Welcome to the blog tour for Ascendancy, the second book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian romance series, The Van Winkle Project, by Karri Thompson. See below for my review as well as details on her giveaway, and be sure to check out my review of Mirror X, book one in the series.
Ascendancy (The Van Winkle Project #2) by Karri Thompson
Synopsis I’ve been lied to, deceived, and manipulated—again. You’d think I’d be treated with dignity and respect. I’m the one who’s supposed to save humanity, right? I’m the one with the power to re-populate this dying world. But the clones want to control me, force me to give birth over and over again. And my daughters will face the same fate—unless I change it.
My awakening into this future should have been a chance for a new life, but it just promises a living death. With Michael on my side, though, maybe I can save us. He’s the only person I can trust.
I hear rumors of others… A secret society is growing. Tension is building.
A rebellion is imminent.
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My Review This review includes spoilers for Mirror X. Please don’t continue if you haven’t read the first book in the series.
Ascendancy picks up right where Mirror X leaves off. Cassie and Michael are on their way to Tasmania to hopefully be reunited with their twin daughters and run The Van Winkle Project under their own terms. Almost immediately, Cassie senses something is off, and she’s not wrong. Where the first book took some time to build, Ascendancy starts off with a bang that launches Cassie and Michael on a rollercoaster ride through hell. There is a lot more action this time around, but Michael, as the love interest, still rubs me the wrong way. He’s whiney, needy, and though he’ll do whatever it takes to save Cassie, that’s his only saving grace in my view. He gets frustrated and pouts when Cassie won’t sleep with him, which is something I’d expect from a fourteen year old, not a man in his twenties.
Plot
The plot is a lot more action-packed than in Mirror X as Cassie and Michael are almost constantly fighting to stay one step ahead of their pursuers and remain alive. While it was fun, there wasn’t nearly as much character growth as last time, and far fewer plot twists,
Characters
I dislike Michael even more than before, and even Cassie started to get on my nerves, although it may have just been the fact that she likes Michael that bugged me about her. A few new characters were introduced, but I never got a deep sense of who they were. As I mentioned above, there isn’t much character development because the action overshadows nearly everything else.
Ending The ending was more of a cliffhanger than I was expecting, and I’m definitely anxious to find out what happens next!
What Didn’t Work for Me
1. The romance. Michael is still all wrong for Cassie. I’m really hoping she doesn’t end up with him. 2. Cassie’s attitude. She came across as far more angry this time around. Understandably so as everyone continues to lie to her, wants to use her, and attempts to manipulate her, but I found myself liking her less because of this.
What I Enjoyed about Ascendancy 1. The twists. There were two pretty unexpected twists that were perfectly foreshadowed in retrospect. 2. A mother’s devotion. Where Cassie really shines is when she’s fighting for her daughters. Not just for their lives, but for their futures and their freedom. Sometimes I had to remind myself she’s only a teenager, though. 3. The action. There was a lot of action, which kept the story moving from start to finish. 4. Magnum. Still my favorite character in the series. He’s smart, funny, and loyal.
Bottom Line Ascendancy moves fast, combing danger and intrigue, culminating in a cliffhanger leaving me wanting more.
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About the Book
Title: Ascendancy Series: The Van Winkle Project #2
Author: Kerri Thompson Publisher:Entangled Teen Release Date:November 30, 2015 Pages: 216
Genre: Young Adult SciFi/Dystopian Romance Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | !ndigo | Entangled Teen
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Author Karri Thompson
About the Author Growing up in San Diego, California, Karri Thompson spent much of her years at the beach, reading novels, tanning, and listening to music.
At SDSU, she earned a BA in English, MA in education, and her teaching credential. As a wife, mother, and high-school English teacher, she began writing novels, giving all of the compelling plots and unique characters in her head a home.
Victorian literature rocks her socks, and when she’s not writing, jogging, going to concerts, or watching her son play football, she’s reading Dickens.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is Sun. Here’s a line from my WIP, a young adult superhero novel, Superhero High.
We push our towering luggage carts outside where brilliant sunlight dances across the pavement.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Welcome to the blog tour for Ascendancy, the second book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian romance series, The Van Winkle Project, by Karri Thompson. See below for my review of Mirror X, the first book in the series as well as details on her giveaway, and be sure to check back later in the week for my review of Ascendancy.
Mirror X (The Van Winkle Project #1) by Karri Thompson
Synopsis I was born more than a thousand years ago. Put into a cryogenic tube at age seventeen, forgotten during a holocaust that decimated the world, I’ve finally been awakened to a more serene and peaceful future.
But things at the hospital are new and strange. And it’s starting to scare me.
Everyone is young. Everyone is banded and tracked. And everyone is keeping secrets.
The cute geneticist Michael Bennett might be the only good thing in this crazy new world where “life is precious” but no one seems free to live it. The problem is, I don’t think he’s being totally honest with me, either.
When I’m told only I can save the human race from extinction, it’s clear my freeze didn’t avoid a dreadful fate. It only delayed the horror…
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My Review Fellow young adult dystopian and San Diego author, Karri Thompson’s, novel intrigued me. The concept of a young woman frozen for more than 1,000 years, waking to a new world order is such a fascinating idea, I couldn’t wait to dig into it. The story weaves, bends, and twists through more than 350 pages of surprises, danger, and righteous indignation.
I thought it took a little long to really get going, but there are a lot of changes in the world Cassie wakes up in. Cassie, along with the reader, are slowly introduced to these changes, each new piece of information building upon the previous pieces. Just when we think we finally have a grasp of the situation, the author gives us a little more information, challenging everything we thought we knew. One of my favorite parts of the writing is the way Karri Thompson continually changes the playing field, keeping her characters and readers guessing.
Plot
The plot revolves around Cassie’s unique role in the world, and whether she’ll willingly embrace it, or succumb to it kicking and screaming. She vacillates a lot on exactly how she feels about what’s going on. Sometimes, I feel as if she’s too quick to give these people a pass and reason away their behavior. Other times, she’s the scared seventeen-year-old I expect her to be. There’s also a strong romantic plot that weaves through the story and drives many of her decisions.
Characters
I straight up didn’t care at all for Michael, the young doctor Cassie is instantly attracted to. He rubbed me the wrong way from the start and never redeemed himself in my eyes. Cassie is pretty believable as the conflicted teen in a Buck Rogers situation, but there were times I thought she didn’t seem as overwhelmed by her situation as I thought she should have been. The supporting characters are really my favorites. They’re all fascinating and easy to love or hate, depending on their role in the story.
Ending The ending was yet another twist I never saw coming, but wrapped up the main story of Mirror X well, leaving plenty open for a sequel, without being a cliffhanger. That can be tough to do, but I feel as if the author pulled it off well.
What Didn’t Work for Me
1. The romance. It felt forced from the very beginning. When Cassie wakes up more than a thousand years in the future, her immediate attraction to her young doctor seems to overshadow what should be grief over the loss of her family, friends, and way of life. Michael’s obsession with Cassie always came across as kind of creepy to me. There wasn’t any chemistry between the two of them. And the way Michael continually lied to her makes him completely unredeemable as boyfriend material in my eyes. I kept hoping for something romantic to develop between Cassie and Magnum, though, but their relationship is more like siblings. Too bad, because they have a truckload of chemistry. 2. 31st century Earth. I never fully was able to wrap my head around what the world looked like, particularly the buildings. All I really know is there’s not much vegetation, but I had a hard time picturing what this world looked like through the descriptions provided. 3. Cassie’s introduction into the new world. As I stated above, she put her attraction to Michael front and center. I would have liked her to struggle more with the new world she’s found herself in. I never got a sense of the utter devastation and hopelessness over her situation I was expecting. She’s experienced something no one can really relate to, so I would have liked the deeper psychological aspects to have been more thoroughly explored.
What I Enjoyed about Mirror X 1. The surprises. There were so many twists and turns, I never knew what was coming next and that was so much fun to read. 2. The emotions. Where I felt the story was lacking when it came to Cassie’s response to the new world she finds herself in, the writing shines when Cassie is dealing with the emotions surrounding her role in the 31st century. Not only is she unique in that she was born in the early 2000s, but she possess an ability no one else in the future has. This ability drives the plot and her reactions to her expected role are raw and palpable. 3. Technology. There is some fascinating technology in Mirror X and Karri Thompson does a great job of helping us understand the role of this technology in the world she’s created. 4. The secondary characters. Magnum, Travel, and a whole host of other characters are intriguing and colorful and really brought the story to life. 5. Magnum. The technology whiz kid was easily my favorite character in the book. He’s a breath of 31st century fresh air!
Bottom Line Mirror X is an interesting scifi/dystopian adventure with some unique aspects. I’m interested to see where this series goes.
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About the Book
Title: Mirror X Series: The Van Winkle Project #1 Author:Kerri Thompson Publisher: Entangled Teen Release Date: June 30, 2014 Pages: 360 Genre:Young Adult SciFi/Dystopian Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
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Author Karri Thompson
About the Author Growing up in San Diego, California, Karri Thompson spent much of her years at the beach, reading novels, tanning, and listening to music.
At SDSU, she earned a BA in English, MA in education, and her teaching credential. As a wife, mother, and high-school English teacher, she began writing novels, giving all of the compelling plots and unique characters in her head a home.
Victorian literature rocks her socks, and when she’s not writing, jogging, going to concerts, or watching her son play football, she’s reading Dickens.
Not Okay Cupid (High School Heartbreakers #1) by Heidi R. Kling
Synopsis Her wicked revenge, or his wicked heart…
Hazel McCallister loves her life. Perfect grades. Perfect best friend. Perfect boyfriend. Until her perfect boyfriend cheats on her with her perfect best friend. Now Hazel’s in free fall—until her best friend’s brother, Felix, gives her the perfect idea. Reclaim her power by taking revenge on her cheating ex.
Felix James loves his life. Casual relationships. Loads of surfing. He’s as drama-free as they come. But he can’t stand by when his sister steals her best friend’s boyfriend, and the dude insists it was Hazel’s fault. So Felix vows to help turn Hazel into a girl her ex can’t resist—so then she can break his heart.
With an alliance in place, Hazel’s revenge is all but assured. But with each piece of payback, she feels a stronger attraction to Felix, even though revenge will turn her into a girl Felix could never be with. And soon Hazel has to make an impossible choice: revenge…or Felix, the boy who’s stolen her heart.
WARNING! This book contains betrayal, revenge, and that most tempting vice of all, the bad boy you know you can’t have.
My Review This had teen angst written all over it, which is right up my alley, and I was not disappointed. Hazel is heartbroken when her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, Kimmy. When Kimmy’s older brother, Felix, comes up with a plan to get back at the two cheaters, Hazel’s heartbreak turns to anger and she’s ready for revenge. Things go from zero to awkward in under a minute when Hazel and Felix share a steamy kiss in the cafeteria to prove a point. Lifelong friends with a complicated relationship, each begin to see the other in a new light. But this is teen romance, so there is no easy path to happiness. Hazel thinks Felix is a player, and Felix thinks he’s not good enough for Hazel, regardless of their budding feelings for one another.
Plot
The plot centers around Felix and Hazel’s relationship and their revenge plot. Even though the reader is perfectly aware these two belong together, the assumptions and miscommunication drives conflict. It’s not especially groundbreaking and there’s no real plot twist, but it’s a satisfying fun, fast read.
Characters
I liked Felix and Hazel, and they were both well developed. At times, though, they sounded too much alike. Told from dual points of view, I found them thinking in similar patterns and using the same phrases far too often for such different people. On the other hand, best friend, Kimmy, and ex-boyfriend, Jay, were harder to believe. I know best friends steal boyfriends, but Kimmy never came across as developed enough for me to really understand what drove her to do that. And Jay never made sense to me. I never understood why Hazel would ever date him, much less want him back. He was pretty two-dimensional.
Ending I liked the way the story wrapped up, that it wasn’t an easy path to get there, and that might have been the only real surprise for me.
What Didn’t Work for Me
1. Hazel/Jay. I don’t see these two being together at all and Hazel seemed to get over him rather quickly. 2. Dueling POVs. As I mentioned above, the two characters sounded too much like each other, I often had to look back to see who it was. 3. Flat Supporting Characters. I never saw Kimmy and Jay as real people. They served a purpose in the story, but they didn’t get any real development.
What I Enjoyed About Not Okay Cupid 1. Felix/Hazel. These two had a ton of chemistry from the opening scene, even before the whole cheating thing teamed them up. 2. Angsty romance. My favorite kind and this one had it in spades. 3. Revenge. Although the main plot was about extracting revenge, it didn’t unfold as planned, and that made the ultimate revenge so much sweeter. 4. The locales. Living in So. Cal, even though the seaside town was fictional, I could totally picture as any of the beach communities near here, which added a sense of realism. 5. High school drama. It’s nice to know that some things never change, no matter how long it’s been since I graduated.
Bottom Line Not Okay Cupid is a sweet romance that manages to contain a fair amount of heat. A fun, fast read.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Not Okay Cupid Series: High School Heartbreakers #1 Author: Heidi R. Kling Publisher: Entangled Crush Release Date: January 11, 2016 Pages: 234 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Entangled
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Author Heidi R. Kling
About the Author Heidi Kling writes fantasy novels set in a contemporary world and contemporary novels about girls in fantastic situations. The bestselling Spellspinners series (Coliloquy/Vook), is nine-book series leading with Witch’s Brew. The Gleaning, Devil’s Frost and Beautiful Monster are out now with more adventures to follow. Her debut contemporary, Sea (Penguin), was an IndieNext Pick, Northern California Book of the Year nominee, Gateway Reader’s Award choice and Scholastic Readers Pick.
Her forthcoming contemporary novel, Paint My Body Red, launches with Entangled Teen Fall, 2015. Told in dual narratives, several more installments are planned in this “Romeo and Juliet with magic” series readers compare to stories by LJ Smith, Cassandra Clare and Melissa de la Cruz.
After earning her MFA in Writing for Children from the New School, she returned to her native California. She lives with her husband, two children and the cutest accidental puppy mix ever, Sailor Lily, just over the coastal mountains from the sea.
Two weeks late, but you know, the holidays… Also, some front yard landscaping, and Aussie exchange student for eleven days, and final edits and publishing of The Uprising (which comes out on Tuesday!). Better late than never. Here are the books I read and reviewed in December, 2015.
Title: Gone Girl Author:Gillian Flynn Release Date: May 24, 2012 Publisher: Random House Audible Narrators: Julia Whelan andKirby Heyborne Length: 19 Hours 11 Minutes Genre: Contemporary Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Story Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Audio Production Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Audible | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Synopsis On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge.
Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
Bottom Line Gone Girl is a disturbing tale, beautifully written, and the audiobook version is one of the best produced I’ve ever listened to.
Bad Romance A Stepbrother Novel by by Jen McLaughlin
Title: Bad Romance: A Stepbrother Novel Author:Jen McLauchlin Publisher:Loveswept Release Date:September 15, 2015 Pages: 242 Genre:New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating:4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Synopsis In this explosive novel from New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin, a good girl falls for the ultimate bad boy: her stepbrother. Perfect for fans of Sabrina Paige, Caitlin Daire, and Krista Lakes, Bad Romance proves that passion can be so wrong it’s right.
Seven years in the army will change a guy. But after a shoulder wound ends his career as a sniper, Jackson Worthington finds himself back home, fighting a battle that’s all too familiar: keeping his hands off Lily Hastings. She’s still her rich daddy’s little angel, innocent, impossibly lovely, as squeaky-clean as Jackson is dirty. And she’s still his stepsister—forbidden but not forgotten, not after the soul-melting kiss that got him kicked out of the house at eighteen. He couldn’t resist her then. How the hell can he resist her now?
Lily is about to marry a man she doesn’t love, and commit to a high-stress job she hates, all to please the father who controls every waking moment of her life. On top of everything, her teenage crush is back, with a sleek, chiseled body and a trace of the rebellious boy whose lips sealed her fate. Jackson’s timing couldn’t be worse . . . or better. Because Lily’s all grown up, too. She’s aching for another taste. And for the first time, she’s ready to be a bad girl.
Bottom Line Bad Romance is a page-turning romance about forbidden love and learning to live your own life.
Title: Royal Marriage Market Author: Heather Lyons Publisher: Cerulean Books Release Date: December 15, 2015 Pages: 335 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis Every decade, the world’s monarchs and their heirs secretly convene to discuss global politics and social issues—and arrange marriages between kingdoms. Elsa may be the Hereditary Princess of Vattenguldia, but she finds the entire situation archaic and unsavory. While she wants what’s best for her country, she isn’t about to jump into an unwanted relationship—let alone a marriage—with a virtual stranger. Of course, her feelings matter little to her parents, whose wheeling and dealings over trade pacts and alliances achieved at her expense begin the moment they set foot in California for the Summit. So when a blindingly handsome royal runs into her, she doesn’t hesitate to tell him there’s no way she’s marrying him.
Christian is all too happy to agree: no marriage. As the Hereditary Grand Duke of Aiboland, his main goal is to get through the summit without a bride being foisted on him. Which is why he suggests they help each other field potential intendeds. As Christian slowly gets to know Elsa, though, he realizes they have a lot more in common than just their feelings about the Royal Marriage Market. Only he can’t fall for her, because royal or not, they’re not meant for each other. Elsa and Christian will have to evaluate matters of the heart verses those of state and crown, and decide whether or not tradition trumps love.
Bottom Line Royal Marriage Market is a fun twist on the contemporary romance genre with plenty of chemistry and more than a few laughs.
Title: The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus: An Interactive Guide for Developing Ideas for Novels and Short Stories Author: Fred White Publisher: Writer’s Digest Books Publication Date: September 30, 2014 Pages: 320 Category: Writing Fiction Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon |Barnes & Noble
Synopsis Endless ideas at your fingertips, and at the turn of a page…
Need an idea for a short story or novel? Look no further than The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus. It’s far more than a collection of simple writing prompts. You’ll find a vast treasury of story ideas inside, organized by subject, theme, and situation categories, and listed alphabetically for easy reference. Author and award-winning writing instructor Fred White shows you how to build out and customize these ideas to create unique plots that reflect your personal storytelling sensibilities, making The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus an invaluable tool for generating creative ideas and vanquishing writer’s block—for good.
Inside you’ll find:
•2,000 unique and dynamic story ideas perfect for novels and short stories of any genre or writing style
•Twenty major idea categories, such as The Invasion of X, The Transformation of X into Y, Escape from X, The Curse of X, and more
•Multiple situations that further refine the major categories, such as The Creation of Artificial Life, The Descent Into Madness, Love in the Workplace, The Journey to a Forgotten Realm, and more
•Invaluable advice on how to customize each idea.
The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus is an interactive story generator that opens the door to thousands of new story arcs and plotlines.
Bottom Line The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus lives up to its name as a unique reference guide to aid writers in developing story ideas.
Title: Next Door to a Star Series: Star Series #1 Author:Krysten Lindsay Hagar Publisher: Limitless Publishing, LLC Release Date: September 1, 2015 Pages: 185 Genre:Young Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon International | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | BAM!
Synopsis Hadley Daniels is tired of feeling invisible. After Hadley’s best friend moves away and she gets on the bad side of some girls at school, she goes to spend the summer with her grandparents in the Lake Michigan resort town of Grand Haven. Her next door neighbor is none other than teen TV star Simone Hendrickson, who is everything Hadley longs to be—pretty, popular, and famous—and she’s thrilled when Simone treats her like a friend. Being popular is a lot harder than it looks.
It’s fun and flattering when Simone includes her in her circle, though Hadley is puzzled about why her new friend refuses to discuss her former Hollywood life. Caught up with Simone, Hadley finds herself ignoring her quiet, steadfast friend, Charlotte. To make things even more complicated, along comes Nick Jenkins… He’s sweet, good-looking, and Hadley can be herself around him without all the fake drama. However, the mean girls have other ideas and they fill Nick’s head with lies about Hadley, sending him running back to his ex-girlfriend and leaving Hadley heartbroken.
So when her parents decide to relocate to Grand Haven, Hadley hopes things will change when school starts…only to be disappointed once again. Cliques. Back-stabbing. Love gone bad. Is this really what it’s like to live…Next Door To A Star?
Bottom Line While Next Door to a Star moves slow at times, it’s filled with a colorful cast of young teens who think and act like the kids on the cusp of adulthood they are. .
Black Diamond (Stark Springs Academy #1) by Ali Dean
Synopsis It’s not a place for the weak.
No one here tolerates wimps.
If you can’t handle it, leave.
Welcome to Stark Springs, Colorado, home to the most talented young athletes in the world.
When Roxie Slade snaps into a pair of skis, there’s no one on Sugarville Mountain in Vermont who can keep up with her. Not even the boys. Still, Roxie was shocked when she received a scholarship to Stark Springs Academy, a boarding school that churns out Olympians in each graduating class. Entering as a high school junior, Roxie can’t wait to learn from renowned coaches and train with the fastest ski racers from all over the globe. But upon arrival, Roxie discovers that Stark Springs lives under its own set of rules, and it appears one boy plays dictator.
Ryker Black is not friendly and Roxie cannot fathom why everyone wants to be his friend. Sure, he’s gorgeous and rides a snowboard like it’s his fifth limb, but he’s cold, ruthless, and holds way too much power over the Stark Springs population. Roxie won’t put up with it. She’s here to train, and she doesn’t care about impressing anyone off the slopes. The only problem? Ryker Black doesn’t permit defiance. Not without consequences.
My Review I was excited to start the next series by young adult/new adult author, Ali Dean. I adored her Pepper Jones series, the way she writes strong females who excel in sports with a heavy dose of angsty romance, and Black Diamond fits that formula to a T. Roxie Slade is a determined skier and a force to be reckoned with in her small Vermont town, but when she has an opportunity to train with the best of the best at the Stark Springs Academy in Colorado, she’ll be put to the test. And not just in the way she thought. She knew she’d have to train hard, that’s what she’s there for, but the egos and competitiveness of elite athletes both on and off the snow and ice is more than she bargained for. While the book isn’t perfect, it’s the first one in awhile that has been impossible for me to put down, earning it a full five out of five stars from me.
Plot
Because this is a sports romance, the plot is is two-fold. Roxie works to fit in as a high school junior where most of the kids arrived in seventh or eighth grade. Joining at her age is nearly unheard of and rumors abound over why she’s there at all. She know she has a lot to prove, but understanding the odd dynamics of the school and the way one student in particular, Ryker Black, seems to be in charge, is just one of the many mysteries surrounding the Academy. Ryker Black isn’t just an alpha male, he’s an alpha, wrapped in attitude, and a temper to match. Yet Roxie sees something more beneath the facade, a vulnerability that draws her to him, even as she knows she should stay far, far away. Everyone’s warned her as much, including Ryker Black himself.
Both plots are intricately woven and well done. About my only complaint about the plot is that I would have liked more of the sports aspect. With the Pepper Jones series, we really got into Pepper’s head during each of her big runs, but in Black Diamond, the actual ski racing is less detailed than the training leading up to it.
Characters
Roxie has a lot in common with Pepper. In fact, in some ways they’re nearly the same character, which is okay with me, because I love Pepper Jone so much. But Ryker Black is no Jace Wilder. There are shades of similarity between some of the other characters as well, but none of that is bad because the story is different enough, I got lost in that and soon forgot the characters felt familiar.
Roxie is fantastic, the type of heroine you can’t help rooting for. Her head’s in the right place, most of the time, and she’s above the pettiness surrounding many of her fellow athletes. At times she comes across mature for her age, other times, she’s a typical teen.
Ryker Black is an enigma. He’s dark, controlling, and yet there’s something there. Something Roxie shows us through her eyes, that allowed me to see more to him than just a stereotype. The boy is complicated and Ali Dean has only scratched that surface so far. I can’t wait to see how his character develops throughout the series.
Ending The ending was exactly what I was hoping for, satisfying in so many ways.
What Didn’t Work for Me
1. Not enough skiing. As I said above, I would have liked more skiing. The book is short at less than two hundred pages, and I think it could have been a little longer to bring us more skiing from Roxie’s point of view. 2. Stereotypes. The mean girls were relatively stereotypical. They served their purpose, but it would have been nice to see them a little more well-rounded and complex. Especially as elite athletes. There’s a lot of reasons for them to be the way they are, I just would have liked to see a little of that.
What I Loved About Black Diamond 1. Roxie Slade. A believable badass both on and off the slopes, she’s got integrity, a strong worth ethic, and a winning spirit. 2. Skiing. I love picturing the snow, the mountains, feeling the cold air. Ali Dean does a great job of scene setting, making the environment come alive. 3. Competitive sports. Another thing the author really does is bring us deep inside the world of competitive sports so that we can almost taste the desire to win. 4. True friends. While Roxie struggles to make friends at Stark Springs, her Vermont friends are true blue, and I love them. 5. Ryker Black. I’m still not sure I’m totally on board with a Roxyer romancer or is that Rykie? In any case, the jury is still out on how I feel about them together, but I can’t deny he is an absolutely fascinating character.
Bottom Line Black Diamond is a fun, fast read with plenty of drama, angst-ridden romance, and lots and lots of snow.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Black Diamond Series: Stark Springs Academy #1 Author: Ali Dean Release Date: January 14, 2016 Pages: 185 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon
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Author Ali Dean
About the Author Ali Dean lives in Colorado with her husband, twin babies, and golden retriever.
In addition to reading and writing, she loves the outdoors- everything from marathon training and biking to snowboarding and skiing.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is Old. Here’s a line from my WIP, a young adult superhero novel, Superhero High.
He shoves his gun against my spine and pushes me toward an ancient house with slumping walls and a crumbling roof.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Dog Collar Crime (Lucie Rizzo Mystery #1) by Adrienne Giordano
Synopsis Out of work and down on her luck, Lucie Rizzo is forced to do the one thing she’s long avoided—move home to her nutty, mob-infested family. A move that brings her back into the tempting arms of Frankie Falcone, the ex that never fails to make her heart sit up and beg.
When Lucie parlays her temporary dog-walking gig into a career making fancy dog accessories, Frankie becomes her number one supporter. Life starts to look like a walk in the park…until three of her bling-wearing clients are dogjacked.
Despite help from the on-again, off-again Mr. Fix-It in her life, Lucie is thrown into an investigation that’s more Goodfellas than good doggie. One that could shatter her new life and her second chance at love.
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My Review There was much to love about Dog Collar Crime. In many ways, it reminded me of a Stephanie Plum novel minus the incompetent protagonist and unrealistically stupid criminals. Lucie Rizzo is out of work and forced to move back home with her mom and brother. Born and raised a mob princess, Lucie longs to break free of her family chains and make her own way in the world. But after getting laid off, she’s right back in the middle of the family drama, including a father in prison. Her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Frankie, would do anything for her, except leave behind his own mob-connected family.
Lucie makes ends meet by walking dogs and making high-end pet accessories, while she waits and hopes a job in banking comes her way. But when the dogs she walks start being targeted by someone, Lucie begins to wonder if she’ll ever be able to escape that world.
Plot
The plot is a mystery with a strong dose of romance. Finding out who is targeting her dogs and why is the main plot, but her relationship with Frankie plays a larger role than in most other books of this genre. The pacing was slow more than a few times. There seemed to be a lot of time spent walking the dogs, which granted is Lucie’s job, but not much else happened. There also seemed to be some repeated elements. Instead of escalating early, the dognappings stayed sort of the same and the back-and-forth with Frankie felt too repetitive at times. But there’s light humor, plenty of chemistry between the characters, and a couple of twists that redeem the story.
Characters
The characters are by far the best part of the story. They’re fun, quirky, well-rounded, and believable. Lucie Rizzo’s desire to be anything but the daughter of a mobster is tangible and relatable, even if your dad isn’t a made man. Frankie is also sympathetic as the loyal son who has managed to break away from the crime family and flourish in a legitimate job. Even the gangster family members transcend stereotype and are well-developed and three-dimensional.
Ending I was expecting more from the ending. Although a mystery and not a thriller, overall the story lacked a real sense of peril for the characters. I never felt like any of their lives were truly in danger. The climax left me wondering what would happen to the characters’ relationships rather than if they would survive. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because I did care about all of them and wanted them to wind up happy.
What Didn’t Work for Me
1. The pacing. The story moved too slow for me at times. 2. Repetition. There were times I felt like we revisited the same issues over and over again, particularly when it came to Lucie’s feelings for, and issues with, Frankie.
What I Enjoyed About Dog Collar Crime 1. The characters. All of the characters were well developed, interesting, and avoided stereotypes. 2. Chemistry. There was instant chemistry between Lucie and Frankie, but also a great bromance between Frankie and Lucie’s brother, Joey, between Lucie and her brother, and between Lucie and her mom. These relationships all came across as lovingly authentic. 3. The mystery. The mystery of who was behind the dognappings was well plotted, and kept me guessing. 4. Ro. Best BFF ever. 5. Lucie’s mom. She was so beautifully flawed and yet I never doubted her love for her children.
Bottom Line Dog Collar Crime is a lighthearted mystery with compelling characters and a touch of humor.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Dog Collar Crime Series: Lucie Rizzo Mystery #1 Author: Adrienne Giordano Release Date: August 4, 2013 Pages: 256 Genre: Cozy Mystery/New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
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Author Adrienne Giordano
About the Author USA Today bestselling author Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery.
She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier).
She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction.
