Before He Was Famous

Before He Was Famous by Becky Wicks
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

With all due respect to an author and what it takes to write a story - what a mess! This book should be near the bottom of your new-adult-to-be-read list.

This story began as cute, sweet, your general romance. It had such potential! But things began to go downhill as soon as I started reading slang I didn't understand. The book is set in Colorado and New York and these characters are American. So what's with all the British slang? And as soon as the British stage manager is introduced, he starts talking in a rhyming slang that is common to Aussies, not Brits. So to further confuse things, it's not just British slang that makes an American stop and have to figure it out - it's Aussie rhyming slang that makes no sense at all to an American. None of this would be an issue if the author had simply changed the setting of the book to the UK. But for American characters set in America? No.

Things continued on a downward slope as the book gratuitously drops current celebrity names and songs interspersed with fictional ones. If the author had simply chosen one or the other - preferably the fictional ones - it would have been fine. But to intersperse them made no sense, and using current names and songs will quickly date the book.

The main characters were well-developed, although they tended to make stupid decisions which clearly were intended to simply build tension in the plot and push it along. The stock secondary characters were sadly underdeveloped. The backdrop of a new celebrity gaining his footing was well done and would have easily been enough conflict in the plot. But the addition of a sub-plot with one main character getting death threats was just unnecessary.

This book feels as if the writer read a book about how to write a book and then wrote a book. Some of the elements are right, even good. But others are lacking. Add to that some questionable editing and this novel becomes forgettable before it even ends.

This book is a tragedy really, because with some tweaks it might be average or even really good. In its current state it is a nominally passable story in desperate need of major changes. It has a lot of potential, but it's just not there. This author needs to make some serious changes in her books if she aspires to any degree of success in the publishing industry. There is a reason self-published books often fail, and this is a prime example of one. What a shame.



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Let the Storm Break

Let the Storm Break by Shannon Messenger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes a book is amazing. Sometimes a book is well written. You'd think the two would go hand in hand, but that's not always the case. And in this case, the book is very well written - and yet not completely amazing.

The reason this book deserves five stars is simply this: Shannon Messenger knows how to take a story and create tension, then give some slack, then create tension again, then let it loosen, then pull the tension so tight it leaves you gasping for the next book. Cliffhanger? Definitely. Worthy of five stars on that count alone? Absolutely.

In this second installment of the Let the Sky Fall series, we follow the main characters Vane and Audra as they grow in their relationship. Audra has gotten past much of her self-condemnation, thankfully. Vane is less impulsive and more focused as he prepares to be the king of the Sylphs. These two characters continue to explore their roles in Sylph society and Vane struggles to remain connected to his adopted human family. There are some new characters introduced in the form of Vane's guardians and trainers. And the girl to whom he has been betrothed without his previous knowledge, Solana, makes her debut. Just about the time the words "love triangle" come to mind, our hero stays true to his love. And as such, it becomes harder and harder to figure out just who's in cahoots with the bad guy.

The pacing is what makes this book so awesome - just about the time things seem the most dire, the tension eases and there's a slight resolution. Just about the time the plot seems predictable, it takes a turn. It was up and down and up and down and the whole thing left me exhausted. And what a cliffhanger! The setup for the last book is stunning.

One of the best things about the story is Vane and his sarcastic sense of humor. Messenger's use of the Haboob dust storm and Vane's commentary on it is laugh out loud funny. Vane himself is just a great character, likable, affable and sweet.

On audio, the book is narrated by Kristen Leigh and Nick Podehl. Podehl is perfect for Vane's point of view. He really embodies Vane's character and makes him come alive. Vane wouldn't be nearly so funny or endearing without Podehl's narration of him. Leigh as Audra is good enough, but not amazing. Podehl is just flat out astounding.

This story isn't really knock-you-down amazing. But it is very, very good, and when combined with the push-pull of the plot, it earns every one of those five stars. And after the buildup and setup in this novel, the last in the trilogy promises to be five-star worthy as well.

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Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This little novella was tacked onto the end of an ARC of Take Me On. The characters were introduced in the first book of the series, Pushing the Limits.

McGarry is expert at following YA characters faced with fear, emotional damage and the consequences of their actions both good and bad. She does the same thing here and it's wonderful. The story, although a novella, didn't feel rushed at all. There was less depth, sure, but overall a heart-warming peek at some likable characters. I was cheering them on, especially in one scene that involved retribution for stupidity. You have to love it when the girl gets the guy - and not in the traditional sense.

I really hope they do a cover change on these books. They are obviously marketed to girls even though the subject matter is often interesting to both male and female audiences. Just because it's a romance doesn't mean guys wouldn't enjoy things like kickboxing and cars.



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Take Me On

Take Me On by Katie McGarry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kickboxing, MMA cage fighting, homeless kids and families, abusive parents, dysfunctional families, the loss of a job and a home, an abusive boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, and a sort-of gang. Sounds like a total mess of a book trying too address too many things - but Katie McGarry does what she does best and turns out an amazing teenaged romance.

McGarry seems to be expert at damaged yet mature characters who journey to move beyond their pasts. She does this by often using the characters to encourage and support one another. This is a great example because it's always easier to see past and support those around us rather than deal with our own problems; a great reminder that anything is possible. Contemporary fiction is always relatable to real life, so when it does it in a positive way, it's translatable to real life. Like it or not, we often live out what we read. And in this case it's a very good thing.

The character development here is pretty standard for this series. And yet it feels fresh as McGarry tackles the whole world of MMA fighting. The story could have been all about angry people doing angry things. But it goes beyond that with a maturity that, although in most cases is relatively unrealistic, is a good goal for which to strive. West Young is a character who is an 18-year old who is full of rage and yet still able to step into a loving counselor role when dealing with the girl he loves. Not likely in real life, but it served the story well. And again, sets a great standard to live out in real life.

The book has all the right things - great story, good pacing, well-developed characters. Katie McGarry is just really good at what she does and was smart to do a series - every single book in it is strong. I will be looking forward to the next book because I know I can expect it to be great. This is YA contemporary at its best.



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Divided

Divided by Elsie Chapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elsie Chapman, you have done it again with this sequel. It does not disappoint.

We return to the story of West Grayer, who now teaches weaponry at a local high school. She also attends the school. She is in a committed relationship with Chord, her dead brother's best friend. And they continue to live in a dystopian society where every person has an alternate, and when they are "activated" at some point during age 13-18, they must kill the other one. It is a society of assassins.

West was a "striker" in order to learn how to defend herself. This is essentially an assassin-for-hire; someone you can pay to kill your alt for you. It served her well, but is against the law and marked her for life. This doesn't matter to Chord but does play largely into the plot.

West is a fascinating character. She is private, logical, driven. She is able to evaluate a situation's politics and make good decisions as to what to do and why. She is sly, clever, detail-oriented. She is also able to defend herself well. And yet in spite of all these things, she admits to being terrified. She has enough wits about her to control her fear, though. And it's a good thing, because in this dystopian world, there is plenty to be afraid of.

While West tended to be desperate in Dualed, she is more conflicted in this sequel. Chapman balances West's drive with her conscience; West is haunted by the things she did in order to survive. When put in an impossible situation, the only thing she did that bothered me was to be unaware of the inevitable consequences of her actions. I knew what would happen, so shouldn't she? And yet Chapman is able to tell West's journey to the end so well that I didn't even mind. I wasn't really smarter than her, I just saw it coming. Perhaps West did as well, since so much of her thought processes were both hidden and revealed.

I did love the romance, which was grounded and consistent. West didn't trust anyone in Dualed; now she's learned to trust Chord and grows in her relationship with him. There are also other relationships which she views with compassion rather than the cold calculating style she had in Dualed. It is a natural progression for her character.

The plot is action packed and full of surprises. The fight scenes are stellar. The betrayals and details of the society are revealed, which accented the world-building nicely. It made for a great package that was both engaging and entertaining. The series would make a great movie.

I'm sad to see this dualogy end. The characters are great, the plot is great, the writing is great. It's got the total package. Thanks, Elsie Chapman, for the ride!


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Forever Layla

Forever Layla by Melissa Turner Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ah, time travel. How you vex me so.

Here is a story which tries to avoid paradoxes and treat time travel incidentally. And yet it is a huge part of the plot. Although the book is largely character driven, there is still the backdrop of that pesky time travel going on.

This book actually does have a great story. Although it sets a circular time pattern in motion, it compensates for the general lack of scientific detail by concentrating on the characters. Layla is a woman out of her own time. Part of what drives the plot is her unwillingness to talk about herself - who she is, where she's from, how she got there. This is slowly revealed as the two main characters, Layla and David, forge their relationship.

The characters developed nicely. The relationships in the book changed realistically. David and Layla's relationship takes some turns that, were they happening in real life, seem a little farfetched. Not that it never happens, just that mostly it doesn't. But these things about their relationship were what endeared me to them. The author touches on some things momentarily, but doesn't dwell. Rather, she just gives them enough of a mention to accent the story.

What's interesting about this plot is that it seems predictable and yet it's not. The ending, while it went the direction I thought it would, still surprised me slightly. Things that were on the fringes of implausible were balanced with things that were completely what you'd expect in real life.

What did bother me about this novel was the writing. It reads very much like a first novel. There are a lot of informational statements interspersed with dialogue that just don't have that nuanced "between the lines" feel to them. It was fine; it just wasn't stellar. It didn't flow. The story progressed, but it felt a bit rough. Maybe it's just the author's style. She told the story well, but she didn't write exceptionally well. Again, the flow - this is what distinguishes an amazing writer from an average one.

I will be interested to see what Turner Lee does next. She can tell a good story. I'm sure she'll get better and better with the way she tells it as she continues to write.

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The Kiss of Deception

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let's face it, everyone loves a good fairytale. A reluctant prince or princess, kingdoms that need to be united, bad guys, horses, magic - these are the elements of good fantasy. And this book has those abundantly.

The plot here is one that has been done time and time again: headstrong princess runs away from an arranged marriage. Prince goes after her. Enemy country sends an assassin to kill the princess. Epic adventure ensues. Happily-ever-after results. The end.

However, it has some nice twists that make it interesting. The story is told from three points of view; the princess, the prince and the assassin. Two male characters are introduced, but it is not clear which is the assassin and which is the prince. Thankfully, the reveal is about midway through the story. And once the roles are defined, the characters continue to grow. Loyalties are questioned and feelings are never really declared. The tension is kept until the end, which is not so much a cliffhanger as a prime setup for the next book.

So suffice it to say that the plot is well done. It moves along with a slowdown here or there, but nothing to really weigh down the story or make it drag. There is magic here but it is not the focus. And it is gypsy magic, perhaps with a Native American influence, which is a nice change of pace. The bad guys felt like a cross between Celts and Comanche, replete with headdresses and body paint and mounted on horses.

Lia, the main character, underwent significant character development from story's beginning to end. She never seemed spoiled or shallow, but she did seem naive. It was nice to see her undergo a gritty confrontation with her own shortcomings. And the dramatic shift in the assassin, which begins at the reveal, is unclear and keeps him a mysterious figure. We are never sure where his loyalties lie.

The ending was dramatic and left me wanting the next book. It was the ending of a journey but definitely the start of a tricky negotiation. I am anxious to see where it goes.

All in all, this was a wonderfully written YA fantasy adventure with some interesting twists on the lore. It may well prove itself to hold a place with the best YA fantasy of its kind as the trilogy unfolds.

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Falling Into You

Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book that felt like two books; two stories interwoven and loosely connected.

The first story revolves around two high-schoolers, best friends since birth, coming of age and discovering first love. It's a fairytale friendship that grows into a beautiful relationship. And then in a freak accident, the boy is killed.

Insert here the fact that the accident felt conjured up, a dramatic plot device for the sake of drama.

The second story revolves around the surviving girl and the dead boy's brother, their journey to survive the grief and pain caused by the freak accident - and other things. When we meet Nell again, she is two years older, in college and seriously emotionally damaged. Colton, who is the older brother of the dead Kyle, happens to run into her. He is also emotionally damaged, although in a better place than Nell.

Jasinda Wilder has done a couple of things very well in this book. Her characters are well fleshed-out with a fair amount of depth. Their self-destructive actions make sense. Their emotional turmoil is well written; in fact, the whole thing is well-written. Wilder manages to communicate the scope of guilt and loss in a gut-wrenching way that garners our empathy. Her characters are honest and raw. She also proves expert at writing steamy hot passion.

What this book does not have is a believable plot. The story really does require setting reality aside. There are so many problems in Colton's life that are just implausible, as well as Nell's inability to have dealt with her post-trauma emotional incapacities. The NA genre sometimes tries to deal with dark issues like self-mutilation, gangs, pregnancy and death and generally speaking it is done badly. Once in awhile it's done very well, and in this case it was somewhere in the middle. To her credit, Wilder does not attempt to explore many of these issues in depth. Simply touching on them was like adding flourishes to a painting; they enhanced the broader picture of overall grief rather than detracting from it.

The ending was very good. I'm not sure if I liked who the characters were when the story ended, but the ending itself took a step towards believability. It seemed a natural progression. At least it was hopeful.

All in all, it was on the up side of average. Points for seriously steamy scenes and for not trying to reach too far. It's a good balance for the genre.





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Delectable

Delectable by Adrianne Lee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book is about cherry pie. Seriously, it even has a recipe at the end.

It's also contemporary chick-lit romance. It was moderately entertaining, entirely predictable, and irritatingly simplistic in its scope. In a word, it was . . . meh.

It is important to note that while this book had its problems, they are generally problems with the genre in general and not this book specifically. The characters were stock and somewhat flat; their actions were questionable at best. Fictional real life should at least vaguely resemble real life, and this case it doesn't begin to do that. The idea that a failed marriage born out of neglect can be salvaged with a crisis and great sex is laughable. The happily-ever-after here should have taken a lot more effort. There was no tension or real plot. Really the only good thing about it was the pacing.

While many might consider this a great beach read, there really are much better choices out there. This book lacked substance and depth. There are far more stories out there that offer both.

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