Liz Jasper

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Will, the hot vampire who has bitten her twice now, Jo Gartner is stuck between two worlds, human and vampire. When he bit her the second time she defended herself with a pencil to his heart and killed him. Or did she? She thought he was dead, but what’s up with the too real dreams about him? In addition, his vampires are trying to lure her out at night, so she has those guys to deal with and during the day she’s trying to stuff science knowledge into the 7th graders she teaches. Then to top off everything hot vampire hunter Gavin is back and Jo would love to date (or other things) him, but he’s a bit too untrusting when it comes to her vampireness. Can’t a girl/almost vampire catch a break?

This is a great light vampire series to read when you just want some paranormal entertainment. Sure Jo gets into some hairy situations, but for the most part this book will make you smile. It helps that hot Gavin is back and though I think he’s being a bit of a dick about Jo’s vampire thing (it’s not like she had a choice in the matter), I am really enjoying their interactions. The hot scenes were plenty steamy without needing to be explicit and while I love me some hot juicy steaminess, I think the cleaner version works here allowing the story to focus more on what Jo is dealing with rather than the hot sex.

The story is definitely moving forward and getting more complicated. I can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on and where this is heading and I mean that in a good way. Plus, I now totally understand the squirt gun on the cover. I’m looking forward to Jo’s next installment.… (meer)

This is another one of my guilty pleasures. As an adult reader, I feel a little guilty reading a book that could be in the YA catagory, especially one that is vampire themed, but this is just too much fun. And it isn't about a whiny girl sitting home waiting for the vampire love of her life to come and claim her. Not really. Jo is a middle school teacher who was bitten by a hot vampire named Will, but not too badly because she hasn't completely turned into a vampire. Just enough to have to be burned by sunlight, sickened by garlic, and maybe fly, among other things. She is also being watched by a sexy police detective named Gavin, who is just waiting for her to turn so he can stake her, or waiting for her to stay human so he can date her?? He can't seem to make up his mind. This third book has Jo being scared off by some vampires moving into the neighborhood, watching her house and terrorizing her, forcing her into Gavin's apartment so he can watch over her. Jo is also questioning whether or not Will is or is not dead after the ending from the last book. And does she want him to be dead? There is definitely more romance in this book, more coming out about Jo's vampirism as more people are let in on her little "secret" and more developments take place. Overall the best of the series so far. I just hope I don't have to wait so long for the next book.… (meer)

First and foremost I must say that this book is really good. If I could I would actually give it 4.5 stars (and I am generally somewhat pessimistic when it comes to rating books). Liz Jasper does a very good job of writing a this unique story.

One of my favorite things about this book was that it was not overly predictable. I loved the interesting situations the main character, Crimson ends up in. Also, the writing technique was really good. Liz Jasper wove many colorful imaged with her words. Furthermore, there were a number of nice funny lines mixed in.

The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the characters. Don't get me wrong, I truly liked the characters, but I cannot say that I really loved any of them.

Overall, I think the book is wonderful and would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something a little different or someone who loves to have to wonder what will happen next.


Note: I received this book from the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.… (meer)

Rating: 4 stars
An e-copy of this book was provided for purpose of honest review by the author. I was not compensated for this review, and conclusions are honestly given and entirely my responsibility. Review for Lovers of Paranormal, a Goodreads Group.

“It's the choices you make that determine who you are."

Nature versus nurture, a debate for the ages. I applaud the author for taking on the debate in a direct attack, even if many of the references are peppered with Disney-esque characters. The promise that this book held was the real draw for me. I adore fairy tales, the moral tone, the direct repercussions, the integration of fantastical characters and scenarios. While the original tales are far darker and used mainly to teach or warn off children from dangerous acts, much of the “Disney Sanitation” and rewrites for sensibilities of today have removed that edge. Crimson in the Very Wrong Fairy Tale tries to restore some of that edge for the modern day, and is moderately successful in the attempt.

We meet Crimson Day, a soon to be 16 year old girl, who has spent the majority of her life trying to be “invisible”: no small feat for a girl who is tall, lean, ivory skinned and black haired. Afraid of standing out, not wanting to be bullied or noticed, she is a character that rails against her self-chosen ‘unpopularity’ while demeaning and degrading those she admires: even if she can’t bring herself to admit admiration. Her mother, Miranda, is very “new age hippy dippy”, a yoga instructor with an always joyful demeanor, as different in appearance and attitude from Crimson as possible, being tiny and blonde. Of course, there must be a twist: Crimson doesn’t remember her father. In fact, she has been told by her mother that her father died in a fire when she was just one year old.

As in all fairy tales, the main character is clueless with no idea that the day of reckoning is coming. And come it does: just shortly before the start of her sweet sixteen party, we meet Crimson’s father, Dirk Death, King of the Northern Deaths, 21st in line for the throne as the king of hell. Crimson Day is actually Crimson Death VI, Princess of Darkness, daughter of a demon.

And there the story begins to take shape – will Crimson go along to get along with this new dark side, or will the years of her mother’s calmness, niceness and parenting , as well as her own history of being a “good girl”, override the encouragement of her father’s family: to be bad? And here is where I stop in describing the story to avoid spoilers.

This story has some great potential – sadly just enough things were unsatisfactory to stop it short of achieving it fully.

Characters: the characters are fairly well defined, at least the main characters. Crimson is an overly whinging teen girl, prone to long periods of self-pity and overly critical impressions of others. Miranda is always lightness and sunshine - and while we are never told just ‘what’ she is, I suspect fairy – and think even fairies have ‘blue’ moments. We are introduced to two of Crimson’s friends: Todd and Hayley. Only Todd is flushed out as a character to any satisfying degree, Hayley is rather ‘hanging on’ in the plot – much like she is in life.
The other students are rather typically stereotypical, the jocks and cheerleaders are self-absorbed, self-important and selectively cruel. The “nerds” are often defined as needing a shower, or droning on and on. It is near the end of the book when Crimson sees that the “facades” are often just that – facades, yet the attitude in her interior dialogue barely registers that fact.

I don’t expect a 16 year old to have great powers of discernment, but after overhearing the displeasure of her discovery expressed by ALL of her newfound relations except her father, she is then apparently clueless as to their intentions: her uncle is “training” her to use her powers – and it is weeks before she realizes he may not be following his orders. She is traveling between the “human” and her father’s worlds, yet the transitions are relatively seamless between school life and her newfound powers. But, she is completely aware of the newfound interest in her stemming from the cheerleaders interest in her cousin and bodyguard/watcher.

Still – this was a fun read despite the issues. Written primarily for the YA market – I can see the emo rambles of Crimson being familiar and relatable to that market – and who hasn’t wanted to toss a fireball or two at someone particularly annoying? The story left enough holes open in the ending to open room for a sequel, Crimson has just started to integrate the two very conflicting approaches to life and problems, and hasn’t really mastered either approach. Will her mother’s continued recurrent voice continue to tell Crimson that she needs to listen to her heart and it is her choices that decide who she is, or will she allow the demonic side of her nature take control?
… (meer)