Thursday, August 24, 2017

One Snarky Remark Too Many

August 24, 2017 0 Comments


I’ve been wanting to read Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson for years. I was exposed to a later novel in the series and found Betsy to be hilarious. I wish I could have said the same thing about this book.

Undead and Unwed introduces readers to Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor, a twenty something secretary obsessed with designer shoes. She is killed in a freak traffic accident and wakes up before her funeral. Eventually, she figures out that she has become a vampire. The rest of the novel details her experiences with other vampires, her strange abilities and the reaction of her loved ones to her return.

The Good

The story is full of potential and ignoring Betsy over dramatic flair, fun! Imagine a loved one walking into your house on the day of her funeral. It would be insane, terrifying, and emotional. Betsy friends and family don’t quite know what to do when she does. Her father and “step-monster” cower while her mother cries from relief. Her best friend Jessica springs into action immediately buying Betsy’s house and car so that she can continue to live a “regular” life. The read should be entertaining especially when we find out that Betsy is prophesized to be queen. There are times the book does reach its potential when Sinclair enters the scene and Betsy laughs in the face of danger. These times just feel too short.

The Not So Good

Try watching tv when there is a loud party going on. It's impossible! You can’t hear the program you want to watch and you can’t enjoy the party because they are interfering with one another. That’s what Betsy’s dialogue does to this story. There are good characters but she comes off as selfish, self-absorbed and brash in a very not charming way. I love a strong female character with sass but she had too much. I would have loved this story if I actually could have read it without Betsy overbearing banter.

The Verdict






So much potential!! It felt wasted. I might try another book because the idea of Betsy being queen is preposterous and somewhere deep inside I’m hoping the character is a bit more restrained in the next one.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

A Brilliant Opening to an Breathtaking Story...

August 22, 2017 0 Comments








I picked up this book by chance. I was visiting the library and picked up several books. Some that made the cut while others only lasted a few pages/chapters depending on my willpower. I’m amazed that I had never heard of it and couldn’t find the summary of the story on the cover. I only found accolades given to the book by various publications and the fact it was optioned to become at film by Warner Brothers. My curiosity was peaked and like the cat I was quickly caught up.



The novel introduces readers to Aria, a teenage from the world of Reverie, where everyone lives in Pods. They experience the world through virtual Realms. When the book opens, Aria is in the process of breaking out into the real world or what she refers to as “the real” to find out about her mother who she hasn’t heard from in some time. When her plan changes suddenly she is sent in a direction she never imagined meeting outsiders who help her see the truth of her world. Peregrine is stuck in his world with a dying nephew and a brother unfit in his opinion to rule. When their two worlds collide both characters are irrevocably changed.



The Good


This book has a beautifully crafted world. I was fascinated by the different characters, their quirks and the environment. It felt like I couldn’t get enough. In particular the beginning of Aria and Perry’s relationship impressed me.

 Aria is stuck outside of her normal world and at first fears death until she is saved by Peregrine (Perry) rather reluctantly. Both characters are feeling the same way, Aria is terrified that she’s going to die but more worried about her mother than anything. Perry is furious that he saved Aria in the first place which caused his nephew to be kidnapped. He’s terrified that his ill nephew is in danger. I love that both characters feel the same even though it places them at odds. I particularly love the no one character is more right than the other. This is not just something that happens in fiction folks, it can happen in real life and the author displays this brilliantly.

Aria grows up during the story and is pretty evolved when she reaches the end. She’s stronger and able to confront the tragedy she experiences alone. I was amazed and impressed with how much I could identify with her and how proud I was as she learns to stand alone. I felt like the proud mama bird watching my baby take off for the first time.

Another of my favorite parts was the character of Roar. I liked him from the first word. His companionship served both characters well and he was a welcome addition to their initial antagonistic pairing. And his presence helped open up this world readers knew little about. We learned about Auds and Seers. I found out more about Perry which only served to deepen both my and Aria’s interest.

I could keep going because there really wasn’t much I didn’t like. The action was well placed and intense. This book was expertly written and executed. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it.



The Not So Good


Only that I have to wait for the next book to find out more. I was happy that there were bonus chapters at the end so I could get some immediate relief in wanting to know what happened when Aria and Perry were reunited.



The Verdict







It was breathtaking! This may be my favorite read this year and I will end up reading the next one soon. I’m curious to find out how the movie will be adapted. I’m ready to see it.  

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Some Games Shouldn't be Played...

August 15, 2017 0 Comments

When I first saw this book and read the description I thought it would be another Hunger Games or something like it. I put it on my Goodreads list and though it took many months to get to it, I was excited! I opened the book and my expectations changed almost immediately.

Panic is a game played by teenagers in a small town. The winnings are large (around 60K) and most are playing for money. Heather, the main character is playing to save herself and her sister from their neglectful mother. While Dodge, another main character is playing to avenge the damage done to his sister in a prior game. Both end up teaming up early on only to find that the game is full of secret agendas and mystery players. 

The Good

I liked that each main character was well defined. Heather and Dodge both came from less than ideal homes. Dodge's family had little money but they had care and attention. Heather lived with her sister in a household where her mother preferred drugs and partying over parenting. It was plausible that both would be interested in the game to win the money. Over the course of the story, each underwent growth due to the things they experienced in the game. I loved the Heather finally found a family and that Dodge found acceptance in a group of friends he didn't have before.

The Not So Good

Some of the characters did things that didn't make sense. Dodge felt confusing at times. He was always an angry character and rightfully so based on what he experienced, but there were times that I wasn't sure of his motives. He liked Nat but he seemed to be romantically interested in Heather early on. The use of the secondary characters could have been better as well. Nat and Heather's friendship didn't feel reciprocated. Heather clearly cared about Nat but sometimes Nat didn't seem to really care about her friend. Teenage girls who are BFF's  are always inseparable and usually share a nearly psychic connection. I couldn't believe that Nat didn't know about Heather's home life or wasn't the first call when Heather decided to leave. Bishop was another character that perplexed me. I didn't understand his role in the game or why he wouldn't just turn it down. Love to me is not a justification for the lying and insanity that he created just for money.

The Verdict:




The book was just an okay read. Fortunately, the ending really made the difference. At least there was growth in the core characters so it was clear that this experience affected them. I was still left with some questions about some of the character's motives but overall it was a good way to take a break from the summer heat.

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