it was the words used. Maybe it was that the thoughts were of how much they loved each other, and then the sex was always so raunchy. It was contradictory. I see nothing wrong with raunchy sex, but when you're wrapped up in need and a longing love it's weird for me as the reader to hear the heroine look at the love of her life and think "how could I not want that big perfect cock". I just wrinkled my nose. It wasn't what I imagine someone would think about their true love in that moment. Sometimes sure, but not in THOSE moments.
Also, the ending seemed to just drag on and on and on. Really, in Wendy's perfect world the book would have ended when (view spoiler)[she saved Camden from Travis, sacrificing her mother, and killing Travis (hide spoiler)]. Everything after that could have given us a 4th book, one that flushed it out a little more. I felt like it was another case where an author was dead set on the idea of a trilogy and smashed too much into the final novel to accomplish it.
I think, for me, it fell apart a bit in Bold Tricks.
I still love Karina Halle though, I'm still a fan, I still will read everything else she writes, and I'm still crazy about Camden. Even with all those complaints I give it 3.5 stars, I just think this one could have used slightly better pacing...more
You've got creepy yet seductive stories of the Crow King and the Red Robin.Until it's Red Feathers Turned White
Holy Bajeebers!!! That was intense!
You've got creepy yet seductive stories of the Crow King and the Red Robin. (view spoiler)[Who else thinks Billy sees Jazz as the Robin, not as his heir? (hide spoiler)] You've got the gruesome Hat-Dog killer. You've got Connie running around acting crazy at a time when she should be sane. Jazz is working in New York with the FBI... so much intensity that my 9 year old daughter made jokes about calling in the men with the white coats because I was yelling at the screen of my kindle!
I Hunt Killers was a darn good book. I had absolutely no complaints with it. I have absolutely no complaints with this one either. It is a bit unbelievable that the NYPD and the FBI would ask a 17 year old kid from the Nod to come and help with a big case/profile, I suppose. But I absolutely do not hold the unbelievability of the story against it. Why? Simple, because a majority Fiction is unbelievable. The fantasticalness of the story, (Yep, totally making up words here), is why we want to read them, to escape realism. Was it believable that Nancy Drew was so famous a detective that she was gathering cases across the nation at the age of 18? Nope, hahaha. But Nancy Drew Casefiles were still my favorite books to read when I was a young girl. Look at Castle the TV show. There is absolutely no way that any law enforcement department would allow a Novelist to pair up with a detective as 'partner' on live homicides. Interview the detective, sure, but never actually work a case as a partner. Completely unbelievable! But oh so much fun. That's how I see the Jasper Dent books. I don't need to believe it would happen realistically, as long as it transports me somewhere that gets behind my cynicism, which Game totally accomplished.
Names were labels for things, the killer knew. Nouns. Person, place, thing, idea-just like you learned in school. See this thing I drink from? I give it the label of "cup," and so what? See this thing I cover my body with? I give it the label of "shirt," and so what? See this thing I have opened to the darkening sky, allowing beautiful moonlight to shine within? I give it the label of "Jerome Herrington," and so what?
In I Hunt Killers I was involved in the story. Hooked. However, while I was sad for Jazz I never really felt scared. In Game I shivered. I felt queasy. It's gruesome. It upped the ante, definitely. It made you feel something when Jazz chanted "People are real. People matter." It absolutely made me shout at the pages and get weird looks from my kid, ha.
It was funny! I found myself laughing with Howie and at Gramma (who is evil and completely racist, just a warning).
There was a slight chance that Gramma's crazy would complement New York's just fine, but he wasn't going to bank on it. Images of Gramma attacking tourists capered in before his mind's eye, and he could almost hear her shrieking, "Tell that bitch to stop staring at me!" while pointing at the Statue of Liberty.
And ooooh doggy that ending! (view spoiler)[Howie is grappling with Sam, and Gramma is shot! And Jazz is also shot and locked in Dog's vault with nobody to find him! And CONNIE! Connie is with BILLY! And it makes me want to shit bricks! And it just ENDS like that! (hide spoiler)] That ending was just not fair! And I don't even see a book on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to give me a false sense of security on when the next Jasper Dent book is even getting released, which makes me so afraid that I'm going to have these threads just hanging for the rest of my life! Forgive the dramatics, but gah! I can't live like this, hanging on a precipice!
I can't even shelve this. I had the same problem with A Monster Calls. First, I can't put it in aThere's always beauty, If you know where to look.
I can't even shelve this. I had the same problem with A Monster Calls. First, I can't put it in a box, and second, shelving it ruins the surprises. It's because of that I'm not going to shelve it in anything more than the obvious. Read it! Read it and be surprised!
Is this a dream? he thinks, the words coming to him slowly, thickly, as if from a great distance. The last dream before death.
I'm not even sure what to say. Going into this book I knew next to nothing about it. All I knew was the very secretive blurb that the character dies and yet somehow wakes up in a barren wasteland that used to be his hometown. That's it. Also, the cover of the book is awesome secretive. And, it's almost part of the charm, to go into a read without really knowing what you're getting into.
SO, I'm not going to tell you that Sethiofjdsa fajfdaioujfida;fjk;afjk;afk;ja;fda.
And I'm not going to tell you that it's afjkdl;afjk;afjka;jfk;ajfka;ljfkdajfkl;ajfkdla;jf;a.
Or how about the huge surprise, fiapufipaufioapufiplkajk.a,jrlwrujiwpua.
And if you want to know what I'm talking about. Pick. It. UP. For real. Now go.
4.5, only brought down a bit because WHEW, I need more.
Before I get to the review, can we just talk about what I love about this author? I mean, is it awful that I'm excited for my daughCarry On, Simon
Before I get to the review, can we just talk about what I love about this author? I mean, is it awful that I'm excited for my daughter to reach an age that's old enough for me to push Rainbow Rowell's books at her. Wondering what I'm talking about? Never fear, I have a list!
Reasons why I love Rainbow Rowell
1. Female characters that are real. They're not perfect. She writes about the heavier girl, and the nerdy girl, and the girl that's painfully socially awkward. On a personal level, Thank you for Cath, Rainbow. You very nearly wrote me. Every nervous tummy ache Cath had, I've been there. Terrified to brave the world, choosing instead to hide in books locked away in her room. Social anxiety has always plagued me, and to read that written so well in your character, it pierced straight to my heart. So, thank you.
2. Male characters that walk the line of being Men, but without compromising patience and understanding. I'm sure we all love to read those Alpha's who take what they want. The Wrath's 'i'll take you down right here and have you on the sidewalk, and you won't stop me'. It's exciting, and it's a fantasy. In actuality there is something extra special about the man who will look at you and say, "You set the pace and I'll just love you and wait". And that's not a spoiler, because I've read 2 out of the 3 of Rainbow's books and they both had male characters like this. I want my daughter to fall in love with a man like that.
3. Her ability to write such DEEP Deep intense attraction without the characters touching. In both Eleanor & Park and Fangirl some of the scenes that had my heart in my throat contained nothing more than someone reaching out to play with a ribbon, or a sleeve. It's a connection that's forged emotionally, not physically. I ate that shit up.
He reached his fingers back and hooked them inside the cuff of her sweater. "But you still want to give me a chance, right? Not just me, this? Us?" "Yeah," Cath said, like she was giving in. "Good." He tugged on her sleeve and smiled down at their not-quite-touching hands. "It's okay if you're crazy," he said softly. "You don't even know-" "I don't have to know," he said, "I'm rooting for you."
4. There's no mad rush for the characters to fall in love. There's a really slow progression from friendship to more. You buy it. I've read quite a few YA romance's recently and none of them found this middle ground. Some were too full of angst, and some were too immediate. In addition to that, she didn't drag crap on for eeever. Things happen, and then they're confronted and cleared up in a believable way. Because there's more to her stories than teenage angst. I love it.
These are the reasons you should give this author a chance. I hope they sway you.
Now, onto Fangirl the book
This was the perfect balance of romance and adorable coming of age story. Cath was quirky and adorable, and while I personally am not a fanfic reader, I am a huge fan of magic and fantasy. I know about being a fangirl, and I'm (as I said above) exceptionally shy to the same degree Cath is. I understood her. Her father was so sweet and wonderful. Her sister, Wren, was hard to handle but never because it wasn't believable. The eye rolling was completely about her being a stupid girl, the way of plenty of real life stupid girls.
Cath's man, man I just could eat him up. I loved him immediately, upon his first entrance into the book, and it grew larger and larger, by the end I was a full fledged ________ fan. ... see, they don't actually tell you in the blurb who that is, so I'm choosing not to tell you now.
He kept pulling back a little like he was going to say something; then his chin would jut forward again, back into hers. God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down
The last thing I want to mention: Who wants to read Cath's fanfic about Baz and Simon?? I want to read Cath's version more than I want to read GTL's version. (Who sees GTL and their brain goes 'Gym, Tan, Laundry? Me Me!) I want to read how she ends it! I want to know if she (view spoiler)[kills Baz (hide spoiler)]! Baz and Simon grew on me allllmost as much as Cath and _____. Especially Baz.
Great book by a really awesome author.
"What if I promise not to touch you?" "Cath laughed. "Now I have zero incentive to come." "What if I promise to let you touch me first?" "Are you kidding? I'm the untrustworthy person in this relationship. I'm all hands." "I've seen no evidence of that, Cath." "In my head, I'm all hands." "I want to live in your head."
It is officially official. Rainbow Rowell is on the list. After my gushing reviews of Fangirl and Eleanor & Park, you may be wonderNo Air in Space
It is officially official. Rainbow Rowell is on the list. After my gushing reviews of Fangirl and Eleanor & Park, you may be wondering what the heck took me so long, right? Because I haven't given one of her books less than 5 stars yet... which is saying something since my all time favorite author is Melina Marchetta and I've given 4 star to one of her books. (It may happen with Rainbow too, Melina is at 7 books (not including her early reader book) and Rainbow is at 3.) Anyway, I just like to be sure about something before I make it official. And I'm sure. I adore everything she writes. Insta-buy people, no doubt about it. Landline will be on my preorder list, most definitely.
Ahem, clearing my throat for some actual review:
Jennifer to Beth: I need a break from Mitch. He's still in a funk about our successful use of birth control. Beth to Jennifer: Can't. I'm finally going to see Eyes Wide Shut. Jennifer to Beth: Ech. I don't like Tom Cruise. Beth to Jennifer: Me neither. But I usually like Tom Cruise movies. Jennifer to Beth: Me, too... Huh, maybe I DO like Tom Cruise. But I hate feeling pressured to find him attractive. I don't. Beth to Jennifer: Nobody does. It's a lie perpetuated by the American media. Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts. Jennifer to Beth: Men don't like Julia Roberts? Beth to Jennifer: Nope. Her teeth scare them.
Let's start there, with Jennifer and Beth. (If you're looking for a synopsis of the book, just click the little picture up top, haha. It's too time consuming and I have too many quotes to fit in here. Sorry if I'm feeling long winded.) Jennifer and Beth... well, I honestly feel like Jennifer and Beth's emails were the perfect representation of girly friendship. From the talks about secret trips into Baby Gap, the bemoaning the 'always a bridesmaid never a bride', and the very first chapter where Jennifer seriously believes that she's pregnant all because she actually got drunk and usually never does, which means that the evils of the world will cause THAT moment to knock her up. I've actually had that conversation before. It's completely ludicrous but feels very real at the time. I laughed the entire book. The back and forth banter was smooth and wonderfully realistic. Two best friends, there's nothing more wonderful and yet bizarre. Unlike other books, I actually honestly adored the both of them.
That night, Lincoln got an email from Dave saying that Saturday's D&D game was off. One of their kids had rotavirus, which Lincoln had never even heard of. It sounded awful. He pictured a virus with rotating blades and an engine.
Lincoln, oh Lincoln, how I love Lincoln... Let's hit pause right here for a second just to say, for those of you who weren't around for my review of Fangirl, please scroll up and click the link at the top of this review where I first said 'Fangirl'. I made a very nice list about why Rainbow is such an amazing author and #2 covers what makes her male characters so amazing. Okay, so Lincoln was no exception. He was struggling, he was in a rut, emotionally dented from the past. Still, he was smart, chivalrous, shy and so so sweet. And the best part, just like all Rainbow's characters, he was real. Just like Levi and Park, I'll randomly think about him long after reading this book. It's because of that I found it easy to fall in love with him, not the ideal he represented. Does that even make sense?
There are moments when you can't believe something wonderful is happening. And there are moments when your entire consciousness is filled with knowing absolutely that something wonderful is happening. Lincoln felt like he'd dunked his head into a sink full of Pop Rocks and turned on the water.
Slow and steady, that's Rainbow's writing. Slow and steady, and sweetly romantic. Don't read these books looking for steamy sex scenes. Read her books because you're looking to float away. Read them because you want a dreamy smile on your face. Read them because everyone needs just a good ole love story sometimes.
I swear, between these three reviews I had to have convinced someone. Come on, pick one up, give it a shot. 3 books, 15 stars between them. I honestly do not think you can go wrong.
(Just one last thought:
"I sleep, Mom." "During the day. We're meant to be awake with the sun, soaking up the vitamin D, and sleeping at night, in the dark. When you were a little boy, I wouldn't even let you sleep with a night-light, do you remember? It interferes with the melatonin production."
I think Rainbow and I are sisters, because that is my MOTHER!)...more
2% - "Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about this..." 10% - "Okay... okay, yeah, this is a little bit funny." 25% - "Maybe, it might be 4 stars. I'm smiling. Smil2% - "Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about this..." 10% - "Okay... okay, yeah, this is a little bit funny." 25% - "Maybe, it might be 4 stars. I'm smiling. Smiling is good." 50% - "Oh good lord, this is so stupid!" (insert cheesy grin) "It's so stupid, why am I grinning?!" 62% - "I'm starting to feel bored. I mean, around and around and around they go." 75% - "The novelty has completely worn off. I'm soooo over it. Could she be any whinier?! Could he be any more hot and cold, bah." 85% - "Just keep skimming, skimming, skimming. Just keep skimming skimming skimming." 99% - "That's it?! That's all?!! Wendy is very underwhelmed."
See that? That's it in a nutshell. What was progressively cute in the first half, by the second half it was a case of ENOUGH already! I just kept saying that in the end it would be worth it. Jason would do something so cute in the end that it would make up for the annoying in the second half. I kept waiting for the big moment, the big 'I'm here from horse & hound' Notting Hill beautiful sweet romantic moment, one to match the cover of the book. Nope. It's a happy ending. It's just a lame one.
Oh well, the search for another great Anna and the French Kiss romance goes on. 2.5 stars...more
Absolutely not expected at all! I'm a contemporary/suspense romance snob. I fully admit it. I rarely pick one up on my own to read and my initial instAbsolutely not expected at all! I'm a contemporary/suspense romance snob. I fully admit it. I rarely pick one up on my own to read and my initial instinct is to assume that I'm not going to like it.
So, imagine my surprise when (because it was our True Love 101 Group Read) I picked up this book and thought it was GREAT!
I read the whole thing today! I couldn't put it down. It was light enough that I didn't feel full of angst, but it was action packed enough to keep me turning the pages unable to set it aside. And while I absolutely figured out who the killer was pretty early I didn't even care because it was still loads of fun to read.
The chemistry between Sam and Jaine was hot! The banter between them made me laugh and giggle and swoon. Jaine was brash and hilarious and Sam was sexy and alllll man.
--The pills were just a precaution, in case her hormones overruled her gray matter. Such a silly thing had never happened before, but then she had never before practically had a meltdown at the sight of a man's sticky-out part, either.
--She turned her face into his throat and inhaled the heat and scent of his body, thinking that if the perfumers of the world could bottle whatever it was Sam had, the female population would be in a perpetual heat.
I liked this read soooo much that I'm pretty eager for my next novel by Linda Howard.... odd fact, my grandmother informed me that she read this book yeeeeeeaaaaars ago. I've been shamed....more
Jasper 'Jazz' Dent spent the first 13 years of his life raised by his father, the infamous Serial Killer Billy Dent. BThe Weight of Hate and Crazy
Jasper 'Jazz' Dent spent the first 13 years of his life raised by his father, the infamous Serial Killer Billy Dent. Billy Dent wasn't your typical Serial Killer either. He didn't have one specific type he killed, or prospected as he called it. His range for targets was very broad and he enjoyed switching up his methods which casued him to have many many different Serial Killer nicknames, and through it all he kept poor Jazz with him teaching him how to get away with the perfect murder and how to clean up blood spatters. His main job, other than training, was to hide his fathers "trophies" if the police ever came nosing around.
Why did Jazz do this? Well folks, he was just a kid. He was afraid of his father, he was manipulated, and like all kids are predisposed to do, he loved him. Thankfully, when he was 13 years old, Billy Dent was thrown in prison for his crimes. Unfortunately the damage was already done to Jazz's psyche.
So when there's a murder in town and the body is missing 3 fingers (the middle one left behind as a sign) Jazz is POSITIVE that it's another Serial Killer. Worse, the town looks at him as a suspect because of who he is. What better way to clear his name and show that he can use the skills his father taught him for good than by calling on all of his training to help catch the killer!
And none of that was even a spoiler!
I really enjoyed this book. There were some scenes that broke my heart for poor Jazz, and there were others that had me scared for him. Never did I think he was evil, what I really thought was that he'd been damaged by his childhood so badly that there was not one aspect of himself that he could trust. If ever there was a character who should be allowed to throw themselves a pity party, well I would say it is absolutely Jasper Dent.
He had an amazing friendship with Connie and Howie, and I even liked the relationship that he had with G William. The book was even funny at times, thanks to sweet Howie. (Huge yay for a book where the main character is in an interracial relationship and actually talks about the hardships that come with that. I think it's the first one I've read.)
I Hunt Killers met all my expectations and while it's only a 4 star book I can't think of one single complaint, so in summary: Very Good Stuff!
"...called nine-one-one," Howie was saying, "and then I heard something in the alleyway, so I went back there and" -Howie coughed- "and valiantly attacked his knife with my guts, to no avail." "Did you get a good look at him? Could you describe him?" Howie smiled wanly, "Yeah. He was about yay long," -he held up his hands, four inches apart- "thin, made of steel. Pointy. Sharp." Jazz grinned despite himself.
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