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Member Since: Nov. 14, 2011

Hazel G

Smashwords book reviews by Hazel G

Madison's Life Lessons on Nov. 29, 2011

Madison's Life Lessons is a prequel, by Gracen Miller, for her first book in her Road to Hell series, Pandora's Box. This short takes an early look into the life of heroin, Madison Wescott, and sets the groundwork for whats to come in the series. Written in small chapters titled Life Lessons, it starts off with Madison at age 15 and follows snippets of her life up to where Pandora's Box begins. We see Madison on her journey to becoming a woman, falling in love with future husband Micah Dominus (who obviously has something otherworldly going on), detaching from her overly pious father and her dispassionately secular mother, and having her son, Amos. I really enjoyed these shorts. They were extremely well written and very emotionally charged. Having read Pandora's Box before this prequel, and knowing how it would turn out, didn't diminish the excitement in reading how Madison and Micah find their way toward each other. I got glimpses into the overall picture that The Road to Hell series is taking and will take in future works. I might have liked Micah in Pandora's Box, even though I wasn't sure of the "why" of his intentions, but these Lessons really gave me an insight into his character and I simply LOVE him more then I did before. I also got a real sense of who Madison was verses who she becomes in Pandora's Box and admit that her character really pulls at my heartstrings. This is a must read! Im excited the author took the time to put this together for the fans. We get a clearer picture of whats going on and it was nice to have something to tide me over until the release of the next book in the series. This read is nothing short of fantastic! And I really suggest you follow this story on to Pandora's Box which is another amazing read, introducing you to some VERY powerful and interesting characters and a story line that will no doubt leave you wanting more!
Pandora's Key on May 22, 2012

Pandora's Key is the first book in The Key Trilogy by Nancy Richardson Fischer. Review: I really liked this book. It was different, it was exciting and creative and it was smartly written. I love the tale of Pandora's Box and have always had a love of the Greek Gods mythology. This book really put those tales to use with its own spin and story. The writing was great, the imagery was well done and the story itself was plausible. Evangeline was a terrific lead character. She's the reason this story works so well. You can literally feel the changes her life is taking, what she's going through and the heartache she's enduring. The supporting cast of characters were interesting and well written. There was action, suspense, mystery and a bit of romance in this book. There were a few things that I disliked about the book, but minor given the whole of the story. The beginning was slow and a bit confusing. It took me several "put down and pick back up" attempts to get through the first few chapters because I just couldn't get into it. But Im really glad I kept going because its picks up speed and rhythm and it all comes together. Some of the dialogue was a bit rough and I think Evangeline reaction to her new life was a bit off. I also wish we had gotten more of Raphe and Evangeline together. I would have liked to have seen their love story better developed considering they knew each other before the events started to unfold in Evangeline's life. He seemed to really care about her and love her despite her own deprecating self image. All in all this book was definitely worth the time to read it. Im looking forward to reading book two! NOTE - I read this as part of a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! in Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the moderators as well as the author for allowing me to participate.
Reflection on June 06, 2012

THIS BOOK WAS PRETTY DARN AMAZING! After really getting into the story, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! 4.5 stars! The Rundown: Heather Robbins is trying to escape the small town she lives in where her family history is anything but ideal. Leaving her alcoholic step-father, the memory of her deceased mother and her best friend, Creed, with a promise ring between them, she sets off to St. Louis to attend college. Living on her own in a cute little apartment, she starts the summer semester where she meets new friends, new adventures, makes an enemy or two and meets the incredibly hunky Nick Richards who’s detached composure, easy going monosyllabic nature infuriates but intrigues her … and sets her world on fire. Life is confusing but exciting for the first time. But when she suddenly wakes up to a reality where things have changed and the wonderful life and the new love she made for herself may be a figment of a coma induced imagination, she has to figure out what’s real and learn to accept what she might have lost. Review: This book was completely different than anything I've read before. It was a bit confusing at first, wondering what was real and what wasn't, but once I got into the story and saw the direction it was taking, I really began to enjoy it a great deal! It drew me in from the beginning and captivated me to the very end. I became lost in the pages and my mind raced to figure out what clues lead to dream vs. reality so I could get an accurate picture of what was happening. It was smartly executed and the writing was inspired. Heather’s character was a delight to read. She was original, she had spunk and she was compassionate at the same time, taking no pride when her broken thought-to-mouth filter got the best of her. Her circumstances made her stand out and I enjoyed her uniqueness. Nick.. now what can I say about this mysterious hottie! He was fascinating from the first time we met him and Im so glad the romance between he and Heather was drawn out instead of instant. He had tragedy in his past too, which left him scarred and jagged and watching those walls break down was monumental. I really loved Creed as well. His devotion to Heather was amazing and heartwarming. I really hope when the dust settles, he has a love of his own and not just a broken heart. The colorful supporting cast was fun to read, even the class mean-girl, who gets slammed by Heather, much to Heather’s shame. The Wrap Up: I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel, Reaction, to be released so we can see what happens next! I REALLY hope we get a positive resolution to the ending of book one, Reflection. When I read the final page, I wanted to scream! Poor Heather.. Poor Nick… Poor Creed! Its just a heartbreaking mess! I kept waiting for the author to reveal how long she’d been in a coma, thinking things might not be so bad… Gah!!! I think I read Reaction comes out later this year (fall of 2012). Is it bad that I WANT. IT. NOW?!? =) NOTE: Reflection is a YA contemporary romance written by Jessica Roberts. I read this as a R2R with The Nexus! at Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
Reign of Blood on July 24, 2012

Creative and Fun! The Review: I really wanted to love this book because it had some terrific reviews. However, after completing this read I had to settle on only three stars. Likes: I enjoyed the overall premise of this story and the world the author created was intimidating and chilling. I loved the character development. The heroine, April Tate, was well written and I liked how mature and warrior-like she was given her young age of seventeen. Surviving the past year of her life through an outbreak and fighting feral vampires would definitely age a person well past their years and the author did a terrific job of showing this. I also really liked the distinction between the different hybrids of vampires. I thought it was cleaver and well done. The love interest, Rye, was intriguing and well described. The ending of the book was action packed and left off with enough of a cliffhanger to interest the reader further. Dislikes: This particular plot has been done before, but you can recreate an overdone plot and make it your own if it’s done correctly. And all the points were there to make this a great story but the writing fell flat for me. Im not a huge fan of “told” stories. I like to live through the scenes with the characters, not be told about it after the fact and this book had a lot of “telling” in it. The beginning was to slow for me. I felt like the heroines isolation dragged on for too long and I also felt like there just wasn’t enough happening to carry to story forward. Toward the end the action picked up and was really well done but by that point I was pushing myself to finish it. I also didn’t care for some of the dialogue. It felt forced and some of it didn’t make sense. The Wrap Up: I think with a bit more editing of the story as well as dialogue, I could have given this book a much higher rating. I’m intrigued enough to want to know what happens next so I’ll probably go on to read book two, Disarming (Reign of Blood 2) that’s scheduled to come out in 2013 but it won’t be at the top of my list. Note: I read this as a R2R with The Nexus! in Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
In the Middle of Nowhere (Willow's Journey #1) on July 30, 2012

Simple but moving! A story of family and love... The Review: I liked this book and though it got some low ratings I went in with an open but cautious mind. The story was touchingly sweet yet very sad in some places and bright in others. The emotional facet of the book was strong however it was seemed slow to start and somewhat stalled in the middle. It follows a year in the life of Willow Flynn as she tries to start over in a new life with her mother and brother after the tragic death of her father and the loss of her mother's employment. Her family life is strained as she feels alone, seeking out new friends, not all of which are healthy or wise choices and coping with her distracted mother and game obsessed younger brother. Everyone is trying to deal with the loss and new situation in their own way and not all those ways are constructive. Where the story seems to stall is where Willow is going through her weekly routine of school, homework, checking her online page or sleeping. She does have the occasional adventurous night out which always lands her trouble of some sort and her budding relationship with Michael is captivating but I wished there had been more. Michael is established in the very beginning of the book and makes a very charming introduction, making the reader notice him immediately. I was instantly intrigued and wanted to know more about him but we don't see much of him until the last few chapters because he is out of Willow's social circle due to his illness. I wished the author had of spent more time constructing his and Willows relationship. I would have loved to see them do more together. The theme of the story was very well done! By the end of the book I was an emotional wreck and was skittish to read the last few pages because I was scared of what the ending would hold. The tension between Willows family was well played out and her character growth from beginning to end was noticeable. The Wrap Up: All in all, there were amazing parts and there were slow parts. This story was a tale of love, life, death and teen angst.. hard lessons, ugly truths and the beauty when you let yourself compromise and open yourself to love. I really wish there had been more events to carry this story forward and more development of the love interest, Michael because that's what I felt was at the heart of this story. It just wasn't explored thoroughly, but I do get where the author was trying to take the story and I liked it nonetheless. I'd definitely suggest this book to anyone wanting an emotionally well written but quick read. And I'd be most interested to see a second book with these characters because in no way has their story ended. NOTE:: I read this as a R2R with We ' YA Books! from Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
What Kills Me on Aug. 29, 2012

Awesome start! Keep them coming! What Kills Me is a YA Paranormal Romance written by Wynne Channing. The Rundown: Axelia, or Zee as is her nickname, is in Italy for the summer to go to school and hopefully have an adventure or two, but when she meets a handsome boy, things go from a night out on the town to very bad in a split second. She wanted a little excitement on her summer away from home, but life just got real complicated and now she’s a changed girl, people are trying to kill her and a brand new horrifying world has just revealed itself. Being chased all over the country by sword wielding psychos doesn’t leave much time for Axelia to become adjusted to her new world, but things could be worse as she makes new friends and might even find love. The Review: This was a nifty little read. Coming in at about 200 or so pages, this story starts out with Zee as a normal girl living a normal life who finds herself in a dire situation that changes her and her future forever. This story was very well written. It was thrilling, creative and adventurous. I was impressed with Axelia’s character. She was an ever-evolving heroine who started out shy and scared but grew into a brave warrior. The hero, Lucas, was strong, courageous and I liked his devotion to Zee. I also liked how they didn’t get along in the beginning but grew to care about one another as the adventure and journey continued. They were cute and sweet together and a force to go up against! The idea of how Axelia came to be changed was terrific. I love the lore the author creates and the world she builds is very interesting and colorful. My only complaint… it was too short and I wanted more! The Wrap Up: I’d suggest this book to anyone looking for a quick and exciting YA paranormal read. I really hope there are more books in the works because it left off with an eye popping cliffy and I want to know what’s next for Zee and Lucas! They definitely have more adventures ahead! NOTE: I read this as a R2R with Making Connections YA Edition at Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
Mobster's Girl on Oct. 22, 2012

Good read but could have been great... 3.5 stars! Mobster's Girl is a YA Romance written by Amy Rachiele. The Review: I liked this book. It was a sweet story about two opposites coming together only to find out they aren't so different after all. I really liked both Megan and Antonio. Megan was sweet and shy but also stern and formidable. Antonio was the quintessential mobster's son. He was learning the family business as the author takes us inside his world rife with violence. But at the same time he's also trying to keep his darker side from Megan. Troy was Megan's best friend and his unrequited love for her was heartbreaking as he realized he was losing her to another. You get a switch between both Megan and Antonio's POV's which is done very well and allows you to see into both of their worlds. There are shocking and exciting moments as well as secrets to discover in this book, but there was just something missing. My biggest complaint is this book glossed over events that I felt should have been written out so the reader could experience them along with the characters. I wish there had been more dates between Megan and Antonio or at least more interaction before they both realized they were in love. The relationship, although building from a distance since childhood, just seemed rushed once they connected and since the book itself was so short, I thought the author could have added a few more events to really draw the reader into their relationship. All the right components were there to make this a truly fascinating love story but it just didn't follow through thoroughly enough for me. Also, I didn't understand the mother's reaction to Megan's pain. She seemed like a caring mom up until that point and then she just sits back and smugly smiles down at her daughter from a haughty perch while her daughter is suffering? Oookay... The Wrap Up: Though I enjoyed this book, I wanted more time to get to know the characters. I wanted to spend more time inside their lives but the story was so short, coming in at about 130 pages, that there just wasn't enough time or events to really sink my teeth into them. Though this book isn't listed as a series, there is a second book titled, Awakening the Mobster, and I was entertained enough that I'll probably read on to the next. NOTE:: I read this as a R2R with We ♥ YA Books! at Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
Awakening the Mobster (Book 2) on Dec. 02, 2012

Sweet, Fun and Exciting! A Great Afternoon Read! Awakening the Mobster is a continuation from book one titled Mobster's Girl and is a YA Romance written by Amy Rachiele. The Review: I like this series. It just keeps getting better! Book one left off with a cliffy and I really wanted to see how the next book would go. I wasn't disappointed. The second book was a great read and I really enjoyed it but I had the same problem with this book I had with book one. I'll start with the good points first. Awakening the Mobster picks up right where book one, Mobster's Girl leaves off. It's a short read, coming in at about 120 pages. Antonio, Megan, Erin and Vito are on the run from the bad guys. Antonio and Vito are in charge of keeping Megan and Erin safe and between shoot outs, explosions, injuries, jealousy, betrayal, developing romance, new love interests and trying to enjoy the college experience; the guys have their hands full. I really like Megan and Antonio. I fell in love with them in book one and was in the corner cheering them on. Their developing love is fascinating to read. It's intense and sweet and so much fun. Antonio doesn't put up with any crap on a normal day and he certainly doesn't put up with his girl, Megan, getting crap thrown at her. His protectiveness towards her, her sister and Vito is a beautiful thing. In this story we also get a little side romance as it appears Vito has an interest in Erin. She's a bit young and was having a really hard time adjusting to the event in this book and though I hate how weak she was, I really enjoyed watching Vito fall for her. Now, my complaint... As much as I liked this book, I have the same complaint I had in book one. The writing is like watching a movie in fast forward. Characters come in, they say their bit, they exit quickly. There's no detail, no description and I had a hard time connecting with the scenes. I wish the author would take the time and describe the setting, the emotions and the characters in more descriptive detail. The Wrap Up: Awakening the Mobster was a great read. It did start out a bit slow but it was necessary to build up to where it needed to be. Once all that was out of the way, it was -Action.Packed-! Wow! I was really impressed with the author's ability to pull me in and keep me reading through the afternoon. This book, like book one, left off with a cliffy and I can't wait to read book three, Mobster's Vendetta. I'm so excited!! ;) NOTE: I read this as a R2R with We ♥ YA Books! at Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
Forever Fae on Jan. 16, 2013

Forever Fae is an Adult Fantasy Romance written by L.P. Dover. The Review: First off, let me express how much I admire an author for the amount of blood, sweat and tears it takes to get a novel together and then have the courage to put it out there into the world for people to read and comment on it. I think anyone willing to put themselves on the chopping block like that is to be commended for their courage. With that being said, I want to add a personal note to this author and say, well done! Keep writing and know you have a beautiful imagination that will only flourish as you continue to write. Because I said I would give my honest opinion for my review, I have to do just that, even though I personally didn’t care for this book, which I will explain my reasons below. But I am only one person. Readers are a finicky bunch. You will have some that love it and some that hate it and some that are on the fence about it. That’s normal and that’s good. It means the writer and readers have both done their jobs. I can definitely see the potential here in this story and I think with some constructive criticism, it could be great. What I loved… - I loved the idea of the story. I thought it was completely original to have the Fae courts named after seasons. - I thought it was brilliant for the Fae to have different skin tone and powers for the different seasonal courts to which they belonged. - The coming together of Calista and Ryder to change colors and create a whole new seasonal court was very imaginative and well thought out. - I liked most of the character building in this story. Calista was easy to connect with and I liked her circle of friends. - I really liked that Alasdair’s was mostly incorporeal and in need of body switching and stolen magic to become a real boy. That was perfectly executed in the story and very enjoyable to read. - I loved how the author described scenes. They weren’t too flowery or overly descriptive. They were written out creatively and imaginatively and then moved on to the point of the story. So many times, especially new authors, will weigh a scene down with elaborate words, but Dover did an excellent job not doing this. What I didn’t love… - I had a hard time grasping the era in which the story takes place, in both writing and in dialogue. One minute I thought they were in modern times and the next, it felt like they were in old world fantasy times. For example, they rode on horses and in carriages but Calista mentioned she had a theater room as well as different colored painted rooms in the castle. - The characters as well as the story narrator mixed Old-World English and Modern English in sentences, saying things like “Im going to kick your ass…” or “What the fuck…” or calling someone an “asshat” with things like “I shall retire to my room”. The modern and old was explained away with how the mortal world had influenced the Fae world but I think the narrator’s voice should have stayed the same throughout. It was very confusing. - Another complaint is the writing was a bit formal and uneven. Sentences were choppy and didn’t flow well into the next. It made it hard to read. Some editing and condensing of prose could have made this a much smoother read. - Some of the dialogue as well as character actions were very immature. Ryder and Merrick would feud at the most inappropriate times. An adult novel should have the male leads exerting their dominance or struggling for the alpha position with confidence and swagger rather than having constant adolescent bickering matches to win the females attention. Several times I just rolled my eyes and wanted to escape the school yard playground. - I thought the romance was weak. There was a lot of time spent on how much they “wanted” each other physically, but I didn’t see much connection emotionally or mentally. - I really thought the plot and conflict was a bit weak. I hated how easily things fell together for both Calista’s kidnapping as well as her rescue, the way it was executed and how predictable it was. I saw that coming from the first moment Ryder and Merrick met. The Wrap Up: This book had a lot of wonderful points. And for a first time novel, it was really good. However, there were also a lot of things that could have been culled out to make it great instead of just good. It’s not one that I will re-read and I probably won’t go on to the second book in the series. It just wasn’t for me, but I think this author has an amazing amount of potential and I can see wonderful things in store for her. NOTE:: I read this as a R2R with the Fifty Shades Support Group with Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.