Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 371

Review: UNDERSTANDING SIN by Cleia M.

Thomas Fischer seems to have it all—lovely wife, money, a mansion, corporate career, even an insignificant affair. Yep, he was the arrogant bastard you just love to hate. Rachel is the pathetically devoted, bored, and lonely wife, who is sick and tired of Thomas’ affairs. But this was just a “political marriage”—a marriage just for show and not love.

The pace is intermittent and fleeting. The reader doesn’t get a chance to absorb the characters or the plot; story quickly shuffles from one character to another, missing out on scenes that could’ve been interesting, like, for instance, Thomas walking in on his wife in bed with another man.
Reading on, more and more characters come in to play. Initially, I was under the impression that the story centered on Thomas and his “sins,” but it didn’t seem to hold true. There were just too many characters. Additionally, when I found out that the new apartment might be haunted, I was expecting Thomas to go through a “Devil’s Advocate” thing with maybe even an actual devil showing up. That would’ve been awesome.
Sadly, this book was not what I expected.
My rating: 2 stars

Review: THE PUSHERS by Adam E. Morrison

Choices. We make them every day. But what if one last choice determined your fate? And you didn't know it?

All it might take is a push in the right direction. Or the wrong one.



My thoughts: Novel centers around a guy named Cal and a cast of flat, ambiguous characters. I found myself deciphering the point in all of it. The plot summary didn’t lend too much information on the story, yet I was willing to try to figure out the mystery. Driving a slow pace, the story only encouraged bemusement and monotony.
Overall, this was a mediocre story that didn’t grab me as much as I thought it would.
My rating: 2 stars    

Review: TWO FOR THE HEART by Ekta R. Garg

This book is basically two stories in one.

In “The Proposal,” Akshay and Poojah marry and divorce 48 hours later, shirking their Indian heritage tradition. Off the bat, I ask why.
In “Remembrance,” Rose is making funeral arrangements for her dead father and is re-acquainted with a sister that’s been in an accident.
First of all, I failed to see the connection between the two stories. One was clearly a multicultural romance and the other was loaded drama. Clearly, the stories were supposed to have an emotional impact, but I found them daunting and tedious with mildly forgettable characters.
My rating: 2 stars

Review: HER PERFECT REVENGE by Anna Mara

Like Carrie, this story begins with a young girl’s harassment by her peers. It all begins when 14-year old Christina experiences the worst day of her high school life. How traumatized must she have been when the kids threw condoms at her? Why is it always the good girls? It was all Billy Havenwood’s fault; he ruined her life.
16 years later, Christina transformed into a hot babe. Of course, as her luck would have it, she runs into her high school nightmare. Billy was still rich, handsome, and still a jerk. At that point, Christina vowed for revenge, to ruin his life like he ruined hers. You go, girl!
I liked Christina! She was cute, sweet, clumsy, and crafty. I loved her bold gumption, especially after realizing that Bill was so arrogant and smug. How dare he flirt with her!  And how dare she like it! As her friend pointed out, “the opposite of love is indifference, not hate. Love and hate are actually this close.” (39) No, but Christina claimed that “with men, what you see is what you get, and she saw a bastard.” (230) She won’t give up until she discovers his juicy secrets, and Bill was hiding something. Then he threw a tailspin of a scheme of asking her to pretend to be his fiancé so his rich daddy won’t cut him off.
The attraction between Bill and Christina was mutual as they go pretending to be “in love.” Seeing them play “house” was actually kind of nice. I would love to play “wife” with Bill, who was a lean, muscular, take-charge kind of guy. His jealousy over Christina’s “boyfriend” was so cute. They were both very good liars, which made them perfect for each other.
Bill’s father, William, was such a ball-buster with throwing all kinds of challenges at the couple, making it harder and more awkward for them. It was definitely a battle of father vs. son with Christina in the middle. After all, “it took a scammer to scam a scammer.” (72) Each new twist threw you in for a loop.
Written in a universal omniscient narrative, this book was a gripping read. This was all about
revenge and blackmail…by ALL (everyone had a reason for it.) The schemes were intricately crafted and weaved together perfectly for a real page-turner. It was like watching a TV sitcom—sweet, romantic, and funny.  

Of course, this book was definitely a re-hash of the Carly Pope movie, This Time Around, which was about a girl exacting revenge on her old nemesis but ends falling for him instead. Still, I enjoyed the fun and quirks by both the novel and the movie.
 
Other novels by Anna Mara: Why Romeo hates Juliet My rating: 5 stars










 

Review: LUCY DAKOTA: ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEGINNINGS by C.S. Shride

Look out Judy Blume, here comes Lucy!

Lucy Dakota is a shy, introverted gal that takes the reader on a quick tour of her awkward adolescent years, relishing the joys and combating the pitfalls. Sports, puberty, bullies—all things that a kid knows all too well. You’ll be able to relate and will think back to your own childhood.
“Books had always been my sanctuary at home…I could go to my room, shut my door and travel anywhere I wanted with a good book. Books also distracted me from the tortures of middle school.” (8)
Sometimes she drawled on and on, and I sort of muddled through the mundane parts, like her die-hard crush for the jock.
“I blamed myself for not being good enough or pretty enough, when really it was my desire to fit in, to have friends, that had clouded my judgment in both of my eight-grade encounters with boys…I didn’t know it at the time, but I was much stronger standing on my own than alongside any boy who didn’t have my best interest in mind.” (16)
And, thus, begins Lucy’s journey from pitiful school nerd to fearless adventurer as she guides you through the lush and vibrant Colorado rockies.
Now, I’m not the “Annie Oakley” type and I certainly don’t see the allure of spending the night out in the desolate mountains with the grizzly bears and coyotes, but this book would definitely be an inspiration to young kids. It might even get them off their butts and go outside.
You gotta love Lucy—she’s smart, ambitious, and adventurous. A good role model for all.
My rating: 3 stars

Review: GHOSTS OF MANITOWISH WATERS by G.M. Moore

A secret sect, an Indian curse, and a bad boy--it's a mix fifteen-year-old Tess O'Brien can't seem to resist. When poachers threaten an albino fawn, three young adults brave the Wisconsin wilderness searching for the mystical herd to which it belongs. Filled with page-turning action and suspense, Ghosts of Manitowish Waters is a coming of age story about finding your own path and following it. It's a lesson in knowing when to obey your parents and when to have the courage to defy them.




My thoughts: Full of ambiguous mystery, Ghosts of Manitowish Watersseems to be an adventure story with a battle against poachers aiming to destroy a rare albino deer. And young, impressionable Tess is suddenly thrown into the path of medicine men and a dangerous hunt. But where did ghosts tie into all this? Was she supposed to be like a golden child, “the chosen one,” that would see dead deer?

Set against the backdrop of the secluded Indian plains, the story is expressed in a lushly lyrical language; however, it didn’t quite grab me as much as I had hoped. Not only was it challenging to understand the mystical powers of the Indian tribes, but the fact that the poachers were protected under the government made it more complex. I just didn’t find it interesting.
 
My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: DEAD LIKE ME by Kelly Miller

   This is a Kate Springer mystery.
When Kate sees the body of a murder victim, she immediately recognizes her as her own self image at 13-years old. What did that mean? Was there a connection? How freaky!
I must admit that some of the investigation details were kind of boring. I was far more interested to find out more about Kate’s abusive past with her child molester. That guy messed her up so bad that she vowed to find him in case he was inflicting the same crap on another girl.
“Children have zero control over their lives. They’re told what to eat, when to sleep, how to act. As a child, I felt powerless. As an adult, at least, I have the illusion of control.” (1493)
As the reader re-lives moment’s of Kate’s abused past, the hunt for Kimberly’s killer is on. There are several suspects: her boyfriend, her mother…and Kate’s past nightmare (?) I got hooked! I wanted to know “who dunnit?”
A real page-turner in the end! An intriguing drama; a probing murder mystery.  My rating: 4 stars

Review: JOSHUA’S ISLAND by Patrick Hodges

Told in the POV of the two main characters, Joshua and Eve, this tale conveys the growing pains of childhood with a struggle of finding one’s place in this world.
Joshua carried a voice that is reminiscent of a young Kevin Arnold with his love for comic book heroes and his general invisibility status to society; Eve was the young impressionable kid that got swept up in the new popularity, having done whatever it took to be accepted.
When the two get paired as lab partners the first day in 8th grade, both are set in their infantile opinions and are none too eager to work together. As the story progresses, the reader gains a better insight into the lives of the two characters. Each chapter (day) is written as a diary entry, bringing us back to the trials of middle school daze.  And just like in school, the days roll by painfully slow, especially with each one being the same as the last.
The most impressive part was how the author was able to actualize the awkward experience from the perspective of both the boy and the girl. The tone grew quite somber with all the mental and physical abuse Joshua endured, which is the one thing that drew pity from Eve. Even though kids can be so cruel and violent these days, I just found this layer of the story particularly thick and sappy.
For the most part, Joshua’s Island is witty and relatable; it is a sweet, poignant story that opens barriers of fear and seclusion, and unveils possibilities outside the island. A solid good effort.
My rating: 3.5 stars     

Review: SOMETIMES I DREAM IN ITALIAN by Rita Ciresi

Angel Lupo grew up in a traditional Italian home — an exclusive club where Mama’s word was everything ... and where nice girls saved themselves for marriage. All Angel wanted was to be movie-star blond, change her name, and get as much attention as her prettier older sister Lina.

Now Angel is nearing thirty, penning Catholic greeting cards for a living, and still jealous of her sister, who has a house in the suburbs, two kids, and a husband who loves her. So Angel does the next best thing: She answers a personal ad.

Dirk Diederhoff is blond, teaches at Vassar, and is definitely not Italian. Nor is he the thrill-a-minute lover and soul mate Angel prays for. But as Lina, recklessly embarked on an affair of her own, would tell her: There are no perfect tens out there — only men who want you to talk to them in Italian during sex.






My thoughts: Italy is a beautiful country with delicious food, so, of course, I wanted to read this book. I’m sorry to say that it was long-winded and boring.
Who are these characters and why should I care for them? Is this all taking place in Italy?
The story did not resemble the plot summary at all. Disappointing.
My rating: 1 star

Review: HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE by Tina Ferraro

At 17, Kate Delvecchio has one goal in life: to become a millionaire before the age of 20. And as far as she’s concerned, college will only slow her down. Unfortunately for Kate, the one thing her parents do agree on is that they totally disagree with her strategy. And so the deal is born. If Kate can raise five thousand big ones by graduation day, her parents will hand over the balance of her college account to invest as she pleases. No college, no degree, and no way she’ll ever be able to pull it off. But when Kate accidentally agrees to go to the sports banquet with the hottest guy at school, she stumbles upon a possible cash cow. The rest of the junior class is amazed that no-nonsense Kate could hook such a hottie, and one by one they approach her for help hooking their own. She doesn’t know anything about getting guys, but for $100 a pop, she’s more than willing to invent a six-step plan for How to Hook a Hottie. And how could that possibly backfire?




My thoughts: Kate is a funny and ambitious character, presenting herself with a self-deprecating quirkiness and a fierce drive. Also known as “Complikate,” she absolutely will not allow anyone to stand in the way of her dreams.


“Being popular and running with the ‘cool kids’ just didn’t get my motor running. Which either made me wise beyond my years or just plain weird.” (22)
A plain brain with limited social skills (like me,) Kate has a goal: to be a millionaire by the age of 20. Ooookay. Yeah, that’s not too unrealistic.
Suddenly, an epiphany: getting paid to teach girls how to hook a hottie. Not a bad idea, but I wouldn’t know what to do or say either. Still, Kate was never one to walk away from a challenge, and she did need the money.
In the midst of this grand scheme, Brandon Callister, the most popular hottie, is into Kate, and, out of the blue, she was branded as his “girlfriend.” Was Kate really lucky to have such a narcissistic windbag?
“People thought I was the girlfriend of I guy I could barely stand. And the only thing that had gotten me into this situation was just being myself.” (90)
It was ironic how Kate takes up her own made-up advice at hooking the hottie. She SO liked Dal, but it was too bad he was already taken.
Overall, the characters were okay, but not very memorable. Sometimes Kate can be too money-grubbing and tyrannical. Even though I knew that the “hooking-hottie” biz wouldn’t work out, it was interesting to see Kate grow and learn from her mistakes.
A quick read you can get through in a matter of hours.
My rating: 3.5 stars