Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Humanity for Beginners by Faith Mudge


Humanity for Beginners
by Faith Mudge
Pages: 71
Publication Date: February 13 2017
Publisher: Less than Three Press
Series: --

Review
Rating: 5+
Read: February 28 2017

*I received this book from NetGalley, and Less than Three Press in return for an honest review.*

I believe that the most recent werewolf story/book I read I made some comment about how it had been the best, or among the best or . . . well, I've this vague recollection I made a comment like that regarding a werewolf book relatively recently. I've also relatively recently rated two werewolf books close to 3 stars, so I've not exactly gone out of my head regarding werewolf stories.

Why do I mention that? Why do I start off my review that way? Simple. I surprised myself here. I, somewhat randomly, looked at various books/short stories on offer on Netgalley, saw this story here, thought it looked interesting, and read it. And, I have to say, found myself in a warm fuzzy place that actually made me teary-eyed at a few moments (no idea what that's about, maybe my eyes are off). And, not only do I have this vague feeling that I've just read one of the better werewolf stories I've attempted, I also feel as if I've read one of the better lesbian stories. I do not wish to use the word 'best' or 'one of the best' as I seem to be miss-using that phrase/word lately. But . . . something like that.

The story? Something like a slice of life look at a group of women living and working in England. At a bed and breakfast (there was some comment that flew past me without me paying much attention indicating that it was something different than that . . . but I might have misread that). All have some 'issues' they are attempting to get through, pasts to live down. A lot of those issues occurred/developed because of another thing all these women share in common - they are werewolves.

There's Gloria, the 'not-the-alpha' who owns and runs the place, Nadine the chef, Lissa & Louisa who are loners/and or newly bitten (within six months) who are the waitresses (and have been circling each other. Then there's . . . the gardner man. Who is human. And whose name is escaping me for some reason. mmphs. Then there's Eben, another human, who comes calling one night looking for someone.

Lovely story. As mentioned, warm and fuzzy. Fun. Unexpectedly explicit briefly (I had accidentally mixed several book snippets together and forgot this one did have that bit about 'some explicit content'). It probably hit me differently than someone else, especially if they read it after reading my review. Since I wasn't expecting anything and they would be (it's one of those 'went so far and then . . . new scene' type of explicit action).

I've never read anything by this author. I now desire to dive into their work and hopefully find some more interesting stuff.

Rating: 5+

February 28 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Dreaming Of You/Sonando Contigo by Lynda Sandoval

Dreaming Of You/Sonando ContigoDreaming Of You/Sonando Contigo by Lynda Sandoval

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As I said at the start of my review for the previous book by Sandoval I had read – this is both the first and second time I’ve read this book. While this is the first time that I have read ‘Dreaming of You’ by Lynda Sandoval, I had previously read ‘Under Her Skin’ by Lea Santos June 2 2016. ‘Under Her Skin’ was released 10 years after ‘Dreaming of You’ and is a ‘regendering’ of ‘Dreaming of You’. As in, one of the main characters in Dreaming of You, Enrique Pacias the male gardener from Mexico became Torien Pacias, the female gardener from Mexico, in ‘Under Your Skin’ (and Enrique’s player brother, Iso Pacias, became Torien’s player sister Madeira Pacias; and Lilly’s male agent in this book became a woman in ‘Under the Skin’).

Right, so – story is basically the same as I read in 2016. Just with different sexual organs and sexual orientations involved. The only thing I can really think of to note is that one of the things I really liked about Santos lesbian series (Amigas y Amor) is how lesbians interacted in both the Mexican and Mexican-American communities. Though now that I’ve read this specific book here, I realized that many of the things I had noticed, both the acceptance and the divides were things already there in the heterosexual books. I don’t mean acceptance/divides for lesbians, I mean that the things I had spotted and ‘saw’ as acceptance/divides for lesbians, were already in the heterosexual books in reaction to the heterosexuals around them. I’m not really sure how to take that.

Except. Hmms. Looking over my review, and recalling thoughts I had while reading the book yesterday – there were things I remembered from my prior read that did not seem to be here in this book. In concept, yes. Like I have this vague memory of Lily . . . oh good grief, why would the author have changed the character from Lily Lujan to Iris Lujan? Mmphs. Right, so, I’ve this vague memory of Lily asking her friends about a specific area, the area Torien lived in – about whether they had ever been there – because it is more of a Mexican Mexican area, as opposed to them – several generation (or more) Mexican-Americans (or, as was stated in ‘Dreaming of You’, Mexican vs. American). The friends had reacted with the idea that they hadn’t – because of that divide of Mexicans from Mexico, and Americans of Mexican descent. And that concept was conveyed in the Dreaming of You book, but the conversation didn’t happen. I got distracted by the Lily/Iris issue, and have forgotten what else I was going to say in this paragraph.

My mind, as is a constant issue, is a mess so – I’ll redirect people to my other review. Though I will note that the two books I’ve read under the Sandoval name (the two heterosexual books) work well as either heterosexual or lesbian books.

Rating: I gave this book, or the lesbian version of this book, a rating of ‘4.65 to 4.85’ when I read it in 2016. I give this version here a rating of 4.35 to 4.45 – though, admittedly, that might be because I’d already read this book and some of the annoyances spotted in the prior book grew here meeting them for the second time, and some of the ‘surprises’ that might have bumped the rating, weren’t surprises this time.

February 28 2017




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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Jane's World Collection Volume 1 by Paige Braddock

Jane's World Collection Volume 1Jane's World Collection Volume 1 by Paige Braddock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Just a couple of quick notes:
1) This is a collection that has the first three volumes previously released in the series - I had previously read and liked the first of these volumes.
2) Normally I would have likely read this all in one day but for the part where I had a physical copy of the book - and my eyes aren't the best for that type of reading any longer. So that's why I took most of February to read this book.
3) Jane continues on her weird and wacky journal down lives roads; that one novel I read in the series plus the first volume somewhat mislead me - I kind of had the impression that Jane either got into and out of relationships a lot; and/or she had some kind of on again off again thing going on with Dorothy, when really she spent most of the book on the edge of relationships. Wanting to ask that woman out; being friends, but not dating, that second woman; having various ex-girlfriends turn up, etc. etc. Oh, and that guy from Pearls Before Swine popped up as a reoccurring character (Jane decides to become a cartoonist, a friend new Stephan (whose name, for some reason, was 'Steven' in the book; the guy looked like Pastis and 'Pearls Before Swine', his comic series was mentioned so not sure what is up with using 'Steven').
4) Some family members, namely a sister and niece pop up.
5) This series has so many characters that some will pop up and I'll just barely remember that I'm supposed to know them; while others wander in and out of the story-line and when they aren't in it, I forget they exist.
6) This is a mix of people in here, femmes, butches, heterosexual men and women, bisexual women, lesbian women, and I believe one gay man (and one drag queen (though that was one brief scene)). Oh, and at least one of the very butch looking women are very much straight, so you can't go by looks (of course).
7) Funny book. Makes me want to go reread that one novel set in this universe. Though I'll probably read volume 4 of the comic first, since I already own it.



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Rumors by BadSquirrel

RumorsRumors by BadSquirrel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I feel somewhat bad saying this since I think I might be the opposite of most people who have read the same books by this author that I have, but I think this was my least favorite of them. This is my fourth book by this author. Two of the books got 5 star ratings, 2 got 4 and a quarter (or something near there).

First up on my list of things to mention, something not too hard to state or take: this author likes public nudity. Heh. I only really noticed with the prior book I read, ‘One Good Memory’, but yeah. ‘One Good Memory’ has the two main characters wander around outside for four days naked; ‘Warriors of the Heart’ stars a stripper who gives a revealing lap dance (well, she’s an undercover cop working as a stripper); I’m not actually sure if there is any public nudity in ‘Shine’; but there is again in ‘Rumors’, albeit brief (a visit to a ‘nice spot’ includes a river and some skinny dipping (though one is reluctant, more because they can’t swim than because of the nudity aspect, though they are somewhat nervous about that as well)). So – author likes nudity and I have no problem with that.

So this specific book here stars Hannah, the femme (that part is important) and Kelly the butch (again, super important point). With some very important less major players, like Cricket the dog, Jill the ‘everything I wanted but . . . something is off’ woman; Brenda the ‘no I didn’t really kill her and bury her in the backyard’ ex-girlfriend; and Freddie and Jay – gay men couple who are friends of Hannahs. Kelly is an auto mechanic and Hannah is a dog groomer.

Butch femme? Really, it matters? Yes. There’s this quite odd vibe that runs throughout this book. One that I do not exactly understand nor expected to see. This is something like the . . . wait, no, seriously? 534? That can’t be right. One moment. Huh. Well, this apparently is my 534th lesbian fiction book I’ve read. And this is probably the only time I’ve seen this specific topic pop up. Something similar? Probably, just not blatant enough for me to notice, I assume. That topic? Butchness (or more clearly - the 'eww, butch' aspect/topic).

Hannah has certain ideas of what and who she is attracted to. This is how she ended up dating Jill, despite feeling no spark with her when first meet (because she mostly ‘checks off’ all the right boxes). Femme, successful, sophisticated looking . . . um . . . other stuff as well. Before she ever goes on a date with Jill, though, Kelly asked Hannah out. And Hannah flatly refused. Because she’s seeing someone (technically she has a date later in the week, but she isn’t actually seeing anyone yet). On one hand that’s good – not putting yourself into risk of potentially putting yourself in a bad situation (if, say, you end up finding a spark with both, go on a date with Jill, find no spark, then go on a date with Kelly if both still interested); except I have the strong impression that Hannah said what she said because of one very specific aspect (an aspect that pops up a lot in this book) – Kelly is butch.

I do not think the words ‘eww, butch’ actually occur in the book, but that’s the very strong vibe that comes up. Hannah doesn’t want anything to do with Kelly, and kind of looks down on her and/or is afraid of her a little because of it. And others bring it up as a sign that Kelly is unworthy (she’s, you know, butch; Jill, for one, brings that up - that Kelly is butch (I think it was Jill who 'went there')). 534 books. I’ve seen more books where a very butch woman says ‘no, I’m straight’, than I’ve seen this aspect here. The ‘eww, butch’ aspect.

Well, against her inner trauma at having to allow herself to date a butch woman (okay, now I’m going too far, Hannah’s reluctant re: butch, but she’s not evil about it . . . I think; though it did take seeing Kelly in a dress for Hannah’s reluctance to begin to fold (Hannah was at a birthday party with her date, Jill; a performance by drag queens occurs – one of the normal participants was not around, so Kelly had to step into the dress to perform in his place); then there’s the aspect of Hannah thinking to herself about how womanly Kelly looks out of clothing, how . . . ‘less-than-butch’).

There’s an interesting story here. And while I was initially annoyed that I’d stumbled upon yet another book, seemingly, wherein the main character would date someone else before ‘finally’ dating their ‘match’, it actually worked better here. The book has both a bad and good ex; and another thing I’ve only very rarely seen in lesbian fiction – a functioning gay couple operating in the same book as a functioning lesbian couple (other than Kris Ripper’s series, the only other time I specifically recall this happening . . . wait no, there is a functioning gay couple in the second book of Redmann’s Micky Knight series, but Micky isn’t . . . ah, no, there’s at least 3 lesbian couples in that book, at least one of them could probably be described as being ‘healthy and functioning lesbian relationship’ – maybe Elly and Danny (though Danny and Micky aren’t that friendly to each other in the book; and Elly stand by her woman; plus Torbin and his geeky boyfriend are very much barely there characters, while Freddie and Jay are a large part of this book here).

Lost that last paragraph, I did.

A lot of lesbian fiction works I’ve read include a ‘gay bff’, who, a lot of the time, is super annoying. Here we have two, but healthy helpful kind. A lot of lesbian fiction includes that ‘dated someone but she’s horrible and now a bitch because she’s actually evil’, while the real life concept of ‘ex’s tend to become friends’ rarely gets seen develop – though occasionally one friend or another will admit to having, at some point, dated the main character. I mention because this book here has both the ‘ex’s will turn out to be evil bitches’ and ‘ex’s can, over time, become friends’. I rarely see the second actually in operation in a book (the moving from dating to ex to friends; mostly I see 'yes, we dated . . .years ago'). It is barely seen here (to a certain extent), but it was nice to see that side of things for once.

I’ve rambled. And haven’t really said much about the book itself. Which is bad. Bad me! Especially since this is another book without much of a description on GoodReads. Heck, the characters names aren’t even in there. Soooo….

Main character Hannah is best friends with Freddie and Jay, a gay couple. Jay (I think) invites a woman to come by for dinner. That woman is named Jill. None of the three, Freddie/Jay/Hannah actually particularly like Jill, but Hannah ‘goes for her’ anyway. Since . . . um . . . both are lesbians? And Jill kind of matches some of what Hannah thought she might like? Something like that. Though no spark.

Meanwhile Hannah has some car trouble which has her interacting with Kelly, an auto mechanic. Kelly is one of those auto mechanics who will literally come out to help you if you are stuck on the side of the road (despite the part where Kelly isn’t a tow-truck driver; I believe it's directly because it was Hannah asking for help). Hannah has been aware of Kelly for a good long while, but they do not exactly operate in the same social circles. Plus, Kelly is butch (figured I’d state that again, for reasons). Kelly, on the other hand, has known of and l-worded Hannah for 14 years.

Both Hannah and Kelly had rotten child-hoods, though since everything is from Hannah’s point of view, most of Kelly’s issues, at least in childhood, are not explicit (though Kelly had . . . a very rough transition from childhood to adulthood; the traumatic event kind).

I actually liked the book. Just vaguely confused by some aspects that turned up.

Rating: 4.25

February 27 2017



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Thursday, February 23, 2017

One Good Memory by BadSquirrel

One Good MemoryOne Good Memory by BadSquirrel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I wasn’t going to review this one but then noticed that the book description is very . . . brief and that there is only one review for the book at the moment. And so . . .

Two point of views – Robin and Maryl. The book opens with Robin wandering away from a camping site which includes her entire family (mother, brothers, brother’s wives, kids (father died some time before this book started)). When she gets far enough away, she calmly strips herself of clothing. And then proceeds naked but for shoes. ...

A quick thought: last book I read, ‘Don’t Feed the Trolls’, had a female roommate who always watches anime while naked (and she constantly watches anime), while the main character is quite casual about whether or not a top is worn; then started (well continued) a book in which a young woman is forced to spend time on campus naked but for shoes or be kicked out of school (she had cheated on a paper) – I paused that one as that isn’t something I can read during the day (I guess?) and moved to this one . . . to find more nudists. My week is odd.

... Somewhere along the way, Robin starts spotting certain clothing items that had been picked up by and carried by the river. She collects them and continues walking. To come upon a woman sunbathing wearing nothing but one shoe. That woman is startled and covers up until she notices that the person who is approaching is also naked and female. They get to know each other, and here I mean have great conversations. Turns out that the other woman is named Maryl and is on a camping trip with her support group (several women who have suffered some form of relationship woes).

Over a course of four days the two women grow close. And even though they’ve just meet, both feel that they love the other and express this love . . by using words like ‘I love you’. But then their time camping comes to an end and . . . everything falls apart. Both knew that they lived some distance from each other, and that maybe they might just have a moment together. Though Robin hopes for more. Maryl, while both loving Robin, and knowing that Robin loves her, doesn’t really know Robin – and knows this. The next step, some form of long distance relationship, is likely to ruin this ‘one good memory’ and so . . . she breaks them apart (there are some reasons that seem vaguely reasonable though made me have vaguely unreasonable negative thoughts about Maryl).

Months pass. Maryl feels hurt inside but continues. People around her notice that she seems distracted. Then Maryl starts seeing, or thinks she sees, someone that looks a lot like Robin. More time passes. Maryl is vaguely curious about whether or not she’s insane.

Maryl works with a medical group. It doesn’t really matter in terms of story, but I think she’s more of an office manager type? Bah, maybe she’s a nurse. For reasons of my own memory – her best friend is a straight woman named Janelle who works with her. Maryl’s relationship with her family is very thin and filled with disappointment on the part of her parents and siblings. Disappointment that Maryl allowed herself to be a lesbian. Maryl lives a great distance from her family.

Robin is an assistant manager (at the start of the story) at a grocery store. She has a big family and everyone loves each other. Though the impression is given that part of this ‘love’ developed as adults – as kids they constantly pranked each other and did thinks like sew pants legs closed and the like. Or toss sisters off buildings with ‘the good sheets’ to be used as a parachute (naturally that didn’t work and Robin almost died).

1) I rather enjoyed both Robin and Maryl and felt both to be rather well-developed;
2) The couple from the first Edgewater book pops up in this book. It’s been a while so I might get their names wrong but I think it is librarian Maureen and radio personality Shine.

Rating: 5 or 5+ - still thinking about it.

Review written: Feb 24 2017



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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann

Deaths of Jocasta (Micky Knight, #2)Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Note: those with issues/problems with reading depictions of rape/rape-like/torture/abuse/etc. should not read this book.

Sex. Something of the main theme of my review for the first book in this series. I think I must have forgotten that this book here was a lot more 'drenched in' sex than the first. Plus - cheating. This is a messed up group of friends in a lot of ways. I think that two of the, I believe, six friends are borderline 99.9% sane, while the other four border on being . . . oh, kind of messed up - (I might be under or over counting -> in the 'messed up column': Danny, Micky, Joanne, Cordelia (least 'messed up'); 'sane-ish' - Elly (I think that's her name), Alex (again, think that's her name).

Danny spent a good deal of time in the first book, and a lot of time in this book taking every opportunity to make snide, smearing, awful comments about and to Micky (who, unless she's drunk, takes it as her due, because she knows she's garbage (which doesn't mean she won't lash back) (view spoiler)). Due entirely to the fact that the two women were lovers 8 years ago, and Micky freaked out when the relationship went super serious (what with Danny using the L word), and did everything she could to kill the relationship that would make herself look bad (i.e., fucking everything around her that was female, while drinking enough to selflessly keep several alcohol business in operation).

Micky – well, she’s the main character. Messed up childhood (I’d be more explicit, but spoilers), messed up relationships with her family (including abuse – both physical and mental), messed up adulthood – what with thinking of herself as garbage (bayou trash), drinking away her pain, and fucking everyone around her (I think there’s only one female friend Micky hasn’t slept with – of the six already listed, which I note since I’m leaving people like Emma off this specific list, for reasons). Well, of course the book starts with Micky attempting to better herself (two months sober and celibate), which isn’t helped by Danny still beating her up, and the others expecting Micky to be Micky – a drunken player.

Joanne has her own messed up childhood, has very . . . odd ideas about the word ‘love’ and the word ‘relationships’, as can be seen by her moving from being among the few women Micky hadn’t slept with to the thousands who have ((view spoiler)).

I do not really want to say why Cordelia is messed up for . . . reasons but . . .. She fools around with Micky (this occurring in the prior book), but then says she isn’t sure she can be with Micky, but give her time and she’ll be more definite yes or no . . . later. She’ll call. That was two months before the start of this story, and the first time Micky and Cordelia actually see each other again is at a party and Cordelia appears to arrive with a date (still without, you know, having ever let Micky know where she stands relationship wise with Cordelia). Cordelia plays a lot of games, creates a lot of drama, even though she gives off the vibe of being super serious and not being a drama-queen while at the same time leaping to conclusions – always going for the negative interpretation when Micky is involved.

Ah well. Weird mix of messed up adults.

The mystery? Quite an interesting mystery. Two part – someone is killing women through botched abortions – is it a sloppy doctor? Serial killer? Something else? The police, because of evidence so far gathered, strongly suspect Cordelia; second part – everyone at the shared clinic/community building Cordelia works at are being harassed by letter and/or phone (this is where Micky comes in – she’s hired to investigate part two; she looks into part one of the mystery because of the chief suspect and her lack of belief that Cordelia could be a murderer).

The romance? The Joanne-Micky-Alex triangle reads like it could fit in perfectly in a lesbian pulp book of the 1950s/60s. Heck, I think I even read this specific story-line in a book from then. First book didn’t really have a romance, and wasn’t a ‘romance’ but a mystery (other than the pursuit of Cordelia by Micky); second book, this one, is also a mystery not a romance. Though there was that love triangle mentioned, plus further pursuit of Cordelia by Micky. On a side note, I never really liked the Micky/Cordelia thingie, but whatever.

Mystery, romance, hmms . . . what else . . .. Family – you can’t choose your blood relatives, but you can chose your ‘family’ or something like that. That little saying doesn’t work here – her horrible family, i.e. Aunt Greta and Baynard aren’t actually blood relatives; and the chosen family, i.e., the Danny/Elly/Joanne/Cordelia/Alex/Micky friendship, is bloody messed up. Hell, even Torbin got on my last nerve in this book, and he was barely in it (the one ‘good’ ‘not-really-a-relative’ of Micky’s, a cousin).

As a mystery, I really enjoyed this book. As a ‘slice of life’, ‘people have fucked up lives’ . . . I also enjoyed this book. So, 4 instead of 5? Well, enjoyed, not loved. It’s hard to push this into a ‘love’ column when so many people are fucked up in this book.

Last point, tied into review for first book –once again I started a book roughly corresponding to previous read, as in Feb 18 2014 vs. Feb 19 2017. Again unplanned, that. Heh, just noticed it took me longer to read this book this time – just one day in 2014, 4 days this time. Though there was a three-day weekend that occurred – I read less on weekends. Let me see, using this as a theme, book three reread will occur . . . oh – I should have already read book three, what with how I appear to have read the book February 19 2014. Hmm. Oops.

February 22 2017



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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Fury's Bridge by Brey Willows

Fury's Bridge (Afterlife, Inc. #1)Fury's Bridge by Brey Willows

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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

Genre/tags: Fantasy
Location: Earth; USA; California; Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Cal State
Characters: Main - Selene Perkton (philosophy professor at Cal State, specifically a trans-human philosophy person), Alectho 'Alec' Graves (Avenging fury)

Side characters
: Zed (Alec's boss); Tis & Meg (sisters of Alec); Frey Falconi (famous philosopher dude who a) 'makes philosophy accessible to the masses' and b) wants to start a movement with Selene); Mika (Selene's long term (multiple year) girlfriend who is very logical, coldish, and 'exact' (7 means 7, if Mika arrives somewhere she is expected at 7 and she arrives at 6:42, she'll stand outside starring at her watch until 7).
Storyline: The furies wander around 'punishing' the bad, one of Alec's jobs. Selene is teaching while struggling with her cold logical robot, I mean girlfriend; and with a man who wants her to join him in a 'movement' (Frey). Unbeknownst to Selene, she is also 'needed' by the furies, and that's one of Alec's main jobs - to 'get her'.

This is not your normal kind of urban/paranormal fantasy. At least not mine. Most of the urban/paranormal fantasies I’ve read include such things as vampires, shifters (mostly werewolves, but occasionally others) and the occasional other ‘odd-ball’. Most of those, even the few that include demons and angels (oddly enough) do not actually delve that deeply into religious matters. Oh, there might be the occasional comment by a vampire about churches, or crosses or the like, but mostly in a ‘that’s fiction, this is real life’ kind of way. This book here is different – religion plays a massive role in this book.

Selene Perkton is a philosophy professor and is involved in attempting to ‘raise up’ humans, to get them to evolve to the next level. Something that doesn’t have to ‘rely’ on the ‘superstitious crutches of the past.’ This is why she was contacted by a fast rising pop-philosophy star, Frey Falconi. Falconi also wants to help break humans free from the taint of religion, in his words (Selene is less ‘breaking free from taint’ and more ‘letting people live their lives, those that believe believe, but making sure everyone has the full information’), and he wants Selene to join him in his mission. Frey, and to a certain lesser extent Selene, see humans as basically good – and freed from religion, can reach great heights (which, in its way, seems odd – since one of the major reasons they wish to break people away from religion is because so much ‘bad stuff’ has been done by ‘bad people’ pretending to be acting in ‘insert deity’s name here’ name; remove deities, they’d use some other cloak/cover for their bad actions).

And there has been a relatively steady decrease in believers. Which is somewhat unfortunate, at least it is for a certain group of people who happen to work out of an office building just off the beach in Santa Monica California. They work for Afterlife Inc. And they are gods, goddess, and various other assorted religious types. And they are starting to fade – actually many have already faded. (view spoiler) There is this prophesized oracle, though, indicating that a certain someone will save them. That someone being Selene – the ‘rational thinking atheist’. The other lead in this story is sent out to ‘get her’ to join their side – that being Alectho Graves, one of the three furies.

This was a very interesting story. Quite enjoyable. Not one I’ve read a million different versions of under different names, but something more unique. Though, no, it isn’t completely original. I thought as I read that I’ve read some similar things. Like Bill Willingham’s Fables series (view spoiler)

Another thought I had while reading the book – this work did not seem like it was the first thing the writer had written. Quite well written and stuff. And I had the impression that this was the author’s first work, though I now see that ‘she has published a large handful of short stories’ part in her biography.

Rating: 4.68

Publication Date: March 1 2017

Review: February 21 2017




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Friday, February 17, 2017

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

Food: A Love StoryFood: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m not much of an audio book listener, but if there ever was a time to listen to one – it would be for a book written by an entertainer (especially if it’s a standup comedian). Though I mean specifically if that entertainer is also the narrator, I wasn’t trying to undercut the writing ability of entertainers, but to express the greater joy available by way of hearing them speak their own words.

I had the ebook and audio book (cheaper that way than to just get the audio book, well by about a dollar (($11.99 + $7.49) $19.48 vs. $20.95). I mention this less to note the price difference, than to note that there were a few occasions wherein I ‘had to’ actually read the ebook ‘for reasons’. Occasionally had to listen again to those same sections to get the audio book back to the correct position. And the audio book experience was much better – even in those occasions where I was relistening to things already read.

That was basically it. All I wanted to note. That the audio book version is the best way to consume this product. I mean, I could mention how I read the prior book, and seen this fella doing live stand-up, oh, and seen in television stuff; but that’s me not the book. So I won’t.

So: 1) try sample of both audio and ebook; 2) if decide to consume – go with the audio version; 3) it’s a good funny book.




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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Hoosier Daddy: A Heartland Romance by Ann McMan & Salem West

Hoosier Daddy: A Heartland RomanceHoosier Daddy: A Heartland Romance by Ann McMan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The humor, for the most part, seemed forced; I didn't like a majority of the people in the story; with friends like these, who needs enemies (but there are 'enemies' as well); I didn't really 'believe' the chemistry between the two lesbians. And I've forgotten what else I was going to say.



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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

Death by the Riverside (Micky Knight, #1)Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I had not planned to start this book almost exactly 3 years after I first read it. A trick of fate, in a way, had me start the reread on February 13 2017. I had started reading the book the first time February 12 2014 – and ended it on the same day, different year (February 14 2014 vs. February 14 2017). Weird how things like that can happen.

I initially rated this book something near 3.75 out of 5.00. It’s been three years, but I’ve a vague idea why – all that sex. Coming from a history of reading Robert B. Parker, Dick Francis, Lillian Jackson Braun, Agatha Christie, Beverly Connor, Aaron Elkins, Erle Stanley Gardner, Dashiell Hammett, Peter Lovesey, Carol O'Connell, and others, I was used to a certain type of mystery – it could be cozy, it could be hard hitting/violent (and some downright abusive to their lead characters (looking at you Connor)), but it hadn’t exactly been drenched with sex (with sexual innuendo, yes, but not actual sex). It’s not that I hadn’t read that type of work, or that I didn’t have some ‘favorites’ that were ‘drenched with sex’, but not in my mysteries. So, in its way, I was confronted with a book that seemed quite well written, right along the line of some of the better written mysteries I’d read, but for two differences – the graphic sex, and the lesbian (or bisexual) nature of many of the characters. And no, I did not down-rate the book because of the lesbian nature (though I was aware that its existence among the traits of the characters would cut down on the readership), no, it was for the sex.

Imagine my surprise, in its way, when I reread the book. Yes the book has much sex in it, but it was handled a lot ‘better’ than I had recalled. I never thought it was the main theme, reason for the books existence, or other, more that I’d initially saw it as a distraction. But it isn’t really. It’s important to the story.

Ah, but I’m just babbling here. You want to know about the book? The story involves a rich family with an older dying grandfather type. And some kids running around trying to keep themselves in the will. Against the backdrop of a rather conservative grandfather. So no gay stuff. There are three main contenders for the money, one already took herself out of the running by bluntly telling her grandfather that she was a lesbian (this would be Cordelia), while the other two lied and tried to play it straight while secretly living a much . . . gayer life. So that’s how the story starts off – someone hires Micky to search for a runaway fiancĂ©; some pictures are taken, some wills are changed; and other such stuff occurs along this plot line.

Meanwhile, somewhere along the way a detective sergeant friend adds Micky to go undercover to investigate a company that is suspected as having big ties to drug running (as in, they a drug dealers) – which leads to some connections to the earlier plotline and others.

Meanwhile – Micky drinks a lot, is a dick to her friends, has some emotional issues based on her disrupted early life, and some old history resurfaces. Oh, and she has sex. And solves mysteries. Also spends a lot of time accidentally destroying clothing.

Long and short, this was altogether a very interesting and good book. My only regret is that I initially gave this book such a low rating.

Rating: 5.0

ETA: Micky ages from 29 to 30 during the course of the book (no, the book isn't a year in Micky's life, she was just close to 30 when the book started) - I mention because the book is on both the age-20s and age-30s shelf.

February 14 2017



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Saturday, February 11, 2017

Tread Lightly by Catherine Lane



Tread Lightly
by Catherine Lane
Pages: ?
Date: February 15 2017
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Series:

Review
Rating: 4.21
Read: Feb 9 - Feb 10 2017

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

Firstly – I do not know how long this story is, though I believe it’s in the ‘short story’ category.

Secondly – this story will be published February 15 2017.

And now on with the review.

This story stars two fantasy characters, though only one has a point of view. First up is Claire (we’ll get to Tamiel, the guardian angel, a little later). Claire is the point of view character in the story, and is a ‘fairy godmother level one plus’. The fairy part? Repeatedly mentioned in the story that, whatever she is (she’s uncertain, though knows she’s half-human and half something else) she isn’t a fairy. As in, Faerie creatures. That ‘level one plus’ has to do with her rank in the organization. She’s on the top tier of agents sent out into the field, though she has a boss, and then there are the unnamed ‘upper management’ people.

Several things to know about both Claire and what she does. Claire is roughly 400 years old and very very experienced in her profession. She’s like the gold standard, what with having such critters as Cinderella and Grace Kelly as successful clients (that’s what they call them, clients). In ‘modern times’ the ‘clients’ are a little less excited to meet their fairy godmother than they were in the past – what with having to break through the ‘not believing’ part. As noted, 400 years, much experience, and . . . . somewhat very naĂ¯ve and inexperienced in certain matters. For example – until this specific story here, despite having lived and worked for 400 years, she wasn’t actually sure demons were real until this story. And, while she knew guardian angels were real (and that there’s a conflict between godmothers and angels), she’s never actually meet one before this story. That naivety and inexperience in certain matters (somewhat unbelievable inexperience), plus long age and deep experience in other matters, was beginning to irritate me. It seemed as if the author wanted the best of both worlds – someone super good, bright, experienced, but they also wanted to have them encounter new things, however unbelievable it would be for them to only know encounter them. Beginning, but then it started to become apparent why there would be this naivety – it gets indirectly explained in the story and becomes a lot more believable.

Tamiel is a guardian angel who Claire encounters while on a case. Being a character without a point of view, there is a lot less known about her than about Claire. Though certain things are known. Just like Claire, in her natural form she’s drop dead gorgeous (though Claire tends to use her powers to morph herself as needed, like into plump little old ladies, or as small children). The kind who wears silvery barely there clingy outfits. And has fire for eyes. Yeah that one threw me. Fire? Ah, hmm.

Story: The story follows Claire as she tries to help two ‘clients’, a Frankie and an Abby. One comes with tattoos, piercings, and a certain reluctance to believe; other is quite eager to believe a fairy godmother has turned up to help them. Both come with issues – Abby, the first meet, is disagreeable and seems determined to not help herself when help is offered; while Frankie has literal demons attacking her on and off.

While trying to meet Frankie for the first time, Claire teleports to her location. And finds herself in a dark dirty dingy alleyway. And the artist Frankie is ‘tagging’ a building. With graffiti. Then a voice begins screaming in Claire’s head, a demon appears, a guardian angel appears, and – well, hell breaks loose. And Claire has to overcome her prejudices against angels, and both the angel and the fairy need to try to help defeat the problems confronting them.

Overall - After I got past that issue of Claire being both experienced and inexperienced, I found her to be an interesting character. And Tamiel seemed interesting enough, though hard to ‘pin down’. I liked what occurred well enough, I might even have been a little tear-eyed at one specific moment (or two). I can’t say anything about the graphic sex scene, though, as that suddenly ‘attacked me’ while I was out and about in public so I mostly skimmed.

Rating: 4.21

February 10 2017

Friday, February 10, 2017

Magnetic by Robin Alexander

MagneticMagnetic by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've been burned by some Alexander books. And I've been greatly overjoyed by some. I think that's why I have both a reluctance to read, and a strong draw to read this author's works. So, what happened this time?

I mean, I did just read another book by this author that I wanted to put on my top shelf but couldn't (because that's only for rereads, something I haven't yet done for an Alexander book) - and I do get 'burned out' at times. So . . ., I'm not sure there's an 'obviously' here. I'll note that that other book, 'Next Time', was one of the funniest books I've ever read. And this one? There was a point where I actually thought to myself, somewhere mid-stream, maybe late-ish in the read, that I hadn't so much as giggled. At least didn't recall doing so. So . . . (now we can do an 'obviously', right?). Late in the book there were some rather funny moments, so it wasn't completely humorless.

Right, sorry, I've dragged this out too long. This might be one of the best romance books I've read. Not really sure how or why that occurred, but it did. And almost everything about it screams that it's the kind of story that I'd run away from, or, if I saw the right type of hints, add to my 'not read because' shelf. Yet . . . I loved this romance. So, yes, this is yet another Alexander book I wish I could put on that top tier shelf, that six star one. Instead I have to content myself with placing it on my 5+ shelf.

The story? Well, a top level executive, the kind who basically works non-stop, is in Detroit about to do a presentation. Her six year long relationship comes to a close right beforehand, though, via e-mail. She then hooks up with a woman who pushes the right buttons, and she pours all the passion and desire into that hook up that has mostly been missing for the last six years. She then leaves, expecting to never see this woman again.

Something like a month later, Layne's boss (this being that hard charging woman's name) forces her to take a two week vacation. He 'misses his tiger' or some weird wording like that. With great reluctance, Layne goes on said short notice vacation. She brings along her three best friends. Two of them are a long term couple, third is a player. That player, though, has been in a 2 week vacation - completely unlike her. And her girlfriend turns up at the airport before they fly to Florida. That girlfriend is the woman Layne slept with in Detroit. Stacey. Both are shocked at seeing the other. The vacation goes on. Much tension.

Layne, it would appear, now finds herself having 'feelings' for a woman who is a girlfriend of one of her best friends. She's in a very bad situation now - and she can't get away from it, much as she tries. Every time she turns around, she runs into Stacey (almost literally, it was Stacy who, while jogging, ran into Layne, that one time).

Events unfold. Stuff happens. Weirdly, for me, I found it to be a great romance. Also, weirdly for me, I actually read the graphic sexual scenes while in public (something I've commented before on - that I seem cursed to always have those scenes come up while I'm in public, and so I tend to skim them). Less because I wanted to specifically read those scenes, and more because I wanted to read all the words on the page about this somewhat different romance.

By the way - I've made comments here and there, noticing certain things that this author likes to include, little hints here and there that it is an Alexander book (humor, location, old grandmas, etc.) - well, I know and felt that I was reading an Alexander book, but I didn't feel as if I'd already meet any of these characters before. Nor did most of those other little bits of other stuff turn up (except for the Louisiana part). This is something I noticed, but now forget how I wanted to make note of it in this review. Um . . so . . that occurred? heh.

Rating: 5+

February 10 2017



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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Roots of Murder by R. Jean Reid

Roots of Murder: A Novel of SuspenseRoots of Murder: A Novel of Suspense by R. Jean Reid

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My link to the internet hasn't been good so I might rewrite the below at some point when I have a better connection. Spend more than 3 minutes on it.

Long and short: Good solid mystery set in Mississippi. The owner of a small town newspaper, a woman and the lead character, is still in mourning after her husband was killed by a drunk driver. The story follows her on her 'officially there' first issue, then I believe for 3 to 4 weeks. Several issues of interest: the girlfriend (or wife?) of the man who killed Nell's husband (Nell being the as yet unnamed by me main character) keeps calling Nell begging for Nell to not press charges because . . . . it's too hard to have him go to jail - plus the brothers miss their little brother and . . . might do something (threat followed through).

Meanwhile there's a mayor's race - current incompentent mayor running against two no-chance candidates - one because he wants to go back to the good old days of slavery and stuff (Everett) and is therefore too extreme, while the other one is . . . black. So obviously Marcus, the black candidate, has no chance. Then a man from a prominent family throws his name into the ring, late but still - he is from a prominent family. So now it's neck-and-neck for the mayor race. The book is less about that race than about the newspaper covering it and uncovering things from long ago.

The main story-line, though, involve the uncovering of bones that show obvious evidence of murder. There is a good chance that this long ago murder might have an impact on the mayor race - since the bones had been on the current mayor's former land (donated to become a park with the prevision that it would not be developed). The long shot can't win candidate, Marcus, tips Nell off on who the bones might belong to - though somewhat indirectly by pushing a specific name in front of her - that specific name knew of corrupt land deals that moved 20% of the black owned land to white owners from around the late 1950s to late 1960s (or there abouts). Is the land corruption that occurred roughly at the same time as the murder have any actual connection with each other? That's one of those mystery things that's tracked in the book.

I rather liked most of the characters. Very well rounded, deep critters. My main problem with the book lies in something Nell did during the story. 1) she drank a lot (in and of itself . . meh; 2) her husband was killed by a drunk driver (view spoiler)

Rating: 4.54

February 9 2017



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Monday, February 6, 2017

The Time Before Now by Missouri Vaun

The Time Before Now (Return to Earth #0.5)The Time Before Now by Missouri Vaun

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ah shesh. heh. - A) seconds (minutes, or whatever) before 'it' happened, an event before the end of the book, I had the thought that 'the way two lesbians would, in this world, get a kid . . .' would be x. Then, seemingly immediately after that thought, x occurred. mmphs; B) a 'touching' Cheerekee story is told - problem is that I've heard/read that story way too often while still feeling annoyed about what all occurred just there at the end of the book.

But that seemed to be a theme of the book. Tragic events occur - beginning, middle, end. Weird overly dramatic events. That don't impact me the way they probably should. Like - in the beginning of the book, Elizabeth (side character) and Vivian (main character) had an affair. There was a massive amount of foreshadowing - the kind where the character herself, Vivian, was telling herself that she was being stupid and then . . . she's horribly horribly betrayed when the worst happened. Which, sadly, can be realistic - no matter how you prepare yourself for something, an event can still deeply negatively impact you. Reasonable for the character. For me the reader? I was mostly 'meh' about the issue.

Reoccurring theme. As noted. People bouncing along and . . tragedy! Each. Bloody. Turn. I think there might have been a section missing, that I either accidentally missed, or wasn't in my book - when Vivian crossed the Mississippi river - because she arrived thinking that she had nothing to trade. She was waiting to cross on the ferry. Now we are miles away. Um, wha? And Vivian feels bad about what happened 'back there'. I mention this because that specific river crossing seemed to be the only occasion in the book wherein something 'tragic' didn't get slipped in. Every bloody step of the way - tragedy. mmphs. Unrelenting tragedy. That I mostly felt meh about pre-during-post occurrence. Weird - that.

Another weird thing was I figured I'd begin this review talking about other stories I'd read that were like this one here - the kind like S.M. Stirlings that showed 'us' (as in the readers world) go into a disaster event, and then over the course of the series reach one or more generations later - the generations that don't even 'know' how the 'prior' world was really like - the kind of world where people entertained kids by telling them stories - recreating movies in oral bard like ways. Or, stories more like this one here - wherein some event occurred, and we, the readers, are picking things up a century or more after the fact.

These kinds of books can be neat. And this one also was 'neat'. It was also . . . overly determined to have every bloody moment have a scene of tragic importance in it. mmphs.

Rating: 3.64

February 6 2017



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Saturday, February 4, 2017

The Sniper's Kiss by Justine Saracen


The Sniper's Kiss
by Justine Saracen
Pages: 288
Date: March 14 2017
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.25
Read: February 2 to 3 2017

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

Genre/tags: Historical Fiction, military fiction, politics, war, WWII
Location: New York, Washington DC, Tehran Iran, Moscow Russia, Other parts of Soviet Union, Eastern Front (including Belarus)
Characters: Main - Mia Kramer and Alexia Vassilievna Mazarova (both have Point of views);
famous side characters: Harry Hopkins (boss of Mia), Franklin Delano Roosevelt (USA President), Eleanor Roosevelt, Lorena Hickok (Eleanor's 'close' friend), Joseph Stalin (Soviet Premier), Vyacheslav Molotov (Minister of Foreign Affairs - Soviet Union), Lyudmila Pavlichenko (Soviet sniper with 309 kills), Fyodor Dostoyevsky ('obviously enough' Dostoyevsky does not make a physical appearance in the story - but he is brought up so often, his writings and the like, that he feels like another character in the story).

The book was not exactly what I thought it would be about - it opens with a prologue - a discussion with a Russian/Soviet sniper with someone named 'Mia'. Then moves to Mia's Point of View doing stuff . . . in the USA. As a citizen of the US. That's part of the - 'not exactly what I thought' comment.

Another part of that 'not exactly what expected' leads directly from the synopsis of the book 'It is 1944 . . . in the midst of it, two . . . women meet . . .murder in her heart . . . killed a hundred of them . . .' are all misleading. It's not 1944 when the book opens in chapter one in 1942, and for a good portion of the book, it is 1943. And the two women do not meet in the midst of the war in Europe, they meet in Iran, I'm not sure what 'murder in her heart' refers to, and that last one is . . . well, wrong. Though the sniper in the prologue had killed 309 men for Stalin. Not a main character, though.

Mia Kramer, otherwise known as Demetria Fyodorovna Kaminskaya ('They made us change our name when we arrived in the country'), starts the novel answering questions from the police. Who suspect her of having murdered her father. They can't pin it on her, though, so she moves on with her live - to a certain extent, finally starts it (since she had been under the very controlling thumb of her father before hand). She moves to Washington DC to work for the Government, and eventually, about a year later, moves to a job with the Lend-Lease program and living & working in the White House directly for the man running Lend-Lease, Harry Hopkins.

Mia is 29, though I wasn't certain of that until I looked over the book again just now - and saw her application where it listed her age. So, Mia is 29 in 1943 when she begins work as Harry Hopkins assistant at the White House. Before she can even learn what her actual duties entail, a man in a wheelchair enters the room - the president. So - it's that kind of book. The kind where a lower ranking individual is close to several people of power, including the president, his wife, and others. And even has drinks with Stalin (I might mention why later).

And before Mia can settle into her new job, she's off to Tehran with Hopkins for a meeting between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill. This is where Mia first spots the other lead character of this book, as a very sharply dressed guard. Though the reader encountered Alexia earlier in the book. They don’t actually meet at this time Tehran, though, just see each other.

Alexia Vassilievna Mazarova started the book as a teacher – specifically one attempting to fight fires at her school in Arkhangelsk caused by German planes. When the school explodes, Alexia sees it as a sign to join the fight. And so she does, she enlists in the Red Army. After training she ends up in an elite guard unit that guards such things as the Kremlin and Stalin. Whether or not it is accurate, it is speculated that she got the job because of her looks. (Though she did get high marks in marksmanship in training.).

Story:
The book follows both Mia and Alexia as they attempt to live their lives against the backdrop of WWII (at least during the years of 1942-1945) - their lives mostly out of their own control because of WWII. Through various means, Mia ends up working directly for the man who runs the Lend-Lease program for Roosevelt. Which means that she rubs shoulders with several historically significant individuals, some clearly remembered in our time (the Roosevelt's and Stalins of the story), some more hidden (the famous, at the time, snipers and government officials).

Similarly Alexia ends up being a low-level individual who through various means, apparently mostly because of her looks, ends up rubbing shoulders - or at least is in the same room as some famous individuals. Mostly through her first assignment after training - working as an elite honor guard in Moscow.

"A name, for a kill? What's that?"
"The sniper's kiss."

Those following along, and/or seeing the title, seeing the book description, might be confused. Up to this point the only sniper I've mentioned is a side character, a famous one, but still - a barely seen side character. So . . . what gives? Well, somewhere along the line Alexia feels that it is somewhat 'cowardly' to be in the honor guard while a war is on. She feels like she needs to be at the front. And, somewhere along the line, she transfers from this elite honor guard to the sniper school - and from there moves to a unit to be a sniper.

The book, to a large extent, is quite interesting - though more as a look into an area of history largely outside most fictional accounts of the war, and less as something else, like, say, a romance (though there is something of that going on). Specifically the parts seen from the eyes of Soviet troops (Alexia . . . and later Mia); and specifically the parts seen by government types making sure the lend-lease program is operating correctly (Mia).

The book is more satisfying as a work of historical fiction, than as a romance. Largely because the people involved were reacting to events and unable to control them, shape them, mold them.

Rating: 4.25

February 4 2017

Privacy Glass by Missouri Vaun

Privacy GlassPrivacy Glass by Missouri Vaun

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't mean to leave this review box empty, I just couldn't think of anything to put here.

The series comes to a relatively satisfying conclusion. These seem to be less of what I would think of as 'full short stories' and more . . . well, more than snippets/scenes. If there is a term that means something in between, I am not aware of it.

On the way to attempting to create 'something' with a specific woman who Nash meets when her friend, Nash's friend I mean, ends up in the emergency room (actually, if I recall correctly, they meet first at a car crash, then later at the emergency room. Been months - this slow reading makes me forgetful, I'm used to reading things in days (at most) not this 'tiny pieces at a time over 4 months' approach). I've forgotten now what the exact nature of the 'issue' is, but that nurse put the brakes on a romantic relationship but was willing to have a friendship. Nash accepts that though wishes to change her mind. Over the course of four short stories. Meanwhile, while attempting to change the nurse's mind (none of the descriptions have that woman's name and I can't recall it now . . . hah - I was thinking 'Anna' and looked through my reviews - Anna is right), Nash 'fell into' several encounters with other women. Don't worry - Nash isn't 'cheating' on Anna - they aren't in a relationship. She meets baristas, neighbors, strippers, . . . um . . others in prior stories.

So, which random other woman does Nash end up 'wasting time' with while 'waiting' for Anna? Why, that would be Anna. Who has finally gotten around to allowing the concept that Nash might be allowed to date her. And so this story involves Nash taking Anna on a date to a friend's wedding (somewhat odd place for a date, but whatever). An ex (though not sure they actually were more than fuck-buddies) is there at the wedding and corners Nash in the bathroom. You can see how Nash kept 'falling' into threesomes and the like - Nash seems to have very little willpower - (view spoiler)

I've read both a novel based on a comic series, and the first volume of that comic series - that remind me of this short story series. Not in story-line, but in tone. In a way. Well . . . kind of. In that the star of that comic series kept finding themselves in and out of relationships, sometimes with the same woman, sometimes with some other random woman, sometimes with a woman she 'accidentally' bought (mail order bride, and she didn't accidentally buy, her account was hacked, but still, the woman did turn up), while at the same time one or another woman remained that comic series' star's main desire. Like here. Wherein Nash kept bouncing around women while really desiring another. Okay - that's a random thought I had while reading this series. That I was reading a version of Jane's life (Jane being the woman from the comic series, Jane's World), though Nash seemed more polished than Jane.

I'm probably noticing a pattern that really isn't there. Probably knowing that both works were/are by the same author.

Right, this is what happens when I can't think of what to say. I babble.

This short story includes a scene at a wedding, includes several people from prior stories (including Nash's friend, who I think is named Webb; and 'green dress'; and Anna). Strangely, most of the story takes place outside of Orlando. Partially in Savannah Georgia (nice description of the place, brief, in the story), briefly in St. Augustine (I think) - though no description of the place is included (more of a 'stopped there for lunch' type of deal). And some brief portions in Orlando. I say ‘strangely’ since it had been mentioned that the series was stated, from the beginning, to be deeply connected to Orlando and that community. Interesting enough snippet.

Bah. This review. Mmphs. The point I was going to make never got made. Though fragments of it are littered about above. It was interesting to see Anna and Nash’s journey, though I’m half-‘n’-half on whether this would have been better as is (short stories) or as a novel. On the one hand, some of the ‘connective’ tissue missing would have to be put in for a coherent novel – and months wouldn’t have gone by while the story unfolded; while on the other hand, the numerous ‘side journey’s along the way fit more the short story format than a novel – at least, I’d have been annoyed to spend so much time bouncing around if I was reading a straight forward novel.

Rating: something around 3.50

February 7 2017




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Next Time by Robin Alexander

Next TimeNext Time by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of the funniest books I've read in a while. I couldn't stop laughing. And I rather liked the relationships on display - between the main characters, the friends & sister.

If I didn't have that 'needs to be a reread' rule for my top star shelf, I'd seriously consider this book for that shelf.

Granted, this was a really fluffy book and I know some need more drama and angst (there was some, but outside forces)



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Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander

The Summer of Our DiscontentThe Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Starting in roughly 1983, when both were pre-teens, and for roughly another 30 years, Faith ‘Chub’ Leblanc and Rachel Chauvin have been each other’s archrival/villain/enemy. Both were stubborn. Both were the kind of girl who’d much prefer getting dirty, and wandering the outdoors than being cooped up inside; both were quite similar, and ended up bumping into each other a lot. And both wanted to do what the other wanted to do – at the same time, and both were too stubborn to allow the other to go first. So, rivals. For 30 years. But for a moment here or there when college occurred. And, it should also be pointed out, Faith lost that ‘Chub’ nickname, given because she was, as might be expected, chubby – at least until about her senior year of high school.

Well, it’s some time in ‘contemporary time’. Dates were given for some childhood scenes, but I didn’t notice a date given for ‘present time’. Let’s call it something like 2013. Small town Louisiana, 2013.

Rachel has a kid of her own now and that leads directly into being thrust into a somewhat uncomfortable position. For right next door lives Faith, and while Faith herself doesn’t have any kids of her own, her sister Patty has recently moved in and has one – right around the same age as Kaycee (Rachel’s daughter). Sophie (Patty’s daughter) and Kaycee quickly become very friendly –f or they are quite similar in their desires of what they want to do – they are like miniature versions of Faith and Rachel – but without the stubborn streak that kept those two from becoming friends.

For the sake of her daughter, and for the sake of her niece, both Rachel and Faith attempt to tone down their rivalry . . and fail miserably. 30 years of pranks, stunts, name calling, and other antics is a long time to fall into a habit – one that won’t break easily.

Then the ‘worst of all worlds’ occurs, from both their perspectives – both end up being the adult chaperone’s on a 2 week summer camp trip – neither knowing the other was going until both showed up at the bus. Neither can now back out – they are there for the kids, Sophie and Kaycee to be specific.

After being literally caught rolling around the dirt fighting each other, the camp head informs Faith and Rachel that she’s going to make them leave if they don’t call a temporary truce. Neither wants to disappoint their blood relatives, so they attempt to restrain themselves.

Weeks pass, two to be exact. Stuff occurs, like swimming, and tackling massively huge snakes and weird scary camp visitors. And with the truce on, certain feelings leak out. And smother both of them.

A rather fun and exciting book. Hmm, exciting might not be the right word there. Well, humorous. Interesting. Fun. Enjoyable.

Rating: 4.90

February 2 2017




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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Once Bitten by Kate Owen


Once Bitten
by Kate Owen
Pages: ?
Publish Date: February 8 2017
Publisher: Less than Three
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.98
Read: January 26 to February 1 2017

*I received this book from NetGalley and Less than Three in return for a fair review.*

The book had an interesting beginning, quite readable, quite fun then things turned on me. At one point I was vaguely on edge of wondering if this one would end up being a book I'd like to DNF (put on my did not finish shelf for lack of being able to finish the book). That's the reason the book took somewhat longer than normal for me to read - I paused it grumbling.

Then I resumed reading after days of ignoring it and . . . well - I'd say that this book is somewhere within range of being one of the best werewolf books I've read. So, that happened.

The book stars Izzy Konning, lawyer - Federal Prosecutor, and Dr. Emma Douglas, medical doctor. They both have their point of views presented in this book, and are in a committed relationship with each other (to a certain extent). Though one has a secret that accidentally gets revealed at the start of the book.

You see, during a moment of sexual frenzy, it appears that Emma accidentally bit Izzy. Oh, you know, it happens. Izzy kind of laughed about it the next morning when Emma was all sad about the matter. Then Emma showed what was going on. By, you know, turning into a wolf. Strong, sane, mentally well-balanced - upon learning that she has accidentally been turned into a werewolf, freaked out and ran screaming out onto the Dallas streets (well, not literally screaming, more like she went for an unplanned, unorganized jog).

Naturally Izzy immediately ran into two fine young men who looked like 'hoodlums'. They got into an altercation. And things went differently than you might expect (no, not in the 'Izzy turned into a wolf and ate them' way). The two men forced her into a car and abducted her - because they knew she was a wolf - they could smell her - and she was in their territory without permission. But then, that is where she lived (Emma, who belonged to a different 'gang', or pack, had permission).

Strangely, Izzy ends up face to face with one of her targets as a federal prosecutor. A really evil man who was involved in such nice things as human trafficing and the like.

Turns out Julio is also a wolf - the head wolf, for that matter, for one of the two packs in Dallas. He plans to take advantage until he realizes that, by smell, Izzy was deeply connected to the daughter of the head of the other wolf pack in Dallas - and he is going to use this leverage - having the daughter's mate - to his advantage.

Meanwhile, he'll make some money off Izzy by including her in his 'wolf fight club'.

Things proceed from here, both in a manner expected, and in certain ways, unexpected.

As I noted above, this is one of those books that, unexpectedly, turned out better - much better - than I initially thought it would be. Exciting, thrilling, action packed. Wolves, vampires, witches, fae, demons, all represented in the book.

Despite the above, there were a few issues I had here and there - like a few 'scares' that the book was heading in particular directions I didn't want to go (but then didn't, so not an issue). But there were real serious 'problems' I ran across that almost kept me from enjoying the book (and one almost caused me to not finish the book). That one? - The part wherein the dominant wolves 'obviously' are male because . . . . um . . . no clue (females are submissives or omegas). That was a somewhat rage moment for me to move past. Glad I moved past it. By the way, it turns out Izzy is quite dominat so . . . naturally that means her wolf has massive balls . . . and penis (she's a 'morph' - female human, male wolf).

Right, so, I enjoyed the book.

Rating: 4.97

NOTE: the book will be available for purchase February 8th.

February 1 2017

Tilt-A-Whirl by Eva Indigo

Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl by Eva Indigo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was/is a hard book to stop reading (I do not mean that it is an easy read, I mean I found it difficult to stop reading). Only reason I didn't end up reading this in one gulp was tiny little minor things, like needing to go to work.

Like I noted in my review for the other book I read by this author (Laughing Down the Moon), this book was more of a slice of life 'dealing with things' than anything else (like, say, a romance). Though the main character did have a love interest to spend time with - and there were some borderline graphic sections - but the book is less about them than about Cassie's 'stuff to deal with plus some running scenes'.

Cassie is a professor at a university, has a long term girlfriend, a horrible mother, a less than great but not horrible father, an elderly cat (or an older cat), and the 'mother substitute' in the form of the nanny from Mexico. Oh, and - the mother sub is very ill, and Cassie may or may not be going insane - what with the very vivid visions she is having (starring, she thinks, herself in the future).

Not a book everyone would like, and didn't have the humor ' Laughing Down the Moon' had - though it did have emotions and stuff. Still, I liked the book.

Rating: 3.83

February 1 2017



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