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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Life & Death of Jorja Graham (Jorja Graham #1) in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
I participated in a book blitz for The Life & Death of Jorja Graham a week or so ago. After reading the blurb and seeing a teaser, I really wanted to read this book. While is wasn't a fantastic read, it was still an alright read.
The title sounds very ominous which is another thing that made me want to read the book. It's very straight forward, and I think that suits the book just fine.
The girl on the cover, who I assume is Jorja Graham, looks a bit spooky which I love! I do sort of like the cover, but I would've liked to see the mansion which is mentioned a lot throughout the book on the cover too.
The world building was good, I thought. I found it to be believable for the most part. Towards the end, it gets a little big confusing though. I'd elaborate, but I want this to be a spoiler free review.
The pacing was a bit slow to begin with. I was starting to think I had made a mistake in buying this book. Luckily, the pacing starts picking up about thirty percent in.
The plot was alright. For about the first sixty percent or so, the book reads like a contemporary romance for the most part. However, it's like it becomes a different book for the rest of the way because it turns into more of a paranormal book. Again, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but let's just say there was a plot twist I was totally not expecting! There is a slight cliff hanger at the end of the book, and I do believe there will be another book in the series, but don't quote me on that.
I thought the character of Jorja was written really well. I instantly liked her and her charming nature. Corbin comes off as a bit of a stalker to begin with, but I eventually warmed to him and his passionate nature as well. The other minor characters were written a bit lukewarm, I felt. For example, Jorja's best friend Cat could've been written as a stronger character, but I felt that she was just a bit too bland. I would've liked to know more about her and more about hers and Jorja's friendship.
I did enjoy the dialogue, and I felt it flowed very well. I felt that maybe if this book was a bit longer and a had a bit more detail, it could've been better. There is some swearing and some violence.
All in all, The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is a decent read. The lead character is likable and the dialogue is fantastic!
I'd recommend this book to those aged 16+ who are big fans of paranormal romance.
<b>I'd give The Life & Death of Jorja Graham by Brynn Myers a 3.5 out of 5.</b>
(I bought this ebook with my own money from Amazon. I was not required to write a review).
I participated in a book blitz for The Life & Death of Jorja Graham a week or so ago. After reading the blurb and seeing a teaser, I really wanted to read this book. While is wasn't a fantastic read, it was still an alright read.
The title sounds very ominous which is another thing that made me want to read the book. It's very straight forward, and I think that suits the book just fine.
The girl on the cover, who I assume is Jorja Graham, looks a bit spooky which I love! I do sort of like the cover, but I would've liked to see the mansion which is mentioned a lot throughout the book on the cover too.
The world building was good, I thought. I found it to be believable for the most part. Towards the end, it gets a little big confusing though. I'd elaborate, but I want this to be a spoiler free review.
The pacing was a bit slow to begin with. I was starting to think I had made a mistake in buying this book. Luckily, the pacing starts picking up about thirty percent in.
The plot was alright. For about the first sixty percent or so, the book reads like a contemporary romance for the most part. However, it's like it becomes a different book for the rest of the way because it turns into more of a paranormal book. Again, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but let's just say there was a plot twist I was totally not expecting! There is a slight cliff hanger at the end of the book, and I do believe there will be another book in the series, but don't quote me on that.
I thought the character of Jorja was written really well. I instantly liked her and her charming nature. Corbin comes off as a bit of a stalker to begin with, but I eventually warmed to him and his passionate nature as well. The other minor characters were written a bit lukewarm, I felt. For example, Jorja's best friend Cat could've been written as a stronger character, but I felt that she was just a bit too bland. I would've liked to know more about her and more about hers and Jorja's friendship.
I did enjoy the dialogue, and I felt it flowed very well. I felt that maybe if this book was a bit longer and a had a bit more detail, it could've been better. There is some swearing and some violence.
All in all, The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is a decent read. The lead character is likable and the dialogue is fantastic!
I'd recommend this book to those aged 16+ who are big fans of paranormal romance.
<b>I'd give The Life & Death of Jorja Graham by Brynn Myers a 3.5 out of 5.</b>
(I bought this ebook with my own money from Amazon. I was not required to write a review).
Merissa (13555 KP) rated The Panther’s Lost Princess (Redclaw Security #1) in Books
Nov 15, 2017
The Panther’s Lost Princess (Redclaw Security #1) by McKenna Dean
The Panther's Lost Princess is the first book in the Redclaw Security series, and I can't wait to read more! We start off with Ellie, a waitress who wants to enter a singing competition. She is all alone, but has her job and her friends. Things start looking up when Mr Hot Stuff turns up at the diner where she works, and seems interested in her. Mr Hot Stuff, otherwise known as Jack, is having a dilemma though. Ellie is his fated mate, but he has a job to do, which involves handing her over to her family. What's a shifter supposed to do?
Now, through no fault of the author, I thought that Ellie would be a panther, so imagine my surprise and delight when she turns out to be... well, something else! All of the characters in this story, whether they are mentioned a lot or a little, all contribute in helping the story to move forwards. The pacing is smooth, with one scene transitioning easily to the next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. This story was thoroughly enjoyable, with plenty to offer the paranormal fan. Looking forward to the next one, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Now, through no fault of the author, I thought that Ellie would be a panther, so imagine my surprise and delight when she turns out to be... well, something else! All of the characters in this story, whether they are mentioned a lot or a little, all contribute in helping the story to move forwards. The pacing is smooth, with one scene transitioning easily to the next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. This story was thoroughly enjoyable, with plenty to offer the paranormal fan. Looking forward to the next one, and definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
<b>Anna Dressed in Blood</b> is a good book but I wasn't blown away by it. I was interested in it because the synopsis reminded me of Supernatural (the television series), aside from the obvious differences, so along with the awesome cover art I was all for the book. It's unfortunate that I didn't enjoy it more. The characterizations are fine, just detailed enough to give an impression of who they are and why they act as they do, I just didn't feel much of a connection to any of them. The plot worked until the focus shifted away from Anna about two-thirds through, which is a shame, and some of the dialogue was a little iffy and forced, especially in the beginning. I can't quite say why else the book didn't totally work for me, other than there were a few moments that felt off somehow, but either I was really into the story or I wasn't. Sorry I can't be more specific. Although the author writes some mean scenes that have the perfect creepy atmosphere, so those stand out as a big pro. Now I see that this might be the start of yet another YA paranormal series, though it's perfectly fine as a standalone and as I'm not all that interested in reading more with these characters, I think I'll pass if there are any sequels. With all that said, take this review with a grain of salt, I think others, and definitely teens, would like this book more than I did.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Queene of Light (Lightworld/Darkworld, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
What could have been interesting, wasn't. What could have been unique, failed. What showed promise, wasn't there. Too bad.
Seeing as this is classified as paranormal romance (instead of what I originally thought was urban fantasy), it might be nice if the main two characters were at least a little likable. Nope, sorry to say, this ain't the case. Ayla is boring, unsympathetic, uninteresting, vapid, gullible, weak-willed, slow on the uptake, need I go on? Malachi is also boring, uninteresting, and slow, but he has the addition of sounding like a robot. Sounds like a winning match, eh? Clearly, these two wooden creatures are made for each other. The secondary characters served their purpose: Mabb, your typical baddie; Garret, Mabb's brother and hopeful usurper, he was almost interesting, but he suffered from the same thing his sister did, cliche; and Keller, who was the only character (or anything really) in the whole book that showed a spark of life.
The pace of the book was plodding. I lost interest every other page if I was lucky. The descriptions are seriously lacking and almost everything is boring, boring, boring. I never quite saw what the purpose of vampires and werewolves served in the book. Maybe they play a bigger role in the next two books, otherwise they're pointless and don't make sense in this world. Speaking of the universe, what the author created, while not altogether original, could have been awesome instead of vague and confusing. A real missed opportunity.
My advice: skip it. Read at your own risk of falling asleep.
Seeing as this is classified as paranormal romance (instead of what I originally thought was urban fantasy), it might be nice if the main two characters were at least a little likable. Nope, sorry to say, this ain't the case. Ayla is boring, unsympathetic, uninteresting, vapid, gullible, weak-willed, slow on the uptake, need I go on? Malachi is also boring, uninteresting, and slow, but he has the addition of sounding like a robot. Sounds like a winning match, eh? Clearly, these two wooden creatures are made for each other. The secondary characters served their purpose: Mabb, your typical baddie; Garret, Mabb's brother and hopeful usurper, he was almost interesting, but he suffered from the same thing his sister did, cliche; and Keller, who was the only character (or anything really) in the whole book that showed a spark of life.
The pace of the book was plodding. I lost interest every other page if I was lucky. The descriptions are seriously lacking and almost everything is boring, boring, boring. I never quite saw what the purpose of vampires and werewolves served in the book. Maybe they play a bigger role in the next two books, otherwise they're pointless and don't make sense in this world. Speaking of the universe, what the author created, while not altogether original, could have been awesome instead of vague and confusing. A real missed opportunity.
My advice: skip it. Read at your own risk of falling asleep.
Merissa (13555 KP) rated Wounded Soul in Books
May 10, 2019
Wounded Soul by Annabelle Jacobs
Wounded Soul involves a human unaware of vampires, and a vampire smitten with insta-lust for said human. Of course, if it was left like that, it would be too easy, so throw into the a mix a psychotic vampire, a best friend working for the human/vampire police, another best friend terrified of the thought of vampires, and a coven leader you respect and don't want to insult. Sounding good yet?
This book a really good read, from the first steamy hot meeting, to the intensity of the psychotic, to the nerve-jangling will he/won't he live (and that's not the 'he' you're thinking of!) Annabelle Jacobs is one of my favourite paranormal romance writers, if only for the fact they are not automatically based in America. I loved her Regent's Park series, and I loved this one just as much. I would love to read more about the characters mentioned in this story, but I have no idea if there is a sequel or series planned.
Either way, this was really well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. The pacing was good, and the connection between the characters was intense. And don't forget the bad guy you love to hate. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book a really good read, from the first steamy hot meeting, to the intensity of the psychotic, to the nerve-jangling will he/won't he live (and that's not the 'he' you're thinking of!) Annabelle Jacobs is one of my favourite paranormal romance writers, if only for the fact they are not automatically based in America. I loved her Regent's Park series, and I loved this one just as much. I would love to read more about the characters mentioned in this story, but I have no idea if there is a sequel or series planned.
Either way, this was really well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. The pacing was good, and the connection between the characters was intense. And don't forget the bad guy you love to hate. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Her Vampire Husband (Wicked Games, #3) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I really shouldnt have had such high hopes for this novel. I mean the entire premise of the book is about a werewold princess who marries an elder vampire in hopes that their people would stop killing each other. Really? An entire novel about that? Honey, that is the subplot in half of the other paranormal romance novels I read. What made Hauf think she could she could write an entire novel about a simple idea and expect to impress me?
First off, there is nothing more annoying than a female protagonists who hides her problems behind a mask of fake strength and apathy. Seriously, they are only hurting themselves, making a relationship with anyone impossible. And just ends up annoying the hell out of me. How about they actually go take care of their problem? Nope, thats too simple. Seriously, writers, you need to stop creating these types of characters.
I thought that because of them being enemies and of different races, it would actually make this book interesting. How wrong I was. The main couple lacked chemistry even as they were playfully bantering and ogling each others body. I felt that they were just two sexually frustrated people forced to live with each other instead of two people thrown together who eventually fall in love. In fact, it was one of those novels where one page, they were at odds, and the next they were in love.
Oh disappointment, how you leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
First off, there is nothing more annoying than a female protagonists who hides her problems behind a mask of fake strength and apathy. Seriously, they are only hurting themselves, making a relationship with anyone impossible. And just ends up annoying the hell out of me. How about they actually go take care of their problem? Nope, thats too simple. Seriously, writers, you need to stop creating these types of characters.
I thought that because of them being enemies and of different races, it would actually make this book interesting. How wrong I was. The main couple lacked chemistry even as they were playfully bantering and ogling each others body. I felt that they were just two sexually frustrated people forced to live with each other instead of two people thrown together who eventually fall in love. In fact, it was one of those novels where one page, they were at odds, and the next they were in love.
Oh disappointment, how you leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Fire Storm (S.P.I.R.I.T., #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I was given an e-book copy by the author for an honest review.
I fell in love with this book. More specifically with Samantha (Sam) and her hilarious attitude. She had me laughing throughout the entire story, and I couldn't wait to read what smart-aleck thing she'd say next. On top of that, the relationship between her and Zander is just awesome. They're so cute it's almost sickening, but in a good way, and the fact that they really do complete one another is just amazing. And let's not forget the burning trash can..... =)
Aside from the above, the story itself really grabbed me and never let go. It was so intriguing, and I just wanted to keep reading all the time (but wouldn't you know, life had to go and get in the way). I would think about this book while I was at work, driving, and I even had a dream about it, that's how good it is!!! The beginning just pulls you in, because you really have no clue whatsoever as to what's going on, and neither do the characters. You just learn along with them, which is so much fun to do. And the twists and turns the story takes were so great, I'd keep saying "One more chapter" only to find a cliffhanger waiting at the end, and I'd have to keep reading to see what happened!
I definitely recommend this for everybody who likes paranormal stories, especially mysteries, because this one has a lot of it. Go grab your copy, you won't be sorry!!! =)
I fell in love with this book. More specifically with Samantha (Sam) and her hilarious attitude. She had me laughing throughout the entire story, and I couldn't wait to read what smart-aleck thing she'd say next. On top of that, the relationship between her and Zander is just awesome. They're so cute it's almost sickening, but in a good way, and the fact that they really do complete one another is just amazing. And let's not forget the burning trash can..... =)
Aside from the above, the story itself really grabbed me and never let go. It was so intriguing, and I just wanted to keep reading all the time (but wouldn't you know, life had to go and get in the way). I would think about this book while I was at work, driving, and I even had a dream about it, that's how good it is!!! The beginning just pulls you in, because you really have no clue whatsoever as to what's going on, and neither do the characters. You just learn along with them, which is so much fun to do. And the twists and turns the story takes were so great, I'd keep saying "One more chapter" only to find a cliffhanger waiting at the end, and I'd have to keep reading to see what happened!
I definitely recommend this for everybody who likes paranormal stories, especially mysteries, because this one has a lot of it. Go grab your copy, you won't be sorry!!! =)
Kristin (149 KP) rated Betwixt (Betwixt, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an ARC e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book (so much so that I finished it within 36 hours)! I was really drawn to the characters, especially Nicole and her relationships with her friends. It reminded me of high school and all the cliques that you see, as well as the gossip, backstabbing, and bullying that goes on. The further I got into the story, the more I was hoping Nicole would see her "friends" for who they truly were, considering they hardly batted an eye when she was determined to be missing.
Aside from Nicole, Dale is the other main character, as he's trying to help Nicole by finding her before it's too late. The whole time, he's attempting to get it through to her friends that something's happened to her, and yet nobody cares. All they do is harass Dale and treat him like crap for caring about somebody "outside his league". Typical high school.
Once I started reading "Betwixt" I didn't want to put it down (darn sleep/work!). It's such an interesting plot, and the longer I read it, the more I couldn't wait to turn the page and see what happened. There's certainly a wide range of emotions involved, and it really sucks you in. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who remembers what high school was like (whether you were a member of the popular crowd or not), and for those who like a little paranormal twist to their reading. Enjoy!! =)
I really enjoyed this book (so much so that I finished it within 36 hours)! I was really drawn to the characters, especially Nicole and her relationships with her friends. It reminded me of high school and all the cliques that you see, as well as the gossip, backstabbing, and bullying that goes on. The further I got into the story, the more I was hoping Nicole would see her "friends" for who they truly were, considering they hardly batted an eye when she was determined to be missing.
Aside from Nicole, Dale is the other main character, as he's trying to help Nicole by finding her before it's too late. The whole time, he's attempting to get it through to her friends that something's happened to her, and yet nobody cares. All they do is harass Dale and treat him like crap for caring about somebody "outside his league". Typical high school.
Once I started reading "Betwixt" I didn't want to put it down (darn sleep/work!). It's such an interesting plot, and the longer I read it, the more I couldn't wait to turn the page and see what happened. There's certainly a wide range of emotions involved, and it really sucks you in. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who remembers what high school was like (whether you were a member of the popular crowd or not), and for those who like a little paranormal twist to their reading. Enjoy!! =)
Merissa (13555 KP) rated Spirit Fall (The Guardians #1) in Books
Oct 16, 2018
Spirit Fall (The Guardians #1) by Tessa McFionn
Spirit Fall is the first book in The Guardians series, and we start off with Malakai and Voni. Malakai is an immortal warrior who fights for good. Voni is a dancer, tormented by the death of her fiance. She plans to take her life as she simply cannot take it any longer, but along comes Malakai and literally talks her off the ledge. It turns out that Voni has an ability to be desired, and her depression and nightmares are being done deliberately, to drive her to the Rogue Warriors.
This was a great start to the series, with plenty of information given without it being an info-dump. Kai and Voni are both three dimensional characters, with plenty going for them. There is also a great supporting character in Eamon, who has his own twist at the end, definitely leaving me wanting more. And how could I forget Roxi and Daphne! I would love to hear more about them!
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I was able to lose myself in this contemporary world with paranormal characters. The pacing was smooth, and I thoroughly enjoyed how the story moved along. Absolutely recommended by me, and I look forward to continuing with this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was a great start to the series, with plenty of information given without it being an info-dump. Kai and Voni are both three dimensional characters, with plenty going for them. There is also a great supporting character in Eamon, who has his own twist at the end, definitely leaving me wanting more. And how could I forget Roxi and Daphne! I would love to hear more about them!
With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I was able to lose myself in this contemporary world with paranormal characters. The pacing was smooth, and I thoroughly enjoyed how the story moved along. Absolutely recommended by me, and I look forward to continuing with this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13555 KP) rated Half Dead & Fully Broken in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from Curiosity Quills in return for a fair and honest review.
This book starts with a bang and will draw you in as you continue to read every word. Imagine being an identical twin, identical in every way even down to a mole on your foot. Now imagine that you are the quieter one, the one who messes things up rather than puts them right. Imagine that your twin in the "go-to guy" in every situation. Now imagine that in an accident caused by abnormal behaviour, he is ripped away from you, from your family, from his friends, and from school. Now imagine that you have to carry on living.
This is what happens at the start of this book and then you discover just how Carter feels as he walks around sharing a face with his dead twin. We also get an insight on how Mel (Marcus' girlfriend) feels and also Justin, the boy who was driving the truck also involved with the accident. The depth of emotion that is covered between these three is brilliant to read.
Marcus plays a bigger part in this book than I realised and to be honest, he freaked me out a bit every time he showed up. I wasn't sure if he was a good guy or bad guy and it didn't help that Carter didn't know either!
If you are looking for a Young Adult story that deals with emotional issues, with a dash of the paranormal, then I can highly recommend this book.
This book starts with a bang and will draw you in as you continue to read every word. Imagine being an identical twin, identical in every way even down to a mole on your foot. Now imagine that you are the quieter one, the one who messes things up rather than puts them right. Imagine that your twin in the "go-to guy" in every situation. Now imagine that in an accident caused by abnormal behaviour, he is ripped away from you, from your family, from his friends, and from school. Now imagine that you have to carry on living.
This is what happens at the start of this book and then you discover just how Carter feels as he walks around sharing a face with his dead twin. We also get an insight on how Mel (Marcus' girlfriend) feels and also Justin, the boy who was driving the truck also involved with the accident. The depth of emotion that is covered between these three is brilliant to read.
Marcus plays a bigger part in this book than I realised and to be honest, he freaked me out a bit every time he showed up. I wasn't sure if he was a good guy or bad guy and it didn't help that Carter didn't know either!
If you are looking for a Young Adult story that deals with emotional issues, with a dash of the paranormal, then I can highly recommend this book.