ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Batgirl Vol. 1 Beyond Burnside

Batgirl Vol 1: Beyond Burnside

Issues #1-6 By Hope Larson Art by Rafael Albuquerque Color by Dave McCaig

Story: Parts 1-5 follow Barbara Gordon to Japan for a well-deserved “vacation” but what she is actually doing is trying to find a new edge. She has tracked down the oldest living Super-Hero, Fruit Bat, in hopes that she can learn something new. What she finds turns out to be even more valuable. Barbara runs into an old friend, someone she had lost contact with long ago, Kai. Quickly they rekindle their old friendship but this time with a bit of attraction thrown in too. Barbara realizes that Kai is in over his head with whatever it is that he’s doing after they get attacked by a school girl costume wearing wacko with a Student tattoo written in Kanji only who was only defeated with the help of Fruit Bat, so Barbara decides to stick close to Kai. Barbara decides to train in MMA in Singapore where she meets yet another martial arts villain with a matching tattoo to the school girl. Kai says stuff that doesn’t sit right with Barbara and she finds out what Kai has been doing. Barbara meanwhile is struggling with her training and not being fast enough for the students, she tracks down Teacher in South Korea she has to figure out a way to defeat Teacher.  Part 6 is a fun little story where Barbara runs into Poison Ivy on the plane trip home.

Art: The art was nice not my favorite, the neon bright colors not my thing, I did like the halftone screen pattern and the gradient color backgrounds, gave it a nice touch. Albuquerque, I like. I like the very expressive facial expressions slightly over exaggerated, great action movement and the way Batgirls eidetic memory is visualized.

Review: Overall this was a great read, the story arc was interesting and the villains quirky. Barbara has some growing up to do but I think this is a good start. I can’t wait for more.

BLOG TOUR ARC REVIEW Love, Honor, and Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

About LOVE, HONOR, AND INK

In a bonus Montgomery Ink novella, it seems that falling for your best friend isn’t as easy as fiction says and friends of the Montgomerys might finally find their happy ever after.

Wedding planner Arianna King had everything planned out down to the last detail until her father's ultimatum changed everything. Now she’s alone, trying to open her own business, and seemingly failing at every corner. Just when things start to look even bleaker, she’ll find out just how much she can rely on her best friend—and herself.

Being in love with your best friend isn’t always easy as Harper Rosso knows. He’s been by her side since the beginning, but now that she finally has time to breath, he might just be able to show her what he could be for her. Only he’ll have to make sure he’s ready to take that chance and perhaps lose her forever.

Sparks fly between the two of them once they finally take their relationship to the next level. Only the burning temptation than fills them might not be enough in the face of what they left behind and what threatens their future.

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This is a great novella, a nice inbetween story about two side characters finally admitting they are a perfect match. Harper has always loved Arianna but he's satisfied with just being her friend while she concentrated on becoming the best wedding planner in the city. That is until her father tells her she's fired unless she marries a complete asshat, who unfortunately is also Harper's brother. Arianna would rather start over from scratch then marry Harper's weasley brother. Doing weddings the way she always wanted to do them on a much smaller and intimate setting. The Montgomery's and Harper are will to help her out with the start of her new business.

Harper decides he's done with waiting, he's going to show Arianna exactly what she means to him and Arianna without the curtain of her father ambition covering her eyes she starts to see Harper in a completely new way.

Overall, this was a great addition to the Montgomery series. It's nice to see the side characters get their HEA without taking away from the main characters.    

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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ARC REVIEW Romancing the Rogue by Erica Ridley

Romancing the Rogue is the second of Erica Ridley's Gothic Historical Romance series. it was originally part of the Vexed Anthology. (I'm sorry but the model on the cover looks like she is about to sneeze.) I enjoyed the story and the characters, it's a quick and easy read. Rebecca has been invisible for the better part of a year. The death of her parents left her at her great grandfather's house his illness left him bedridden and soon the servants even forgot about her their. She took it upon herself to fix the mistakes the steward made in the ledgers and even helped the kitchen staff a time or two, everyone just assumed it was one of the ghosts haunting the castle. Everyone made a big deal about the castle being haunted and barely touched on how it became haunted, I wish Erica Ridley did more with the haunted house for a gothic romance it wasn't very gothic, for the exception of the location of haunted castle that's as gothic as it gets.

Daniel Goodenham came into his viscountcy early in his his life. He strived to make his grandmother proud something his father never seemed to do. But in his drive to be the best Viscount he can be it cost him the only true friend he ever had. Rebecca Bond was younger than him and according to his grandmother to far beneath him to be his Viscountess. Daniel planned to make it up to her the next year after everything was settled but she never came back to London. As the years passed Daniel kept putting off an apology because it would never be enough. On the eve of his birthday Daniel receives a missive telling him that Rebecca's grandfather has died and that he is expected to be there for the reading of the will. Daniel sees this as his chance to get back his best friend and make up for lost time.

Rebecca's invisibility disappeared when her grandfather died and her uncle inherited. With six daughters already he gave Rebecca the ultimatum that she marry before January or he finds a husband for her. Rebecca knew Daniel would show up and was ready with a proposition for him. Out of practice from the ton she asks Daniel's help to find her a husband. Taken back by the idea has Daniel realize Rebecca means everything to him and he must either love her enough to brave his grandmother or love her enough to let her go.

Overall, this was a good story focusing just on the main characters with hardly any secondary characters at all. I almost wish there was more to it.  

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Die Laughing

DC Universe ReBirth Harley Quinn Vol. 1 Die Laughing

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Connor

Art by Amanda Connor, John Timms, Chad Hardin, Bret Belvins, Joseph Michael Linser, Jill Thompson

Includes Issues: Rebirth and 1-6

Story: I think this one was started right because they basically have Harley give you all the poignant information and reintroduce everyone. So if you haven’t read the Harley Quinn series that this continues you are all caught up. The first three issues Afterbirth, Coney Island of the Dammed, and Goin’ for Takeout follow one story arc which I had problems getting into, Coney Island gets overrun by zombie/not zombies and I personally am very tired of zombies but I did like the twist they put on the zombies. Then we have 108 Million Ways to Die!  Harley and Bolly Quinn travel to India to take down an evil call center from swindling money from the unsuspecting. Undercover Punker is the next story arc which is in three parts Eat This Beat, The Skull Bags’ Big Snag, and Satin Underground. In these Harley is asked to help track down and take down a band of thieves stealing mail. This leads to Harley forming a punk band and getting a new look.  It goes from performing on stage, horribly singing and abusing her audience, to an underground superhero cosplay club. Harley takes down the gang and also discovers who really was behind it all.

Art: It’s good it’s your typical Harley Quinn. It has some really fantastic cover art and variant cover art. This group is pretty consistently good. The tool shaped dialogue bubbles/speech balloons for Red Tool was a nice touch; although a few of the hand saw one look like a weird unicorn. The New 52 Harley took some getting used to when it first came out, but I like what Conner did with Harley when she got her own comic, I love the roller derby Harley. Poison Ivy is so beautifully done. The backgrounds and the coloring are outstanding.   

   

Characters: Harley is joined by her usual band of misfits, specifically Big Tony, Eggy, Bolly Quinn, and Red Tool who is a not funny parody of Deadpool, and Poison Ivy. I have been in love with Harley since her first appearance in Batman: The Animated series. She was funny, cute, pun-tastic, and no matter how hard she tried things never went her way and she always ended up back in Arkham.

Review: Overall, it was a funny as hell read as soon as I got through the first three issues, the funniest part from the first story arc was when Harley cut off Red Tool’s arm and the hospital transplanted a replacement arm from a notorious masturbator. Harley Quinn is as lovably crazy as always as she should be.  Her cohorts are a nice balance to her insanity. I quite enjoy the silly humor, bad jokes, and outrageous side characters. Harley is pretty out there herself so of course she would surround herself with like minded individuals, even if she is too crazy for them sometimes.   

ARC REVIEW Home at Last by Lily Everett

Home at Last is book six in Lily Everett's Sanctuary Island series, after the build up from the previous book I was a little disappointed in the overall story. Quinn and Marcus were amusing with their old married couple bickering but in this book you really don't see much of that in this book. The romance between them seemed very easy, I thought the main focus of the book was more on Quinn's parents their problem and her dealing with them. Marcus also dealing with his past and the baggage he carries.

Quinn and Marcus had a steamy relationship until Marcus' and all his guilt and drama got the better of him and he ended things with Quinn. A little later Quinn's parents come back to town after traveling and staying at home with them would drive her crazy, so she kind of pushes Marcus into letting her stay in the other apartment above Buttercup Inn. Quinn's parents are on the verge of divorce and according to Quinn it's not possible, there have never been two people more in love than her parents. On their travels her parents met a relationship guru who has them doubting their marriage and telling them they need to sell their house. Quinn thinks that if she is in a steady relationship then her parents can stop worrying about her and they won't sell their house. Quinn makes deal with Marcus and he agrees. To make matters worse Quinn's mom invited the guru to stay with them and his schemes have all five of them staying at Quinn's childhood home, which is right next door to Marcus' childhood home; a home he has not returned to since the death of his mother. Quinn and Marcus know there's something fishy going on with the guru and Marcus and Quinn dig into his background to discover the truth. Quinn and Marcus' relationship shifts from fake to real but can it survive the insecurity they both feel when it comes to committing.  

Overall, I liked the characters and how they dealt with their problems how everything was resolved but the story all in all just didn't do it for me.

ARC REVIEW The Turn by Kim Harrison

Prequel to Kim Harrison's the Hollow series, I love this series. I found The Hollow series at a time in my life when I had no money and I was practically stuck at home alone with a toddler. Books were my escape and the Hollows series was one of my favorite escapes. (thank you Library) I typically get bored with book series that follow one person throughout the whole series, The Hollows is one of the exceptions. After reading what books there were of the Anita Blake series (I got bored and disappointed in them), The Hollows was a breathe of fresh air. I quickly fell in love with all the characters and have a love/hate relationship with Trent; and as aggravating as the characters get sometimes I keep coming back for more. I am so emotionally invested in the characters and now we have the beginning of it all.

I have seen several reviews complaining that the beginning of the book was slow and so detailed but it needed to be. You can't have a "how it all started" book without going into detail of it got started. You can't just wash over it and get to the action, you need the build up and character development especially since they are new characters; well some of them are new. With the introduction of the two main characters Trisk and Kal and going back to the late 60's as a reader we needed to understand how it was back then for the Inderland community and being a woman. Not to mention the Elf politics that Trisk is having to deal with and the scientific jargon. I personally loved the detail Kim Harrison went into when explaining the tomato and the virus, I would not have been happy if it was just implied and not really explained.

Felecia Eloytrisk Cambri (Trisk) is at the top of her class but she has strikes against her, one she's a woman and the other she's a dark elf. She gets a pity job offer just because the college wants to keep it's 100% placement rating. But it turned out to be the best thing for her she excelled and left her lifelong rival in the dust. But Elf politics, and uber paranoid leaders send Trisk's lifelong rival Trenton Lee Kalamack, Kal (not Trent remember that Trent and Rachel are not that different in age) to go in a check her work with the promise that if he has to fix it it becomes his with only his name on it. Trisk calls upon a demon (yes that demon, I loved seeing him) and makes a deal. But Kal's petty jealousy and desire to be better than everyone else screw everything up.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one it was so nice going back to the beginning and seeing how it all started. Seeing Tanaka as a teenager was fun as well as some other characters in their younger years. I am definitely going to have to go back and reread the series.  

     

ARC REVIEW How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

First book in the new series The Embraced by Kerrelyn Sparks, How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a wonderfully woven new Fantasy Romance world. The prologue paints a world where four Kingdoms all worship the sun and two small islands who worship the double moons. When a child is born under the eclipse, when two moons becomes one, they are said to be blessed by the Moon Goddesses and are special. The men in charge of the sun's church believe these children are dangerous and must be killed upon birth. But the Isle of the Moons often takes children into their sanctuary. The Embraced is about six young girls who were all born under the eclipse; this book centers around the eldest of the six, Luciana.

I can already tell this series going to be awesome. The active setting is spectacular, the fantastical medieval setting is so easy to picture in my head. The characters are so easy to fall in love with. The plot of a the book is a serious one but leave it to Kerrelyn Sparks to have a comic relief that will have you bust out laughing at inappropriate times.

Luciana was raised on the Isle of the Moons as an orphan along with her (adoptive) sisters. Luciana and her sisters would kill the time by telling fortunes using colored stones, it was all in fun until one day Luciana's prediction came true. Luciana's father came to the isle to get Luciana. The King has demanded that Lucius' daughter was to marry his nephew Lord Leofric of Benwick or else face death. The King has become greedy in his power and will do anything to obtain the wealthy lands that Lucius owns; that includes murdering them before the wedding. Leo is one of the embraced, but he contains the power of lightning and no one can touch him, so the can't kill him. Leo has risen in the ranks of the army and is now the Lord Protector of their Kingdom. All this was a way for the King to try and kill him but so far his attempts were unsuccessful. Now Leo has to go and get married to a young woman and protect her from the King's murderous intentions.

It was love at first sight. From across a crowded courtyard their eyes met and Luciana knew nothing would be the same again. Leo vows to protect his betrothed and despite the rumors about her, he knows she's different from any other woman he's met and he knows she's hiding something from him. He tries not to get to close afraid his touch will kill her but in no time their love is stronger than even the King. But will the Kings machinations kill them before it's too late?

Overall, outstanding. I really can't wait for the next books. It's a continual rollercoaster ride of adventure, action, magic, and mayhem; and the romance is pretty dang good too.