Asphodel by Lauren Hammond

Asphodel by Lauren Hammond
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Hades is lonely and bored ruling the underworld. Zeus has promised him a wife, but has refused to actually give her to him.


Review

I apologize for the very short synopsis, but I wasn't able to make it more than 50 pages in to the novel.

I was drawn to Aspodel by the cover and the premise of the story. I love retold or modernized myths, and this one looked interesting. Unfortunately, the writing was so poor that I gave up searching for the plot. The author uses words incorrectly and in the wrong tense constantly, and her use of really bad metaphors was irritating.

Below are a few passages:

"A man lied in the middle of the street. His limbs were twisted and broken and blood oozed from every opening on the man's face."

"Through the centuries, the tasks of running his realm had become tedious and repetitive to Hades. The task of damning the souls that had crossed the river Styx into his domain was becoming tiresome for the deceitful king."

"Hades glared at the boy pre-adult boy, whose hazel eyes glistened with tears. Seconds later, Hades disappeared, reappearing in front of the boy. Fear crept up the mortal's spine and he stiffened, unable to move. Then he started shaking. Hades examined him, hoping to scorch him with his gaze. Rage bubbled inside of the might God and Hades boomed, "Aren't you a man?" The boy lowered his head and Hades blanched as he sniffed. But the boy did not answer."


My Recommendation

While I saw promise in the book before I opened, I was very disappointed in the writing. The novel feels like it was written by a a very young, new writer. I looked into the author, Lauren Hammond, and it appears that she has written several books. I'm not sure if the rest of her body of work follows this example, but I will not search out more of her books to check.

I give it 1/5 - Not worth the effort

Oddily by Linda Pohring

Oddily by Linda Pohring (and some of Maxim, the 2nd book in the series)
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Oddily is a foster child that is teased and tortured each day by everyone. All this changes, however, when she meets the super hot Maxim. Suddenly everyone, including Maxim, inexplicably likes her.

Review
I straight up did not like this book. I feel like it was still in a draft state, and hadn't reached a narrative level that was ready to be published.
First of all, the writing in the book is odd and stilted. I understand that Maxim and Nexa are different from everyone else, and it makes sense that the way that they talk may be different. Unfortunately, I don't believe that they would talk in overly simplistic sentences with no contractions. Plus the statements that they make were just weird. Combining that with the internal conversation between Nexa and Maxim made the book both confusing and overly simplistic at times.
The characters were very flat and I couldn't bring myself to care about them. For instance, Oddily is seriously tortured through the first half of the book, but it didn't really seem to matter other than being part of the story.
Plot - This novel fell in to the overly cheesy YA romance trap. Maxim meets Oddily and just loves her. There's no preamble, no reason what so ever, he just loves her. For ever and ever and ever. And she loves him back. Even though he takes over her life, controlling every single aspect of it. The plot is overly simplistic and chunky. Things just suddenly happen, with no reasoning or build up. For instance, on kid decides to go from tormentor to friend on an apparent whim. And Oddily is cool with it, she lets him go from devil to bestie in a paragraph.
Finally the conclusion of the book. There isn't one. The story just cuts off in the middle of a scene and directs you to the next book. I attempted to read the next book, but wasn't able to make it more than a couple of chapters.

Side note - think of the Watchmen if you read the book and tell me if you notice any similarities.

My Recommendation

I didn't like this book. Though I forced myself to continue reading in the hopes that the story got better, it didn't. I give it 1/5- Not worth the effort 

What do you think?
Do you agree/disagree? Do you want to read it now? Or not? I love to hear(read) feedback!

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Anna is lonely, alone, and incredibly passive; she'll let boys do whatever they want to her. I would tell you more about the story, but there isn't really anything else to tell.

Review

You will not hear this from me often, but I hated this book. I wasn't offended, even thought the novel could be graphic at times, simply bored. I think that I understand what the author was trying to do with the story, and she did paint a fairly distinct picture or a very lonely and detached girl. Unfortunately, the story never really went anywhere. I kept waiting for some kind of redeeming feature, but it just never came. I never felt that Anna actually grew a backbone or became her own person, hell, I never felt like Anna became a person at all.
For a book that primarily focused on a girl that found her identity through boys, I was surprised that the male characters were even less developed than Anna. My biggest issue with this was the character Sam. I think that he was supposed to be a good guy and a redeeming character, but he just wasn't anything beyond a vehicle for Anna into his home.
While the writing was not terrible, the formatting of the chapters was irritating. Like the sparse, blank characters, the chapters were just odd; occasionally just fragments of a story or an isolated thought. Ugg.

My Recommendation

Honestly, the story made me thing of a mindless string of paper dolls humping each other. I wouldn't recommend this novel to anyone, especially the target audience of teenagers; I fear that they might possibly think that the behavior in the novel is OK and it is simply not. I give it a 1/5 - Not worth the effort.

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Adelice's parents raised her to hide her gift, her ability to manipulate the fabric of reality around her. Unfortunately on the last day of testing she slipped and is pulled into a world of secrets and lies when she is "chosen" to become a Spinster, the women that change and control the world. After her violent transition to Coventry, Adelice must fight for control of her own life and the lives of those she loves.

Review

This novel surprised me. I didn't initially think that the book would take place in a post apocalyptic male ruled society. Plus, there was an actual twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming. (Don't worry, I won't ruin it for you) While Adelice was frustrating at times, acting on the impulsiveness of a 16 year old girl, I thought that she was a wonderful character. The pace of the story was quick, though it felt a bit rushed and cluttered at the end; obviously setting up for the sequel. I will be interested in reading the next part of the story to see what could possibly happen next.

My Recommendation

I really enjoyed this book and give it 5/5 - Amazing!.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall by Susan Ee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis
The world has become a dangerous, hopeless place after a league of angels appeared and destroyed the modern world. Penryn is trying to get her disabled sister to the imagined safety of the hills when a white feather drifts down in front of her. In an attempt to save her sister and her mother, she distracts a group of angels intent on killing another of their kind. She picks up a sword and tosses it to angel on the ground as his wings are cut off. In retaliation, one of the attackers steals her sister and flies away. Penryn is stuck with a wingless angel and a desperate need to find and save her sister. Can she do what needs to be done to get the answers she needs from him?

Review
This is by far the best angel book that I have read, I didn't even mind that it was set up for a sequel. I really enjoyed the fact that nothing was presented in a straight forward manner, but that the ploy was not overly twisty or contrived. Plus, I found the characters, including the inhuman angels to be realistically flawed and was moved to actually care about what would happen to them.

My Recommendation
I really enjoyed this story. I give it 5/5 - Worth the full price.

I ate it for you! Progresso's Light Beef Pot Roast

Review
In the past, I enjoyed Progresso's Beef Pot Roast Soup. I had a coupon, so I grabbed  a can of the light version figuring that it couldn't be that different. Boy, was I wrong!
This soup was really bland with a hint of hard, canned peas. Even adding some of the salt that it so desperately needed couldn't help this slop.
I slowly managed to finish the can out of sheer spite, I simply didn't have any other food to eat. Plus, I was still hungry when I was done. :(

My Recommendation
Go for the full flavor Beef Pot Roast Soup and skip the Light version. The 40 extra calories of flavor per serving are well worth it!
I give it a 1/5 - Not worth the effort.










Nutritional Information

The Margarets - Sheri S Tepper

The Margarets
Synopsis
As the only child in the settlement on Phobos, Margaret develops several imaginary friends to entertain her. However, she notices that after several important events in her life, many of them are missing. Six Margarets in total break away from the original, following paths of her life that might have been.

Review
I am a huge Sheri S. Tepper fan, but I still didn't really enjoy this book. The beginning of the book is pretty confusing, and as the book continues, it is still difficult to follow which character each chapter is about. I did enjoy the story lines of a few of the Margarets, but overall, I had a hard time finishing the book. Plus, I was really not a fan of the ending.

My Recommendation
One of my least favorite Sheri S. Tepper books. Die hard fans may enjoy it, but of the 10 people in my book group, I was the only one to actually finish the book. I give it a 1/5 - Not worth the effort.

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Book 1) - Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)
Synopsis
Tessa was on her way to England to live with her only surviving relative, her brother, when she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters. The sisters force Tessa to learn to shapeshift, a skill she had never known about, in hopes of keeping her brother safe from harm. However, she reaches her breaking point the day that she is told she will be marrying the mysterious and evil Magister. While trying to escape, she runs into Will, a local Shadowhunter and is taken into the Institute for her protection. Tessa must choose between taking up her new skills in order to rescue her brother or attempting to live a "normal" life again.

Review
I enjoyed the Clockwork Angel. I really appreciate the mystery surrounding Tessa's abilities and the possibilities of her journey to discover herself. A few of the elements feel a bit too similar the the Mortal Instruments series, but I believe that Tessa's adventures may be able to make this series stand out. If she doesn't loose herself in one of the boys. The boys (Will and Jem) simply felt a bit flat to me. The only interesting facet of Will (the typical bad boy with a tortured past and a heart of gold) is the mystery surrounding his decision to become a Shadowhunter. Jem is the victim of a debilitating condition, and doesn't manage to make much of an impression in this installment. However, Magnus Bane is a welcome returning character from the Mortal Instruments books, and I hope that we will see more of him as the series continues.
Some reviews have called the pacing in this book a bit slow. I don't agree, action starts in the first few pages, and there are several twists to keep you interesting in the plot. I had no problems continuing to read the story, and finished it the same evening that I started it. The book does leave the reader waiting for the next book, as very few of the questions posed are answered by the conclusion, which may be frustrating for some people.

My Recommendation
This is a great installment if you are a fan of the Mortal Instrument series, steampunk, or historical paranormal novels. Impatient readers may want to wait to read this novel until the next installment is published as it is a cliff hanger. I give it 4/5 - Wait for a sale/coupon.

Read n' Play with Mei - Die for Me Chapter 1-5

Hey Guys,

Let's get this party started! 

Here is what I was thinking during the first few chapters of Die for Me (Revenants) by Amy Plum 

As always, please remember that I love reading and books, I may be a little bit of a cynic... but it's all in good fun.

And please please please let me know what you are thinking as well!

<3

Mei

Prologue

I get the feeling this book is going to be about angels, especially one named Vincent…

Chapter One

Steps to set up a YA story:

Main character recovering from a trauma: Check (dead parents)

New location: Check (Paris from the US)

Supervisory characters not too involved: Check (grandparents don’t care that their 17 year old ward parties all night, really?)

Beautiful sister: Check (A strawberry blonde with peaches and cream skin, it almost sounds like she wants to eat her sister. On a serious note, no one should ever envy someone with “peaches and cream” skin as it burns like hell in the sun…)

Main character that is probably attractive, but doesn’t believe she is: Check

Chapter Two

Enter the object of desire. Our poor heroine’s soul mate radar is pinging.

I find the way that authors describe things fascinating. Here are some of my favorite descriptions from this chapter:

He was breathtaking - Longish black hair waving up and back from his forehead - this kind of makes me think of see anenomies, or wheat...

Her heart lurched in her chest, it felt like someone had squeezed all of the air out of her chest. Possibly because he took her breath, I’m just saying.

He didn’t look cruel, just dangerous. – I honestly can say that if someone looked like they kicked puppies or wrestled grizzly bear, I would walk the other way.

A boulder with chocolate skin, describing people with food always freaks me out, she might need a snack with her drink.

I’ve never been to Paris, but apparently women over there like ogle guys and sound like construction workers. I have to say, I kept picturing some glistening Thunder from Down Under action during this entire section.

Chapter Three

I’m pretty sure if you are “encased in ice” you don’t miss people, but I could just be better at denial than this girl.

Paris is the safest city on earth? I was not aware of that fact

(You may wonder why I am just nit picking, honestly, not a whole lot has happened so far in the book.)

Oh wait, a girl sacrificing herself to gravity counts as a happening. Not to mention sword fighting under a tunnel. It sounds like Paris may not be as safe as they thought. LOL

It is always convenient when people you meet earlier in the book “unexpectedly” pop up. I actually think it would be pretty entertaining to read a book where they introduce characters that you never see again. Then again, that might be really annoying.

Back to the story, did the girl that jumped off of the bridge survive? I’m not really sure, but they called the boy who followed her “savior.”

 

Chapter Four

Hey, we now know which guy threw himself off of the bridge, I believe that it was Mr. Waving Hair.

Is it just me, or does Mr. Flinty Eyes seem like a jerk? He throws her stuff on the ground, steals her driver’s license, and doesn’t even help her pick up her stuff.

Hmmm, a girl that can tell the future and a near death by building. It sounds like she is now involved in a game outside of her control. ooOOOooo

Chapter Five

Yay! She’s finally irritated with this guy being a jerk! But I’m sure she’ll forgive him soon enough…

…. And she did. Now to wait for him to finish wooing her so we can see what the conflict of the book will be!

What do you think?? Let me know!

Silver by Talia Vance

Silver by Talia Vance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Brianna hates being invisible, but believes that it is worth the sacrifice to keep the monster inside of her hidden. Too bad she doesn't know why people ignore her. She stalks Blake, the player that all the girls are after, scientifically breaking down all of their non-interactions in hopes that her theory that she is simply lacking the right pheromones to interact with others to right.
Her hypothesis is thrown right out the window when, at a house party, time stops and Blake suddenly sees her. Thinking that life has changed for the better, she is crushed when Blake returns to ignoring her the next day. Brianna's quest to finally figure out why she is invisible and what her nickname Bandia really means puts her in the path of an angry god and a possible true love. Will she be able to figure it all out and make the right choices when she finds out that a family of killers is intent on destroying everything she is and everything she could be?

Review
I adore revamped mythology, and this story was no exception. The story felt fresh, in part because it was based on some mythological figures that I am not familiar with.
The story was fast paced and managed to throw a few curve balls at me, which is a wonderful change. Brianna, the heroine, was a relatively strong female character, and her choices at the end of the book were based on her development through the entire story. Even the male figures were not as flat as most YA books these days.
My only real disappointment in the story was that it set up for a sequel. If you've read my past few reviews, I'm just getting a bit fed up with every story being part of a series. Sometimes it's nice to read a book, have a conclusion, and leave the rest to your imagination. This book did have an actual conclusion, which was nice, but I'm sure any speculation that remains will be answered in the next installment.

My Recommendation
A quick, enjoyable book with some slightly obscure mythology thrown in. I give it 4/5 - Wait for a sale/coupon.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Juliette hasn't seen or been touched by another person in years, so the day that a boy is shoved into her cell she has no idea what to do. Not to mention that she also has a little problem, anyone that touches her skin dies...


Review

This is a book that should be read and not listened to on audiobook. Believe me. The audiobook had a bunch of scratching noises that I'm sure would have made a bunch of sense if were on print on a page.

I enjoyed the book as a whole, but I found the love story to be a bit juvenile. Though, my opinion could still be influenced by the whole audiobook experience. I enjoyed the premise of the story, and the world that it was set in. I wanted to know a bit more about the world surrounding Juliette, but I understand that a limited world view made sense in the context of the story. The plot would occasionally stall out with excessive descriptions, but still flowed well enough.


My Recommendation

Read it, don't listen to it. 3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it

Tattoo 1 and 2 - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 Tattoo
Synopsis
Four friends are shopping at the mall when the meet a mysterious mall vendor that sells them accessories and some temporary tattoos. After each of the girls apply their tattoos, they discover magical powers and must work together to save the world from a great evil.

Review
I found this book to be a quick, easy, predictable read. I wasn't overly invested in the characters, but enjoyed the book enough to read the sequel as well. The girls were all plain stereotypes, and were only developed enough to keep the plot going. Though, I enjoyed the Greek myth references.

My Recommendation
This book is great for tweens, there are no questionable elements like sex, drugs, or rock'n'roll.  3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.






Fate

Synopsis

Set two years after the events in Tattoo, Bailey and her friends are getting ready to graduate from high school and move on with their lives. Unfortunately, Bailey is not ready to move on, or away from her friends. Plus, everything is complicated by her work as a Fate and the quickly approaching Reckoning. Can she find a balance in her life?

Review

This novel was at least as enjoyable as the first novel. I really enjoyed the fact that Bailey's friends would get mad at her for "moping" as many teen novels really focus on the angsty side of life. The new characters were interesting, though I found some of the references to Greek and Roman mythology to be a bit confusing and muddled in this installment. 

My Recommendation

This book is great for tweens, there are no questionable elements like sex, drugs, or rock'n'roll.  3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Mae is the the perfect government enforcer, following the rules and stamping out religion whenever it pops up. However, all of this changes when she is assigned to protect Justin, an investigator that was exiled after he found a secret that the government wanted hidden. Will Mae and Justin be able to uncover the cause of a string or mysterious killings? Or will they just become pawns between a religion hating government and the gods that are tired of being ignored?

Review
I was so excited to read this book. I love Richelle Mead and honestly, Mae is one of my all time favorite names. Richelle managed to weave a technologically strong dystopian society with magic in a manner that was engaging and amazing. She obviously is setting up for a series, but the novel also works well as a stand alone novel. She has a very strong mythos growing behind the society, and it will be very exciting to see if the characters will eventually consent to work with the gods that keep trying to influence them.

My Recommendation

I love the worlds that Richelle Mead creates, and I can't wait to read more about this one. I give it 4/5 - I really liked it.

For more information about the ratings system, please click here.

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis

What would you do if you had a thousand lives to live? Would you become insular and stuck in your ways? Or would you be innovative and accept change?
Ana is the first person born into her society that hasn't lived before. The night that she was born, the tower went dark and the soul that would have been reborn was replaced with Ana. When she leaves the woman who raised and hated her, she sets out on a journey to discover who and what she is.

Review
I liked the premise of this story, I just wish that there was a little bit more action in the plot. The entire novel feels like a set up for the sequel. While Ana discovers herself and, shockingly, falls in love with the first man she ever sees, random elements are thrown in to the story and never explained or utilized. I would have loved it if the novel actually explained the presence of sylphs and dragons as opposed to randomly introducing them when Ana needed a prod to change her direction. Some stories are able to focus only on the internal growth of one character, but this novel just wasn't able to.

My Recommendation
I enjoyed this story, but it is a bit slow in places. I give it  3 /5  - Rent it/Borrow it.

What do you think?
Do you agree/disagree? Do you want to read it now? Or not? I love to hear(read) feedback!

Florence by Ciye Cho

Florence by Ciye Cho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis

It's a good thing that Florence doesn't have many ties to family and town the day that she is kidnapped and taken to the bottom of the sea. Thanks to the magic of a polyp, she finds herself in the community of Niemela; a place where mermaids rule and all animals live in harmony. Unfortunately, it's time for the ruler of Niemela to change and Florence must decide which prince she will be the best ruler. Will Niemela continue to fight the ever threatening Darkness, or make a deal with it?

Review

I enjoyed this story. I found the world of Niemela to be very well developed and defined, Ciye Cho certainly had a vivid picture of the community in her mind. While a found the story to be a tad predictable, and at times a little overly descriptive; I thought if was a quick and fairly engrossing read. There language used in the story was intelligent, occasionally hitting on a term that I was not familiar with; a very unusual occurance in a teen novel!

My Recommendation

A wholesome fun book for teenagers, though the vocabulary is probably a bit high for the intended audience.  I give it 4/5 - I really liked it.

What do you think?
Do you agree/disagree? Do you want to read it now? Or not? I love to hear(read) feedback!

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

Ember by Carol Oates

Ember by Carol Oates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Shortly after being pushed out of a window by a sexy redheaded woman in leather, Candra begins seeing things that can't possibly be real. Suddenly her life is inundated with overly attractive people that won't tell her the whole story. All she knows is that the ridiculously good looking and surly Sebastian is constantly following her and won't even leave her alone while she sleeps and that the redheaded woman is back. Candra is finding it harder and harder to figure out what the is really going on around her and who the good guys are. Can she figure it out in time to decide if she should sacrifice the one person she might love for the possible safety of the world around her?

Review
Once I started reading the book, the first theme that popped into my head was I don't know if I can deal with yet another fallen angel book. The tend to be overly romantical star-crossed lover type stories without much substance. Yes, this story falls into that category. Honestly, the read is a bit slow, and I found that I didn't really care about the characters. I finished this book only because I started it, not because I was invested and wanted to see what happened.
The one interesting factor in the book is that the take on angels was just a little bit different. The story was set in a fictional city, and humans are "protected" by watchers, angels who where denied reentry to heaven after doing some terrible deeds on earth. The book might have been a whole lot more interesting if the story had gone into more detail about the watchers, as opposed to occasional bits of backstory that may or may not be lies.
Then there was the ending. There was buildup that a few of the characters may actually be evil, or at least had some nice nefarious plots. The tension was mounting, Candra was being pulled in two directions; and then it fizzled out. I'm not sure what happened, but it almost felt like the author gave up and just said here's a random happy ending, I'm out. Who knows for sure, but I'm sure that we will find out in the inevitable sequel.

My Recommendation
While my review may be a bit harsh, I did like some facets of the story. I give it 3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Cinder is an outcast in a land living in fear of invasion and plague. One day, a man in a hooded sweatshirt enters her booth at the market and her life changes forever. Cinder must decide who she can trust and how hard she is willing to fight for the people that she loves.

Review
First off, I love the cover. When I picked up the book to start reading it, I wasn't actually aware the the story involved any kind of androids or cyborgs. Imagine my surprise when the book was based around mechanized beings... Not that I'm against science fictiony technology, I was just startled by their appearance in what I imagined was going to be a fairly classic fairy tale.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book, though a few bits were easily predicted. My biggest complaint is the fact that the story doesn't end, it simply sets up for a sequel. I really wanted to know what happened next, but I don't know that my interest will carry over for the next year or so until the sequel is released. I miss the days when books had a beginning, a middle, and an end. It is possible to end a story and still leave the reader wanting more, but it seems to be a rarity in the young adult genre anymore.

My Recommendation
My best advice is to wait until the inevitable sequel is released so you can hopefully get the full story and not just the first part of it. I'm giving it a 3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Mac's best friend Amy was murdered by a serial killer werewolf, throwing the town of Hemlock into turmoil. Amy's grandfather, an influential senator, brings in Trackers in to town to help solve the murder. Unfortunately, where the Trackers go, chaos and heartbreak follows. Mac must figure out how to save her friends from the vigilante group as well as the white wolf that took out her friend.

Review

Kathleen Peacock has a very well developed world for Mac and her friends. The lupine syndrome has put the country on the brink of a hate filled totalitarian regime, which was interesting. You usually read books that are already on one side or the other, not at a point where an individual could actually sway the future of their government.
I enjoyed the fact that more emphasis seemed to be placed on the murder mystery/werewolf plot rather than the inevitable love triangle. I was a bit sad that Mac's toughness and criminal past never really developed. I understand that her nightmares were paralyzing her, but she tended to be a bit too helpless for my liking. That said, I thought that Jason was pretty interesting, human wasteland that he seemed to be. Though, I'm sure that he will eventually turn into the overly monochromatic character that Kyle already is.
That said, I do actually want to read the sequel to this book and hope that it matures just a bit more and delves more into the political landscape. (not a statement I usually make)

My Recommendation

I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time putting it down. I give it 4/5 - I really liked it.

Most Likely to Succeed by Kate Davies

Most Likely to Succeed by Kate Davies
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis
Kelsey Moore is embarrassed to still be working at her family's flower shop when her 10 year high school reunion. The only thing that could draw her to the event is the hope of seeing her high school crush, Nathan Barrow.

Review
This novel felt short and light. None of the characters were really explored, this made the story feel like a light romp. Unfortunately, it also meant that I was never able to actually get into the story. The plot was very quick, and I had expected a bit more something.

My RecommendationIt was a fun, very light read. I give it 3/5 - Good, but not something I would repeat

The Alpha's Mate by Jacqueline Rhoades

The Alpha's Mate by Jacqueline Rhoades
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis

Elizabeth Reynolds may have wanted to change her life by moving to a cabin in the woods; but she never expected her new life to begin with a crash and a rescue by the hot sherrif when she was in nothing but her undies. The friendly town takes her in and help her fix up her new place, and everything seems to be going just peachy. It's just too bad that the hottest man she's ever met is gay, and she can't stop running in to him.

Review

I wasn't a huge fan of the cover on this book, and had I not gotten a copy for review I probably wouldn't have read it. That would have been a travesty!
I really enjoyed this story. Sometimes I'm a bit reticent about romances as they can be more love scenes than plot, but while there were hints of the impending passion, there were only two real sex scenes in the book. The story was entertaining; it was fun to see Elizabeth grow into a sassy brassy woman. The town was full of interesting characters, and the love interest was more than just a hunk of meat or a knight in shinning armor. Plus, it's always fun to read a story where the woman gets to decide if SHE wants to be with the man. I've seen way too many stories that left the relationship up to the man lately.
Oh! The best tidbit is the fact that there was an actual explanation for the instantaneous love that appears in so many of the books, and Elizabeth had an issue with it. That may sound strange, but I sometimes wonder what in the world these characters are thinking when they meet someone and fall instantly in love.

My Recommendation

Not for children, the love scenes aren't super graphic, but are best saved for a mature reader. Due to the fact that there was an interesting plot and a sassy female lead, I give it a 4/5 - I really liked it.

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***