Review: Bitter Orange by Marshall Moore

Book info:

Form: pdf, e-book
Genre: urban fantasy, contemporary fiction
Target audience: adults

I got a copy of this novel from the publisher free of charge in return for an unbiased review (thanks, Ellie Wong!). That fact didn't influence my opinion in any way.

Synopsis:

Seth Harrington, a thirty something guy, lives in San Francisco and studies psychology. His life has gone nowhere since 9/11, it seems he’s been simply drowning in his own ennui because he lost his partner. Now he tries to carry on as well as he can: he sometimes goes out with Elizabeth, a friendly tattoo artist he met while vacationing in Spain, he shares his flat with Sang-hee, a Korean-born linguistics student. An ordinary, middle class existence if not for one thing: one day Seth finds out he suffers from an oblique form of invisibility or rather the  terror of invisibility he can't control and doesn't know what to do with.

His super power is unwanted, unexpected and unpredictable. He can turn imperfectly invis­ible in morally grey moments and he doesn’t know why.  It’s worse than you think – it’s isolating and there are no rules. Is he a one-time aberration? A freak of nature? Something more?  What if he were to turn invisible—really and truly invisible—and get stuck that way? He didn’t ask for it. He doesn’t want it and he doesn’t like it. What to do?

Soon enough Seth starts experimenting with the help of his Korean flatmate: what can he get away with? Theft of several bottles of wine? No problem. A fake movie ticket? Nobody notices anything strange. Underpayment for overpriced bever­ages in a few coffee shops? A piece of cake. Paying for Sang-hee’s new iPod with just a few small bills? Done once again. After those local tests he sets out for Portlant and then for Las Vegas to find his limits and his true goal in life because slot machines and roulette tables cannot be duped. Will his charm or gift still work? Will he fall apart again? How long will he need to go on testing it? Hasn’t the time come to stop, and just accept it for what it was?

My impressions

I admit it was difficult to get into this one at first - I was reading and thinking that everything in the story was being weirdly normal, almost painfully so – Seth, his ordinary life, his friends and studies. Fortunately the narrative style was good enough to keep me going – it was even, sometimes very funny, with hardly a whiff of that annoying emotional drama ups and downs some fantasy authors are so fond of, confusing them, I suppose, with enthralling romantic story arcs.

After a while I found out I actually liked the main protagonist and I was curious what he would do with his unusual gift and where it came from. Moore kept me and his main lead guessing about just how and why a man becomes accustomed to supernatural powers and whether the problem Harrington thinks he has is literal or figurative. On the one hand Seth's conscience told him that something was wrong. On the other hand he was intrigued to say the least of it. Let’s face it: who wouldn’t like to be invisible from time to time or pay for your merchandize with just a few one-dollar bills, no matter what their actual price tag is? Then the whole plot was given several twists and suddenly I landed straight in an urban-fantasy-land. 

Then I understood why the author started the book in such an inconspicuous way – the contrast really was interesting. I liked Seth even more when he wasn’t lured by the easy crimes he could have committed using his gift. The ending was a kind of cliffhanger – now I would like to read the continuation of the story.

I  also had some regrets: I did hope for a better development of the Elizabeth’s character and I wish there were more females included and not all of them were evil. I also think that the pacing of the novel could have been improved, especially the slow beginning. Still I have to tell that the digital copy I got was flawless – no mistakes, a perfect editing job. It is such a treat to read a digital book which is so polished and refined.

Final verdict:

An original story told in a very good way and properly edited. I do hope the author will continue it any time soon.

Rameau's Review Archive: Dark Space by Lisa Henry

Originally posted on Goodreads February 1st 2013.

Synopsis:
Brady Garrett needs to go home. He’s a conscripted recruit on Defender Three, one of a network of stations designed to protect the Earth from alien attack. He's also angry, homesick, and afraid. If he doesn’t get home he’ll lose his family, but there’s no way back except in a body bag.

Cameron Rushton needs a heartbeat. Four years ago Cam was taken by the Faceless — the alien race that almost destroyed Earth. Now he’s back, and when the doctors make a mess of getting him out of stasis, Brady becomes his temporary human pacemaker. Except they’re sharing more than a heartbeat: they’re sharing thoughts, memories, and some very vivid dreams.

Not that Brady’s got time to worry about his growing attraction to another guy, especially the one guy in the universe who can read his mind. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just biochemistry and electrical impulses. It doesn’t change the truth: Brady’s alone in the universe.

Now the Faceless are coming and there’s nothing anyone can do. You can’t stop your nightmares. Cam says everyone will live, but Cam’s probably a traitor and a liar like the military thinks. But that’s okay. Guys like Brady don’t expect happy endings.


Dark Space by Lisa Henry

This review can also be found on Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell-blog.


Are you interested in reading an M/M, scifi, military, mind connection, mostly character study book with creepy angels aliens?

That’s how I recommended this book in a tweet the day after I finished reading it. I threw after a warning about sibilant hisses galore but forgot to mention the rape triggers. I also might have persuaded someone by saying “you’ll like the ending” vaguely implying I was less than satisfied. And I was, but it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying everything else.

Dark Space is set in an unknown future where humans fight a terrifying alien race called the Faceless. There are space stations that orbit the Sun (presumably) at the edges of our solar system and keep watch. These stations are manned—quite literally—only by human men because women are too precious to be put in danger like that. This was the world building detail that most annoyed me, but if the alternative was reading about poorly constructed female characters I’d suspend my disbelief for a short book any day.

Some of the world building details I liked were every single thing that made Brady Garrett the nineteen-year-old conscripted recruit three years into his ten year military service—fifteen should he choose to become an officer—trying to keep his head down, and out of trouble while helping out at the medical bay. I loved the idea of stark class differences, refugee camps, factories, and all the problems that were only implied instead of infodumped on the reader. That includes the alien race, which—as creepy as they were—was nothing compared to the Weeping Angels.

Cameron Rushton is an officer—three or seven years older than Brady depending on how you look at it—and a prisoner of war who has just been returned to home. Or as close to it as Defender Three, Brady’s space station, is. The doctors make a mistake and Brady becomes a temporary human pacemaker to the man who no one trusts. They’re locked together in a room and have to spend prolonged periods of time together adapting to this new situation. Their connection forces them to learn much about themselves and about each other.

Because it’s an M/M novel, sex is a big part of that learning process. And because I liked it, you can expect to read about dark themes, and horrible things being done to the characters.

The pacing is pretty much perfect. Whenever I started to think “that’s a bit much” the author would make shift that not only made sense within the story but also advanced the overall storyline. There weren’t any unnecessary scenes or exposition for the sake of exposition. The repetition that was there—like Brady thinking of his home and family—felt natural to the cycle of human psyche and the way humans think. We get stuck on something, move on, and come back to it when the time is right again. Brady also didn’t accept the mind melt connection unreservedly. He had doubts and he fought it, but he also learned to trust his own judgement about the connection.

And the heartrending goodbye… Well, I’ll let you read about that on your own.

Rameau's Review Archive: About That Night (FBI/US Attorney #3) by Julie James

Originally posted on Goodreads May 4th 2012.

Synopsis:
He's Playing Games

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she's stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she's still wildly attracted to him.

But She's Making The Rules

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn't thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can't say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn't mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won't give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he's never forgotten.

About That Night by Julie James

This is the point where I say you either like how Julie James writes or you don't. I do think she writes better contemporary romance than most, but it's not ideal for me either. I have my pet peeves like over-repetition of certain jokes, the missed opportunities with familial interactions, and nipples. That's all I'm going to say about the sex scenes this time. Nipples.

The story starts slow with an in depth look at the events that took place nine years earlier. Even when the story jumps ahead to present date, it takes time for the couple to meet. Both Rylann's life after college is established, and the events from the previous book paraphrased to explain Kyle's current situation.

As per usual—she says with the voice of experience of reading three books of the same series—Julie James creates three dimensional characters with thought out motives and strong friendships. There's always more under the surface and this is emphasised with a character like Kyle Rhodes.

In A Lot Like Love Jordan Rhodes was said to have a recognisable face from the Chicago gossip columns, but it wasn't an all-pervading part of her daily life like it's for Josh Kyle—dammit Alicia. His mugshot and heir apparent status ensure that every stranger has an opinion on him. There's a public image he exudes, but excluding three people who have known him longer than a decade no one really knows the private side of him. So far that hasn't been a problem, and Josh Kyle actually prefers it that way.

Then Rylann Pierce walks into the courtroom and back into his life.

The fact that they almost had a date in college makes Rylann just curious enough to let herself bend the rules and divert from her twelve-year-plan. She's a good girl prosecutor who plays by the rules, but with Kyle she makes a few new rules. For Kyle, who is used to playing games, this is a novel experience. They play these power games to the point where it made me uncomfortable. I assume it was done to heighten the sexual tension, and it did, but it also made me realise that I didn't like Rylann very much. Not at that point at least.

Still, their behaviour was true to their characterisations and, like always with Julie James, that drove the plot. Sure, there were external obstacles too, but the biggest problems Rylann and Kyle had with their relationship, came from within. Rylann's need to plan ahead and exude a certain kind of image because of her work, and Kyle's need to turn his life around and let go of a few grudges dictated their interactions.

I especially like how Julie James' characters don't always get what they want. It doesn't matter whether or not an apology is justified or not, when they don't get it, they act like an adults and move on with their lives. They don't throw huge tantrums that artificially kick start a romantic comedy and drive the plot. There's something very real about them. So real, that I'm always disappointed when there's not enough room for one more scene of "meet the family."

Julie James needs to stop doing that.

She needs to stop creating stellar secondary characters like Nick's Italian mother, or Kyle's father Grey, or Rylann's busybody mother and not have them meet the significant other their child is dating. I was beyond disappointed that Nick's mother didn't suddenly turn up in Chicago to meet this girl his son had talked about, because I really, really wanted to read that scene. I know the author aims for realism, but dammit, this is a book:

Bend the rules a little and have the characters do something outrageous.

Or at least explain their motives a little better. While I'm not heartbroken that Kyle never got to meet Rylann's mother in this book, I would have liked to have those comments and phone calls explained a little better. As it stands, her mother's only function in this book was to guilt Rylann into wanting to stay away from Kyle. Sure, I understood Rylann's motives, but I never understood why her mother would call to talk about the Twitter Terrorist if she didn't suspect there was something going on between them. And I never got an answer for that.

I'd really like an answer to that. I'd really like to read in-between-novellas where Jordan is introduced to Nick's family, and Kyle has to win over Rylann's retired paralegal mother. I'm not above bribery either. Some good wine and chocolate should do the trick, don't you think?

Rameau's Review Archive: King of the Isles by Debbie Mazzuca

Rameau's ramblings: So far I've given examples on what my one star and five star reviews—or a "total failure" and "one brilliant book" ratings—look like. Now it's time to see what "meh" means to me. This just happens to be one of my snarkier reviews. 

Originally posted on Goodreads on January 12th 2012.



Synopsis: 
Some men are born to rule…

She’ll find him a bride if it’s the last thing she does.

And it very well might be. Evangeline may be powerfully persuasive in her way, but convincing the notoriously wild Highland king Lachlan MacLeod to strengthen his alliances with a strategic marriage seems to be asking the impossible. Stubborn and proud, Lachlan seems determined to go against her will, even if it means endangering the people he’s sworn to protect and the enchanted isle that has already seen so much discord.

Yet the battle-scarred Highlander cannot ignore his sultry advisor for long. When his mentor is kidnapped, forcing him to ride into combat alongside the beautiful Evangeline, he must choose between her safety and his own independence. It’s a choice he makes in an instant…but once wed to the woman he could not resist, he’ll soon find that his heart is in even greater danger than his kingdom…



King of the Isles by Debbie Mazzuca

A while ago I won a book on a Twitter and a little while later I received a small package in the mail. My first ever paperback ARC. So naturally, I postponed reading said book until I could concentrate and give it the attention it clearly deserved. And I did–concentrate–for several weeks.

After I finished reading said book, I wrote a long list of things that bugged me about the novel and I set it aside. This was my attempt to remove the sting of somewhat critical review.

Everyone in their seats? Seat-belts? Safety glasses? Just glance at the stars, hold on, and let the ride begin.

Oh, for the love of... That was my first thought. Repeated several times during the early chapters. With every bountiful breast jiggle I cursed all the smut-writing gods and prayed for fanfic erotica salvation. (I am saved.) What the author must have considered as slow building for the sexual tension designed to bring two stubborn people together and help to break the ice between them I regarded as cheap smut tricks. Thanks to this book I could go on a lifetime without ever reading the expressions feminine curves and his manhood ever again. My quota is full.

I think M(r)s Mazzuca forgot that it's not the action of a lively pair of breasts women readers think is sexy, it's the hero's reaction to it. Though that didn't work well either when Evangeline and Lachlan went riding with winged horses (see his manhood).

I love the Scotch, both the drink and the accent, but I swear these authors are trying to destroy that love. Writing thick and sexy brogue is anything but. Reading it is painful. I swear, part of the reason why it took me so long to read through this book was because I couldn't understand a word Lachlan was saying. There were long pieces of incomprehensible dialogue that slowed my reading to the point where I started paying way too much attention to the details. And what happens when the reader starts paying too much attention to detail? This review is what happens (I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not).

Speaking of Lachlan and his male pride (another thing I'd happily never read again), the caveman mentality sucks. It's especially unappealing when it's the only thing continually showing the period. Yes, there's a time-traveller, but the rest of the characters, human and fae alike, are supposed to be living in the early 17th century. Do they act like it? No, they don't. And don't even get me started on the equal partnership-thing. (Seriously, don't. I've forgotten that bit.)

Then there's the supernatural. I was under the impression that faeries are supposed to be older and long-lived. Sure, there must be or have been fae children once upon time, but those are far and few between. Or so I thought. I don't even know how old Lachlan is, I just know that at twenty-six, Evangeline is supposed to be older. Why the hell couldn't she be at least in her sixties to make things more interesting? I had other complaints about the fae, but I've forgotten them too.

Perhaps this is explained elsewhere in the series, because before there was a King there was a Lord and a Warrior of the Isles. You can certainly read this book without having read the prequels (I did), but the knowledge of things you're missing will haunt you (it did haunt me). I would complain more about the abundance of secondary characters apparently known from the other books had I cared enough about Evangeline and Lachlan to be upset when the focus wasn't solely on them.

The series issue is a hindrance in other things too. I have no way of knowing if this was explained in the other books, but I must assume it was, because if it wasn't... it's just a sign of the author's laziness. Having not read the other books, Evangeline's fears remained too abstract and thus the culmination of this book fell flat for me. This combined with the fact that there isn't a true ending for the story, only further groundwork for the sequel, I can't recommend this book for anyone not willing to commit to a series.

That's most of my complaining done, but there are few spoilery details such as the vampirism and the pregnancy issue. I still wish Evangeline would have remained childless, because I refuse to believe that every woman must reproduce to find happiness in her life.

There were good bits too, as you can see from my rating. Whenever the author was writing action or was otherwise engaged with the plot, she forgot to add the unnecessary descriptions, which in turn made the text flow better and the reading enjoyable. Mazzuca clearly knows how to come up with plots for her romances, it's just a shame she doesn't focus on that more.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. 

Rameau's Review Archive: American Love Songs by Ashlyn Kane

Originally posted on Goodreads September 2nd 2011.

Synopsis:
Jake Brenner has too many wild oats to sow to fall in love-or so he claims. Besides, he's much too busy with his band, the Wayward Sons, to go looking for romance. His reticence has nothing to do with his embarrassing crush on Chris, the band's lead singer and Jake's erstwhile best friend. But that was before enigmatic wanderer Parker McAvoy signed on as the band's new lead guitarist.He can only deny his attraction to sweet, dorky Parker for so long before the urge to do something about it becomes impossible to ignore. The trouble is, Parker knows all about Jake's philandering ways-and oh, yeah, he's not gay. Or so Jake thinks until a string of related events provides encouraging new insight. Can he convince Parker to overlook his colorful past and give him a chance? Or will this love song fade out before it even begins?(

American Love Songs by Ashlyn Kane

I've read nearly a hundred books this year. Some of those have been decent, several I can call good, and a handful were really great. But there's been only one book that's lingered in my mind like this. Until now.

Jake Brenner is a twenty year old college drop out of his own volition. He chose music and the band, or more accurately, he chose Jimmy, his best friend, and Chris, his long time crush, over school. After a drunken mishap the band is forced to find a new guitarist and Jake a new roommate.

In walks Parker McAvoy, a mysterious musical genius, who finds a his place with them after a long drifting period. And he quickly finds his way into Jake's heart too.

I spent two days in a reading haze immersed in these boys' lives. I cried, I laughed, and I felt my heart tumble. The characters swept me along with them on this amazing journey from uncertainty and anonymity to certainty and fame. I watched these characters grow and accept change like too few people do.

Most of all, I enjoyed the writing. It didn't drag me down with false bravado, but carried me through the scenes and showed me their emotions effortlessly. The characters stayed true to themselves and their actions made sense, even Parker's whose motives weren't revealed until the end.

And you know how I'm always complaining about the annoying point of view changes usually between first person voice and third limited, well, it turns out it doesn't matter one bit when it's done right. From the beginning the story is scattered with Jake's blog entries and occasional emails, which feel like just extension to the dialogue. Jake's voice is clearest in his postings.

I read the ebook, but I'm still eyeing the hardcover. It's that good.

Rameau's Review Archive: A Lot Like Love (FBI/US Attorney #2) by Julie James

Originally published April 16th 2012.

Synopsis:
The FBI wants her cooperation.
As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city's top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there's only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother's release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.
As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This "date" with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment— one they're both determined to pull off even if they can't be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick's investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they're a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more.



A Lot Like Love by Julie James

Julie James has fallen was pushed stepped down from the pedestal of my unreasonably high expectations. She is, after all, just a woman who writes better contemporary romance novels than most.
This time I knew what to expect. I knew to expect characters that are strong and coherent, and I knew to expect a story that won't surprise me with its twists and turns but will effectively carry through and take the pressure off the romance. I knew to expect something believable--or as believable as the romance genre is capable of offering.

I like how Julie James does her research and how it shows in the daily details of a lawyer or a wine merchant. I like how Jordan teaches Nick about wine, looking at it, and tasting it. What I would have liked even more, if the passion a person or a character feels for his or her trade had shone through the text. For example, when Jordan explains that a wine's age affects its hue, she fails to elaborate how it affects it. For someone who works, lives, and breathes the stuff, that little detail should be clear as day and slip out in everyday discussion whether it bores the none wine enthusiasts or not. I know that when I start explaining physics I won't stop talking and pointing out little details until someone shuts me up or until I reach the limits of my knowledge.

Then there are times when the author should know to shut up. Writing the same word or expression over and over is like repeating a joke after it stops being funny. It's something I can live with, but I doubt it will ever fully stop nagging at me.

I didn't notice this, until Alicia pointed it out to me, but James likes to describe clothing and she likes to do it by saying he wore or she wore a lot. So I can say, there are some perks to not caring about everyday fashion--or fashion at all. Except Crocs. Even I won't wear them.

As to something that didn't affect the plot, but could have, I'm asking:

Why does Nick tell absolutely everyone that he works undercover and why does he tell absolutely everything about those undercover works of his? Telling his family about working undercover is one thing, spoiler telling a random sex buddy is anotherspoiler. The woman's confusion over his last name would have been enough to tip off the private detective, because apparently that was her only function. I wonder how such a blabbermouth survived doing that job for so long.

It's been a while--few days--since I read this book, and I can't think of much more to say. Other than to thank Alicia for recommending it to me. If the next two books I read from Julie James are as good as this, I'll be adding another author on my favourite authors list.

Review: Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse 13) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: paranormal romance

Target audience: adults

Form: pdf, e-book

Synopsis:

Sookie is going to face  sharp, unexpected turns and twists of fate. Nothing new, right? Ok, perhaps nothing new for the faithful readers of the series but it is supposed to be new to her. You see, she will have to redefine her love life and her social status. She will have to face the music after the magic revival of Sam Merlotte, her former boss and her business partner. She will be pursued and harmed and hurt. She will experience the force of true friendship and the bitterness of an estrangement. She will find her true partner for life. She will be shot at and wrongly accused of murder. Will she survive? It’s the last part, officially anything can happen and yet…and yet… you don’t have to be a Sherlock Holmes to guess the rest. Because the rest is the silence (and I would love to add ‘the silence of the lambs’ but I suppose I would get you spooked so let’s leave that out, ok? Just an innocent remark in parentheses).

My impressions (with spoilers):

Writing a book is a strange business. Sometimes you think you get all the ingredients for a great story and you find yourself one character or one scene short for a complete, unparallel disaster. Sometimes you think the whole enterprise is just a silly prank and you are wrong again. Finishing a popular series is even a stranger business. You already know it’s been a success, you have your devout audience, plenty of people have nourished their own expectations concerning the story and now they want you to deliver. What to do? Fulfill the wishes of your most faithful fans (hey, they deserve it! They’ve voted with their money and made it happen!)? Follow stubbornly and proudly your own vision (providing you’d had one at all)? Listening to your editor, publisher and marketing gurus who are whispering in your ear some uncomfortable truths (‘hey, it’s the last chance to earn a bit more, most probably not to be repeated any time soon!’)? All of the above? Neither of the above?

I completely agree that finishing a series is more daunting a task than starting one. I do applaud Ms Harris that she never went back on her word (she’d promised she wouldn’t follow the example of Twilight and her Sookie would never become a vampiress). Still the last Sookie novel left me cold, miserable, shrugging and sad. As I predicted some time ago (and no, I wasn’t alone) Sookie ended up with Sam. Yes, it was a kind of disaster. I’m writing it without even a drop of malicious satisfaction.

Yes, I used to like that silly Sookie girl and her supernaturally exciting albeit completely small-scale life in the middle of nowhere (read: the southern rural America). Some of the installments were better, some were worse but in those better ones I found really good observations about the contemporary America and its inhabitants – their hopes and fears dressed up as supernatural creatures of different but mostly bloody sorts. Meanwhile the last part sounded banal and boring, from the beginning to the very end, as if it was written by somebody else who just gritted her teeth and ploughed through the plot to finish the blasted thing once and for good. Yes, the book consisted of roughly the same elements as the previous ones but somehow the whole magic was gone and my interest was never stirred, not even once.

Now the list of my woes. Sookie predicaments rang hollow. Her love life went into a nose-dive with Eric so clearly out of the picture most of the time (if I had to be honest it had gone into a nose-dive even one or two installments earlier but at that point you still could hope). I didn’t care whether the unimportant and completely superficial crime riddle concerning the death of a certain white trash slut called Arlene would be solved or not. I didn’t enjoy the cavalcade of different, half-forgotten characters from previous parts the authoress forced to parade through more than half of the book without any sense, reason or fun. The new child of Eric, an ashen blonde called Katrin the Slaughterer, was almost comically bland compared to other vampires who had been presented in the heyday of the series. The almost- final sex scene between Sookie and Sam left me bored stiff and yawning (seriously, I bet sex in elderly nursing homes can be more hot than that). Nothing made sense. Nothing was new or clever or funny. Nothing worked anymore.

Final verdict:

Yes, I have been warned not to read this one. Yes, I couldn’t stop myself, especially that a friend lent me the book so I didn’t have to buy it. Yes, I regret it ended how it ended. Yes, I wasted an hour or two of my life again. Flames to dust… Now I need a pick-me-up rather badly. In fact it should be added to every copy of this novel for free.