Enchant by Micalea Smeltzer

Blurb:
Mara Pryce never imagined that her life was anything but normal and then a strange gray-eyed young man appears at her graduation. When he vanishes without a trace, she’s convinced he’s a figment of her imagination. Then he appears again and shatters her whole world.

Mara is an enchanter, part of an ancient line of Wiccan power, and a war is raging—one of good and evil—between the Enchanted and the Iniquitous.

The Iniquitous want her dead and it’s Theodore’s job as her protector to keep her safe.

When Mara and Theodore arrive at a safe house, where Mara will remain hidden while learning about her powers, they find that the real threat might be a little closer to home than they want to believe.

     

My Review:
2 stars — I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

I hate when this happens.  I actually won an ARC of this book, but it just did not work out for me.  And that always bums me out.  I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I’ve heard great things about her contemporary books…so I’m uncertain if it’s just that her voice doesn’t shine through as well in non-contemp books?  I’ll maybe give those a try before I decide if we’re just not a match.

So what didn’t work for me?  Well, for one thing, I didn’t like ANY of the characters.  ANY of them.  I didn’t really hate any of them, but I couldn’t care less about them and what was happening to them.  They felt very shallow, both in attitude and in how they were represented…I needed more dimensions.  I honestly couldn’t really tell you very much about them.  And what I can tell you, I didn’t really like.

Mara was very flat.  She barely reacted to anything that happened to her, and her emotional reactions to the bad things were short-lived (except the dream/vision…that one was better, I actually felt for her).  She didn’t seem to form connections with anyone, or when she did it was immediate and we weren’t shown what drew them to one another.

And Theo…well he was a dick.  And I get he was supposed to be a dick, but the moments that were supposed to swing me to his favour just didn’t work for me.  They did not supersede his bad attitude.  And holy volatile!!  I can’t tell you the number of times he just started screaming at people (usually his sister) out of nowhere!  They were over the top reactions in my opinion.

As for secondary characters, nothing from them either.  We barely met her BFF Dani before she was out of the picture, or her father (though he might have been cool).  Adelaide was OK, but mostly she came across very self-absorbed and whiny…she felt younger than her age.  And she and Mara together were mean girls, the way they thought/talked about Naomi…I was NOT impressed.  Winston was whiny and oblivious, I didn’t even feel for him like I should.  And I couldn’t figure out Finn or Ethan, we got no time with either of them.  Though I guess I did like Nigel, the cat.

As for the paranormal aspect, well quite frankly I didn’t really learn enough about it to form an opinion.  Most of the book was about the push and pull between Mara and Theo.  Honestly, I was pretty bored.  It wasn’t until 95% into the book before something really action-y happened.  Uh, that’s WAY too late to get my interest.

*sigh*  I could probably elaborate, but that will bring me into meaner territory, and I try to avoid that.  Honestly, this book had quite a lot of potential.  It has a lot of the same basic setups of many of these paranormal books (girl doesn’t know anything about the paranormal world, but is apparently a chosen one, falls for a bad boy), but I don’t mind that.  In fact I’m often attracted to that.  I feel like the author just needed someone to tell her when she was being repetitive, both in phrases (how many times did I need to read “why does something so wrong feel so right?”) and in plot points…when she had inconsistencies…when she needed to tell the reader how Mara felt about learning her whole life had been a lie, when she needed to give the reader MORE.  *sigh*

Basically, good bones, poor execution.  Needless to say, despite that killer ending, I won’t be reading further.  But I will try out this author’s contemporaries, perhaps I’m just pickier when it comes to my non-contemps.

Promise to Keep (Promises #2) by Jessica Wood

Blurb: I’ve loved her since we were seven. We were best friends. We even made a pact to marry each other if we were both still single at thirty. I grew up thinking I would always love her for the rest of my life.

But I was proven wrong. Because the first time I made love to her turned out to be the first time I hated her. It became the first time she hurt me, and the first time I wanted nothing to do with her.

Today, nine years after the day that broke us apart, we are both thirty and single, and fate decided to intervene. I finally discovered that the reasons behind her betrayal were far different from the ones I’d created years ago in my mind.

Now I’m torn between my hatred over what she did and my undying love for the one girl who I’ve held close to my heart for most of my life.

But is the truth enough for me to forgive her?

Favorite Quote

“Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.” Anonymous

2 stars

Real disappointed in this book… I got this book back in 2015 and I’m pretty sure my reading tastes have changed because while I loved the first book, I was less than impressed with this one.

It seemed it was just the same story but from the male MC’s POV.  So really I just read the same thing.  Not to mention the premise was completely unrealistic and I know I know, its fiction and so doesn’t necessarily have to be realistic. However, even in this world there are some rules that apply.  And I just didn’t believe it.

The blurb describes the story in a nutshell. But honestly it just drug on and on before it got the part where I was finally getting new information.  It was filled with a bunch of past tense things that were intended to give us depth of character and background but we had all that from the first book so it ended up just feeling like fluff to hold folks over to the next book.

Now don’t get it twisted, I do enjoy alternate POV’s with the same story but this one was just poorly executed IMO. Not gonna finish this series which is a bummer because I hate when I bail on a series.

Falling From Grace (Grace #1) by S.L. Naeole

Blurb: When you wake up in the morning and your eyes take in the first hints of light that shine through your window, the dust motes catching and reflecting the sun’s rays like little diamonds, the shimmering hues of yellow and orangey gold breaking through into your room, the first thing you think about usually isn’t how you’re going to make it through the worst day of your life.

Unfortunately for Grace Shelley, that’s exactly what she’s facing as she ponders what to do now that she’s going to be starting out her last year in high school without her best friend. She’s not exactly the most popular girl in school – well, not the most popular girl in school to like, anyway – and everything seems to be hinting at another status quo year for her until she bumps into a stranger who leaves her stumbling for words and chasing after her heart.
The new guy in school is different. Robert doesn’t care about the rumors he’s heard about her or that no one else seems to see her the same way that he does; he only wants to be her friend. That’s when things get complicated. When Grace learns that he’s not your typical high school boy and that he’s actually a wingless angel who’s looking for someone to trust, she’s thrust into his world where not all angels are meant to protect human beings, and where the changes she brings into his life changes everything in hers.

 

2 stars

Okay this is one of those books that are super confusing but you can’t stop reading it.  I don’t know why I keep falling in to these writing traps.  So this story line was ALL over the place.  Not much was resolved by the end, in fact there was so much info dumping that I couldn’t tell you what the story was really about.  It was a giant cargo plane stuffed with fireworks that crashed into an oil tanker. You can imagine right?  And I just couldn’t look away.

Strike one: info dumping.  I mean, it was in almost every chapter!  And it wasn’t even relevant!  This book needs a developmental editor stat!

Strike two: insta-love!  Like three days in.  ::Cue the petty eye roll::

Strike Three: No real plot.  Boy meets girl, boy likes girl. Girl has massive self confidence issues and keeps him at arm’s length. Boy takes offense and misunderstands ALL THE TIME. Then they make up, wash, rinse, repeat.   :shakes head:  Oops, sorry, did I spoil it for you?

Strike Four: The climax!  What the eff! It was confusing and again, didn’t make sense with the rest of the storyline. It all seemed a bit thrown together with no real direction, no focus. This story could have been fantastic if an experienced editor was employed to take out the massive fluff in this book.

Definitely not reading anymore in this series. Truth be told I should have DNF’d it but I kept holding out hope it would redeem itself.  And in some places it felt like it was going in that direction.  But then some random piece of info would get thrown in, complete with a long drawn out explanation, and by the time I realized there was no resolution I was done with the book.  I felt like I was Jedi mind tricked!

Budgeting: The 21-Day Budgeting Challenge – learn key strategies to set up a budget, make the most of your money, pay off debts and start saving (personal … habit) (21-Day Challenges Book 4) by 21 Day Challenges

Blurb: Maybe you’re thinking that the only thing worse than budgeting is reading a book about budgeting. And you may be right. But with this book, my hope is that I can change your mind. My hope is that by following this challenge, you will feel more in control of your spending habits, have clearer and more meaningful financial goals and, most importantly, have a little fun while doing it!

In this book, we’ll look at ways to uncover your own personal psychology behind money, as well as practical methods to make and reach finance goals. From saving pennies here and there by cutting out mindless spending to rethinking your approach to saving entirely, we’ll tackle your money issues the simple way: day by day. We’ll consider realistic ways to save money, but also look in depth at what it really means to live a minimalist life and what the true value of the items in our lives actually is.

2 stars

This book didn’t really tell me anything I didn’t already know.  It was short and quite honestly a waste of my time.

It was also contradictory, in one chapter it would say something like if that 3 dollar coffee keeps you sane then its worth it to budget that in and keep it  but then in another it would suggest hitch-hiking as an adventurous way to save money.  Not only is that dangerous, but its illegal!  I skimmed it after that part because it was just so over the top ridiculous I couldn’t take it seriously.

I hate to say you get what you pay for but in this instance it rings true, I paid nothing for this book, and that’s what I got out of it.

Healthy Living (2nd Edition): 12 Habits You Don’t Know That Promote Healthy Living & a Healthy Lifestyle! by Linda Westwood

Blurb:  This book will jump-start your mood, increase your energy levels, clear your mind, and improve your overall health – allowing you to finally achieve healthy living! Our lives are full of regular habits that we live by every day, and these habits determine who we are, as a result. This is why healthy living is very important. What You Will Learn In This Healthy Living Book This book provides you with 12 separate habits that will completely change your life for the better. Along with discovering what these habits are, you will also learn why they are beneficial to add into your life and how they promote healthy living, followed by a step-by-step Action Plan that shows you EXACTLY how you can implement in your life immediately! Are you ready to feel healthier and happier than you ever have before in your life? Do you want to finally be able to live healthy? Then check out these unique habits that YOU are missing out on! If you successfully implement these unique habits, you will… Feel happier than you ever have Set up your life so that you live longer Say goodbye to poor energy levels and depressing moods Learn how you can live a healthier lifestyle without trying WANT to eat healthy foods so that dieting will never be hard again NEVER feel tired or exhausted in your day – EVER AGAIN!

2 stars

I got this book for free from my EreaderIQ daily emails I receive. It was an impulse buy.

And I must say, after reading it I wouldn’t recommend buying it.  Not worth the money IMO.  These 12 ‘unique’ habits aren’t very unique at all.

Things like more sleep, exercise and more sex are not really unique. At least in my experience.  And in between the chapters more free books were offered which I found distracting and downright annoying.

It seemed like one big infomercial advertising her other books with a little bit of obvious advice masked as ‘unique’ thrown in.

I’m all for self-help but this one felt more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing to me.

Falling Softly by Maria Duffy

Blurb: Holly Russo couldn’t be happier.
Christmas, her favourite time of year, is only seven weeks away and her boyfriend has just popped the question. David is steady and reliable, and Holly knows he’ll give her a wonderful life. The kind of life she’s always wanted. Right?

Then her new neighbour moves in.
Josh O’Toole is also approaching the festive season with joy. He loves his teaching job. He’s about to have a baby with his adored girlfriend Stephanie, and they’ve just moved into a new home to begin their life as a family.

But as Josh and Stephanie settle into their new house across the road from Holly and David’s, things begin to get complicated …

Falling Softly is a sparkling, heart-warming story about first love, and how life has a habit of turning out in the way we least expect it to.

2 stars

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest/unbiased opinion.

I’m sorry but I did NOT like this story. It started out slow and only dragged on. There was not enough showing, too much telling. And the flashbacks didn’t really give us a look into how happy they were so the chemistry was non existent for me.

It showed how unhappy they were in their current relationships but I failed to see how them getting together was better.  It had been too long and they didn’t know each other anymore.  We never really knew them in love so when they ‘fell’ it didn’t seem genuine at all.

The end was too fast, not flowing cohesively like the slow beginning and middle. The transition of the story seemed a bit choppy throughout honestly.  I had to keep stopping because the scenes kept changing abruptly and I was like, “Wait, how did we get here?”

Honestly, I almost DNF’d this book but wanted to give it another chance. I regret it. I should have gone with my gut.

Reunited by Daniel Gothard

Blurb: In 1992, Ben Tallis is coming to terms with the recent death of his father. His ability to cope isn’t helped by the fact he’s secretly in love with one his best friends. At least keeping a daily journal helps him make sense of events, and he believes it’s the perfect preparation for his plan to one become a successful journalist. In 2012, Ben has achieved his career ambition—he’s a highly respected journalist and is engaged to a hardworking and ambitious lawyer. But this seemingly “perfect” relationship is fraught with problems. Ben mentions in passing to his editor he has received an invitation to a 20 year school reunion but doesn’t want to go. His editor, however, smells a great feature article and insists Ben returns home, faces his past—including his secret teenage yearning—and writes a feature on how much we change and yet in so many ways stay the same. As Ben reluctantly re-engages with his past, he soon comes to realize that we can never run from the truth—or who we truly are.

2 stars

I was not a fan of this book.  I found it boring and slow  moving.  It was supposed to be my book bingo block for a comedy.  I didn’t laugh once so I’m not using it, especially since I just realized that I already have that block covered.  I honestly don’t know what else to write. It was the opposite of good.

I thought the MC was whiny and immature.  He kept looking at his fiance as someone who was keeping him in line because he was always messing up.  And the fiance left him for a very long time over one little fight.  I’m not exaggerating, she came home from work and they had an argument, then she left him and wouldn’t return his calls or emails for days!  So you argue and then you just leave?  You take off and avoid the conflict, that sounds childish to me and I was over their relationship pretty quickly after that.

I liked the flashbacks.  High school teenage angst I get. Scared of rejection?  I get that.  But I failed to see how any of it was humorous.  I know that european humor is different than us over here in the states but I have never had this issue before and I love to read Euro and Aussie books.

I guess I can chalk this one up to a fluke.  I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

STATUS by Jordan Belcher

Blurb: In social media, nothing is what it seems … Tyesha Fenty is a beautiful 22-year-old mother of one very precocious little girl—and an unashamed internet addict. Between taking care of her daughter and posting updates about her life via the Web, Tyesha stresses over love and family. The father of her child is a spiritually devout drug dealer named Rodrick Al-Bashir who has a thing for other women. And her mother, Velma Fenty, is a widowed hoarder on the verge of losing her house.

Stalking is the least of Tyesha’s worries, until one of her social media “friends” starts showing up at her gym, at her job, and at her home. Soon tragedy strikes, and when detectives catch her stalker—and just as quickly release him—Tyesha is forced to take matters into her own hands.

Be careful what you post … he’s watching …

This book satisfies my African-American mystery book spot.

2 stars

The blurb was written amazing and the cover was great too; it is what initially caught my eye.

But this book wasn’t very good for me. There is hardly any showing but loads of telling. The action scenes are poorly described and the kid seemed to have been thrown in as a plot device. There were hardly any emotions written so it was hard to know what anyone was feeling. And there was little to no character development. No growth at all. The only good thing about this book is the dialogue. But it far outweighed any anything else so the book seemed a bit lopsided.

I didn’t get how having a guy stay faithful to you meant you won over some over bitches or you were better than them. It really just made her look stupid. As if the dude dealing drugs was such a great catch. She had an AA degree and worked at the DMV! She was the catch for him. And her friends were assholes. They treated her like crap and she seemed way more concerned with how she looked online than how she actually felt.

The way the story played out could have been excellent and I think it had great potential. But the characters need to be more fleshed out and emotive. I especially loved how her life was online, that part I can relate to and is the main reason I picked this book to read for my book bingo challenge. I don’t think I will read the rest of the series though, it just had too many cons and not enough pros.

Kara’s Wolves (Wolf Masters #1) by Becca Jameson

Blurb: Kara Shepherd is about to compete in her last gymnastics meet and graduate from college. A week before graduation, her roommates drag her out to a country bar to live a little before entering the real world. She has no idea the course her future is on is about to take a sharp turn.

Justin Masters and his lifelong friend, Trevor Shields, share everything from their home to their women. At twenty-eight years old, neither has met their mate, nor are they in a hurry to find a woman who will end their long-standing arrangement with each other. Their dairy farm, a few miles outside of town, allows them the luxury of shifting to their wolf form any time they want in relative seclusion.

Justin’s world tips when Kara walks into the bar on a random Friday night. Immediately recognizing her scent as that of his mate, he is drawn to her by forces beyond his control. Nervous about sharing the news with Trevor, Justin is relieved to realize Kara is also his best friend’s mate. Now all they have to do is convince Kara she belongs in a permanent menage and track down a stalker who seems hellbent on taking Kara for himself.

2 Stars

This book was mostly sex with little to no climax or plot.  I should have DNF’f it but I’m a sucker for erotica, especially shifter erotica.  I don’t know why I love it so much.  I’m a bit of a weirdo.

The MC’s had no depth but were very sexually active.  The threesome thing wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  I would have like to seen more in that aspect; it really was just like the girl screwing both dudes.  The guys were best friends but never got involved, a fact I found hard to believe myself.

This review will be short cause the book wasn’t very good.  The end.

 

Hook’s Little Mermaid (The Untold Stories) by Suzanna Lynn

Blurb: Captain James Hook was once a good man trying to make a somewhat honest living. He is a pirate, after all. However, after getting word that a boy named Peter Pan played a part in the death of a dear loved one, Hook makes it his sole purpose to hunt down and destroy the fiend.

On his journey for vengeance, the captain encounters many new comrades, including a young girl named Red and a fairy called Tinker Bell, and both push him to reconsider his desire for justice.

The accidental rescue of a mermaid leads him on a whirlwind adventure in Neverland. The journey is not a simple one, considering Pan, the Lost Boys, mermaids, and magic all come into play. After several misadventures, Hook must choose between the possibility of a new life with love and his much-desired retaliation against Pan.

Once everything is said and done, will the captain be able to overcome his need for revenge? Will he let compassion steer him toward love? Or will Captain Hook live up to his villainous reputation?

2 stars

I don’t know what happened but I wasn’t that big a fan of this book as I thought I would be.  Maybe the cover reminded me of Hook from Once Upon A Time and I transferred my feelings of want to this book. Either way, it wasn’t for me. This book was missing some depth and had too much telling, not enough showing. Great potential, poor follow through.

It took too long to get to the point, and if the book had been longer I would have DNF’d it, but it was a short story so I just finished it.  Hook was made out to be the good guy and I couldn’t wrap my head around it.  Also, there isn’t that much action in this book, at least until the very end. I expected more obstacles to get in the way but everything seemed to work out with no real closure.

Maybe I need to be more discriminating when I choose a fairy tale retelling, they are not all created equal.