KARMA GIRL - All the Info

There's not really much more to say about KARMA GIRL other than the usual last post stuff. I thought the book was a lot of fun with a dollop of depth and lots of suspense. Not only do I recommend it, but I intend to buy HOT MAMA when it is released in the fall.

Here is the Amazon link for the US and the UK.
Jennifer Estep's website and blog.
The sample chapters for KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA and JINX.
Don't take my word for it! Reviews at Publisher's Weekly (scroll down), Monsters and Critics and BookLoons.

Oh, and I'm posting an interview with Jennifer Estep tomorrow night, after the 4th of July fireworks!

Jennifer Estep's Website

I don't usually review websites, but I loved Jennifer's so much that I had to put up a post on it. Across the top is a graphic of Bigtime, New York, where most of the action takes place. There are easter eggs hidden in the graphic; be sure to look for them. Along the right side of the page are various trivia items that changes depending on the page you are looking at.

If you click on the Bigtime link, you will be taken to a page with more information on Bigtime that even appears in the first novel. It appears to me that every person, place and thing from the book is covered in this page, along with a few things I haven't heard of yet. I am assuming those are from other books.

Jennifer also maintains a blog on this site, and she responds to comments. She has sample chapters from all three of her books (two are forthcoming, and quite soon). You can also sign up for her newsletter in the lower right corner of every page.

She put a lot of effort into this blog, and I really think it will pay off for her. Check it out here.

KARMA GIRL - Too Fun to Stop Reading

Ok, so I finished KARMA GIRL ahead of schedule. I'll continue to feature this book until Wednesday. I should be able to throw tidbits your way until then, in addition to a final review.

Favorite line in the book: "That's ok. I don't mind. You can take advantage of me anytime."

This book is basically about the birth of a superhero, but you can tell that from the title of the book. The way that the superhero was created is deliciously satisfying when an ubervillainess's scheme to destroy Carmen goes horribly awry. The ubervillainess was deliciously smug and it was great to see her comeuppance. I also loved to see Carmen take on the fabulous challenge of rescuing a superteam without a single power of her own. Of course, she has plenty of explodium, and she's not afraid to use it.

There's a bit of angst in the book, but no comic book would be complete without it. Would we have loved Peter Parker as much without his guilt over Uncle Ben? Would we have loved Colossus as much had he not had such a tragic family life? The important thing is that the angst is not dragged out too much.

I'll post a final wrap-up later in the week, but before then, I want to post a review of Jennifer Estep's fabulous website!

What's Your Dream Superpower?

Telekinesis. It just seems like a FUN power to have!

What superpower would you love to have?

KARMA GIRL - Surprising Depth!

KARMA GIRL has some surprising depth to it, as is true with any comic book. What's that you say? You don't think comic books have depth? Pick up a few issues. You my be surprised. And you may just become a fan.

Anyway, this book deals with guilt, betrayal and -- believe it or not -- sin. This shouldn't be surprising, because it says right there on the cover, "What goes around, comes around. . . "

I really can't get too much into the plot at this point (2/3 of the way through) without giving stuff away. Mr. Sage's secret identity was a surprise, as was his relationship to another member of the Fearless Five. I'm not sure who most of the members of the Terrible Triad are, but I think I know who Malefica is.

Some amusing bits:

Explodium. Hilarious.
Striker should NOT have made Carmen go to that dinner in her jeans.
Carmen's T-shirt sayings. Really. Estep should offer these for sale on her website. I'd buy one.
Fiera's supermodel scheme.
Cooking southern-style fried chicken for a superhero.
Fiera has the best power. She can put away more food than Bubba at a hotdog eating contest, yet she maintains her superthin figure because she literally burns her fat away.

Still enjoying . . .

KARMA GIRL - Short Post

This is a short post, because the cyber-launch party at Enduring Romance is sucking the life out of my web traffic tonight.

The master unmasker has figured IT ALL OUT! I've got to wonder if Estep meant for the reader to figure it all out as well. The only member of the Fearless Five that I'm not sure about is Mr. Sage. Striker? Fiera? the Hermit? They were easy to figure out.

At least I think they were . . . we'll find out in the next few pages if I'm right, I think. I've just reached part two, which is intriguingly titled "Superhero Central".

Please read on to the next post and let me know what you think about my crazy idea.

KARMA GIRL - The Fun Continues

The next few chapters are filled with action. Carmen gets to meet Striker, a sword-wielding superhunk, and the sparks fly. I'm not sure if she's developing a superpower of her own at this point, but she has an ability that mystifies both her and Striker. And, it only seems to work around Striker.

She has the most hilarious sexy dream that I have ever read. And that's only topped by a sex scene that, as I wrote in Jennifer Estep's blog, is the funniest sex scene I've read since Stephanie tried to get it on with Joe the Buick in one of the early Stephanie Plum novels.

Time is running out for our unmasker, and I have no idea what's going to happen next.

KARMA GIRL - Superhero Tip #2

ALWAYS deactivate your communication systems before engaging in any compromising situations.

KARMA GIRL - Oodles-o-Fun!

The cover to KARMA GIRL doesn't really resemble today's comic books, but it has a sort of nostalgic appeal for the older, 6 color comics of yesteryear. The black dress turns out to be significant. As I said in an earlier post, you'll find this book in the Romance section, with the cover out (at least at Barnes and Noble, you will).

Before I dive in, I want to congratulate Jennifer Estep on her website. It has fabulous graphics and sound (and I ordinarily like quiet websites), and is just stuffed full of information. I'm going to have to devote an entire post to her website alone.

As for the novel. I found the opening chapter just a tiny bit rough. The events seemed rushed and tried to deal with all these angsty themes of heartbreak and betrayal with the same breezy voice that characterizes the rest of the book. However, Estep really couldn't have handled it any other way and that was the only rough point that I've encountered so far. Even in sad parts further in the novel, the writing is smooth and transparent.

And need I say hilarious? I have not had so many laugh-out-loud moments with a book since I read Huck Finn. It helps if you know a little comic book trivia. The little old lady superhero was a hoot. And there seems to be a lot of kindly widowed aunts mentioned as well.

But back to the story. I don't think I'm giving anything away here, because most of it is covered in the cover blurb. After Carmen Cole (there are a lot of alliterative names in this book, reminiscent of Peter Parker and Otto Octavius) finds her finance in bed with her best friend, she makes the startling discovery -- courtesy of their super suits that they are wearing under their wedding clothes -- that they are in fact a superhero and an ubervillain. She snaps some photos of them with a handy camera and unmasks them both -- thus launching her unmasking career.

(I love the term "ubervillain". It's so much more perfect than "supervillain".)

Most of the action takes place in Bigtime, New York, where superhero battles level buildings on a regular basis. When you go shopping at Oodles-o-Stuff, you're likely to encounter superheroes, because they get special discounts in exchange for protection against superfights.

It's a blissful three years for Carmen, but all good things come to an end, and her unmasking career ends in tragedy. She barely hangs onto her job. However, certain ubervillains--who seem to have been following her career--decides that she needs to take up her unmasking mantle once again. And they know who her next target should be.

However, Carmen Cole is the master unmasker, and she has a plan. More on that in the next post.

KARMA GIRL Teaser

Handy tip for male superheroes: always keep a condom in your super suit.

Next Up - KARMA GIRL!

I've already started Karma Girl and I'm having a blast reading it. In fact, I'm reading it way too fast. I need to slow down a bit so I can feature this book for a full week. I'll put my first post up on it tomorrow.

If you want to pop by the book store and buy it, you'll find it in the romance section, not the fantasy section. (I've already broken one of my own rules!) It's a trade paperback. It was placed cover-out.

If you want to get it at Amazon, here's the link. Or, you can read the opening chapter here.

KARMA GIRL

I added KARMA GIRL to my review list. I already read the first chapter on Jennifer Estep's website, and it was great fun, but sad at the same time. I'll start teasing on it (since I don't really actually review, strictly speaking) as soon as I finish THIEF WITH NO SHADOW.

I am now looking for a debut book by a male author. Preferably with a male protagonist. If you stumble across one, please let me know.