Parties in Congress by Colette Moody

Parties in Congress
by Colette Moody
Pages: 264
Published Date: February 15 2011
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books

Review:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Read: February 26 2014

This is much closer to a 4.5 star book than a 5.  Mostly because, while I was pulled along in the beginning by a desire to continue reading,  I was also wincing at some of the words actions and characters.

Quite a funny little book, mixed in with the wincing.   The mere idea of a gay Republican in 2014 just seems incomprehensible.   Course, book is from 2011 or 2010, but still.  People have been joking about the Log Cabin Republicans since the '80s.

On the other hand,  I have personally voted for (and campaigned for) Republicans,  Independents and Democrats.   Though I haven't voted for a Republican this century. So I guess it isn't that incomprehensible.

The Shoal of Time by J.M. Redmann

The Shoal of Time
by J.M. Redmann
Pages: 284
Published Date: December 15 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Micky Knight (8th book)

Review:
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Read: February 25 2014

My main reason for rating this 3 instead of anything higher was the funny little odd ball fact that I knew what was happening before it happened. Well, at least knew who the good guys were. Knew which were the bad. Watching someone I had grown to like through seven books make a fool of themselves in the eighth isn't fun.

Golden Mane by S.J.B. Gilmour

Golden Mane
by S.J.B. Gilmour
Pages: 369
Date: May 25 2011
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.8 out of 5.0 stars
Read: January 28 to February 1 2014

Didn't really keep my interest for the first 7% of the book.  To the point I wandered off and tried some other things before returning.  Part of the problem probably involves the main character being only 11.  I think the last time I read a character that young was when I read Suzanne Collins Gregor the Overlander.  Just a little too young for me.

Moving past the age of the main character . . .; overall was pretty solid character and plot. Certain fight scenes were well written, certain other fight scenes, I think the author lost track of who was fighting and what was going on.

Tis a neat concept, variation on the fantasy world. This book I would truly have no problem calling Science Fantasy.  Fantasy creatures in science fiction world.  Teleporting around like in Star Trek or Stargate, though using using magic to do so.  And the various creatures, dragons, gnomes, trolls, full-blood were-creatures, etc., are actually living off on their own planets. Aliens, if you will, as opposed to deep dark hidden creatures of the night.

This is one of those where the lack of half stars actually helps the book rating. As I probably would have rated this closer to 3 and a half stars. Or, 3.8 or so.  Maybe 3.70.  High enough, anyway, to rate it 4 stars when 1/2 stars are not available. (2016 ETA: this paragraph here makes more sense over on GoodReads)