Category: Reviews

Reviews and ratings of books and movies Toi has read or viewed for pleasure.

Categories
Books EC: Giovanni's Angel

Eternal Curse Release Week! Monday Book Review 2014

Cover

Interesting and original, January 12, 2014 (visit and or rate this review here)

By Jaq D Hawkins

The preface to this book was enough to show me that this writer can write. While I don’t often read Romance, I make the occasional exception in any genre when I come across better quality writing.

The sequence in the first chapter that eloquently expresses the changes in the experience of air travel over the last decade or so impressed me and struck a congruence with my own encounters with what was once an embarkation on an adventure and has become more like being processed for a stretch in a prison camp. I stopped flying years ago and couldn’t have expressed the reasons better than the words in this chapter. The reader also gets a lot of back story about the character, Mira, in this chapter, but it soon becomes apparent why the information is necessary to put the events of the story into context. The fact that she is a doctor quickly becomes significant, along with other key points of her background.

This is not your run-of-the-mill Romance. I hedge on using the word ‘paranormal’ as definitions seem to vary from one reader to another, but Giovanni has, shall we say, special attributes that are fascinating for the reader to discover along the way. No telling here, but plenty of showing as the layers of this character are slowly revealed. There is far more about the discovery of Giovanni’s nature in the plot than the usual fare that one gets in Romance novels. The romantic angle is almost an aside for some time, though it becomes more important towards the end.

The writing continues to be of a good standard throughout the book, although there are a few places where I felt the points were belaboured just a little too much. Still, it kept my interest and I found myself wanting to get the full picture of exactly what was different about Giovanni. We’re not talking a few extra muscles here.

All becomes clear as we near the end. Giovanni’s background is told in a story within a story that fits into events as they happen. The inevitable romance between him and Mira develops slowly, in many ways very innocently, almost like a Cinderella story, only instead of a prince she loves… well, the reader needs to discover that for themselves.

While the writing style is wordy, it is also meticulously correct and well-edited. Even after the climactic events near the end, I wanted to continue to see how it all finished. I found that the story wrapped up nicely and left the perfect opening for the predicted sequel, while still remaining a stand-alone story.

As much as Romance isn’t my favoured genre, I find myself interested enough to want to read the next book. Toi Thomas may well raise the bar in the Romance genre.

For a fascinating Cultural Study of this book, also visit: Street Wraith Press

Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel releases worldwide on February 18th,
so be sure to check it out and enter my Release Day Giveaway!

A new edition of this book is now available.

****

howdoyouwooThere’s still time to join my first self-hosted blog hop “How do you Woo?”.

****

 4 days until my Kindle Countdown Deals on Legend of the Boy and Unexplained, featuring two romantic tales, Encounter, and Our Place.  Deals begin at 6:00 am EST 2/14; Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you are enjoying Eternal Curse Release Week! If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Categories
Books

Review: Deadblood

62488-cover2b2bcopy2b-2bsmall

Deadblood by L.A. Little

I give this book a 4 ½, but am obliged to bump it up to a 5.

LoveIt

1. I want to start off by saying that I know this author. When I learned that he had published his book, I jumped at a chance to purchase it and review it. I also figured this would be a good way for him to see that I really liked it.

2. I’m giving this book a 4 ½ for two basic reasons. 1) I wish the story were longer. Everything in it is perfectly paced and nothing is lacking, I simply wish there was more of it. Maybe there will be more stories down the road. I could definitely follow this as a series. 2) Language. While I know that the average citizen who reads Adult fiction isn’t concerned with the use of profanity, but I am (It’s the good girl inside me). One thing I can say is that the profanity in this story seems very real and natural. It’s not meaningless immature rambling for the sake of being profane, and there is not a lot of it.

3. So here’s where I tell you about the story without giving too much away. The main character is a nice guy (whose name I believe is only mentioned once) working the rock tour scene, trying to live the dream, but soon finds himself living a nightmare. This nice guy, like so many nice guys do, finds that a pretty face is too good to be true, but it’s not like he doesn’t see it coming. The comical internal conversation this guy has with himself makes you like him, but also makes you want to slap him sometimes.

It doesn’t take long for the action of this story to pick up even though the beginning seems slow. In actuality, when you reach the end of the story, you appreciate the beginning so much more. The term Deadblood is so wonderfully and simplistically explained that you almost miss it. You seem to just walk away from the story feeling like you knew it along. This twist on the legend of vampires is quite refreshing as it brings to mind the question, “How much do we really know?”

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the supernatural, but I must admit that it seems to be more geared toward the fellas (not recommended for children). I guess that’s why I like it. I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy. It’s a short read that’s not too complex but is actually quite profound while also being very entertaining.

This review has been posted to GoodRead. If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Books

Review: The Oath

The Oath by Frank Peretti

I give this book a 4.

LikeIt

This book is not what I thought it would be, but I liked it. The Oath tells the story of a town with so many secrets that people are beginning to die because of them, but maybe this has been going on for a while. At the beginning of the story, it is a stranger from out of town who’s the victim of a horribly violent death that begins to bring light to the existence of the Oath.  The Oath itself is a little difficult to grasp, but it seems that the people of this town have collectively decided to do whatever they want at any time and never speak of it, proudly defying the notion of consequence or sin. As everyone knows, no secret is kept forever and in Hyde River, the silence has manifested itself with terrifying results.

This book was a short and easy story to traverse. The imagery was in-depth, but not wordy. I felt as if the whole story was delivered in a matter-of-fact kind of way, as if the author was telling you the story at your house over coffee. I think what I liked best about the book was how real it seemed. I’m pretty sure I’ve been to that small town on more than one occasion. A place where people point the finger at one another, but never actually says anything.

From a fantasy perspective, the physical manifestation of sin is one of the scariest monsters I’ve come across in a while. I was intrigued by the hunting sequences and the whole predatory and prey struggle. There is absolutely nothing vulgar about this story, but it does touch on many sensitive subjects such as: infidelity, substance abuse, greed and pride, and more.

Me being me, I also liked the spiritual aspects of the story. This is definitely an adult read, but while younger children may not be able to understand the imagery or handle the dark elements, and some teens may not be able to grasp the maturity of some themes, I think this is good story for anyone.

This review has been posted to GoodReads.

If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords