Review | "On The Rocks" by Sawyer Bennett

This week's review is over book one in the "Last Call" romance series by Sawyer Bennett which I downloaded from Amazon for free. Currently there are four books released in the series, with a fifth set to come out in March, so if after reading this review you're interested in checking out the book for yourself, there is some definite marathon potential.
As always, before I get into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic. 
Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways. 
Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.
What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny. 
Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.
Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

I have a decent amount of notes so I'll just get started:
The first thing I noticed was some of the wording choices were a little eye roll worthy, followed closely by the fact that Hunter doesn't come across like a rugged, make you swoon sort of forbidden guy- more like a creep. He deliberately tries to make Gabby uncomfortable to emphasize sexual tension between them/take advantage of her feelings and that's not OK. In real life he'd be looking at a restraining order more than a date. 
The story is written to be realistic, and by that I mean it's supposed to sound like a 22 year old contractor and a 27 or so year old ex-surfer, but it felt forced to try to get those voices to come through genuinely. 
Much like "In Kelly's Corner" this book tries to be edgy, which made it fall flat to me. It needs to be effortless otherwise it just seems like everything is trying too hard. 
Literally everyone except Brody and Alyssa acts like a spoiled child and refuses to communicate like they adults they are.
This is yet another book that uses sex as a way to resolve problems. That's not just unrealistic, it's also unhealthy to try to sell to readers. It's just asking for resentment to start building up, especially when, like I said, the characters aren't so great at communicating with each other. 
There's a part in the story where Gabby "Can't go over to Hunter's" because his ex is there. This isn't him imposing that rule, either- and she isn't there for them to discuss things either. She and her brother are visiting, so what is she going to do? Stay away from her guy for an extended period of time? Sure it would be awkward at first, but she should still go.
A whole group of characters try to push Gabby to sway Hunter in one way or another regarding his life choices. Apparently they all forgot that he's pushing thirty and capable of making his own decisions/trying to force anyone to do anything never works out. 
All in all, it was a quick read. Again, I read critically so I can do these reviews, but just because I had a lot of things I noticed could have been improved upon doesn't mean that I thought the book was bad. I don't think I'll continue with the series, but if it's available for free and you're up for a quick romance, there's really nothing to lose in giving it a shot.

Review | "Inevitable" by Angela Graham (Harmony #1)

This week's review is over yet another ebook available for free download from Amazon as a way to entice readers to buy the rest of the series.
Before I get into my thoughts, though, here's the book's description:

After experiencing a humiliating breakup, twenty-two-year-old Cassandra Clarke is fresh out of college and living a simple solitary life without any intentions of pursuing love anytime soon.
When the estate next door sells, the last thing Cassandra expects is the unnerving attraction she feels for her sinfully handsome neighbor, Logan West, the young and charming single father with a playboy reputation.
It’s through Oliver, Logan’s four-year-old son, who keeps popping up in her childhood tree house, that she slowly begins to catch glimpses of the compassionate and wounded man Logan has hidden beneath his strong exterior.
Cassandra knows it's wrong and that she's heading for another heartbreak. Logan will never be able to give her what she wants…love.

This book has an over 4 star average on Goodreads which was promising to me when I started reading it on a trip I took at the end of February. 
I, however, did not like this book. Almost at all. The first few chapters, while not good, were entertaining enough to keep me from closing down the book right away, but things got worse for me. 
Right away I noticed that Cassandra came across as not only a "man hater" but a woman hater as well. She was rude and came across as having very strong "slut shaming" opinions that I didn't like reading. However, a little over halfway through, she becomes sweet in a way that, to me, came across as trying to erase her less than ideal personality in the beginning. 
The dialogue was rough and the writing itself was missing something. It didn't feel like a 22 year old woman telling the story so it lacked a lot of authenticity. Also, a lot of the backstory is told through clunky exposition.
Logan is just as unlikable as Cassandra (really, all the characters are) and was very clearly inspired by the new "fifty shades" bandwagon image of a love interest. He's a rich, powerful guy who happens to be attractive and thus has no need to be a decent human being and comes across like a lowly frat boy stereotype- completely playing off the over-used "womanizer with deep issues" cliche`. 
The characters don't know how to communicate. 
There were times where Cassandra says she's acted sexy and alluring in Logan's presence, which contradicts how the story actually plays out almost entirely.
The major cliffhanger doesn't make me want to read the next book at all, and from what I've read in reviews, the sequel is lacking compared to this first installment. 

All in all, I didn't like this book and personally wouldn't recommend it, but I'm in the minority. If it's still available for free, give it a try yourself, but I wouldn't say to purchase it.

Book Review | "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

I am one of the last people to read this week's book, it seems. First published in 1988 "The Alchemist" is an acclaimed but rather polarizing book among readers. Before I get into my thoughts on it, here is the book's Goodreads description:

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. 

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I knew a lot of people loved it, but I also knew a lot of people were less than impressed. 
I am in the middle ground. I wouldn't say it's a must read, but I didn't hate the story either. I did have a few issues, however that are the reason I didn't really enjoy the book.
The book, while trying to be deep and philosophical, seemed to drag on greatly.
 The time period is a little ambiguous, making visualizing the story difficult.
There was some repetition and word cushioning. For such a short book, it makes me wonder how much further the story might have been cut down had those not been present. 
This book is very spiritual/religious in its tones, so anyone who doesn't like those sorts of reads should be aware of that before beginning. 
The "alchemist" part shows up halfway through the book.

I can see why people like this book, but it has pretty specific demographics that not everyone will fit into. If you're interested but not ecstatic about reading it , like I was, then I say borrow it and give it a try. 

Review | "Seriously...I'm Kidding" by Ellen DeGeneres

This week's review is over another audiobook by yet another extremely talented and funny woman, Ellen DeGeneres! I've been a fan of hers for years and finally got the chance to listen to her latest book (my first experience with her published work).
I don't have much to say in this review, so I'll just get right into it, but first, the book's Goodreads description:

I've experienced a whole lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you'll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I've put together for you in this book. I think you'll find I've left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I'm saying is, let us begin, shall we?

I'd like to say I loved this book, and had I listened to it before "Bossypants" I might have, but since that wasn't the order in which I experienced the audiobooks, that's not the case. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, it was a quick listen that can easily be finished in around one sitting, but I didn't find myself adoring it and laughing out loud in response to what I was listening to. 
If you're looking for a memoir, this isn't it. It's a collection of anecdotes and a few personal feel good stories, but for the most part, it's kind of like a light hearted advice book. Sadly in formatting the book to be made up of stories, it felt scatterbrained at times and didn't really resonate with me too much. I find myself struggling to remember what was in the book rather than other monologues of hers from her shows (both her talk show and her past comedy specials) or hosting appearances. 
If you're a fan of Ellen, you'll like the book, but I recommend listening to it. I think if you read the physical book, it will lose some of its charm, Ellen's voice really brings the book alive and makes it feel like a podcast. 
If you're not a huge Ellen fan however, then you can pass on it, there isn't anything so spectacular in this book that it's a necessary read.

Review | "One Sweet Summer" by Cali MacKay

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's time for another review, this time over the first book of New York Times bestselling author Cali MacKay's "Mermaid Isle Romance" series. This is the first book by this author I've ever read, and sadly, I wasn't impressed. It was yet another free download from amazon, though, so if anyone is interested in checking it out, you don't have to worry about wasting money if you don't like it.
Anyway, before I jump into the review, here's the book's Goodreads description:

Riley Carter’s never found anyone who could live up to her first love, Thorsen Black. So imagine her surprise when, twelve years later, he shows up at the unique and quirky inn she manages on Mermaid Isle, off the coast of Maine. The sweet, gangly teen has matured into a sexy and handsome man, leaving her heart desperate to pick up where they left off.
It’s impossible for her to ignore the way her body instantly reacts to his touch and he's just the distraction she needs when she finds out the owners of the Siren Song Inn are selling it to Holt Enterprises. Holt only has eyes on the bottom line and Riley knows they’ll strip the inn of everything that makes it special, ruining not only the Siren, but devastating the island economy.
While fighting to save her beloved inn, Riley falls in love with Thorsen all over again. But when she’s faced with the real reason Thorsen’s on the island and his unbearable betrayal, will she be able to save the inn and her chance at true happiness?

This book is supposed to be a light romance, perfect for the summer or for a lazy day staying in, but in trying to get that point across, the story was redundant and almost sickly sweet. The plot was, in my opinion, terribly predictable, which isn't a huge surprise for chick-lit romance, but when it's too predictable on top of everything else, it can take some of the enjoyment out of reading.
The story did try to have tension though, it just wasn't necessary conflict, so it didn't add much depth to things and the drama just seemed melodramatic and overdone.
This was another book where the characters both are adamant about "taking things slow" that then flies right out the window just a chapter or two later. Speaking of slow, the relationship between the two lover interests gets very intense very quickly. I know they're supposed to be teenage sweethearts, but it's been years since they've seen each other, the old dynamic can't be the only reasoning they have to jump head first into things the way they do- making this a fine case of literary insta-love. Also, no one finds it at all strange that these two have only just begun to get to know each other and already taking huge steps in their relationship.
Thorsen is another male character who doesn't think things through completely before acting.
While trying to force the sweetness of their love, Thorsen gives Riley a nickname that doesn't quite fit, which would be fine if it weren't constantly repeated throughout the rest of the book as if repetition would convince the readers that it was a great idea.
Riley drove me insane with her inability to communicate with the other characters, which made me annoyed with her. Both her and Thorsen's flaws made me dislike them as characters because I didn't feel like, as a reader, I genuinely got to know them through the story. Sure exposition was given, as were descriptions, but it didn't read like an introduction, and they didn't develop much during the plot.
The ending wrapped up too cleanly considering the mess of a problem (that shouldn't have existed and could have been avoided but wasn't) that hung over the characters' heads.

In the end, I don't know if I would recommend this one. It's available for free, so like I said, there's nothing to lose by trying it out, but unless you have no other options, I would say you can definitely pass on it.

Review | "The Pirate's Wish" by Cassandra Rose Clarke

This week's review is over the sequel to "The Assassin's Curse" (Review here) so obviously there will be spoilers for the first book if you haven't already read it (though the book's synopsis kind of spoils itself). If you're read my review over the first book, you'll know that I was a little let down. I had bought both the books because the publishing company closed recently, making them more difficult to find- usually I only buy the first book in a series to see if I like it before purchasing the others, but because there won't be any reprints, I decided to purchase both the duology together. However, I didn't really enjoy the characters or the storyline, so I wasn't too excited going into the second book.
I wish I could say it was a pleasant surprise and that I loved "The Pirate's wish", but I didn't. I didn't dislike it, but I wouldn't have missed out on much had I not purchased it to begin with,
Before I go any further into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

 After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

The first thing I noticed that stuck out to me enough for me to take note of it was the phoned in love triangle/amorous drama. When characters aren't in a relationship and haven't discussed their feelings (which is a plot tool I don't buy with this storyline when the two main characters can read each other's thoughts and Ananna is a loud mouth in every other aspect of her life) I can't get behind throwing in a love triangle unless it pushes the story. It didn't add the intended tension, it just felt thrown in.

The pirates are far too judgmental of physical disfigurations. I mean, they're pirates! I'm sure plenty of them have some physical attributes that aren't exactly considered the norm. 

Much like in the first book, most of the drama and conflict is resolved too quickly for it to add anything to the plot making it all unnecessary and tedious to consider reading about. I kept wanting the conflict to go on longer so it would bring another dynamic to the story, so it would make me feel something, but it never did. 

The ending , while not getting into spoilers, seemed like it was written under a deadline and thus wasn't elaborated enough for it to make sense and not seem rushed and thrown together.

In the end, if you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one, but if you didn't care for it, then this isn't a necessary read by any means.

Review | "Witch Hunt" by S.M. Reine

This week is a two review sort of week due to not being in town to post next Wednesday.
Anyway, this week's second review is over another book that I was able to download for free from amazon. It's the first book in the "Preternatural Affairs"  urban thriller/paranormal series by fairly well known author S.M. Reine. As a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's "Otherworld" series, I was excited to read another story with a similar format. Before I get into my thoughts, though, here is the book's Goodreads description:

A brutal murder.

There are scratches on Cèsar Hawke’s arms, a discharged Glock on his coffee table, and a dead woman in his bathtub. Yeah, maybe he brought the waitress home for some fun — he was too drunk to remember it — but he knows for a fact that he didn’t kill her. He’s an agent with the Office of Preternatural Affairs. He doesn’t hurt people. He saves them.

The cops disagree. Now Cèsar is running.

The search for a shaman.

Isobel Stonecrow speaks with the dead…for the right price. She brings closure to the bereaved and heals broken hearts. But when she resurrects someone for the wrong client, she ends up on the OPA’s most wanted list.

One risky solution.

Tracking down Isobel is the last case assigned to Cèsar before he bolts. If he finds her, he can prove that he didn’t kill that waitress. He can clear his name, get his job back, and bring justice to the victim.

She’s just one witch. Cèsar has bagged a dozen witches before.

How hard can one more be? 

Right away, I can say that I liked this book well enough. I finished in around two days and didn't really find that I had to force myself to continue the story. That being said, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to add the other books of the series to the top of my to-read list.  
Cèsar came across as a the stereotypical macho cop, kind of pushing the routine to the point that I was rolling my eyes. Also, the story starts out in a way that makes it seem like I should already know the characters- which, as far as I know, readers don't. I'm not sure if there's overlap with any of the author's other series as far as the characters are concerned, but being the first book to this story arc, it's safe to bet not all the readers will be familiar with the author's other works. 
I noticed quite a few contradictions.
There was a point of the story seemed to blame victims of abuse for being in their situations by saying the murder victim wasn't "that kind of woman" meaning she wasn't the kind of woman who would get herself into that sort of a situation. I understood the meaning the author was trying to get across, but I can also see people finding it insensitive. 
There was some dialogue that didn't seem natural. 
For being a fugitive, Cèsar really doesn't know how to lie low. 
Towards the middle of the book, the plot began to get rushed and chaotic. The characters no longer communicated with each other and there was quite a bit of awkwardly timed exposition. 

Again, this book is available for free, so that already makes it worth a try, it wasn't horrible, after all. It's far from perfect, and I personally would recommend Kelley Armstrong's books over this series. However, it's a quick, fun read, so I don't see much harm in checking it out.