Sunday, September 30, 2012

Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines -- YA Review


Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines -- YA Review

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. 


Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice. Blub from Goodreads
Details: Released February 7, 2012, Kindle e-book
Genre: YA
Source: purchased
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Three screwed up people learning to love, trust and let go.

Review: 

Marcus, Low and Cage are all screwed up. But they're screwed up for a reason. Their past informs their actions and reactions and helps the reader sympathize with the characters even when they're not particularly likeable.

Marcus was presented as the good guy but he's not a saint, he can certainly pack a wallop, and does. Marcus tends to go caveman in regards to Low, but he has lots of redeeming characteristics. He is fierce when it comes to protecting the people he loves. And he was sweet. And he cooks!

Low has the most character development; she wasn't the same person at the end of the book. She was able to make decisions and take actions that she couldn't have made at the begining of the book.

I couldn't help but like man whore Cage. He's a man whore, Glines makes that clear, but when he's with Low he's a different person, the one she can always count on. It's not Cage's story but we even see his growth here, he was able to put her happiness first.

Glines doesn't shy away from the dark places we go - and come from - but she shows how we can survive them. Glines makes it an emotionally wrenching experience for all of us as she tortures her characters, making them face the worst, before putting them back together. 

In all, Because of Low was a quick, entertaining read.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan -- YA Review


Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan -- YA Review
Image Via Goodreads
Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching. Blurb Via Goodreads
Details: HarperTeen, Released 2012, Hardback, 352 pages
Genre: YA
Source: Library
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 2/5

In one sentence? Which team are you on: vampires or humans?

Review: It wasn't for me. I found it depressing BUT it had some great bits. I thought Mel was a strong, resilient, interesting character who was artfully kept from being too perfect and one dimensional.

And Kit. I loved Kit. I loved how Mel and Kit represented the two different worlds, vampire and human, and the ways that was demonstrated, the 'I'll call you' and 'what a kiss means' scenes.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

How to Date an Alien (My Alien Romance #1) by Magan Vernon -- YA Review


How to Date an Alien (My Alien Romance #1) by Magan Vernon -- YA Review

Image from Goodreads
High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? Blurb from Goodreads
Details: CreateSpace, Released December 6, 2011, Kindle e-book, 272 pages
Genre: YA
Source: Amazon
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Romeo and Juliet with aliens.

Review:

I liked it. But I wanted to like it more than I did. The concept was awesome, Romeo and Juliet with aliens, but it lost me about two thirds of the way through.

I liked Alex especially because she wasn't perfect. She had glasses and hips - as big bad mama points out - and emotional baggage. She had her moments of  incredible bravery, not just going into battle but declaring her allegiance. But at that two thirds of the way through, she lost me. She was willing to make an incredible sacrifice and then she goes all will I, won't I when it comes to how she feels about Ace? And she was listening to what other people said instead of what she thought?

Did anyone else think about the logic of Alex and Ace's relationship? The temperature difference in - shall we say intimate moments?

Friday, September 7, 2012

Ghost of a Chance by Flo Fitzpatrick -- Adult Romance Review


Ghost of a Chance by Flo Fitzpatrick -- Adult Romance Review

Image via Goodreads
Six straight men in the cast plus free Tex-Mex food? My friend Lida Rose sure knew how to persuade me. I signed on the dotted line and dusted off my dance shoes. I knew Bad Business on the Brazos would have them rolling in the aisles and standing up to cheer, whichever came first. But I didn't expect the ghost problem. As in the ghost of Don Mueller, the actor who was killed during the last performance of this show fifty years ago. He's flirting with me in a spectral kind of way ... and a ghost can make interesting things happen to a girl.

Like the gorgeous man on stage with me: Rafe Montez, my secret crush - also known as He Whose Perfect Profile Should Be On A Coin. I'm taking six feet of chiseled yumminess here. Lida Rose thinks Rafe is only acting, but that kiss we share in Act II sure feels real to me. As in earth-shaking, can't-breathe real... From blurb

Details: Zebra, Released August 1, 2004, mm pb, 320 pages
Genre: Romance
Source: purchased
Link: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Ghosts, murder, dancing, terrible names such as Delilah Delight and Nick Nefarious and popcorn.

Review:

An entertaining story set during the revival of the play Bad Business on the Brazos. Fitzpatrick has a well paced story that makes you want to keep reading to find out what crazy, insane, dramatic thing will happen next. The cast of characters are amusing and quirky which seems to be Fitzpatrick's forte.

Kiely, the heroine, was a sweet, likable, look before you leap girl who can hold her own. While we see little of Rafe he's the type of guy you want to see more of. Kiely does too. "Four hundred years ago, he would have been wearing armor, conquering Peru. I would have been first in line volunteering to be conquered." (pg. 29)

What I wanted more of: romance.