Book Review: Perfection (Sisters in Love Book 1) by J.L. Campbell

Yes I am skipping IWSG for the first time in a long while. Nuh knock me off Ninja or minions! Much love, I will be back next month.

My first review for 2015! Yay! I am back on the front lines of book reviewing and today I am reviewing my dear friend Joy Campbell's first NA novel Perfection. She gave me an e-copy (like all the cool book reviewers get, LOL) and I got to read it for myself. This novel is also first in a series and what a series this is shaping up to be. Now don't let friendship fool you, I review like jackhammer lick rock stone.

Summary: A willful girl. A determined guy. A sticky situation. Can love conquer all?

After six months of serial breakups with her two-timing boyfriend, Natasha is ready to give relationships a break. Malik has no plans to give up and schemes to get her back, but his efforts throw his cousin in the middle of his campaign. Natasha doesn't need another guy messing with her brain, or her plans for the future, but Karim is different from anyone she's ever met. The fact that he's off-limits deepens her guilt over her attraction and puts her judgment into question. Can she move beyond the mistakes of the past and trust someone who's no angel?

Karim is back in Jamaica for the summer and has no plans to tie himself to anyone, because girls are complicated and he's been burned a time or two. He's knee-deep in responsibility as a result of a thoughtless act that changed his life. But Natasha is a girl with a difference, who makes him want things he has sworn to give up. Will she give him the time of day and will she want him when she finds out about his past and the present he wants to keep hidden, but can't?

Review

Natasha and Karim are the two perspectives that you get throughout the novel. It is nice to get the guy's perspective as well as the female's for a change. Both characters are young adults starting university and are born Jamaicans, a nice change of pace since most NA involves American or while characters. The duo are tired of betting burned and decide to each drop their respective baggage willing to try something new. Natasha is more hesitant due to her experience with on again off again ex Malik who can only describe kindly as a douche. Yes, I said it. The novel carries you through how they meet and interact with each other as romance blossoms, fizzles and hopefully blossoms again. Will they make it or will obstacles including dutty exes and too much drama tear them apart?

What I enjoyed about this novel the most was how real these characters were. Neither seemed larger than life or someone who you couldn't relate to or imagine being like. The drama was never so insane that it was soap opera worthy though some exes prove to be what I can only term as 'bright and facety' (out of order/ no manners/ kiss me neck!). I must admit that some parts I am not sure I could maintain my niceness and I am a very calm person on the surface. Still, such people do exist and I must commend Joy for making even the more minor characters stand out and that the sub plots could intrigue you almost as much as the main one. Also there is a sisterly bond Natasha shares through her father's remarriage that will melt your heart. Over all I must say that I loved this book and as a Jamaican the local nuances were an added treat. Plus I could relate to some of the mother daughter drama in the 'career dispute.' Want to know more? Then go and grab a copy! This book hooked me from beginning to end and I am sure it will hook you too.

Psst. Plus a sequel is coming. Fixation will have you transfixed. Shhh, nuh chat say me tell you.

Rating: 5 Stars!

Purchase: Kindle, Barnes N Noble

Joy's links: Goodreads, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Next Stop on the Perfection Mini-Tour!

Today I am taking part in the blog tour for Perfection by J.L. Campbell. Read on below to find out more and come back Wednesday to see my review. NA has been a burgeoning genre and today you will a novel that takes it from a Jamaican perspective. Now take it away Joy.

Perfection explores the world of Karim and Natasha, two new adults who have made their share of mistakes and are learning to deal with their individual challenges.
Set in Jamaica, the story has unique nuances because of the locale, but the themes are universal—friendship, parenting, relationships and trust.

Enjoy a sample from a novel that has been described as 'Perfection' by several readers.

"I love the title because it sums up the novel - PERFECTION! Campbell's books are set in her country of Jamaica and I love the backdrop of the beautiful tropical island as much as I love her characters and plots. Always interesting and never dull, Campbell's books are an excellent read."

Have you read any New Adult novels lately? What do you think about new adults who have to deal with parental responsibilities? Are they any different at parenting than older folks?
Enter on the Rafflecopter to win a copy of Perfection and the second in the series, Fixation, which goes live on February 15!

Many thanks for hosting me, Sheena!

Blurb:

After six months of serial breakups with her two-timing boyfriend, Natasha is ready to give relationships a break. Malik has no plans to give up and schemes to get her back, but his efforts throw his cousin in the middle of his campaign. Natasha doesn't need another guy messing with her brain, or her plans for the future, but Karim is different from anyone she's ever met. The fact that he's off-limits deepens her guilt over her attraction and puts her judgment into question. Can she move beyond the mistakes of the past and trust someone who's no angel?

Karim is back in Jamaica for the summer and has no plans to tie himself to anyone, because girls are complicated and he's been burned a time or two. He's knee-deep in responsibility as a result of a thoughtless act that changed his life. But Natasha is a girl with a difference, who makes him want things he has sworn to give up. Will she give him the time of day and will she want him when she finds out about his past and the present he wants to keep hidden, but can't?

J.L. Campbell is an award-winning, Jamaican author who writes romantic suspense, women's fiction, new and young adult novels. She has written fourteen books, two novellas and two short story collections. She also writes under the pen name Jayda McTyson. She is a certified editor, who also writes non-fiction.

Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell.com




RAFFLECOPTER LINK

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Chasing Anya Cover Reveal and Express Yourself 2014

Today I'm sharing the cover for Chasing Anya by J.L. Campbell. I'm a day later than the official reveal but it is never too late to help a friend and fellow author/blogger.

Summary: Been there. Done that.

Feisty and independent, Anya Davies lives by her own rules. The one thing she's hell-bent on avoiding is a conventional relationship, thanks to her abusive ex who refuses to stay in the past. As far as she's concerned, romance is a no-no. 

The second complication in her life is a secret that condemns her to constant guilt and a solitary life. A series of near misses and escalating threats are a third and worrying factor. Only a special man would understand or live with Anya's challenges and demands.

Casual sex...so not having that.

Enter Christophe Mondesir. Two years ago, Anya dumped him without explanation. An accidental meeting shoots Anya back on Christophe's radar. He refuses to be denied and plans to breach the fortress Anya has built around her heart--if she'll commit to more than a casual liaison. He's also determined to find out what she's hiding. That's if the stalker who's after Anya doesn't end her life first.

J.L. Campbell Links

Blog: The Character Depot

Purchase: Amazon

Express Yourself Meme

I missed the first meme last week but I'm just in time for the second one for 2014. This time we are to share what we'll be seeing at the movies this year. Here's a few of my picks.

American Hustle (came to Jamaica last week)

12 Years as a Slave (coming out Wednesday, yes another late arrival)

Divergent

X-Men: Days of Future Past

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Frozen (saving it for month end, it will still be there)

Big 6

The Giver

That's all for now and see you guys Wednesday.

Christine's Odyssey Book Launch

Today is the book launch of Christine's Oddysey by J.L. Campbell. Read on to find out more and a little self-introduction from the main character.

Howdy. I’m glad you’ve stopped in. My name is Christine and although I’m only eleven, I’m what some adults might call precocious. A lot has happened in my life, some of it bad, but like my dad used to say, good things can result from the bad stuff that happens to us.

To help me celebrate overcoming my challenges, a great gang of authors have teamed up and will be giving away copies of their books. Sweet, yes?

For a chance to win a pair of the books listed, you can do anything included on the Rafflecopter below or on Facebook. However, for those who’d like to win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Voucher, hop on over to the Jamaican Kid Lit Blog to enter for that.

Anyway, I tend to talk a lot, so before I carried away, here’s my story:

Raised in a hotbed of arguments and fights, eleven-year-old Christine Simms is the victim of her mother's cruelty. A domestic dispute ends in tragedy, sending the family into a tailspin.

A shocking discovery sends Christine on a quest to find the stranger who left her behind in Jamaica. Determined to unravel the mystery of her birth, Christine uses every tool at her disposal and treads with courage where no child should.

Thanks so much for dropping in! I hope you win the novels of your choice. I should tell you that you get to choose books based on how the Rafflecopter does the drawing of the winners. So, if your name comes up first, you get to say which pack you want.

Christine’s Odyssey is available in ebook format at Amazon.

J.L. Campbell is a proud Jamaican, who is always on the hunt for story-making material.
She writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She is the also the author of Contraband, Dissolution, Distraction, Don't Get Mad...Get Even, Giving up the Dream, Retribution and Hardware (written under the pen name Jayda McTyson).
Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell.com

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Book Review Thursday: Distraction by J.L. Campbell

Distraction by J.L. Campbell                                  
Genre: Fiction
Publishing Date: June 25, 2012
First Heard Of: Through Author's Blog and Amazon
Purchase: Amazon
Source: E-Copy from Author
Preview: If you want to know the three women from Distraction before the novel. Please buy acopy of A Baker's Dozen: 13 Steps to Distraction. I bought this ebook before getting Distraction and have no regrets. It's a very good read.

Note: Sorry about the error that had this posted with just the image and and title on Thursday. It has now been corrected.

Summary from Amazon: Three Jamaican women walk a tightrope of decisions when their lives are derailed by blackmail, deceit and infidelity. JUSTINE CHARLES, sensible and self-contained, battles an addiction which could destroy her marriage, reputation, and relationship with her daughter. DIONNE JONES, an aggressive go-getter, takes risks that cut a trail of devastation through her family and business. KYRA MILLS, struggling single mother, is crippled by debt, bad judgment and destructive choices. Can two of the long-time friends survive startling revelations involving their partners? And will the other push her obsession to the point of danger?
Review

When J.L. Campbell sent me a an e-copy of Distraction I was so excited. Not only had I finally found a local author blogger but I also got a free copy of her novel. J.L. Campbell is the author of books like Contraband, Dissolution and several more. Distraction follows three females who are close friends and have to navigate life in Jamaica while married or in relationships. Readers meet Justine, Dionne and Kyra and the novel lets us see life through both their own perspectives as well as how they view each other. The title is symbolic as to what leads them astray. Each woman has something in their life that shouldn't be there. But the pleasures and immediate gratification cloud their minds or conscience to the later consequences.

Distraction lets readers have a front seat in seeing how abuse, deceit, hate, love, friendship and forgiveness can make or break relationships and marraiges. And people as well. No one is totally innocent and each character whether major or minor is far from perfect. We all have our faults and Distraction doesn't shield us from seeing this in the three women or if we read it even deeper, ourselves.

My personal experience with Distraction was very enlightening. One character that bothered me was Xavier. His affair with one of the women irked me in that he seemed so willing to pull her back in when she tried to stop it. But as I read I got to thinking, if her husband has so many issues and she's willing to stand by him. What the heck is Xavier's wife like? That thought actually scared me a bit since Xavier described her pretty much as being indifferent. But I've heard many times that the big enemy of marriage is not hate but indifference. So maybe that's why he was more willing to sacrifice his marriage. Another character that irked me was Dionne. Her ambition seemed to me to be to the point of greed. Out of the three she seemed to have the best partner out of the lot from the start. But she was angry at his lack of ambition and being too slow to meet her demands. That seemed to me a petty reason for some of what she did. Though I could understand her need to expand and upkeep her business. Also I liked her independence and 'don't give up attitude.' The character I loved most was Justine. She really tries to do the right thing, loves her daughter wholeheartedly and does her best to get along with her husband. But a few things he did...let's just say they fall in the 'no sar' and two go in, one comes out category, for me. Translation: No way I'm staying and high chance of committing murder (but that is just my opinion). Yet Justine really tries to keep everything together and doesn't come off as naive as she does a loving wife willing to work hard to keep her marriage together. I also had a soft spot for Kyra who started as a single woman with a teenage son and a bad on and off relationship with Warren. She goes through trial and error to get things right and with the help of her friends a few other influences takes initiative to turn her life around. Is she successful? You have to read Distraction to find out. I recommend this read to adults, especially women. Because no matter where we're from. Most of our issues are universal and Distraction moves masterfully though that universe.

Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

Book Review Thursday: What to Expect

My weekly book reviews have been on hiatus for a while but no more. As of next week I will be starting to review again. Book Review Thursday has me weekly reviewing a book I've read whether it's in print or an e-copy. Below are the books I will be reviewing for September.

September Schedule:

September 20 : Return to Finkleton by K.C. Hilton

September 27: Distraction by J.L. Campbell