Magno Girl

Title: Magno Girl
Author: Joe Canzano
Publisher: Happy Joe Control
Pages: 320
Genre: Comic Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Nook
Price: Paperback $9.89/Kindle $2.99/Nook $2.99

When a Manhattan pizza maker is found dead in his own dough, Magno Girl enlists the aid of her biker ninja boyfriend to help solve the crime – and quickly discovers there’s more to the pie than meets the eye, including a sinister plot that spans the globe. 

Magno Girl leaps into action. After all, she can fly, she can fight, and she can use her fearsome superpower, the “Gaze of the Guilt,” to bring a hardened criminal to his knees. But the road ahead is hard. The city’s other superheroes despise her, and the cops don’t want her around, and her own mom won’t stop spitting out advice about marrying a “respectable guy” and trading in her crime-fighting career for a baby carriage—but is she attracted to “respectable guys”? And is she interested in emotional commitment? And will finding real love be her biggest challenge of all? 

Welcome to the world of Magno Girl, an absurd place filled with humor, action, and romance.

For More Information

• Magno Girl is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Download at iTunes.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

 My Review:

This was a fun quick read. It took me a bit to get into it, because it's not a super serious book. It's meant to be funny and a little immature, which isn't something I'm used to reading. It's a light-hearted, tale about a female superhero in a town full of super heroes. They don't really take her seriously because she's not out to be famous, just help people.

I liked Mags (Magnolia) and I liked her boyfriend wanna-be, Ron. I liked how Mags was in it for helping people and doing right. She's definitely a unique character. Ron is good too, but was a bit stalkerish at times. He seemed super obsessed with the fame aspect of being a super hero, but I knew deep down he was a genuine guy.

The fight scenes were a little hokey and comical, but I think that fit the "feel" of the book. If anything, I wished there was more action. Otherwise, I think that those scenes were my least favorite. I'm not sure if it was the cartoonish qualities of the scenes, but they just felt...flat.

My only grump is that there isn't a whole lot of backstory about the characters. You're just kind of introduced to them and off you go! Obviously you learn more about them throughout the book, but I started off feeling a little put off by Mags aloofness and Ron's obsession with her. They grew on me, but a little intro to them would have been great. I hope in future books we get more background?

Anyway, if you're looking for a quick, fun read then Magno Girl is great.

Book Excerpt:

Magno Girl stared across the windswept roof. Her lips shimmered in the moonlight like a couple of beer-soaked cherries. From the depths of Manhattan below came the clanging sound of a city that was never satisfied.

Was she thinking about me? I was desperate to know.

I took a deep breath. “Mags, when can I see you again?”

She stared at me with those vivid green eyes. Her black hair, streaked with savage shades of crimson, billowed in the hot summer breeze.

“I’ll be around,” she said. Then she looked away. “I have to warn you, Ron. I’m not very good at relationships.”

I grinned. “That’s just one more thing we have in common.”

“Also, I don’t want to do any commercials for soft drinks. That’s definitely out.”

“No problem—the soft drinks can slide. What else?”

“Well, since you asked, I’d like to fight some crime. I’ve discovered an evil plot, and my superpowers might not be enough to handle it. Things could get crazy and absurd.”

“Hey, I want to help you with that. I’m totally on board!”

She smiled. “Okay, call me tomorrow. I’ve got a job for you.”

“Count me in.”

I puffed out my chest and stepped toward her, wanting to wrap my arms around her sleek body and kiss her long and hard—but she saw it coming, and she put out her hand and stopped me. She leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

It was something, and it was good. My whole body felt electric.

“Just tell me what you need, Mags. Anything.”

There was a spark in her eye. “Sometimes I need to be left alone. We’ll talk soon.”

She leapt from the roof, her powerful body snapping like a switchblade as she dove into the death-black valley of bricks, glass, and steel. I briefly envied her ability to fly and then took the stairs to the street. I hopped on my chopper and rode to the liquor store.

I woke up alone the next day, with the morning sky vomiting its sunshine through the grimy window of my East Village apartment. I groped around for my phone and found it under a pile of empty beer cans. I fumbled a bit and finally made the call.

“Hi, Mags. It’s me.”

“Hi, Ron. Can you meet me somewhere?”

She sounded friendly, and for a second I felt like I was floating. But as usual, there wasn’t much talk.

“Any place you want. Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yeah, but it’s noon, so I guess we can eat lunch. I’m over on St. Mark’s.”

“I’ll be right there.”

About the Author

Joe Canzano is a writer and musician. He lives in New Jersey, U.S.A., in a house with a basement where he usually stays. Occasionally he leaves the basement and visits the kitchen. 

He is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he majored in English. His short stories have appeared in a half-dozen printed literary journals, as well as in the Akashic Books online series, "Mondays are Murder."  

He recently formed his own publishing company, Happy Joe Control, and published his debut novel, Magno Girl. 

For More Information

• Visit Joe Canzano’s website.
• Connect with Joe on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Joe at Goodreads.
• Visit Joe’s blog.
• More books by Joe Canzano.
• Contact Joe.

Bout of Books (Day 1 and 2)

I almost missed this! I didn't miss SOME of the first day, but I was busy with cleaning and a Band Parent meeting....WHICH YOU GUYS I'M NOW A BAND PARENT! Whoot!

Anyhoo, I finished up (didn't mark the page I started on yesterday) The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan. I started on The Dragon Reborn. So, there's that. I LOVE this series so much so far!

So here is where I'll update for today:

Book: The Dragon Reborn
Start page: 24
End Page:


Book: The Stranger by Lola White

*I am reading this one so I can help beta her sequel*


I do have a shittastic work week ahead of me, so chances are I won't be much use after my shifts, but I'll try to get as much in before as I can.

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

About the 'thon:

" The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 17th and runs through Sunday, August 23rd in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 14 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"

I haven't set my reading list yet, but I should have it up soon. Are you going to sign up?

A Haunting Desire

About the book:  

New Orleans, 1902

A killer walks the streets of New Orleans, eviscerating men and leaving them in the streets, and for madam Trula Boudreaux, it's bad for business.

Trula needs help but she’s not prepared for Zeke Barnes, the charming would-be savior who darkens her doorway—or the yearning he awakens. For while Trula knows well the delights of lust, she avoids love at all costs… Investigating the killer was one thing, but Zeke can't help but be enchanted by the gorgeous mystery woman who runs an exclusive brothel.

Caught between his duty to protect the city and his clear-as-day desire for Trula, Zeke sets about capturing Trula's heart—or at least a place in her bed. But with every moment Trula resists, Zeke falls into greater danger.

For his investigation into the haunted city and madam doesn't just risk his heart but both their lives.

Buy Links: Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Entangled

My Review:

This was a satisfyingly hot tale with a dash of the paranormal. I fell into the book pretty fast and finished it pretty quickly! The story itself is swift and grabs you. The characters, especially Trula (love that name!) are all very well fleshed out and interesting. I liked Trula from the start, though of course, her profession wasn't my favorite aspect. She's had a rough life, but she is still was kind to her girls. I liked seeing the rough on the outside, yet soft on the inside aspect of her character.

I do wish the paranormal aspect was intensified a bit more, and the mystery was a little more fleshed out, but otherwise I have no complaints about that. The writing was solid and the characters were, as previously mentioned, vivid and well developed.

All in all, this was a fun read. I enjoyed the heck out of it!


 

 Author Bio:
 Julie Mulhern always wanted to be a writer. She spent her childhood creating pen names and dreaming of exotic, mysterious, romantic places. To that end, she went to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia (because, when you’re from the Midwest, the South is both exotic and romantic). There she earned degrees in politics and French. She even spent a year living in Paris. But the Midwest beckoned and she returned home. Now she lives with her husband, two daughters and a dastardly dog. It might not be exotic or mysterious but it is romantic.

 Author Links:  Website: * Twitter * Facebook




“You’re still here, Mr. Barnes.” Apparently he meant to continue plaguing her. He showed no sign of leaving. She wanted him gone, yet she was glad he’d stayed. Her lips pursed. She was annoyed and wasn’t precisely sure with whom.

“You keep late hours, Miss Boudreaux.”

She wandered about the room, too bothered by him to be still. Instead, she collected empty glasses and lined them up on the narrow table used for the bar.

“Nothing to say?” Zeke’s voice mocked her.

“It’s early. On the weekends, we stay busy ‘til dawn.”

“Well then, I imagine you still have plenty of energy.”

His eyes skimmed her body, lingering on her breasts. Her body tightened beneath his gaze and she silently cursed its betrayal. She yawned bigger than Diddy. “It’s a shame there’s nothing worth staying up for.”

He chuckled, a low sound from deep in his throat. Again her perfidious body responded. Heat pooled, tempting her to abandon the tenets that protected her. Worse, the accursed man raised an eyebrow and smiled as if he could detect her body’s yearnings from the comfort of his chair.

“Who are you and why are you here?” she asked. Real emotion colored her voice. Well, why not? His mere presence had bedeviled her all night. And now his eyes stripped the dress clean off of her. How dare he disturb her well-ordered existence? She had responsibilities. She didn’t need the distraction of a man who would leave her. She scanned the room. There were no more glasses for her to gather, so instead she collected ashtrays.

“I work for the government. I’m investigating the murders.” He’d deliberately misunderstood. “I think you know something about them.”

She paused, an ashtray filled with the soggy ends of Cuban cigars clutched in her hand. Could she hurl the dirty crystal fast enough to hit him with it? At the very least, a few cigar butts might mar the pristine whiteness of his shirt. She set the dirty ashtray down on a table with a resounding thunk. “I already told you, I don’t.”

He shook his head and a lock of his hair fell across his forehead. With a careless gesture, he brushed it aside.

Trula arranged the dirty ashtrays in a neat line so she didn’t have to look at him.

“I’d also like to know you better.”

Trula took a slow breath. “You seem to ignore answers you don’t like. I’m not available.”

“Ever?” Disbelief lurked in the gravel of his voice. That gravel—it was the sound of lust—dark and tempting and forbidden. Her heart leapt for her throat.

She squared her shoulders and stared straight into his eyes. “Never.”