Review: A Beautiful Disaster

A Beautiful Disaster by Willa Okati
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I always think of Willa Okati books as easy reading, sort of romance light. The writing is ethereal and tends to lack a real connection with the drama presented. I knew this going in so I wasn’t disappointed with the book. However, I didn’t always particularly like it. The concept is good but like other books by this author, any attempt to add depth is superficial at best. This reads like magical sex cures deep-seated emotional and physical trauma. Sean is entirely different by the end with the love of a good man and some hot sex. That’s a nice thought and the problem isn’t that it’s unrealistic, this is romance after all, but that the story does very little to sell the change to the reader. There’s nothing that makes you want to believe in the transformative powers of sex.

Review: Overture: Shadow from the Past

Overture: Shadow from the Past by S.L. Armstrong
My rating: Unrated

I’ve come to the conclusion this series just isn’t for me. I never really connected to it and though I’m curious about what happens, I don’t actually want to read about these characters anymore. This installment fits very well with the series and it’s definitely well written. I just struggle to engage with the characters, as I dislike them all. This part turns up the heat on the relationship between Gabriel and Dorian and they go off in an entirely new and erotic direction. It remains to be seen how they will eventually fit together and what role Michael the ghost will play but the story is setting up all the elements.

Review: Heir of Starlight

Heir of Starlight by Nicole Kimberling
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I honestly can’t think of a better treat than a Nicole Kimberling sci-fi book. I was of two minds to read this because it’s a sequel to a book that was published four years ago so although I read that book I can’t remember a single detail about it sadly. While I was really excited to delve into this, I worried that I’d be lost since I couldn’t remember anything from the previous book. Thankfully I don’t think you need to since the story flows easily enough without encountering any big gaps. No doubt reading and remembering the previous book will enhance enjoyment and understanding of this one, I think anyone new to the series can read it just fine. I certainly enjoyed it immensely despite my lack of remembered knowledge.

Review: Small Miracles

Small Miracles by Ellen Holiday
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this short novella well enough, though it strained even willing disbelief, and more so I liked the writing and emotion conveyed. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book, I’ll try this author again. It’s not a bad introduction but I’m hoping she can do better with more space, giving a hopefully less ridiculous solution. I can see where the story was trying to go but never quite developed the relationship and characters to the point to sell it. Regardless I enjoyed reading this and look forward to picking something from this author again.

Review: Dark Around the Edges: Put the Gun Down

Dark Around the Edges: Put the Gun Down by Cari Z.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 4 of Cari Z’s Cambion series is electric. Devon is back in action and Steven becomes an important minor player. Action ramps up with some interesting twists and the relationship between Rio and Devon starts to emerge on another level. You know an episode is good when you immediately want more. I read through this in record speed and was sorry to reach the end. It honestly just keeps getting better and better.

Review: Vaulting

Vaulting by Megan Slayer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

While this wasn’t a terrible book I kind of want to scrub my brain after reading it. It’s just so banal and ridiculous. The writing is tedious and the characters are silly. The short story is mostly sex scenes with instant “I love you” declarations between them. Oh and a totally unnecessary possessive ex-lover threat thrown in for absolutely no reason. I even went back and re-read parts just to ensure I was right about the changing details. This is probably a prime reason I don’t read Total-E-Bound as I don’t think their books are quality stories or all that well written. No doubt that description doesn’t cover every m/m book of theirs but it’s a rare book I pick up from TEB that is well written, fully developed, and worthwhile reading. Sadly this author won’t make my list of new authors to check out.

Non m/m update…

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenbalm
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This is a post-apocalyptic story about a world where robots have taken over the world to save humans from themselves, supposedly. It stars 3 teen siblings fighting to rescue their parents, who were taken by robots. The premise is decent and action interesting. I actually really loved the re-education portion of the book where the robots talk about humans as their creators and gods but ultimately flawed and pitiful. I wish there had been more of this philosophical argument and less of the kids being idiots. The oldest brother does all these ridiculous, stupid things which propels the plot forward but made me wish he’d just die already. In the end, there’s actually no resolution, which surprised me after all that time. The book reads like the first in a trilogy though so no doubt the author is dragging out the drama. However, I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series. The writing is decent but the characters didn’t grab me. I appreciated the lack of romance though.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is set in the future US where love has been diagnosed as a disease and all people must be “cured” on their 18th birthday. The book never explicitly explains the cure but it sounds like a lobotomy. The main narrator, Lena, is all for the cure until she falls in love in the months before her 18th birthday. She discovers why love is so powerful and worth dying for. The premise is interesting even though the descriptions are pretty classic dictator-run military state. There’s not much deviation in the set up but enough to keep it interesting. I like the writing a lot as it’s smooth and engaging from the beginning. The dramatic touch at the ending also had me excited to read the next books. My only caveat is that Lena is insufferable most of the time. She’s afraid of absolutely everything, she reacts in the worst possible way every single time – in this she is extremely predictable and annoying – and everyone accommodates her instead of slapping her when she deserves it. It’s a real credit to the story that the writing overcomes such an unlikable main chick. Im curious to see where this series goes.

Why is it a recurring theme in YA books that the main characters are total idiots? Is this because teens are supposed to be stupid and make mistakes? I don’t mind the immaturity and ridiculous decision making (to be expected to some extent), but sometimes I really think these characters are TSTL. Yet, they’re ubiquitous in these books so it has to be a conscious choice. I find the most creativity in post-apoc settings in the YA genre but the main characters would never have survived truthfully.

Review: Love the Sinner

Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In my quest to experience new authors, Avril Ashton is my pick from Ellora’s Cave. While there are numerous good reasons why EC is not a publisher I go to when choosing books (esp m/m books) this particular choice wasn’t horrific. As that’s not a ringing endorsement, I found the writing to be standard if unimaginative, the characters to be stereotypical and predictable, the story littered with clichés, and a plot that didn’t always make much sense. Yet I found the book ok and finished it without having to force myself. I like the concept of the characters and the plot more than the actual execution. I know there are 2 more books in the series that tempt me because I like the potential of the characters and the situations. I’m just not entirely sure the writing can execute them.

Review: The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Having recently finished The Casual Vacancy on audio book, I’m left wondering at the point of the entire story and why I wasted so much time on this book. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily a bad book, but I think it’s over written with a wandering plot and abrupt ending, but it’s definitely not a great, wonderful, read over and over again book (like the Harry Potter series). The prose often feels as though it’s trying entirely too hard to be clever and unique while the plot never has a cohesive trajectory. The vast cast of characters is certainly multifaceted and nuanced but entirely reprehensible with not a single likeable character in the entire book. I don’t really know what point the author was trying to convey with this book, nor what the book is actually about.

Review: Freedom

Freedom by Jay Kirkpatrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I chose Freedom based on a suggestion. I didn’t read the blurb but went in with high expectations. I quite liked the book for most of it, though once the group broke out of the hospital and were on the run, things started to fall apart. The ending is nicely wrapped up but I was left with a lot of questions. Most of all I couldn’t buy into the chemistry between the two lead characters and I found one of the lead men to be weak and uninteresting. These two issues definitely killed some of the reading enjoyment for me. At the same time the writing and creativity are high and I’d cautiously recommend this one. I’m on the fence whether I’d read this author again.