Review: SuburbaNights

SuburbaNights
SuburbaNights by Eric Arvin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I quite like Eric Arvin’s over the top parody Jasper Lane series but each one isn’t quite as good as the last. The first book in the series is truly original, unique and laugh out loud funny at every turn. Subsequent books, this one included, feel less original and more of the same. I didn’t laugh out loud once while reading the third book, mostly because I expected and am accustomed to the ridiculous and farcical actions of the various cast. It’s not unexpected or even surprising as parody is the norm here. That said, it’s an amusing and entertaining read even if less focused than previous books. Continue reading

Review: Gambling Men: The Novel

Gambling Men: The Novel
Gambling Men: The Novel by Amy Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m a fan of Amy Lane’s work and this is a good example of her writing and I enjoyed it. However, having said that, I think the story is very safe for the author and entirely expected. So much so that while I could appreciate certain technical aspects of the book and writing, overall I found the story repetitive and ho-hum. Part of this could be from my fatigue with my favorite authors, who seem to put out the same book over and over with minor differences, so I’ll try to separate my personal issues from the merits of the writing. For Lane fans I think most will enjoy this but die hard fans will have read this basic story many times over. Continue reading