The Rock Cocks by Brad Brown and Leslie Brown

The Rock Cocks
by Brad Brown and Leslie Brown
Pages: 215
Date: 2016
Publisher: Hivemill
Series: The Rock Cocks (1)

Review
Rating: 4.5
Read: September 30 2016


Note: The spoilers are pictures from the comic. Since they contain nudity, I've hidden them behind spoiler tags.

Review lifted from the individual parts:

Track 1:
Randomly ran across this just now. Not much to say - it's about two people who I hope are not related (since they kind of fuck a lot) who are attempting to make it in the music business as 'Rock Cocks'. This specific 'track' here involves the couple 1) losing (female) or not acquiring (male) a job; 2) having their phone contract expire; 3) get evicted from their apartment.

So they decide to hit the road in their van. And basically become homeless while still trying to get their band up an running. Mostly by busking (performances on the street with a hat near them while they look dirty and starving).

Much nudity and sex. It was never actually stated, but I believe the 'track' (the first part of this 'thingie') started with them performing in a strip club. Though, considering people seem to like to spontaneously pull their clothing off, masturbate and or fuck when the 'Rock Cocks' perform . . . I'm not 100% certain if that first performance was at a strip club or not.

I'm probably mixing the story line of track 1 and 2 because I didn't realize I was reading 'separate thingies' or I'd have paid more attention. One just goes into another. As is what happens, you know, with a webcomic.

http://www.therockcocks.com/comic/page-1-nsfw-track-1-start

You can tell what you are getting yourself into just by seeing the first page.

Track 2:

Right, so this is 'track two'. Not sure of exact split between track one and two as I read both at same time without realizing I should pay attention to breaks.

Okay then - wherever the break occurs, I know this one finds the music duo on the road in their van, busking for money, dirty, showering in public, and accidentally exposing themselves because they forget to wash their clothing before washing themselves (though there still would have been the issue of one or the other being dirty - their body after washing the clothing if they had washed clothing first, or the clothing if they washed their body first).

Right, so, this one finds them on the street playing - well the woman at least. The man sees a sign for a $1000 music prize and so they are going to try for it (which is also the inspiration or cleaning themselves up - as in literally cleaning - with water and stuff; though not cleaning up as in 'cleaning up their act' since both perform showing lots of skin. Man topless. Woman almost topless in her barely there top which does not actually cover her breasts all the time.)

Apparently their music is so good that it causes people to strip and play with themselves or with others nearby.

Track two begins on page 36. http://rockcocks.slipshine.net/comic/page-36

- busking

- performing almost nakedly.

Track 3:
So. Track three. That certainly was a lot quicker to read than I expected. 25 pages just flew by (it felt a lot less than 25 pages, I'm not sure I can trust the page count listed here).

So - Carol Hopkins and Stephen Guerrero (they signed a contract and their names were visible, otherwise I'm not sure I'd ever have picked up on what their names might be) get signed by an agent. Confused because I thought he was a album owner in a prior 'track'. Now he's an agent? No matter. They've got a year contract.

Not much happened this time. Most of the nudity was that Sterling guy standing around pantsless with a bulging erect cock while having a meeting with the Rock Cocks (though there were at least two 'strips' wherein he apparently had pants on again, then they fell off again *shrugs).

Track 4:
Let's see - the duo is all signed up and off to 'Redd's place in a limo. Going to record an album. And that's basically it.

Track 5:
It's a month later, they've made an album, released it, had a celebratory orgy, and the 'blonde bitch' mentioned earlier in the book makes an appearance.

She, it turns out, is with a rival music album. No idea what her story is, or why Roxanne Richards and Seth Sterling are in some kind of rivalry (Seth's gay - and I'll take a moment to note that gay sex occurs in this book (there's also a bunch of straight sex, and lesbian sex - though, obviously (or not), Seth isn't involved with that other sex); while Roxie's apparently at least bisexual, or, potentially, straight - so it isn't a lover's tiff kind of thing.)

Roxanne, by the way, is quite . . . hmms . . well look for yourself:

Right. So, book over. Lots of nudity, sex, and stuff occurred. When the duo are last left before the end, they were heading off to some nudist place in Arizona to have someone there record a video. But, if that occurs, it'll have to be something occurring in the next book.

September 30 2016

Making a Comeback by Julie Blair

Making a Comeback
by Julie Blair
Pages: 264
Date: July 20 2015
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 2.75
Read: September 26 to 29 2016

This is not a review but a few words, about 'what happened.'

A day or two ago I was at the 88% completed position and . . . just stopped reading. The specific reason eludes me now. But I was 'inches' away from finishing, so I took the five or so minutes to read the end. I either had disconnected myself too much from the book, or I'd have felt the same way if I had or hadn't taken a break there.

First thing I noticed is that I literally did just walk away from the book - as in I had apparently been in the middle of a sentence when I just stopped. Second thing I noticed was that I was detached, numb to what unfolded. Didn't particularly care. Which is, in its way, strange how I had a moment there wherein I flashed to a kind of 3D like experience during one moment; detached and yet there, eh? Heh. I do not normally, I am not normally 'there' and/or 'know'/feel/whatever . . . but there was a moment when a knee was pulled up and back and the scene was vivid in my mind, good or bad. So, except for a moment or two there of vivid connection, I was numb during the last 12% of the book.

--
About 14 years before the start of this book Liz Randall, jazz pianist, meet and fell in love with a woman named Teri. Over the next 14 years (from that moment), they formed two jazz bands - Liz on the piano, Teri on the drums (I do not normally think of jazz bands having drums, but I never paid much attention to jazz). They kept getting to the edge of success, but keep stumbling. First because Teri got diagnosed with cancer and they had to deal with that; then the second time, the illness came back and ultimately killed Teri.

It's been six months since Teri's death when the book opens. Liz is kind of wandering in a daze, attempting to put together an album made up of live recordings of their shows (of their band Up Beat). While in this daze, Liz wanders into a gallery to pick up painting for her asshole father's birthday (oops, sorry, yeah, her father is a selfish asshole leach). Carrying the painting awkwardly, Liz stumbles, almost loses the painting, and then whacks a woman. Who proceeds to rudely bleed from a cut on her face.

That woman being Jac, the blind woman (what, for a good portion of the book, that is how Liz knew her - someone who she wants to be friends with, is blind, and is sister to the person who painted the painting Liz had gotten for her father). With Jac is Max, her guide dog.

Jac and Liz keep bumping into each other that day, and while Jac has no desire to have anything to do with things like 'friends' and the like, Liz does want something like that. And is persistent. Liz and Jac then proceed on something like a courtship – to become friends.

Others of importance in this novel: Hannah – Liz’s out-of-work chef sister; Kevin – Liz’s brother (& and his wife, Karen I think I recall); Peggy and her husband (Roger?) – Peggy being Jac’s sister; and . . . whatever asshole father’s name is. Oh, and Max – Jac’s guide dog. Jac’s parents make something of a cameo appearance but I got no real impression of them at all (despite several scenes that included them being all . . . there and stuff). Slightly larger than a cameo, but barely, are Kevin and his wife’s kids (slightly more than a cameo because they get the chance to show how much of a dick Liz’s father is – when he causes one of the children to bleed, and he just jokes about it). Oh, and there are three other members of the band – Regan, Sammy (the two are twins, or something like that), and Cassie. Other than Regan being kind of moody, Sammy making a joke that got repeated (hi, I’m Sam), and Cassie . . .um . . being there, I do not really know anything about these three (well, other than that Cassie is, apparently, huge in the industry and knows everyone).

Plot points of interest: broken wrist (Liz); album to release; concert to prepare for; vacation (Hawaii); walking in Carmel-by-the-sea (often referred to as Carmel (though, apparently, Liz’s grandmother insisted on it being called by its full name) was founded in 1902, located in Monterey County, California – heh – from the wiki on Carmel - “a prohibition on wearing high-heel shoes without a permit, enacted to prevent lawsuits arising from tripping accidents caused by irregular pavement”- the heh is because Liz broke her wrist from walking on the irregular pavement); stuff.

September 29 2016

The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell (The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters #2) by Rhavensfye

The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell
by Rhavensfyre
Pages: 155
Date: September 1 2016
Publisher: Ravens Heart Books
Series: The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters (#2)

Review
Rating: 3.75
Read: September 28 2016

Not as 'fun' as the first in the series, though was still interesting and entertaining.

The first book found two women at a comic convention when a zombie apocalypse starts. Second finds them heading to a hospital to tend to their wounded - same day.

Possibly moronic in a way - what don't you do in a zombie outbreak? Go to a hospital (or a mall, or a large meeting place, or . . etc.). And - the didn't really need to go to a hospital. It seems slightly forced. They have a guy with a broken arm. They are deeply into 'being prepared'; it's one of the reasons they survived at the comic con - none of them know how to set up a splint? Immobilize the arm, etc. Sure, won't fix the broken arm but it'll hold it until they find medical help.

Instead of going to the hospital, which is basically guaranteed to be crowded with zombies, they should have gone to . . . well, basically anywhere they might find a doctor or nurse (it's a zombie apocalypse, you don't want to get to complicated about this); one of those 24 hour emergency places - or a animal hospital or something. Whatever is nearest. Scope it out first, of course, for 'infestation'. But a hospital? Yeah, you want to steer clear of that.

September 28 2016

Ramrod by Luke Short

Ramrod by
Luke Short
Pages: 232
Date: October 18 2016
Publisher: Open Road Media
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.5
Read: September 23 to 26 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Open Road in return for a fair review.*

It’s 1943 and the world is in the middle of a war, a war that does not appear to have an end in sight; war, death, rationing and into this mix comes a book by 35 year old Luke Short. No this is not the same Luke Short who was a real life gunman, gambler, and friend of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. No this would be Frederick Dilley Glidden’s pen name (Glidden apparently hadn’t heard of Luke Short before taking the name as his own).

Glidden, in addition to being an author, had been a journalist, a trapper in Canada, an archaeologist’s assistant, and, during the same time period this book appeared, he had been working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

The book is about a drifter in the old west, a man known in the town he is currently residing in as a drunk. A drifter, otherwise known as Dave Nash, who gets tangled up with a woman and her troubles. A woman named Connie Dickason.

Connie grew up under the stubborn thumb of her father, Ben Dickason, owner and operator of the large D Bar cattle ranch. She’s briefly escaped from him and from Frank Ivey by setting up with Walt Shipley (owner and operator of tiny Circle 66). Ivey, beyond a seemingly lifetime pursuit of Connie to make her his wife, is also the head and operator of the Bell cattle ranch – the other big cattle company in the area.

Frank and Ben drive Walt out of the area as the book opens, but Connie is as stubborn as her father. She’s going to make a go of Circle 66 by herself if she has to.

Frank has run off all but one of Walt’s employees, so Connie is entering into those ‘fight’ with just one man. That same town drunk, Dave Nash. Nash, though, is on his way out. He paid what he thinks he has to pay, and is going to drift. Until certain words are exchanged, and he changes his mind. He’s going to stay and help Connie as her foreman.

Nash, as foreman, sets up to get together a crew that can stand against the big boys. He first gets his friend Bill Schell to join, then delegates the task to rounding up the rest of the gang to Schell. With the idea that they are going to ‘get’ Ivey.

Two more people round out the larger players in this drama, Jim Crew, sheriff of this small town, and Rose Leland, a business owner in Signal (the town I haven’t named yet; she owns a dress outfitters – okay, she takes stuff and turns them into dresses).

Westerns, the films at least, of a certain era have a relatively simple set up. There are those who wear black hats (and are therefore ‘the bad guys’), and those that wear white hats (and are therefore ‘the good guys’). At least around the time this book came out. A relatively simplistic view of those westerns, and a relatively simplistic story line.

While things seem to be set up to showcase certain people in certain roles, when you look closer, you see mostly a sea of grey hats. There are about three people who do not fall into this ‘grey hat’ simplification. The sheriff, Jim Crew, wears the whitest hat of the bunch, though he has been a long time law man and is something of a strong man (as in he is capable of doing his job not in that he is a ‘strong man’ as in some kind of dictator). Rose Leland, if she wore a hat (and she might), would also wear something close to or off-white (the only real ‘mark’ against her is a certain reputation that she might be a little too wild and free with men (whether or not that reputation has any basis in reality is up to the reader to decide). Lastly we have one Virg Lea. Not much is known about him, and I’m not sure he even said a single word in the book, but his hat would be the blackest of black (mostly because of his actions, unmixed with any other characterization).

The rest? Wear grey. Dave’s a drunk (for reasons), and is the best of the lot that remain with Circle 66 after Walt is run off – the rest are not ‘trash’, or ‘black hats’, but are there to ‘get’ Ivey because they hate him. Not exactly great men. As a reader will learn, Connie is a tough strong woman, with a streak of stubbornness that matches her fathers, and a certain tendency to . . . well, complicate things.

Frank? Well, a real macho man, strong, determined, big man on the ranch and the territory. He’s been set up as the ‘bad guy’ of the story, but ‘set-up’ is the right phrase to use. His hat isn’t as black as it might seem. Though don’t go mistaking my words. His grey hat is darker than some. Lea is one of Frank’s men.

Ben? His greatest flaw is stubbornness and an inability to ‘work with’ a strong stubborn daughter. He does employ one guy, though, who seems to be the kind who wouldn’t necessarily mind wearing a black hat. Red, the foreman of D Bar.

The book did not unfold the way I expected. It was a lot more complicated, detailed, and wide spread than I thought I was getting myself into. Mind you, there were things easily foreseen – but then we are talking about a western, not a mystery novel.

I’ve never seen the film version of this novel, so I cannot comment on it or any kind of comparison between the two. The book, though, was quite good and entertaining. I plan to read more by this author. I’d probably rate that book something close to 4.55 stars.



Veronica Lake played Connie in the film. Joel McCrea played Dave Nash. Preston Foster played Frank Ivey. I do not know the film well enough to know if the others listed are small or big parts of the film. I do notice that Lloyd Bridges is in the film – as Red Cates.







Last thought: The women in this book were, to a certain extent, a lot stronger people than I kind of expected. None were wilting flowers, damsels in distress, or – for that matter, prostitutes.

September 26 2016

The Haze by James W. Hall

The Haze
by James W. Hall
Pages: 58
Date: September 20 2016
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Series: Bibliomysteries

Review
Rating: 4
Read: September 23 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Mysterious Press/Open Road in return for a fair review.*

This is a neat little short story about an old man in a retirement home. The Haze is his mind - he is living in fog, not sure exactly where he is or who he was. Mixing himself up with what he has read, and what he is reading.

Is he an old hitman who is looking for a way out? Is he seeing an old woman or is she just a character in his books?

What is the secret? You climb a mountain and there's supposed to be a guru there with a secret to reveal. What's the secret? What's the point? What happens when the story is over? To the people in the story?

I meant to just look at the first page/paragraph/chapter. Forget now. But I got pulled in and the story wouldn't let me go until it was over. Good thing it was a short story, eh? Or it could be several days later now instead of an hour or two.

Don't believe I've read this author before. Will have to try another.

September 23 2016

All I Want for Christmas by Clare Lydon

All I Want for Christmas
by Clare Lydon
Pages: 258
Date: October 27 2015
Publisher: Custard Books
Series: All I Want (1)

Review
Rating: 2.25
Read: September 23 2016

I'm rating this book far off the current average, so it's fair enough to ask 'why'. So I better put something in this review box, eh?

Simple enough reason - and one of the main risks of writing things from only one perspective. In the 'I did this, then I did that' way, deep into this person's thoughts we went. And that simple reason is this: I just plainly did not like Tori, the main character. The others were just side characters during her journey through this book. It is true that it would be accurate to say that there were at least four important characters in this book, but only one has enough 'there' for a reader to get a good idea of who they might be. And, unfortunately, as already noted - I didn't like them.

Those four important characters are: Tori the narrator (27 year old who, because of the actions of a woman who was Tori's last important girlfriend (though not most recent ex), prompts Tori to go down the path this book follows - more later); Holly (27 year old roommate and long time friend of Tori's - to a certain extent a reader, as in me, learned mostly that she's super tall, otherwise I didn't learn much about her in this book); Melanie (the ex who is getting married); and finally Nicola (the woman who Tori kind of thinks of as being her true love - a former BFF (best friend forever) who 'went missing' from Tori's life when they share a kiss at the tender age of 16).

Which leads us to the plot. Picture it, November 25th - a woman learns that one of her ex's is engaged to be married. She, Tori, is currently single. Tori decides that she is going to change this situation - no not go after Melanie, no, she's going to change her single status. She's going to get a girlfriend by Christmas. A tall order considering she has no current prospects. So she goes on a bunch of on-line dating experiences (not sure if it is a positive or negative that none of the dates turned out to be stereotypically bad (or good), nor, for that matter, funny). So that's the plot. Get a girlfriend by Christmas.

This is the book that has lead me to take a break from romances. Because I'm tired of the lead up. That's what most romances are, a long ass lead up to a coupling then poof, let's read another long ass lead up. Which is somewhat ironic since that is why I read this book here, no not for the long ass thing, but because this is the first in a series that involves the same couple. So I'd finally get what I wanted - more time with the same couple after they become a couple. Problem being that I don't want to spend any more time with Tori. I've already spent too much time with her.

One last thought before I go - I might have to stop reading British books. I'm not sure if the things that kept pulling me out of this story were British English things, or just errors. It annoyed the hell out of me that the people in the book kept 'sat' instead of 'sitting'. mmphs.

We were sat on our bench at the top of our hill, looking up at the charcoal sky

- I would have written that as 'we were sitting on our bench . . . '. I'm the person who is wrong here, right? Well, regardless, that sat thing happened 96 times in this book - well no, the word appears 96 times, but then I actually read the omnibus version that also has books 2 and 3, so some of those sats might be in those books.

Holly was sat at her usual table with a few of her workmates when I walked in.

- Again I'm wrong to be annoyed by this, right? Well I'd have written that as 'Holly was sitting at her usual table . . .', but maybe that's wrong in all versions of English. Maybe 'was sat' is perfectly acceptable in American English and every other English out there. *shrugs*

I sat down on the sofa, but couldn't shake the nagging feeling that was sat right beside me.

- and I do not even know what that means. The second sat. What the bloody hell is going on here? A feeling sat beside her? Is that it? Oh. Right. Sorry, that's it. A feeling was sitting with her. A nagging feeling. Right. 'was sat'. Was . . . bloody sat. WAS SAT. AAARRGGGH

By the way, I'm sure the answer that will come back, if anyone does 'answer' my annoyance, would be 'well, that's dialect. The author was writing in dialect, and that's just how Tori would speak.' Fair enough. Bloody drove me mad, but fair enough.

She shifted across the sofa so she was sat next to me to emphasise her point.

- course it wasn't actually used in conversation but in the thoughts. Or something like that. I think these are supposed to be Tori's thoughts.

Forty minutes later, we were sat on a Tube, clutching cups of hot coffee, eyes wide open.

- That's horrible. Get on the train. And someone sits on you. They should have knocked them off. Whoever it was who sat on them. 'We were sat on'. Who sat on you? Was it the coffee. Did the coffee sit on them?

Sorry, I'm just being stupid and petty. I just . . . kind of hate Tori. So . . . I'm being stupid and petty.

Selfish full of herself Tori. Ah well. I have the omnibus so I'll probably read at least the second book in the story. Though I'd not otherwise.

Oh, and the whole Nicola thing was annoying.

September 24 2016

Big Love by Saxon Bennett, Layce Gardner

Big Love
by Saxon Bennett, Layce Gardner
Pages: 219
Date: August 30 2016
Publisher: Square Pegs Ink
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.75
Read: September 22 2016

Four things to note immediately:

1) This is neither my first guardian angel book, nor first lesbian fiction guardian angel book;
2) This book is somewhat . . . wildly insane - I can imagine opinions diverging similarly wildly (though I just looked and the vast majority of the people who have rated the book have given 5 stars - 64% of the readers have given 5 stars);
3) This is a very readable book - one so readable I gulped it down before I could even note on GoodReads that I was 'currently reading' it.;
4) This is my fourth book that I've read with Bennett on the 'by-line' and first that also includes Layce Gardner listed on the cover.

Right. So then. This is a silly, wacky, sweet, hilarious book about an easily distracted guardian angel and a specific human, her 'protectee' (plus Nell's (the human's) friends; also plus one or two of Zing's (the angel's) friends).

Zing, as noted, is easily distracted and Nell is kind of boring. So Zing was off playing with a 'footbag' (the phrase used is 'Hacky Sack', but that's technically a trademark name. It's like saying 'I went and made a xerox copy.' - though that's kind of a dated example).

Got distracted, see, I get distracted as well.

Okay then. Zing is Nell's guardian angel. One day while Nell is walking a city street while also texting her love, she fell down a manhole. Because Zing is easily distracted. And thought Nell was going to stay with the others until the light changed. But Nell was distracted by her phone and 'died'; while Zing was distracted by a hacky sack.

Bertha, Zing's boss, is quite pissed to find the human rubbing her head and looking around the field of marshmellows (I've this vague recollection that Nell ended up falling and falling and when she stopped, she landed on marshmellows - in an area adjacent to heaven; marshmellows might not have been involved though). Bertha's pissed because it wasn't Nell's 'time to die'.

Next thing Nell knows, she's in a hospital room waking up to two people talking - Annabelle and Zing, both angels. Though Zing's in a human body now. She's going to be there to make up for her mistake and try to help Nell.

Zing's been around for a while, but hasn't really paid too much attention to human things. So acts like she was 'born yesterday'. Taking things literally. Gobbling donuts, etc. Part of the wackiness is that Zing recalls that Annabelle's 'human' is the kind to help stray dogs and the like. So - she, Zing, needs help - as in a place to stay, a bath, some food, etc. So she wanders over to that person's place (once she's kicked out of the hospital, oh, didn't mention that). She wanders over by spotting an 'old wrinkly woman' sitting on a bench. And bluntly says something like 'old woman, does this bus . . .' go to . . . hmm, I forget how she worded it . . . higher class area. 'Old woman', who is dressed all in purple but for a red hat, takes Zing under her wing and leads her to where 'Miracle' (the name Annabelle and Zing use for Shelia, Annabelle's human) area.

I didn't mean to include all that above, but it's an example of the wackiness. The part where people just respond to her in a positive way. And just, for the most part, accepts when she, Zing, says things like 'I'm a guardian angel'. Which several in the story do - including Miracle, and Nell.

Right, so. Zing mingles with the humans (going to an amusement park, getting a job at a bakery - where Nell and Carol work, etc.) while the humans circle each other in both friend and romance ways. And Nell continues her longish relationship with 'Dove', the author who she's never meet in person, or talked to on the phone (they text, but not talk).

Bah. I'm not doing this review thingie correctly.

Book is good. Readable. Funny. Wacky. Romance occurs between more than one couple. Silliness occurs. I enjoyed the book.

September 22 2016

The Night Off by Meghan O'Brien

The Night Off
by Meghan O'Brien
Pages: 264
Date: July 1 2012
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.5
Read: September 15 to 21 2016

This is the fourth book that I’ve completed written by Meghan O’Brien. Only took me roughly 3 years to read those four books (December 2013 to September 2016). And this is the first I’ve read in nearly 2 years. Must hate or only mildly like these books, eh? Or, possibly, these are the only 4 books by O’Brien?

Well no. There are apparently ’17 distinct works’ by this author. And I’ve given all 4 books I’ve read by O’Brien 5 stars (including this one here). Actually I gave this one a rating of 5.5; not sure it is actually worth the extra .5, but I do know I enjoyed it more than a similar book I’d read, (similar in terms of dommes and submissives – though . . hmm, I think I need to use a different word for Emily), and I do think Girl Trouble is worth 5.25 stars, so this book here, by default, lands at 5.5.

This book is both abnormal and normal. Abnormal in that it is about 264 pages (okay, maybe 259?) of erotic play (which includes more than just sex). Normal in that there are certain lesbian fiction pet topics that pop up in this book.

Emily Parker has, more or less since the birth of her sister, though officially only since she was 18 and her sister was 11, has raised her sister as a ‘sister-mother’ (that’s one of those pet topics that pop up; almost always a sister instead of a brother (not sure I’ve actually ever seen a ‘sister-brother’ except in one vague recollection of that occurring in a book when the siblings were all adults so the brother wasn’t around; and for every main character with a daughter (and/or son) I see, I see about 5 times more single parents who are acting in the capacity of a parent, while raising a sibling – a lot of death in lesbian fiction; heck, the last book I read had someone casually toss out that their entire family burned to death when she was 10, and she was kind of confused for a moment when the other person acted surprised/startled by this information – lots of death).

Distracted myself.

Okay then. Emily Parker has raised her sister, since her parents died on them, for roughly 7 years (officially). She’s ‘sacrificed’ herself for her sister’s well-being. Everything is for her sister. Which includes sacrificing college (well going away to college, she did get a night-school degree) and the partying/fun inherent in her fantasies of such a thing. And relationships, friends and lovers.

None of this is exactly known, for the most part, until deepish into the book. For the simple reason that Emily has decided to take a smallish break from ‘all that’ and give herself a bit of fun for the first time in her life.

The book opens with Emily being abducted by an attractive butch type character with either a shaved head or very short crew-cut length hair (vaguely confused which it was). That would be Nat Swayne. And no, this isn’t some kind of Dark Erotica type situation – the abduction was planned for by Emily herself after she went to an escort service. And asked for something like this.

Let me see, looking at my status updates. The ‘abduction sex scene’ plus ‘extended fun’ lasted for something like half the book (I have down at 43% ‘the long scene continues’ and at 56% ‘well, we finally moved past the really long extended several day sex scene. Course now I’m in the middle of another one that is occurring three days later.’) I was serious when I mentioned that there’s something like 259 pages of erotica in this 264 page book.

Right, so. I rather liked both of the main characters, and the few secondary characters were interesting as well. I enjoyed the sexual dynamic on display here – both how important and stressed that ‘unicorn’ was (safeword; oh and that it was both used and its use was respected), and into it everyone seemed to be.

There were certain ‘traps’ laid out, but only one sprung (Emily and Nat ‘have fun’; loud BDSM fun, in Emily’s bedroom. With the door open (or unlocked, unsure if open or not). While sister is ‘away’. The obvious thing occurred. The thing that was kind of blinking loudly at me while the events unfolded; and only one occasion when I skimmed more than read (Nat is a high priced escort. Emily actually kind of gets off on the idea that Nat is off ‘on appointments’. And lets Nat know this. So there’s one graphic scene involving Nat and another woman that I kind of skimmed. Because I didn’t really want to read Nat with someone else. Course, I learned, Nat didn’t really want to be with that other woman either. And the scene was actually important to the progression of the story, since it laid the foundation for career expansion (well, career change). ).

Right, so I guess I’m ready to close off. Enjoyed the story. It was filled with erotic moments. Involving a bit of BDSM like activity (spanking, power exchange, orgasm control, public bits of eroticism) between two consenting adults in their twenties.

.

Tags/shelves: ‘financial services’ – Emily is an accountant, technically that doesn’t really work, but I didn’t want to create a new shelf; ‘there is a kid’, kid, though, is 18.

Reading – those who’ve seen my reading in the past, the speed of my reading, might be confused by that ‘September 15-21’ read dates. Is full length erotica book. Takes longer to read.

September 21 2016

Love's Autograph by Michele M. Reynolds

Love's Autograph
by Michele M. Reynolds
Pages: 325
Date: April 5 2014
Publisher: Self
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.75
Read: September 21 2016

I rather enjoyed this one, surprised me how much I did. Though for a while there I wanted to reach into the book and squeeze Ria's neck a little, you know, just a little.

Maggie - the kid, Ellie - the rockstar, and Ria - the annoyingly heartbreaking-esque mother of Maggie, were all lovely characters. A few of the side characters were quite interesting as well.

There were one or 8 errors here and there. I do not normally notice or care, but there was at least once that I got briefly pulled out of the story because of it (it was a scene where one of the characters were talking, and they said something to the other - and the wrong name was used (their own) instead of the other person's name).

Wasn't an error, per se, but another tiny bit of annoyance was the text messages. In and of itself, they worked - it was just the part wherein I didn't always know which text were by which sender. Didn't help that that part was all in italics and, at times, 'mushed' together in a vaguely hard to read way.

Overall, though, an enjoyable and readable book.

One last thought - I just read a book that was about 259 pages (out of 264) eroticism, so the relatively low key graphic nature of this book was meet by me in a way that might not be similar to someone coming to this book without that filter . . um . . prior read . . something. Okay, my point is that some might, or might not, be annoyed by the relatively low key graphic nature of the book. I found it down right pleasant or something like that.

September 21 2016

Shine by Badsquirrel

Shine
by Badsquirrel
Pages: 200
Date: 2007
Publisher: None
Series: Edgewater

Review
Rating: 4.25
Read: September 19 to 20 2016

This book involves two people who are ‘messed up’ by past events. One is proceeding with life and believes they are ready to ‘live again’, while the other is still trying to hide from life as much as possible.

Maureen Baird, the one ‘ready’ to try things again, is a 30-something (just short of 40 if I recall correctly) librarian (as in the county librarian, which is, apparently, super important). Three things to know about her immediately: 1) she got absorbed into a prior relationship to the point wherein she basically lost all of her friends except for a husband and wife and their kids – and she kept them, to a large except, because she grew up with the wife and they kind of see each other as almost sisters; 2) she’s gorgeous (apparently) but thinks she is fat and not gorgeous; 3) one and two are somewhat related – she’s had some bad relationships and hasn’t exactly had much in the way of healthy people as girlfriends – none of whom seemed to mean it sincerely when they mentioned her looks; and one of whom probably, though not outright stated, tried to degrade her on her looks (since we, the reader, know that she did outright attempt to degrade her in other means) – which leads to three – no, not that she has had some bad girlfriends, but that one is in prison now for beating Maureen to an inch of her life.

One of the things that got her through her recovery period was a specific voice that she heard on her radio. Though she’d heard it before that hospital and recovery stage. It was just there during that specific time as well. That voice belonging to one Shine Avery.

Shine Avery is the other ‘damaged’ woman in this story. Another 30-something woman. 8 years ago ‘something’ happened that caused Shine to sever all ties with friends and she hasn’t ‘been with anyone’ in the same amount of time. She has also not really felt the desire for sex in that amount of time. She’s lived a life of almost constant travel, though about . . hmm, 2? 4? Years ago she arrived in this Edgewater place. She was on the way out of town when she learned her last connection to another living person had been severed due to death. She almost continued on to her next location, but she didn’t really feel up to moving right then. Needed to recharge. So got a job at a radio station as a radio personality/DJ.

None of this is, for the most part, known by Maureen, or Jim and his family (Jim being 1) one of Maureen’s few friends; 2) Shine’s coworker at the radio station). This is important in its way, of course. So, that stuff above was unknown when Maureen asked Jim for a favor – to introduce her to Shine. Jim proceeds to invite Shine over for a meal, mentioning wife, kids, himself, and a family friend but not mentioning how it is a ‘set-up’. He fully expects, even with this modified invitation (i.e., not mentioning blind date aspect), for Shine to decline the invitation. Because that’s what she does. Always keep herself apart. But Shine accepts. Reluctantly.

So, a meal is had. More or less immediately upon Shine’s arrival at the house she senses she has been tricked and confronts Jim. She sticks around, though reluctantly. As much as possible, she attempts to avoid Maureen.

Maureen, though, is still interested. She doesn’t know what to do, though, and Jim suggests that she do what men do. Pursue the woman, wear her down. Like Jim did with his wife (is it obvious yet that I can’t recall the wife’s name? hehe). So, Maureen turns up once a week and asks Shine out. Weeks go by. Finally, ‘just as friends’ ‘something’ starts up between Maureen and Shine. A door is shoved open.

So, Maureen first had to break down the wall to get Shine to accept her in her life before even thinking about breaking any more walls to get close enough for potential dating.

For the most part, I liked Maureen, Shine, and to a lesser extent Jim and his family. It was a better than okay book but not an outstanding one. Interesting, kept my attention. Didn’t annoy me too much. Reasonable first book by an author.

Another book wherein I’m confused as to why I have access to it free as opposed to it being offered for sale. Nothing here that would limit sales. Shine has a kind of ‘Seven of Nine’ vibe in her approach to emotions, though not in 99% of the rest of her make-up (I can’t really imagine Seven of Nine being as playful and joyful as Shine is when her guard is down and/or she’s near children). That’s the only thought I had re: fanfiction type things, and I’m fairly certain that’s me noticing a similarity in one aspect of a character’s personality that has no real connection to something done by an author on purpose (as in, I’ve no idea if the author has even heard of Seven of Nine from Star Trek Voyager).

And, shockingly, no one is referred to by hair color, eye color, height, or job occupation. And considering how much Shine was kind of reluctant to have anything to do with the county Librarian, and how . . . important Shine’s job as a radio personality was to Maureen, I’d not have been too put off if one or more people did slip in a few ‘the librarian’, ‘the dj’ type references.

Basically I’m just saying that this did not seem to have anything that would keep it from being sold, as is, copyright wise, nor was there anything ‘fanfictiony’ about the book – at least in terms of the tricks that get used and or picked up from writing fanfiction (referring here to the part here I mentioned referring to people by hair, eye, height, or occupation).

A good book. My second by this ‘BadSquirrel’. I gave the first book I had read by this author a solid 5 star rating, while seeing this book here being closer to a solid rating of . . . hmm . . . 4.25.

September 20 2016

Courtship by Carsen Taite

Courtship
by Carsen Taite
Pages: 264
Date: November 17 2014
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 3
Read: September 15 to 16 2016

I have a certain issue with this book (actually more than one) that no one else seems to have either seen, or if seen, didn't have an issue with. So it is possible I'm reading things differently than everyone else. If so, then my rating probably should be, oh, 0.5 stars higher.

I'll mention my main issue in a spoiler.

Some notes:
1) For a book about the nomination of the first woman as chief justice of the supreme court, it sure took a really long time before that woman actually even got nominated (Was it 55% of the book or 72% of the book that went by before she got the nod?)
2) Addison's character was inconsistent. Certain things caused her to get all huffy and to immediately leave and never ever want anything to do with the person who annoyed them (Julia, the person who apparently annoyed her (Julia was hired to help a specific person get through the nomination process; Addison was immediately angered and deeply annoyed to find out that Julia didn't actually care that the guy was a moderate and probably a bad choice for the role of chief justice; and therefore she just had to sever all ties to Julia. Um. okay.), had no clue what the issue was - at the time). And then later Addison's character did a 180 and went in the other direction. (Things started off with Julia wanting to get close to Addison, though filled wiht fear and feeling that she probably shouldn't because of her role in Addison's life; that specific character trait continued. Addison, though, switched to wanting to be near Julia despite earlier not wanting anything to do with her because of . . . um . . 'reasons'.
3) There's a good chance I'd have ended up rating this book a lower rating, 2 stars?, if not for the 'tension' and 'heightened activities' that occurred near the end of the book that pulled everything up.

Main issue I had with the book that didn't seem to either be a real issue, or was something only I cared about: Addison is a lying cheating hypocrite.

Apparently, in her own mind, she may or may not have broken things off with Eva, her girlfriend (at the 45% mark there's a comment, in Addison's mind, about how Eva asked her out after they had broken up. Maybe I misread the section where they had argued. Maybe they had actually broken up there. Problem? Even if so, Eva was attempting to fix the relationship by directly 'attacking' the issues Addison had - namely that Eva didn't want to be public about their relationship. And - Addison accepted. They went out on a date.

Shortly thereafter, as far as I can tell while still in a relationship with Eva, Addison goes and fucks Julia.

Long after the fact, around the 72% mark, Eva rushes in all concerned about an issue. Makes comments that include the word 'girlfriend' - in regard to the relationship between Eva and Addison. And, as far as I can tell, the book ends with Addison still in a relationship with Eva (at least in the sense that she never actually broke up with her (nor did Eva break up with Addison)).

So, in my status updates I had written something:
While Eva does not have a POV in this book, we can 'imagine' things from her point of view. Namely - From Eva's POV: she's dating her college dean (and she, Eva, is a professor at this school), Addison has made some disgruntled comments about disliking how they never actually 'go out'. Eva isn't ashamed of being a lesbian or dating a woman, but is somewhat concerned about being out and about, dating wise, with her school's dean.

Despite this, Eva attempts to set up a public date, but Addison can't go. Eva attempts again, and this time Addison is available.

They go to a fancy hotel restaurant. They seem to be having a good time. Eva happens to notice the current Supreme Court nominee and makes mention of it. Addison spots that guy and the woman sitting with him, Julia.

At this point, since we are in Eva's point of view, we the readers would not know that Addison has already attempted to hump Julia at one point, but got annoyed by a comment Julia made and left in a huff (ETA: this is an important point, by the way - no matter if some kind of 'break up' actually occurred when Addison made disgruntled comments to Eva - the almost humping between Addison and Julia had occurred before those comments by Addison - and they had been one step away from going back to one or the other's places to fuck. When Addison got all huffy about a comment Julia made. There's no question Addison, at that point, was still dating Eva at the time).

Julia wanders over. Addison completely forgets that Eva's there as she talks with Julia, then finally remembers and introduces her. Then practically forces Eva to wander over and talk with the Supreme Court nominee.

Then Julia and Addison: a) point out how bad Eva's acting, not like a girlfriend (WTF?); b) flirt with each other (immediately after making bitchy catty comments about Eva). - Eva, of course, and since we are in pretending to be in her POV (recall that she doesn't have her own POV in the book), the reader do not know any of this. We are over talking with a loud mouth pompous ass - the nominee guy.

Later, Eva's girlfriend sleeps with another woman, though Eva does not know this yet - at the 72% mark.

From this angle, Addison is a massive bitchy slutty cheating . . um . . bitch.

From Addison's point of view? While she hasn't actually broken up with Eva in any official way, she kind of thinks of them as being separated . . . ish; and 'Eva should know' because of a few comments by Addison about how she'd prefer to actually head out on the town with her girlfriend. Oh, and she's kind of bored. Of Eva. And Eva should know that. Because. Reasons. Okay, from Addison's point of view? Even with that film of 'I'm not a bad person, really', Addison is a cheating bitch.

--
heh - and when she was flirting with Julia and on and off dating her? She kept getting all huffy and charging off. Because. From Julia's point of view: a) Addison is free to date (i.e., not currently dating anyone); b) has no fucking clue why Addison keeps getting all huffy (they have a few conversations, Julia notes she's been hired to attempt to push through a specific supreme court nominee; Addison is all huffy about how Julia obviously doesn't care about that nominee's politics and how'll he be horrible on the bench (or, maybe more, how he is too 'moderate' and 'safe'). WTF?
c) is confused when Addison gets angry with Julia when Julia, naturally, felt betrayed when she learns that Addison actually has a girlfriend named Eva.

Hate when they slip cheating in this way - this has to do with the part where I didn't even bloody notice until the 72% mark how bloody annoying Addison is re: dating, cheating, and fucking around. Because most of that was from Addison's POV (there are alternating POV's between Addison and Julia, but Julia knows nothing about Eva being Addison's girlfriend); and Addison was relaying things that seemed down right reasonable. To cheat on her girlfriend. Because, from her eyes, it's more of just a long-ish term fling.

I only really noticed now, at the 72% mark, because Eva's just burst into Addison's office all emotional because a reporter has contacted Eva about her relationship with Addison. In a 'I'm your girlfriend, but why'd you talk to a reporter about our relationship without first talking to me about it' kind of way.

That isn't the 'open eyes moment'. No, it was the part where a reporter did interrupt Addison's night last night. At a restaurant. Where Addison had been on a date with Julia. For fuck sake.

There was a moment in time when I was 'liking' Addison. That moment ended when I saw her personality around Eva and around Julia. I never particularly liked Julia. And I didn't like Eva, though that's not fair since nothing is from her point of view.

September 16 2016

The Providence File by Amanda Kyle Williams

The Providence File
by Amanda Kyle Williams
Pages: 246
Date: January 1 1991
Publisher: Naiad Press
Series: Madison McGurie (2nd in series)

Review
Rating: 4.25
Read: September 7 to 15 2016

I rather enjoyed this one (though using the word 'enjoyed' about a terrorist book seems . . . wrong), slightly more so than the previous book in the series.

The previous book was set in 1978 (though published in 1990), and this book here is . . . no clue. That's the one main problem I had with this book. No specific date was given, and the date hints were all over the place.

The first date hint was a terrorist and mention that he has been in Ireland for the last ten years. His name seemed vaguely familiar (there was one middle eastern guy who he might have been from prior book, though I suspect they weren't actually the same person). If that had been the same guy, then that 'has spent the last ten years hiding in Ireland' would have been a huge hint - and would have made a certain amount of sense. Since the main character was in a perfect position to take a longish break after the prior book. So that would put the date around 1988. (note, some of the information from that section was later seen to be either wrong or misread by me - like the part where they guy had been there all that time - no, he travels around as well, he does not just stay in that specific location in Ireland, like it seemed to imply).

Second date hint - New CIA director left active field service in 1957. Did a few things behind the desk and the like. Got noticed by new president, made CIA director. So . . um . . 1958, 1960? Wait no - he is given freer hand like in 1950s, unlike the 1970s; so this is 1980s.

Third date hint comes form Madison (main character). It's a year later. So 1979. But . . but previos date hint said that we were out of the 1970s. mmphs.

Fourth date hint - some big shot trrorist did something huge in 1985 - relayed in a 'this was some significant time ago' way (well, I mean at least a year or 5). So . . .1988?

What bloody year are we in?

Right, so. Story. Madison is talked into doing a mission. By taking it, it implodes her current relationship. Her mission is to go undercover in the Providence terrorist group. Who are working to 'free the Palestine people'.

The book was actually a lot more detailed, action packed, and filled with spy-stuff than I somewhat expected. Quite enjoyabe. I put it on my 4.25 shelf, which is probably close-ish to correct. Maybe if I had more shelves, I'd put it closer to 4.35.

September 17 2016

Coils by Barbara Ann Wright

Coils
by Barbara Ann Wright
Pages: 312
Date: September 13 2016
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series:

Review
Rating: 4
Read: September 13 to 14 2016

I've read 7 books by this author, which happens to correspond to the total number published. I feel like I should put something here like 'I purchased this book and did not get it through any ARC programs’ but cannot figure out how to word it. Other than, you know, like that.

What’s there to say? Book is like the description on GoodReads. Cressida is a graduate student in college, studying such things like ‘literature’, specifically those that would include Greek stories and myths. She was inspired to go in this direction by seeing her aunt’s life – though aunt June is more hands on than Cressida (as in archaeology and the like).

Book opens with Cressida standing around June’s place trying to figure out where June had disappeared to. And no, I don’t mean she was visiting and she misplaced June. I mean that she had an email from June indicating that she had found something quite neat, though some might call it impossible. That was four days ago. No news since.

During a bit of searching June’s apartment, and computer, Cressida connects up with some guy who had flown in from London. Apparently some of that Greek myth stuff might have some basis in fact.

One of my first thoughts, when I actually got the book and opened it, was how odd everything seemed. As in – the first four books I had read by Wright were in that ‘High Fantasy’ style (or at least a fantasy set on a world not Earth). Fifth was an odd one about Vikings and fantasy land. Sixth was literally on another planet, but this time with a Science Fiction thread. So the odd part? How contemporary and ‘modern times’ the opening of Coils was.

Course things immediately, more or less, turn to fantasy land – specifically the Underworld. So that contemporary feel left, eh? Well, not quite. See, those people ‘down there’ ‘keep up’ with what’s going on up here so . . . a mix of fantasy/underworld/’contemporary cityscape’.

Interesting story. I’ve read several like it, though can’t recall one off the top of my head that specifically involved lesbians – or at least one lesbian (the others are, you know, something like pansexual; I’d make a comment about ‘ancient Greeks and their man-man love’ but I’m not sure how specifically to word that, and no, this time I’m not falling back on ‘except like that’).

Let’s see, Greek myth related would pull in those Rick Riordan young adult novels (with a bit of underworld fun here and there); a different version of ‘the afterlife/not earth’ would pull in the Hot Damned series by Robyn Peterman, though that’d be MF (and includes vampires, demons, angels, Satan, Jesus, and Satan’s daughters – the seven deadly sins). But enough of that.

As noted, seventh book I’ve read by Wright, after a longish run of books I’ve rated three stars (the last of the Katya & Starbride series; the Viking book, and the science fiction book – technically they were not all 3 star books, but close enough to that for this paragraph), I’m happy I’ve found one I can rate 4 stars. Not sure of exact rating but ‘4ish’ seems to work for now.

September 14 2016

Trial by Fire by Sabine C. Bauer

Trial by Fire
by Sabine C. Bauer
Pages: 237
Date: June 1 2004
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Series: Stargate SG-1 (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 3.25 out of 5
Read: September 11 to 12 2016

I only put something here so I do not leave this box empty.

I found the 'guest character' as annoying as everyone said she'd be. And I went in knowing she's a really really horrible person. I didn't know she'd be near 80, but still. Horrible person.

The various scenes of archaeological like work were interesting, albeit brief. Seeing a 'living breathing' off shoot of Phoenicia was also neat. All but T'ealic (heh, I don't think that's his name), spent a little too much time beating themselves up in their heads - and I think the only reason T didn't is because we were almost never in his head (and the few times we were, did have T, once or twice, recalling back to a horrible situation with a woman, so maybe I should remove that 'all but' part).

The General seemed spot on. Carter seemed off for whatever reason. Daniel and the Colonel had, separately, just come from some life altering events, so while they didn't seem spot on to their show characters, there were 'reasons' why that might be.

Story was readable. A few 'dumb' things occurred here and there.

Under the Midnight Cloak by S.Y. Thompson

Under the Midnight Cloak
by S.Y. Thompson
Pages: 362
Date: March 8 2013
Publisher: Mystic Books
Series: Under (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 5
Read: September 9 2016

This is my second book by this author, and I'd left a little note at the end of the review for the prior read something about how I planed on reading another book by this author. And I'm quite glad I did. The first was interesting, but didn't really mesh as well as it might with me (I mean book meshing with me, the reader). But this one was quite fun, thrilling, exactly what I wanted to read.

Ah werecats, how I like thee, even if they aren't as common to be found in books.

I liked everything about this book - the cats, the people, the world, the two main characters - the back story of what these 'creatures' are, at least their connection to ancient Egypt.

I know others feel differently about the book, since I already saw some ratings - but I felt a kind of happy, contented, pleasurable glow while sliding through this book.

September 10 2016

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Not Your Sidekick
by C.B. Lee
Pages: 296
Date: September 8 2016
Publisher: Duet
Series:

Review
Rating: 3
Read: September 8 to 9 2016

I’m pulling the rating down a little, I know, but that’s where I find myself. At a three star level.

There are reasons why I ended up at 3 instead of anything better or worse. First off it is a cute story that is readable and entertaining. Has some issues – like I might even give the book 1 extra star if something gets slipped in to indicate that Jess is actually operating with a lower IQ than other people (because then, hey, she did great) – I say this because: Jess, the main character, had clues constantly being dropped at her feet, the kind that almost glowed in bright neon letters, the kind where it isn’t just the reader having clues that the character lacked, but that everyone involved (reader and character, I mean) saw. And yet Jess seemed almost actively attempting to not see the big massive clues – except for one specific case (It’s bold as anything ever that M and Abby are the same person – which Jess just couldn’t see until finding out through the events of the story – I mean, she knew immediately that the person in the Master Mischief costume was not in fact Master Mischief, so that kind of actually adds to the frustration – that Jess can leap to correct conclusions, but rarely (like here, and like with Bells-Emma mentioned later); it isn’t as ‘bold as anything’, but one stage less than that, that Bells is Chameleon (the first one, M/Abby, could be seen without needing too much observation skills by Jess, second one, Bells/Chameleon, is ‘seen’ because of Jess’s observation skills – she just didn’t put the pieces together); Bells has a thing for Emma – and while Emma didn’t seem to have noticed it, Jess did (this time Jess actually noticed things); Jess kept testing for superpowers but didn’t notice that she was ‘lucky’ in certain situations (I’m being purposefully vague here, and no her ‘superpower’ is not luck) – this one, for reasons, I’ll give a pass to Jess for not noticing. ).

So, I kind of distracted myself there. The book was interesting and readable. There were certain issues I had with it which I briefly listed above, and will again in a moment some more. One sign of ‘I’m not really enjoying this as much as I should’ is completely personal – I had the time, energy, and inclination to read last night – I could have finished. But I just couldn’t get myself to continue. I ‘only’ had 10 or 20% of the book left to read at that point.

There are things I like about the book, enjoyed. Interesting world built here. Interesting to see a child of superheroes, sister of a superhero (sister), and sister to another sibling who is a super genius (brother) but who doesn’t appear to ‘fit in’ as well as she wants – she sees having something ‘extra’/’super’ as the norm, even if it really isn’t in the society. And there was a scene that occurred with Jess – as background: she’s half Chinese/Vietnamese, and while she was born in Nevada, her parents are from China (mother I believe), and Vietnam (father I believe) – that builds to why I mention: there is a really neat touching scene wherein Jess is in a mixed Asian café – people are talking in various Asian languages, ordering, eating, etc. Jess likes the food, the atmosphere, the place. But . . . then she attempts to order and the cashier looks at her funny – she’s not really fully ‘Nevadan’ (I’m not actually sure what I should put there, ‘Confederation’? there’s a confederation of Canada, USA, and Mexico built from the remnants of those three countries), not fully Chinese, or Vietnamese. And while she got sent to weekend ‘Asian’ classes, she obviously isn’t understandable to native speakers of the languages – she’s an outsider in her own culture, and in her parents separate cultures.

As I noted in a status update at the 73% mark – ‘cute story until, you know, Dan Brown’. Up to that point there were some frustrating moments, but more fun ‘cute’ moments. Then the book turned a direction I see too many superhero prose (or young adult speculative fiction books) turn – things are not as they seem and there are conspiracies afoot.

Ah – one last thing to add before I move to a section about ‘similar books’. The ending – it doesn’t make any sense. And I can’t say why. Not sure I should even put in spoilers why I say that. There’s a bunch of action that occurs near the end. Heated. Words exchanged. Words like – ‘you will be villains, fugitives, outlaws now!’ *evil cackle*. Scene ends. Next scene begins. And . . . it’s like was this just some overly elaborate dream or something? We are back in school like nothing happened. The person who said those cackling things is literally Jess’s sister – she knows who Jess is – yet her parents just tell her to go to school because . . . grades are important. While ‘everyone else’ has a slightly better ‘cover’, it isn’t exactly ‘great cover’. Plus – ‘where to find those people we wish to capture? *rubs chin, maybe grab my sister’s friends?*. mmphs.

I’ve read several books like this one here. In terms of superhero prose (as in not comic book/graphic novel), there’s ‘Villainess Love’, the ‘Action Figures’ series, ‘The Black Stiletto: The First Diary – 1958’, ‘Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero’, ‘The Next Chronicle’ series, and the ‘Velveteen vs’ series.


Villainess Love has the LGBT, villains aren’t all bad – sometimes heroes cause more damage vibe of ‘Not Your Sidekick’ (NYS), plus one of the women involved is deep into being a geeky/nerdy/techie like one of the women in NYS, though one involves fully grown adults, while the other involves people closer to . . hmms, 17? 18? Something.

The Action Figures has the high school student level heroes and proto-heroes; dynamics of people lusting after others and not getting ‘the right’ reaction; one of the books even includes a lesbian character.

The The Black Stiletto: The First Diary 1958 by one of the James Bond authors doesn’t have much similarity except for the part wherein it includes a ‘not everything is at seems’ vibe.

Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero includes the vaguely different vaguely similar world to 'our earth' vibe of ‘NYS’, though NYS takes place on a future earth, and I’m not sure Love for the Cold-Blooded is on earth. It has a bit of the ‘everything is not what it seems’, ‘villains and heroes do not exactly correspond to the titles ‘villain/hero’, there’s a certain amount of ‘play-acting’ in the fights (somewhat – like some of the fights in NYS), involves LGBT people, a character whose sibling is quickly marching toward being a villain, and parents who are villains.

The Next Chronicle series includes the idea of mutants suddenly springing forth, a ‘conspiracy’ back story and government watch-dogs, though isn’t that close to NYS.

The ‘Velveteen vs series’ has that ‘everything isn’t as it seems’, ‘there’s a school for proto-heroes/villains’, ‘government (or in this case corporations) are kind of evil-ish’, and there’s a bit about kids learning and becoming heroes, though that’s in flash backs.

September 9 2016

Girl Trouble by Miranda Baker

Girl Trouble
by Miranda Baker
Pages: 93
Date: March 25 2014
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: Come Again (4th in series)

Review
Rating: 5.25 out of 5.0
Read: September 8 2016

This is very much a story that requires the reading of 'Top Student' and 'Girl Trouble'. Considering this is a series of stories that are roughly 90 pages in length, the ones that get a full number, I am uncertain why Top Student (at 60 pages in length) is considered a .5; especially as Top Student and Girl Trouble go together as something like part 1 and part 2 of the Bonita Pritchard/Kat St. James story.

Destiny & Johnny are in book 1. Alisa Mane and Mark Winters are the stars of book 2. Crystal LaRusso and Ryan something star in book 3 (which is actually more than 90 pages at 157). Then Bonita & Kat star in books 3.5 and 4 (well, Kat, Destiny & Johnny star in book 3.5, though Bonita’s presence is felt since Kat is there for Bonita). Therefore this is an interconnected series based around a sex shop called Come Again – owned by Bonita. So, since all but book 3 are nearish the same length (give or take 30 pages), then this should just be a five book series, not one where Top Student gets side-tracked as a ‘fill in’. Especially since books 3.5 & 4 go together.

Or, in other words, if you read only one ‘sub-series’, read 3.5 & 4. Though ‘Girl Trouble’ is currently missing. Curious if there’s a connection to the fact that the only F/F book in the series is the part of the series missing from Amazon (there’s a FMF scene at the start, but it’s a waking up from it scene, not graphic detailed scene). Wait, no, ‘Hook Up’ is also missing. So scratch that idea.

Right – that above wasn’t really what I wanted to say/write about.

‘Top Student’ is currently free on Amazon as of this writing (September 8 2016). I read that story back in April of 2014 and really enjoyed it – a mix of FMF, and FF that one. A story about a woman who is attempting to locate and be with the woman who she loves, but who is dodging her ‘for reasons’. So she, Kat, heads from California to the east coast and the sex shop known as ‘Come Again’. Searching for that woman, for Bonita. But she can’t find her. She does, though find out that Bonita has been spending a good deal of time in the BDSM world. And she gets two of Bonita’s friends to help her understand that world, because she wants to do everything she can to get Bonita back. So that’s what ‘Top Student’ is about – Destiny & Johnny teaching Kat.

This story here, though, isn’t ‘Top Student’. It’s ‘Girl Trouble’. Part two of the Bonita/Kat story. Two years after I read part one; I finally got around to reading part two. No real idea why I took so long.

Kat St. James and Bonita Pritchard grew up together. And played together. Sexy games. But St. James had a dream, a dream of making it huge in Hollywood, a dream that Bonita didn’t’ feel like she could be a part of, or, in other words, she decided she had to step aside to allow Kat to spread her wings and fly. They did keep in touch over the years, yearly visits. Until three years before the start of this story here when Bonita started dodging Kat’s visits.

Kat has sent out feelers/messages to try to lure Bonita back to her.

Story starts, though, with a self-destructive Kat bouncing around, drunk, and looking for something to overwhelm her mind, so she hooks up with a man and a woman – mostly because the woman reminds her of Bonita.

Eventually, though, Bonita breaks down and visits Kat.

They have a lot of fun together, Kat and Bonita; mixed with both fearing what will happen in a week (Kat is determined to bind Bonita to her and Bonita is determined to leave after a week). Lots of feelings, emotions, graphic dominate/submissive sex; and the kind of ‘flash backs’ I like.

I do not particularly like flash backs (or forwards, or sides (a parallel story that follows a different plot line that may or may not intersect the current story)). This author here showed that you can reveal certain information in a few words without having to have hundreds/thousands of words – you can drop hints about that growing up together, of getting ready for prom together, of the games they played, by side comments, by lines here or there, without having to interrupt the flow for a mutli-chapter 10,000 word jaunt into flash-back land. Quite lovely, that.

I mentioned in a status update that this is exactly what I had been looking for for years. And that I had had the book for 2 years before I got around to reading it. By ‘what I had been looking for’ I mean a good solid strong dominate woman who has true feelings of love mixed up with a submissive, though in her own way strong woman who also feels the stirrings of love. That complements each other – Kat being wild and reckless and domineering – but pulled back from the edge by Bonita; Bonita being something of a control freak who needs, wants, and gets release from these control needs through the trust in Kat.

Or something like that. I’ve probably overrated Domme/Submissive books in the past, and I probably overrate this one. Tis my life to do such.

September 8 2016

Taste by Kris Bryant

Taste
by Kris Bryant
Pages: 240
Date: October 18 2016
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 3.5
Read: September 7 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in return for a fair review.*

This is one of the few times I am able to say 'I've read everything written by this author'. And, quite frankly, if that hadn't been the case, there is a good chance I wouldn't have 1) attempted to read the book; 2) continued the book but for that fact.

A combination issue. I read and enjoyed 2 of the three previous books I'd read by this author (and the third did get 3 stars). So I immediately put 'Taste' on my 'to-read' pile, and eagerly awaited it. So - my point is that I only barely glanced at the book beyond the cover and some vague idea it involved food. And chefs. Otherwise, if I'd looked closer, I might not have read the book. Teacher/student affairs are not really my thing. - that's the 'attempted to read book' part - I wouldn't have, if I had looked at a description mentioning 'teacher/student'. And the opening was such - a student more or less openly lusting after the new gorgeous teacher - almost caused me to skip the book - but for the fact I'd read and liked the author before (that and the part wherein I got the book via Netgalley and therefore had to give a good faith effort at reading the book).

Ah, how things could have worked out.

One of the things I dislike about teacher/student books is the simple part that a reoccurring theme seems to occur - it almost always seems to be the case that the two (who are both adults) are lustful over the other, and one is inches away from moving beyond the forbidden zone. Like here. Wherein the two would only have to wait two months before acting on any lustful thoughts (yeah yeah, I know, that hard). There always seems to be that dynamic - borderline free to pursue each other, but not there yet; both interested in the other.

I believe I might have been closer to a five star book, though probably not that high, if things had been as they were in the book, but instead of Ki (the student) going after Taryn (the teacher), it had been Ki (the student) going after Taryn (the student) - as in, move Taryn to Mary's place in the book, and move Mary to the teacher role - still have tension, drama, angst - what, then you'd have both competing for the same scholarship, both adults - mostly keep them as being the same characters after the shifts from teacher/student as they have in this book (age, daughter, otherwise; the difference would have to include some change wherein Taryn moved from some high paying prestigious job to school for family reasons (like actually happened in the book), but have a change in that prestigious job (since a high level chef working in a high class restaurant does not move from that to student at a chef school).

It's not like that isn't already the theme of the book - changing careers. Ki was on the way to becoming a lawyer when she shifted to pursuing cooking; Mary herself moved from nursing to cooking. So a change in career is already a part of the story-line.

Why am I going this direction instead of just switching to Mary being the love interest? Because I actually do like Taryn and Ki together, and the kid, Olivia, and their interactions and stuff. And I do not really know much about Mary (other than . . . ., what me give everything away?).

Bah. I mess up review. I move on.

I liked most of the characters. Olivia the 6 going on 16 (daughter of Taryn). Taryn the prestigious chef, mother, and teacher. And Ki, the student chef.

I was thinking, as I was reading, that that tension of 'taboo' student/teacher stuff can add it's own level of angst/drama/tension so that that could be the 'tension' in the book without having to add other things to add drama. As long as a line isn't crossed. I should mention that I wished to kill my reading device several times while reading this book - take that as you wish.

Oh - I loved the part wherein Taryn was from South Africa. I just kind of randomly declare. Added something, it did.

Well, I depart. I eagerly await 'Forget-Me-Not', the next Bryant book.

Oh wait - hmms, I'd give this book a rating nearish 3.25 to 3.75 depending on my mood about the lines that were crossed. Speaking of which - there's a ton of sex in this book.

September 7 2016

Club Twelve by Amanda Kyle Williams

Club Twelve
by Amanda Kyle Williams
Pages: 267
Date: May 1 1990
Publisher: Naiad Press
Series: Madison McGuire (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Read: September 3 to 6 2016

I do not recall exactly how I ended up on this series, but it looked interesting and, despite there being no digital version of the books, decided to order all of the series despite there being very little information about each individual book.

The Setting and Time Period
First off, this book was published in 1990, but set in the late 1970s (1978) during the presidential term of President Boone (no those with weak memories, the president during that time period was Carter, Boone is a fictional president).

The book moves around both the US and Europe. Spending some time in Colorado (Vail), Massachusetts (Boston, Cambridge), Virginia (Langley, Camp . . . I'm going to say 'Perry' - the training base for operatives), Washington DC, North Carolina; England (London), Liechtenstein, Germany, and Switzerland.

The Players
This is one of those books that jump around from various points of view. There is one main one though - that being Madison McGuire - a long time undercover agent for the NIOS - an offshoot of the CIA.

Madison McGuire
It is difficult, at times, to write something for a physical book. I cannot now quickly locate certain things. Like I am unsure if her actual age is in the 30s or 40s region. Though I do know she is a long time operative for the NOIS. Her father was a London CIA station chief who was murdered (though not in London; and a year before the book started, Madison's long time girlfriend was murdered (this time in London). Madison's girlfriend was killed because she was wearing Madison's raincoat and getting into Madison's car - they thought they were killing Madison (code-named Scorpion).

Terry Woodall
Woodall is a student at a college in Cambridge, and - important to the CIA/NOIS/US Intelligence - she is the daughter of a man who runs the Woodall corporation. They, the NOIS, desire to recruit Terry to go undercover against her own father - though specifically because they suspect that her step-brother is evil (I was going to put what they suspected, realized that would be spoiler-y, then went with 'evil'). As someone about to graduate college, I'd put her as being somewhere in her 20s (I believe it might be a graduate program, so that would raise her age a tiny bit - so that it would be less like someone nearish 40 dating someone nearish 18 - last book I read had someone who was a father of a young woman - the man was 16 when the kid was born, and the kid is now somewhere around 22 - so 22 & 38; she's early 20s).

Right, sorry, jumped the gun there. 1) Terry is a lesbian. 2) Madison is a lesbian (though only the director of the NOIS, Andrew McFaye (who is something like Madison's surrogate father) knows that Madison is a lesbian - otherwise she would be kicked out of the organization for being an 'evil disgusting homo'). Madison followed Terry to Vail to 'recruit' her. Specifically followed her into a gay bar. She wasn't specifically supposed to recruit her through sex; though things happen (no they did not have sex in Vail - just a start of a romance).

Do not be fooled by the book description (though I think the book description is now different from what I'd seen) - the book is not actually specifically about Terry working undercover. Though that is a tiny part of it.

The Spy Chiefs
Various agency heads have their own moments of telling things, specifically the head of NOIS, and the (deputy?) head of the CIA.

The Club of 12, or Club 12
Some of the 'stuff' that happens in the book is in the view of the Club 12 people.

The Helpers
Over the course of the book, Madison comes into contact with people who help her (either agency people, or old friends).

The Plot
The book opens with a man being killed - the prologue. He had a lengthy report on the Club 12 organization, though he did not know all of the top people. He was killed before he could turn over the report, but the US intelligence community already knew of Club 12 (though not the members).

The intelligence community seeks and tentatively gets authorization to investigate Club 12 – specifically because one of the few Club 12 members they think they know is located in the USA. And the CIA and the like are not supposed to operate in the USA.

They tap one ‘Madison McGuire’ to work on the case. She had been one of the best field operatives in the organization before the incident that had occurred in London a year ago. Since then she has worked on the desk. This will be her first case out in the field in a year. I keep saying the same thing over and over, eh?

Madison goes about recruiting someone to investigate the Woodall corporation. Becomes romantically entangled. Follows the suspected Club 12 member to Europe. Hops around Europe.

Things unfold badly.

Lesbian? Romance?
As mentioned – both Madison and Terry are lesbians. No kicking around the idea, they are in fact out and out lesbians. And there is a bit of romance between the two that occurs in the book – though, except for moments here and there (which includes bits of sex), the book is more of a long distance romance.

Overall
An enjoyable book - I liked it.

Note – it might be noticed that I have been somewhat ‘slow reading’ this book. It’s a physical book. Those take longer to read. Since I can’t pull it out at any moment to read (like with a digital book), but have to wait for special moments.

And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane

And Playing the Role of Herself
by K.E. Lane
Pages: 336
Date: January 7 2007
Publisher: Regal Crest
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.0
Read: September 3 to 5 2016

So - added another book to my very small collection of 'books I have read more than once' (don't be fooled, that just means 'twice' - there's only one book I've read more than twice, and I think I've only read that one three times).

Funny thing happened when I started reading - this is a book I know I enjoyed when I read it, that 5 star rating was kind of a big clue to myself, but I just couldn't remember the book - until I started to reread it. The book didn't come back to me in a flash or anything like that, no - more that I was keeping ahead of the reading a little bit. As in, first scene in the book finds Caidence working in a police station talking to a small boy - a scene for her cop television show. And the entire scene came into my brain fully formed. Rest of the book proceeded similarly - I'd read and a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, ahead of where I was reading would come back to me. Yet I never, until end of book, had the entire book come back. Just a tiny bit ahead of where I was reading.

By the time I was done I realized that I had in fact remembered the book (I mean prior to the reread) - I had just thought it was one of Jae's Hollywood books. No idea how that occurred.

There were moments I liked and disliked both characters - Caid and Robyn. Caid seems like a great person and stuff, but there were moments that I realized that some of what was occurring was being 'masked' by my knowledge - by being the reader in Caid's head (and yeah, the stuff is from Caid's point of view). As in - Caid sure didn't communicate very well - a lot of the problems came up because of how poorly Caid communicated. For example - Caid spent an inordinate amount of time thinking thoughts to herself like 'I am a lesbian, or at least lesbian like person' - and yet when the topic came up with Robyn, and several comments were made back and forth, Robyn was given the impression that Caid was not in fact a lesbian, but a straight woman who had never kissed a woman before but was interested in experimenting - so we have both of those tropes in the book (a lot of the lesbian tropes, themes, ideas turn up in this book), the 'lesbian for you' (which was hinted at by the poor communication skills but a red herring) & the 'lesbian trapped in feelings for a straight woman but doesn't want to be' that was also a false positive. All because Caid said something along the lines that she had never kissed a woman - now mind you Caid is often tongue tied around Robyn, and so probably couldn't get the right words out anyway, though a lot of the problems stem from this problem to communicate issue. Though, to be fair, that issue comes from both sides - as revealed by some comments eventually pulled from Robyn.

So - Caid is a thirty-something woman who spent some time as a model, as she put it 'a beer bitch' (one of her modeling works lead to some beer commercials which included her in a barely there top) before branching out into acting. And is in her second year on a police show that is seeing a great deal of success. Her best friend is a woman named Liz who is her cop partner on the show - and someone who has been famous from an early age so is quite . . . unskilled with social thingies.

Robyn is a woman who acts on a lawyer show that is the origin show (whatever you call a show that another show spins off of - Caid's police show spun off of Robyn's lawyer show), and occasionally has guest appearances on Caid's cop show. Robyn is in a very famous 'coupling' with a tennis pro, a Josh something or other. Both of them look quite taken with the other and are constantly seen out and about.

Both Robyn and Liz (and, for that matter Josh) are much bigger stars than Caid.

At a Q&A for the cop show, attended by Caid and Liz, one of the last questions presented was one about fanfiction. Namely something along the lines of 'are you aware that there is fanfiction about your characters which paints them in a lesbian light; is there a chance that a lesbian theme would appear on the show; how does that impact your acting - etc etc'. Caid has to answer that one as Liz is kind of gasping in confusion and horror.

On the ride back from the Q&A, Liz and Caid share a limo (along with Paula, Liz's personal assistant). Liz is furious and wants to sue the internet (not sure if she is specific on who she wants to sue). Caid explains that Liz can't. Caid then shows Liz one of the lesbian fanfiction stories. One thing leads to another and - not right then and there, but eventually - Liz sets in motion something Caid can't dodge (a reoccurring theme - Caid is kind of spineless when it comes to people telling her to do things; in terms of the Liz idea - she feels that she isn't in a strong enough position to go against the idea (I'm being vague, but you could probably use the same sentence for a lot of situations in this book)).

At the table read for the season finale, all of the heavy-weight executives (producers, writers, show creators, etc.) pop in. And reveal that they are going to have a lesbian twist. This being the thing I vaguely noted above. The thing Caid doesn't feel powerful enough to do anything but accept her role in the situation. For her character is going to be bumping up against Robyn's character. Complicated all the way around since playing a gay/lesbian/LGBT role can have implications on careers, and Caid has been lusting for Robyn for two years by this point. Complicated.

So yeah. Fun book. Much angst. Some family issues. Several tropes pulled in (some mentioned above some not - one of the ones I haven't mentioned involves 'dangerous event occurs so one or the other realizes their true feelings' that seems a reoccurring theme in the book). Quite well written. Much angst. Much drama/loving/sex (graphic).

September 5 2016

Five-Star by J. Santiago

Five-Star
by J. Santiago
Pages: 301
Date: September 6 2016
Publisher: ASJ LLC
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.0
Read: September 2 to 3 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and ASJ LLC in return for a fair review.*

A few notes:
1) hard to write review without spoilers for . . reasons

2) be careful about expectations and categories with this book.
this is a slice of life book that includes college football, a coach, a coach's daughter, and a top tier football QB. There is some sports action, but very little on field stuff. There is more than one couple involved in this book but I would be hesitant to label this a capital R Romance (because of the 'rules' of the top Romance publishers when it comes to Romances). Though there is sex and a bit of romancing. There is also a bit of 'timing matters'; & families can be good and bad.

3) I spent a certain amount of time, while reading this book assuming that I would rate this around 4 stars, but it grew on me and I rather enjoyed it.

4) As far as I know, no LGBT person or issues occurred in this hook (though there was one joke that I do not recall completely involving a question asked in a joking manner without expectations of a yes answer - 'what, are you or Tilly gay?')

The book follows several people's point of view, though 'stars' mostly Amber Johnson and Tank Howard. Amber being an early 20-something young woman who had just recently been in a fatal car accident. Well, recent enough that she is still rehabbing from it, but the accident might have been a year ago (or 6 months, I forget if it was specifically stated). While rehabbing she also makes a few extra dollars working in a bar.

Meanwhile Tank Howard is the 'five star' of the book title. As in he is a five star football athlete. Don't ask me what that means exactly. Though I know that means he is a top-tier football talent/prospect. The book opens with Tank at a press conference, as a high school student declaring which college he will be going to. Because of fairly obvious reasons, Tank ends up at a college he did not expect when the morning began that day - a small school with an unimpressive football program, though it is division I. or 1. Or . . um, something. Tank ends up playing for a guy most people seem to call 'Franco', since that's his name (last name) Franco.

Coach Franco also has a point of view in this book, and even, somewhat shocking me since I hadn't realized what kind of book I was actually getting involved with, sexual encounters. Coach Franco has a daughter that most do not know exists (ETA: this may or may not be needed to be noted, I noticed just now while rereading my review (9/9/2016) - Coach Franco does not have a sexual relationship with his daughter. I felt the need to add that now because I realize I go from 'shockingly, Franco has sex' to immediately state 'Franco has a daughter not many know about').

There's a tradition that exists with the football team that Tank is on, a tradition stretching back 20 or so years - the team goes out for drinks before the season starts (I believe that it is after the first preseason game -though the story that gets told about the first outing - 20 yeas ago, seemed to indicate that it occurred after the first practice). I mention because that night Tank and Amber meet for the first time. With Amber literally falling at . . . well, not really at his feet though that's what he says later, and I think the description says that as well. Not important. Tank was sitting. Amber was working and then had to go back to the kitchen. Tries to get around a huge football player who was kind of blocking the way. Touches him. That guys girlfriend charges forward and grabs Amber's arm. Amber collapses and literally passes out.

Tank and Amber then proceed to circle each other. Amber is reluctant because Tank is a football player, and she's had some bad luck with them. Tank's reluctant because Amber is bitchy - though that also intrigues him to a certain extent - since he can and does have any other woman he wants.

It should be noted that there is also a 'Molly', a compliance officer at the school. Mentioned for various reasons but also because she and Franco also have a 'circling each other' thing going on. Plus, one of the oddest things I've seen occurs with Molly - immediately after seeing his daughter being carried off, presumably for sex, Franco goes and has sex himself. Apparently for the first time in 2 are more years. That . . . kind of felt vaguely icky to me. hehe. 'I see my daughter is getting some; I'll go have some myself!' hehe - no that isn't actually either his thoughts, nor his thought process. But yeah, Franco and Molly also circle each other in this book.

There are other couples and/or groupie hook-ups, but none of the others have POV people, so I not mention them more than that they exist.

This was an interesting book. I enjoyed it. Somewhat unexpectedly enjoyed it. At a 5 star level. I reiterate that you, reader, need to be careful of categories with this book. Because it isn't really a Romance book, though it has romance in it. I think one of the other reviews hints at or mentions what I'm indirectly getting at - there are certain 'expected' things that occur in Romances - this is not a capital R Romance under those 'rules'

September 3 2016