Vernal by Randi Cooley Wilson A Book with too Much Romance

Book Synopsis

Serena has a bright future etched in stone. 
Tristan has a dark past that haunts him. 
Together, they have a love that can never be.
Sheltered, and unable to escape her bloodline, Serena St. Michael has spent the last two years training at the Royal Protector Academy. Struggling with a dark past, Tristan Gallagher’s current assignment is to protect a lifetime of secrets. One chance encounter will change everything. Serena must decide if she will follow her heart, forsaking all she’s ever known and risking a future worse than non-existence. Tristan will break every rule to save Serena, even if he can’t keep her. In their world of darkness, one love will ignite an ancient war. When pasts collide with the present, and secrets are revealed, will love be enough? Or will one lie destroy it all?
When you’ve hidden behind a mask for so long, would you reveal yourself for love? Vernal, the first novel in The Royal Protector Academy series is a dangerously exciting and darkly romantic tale that will take your breath away. Vernal - Goodreads

My Opinion

2.75/5.00 Stars

I should just post my rough draft as it is because I am out of words. Ha-Ha-Ha!

Moving on to the actual review...

I requested this book from NetGalley a long time ago. The premise sounded promising but I got lost along the way. I had to face the same problem I usually find in books like this one. The romance took over the entire plot. :/

While reading Vernal, I learn that it is a spin off series starter. Nothing wrong with that; although, for a new comer like myself, things were not 100% clear. Little details were offered regarding the world and plot. From what is presented, the setting, the magic system and its background seemed interesting. And this is unfortunate because, just like the characters, the story had a lot of potential.

Speaking of characters... I thought there is going to be more about exploration and build up when the romance element entered the scene. As in, how the protagonists connect and try to figure out this inexplicable connection/attraction they feel about each other. Instead... Bam! Everything ruined by the sex. They spend more time talking about and being intimate than knowing each other. Then, that whole "I am super possessive and inexplicable jealous alpha male. Everything you do is wrong and I own you" and "I am a strong woman capable of anything but I cannot live without you and I am owned by you and you are the only male who can tame me" was not my style. They looked like decent characters and had good qualities here and there but.... In the end, they got overshadowed by the romance and nonexistent plot. Also, there was not a concrete reason why Serena is special and has to become the next ruler.

All in all this book was not for me. Like I use to say, this was not my cuppa tea because of too much sugar was added. It was not what I expected at all.

[I gave it such a high rating because it had enough to keep me entertained and not DNF (do not finish) it.]

This is my sole opinion. ^_^

I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Urban

Language: Heavy

Sexual Content: Heavy

Violence: Heavy

Drugs/Alcohol: Heavy

P.S. 

• You can check out my latest post -->HERE<--  

Twisted Luck by Mia Downing or a Contemporary Demon Love Story

Publication Date: April 7, 2017

Book Synopsis

When I told him to go to hell, I never realized it would be a trip for two.
All I wanted was luck—the good kind. I’d lost my job, a jerk hacked my bank account, and I caught my best friend screwing my fiancé. When stood up by my Internet date in a bar, I met the perfect man—tall, dark, and handsome in the most expensive suit. He was out of my league, but I didn’t want forever.
I barely remember the words he whispered under the veil of sin and seduction. I didn’t believe in Satan, God, Heaven or Hell. I thought he was kidding. A figment. A dream.
I was wrong. With one, breathless yes, my fate was sealed.
Businessman by day, demon by night, Leo Weston now owns my soul in exchange for good luck. Time is ticking as he works to secure my mother’s soul, too. Somehow, I have to take him down despite him being so damned gorgeous, glib, and devious. Will my gift of twisted luck be enough to save her and protect my heart? Twisted Luck - Goodreads

My Opinion

3.65/5 Stars

Well! Well! Well, dearies! Twisted Luck was a) a quick read b) funny and c) unique. Although, major WARNING in the sexy-time department!

After finishing this book, you are going to say, "I want more." At least, I did. There is so much more to explore in this book-universe. Being a romance/erotica, the romantic relationship drives the whole story leaving some stuff unexplored to the core.

As a side note: If you are a fan of the CW TV show, Supernatural, this book is no stranger to you. After watching an episode from season 12 of Supernatural, I was able to see it clearly. You know... I was finally able to pinpoint the familiarity I felt while reading Twisted Luck.

Sweet, funny, and cheesy are the first words which come to my mind about this love story. I got attached to the main characters so much. The author did a good job creating our protagonists with complex personalities with a touch of realism. Olivia and Leo are the ones who make this book addicting as chocolate and worth reading.

Speaking of characters, I wanted to see more of Babu and Annie, and Samuel to be more complex like Leo and not purely evil. And... I wonder how many "and's" I can squeeze in such a close proximity to one another?... That's just me. What I felt.

I know this is a romance novel but I want to know more about the demons' system and other small details which seemed brushed off to the side, like:

• the significance of the jingling change in pockets;
• why demons change their human names;
• make the "love" thing to be more believable and a more thorough explanation of why it is unacceptable.

The ending was a little anticlimactic. Or I was too tired to pay attention since it was quite late in the night. The open ending is satisfactory enough; although, it has some unanswered questions and plot holes. We still do not get concrete answers. Some people might be fine with it. I got a feeling that it was done somewhat purposely to leave room for a potential book two. Who knows? The author and the publishing company, obviously. Anyway, I will not complain if we get a second book. With that ending, we... I definitely need one.

Yes, I know! The cover is supper cheese but do not judge a book by its cover. And you're gonna say,"Yeah, right! I hope you are kidding because we all know this is not the case nowadays." Then my response will be, "What are you? The book inquisition?"

Alright! The book presents an interesting aspect. If you like a steamy romance with demons or the TV shows Lucifer  and Supernatural (especially Supernatural) then this is your cup of tea.

This is my sole opinion. ^_^

I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Language: heavy
Sexual content: heavy
Violence: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate to heavy (in the beginning - alcohol)

Shaken by Susan Hatler. Brace yourselves for high levels of frustration

Book Synopsis

High school junior, Kylie Bates, can suddenly read minds. When she touches people’s hands, she’s able to see their deepest thoughts. As if that’s not freaky enough, her dad sends her to help hottie detective, Sam Williams, track down a missing girl. Way too much pressure, especially for a girl who can’t watch Scream without getting nightmares.
Then, finding the missing girl leads to much more than Kylie’s prepared for. Like discovering that her dad has been lying to her. That she has a family she never knew about. That the girls have powers similar to hers. Oh yeah, and that someone is out to get her.
When the detective’s teenage wanna-be-cop cousin, Trip Williams, approaches Kylie at school insisting she help him solve the case, she discovers Trip might be the only one she can trust, and the only one to help her unravel the secrets behind her mysterious gift. Shaken

 

 

 

My Opinion

1.95/5 stars.

It pains me to give a bad review to a book from an author I previously enjoy reading. I read one of the author's love stories, A Christmas Kiss. Then, I was convinced that I will read more from Susan Hatler. And surprisingly, I did. (Yeah, when I picked this book up, it took me a while to put two plus two together and realize that the author is one and the same Susan Hatler.)

I am separating the review in two main parts the good and the bad.

 

Good

 

The overall idea behind the book sounded promising.

Interesting power/paranormal system.

Police investigation.

Kidnapping.

"I am your [Darth Vader] father," theme.

A lost family.

A strong main teenager male character.

A strong secondary teenager/young adult female character.

A clueless supposedly strong and smart main teenager female character.

Secrets upon secrets.

Teenagers' life problems.

A mind reader and other peoples with powers.

Family birth mark.

Romance.

Paranormal

Great steamy parts.

Shrink dad.

Though thugs.

High school.

Let's not forget about a pretty good author.
So yeah... These were great ingredients suggesting a good story recipe.
"What went wrong," you ask. Well... The story is told from the main character's first person point of view.  AAAAnd, let me tell you, I had this strong urge to talk some sense into her.

Bad

 

Well... I will try to keep my salty side in check as a respect for the author and her hard work. My intention is not to insult people, just to critique one's work.

The main character lacked the proper development. She was the TV-cliché-American-dream teenager. In the beginning, I was, "Alright, her naïveté is understandable since she just discovered a whole new world." I was unable to connect with somebody like her. Everything about her felt forced. She was portrayed as smart and strong and with a desire to be normal; although, the end result was disappointing. The word "shallow" popped in my head more than once while reading the book.

Why? I prepared a list because it is blunt, precise, and without confusion:

• female teenage cares more about what people think about her more than situation at hand; 
• obsesses with boys even though she tries to show the reader otherwise;
• and seriously the insta-love felt too... instant;
• lack of angst and sparks;
• the main character figures and masters her power rather quickly but fails to see the obvious things;
• main character is portrayed as smart, because she does not lose the opportunity to remind the reader this fact every single time (I do not care you have a 4.0 GPA. Show me that through your actions and thought process. Shout out to Drew - secondary female character - who finally pointed this fact out. I love you girl. I wish the book was told from your point of view);
• (this piece is not about the main character) the supposed father calls his daughter a lair even though he knew that there is a high - to the roof - chance that his daughter may have powers because... genetics;
• (also about the dad) the father is rather irrational in protecting the paranormal gifted daughter from everything considering that it is easy to have a normal life again (Dude, that ain't gonna happen!);
• (again, not about the main character) I got the feeling that the adults were seen as the enemies of teenagers than complex people who can be also allies. 

Like I said, the right ingredients for the wrong recipe. At least for my taste. The intriguing elements and my curiosity in the unanswered questions were not enough for this book to receive a high rating. Believe it or not, I am - still - kind of curious to know what happens next.

The writing was good with the story flowing rather nicely most of the time. I believe it would have worked better if the story had been told from the third person.

 



Overall, this book was not my cuppa tea.



 

This is my sole opinion. ^_^

 

Feel free to check out my review on Susan Hatler's A Christmas Kiss.

 

I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Language: mild
Sexual content: moderate
Violence: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: mild