Losing It by Cora Carmack

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Losing It
Author: Cora Carmack
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Personal Purchase
ISBN: B009QAKUYG / E-Book Edition

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible– a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren’t embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor. She’d left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

MY THOUGHTS

I will be honest is saying that I am having a hard time rating this book.  I found the characters of Bliss and Garrick to be great, the writing flowed at a good pace, and the supporting cast of characters just as good.  I think the only real problems I had was the summary doesn’t do the story justice and at times the author tried a little to hard to be funny.

The first part of the book felt forced because the author pushed the funny down the readers throat.  Bliss and her sarcastic wit and comments started to get a little too much.  Finally, once the story really starts moving and Garrick is introduced as more than a one night stand, it really started to take off.  Garrick is one hot professor with a British accent to boot!  I will even say that the cover image of him is pretty similar to what I had in my mind when reading about him.  YUM!  Bliss really does fall for him and you just know that the drama is going to unfold at some point.  You can’t have a story without the drama.

While there were some great dramatic parts of the book though, the ending was not what I expected.  The one thing the two were worried about the most — and one the reader thinks is going to happen — doesn’t even turn out to be the one thing that does happen.  The ending was sort of a let down for me after all the build up.  It was sweet and perfect for the couple, but I kept looking for more of a climatic story arc.

Even with all of those things that disappointed me in the story, I still found myself enjoying it.  I am interested in the future writing of this author and of her hints of writing spin-off’s for the secondary characters of this book.  Great for a debut author, but I am hoping she will choose to spread her wings a little more with the drama for the next one.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

Charming Blue by Kristine Grayson

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Charming Blue
Series: Fates #8
Author: Kristine Grayson
Source: Publisher/Sourcebooks
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781402263743

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Once upon a time…he was the most handsome of princes. But now he’s a lonely legend, hobbled by dark history. With too many dead in his wake, Bluebeard escapes through the evil spell of alcohol. But it’s a far different kind of spell that’s been ruining his life for centuries. Jodi Walters is a fixer, someone who can put magic back in order. But Blue has a problem she’s never encountered. And worse, she finds herself perilously attracted to him.

MY THOUGHTS

New stories based on childhood fairy tales can be a huge thing to take on for an author.  Sometimes they work and other times they fall.  They can be as wonderful and mesmerizing as Cinderella and Snow White.  Other times they can be like Humpty Dumpty on that wall on the edge of great that unfortunately loses it’s balance and becomes a mess for the reader.  Authors have to know how to balance perfectly between long time readers and new readers.  We all have our favorite fairy tale and trying to change them can cause many opinions across the grid for readers and fans.  Kristine Grayson seems to be able to handle this task without disappointing the reader.

I will say that Kristine Grayson and her works have been hit and miss with me.  I have enjoyed some of her books, but others have not been as enjoyable.  Charming Blue seems to fall in the middle of this spectrum.  While I loved the plot and the characters — including the secondary ones — I had a really hard time getting into it.  Every time I set the book down for a bit I seemed to forget what had happened before.  It just wasn’t memorable enough to keep me infatuated with the story.  It was one to pass the time, but not one that left me with the “must read now” pull that other books have given me.  For lack of better words, it didn’t have the ‘magic’ I was expecting.

Again, while the plot and characters were fun and entertaining, it wasn’t enough to keep the story flowing at a great pace.  It was slow and ho-hum.  While it may be another miss in this readers eyes, I still will continue reading the works this author creates because I am a sucker for fairy tale stories!

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

A Love Untamed by Pamela Palmer

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A Love Untamed
Series: Feral Warriors #7
Author: Pamela Palmer
Source: Publisher
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780062107510

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

The newest member of the elite Feral Warriors brotherhood, Fox is eager to prove himself on the frontlines of battle against the Daemons. When paired with the legendary Ilina warrior, Melisande, he expects the fierce beauty to quickly fall under the spell of his quite considerable charm. Instead, he finds himself spellbound by a woman who’s his match in every way.

Beneath Melisande’s brittle exterior lies centuries of pain and a violent hatred of all shape-shifters—a hatred that slowly crumbles after they’re caught in a deadly and cunning Mage trap and she glimpses a surprising depth in her far-too-seductive partner. Their survival demands unconditional trust—and their salvation surrender to a wild, untamed love.

MY THOUGHTS

After the way the last book in the series ended, I had been stalking the sites waiting for my chance to pounce on the next book in advance.  When it became available for review, my fingers clicked faster than the eye could see.  Yes everyone, I was that anxious to read the next book in the Feral Warrior world.

We start the story eight days before the story ended in the last one.  Kieran is training new recruits into the Therian Guard.  It is then that he becomes marked as a new Feral Warrior along with one other.  From this point we also get to flash forward slowly up until the point of what actually happened those last few moments in book six.  We see who kidnapped Kara — their Radiant and Lyon’s mate — and how it all went down.

I always had a soft spot for Fox even when it was the previous one.  I missed the Cub, but when Kieran was marked as his replacement I decided to give him a chance.  He still had the playfulness of the previous Fox, but he was also a born warrior.  There was no mistaking the good that is in him.  Melisande was never a favorite character of mine.  She was without emotion and just to hard for my taste.  Even though I wasn’t a fan of her,  I tried to embrace her personality and give her a chance.  What we learn of her past though is actually what made her the cold and vicious warrior that she is today.  Only Fox is the one who has touched her tender side and he is the only one who can bring it out.  Mel is aware from the get go that he is her destined mate but she refuses to accept it.  She wants to stay cold and unfeeling without having to accept a Feral Warrior as her mate.  She has despised them for so long, she is afraid to even let one close enough to see her weakness.

The two become trapped in a Mage Labyrinth with no way out that they can find.  This where the story started to fall for me.  I enjoyed the small connections between the two characters and understand that this is their book, but I wanted the other Feral’s included more.  Each book the author has had before this one has had a balance of main characters and side characters.  The reader received enough of each to stay satisfied.  With Love Untamed,  we are only given small glimpse’s of the rest of the Warrior’s and it didn’t satisfy me as a fan of the series.  We were given small pieces of further story but not enough to get the reader as excited as before.  There are still some questions unanswered.  This fine since it is a series, but too many can lead to the reader becoming to frustrated to continue in the journey.

The rescue of Kara was also rushed and too easy.  I expected it to be much more with all Feral Warrior’s included in the rescue.  Instead they only appear near the end of the rescue.  If they are rescuing Kara from the evil Mage’s main stronghold, you would think it would have been a little harder than what it was.

Overall I was glad to have read this one early.  I am left guessing of what will come in the next one even if I felt a little cheated with it.  Not one of my favorites of the series like I was hoping, but one very worth the time and money especially if you are a huge fan of the series.  Now the only problem is waiting even longer for the next one to arrive!

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Wake by Amanda Hocking

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Wake
Series: Watersong #1
Author: Amanda Hocking
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 9781250008121

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They’re the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone’s attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

MY THOUGHTS

I have never been a huge fan of “mermaid” themed books.  There are a few that I have found to enjoy, but not many.  The only reason I ventured into this world again was the fact that it was written by Amanda Hocking.  Everyone is raving about her writing and her amazing publishing deal she received awhile back.  I figured there must be something to her writing if publishers were this excited about signing on a new writer.

I am still on the fence about this read.  While I can see the allure of the authors writing,  I am still not sold on the mermaid and sirens.  All I can think about is a fin getting in the way while trying to hug someone.  I know it seems childish, but my brain can’t seem to compute this with romantic and alluring.  This is just a personal peeve and not one that another reader should hold against a mermaid themed book.  On that note, the story itself was entertaining, but not outstanding.  Yes it held my interest and I was glad to have read this new read, but it is not one that blew the others in pile out of the water.  (no pun intended)  Also the climatic ending was pretty good and I give it points for keeping me interested enough to want to try the next book.

I can say that this author does have a unique writing style even if it did seem a little on the young side.  I know this is an author with many books under her belt though, so I will try and read other stories by her before making a final decision on adding her to my auto-buy list.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson

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The Lost Code
Series: The Atlanteans #1
Author: Kevin Emerson
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Amazon Vine
ISBN: 9780062062796

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

What is oldest will be new, what was lost shall be found.

The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy.

But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.

No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race–a race that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.

Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry . . . and that “less-than-ordinary” can evolve into “extraordinary.”

Kevin Emerson’s thrilling novel is Book One of the Atlanteans series–perilous adventures in a grimly plausible dystopian future, fueled by high-stakes action, budding romance, and a provoc-ative question: What would you do if you had the power to save humanity from its own self-destruction?

MY THOUGHTS

I have read many books in the Adult Genre featuring the mystery of Atlantis or at least has some sort of premise of Atlantis in the plot.  So when this book appeared in my review list, I decided to give it a go and see how it would fare in the Young Adult Genre.

While I enjoyed the book and the character of Owen,  I did find the book lacking in some ways.  To me, it seemed that the other characters dragged the book down.  I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy them that much.  It wasn’t any one particular thing about them, it is just what it is.  I loved the lore and mythology that is included with the book.  I actually learned a few things while reading it.  The story does start off slow and you really have to commit yourself to the book to get the pay off at the end of it.  I think it is because the world needed to be established and it brought the story down in that regard.  Now that I have finished the build up, I am hoping that the next book in the series will take off at a better pace.  This is the one thing about new series that authors have to learn to balance out for the reader.  Too much info in the first book could lead to boredom and not enough can leave the reader confused.  A delicate balance that I hope is figured out by the next book.

While this wasn’t my favorite book,  I did enjoy the fresh take on the plot.  Mythology mixed with modern day and add some dystopia makes a great new series for the young adult genre.  One to keep my eye on for future installments while hoping it gets better with book two.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*