Double Feature Book Reviews

Click on the pictures to get the my two latest reviews..........

Comic-con Jealousy

I would have to say like AX, Comicon is one of thing that is on my 'to do' list. I wish I could go because this year you get

Yoshiki of XJapan

AND
Alexander Skarsgard - Eric from Trueblood

How in the world is that fair?! ::SOB:: #BRBSOBBINGFOREVER

Wisdom - Amanda Hocking (Book 4 My Blood Approves Series)

(Buy it HERE)
Wisdom - the fourth book in the My Blood Approves series...

For her eighteenth birthday, Alice Bonham takes a vacation to Australia only to have her trip cut short by an unexpected murder. While Alice tries to understand what happened, she regrets some of the choices she's made, especially the more permanent ones.

On top of that, the child vampire is running loose, and its attracting some very unwanted attention...

In this book there is an on going main plot that lasts throughout the book in a very consistant way. It was a nice change. Also you get resolutions, as simplistic as they may be. But the underlying turn of events and decisions actually makes this book a page turner. I hope that she writes more to this series, the ending was actually the best part of the book. It left me with high hopes as the story incorporated some feelings of Bloodrayne and Anita Blake the early years.

Ok again let me say this author has some brilliant ideas. The only issue I have seems to be the follow through. The resolutions to these issues or sub plots are very simplistic and/or quick. It doesn't do her writing justice. I can see by reading this series her talent is there and she's only scratched the surface with this series. With new authors you should see a progression with their work and with this author you can. She's getting better, so I can't wait for more.

*Side note: I finshed this book several days ago, but was delayed in the review as school got in the way. Again I read this book in about 2 days. I don't know if would say this book is worth the $9.99 being charged, but it $2.99 for the ebook version is totally reasonable.You may want to try the first couple from the library before you decide to invest in them. ENJOY*

Flutter - Amanda Hocking (Book 3 My Blood Approves Series)

Flutter - the third book in the My Blood Approves series...
(Buy it HERE)

Being undead doesn't make life any easier for Alice Bonham.

Her younger brother's love life is heating up, while hers is... more complicated. Mae is falling apart, her best friend Jane is addicted to vampire bites, and if Alice doesn't get her bloodlust under control, someone will end up dead.

Alice volunteers for a rescue mission with Ezra. But going up against a pack of rabid vampires might be too much, even for him.

I would be lying if I didn't say that this book did bore me in some places so I skimmed over it. Sometimes it's just gets bit redundant. After some major turn points in the second book we are left in the third. There are some major turn points or sub plots in this book that I felt again that should have been expanded just a bit more and possibly made into separate books themselves. Too much is happening to fast for it to be able to flow smoothly in the book. Always the underlying thing is the couple or triangle depending the way you look at it. But what this also does is keep the person turning the page to see what is going to happen next. That is a good thing. I wanted to find out more and so I kept reading. In this book I have to say that while the sub plots added to the book, I found that some of the characters I fell in love with disappointed me with decisions they made. While in a "vampire's" perspective nothing lasts forever, the decision that was made seem out of the blue for me. While I can understand the context or the reasoning in a way, I can't say I loved the point. I was left heartbroken. While at the same time left astonished at the restrictions placed on Alice (with no real reason to the why) while her brother had NONE and seem to have progressed past the stage she was at, despite the fact that she was older. In some instances I found it completely unfair, unwarranted and bias. But that's a good thing. Because if a book can make you feel that way, then the author is doing his/her job. But at times I was left with that "huh, I don't get it" feeling I experience in this series lately. The explanations are half - explanations at best. While the author is still growing, I give her props for creating a page turner.

**PERSONAL NOTE: It is my own opinion that some aspects should have been more fully explored. It seems that she has a ton of interesting ideas and is very talented, I feel she could have expanded the story line a bit more. BUT again this is what happens when you write first person. You can't explore other characters without jumping perspective. This is why I prefer THIRD or SECOND person.

Fate - Amanda Hocking (Book 2 My Blood Approves Series)

Fate - the second installment in the My Blood Approves series...
(Buy it HERE)

Alice Bonham thinks she's finally found a balance in her life between the supernatural and real life with her brother Milo. Jack - her sorta vampire boyfriend - keeps her at arm's length to keep her safe. As for his brother Peter... she's not sure where he's at, or what he wants with her. Worse still, she's not even sure what she wants with Peter.

When tragedy happens, Alice finds herself struggling with a terrible choice. Her decision has consequences that reach farther than she'd ever imagined...

Ok I have to just start with I did lose a nights sleep for this book, with that being said let say some good things and some disappointing things. (As always I will try not to post any spoilers)

Positive side: Why am I drawn so much to this series? In all honestly its not wonderfully written or extremely original (as all the orginal ideas were never fully explored). After some thought about it, it boiled down to some different things. One would be the hope for something more. I had hoped that the story would turn and give me what I wanted, but honestly that was just a small portion. The love story isn't over the top or corny, while some points to angsty, it was sweet and some what realistic. There was serveral times in the book I wanted to reach out and slap someone. And I would say out loud "really you're going to put up with that?!" If a book can make you feel by going through a ton emotions, it's worth the read. This one does. The charcters are warm, loving, frustrating, and real. Ezra and Mae are the parental figures that everyone would want, vamp or not. Their love is very obvious, and is the best explanation to the soulmate issue. Peter while not in the book a lot is the dark, brooding hero that most girls fall for. Milo is truly cute and you can see where the role reversal may take place. The story is good, and solid for the most part as a whole. There is no big baddie, but just a girl and her life with a few twists thrown in.

Negative Side: So we continue with Alice and the love triangle that appeared in Book 1. Let me just state that this is what drew me to the series with its uniqueness, but ultimately it was very disappointing and a bit confusing. Without saying to much, the potential of this stoy line was never really explained to my satisfaction but rather became a background issue, that was explained away by the end of the book. Several events in this book made me say "ok where did that come from?" and left me with it was outta left field feeling. I was very intrigued by the notion that somehow Alice had been made for Peter, but the explanation was lacking. It really does just left you pretty much confused. Alice in some aspects does become very Bella like becoming too dependent on her other half for her happiness, this does get more annoying as the time progresses. It would be nice to see a heroine that is like "ok then I'm gonna do this and see if later I have time for you since you didn't have time for me" sorta thing, instead of her pining away at the thought of being alone.

Lover Unleashed - JR Ward (Book 9 Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)

Please visit my and my friends dedicated Vamp site - Go and read on (@VampsAnon ) http://t.co/HiABzOS book Review by @BittenUsagi on "Lover Unleashed - Book 9 BDB series"

My Blood Approves - Amanda Hocking (Book 1 My Blood Approves Series)

(BUY IT HERE)

Seventeen-year-old Alice Bonham's life feels out of control after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave hits aside, Jack's unlike anyone she's ever met. Then she meets his brother, Peter. His eyes pierce through her, and she can barely breathe when he's around. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. But falling for two very different guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood...

I have to say this is one of the more intersesting takes on vampires and soulmates that I've seen in a while. If you know me a little you know that I'm always interested in an original twist to an old story. This definitely has that. I loved this story and bought the second one. (The Kindle version of book 1 is $0.99 and the rest are $2.99 can't beat that) The only complaints I would have about this book is 1) It's first person again 2) There are definite passages/situations that are very Twilightesque. I can't tell if it was on purpose to pay homage or simply influence. It definitely doesn't distract to much into the story, but enough that you'll notice. 3) The last two or three chapters seem just a tad rushed. You get the reasoning, but I'm unsure that it was feel so smashed together. 4) The friend Jane seems to make guest appearances and sometimes you're left with the "outta left field" feeling.

All in all the story line is unique and solid, the characters loveable, some situations understandable, and not to much to complain about. I would recommend this as a read. At $0.99 for a kindle version what do you have to lose?