Customer Reviews

Jinx (Bigtime)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Bella Bulluci wants nothing to do with superheroes or ubervillains, too bad she is completely surrounded by them in her city of Bigtime. Add in the fact that her family has a history of being superheroes and that she has a power that is more of a hindrance than a help and you have a few of the facts of her current life. Bella has a huge passion - the arts. As a matter of fact, she has been working hard on a new exhibit and gala for the museum. It's almost time for the opening and now she has to hope luck is on her side - oops maybe she should not have thought that.

Debonair is a hero, if not a superhero, who has a secret. He has wanted Bella for a long time. Debonair is nothing like his real self when the mask and costume goes on; he can be the playboy as Debonair. During the gala, he will have the chance to show Bella his stuff when an ubervillian crashes the party to steal a gemstone.

Bella has not changed her mind about being involved with any of the above, but there is something about Debonair that makes her wonder if maybe he could change her mind. But danger follows anyone who protects the innocents and Bella has already lost a loved one that way. Debonair and Bella come together again to defeat the ubervillains who stole the gemstone and threatened her. When the smoke disappears and the dust settles, can Debonair show Bella that not all superheroes are a bad choice or is this romance going to go "poof" and disappear?

Fair warning; do not drink while reading Jinx as you will spend a good portion of the time laughing. Bigtime is full of superheroes and ubervillains and their alter egos, Bella is surrounded by them but would like to just live a nice normal life - yeah right like that is going to happen. Debonair is well known by Bigtime as his other self. As Debonair he is thought of as a playboy and a hero that may or may not be good. Flames and sparks came every time Bella and Debonair come in contact together. I loved both Bella and Debonair and just how they fit together. I also loved that the plot was fast paced and kicking. After my exposure to Bigtime, I will never forget all that a superhero and ubervillan go through the next time I see a superhero cartoon. The humor, passion, outrageous costumes and super gadgets let Jinx be fun loving and perfect for escaping the real world for a few hours.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I highly recommend this series. Jennifer Estep's 'Bigtime' world is full of romance, adventure and just plain 'ole fun. I was hooked at Karma Girl and Hot Mama & Jinx have not dissapointed. The story quality has not faultered. Bella's truely a superhero in her own right. I can't wait for the next one! and the next one....

Bigtime, NY fashion designer Bella Belucci doesn't much care for the superheroes and ubervillains that run rampant in her town. All that spandex, ugh -- and who would want to take over the world anyway? All that responsibility! It wasn't bad enough that she'd been born into a family of heroes, her brother's engagement to her fashion rival, Fiona Fine, a.k.a. The Fearless Five's "Hot Mama" Fiera, had added another handful to the dinner table. She definitely had no intention of becoming one herself. Her own powers were mercurial at best. And what kind of lame power was "Luck" anyway? Her power was a jinx, and worse yet she couldn't even control when it would assert itself especially if she was angry or upset. Having supercharged telekinesis was like living in a ball of static electricity and more often than not her luck was bad. Even when it was good, it was more often than not followed up by an equal and opposite reaction.

What Bella does love is the arts, which is why she'd been elected as chairperson of the Friends of the Bigtime Museum for Modern Art. She and the fundraising committee are in the final stages of planning their annual fall-benefit. Their meeting takes place at the estate of Brighton Berkley, whiskey billionaire and richest man in town, and his new wife Joanna James. During the course of the planning session Bella is reminded that the other members of the committee had outvoted her and decided to have a masquerade ball as the main event. More spandex, ugh. Just the thought of it sends a warning signal through her body. Her luck is about to act up again, sending her to the powder room to clean up the mess she'd created. For once her bad luck is a blessing. When she hears a peculiar popping sound in the next room, she discovers Bigtime's master thief and major heartthrob, Debonair, lifting a priceless Pandora painting from her host. Of course the incorrigible playboy can't resist making a play for her, distracting Bella long enough to teleport away before she remembers to pull the fire alarm.

Naturally the robbery is all over the news the next day. Bella hated superheroes, so why couldn't she stop thinking about this one -- his black hair, blue eyes and so sexy smirk. The one thing she would never do is date a superhero or whatever the leather clad lothario was. And how was this going to affect her benefit since most of the town's wealthy, including Berkley, had promised to lend priceless pieces to the museum for a special exhibition? Bad publicity, just the thought of it put her capricious luck on the fritz. In one week she'd had enough bad luck to last a year and to top it off she had a sneaking suspicion that the handsome thief in question was following her. Pop!

Bella didn't want to be a superhero, or to design fashion really. What she wanted to be was a museum quality artist. Yes, Bella loved art - which is how she finds herself the first bachelorette up for bid as part of the gala benefit auction. Much to her surprise Devin Dash bids an exorbitant sum to win a date with her. Devin was different from the other folks in Bigtime, neither a superhero or ubervillain and not even much like the other wealthy normal citizens. She'd had dinner with him once, right before her father was killed by ubervillians. Between the grief and all the other chaotic events that followed, she'd forgotten all about him. Devlin was sweet, if a bit awkward, and painfully shy. He was just the kind of man she'd convinced herself she wanted. Their dinner together had been pleasant enough, so why couldn't she stop thinking about Debonair, who was exactly the kind of womanizing, bad boy superhero type she wanted nothing to do with. Oh well, at least the Museum was getting a hefty donation.

Debonair could have any woman he wanted, but he wanted Bella Balucci. In fact he'd been in love with her for some time now, and in spite of her protests and professed hatred for superheroes, he could tell she was interested too. So why did that make him feel so melancholy? If she or anyone else in town knew his true identity, they would no doubt laugh in his face, that's why. If only he could make her fall in love with the man he really was....

Bella is definitely due for some good luck and maybe, just maybe if she plays her cards right, there's a chance she could have it all. That is of course if all of Bigtime's superheroes and ubervillains could just stay out of her way for a few days. But then what's a Bigtime romance without a little mayhem?

I have to admit when I started reading the Bigtime series I was skeptical about how long it could last without becoming formulaic. Kudo's to Ms. Estep, in a very comic book world she has kept it real through her characters each of which is on a singular journey of self discovery. Written in the first person, the reader walks the entire distance in Bella's shoes, experiencing her angst, her insecurity, her love for her hero and the tough decision she must make about what's best for her -- him or her peace of mind. I know everyone will be able to relate to Debonair. Who among us hasn't resorted to role playing in moments where we feel inadequate?

If you think Superhero novels are just for kids, silly rabbit, let me set the record straight. Jinx is a ride that everyone can enjoy. For a fun, action packed tale that speaks to the heart, I recommend that you give Jinx a try.

Note: Romance readers should not be put off by the first person narration. Ms. Estep skillfully manages to put the reader inside the hero's head through clever characterization without directly tapping into his point of view.

Bella is a member of one of the very wealthy families in Bigtime (yes, the city's name is Bigtime- if you decide not to read the book based on that alone I don't blame you). Apparently, Bigtime is a stereotypical cartoon city - with superheros and ubervillains. It seems most of Bella's family and friends are superheros; each with their own special ability. Bella has the gift of luck, but she doesn't feel very lucky. Her mother died when she was little, and her father died fighting an ubervillain a year or so ago. Bella just wants to live a normal life and ignore everything related to superheros and ubervillains, which proves difficult, especially when she meets the sometimes hero Debonair. The problem is Debonair is a notorious playboy and a thief who sometimes helps people.

This book was occasionally funny, although I am not sure if I was laughing at its awfulness or because it was actually funny. However, the brief bits of humor do not outweigh the things I didn't like about the book. The biggest thing that annoyed me is how it felt like I was reading a cartoon. Maybe that wouldn't have bothered me if I had realized it going in - but more than likely I just would have passed on the book. It was just so over the top and dramatic- even the language used; words like ubervillain are thrown around like confetti. Also, I found Bella slightly annoying to be honest. She comes across as a controlling mother hen who pouts when she doesn't get her way. Also, everyone seemed to be wealthy; the book and the city just surreal in a way that put me off.



***********SPOILERS*******************SPOILERS**************
The other thing I totally hated about this book is how it read like a 13 year old boy's fantasy. Debonair is actually a very shy man who used to be rich, but now isn't. He adopted the Debonair personality because it is so different than how he really is or some nonsense like that. And of course he gets the girl (Bella in this case). Every time they are outside they see heroes fighting villains (and no "normal" citizen helps). Seriously, I think the bad guys should just leave the place because it isn't even interesting and the good guys should leave because the town's people are helpless and wimps. The only thing that didn't read like it was written for middle school children (or younger) were the sex scenes which felt awkward because of the writing style.

***********END of SPOILERS*******************END OF SPOILERS*************

Overall, unless you are fond of ubervillains and the like, skip this book. If you like the comic-book style writing you might like this book. It is a very light fast read. Personally, the author lost me when she named the city the all live in Bigtime.

I bought this book because I enjoyed the elemental assassin series. Unfortunately, this one does not meet the expectations.
Crowded with superheroes that who are all flat characters, this was not a fun read.

Bella Bulluci is sick and tired of superheroes and ubervillains! Is it too much to ask that she have a moment's peace from all the chaos? Unfortunately, Bella has her own superpower- or rather, her own super JINX. Bella's so-called power is luck, but this means that randomly odd things happen to her constantly, generally leaving her embarrassed. She's determined that nothing will interfere with the upcoming fund raiser for the local museum... but a couple ubervillains have something else in mind. In the process, Bella finds herself frequently in contact with Debonair, a masked man who is neither a superhero nor an ubervillain but has the ability to transport. Will Bella forsake her dislike of superpowers when the attraction between Bella and Debonair heats up?

Jennifer Estep returns readers to the town of Bigtime, a campy but oh-so-fun look at superheroes and ubervillains! JINX is the third book in the series but is easily a stand alone story. While spoilers of a sort are revealed for the earlier books, the identities of all of the superheroes and ubervillains are never truly in question. In fact, this is part of the allure of the series as Jennifer Estep perfectly captures the tongue in cheek humor of the not-so-secret identities.

Bella's super powered luck, what she calls her JINX, provides for some absolutely hysterical moments. Who can't help but love a woman who's practically cursed with a form of klutziness, even when it works to her advantage? However, her aversion to the whole world of superheroes is where her heart is truly displayed. Bella cares deeply, so deeply that she is willing to eschew love itself if it will protect her from the pain of the long nights waiting on a superhero to return safely home. Her pain and fear reach out to the reader as it is easy to understand where she is coming from.

Debonair is a fascinating and very lovable hero. His shyness despite his playboy image makes him absolutely endearing, even when he is doing his best to maintain his cocky image. His love for Bella shows through in everything he does and I couldn't help but cheer him on as he wooed Bella.

Once again, Jennifer Estep has a hit on her hands! The storyline is fun, the characters are well drawn, and the humor hits just the right note. Keep them coming, Ms. Estep, as I can't wait to visit Bigtime again!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

JINX had the misfortune of running afoul of one of my personal pet peeves, a negative heroine. Despite all of the color and flash of Bigtime, Bella Belluci is trapped in her own little world of resentment and anxiety. Even her delightful beta hero, Debonair, wasn't enough to salvage my opinion. If nothing else, by book's end I was ready to steal Debonair for myself and leave Bella to her own devices.

There was no one straw that broke the relationship's back but rather the same straw over and over. Debonair would declare his love, Bella would tell him why they couldn't be together. Debonair would offer a compromise, Bella would tell him why they couldn't be together. It won't come as a spoiler to know that the two eventually find a happily-ever-after, but it seemed arbitrary when Bella finally changed her mind (considering all the other reasonable alternatives she's snubbed). Bella's superpower is fun, both when it works and when it spectacularly fails, but those cinematic, slapstick moments couldn't keep me going after awhile. Despite an action filled plot of heroes and ubervillains, the only thing keeping Bella from happiness is herself. Even worse, the only thing keeping the utterly charming Debonair from happiness is the heroine that keeps stringing him along.

Though I was excited to return to Bigtime for some more over the top, superhero silliness, I couldn't get around Bella enough to enjoy the book. If you like Bigtime and don't mind heroines with lots of neurosis (for example, Carolyn Crane's Justine Jones in MIND GAMES), you'll probably enjoy JINX more than I did. There's certainly some neat technology, a unique super power, and lots of that Bigtime goofiness in ready supply.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes and public displays of affection.

I enjoyed the earlier books in this series, KARMA GIRL and HOT MAMA. The concept of a world where superheroes and ubervillains were routine parts of the landscape was fun.

Unfortunately, JINX didn't work for me. The heroine, Bella, is self-hating (obsessing about food values, worried about the size of her hips, etc.), hates her own power, hates superheroes, tries to control her grandfather's diet, is prudish -- can't stand the thought of anybody else having sex. She's just a very unpleasant person to spend time with.

These books are light, fun and easy reads. I really just think of them as long comic books. They are silly and allow me to turn off my brain and just enjoy. A little drama is in there, but I can't take it too seriously when dealing with superheroes and uber-villains on every page. And while some of the characters have traits that annoy, they're not enough to turn me off the series.

This is the 3rd one in the superhero bigtime series.
They are cute, funny and fast moving.