The Blink of Her Eye by Angelica Thaddeus

The Blink of Her Eye combines a few different genres in one novel. It is mainly a mystery, with some erotica as well. Anika is investigating the deaths of six patients at hospitals under her care. Whilst she is visiting the first, she runs into Gabriel, who then becomes the hero of the novel and the object of her fantasies. It doesn’t take long before this quiet homey looking girl has attracted his attention and he tells her, “I want in”.

The two begin to investigate the deaths together, along the way getting to know each other better. There were many things that I liked about this part of the book. Gabriel was typical of many heroes of this genre in many ways, but Ms Thaddeus also managed to provide many surprises and keep her readers guessing about his background and his intentions. For all his apparent keenness to get Anika between the sheets, which kicked off in chapter one, there is an unexpectedly long journey to their happy coupling.

There are many other characters who Ms Thaddeus introduces along the way. They are varied and interesting. I really thought I’d had them all pegged from the start, but she kept me guessing right to the very end. There is another character, Carlton, who features in the story romantically, and appears to grow genuinely fond of Anika.

The main character is someone who most readers will be able to relate to and aspire to. Anika is a business woman who is looking for Mr Right. She is rather socially shy, but finds herself very confident in the bedroom when Gabriel encourages her. At times however I also wanted to shake her for her naivety. Anika is let down by both Gabriel and Carlton during intimacy early on in the book, and yet she continues to trust them both and allow their relationships to move well past professional ones. I found this excruciatingly frustrating. When she allowed them to continue treating her cheaply like a doormat I found it harder to relate to her as a character and respect any of them as people. I also found it difficult to accept Anika’s need for Gabriel’s help every step of the way. Whenever he was not assisting her, the case appeared to stall.

The book is well-written and edited. It’s easy to read and the characters are well woven. It’s a solid summer holiday story if you’re looking for a bit of fun and a light read.

Link to Goodreads.

The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

First up... LOVE that cover. However, the story... not so much.
I struggled with the writing style in this book, and found it very hard to overlook. I felt my reins tugged this way and that way, my eyes and ears pointed directly at events, and this got very tiring. I'm a reader who likes to make up my own mind; I like to pick up clues like breadcrumbs, and it doesn't matter to me that the author is dropping them quite consciously. I just like to feel as though I'm doing some of it on my own.
The Blemished didn't allow me any of this independence, hence why I struggled.
The dystopian setting which Dalton has created is novel and interesting. The premise here is that our society's obsession with beauty and physical perfection has led to test tube babies, all others being classed as "lesser" and therefore not allowed to breed; only allowed to live in order to serve the GEMs.
I like the premise. The rest of the story sticks to tried and true teen dystopia lines, which is not to say it's bad, just to say it's predictable. Readers who enjoy this genre will not be disappointed; we all love books that turn out to be just as we expect them to be.
I think that maybe without Mina's supernatural power I might have enjoyed the book more. I think that the obsession with beauty, perfection and pageants was enough; there was no need to have another level within the story. Without the powers it makes the world scarily close and frighteningly possible on some level, but then when you throw in her abilities, we are swept into the realm of fantasy and I am left saying "Wait, what?" I'm no longer afraid for our future, exploring the ways in which society will implode on itself, which I believe is the strength and morbid fascination of reading dystopian fiction.
I realise that in not loving this book I am going against much popular opinion. For many of its intended audience I'm sure this book is a must-read. To see what others have said about The Blemished, click here.

The Avenged by Charles Prandy

An entertaining read from start to finish.

A little about Charles Prandy:

Charles was born on November 14, 1973 and grew up in Derwood, Maryland, a small city about twenty-five minutes outside of Washington, D.C. His neighborhood was typical of small town suburbia; he had great friends, played sports and got into mischief. He graduated from the University of Maryland University College with a degree in Legal Studies. He attended Wesley Theological Seminary for two years, and it was there that he got the idea to write his first novel, The Last of the Descendants, which was published in May of 2008. Shortly after the release of The Last of the Descendants, Charles began working on his next novel, The Avenged, the first in the Detective Jacob Hayden series.
He’s currently working on the next novels in the series and will continue to write until his brain goes numb.

About The Avenged:

The Avenged is Prandy’s first novel in the Jacob Hayden series, and was published in 2012. It follows a homicide detective (Hayden) as he works a case that begins with the murder of a young man. The case spirals out of control as he uncovers corruption that reaches from the top of the high court right down into Hayden’s own precinct. It becomes very clear that the bad guys are bad enough and desperate enough to do anything in order to maintain a low profile, but how desperate is Hayden to catch them? Will he risk everything?

I felt that Prandy’s novel was well written. Fast paced, with just the right amount of description to keep the stakes high and the pages turning. There are some issues with tense, but I’m finding this more and more common recently, so maybe it’s simply seen as colloquialism to mix them around; I’m not sure.
At first I could hear a 1950s Bogart telling the story; all except for the blonde dame walking into his office and begging for his help. I wasn’t sure what to make of this; the detective seemed to be scene-setting in present tense but then switching to past for the action. I don’t think it mattered overmuch. I may well have been overthinking the whole thing when I was trying to work out whether the author was laying hints with tense. (eg “Theresa’s parents have the kind of love that my parents had.” Does this mean that statement is still current at the end of the book… that they are still alive and love each other? “Theresa was their only child.” Does this mean she is no longer?)
I think it worked though. The main character is likeable and observant – everything you’d want in a good detective. He tends to voice every small musing, which gets a little tiring, but I can understand that Prandy wants to make sure he is being understood very clearly by his reader. He’s also very careful, almost tending towards the cautious, “by-the-book” type of cop, and I have to admit that I felt the best parts of the novel where when he threw the rulebook away. Hayden’s descent into his personal hell is well-planned and well-timed, and the avenging angel who emerges is a lot of fun to follow.

Charles Prandy's Website

Goodreads Link

Revived by Jodie Kobe

Vivian lives in the future, when being brought back from the dead is a fact of life.

However, we’re not talking zombies here, or sparkly vampires or unemotional robots, which actually is a relief. These revived humans are simply that - humans, but with no memories of their lives before their deaths. Since only younger bodies can be revived (anyone under 35), death by murder or suicide appears to be a common cause.

When Vivian is revived, she adapts to her new life underground rather well. The air on the surface is dangerous, so the only life remaining is in a secure facility under the ground.

Vivian meets others who have been revived, and slowly comes to learn about the nature and purpose of the facility, as well as the reasons why she was killed the first time round.

I liked the book. I liked the author’s ideas and vision, and I fully expect that her target audience will enjoy exploring the possibilities in this new world in sync with Vivian.

I struggled with some of the tenses, and wonder if an editor could help Ms Kobe with the lack of consistency. I also struggled with the pacing of the novel, feeling sometimes that it dragged through too much dialogue. The characters need a little more fleshing out. Vivian herself is 21 years old but she accepts her new situation like a docile child, then at times whines about unimportant details like a petulant teenager. I have to admit that she was difficult to like.

I think that Jodie Kobe has her hands on a really interesting idea here. I’d love for her to talk to some professional writers / editors before she writes the next volume - or even consider a redraft of Revived. It could be tightened up to give it a much more gripping edge.

Goodreads Link

Reboot by Amy Tintera

It’s difficult to exactly pinpoint why I liked this book so much. I think it was partly because it took me by surprise - I don’t often read the blurb for a book before I start it; I like to have little other than the cover art and title to go on. (Sometimes I haven’t even got that). I think also it’s partly because I’ve read too many teen novels in a row, mainly science fiction, and I may have been ready to throw the next at the wall. Right now they all seem to be lessons in what not to do.

But this one took me entirely by surprise. The kickass beginning, for example. It’s brilliant. The author plonked her reader right in the middle of Wren 178’s daily grind, which is hunting humans. Immediately the questions begin. If she’s not human, what is she? If she’s so powerful, why does she submit so quietly to the guards? Is she a prisoner? If she’s a prisoner, why does she willingly hunt other prisoners? The questions were relentless for the first couple of chapters, and Tintera’s pacing of the answers was excellent. Never too much at once, and never forced. I heard an author once say that if you had to give too much back story, you’re starting in the wrong place. The author started in just the right place.

I was drawn to the whole idea of Wren’s world. It was simple but at the same time had depth. It was interesting. But most of all, it was different. The usual teen storyline is here - girl meets boy, they overcome their differences and develop feelings for each other, there is a risk of separation, there is a conclusion. The usual dystopian storyline is here - groups with control, groups without control, brain washing and propaganda, and something to scare the living heck out of us because it’s frighteningly possible (in this case it was disease and containment). But I really felt that all these issues were hung on brand new shoulders, and I loved the freshness. The world which Tintera has given us is one I’ve never encountered before, giving her the chance to really mix things up a bit. However, at the same time she provides all the elements which teenagers have come to know, love and expect. I didn’t like the romance, but I appreciate its role in the story and I appreciate the reason why it’s there. I understand that it’s for a particular audience.

I loved the gender switching which Tintera played with. The girl is small, slight, and a cold blooded killer. She’s the trainer. The boy is big, friendly and a vegetarian pacifist. I love how they come together and how it actually “works”. Not always believable and sometimes a little cring-y, but definitely entertaining. He basically has to teach her how to care. I wondered at one stage how far the author would go in their journey towards each other - she definitely had to become more like him, more human, but how far would Tintera go in making him more like her - the cold blooded killer? In the end I think she erred on the side of caution. I wonder if she will play with this further in the second book.

The romance elements, although clichéd, had an importance within this story which was refreshing. Usually I get the feeling that an author has added a romantic component simply because they feel they need to keep their readers happy. In Reboot, the romance is absolutely fundamental. Wren ruminates over whether she can love at all; whether through her conditioning or the amount of time she spent dead (178 minutes) she is incapable of feeling at all. So the journey to her openness is fascinating.

Towards the last third of the book I began to flag, mainly because the rest of the book I felt was not written for me. I didn’t need (or want) the physical closeness which Wren and Callum begin to explore, but as I mentioned before, I understand its place within the story.

When you use an emotionless killer as one of your main characters and work out a way to make your readers sympathize with her, it’s interesting. When you explore a way for her to fall in love it becomes fascinating. And what about making her the narrator, whose point of view your readers come to trust? Tintera does all of this is a way that seems effortless. Her readers will not be able to stop themselves connecting with Wren 178, because essentially she is still just a normal teenager coming to terms with a whole load of emotions she has not experienced before. Team that with her enjoyment of killing and the fascinating dystopia which Tintera has created, and you get a rollicking good read which has something new to say in a very popular genre.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction with a little romance, ultimate kickass female heroines, and anyone who glazes over at the thought of yet another dystopia. It’s a bit different.

Oh any anyone who likes zombies - or vampires! The z and v-words are never mentioned in this book… Ms Tintera you are very very clever.

Goodreads Link.
Amy Tintera's Website (including her blog)

 

Once Upon a Nightmare by McKelle George / Mickey John

Mickey John is the pen name of McKelle George, and she has written novels under both names. “Once Upon a Nightmare” is available to read for free through the link on Goodreads.

A little about McKelle George:

McKelle George is a senior editor at Jolly Fish Press, author of A MERRY WAR, a historical YA novel, repped by Katie Grimm of Don Congdon Associates, and member of SCWBI. She has a B.S. in English/Creative Writing from Brigham Young University and an A.A. in Art from Snow College. She is a traveler and nomad, an exclusively self-pleasing artist, lover of quiet adventures, and banned book and library advocate.

A little about Once Upon a Nightmare (2012):

I really enjoyed this book. Now I am going to wax lyrical for the next page on why and how I really enjoyed this book.

It’s a young adult novel which fits into the paranormal genre, but it’s like nothing I’ve read before. It clicks all the young adult markers successfully, but in a way that doesn’t feel at all familiar or staid.

Young teen (American) heroine. Check. Who’s a little bit different from her peers and doesn’t really “fit in”. Check. Her first romance. Check. A love triangle. Check. A forbidden love. Check.

But that’s as far as it goes. The “boy” she falls in love with definitely lands in the category of bad boy – but only in the same way that a meringue could be called a little bit sweet. He’s so far gone into the category of bad boy that he would smirk at the title. What did he call himself? Oh yes, “I’m the fear of hell.”

The paranormal being who Violet meets isn’t a sparkly vampire, a semi naked werewolf or even an angel with a tortured soul. He doesn’t just think he’s bad; he doesn’t pretend to be bad… he actually is bad. In the world which George has created, nightmares and dreams are very real. In fact, in their own realm they even have body – they have families and friends, and they can even die. Nightmares insert themselves into the subconscious of humans when they are sleeping and feed off their fear.

George sets up a meeting between Violet and Alexander which is neither clichéd nor overplayed. Alexander is one of the scariest and most powerful nightmares from Chimera. He’s terrifying. Strangely though Violet isn’t afraid enough of him (perhaps she’s not afraid of hell), and after something goes wrong, they are stuck together in her dream state.

I haven’t given anything away: that’s just the first few pages of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story unfolded. From page one I was absolutely hooked on finding out the details of Alexander’s world and how the unlikely pair would deal with the terrible curse that they’d brought on themselves. I also wanted to find out whether Violet’s reading of Alexander’s motivations were correct, or misinterpreted.

Have I said why I love this book yet? It was absolutely a diamond in the rough. I have been reading solidly all summer – some great, some good, some not bad, but most just entertaining. This one was different. Unexpectedly interesting. Different. Quirky. At times funny. The writing style is easy to read, and it flows. The character of Violet is stamped all over the first person narrative, and she’s quirky, so it fits perfectly. I love her responses to the nightmares she meets, who are so sure they will elicit the usual frightened response from them. Instead she usually makes them laugh. She’s a hugely likeable main character. As a contrast to her quirky, impulsive, foot-in-mouth character, Alexander is reserved, standoffish and the reader rarely knows what he’s thinking or feeling.

I was only a third of the way through the book before I realised that it was highly likely George could end the whole story like Alice in Wonderland. “And then I woke up”. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this possible ending. I was partly hoping she wouldn’t since it’s such a classic no-no, and also strangely partly hoping she would. Because the fact is, the story is such a perfect one to exist wholly in the mind of the protagonist. And to comfortably join it to the accepted “real” world would be quite a feat. I won’t tell you whether she did or not; you’ll have to read it yourself to find out.

I only have the smallest, tiniest, teensiest piece of criticism to give here – there are some typos and formatting errors in my copy, but I am aware that I have an early version of the novel.

Five stars and a big thumbs up for an interesting and unexpected gem. A popular story hung on brand new shoulders. Get to Goodreads and click the link to read this for free… if you like paranormal, it’s right up your alley. If you like YA it’s right up your alley. If you like a surprise it’s right up your alley. If you like free books it’s right up your alley. Just do it. You’ve got nothing to lose! Click here.

Blackout by Joey Paul

About Joey Paul:

Joey Paul is a writer, exploring the young adult crime genre. She has released seven books in total so far, but plans to write more. She is currently working on her thirteenth and fourteenth books. Her current works include the series "Dying Thoughts" and she plans to continue that for at least seven books, maybe more. Her other works are usually books about the many trials and tribulations of being a teenager, sometimes with a crime twist.
Joey is disabled and a recent graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and chick-lit. When not reading, she relaxes by playing the ukulele. When she's out and about, she likes looking for Tupperware in the woods with GPS satellites, otherwise known as geocaching! And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 33 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!

About Blackout:

Blackout was written in 2005, chronologically the first of seven books listed for Joey Paul on Goodreads. I haven’t read any of her later works yet, but I can see that there is room for improvement in her writing from a decade ago. With another six novels behind her, it will be really interesting to see how her writing has developed.

The first thing I noticed about Paul’s writing is that she really gets into the head of her teen character. Her protagonist, Tally, sounds just like the fifteen year old she is meant to be. All the usual teen fixations are here - clothes, boys, school, who is “in” and who is “out”. Tally as a narrator is hugely gullible, distractible and dramatic. Hugely annoying - and so true to life. Paul did a great job of really telling it how it is.

The story unfolds slowly, and it was beginning to really drag for me. Nothing appeared to be happening - I was simply reading the teenage diary of a blissfully ignorant, self-absorbed rich girl. There was nothing remarkable about her, unless you count the fact that, unlike all teens I ever knew, she seemed happy with her life. Or maybe the way she couldn’t see how hypocritical her judgment of her so-called friends was. The only thing that was a stand-out about her was how annoying she was. Her indulgent life was dangerously close to perfection. Dangerous because I couldn’t see many readers, nomatter what age, who would be willing to read a book like this.

Anyway, something does happen. (Hurrah!) This was quite a relief. When you pick up this book, be prepared to wade through the first third - but be reassured that there is a reason for it, and persevere.

The story itself is a bit of a mystery. Tally finds that there is something going on at school - in fact, within her circle of friends - and she sets out to get to the bottom of it. Along the way she has to put together clues, and untangle the web of lies which her friends and enemies have woven for her. She has to work out who is real and who is fake, and Paul sets up a few nice twists to keep her reader guessing.

All in all, I think that she has a lot to say here about friendships, the desperation that girls feel about fitting in, and the obsession with being popular. It’s about not making snap judgments, not just taking people at face value, and about finding the worth in everyone, whether they are classed as popular or not.

In some ways these issues are oversimplified. There is an awful lot of telling here rather than showing. However, for her target audience, this may ring truer than it did for me, or in fact may be necessary.

There are some difficulties with tense and flow. At times the story reads as a diary and at others a retelling, and I found the switching tenses jarring. It is also full of certain types of colloquialisms which possibly are fine for the genre but which didn’t sit easy with me. “He was stood waiting”… “she was sat…”

If you want to get in touch with Joey Paul online, her website is http://www.joeypaulonline.com/

Her books are available in a variety of formats. You can find her on Smashwords here https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/BugBooks