Jack Hammer by Tabatha Vargo Review!

Blaine Wesley

I’m the Jack Hammer. Exotic dancer extraordinaire. The teaser and the pleaser—the paid for penis for play. I have to be all these things to survive. It’s who I became when I lost her. But now she’s back, and I can’t decide who I want to be more. The Jack Hammer or Blaine Wesley. All I know is she’s foreplay at its finest, and it’s my job to get them wet and ready.

Chelsey Ford

Liar. That’s what I called him when he walked out of my life. Losing your first love will turn you into someone bitter. Hateful. Angry. But now he’s back, and he’s determined to torture me. The only problem is, I’m enjoying his form of torture too much. And the hatred for him that holds me together is slowly starting to dissolve.

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it came and out even before that. The beautiful and eye catching cover drew me in as well as the vague and intriguing synopsis that promised a crazy ride filled with exciting possibilities. However, I didn't expect this book to make me as emotional as it did. I'm telling you, Vargo has a way of digging deep into your heart and making you feel all kinds of emotions. Blaine and Chelsey's story was so touching and amazing that it quickly became my favorite read of 2015.

First of all, Chelsey was someone who I could really relate to, which made the story all the more real to me. She was a study hard romance book lover and boys made her nervous at first. Then she met Blaine and everything changed. Blaine is the epitome of sexy. He has gorgeous blue eyes, a body to die for, and an attitude to back it all up. He exuded sex and let me tell you, the sexy scenes were oh so sexy with him in them. I was practically in love with him from the start. Chelsey quickly wiggled her way into his heart and tamed the bad boy inside, but soon developed an adventurous side of her own. I always like stories where the characters are from different ways of life like Chelsey and Blaine are. Chelsey is from a rich family who strives for her to be the best, and Blaine is from a normal family that doesn’t strive for perfection, just happiness.

This book was more than a romance, but the romance in this book was to die for. The sexy scenes were oh so steamy and I’m sure I was blushing most of the time. This book does not leave you wanting because Blaine or more than satisfactory. With a stripper name like Jack Hammer, you would expect nothing less, I sure didn’t. Whew, the romance good, and the story was even better! The storyline in this book was what caught my attention. I figured that Jack Hammer would start out with Chelsey and Blaine as adults, as most adult novel do, but I was surprised when it started from the beginning with Chelsey and Blaine falling in love during their senior year in high school. I really liked how Vargo wrote Jack Hammer because it was different in that sense. By starting from the beginning with Chelsey and Blaine, I got to see them struggle and fall in love. That made everything that happened to them afterwards hurt a lot more than just beginning the story when they were adults and telling what happened to them through flashbacks.

I quickly got attached to them so when I got to the point in the story where Chelsey and Blaine's world fell apart, I was screamed at the book. Then I got to part two in the book. It skipped a year ahead and we saw where Chelsey and Blain had ended up. Then I had to prepare myself for more hurt because I knew it was coming. The things Chelsey and Blaine had to go through broke my heart. I just wanted to hug both of them and cry with them. When Chelsey found out why Blaine left a year ago, she was heartbroken, but she still kept what happened to her when he left a secret and that tore me up. Then Blaine found out and I cried. I wish I could talk about it but that would spoil the whole book. Just know that the pain they both felt was like a punch in the gut to me, and it had me in tears by the end of the book. However, the ending was one of the best endings I could ever ask for. We got to see Chelsey and Blaine seven years later and they were so happy. I love when we get to see what happens to the characters we love a few years later because then I can rest easy knowing that my babies are safe and happy.

Basically this book tore up my heart and slowly mended it back together. I can't explain how much I love this book! If you love romances filled with emotional situations, hurt, a lot of love, and exciting scenes then Jack Hammer is the book for you. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

P.S. Check out my review of On The Plus Side by Tabatha Vargo also! It was another five star favorite of mine!

Daughter of Isis by Kelsey Ketch Review!

“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

Ever since I heard about this book in 2013, I wanted to read it. I am obsessed with mythology, and when I heard about Daughter of Isis I knew I had to read this book. There aren't a lot of books out there about Egyptian mythology and I was excited to see what this one was about.

                Natara or Natti was a really interesting character. At first, I was annoyed by her attitude about being in a new place, but as the story progressed I began to sympathize with her because of the terrible things she had to deal with in the past. She also had a slightly sarcastic side which I love in a character because snarky comebacks always make me laugh, and she had them in spades. She is also a strong character that doesn't back down from a difficult situation, and she had me cheering for her to conquer all those in her path as the story progressed. Seth, however, pissed me off. The way he and his friends acted like girls were things to be used really set me off. I had the urge to punch him a LOT throughout the story. He really got my emotions latched onto the story, that's for sure. The strange influence he seemed to have over girls also pushed me too find out what that was and what he was.

                That mystery in the book was one of the driving forces that kept me hooked. The plot of this book was surprisingly dark, in my opinion. I can't think of a YA paranormal book that features a hero with such dark intentions. Seth just acted so evilly throughout most of the book. I haven't read many stories where the hero is just so unappealing in his actions and evil in his thoughts. What Seth did really made me hate him, and the fact that he and his family worship Set, the Egyptian God of chaos, is another reason to hate him. Natti was just trying to get through the school year in a new place with weird and unexplainable things happening all around her, and it's seemingly impossible. She also has this creepy man-whore constantly trying to use his mysterious gift of charm from Set to get into her pants. I have to admit I was rooting for Natti once Seth came onto the scene. I wanted her to put him in his place and show him that he can't push her around. Sadly, the mystery of Natti's family history is not really addressed in this book, which is a little off putting. This story was mainly about Seth and his family ties to Set, and I would have liked to know more about Natti’s connections with it all. Obviously, based on the title, she is a daughter of Isis, but that isn’t really addressed fully in this book.

                Honestly, I don't know what to think of this book. I was so excited to read it at first, but as I started reading it, my feelings started to change. I just couldn't get over the fact that the "hero" of the story was so corrupted and just evil, basically. I have never hated a main character before, but Seth will be my first, I think. I don't see how he can win me over at this point. Other than that, the plot is great. It definitely engages your emotions, which is hard to do sometimes, and it also keeps you coming back for more. Who Seth is and what purpose being a son of Set is was one interesting aspect in this book. Another aspect that keeps the readers interested is how Natti will handle Seth and what her roll in all of this is. Usually, in books like these, there is an endgame that is usually unveiled towards the middle of the book. Usually, a reader knows where the story is headed by then, but in this book it is one big mystery as to what will happen in the end. To be honest, the mysterious plot is kind of infuriating. I was scrambling for answered throughout the whole book and it felt drawn out. In some cases, people like that, but in this case, I would have liked to uncover a little more about Natti's family legacy even if it was through little reveals throughout the story. I just couldn't get over the fact that the characters were so dark and the main character didn't really have much to do with the story. She seemed more like a secondary character than a main character to be honest. I'm trying to be objecting and give this book the rating it deserves without letting my hatred for the hero and his lackeys get in the way, which is difficult. This book had a great plot that grabs your attention and your emotions. It also has really interesting concepts of supernatural powers given by Egyptian gods. All in all it was an interesting book, but in the end it didn't impact me like most books do. I give it 3 out of five stars.

What Is Wrong With Fandoms Today?

                I have been in a few fandoms for almost three years now, and I cannot even begin to explain how much they have changed. Actually, maybe it’s not that they have changed, but the fact that I am finally seeing the true sides of fandoms. You see, I equated fandoms to being a family. Fandoms are places you can go to find others who share your love for books, movies, a person, etc. Fandoms are where we share fanfiction, fan art, fan theories, similar works, etc. Fandoms are places where those who have nowhere else to go can come and be at home around people who understand them. Fandoms sound great, don’t they? I thought so too, but that is not what fandoms are. Lately, what a fandom should be and what they actually are, are two different things.

                Lately, fandoms have become judgmental places full of disrespectful people and hateful words, and it is scary. It is scary that these fans can become so vicious. For example, I have seen fans turn against the creator of their favorite books for writing the books SHE thought up and SHE created. They got made because she wrote her own book a certain way that didn’t satisfy everyone. These so called ‘fans” claimed that they would boycott the series and warn everyone off of them because the plot did not go the way they wanted.

                NEWS FLASH: A writer is not entitled to please their fans. Sure, pleasing the fans helps book sales, but a writer’s only mission is to write what makes THEM happy, not anyone else. If you don’t understand that then you might as well stop reading all together because you will encounter nothing but disappointment.

                I would be ashamed if I was a writer and my so called fans started spreading hate simply because things didn’t go the way they wanted IN MY OWN BOOK. Do you know what happens when writers get complacent and start writing for their fans instead of themselves? Unhappiness that is what.  Unhappiness from the writer and the fans who can tell the difference because you know when a writer starts writing for their fans instead of themselves. The joy and fun writers have writing their books shows in their writing, and when that fun and joy is put in a cage to please “fans” then it shows in their writing.

                Who gave fans the right to tell authors how to write their own book? Who gave fans the right to attack other fans for DOING THE RIGHT THING and embracing what the author has done with their own story? No one. I feel like fans nowadays have forgotten that the person on the other side of those hateful and vicious comments is human too. Do these fans realize that they are calling a human being with feelings and a heart “stupid” and a “bad writer” for simply writing a book the way she has the right too? I don’t know about you, but that screams insanity and immaturity.

                Fandoms have become this place of petty fights, disrespect, and hate, and it needs to stop. Why are we fighting when it won’t change a damn thing? You can yell, scream, and be vicious all you want, but it won’t stop others from having an opinion. It will only scare people away, make you seem like an asshole, and discourage those who you are a professed fan of.

                Another thing that fandoms have seem to have lost in translation is respect. I don’t know if it was how I was raised or if I am just the only sane person in these fandoms, but why can’t we just agree to disagree in a respectful manor. I swear, I have been attacked for stating my opinion and only a few times has someone said, “I do not agree, but I respect your opinion.” You don’t have to like my opinion, but simply respect the fact that I am a human with feelings just like you, and I deserve respect. Now, some of you may say, “Ivey, respect is earned, not given”. To that I would answer, “Isn’t the fact that I am a human being good enough?” Respect is given until someone does something to lose that respect, and THEN it is earned back. I cannot believe that in this day and age we are still struggling with a simple task of respecting one another. All of you who claim to be fans and cannot respect an opposing opinion should not call yourselves such. I am aware that not everyone is nice about their opinion, but it is up to you to be the bigger person and show them how normal and sane human beings should act. I have had my fair share of rude people who deemed it necessary to get nasty when sharing their opinion, and in response I simply say, “I do not agree and I think that could have been stated better, but I respect your opinion”. Because that is how it should be. Then there are people who make snide comments through thinly veiled insults about book characters that they hate and that is also showing a lack of respect. I know these characters are fictional (unfortunately), but you owe it to the author who created those characters to be respectful. If you don’t like something then just ignore it, or talk about it like an adult and not a child who had their favorite toy taken away.

                Fans are all so focused on “making people see the error of their ways” or “teaching them a lesson” or “dragging the haters because they deserve it”, and that mentality is what is wrong with fandoms. They have become so attached and protective of these things that they have forgotten to be decent human beings to one another. I have watched as fans trashed the fictional characters we love just to get a rise out of other fans. I have watched fans make hate accounts just to make others feel bad for loving what they love. I have watched too many fans spread hate, malice, and cruelty all in the name of being a “fan” and it makes me sick. It makes me sick that people can sink so low and still claim to be a fan or even a good person.

                I am here to tell you right now that fandoms need to get their shit together and grow up. I have been guilty of getting sucked into joining the different sides of fandoms, and I am so disappointed in myself. Once I realized what was happening I immediately took a step back and reevaluated things. Fans of anything should show the world how wonderful fandoms can be. Fans should not turn fandoms into these scary places full of hate and judgment where any opinion is guaranteed a backlash. Even as I write this, I know I will have someone attack me for even questioning the motives of fans and demanding things change because that how fandoms and most fans operate today. If you get made about what I am saying, then maybe I am hitting close to home, and you are only getting mad because I am right.

                Fandoms were created for likeminded people to come together and celebrate the love they have for a book, movie, or whatever. I want to get back to that idea. I want to go onto Tumblr and not be attacked for like a certain character or shipping them with someone. I want to go onto Twitter and see respectful interactions even though there is a difference of opinions. I just want everyone to treat each other like a damn human being.

 

                I am fully aware that not all fans are hateful, disrespectful, and judgmental, but there are more of those fans then there are of the kind ones. I am also aware that this won’t change a thing, although I am hoping it might, but I just had to say something because I know I cannot be the only one who sees this. You can agree with me or don’t, but just be respectful.

See y’all on the bright side, kids.

Ivey