Book Review: Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh

Book: Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh
Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars

Oh, this was…. disappointing. I wanted to say bad, and while it was, I feel disappointing is more appropriate. Having read Singh’s books and having enjoyed them, I was expecting more from her. However, after reading all her books, I was beginning to feel that it was her paranormal, more than her romance that set her apart from the crowd. I always believed it was her nuanced way of detailing a society, their inner workings and power plays that allowed her books to shine. So when you strip that away, you get her tried and true pairing of an alpha male and a broken female. Basically same ol’, same ‘ol.

I wanted to put the book down and I actually stopped to read another book, but came back and I trudged on. I was curious about the other boys from the band. I wanted to see them together, learn more about them. Too bad the entire book consisted of Molly being a whiny baby and Fox accommodating to her every whim. Don’t even get me started on what he saw in her. On the other hand, we knew all too well what Molly saw in Fox, what with his “whiskey and sin” sexy self. Please, I’m so done with that phrase – used to describe him one too many times throughout the book.

Then the sex. Is this a quick cash grab? Are we all just going to move in this direction as another outlet with the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey (which I haven’t read or plan to read)? Really authors? I mean, ok – this other series I’m reading is pretty H.O.T. but if this isn’t your forte, please don’t try to shove smut at us. Sometimes, I’d even search for smut right off the bat, so eager to see what’s up. This time around? I actually skipped over it. SKIPPED THE SMUT. It got so repetitive, so dull and happened so frequently that it just was a chore to read.

As far as leading ladies go, I have a high tolerance for boring women and their sob stories but Molly takes the cake. Even her name irks me. For sordid past and scandal might have been traumatizing but after a certain point, it’s like really girl? Get over yourself! We focus so much on her shit that it kind of diminishes Fox and his own sob story of a past which I felt was that much more traumatic.

This would have been a perfect novella. Fun, flirty fast read. Except it was drawn on torturously too long. So I do not recommend this at all. I breezed through Thea and David’s and it was great. To the point, short and a nice read. Even got tossed a scrap about the band’s past. Less is more here. I’d read Noah’s story but that’s it.

Rant. Over.

Dream Cast for Gansey from The Raven Cycle

Photo Credit: Style Du Monde 

December’s Quick Catch Up Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archangel’s Shadows by Nalini Singh
At first I was worried that I didn’t care enough about Janvier and Ash, and while that may still be true after this book, it was ok. Archangel’s Shadows wasn’t focused entirely on them, it embraced being a book with many characters. It let us catch up on the events after the previous book, probably giving us time to adjust before the next one is out and more chaos ensues. I enjoyed this a lot and wish other authors reintroduce certain couples to just let readers catch up on all their favorites character past.

 
MoonBound Clan Vampire Series by Larissa Ione
Bound by Night  & Chained by Night
What can I say about this series so far, if you like Larissa Ione then this series isn’t any different. It’s new, it’s refreshing but I’m not entirely sure I’m won over by the premise. Vampires. Again. But this time as slaves to humanity? I suppose it’s possible – we do have a way of oppressing people we see as different but .. yeah, not sure.

Undivided by Neal Shusterman
Honestly, I have never read any of Neal Shusterman’s other books only because what could live up to the Unwind series?  There are no words for how much I love this series. No. Flaws. Ok, maybe there are – but I’m never one to analyze too much into books. I’m not looking for loopholes. I’m looking for a throughly engaging story. If it’s unique and memorable, well that just takes the cake.  This one – I cannot recommend it enough. The characters, their growth, their journey, the story. So much of it is so good. Then I could get all analytical, write comparisons to any sort of situation where we have social unrest (currently – this could prove a parallel to unrest that our country is, my city is facing in light of Mike Brown and Eric Garner that sets the backdrop of where and how unwinding could have come about).  But the series isn’t about that for me. It’s about how the story is woven together like fine tapestry – we get so many distinct personalities, stories within stories that well, I think I might just buy a physical set of the books.

By the way, this is totally not the review – I must, must review this one day… one day.

Talon by Julie Kagawa
We all know who Ember is going to end up with. I enjoyed it! Someone mentioned that no, we don’t always want a love triangle but to my knowledge I don’t believe Kagawa has ever really written one so I think this gets a pass. Plus, I like triangles! Heh. What this book lacks is probably a better look into a life of a Dragon. Ember is like any other teenager, so does this mean that Dragon’s are not as different as humans?

If you like Julie Kagawa’s work, you’d enjoy this but I don’t think it’s as strong as The Immortal Rules.

The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter
Sadly, what happens when you like a character so much, you kind of envision them a certain way and it’s just not how he is… then it’s a little weird. Is it me, or is Torin all of a sudden not the smart-assy character we’ve read about. Wasn’t he always the one who was the lighter one? More fun, even if he was angsty? Did his personality change or did I just make that all up in my head?!  Ok so even without the personality transplant, this seemed a little uninspired. The Red Queen is mighty powerful, so… I guess that makes her cool? I don’t know. I really don’t. It just wasn’t that great and Torin just seemed like another macho alpha male. He’s no longer different.  I suppose, the problem now is that the series has been dragging on, overlapping and getting too big for its own good. This universe created is just too much.

Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake
The idea behind this series is wonderful, the mortality of beings who’ve never had to worry that their lives only gave them a limited amount of time here on earth. I’m not quite sure about the execution yet though. I like Athena. I’m not sure about Cassandra. I’m also not sure about their mythology to really tie in the relevance their characters had to one another. So while I enjoy reading this, it isn’t exactly one of those books that I have to read. I don’t find myself rushing to finish it. It’s nice… not great, yet (hoping it will be).

Immortal by J.R. Ward 
Turns out this is the last book in the series. What I like? That this wasn’t a drawn out series. We’ve reached the end!  Am I sad to see it go? No, not really. Surprised, yes. I’m not sad to see it go because it came to a conclusion, the “game” they played was done. It wrapped up nicely. Everyone got their ending, be it happy, continuing on in another series, or sad. I wouldn’t say the characters are enjoyable per se but they definitely are characters. Certain characters stuck out, and I particularly enjoyed Devina. She’s one of the best and unique villains I’ve read so far in any paranormal romance. She’s layered and shows motive and depth. Spinoff? Please?

Book Review: Queen of Zombie Hearts

Book Rating: 3/5  ‘s ok
Series Rating: 3/5 Pretty standard fare

There are too many characters and names to keep track of. Did we introduce new people? Who the hell is RIVER? Yes, we definitely got new characters in this book that just added to my befuddlement since, I can’t remember RIVER. I mean this person looked like a Greek God, no? Camilla, the big baddie of Anima (forgot her name already), random girls who dated Cole – who are all these people? Normally, a rehash of things would annoy me but I believe in this book and series, it would have helped.

The plot moves along nicely as we’re trying to wrap things up with Anima. More about Ali’s past has been revealed, all with neat powers and tricks attached. Everything in this book is working toward the goal of wrapping this trilogy up. It’s action packed pace doesn’t leave a lot of room for anything else. It just moves us right along.

The problem I have with this series is the lack of character and personality. The amusing banter and friendship between Ali and Kat (alley cat, heh) was great. But everything else felt the same to me. Ali was the generic heroine; beauty with baggage, heart with a spine of steel, lands the alpha male of the group. Cole was the generic bad boy hottie, possessive, authoritative yet fully malleable to all of Ali’s charms. They just felt like, been there done that characters of Showalter’s past.

Overall, the series is ok.  It’s much like the paranormal romance that Gena Showalter is known for, just without the smut. The characters a younger version of her regular heroes. There’s a lack of naiveté in Ali but that’s a problem we see a lot with YA heroines, always heading straight first into the fight.

Dante Dante Dante

Ok so obviously we know he gets his name from Dante’s Inferno but I hated reading any and all school books during high school, so other than traveling through the different layers of hell, I really don’t know if there’s anything else that’s relevant to his name.

I came right off of reading the Lynburn Series and this was refreshing contrast yet parallel to it. Now, I felt I needed to include that tidbit because it affects how I feel about this series.

The series is fast paced and pretty much plot driven. We focus on Dante and Charlie. But mainly on Dante and his character’s growth and redemption. Yet it always strikes me as, well he’s this bad boy but really, did he deserve to end up in Hell? I see nothing to really back up how he got to the position he was in as the series starts. He’s the female fantasy of what a bad boy is, a guy who’s a real man yet has a moral compass that hasn’t really pointed south. He’s got some mommy daddy issues but however lonely he felt just seemed superficial. His story, right now, happening to kids all across the world. I highly doubt it destroys their souls.

Then we have Charlie, the savior.  And yet again this is laughable and flippant. Her charity does such amazing work that in the future it could possibly bring about world peace? I don’t know… just really? REALLY? I don’t dislike her, and enjoyed her in the first book but then she just faded into the background.

The series is a fun read. It’s not that great. The best part… probably Dante. He has character, life and he definitely has confidence. Other than that, there’s just a little too much it’s a bit hard to believe what’s happening going on. Then there’s the sidekicks who are given a place to shine yet probably shouldn’t have. They were forced upon the story just to show how friendship prevails, they stick together, we’re total BFFs bullshit. If shit got real, I’d leave my friends. I’m sorry but really Angels? Demons?!

I’d consider this paranormal romance lite. Mainly for the teens who probably would rather be reading the smutty older versions of this book.

The Lynburn Legacy

Unspoken is the first book of the trilogy and it started everything off spectacularly. With wit, charm, secrets and suspense.  I only wish that carried over through to the remaining books.  Kami, the main protagonist here is charming and remarkably amusing to me. Jared, her other half, quite in the literal sense there in the first book, is dark and brooding, a fractured boy.  Then we have the rest of the characters who add equal charm and personality throughout the series that at times, I just wished this were a normal book.  What’s that you say? Well, for the most part this not normal, it’s paranormal with sorcery and legacies and such.  But it felt added on. The strength of this series are the characters and their interaction with one another, not so much the paranormal plot – which was rather simple and straight forward.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed in the overall plot. There were some rather chilling moments, but it was the heart of the people in it that moved me. There was no diabolical mega plot to unearth and maybe that’s why this worked as a trilogy. Maybe that’s why the third book didn’t feel rush (though perhaps a bit slow). But what started out with so much promise kind of meandered slowly on its way to the end.

I’d recommend this series to anyone we enjoys witty banter as there is a great deal of that here. But don’t expect a fast paced plot.

October: The Glorious Month of Releases

I am stoked that October brings so many releases for series that I’ve been following. Not only series I’ve been following but a few of my favorite ones and favorite authors!

October
07 Immortal by J.R. Ward: Fallen Angels 6
14 Undivided  by Neal Shusterman : Unwind 4
14 Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake : Goddess War 2
28 Kanin Chronicles by Amanda Hocking : Kanin 1
28 Talon by Julie Kagawa : Talon 1
28 Archangel’s Shadow by Nalini Singh : Guild Hunter 7

EDIT
Unfortunately, it seems Kanin Chronicles by Amada Hocking has been pushed to January 6, 2015.

Quick Catch-Up Review

I’ve read a lot since Daughter of Smoke and Bone but just haven’t really been up to writing too much about any of them. They didn’t strike me too much other than Looking for Alibrandi and I’m sure I have notes stashed somewhere but here’s a quick catch-up on my recently read books!

Finished up all of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, other than the last book since it seems it doesn’t really have much to do with the overall series. Actually, only about four of the books had anything to do with the Fever series. The others, very loosely based just off the Highlanders.  Really loved it overall. Romance, action and shady darkness. Though often times, it’s the same exact plot, no?  I went back to reread part of FEVER just so I could catch glimpses of Christian’s Uncles… I don’t like rereading too much, but I had to!

Slowly reading through Melina Marchetta’s bibliography and finished Looking for Alibrandi. Lovely. There’s such raw realness whenever I read her characters and even more so when it’s regular teenage angst. But it’s so much more. I can’t really begin to explain how much I enjoyed it.  This isn’t a page turner but just another wonderfully woven story by Ms. Marchetta. I’m only disappointed that I’m slowly finishing up reading everything she’s written. Sad.

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole. It’s what we’ve come to expect from Ms. Cole and her Immortal After Dark series. It’s fun, the couple has chemistry and there must be something they must overcome and achieve all while the plot moves through the Ascension.

 
Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost was a disappointment. The premise is there and it’s interesting but at the same time, it feels done in the scheme of paranormal romance novels. Even the insta-lust that’s frequently used seems meh. Between Adrian and … the girl who’s name escapes me now, it’s supposed to be taboo and sexy but it’s neither. Adrian is interesting and even the girl but … something’s missing.

Night’s Honor by Thea Harrison had me worried that a new pair, one who we aren’t familiar with would turn me off of series but it was nicely written.  The relationship developed and blossomed. But with so much of the plot wrapped around that, the action was slightly neglected this time around and delegated to bickering of the Vampire council and quickly wrapped up toward the end.

Anita Blake. My go-to when I haven’t researched any new books to read and it’s there. Flirt was at least a story with a basic plot.  Bullet was a free for all shit show of fake eroticism and metaphysicalness that just barfed all over itself. Yeah…. I read it because shit. I DON’T KNOW WHY. It’s there. It’s cute man characters that I’m used to.

Curio by Cara McKenna. Oh snap. Erotica! Now while I realize once I got to the end, this book is considered erotica, it was very charming and heart felt. Strange I would use that to describe it but the relationship between Caroly and Didier was like a soft caress. They explored each other sensuously, languorously both physically and emotionally. And as I’m used to pseudo emotional angst of male characters, Didier problems seemed real and horrifying all at once. It was a very frank and honest look into a relationship.  Honestly I enjoyed it a lot and I have to admit that I actually skipped a bit just so I could find out what happened at the end.

Series Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The series is awesome. Period. Go read it. Read it now. NOW!

Book 1: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

The first book sinks its teeth in and doesn’t let go. It sets us up in a new world, one easily dismissed as an art student’s doodles. Then, we learn it’s real. But of course it is. Kaoru, who doesn’t understand who she is will learn that she is the titular hero, a daughter of smoke and bone. Following her in her new self discovery, we relive who she is and who Akiva is by that extension. Akiva who will be so much more… The plot is relentless, never giving up as story upon story unfolds and we fall deeper into its depths. It’s an amazing ride and while it’s more fantasy than romance, it’s backbone is love.

Book2: Days of Blood & Starlight

In this book, Kaoru is reeling with the truth. We’ve learned the ugliness that war begets, and the avenged will lose the person he has avenged for. Following both Kaoru and Akiva, one on the path to rebuild her world by the only means she knows how, and the other seeking redemption. (Wow this paragraph just reads like the book summary).

By far, this is one of the better second books of a trilogy I’ve read. Nothing in this is filler. It moves, the thrusts us forward with even more back story. With new motives, new layers of enemies. Supporting characters usually tossed wayside have made their stay. Kaoru’s spunky pixie best friend isn’t just another disposable character. She follows through.

Kaoru is not just another heroine of a romantic story. She refuses Akiva, she has her own anger and hurt and hoards it recklessly. She has no aim, just drive at this point and it resonates. Grief has blinded her.

There is never a dull moment ever.

Book 3: Dreams of Gods & Monsters

And here we have the final book. As most trilogies end, they get mysteriously complex and the story begins to implode. It’ll weigh down the book with new ideas, grand schemes and machinations that we’ve just uncovered. Then it regurgitate it’s mess of a plot back out. Luckily, in this case it was… pretty much perfect.  Everything was complex but understandable. Everything new had something to tie it back into. It wasn’t just for the sake of finishing this series out with a bang. So much was in place in the books before it, that you wonder just how much planning went into writing this.

The world grew as each book continued. It expanded and eclipsed everything in this third book; Earth, Eretz, pages and layers of all the other worlds yet to be discovered. Time, as a concept – then in turn becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, with Akiva, Eliza being more than what they seem.  Yes, this made no sense, but how do I convey this awesomeness without spoilers? By being vague and nonsensical. Yep.

Then we get an ending of hope. Of light and love. Of course.

Thoughts on the Overall Series

Bare bones, it’s a simple idea: two star crossed lovers at opposing sides of a war. A war that is so devastating yet perfectly relatable with our current events (and probably across time). Tie that in, to a whole mystical world with magical beings and unique character and what you have is a magnificent trilogy.

As I said before, the backbone is the love between Kaoru and Akiva. It took three, and then more so before they were truly reunited. It was the strength of their love that propelled the story, yet even they know it. They’re just strangers. We have to take it at face value, that is was LOVE. Capital L Love. I buy it. I do. I usually question it but, there’s something here. The way it’s written, so fragile, so hurtful, it’s there.

Then, minor factor as it may be, I was pleased at Kaoru’s physical description. YA book heroines, never stood out in terms of physical beauty. Right off the bat, we are told Kaoru is beautiful. She owns it and she is not apologetic. Another minor point, non-meaningless deaths. Characters died. They stayed dead. While we got a few flickers, to keep us guessing – there was no game in terms of wiping them out. It wasn’t like a HAHA, you grief was meaningless! They’re not really dead!

So what made this stand out? Everything.

 

Book Review: For All Time by Jude Deveraux

Book Review: For All Time by Jude Deveraux (Nantucket Brides #2)
Book Rating: 2/5

Sadly this was another disappointment for me. I don’t know where to start and how to explain any of it… So let’s try to break it down:

Toby and Graydon are boring. With full capital letters BORING. Neither had much personality and whenever they expressed anger or emotion it fell flat. Whenever Toby got upset it felt forced and unnecessary. There was no chemistry. Like Graydon said, the two of them were more like girlfriends. Nothing. Flat. Neither temptation nor seduction were apparent.

Then we have the plot. What did I just read? A prince planning a wedding with some island girl with an overbearing mother? The reincarnation tie in threw me for a little loop but that proved to be uninteresting as well. Too many names and faces tossed in for me to care. Except… Nothing happened. Their weird time travel alternating universe was a glorified plot filler that could have been used to make their relationship deeper but it didn’t. I just didn’t get the point of it.

Oddly I found myself wanting to read more about the past characters of Tabitha and Garret, even Rory and Danna over our main couple.

Everything was just lukewarm. From the plot to the characters, everything just felt dull.