REVIEW: How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid (Slug Pie Story #2)

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid (Slug Pie Story #2) by Mick Bogerman

Publication Date: July 24, 2014

Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

All Mick Bogerman wanted to do was teach his little brother how to swim in the coolest swimming pool in town. He didn't ask to take care of a bunch of Sea-Monkeys while he was there. He certainly didn't mean to morph one of them into a mermaid by feeding it genetically enhanced super food. No one is more surprised than Mick when the creature starts luring unsuspecting adults into the deep end of the pool. Adults who don't resurface. Join Mick as he battles a powerful adversary: a bloodthirsty mermaid who hypnotizes with a golden gaze, shatters glass with a piercing shriek, and reveals her true menacing self by the light of a full moon.

Here we are again with the coolest kid i've ever met, Mick Bogerman. I mean seriously guys, this kid gets into the craziest adventures i've ever seen. This time we meet Mick and his little brother Finley as Mick wants to teach him how to swim. After the whole debacle that was Zombie Cave Mick is worried his brother not being able to swim will eventually spell doom, as it almost did in Zombie Cave! I won't give you any details of that book without you reading the book first, but I will say that it's so much fun and kind of scary. See my review here.

The mermaid swimming in PJ's pool used to be just a sea monkey, until Mick accidentally gave her some super food when PJ asked him to feed the sea monkeys. Yes, that means there was more than one in the bowl. I'm sure you can use your imagination to figure out what happened to the other sea monkeys after they ate the super food and ended up with only one mermaid in the pool. The events that ensue are pretty crazy and I have to say that I think this is the "darkest" Bogerman story so far. I wish I could give you more information on the book but since they are so short anything I say will give away the story.

Just know that overall, it was so much fun to read and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves middle grade books.

REVIEW: Toxic by Kim Karr

Toxic by Kim Karr

Publication Date: July 7, 2015

Publisher: NAL Trade
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not...

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new novel that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite.

In Toxic, Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, sometimes brooding entrepreneur goes after what he wants—the woman he left behind years ago. Phoebe St. Claire, a put together, in control socialite-turned-CEO has been drifting through life searching for something she thought she'd never find again—the right man to share her future.

Our passion was boundless. Our lust untamed. And our desire endless. He was the only man who ever made me feel alive. Then, I betrayed him.

When he reappeared, I didn’t question it. Trust rarely survives the wrecking ball, so when he let me in back in—I didn’t hesitate.

Maybe I should have.

What began as a bid to save my family business, turned into a second chance at love. It felt so romantic. Working together, side by side, with the man I loved. My dream come true.

Nothing is as good as it seems.

We had our issues, but then again, every couple does. It wasn’t jealousy, or our too-hot sex life that I should have been worried about.

It was his darkside.

I never saw the end coming, until it slammed me in the face. The question is—did he?

Was revenge his plan all along?b

****

Sometimes you have to wonder if your life is too good to be true.
Is it real or just an illusion?
Does the man lying beside you really love you like he says he does?
If the answer is yes, you’re meant to live happily ever after.
If the answer is no, you’re living my life, and nothing will ever be the same.

What you do about it—that’s up to you.

Me, I’m in too deep and there’s no getting out.

I’ll take whatever I can get for as long as I can because I know when it’s over…

I’ll never find another man like him.

Ever!

Jeremy McQueen and Phoebe St. Claire have more in common than anyone could ever realize. They meet in their early twenties and begin a relationship that completely intoxicates them from the moment they meet. After a misunderstanding, a jealous reaction, and a huge secret they break up and Jeremy moves away. After a few years pass and both Jeremy and Paige have matured and moved up in their careers, they run into each other and things start to heat up again.

What I love about this book is that the characters are so great to read. I'm not normally a jealous person but I find it easy to understand everything that these characters say to each other when certain things get discovered and jealousy rears its very ugly head. The backstory about how they are connected seemed a bit far off, but overall I think it added to the drama. 

I have to say that I loved reading this book so much!! Mainly because Jeremy McQueen is one of the swooniest guy i've ever read and I literally can't stand that he isn't real! I mean seriously, how can we live in a world where he doesn't exist?!?! Jeremy is strong and brave and brute, but also shows his softer side when he is charming and caring and oh so swoony. Everything he says seeps with sexuality. 

Phoebe St. Claire is strong in her own ways but her insecurities lead her to conclusions that are often inaccurate and can leave her broken down. She seems to have difficulty establishing herself and relies too much on validation from others, particularly Jeremy. While reading this book I noticed that she was the one that had the most insecurities and distrust for Jeremy. At times I thought it was uncalled for and unnecessary. Their love seems toxic because all they do is keep hurting each other but in the end they prove that their love is stronger than anything that comes their way and they are always willing to fight to keep what they have. 

Overall, I really loved reading this book and found it really difficult to put down. The swoons were real my friends. So go forth and grab your copy today!

REVIEW: How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete (Slug Pie Story #1) by Mick Bogerman

How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete (Slug Pie Story #1) by Mick Bogerman

Publication Date: July 24, 2014

Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Armed with a pitchfork, miner's hat, and map, Mick Bogerman dares to hunt for pirate treasure in Zombie Cave. His little brother Finley is tied up at the beach. Literally--Mick tied him up. No one needs a little brother tagging along when you're going to slay the undead. But Mick soon wishes he;d taken some human company with him, because lurking in every corner, reaching from every crevice, is another hungry corpse. No wonder the place is named Zombie Cave! And finding treasure in the twisty tunnels is a lot harder when your map disintegrates. And man-oh-man the cold, dark tide chases fast. But the worst part about fighting off ravenous flesh-eaters is the one monster deadlier than a regular zombie...the worst of the worst...Pirate Pete.

Mick Bogerman is a cool kid. At his age I was still playing with Barbie's and discovering boy bands. Not Mick and his little brother Finley though, they go on adventures everyday! In this adventure Mick finds his way to Zombie Cave to find Pirate Pete's treasure. He thinks Finley can't handle himself, so he tricks him and leaves him somewhere else so he can conquer Zombie Cave alone. But Mick completely underestimates the zombies and their strength. Turns out, his little brother is his best friend and savior in this book.

Mick is such a great character because he's headstrong and determined. For Mick, it doesn't matter what anyone says or does, he knows what he wants and he knows how to get it...well sort of! He is still a kid after all and his ideas are a bit crazy and dramatic. Which of course I love because that's exactly what makes the book so much fun to read and live in. Finley, on the other hand is one smart kid. He figures out how to escape and find his brother just in time. Finley is such a lovable character because he is smart and headstrong just like his brother, but he has such a go-with-the-flow attitude.

Overall I really loved this book. The story line was fun and believable (if you're a child at heart like me hehe) and it's really catchy for all kinds of people that read it. Children and adults alike :)