Book Review - Going Through the Notions by Cate Price

After winning this book last week on Goodreads Giveaways, I received the autographed copy rather quickly!! I was very excited to start reading it right away.

The book was very well written. The author, Cate Price, did an outstanding job describing in detail what was happening and laying out the "visual" so accurately. In my opinion, when a writer is able to do this as well as this one did, it really helps get the reader absorbed in the story. The main character, Daisy, really comes to life and I was able to associate with what was happening as if watching it on television.

Cate, also did an excellent job maintaining her characters and keeping them consistent. It is rather annoying when an author has some one act so far out of the range of what was already written into their "character" throughout the book. (Does that make sense?) She was also able to really set up these characters for future books. I loved them all especially Cyril and Martha!!!

I'd say that the only (small) complaint I have, is that the "mystery" wasn't really... how do I put this... unfolding throughout the book. Don't get me wrong, the plot was a good one and I loved it, however, Daisy really didn't figure anything concrete out until the end and even then it wasn't because of HER "investigation." The author also didn't really tie up a few loose ends... like, who shot at Daisy? You can assume it was Reenie and she used the gun she pulled on Daisy and Sarah at the end, but you don't really know. Could it have been Ramsbottom tired of Daisy and mad that she not only got him arrested but ruined his police career? Or one of the Perkins boys, because one brother had saw her spying on the illegal game and warned her to butt out? Things like that could have been wrapped up a little better.

Overall though, I recommend this book to everyone! I will definitely read any more that Ms. Price writes in the future as well!!  

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Click here for the Goodreads book page.

Click here for the Author's Goodreads page.

Click here for the Amazon page.

Book Review - Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey Review

I wanted to like it more... I really really did...

Reading is a big part of my daily activities. Biographies, fiction, non-fiction, self-help, erotica, history, genealogical records, cookbooks, children's books, young adult books... the list is endless. I have never once, no matter how badly I may want to, skip ahead in a book or stop reading it. I simply finish what I start. Always. From beginning to end. Many times while reading Fifty Shades of Grey, I came very close to breaking my own rules. Slamming my kindle down incredulously screaming... RREEEAALLLLYY??? However, in the end, I am glad I stuck it out.

It is a typical erotic novel written by (what it seems like), a first or second time author. Period. The hype that is surrounding it, is not deserved in my opinion. That, to me, is where my problem lies. I enjoy reading books like this. I do. It's a predictable and easy read (and hey what exhausted soccer mom wouldn't want to hide from her hum-drum life and escape into an erotic fantasy from time to time?). What burns my buttons, is that for some reason it was hyped to be a scandalous, impossible to put down, fantasy-esq bible, with highly acclaimed "hold on to your panties" type writing, guaranteed to satisfy soccer moms everywhere! They (the soccer moms that is), are probably why it did get the stampeded, band-wagoned hype that it did... Moms who don't normally read anything nor have more than two minutes a day to themselves and obviously have nothing much to compare it to (other than a couple of Fabio covered romance novels earlier in life) that are aroused by the repetitive sexual situations that barely change.

This book seems amateurishly written and horribly repetitive. I agree with another reviewers thoughts that this must have been written by a couple of teenage girls. So true on so many levels. From over the top, unbelievable and juvenile-esq named characters (Anastasia, Christian, Mia, Taylor, Leila, Carrick, Elliot? Really? REAAAALLY? Very Beverly Hills 90210 dontcha think?) To the self made 26/27 year old (yep 26 at one point and 27 at another without a single mention of a birthday) millionaire/billionaire (yep, he was referred to as both), with perfect looks and body, out to save the world from hunger and is a master at everything from flying to boating, multi-lingual, brilliant, loving, funny, quirky, care free hero who has never actually learned to care for someone... until now. Oh and let's not leave out the wispy, beautiful (but by golly, just can't see it herself) virgin heroine. Sprinkle in repetitive sex scenes (with a strong fetish current that they don't REALLLLY explore to its fullest)and typical non dramatic story lines... i.e "How can she be with someone like me I'm SOOO damaged and broken inside?" and "How can he be with someone like me, so simple and inexperienced?" Then KA-POW She saves him from himself and a dark horrible existence that no amount of money and sex can cure (yea right!). And he, the Knight whisking her up in a whirlwind of fairy-tale dust and AMAZING sex showers her with money and love, making her the envy of every other female on the planet. (gag me with a whipped cream covered spoon!)REEEEALLLYY?

Oh and for a book that has a repetitive sex scene on every other page, and ample usage of the word F*@K, what's up with referring to her "lady parts" as THERE?? From what I have read, this book has been banned in local libraries as pornographic material, yet Ana's whoo-haa is constantly being called "THERE"... "He kisses me THERE." "I tingle THERE" Don't tempt and tease with "kinky F---ery" and then call her whoo-ha "THERE" like a twelve year old not quite sure how to refer to "THERE" yet! JEEZ (which brings me to my next burned button and evidence of a teenage writer.)

Jeeezz!!!!!!!! Golly Ge Willickers, tickle me pink, slap me with pilla and call me SHUGGAR! I have now banned the word Jezze in my household and my two tweens would very much like to thank the author of this book. (Although, I highly suspect they are being sarcastic and have no intentions of actually saying thank you. Hmm my husband would though.) Any who... are we to believe that this HONORS college graduate in literature says JEEZ every other second?! Along with a host of other high school type words and phrases said a million different ways??? (i.e crap, double crap, triple crap, F*@k-upedness, F*#kery, blah blah blah) Where did that spoon go? Someone beat me with it!

I could keep bashing but since I already purchased the other two in this series, I might as well get started on those. So look, I realize I'm being a whole lot harsher on this book than I would have been if my expectations weren't so high for it. But it is what it is, and I'm annoyed. I won't say it's a total bust of a book. The story line, although it borderlines plagiarism in this day and age, isn't entirely a snooze-fest. So like I said in the beginning, I am glad I didn't put it down. Let's just hope the story line in the next two take a left turn and Christian turns out to be Ana's step fathers long lost son and Ana struggles with lesbian tendencies... Oh and I have high hopes that Ana burns that Plum dress and Christian decides to NEVER wear grey pants and a white linen shirt again! Jeez...

SPOON WAITING AND FINGERS CROSSED!!