Review: Turncoat (Renegades of the Revolution)

Stars: 4
Author: Donna Thorland
Publisher: New American Library
Genre: Historical Romance
Amazon

I got this one on kindle daily deal and I am very pleased I bought it! 

Thorland doesn't pull punches with this book. It IS a romance, but it has a lot more historical merit than most books in the genre. There is a heavy amount of political intrigue and strategizing around the American Revolutionary war and there are some big players involved in the central action. There is also quite a bit of violence that isn't romanticized in any way-- particularly the violence towards women. Kate gets some VERY harsh treatment, so if you aren't able to stomach that sort of thing don't read the book. 

On the other hand it is a really compelling story and Kate is more much than a pretty face. She is full-on lady spy for much of the book and watching her intrigue her way around the British army is pretty fun.

The romance is a bit funny because it almost feels like a love triangle even though as it is going on you sort of know that Kate isn't going to choose Bay (because he's a bad guy.) Though bizarrely I sort of liked him. He was a little bit of an anti-hero with the heroine, even though the author clearly was just trying to write a nuanced villain. I was sort of taken with him. Don't get me wrong, I was happy that Kate ended up with Peter, I could just see the attraction to Bayard. 

Overall this book was an enjoyable read because it was a bit outside the traditional tropes of the genre and had a pretty meaty historical plot.

Review: Beautiful Stranger

Stars: 4 stars
Author Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Romance
Amazon

Christina Lauren writes good romance people.

I didn't get on the bandwagon with their first fanfic-- Beautiful Bastard because reviews in various places made me wary. Either that book is actually something I should read, or they have improved their writing significantly because I liked this book SO much.

Max is a GOOOOD romance hero. Somehow he is a bad-boy, but not really (or at least not to Sara). He and Sara have some really crazy times together and this book could easily have degenerated into mindless erotica, but it didn't. Sara and Max have a genuinely solid connection to one another that neither one of them can really deny after their first encounter together as strangers.

Sara has some issues with the idea of having a relationship due to the fact that her ex was a cheating scum-bag and so she gives Max a run for his money before admitting that she likes him. That usually bugs me-- when the heroine obviously really likes the guy but can't get out of her own head enough to admit it-- but for whatever reason, it didn't bug me here.

The other book I read by this duo that I really enjoyed was Diry Rowdy Thing that was similarly fun to read. I'll pick up some of their other books for sure.

Review: A Different Blue

Stars: 4
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre: New Adult
Amazon


This might have been a five star read had I read it before The Law of Moses (also by Ms. Harmon), but I didn't, and so some of it felt recycled. Although, in retrospect, I guess Moses was a recycled from this book not the other way around since this was published first...

This is my third Amy Harmon book and I wasn't disappointed. She is writing some quality new adult literature in a landscape that can sometimes be bleak. Her books are pretty tame: closed door love scenes, very little swearing and always a bit of religion thrown in. I don't like inspirational fiction, but Harmon usually doesn't enter into that territory.

Blue is a quality character. Other reviews said they found her hard to like. I can understand that, but she worked for me. I get tired of characters with really crappy lives that are all timid wallflowers hiding behind horrible outfits. Blue deals with her issues using a sexy persona and false confidence. It was interesting watching her peel away her layers as she gets to know Wilson.

The other thing I liked about this book was that even though there is a teacher-student thing going on here, it isn't a taboo book about a clandestine romance. It is a romance, but that doesn't really begin until Blue is fully an adult, making her own choices and no longer a student.

I also liked that Blue is Native American and she's an artist-- but not a painter-- she carves wood, now there is a cool talent.

The reason this wasn't a five star read for me was that there is the...

SPOILER

 accidental, unwanted pregnancy which makes up a big part of the conflict.


END SPOILER

While I appreciated that that was absolutely a situation Blue could have gotten into, I was annoyed since the same thing had happened in The Law of Moses.

There was also an incredible amount of will-they-won't-they? between Wilson and Blue which could have been cleared up by either one of them actually using WORDS and expressing their FEELINGS, but of course neither of them could do that. It takes the WHOLE damn book for them to figure anything out, so don't go into this book thinking that you are getting a full-on romance because you are not.

TBR June and July

Summer is here! The TBR is deliciously enormous!

Review: Forever by Judy Blume

Star rating: 4 stars
Author: Judy Blume
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Pans Children


This is the story of two high school seniors, Katherine and Michael and how they fall in love. It is also the story of how their relationship develops until they decide to have sex. The novel follows their entire relationship, and Blume presents a realistic, though ultimately unhappy, look at young love. Katherine and Michael are ultimately forced to separate for the summer (by their parents against both of their wishes) but vow that they will stay together forever.

Many of the parents and censors that I read about felt that students reading this book would promote sexual activity. It was pointed out in the New York Times article that just because a kid feels old enough to read about the sexual relationship presented in Forever, does not mean that that child feels old enough to go out and engage in sex themselves. This goes back to the idea that we as adults can predict and understand exactly how a book will affect a specific child. Children will take what they want from books.

This book is a slippery slope because it does contain graphic sexual content. Though I would point out that the sex between Michael and Katherine is ridiculously responsible: Michael doesn’t pressure Katherine, he waits until she is ready, they use condoms, Katherine takes herself to Family Planning and gets on birth control. Though young, they are enter into a mature relationship. Those points alone are enough for me, were I parent, to allow my child to read this book. However, I don’t believe that reading books will convince children to do things that they weren’t already considering. Just as I don’t believe that reading Harry Potter will convince children that magic is real and that there is no God, I don’t believe that reading about sex makes people have sex.
However, I can understand the reaction to this book, especially in light of when it was originally published. Not only were there different standards for the content of books at the time, but there weren’t as many books being published that pushed the limit. Were this book to be published today I don’t believe it would receive as much negative notice.

Review: Making Faces

Stars:  4 stars
Author: Amy Harmon
Genre: New Adult

Publisher: Smashwords
 
After reading review after review of people who read an Amy Harmon book and were hooked I figured it was time to pick one up.

This is a very sweet, but heart-wrenching story. Since the blurb talks a lot about Ambrose coming back from war and having to face life again after losing four friends and being disfigured, I thought the story would dive right in there and begin with the romance between Fern and Ambrose, but it doesn't. In truth the story reads more like a YA book than either New Adult or romance. The romance between Fern and Ambrose is a strong central element to plot but much of the story is the back story of Ambrose, Fern and Bailey growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania.

Bailey, Fern's cousin, is also essential to the story. He is Fern's best friend and confidante. Bailey has Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. Bailey's character was one of the most important parts of the story for me. I have personal experience with a friend with muscular dystrophy and felt Bailey's struggles keenly.

Without spoiling it, Harmon does a good job of introducing all the elements and characters she needs for the ending of the book early on, but it isn't a standard romance. The plot, flow and overall feel of the book are more young adult than romance. I liked that about it, because it was very PG, sweet and thoughtful.

Review: Maldeamores

Rating: 5 stars
Author: Mara White
Genre: Romance/Erotica
Publisher: Heightsbound

I should have known what I was getting myself into. I read White’s first novel Heights of Desire in one sitting, palms sweating, agonizing about what was going to happen—even though I knew, from the blurb that I wasn’t going to get my happy ending.

The same was true of Maldeamores, the third in her Heightsbound series, I couldn’t put it down, and believe me, I tried. At two am, frantically worrying about lack of sleep, I thought maybe I could just finish in the morning. But who was I kidding? Screw sleep. I had to know what happened to Lucky and Belén.

There is no disclaimer about the lack HEA on this one, but maybe there should be because it goes against the grain for normal romance readership (though the prologue will give you a pretty good idea). Though, if you’ve read White’s other books you know that a happy ending isn’t really her style.  I’m the type of reader that enjoys reading outside of my comfort zone so it worked for me. That’s one of the reason I’ve so enjoyed White’s books. The other reason is that the woman always nails the voices of her main characters. White’s writing is sharp and her characterization distinct and spot on. She writes Spanish Harlem in New York City like no one else you can practically imagine yourself watching the story from the corner bodega. And, perhaps the thing I enjoy most she has an uncanny ability to write an authentic, Hispanic-male, bad-boy. Need I say more? Yum.

The real issue here, and what is going to perhaps turn people off is the topic of this book: incest. I suppose we can argue that cousin to cousin romance isn't technically incest-- but really? think about that doesn't make you the tiniest bit squeamish? It does me. I guess if incest is an absolute deal-breaker for you then put the book down now, but I urge you to read on because it’s worth it. I’ve read a couple of books on the subject of incest, most notably Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma which is both disturbing and amazing. Reading that book you are uncomfortable, questioning everything, but you can’t put it down. This story is like that, though perhaps more tame. I have stayed away from the more popular, voyeuristic titles on incest-that-really-isn’t-incest: books about step-brothers and adopted siblings etc. Those books sole purpose is to titillate with the idea of the forbidden without actually delving into the issue for real. I think those books are fine, they are just not for me.

This isn’t one of those books.

There is nothing hedonistic about White’s exploration of the idea of two cousins falling in love with one another, though I wasn’t sure for the first part of the book. In the first 30%, I wondered where White was going with her characters and her conflict. The beginning of the novel explores Belén and Lucky’s childhood as they grow up, grow apart, and grow more and more attracted to one another, and while I enjoyed that part, the novel grew in depth in the latter half.

The second part of the novel follows Lucky to the marines and Belén to Vassar, as they continue to think about, and fight with their feelings for one another. Certainly there is a good amount of erotic content, particularly toward the end, including a ménage situation. It should be noted, that this ménage serves to further the plot not just because the author really wanted a menage.

However, what pushed this book from one that I was enjoying, to one that I couldn’t put down, was what happens after Belén goes to college away from home. There Belén begins to explore of the topic of being in love with her cousin, and the book takes on a different tone. She discusses the topic with her roommate and best friend, goes to therapy, and even joins a support group for co-dependency in an attempt to grapple with this issue. Giving the reader access to all of those different perspectives on the conflict added a lot to the book and made it much more than just a naughty book about two cousins who love each other.  Because quite frankly, as Belén struggled with her feelings, so did I.

I hesitate to call this a romance. It is sort of a genre-bending novel. It IS a romance, but it doesn’t follow the formula. It has elements of erotica too, but while your reading those parts, at times you feel like maybe you should be disgusted instead of riveted. And, like White’s other books, this is a tragedy and it is taboo. All that rolled together makes for one damn fine read, and I loved it.

Review: Believe (True Believers)

Rating: 2.5 stars
Author: Erin McCarthy
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Penguin Group

I'm just not sure what to make of this book. I don't think it's a bad book. In fact, I think a lot of people will probably like it. There were just a lot of things that didn't work for me.

I read this book because it was on sale, had a catchy synopsis, and a compelling cover. It's NA and I've been on a winning streak lately with NA, reading pretty good stuff which is sort of unusual for this genre.

The streak is now officially over and I have to blame Believe. Like I said, I think a lot of others will like this.  For me, it was too fast, too superficial and too inconsistent.  

We are told that Robin was a party girl in the first few pages. She literally tells us. Explaining that she spent most of college going to parties, making out with random guys and getting drunk. A few pages in and she sleeps with her best-friend's boyfriend while black out drunk.  Post-sleeping-with-boy-disaster she's a hot mess. She feels terrible, and naturally friend's boyfriend turns out to be a total creeper. 

The problem for me here was that she tells us that she used to be a party girl, but we never get to see it, so it's hard to believe that it is part of her character. Telling just isn't as effective as showing. Yes, we see that she slept with her friends guy, but that's all. That isn't enough to establish her as a reckless and out of control character, which is what the rest of the book is predicated upon. 

Robin does a completely 180 after her mistake. The Robin the reader actually gets to know is reclusive, unconcerned about her looks, and depressed. The opposite of a party-girl. That's all we see for the rest of the book. 

When Phoenix steps into the picture, fresh out of jail, I got back on board. So what if the heroine is tepid? A hot bad boy is all a story really needs. He was attractive and interesting. Nothing like a bad boy with tattoos to spice a book up. So we find out he's had a hard life (haven't they all?) and of course he and Robin hit off immediately.  I do mean IMMEDIATELY. Within days of knowing each other, really within seconds of kissing each other, Robin is ready to go all the way. That's also fine, if that worked for her character, but it just didn't resonant with me. They moved too fast. Sex doesn't always equal love, but since the premise of the book is that these two characters are falling in love, I didn't think leaping into bed was the way to do it. Especially since Robin had just freaked about her latest sexual escapade. Also, they declare their love for each other WITHIN PAGES. Insta-love really only works when it is in a paranormal and the supernatural beings are not suppose to follow normal human emotional patterns. Even then it gets dicey. So I was annoyed. Insta-love is no bueno.

Oh and lest I forget, to add to the insta-love ridiculousness, Phoenix is a tattoo artist (because that is what bad boys do these days) and he decides, in the tradition of Maddox from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Maguire, to get a tattoo.  Not just any tattoo, but you guessed it! a portrait of his one-true-love (well at least his true love of the last three days) on his ribs.

(Don't worry, Robin ALSO gets a tattoo-- of a blue bird. Because her name is Robin and in Phoenix's tattoo of her she is wearing a blue bird necklace that she doesn't actually possessed. So this was clearly the right choice for Robin to get on her to represent Phoenix on her body.  Yes, I'm confused too.) An

Moving on, Phoenix and Robin are in love and want to be together. Then comes the baggage. They've each got a lot and they have to get over it-- together. That all worked too.  

The next thing that didn't work for me was that Phoenix and Robin are both clean. Phoenix has always been drug and alcohol free because of his junkie mom. Okay, I can buy that. But he came off sounding like a public service announcement at times, even though the obligatory, "you can do what you want, it doesn't bother me, I just have chosen to live my life this way," comments were thrown in.

Then we're expected to believe that Robin has also gone clean and now essentially considers herself an alcoholic. Again, that's fine, maybe she was making poor choices with alcohol and I applaud her decision not to drink, but it got a little over the top.  

SPOILER ALERT:

By the end Robin in a her darkest moment has basically chugged a bottle of tequila and winds up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Then she decides she is an addict and goes to rehab?! I'm just not sure how this series of events played out. One minute she had made some bad choices and needed to cut back and the next she is sitting alone in her apartment chugging straight from a bottle?! A lot of disconnect going on here. She got to the lowest place an addict could go within the span of like an hour and there was no gradual downhill slide, there was just fine and then REALLY NOT FINE? So the message is that if you ever make a bad choice with alcohol you have a problem with it? Even in college when kids are likely to make a lot of really bad choices before they wise up and make good ones? I think not. I think she could probably have just called it quits for a bit, rehab was overkill. Really the whole thing just seemed like overkill.  

All that just overshadowed the rest of the story for me.