Damaged

by H.M. Ward
Rating: 4/5
Damaged 2 Rating: 5/5

I'm going to include Damaged 2 in this review because it's all really just one big story and I don't think it should have been separated into two books. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this book or not, but it was really easy to like. The characters are well defined and funny, which makes it that much easier to get caught up into their story. The dialogue is wonderfully realistic and really shows the main characters personality.

I hate to say this is Sidney's story because I think Peter equally shined, but she is the main character and the story is told through her point of view. These books go into their struggles and harsh realities that have all but torn every bit of happiness from them. Sidney and Peter find each other and start a relationship that isn't allowed by the university and in time learn to help each other in ways that allow them to start living again. The second book is more comical and at times had me laughing pretty hard. The sexual tension is mucho grande and may nearly drive you mad, fair warning. Oh, and one of my favorite parts is when they find "Mr. Turkey" and Peter ties him up with a pink bra so he doesn't peck his eyes out. The cross dressing bird is hilarious. I know that doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the story, but it does and it'll make you laugh to boot.
L-

A Second Chance

by Sara Furlong Burr
Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this!
In this short story, Ms. Burr doesn't waste any time putting the reader right in the middle of everything. She makes you feel the characters loss and sorrow over her child, delve into her depression, and later have a flicker of hope and joy. At first I was irritated because I wanted to read more and find out how the little boy had found them, but a while later, I realized that the story needed to end where it did. It leaves you in a place of questioning, but deep down the reader knows what happened next and how the little boy no doubt completed their family. I also think the blanket is how he had decided who his family was. Other thoughts also come into play though. Was his soul reincarnated? Or is this boy simply determined to be loved by the family of his own choosing? Either way, this is an inspirational read. Definitely a good one!
L-

Heart of the Billionaire

by J.S. Scott
Rating: 4/5 for romance, 3/5 for other genre comparisons
This is a good addition to the billionaire series, especially since you're left hanging at the end of it wondering what will happen with Sam and Maddie. It was a good read that definitely made you feel for Sam, if you can imagine such a thing. This book digs into the two characters dark pasts as you follow them through the rebuilding of their damaged relationship. I suppose you could consider this a stand alone book, but it would make more sense and get you'd more into the characters if you read the whole series. Lots of sex, proceed with caution.
L-

Mine for Tonight

by J.S. Scott
Rating: 4/5 for romance, 2/5 for other genre comparisons

This is my review for the whole series.
Warning: If you are a romance/erotica genre virgin, this isn't the best book for you to start with.

Okay, first of all, I think romance novels should be rated on a separate scale from other genres. They're just so different and really don't compare to other books. With that said I gave it four stars on my own personal romance/erotica (aka book porn, as my husband puts it) scale.

As far as a storyline, there's one there, but the books are mostly focused on...other things. xoxo The later stories in the series bring about more background information on all the characters. They're short and very erotic, so if you don't like that, this is my official warning to you.
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Enigma Black

by Sara Furlong Burr
Rating: 4/5

This was an excellent book. It tells the story of a girl who lost everything in the devastation occurring in our country. Ten years later she leaves what she's managed to gain back in life to seek vengeance for her family. This story had me captivated from the prologue and kept my interest throughout. Ms. Burr wrote this book at a fast moving pace and tied in politics and aspects of society seamlessly, keeping everything packed with either action or heart wrenching scenes that will make you feel everything the characters do.

The reason I gave it four stars and not five is because there were times when the whole super-human thing became incredibly corny. Especially during the fight scenes, which could have been much better than they were. However, it's clear the author did her research when it came to how these humans are transformed and managed to pull off the realism. This is a good book, read it.
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Awaken

by Meg Cabot
Rating: 2/5

This is the third book in Meg Cabot's Awaken series. I was actually hoping this book would be as good as the second, but it was really disappointing. It moved so slow, I thought I'd never make it through! Ms. Cabot wasted time to be frank. I think the first three chapters were all at the dock and the writing almost seemed to be in slow motion. Not much happened in this book and of course it had the expected happily ever after ending so I'd say it's not really worth anyones time to read. At least it was short.
Pierce seemed to regress in this one and was bordering on stupid, except on a rare occastion she was able to jump to some absurd conclusion that had no logic leading up to it whatsoever. In short this book is predictable and unsatisfactory.
L-

Thirty Seconds to Die

by S.G. Holster
Rating: 1/5

So, this book gets a definite thumbs down! This was by far the worst book I've come across in many years. If not for this challenge I would never have read past the first couple chapters.  This is a self published book and it's obvious why. No publisher would ever have accepted it. The writing in the book is extremely amateurish and much of the story is a Twilight ripoff, right down to coming very close to plagiarizing lines.

The concept of a story of two reincarnated souls that were in love in a past life finding each other again would make a great, sweet romance, but unfortunately the author has to throw in this whole story line about another group of super powered beings that are out to kill the souls. Why? That's never really explained. Most of it is never explained and what is doesn't make sense. It doesn't seem like the author really thought it all through.
The story drags on and on with many detailed scenes that do nothing to move the story along. The main character Lexi seems to whine about everything and cries every five minutes. Of course the the male main character, Ren, is impossibly good looking and extremely rich and all around "perfect".

I am very glad I only payed a couple bucks for this book on my kindle and I'll be deleting it off there as I will never be reading it again! (and I'm a believer that any book worth reading, is worth reading again!)
-K

*****

Rating: 2/5

Warning: Spoilers-I just can’t help myself!

Let me start by saying the only reason I gave this book a rating of 2 and not 1 is because I liked the idea of the myth it was based off of, and because of that it had potential. That potential just plunged deeper into this books sad abyss the further into it I got. I’m not sure what was going on in the authors head but she clearly has no original ideas for her writing. I know to some extent no idea is truly original, but she could at least try to be a little creative.

Let me tell you what I mean; Picture in your head a combination of the Twilight and Hush, Hush series…got it? Good! Now strip away most of the characters, vamps, wolves and angels. Add Inuit myth of reincarnated souls and voila, there you have it! Some of the scenes were almost exactly what they were in Twilight and it was almost unbearable to read. Not to mention the Sentori attack the Ren and Lexi constantly like the Nephilim do in Hush, Hush. You know, the fight of good vs. evil except no angels.

Here are some examples:

• Strange boy in school staring at Lexi, and of course he’s madly in love with her and is always concerned about her well-being down to every little scratch. He even adds art class at school so he can be with her more.
• Lexi seems to always be blushing uncontrollably, literally throughout the whole book.
• She hurt her hand with a welding torch, and guess who escorted her to the nurse? That’s right Edward, oh sorry I mean Ren.
• You may be wondering if there’s a Jacob to complete the love triangle, well you’re in luck! There’s Brett, who Lexi used to be with in her souls past life, but she really loves Ren. *Wink, Wink*
• Remember that heart wrenching scene in New Moon when Edward tells Bella he’s leaving and leaves her in the forest? Wel,l Ren tells Lexi he’s leaving her at the beach and the puts her in his aunts car. Of course he wasn’t saying goodbye forever but you get the general idea here.
• After moping around until graduation, Lexi goes to London to be with Ren and you’d never guess what’s in his garage. That’s right a row of very classy and expensive cars. Sound familiar?
• This one is so incredibly close to Twilight it actually made me angry when I read it. There’s not a good enough way to explain it so I’ll just quote the excerpt instead.

Quote: “I turned my head to the side. My heartbeat raced at the sight of Ren, whose beautiful face was resting on his arm next to me. The beeping sound became fast and annoying. Ren looked like an angel, my angel. I was still trying to figure out if I were dead or alive. I reached out to touch him, dragging along with me tubes and cords that I fought against to reach farther. Finally, I made it to his face. I brushed my fingers across his cheek, even though I was afraid he’d disappear if I woke him.

               My touch and the accelerated beeping seemed to catch his attention. I watched as his long eyelashes fluttered before revealing his liquid brown eyes. He backed away to look at me, and the smile that always made me feel as though I needed to catch my breath spread across his face. He traced his fingers down my cheek and across my lips.

               “You’re awake,” he whispered, touching his lips to my forehead. I could see tears form in his eyes when he looked at me.

               “I’m so sorry.” My voice was only a whisper, and my throat felt very dry. I wasn’t sure why I said it, but the sad look in his eyes made me feel responsible for the pain. Immediately his look was confused, and he held my hand in his.

               “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” He shook his head slightly.

               His voice took me back to the sounds of the fighting.

               “What happened? How’d you find me?” Anxiety from the memory rose up from the pit of my stomach.

               Ren pushed a button on the side of the bed, and a nurse opened the door and came rushing in.

Blah, blah, blah….

”I’ll never let this happen again. This was my fault.”

“Stop!” I insisted, putting my fingers to his lips.”

You get the idea. No more comment necessary.

After that he of course sweeps her off to a tiny island off the coast of France that Ren’s family owns half of. Sound a bit like Isle Esme? Just a bit.

One last thing to add, this author relentlessly repeats herself with dialogue. In fact the dialogue is just bad. No one talks that way and if they did I think I would never be able to stop laughing when someone spoke.

I could probably continue but I’m tired of typing and I’ve already wasted enough of my life on this book. Read at your own risk and if you’re a Twilight fan, be warned, you’ll probably just get pissed off.

L-

This book is part of our 50 states reading challenge.
State: Alaska
*This book isn't really set in Alaska but the myth comes from the Inuit's in Alaska, so we're counting it. I think the second one will have more of a setting there.