Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
Review: Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep
Format read: ebook
Series: Book #1 in the Bigtime series
Release Date: 1 May 2007 (reissued as ebook on 12 July 2011)
Number of pages: 360 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Formats available: ebook, paperback
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Author’s Website, Amazon
Blurb:
Bigtime, New York, is not big enough for both Carmen Cole and the superheroes and ubervillains who stalk its streets. An intrepid reporter, Carmen’s dedicated her life to unmasking the spandexwearers, all because her fiancé turned out to be a superhero, and a cheating one at that-sleeping with none other than his nubile nemesis.
Exposing the true identities of the nation’s caped crusaders and their archenemies has catapulted Carmen from her sleepy southern hometown to the front pages of the country’s biggest newspaper, The Exposé. Hobnobbing with millionaires and famished fashionistas is all in a day’s work for a woman on the trail of the Fearless Five and Terrible Triad. But when Carmen gets the scoop of her career, her life comes crashing down around her. And even Bigtime’s sexiest superhero, Striker, may not be able to save her.
The Bigtime series is flashing with the bright costumes of the several dozens of superheroes and ubervillains Jennifer Estep introduces: there is Granny Cane (yep you got it right, she is an old lady of seventy who grabs the purse-stealing thugs and brings them to the police lol), reformed ubervillain Shrieker who signs copies of her tell-all memoir in the mall, but the most famous ones in the city are the Fearless Five and the Terrible Triad.
“They were legends, not just in Bigtime, but throughout the world. They had the strongest powers. They waged the biggest battles. They engaged in the most amazing escapes and the most elaborate schemes. They were the crème de la crème of superheroes and ubervillains.”
I just loved all the cartoon-like speaking names of the superheroes and ubervillains: the Toastmaster, The Kilted Scotsman, the Blue Berserker, the Fearless Five and the Terrible Triad; and the alliterating names for every character (Sam Sloane, Nate Norris, Devlin Dash, Carmen Cole) helped even more to make me feel like I was watching an episode of Superman. 😀
Carmen, our heroine, is a great character: she is an ordinary girl, one the reader can relate to. She is funny and independent but not too good to be true. She is human and flawed. But her sense of humour is without a pair, I especially loved her t-shirts, they were the best:
T-shirt that read 0 to Bitch in 7.7 seconds or your money back.
T-shirt that read Love just weighs a woman down.
And her lines like the ones below made me chuckle out loud countless times:
“I scanned the street and the surrounding alleys. Nothing. I bit back a growl of frustration. Striker wasn’t going to show. I had come down to Drugs R Us and put myself in danger for nothing.” – ROFL
What I loved most about Carmen was that she treated superheroes and ubervillains as if they were normal, ordinary people. She was impudent, cheeky, she didn’t censor herself for fear of angering them, she remained her usual self.
A block went by, then another, then another. I wasn’t sure what to say to him, given the way our last conversation had gone. It hadn’t been a smashing success. “So, how was your day?” I asked.
Can you imagine that? A superhero is walking her home so she isn’t attacked and she tries to make ordinary small talk with him! Unbelievable, and so adorable 😀
What could you say to a superhero you’d slept with? Thank you? Atta-boy? Keep up the good work?
Striker is a dashing hero. Besides being a superhero and everything that entails: drop dead gorgeous body, noble intentions, heroic and fierce protector, he has a tender and intense side to him when it comes to Carmen.
“Superheroes aren’t perfect, you know. Just because some of us have superstrength doesn’t mean we never get scared. We have fears and insecurities and worries too. I was afraid tonight. Afraid for you. I saw the men chase you into the alley. I was afraid I wouldn’t be quick enough to save you, fast enough to stop them.”
The love story between Carmen and Striker was exciting yet tender. His gentleness and care didn’t only make Carmen melt but I was a puddle myself. (and of course the heat of some scenes are to be blamed as well, there were some seriously sensual love scenes)
His hot breath brushed against my cheek as soft as a butterfly’s kiss on my feverish skin.
Karma Girl is a wonderful mix of mystery, adventure, romance and heaps of cheeky humour! I loved the wonderfully colourful characters, the exciting worldbuilding, the puzzling mystery, all the heart pounding action and of course the wonderful love story deleoping between Carmen and Striker!
Verdict: I was already a big fan of Jennifer Estep but Karma Girl made me even more devoted! It is such a laugh out loud funny, incredibly witty, amusing, breath of fresh air story, I loved every second of it and cannot wait to read more about the superheroes and ubervillains’ adventures!
I give Karma Girl 4.5 bookies!
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| 5 Stars: Perfect! I Love It! | |||||||||
| 4 Stars: Awesome Book! | |||||||||
| 3 Stars: I Liked It! | |||||||||
| 2 Stars: Not bad, but maybe not for me. | |||||||||
| 1 Star: Didn't like it! Did Not Finish it. | |||||||||
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I read Karma Girl last month after finding it on the Kindle – I loved it as well! It was such a tongue in cheek fun read – one were I genuinely enjoyed the journey and loved the way it played with superhero sterotypes. I have the next two books and am planning on reading them over the christmas break as a break from all the sugary christmas stuff! 🙂
Thanks for the review. Like you, I love Jennifer's Elemental Assassin series. I'll have to add this one to the TBR list.
@Mel: Exactly Mel! It made me laugh so much because it was making fun of/at the stereotypes but in a cute way! 😀
@LSUReader: You definitely have to try her Bigtime series! It is different but equally good, laugh out loud funny and light, loved it. Be warned, it is addictive ;-p
I really need to start reading this series! I just read a review of the new Christmas story over at Smexy's.
@Aurian: Oh yes, I have the X-mas novella on my TBR list and will get to it soon, now that I've been introduced to the world of the series I can't wait!! 😀 You definitely should start the series Aurian, it is so much fun! 🙂