Review: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Throne

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 3.9 Stars

The Wrong Side of Right was an enjoyable read. It wasn’t as quick as I had hoped, but that’s okay. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it started to move along once the plot had progressed. 

Prior Thoughts Before Reading

I had marked this on my TBR list months ago, but somehow I forgot about it. When I found it again, I was excited to start it. I really liked the concept of it. I expected a lot of family dynamics being explored, and also that this book would end with the main character discovering herself. I hoped that the love interest would be involved into politics as well. Him being involvedwould have created a new dynamic and it could have a forbidden love story. 

Plot

Even though there are tons of books about a teen discovering their absent father, I really enjoyed that this one had a political spin on it. By discovering that your dad has potential to be the next President, it allows for the main character to be thrust into the public light and into politics. We all know that politics are messy, so it was interesting to read about a main character who hadn’t chose this life and had to navigate the political waters without prior training. 

Like mentioned earlier, this book had a political aspect, however, it was not overshadowed with politics. Things like family dynamics, romance, and self-discovery were more important. 

The main issue I encountered is that I felt like relationships and character development felt short. Important conversations and bonding moments seemed to be left out. I kept waiting for that important father-daughter talk to come, but I do not think it ever did. 

I didn’t want this book to end, and I wish there would be a sequel. Maybe it’s just me, but it felt like there was more story to tell. 

Characters

I liked the main character, Kate. She was reliable and relatable. Kate manages to stay true to what she believes in, which I liked. She handled everything well. 

I liked the majority of the characters. It was refreshing that Kate’s new family was welcoming. I also, liked how the romance wasn’t front and center. This story mainly focuses on family dynamics. 

Like mentioned earlier, the recurring problem I had was that most things were undeveloped.  This issue was very present surrounding Kate’s relationships. I liked every one of her relationships, however, they could have been explored and brought to life more.

The romance was nice, and the pacing was good. I liked Andy. However, I didn’t necessary love him because I didn’t really know him. The romance wasn’t forced but again the underdevelopment of it left it feeling like it was lacking something. 

Final Analysis

The Wrong Side of Right is an enjoyable read with a very likable main character. Family dynamics overshadow the romantic aspect, and the story will leave you wanting more. Even though, it felt like some things were lacking, overall it was a good read, and I would recommend. 

Review: Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

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4 Stars. 

Overview

I enjoyed this book. Maybe a little too much because I was a little upset that it was over. It dealt with some serious topic- death and mental illnesses, but it was not overly dark. It still had its light, and cutesy moments. This book was very realistic, and I often found myself wanting to hug the main character to offer a form of support. 

Like mentioned earlier, this book does deal with mental illnesses and it's worth mentioning that Paula Strokes does a great job depicting an accurate description of it. It is honest. Also, therapy was portrayed nicely and positive. 

Before I talk about the romance, I want to touch on the family aspect first. I was surprised with how important family was in this book. In Girl Against the Universe, we see Maguire and her family member’s relationship progress as the story continues. And we also see her having a happy and healthy relationship with her mother and siblings. The moments with her siblings were small, but they were very adorable. I appreciate that they were not brushed to the side. 

The romance was not overbearing, which was good, because this book is about a journey. The romance was adorable. It developed really well, and it was extremely believable. If I had to choose one word to describe their relationship, I would say natural. 

Both parties were extremely helpful with each other. I liked their banter. Also, I enjoyed that it was not overly dominated by unnecessary angst and lack of communication.  I’ll touch on Jody later, but he was wonderful. 

Like the romance, the friendships were also adorable. Maguire had some pretty amazing friends. They were encouraging and never pushed. They were the definition of true friends. 

I do not think I have ever played tennis or even watched a game, but I enjoyed the tennis aspect a lot. It was nicely entangled into the plot. 

Writing

This is my first book by Paula Strokes, and I would definitely be up to reading more by her. I really enjoyed the writing. It was good. It was easy to read, without being lackluster. It was descriptive and worked well for the type of story being told. I enjoyed Maguire’s voice. It was original.  

Characters

I first want to say that I love the name Maguire. I have seen it many times as a last name, but never a first. It’s interesting and exciting that the author chose that as the main character’s name. It adds a little something else. 

Maguire was a great main character. I loved her. She was strong and realistic. It was interesting reading about a main character who believed that she was cursed. As a reader we know that she is not, but as the book progressed the narrator begins to realize that she never had been. It was interesting to see that journey and getting the emotional aspect of it as well. 

You want to cheer Maguire on as she is on her journey. Her character growth is so prominent at the end. You can’t help but be proud of her. 

Jody was a nice guy. He was complex character, and just like Maguire he was dealing with some things. Both him and Maguire, helped each other, but they also were able to stand on their own. They never got in the way of each other, but they were always there when one needed the other. Jody was not just a romantic lead, he developed as well. 

To be honest, I enjoyed all the characters. They were not just background characters, they were all very present in the narrative and apart of Maguire’s life. 

Final Analysis

Girl Against the Universe showcases an raw and real portrayal of mental illnesses. The book features a realistic and lovable main character who you can’t help but cheer on. This book is sweat, real and worth a read. I would recommend. 

Review: Vavaun: The Shadow of the Revenaunt by Paul E. Horsman

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About the Book

After helping King Ghyll to his victory in Zihaen, the beastmasters Uwella and Damion turn their attention to their own country of Vavaun.

High time, too, for the rumors have been persistent. There is something wildly amiss in the Gray Order, the temple protecting Vavaun from the Dar’khamorth’s machinations.

When Uwella DeGry, herself a wikke of the Grays and the heir to the throne of Vavaun, returns home with Damion DeAsharte, her mate and main competitor, they find their country in dire straits. Vile sorcerers and their beastmen roam the land, killing and ravaging at will and the Gray Order has almost been wiped out.

With only two very young fire warriors to help them, the ducal beastmasters vow to liberate their country, defeat the Dar’khamorth and bring peace between their competing Houses of Gry and Asharte.

Will even their mighty feline alter egos be strong enough to survive against the dark magic of the Revenaunt’s minions?

Vavaun is a tale of struggle, friendship and bravery against an enemy who plans total annihilation.
It is a stand-alone ‘Shadow of the Revenaunt’-adventure, running parallel to book 3, Ordelanden, and it starts after the final battle at the Owan Abai in Zihaen.

Review

I'll admit that I have and have always had a strong penchant for stories involving shape shifters, my favorite book growing up was about werewolves, and into my adulthood, very little has changed. Therefore, it seems only natural that I would find myself pulled forward into the world of Uwella and Damion.

This novel is a lovely excursion into another world, one with a deep, fully fleshed out history with cultures as intriguing as those on our own earth. Medieval fantasy gives us such great possibility of further looking into life and creativity, and this novel does an excellent job at doing just that. The writing style is curt and too the point, never overburdened by excessive description and unnecessary dialogue, which is something I find very desirable in novels like this.

As this was my first read in this series, I didn't find myself too confused by terms or concepts, which can become difficult when being thrust into another world. Best to just go with the flow and not wonder too much about words, you'll find out sooner rather than later what's being talked about.

I thought all the characters stood out from each other. I felt real sympathy for some and very real repulsion for others. I didn't find that it was too drenched in tropes of the genre, but it also wasn't a jarring departure.

Overall: if you're like me and into shape shifting and medieval fantasy, this is an easy choice. I poured through it in less than a day, which probably means it was a good one.

Review: The Loose Ends List by Carrie Firestone

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My feelings towards this book are a little conflicting. My uncertainly stems from the notion that it had so much potential, and I want to solely rate it on that. After thinking about it long and hard, I have come to the conclusion that it is a solid 3 stars . There were things that I enjoyed, but there were others that I didn’t enjoy. I did not necessary hate the book; but I am not planning on adding it to my “favorites” anytime soon. 

Prior Thoughts Before Reading 

The idea that a grandma booked a family trip and planned to "die with dignity" at the end was intriguing to me. I hoped that the book would deal with the emotional impact on her family members because of her decisions. I figured Enzo would be like the grandmother and planned the trip to die with dignity. 

Plot 

The plot was mainly character driven. However, in the end the character development was not prominent. It could be a little predictable, but there are some things that came as a surprise. It was not as emotional that I had hoped it would be. And I did not really connect to any characters. 

It seemed to be rushed which allowed for a lot of developments to be nonexistent. This book could be dark at times considering most of the cruise ship is full of people who are dying. However, it was not overly dark because of the humor. The humor is a little dirty and dark. 

I really think this book tried too hard to be funny. There seemed like there was a joke for everything, which allowed for the emotional impact of the reader to be lost. Most of the humor was a little over the top. 

Also, I really enjoyed the “Loose Ends List” aspect of it. It will get you thinking about your own list. It’s basically a bucket list, but I thought “Loose Ends List” sounded cooler. In addition, if you looked deeper there could be some good messages mixed into this book. 

I enjoyed the traveling aspect, however, I felt that more descriptions would have allowed for me to be more emerged into the locations. 

Characters 

There were a lot of personalities in this book, however, because of the abundance of characters they blended together. Throughout the book, I found  myself forgetting who was who and what their connection was to the main character. Most of the characters felt a little selfish and unlikeable. 

From the first page, I knew that I was not going to like Maddie. She seemed extremely spoiled and entitled. She wasn’t relatable. However, as I kept reading she grew on me a little. She definitely was not my favorite in the novel. 

I enjoyed Gram. She was blunt and could be classified as the Cool Grandma . She brought a little extra something to the table, and she stood out the most to me. I actually chuckled at some of her dialogue. I missed her when she was not in scenes. 

Another character that I enjoyed was Rachel. She is Maddie’s former best friend, who she only hangs out with in private. She was rarely in the book, but she made a lasting expression. 

I think the most important relationship was between Gram and Maddie. Maddie was the most tolerable when she was with her grandmother. And I thought their relationship was the most developed. Every other relationship Maddie had- including romance and friendships- fell flat. 

The romance was kind of insta-love and boring. Maddie and Enzo were okay. I did not feel a connection, and their scenes were kind of dry. He seemed like a sweet kid but I felt like I did not entirely know him. I would have liked if that romance was dialed back a little and more focused had been brought on Maddie and her family. It would have nice to see more family dynamics. 

Final Analysis 

Although intriguing in theory, The Loose Ends List is filled with many unlikeable characters and an unsatisfying romance. If the author had chosen to mainly focus on the family aspect, there would be more perks than cons.  

Review: Fate’s Love by L.A. Cotton

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3.1 Stars 

First, I want to say that I enjoyed the premise of this book. However, the actual things that made up the book, are what I didn’t enjoy. It needed more filler and extra meat to connect and flesh out the plot. Without those things, the book seemed to be lacking, and nothing felt complete or genuine. 

It dragged on, and I felt like certain parts were unnecessary. If I had to sum this book up in a few words, it would be that the story lacked depth, descriptions, and believable substances. 

Don’t get me wrong, it was great to see the main character in three stages of her life, however, I wish that during those stages there would have been more depth, descriptions, and of course, that it would have been more believable.

There are a few tragedies, and I’m thankful that the author included them. It somewhat made a difference and showed that life isn’t perfect. 

Character Analysis 

The story mostly follows Olivia, so we spend the most time with her. I felt indifferent about Olivia. She felt distance to me, and I didn’t connect to her. Yes, I knew that she had her whole life planned out, but what else? I must say, that her character development at the end is prominent. The author did do that justice. 

Fate’s Love takes place over eight years, and throughout those eight years, Olivia and Ethan meet a couple of times. They were “ coincidental ”. They exchanged a couple of words, and Olivia withdraws for whatever reason and goes on with her life. Because of the lack of communication and insta-love, their relationship felt very unbelievable and frustrating. 

If the two had spent a solid amount of time together in high school, I would have felt the chemistry and actual understood their relationship. Because it lack multiple attributes, I kept waiting for that moment that would help me understand them. 

After finishing, I still don’t have a strong sense of who Ethan was. And I’m not sure if Olivia did either. 

Final Analysis
Fate’s Love had a strong premise, but the story lacks important attributes that would have made it a great love story. It is an easy read, which does include a happy ending.  

Review: Spartan Fit by Joe De Sena and John Durant

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About the Book

From the best-selling author of Spartan Up! a complete 30-day workout and diet plan to help you reach peak performance

Joe De Sena designed the Spartan races to test overall conditioning: strength, flexibility, endurance, and speed. His signature take-no-prisoners approach to achieving physical and mental fitness has taken the endurance world by storm and inspired millions. Now in Spartan Fit!, De Sena breaks down that approach and gives readers the tools they need to conquer the course — and life, including: 
 
     • A 30-day workout and diet plan to prepare for the Spartan Sprint — or to just get you in            shape
     • Full-body workouts requiring no gym, no weights
     • How to build on one race to the next
     • Inspiring, motivating stories of Spartans
 
A complete Spartan training guide, Spartan Fit! will arm readers with the strength, knowledge, and grit to never question their potential again.

Review

Based what I read, I was expecting something completely different. I was actually expecting a different perspective of a traditional plan claiming 31 days to commit that would transform my life and body without going to the gym. I thought, well that sounds interesting but to my disappointment, it wasn’t what I was hoping it would be.

I’m not saying I didn’t like the book. Based on what I read, I was solely expecting something along the lines of some sort of structured regime based on the expertise of the author for his version of transforming your mind and body achieving optimal health based on a plan that didn’t involve a gym. My impression was, a how to motivational book that was structured around the concept of what the cover said. So, if you are looking for a book that will be like that, this isn’t that.

The book at its core blends the author’s core Sparta philosophy, including comparison to figures from Greek history, much of what promotes his Spartan Races. The book was informative in regards the historical figures in correlations to Spartan races and figures who represents optimal physical and emotional strength. There were personal insights and experiences of people whose lives have been transformed implementing this lifestyle change. The book detailed core philosophies to the program, pictorials and instructions on how to do the exercises, information on the Spartan races and simple recipes that could be followed to enhance optimal endurance for this regimen. 

Overall I feel conflicted about the book because even though there were elements that introduces you to this program it felt like it was in correlation to promoting the Spartan Races and/or brand rather than fulfilling the impression of a generalized lifestyle concept that would be tangible and appeal to everyone. Personally, If the book just focused on the Pillars of the 30 day plan, the exercises, the 30 day breakdown, nutrition and the testimonials, I think it could appeal to a wider audience that really could take the concept and run with it. I really feel that this book would appeal more to people who have an interest in this lifestyle or have done the races to want to learn more or amend their current regimen. 

This is definitely a lifestyle change that would require an intense commitment that would take a lot of time and for those who are interested in this type of intense physical regime, this would be an interesting challenge to test your mental and physical stamina. So if you are a Spartan fan or want to learn how to reach a higher level of physical stamina and endurance mentally and physically, than this book would be idea for you.