Book Shelf: Being Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #1) by Kelly Oram

 

An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities. To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High's resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special. Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat? More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?

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Review:

Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram is an extremely entertaining and kick-ass superhero read. Oram blends plenty of humor and wit with an electric storyline and tangible characters to create a fun, cute and romantic tale that will leave you begging for more!

Can I just say how much I adore Kelly Oram’s work! Whether she’s writing contemporary stories or those with a supernatural/paranormal twist, Oram knows how to write likable personable characters who have a really engaging presence and fantastic dynamic with each other. And Being Jamie Baker is a fantastic example of this!

Told through the eyes of Jamie Baker, a seventeen year old loner who obtained superpowers when she was involved in a tragic accident that saw her lose someone she loved, Being Jamie Baker follows Jamie more than a year later as she attempts to go on with her life. Now known as an "ice queen" by the student population at her school, Jamie knows the only way to protect her secret is to keep everyone at a distance. Something she wholeheartedly succeeds at…..until one pesky, but albeit determined, teenage boy by the name of Ryan Millers sets out to do the one thing no one at their school has ever attempted—get to know Jamie Baker! What ensues is a lot of fun and laughter as the two dance around their attraction to each other and Ryan attempts to win over the reluctant Jamie!

As our heroine and protagonist, I seriously liked Jamie Baker. Those around her may view her as someone with a heart of ice but personally I think she had a heart of gold. And boy did the girl know how to get into my heart! Jamie is a guarded individual. As someone possessing super powers, Jamie still hasn’t mastered them. They rule her to a degree and because of this Jamie shies away from unnecessary interactions with those around her, leaving her friendless and on her own. This may be by choice and she may like it that way, but when Ryan enters her life, Jamie slowly begins to feel all the loneliness and sadness she’d managed to hide from herself.

I thought Jamie was a really sweet girl. She was normal and likable, and I thought her voice was fabulous to follow. I liked the vulnerability Oram explores within her during Being Jamie Baker as Jamie slowly allows people in again, but I also adored the fact that Jamie was saucy and quick thinking. And that this didn’t change. She had a quick temper and still struggles at times with her moral compass over her abilities, but I think it was natural for Jamie to be protective and defensively of those she loved; it made sense for her to react that way.

The catalyst for all the changes Jamie undergoes is without a doubt the introduction of Ryan Miller to her life. With his vast array of charm and smiles, Ryan reminds Jamie of what it’s like to have friends and someone who cares about her….and I just love him for that! Ryan is popular, enigmatic and everyone adores him. He manages to make all the girls swoon with his golden boy status and his cheeky nature, but he’s also just a really nice guy; something that becomes endlessly evident as Being Jamie Baker progresses. After their initial meeting, Ryan really comes to care for Jamie as he sets out to uncover the mystery that is Jamie Baker. Ryan makes it impossible not to smile with his constant cheerful attitude and dedication to Jamie—the guy's just awesome!

Throughout the novel as Jamie struggles to let Ryan in and he refuses to let her push him away, they come to develop a really sweet relationship. Jamie’s reluctance to admit to her feelings, and Ryan’s reluctance to accept that make for some really hilarious dialogue and great chemistry between the two. I love the back and forth banter between them and the fact they always have a witty comeback for the other. Ryan keeps Jamie on her toes and is relentless in trying to win her over; he knows she wants him, even if she’s not ready to admit it. These two are great together and I’m looking forward to more of them.

The storyline within Being Jamie Baker is simple but extremely enjoyable. Oram’s writing is spot on and as we learn how Jamie received her abilities and watch her learn to control them whilst she falls for Ryan, the story becomes really addictive. Luckily Being Jamie Baker does not end on a massive cliffhanger, but I’m still desperately looking forward to reading the sequel!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Kelly!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) |  Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Recommendation: Love a good superhero tale? Being Jamie Baker is PERFECT for you
Cover: Simple but nice.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes!