Rita Herron: Marry Me, Maddie

Marry Me, Maddie
Rita Herron
Published August 1, 2001 by Love Spell
ISBN: 0505524333
363 Pages

Synopsis
A down home Southern romance between a fiery redhead and a reformed bad boy; both pursuing their careers, neither looking for what they found.

Chase, Lance and Reid are blood brothers who made a pact to remain bachelors forever. Chase, the only not literal brother, takes this very seriously as he considers Lance and Reid his only family. Maddie, their sister, he remembers at the knobby-kneed girl with pigtails that used to follow them around everywhere.  Boy, has she grown up.

After a public break-up with longtime boyfriend Jeff, Maddie is back on the market, and looking for some fun. Can Chase keep his hands off her when all he wants to do is the opposite? 


Musings
Ick. I won’t give it a terrible rating, since it’s not bad for what it is, but I don’t think I will pursue many others by this author. The plot lines don’t twist, there is no depth or mystery, and the characters seem to fall into silly situations. So if you are looking for a quick, flirty, summer read – this book is for you.

I didn’t like the split attention between two possible couples, and the depth could have easily been there with a little more attention (the mystery of Maddie’s parents, the sabotage, and Chase’s history). The author just needed to dig a little deeper and quit repeating the same thing over and over…

It started out strong, but quickly got weak and stayed there. The sex wasn’t even that riveting (or believable). I had to force myself to finish the book.

2.5 – Caution: Read only if you are into cheesy harlequin romance.

-Rita

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Karsten Knight: Wildfire

Wildfire
Karsten Knight
Published July 26, 2011 by Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1442421177
400 Pages

Synopsis
Adopted girl gets in a brutal fight with a chick at school and then has a negative confrontation with her murdering sister, which results in her sister disappearing, and her (Ashline) transferring to a boarding school in the middle of nowhere. Enter random friends and strangers. Then weird things start to happen. It seems the core group of kids has been summoned to the school by a blind psychic who talks to people who aren't there, and - oh yeah - they are all reincarnated gods and goddesses. Adventures ensue, including learning about their powers AND each other. Relationships form, drama erupts. Balance cute guys, evil plots, a manipulative sister, and an end confrontation that leaves you guessing.

Musings
Hmm.... I kept waiting for this book to start. It had a good idea, but the follow through lacked punch. After the first 100 pages, I kept looking at the amount of pages left and thinking, "he's not really leaving himself much time for rising action." or "I bet there is some major twist or ah-ha at the end that makes it all worth it!" Alas, no.... I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but was highly disappointed when it was over.

I chose this novel purely because it was girls youth fiction written by a man (and not a girly man either). I was interested to see how he would tell the story, especially from a female heroine's point of view. I suppose he did as well as some female authors, but overall I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be.

There are several odd things about this story. Eve didn't have any clear motivation to act the way she did, other than being a confused, spoiled brat. And, why did the author spend so much time introducing characters if he wasn't going to do anything with them? Especially the ones he killed off. What propose did they serve to the story? Maybe it is because the story isn't finished yet, but I felt kinda taken in by the whole thing.


SPOILER
The story acts like you know nothing about all the random gods and goddess it haphazardly pulls from different cultures, then expects you to know at the end that Kokopelli is the trickster. At least, I think it expects you to know, cause if you don't, the end is major confusing and kind of a letdown.
END SPOILER

**As long as you don't skip ahead that is not much of a spoiler, and may give you some additional insight to the last page...

Knight had all the gods ever made up in history at his disposal.  Why did he choose the ones he did? Humph. Great possibilities, poor execution. So what? You're a goddess, now what? What's the point? What major thing are you expected to do with your life? Is the fate of the world on your shoulders? What makes you special, other an having cool powers? Oh, you're waiting to die so you can be reincarnated... That's... Cool... Bah!

The idea of the Cloak is a very cool concept. It left me wanting to know much more, and almost being willing to read the sequel to this book, when it comes out. And yes, unless the publisher fires the author, there will be a sequel. This book did not resolve in anyway, and set itself up for continuation. Guess I'll wait and see.

Finally - i just have to say - teenage sexuality kinda freaks me out in current youth fiction. I guess I am getting old, but when not written well, I can't help but wonder, what is wrong with these kids parents? And if the guy already graduated, and the girl is not a senior... Is that statutory rape? I don't really remember the genera of youth fiction from when I was growing up. We had kid books about horses or cartoony RL Stein monsters. If you wanted to read something with a little more oomph, you went for adult fiction by authors who weren't as wordy as others. I read Catherine Coulter and John Saul as a teenager. Some youth authors do it well by implying the sex scene or skipping over it entirely, but I don't really want to read about two kids having sex. It makes me feel icky.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone without a specific reason. ....

-Rita

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Maggie Stiefvater: Forever

Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publish Date: July 12, 2011
Pages: 390

Goodreads Synopsis:
"The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater.
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in."

This is the conclusion to the three part series, and was way better than Linger. Although I will say - the ending was very abrupt, but it left you with the ability to hope for the best.

Previous Post: Shiver & Linger

Carrie Vaughn: Kitty

Title: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Publish Date: Nov 1, 2005
Pages:  259

Goodreads Synopsis:
Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, but it's Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew?



Title: Kitty Goes to Washington
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Publish Date: July 1, 2006
Pages: 321

Goodreads Synopsis:
Talk radio meets supernatural fantasy in Carrie Vaughn's second adventure to feature Kitty Norville, a popular late-night radio host who happens to be a werewolf. In Kitty Goes to Washington, the lovable lycanthrope is subpoenaed to attend upcoming Senate hearings regarding paranormal beings. After Kitty consults with her lawyer, she reluctantly agrees to go to Washington. As a rogue wolf without a pack and no territorial home (see Kitty and the Midnight Hour), her brief stay in D.C. may even be a kind of vacation. Upon her arrival, she is accosted by Alette, the vampiric Mistress of the City, who insists that Kitty stay with her. The matriarchal bloodsucker says that she fears for Kitty's safety and even assigns her bodyguards; but as the renowned radio host sees more of the city and meets a group of peaceable lycanthropes that include a hunky were-jaguar, she begins to realize that the Senate hearings are only the tip of the iceberg of the complex and highly volatile subject of supernatural beings. Are they human? Do they have the same rights as everyone else? Or are they a disease that should be eradicated? While pondering these issues, Kitty becomes a prime target in a dangerous political game that includes a witch-hunting senator, an unethical doctor, and a reporter who will do anything to get an exclusive interview with Kitty.

Wait - what?!? no Cormac? no TJ? no magical succubus needs to satisfy all readers?
Yeah, that's right. I feel like this author took a page out of Laurell's books, then tore it to shreds then pasted it back together with pieces missing. She has a lot of the same attitudes as LKH, but it falls a little flat. Also, as she builds all these different possible romantic interests, the one you are led to wish for - AAANTT! not happening. The character you didn't pay attention to, or really give a hoot about gets the girl....I say again - wait...what?!?

When I found out Cormac went to prison while Ben gets to be the werewolf, I decided I didn't need to read any further in the books. While they were fun reads - I am not into disappointment.