Jinx

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep08

If you’ve been reading my reviews (oh, come on) then you know I enjoy humor mixed in with my romance. I’ve been trying to decide what separates funny humor from…well, not so funny. I’ve certainly read and enjoyed some over-the-top humor like MaryJanice Davidson’s ‘Queen Betsy’ series or the ‘Fairy Tales’ series by Minda Weber. Then there’s books with sarcastic humor like Kimberly Raye’s ‘Dead End Dating’ series, I found that amusing too. So I’m still trying to figure out just what it was about “Jinx” by Jennifer Estep that rubbed me the wrong way.

Bella hates superheroes and ubervillians. It doesn’t help that she’s often surrounded by them since her show more brother married one of the Fearless Five and Bella discovered their identities while rescuing him with them. It also doesn’t help that she even has a ‘power’ of her own…luck. She prefers to call it jinx since she can’t control it and it never seems to do what she wants, when she wants. What kind of ‘power’ is that? So when Bella gets mixed up in the robbery of a fabulous gem and is saved by ‘Debonair’, a super-suave, super thief with teleportation powers, she doesn’t care that he’s the most perfect, handsome, sexy man she’s ever laid eyes on…REALLY! I mean, she’s not into the whole leather thing…HONEST! And it doesn’t mean a thing that he can kiss her into stupidity…TRULY!

Debonair, well…isn’t. Not really. Not in his normal life. He’s actually quite geeky with the ladies—until he puts on his disguise and then he’s got quite the reputation. But he’s been in love with Bella for months now, and she just doesn’t seem to notice him unless he’s Debonair. But once Bella figures out his secret identity, she refuses to become involved with anybody with ‘powers’. So where does that leave our hero?

Ok…Bella is a selfish, whiny twit. Not too bright either since the clues to the heroes’ and villains’ identities were laid out in neon signs throughout the story. She’s also rather judgmental; I mean SHE has powers and yet she’s prejudiced against OTHERS with powers…ooookay. Not only that, but her family has a history of fighting crime as human heroes. Yes, her father died while being a hero. So do cops, firefighters, and soldiers…every day. She’s supposed to be an adult!

I think the answer to my humor question from above is that I don’t like ‘dumb’ humor. I would not categorize this as a paranormal romance. I honestly felt like I was reading a comic book (excuse me, graphic novel), just with sex added. I can easily see this series AS a graphic novel; and I think if I had read it as such I might have enjoyed it more. Or maybe I’m just too old to ‘get it’. For whatever reason, “Jinx” by Jennifer Estep just hit all the wrong notes for me. But if it sounds like something you think you would enjoy…go for it.

Til next time

JJ show less

I was looking for the last book in the Big Time series for a while but having trouble tracking it down in the library, so when I saw it was inexpensive on Amazon I had my husband get it for my kindle. While I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the other two books in the series I liked it well enough. Jinx is very down on herself and I see where with a power like her it could get to you, but honestly my real life is like that sometimes. I'm pretty accident prone and things happen to me all the time and I chose to laugh about it and stay positive. Jinx being so opposite of that got to be a little much. But, I loved Debonair and getting to check on the previous couples. I did think that parts of the story line were a little predictable show more but not so much so that I was bored. I hope another one gets written but I'm not holding my breath. show less

I wanted to like this book as the author is from my area and I would like to support local writers. However, reading the phrase "superheroes and ubervillians" on every other page (literally) is not my idea of fun or good writing. Did the author get paid based on how many times she used that phrase? The main character is whiny and unenjoyable, the big "reveal" totally obvious from miles away, and unless you find neuroses and low self-esteem humorous, completely unfunny.

I was looking for the last book in the Big Time series for a while but having trouble tracking it down in the library, so when I saw it was inexpensive on Amazon I had my husband get it for my kindle. While I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the other two books in the series I liked it well enough. Jinx is very down on herself and I see where with a power like her it could get to you, but honestly my real life is like that sometimes. I'm pretty accident prone and things happen to me all the time and I chose to laugh about it and stay positive. Jinx being so opposite of that got to be a little much. But, I loved Debonair and getting to check on the previous couples. I did think that parts of the story line were a little predictable show more but not so much so that I was bored. I hope another one gets written but I'm not holding my breath. show less

I was looking for the last book in the Big Time series for a while but having trouble tracking it down in the library, so when I saw it was inexpensive on Amazon I had my husband get it for my kindle. While I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the other two books in the series I liked it well enough. Jinx is very down on herself and I see where with a power like her it could get to you, but honestly my real life is like that sometimes. I'm pretty accident prone and things happen to me all the time and I chose to laugh about it and stay positive. Jinx being so opposite of that got to be a little much. But, I loved Debonair and getting to check on the previous couples. I did think that parts of the story line were a little predictable show more but not so much so that I was bored. I hope another one gets written but I'm not holding my breath. show less

I was looking for the last book in the Big Time series for a while but having trouble tracking it down in the library, so when I saw it was inexpensive on Amazon I had my husband get it for my kindle. While I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the other two books in the series I liked it well enough. Jinx is very down on herself and I see where with a power like her it could get to you, but honestly my real life is like that sometimes. I'm pretty accident prone and things happen to me all the time and I chose to laugh about it and stay positive. Jinx being so opposite of that got to be a little much. But, I loved Debonair and getting to check on the previous couples. I did think that parts of the story line were a little predictable show more but not so much so that I was bored. I hope another one gets written but I'm not holding my breath. show less

If you like superheroes, ubervillains, and a little romance on the side then you'll probably like Bella Belluci - even though she really doesn't like either superheroes or ubervillains (romance she's fine with).

Life in Bigtime, NY isn't terrible. Bella could do without the constant superhero sightings, though. Not to mention her own "super" power, the luck - it isn't consistently good or bad, but it is consistently embarrassing. All she really wants is for the museum opening to kick off successfully. But then she catches the eye of dashing thief Debonair - good luck? She doesn't think so...