Gale Reads: Hotshot by Julie Garwood

Happy rainy Monday everyone! Please keep safe and dry so that you won't get sick like me hehe :)

I have finished another book so let's talk about it now. As I have mentioned before, Julie Garwood is one of my all time favorite authors since I started reading novels during high school so it's obvious that I'll get any new releases as soon as it hit the shelves. I won't need to read the synopsis or the excerpts before I buy the book because I know that Julie Garwood's work will always be good so it's definitely a must buy. Her latest release is called HOTSHOT which is part of her contemporary series.

TITLE: Hotshot
AUTHOR: Julie Garwood
GENRE: Contemporary, Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 8, 2013
PLOT:  
*from goodreads.com*
Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishops Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit only then will they own it.A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton's contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn't inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.Its soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her until shes nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.

COVER TALK:
I actually liked the cover because it doesn't show the whole face of the model so there's still space for me to imagine what he looks like.  It also showed that Finn MacBain is an FBI agent so just by looking at the cover of this book, you will automatically know that it's part of Julie Garwood's contemporary series that consists of characters working for the government: FBI, Justice Department and even as Detectives. There will be no mistaking this as part of her historical romance creations.


MY REVIEW:
The premise of the story became more interesting to me after I've read the excerpt when it got available in Julie Garwood's website early this year. I have been actually waiting for this for a long time and got so overjoyed when I was able to purchase an ebook copy a few days after its release date. I immediately read it and I finished it in one sitting since I have the time.

Hotshot revolves around the life of Peyton Lockhart who is an adorable character and can be interesting because of her quirks. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to take chances and fight off those who doesn't treat her right. She actually have an undying hero-worship crush with her childhood friend Finn MacBain (who is almost perfect in everything) after he save her when she was still 6 y/o and Finn was 14. They met again as an adult after years of just contacting each other through emails so you can just imagine the reaction of Finn when he saw Peyton again and she's not the scrawny little girl he remembers. That storyline alone can give a good backdrop for a lot of interesting twists and conflicts especially when you make Peyton a magnet for trouble and Finn having a hero complex who wants to save everyone.

But then came the disappointment after I finished reading the book. I think I have too much expectation for it and it felt short. Even my best friend who love Garwood's works as much as I did is unsatisfied after reading Hotshot. We are both used to reading book after book of great stories from her since her first book that reading a so-so one is kind of a let down, to be honest. It's not even the editing because it still doesn't have any kind of grammatical errors which can put me off. I think it's just the way how the story unfolded itself that left the author with no space to create entertaining twists or something. Hotshot is so mediocre in my opinion and it hurt me to say it because I really love Garwood's stories and I can't believe this one is not as good as the others.It actually made me feel like I read a book written by a novice writer.

I finished it in one seating but everything about it is so forgettable that right after I read it I didn't felt any gratification. There's no "wow!" factor to be honest and it seems a little empty and it don't have the depth of story that I got used to when it comes to Garwood's creations. Even the villains in the story is predictable and not interesting especially if I will compare it with her other contemporary works like Heartbreaker and Slow Burn (now, those two are great). I guess having a perfect male lead character with no flaws is kinda boring for me. The lack of interesting twists in the development of the romance between the two main character is also another factor why this became boring and not a page turner.


OVER-ALL RATING: 3/5

This rating is so hard for me to give to a Julie Garwood creation but I need to be honest in a review so I will give Hotshot a 3/5 rating. This book is not bad but it's not that entertaining either and that's the main reason why I can't give it a higher rating. I would still suggest you read it if you're already a reader of Julie Garwood so you can formulate your own reaction but if you're new to Julie Garwood's novels I would suggest you try her earlier works first because this can't be used as a basis of her writing skills. I even suspect that either she is lacking inspiration or she have a ghost writer who is writing for her because her latest books are going downhill in the entertaining department.


Thanks for dropping by! Stay safe everyone!

Best Reads of 2012

I am now officially starting my 2012 lists with my BEST READS of the year. I will include all books I've read starting January 2012 even though some are released years ago. I hope you can share yours too so I can check them out :)

*In order*
**CLICK on the title to view my in depth review of the book


10. Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

READ ON: August 2012

Julie Garwood is always on my auto-buy list since time immemorial. I have loved her since I was in High School and I have re-read all her books countless of times. I especially love her historical romances and even her contemporary ones like Heartbreaker and Shadow Dance. I just don't know what happened to her latest releases starting from Shadow Music. They are still good but I felt, like, her writing style changed or something. I still enjoyed reading them but the depth and captivating story that I loved were kind of short. So, even though I liked reading Sweet Talk, I can't put it on my top 5. BUT This is still a good read. I just miss seeing her old style. Still waiting for her 2013 release :)


9. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

READ ON: June 2012

"Of Poseidon" is Anna Banks debut book as a writer and I'm glad I was able to read it. This is my first "adult" mermaid book...my last was Disney's Little Mermaid haha. Anyway, this is the only mermaid book I have read  since I became an adult so it's quite entertaining for me. I loved her writing style and her world building. I can't wait for book 2 of this series. Definitely a must-read book for those people who love fairytale-type of book and loves mermaids as much as I do :)


8. Shadow Falls Series by C.C. Hunter

Book 1-3

Book 4

READ ON: July 2012

This is a surprisingly good book for me. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did while reading the series. What I loved about this story is that it has a really good fluidity and it felt like I'm reading a Japanese manga wherein each book means just another chapter and you need to pick it up asap to know what's next. It really is a page turner for me and I can't wait to read the finale of this 5-part series..This series felt like X-men because it consists of all supernatural beings studying in one school and trying to live civilly with each other. I really love the concept and I'm so glad it was well executioned too  :)

7. Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

READ ON: March 2012

Now, this is a faery book. I really enjoyed Julie Kagawa's writing skills and her character building. She was able to create a beautiful but dangerous land, Nevernever, to serve as the perfect backdrop for her characters. I enjoyed reading about Megan, Ash, Puck and Grim's adventures and character development. I also liked reading the short stories for this series, they are that entertaining. I definitely recommend this series for those people looking for an adventure fantasy book :) 

6. Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlainne Harris

(aka True Blood Series)

READ ON: April 2012

After reading a lot of Young Adult books about vampires and shapeshifters, I really was quite happy to have found a good adult version through this series by Charlainne Harris. Book 13, the finale, will get released on May 2013 and I am looking forward on how she will end this very long series about Sookie Stackhouse. If you loved watching True Blood on HBO, you should definitely read this coz this is way better! The TV Series sucks big time since it's so R-18 but these books are great and it really was told in a way that it seems realistic even though it's fictional :)

5. Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead

READ ON: April 2012

This is a spin-off from the popular Vampire Academy Series. This is still ongoing and is following Sydney, the alchemist who if a friend of Rose. I just love reading these books coz the way Richelle Mead created another side for the same world as with Vampire Academy is superb. I can also see glimpses of what happened to the characters  I loved like Dimitri and Rose through this as the setting for Bloodlines happened right after the events in VA ended. I can't wait to read Book 3 and 4 next year coz there's a rumor that 2 books will be released consequently. Yay! :)

4. Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

READ ON: February 2012

As I have said, this is what started my love for Bloodlines. This series made me cry, laugh and feel every emotions that a book could give you while reading. Richelle Mead is a fantastic writer and I love her female characters because they are strong willed and knows what they want. Rose and Dimitri's love story is epic and I really enjoyed the way how her character evolved from being an immature teenager to a mature woman. Love it so much! :)

3. Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

READ ON: September 2012

This is one of those books that I can't wait for it to arrive. I actually ordered a hard copy instead of an ebook for this one the moment it became available in the US. I really was so happy with Raphael and Andrea's story because it is full of sparks and action. This is also the best cover for all the books in the Kate Daniel's series! I really love having this on hand coz I can re-read it anytime and I didn't regret the long wait because it's worth it :)

2. Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh

Book 1-3

Book 5

READ ON: January 2012

This is the best angel book out there in the market because this does not have any religious stuff integrated. It is sort of like a dystopian genre because Nalini Singh created a world wherein Earth is ruled by Archangels with Vampires as workers and humans are just there like "pets". I specifically love  the stories about Raphael and Elena so this being in 2nd place is because of the first 3 books. I just love Elena's character because she is full of spunk and she is a warrior through and through. I can't wait for book 6 because the author said the story will go back to Elena and Raphael instead of one of the Seven (Raphael's elite guard unit). I can't wait!

1. Kate Daniel's Series by Ilona Andrews

READ ON: June 2012

I have been contemplating whether my top 1 will be this series or the Guild Hunter one because I love both and I have re-read them over and over again since I got them...I just can't decide but I nitpicked my criteria and Kate Daniel wins! This won because I loved each and every book in this series even the novellas (Jim and Dali, Raphael and Andrea, and even Curran's POVs) and I can't get enough of them even though I have re-read them countless of times already. While I only am in love with Raphael and Elena's books in the Guild Hunter Series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading book 4 and 5 too but they are not on my top 10. 

This is definitely the top book series of 2012 and I can't wait for book 6 to read more about Kate and Curran and also the other member of the pack :)

You can follow me on GOODREADS if you wanted to see a more regular update on my reading. It's more updated than on my blog because I don't review all of the books here in detail especially those that I have read a long time ago before I started Gale Reads. 

Thank you for dropping by!

Gale Reads: Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

Hello everyone! I'm back from my long vacation. I'll try to upload a lot starting today coz I've accumulated a couple of posts that should've been up this week :)

I will start with a book review. Some of you know that I'm a fan of Julie Garwood since I was in high school (that's over 12 years!) and I collect her books. It is my dream to be able to collect all of her titles in hardbound versions as well as the first released covers of her historical romances. So you can really imagine how excited I am that she released a new contemporary title this August titled "Sweet Talk" and it was still connected in a way to the Buchanan clan. I'm glad I was able to get an ebook copy from my best friend so I can read it while I wait for the paperback version to arrive here in our shore.

GENRE: Romance, Contemporary

PLOT: (from Goodreads)

Attorney and IRS agent Olivia Mackenzie is the kind of tough, wise-cracking, powerful woman fans expect from a Garwood protagonist—but this time she has outdone herself. Olivia is not just any woman, she is every woman; flawed in the familiar ways so many of us are.

On the trail of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, one that threatens to ruin the lives of naïve and unsuspecting victims, Olivia suddenly finds her own life is in danger after she asks questions of the wrong people. She is accustomed to fighting for the underdog, but being vulnerable herself is a very different story. Smart enough to know when enough is enough, Olivia calls for reinforcements.

When she meets FBI Agent Grayson Kincaid there is an immediate and obvious attraction, palpable on both sides. Together they make an excellent team to fight corruption but Olivia is also fighting the immediate and intense attraction she feels for Agent Kincaid, and that may be a battle she is bound to lose.

COVER:

I love the cover! It fits perfectly to the description of Grayson Kincaid-- a very manly, smart, strong and skilled FBI agent. I am happy that they have decided to not include the whole face of the model as that would probably ruin it. I prefer imagining what he looked like so I can match him with the heroine. Love this cover! I'm giving it 5/5 ^_^

MY REVIEW:

I love this book! I loved how it showed Julie Garwood's trademark of putting an alpha-male leading man who is very masculine, smart and skilled together with a fiery, courageous and intelligent heroine. I love the fact that she continues to use this formula even after so many years because that's what attracted me the most to her books. As you know, I hated the damsel-in-distress whiny heroines the most and you can never find those on Garwood's books. There is also no love-triangles which is quite common to YA books which made me think that I am getting way too old for that genre haha.

This is a terrific story of two people who are both intelligent and knows what they want. They are both mature and the decisions and actions that they do are based on rationalizing and analyzing instead of basing it on impulse. This is also rooted in reality so this made me feel the story is real and I can relate to it more. I can see the events happening in real life and that made Julie Garwood a great story teller.

I guess the only negative thing I can say in this story is the fact that I feel it lacks more romantic interaction between the 2 main characters. Garwood showed how they are attracted physically to each other but I was hoping it would also show how much they love each other too. I think it lacks the depth of love I was hoping for and she was unable to portray those feelings to the readers. This seems to be more of a contemporary/investigative/suspense type of book rather than romance.  

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 

If this only showed more "love" between the two main characters, I would definitely give this a 5. I'm a romantic at heart and I prefer to read a "I love you till death do us part" story that "I'm so in lust with you" moments haha ^_~

 

Anyway, Sweet talk is definitely a well crafted story that both have action and passion. I also liked the fact that this is still connected to the Buchanan's in a way and I can't wait to see if she will create a separate story for the other side characters mentioned in the book like the other 3 in the Pips squad or the other Buchanan brothers (Zach and Michael). Better yet, I would love to read a story about the 2nd generation of the Buchanans.

I definitely recommend this book :)

Thanks for dropping by!