Saturday, December 31, 2016

Xoe by Sara C. Roethle

Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My! (Xoe Meyers, #1)Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My! by Sara C. Roethle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A young woman, Xoe, is starting her junior year in high school. She has three obvious friends (as in, she mentions she has a few friends and no more, but is slow in mentioning who they are; in such a way that at first I thought she only was friends with Allison and Lucy, but then her next-door-neighbor Brian got into the mix as well - potentially there are more 'friends' out there).

During the school day a new student intrudes into their little circle (that being Lucy, Allison and Xoe - but not Brian). A young man named Dan. Allison and Lucy find him attractive and give off signs of lusting after him. Allison, the bolder of the lot, wanders over, grabs Dan, and drags him back to their table (I should have mentioned somewhere along the line that this is all happening at lunch time - well first meeting). Xoe, though, finds Dan to be super creepy. What with his constant staring. And general . . . creepiness.

Allison invites Dan to come along on the groups shopping trip, though now it's morphed into movies. Dan goes along. His creepiness rises higher when Xoe wanders off to get some popcorn, and he confronts her. Grabbing her arm roughly and glaring at her, demanding to know 'her game' (or whatever he said). She's confused and annoyed - especially as it's been Dan doing all the staring all the past week and stuff.

Group outing continues. Eventually the group head to eat food - Lucy and Dan traveling in one car, Allison and Xoe in another. Which is important to note. For reasons. Eventually the night ends. everyone goes home, sleeps, goes to school, stares moodily at each other and are very emo and stuff. heh, no. When Dan dropped Lucy off at her place he scratched her arm. More like clawed it. And his hand looked like a wolf's paw. Lucy, naturally, is freaking out.

One thing leads to another and both Lucy and Xoe, independently of each other, come to the belief that werewolves are involved (with Lucy believing that Dan is one, and Xoe assuming that since werewolves are fictional, that Dan believes that he is a werewolf and stuff).

The point is driven home, though, along the way that things are weird. For various others come out of the woodwork. Vampires, werewolves, and demons. I'm suddenly being vague, I know, on purpose.

Interesting story. The level of maturity and 'plodding along' works when you consider everyone is around 16/17 years of age. Would work less well if everyone was older. So . . that young adult thingie works to it's own advantage. Or something like that.

Curious how the rest of the series unfolds.

Rating: 3.8

December 31 2016



View all my reviews

Friday, December 30, 2016

The Last of the Loudens by Robin Alexander

The Last of the LoudensThe Last of the Loudens by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A Robin Alexander book – like a breath of fresh air after all these other books I had to struggle through to like (or loath). Mind you, I don’t always love Alexander books, but tend to do so. So it’s like coming to a nice comfortable snug . . . I lost where I was going with this sentence.

This book is more of a slice of life romance than anything else – I say because I know some people love angst and drama and danger and stuff. This one’s fluffy. Humorous. May or may not include ghosts.

Right around the time Taryn Louden’s company that she works for folds, therefore throwing her out of work, one of her few remaining living relatives contacts her. Aunt Juliana – Taryn’s father’s sister. Juliana offers Taryn a paid ‘job’ to come out to the Louden family home in the town named after the family (Louden Point) and help Juliana with stuff (I’m not sure if it was specified what the ‘stuff’ would be prior to Taryn accepting and wandering out there to the small town, but specifically involves being the go-between between Juliana and the contractors working on restoring the family home).

I believe, if I recall correctly, that Taryn is around 34 years of age, and worked in a company that made barges. Her father, the Louden parent, died when he attempted to ride a motorcycle; and the mother, Lucy (Taryn’s mother, not the father’s mother) hates Aunt Juliana, and so Taryn hasn’t had much contact with the other Loudens in a longish while. Not that there’s a lot of them around. There’s, like, Taryn, Aunt Juliana, and supposedly there’s an Uncle Malcolm somewhere out there as well. So the opportunity to ‘go back home’ (to the place that was never her home specifically), to where the Louden’s found their fortune and place in the Americas, draws Taryn when she’s asked to come. Lucy doesn’t want her to go, but then, as noted, she hates Juliana.

And so – Taryn arrives, sees a really run down massive house – the kind where she’s slightly afraid that if she touched it, that it might fall over (and touching it is not recommended, what with the poison ivy growing on the house). If she didn’t know her Aunt lived there, she’d think the place to be abandoned. Then that aunt pops out onto the porch and she looks like crap – really old, badly dressed, and slumped – not at all like Taryn’s memories have of the woman. They go inside; it looks lovely in there . . . etc. etc. Taryn learns that one of the things, or the thing, that Juliana has Taryn down (up?) is to help with the reconstruction of the place – no, not with a hammer, she’s hired contractors for that.

And so, and yes there’s a point for me to be rambling like this . . . and so, the contractors arrive. The Andres. Jack Andre’s the boss-man; he introduces himself and almost immediately flees, after noting that his daughter will be handling things. Daughter Vicky Andre and Taryn Louden meet. Both note the other’s attractiveness. It should be noted that this specific arrangement is fraught with risk – Juliana hates Vicky.

The main characters, Vicky and Taryn, are great lovely people. The side characters? Also great. There’s Cricket the 60 year old woman who comes most days of the week to cook and do stuff like that; there’s Dawn – Vicky’s sister (who is having lustful thoughts about Taryn and is questioning her sexuality), and Levi (Dawn’s youngest son (she has two, the other, Nolan, is here also but barely interacted with; just like husband Evan is barely meet in this story)); and let’s not forget Chris & Lonna – wife and wife friends of Taryn (who, for some reason, have the same haircut (by accident)) – a lovely couple. There’s also mother Lucy, but she only bounces in and out of the story a few times. Hard to get a read on her from that interaction. Oh and then there are/is also the ghost question – a character in their own right. You see – old houses tend to make groaning sounds as they . . . rest on their foundations. But we aren’t talking about groaning – we are talking about distinctive very clearly heard footsteps. So – there’s that aspect as well.

A good light fluffy slice of life with a dash of romance, humor, and ghosts. Quite fun and enjoyable.

Rating: 5.0

December 30 2016




View all my reviews

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Mirror Mirror by Bridget Balentine

Mirror, MirrorMirror, Mirror by Bridget Balentine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book . . . this book . . ..

I hated the main character so much I put this book on my paused shelf. I'd have put it on my DNF immediately without that intermediate step but I'd read books by this author before and given them something around 4 stars each. And this was 'free' to me via Kindle-Unlimited. Sooo, I put it on my 'Paused' shelf with every intention of never actually looking at the book again. Until this morning. When I was bored, somewhat, with what I had been reading lately, randomly looked at my paused shelf to see if there was anything there to move to my DNF shelf, and clicked on 'Mirror, Mirror'. My intention was just to take a glimpse then move it.

No, it didn't blow me away. It isn't one of those occasions I put a book on pause, came back to it and found it became super interesting seconds after the pause point. No, it still annoyed me. I kept reading though. And reading. Things were beginning to get interesting, vaguely, and . . . ah crap, near the mid point another character suddenly took over (that was something like strike three, not one (strike one: main character, the singer, beautiful, talented, super rich . . . hates her life, her job, her sex life, her friends, her . . . well, everything about her life. And . . . it drove me mad. She put herself in that position and then complained about it instead of doing anything about it. Strike two: I've a vague feeling I read a rough draft. Because there were a ton of weird mistakes in this book - sentences that only made sense in context (they'd ramble along, a word would be inserted that made no sense there, sentence continued. Not sure there were typos, just weirdly placed words). Strike four: everything restarted. From this new characters point of view. mmphs. (to clarify, strike three was the switch in POV's to a character who had been in the book but hadn't had any of her side shown until mid-point; strike four was the decision to not continue the story from there, but to restart it and show things from this other character's point of view).

Miranda is a gifted talented musician who signed a contract with a record company. They sanitized her music a lot, forced her to hide her gayness, forced her to 'date' men, paid her obscene amounts of money. They did not hold a gun to her head, though, to sign the contract.

Stephanie, from Miranda's perspective, is a prostitute who Miranda meet at a 'meet-the-client' shindig put together by Miranda's 'friends' Hope and Faith (twins who Miranda knew through working with them on their children's show (I mean the show they were on as children, the twins, Miranda was a teen (I think)). A prostitute that Miranda didn't pay but continued to see (and assumed that 'Stephanie' (she assumed it was a fake name) was 'being taken care of' - most likely by Hope and Faith (or one or other other).

Stephanie - from her point of view, was a dancer whose friend dragged her to a party for some extra money. A struggling dancer, hence the acceptance (reluctant) to be dragged along. Stephanie dates Miranda - she's not a prostitute. And I'd say more but, you know, spoilers.

For the vast majority of my time I kind of assumed I'd either a) DNF the book; b) rate the book some low rating. HOw the heck did I end up here? mmphs. Well, I actually liked Stephanie, and Miranda had started to grow on me before the POV change. Then I rather liked - for the most part - Stephanie's section of the book (somewhat reluctantly liked on my part). So . . . here I am. Rating a book 3.75 stars after spending most of the book wonder why it had such a high rating. mmphs.

Rating: 3.75

December 29 2016



View all my reviews

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Rescued Heart by Georgia Beers

Pages: Date: Publisher: Series: Review Rating: Read:Rescued HeartRescued Heart by Georgia Beers

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I didn't like either main character. One was a cheating player & other was a cold bitch. Even so I was going to give this 3 stars until the book ended the way it did.

heh. Glancing at some reviews. Most seem to be describing the baker as a sweet wishy washy doormat who (view spoiler) and describing Lisa negatively. Lisa, despite being childish and cold in her 30s, had reasons. What exactly is Ashley's excuse for being a cheating player? Mmphs.

re: Ash-hole - with friends like these who needs enemies or something like that.

re: Ashley being a cheating player:
(view spoiler)

Rating: 2.6

Date: December 28 2016



View all my reviews

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The Lesbian Sex Haiku Book (with Cats!) by Anna Pulley and Kelsey Beyer



The Lesbian Sex Haiku Book (with Cats!)
by Anna Pulley and Kelsey Beyer
Pages: 161
Date: April 19 2016
Publisher: Flatiron books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4
Read: December 27 2016

Some great funny humorous time spent reading this book. Though, admittedly, there were a few aspects that I either didn’t ‘get’ or felt were a little repetitive (some of which corresponded to stereotypes – like, do all lesbians actually spend all their time deconstructing the patriarchal society while munching on all organic vegetarian tofu “pizza” while drinking ‘lite’ beer? I kind of got the impression that they do from the many many haiku’s dealing with those subject matters. Yes? Oh. Okay.)

Re: didn’t get - the ‘lesbian sex is or isn’t this way’ I got, the ‘if lesbian porn was accurate’ I didn’t get (I get the idea, I didn’t understand the haiku directed toward that issue). Ooooh, I misread the section heading. Now I get it. I thought it was ‘if porn was real’ or maybe ‘if lesbian porn was real’, which has a different connotation in my mind than ‘if lesbian porn was accurate.’ Vaguely different. That or the paragraph saying that much of the poetry was based on real porn. Made me think I was going to read porn parody – as in . . . I don’t know, awkward sex? Something like that. Which is maybe what I got. Maybe I was just tired during that section? No matter. Example below.

Two blondes engage in some much-sought-after pussy play
Susan and Chris knew
how understaffed the local
no-kill shelter was.

Some highlights:
Some haiku - behind spoilers as some might like to read them in the book for themselves.

This crush, relentless.
I am like a cat and you're
a laser pointer.


(how to pick up) The too-cool-for-this-bar lesbian
Engage her in a
contest to see who can roll
her eyes the hardest.


Awkward lesbian unicorn proposition
Has anyone told
you that you make them HORNy?
They have? Okay, great.


What to say to all women after sex
You must be famished!
Let’s wear loose pants and raid the
Fridge like we are bears.


How to break up with a lesbian
Tell her that you loved
the Star Wars prequels more than
the originals.


Break-ups and the time in between
Change your dildo’s name
to Obama. Have the
audacity to hope.


Great ex-pectations
You are forever
Waiting for that toaster that
You have been promised.


The difficult art of flirtation
To the wrong women:
you’re predatory. The right
ones: you’re TOO SUBTLE.

Serve her breakfast in
bed. Tell her it’s not ‘cause you
don’t own a table.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

It Had to be You by Clare Lydon

It Had To Be YouIt Had To Be You by Clare Lydon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Milly and Georgia are a couple (who had meet a month before the story. In a bar).

Jane is Milly's mother and, shockingly, the same age as Georgia (or should I have worded that the other way around, shockingly Georgia is the same age as Jane, her girlfriend's mother). Rachel is Jane's friend.

Milly has invited her girlfriend to her mother's Christmas gathering. Georgia is, naturally, unsettled by the idea but is, as she says in her own words, pussy-whipped by Milly. She figures, Georgia that is, that Milly's mother will see her as a cradle robber from hell (or however that was worded), since - as I've mentioned several times - Georgia is the same age as Jane (actually it was the part wherein Georgia was much older than Milly; it just happened that Georgia's age and Jane's age corresponded in the way it did).

Prior to the party Milly has 'laid the groundwork' so that her mother 'knows' that Milly is going with someone older than herself. Jane is under the impression, though, that this means Georgia would be around 35 (ten years older than Milly's 23 or 25 (note: mother Jane and Rachel had talked, they guessed Milly's girlfriend is/was ten years older, and so 35; when Georgia is on the way to Jane's house, Georgia thinks of Milly as being 23 - I am confused by this 23/25 age thingie). When, in reality, she's closer to 65 (heh, Jane is actually 54, and Georgia is also 54 as well; of note: Jane's friend Rachel mentions that Jane could go with a 35 year old, which horrify's Jane who responds with 'I'm 54 in case you'd forgotten', so obviously she's going to be super happy her 23 year old daughter is going with someone who is 54. heh).

Also present at this party will be 'Joanna and her partner' (boyfriend). Joanna is a daughter of Jane's.

Not present at the party will be Paul, Jane's dead husband, who died 3 years ago.

Story from more than one point of view, and includes Jane (the mother of Milly), and Georgia.

One issue rears it's head immediately, though it was one I didn't expect (though maybe I should have). Has something to do . . . well, I can't even say that much. 'With something'. hehe. Even a hint would be too spoiler-y. Though I'm not sure I can say much more about this story since this is kind of a 'game-changer' kind of thing. I mean, it's one thing if your daughter dates someone your own age. It's something else entirely if, well, again, I can't say. (view spoiler)

Hmm. There's a shelf I wish to put this story on, but can't. Because - spoiler-y. Hmms.

A solid story - deeper and with more impact than I expected. Has some humor. Some angst/drama.

November 27 2016



View all my reviews

Dreadnought by April Daniels


Dreadnought
by April Daniels
Pages: 276
Date: January 24 2017
Publisher: Diversion Publishing
Series: Nemesis (first in series)

Review
Rating: 4.26
Read: October 18 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Diversion Publishing in return for a fair review.*

A 15 year old is out near a mall painting toenails when a building nearby starts to explode. Danny, that 15 year old, groans when noticed that the explosions involve supers (superhero/supervillain fight).

Danny tries to hide. Office tower where the fight is occurring continues to explode. A body lands near Danny's hiding spot and Danny tries to pull him into hiding. That body being the superhero known as Dreadnought. Dreadnought shoves a glowing ball at Danny.

Danny is kind of knocked out and when comes to is . . . different than before.

Characters
Daniel/Dannielle 'Danny' Tozer is a 15 year old who has known for at least 7 years that they have been trapped in the wrong body - that of a young man. For Danny isn't a young man, but a young woman (hence the secretly hiding near a mall painting toenails that started the book). Danny has a best friend named David, goes to school, and has two living barely functional parents. It is very quickly learned, though, that the father has been quite verbally abusive of his child for a very long time and Danny has been shaped by this abuse.

Supers - Danny interacts with several supers after the 'change' - namely the ones that belong to Legion Pacifica (the same superhero team Dreadnought was on, and the one that appears to be the team in the Northwestern part of the USA (if I have the borders right)). Members of Legion Pacifica include: Valkyrja (the vaguely Wonder Woman one), Carapace (vaguely Iron Man like - based entirely on the fact the guy wears a metal suit and for no other reason), Doc Impossible, Chlorophyll (half plant, half man), Magma, Graywytch (super negative about the who transgender thing).

Grayscapes - those sups who are not white capes ('good guys') or black capes ('bad guys') and fall somewhere in between. Of these include a young woman of roughly the same age as Danny named 'Calamity' whose outfit consists of guns and looking like a cowgirl.

Black scapes - Utopia. Mistress Malice.

School-age 'Friends' - David - best friend for a while now who is kind of taken with the concept of starring at breasts; Sarah - a friendly young woman meet when Danny ended up in the women's restroom at school.

Plot
A fight occurs. Dreadnought dies. Power transfers and in the transfer a change occurs to the person who receives this power. A person trapped in the male body finds themselves in the body of a female. And they are 15. With parents. Disagreeable parents. Did I mention the 15 year old part yet? Big part - teenage-hood is hard enough, toss in feelings of self loathing (somewhat pressed inward from abusive father), feelings of being trapped (in wrong body), and then add in some changes. And positive or negative consequences of said changes.

Overall
Right off the bat the book reminds me of two other young adult superhero prose books/series I've read. The Action Figures series by Michael C. Bailey, and Not Your Sidekick. Though there's a closer parallel to 'Action Figures' - both involve young teenagers who unexpectedly come into power, come to the attention of a superhero group, and still have to deal with school, friends, and parents. Completely different 'vibe' though between this book and Action Figures.

There's a specific reason I thought of 'Not Your Sidekick' - but I can't recall what that reason is now. Though the word 'sidekick' is used once (not that 'Not Your Sidekick' is actually about a sidekick so. . . ).

And, this is the overall section after all, overall the plot that unfolds in this book is a touch .... not sure what wording to use here. A touch stronger? Than those found in the Action Figures series, and the Not Your Sidekick series.

There's a certain level of frustration, for me as a reader, since I am not sure I actually remember what the age '15' actually means. I assume, since I appear to be living life linearly, that I was that age at some point. So there were certain frustrating moments related to this book being focused on a 15 year old, yet, on the other hand, there was a certain heightened level of patience within me that I haven't allowed myself in a while - because I know I'm reading something about a character living life at an age I do not really remember. So, good and bad there. More patience, still a certain amount of frustration. (heh, I just took the time to do the quick math, I'm almost there, but I'm not actually at the point where I could have had a kid when I was 15, who, in turn, had a kid when they were 15, since that would make me 45. Or something like that).

I know I'm not wording my point very well. So let's just leave it at: events occurred in this book that I had certain issues with until I recalled that I was dealing with a 15 year old individual, and not someone a lot older. Naive comes to mind.

Right, forgot I was supposed to be doing an overall - I liked the interactions between the characters that I saw, which is, I know, a weird thing to say, considering the relationships that are revealed. Good solid lead character. Which is good since this is a first person account.

This is not my first transgender book I've read, though it is the first that I've read told from the point of view of a youngster. I believe that the issue was handled well in the book, though I'm not really in a position to say yea or nay on that.

I liked the book and look forward to more works by this author. I would give this book a rating of 4.26.

October 19 2016

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Leger's Sisters by Lacey Dearie

Leger's Sisters (The Leger Cat Sleuth Mysteries, #24)Leger's Sisters by Lacey Dearie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Leger and family head off to Gretna Green ('famous for runaway marriages' - many a historical fiction book I've read set in England has included mention of, or actual 'flight towards' Gretna Green - it's kind of turned into a vaguely mythical place in my mind, like Camelot - except being associated with King Arthur, it's associated with quick rush marriages). Poppy and her man are going to get married.

Trouble in paradise, though. Apparently both of the wedding parties might be doing certain ‘wrong things’ and the wedding might not actually take place. Then the wedding venue gets trashed.

Leger gets some help on his investigations from three here-to-for unknown cats, to the reader at least. Not unknown to Leger – the three cats are Leger’s sisters. And are ‘working cats’ at the Gretna Green place the wedding party camps out at.

Neat to see the kitties mingling – coming back together after a long time apart. Not much in the way of a mystery going on though, not really. Still, neat story.

Rating: 4.66

December 27 2016




View all my reviews

One More Reason to Leave Orlando by Missouri Vaun

One More Reason to Leave OrlandoOne More Reason to Leave Orlando by Missouri Vaun

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I liked the first short story, planned to read the second in the series but took about a month to read the story. What gives?

Well, the simple answer is the part where I liked the people in the first story and wanted to see might develop between Nash and Anna Hayes but I'd already seen the descriptions for the stories and they didn't read as if there'd be a . . . well, anything to do with Nash and Anna in them.

But then I read this story here and I learned that the stories, at least these two, are linked strongly together, and there's a strong and reasonable reason for the impression I had going in. I won't say as that'd be too much of a spoiler.

So the story itself - Nash continues her life and has a threesome. It's quite possible that I overrated this story - mainly due to the FFF scenes.

Rated: 4.65

December 24 2016



View all my reviews

Friday, December 23, 2016

Leger's Game by Lacey Dearie

Leger's Game (Leger Cat Sleuth Mysteries, #23)Leger's Game by Lacey Dearie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Leger's ill, the mice want to kill him, and someone has attacked Poppy (next door human neighbor). Oh, and Leger’s ‘human’ is off somewhere (I believe Greece) and he is being watched by Daniel and his family (brother of . . . drat, I don’t recall her name now – but the young woman who pops up a lot in the Leger series, though she’s now away at college).

There’s no real mystery for the cat to solve, since he know who did it, how, when, etc. etc. I suppose the mystery would be how to get the humans to do something about the crime. Though, as noted, Leger is ill. Too ill to do much. So others have to step up.

Neat to watch the other cats of Glasgow breaking down into four teams to try to figure things out and ‘set things right.’ Learning, along the way, just how much Leger does.

By the way, I’d make a joke about how even the cats of Glasgow have ‘bloody’ mysteries to inhabit – regarding what I’ve seen of human mysteries set in Glasgow, but I can’t really go there because it’s more of an impression. I haven’t really read much in the way of Scottish mysteries involving humans. Hmm, looked at my tag for Glasgow – apparently I’ve only read a ‘free online’ novel set there with human people involved in mysteries – lovely great book, but not a huge sample to draw on, eh? Heh. (ETA: Wait, no, the P Division books I’ve read are also set in Glasgow).

Rating: 4.68

December 27 2016



View all my reviews

Dynasty of Rogues by Jane Fletcher

Dynasty of Rogues (Celaeno, #5)Dynasty of Rogues by Jane Fletcher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


End of the line for me – as in I’ve read all of the other books in this series having read them in the chronological instead of publication order. (I found it a good way to read the series, though I’m sure others might feel differently).

This story here focuses on a new character and a side character seen previously. Rikki was something like 12 when her mother fled the ‘Homelands’ with her. Rikki herself would have preferred to stay with her . . . crap I forget now, gene mother? I think gene mother. But wasn’t given the choice. She’s spent her life showing her mother (the one who took her away from her home) how much she hates what happened – by always getting in trouble and being quite . . . horrible really. At least she’s mostly done that. But she’s an adult now. A Ranger (should I word that as a ‘heretic Ranger’? No, that complicates things – a ranger for the heretics, though she herself puts on a show of ‘still being a believer’).

Right, got distracted there. As I was attempting to say – Rikki is an adult now, and it’s been ‘years’ since she has been ‘bad’. Except . . . small community, everyone knows everyone. Really bad reputation – and unlike the Rangers who operate in the Homelands, the ones the Heretics created operate more like Militia (at least in terms of being stationed where they joined the Rangers – they still do border patrol and the like – no actual mention was made of who ‘maintains’ order in the two heretic villages). Meaning that the same town that Rikki grew up in (well 12 to whatever age she joined the Rangers) ‘knows’ Rikki and knows she’s a massive trouble maker and a really bad seed. Even if she doesn’t really want to be that any longer. That’s still the role she has been slotted into. By her own actions.

The other main character, and the one who has been seen before in these books, is Tanya. Daughter of the Rangers Captain (that one with the C name I can never remember how to spell, Caperllini is probably massively wrong). Tanya is a newly promoted corporal in the Ranger unit Rikki has been transferred into (and yes, a big mention was made about an earlier Ranger transfer in a prior book, and how ‘nothing good’ comes from that type of situation, well, it’s not a ‘good’ transfer here either).

Once Rikki learns Tanya’s relationship to the overall Ranger captain, as in daughter of said individual, Rikki immediately assumes Tanya is there because of that relationship. And makes a snide remark to one of her new squad mates. Who immediately and I mean immediately, trots forward and whisper the words into Tanya’s ear. New opportunity . . . blown immediately.

One thing leads to another, Tanya ends up in the Homelands, Rikki is in prison, escapes to the homelands, meets people, learns some things, stuff occurs.

The book was quite interesting, plot and story wise. Neither of the main characters are exactly my favorite characters, though. I kind of really disliked Rikki, and Tanya was a little too quick to jump to conclusions and be very . . . well, she had some obvious bad characteristics as well. Still, they were ‘livable’. Until they weren’t.

They weren’t? Let me insert here status update I did while reading the book:
“I was in the part of the story I thought I really wanted to read but. Something like 15% of the book, since 15% ago I mean, has been a really really long fucking 'Tanya thinking while acting very pissed off towards Riki: I like her but she can't like me; Riki thinking while acting like she'd rather hump a goat than Tanya: I like her but she can't like me.' For 15 fucking percent of the book. Over and over and . fuck"

That little thingie, the inability to express themselves, etc., was very annoying and way way too extended.

Well, as I said, the line ends here. Book and series completed (barring another book suddenly appearing, though the author has kind of gotten into the habit late in the game of writing these things out of order, so if there is another book, it’d probably be set either 100 years before the start of the series, or 100 years after this book here).
Rating: 3.50

December 27 2016




View all my reviews

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Walls of Westernfort by Jane Fletcher

The Walls of Westernfort (The Celaeno Series)The Walls of Westernfort by Jane Fletcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was an interesting one to read. We move from following the more independently minded characters, to heretics to this book here – which follows the ‘faithful’. Specifically Natasha Ionadis.

Natasha is a Guard – one of those people shown in earlier books as being a member of the ‘elite’ military force filled with peacocks. People much more interested in appearances than in skill and the like. Specifically, though, they, the Guards, are those who ‘guard’ the Sisterhood. And Natasha is that – faithful. Devout. Big believer in Goddess Celaeno. And the Elder-Ones. She’s probably the last person anyone would use as a spy – because 1) she’s so devout that she has trouble lying; 2) it, most of the time, is quite obvious when she’s lying (mostly because she doesn’t want to lie). Naturally, then, Natasha . . . becomes a spy.

Three heretics were picked up on their way to Westernfort – the Heretics land. The Intelligence division of the guards, or a major in it, sees this as an opportunity – she kind of looks similar to one of the woman, and she can gather up two more women to go with her undercover to head off to Westernfort and do some damage. Which is where Natasha comes in – one of the three captured women is 18, and the Intelligence division is filled with more mature looking people – and while Natasha is 21, she can, at a stretch, be seen as 18 – and, most importantly, she resembles that 18 year old. And so, devout, honest, loyal Natasha becomes a spy. Sent on a suicide (‘maybe not, but probably’) mission to Westernfort to kill three people – the ex-Sister/Imprinter Gina, Captain Kim Ramon, and Imprinter Lynn.

Interesting book. Quite fun.

Rating: 4.48

December 23 2016




View all my reviews

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Temple at Landfall by Jane Fletcher

The Temple at Landfall (Celaeno, #1)The Temple at Landfall by Jane Fletcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book stars Kim Ramon, the heretic, and Lynn NoLastNameAllowed, the holy-chosen-beloved-of-Celaeno aka slave of the Sisterhood.

This book is both the first and third book in the series. Published first, in 1999 and called ‘The World Celaeno Chose’, it is also the third book chronologically in the series. And that does actually matter. The chronological thing – because the books do build upon themselves. It’s true the main characters in the ‘first’ book, chronologically, don’t matter a hill of beans in the series, the side characters matter in later books, and many of the other characters pop up in the other books as well as the books advance. Quite frankly, I’ve no clue how anyone could read this series in the disjointed way it was published (on one level it’s ‘worse’ than James Fennimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking series – where the first book chronologically was the last book published (though that happened here as well, it’s just I think that was the only book out of order in the Cooper series; here the books jump all of the place (chronologically with publish order in (): 1st Shadow of the Knife (5), 2nd Rangers at Roadsend (3), 3rd The Temple at Landfall (1), 4th The Walls of Westernfort (2), 5th Dynasty of Rogues (4).

Right, but this book was/is about Lynn and Kim. Not the series as a whole. Lynn was around 12 when her family took her to be tested (as is done). She had shown some ‘healing’ abilities. She was tested and found to have so much ‘power’ as to be an Imprinter – therefore she was immediately forced to go with the Sisterhood and begin training. Imprinters are the ones who are able to create new human babies – important on a world on which only women number among the population. As such they are held in much awe and esteem – they have been the ‘chosen’ ones of the Goddess Celaeno (otherwise known as the spaceship/colony ship that brought the humans across the stars to this planet – yes, you have a world that has, for 500 years, worshiped a starship – and it’s not even one that had an A.I. to talk with (well, one hasn’t been mentioned) it’s just a hunk of metal). Despite being held in such a position – you know, that ‘chosen one’ thingie – they are basically the slaves of the Sisterhood. Forced to be celibate (the sisters are supposed to be as well, but they are corrupt) and continuously ‘create babies’ (the Sisters are quite eager for that – because they collect fees for the imprinting – the sisters do, the Imprinters get nothing.

Well – Lynn has shown signs of being quite . . . good at her job and rumors of this ability has reached one of the sisters wiggling piously and corruptly for higher and higher position at the Temple. So this Sister has gone out to collect Lynn, and bring her back to Landfall. The book follows Lynn and three sisters on their journey. Traveling in a carriage, zooming along, encountering worse and worse conditions. Until finally their journey has to make detour after detour. Until they find themselves in a specific town. If they go over a mountain pass they’ll get to Landfall before the Landfall celebrations. If they don’t, they won’t. Everything is set in motion but . . . news comes of big cats bouncing around up there. Everyone urges the sisters and party to go a different route. The main evil bitchy sister demands her chosen route be the one to follow.

Into this comes the 23rd Rangers Squadron. There to take care of the cats. One thing leads to another, and now the squadron is doing escort duty over the pass.

Eventually . . . well, I don’t want to give everything away, and I haven’t really progressed the story much as it is so I’ll stop before I go too far.

Interesting story. More and more of the backstory is revealed, leading this from being a purely fantasy world to one that’s science – fantasy, or a mix of the two (science fiction and fantasy).

Rating: 4.25

December 23 2016




View all my reviews

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Rangers at Roadsend by Jane Fletcher

Rangers at Roadsend (The Celaeno Series)Rangers at Roadsend by Jane Fletcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two years before being published as ‘Rangers at Roadsend’ via Bold Strokes Books, this book had been published under the title ‘The Wrong Trail Knife’ via Fortitude Press, Inc. I mention this specific factoid for one specific reason – the book description for ‘Wrong Knife’ is either written somewhat poorly, or if accurate, then implies that the book followed a different plot-line than the one I read in ‘Rangers’ (either more straight forward with less flashbacks, or . . . well ‘[Chip] knows trouble is on the way; [b]ut Chip wasn’t expecting murder’ implies murder will occur, not that a long ago murder was revealed).

I’m traveling down this specific path for the simple reason that I probably would have liked this book better if it had followed a more straight forward plot line. Instead the book, in part one, presents us, the readers, with Sergeant Chip Coppeli accepting a new private, Katryn Nagata, into the 23rd Ranger squadron as her underling. Then shows us them circling each other, getting close, darting back, getting close, then . . .. Then, suddenly in Part Two, we are way back in time when Katryn Nagata first joined the Rangers and the 12th Ranger squadron (the same squad that was in ‘Shadow of the Knife’). And I personally found myself accidentally skimming. Because I didn’t care – I already ‘knew’ Katryn had a fucked up existence in her first posting, had been accused of murder, had the accusation dropped but left in a way that rumors still follow her, etc. etc. I’d already learned of that in part one. I wanted to ‘rush forward’ back to the present. I didn’t want to cover ground that had already been covered. Except . . . the flash back was really really long. And more that Part One was a foreshadowing of Part Two . . . or something like that. Foreshadowing isn’t the right word. Hmms. No matter.

Right. So.

(view spoiler)

Interesting story. The investigation/mystery that unfolded, the mystery of the murdered sergeant, was quite interesting to watch unfold. The fact that the actual murderer was blindingly obvious (so much so that I knew who the murderer was even before the murder occurred), and that ‘everyone’ had trouble putting the facts together is not as irritating as it might have been (I knew because I saw things unfold; the people investigating didn’t have the facts I did until much later and didn’t normally investigate murders (not sure how often Militia lieutenant’s investigate murders, I know she did a bit of investigative work in the Shadow of the Knife book, but not a murder investigation – also she kind of got things wrong in that investigation (to a certain extent . . . arguably . . . ).

Rating: 4.24

December 21 2016




View all my reviews

Monday, December 19, 2016

The Seduction of Moxie by Colette Moody

The Seduction of MoxieThe Seduction of Moxie by Colette Moody

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My third reread of the month (after Welcome to Your Afterlife, and This is Devin Jones).

Still a funny humorous book. Doesn't join another of Moody's books on the top shelf, though, mostly due to the crude humor and the super nasty dickish agent. But still. Enjoyable book.



View all my reviews

Mistletoe by Lyn Gardner

MistletoeMistletoe by Lyn Gardner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is another of those occasions when, late at night, I decided to see what I'd read the next day. And accidentally read an entire story. Namely this one here.

When Diana was four she 'wrote' a letter to Santa via her aunt. She asked for a soul-mate, she wanted what her parents (now dead) had had. Naturally . . . . well 1) Santa's real and he grants children's wishes (just 1 per child if I read right), though only those wishes of children, not adults; 2) it's 30 years after Diana had written that letter, and that wish has still not been granted (it got lost in the lining of a bag), though now that Santa and company know about this wish, they decide to try to do something about it.

Santa and 'Him' come to an agreement, since Santa isn't really supposed to be helping/granting wishes of adults. Santa has learned that Diana will be, or is supposed to be attending three Christmas parties, and so Santa is going to send an elf with magical mistletoe to be used at each party. The mistletoe will give a nudge, not create something that isn't there.

Diana is an unemployed former prison officer (she had been a prison teacher, but that position got removed so she moved over to prison officer, but learned she didn't really like being a guard). She is going to these three parties because her friend, who I believe is named Gloria, needs to go to these parties - is required to go to them. They are three company parties for the three different divisions at the law-firm she works at.

Division 1 and party one is lead by an asshole of a man, and let me stress that again - he is a really huge asshole. His division handles criminal matters, so his party, filled as it is by clients, is filled with 'criminals' and their barely clothed, surgically altered, and probably ex-prostitute 'girlfriends'. Also present at the party are the law firm employees, including the heads of the other two divisions, and that ‘plus one’ – Diana.

Diana enters and is immediately annoyed that she agreed to go. Based on seeing the party guests and being sexually molested by Thad Falgen’s eyeballs (I don’t actually remember the asshole’s name, but ‘Thad Falgen’ works for me). Thad is quite taken with Diana and begins to make some moves. Showing that it is clearly power and money that would cause him to ever get laid. Diana’s not interested, and not because she’s a lesbian (as far as she knows, she’s straight – yeah, I’d forgotten this was that type of story).

Recall, if you will, that there’s this elf that is supposed to be flinging mistletoes at people (okay, hanging one up). Well he arrives and is very tiny, invisible, and partakes of the food and drink. While waiting for his moment. For some odd reason he thinks that Diana’s ‘soul mate’ might be ‘Thad’ so he sets things up. Thad, super drunk, won’t let Diana leave when she wants to do so, so Diana is saved by one of the other law firm division heads – Jamison – the individual who Diana had actually spent some interesting time with talking to at the party. Saves with a kiss in a ‘now she’s been kissed, get out of the way’ way.

Jamison meant for a three second thing, at most, but there ended up being more than 3 seconds. And Jamison doesn’t know how Diana felt about the issue, because Diana immediately left after the kiss.

Division 2 and party 2 are hosted by ‘Lillian Willbourgh’ (again, I’m not actually sure about the name). ‘Lillian’ handles divorces, and only ever takes the side of the men. Also she is a very huge and very forceful bigot and homophobic individual. She also really really loves Christmas decorations and her party looks look . . . well, . hmm. Like 18 Christmas stores were raided for all products, and dumped inside her place. Also there’s like 800 tons of potpourri stinking up the place. Which causes massive issues to Jamison, but both Jamison and Diana had been looking forward to seeing each other again, so Jamison stuck it out.

And so. Two people circling each other. Spending but moments together. And one having to deal with the idea that they might actually be a lesbian, despite not previously realizing that possibility, and both dealing with massive waves of lust/love for the other based on like 4 minutes of being near each other.

Massaging the ending, and cutting most of the epilogue would make this a great perfect story. The epilogue was way too heavy-handed and sappy, though. (view spoiler)

Second time I’ve read this story.

Rating: 4.65

December 19 2016



View all my reviews

Friday, December 16, 2016

Shadow of the Knife by Jane Fletcher

Shadow of the Knife (Celaeno, #1)Shadow of the Knife by Jane Fletcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a good introduction to this author and this series universe. Quite 'deep' and detailed universe. Solid characters. Good bit of action/mystery/etc. Someone looking for romance should look elsewhere, though there's a bit of that mixed in.

I was quite happy with the story, at least I was until I suddenly realized that I rather liked how everything turned out. Then realized there was somewhere between 30 to 40% more of the book to read. That's . . . almost never a good sign, heh. And yeah, things turned . . . well, turned. Things rapidly shifted into a new angle and a bit of torture and the like invaded the land.

Still, I enjoyed the book. Felt like a solid 4 star book up to that point, and was so after that bit of nastiness.

I already own the rest of the books in the series, and nothing I read will keep me from reading the next.

December 17 2016



View all my reviews

Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Copper Egg by Catherine Friend

The Copper EggThe Copper Egg by Catherine Friend

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


'Indiana Jones-esque'; 'archaeologist'; 'investigations in Peru'; - sounds exciting, I'm in. *reads book*

Well . . . a) melodramatic over the top . . . well, everyone. Villains/heroes/random person driving a cab; b) monologues out the door and forming an orderly queue so they can be said - or - every bloody person kept monologuing; c) way way too many flashbacks (not talking about the visions here). Did we really need all of those flashbacks? (this is how we first meet (okay, fine, that's good); this is how I meet this random dude (um . . . oookay? bored); this is how . . . . (arrgh).

There was a story. There was characters who were more than thin slices of pepperoni. But . . . to a certain extent, by the end of the book the only characters I still cared anything for were the two women back in the distant past of Peru (what was it, something like 1000 years or more ago?) - and those two were just 'seen' by the main character, they didn't get to be felt or be their own characters.

*shrugs* I'll read another book by this author - I do own two more books I picked up during that action/adventure sale. I'm just reluctant to dive into those other books now.

December 17 2016



View all my reviews

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Lipstick by Aimee Nichols

LipstickLipstick by Aimee Nichols

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Second story by this author read by me.

Ange is invited out to a hen night. Or to Ellen's hen night. Dinner and 'raging'. Hens. Fight club. What have I gotten myself into?

Apparently antisocial Ange, while feeling mildly 'enthusiastic', once the party date actually rolled around, decided to dress down. Which meant making sure she was wearing clean clothing. And wearing her 'signature lipstick, a bright scarlet red called Splendour.'

During the dinner portion of the evening, Ange meets a woman named 'Kate' who looks as out of place as Ange feels at the hen party. They strike up a conversation and stuff. Stuff includes a little rubbing of foot against legs under the dinner table. And might also include a bit of thrusting hands under other women's skirts (less horrifying that I just put it). All of this taking place in a fancy restaurant, mind.

Nice little 'romance'. Curious what something longer by this author might be like.

Oh, and, I'll just off-hand note - quite exciting this story was.

Right, that's enough of that.

Rating: 4.5*

December 14 2016

* high likelihood I'm overrating here, maybe, probably. Especially since it currently has an overall rating of 3.03 off of 120 ratings.






View all my reviews

Howl for the Holidays by Bridget Essex


Howl for the Holidays
by Bridget Essex
Pages: 63
Date: December 13 2016
Publisher: Rose and Star Press
Series: None

Review
Rating: 3.70
Read: December 14 2016

Some deep emotions were released in this book. Quite interesting, really. Though they were the kind wherein I felt a somewhat deep dislike of the main and only point of view character. I did not like her actions.

Essex normally mixes up different types of people. And from a surface look, it seems as if she broke that specific trait here with this story. For the two main characters are both werewolves. We do not have knights meeting up/hooking up with librarians (or radio personalities); we do not have those looking for love suddenly finding it in a place they didn't even know existed (humans finding werewolves); nor guardian angels with humans, or vampires with . . . actually, I've not read any of the vampire ones so I do not know what's going on in those books. No, here we have two werewolves.

Except. The easiest (potentially) way to look at this story is to look at it through a particular mirror. A mirror I have to hide behind spoilers. This is not two female werewolves who love each other. Think of one of them as being transgender. And fearing the reaction of the other. And feeling confusion, feeling fear, feeling self-hatred of themselves - for they are in the wrong body. Here that 'wrong body' is 'werewolf' and right body is 'human', instead of 'male/female/other'. Seeing the story through that light provides an interesting twist. One that I've seen played with by this author before. Though the previous 'playing' involved setting up a 'coming out' type of 'LGBT' story, but having, instead of a LGBT person (well, still Lesbian, but the coming out isn't the lesbian part), you have a 'other' - in the form of a werewolf (I've forgotten which specific story this occurred in, might be the 'Christmas Wolf' one).

It is an interesting story, though not one I had expected. I had some vague idea of what the story was going to be about, but a lot more of it was captured within a flash back. Unfortunate that. Though, due to the nature of the story, the flashback was needed.

Rating: 3.70

December 14 2016

Wakeup Call by Aimee Nichols

Wakeup Call: An Erotic Short StoryWakeup Call: An Erotic Short Story by Aimee Nichols

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Confusing. No, not the story. The review situation. I wrote a review for this story, posted it, read something else, wrote a review for that story, posted it, and now today I look and see that the review for that other story is in both review boxes. And the review for this story is missing. Annoying.

I read two short stories by this author late last night. This one and the 'Lipstick' one.

This one involves a woman named . . . gah. No idea now. I lost the review and there are no names in the book description. I know the story, I felt the story, names weren't important, though, so neither of the important names dug themselves deep into my brain.

Okay, so, I try to recreate.

A woman works at a cosmetic counter at a store. Based on the book cover and various other tidbits, I get the impression that this story is set somewhere around the 1950s . . . except I do not think phones worked that way in the 1950s. Hmms. Maybe? No matter. Quite modern language used, antiquated outfit and phone. *shrugs*

So, eventually I'll get there. So, a woman works at a cosmetic counter at a store. Numerous (or several?) people in the store, but none near her, or wanting her attention. Which is good because she is very distracted. Because she's thinking of a woman. And desiring to hear her voice. She's aroused by the idea of hearing that woman's voice (there was a specific phrase used, but all that is coming to me at the moment is 'honey and gravel' but that can't be correct).

Suddenly that phone she's been starring at rings. Woman excitedly picks up the phone, could it be? Could it be that woman she wants to hear? But alas, it's some customer. She, barely, handles the call. Ends call. This is too much, she thinks, and immediately dials her lover's number. Just to hear her voice. And I'm reminded immediately that this isn't the 1950s, because the woman answers with the information that she had been asleep, dreaming of being a sex maiden (sexy maid? I forget now exact phrase) of Anglina Jolie. And that knifes were involved.

The two women then proceed to have a graphic and explicit discussion of what the two would do to each other if they happened to be near each other instead of connecting via telephone. Recall that one is in a store, in public.
...
Quite interesting and strange story ([admittedly I left everything after the ... from the review that was supposed to go to that other story; so strange story? *thinks* Well, I suppose it's strange that the costume the woman is wearing in the store is described in a way that sounds like it came from the 1930s/40s or 1950s; yet there's mention of Jolie]). Ended too soon, I want more ([again, a line that went to a different review; I do not necessarily want more - it is an interesting snippet/look into someone's erotic life, though it might be interesting to read more about the specific characters here]).

Rating: 3.75 ([I do not recall the exact rating I originally gave, but the shelves indicate that I gave something around 3.75, so I'll leave that as the rating for this story])

December 14 2016



View all my reviews

Written on Skin (Sigil Fire, #2) by Erzabet Bishop

Written on Skin (Sigil Fire, #2)Written on Skin by Erzabet Bishop

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My, hmm, at least third story by this author, though I know I've read more (that's the problem if you search for an author in 'My Books', it only gives you the books that the author is primary listed author on).

Second in this specific series, though. If I had known this was only 22 pages, I'd have completed this series a longish while ago. Though I had only given the first in the series a rating of 3.25, so, no wonder I hadn't looked to see length of second in series.

hmm. Fetischising getting tats. Fetisch. fetish. Fetishizing getting tattooes.

A woman enters a tat place. Is almost instantly sneered at and told that 'Fae' can't help her, because she's booked until the place cloes. Gen, that woman who entered the place, says she wants to look at the pictures on the walls. Eventually Fae comes out, informs Gen that she can't be helped, then starts saying things that make getting a tattoo a sexual act. And Gen acts aroused.

And I, the reader, spent time at that exact moment attempting to remember how to spell fetishising. heh. Right, back to the story.

"You'll wear my art, but I will choose it." - says Fae to Gen. Um . . wha?

hmms. Then Fae gets Gen to strip completely. And I, the reader, am not sure if I should be reacting like a Vulcan, kind of sitting back with an arched eyebrow watching this weird act, or acting like . . . I don't know, a horny teenager? hmms.

Story continues. Aftermath of accepting tats that are more than ink on skin. Tats that have magic in it. And still 'burn' six months later. Oh. Vampires. Right. That's what that was about.

Gen has trouble with these changes - accepting them. They are overwhelming her. For the tats allow her to see what's really there - the creatures walking hidden to most others.

...
Quite interesting and strange story. Ended too soon. I want more.

Rating: 3.75

December 14 2016







View all my reviews

Catch Me by Lorelie Brown

Catch MeCatch Me by Lorelie Brown

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I've read two books by Brown before I read this one. I loved both of them. But have been very reluctant to try anything else by her for a rather simple reason - those two other books had something in common that the rest didn't have - those two books were FF romance books. The rest are/were MF romance books. Which is odd, in it's way, to be a deterant since I also read MF romance books. But still. Made me hesistant.

So, eventually, I finally broke down and tried one of them. The only one that interested me enough to try it. A western/historical novel. Set in the territory of Arizona, and the state of Texas. With a couple of minutes, so to speak, spent in New Mexico.

Because her father is deathly ill, is in an medical institution in Texas, and because 1) everything that could be turned into money has been turned into money - and hasn't been enough to pay the bills; 2) and because the local bank - which is owned and operated by her father's long time friend - turns down her request for help; a young woman of, if I recall correctly, 22 robs the local bank. And then zooms on over to Texas to turn the money over. To pay her father's bills.

Her father, who had been and still technically is, the sheriff of this small town is, naturally, not exactly pleased with her actions. But she had to do it. Because.

The mean old man who owns the bank, naturally, won't let her get away with this and so hires a bounty hunter. A very successful one. He's to hunt down, capture, and bring back this woman who has wronged him.

And so that man does. And he and the woman interact. And, for reasons that largely escape me, they engage in physical relations while she's a prisoner and being brought back to that small town.

The book had some interesting elements, and moments, but was rather too . . . melodramatic. And, sure did include much sexual relations in deed. A little too much. I was, frankly, bored during those moments, but don't assume they were poorly written (or written perfectly and with skill), for I mostly just skimmed those portions. Not really my kind of sex (less the MF nature of the thing, and more the kind presented as in - prisoner/captor + a bit of angry energy mixed in).

Well, I've now done it. Completed an MF book by that author who has given me two FF books that I've loved. I'm strongly inclined to now forgo the other MF books previously released and just take the FF (and potentially the MF) as they come down the pipeline.

That is all.

Rating: 2

December 14 2016



View all my reviews

Instameet by Camryn Eyde

InstameetInstameet by Camryn Eyde

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


My first story by this author.

Character, Chloe Bevan, opens the story wandering around Melbourne looking for 'the Instagram photo group she was looking for'. Spots a crowd. Wanders over. Checks out the lead woman of the group.

Chloe herself is from Brisbane. Which I make note of because, of all the Australian set stories I've read, the vast majority seem to be set in either some random small town in the outback or in Melbourne (like this story here). I'm not sure I've even read a story with someone from Brisbane before.

And . . . Chloe sure is taking a huge number of 'looks' of this lead woman. Evie. Sister of Jeanie - Chloe's roommate.

And so . . . the group gets some instructions (or the reader is told they were at some point) and breaks apart. Chloe wanders off with Evie - still constantly and openly eyeballing Evie. They head to a back alley and . . . look at wall art. Well, graffiti.

Okay - this is kind of confusing me. So Chloe is very much a non-touchy-feely type of person. So how'd she even allow herself to let the other person touch her hands, let alone hold it, then begin rubbing her thumb against her. Sure she apparently likes it but, you have to get to that point. My skin is crawling at the mere idea. Someone just grabbing hold and gripping your hand? And rubbing thumb against your skin? Yeah, my skin is crawling. eww.

'Evie smirked at her . . .' Save me from people who smirk (actually, save me from people using the word. Nails on chalkboard time. First touching, now smirking. I'm quite uncomfortable with this story).

'Evie smirked.' Evie, do you, I'm just asking really, have any facial expressions other than 'smirking'? 'Evie bit her lip and narrowed her eyes.' Ah, good, thanks.

Good grief Evie is touchy feely to the extreme. Extreme! I should stop attempting to read stories after midnight. I get goofy.

I do not really like Evie.

'Evie grabbed her arm . . .' 'Evie smirked' . . . ' 'Evie . . .' s an annoying character and I think I dislike her.

Wait, what? 'Chloe smiled and thought of the way the sun had enhanced the colours . . . [s]miling suddenly, Chloe fet a burst of happiness.' So Chloe's facial expression went from smiling to . . . smiling suddenly?

hehehe - um, there's like this massive wall of text now. For whatever reason there are no breaks. And I've been reading. There should be breaks. But instead this massive wall of text.

I'm . . I'm . . what? 'Chloe ... unable to withhold her smile . . . Chloe said, smiling as she squeezed Evie's hand in response' - 1) all of that is in same little few seconds, not lifted from here and there. I'm not even sure how to interpret all that smiling; 2) response to what?

And now I do not particularly like Chloe. So 2 for 2.

"Oh," Evie said as the only phone Chloe took came onscreen.
- I do not know what this means. Chloe stole a phone?

'Evie's smirk at Chloe didn't help.' - pfft. more smirking.

'The woman was smirking [Evie] at her in the reflection.' - I just made a loud noise of disgust. Surprised me, that did. The noise. The level of the noise. Brought on when I read the line above. And the smirking. I rather dislike the smug smirking Evie.

I . . . heh. Apparently Evie has 'liquid fire' pouring out of her panties. Liquid fire. hmms.

hehehehe - they are rolling around, mention of Evie's head bumping against a door, more rolling, Chloe bumping a swollen clit. Me giggling insanely as I accidentally read that wrong. I read it as rolling around, and Chloe accidentally rolling against a swollen clit which was about the same size as Evie's head. Goofy, I am.

I really have no idea what occured in that love scene. Body parts were flying around everywhere. Smooth muscles, and mouths, and necks, and fingers, a back, and some arms, and a pelvis.

Oh for . . . in the middle of mentioning lots and lots of body parts . . . don't include this line 'Evie asked, making Chloe cock her head with curiosity ...'. Now Chloe has a cock. Because. That's where my brain went. When, you know, the word 'cock' gets used in the middle of a sex scene.

Good god this is a really awkward conversation during/after/wherever they are in the act of sex. Also, Evie's apparently, we now learn, not a lesbian.

Very long sex scene. Awkward sex.

And why does every sex scene (okay, not really but still) have 'so beautiful' repeated every three seconds during the act? mmphs. (part of that 'not really' is the part wherein it only occurred a few times here).

Oh good grief. More smirking by Evie. AAAAAAAAAARGH.

Awkward uncomfortable story.

Rating: 2

December 14 2016



View all my reviews

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Welcome to Your Afterlife by Stephanie Rabig

Welcome to Your AfterlifeWelcome to Your Afterlife by Stephanie Rabig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Three reasons why I decided to do a reread of this short story: 1) I loved it the first time I read it but my reaction appears to be mostly unique among the readers of the story (who were at best ‘meh’ and at worst giving it half stars (as in only a half star) in rating; 2) I just read another short story which reminded me very much of this story and wanted to refresh this story in my mind (that would be Aidan Wayne’s ‘Making Love’; 3) it’s a short story of only 39 pages, it’s not like this would take me ages to read.

Hmm. Story opens with ‘It was hard to foretell death when everyone around whom you spent time was already dead.’ Oddly put, that. Past that first line, though, and I feel like I’ve come back to a restful comfortable place. The world of Renata – in an office, processing dead people.

Hey, I’d actually forgotten that Abigail was described as having tattoos and short hair with green tips. An oddball, to be sure. I like oddballs.

It is a rather short story, I realize. Maybe that’s what’s the hold up with others liking/not liking? No matter, I’ve read again – again loved the characters, place, and story. Again give 5 stars.

December 13 2016




View all my reviews

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire AccountantThe Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was reluctant to read this one, and now I forget why I did. But I had read and enjoyed books by Hayes before - all but the most recent book in that NPC series were read and enjoyed.

This book was a series of short connected stories.

Really really boring man, who works as an accountant, was 'turned' into a vampire at some point prior to the start of this book. He is as boring now as he was before, and he didn't suddenly gain 'super-cool' . . . coolness. He's slimmer and doesn't need glasses any longer (though still wears them), but he has the same personality he had before he was turned.

First story involves Bob going to his high school reunion. Being bored. Being boring. Then watching as werewolves attack.

Second story involves . . . well, it's been too long to make sure I get these all correct. Let's just say that at some point there was a story where his new hot girlfriend drags him to a 'live role-play' thingie while on the way to the movies. A real life wizard like guy, and a zombie were meet.

Another story involved Bob and the gang (every story seems to increase the number of people in 'Bob's gang', from 'Bob', to 'Bob + girlfriend (highly qualified superagent type)', to 'Bob + girlfriend + zombie', to 'Bob etc + gay weresteed', to etc.). Right sorry. Another story involved Bob and the gang heading off to Las Vegas for . . I think Thanksgiving was mentioned. Though they are really there because the girlfriend's friend is in deep deep trouble and she's going to try to help.

Then the vampire who turned Bob returns to 'unleash' Bob. Whereupon it turns out that some of the 'humans' in the group might not actually be humans.

Was not a horrible book. Just . . . kinda boring.

December 18 2016



View all my reviews

Snowflakes by Suzie Carr

SnowflakesSnowflakes by Suzie Carr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Thoughts as I read -
Confusing story. Can't figure out which person has point of view - which is compounded by the fact I've no clue who anyone might be. Maybe it's a dog's thoughts? Can dogs be lesbians? Okay, probably not the dog's thoughts. Or . . maybe?

Odd family. Spending the night before Valentine's day (is Valentine's day Eve a thing?; I'd mention All Hallow's Eve here, but I'm already taking too long). Right, sorry, so on Valentine's Eve, a family gathered together to play trival pursuit. And drink shots of whiskey. Your answer is that little Timmy? Wrong! Drink your shot! (or 'right, drink your shot'). What an odd family.

'eyeing me with the energy of ten trains' line in story. About a dog. 1) That is either one powerful stare, or one weak one - notice it is the eye that has the energy of ten trains, not the wagging tail; 2) when I think of ten trains all together, I think of a train yard. And therefore picture them all sitting there. Silent. Unmoving. Powerless. Hence my 'or weak one' above.

Well, eventually I got the idea. Two people meet at a dog part, by accident. With their dogs. There's snow on the ground. And one tosses a ball around.

Ah darn. See, here I am bouncing along picking things here and there to pounce on, like a cat pouncing on string, and the story had to go and actually get me interested. With two people meeting for the first time. And both seem interesting. mmphs. Alice and Desiree.

You know, I got rather deep into this story, then it went and reminded me that it was a short story by abruptly ending. Ah well.

My second story I've read by this author. Even hough I had rather liked that first I'd read, I had held off trying another. Something about them didn't pull me in. But, in I went again.

I'd give this one a rating of 4. Longer and less . . . telling, drifting aimlessly, etc. and I'd probably rate it higher.

December 13 2016





View all my reviews

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (With 2nd Epilogue) (Bridgertons, #4)Romancing Mister Bridgerton (With 2nd Epilogue) by Julia Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


1) This author is either a) very obsessed with breasts or b) assumes every man is super obsessed with breasts (for various reasons I'm leaning towards a). I say this because this is the fifth book I've read by this author and all of them (with the possible exception of the first book, which I need to go back to reread my review to see if I indicated anything) have had men obsessing over fondling, licking, and sucking breasts. What, I notice certain things.

2) Somewhere during certain revelations I wanted to kick Colin very hard in the groin and close the book - never to reopen it. Happily those feelings subsided but . . . mmphs.

3) All of the Bridgerton children are adults now (including Gregory and Hynacnith (whose name I can never spell), though Gregory is off . . um . . somewhere in this specific book; oh, and this is the first time that I learned that Francesca also got married at some point - I looked to see if I read a book out of order - no, apparently I hadn't. it was a brief marriage that lodged her with a family in Scotland, but her husband has been dead now for a short while. She is mentioned but if she had any words in this book, I seem to have overlooked them. Everyone else, including Daphne from the first book, make appearances (some much larger than others).

4) So. Fourth book, I'd say 4 down, 4 to go but as I already noted, one of the four to go already got married, and is now a widow, so 4 down and 3 to go with another one going to have another crack at potential happiness (I assume). Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinthia are left to find matches.

As can be seen from my rating and my lack of careful thought out review, I liked this book the least of the ones by Quinn that I've read.

Oddly, things went about how I expected, including the big reveal (there's a big reveal in this book). That big reveal was why I was actually excited to read this specific book, but alas.





View all my reviews

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Doctor's Orders edited by N.T. Morley

Doctor's Orders: Erotic Tales of Extreme Medical Power PlayDoctor's Orders: Erotic Tales of Extreme Medical Power Play by N.T. Morley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


N.T. Morley - Exam Room 3
MFF, Doctor/patient play (obviously), examination/inspection/fondling, humiliation, bondage

A woman goes to a doctor's office wearing just a raincoat, shoes, garter belt and stockings. Then sits in an exam room without her raincoat. Sitting in the stirups. Waiting for the doctor. When he arrives she tells him that she wants a full exam. He takes in her nudity, and obvious arousal, he smiles wickedly.

Based on 'the photos she'd sent' this isn't actually a woman visiting a random doctor.

She complains of 'hypersexuality'. He replies with a 'I'll be the judge of that.'

The doctor appears to be vaguely limited in intelligence. What with his reply to the woman's hypersexuality self-dignoses. In which he says 'A word to the wide, Miss - . . .' Ah. It is possible that he is being mean. Maybe the lead female is actually fat. Hadn't gotten that impression before now. So the woman is fat, or the doctor is lacking in some intelligence.

When the woman wouldn't stop moaning an lunging at him, the doctor restrains her. With various bondage items, ball-gags padlocked, collar (again padlocked), leash - padlocked to a chair (lots of padlocks here - the padlock industry must make a fortune), straps on legs, writs, padlocks added. etc. Then knees padlocked to straps as well - spread wide (When it turned out she could still close her knees).

Ah - the doctor, after asking the female nurse to join him, looked to see if the woman gave the 'safeword' finger thingie. So - a) safewords in use; b) this is in fact a preplaned bondage session.

(pffts - a) 'No need for lube' - doctor to nurse - location 152; b) 'Then Jessie felt Marie's lube-slick fingers coming out of her' - patient (Jessie) and nurse (Marie) - slick fingers, sure, lube - slick? - location 160. - oh, the 'lube' is 'natural lube' to be used to help with 'anal play'. I suppose an argument could be made there. Though . . ..)

Rating: 4.23

December 10 2016

Managed Care by Corey Claire
MFM

A story about a nurse who provides 'special care'. And the person who finds her very naughty for doing so.

*shrugs*

Rating: 2

December 10 2016

Medical Attention by Skye Black

already read - had given it a rating of 4

White Coat and Stethocope by Ronald Keller
MF

huh - 'osteopathy a branch of medical practice that emphasizes the treatment of medical disorders through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles.' Hadn't realized such a branch existed.

Right, so, a doctor is dating someone. She drops by near the end of the day. Ends up in a paper gown in an exam room waiting for her boyfriend to find her, then tells him that she's there for her exam.

And so, he gives her one.

The doc tells her that she has priapism (persistent and painful erection of the penis).

Rating: 3.3

December 10 2016

Examining Gilly by Naomi Taylor
MF, spanking

The woman has gone to the doctor because she's had a tingling in her bum for a longish time. And she's embarrased by it (and or having to mention it). The tingling/itch/etc. grows and grows, and itching doesn't help, though slapping can cause temporary relief.

And so the doctor goes about 'curing her' by spanking her. Right-o. hmms.

Rating: 3.65

December 10 2016

Shock Therapy by Natasha Ray
FF, MF, Shock therapy

A female doctor (who the author felt the need to linger on how cut her top was, and how tight her pants were) is running an experimental test into using shock therapy with couples. Oh, and apparently also important, the doctor is very very short.

'She stood there, legs slightly spread, displaying to the young graduate student that the swelling, pink mount of her sex was shaved smooth as Patrick Stewart's head.' - squeaks. *reading read reading, description of woman's 'mount' . . . reading 'Patrick Stewart's head'. squeaks - giggles uncontrollably*

Oh for fuck sake. 'Normally inclined to be intimate only with women, Dr. Quarry nonetheless found her gaze lingering unbidden over the quite impressive length and girth of the older man's package' - a) yes an overly large penis might be worth taking a moment to examine, clinically I suppose; b) later words seem to lead to why I said 'oh for fuck sake', the part wherein the woman who is only intimate with women, is apparently turned on by an overly large penis (you know, the part where she's becoming breathless and picturing mounting the fucking thing). Because, as we all know, what women really want are really huge dicks. For mounting. And sucking. Because . . . something something all women want dicks in them. mmphs.

Rating: 3.83

December 10 2016

Overall rating of 3.502



View all my reviews

Friday, December 9, 2016

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3)An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If we had half stars, I'd probably give this one at least 4.5. Have to think about it more to see if I up it any more than that.

This is the fourth book I've read by Quinn, and the first that involved someone outside the norm - a love interest found among the servant class (though there is a story there). Oh, and a bit of Cinderella retelling stripped of the magic parts.

Quite neat in its way. Also neat to actually see some more of the family members start to show up and let their specific characters shine a little bit. Like Eloise, Fran... um, whatever the F's name is; and of course Benedict shined the most of the 'less known members' since he was one of the two main characters in the book. Colin, Anthony, Daphne, Hyancinth(sp?) and Violet also showed up - while Gregory was off at Eton.



View all my reviews