Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 361

Review: JENNY POX by J.L. Bryan

Avoid her like the plague.
After reading Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper, I was looking forward to reading another story by J.L. Bryan.


Jenny, nicknamed “Jenny Pox,” has a rare anomaly: her touch causes sores and blisters similar to the chicken pox, and they can be deadly. Ever since then, she wears long sleeves and avoids getting close to anyone. Of course that doesn’t make school any easier, especially when you’re on the outs with the meanest, most popular girl in school. Right away you feel for poor Jenny and you hope that the mean, bossy Ashleigh gets hers in the end. I had a feeling the finale would mirror a scene right out of Carrie, with Jenny’s powers wrecking havoc on the school. That would’ve been awesome.


Unfortunately, it doesn’t really turn out that way. About half way through the book, the story gets complicated and weirder. It completely deviates from Jenny Pox and expands to other paranormals in the small hick town. Apparently Seth and Ashleigh have a similar yet different touching power (Seth heals and Ashleigh can transfer pleasure.) What kind of freaks are these kids?
It was nice seeing Jenny and Seth (total opposites in their powers) getting closer, but, again, certain parts in the story lagged with too many useless details on background scenes (I skimmed over these for the most part.)


I just feel that the story revolved more on religion and spiritual healing/destruction. It wasn’t what I expected. I think the Ghost Trapper series was better.

My rating: 3 stars

Review: ELLIE JORDAN, GHOST TRAPPER by J.L. Bryan

Ellie Jordan is a ghost trapper, plain and simple. She’s an investigator with a degree in psychology and an understanding of the paranormal—a true professional of her work. She’s also smart and intuitive, which are two other important assets going for her. On top of that, she also knows kickboxing, although I don’t know how that comes in handy when dealing with ghosts.
The ghost case she works on seems exciting and scary all at once. Her cases involve a lot of scientific knowledge and complicated tools. You may not understand all the schematics behind the investigation, which are very detailed, but the case is compelling and frightening enough to continue the story.
I also thought the author might have been too detailed in describing landscapes. I mean I get that certain scenes were meant to spook the readers (and they do!), but we didn’t need every minute detail of a plain, old house, especially when there was nothing going on (no ghost activity whatsoever.) Reader, nonetheless, will appreciate the historical background of the mystery as well as the dark, finely-tuned writing style.
This was a thrilling and creepy ride. It’s a must-finish if you ever start it.  
An interesting ghost story!
My rating: 4 stars

Review: SAY WHEN by Tara West

When sex with your fiancé is making you vomit, then you know that spells out “doom.”


Christina had just about had enough. Her job was to marry into wealth and “disregard his foul breath, little penis, and short temper.” (12) But she was sick and tired of her boorish, bossy fiancé, and she wanted nothing more than her freedom. She wanted something more.


On top of that, her BFF is “a terrible parent, a lousy daughter, and can’t hold a job to save her life.” (17) “Not only was my friend a slut, but she was a stupid slut.” (23) She was a bad influence on Christina and liked to boss her around to. Yes, Christina definitely needed to eliminate these people.


Then, on the worst night of her life, Christina literally bumps into André, the sexy, Latin stud. Oooh La La!
But André was supposed to be a hot one-night stand, not husband material (he was a poor mechanic, after all.) Can Christina defy the expectations imposed by her overbearing mother and follow her heart for once?


The two have an amazing chemistry and a sweet connection that lasts throughout the book. However, the two also suffer from old wounds and personal demons.
Candid and humorous, this spicy love story is full of lovable and relatable characters that you root for from page 1.
My rating: 4 stars

Review: SOPHIE’S SECRET by Tara West

Bound by their gifts, A.J., Krysta, and Sophie are best friends attending high school. A.J. has visions, Krysta sees the dead, and Sophie is telepathic.


Together, the three go to school and contend with the traditional teenage angst and drama while dealing with their gifts, which seem to be growing stronger.


Sweet, shy, formerly fat Sophie never felt comfortable in her own skin. For once, she would like the boy she’s crushing on to notice her. How would she do that and hide the fact that she can hear thoughts?


Story brought me back to the memories of high school. I always hated when people put their feet on my desk, too. It was relatable as far as knowing what it’s like to crush on someone, to have “enemies,” to fight and stand up for yourself, to hate teachers that embarrass you, etc.


I thought that Sophie was too naïve to think that Jacob (boy she likes) was too cute and too perfect. He wasn’t. He was just using her to get out of detention and cheat on his tests. But, yet, she still liked him. Sophie was nice, but she was too nice. And her ability to hear other people’s thoughts only enabled her to want to help them.


I honestly thought this would be more of a mystery/thriller, but it was mostly drama. But the story was good though—relatable, quick, and easy.


My rating: 4 stars

Review: THE JUNGLE WITHIN by Charles M.

Evan and Katie had the picture-perfect marriage, it would seem.
While Evan lays unconscious after a terrible car wreck, Katie has an affair. Oh, wow.
“The symbol of their eternal love was broken.” (35)
Simple yet well-written, this soulful book immediately captures the reader, instigating deep empathy and profound thought.  I felt bad for Evan and thought the guilt eating at Katie was well-deserved. The first chapter kicked off nice and strong, but then confusion settles in the second chapter when Evan wakes up in the jungle…literally! What!? I thought he was lying comatose in the hospital. How did we get to the jungle?
The bulk of the book centers on Evan struggling in the jungle (I still don’t know how he got there.) I guess the jungle was really more of a metaphor because in Katie’s POV, Evan is still comatose. So Evan is battling the jungle in his mind? Yeah, I guess. So that’s “the jungle within?” Mmm, okay then. Suddenly he’s Tom Hanks in Cast Away.
Basically we have two characters in the jungle with Evan fighting to wake up and Katie struggling with her sin. Obviously the book is heavy on symbolism and religion. The writing had a poetic feel and the jungle descriptions were quite vivid, however, the story line weakened my interest after the first few chapters.

My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: THE GINGERBREAK COLLECTION by Victor A. Davis

“My medium of choice is the short story. I don’t know why they appeal to me so, but I suspect part of the reason is their bare-boned simplicity, much like a fairy tale. I consider it my job, as a writer, to lure you into my gingerbread house, my false paradise. I invite you to pick up these little breadcrumbs I’ve dropped, to follow my paths and tumble into my worlds. But make no mistake, I am the witch.” (Davis – Intro)
Judging by the title and the compelling introduction by Mr. Davis, one would expect to see a parallel to Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood. Of course, I wasn’t expecting an exact recap, but surely there would have to have been lost children, a wicked woman, or a big, bad wolf. Like the fairy tales, I anticipated something sinister and playful. But these stories weren’t like that. They were quite common, full of banality and predictability. Plus, there didn’t seem to be a unified theme.
Writing was okay, but the stories were unimpressive. I actually enjoyed the introduction more than the whole collection.

My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: FROM A POISON PEN by B.P. Smythe

These stories are true to its name—the work of a poison pen that bleeds its essence onto a page, mutating them into an ethereal form.
Judging from the title (and the cover, for that matter,) one would think that these are horror stories, but they’re not. Not really. Instead it has that sophisticated, dark irony. Yes, it does “explore the disturbing side of human nature,” but it’s played down so much that it kills the appeal. Mostly it was full of tedium and lag, and I expected more.

My rating: 2 stars

Review: REEJECTTLLON: A NUMBER TWO by Daniel Clausen

Alright, my first reaction was: What kind of title is that? REEJECTTLLON? What?
What is ReejecttIIon? ReejecttIIon is that which is not fit for the mainstream that work of fiction that is outside standardized thought, cultural hegemony, the dominant ideology, or any other label that represents what others admire and which this book is not; it is also, ironically, outside the subversive language I just used to subvert the mainstream; it is indifferent to the critique of the mainstream because it is too cool for that critique; thus it is the critique of the critique of the mainstream. The critique of the critique of the critique of the mainstream is called ReejectIIIon.
What?
It would seem that these guys were just making sh#t up.
The whole book was satirical skit of rejection in the forms of letters, idea pitches, cartoons, and flash fiction.
Some of this stuff was kind of funny, but most of it was just plain weird and I didn’t get it.
Not that I have anything against dark/weird comedies. In fact, I would almost classify this book as MAD Libs for authors.

My rating: 3 stars

Review: LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER by Christina Morgan

“Blood everywhere. It was all over me, too. The sound that came out of me after a few seconds of shocked silence was akin to that of an animal caught in a trap. I didn’t even think I was capable of making such a sound, but then again, I’d never discovered the man I loved murdered only inches away from me.” (2)
Imagine waking up next to a bloody, dead body and having no idea what happened. That’s the nightmare that Libby woke up to.
“Maybe I was too emotionally and physically drained. I guess back then I still believed in the system and that all that mattered was that I knew in my heart I hadn’t killed my own husband. At least, I was pretty sure I hadn’t.” (6)
Libby discovering the body and describing the shock in gruesome detail was a very good starting point, but then it deviated to the slow pace of standard protocol. Of course, that is the normal procedure when dealing with murder. Still, the character depicted the story with judicious finesse.  
Written in the POV of Libby, story delves into the mad and inquisitive ranting of a grieving widow while a killer runs free. But could Libby be the killer? Could she have done it and not remember? Could she be following in her father’s footsteps with the sadistic practice of murder?
The whole book plays out as a series of day-to-day entries following Libby’s indictment for the murder of her husband. Reader will be by her side as she faces detectives, lawyers, reporters, and potential suspects, trying to justify her innocence and fight for her freedom while ultimately trying to find the truth. What really happened that night?
But will she able to solve it in time? Before she gets a life sentence or…the death penalty?
A juicy, well-written mystery!

My rating: 4 stars

Review: DIAL L FOR LYNDA by Tracey Jane Jackson & Amanda Washington

Welcome to Linda and Lynda Detective Agency! Actually, they’re not really an agency, but they’re some pretty fine sleuths.
Harley and Addison are two of a kind, best friends since 6th grade. Harley is a beauty with a heart of gold and Addison is a spunky chick with a gun. The origin behind “Lynda” and the reason Addison uses it was interesting.
On the day that Harley gets fired from her job, she and Addison have a girl’s night out. The next day Harley is arrested for murder. What!? But the best part was the dead guy was her former boss. Oh, snap!
“That’s crazy.” And complete BS, because my bestie was smart. If she was going to kill anyone, she’d call me and set up an alibi.” (25)
Now the two, along with Addie’s smart lawyer brother and one HOTTIE detective, will do whatever it takes to prove her innocence. I enjoyed the witty foreplay between Addison and the detective. Ooh, that Jake was smooth and crafty!
The book had a great cast of characters, but I’d have to say that I related to Harley the most because she was a gal born on the wrong side of the tracks, always struggling to scrape up her pennies in life, and fighting tooth and nail to make her own way in the world. Of course, I certainly wouldn’t mind having rich “crazy, generous,” friends like Addie and Ash.
Told in the POV of these two zany broads, Dial L for Lynda is wacky murder mystery full of lovable characters and witty humor, and snarky repartee.
It’s Mission: Impossible meets Outrageous Fortune. A wildly fun read!

My rating: 5 stars