Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep Series: Bigtime #1
Published by Berkley on May 1, 2007
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 360
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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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 fiancŽ 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 ExposŽ. 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.
I’ve been a huge Jennifer Estep fan ever since I started reading her Elemental Assassin series back in 2011. She has won me over with wonderful characters, fun and action packed plots and interesting world-building. I’ve found that isn’t just limited to to Gin and the gang, but also in two other series that I’ve read from Estep, her YA series, Black Blade and her new fantasy series, Crown of Shards. So, it is about time to try her Bigtime series, which features superheroes and supervillains.
This series is a bit different from the three series I mentioned above, but not in a bad way. I think with this series (or at least from what I can tell from the first book), Estep really had fun showing her love of comic books with this story. Carmen’s life is turned upside down when she finds out that not only is her fiance sleeping with her best friend, on her wedding day, no less, he is also a superhero and her friend is a supervillain. Now Carmen is determined to unmask all heroes and villains alike. She sees them both as liars.
This is a fun start to a series. I grabbed this ebook a long time ago when it was a freebie, but it has sat collecting digital dust as I’ve gotten to where I’m listening a lot more than reading. But while on vacation, I decided it was a perfect time to figuratively dust off this ebook and give this series a try. I’m really glad I did. I was very entertained by the story and I found I want to know where Carmen goes from here.
About Jennifer Estep
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer writes the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. She also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series. Jennifer also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series and Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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This DOES sound fun! Excellent review, Melanie? I’m definitely checking it out.
I really love Jennifer Estep. No idea why it took me so long to try it.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Oho! Fun that she goes on a revenge mission against the supes!
This is a really fun start to the series.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Sounds fun. I haven’t read this one and didn’t know about, so thank you for sharing. I’ll be checking it out. Nice review too.
Yeah, it is one of those hidden treasures.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I like this hidden gems. Thanks!
I own this series and need to read it yet. I am glad to hear it is great. Fantastic review!
I only owned book one, but I will be grabbing the others for sure.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I had a good time with this one as well and I need to buy book 2 to read more
Me too. 🙂
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
i love shaking the dust off a book and crossing it off my tbr. glad it was a good one
I do love doing finding those old books collecting digital dust.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I have this one too. Another I want to read and cross off my TBR.
I hope you get a chance to try it.
I do like Jennifer Estep quite a bit but I hadn’t heard of this one. Sounds like I should give it a try.
Yeah, I didn’t know about it until Jennifer (The Book Nympho) did a series review a long time ago. It has never gotten the attention that Elemental Assassins did.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I also grabbed this one when it was a freebie, but haven’t started it. I have always wanted to, and now so even more – I knew it was about superheroes, but I love the premise of the first book. Nice review.
I’m really excited to see where the series goes from here.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I think I own this one too – collecting digital dust, just like you. I need to pull it out and read it, but I also still need to catch up on Elemental Assassin and read Mythos. I like Jennifer Estep so much, but I can’t seem to keep up with all the different authors I like. Glad you enjoyed it!
I know the feeling. I have so many authors that keep falling off my radar. It is hard to keep up.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I admit I prefer the Elemental Assassin books here. I just don’t think everyone would be so accepting of her after a career of revealing secret identities. However well motivated she might be after her boyfriend’s choice to humiliate her the way he did. You should check out the EA books that are, notably, set in my hometown of Ashland (albeit nothing like it).
I love Gin and the gang. I listen to that series (I love Lauren Fortgang). I’m all caught up except for the more recent one. I plan to tackle it very soon (it isn’t out on audio yet, I’m hoping soon).
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart