Review: Andrew Jenks – My Adventures As A Filmmaker

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Andrew Jenks: My Adventure As A Filmmaker
Author: Andrew Jenks

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Meet the filmmaker who is the voice of his generation!

Behind the camera, Andrew Jenks has captured the attention of young adults everywhere with his innovative MTV documentary series, World of Jenks. When asked about his inspiration for the show, Jenks said, “I want to tell the stories of my generation. I want to be a filmmaker that is able to capture what my generation thinks, how they act, and what they ultimately stand for.”

Now fans of all ages will be able to discover everything they’ve ever wanted to know about Jenks, from growing up to becoming a renowned documentary filmmaker in this comprehensive photo-biography. How did he do it? By following his own rules for success-always be flexible, fake it till you make it, and never accept no.

MY THOUGHTS

As most of you know, I am not a big fan of memoirs or biography.  Non-Fiction is usually not my cup of tea.  On a rare occasion,  I will read one if it is about someone that I have heard of or want to know more about. So when Scholastic sent me this book,  I was really hesitant on dedicating my time to it.  I have never heard of Andrew Jenks.

Now that I have read this book,  I am still on the fence about it.  The author came across as stuck-on-himself and it didn’t really interest me much.  Maybe it is because I never have heard of him before reading this, or maybe it is my usual aversion of these books that turned me off to truly enjoying it.  I also want to state that with this being an ARC copy, most of the photos that go along with the story were still missing and it left some holes in the story that a photo could have helped to tell it.

With that being said, if you are a budding filmmaker — or one who is planning to be in this field — then you might have a better time with this book.  Others might recognize Andrew Jenks and be fascinate with learning his journey.  I was not a big fan, but this might be a perfect fit for someone studying the making of film.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!

Review: Hush, Hush – Graphic Novel

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Hush, Hush : A Graphic Novel
Series: Hush, Hush Graphic Novel #1
Author(s): Becca Fitzpatrick, Jennyson Rosero

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She”s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora”s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can”t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life! This title also contains an exclusive, original story written especially for this book by the author. This bonus story tells what happens to the characters between Book 1 and Book 2 of this series and will only be available in this book.

MY THOUGHTS

Graphic Novels can be either an introductory to a series or a refresher on a series.  At least, that is my thoughts on them when they are based on a novel in the Fiction world.  I am a casual reader of these novels and usually only read them after I have read the regular series first.

This graphic novel was honestly the worst ones I have read.  The artwork isn’t horrible as a whole, but it is such a contradiction to the original series and characters that obvious flaws are on every single page.  Where one person is suppose to be dark haired, in the graphic novel this person is blonde.  Where one person is suppose to be conservative, the graphic novel reveals seduction and tramp.  I am a firm believer that if you are going to base a graphic novel on a series, keep the descriptions and details the same.  It felt like the illustrator took what the characters are suppose to be and drew the complete opposite.

The only saving grace of this book was the cover.  It had the dark and gritty feel of the original cover, but that is where it ended.  This is definitely not a Graphic Novel that you want to use to form an opinion on the original work.  This is one that you need to take it for what it is, but realize that it doesn’t stand up to the original work of fiction.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!

Review: Body Heat by Susan Fox

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Body Heat
Author: Susan Fox

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

On the cusp of her thirtieth birthday, Maura Mahoney has yet to date a man who really excites her. Her quiet routine as a director at the retirement community Cherry Lane is disrupted by the arrival of Jesse Blue, a bad boy on a motorcycle who roars into her life. Jesse has agreed to avoid jail time by serving community service at Cherry Lane. Instantly attracted but wary of Jesse’s chickened past and youth, Maura puts him to work in the garden. Despite the growing sexual tension between them, there are many things keeping Maura and Jesse apart, chiefly their own assumptions about one another. But appearances can be deceiving and Maura and Jesse must overcome the expectations of those around them to find their happy ending…

MY THOUGHTS

Body Heat by Susan Fox was thisclose to being a Did Not Finish for me.  From chapter one, I couldn’t stand Maura.  She was stuck-up and had a holier-than-thou attitude. Every person she met, she formed an opinion of before even speaking to them.  Jesse was a little more tolerable, but I didn’t think there was much spark between the two characters.  Yes, there were sexy times, but the real connection between the two never clicked in my mind.

I also didn’t like how the author constantly had describe each person in so much detail that it was taken to the point of Maura comparing everyone to a celebrity name.  First there was the secretary who could be a Lucille Ball clone.  Then there was the lawyer who was a Richie Cunningham look-alike.  Then Jesse is described as a mix of Marlon Brando, James Dean and Russell Crowe. It got to the point where I would skim the descriptions and just find the celebrity name just to get to the next paragraph.

With too much dialogue, not much spark, and characters that graded on my nerves, I finally made it to the last page.  While I am not going to write this author completely off my list for future reads,  I can say that this one won’t be one I would read again.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!

Review: Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes

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Anything He Wants
Series: Dominated By The Billionaire #1-5
Genre: Erotica / Romance

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Lucy Delacourt’s temp position isn’t quite her dream job but it pays the bills. The highlight of her day is riding the elevator in the mornings with a handsome stranger. Tall, dark, and sexy as hell, Lucy knows he’s way out of her league, but a girl can look, right? 

Everything changes the day the stranger seduces her. Completely out of character, she yields without a fight, but she has no idea her wanton acts with a man whose name she doesn’t know will change her life forever. Because the sexy stranger is none other than Jeremiah Hamilton, billionaire CEO of Hamilton Industries, and one taste isn’t nearly enough to satisfy his need.  As the billionaire pulls Lucy deeper into his world of high stakes business deals and ruthless takeovers, he demands nothing less than her complete surrender.  But even as enemies seek deadly revenge against him, she’ll discover that her greatest threat is falling for her fiercely guarded boss…and yielding to her own darkest needs.

MY THOUGHTS

I had been dying to start this series ever since I saw it offered on Amazon as short novels in a series.  I kept telling myself that I would wait until they were all released before deciding if I wanted to purchase them.  Then I noticed in the store that they had packaged them all in one print book and decided to risk it.

Right after the first chapter I knew I was going to have problems with this book.  The writing was contradictory in so many things.  One minute she is an innocent heroine with little experience and the next she is tramping it up all over the building.  Jeremiah was so dominant at times that he bordered on rapist and walking a fine line for a sexual harassment suit.  For instance, when you are there for a job interview and the man interviewing you makes you bend over his desk so he can look at you while asking interview questions, well then honey you need to run.  Also, can someone please tell me how choking someone to the point of nearly passing out would be something you do to someone who has never participated in a BDSM relationship before?

By the time I was reaching the home stretch of this book, I was finally starting to get a little bit of interest in the plot and characters.  Then the author seriously ends the book the way she did?  I don’t think I could see myself reading this story further if the author is planning on continuing the story with another installment.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!

Review: Just A Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown

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Just a Cowboy and His Baby
Series: Spikes & Spurs #6
Author: Carolyn Brown
Genre: Romance

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

One determined, hell-on-wheels cowgirl. One equally determined, sexier-than-hell cowboy. One innocent baby, who suddenly takes center stage and everybody’s priorities are suddenly up for grabs.

With a young baby dropped in his lap, bronc rider Trace Coleman’s world is turned upside down. Suddenly, Gemma O’Donnell, his stiffest competition on the rodeo scene, is now the one person who can help him. She’s already resisting his sexy smile and even sexier swagger, but she can’t resist a baby. When it comes down to it, only one can win, but is winning more important than love and family?

MY THOUGHTS

Alright, I am just going to put this out there.  I am at my breaking point with Cowboy romances.  Why do they have to be so cliched? I am usually a fan of author Carolyn Brown, but lately they have just gone downhill in my opinion.

I couldn’t bring myself to care what happened to either of the characters or the plot.  The story itself was stalled in some parts and then rushed in other areas.  Of course since it is a cowboy romance, the romance is set in a rodeo setting.  Can’t we just have a cowboy romance that doesn’t have so much focus on rodeo and bronc riding? Can’t we have cowboys out on the trail like City Slickers? Anyway, I was saying I couldn’t get into the characters.  While some parts of the book were funny, it didn’t make up for the fact that there isn’t much spark between Gemma and Trace.

I think I am going to take a break on cowboy romance for a bit. Obviously I am not getting the feel-good vibe from them and hopefully when I touch base with them again, I will enjoy them and this authors writing again.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!