Musings of a Semi-Literate Bibliophile

Friday, March 8, 2013

Slammed/Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover: Poignant and Heartfelt

This review originally published on Examiner.com

I get many book recommendations from friends, and when I say many I mean a ridiculous amount. I usually add them to my to-read list, check out the synopsis and move on. I will eventually read the book but I have such a back log of books that I have been eager to read that I rarely allow a one to skip ahead. A few days ago I made an exception for Slammed by Colleen Hoover.

Truth be told, had I known the depth of the book I probably would have put it off. I assumed, wrongly I might add, that it was a fluffy romantic YA book. I felt like I had been reading so many angsty YA and New Adult (NA) novels lately that a bubble gum read was in order. Slammed is not that book.

Without giving too much away, because the book has several important reveals, it is at its core, a romance between Will and Layken. Two people who have experience tragedy in their lives and are slowing recovering from it. A few chapters in, I could tell that I had underestimated this book. The characters are layered, full of love and show the reader how difficult life can really be. It was an emotional read for me. I cried several times, some of the tears were from sadness, most however, were tears of happiness. I honestly wasn't sure what to do with myself once I was done. So, I did the only thing I could, I picked up the second book, Point of Retreat and started reading it. I wasn't ready to let go the characters I fell in love with just yet.

It is rare for me to read a book and feel a sense of, I'm not really sure how to put it into words, completion, I guess. There is always something that I wish had been different, something that I wish could be expanded on. By the time I was done with Point of Retreat I felt an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. I had been on a difficult, heart breaking, and uplifting journey with Will and Layken and I couldn't be happier about it.

This is a perfect YA book in my opinion. It makes you feel for the characters while teaching the reader some important life lessons. This is a story that begs to be shared. I am so grateful I made that exception.

Suitable for YA readers 14+.

Slammed

Point of Retreat

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

This review originally published on: www.examiner.com

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover is a rare story that stays with you long after you finish reading. When I read Hopeless I was just coming off of reading Ms. Hoover's Slammed and Point of Retreat . I expected a similar formula. A bit of angst, tension, maybe a little bit of tears mixed in and wrapped in a beautiful bundle of romance. What I wasn't expecting was a beautifully written, heartfelt story of a horrible childhood trauma and how incredibly difficult coping with something so horrific can be. I wasn't expecting how much it would affect me. Honestly, when I finished reading it I needed time to process what I read. I needed time with the story and the characters before I was capable of writing about it.

Hopeless is the kind of story that has a profound effect on the reader. Some can sadly relate to having been repeatedly violated as a child by someone who you trusted more than anyone. Or as in my case, can't imagine how horrible something like that can be, reading about it leaves you a bit shell shocked. Whatever the case, Hopeless will leave a lasting impression.

When the story began, I found myself so immersed in the sweet beginnings of the love story between Holder and Sky that I allowed myself to be swept away by the characters and their romance. I didn't catch the careful almost tentative way in which they explored their relationship, foreshadowing plot points that I normally would have picked up on immediately. Because of this, when the magnitude of the trauma suffered by Sky and Holder is really explored it destroyed me. I, uncharacteristically for me (at least while reading a book), cried.

As much as I understand that some readers would rather shy away from this kind of story, I can only suggest that you push your doubts and misgivings aside and read it. The story leaves the reader with the exact opposite feelings suggested by its title. Hopeless is a stand out for me, not because of the trauma depicted in its pages, but because of the underlying theme of love and survival, hope and acceptance that permeates it.

Recommended for readers 17+.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Iron Fey Series a fresh take on fairies

My latest Examiner.com review on an excellent highly recommended YA book series. The Iron Fey Series, by Julie Kagawa delves deep into tolerance and the fear of change than one would expect. A must read.

Iron Fey Series a fresh take on fairies

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The statistical probability of a teen romance done right

I can only imagine the dreamy look in a 15 year old readers eyes as they pick up this gem of a book by Jennifer E. Smith. Genuine, sweet, and oh so romantic. This book frequently reminded me of Judy Blume's Forever. While the stories are completely different the innocence and wistfulness of first love is captured brilliantly by both.

Hadley, our heroine, is traveling to London for the much dreaded wedding of her father to the woman he left his family for. In her dad's search to find happiness, he shatters Hadley and her mother's life and she carries that hurt and bitterness with her. While waiting at the airport for her plane she meets Oliver who is returning to London to visit his family. While Oliver's reasons for his return home is kept hidden until the story develops more you are immediately drawn in by his easy going sweetness and tenderness towards Hadley.

Oliver and Hadley have an instant connection and even though the plot is slow to unravel every page is a treat. I especially enjoyed their interactions while on their overnight transatlantic flight and found myself wishing that on my many solo flights I would have had an Oliver to keep me company. Before I give away too much of the story I will just say that reading this book for me was a kin to being wrapped up in a warm blanket.

This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to indulge in a great little book minus the drama. Appropriate for all ages, and a perfect gift for the girl or lady in your life who dreams of falling in love.

This review was originally published on: Examiner.com

Monday, January 28, 2013

Wallbanger a witty bit of lady porn

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

I have long been a proud reader of "Lady Porn" the oh so delicate title my sister and I gave to romance novels almost a decade ago. Unlike many ladies of my acquaintance who would rather die than admit to picking one up from time to time, I wave it loud and proud, I am a voracious lady porn reader. In all honesty I would have to say for every one Young Adult or Fiction book I read I read two Romance novels. And I am okay with that.

Being such an aficionado of the genre, I definitely have my preferences. For instance, I am not ok with cowboy stories. I don't know why, I just have no interest. And my mother has often tried to convince me to pick one up. Never gonna happen. As many of my friends did when I heard the hype behind Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James I immediately downloaded them. The first book was enjoyable, the second a bit tedious, and honestly I never even read book three. It seems even I have standards when it comes to what I will and won't read. Who knew.

I think because of the Fifty Shades of Grey nonsense when the steady buzz started surrounding Wallbanger written by Alice Clayton, I just wasn't having it. I don't know what made me do it, but one day I just gave in. I had read that it was funny, actually the exact words used were laugh out loud funny, I didn't buy it.

I quickly, and I mean within the first few chapters quickly, changed my mind. The book was hilarious. Witty, charming, had a steamy slow burn between the main characters the aforementioned Wallbanger and his love interest, Pink Nightie Girl. PNG's cat, Clive, was a revelation. Having a sister who is thoroughly obsessed with her cat it was so familiar to read about a main character who acted the same way with hers. I think my favorite thing about the Clive-PNG relationship was how she would call him an a-hole every time he did something that merited the title. Because let's be real, cats can be a-holes.

Alice Clayton does a great job of making her characters realistic, funny and relatable. And of course the piece de resistance, the sex scenes do not disappoint If you are an instant gratification kind of reader who wants the story to start with a quick roll in the hay, this is not your book. But if you are willing to let the tension and story build the payout is definitely worth it.

Friday, January 25, 2013

A Journey to the Tunnels - Everbound an Everneath Novel

Released on January 22, 2013

The hardest part of reading a series is waiting for the next book to be released. Especially when the world is complex and an extended parting and excessive reading makes it difficult to keep it fresh in your mind. As much as I detest picking up a second or third book in a series and re-reading all the major plot points of the first, I must say for once, I was grateful.

Brodi Ashton revisited her first story Everneath just enough to fill in the gaps of what my memory had long misplaced. Once the story began in earnest it was as gripping, maybe a bit more so, than the first book. Based on a completely new interpretation of hell but heavily borrowing from Greek mythology (and not just the Persephone/Hades myth) Brodi Ashton fills in the gaps of the wide brush strokes she painted of the Everneath in part one. Not only does Becks, the main character, finally get to visit the Everneath, she spends a chunk of the book there giving the reader a wonderfully vivid picture of this other world.

One of the complaints I had about the first book was that I didn't necessarily believe the love triangle. How can it be a triangle when only two people were actually in love? A majority of this story was dedicated to making you understand how Cole, the anti-hero, makes you feel about Becks. Having said that, it must be noted that readers should pick up Neverfall, the novella written in between books 1 and 2. It really fleshes out Cole in a way that didn't exist in Book 1. It definitely helps the reader understand him.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read. The story is dark and filled with unexpected turns.

Recommended for teens 15+.

Review originally published on: Examiner.com

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Most Anticipated 2013 Young Adult Lit. Sequels

If you are like most Young Adult literature readers then you are most likely always in the middle of one or two amazing series. Series are so intertwined with this genre of books that in many cases it's a bigger surprise to pick up a book without a second or third part than to find a book that is a self contained story.

Many readers enjoy that about YA lit, they like to be able to live with the characters that they love and reading a three or six part series gives them ample time to get through the story. It is much like the difference between a two hour movie and a four season tv show. The movie while excellent, cannot compete with the character development of a show that dedicates years to fleshing out their leads.

View slideshow: 2013 YA Series releases

2013 is a big year for follow ups to some of our favorite YA series.