{Review} Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Self-Published
June 11, 2011

Synopsis:


For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

As I seldom write scathing reviews, actually I have NEVER written a scathing review, the number of times I have ever given a book ONE SINGLE STAR should clear that one up right away. But...well, wow!

Kiera is so mind-numbingly nauseating that I wanted to demand every last penny I paid for this book back and claw my eyes out. The whole keeping two guys on a string for the entire book was insane and the fact that she promised them both, repetitively, that she "loved only them" made me gag every single time she said it. Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever met a more irritating, selfish, immature heroine...EVER! My 12 year old daughter acts more mature than Kiera did. I wish I were joking.

And while I could definitely see bad-boy potential for Kellan, anyone who screws over his friends to get the girl, then messes with their minds doesn't make my list of hotties to die for. Kiera says that Kellan runs hot and cold, no doubt he does, but I wouldn't take her word for anything.

But, possibly more than the characters' fatal flaws, the writing turned me off from the first page. As a novice writer, the theory of "show don't tell" has been beat into my ever-loving mind since the day I picked up a pen. I've loved some books that could have been much better written, but with Thoughtless every turn of the page I felt like I was being handed a synopsis, not a story. I might could have picked 5 sentences out of the entire book that "showed" me anything.

I had so much hope for the bad-boy rocker scenario as I do love me some bad boys, and I do love me some rockers. Not. This. Time.

I've heard there is hope for the other two books, but unless the writing matures as much as they say the heroine does, I'm not sure I can suffer through them.

I do apologize to anyone I may have offended. Most who know me understand that I'm not a hateful reviewer, and I'm not trying to be now. I just don't understand what the point of this book was, because to me, it wasn't the least bit entertaining and greatly infuriating. Giving girls this kind of rep isn't okay with me.

View all my reviews at Goodreads

{Book Review} More than Magic: Snow Bound by Elizabeth Kirke

Title: Snow Bound
Series: More than Magic #2
Author: Elizabeth Kirke
Self-Published
January 2013

Goodreads   Twitter   Facebook    

Amazon    Barnes and Noble   Smashwords

Synopsis:

After learning how to use magic and fighting vampires, anyone would be bored going back to normal college life. As if that wasn’t enough, Jen didn’t realize how hard it would be to tiptoe around her non-magic family and friends. She can’t even talk to her familiar, Rak, without making sure no one else is around! Worst of all, Jen misses the friends she made over the summer. Aside from Rak, they’re the only other magics she knows and she hasn’t seen them in almost five months!

Jen is all too happy to accept an invitation to go skiing with the gang. She gears up for two weeks of snow, magic, and fun. Just when everything seems to be going great, an uninvited guest turns up. Soon the skiers aren’t the only things going downhill. Jen thought that vampires were just about the most dangerous thing the magical world could throw at her. Unfortunately, she’s about to learn that people with no magic at all can be just as deadly ...

After reading More than Magic: Summer Abroad, I couldn't refuse a chance to read and review the second book Snow Bound. I love this group of characters and their ingrained friendship. They're fun, loyal, and smart; but, somehow they're always attracting trouble. If you haven't read Summer Abroad, go check out my review HERE! Catch up on the characters and give it a read. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

So, Jen's back with the gang after 5 months of being separated from the only "magics" she knows. When we left her in the last installment, she'd barely learned she was a witch. Now she has her familiar Rak, who I adore, and she's been practicing spells. Her friends have decided a ski trip would be just the thing for their winter get together, and it might have been...if snowstorms and vigilantes hadn't been part of the equation. 

As always, I try hard to provide spoiler free reviews, but I do have to say this: GO JEN & THOMAS!!! 

Now, outside of the previous statement, there are plenty of surprises awaiting you in Snow Bound. Just as everyone gets settled and is enjoying their skiing, the weather gets bad and bullets start flying: the kind of bullets no werewolf wants to get hit with. As usual, tragedy strikes and the competent MES officers are forced to take things into their own hands, doing some things that could end their lives...literally.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I had a difficult thing with just a couple of things. There's a part in the middle where Dani goes into a detailed explanation about the side-effects of the potions the "magics" use. I found the description to be a bit overboard when a simple explanation would have probably been more effective. As it was, I found myself skipping over large portions of the explanation to get to the action. Also, I felt like the personalities each character portrayed in Summer Abroad didn't shine through as much in this book. 

That being said...I highly recommend both of the More than Magic books to anyone who loves the usual mythical creatures as well as water and fire elementals. Everyone has a unique role and a matching personality. They're all connected in one way or another...most often in ways that when one of them is hurt or dying, the others experience the desperation. Elizabeth pushed the characters out of their comfort zone and placed them in situations where they had to make difficult and controversial decisions. I absolutely loved the way she had Thomas think out a certain decision and come to the understanding he did. It showed brilliant maturity and growth!

Another fantastic book Ms. Kirke!!! Keep it up, because I cannot wait to read the next installment.