Novel Rambles: Losing It By Cora Carmack

• Print Length: 289 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 5, 2012)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Author: Cora Carmack
• Authorwebsite: http://coracarmack.blogspot.com/ 

Synopsis: At 22, Bliss is still a virgin. Her best friend Kelsey, is determined to change all that, during one hot night of bar hopping. As they scope out the possible candidates, Bliss's eyes land on a blonde stranger by the name of Garrick, who is reading a "Shakespeare" play in the middle of the a bar. Overly, confident from the many shots that she has drunk she makes her way toward him and engages him in a conversation. The night takes the most expected turn as they decide to go back to Bliss's place. As the chemistry between them gets hot and steamy, Bliss realizes this isn't the way she wants to lose her virginity, making up a ridiculous lie she takes off in to the night leaving her mysterious Romeo, naked in her bed. Thinking that her mortification is over, she tells herself that she will never seen him again. To her big surprise, there path is just beginning to cross and this stranger just might be the one to turn her life upside down. 

Review: Lets, first discuss the cover, as most book lovers I tend to look at the cover and make predication's about what the book is going to be about. When, I first looked at the cover I thought this book was going to a one night stand type of story where the girl is desperate to lose her virginity. Although, it did have an element of that, I thought the cover was a little trashy for the story that was written. The story is about sex, but from the cover you think that, that its a one night stand and then the characters are going to deal with their emotions through out the book.  Surprisingly, enough this story is a lot deeper than that and I think that although the cover attracts attention, it sets the reader up for a completely different story that is initially written.

Our characters are all very easy to fall in love with. Our "man in shinning armor" Garrick, has many heroic characteristics about him and the way he holds himself throughout the novel was very admirable. There were times when, his deep dark gaze was discussed that I found myself comparing him a little to "Christian Grey", but he was a very gentle and loving character that I just couldn't get enough off. There was also an element of mystery surrounding him. Whenever you find out one thing about him, Bliss (our heroine  makes an assumption about something else in his life and you are always trying to figure out what this man is about. Even, when you want to convince yourself that he is bad news, his honest domineer comes through and you can't help but fall in love all over again. 

Bliss, was a great character too. She was written perfectly, as a girl who is scared to have sex the first time. The worry and the emotions that showed through out the book radiated true and you sense her nervousness and her mind racing with worry, and always wondering if what she was doing was right.

The minor characters were a lot of fun to get to know too. You have Bliss's slightly slutty best friend Kelsey, who eggs her on to just lose her virginity and is always ready for a good party. And what kind of story would it be without, the best friend that is secretly in love with our Bliss? Cade, is a fun character to see grow, he shows all the raw emotions of a young man that is trying to get through the heartbreak of watching the girl he is in love with be happy with another man.   

I gave this book a 3/5 stars, and I as much as I enjoyed it there just wasn't that catch factor that made me want to jump around and squeak like a girl who, is just discovering a new crush. But, with that said I felt that the was very fast paced and the tension between the characters made me worry and smile with glee. I would have liked to see more how Garrick and Bliss fall in love and savior those moments, rather than seeing a blunt statement "Oh, we are in love!" But, I thought that the tension between all the character's was remarkable, it was as if everyone knew something was going on but, just couldn't figure out what. Another, touch that I thought would have been nice was  suspense where someone almost finds out about the relationship between out main characters and tries to threaten it. I think it would have made a nice touch and taken away from all the high school drama feel. This book really reminded me of  the movie"Center stage" and book "Easy" by Tammara Webber. If you like "new adult" fiction, I think you should give this book a try. 

Book Cover and Book Property of: Cora Carmack  

Novel Rambles: Phantasma (Phantasma #1)

Paperback: 262 pages 
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 24, 2013)
Author'sWebsite: http://penelopereece.blogspot.com/

Synopsis: The story follows a young girl, by the name of Alphie, for as long as she can remember, she has been battling narcolepsy (which is a sleeping disorder that she can't control). Alphie, struggles with bullying and wishes that her condition would just go away so, she can be a normal girl and live a normal life. What Alphie, doesn't know is that her condition goes deeper than just a sleeping disorder.  As her condition worsens, she meets a spirit named Noer, who begins haunting her. Alphie, is determined to get rid of him and will do anything in her power but, as her life becomes threatened by a masked intruder that is after a necklace, left behind by her grandfather, Alphie begins to question maybe Noer is the only one that can save her and make sense of what is happening in her life. 

REVIEW: First, lets begin by talking about the plot. I thought that the plot was quiet interesting. I enjoy, reading about sleeping disorder fantasy, having only read one book on the topic before, I was very intrigued by what the author is going to do with this story. The plot revolves around Alphie, our main character, she is a very spunky and dark girl. The story takes off when Alphie and her sister Robyn are having a garage sell, their mother instructed that they must sell all of their grandfather's belongings. While, setting the sell up Alphie, discovers a strange necklace that she couldn't help but keep for herself. The necklace, intrigues Alphie and there is something about it that tells her it is more than just a necklace, when she is fiddling with it she discovers that the necklace opens and it has mysterious lettering in the inside of it. Without really knowing what she is doing she lets a spirit by the name of Noer, out of entrapment.

Neor is an amazing character, he is spooky and mysterious.Yet, Alphie is determined to get rid of him. When her life becomes endangered  and the only person that is there to save her is Neor, she knows that a friendship is about to begin. I loved Neor, for those of us who are "Deathnote" fans, Neor really reminded me Ryuk. 

The book was a little confusing to me at parts, where it just didn't flow. I had to do a lot of guess work on what was happening which was one of the reasons I gave it a 3/5 stars. I think that the idea for the novel itself was very interesting and has a lot of potential. I would have enjoyed the book a little more if, there was some background description. Throughout the novel, there was a lot of jumping around between the spirit world and the world that Alphie lived in, as well as some out of body experiences that occurred. They were great at the beginning where the character as well as the reader are trying to figure out what is going on, with Alphie's narcolepsy. As the story progress and we find more about the reason why Alphie struggles from sleeping spells background information would have really help tie the lose ends.

There were a lot of minor characters that really played big parts in the story. For example Robyn, Alphie's big sister; was in my mind, a great mother figure. Although, there was a character specifically written as "the mother" she was absent a majority of the book. Robyn, played Alphie's friend and adult figure to look up too as well. I think that the relationship created between them played out really well. She also, tide up all the lose ends between, Alphie's love interest Cary as well. 

Cary, was one of my least favorite characters. I didn't really understand the obsession that the girls had with him until the very end of the novel where everything was put together. At the end you can tell that the he was destined for a big part in the book, but wasn't given enough background for the reader to connect with him.

I did enjoy, reading this book but as I said before I just wish there was some more background information on the characters and their story line's so you can better connect with them. There is going to be a second book in the series, and although I wasn't completely sold on this on, I am interested to see where the story takes off and if the reader will be provided with more in depth resources on the different worlds that the book revolves around and the different spirits that occupy them.

Phantasma (Book and Book Cover (Picture) by Penelope Reece

Novel Rambles: Warm Bodies By Isaac Marion

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books; Reprint edition (December 25, 2012)
Authors Website: http://www.isaacmarion.com/

Synopsis:There is a zombie apocalypse taking over the world. Countries are falling apart and the population is dying out at a very rapid pace. One city tries to preserve the humanity. They block out a section of the city and no body gets in or out without going through tough security measures and immigration routine. The man in charge is known as General Grigio. He trains the youth of the city to fight zombie's. He hopes that one day they can get rid of the zombies by finding a cure for the virus that is possessing everyone, but in the meantime training everyone to hold their ground is the best that he provide for the people he has vowed to protect.

The main character of story is his daughter, Julie.As her life takes a turn, she befriends a zombie by the name of "R". The relationship between the two character is unexpected, and takes us on a wild exploration of the art of love.

Review 

When I picked up the book, I knew what the general story line of the book was going to be about, it also helped that I watched the movie a week or so before starting the novel. I was pleasantly surprised with the story detail of the book vs. the movie.

Movie-to-Book Adaptation

First lets discuss, the movie.  I'm going to begin by saying the movie was made by "Summit Entertainment". Just knowing that, I was already expecting the movie to be a lot like "Twilight". As soon as the movie began I quickly began noticing some similarities between the two. Some of the events that occurred in "Twilight" could be compared to the events that happened in "Warm Bodies". For example "The Bonies" are very similar to "The Volturi" in "Twilight". Secondly, I don't know if it was only me but I felt that the actress, Teresa Palmer that played "Julie" looked a lot like Kirsten Stewart.

The movie was a bit of a disappointment for me because I spent the whole time finding similarities between "Warm Bodies" and "Twilight". I thought that the actor "Nicholas Hoult did an amazing job playing a zombie. After reading the book, I feel his acting was just prefect. The way that I pictured "R" in the book was exactly how he was portrayed in the movie. I loved the make up that was done on all the zombies, especially if you look at before and after pictures, Hoult is barley recognizable.

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I felt that the movie left out a lot of very important parts that the book touched upon. Overall, the movie was mindless entertainment and I give it  a 3/5 rating.

Book

Wowzer's, I am going to start by saying that if you watched the movie but, haven't read the book go read it right now. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the detail and the background information that the book gave.  I love the very well developed characters because not one character had a simple story line to them. You get to see "R" and Julie go through some very emotional and personal issues which they have to learn to deal with. They are such beautiful and complex characters,  that with each turn of the page you want to learn more and more about them.

I really enjoyed seeing how the book portrayed Perry ( Julie's Boyfriend), as well as seeing more of his input through out the novel. 

The character's really mature from page to page and you are on the edge of your seat watching a complicated friendship begin to develop.  Even the minor character, leave an impact as they are used as action builders. 

The book explores the theme of love. You get engrossed in an action filled plot and as a reader are introduced to the different perspectives of what love is from the many different characters that make this book so memorable. You get to view it from five different perspectives (General, Perry,R, Julie, and  M) and each of them see love in a different way depending on their life circumstances. You also, get to glimpse the way the characters see the life they are living and how it effects their mental state as well. It was very interesting to see how every single major character had a thread attached to them and how their actions influenced and caused circumstances that other characters had to deal with. Even the minor character played a huge part, they tied all the loose ends between the major characters and created a nice balance.

This was a great story, with amazing and memorable characters that quickly become your friends. I give it a 5/5 stars, I can't wait to get my hands on the 0.5 novella "The New Hunger" and 0.6 "Boarded Window" both written by Issac Marion. 

Picture: Warm Bodies- Property of Isaac Marion, Nicholas Hoult- Property of Nicholas Hoult and Summit Entertainment