Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 344

Review: JET SET JEFF: THE SCIENCE DEFENDER by Kenneth Harris

This is the story of Jeff and his jet pack. At first fumbling, Jeff continues his honorable goal of protecting his family. Then, pretty soon, he starts flying and saving the day. He sinks into that role pretty quickly.

His arch enemy was none other than Glue Dude. Glue Dude? What kind of villain was that? Well, he certainly brings out an interesting string of cohorts. Still, the foils were a little too convenient. It just seemed like it was all too easy for Jeff.
Story was short and easy. It was kind of cheesy in some areas, but you definitely get a respectable young hero in Jeff.
All in all, this is an okay comic book story. Good for kids!
 My rating: 3 stars

Review: THE SECRET LIVES OF SUPERHERO WIVES by Joynell Schultz

This was definitely an interesting spin to the whole superhero fable.

In this book, we have three women: Ariana, Emma, and Victoria.
Ariana is just starting off in her marriage to a superhero and soon realizes that it wasn’t what she’d thought it would be. Soon, she’s spending her nights alone while wondering if her hubby really is out there saving the world. Or is it just an excuse to get away from her? Or maybe it could have something to do with that new, hot red-headed super heroine that he’s taken under his wing? Could Ariana be competing with another woman for her husband’s attention?
Emma wants to have a child of her own, but is afraid that her superhero husband may not be able to produce with his super seed.
After a bitter divorce, Victoria just wants to forget all about her ex and move on. But how can she when he’s always around? Things take an interesting turn when her superhero gets amnesia and forgets how to control his powers. Now, it’s up to Victoria to help him remember by taking a stroll down memory lane that rekindles an old flame.
My favorite was Victoria and her quest to re-enter the dating scene while dealing with a superhero ex. I loved Capitán Rápido! The Kite was just a funny and lovable doofus.
It was endearing to see the women and their struggles to playing second fiddle. But the reader soon realizes that these women are not exactly “powerless” when it comes to support, and they’ll prove it when they help their husbands save the world in the end.
Three marvelous stories that unite to one epic tale!
Light, airy, and witty! Nice cover illustration, too!
 
My rating: 5 stars

Review: THE SUPERHERO’S TEST by Lucas Flint

17-year old Kevin discovers that he’s the son of a superhero soon after he displays massive strength at a new school in Texas. His father tells him that he was destined to come into his powers. Cool! Question was: What were his powers? That’s what we’re trying to find out in this story.

Meanwhile, a master villain that was once defeated by his father escapes prison looking to exact revenge for his son. Who’s his son? Of course, it would be none other than the bully at school. So now Kevin must train to protect himself.
This is basically about a young kid coming to terms with his adolescence while learning how to use his super powers. Story kinda has a Smallville (Superman’s young story) feel.
This sounded kinda cool at first, but I could not get over how much the boy talked. He talked and talked and talked. What was he a girl? I also thought the whole discussion on Neohero biology was super dull. The bulk of the story centers on the boy being schooled. It’s just one, big, LONG test.

My rating: 3 stars

ACTION FIGURES, ISSUE 1: SECRET ORIGINS by Michael Bailey

Carrie is a 16-year old smart wise-crack. She’s also a teen superhero (she got em’ from an alien that dropped on Earth.) The thing is that she’s not the only one at her new school. Apparently, there’s a whole odd-ball group of them. They get to know each other and become fast friends. Pretty soon, they’re having to contend with an evil robot terrorizing the city. Of course, with them being kids and all, they step back and let the real superheroes handle it.

Still, why shouldn’t they get in on the action, too?
This was a cool story. I liked how these kids were fumbling with their powers and learning how to save the world. It was the story of a B-squad superhero team. It was like reading a comic book without the pictures. Of course, I didn’t really buy the evil robot angle, but young readers will definitely get a kick out these kids.
My rating: 3 stars

Review: DIARY OF A TEENAGE SUPERHERO by Darrell Pitty

Story is basically what it says: It’s a diary.

A boy wakes up in a seedy motel room with no memory. A dying man nearby tells him he must find The Swan or The Agency. O-kay.
I couldn’t get over how daunting and clichéd this was. The whole thing was a play-by-play diary.

My rating: 2 stars

Review: WORST.SUPERHERO.EVER by Scott Baron

These are short stories of bungling superheroes, which was an interesting concept.  The Hero Arc makes a fumbling debut in these tales. I thought they would’ve had a funny spin to it, but I couldn’t get over how tedious they were. I mean, for short stories, they sure are long.

These stories had an interesting angle, but they weren’t too impressive. Nice graphic cover though!
 My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: UNORTHODOX by S. Peters-Davis

Kendra Spark is an author of romance-thrillers with not only the crafty skill for the written word but also the plaguing ability to see apparitions. Seeing ghosts would certainly inspire some mysterious plots. But who would've thought that she would get thrown into a mystery of her own.

After witnessing the death of her friend, Kendra can't shake the guilt and wonders if the serial case her friend was working on had anything to do with it. Perhaps her psychic abilities could come in handy. That, along with the aid of her recently deceased BFF now parading as a ghost. Kendra must be sly and savvy if she's going to quell her reputation of "talking to air" while hunting down a serial killer and trying to get her next book out. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! How will she meet the publicist, do promo ads, fulfill her publisher's contract, and catch a killer before his next strike?
Murder, ghosts, psychics, the writer's life--this story had everything I so enjoy in a good book. It's certainly an "unorthodox" tale. Well-written and captivating, this gripping thriller entices the reader from beginning to end. I look forward to more Kendra Spark novels.
 
My rating: 5 stars

Review: DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART by Marie Lavender

Two high school friends that have known each other their whole lives will be separated for the first time ever.  Jenna and Reese will realize how much they mean to each other in “Without You.”

Plain Victoria has always been envious of her friend’s attractiveness, how men desired her. Just once, she’d like to know what that’s like. After all, “wasn’t there more to this existence than work, and feeding her cat, before she spent her evenings alone reading a book or taking a relaxing bath?” (65) This time, she’s letting the reins loose in “Strange Heat;” however, she’ll soon realize that when you play with fire, sometimes you get burned.
Andcan a battered woman learn to forget the severe trauma and find the strength to love and trust again? “Somehow, you’ve got to learn to push forward, keep moving on until one day, you don’t think so much about it. Maybeyou’ll always remember. Maybe it will haunt you in some small way. But, being a survivor can strengthen you too. We shouldn’t let our fears paralyze us, Caitlyn. Believe me, I still feel it. But not as much as I used to.” (276) Stillbattling with their demons, Caitlyn and Jack struggle to break free from their pasts and find comfort in each other. This one was probably the best and the most gripping.
Directions of the Heart is a well-written and lovely compilation of love and friendship. Although long-winded at times, the stories are genuine and endearing. The author certainly knows the way to readers’ hearts. A fun, delightful read!
 
My rating: 4 stars

Review: HER LAST AFFAIR by Clara James

Allie, an investigative journalist, has just discovered she has leukemia. She doesn’t want to die in a hospital, so she vows to make the most of it while she still can. So she learns how to have a fling from her flirty friend since Allie has never been the one-night-stand type. But you’d be surprised what dying can do to your priorities.
The whole novella is a play-by-play of each of her affairs in sexually explicit detail. It all begins with the night of 3 times and continues with more affairs from men of the past. It’s nothing but sex. Of course, you remember why she’s doing this and you feel bad for her, but c’mon! Enough with the sex already! Not surprised that Allie gets addicted to the sex.
Suddenly an old flame, the one that got away, may be the love of her love, but how will it end for them? How will it end for her her? It ends in a cliffhanger.
 My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: DEADLY FORTUNE by Jade Allen

$2 million dollars? That’s what Rachel found one muddled morning as she was reluctantly getting ready for work at her dead-end job. Suddenly, she’s on top of the world. Then a strange call comes through about the money, saying if she doesn’t give it back, she’ll be sorry. And that’s when tall, dark hunky Dylan shows up with a mission to protect her at any cost. Should she trust him?

Feeling doubtful, Rachel joins him with unanswered questions. It doesn’t take long before the two jump into a hot, steamy affair, and, pretty soon, it all becomes about sex. Sex and running—that’s all you get in this story.

Story is quick, but dawdling in some areas, which mainly concerns the money laundering scheme.
 
My rating: 3 stars