Author Archives: paddylastinc

Book Review: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) – James Dashner

Posted on September 6, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

I’m one to admit that I’ve read some of the books because of my initial interest for its impending film adaptation. The Maze Runner is one of them. I’m not even aware of James Dashner prior since I’m not really into his genre. I’ve got to admit though, the book’s actually pretty cool!

“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.”

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers–boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out–and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. – via Goodreads

I loved the whole premise of the book. The maze was a thrill to imagine and each character are clearly unique from each other. I’m just so in love with Chuck’s character. He’s such a doll and some of his moments are just so very human – perhaps, the most emotional in the book. I also loved how the author keeps it subtle when it comes to revealing something from each character. It’s very hard to predict what’s coming up next.

What I didn’t like about it is the “Underworld” vibe I’ve got at the latter part of the book. The e-mailing thingy was like – seriously?

Overall, the cool factor wins over and there’s definitely more to look forward in this trilogy.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Hold on Tight (Take My Hand #2) – Nicola Haken

Posted on September 5, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

In this second installment of the series, Dexter fell apart yet again pushing everyone away. His addiction took a toll in his relationship with Emily who still supported him regardless – the question is will Dexter still be able to come out of this black hole or will he drag Emily down to its core? This is the continuation of Dexter and Emily’s story from Take My Hand picking up the story after the death of Dexter’s mom and the appearance of his Dad who’s supposed to dead.

This is actually slightly better than the first installment only because it’s meatier and it clearly shows a very realistic portrayal of someone in Dexter’s condition. I find some parts of it a s bit “over the top Days Of Our Lives” dramatic but overall, it explains a lot about Dexter which I appreciated. The latter part became painfully predictable but with all the drama going on, the predictability seems like a smart option for the author. I’m still not sure if I’m gonna hang on with the series… perhaps another time.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Only Love – Garrett Leigh

Posted on September 5, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

This is my first book by Garrett Leigh and I just really find it a  wee-bit depressing – it being written in a melancholic fashion.

The diagnosis of a chronic stomach condition leaves thirty-two-year-old Sergeant Jed Cooper with little choice but to call time on his Army career. Then on the dusty streets of Kirkuk, an ambush gone tragically wrong decimates his team, and he returns to the US with a shattered leg and the memory of his best friend dying in his arms.

Life in his sleepy hometown proves intolerable until he finds solace in a lakeside cabin with vivacious young carpenter, Max O’Dair. In the shadow of the epilepsy that periodically plagues Max, he and Jed form an unspoken bond. After a late night episode, Jed realizes how much Max means to him, and life has taught him not to waste time.

But the lines between contentment and complacency are blurred. Things left hidden resurface to tear through their world, and before they can repair the damage, death comes to call again. Faces, past and present, rally around them to weather the storm, but before long, they are left with only love. via Goodreads

I loved both MC’s and the tenderness of how they have found solace from each other but I can’t seemed to let go of that ill-feeling about their future. The way it was written was like that. The pacing isn’t a problem at all. The flashbacks were properly positioned. I guess what I don’t like about it is the approach of the author on her main characters. Overall, the book is a well written story that I believe still deserves a good read.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Take My Hand (Take My Hand #1) – Nicola Haken

Posted on September 4, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

I’m first to admit that I got this title primarily because of its high rating (along with the rest of the books in the series – four overall!). I was maybe hoping that I’d stumble upon another “Beautiful Disaster” or some “Slammed” goodness.

 Take My Hand centers on Dexter and Emily – both with troubled past they’re trying to forget / evade. Dexter is an American expat in London who escaped from home in the hopes of inflicting less pain and avoid dragging down the people he loves with him. Then he meets Emily, the shy, naïve and compassionate student who so clearly made it a point of not veering away from him despite everything she have learned about his past. This leads to Emily pushing away everyone including her family, friends and even school in order to tend to Dexter and his personal demons – personal demons that Dexter have been avoiding from the moment he realized that he’d fallen with Emily.

I find the whole conflict of the story a bit weak – that with Dexter’s mother an all dragging a whole lot of the story. The character of Rachel annoyed me at no end and I’m glad that she was toned down a bit midway. The first person approach narration felt ridiculous, that with the vibe of the character talking to its readers – it just didn’t work for me. I loved the Travis Maddox and Young The Giants reference though. Hooray! Going back to the novel, I’d say it’s a decent intro into the series. It has enough charm but there’s nothing new to it. And it sort of reminds me of “More Than” series by Jay McLean which I’m still cringing whenever I think about that god-awful series. I’m crossing my fingers that the story will pick up on the second book because this seriously has great potentials.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Between Sinners And Saints – Marie Sexton

Posted on September 4, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

Perhaps I’ve expected too much from this book or it isn’t just my type of book because I was extremely disappointed after reading it. I almost didn’t finish it and I actually had to skipped a few pages. I liked the main characters here but there are tons of factors that  totally turned me off.

These are some of my concerns about the story:

1. Religion stuff overload. (the whole homosexuality and the Mormon’s stand  was just too excessive for me.) Usually, I don’t mind a book with a religious undertone but this one just got on my nerves too much and I feel like getting indoctrined myself (no offense meant). Arrrggghhh so frustrating! 2. Ruth. Like seriously, she’s the most annoying secondary character ever! 3. There’s too much medical terms.

I feel that the book tried so hard to convey so many reasoning regarding homosexuality and  religion but it turns out flat. Perhaps, it’s just me since it actually has a very good rating on some review sites. But hey, to each his own 🙂 Peace out!

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Wicked Gentleman – Ginn Hale

Posted on September 3, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

Imagine a world where the descendants of the Devil are living amongst the descendants of Adam and Eve. Imagine the population of hell leaving their realm to go on and live amongst humans who created a group of peacekeeper to control them. The Prodigals are those from Hell and the peacekeepers are the Inquisitors. This imagined world is the wickedly enthralling setting where the one Inquisitor’s quest for purpose led him into the “ophorium” addicted Prodigal who brought all the changes in him.

I actually cannot believe that this was written in 2007 and I’ve just heard about it now! This world created by the author and its characters is a book magic! Like seriously, this should be the start of a series. Hells Below is a place where such beautiful series are made of! Ya know why I’m not giving this a perfect five stars? Because I feel like there should’ve been more pages in this book and it felts a bit rushed at the end. Nevertheless, the whole story made up for it. The sheer greatness of the author’s imagination is top class for sure.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: A Better Man – Jaime Reese

Posted on September 3, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

The premise of this book was actually quite interesting. It’s just unfortunate that the story became incessantly repetitive. It’s such a shame how much potential was lost on the thinness of its plot.

Matthew Doner is starting over. After a five-year prison term that alters every aspect of his life, he receives a bequest from his aunt with the stipulation that he use the money to make things right. Breaking free of the long-standing role he’s played and inspired by the few who support him, he decides to create a safe place where people like him can find purpose and start a new life.

Julian Capeletti likes challenges. He is confident, brash, stubborn, and just what Matt needs. Desperate for work after a downturn of luck, he accepts the job to renovate Matt’s crumbling building.

Over the course of a year, romance simmers between them as they restore the house. But there’s a bigger renovation that must take place in their hearts. To become better men, they need to learn to trust each other even with secrets and painful memories they fear may rip them apart. via Goodreads

This feels like watching an episode of Days Of Our Lives. All is running on clichetown and can we just give the award to Matt as the most annoying character ever? You would think that from his backstory, you’d root for him but no. The story’s was weakly structured, characters (especially Matt) underdeveloped and with a way down the drain ending.

Rating: 1 out or 5 stars

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Book Review: The Next by Rafe Haze

Posted on September 2, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

I was initially lured into this because of its deceptively wicked cover and who could resist such? Then the story synopsis seems like a good one from a debuting author no less. And then you have that very interesting title – The Next, so this should be really good right? The story revolves around a 40 year old songwriter in New York who seemed to have lost all of his life energy until he found himself in the midst of catching the killer who lives around his courtyard through the help of Marzoli, a sexy police detective who summoned his help to uncover the mysterious murders. Before realizing that there’s something more between them, his dark past creeps like a thief that may derail their case and their budding romance.

I don’t know how to really feel about this book. There are things that I liked about it and there are tons that are just downright No-No for me. First, the writing style isn’t my favorite at all. There’s like 20% dialogues in it and those 20% aren’t exclusive from our MC’s. I feel like that should be fine but then, having no to few lines at all renders us readers unattached with the characters. Second, there’s just too many hifalutin words that I find myself re-reading a whole paragraph to a page because I can’t seemed to grasp what he’s trying to say. Then you have these almost annoying flashbacks popping every now and then from our main protagonist which seriously isn’t helping the story development at all. I know that it’s trying to build up the suspense but it isn’t working for me, not even one bit.

For some minor details, I just can’t get over their incredulous plan of baiting Mr. Perfect with Marzoli actually having sex with the creep and unprotected sex for that matter. That’s like violating the romance / sex code – I was like, fuck fuckity NO HE DIDN’T!!! And he caaaammmeee!!!!! He could just maim the other guy for fckussssake and get over it. But then, our genius mc won’t be able to figure out where Ruben’s kept. UGH.

Then I also have the issue of our main character being gay. Of course HE IS gay and all but there was no part in his history where it was mentioned. I also didn’t get how easily the romance ensues between him and Marzoli. That’s some serious bullshit in there. Okay, I guess I’m getting agitated now. Dunno’ it’s just freaking the hell out of me for some reason.

And ya know what I really, really liked about this book? It’s not the main protagonist but his supposed love interest. Marzoli’s an interesting character and that one bit of history he revealed about himself didn’t give his character that much justice. And his supposed smarts contradict their lousy plan to capture the killer.

The whole vibe of the book is dark, depressing and troubling. If you’re looking for a romantic connection between you and the couple, you won’t find it here. Suspense, nope – there isn’t much, though clearly the author was trying hard to get into that. You also need a thesaurus, dictionary or what with you because it was really a bit self-indulgent. This would’ve been a great story but just fell short on the sidelines.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Zero At The Bone – Jane Seville

Posted on September 2, 2014 | Leave a comment

sero at the boneI’m literally berating myself for not reading this book sooner. This is Jane Seville’s debut work and it’s a fantastic debut! D is a hired killer tasked to finish off Dr. Jack Francisco – a witness to a crime involving the ‘big mafia shit’ and was placed in the witness protection program. What started as a job turned into something that neither man expected.

I just loved the continuity of this story all throughout. D is such an interesting character and the way he speaks – like seriously, that is such a turn-on. I know right? But seriously – damn. While I was reading it, I could almost hear the way he speaks. He reminded me a bit of Tyler Grady from the Cut and Run series whom I adore so much! Jack on the other hand reminds me of Ty’s partner Zane! How wicked is that?!

The whole assassin thingy is perfection! It’s exciting and exhilarating. Jane Seville knows how to keep her readers on edge. There were no boring moments in the book at all. I actually almost felt bad after finishing the book because I still want more and I’m glad that there’s actually still more of this two! Can’t wait for it!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published April 2009 by Dreamspinner Press

About The Author
Jane Seville is an author living in Columbus, OH. She enjoys reading and writing about good-looking men doing naughty things to each other. She grew up around gay men; her mother directed the local gay men’s chorus. Then she went off to a women’s college, where as you might guess, she was surrounded by gay women. Despite not being gay herself, Jane has always had a deep connection to the gay rights’ movement and continues to do whatever she can to help its advancement.

Jane loves cooking, VH1 pop culture shows, inventing her own craft projects and walking her Newfoundland.

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Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Posted on September 1, 2014 | 2 comments

The first time I saw and held this book, I thought it had one of the best covers I’ve seen in a while, and the title itself is screaming “Good Book!” “Read Me!” “Now!” but I didn’t exactly read it right away. It took me over three months before I finally decided to give it a go. I finished it in a day, and I was just so in love with it and was amazed at how affecting and rich the story was. I thought to myself, why didn’t I read this sooner? At least now, I know what the raves are all about! 

This coming-of-age book is about young Mexican-American teenagers Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana trying to discover the “secrets of the universe.” It’s a story of self-discovery, acceptance, and living in the now without forgetting the past. It tackles so many things that even adults alike don’t seem to understand. Those secrets of the universe became Ari and Dante’s emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical battlefields that they had to go through to realize something out of them. 

I loved how this story reminded me of that feeling when I’ve read one of my favorite books, “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry, due to its stirring and lyrical rendition of the story. Benjamin Alire Saenz’s writing here is flawless. It speaks. It will affect you. Remember when Call had to bury Gus? I cried for days. And I cried reading this as well.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is simply forgettable. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Published February 21st 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

 

About the Author
Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. He was the first Hispanic winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and a recipient of the American Book Award for his books for adults. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was a Printz Honor Book, the Stonewall Award winner, the Pura Belpré Award winner, the Lambda Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award. His first novel for teens, Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, was an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His second book for teens, He Forgot to Say Goodbye, won the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, the Southwest Book Award, and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. He lives in El Paso, Texas.

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