Review: Two-Fisted Tweets

Two-Fisted Tweets

James Hutchings

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Smashwords

Pages: 4 (eBook)

Author Blog: http://teleleli.blogspot.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Thirty mostly humorous stories, including science fiction, fantasy, horror and romance. Each story is less than 140 characters long (the length of a Twitter tweet).

Review:

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when author James Hutchings asked me to review his latest book. Two-Fisted Tweets is comprised of extremely short (140 characters or less) stories that range in subjects. And even though I use Twitter occasionally I’m not as devoted to the networking site as others are. However, I’ve always had a passion for short quotes and lyrics. I used to spend a lot of my time in high school looking up quotes (famous, anonymous, quickly made up) and lyrics depicting powerful emotions in such a small package. It astounded me how much information and feeling one could get across with a small number of words. James Hutchings has succeeded in many of his “stories” to get across the very same thing that I found in the quotes and lyrics I came to love in high school.

Most of the “stories” made me smile and laugh. Others plucked an emotional nerve which I very much enjoyed. I love reading a passage and getting emotionally involved in it.

A couple of my favorites would be:

"Rotting hands reached from the darkness. At last, someone was attracted to her for her brains."

"They withdrew his invitation to speak at the conference on stalking. But he knew they didn’t mean it."

"She tried to dance like no one was watching, but everyone stared at her. "

Other “stories” were a little too off-the-wall for my tastes. I was left puzzled by them and a tad bit confused. But overall they were very enjoyable. I’m not too familiar with flash fiction and I’ve already come to realize I’m not a short story fan. But these “stories”, which so closely mimic tweets, remind me so much of the quotes I love. I definitely enjoyed reading Two-Fisted Tweets although the time literally flew by when I read them.

Twitter fans will definitely get a kick out of Hutchings’ “stories”. And any quote fan like me will appreciate a lot of the individual “stories” in the book.

P.S. (cover talk)

I admit it doesn’t have anything to do with the stories but it’s still a lot of fun. I like the vintage comic-book style.

Review: Rhiannon

Rhiannon

Neil Plakcy

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Untreed Reads

Pages: 9 (eBook)

Author Site: http://www.mahubooks.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Junior is a wild and crazy construction supervisor who drinks too much, curses too frequently and never lets a woman get under his skin. Then, he meets the curvaceous Rhiannon who loves football, shoots a mean game of pool and has a little secret she's reluctant to share.

Junior keeps chasing her like a hound in heat, until he discovers there's no crying in the game she's playing. And that's when the fun REALLY begins.

A short story from our Candlelight literary romance line.

Review:

Junior is a bit down on his luck after being shunned at a recent job interview. Instead of heading to a bar he’s familiar with he decides to try a new bar right next to the construction site he was interviewing at. A bar is a bar, right? But it’s at this bar where he meets a woman that knocks his socks off. Junior normally doesn’t become so affected by women, but Rhiannon is different. She’s unlike any woman he has ever met and he can’t seem to get her out of his mind. But Junior soon finds out Rhiannon has a secret that she doesn’t seem to want to share. It’s a secret Junior is determined to find out. And that’s when things really get interesting…

Rhiannon was an interesting read. I both liked and disliked the book. Junior is kind of a one-note character. He’s a very manly-man. He likes to drink, watch sports, and cuss a lot, which is fine by me. When he meets Rhiannon he becomes a little like a love-sick puppy but again, that’s still fine by me. Junior doesn’t have many close friends and not much family so I can see how his attachment to Rhiannon happened. He did seem a bit on the desperate side but that’s understandable. He may have crossed the fine line of creepy once or twice and that was a turn off for me.

Rhiannon’s character was a fun contrast to Junior. She’s confident and comfortable in her own skin. She loves sports and can easily hang with the guys. I figured out Rhiannon's secret long before Junior did though. Even with the predictability of the end I enjoyed how accepting Junior was and how close the two characters became. I also liked how vulnerable Rhiannon’s character became towards the end. It made the two of them seem real and relatable.

I think my biggest problem with Rhiannon is the main problem I have with short stories. I just don’t think I’m a short story kind of gal because I’m too needy. Rhiannon was a quick and pretty well-written romance story with a twist.

P.S. (cover talk)

Pretty much has nothing to do with the story. I’m all for a burning candle but honestly the cover is boring.

Review: Wind and Fire

Wind and Fire

Cheryl Landmark

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: May 2010

Publisher: Asylett Press

Pages: 232

Author Site: http://www3.sympatico.ca/cheryl.landmark/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received from author for review

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Zardonne, Master of the Dark Rift, has ripped a hole in the fabric of Tellaron and invaded with an army of hideous demons. Oblivious to the dangers and evil brewing beyond the borders of the quiet Ardis Valley where she lives, nineteen year old Tenya toils through a life of dreary loneliness and drudgery plagued by strange, disturbing visions, yearning desperately for the beautiful mother she had not seen since she was three. Her life is abruptly turned upside down when she is abducted in the middle of the night and sent on a perilous journey that will test her courage and the fledgling powers buried deep within her. For not only does she discover that her missing mother, Elea, is a powerful sorceress able to control the forces of the wind, Tenya also learns that she herself possesses a singing power that manifests itself as white fire throughout her body. Can she find her mother, and the strength to use her own powers, in time to save Tellaron from the evil Demon Master? Her world depends upon it.

Review:

The synopsis above describes the plot of the story really well so I’ll limit the details in my own summary. Nineteen-year-old Tenya starts out as a weak and fragile character as she struggled through her daily life. Her father was drowning himself, literally, in his depression while her step-mother acted more like a slave-driver than any kind of mother figure. Tenya does show some backbone when she finally breaks and decides to stand up to her step-mother. But her actions come with a heavy price when Tenya finds herself abducted by an old hag of a woman and her frighteningly huge companion in the middle of the night.

Tenya has always been plagued by dreams filled with fiery demonic images that leave her scared and confused. She soon finds out that these visions are part of a set of powers that she possesses deep inside. She also learns that the mother she hasn’t seen since she was three has magical powers as well and is better known as the Mistress of the Wind. The Mistress has been held captive by Zardonne, an evil entity bent on controlling the entirety of Tellaron, for the past sixteen years. After being rescued by a small courageous man, Tenya sets out with him on a dangerous journey to free her mother and bring down Zardonne in the process.

Wind and Fire is an epic quest novel that also has a coming-of-age theme as Tenya matures and grows into a strong, brave, and independent woman. Although the time frame is really short, Tenya’s character completely changes throughout her journey. After discovering her powers and realizing that she’s a part of something much bigger than herself, she is determined to save her mother and the people of Tellaron. She really steps up and puts on a brave face despite the fear she feels inside. I think a lot of readers will warm to Tenya’s personality and spirit.

There is a lot of magic and action in the book. The world-building is pretty good considering the length of the novel. I think a map of Tellaron would have been an excellent addition to the reading experience, but one can certainly do without. The character development could have been focused on a little more in my opinion. I really enjoyed following Tenya’s journey with Sindril as her companion, however I wanted a little more of who they were as characters. Some of the writing was a little dry and I would have enjoyed more interactions between the main characters. I understand the point of the novel was the quest to free Elea (Tenya’s mother) and to destroy Zardonne, but that seemed to be the only goal with no additional details. But all in all, Wind and Fire was a very enjoyable read and I think a lot of readers will enjoy it.

P.S. (cover talk)

I like the fact that Elea and Tenya’s respective powers are portrayed on the cover but that’s pretty much all I like about the cover.

Review: French Letters: Engaged In War

French Letters: Engaged In War

Jack Woodville London

Series or Stand Alone: French Letters Trilogy, book two

Release Date: September 2010

Publisher: Vire Press

Pages: 328

Author Site: http://jwlbooks.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received for review from Phenix & Phenix Publicity

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

French Letters: Engaged in War, is the second book in the French Letters Trilogy. The companion to Virginia’s War, it is the story of Will Hastings, an army doctor caught up in the D-Day landings in Normandy and the drive to capture St. Lo, France. Isolated from Virginia Sullivan and the events taking place at home, Will faces the demands of combat surgery under fire and the losses of his brother, his friends, and his connection to home.

Historically accurate and precise and covering events from exactly the same time frame as the events in the first volume, Engaged in War is a novel of the will to survive when war, distance, loss, and the uncertainty of the future separate a couple far beyond the breaking point.

Review:

 
I've never really been a "war-time" reader and I'm pretty positive this is my first war-related novel. In school I sort of avoided all History classes if I could get away with it. I'm not too sure why I did that now that I think about it. Set in WWII, Engaged In War is the second in a trilogy and focuses on Will Hastings, a young army doctor. I usually don't like to step out of order when it comes to books, however the blurb caught my attention and I ended up accepting the request for review. The French Letter Trilogy, from what I gather, take place in the same time period but are told from a different character's perspective. So I don't think it bothers me that much that I went out of order.
 
It took me quite a while to become comfortable with the style of writing. I had a tough time figuring out who was the main character in the beginning and then I had an equally tough time keeping the secondary characters straight. I felt there was a lack of character depth in the secondary characters which caused me to get confused on who was who. But I suppose that's understandable because the focus of the story was on the effect this war had on the decisions people had to make in order to survive and live with themselves. War is hard on everyone, those personally involved and those "sitting on the sidelines". Will makes tough decisions everyday when treating soldiers and their specific wounds. But Will must also question his morals when faced with a court martial after being severely wounded.
 
I found that I liked the unique personality of Will although I couldn't quite grasp him entirely. After arriving on the beach in Normandy during the D-Day landings, Will's story really takes off. He's focused on finding out what really happened to his brother who is presumed dead from a glider crash. And yet despite that strong pull towards his brother's fate, Will still has this passion and drive to do his duty as an army doctor. His will, determination, and stamina make him a very likable character. His lack of contact with his girlfriend, Virginia Sullivan, back in his hometwon of Tierra, Texas causes a strain on Will's conncetion with his "normal" or former life. This leads to an easier attraction to a local farmgirl, Geraldine. His relationship with her symbolizes the connection between two people that crosses language and culture barriers since Will is and English speaking American and Geraldine is French and speaks very, very little English. Despite this, they are able to come together in a desperate time to fill a void that the War has caused them both.
 
It seems to me that this novel was very well researched because I actually caught something about WWII and the D-Day landings on my local public broadcasting station while reading it. The show on TV even went into some detail about some of the French countryside as well that was also a big part of the novel. Because like I mentioned earlier, I skipped as much History in school as I could so I'm pretty clueless about most of the wars that have happened in the past. But I'm fairly confident in saying that the author did a very good job in his research.
 
Overall, I enjoyed the novel. It did take me longer than I expected to finish it but don't let that deter you from giving it a try. I'm definitely interested in reading the first novel, Virginia's War, because it goes into detail about what happens with Virginia and things "back home". I'm also interested in seeing what book three will be about.
 

Burn [Review & Giveaway]

Burn
Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: January 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 384

Author Site: http://www.teddekker.com/, http://www.erinhealy.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Recieved from Phenix Publicity

Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

The past Janeal thought had burned away is rising from the ashes.

Years ago, the Gypsy Kumpania where Janeal Mikkado lived was attacked by outsiders. With her best friend about to be consumed by a fire, Janeal had two options: try to save her friend--at serious risk to her own life--or disappear with the million dollars that she had just discovered . . .

But the past is quickly coming back to haunt her. Both the best friend and the boyfriend that she was sure were dead have reappeared in her life, as has someone who knows about the money. There's a debt to be paid for the money she found, but there's an even greater debt she must face--and if the chaff isn't burned from her own heart, it will consume her.

Review:

First off, I absolutely love this cover!! I admit it was one of my main decisions to review it.& the book trailer was very well done in my opinion, almost like a movie trailer. The other reason was Ted Dekker... I haven't read anything by him but I own BLACK which is his first book in the Books of History Chronicles: Circle series. I've also heard some great things about him as an author so I was definitely excited to try him out. And while I enjoyed BURN I wasn't totally in love with the story.

I didn't know this was considered Christian fiction until just recently and I never noticed the fact that Thomas Nelson was a Christian publisher. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction, again not for any particular reason. I read books based on my interest in the synopsis, and this one definitely grabbed my attention. However, I didn't get a real sense of the Christian faith or religion while reading. There is some reference to God but I personally felt it was more of a spirtual thing for the characters. Anywho, I don't want the fact that BURN was put in this genre to discourage those who are wary of it. The suspense/thriller aspect of the book was very entertaining and enjoyable!

But I must say I didn't enjoy BURN as much as I was hoping for. While there was plenty of fast-paced action in the story, I found myself lacking a real connection with the main character Janeal Mikkado. And the huge twist/climax in the plot (which I can't reveal to you) kinda threw me off kilter. It's hard to discuss without giving things away. I will say the idea of this book is entirely unique, at least to me, but something I had trouble accepting.

Janeal Mikkado, along with the other characters, are first introduced when she's a teenager living with her gypsy kumpania (or community) as an outsider. She has this longing to explore the world and get far away from the people she's been around her entire life. But her boyfriend, father, and best friend don't really see things the way Janeal does. After a dark, handsome, and mysterious man comes into her life claiming the only way to save Janeal's father is to betray him... Janeal is faced with a decision that will forever alter her life. A decision that will forever haunt her no matter how hard she tries to run from it.

I didn't want to give much more of the plot away so I'll leave it at that. I'd definitely say give this one a go if your a suspense/thriller kind of reader. I don't know how this book holds up to Ted Dekker's other books however.

----------

GIVEAWAY INFO:

One person will win my gently read copy of BURN by simply commenting below with an email address... (no email address = no entry)

Extra Entries:
+2 for following/subscribing the blog.

+2 for following on twitter. (provide your twitter @name)

+1 share this! -sidebar, blog post, twitter, facebook (links required, each link = +1)

Giveaway ends March 14th and the winner will be announced March 15th. US Entries only.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Day 133 - Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted

Susanna Kaysen

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Synopsis: [from book cover]

In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to Mclean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele - Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles - as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.

Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscapse of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery.

Review:

I'm kind of struggling to write a review for this book. Although I liked and enjoyed reading it, I felt it was just an okay read. The memoir tells the story of Susanna Kaysen's stay at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. The short chapters were easily read and they retold certain experiences that Susanna went through and the people she came across while at the hospital. Even though they weren't necessarily in any chronological order they were still easy to follow.

In the late 1960s, at the age of eighteen Susanna voluntarily checks herself into McLean intending to stay only for a few weeks. But after a twenty minute interview the doctor Susanna was seeing advocates a committal that ends up being close to two years. She introduces a lot of the patients and even some of the staff of the hospital. Also inlcuded within the pages are some of Susanna's personal medical files. Those files were only given to her after she was forced to hire a lawyer in order to see her records.

I did enjoy the book but it just didn't leave a lasting impression with me. I do recommend it however, because it really was a unique experience into the human pysche and how fine a line between insanity and sanity there is in a lot of us. I do have to admit I enjoyed the movie better.

Day 87 - Bite the Bullet

Bite the Bullet
L.A. Banks

Stand Alone or Series: Crimson Moon series, book two

Synopsis: [from back cover]
Sasha Trudeau considers herself a soldier first and a werewolf second. But while her secret government-sanctioned task force faces its greatest challenge so far, Sasha faces something much more primal: the undeniable pull of the moon - and her own desires.

With rogue wolves savaging both the human and the paranormal worlds, Sasha's team of elite operatives has one job: destroy the rogues and isolate the deadly toxin that's poisoned their blood. But the challenge is far more complicated than Sasha could have imagined. Soon she is thrust into a full-scale supernatural war for supremacy - and the only man left whom Sasha can turn to might be the biggest danger to her of all... and in more ways than one.

Review:
I'm happy to start off by saying I'm no longer as confused about things in Sasha's world when I first started out. It seems after I swallowed the "big bite" of information thrown into Bad Blood, I was able to follow the story better. Sasha and Hunter are continuing their mission to hunt down the infected Shadow wolves that betrayed them. It's imperative that the team cut the wolves off before reaching New Orleans where the a paranormal species summit will be held.

To complicate things more Sasha is in"heat". Hitting her fast and hard, she tries to juggle her increased attraction to Hunter while trying to stay calm. Hunter on the other hand isn't doing so well. Not only is Sasha's menstrual cycle making him go crazy, but his dormant infected werewolf side comes tumbling out. The fear of losing Hunter to the "dark side" is a tangible thing.

Sasha's tech team gets more of the spotlight in book two as they are assaulted by a pack of infected Shadow wolves. The scenes are fast-paced and action packed but never fear, the team has a full arsenal at their disposal. It sort of struck me as slightly unrealistic with however, I'm used to L.A. Banks' characters toting the big guns. I gotta say some of the action scenes were maybe a little too fast-paced for me. I did have some trouble following a little of the battle scenes but, again, that may be because it went by so quickly.

I think Banks did a great job with the book's vampire bad guys. Etienne and Francois are two of the most devious creatures I've come across. Their conniving schemes were well played out and it was so easy to dislike them. Another thing I loved seeing was a return from Shogun. I love Hunter, he's a great guy and he sounds way hot. But I don't know, I just have a thing for the Asian werewolf clan leader. I can definitely see a love triangle coming out of this because even though Sasha obviously cares a lot about Hunter, she's still not prepared for total commitment.

The epilogue is where I found the only big problem. This is where Sasha and Hunter finally make it to the Conference and also where Banks allows all of the other paranormal entities to come out. I would have liked to have seen so much more out of the meeting and the guests that attended. However, even though it was short and a bit rushed through I did really like it. Reading about the different paranormals and the politics involved was a really nice touch. Like I said, I just wish Banks had expanded it more because it was such a great scene to work with.

Overall I was pleased with book two. With my confusion safely driven away I was able to enjoy the characters more and the story as well. If you liked Bad Blood you'll definitely want to pick this one up!

Day 68 - Dark Nights, Dark Dreams

Dark Nights, Dark Dreams

Savannah Russe

Series or Stand Alone: Sisterhood of the Sight, Book One

Synopsis: [from back cover]

U.S. foreign agent Sam Chase has always kept her psychic abilities a secret - until now. Recruited to solve a case so macabre and chilling that it can't be rationally explained, she joins an elite unit with three other young women who rank among the top mediums in the world. But these amazing psychics are definitely no angels. One is a voodoo priestess, another is a witch, and the third has a secret, dangerous past.

Like it or not, Same is part of a new sisterhood - and she's been teamed with Lance "Bear" Rutledge, a sexy forensic investigator who thinks this supernatural stuff is all bunk. Unfortunately he's not only getting under Sam's skin, but he has also started invading her dreams - and her heart. As Sam and Bear combat their forbidden passion, they find themselves fighting for their country and their lives in a battle against the darkest evil of all...

Review:

Susan Ann Marie (Sam) Chase has the 'sight'. A gift that has helped save her life and the lives of others numerous times. More like a warning system inside her head, a voice speaks to her and gives her visions of things that are happening at the moment or things that will happen in the future. As the novel opens up, a fast-paced action scene, set in Iraq, takes place where the reader can see first-hand how Sam's gift comes into play.

But everything changes when she is chosen to be apart of a new program created by the CIA. AngelWay will be headed by the enigmatic Ms. Z and will include Sam along with three other women with some sort of psychic ability. Rina is a voodoo priestess who can communicate with the dead, Frankie is a witch, and Aurora can talk to animals and use psychometry. Their first case? Arlington cemetery: Find out where the body of a recently deceased military hero has gone to.

Sam has another partner that will be "assisting" on the case. Bear Rutledge, sent in for the Department of Defense, is a skeptic from the beginning of the investigation. As the team starts to uncover the mystery, more bodies go missing and murders start to take place. The idea of zombies and a world of voodoo leaves Bear in a sour mood. Sam must find a way to convince him that the only thing that can explain the mystery is something supernatural. Throw in some strong sexual tension into the equation and you get a big ole' mess for Sam.

I like the "who-dun-it" feel and the twists that the author tried to incorporate into the book. It did seem a pit predictable but it was still exciting enough to keep me interested. However, I just feel the book was lacking in creativity. The characters were interesting and the whole paranormal situation was good. I just wasn't sucked into the book like I was hoping to be. I might have just been expecting more since I enjoy her other series so much (Darkwing Chronicles).

I will keep a look out for the second installment and give it a chance. Hopefully I'll have a better reaction to whoever's book will be next.

Day 57 - The Year of Disappearances

The Year of Disappearances

Susan Hubbard

Series or Stand Alone: Sequel to Society of S

Synopsis: [from susanhubbard.com]

THE YEAR OF DISAPPEARANCES continues the most surprising vampire story you'll ever read. Ariella Montero is no stranger to the dark side of life. Half-human, half-vampire, she spent her first thirteen years in exile from both societies. When her best friend was murdered, Ari ran away to begin a new life in Florida. But, one by one, the people and things she cares most about keep disappearing. And Ari may be next.She can hypnotize, read minds, and make herself invisible, but can she escape her stalkers? Ari's special talents are severely tested as she moves on—from a vampire community in the Sunshine State to college in Georgia to the primeval maze of the Okefenokee Swamp. In contending with the politics of vampire and human cultures, Ari comes face to face with the zombies that are infiltrating America, as well as the demons and shadows that haunt us all.

Review:

First off let me say that this isn't your average vampire story. Come to think of it, I actually forgot that I was reading a story containing vampires most of the time. But don't that discourage you. This was an entertaining and thrilling read. Vampires are intermingled in human society, hidden in plain sight both in daylight (with gobs of sunblock) and by night. And most can live entirely off human blood by drinking and taking supplements.

Ariella 'Ari' Montero is a fourteen-year-old half-breed vampire that is wonderfully complex and interesting to read about. Growing up with her scientist father and absorbing so much knowledge from his teachings has truly made Ari a well-spoken and critical thinker. It was hard for me to keep in mind her age when she just seems so much older. Living in Homossassa Springs, Florida with her mother, Ari is still trying to find her place in both the human and vampire world.

She can hypnotize people, become invisible, and read minds but still struggles to establish long lasting relationships with people because everywhere she goes, people seem to end up dead. After the murder of her best friend not too long ago, Ari is looking to start over. After befriending two girls in town, Autumn and Mysty, things seem to be looking up for Ari, until one goes missing. In order to take some of the scrutiny off of Ari, she decides attend a small liberal arts college in Georgia. (Yes she's a little young, but she's very advanced for her age) Thus, starts the beginning of a very interesting ride through a unique world.

Sorry to end the summary so abruptly but after Ari goes off to college the story gets, well... complex. Political campaigns, environmentalism issues, drug-use, Ari's coming-of-age story and inner-demons are all thrown into a mix that was a little too much for me. There is just so much information going on in this book that I was overwhelmed at times. Not to say that I don't find Ari completely charming as a character. She's actually a lot different than most vampires that are written about and it is refreshing to see. And while the issues brought up in this book were thought-provoking and interesting I just felt it was too jam-packed.

One thing that I found personally like able was the astronomy tidbits thrown into the book. I just came out of my second semester of astronomy and was just giddy with excitement because I knew exactly what it was about. Susan Hubbard obviously did a lot of research on all of the topics she wrote about. I admire her for that. I just hope there will be a third installment because I had some unanswered questions towards the end.

I do recommend you give this book a try if you've read The Society of S because it's so nice to see how Ari ended up. If you haven't, I still say maybe borrow a copy and see if it tickles your fancy. I'm definitely not sorry I read this because the story is really unique.

Day 10 - Driven

Driven

Eve Kenin

Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a mercilessmaniac with a very personal vendetta.

Review

This is definitely a great addition to the Shomi line of books. Raina Bowen, a strong, kick-ass, independent woman is on a mission to win a trucking race for some big prize money in order to help out her sister, Beth. I immediately fell in love with her when she fended off advances from one of the truckers at the stop she was at while waiting for our male lead, Wizard. Her "stay outta my space" attitude was just strong and great to read.

Then she meets the extremely hot and mysterious Wizard. A guy who was supposed to be giving her some passes she needed in order to finish the race. However, she ends up pulling him out of a fight with the big bad rival truckers, the Janson. But Wizard isn't as helpless as Raina thought. He ends up having enhanced abilities that make him all the more alluring to her. Poor Raina. Throughout the entire book she becomes sucked in and drawn to Wizard. She puts up a pretty good fight, trying to knock some sense into her head and remind herself that she needs no one, but he's too irrestible.

I liked Wizard a lot too. I found him oddly cute with his short and robotic-like conversations with Raina. And watching him develop into such strong feelings for Raina was really nice. I loved following him as he found his emotions after being programmed his whole life to be an assassin.

And yes, there is a very hateable (I'm not sure that's even a word) bad guy. Duncan Bane. Scum of the Earth kinda guy. Loved having him in the book. Because it just emphasized how great the other characters were.

It was fast-paced with tons of action throughout the entire book that I really loved. And there were so many great and likeable characters thrown in there. The one thing that bugged the hell out of me though was the author, and her fetish with the word frig. I swear Raina said that word so many times I wanted to scream. I understand some people don't like cursing in books or in general. I personally don't mind it at all, I actually curse a lot ^_^. However, if she didn't want her heroine cursing, that's fine by me, but it really annoyed the crap out of me reading 'Frig this, Frig that, Frigging Hell, Frig, Frig, Frig" pretty much on every other page.

Just say fuck for jeepers sake. Which I will point out, Wizard does say, once...ugh.

But who knew I'd enjoy a book about trucking so much. Very different but in a good way. Overall I liked the book, anyone into the Shomi series will enjoy it as well (=