Books By Their Cover

Friday, May 20, 2011

Tempest Rising

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Grade: 2.5 stars out of 5

Tempest’s mother left her, her father, and her two younger brothers six years ago for the ocean. On Tempest’s seventeenth birthday, she will make the same choice: to remain on land or to live in the ocean. Because of Tempest’s seventeenth birthday, she will become a mermaid just like her mother, but unlike her mother, Tempest is vehemently against the idea. She wants to travel abroad, become an artist, be there for her father and brothers, and continue to catch the waves with her on-and-off again boyfriend, Mark. As the dark ocean calls to her and a new boy shows up, Tempest finds the decision harder than she expected especially as the lives of thousands rest of her shoulders.

Tracy Deebs likes to dance around words. Many times while I was reading I wanted to cross out some phrases because they were so unnecessary. For example, “He was in here, doing this, not because he was in the mood to play anymore than I was, but because he didn’t want to leave me alone” (289 of ARC). This pattern of writing comes up frequently: blah blah blah not because blah blah, but because blah blah blah. Be direct, say what needs to be said. I couldn’t really enjoy the novel because this and some other glaring writing styles kept staring back at me. The other “glaring” detail I noticed was the author’s love for dashes. A majority of those dashes could have been replaced by simple commas or eliminated altogether. I dare you, to those who own a copy, to open up a random page and not find an em dash.

I had trouble sinking my teeth into Tempest’s relationships. Tempest Rising is on the borderline between “love” and “lust. More than half the time I swear it’s lust. I wanted a lot more from the novel in terms of dialogue and character connections before drooling all over each other. SPOILER [highlight to read]: when Tempest cheats on Mark, I expected Tempest to confess and live up to her mistakes. But she doesn’t and that really disgusted me. The ending really really pissed me off because it was a cop-out. I needed Tempest to face her punishment, but she gets away looking like the good guy when clearly she was just as guilty.

The world building was vivid and nicely executed. Having read about mermaids and other sea creatures before, I’m no stranger to the underwater world. Deebs managed to differentiate between each sea creature while still keeping intact the traits that make them “sea creatures”.

What Tempest Rising excelled in was the emotional turmoil that drove the book along. Readers can feel the angst that Tempest dealt with when deciding life’s choices. The little glimpses of the mother’s disappearance were evident in the other characters, fleshing them out instead of being just mindless secondary characters.

But don’t knock down the fight scenes. Tempest Rising had rough, hands-on fighting and wasn’t afraid to kill off some people. A little sad twist in the end.

Tempest Rising could have been a contender, but the writing style of Tracy Deebs was not for me. The nuances of the novel kept me from really enjoying what other readers seemed to love.

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Published: 2011 May 10; hardcover

Source: ARC from Walker Books for blog tour

Amazon

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Trial by Fire

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [review of prequel]

Grade: 4.8 stars out of 5

Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ Raised by Wolves series is fast becoming my favorite teen paranormal series because of the fact that she keeps the plot going and focused. Whereas many paranormal fictions would drift off into the realm of romance and lust and excessive flowery descriptions about eye color, Raised by Wolves and its sequel, Trial by Fire, sticks to the action.

Byrn is the alpha of the underdog (or should I say underwolf) pack. Consisting of a handful of teenagers, several children, one full grown male werewolf, and more female werewolves than any other packs, the Cedar Ridge Pack is always on the defense. And with Byrn being the alpha and a human alpha at that, she is constantly pressured. Second-in-command Devon’s brother, alpha to the Snake Bend Pack, is only making things worst. When a renegade wolf leaves the Snake Bend Pack asking for help from Byrn, life becomes a ticking time-bomb as Bryn struggles to figure just what to do.

Trial by Fire is an intricate mind game that tries to shake its readers from its tail. Just when readers think that they might have figured out what is happening and what would happen next, Barnes would spin readers around. Trial by Fire keeps its readers on their toes and fidgeting to find out what’s coming up. The novel is unafraid to take risks and twists and it pays off; Trial by Fire is nothing like I’ve read before and is becoming one of my favorite Were novels.

Forget everything about girls being the damsel in distress because Byrn can kick ass. Despite not being able to shift into a wolf, Byrn manages to hold her own and can prove it as readers would soon find out. What struck me as Bryn being a great protagonist was her connection to her emotions and the rest of the pack. She’s very in tune or at least tries very hard with the people around her. Trial by Fire demonstrates the little touches with a light shimmer of the hand or just a quick glimpse in the eye can speak volumes. Byrn can be the hard female, but also the insecure and naïve young teenager. Trial by Fire is just another growing process for her.

What I love about the relationship between Bryn and Chase is the toned down attitude. The little scenes with just Chase and Bryn are far and little making me relish each one so much more. There’s nothing sexually explicit about their relationship but the light brush of their lips, cuddling together, and being in each other’s presence gives me plenty enough to be satisfy. Chase is very much the protective male, but still understanding Byrn’s responsible as alpha. He just is there whenever Bryn needs him.

Readers should expect to come out of Trial by Fire with more knowledge than ever about some characters (coughAlicough). There were some wonderful character developments and enriching details about Weres and Packs. Hierarchy and strategies are important; there are many factors each action every character makes, which readers may not know until the end. Things fall perfectly together in the end with an ah-ha! moment.

Would recommend this series to paranormal fans. I really do.

Cover A-

Published: 2011 June 14; hardcover

Source: review copy from publicity firm

Amazon

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell

cuter in person

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell by Cricket Rumley

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell speaks for itself. Charming and funny with a sassy protagonist that’s sure to keep things lively. Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt brings to attention the life of the wealthy with their many connections, racial tension, and the pressure of being truthful to yourself while still trying to please others.

Jane Fontaine Ventouras has gone through countless boarding schools until eventually she ends up back South to her grandmother. Not only is Jane expected to turn over a new leaf, but she has to participate in the Magnolia Maid pageant. Is this a nightmare or what?

Jane is one smart aleck who has had difficult past: a father who is in and out of her life because of work and a mother who passed away from a disease. Her history may be the reason why Jane has a hard shell to crack and why I have a little tear in my eye in one scene. But never say Jane isn’t fair when it comes to people; Jane defends the other belles when trouble comes around and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

The progression of the novel mainly features Jane’s growth and her acceptance into the role as a leader who steps out of traditions. Along the way, Jane starts to connect to her mother in a way she never imagined. Jane and the other belles pull antics that will leave readers chortling and waiting for whatever happens next. Getting to that point, however, was not all rainbows and flowers; expect fierce attitudes, stiff competition and one mother who perfected passive aggressiveness.

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell was one heck of a book about girl power and finding your roots.

Cover B+/A-

Published: 2011 June 14; paperback

Source: review copy from publicity firm

Amazon

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Will Work for Prom Dress

Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

I love watching reality/competition shows like Project Runway. Will Work for Prom Dress was a dream come true for me because it corporate an easy fun, fashion inspired work of fiction to help make time pass more enjoyable. However, that was not the case. Will Work for Prom Dress was more than that.

Girls dream of their perfect dress may it be for their wedding or prom just like Quigley. But the perfect dress does not come cheap, which is why Quigley needs a job (after being fired from her old one because of an incident). She and best friend, Ann, are hired to be…models! It may sound glamorous if you had the figure like Ann who immediately attracts the attention of all the fashion designers, but when you’re just a regular teen like Quigley it’s mortifying. Luckily there’s Zander who’s willing to take a chance on Quigley and it might just be a win-win situation for the both of them.

Will Work for Prom Dress takes a simple narrative that evokes a sense of fun and nostalgia. When I read Will Work for Prom Dress I remember the frustration of being a reasonably price prom dress that still looked fun and flirty. Readers’ like me can connect to Quigley through the ups and downs. However what Quigley does have what I never had was working with a designer (a student) and if you think all male designers are gay, you are so wrong. Zander appreciates Quigley’s beauty and crafted molds clothes that fit her body. Quigley and Zander collaborate and find a balance where it embraced both of their talents.

I would advise that readers of Will Work for Prom Dress have some vague notion of dress materials or things related to fashion designing. While there were not many instances that could confuse readers, a little outside knowledge definitely would not hurt.

As I mentioned before Will Work for Prom Dress offers a “more” than what is face value.

There’s a rivalry between Quigley and another art student. The rivalry becomes confusing when the student shows a romantic interest in Quigley and rejection meant more than hurt feelings. Won’t spoil anything huge, but love triangles can always be fun when the main character doesn’t even realize it. The ending, however, was just a bit too much. It offered too much of a happily ever after that borders on the impossible.

With Zander there’s an allure of mystery behind him. He has a past that tucks itself nicely into the story without being an overpowering focal point.

The friendship between Ann and Quigley was nicely done and one of better, equal, friendships I’ve read.

In all Will Work for Prom Dress a fun first time read and fills the craving I have for fashion and sweet crushes. While I do not plan on reading it again seeing as how it misses that spark that pulls you in and a climax that made the novel so worth it, I found Will Work for Prom Dress to be enjoyable.

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Published: 2011 February 8; paperback

Source: review copy from publicity firm

Amazon

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Discovery of Witches Giveaway!

Thanks to an awesome person from Penguin I have one (1) copy of A Discovery of Witches and a set of buttons to give to you readers!

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES begins on a late September afternoon when Diana Bishop, a bright, young historian studying amidst the ancient stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian library, calls up a medieval manuscript of alchemical illustrations. As soon as she picks it up Diana realizes that the book—Ashmole 782—is an enchanted object of untold power. As it turns out, Diana is not only a first-rate scholar of seventeenth- century chemistry but also a descendant of a long and distinguished line…of witches. She’s spent her adult life distancing herself from her supernatural destiny, and after a quick look at Ashmole 782 she sends the book back to the stacks and her magical history with it.

However, Diana isn’t the only one who has noticed that the manuscript has resurfaced, and her discovery immediately sets the fantastical underworld stirring. It soon becomes apparent that Ashmole 782 is a coveted treasure that’s been lost for centuries and Diana is the first and only being that has met the terms of its spell. Soon she finds herself beset by members of all three magical species—daemons, witches, and vampires—who swarm upon Oxford, seeking the text. She finds a crucial ally in Matthew Clairmont, a dashing geneticist and a vampire, whose preeminence in his field has been achieved after years upon years upon years of study. The two team up despite an age-old enmity between their species, becoming closer over candlelit dinners, supernatural yoga classes, and a trip to Matthew’s ancestral home (well, castle) in southern France.

As their challenges grow, so do Diana’s powers, and together she and Matthew must battle the forces rallying against them to unlock the secrets of a manuscript whose pages promise clues to a mysterious past and uncertain future. Equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES is a mesmerizing and addictive read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Harkness is a professor at history at the University of Southern California. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. She also writes an award-winning wine blog, goodwineunder20.blogspot.com.

To enter just fill the form below! Giveaway ends on May 29th!