Once Upon a Caravan by Clare Lydon

Once Upon a Caravan by Clare Lydon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm not sure if the audio I heard was actually the entire story, or if the entire story is just a tease, a snippet. You see the description that's up there for the story? *points upwards* That's basically the entire story - as in, it ends when Casey appears (well, it goes on a tiny bit more - tiny tiny bit).

Sooo . . .. Was interesting to hear. Was . . . is difficult to rate.

Rating: .... 3.5?

July 29 2018



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Once Upon a Princess by Clare Lydon and Harper Bliss

Once Upon a Princess by Clare Lydon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A princess (or should that be Princess?), fourth in line the English (and other) throne, is weeks away from marrying an ex . . . she's been pushed into this position by her mother, the Queen. The, as in the Princess - Olivia, and Jem dated when both were in their twenties, roughly 9 years before the start of this story, but their time had come and gone. They weren't actually in a relationship when the Queen arranged this situation, and that is what this is about - an arranged marriage.

Instead of tackling what an arranged marriage might look like, the book instead follows the princess as she flees to Cornwall, to 'breathe'. I've read pretend/fake/marriages of convenience, but I do not think I've read an arranged marriage book. I've even read books where the two parties are 'compromised' into a 'forced' marriage - but none of those correspond to an arranged marriage (as in, even in the 'forced marriage' something of the marrying people's own will brought them to that position; not all arranged marriage involves parents putting the marriage together, but that's what I was driving towards, since that is what happened here - the mother arranging both Olivia's sister's marriage (to a man named Miles - years before), and Olivia's marriage, or, at this point, engagement to Jem. Because, you see, Jem is 'the right sort').

Right, so, instead of following a relationship between Jem and Olivia, we follow Olivia 'breathing' in Cornwall, a small town there to be exact, something called, if I recall correctly, Otter Bay. Where she meets the other POV character in the story, Rosie Perkins.

Rosie, roughly 28 years of age (or exactly that age?), has run the family cafe for about 8 years now - after her parents died in a plane crash; and has raised her sister during that same period of time. The cafe looks kind of run down, and is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, but Rosie is still trying to keep things together. Helping her is the chef, Gina, who is trying (and failing) to become a citizen, and Rosie's aunt, Hilly (I've actually forgotten the aunt's name, I think it's something like that). At home in her tiny apartment is Paige, the sister about to head off to college, and Cher - yes, the famous singer. heh, no, that's the cat's name. Oh, and, to round this out, Amy, Rosie's ex, keeps popping up and hounding Rosie into taking her back - to restart their relationship (she, Amy, also has a pet, a dog named Biscuit, to really round things out).

So, that's the situation that Olivia finds when she wanders into town, flees an overly aggressive shop-owner (Connie, who wants to sell Olivia a hideous blouse) and into Rosie's cafe. It is not clear if Olivia remembers their earlier collusion, but Rosie and Olivia actually meet before - when Olivia arrived on the same train Paige came in on, and Olivia accidentally walked through Rosie. Rosie recognized her when she sat down - to a large extent because of the fancy expensive jacket.

Right, so, Olivia, wishing to keep people from gazing upon her, taking pictures of her, hounding her, etc., for being a princess, says that her name is Charlie - which is what her fellow military called her (that's another thing the mother controlled, no not being in the military - that Olivia is no longer in it; pulled out when she was 30, three years before the start of this book, because it was time for her to follow her royal duties, or something like that).

Olivia and Rosie flirt. Come close to dating. Actually go on a date. Etc. etc. Then the truth comes out and . . . . stuff.

Sexually explicit.

Interesting book.

Weirdly reminded me of another book I'd read, though that one didn't include a princess, just someone that was kind of posh coming into a small village and 'wooing' the local favored lesbian woman (both books the small village knew the local woman was a lesbian). That other book was set in Wales, though, not Cornwall. And, as already noted, didn't involve a Princess - and that other woman, the posher one, actually was also from that village, she'd just left to make her money in . . . London? before returning. Thought this book here, the Princess one, was better than 'Poppy Jenkins' - though my feeling about the book was something of a minority view.

Rating: 3.75

July 29 2018



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Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest

Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the second library book I’ve read in a long time. Second library book since I moved. And, oddly enough and unexpectedly, both include a wlw or f/f plot-line. One has that as the main theme (this book); other has that as a subplot (Mira Grant’s ‘Into the Drowning Deep’).

I’d like to say something along the lines of ‘this is the oldest lesbian fiction book that was both a romance and one with a ‘happy for now’ type ending’ – unlike lesbian pulp that I’ve read that tended to have unhappy endings, and/or if there is a happy ending, it definitely didn’t involve two women together at the end. Except: neither of the main characters (though only one has POV) are lesbians before meeting each other; both show signs of being much more likely to being somewhere on the bisexual scale than lesbian (as in, both still seem happy with the idea of sex with men, though one might have decided that they are all the way lesbian now – the one without POV thoughts, so not sure; other though is in the ‘I find men attractive, no woman – but for you’ column). Sooo . . happiest oldest, in publication terms, bisexual fiction? Something like that.

I really need an f/f shelf so I can look for those books. Since bisexual fiction ‘doesn’t rest upon’ lesbian fiction shelf (unless I’m 100% certain a lesbian is 1) involved; 2) has POV -> neither is present in this specific book; I’m not 100% certain, and the one that might be a lesbian now, does not have POV). I make that comment because I’m now going through my Lesbian Fiction shelf looking at publication dates.

Neither of the first two I’ve read fall inside the ‘lesbian pulp’ genre, but neither have happy outcomes for lesbians. Then a bunch of lesbian pulp books (~6). Then the ones I read published in the 1980s, which includes this book here. Including this book here, I’ve read four published in the 1980s lesbian fiction books – and only this one has a ‘happy outcome’ for lesbians, the other three were lesbian mysteries by the same author as of this book here.

Right, now that I’ve lost everyone . . this book here…

A massively huge number of women, at least it appears that way at first, spend a few days together at Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Millie, Madge, Chris, Liz and . . . I think Vivian are all friends. Vivian (who annoyingly includes her own name in her conversations; ala ‘Vivian is happy to see you’, though she does occasionally use I) isn’t staying at the cabin owned by Liz, and so I’m not sure if she actually is one of the groups friends – though I assume she is and that is why the main and only point of view character is staying at Liz’s cabin – Diana Holland. No one staying at the cabin has meet Diana before, though some information about her past has been shared by Vivian with Liz. Another guest, not yet named, is also brand-new to most of the group. Lane Christianson was invited to join the group by her friend Madge.

I’ve a vague idea that Millie might be in her twenties, but everyone else is somewhere between 34 and 54 (give or take ten years, though on the upper end).

As noted – all are there for a few days vacation, all but Diana there for skiing (Diana doesn’t ski, when the others are skiing, she drives to town to gamble). Also, as expected, all of them . . . wait, what’s this? Completely confusing me, when I came across this information . . . every bloody single person, including Vivian who isn’t staying at the cabin, is 100% heterosexual. And talk a lot about men. And screwing, and stuff. Most have boyfriends or husbands. For example: Diana, the POV, just broke up after a long term (5 year?) relationship with a man named Jack who cheated on her; she’d also previously been married (for 7 years?).

So, I entered this book expecting to find lesbians in this lesbian fiction book to find a bunch of disgruntled heterosexual women. There’s a lot of drinking and drug partaking, but no that does not lead to ‘accidental’ woman on woman action.

Two of the women, though, seem quite taken with another woman at the party. Happily both have fixated on each other (as opposed to other members of the vacation party). Weirdly and conveniently the two share the same upper loft sleeping area. Before either even think of using the bed for anything more than sleep, both suggest ‘sharing heat’, or whatever words they used, by using that bed instead of having the other back in the other room (which wasn’t really described but seemed small, cramped, and might not actually have a full-fledged bed).

Events conspire to have both become huggy/consoling the other. Kissing breaks out. Groping as well. When Lane starts pulling on Diana’s pj bottoms, Diana has a ‘holy fuck, I’m NOT A LESBIAN!!!!’ moment that causes Lane to stop her actions. And Diana to flee (the next morning), even though her body is screaming ‘please continue this new experience with the other women. PLEASE!’

Diana grapples with the idea she is/isn’t interested in Lane. Gazes upon other women while gambling. Finds none attractive, sexually. Spots men. Finds them sexually interesting. So much so she goes to one of their rooms. Whereupon . . . well, I’d not normally state this spoiler opening, but it’s important to note that a dubious consent (‘can there be consenting rape?’) moment occurs.

One thing I haven’t mentioned yet. I’ve indirectly noted that this book was published in the 1980s, but did not mention when the book was set. If I recall correctly, the book was set in 1978 or 1979. A time I’m much more able to except the concept of ‘noooo I can’t be a lesbian!!!’ reactions. What with society being quite negative, and even the somewhat underground books for people of a certain persuasion were . . . quite negative about lesbians (see: lesbian pulp). Basically, what I’m saying is that, in the exact right circumstances a positive vibe might have developed for a specific woman in this era, but 99.9999% of women, even if they come from a family that’s deeply to the left, politically, are going to fear finding themselves being attracted to women. Or, at least, that’s my understanding. I was not in my mid-30s in 1978 (though I was alive in that year).

Right, I went into that long diversion because I needed to note that this specific trope comes up a lot in lesbian fiction. It is something like . . . required, almost, that the books be about two non-lesbians who find each other then realize, reluctantly, that they might like women (at least there’s a ton of lesbian fiction that goes that route; I’ve also read a ton involving women 100% okay with the idea of being attracted to women and having relationships with women who find women who are similarly 100% okay with the idea). I’ve forgotten how this paragraph started. Certain tropes annoy me in lesbian fiction; based on certain factors, it is easier for me to ‘accept’ these tropes, since they are probably closer to reality than many other possible paths.

This was an interesting book, though hampered by being a solo point of view book. Also too large focus on men and humping men. But no matter, still interesting.

I rated this book 3.5 (as in put on that shelf), though now that I come to the part where I actually rate the book in my review, I’m not actually sure what to rate it. So 3.5 it shall be rated.

Rating: 3.5

July 27 2018



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Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The author, as in the individual behind the various names, chose to put this book out under the Grant name instead of the McGuire name. Which tells the reader certain things, at least if they know the names. Grant writes horror/disaster/zombie/intelligent parasites type of stories; McGuire writes fantasies. Both might include the same ‘monsters’ but from different angles (I do not specifically recall any zombies or intelligent parasites as characters in McGuire books, but there are sentient intelligent sea hominids in McGuire books).

The point in noting this issue: I knew this going in so I went in expecting a horror/disaster type story. Not a romance. And that’s what I got (plus a romance, but eh, whatever).

As I noted in, I think, one status update, my greatest problem with this specific book was how often the author dived into needless character backstory/characterization type stuff. Somewhere along the way I could tell . . . well, no this would be spoiler-y so let’s move on ((view spoiler)[if not a main character, I could tell which character was going to die because they suddenly had POV control and rich characterization and backstory then mid-sentence, they dead. Mmphs. Heh. I do not want to spend ten pages on backstory/characterization for a character I barely knew existed, just to make their death more, what’s that word, poignant? Something like that. (that didn’t always happen, by the way, that a minor character would suddenly get backstory then die; just most of the time; occasionally they’d get backstory and . . . continue to live.) (hide spoiler)]).

Right, so – Something like seven years before this book opens, an entertainment company sent a research vessel out to ‘look for mermaids’ to make a ‘mock documentary’. The company has made numerous shows like this one – looking for bigfoot, yeti, etc.etc. They send real scientists and the like along, film them, but never actually expect to find anything. Well, seven years ago they sent a ship out to look for mermaids. No bodies were recovered, nobody made it back alive; video shows ‘monsters’ climbing up out of the sea and tearing people apart. Most people saw those leaked videos and assumed they were fake, a hoax. The company knows better, knows the truth.

This book follows a second ship sent to the same waters, seven years after the first. The company was waiting on science to advance in certain areas before they sent the second expedition.

There are a ton of characters in this book – almost too many, but just barely not too many. Many point of views. Several involving people who ‘lost’ someone on the earlier ship.

Another thing I noted in my status updates: these might be some damned smart people in their fields of expertise but . . . without exception, everyone is depicted as being super dimwitted outside their own field. TSTL characters fill the pages. *shrugs*

Oh, and two of the main characters are female and sleep together. Hence my use of ‘lesbian’ though, now that I think about it, I should change that to bisexual (changes). I forget if Olivia is lesbian or bisexual, but Tory is definitely bisexual since her ex-boyfriend is on the voyage, and she sleeps with/develops a relationship with Olivia.

Rating: 3.68

July 26 2018




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Take Your Time by V.K. Powell

Take Your Time by V.K. Powell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the conclusion of a three book series, each book written by a different author, and all three books set during the, roughly, same period of time. The difference in all three books is which specific characters are the lead characters.

The first book in the series, Take My Hand by Missouri Vaun, follows Pine Cone resident Clay Cahill, and Pine Cone visitor River Hemsworth. They meet when River accidentally drives into a hair salon while attempting to avoid driving into an illegally parked horse trailer – which I mention because the horse trailer belongs to Trip (star of book two in the series), who attempts to help her after the accident, and the police officer to talks with her is Grace Booker, star of book three. Clay is the tow-truck driver who drive up to pull the car away from the scene of the accident.

All three of the locals who match up with ‘outsiders’ are best friends. Trip and Clay are on the ‘butch’ side of things, while Grace is on the femme side.

Of the ‘outsiders’, River is also femme, and Dani is androgynous. Jaime, the ‘other’ in book 2, is in other parts of this series, both in book 1 and 3, but, as I’ve not read book 2, I cannot ‘pigeon-hole’ her.

Right, now that’s out of the way, this specific book here.

Grace Booker is a sheriff’s deputy, the . . . a . . .well, she’s also some form of Sergeant. The book opens with her having to deal with the fact that her latest roommate has fled, leaving behind a freaking out parrot. Which is how Grace and the other main point of view character meet – Grace needs help and stops by the local Vet office, expecting to talk to her friend Trip, but she’s out. She has to, instead, ‘deal’ with Dr. Dani Wingate. I say ‘deal’ with because Dani has already come to a negative view of Grace, simply because she wears a cop uniform. It is one of many things the two will have to get over, in the course of the book, for the two to have a relationship.

Dani, see, had ‘previously meet’ Grace when she was in a store. While there the store owner had grabbed and detained a youngster for shoplifting. Dani, while hiding her presence, watched as Grace handcuffed and lead the youngster away. What really happened, and yes what Dani saw wasn’t the whole story, wasn’t explained until after Dani witnessed Grace restraining a drunk man and leading him off.

A cop being a cop, negative vibes being created in the watcher? Dani grew up in a poor neighborhood – her only interaction with the police was when they would come and ‘hassle’ the residents, once even destroying her food when they raided her parents place.

The book unfolds with the two being interested in each other but having reasons to not pursue the other. Dani: Grace is a police officer and Dani doesn’t plan to stick around the small town. Grace: Grace just had one relationship (not really a relationship, but . . .) implode, and is still trying to get over a previous relationship that was an actual relationship in which Grace let her heart be open; plus Dani isn’t planning to stick around.

Somehow or another, largely due to: 1) attempting to deal with the bird issues; 2) living in the same bed & breakfast and therefore running into each other a lot – the two developed some kind of relationship.

I liked the book; though felt that there was a little too heavy focus on sex for my own enjoyment. Ended up rating this one about a half star less, not for the sex, than the first book in this series.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and now I need to check some more out by them.

Rating: 3.78

July 24 2018




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The Lady Most Likely... by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway

The Lady Most Likely... by Julia Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book involves a roughly week long rural party in . . . I believe the Yorkshire area of England in 1817. The party occurs right after the end of the season – which, in itself, is different from the norm in books I’ve read – I’ve read books that have rural parties pre-season, and season parties, but I’ve rarely read a book where a party took place after the season ended – as the ‘better’ people are heading back to their rural hide-outs, I mean estates.

The reason for the party: Hugh, an Earl (Earl of Briarly), has informed his sister, Caro, that he wants her to put together a list of women for him. Women he could marry (well, obviously, just marry one but …). She informs him that the season just ended, and also that she’s confused for he never pays attention to society, doesn’t care about being proper or his seat in Parliament or any of that stuff, so what gives. He . . . etc. etc., point is that a man wants a wife, asks for help from his sister Caro, and their female friend Georgina. A party is then held at the Finchley (sp?) estate (Carolyn is married to a guy with the last name or estate name or title name of Finchley).

The first part of the book follows the first woman on the list, the most attractive woman of the season. Gwen. Also follows another man who hasn’t spent a lot of time looking for a wife, though he seems more interested, than Hugh, in his position in life, and being proper and stuff. He is also an Earl. Something like Earl Charteris. Charteris is at the party because he is a family friend and he’s there with his unmarried sister.

The first part was written by Julia Quinn, an author I’ve read before and generally enjoyed. For the most part. I liked the story shown, and the characterizations. I rated it 3.88.

The second part of the book is written by Connie Brockway and follows a Captain Oakes (sp?), who had been invited to the party by Caro as a potential love interest for her widowed friend Georgina. The other main character in this section is Kate, the second woman on the ‘Hugh’s list of women to court’.

Part two was a decent enough story until certain events occurred that I couldn’t stand and I had to stop reading. I just can’t stand men manhandling women, and I’m not talking about the Captain’s need to keep grabbing and carrying Kate around without first asking her permission (I’m more talking about him locking her in rooms without her permission). I gave this one a rating of 1.80.

Third part of the story finally follows Hugh as lead character, and Georgina. Another decent-ish story, though it includes several tropes I can’t stand and refuse to stomach in romance books: 1) woman says ‘no’; 2) man continues whatever he was doing that caused the woman to say no, pays no attention to it at all; 3) woman enjoys whatever man was doing.

I do not really give a fuck if the man is rough, gentle, or whatever. But why do we even need this dubious consent mixed into the story? For fuck sake, the no came after Georgina herself, without any persuading, stripped naked to go for a swim in a pond – knowing Hugh was nearby and probably would also join her in a skinny dip. And suddenly she’s saying no to him when he kisses her? Because they are in public? I hate her for her stupidity, and I hate him for forcing himself onto her when she said no. Still, actually completed this section and stuff. Part three rating: 2.80.

Overall: 3.88 + 1.80 + 2.80 = 8.48/3 = 2.83.

July 22 2018




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Psych: A Fatal Frame of Mind (Psych #4) by William Rabkin

Psych: A Fatal Frame of Mind by William Rabkin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm frequently confused when I reread Psych books. I hasten to note that I do not mean confused as to what occurs in the book, but, instead, confused as to how I never seem to recognize the books as I read them (for the most part, with exceptions both for books and scenes). Did I read this one previously? Apparently I did since I marked it as being read in 2009. Soooo.....

Right, so. Probably this and other books in the series are easier/better read by those who watched and enjoyed the television series Psych (which isn't always the case with media-tie-in books, some can be read and loved by any random reader).

This specific book involves involves Gus dragging Shawn to go help someone Shawn didn't want to take on as a client. A professor of art. While both are wearing tuxes (which, if you know the show, must be very odd to see since Shawn is the kind to wear sneakers with blue jeans and a tux t-shirt instead of a suit), the two arrive at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Only to find a long line of police cars. Not to provide security for the high-society event (though there is a high-society event being held there), but because a murder victim had been found inside the museum (murder? how can I leap to that conclusion? Well, there is a sword plunged into the body in a way someone couldn't do to themselves).

The dead body belongs to a museum curator - whose specific job that night had been to reveal a mystery painting, famous but unseen by the public, but he died before the revealing. The professor who Gus and Shawn were there to help provides some mild help to the police. Mostly so he can get a close look at the painting.

One thing leads to another and before you can say 'boo' . . . . it's the next morning and nothing much has happened, and Shawn and Gus are still in the tuxes. While the professor is in the interrogation room - not as a suspect, but as a 'helper' type - to explain the painting (the sword in the painting matched the sword that had been plunged into the dead person). Eventually, after everyone became very bored, the professor accidentally pulls the murder weapon out of his coat pocket, takes the detective (you know, the normal male foil to Shawn - Lassie) hostage, and escapes.

Eventually Shawn and Gus join the professor as fugitives from justice.

Good solid book. Slight level of humor. Vaguely interesting mystery. Kind of fizzled out at the end, but eh, whatever.

Rating: 4.27

July 20 2018



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Journey's End (The Flight #3) by A.E. Radley

Journey's End by A.E. Radley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Third and final (I believe) book in this series.

This book finds Emily and Olivia married and living . . . mostly apart. As Emily has found limited success as a scriptwriter that requires her to work in London - commuting between there and New York. (Less required than an opportunity to get 'inside' experience by working directly on a play as it is put on stage). Henry (that's the kids name right?) is just now starting school, and Olivia is watching over him while Olivia is traveling/working. They don't just relocate to London for several reasons, some more important than others - I'll just mention that Olivia has issues now with flying on planes.

Then Emily 'develops' a stalker. Funnily enough, I knew immediately who the actual stalker was, but whatever.

Interesting book.

Rating: 4.33

July 19 2018



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Magnetic by Robin Alexander

Magnetic by Robin Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In my most recent Alexander review, I noted that this specific book was tied for fourth favorite Alexander book. Mostly because it was originally rated, on first read, 5+ stars and because I'd only read it once.

Well, the book was not as fun this time around and I'm tentatively rating the reread 4.25 stars.

Here's where I'd list/remark upon/note why I might have found myself rating this book lower than my first read. Harder to do now, unfortunately, because I'm in a transition situation in which I moved from a barely habitable super hot apartment to a hotel to a really long car ride of a thousand or more miles to a temporary home and eventually to a new apartment (though that won't be until sometime in September). So . . . it's hard to focus my energy on things like why I feel certain ways about certain issues - book-wise.

I know I didn't find the interactions between the friends, girlfriend/one-night-stand/love-interest to be as interesting as in my first read.

So, in a nutshell: Woman A gets dumped via email (or was it a text?) while on a business trip to another city. Woman A gets some heavy flirtation from Woman B - Woman A calls herself Chloe, though lied. Woman B only called herself Stacy, as in only gave first name. Woman A & B have amazing sex together. Then A leaves before B wakes up the next morning. Neither has the ability to contact the other. Both have developed certain feelings for the other based on this one night stand.

Layne, aka Chloe, is forced by her boss, I-do-not-care-about-his-name, to go on vacation. Immediately (basically he is an asshole, majorly). Layne turns over plans for the vacation to Molly - a friend who is recovering from cancer (if I recall correctly). Molly, Molly's significant other (whose name now escapes me), Layne, and their fourth friend, fourth-friend (unfortunately the friends names are not in the book description and I did not name them in my previous review). Fourth-friend (Rhonda? Rachel? Rebecca? Monique? bah, let's not even try to remember, mmphs) brings along her new girlfriend - though she's already broken some records in how long she's been around - since fourth-friend is a serious player type who runs when things get boring.

That new girlfriend? Well Layne and her friends meet up at the airport. While there Layne meets the new girlfriend - the same woman she slept with a month or so back. Naturally a bad situation all around. Compounding the bad situation: Molly chose a vacation almost guaranteed to be the opposite of what Layne might have liked on a vacation (lazy cruise ship) - a vacation at a horse ranch type place in Florida in nature.

Stuff happens. There's some humor. The end.

Rating: 4.25

July 19 2018



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Fearless by Robin Alexander

Fearless by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You know the previous book I read to this one? That’s right, Soulshift. Wait… heh, oopsie. I thought the previous book I read was the newest Alexander book. See, now that just blows away my planned opening to this review. pfft.

Right, so, I was in the middle of reading a book (literally), when I just couldn’t take it any longer and had to jump to a different book to read. I had been reading the second book in Missouri Vaun’s ‘Return to Earth’ series, though it was the third I’d tried in that series (since there’s a prequel I also read). I generally enjoy Vaun’s works, so I’ve not put this one on my DNF shelf yet, but I needed something else to read.

Having recently read a new Alexander book, yay new book!, and having recently been glancing at quotes and reviews for other Alexander books, I figured I’d do something I rarely did in the past but is a frequent go to now – do a reread.

Fearless is a book I loved so much after I read it that I wanted to do an immediate reread. But I somehow held back. As each new Alexander book popped up, and was instantly read by me, I’d turn to this book again to see if now was the time, but no . . . not yet. I had ‘just’ read it in September 2017, I needed to give myself some room.

So, needing a book to read, I gave myself the green light and dove in.

It shows me taking two days to read, though that’s more because I keep having to break away to clean and box stuff (I cleaned 7 hours today, I very tired).

Fearless is the story, for those yet to try it, of two opposites who bump into each other on a cruise ship and immediately . . . hate each other. Literally bump into each other.

The book opens with Falon Whyte having an argument with her girlfriend (Leanne (sp?)). Leanne’s pissed because the cruise isn’t a lesbian cruise; Falon counters with 1) scheduling didn’t work out for that one and work; 2) there are a ton of lesbians around – it is a LGBT cruise. One thing quickly leads to another and before you can sing that famous song ‘Toot Toot’, the two year relationship was over. Falon leaves the ship cabin to do stuff like eat a mound of onion rings (which she couldn’t while dating Leanne), and drink.

Meanwhile, Haley’s pissed off that her roommate, her best friend’s cousin, has once again locked her out of the cabin. She’ll have to spend something like her third night out on the deck sleeping in a chair (luckily she meet a nice man she likes; both of them are not sexually interested in the other, by the way).

While heading to her sleeping spot, Haley angrily rushes through a door and a drink gets spilled on her. She immediately demands that the other woman tell her her room number so that she can send a laundry bill. The other woman asks for a new drink since this one cost $12 and it was that other woman who walked into her. Haley rushes away.

Falon, it just so happens, was that other woman.

The second time the two meet, Falon has the word ‘Ass’ written on her forehead. Haley gives her thumbs up in approval of her self-awareness of her nature.

The third time they meet, Haley is kind of having an out of body experience – she’s been talked into going on a zip line experience and Haley is in a fog, a horrified fog. She misunderstands what people are saying around her, and she ends up riding with Falon (there are in separate ‘chairs’ but the zip line sends people down two at a time). Haley, to show how out of it she is, was supposed to go with her new male friend, but couldn’t be coherent enough when questions were asked and accidentally said she was a single rider.

The two, once on the ground, continue to argue and march around. Then a man asks for stuff (in a 'my hand is in my pocket, pretend it's a gun' way) – in the middle of the two arguing with each other. One thing leads to another and . . . . the cruise ship leaves without them and now they are stranded.

Eventually the two end up at a hotel/inn/bungalow type place with a mobster looking guy in charge. A sweet mobster with a NY accent.

Any other set of circumstances and the two women probably wouldn’t have given the other the time of day (well not literally, but . . . bah). But they were forced together, they learned about each other, and they grew closer.

I once again rather enjoyed the two main characters, and their friends (well, Haley’s best friend is a bitch to Falon but . . . reasons and stuff).

Great book. Lots of great humor.

I’d originally listed this, seconds after reading this book the first time, as being in the top three of the books written by Alexander that I’d read. I was wrong at the time (as my comments show me) as this was in the top 4 of the books I’d read – at that time.

If I was to make that list again today, it’d be:
1) Patty’s Potent Potion
1) Next Time

Gave both of these six stars on reread.

3rd) Fearless
This one ends up ahead of a few others rated the same because I’ve read it twice (and gave it a 5+ rating both times) while similar rated books have only been read once.

4th) Temporary Girl
4th) Kellen’s Moment
4th) Dear Me
4th) Magnetic

All read once, all rated 5+.

I’ve reread 4 Alexander books by this point. The fourth, first that I actually reread, isn’t on this list. I’d rated it 4 stars on the reread, which is actually an improvement on original 3.5 star rating. Pitifully Ugly isn’t 8th on the list of favorite Alexander books, as there are other once-only reads rated higher than it.

Rating: 5+

July 15 2018



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The Cursebreaker Countess by Sasha L. Miller

The Cursebreaker Countess by Sasha L. Miller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A woman named Kas comes across a sleeping woman when she goes into a tower to escape the rain. The woman has been asleep for some sixty-odd years, and is awakened by Kas. For that is Kas’ nature, no not waking sleeping women – destroying magic. She touched something, something else happened, and the sleeping woman was no longer asleep. Said her name was Anika, then admitted to being the Lost Princess (well, being a princess of that kingdom, and Kas informed her of that title, the ‘Lost Princess’ one).

The two talk. Kas filling in a little on what has happened the last 66 years. Anika fell asleep, by however means, in a world of magic. But magic doesn’t work in that kingdom any longer – at least new magic doesn’t, and magic that’s already working can’t be fixed if Kas touches it.

--
I do not wish to do a step by step plot-line break-down, so let’s move on, eh?

The main character is Kas. She’s the ‘Cursebreaker Countess’ of the title, though providing more explanation than that might be too much spoiler information. The entirety of the story is from Kas POV.

I rather enjoyed this story – it had a nice ‘vibe’ to it, and it was a pleasure to read. The beginning and middle were great. The ending . . . eh, what needed to be done was done, but the ending did kind of seem abrupt regardless.

Right, so, I liked the main characters – Kas and Anika. The story was good. There are things left incomplete, but that’s more of a ‘what happens next’ type of feeling than a ‘plots not completed’ type of feeling.

Rating: 4.38

July 4 2018




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Temporary Girl by Robin Alexander

Temporary Girl by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is yet another Alexander book I read and loved. Though I was worried there when I found that the book existed, had been read by others, and that the average rating was at 4 stars (it's since gone to something like 4.7, and is now back down to 4.5). I was worried because, while I say 'yet another . . .' that's more recent Alexander books that I've read and loved, there have been that I didn't love, some I didn't like, and at least one I loathed (unfortunately that one was the start of a three book series, and I'd already bought book 2 and three, still haven't read book 2 & 3 in that series).

I think I've used this phrase, or words similar, when mentioning an Alexander book: this book stars two people that have issues. Both have been working on them, and both might want to start work on the next phase of their lives, which may or may not involve a significant other (though one is more in that direction than the other; the other is still dodging the texts of her latest 'relationship' while going to a wedding, more on that later). One has commitment issues - in that they do not like being alone, hook up with someone, and use the love word way too quickly and easily (though, as noted, they know this issue and have been working on it), the other has the opposite commitment issue - one one commits too easily, this other can't commit at all (or, well, runs the other direction – away – from a woman if they start to express relationship type comments).

The commitment-phobe, Jodi, has ‘reasons’ for being what and who she is, though she can fake it. Which is where the book starts, with …. (dang, I can’t remember if it’s Jodi who is 37 or 40, or if it’s Val who is 37 or 40, one, I mean, is one age, the other is the other (though both are described as having the bodies of 20 year olds – said after seeing through lust filled eyes)). Right, let’s start that sentence again. 37 or 40 year old Jodi opens the book driving to a wedding – a ‘forced’ week long vacation. Next to her is Vince, her ‘pretend’ boyfriend (he’s gay and not out to his family). Vince, to note how the trip occurred, mentions something to his mother, after they arrive, that the trip normally takes an hour and a half but they did it in only 15 minutes, because of how Jodi drives.

Vince’s brother, by the way, is the groom. Jodi is there because of Vince. To round things out, Vince owns and operates an expensive car dealership, while Jodi owns and operates a furniture store (though it’s connected to the family store-chain).

While at the wedding, the only other lesbian in attendance takes one look at Jodi and drools. That’d be Val. Who works for a potty manufacturer (there’s a lot of good humor in this book, there’s also a lot of humor connected to Val’s job of being a potty seller that didn’t really work for me). Val’s at the wedding because she’s friends (from college) with the bride-to-be, whose name Everly. It’s important to note that another college friend is there as well – Renee, and . . . I cannot recall but I think the other two young women who pop up in the story are sisters of Everly and not Rene, though there’s a ton of people in this story and some do not even have accurate names (mostly because the others seem them as snooty and call them something like snooty one and two). I mention these two others, specifically, because of their impact on the story – Kara being the youngest at 21, though she’s much more ‘mature’ than her sister Riley (who is first seen by the reader wearing a very small barely there swimsuit that she keeps popping out of it – which is important to mention . . . for reasons).

So then: time is spent on the week-long wedding festivities (that’s about the first, oh, 50 to 55% of the book, I think), then later back in their home locations (I forget now, did they life in Baton Rouge or was the week long vacation in Baton Rouge?). Val and Jodi date. Have fun together. And stuff.

Quite fun hilarious book.

Rating: 5+

July 12 2018




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Welcome to Castle Cove by Kory M. Shrum

Welcome to Castle Cove by Kory M. Shrum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a very thin book, story-wise. And all the pathways, even the one that actually leads to full on lesbian love, is filled with enough hints, glances, etc. etc. indicating that the main female character is quite happy with gazing upon the male physique (and not really that interested in gazing upon the female form, even when you 'force' the character in that direction the lead just goes through the motions - as in, she drools over men, pictures a man when the magic 'creates your perfect mate' (or however that siren section was worded), etc. etc. while just causally writing a phone number on a bar napkin and or bluntly asked if you want a lesbian lover - never does the female lead, even in the lesbian love story section, seem that desirous of being near a woman . . . even when she bloody well has a female lover).

There's no sex in this story. At least I didn't see any.

There's no real happy ending. No matter what road you go down. (view spoiler)[Unless 'fled and didn't die' is a happy ending. (hide spoiler)]

This is not a you book, you are not in the book, a female lead character with an actual name and stuff is in the book. Which, actually, makes things easier for me. As I'm just like a person on her shoulder nudging her one way or another but with no real control. A you book with this story line? The no real control part would have me rating this book much worse than I did.

Rating: 3

July 12 2018



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Soulshift (Twin Souls #2) by Arizona Tape and Laura Greenwood

Soulshift by Arizona Tape

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This would probably a great overall book if one specific thing was changed - book 1 and 2 were to be merged. That's my greatest problem with this specific book here - I've already read it. Or, I should say, I've already learned everything that happens in this book by reading book one in this series.

Why and or how did I learn everything about this book from book 1? Because the events in this book take place at the exact same time as the events in book 1 and even involve the same people. The only difference between book 1 and 2 is who the point of view character is in the books - book 1 follows Tate; book 2 follows Ayra.

Tate & Ayra, you see, spend the entirety of the book switching bodies - by accident. One is a vampire who hates the taste of blood (Ayra), the other is a dragon who can't shift (Tate); one has a male mate while the other has a female mate.

Second biggest problem with this book? It's a combo of not really liking Ayra's character, to a certain extent, but mostly the part where I learned her character and . . . she kept drifting into acting more like Tate at times. I'm not exactly sure what was going on there, is it some kind of 'the two women, who look like twins, are more similar than they think' or if it's some kind of mistake in the plotting/characteriztion/etc.

Again, though, the main problem I have with this book is that this book really should have been merged with book 1. I was kind of bored while I read this book here. I know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and how people will react when those events unfold . . . because I'd read book 1.

Rating: 2

July 12 2018



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All Things Rise (Return to Earth #1) by Missouri Vaun

All Things Rise by Missouri Vaun

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There’s something about the book description, not that I could point at what I mean, that always both drew me to the book and kept me from actually starting it. I did previously read the prequel to the series, though, a good long while ago. It’s more of a vague memory at this point, though.

So – as the book description notes, this book is a two person point of view book that involves something of a clash of cultures, cultures that haven’t really interacted with each other in about a hundred years. The culture of the sky cities and the culture of the ‘groundlings’ (when oil began to reach critical low levels, the rich 1% blinked, realized they needed to do something, created an alternate energy source, used it to float cities up in the sky and abandoned the ground to the 99% rest of humanity and cut off connections to those people; naturally, then, the two culture’s languages diverged to the point wherein . . . okay, no, both can understand the other without any problem what-so-ever beyond finding the other’s ‘accent’ and ‘way of talking’ to be . . . ‘cute’; oh and I lied about the two person point of view thing).

Ava, sky-person – citizen of Easton, is a pilot. After almost fucking her best friend, she flees as she always does to avoid conflict and possible conflict. She ‘needs some time to think’. She hadn’t intended that time to involve being on the ground – because earth bound people are scary and everything down there can and will kill her (at least that’s what she’s been told since birth)), but she also probably was not in the correct state of mind to be flying. Or trying to fly. The book starts with her crashing . . . gently into the earth. Near where the . . . another point of view character was fishing.

Cole . . . well, fishes. Works on a farm, does earth based stuff like that. While finishing up fishing she notices a red glow in the sky. That’s the sun setting, though the way things were worded, I expected it to turn out to be Ava’s ship, but whatever. Eventually she notices ‘lights’ nearby and investigates. Whereupon she finds a downed cruiser. And someone inside. Glancing briefly at the thing, she instantly knows how to open the hatch, and does so.

Ava, naturally, flies out of the hatch and pummels Cole’s nose to the point of blood flowing. Eventually Ava realizes that, despite what she was taught, Cole doesn’t actually wish to eat her or do evil to her. After wiping her nose, Cole invites Ava back to her place to spend the night, since its dark and stuff and they need the light to fix the ship.

Ava and Cole give flirty kind of looks to each other. Me being me, I didn’t actually read the full book description (or any, I mean, I had already read the prequel and had an idea what the book should be about) so I overlooked the part where the book description openly and bluntly notes that it isn’t a romance about Ava and Cole. Oops?

I knew ‘something’ was up when Ava rushes a dying Cole (there’s a lot of that kind of thing going on in this book; I mean one or another character in extreme danger; and/or dying) back to the sky-city and . . . . well, was it before there that the third point of view suddenly started? Crap, I think it was before there. I didn’t need to mention dying Cole. Ah, whatever.

So yes there are actually three points of views in this book. Groundling Cole, sky-city citizen and pilot Ava (and native of Easton), and medical doctor Audrey (and citizen, I think, of Easton, though she’s from the sky city of London).

Despite my rough shod review, the book was actually quite interesting. There was a weird mix of chemistry – not-chemistry going on though (I don’t mean between Audrey and Cole, I mean between everyone and everyone; it’s like every character’s chemistry level with each other character – at least in terms of the main characters needed to be mentioned – like how Jess is probably ‘okay’ but she hangs out with Margaret, who Cole finds creepy, though Margaret keeps throwing herself at Cole anyway (that’s part of the chemistry etc. As in, Jess and Cole have a certain amount of chemistry but . . . not the right kind? Margaret fancies Cole but Cole doesn’t; everyone assumes Audrey and Ava will eventually hook up but . . .etcetc)).

I lost track of what I was attempting to say. *glances at clock, sees ‘8:37 pm’, grunts at not being to blame time*

Book was interesting. There’s a lot of sex in it. Somewhat more in the thinking about it way, though plenty of the action kind as well.

This is more of a romance book set in a future science-fictiony world, than a science fiction book with a thin romance plot.

Rating: 3.75

July 10 2018



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This Wicked Gift (Carhart 0.5) by Courtney Milan

This Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I loathed the main male character from beginning to end. LOATHED. He was described in such a way that in any other book he’d be a villain or a source of . . . satiric humor. Satire-ic. Bah.

The woman? The main quality about her that I disliked was . . . that she was interested in this jackass. Otherwise she was a great character. That’s a massive thing to overcome, though, liking this miserable piece of shit – that male lead character.

Right, so, this is a 100 something prequel to a series I’ve not read yet. It stars people that made me add a shelf – though I’d thought I already had that one. Instead of the normal ‘rich-rich’ that most English historical fiction feature (or, at least, ‘titled-titled’), this book actually featured two people who can be called poor (or working class; technically the lead male character talked about himself in such a way that he sounded like he had the worst lowest of the low jobs on earth and was in hell – except the job in actuality was more middle class – professional class, but whatever, didn’t pay a lot and didn’t require an advanced degree. Jackass McJackass (his name is not in the book description; it’s not, but it is something like ‘Jonathan Q. Smith’) works as a finance guy for a titled person – one of whom will feature in the series proper (Carhart).

Jackass fancies a particular woman – that woman is the female lead in this book. Figuring he’s a piece of shit, working a hell job, and has no future, he mostly ignores her when he’s in her store (she runs a bookstore/lending library for her ailing father). Also because of the aforementioned believe that he, himself, is shit, he decided to ‘take advantage’ of the woman because obviously she’d not want anything to do with him otherwise. So he blackmails her/coerces her. She . . . has lusted after him for a long time, finds his methods and actions pathetic, in a sad way, and . . . fucks him (not because of being blackmailed, but because she’s horny – this is part of what I meant in my status updates that the man was melodramatically doom and gloom and had a virgin fetish (more in the ‘oh god I’ve ruined her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ way, than in a ‘must fuck all virgins’ way); while she’s all ‘I was horny, I wanted to fuck, fuck you and your virgin fetish/ruined what’s-so-call-it, I’m no lady looking to land a titled man; nor am I servant whose reputation can be blackened to the point of being unable to secure work; etc. etc.etc.’).

I fear I’ve gone too far down a particular path. I just found the lead male character so loathsome that he is overwhelming my ability to think in a rational and coherent manner. Not loathsome in a ‘bad boys are hot’ way, but loathsome in ‘I’m a shit, a large turd, I know this, my life will always be like this, so I’ll act like it . . . poorly’* way.

‘*’ – even when he tries to act poorly, he is loathsomely rotten at it. The guy is a massive loser . . . who is handsome . . . enough for the lead female character to become tongue tied around him. At least until he opened his mouth and revealed he’s a jackass mcjackass. Whereupon she handily handled him. Handily.

Right, so, horrible loathsome book.

Rating: oh. I did not remember I rated this 1.75 stars until just now. So, apparently that’s the rating I gave. 1.75 stars.

June 10 2018




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Witchful Thinking (The Happily Everlasting Series #4) by Kristen Painter

Witchful Thinking by Kristen Painter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I’ve read two works since I read this one, and no review (not that I’ve written any reviews since July 7th). I mention that only to note that it will be more difficult for me to say what I think about this specific book now.

This is the fourth book in a series, a series I’ve only read this specific book in. I was given the understanding that the books were stand-alones so . . . I entered with that in mind. Mostly because this would be the 15th book I’ve read by this author and all the other books were by different authors, none of whom I’d ever read before.

So, what’s going on here in this book? A novice witch, Charlotte Fenchurch, is working in the library when two events occur at near-about the same time that change her life course -> 1) the head librarian grunts at finding a donation in the book return slot, says the book looks like crap, and throws it away – Charlotte loves books to the point she’d rather see one be used to form the base of a table than to see one tossed in the garbage, so she takes the book and brings it home with her; 2) a super-hot man, and I mean, really gaggingly gorgeous man (is gaggingly a word? I think that might not be a word, it should be) begins to outrageously flirt with her – which tells her two things: a) the man is up to no good because no man that looks like him would spend to seconds with a woman like her; b) he’s hot, let’s play with him anyway.

The book, the one the main female character saved, turns out to be ‘a very special book of magic’, ‘a grimoire’ – an ancient book of spells. The type of book that bonds to a witch and then will be . . . something something evil . . something something… whatever.

The man turns out to be a leopard. Heh. Okay, a leopard shifter who works for the ladies of light. No wait, the lords of leaping. Hmm, WTF was the organization again? Oh, something involving FoL, friends of light? Well the L is light. Oh, it’s also in the book description: ‘Freaking Orange Lizards’ (hmm, no that’s not it, dang I’m not funny, it’s ‘Fraternal Order of Light’). Basically the FOL’s mission in life is to be, at least based on this book, to hunt down and kill bad witches (or put them into prison) and take magic items (I think the bad kind not just all kinds) into storage to save the world. More on that . . .

Now. Bloody freaking hell that got annoying. Every other thing out of that male lead character was about how something or other was bound to ‘destroy all mankind’ or some shit like that if the FOL didn’t step in front and save everyone. And, sure, there’s probably some truth about it but you can only read about yet another apocalyptic level event being blocked before you fall asleep at the mere words.

Right, sorry.

So, right, the other thing that impacted Charlotte’s life was this dude, Walker Black. Who says he is into antiquing, which he is in a minor way – as a side kind of cover way, while mostly being an agent of FOL . .. since birth (seriously).

Walker spends the majority of the book finding Charlotte gorgeous, wanting to be with her, doubting himself and assuming she’s the most powerful witch he’s ever, and I mean ever, encountered because . . . he lusts for her and obviously that means that she put a spell on him. (seriously, this is one fucked up book). Right, so Walker is there in town to find and store, or I mean put into storage, that same book previously mentioned as being found by Charlotte.

The two leads flirt and stuff. Everyone and the cat turn out to have a secret identity (the cat is also secretly able to shed really well, okay, I could have gone with ‘witch familiar’ but that was only assumed without being confirmed). And the book ends. Yay. Book ended.

The man was a condescending jackass with a few redeeming qualities. The woman was borderline TSTL, though mostly due to circumstances out of her control and not her actual normal personality.

Rating: 2.88

July 10 2018



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Shadow of the Phoenix (Storm's Quarry, #3) by Rebecca Harwell

Shadow of the Phoenix by Rebecca Harwell

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When a book is released as part of a series (or, for that matter, released without mention of a series, but an unofficial series connects other books to that book . . . but that’s not what is occurring here so I’ll move on), it is important to ask and answer one simple question. How important is it to read the prior works in the series? It is prudent to ask a question like that – there are books that are officially part of a series, but there is no real connection between the books (and, sometimes, between the authors); then there are series like this one here. That builds on each additional novel. How important is it to read this series in order? Very.

Right, so, assuming you haven’t read the first book in this series – go and do that now. I’ll patiently wait here. Now read the second book, as this here is the third.

I’m both joking and serious in the last paragraph. Serious in that you need to read this series in order, joking that you need to do it immediately.

Right, so, what’s this third book about? Well, see . . . *insert here spoiler for the series* . . . and we enter the realm of ‘how do you talk about the third book in an interconnect series that builds on itself without spoiling prior books’?

Well, let’s look at the book description. ‘Nadya and Shay have built a quiet life together away from the island city-state of Storm’s Quarry and their outlaw vigilante identities, the Iron Phoenix and the Shadow Dragon.’ Well, that’s wrong on two levels. Nadya is constantly in a state of depression and guilt at the actions of the past. Shay keeps having jealous flashes, though she keeps getting reminded that ‘I choose you’. Quiet life? Built? They live in a tent and are caravanning around with Shay’s adoptive mother, the Forgemaster. And that ‘life away from . . . Iron Phoenix and the Shadow Dragon’ is just . . . wrong. They still put on the costumes and help those around them. Heck, the book opens (at least the Nadya & Shay part) with Nadya tentatively approaching the Forgemaster to ask to have her armor dinks un-dinked. Because it got damaged. From being used, by Nadya, as the Iron Phoenix.

The only thing ‘correct’ in the part I quoted from the book description would be the ‘away from . . . Storm’s Quarry’.

Okkkay, I was going to say the second paragraph in the book description is accurate, until I read it again and . . . just don’t read that, m’okay? The paragraph. It’s too spoiler-y. Mentions stuff that occurs later in the book, and is kind of spoilery.

Right, so, the two women who, over time, have developed a relationship – Shay and Nadya, continue their relationship. Though their bonds are tested when news reaches them that call Nadya back to the city-state. Not specifically that the city is/was under invasion/attack, but there are coded parts in the message that lead Nadya to suspect something like that. So they return and do what they can to help.

A good solid book. Enjoyable. There’s both a feeling, as another review (the only other review at the moment) indicated, that the series has reached its conclusion, while at the same time there’s a tantalizing bit that could be followed in another book that’s left open by how the book ended ((view spoiler)[you know, the Lode story (hide spoiler)]).

Rating: 4.44 (of note: I rated the first book ~4.25 stars, second 4.45, and now rate the third 4.44)

July 5 2018




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The Road Ahead by A.E. Radley

The Road Ahead by A.E. Radley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a quick easy read, though it falls inside my ‘novel’ length shelf … by two pages (works of 260 to 519 pages).

There are several things happening in this book – the first half is a road trip, the second half is something of a . . . recovery from that road trip.

The book opens with twenty-something Rebecca Edwards arriving, late, at an airport in Portugal. It’s the day before the day before Christmas. Or Christmas Eve Eve – the eve of Christmas Eve. It’s the 23rd of December. Rebecca is rushing to get back to her mum, but finds the airport packed with wandering confused humans. Luckily they are not muttering things about ‘brains’ and attempting to bite people, no that isn’t this type of book. No, see, ‘there’s something wrong with the computers’ and no flight can land or leave Portugal or Spain. It’s been that way for about 2 hours now.

One thing leads to another, and Rebecca arrives at a car rental desk. But they want a fortune to rent her a car. A fortune she doesn’t have. It’s the last car they have, she’s put down a 100 pounds to hold it to see if she could get money from others.

While frantically sending text messages to her poor financially impoverished friends, another woman appears and demands a car. She’s dressed like the kind of woman who has money. Loads of it. As opposed to Rebecca who looks like she . . . well, the 100 pounds appearing surprised me considering how she is described. She looks dirty and dirt poor.

That other woman, Arabella Henley has a few ice queen like traits. Don’t be fooled, she’s more of a selfish bitch (and yes, there is a difference). Arabella is moments away from handing over her credit card and getting the keys to the ‘one remaining car’ when Rebecca puts a stop to it. She mentions several things – the part where she points out that Arabella is stumbling around on a crutch and has a foot in a cast finally works. So now neither of them have the car. Rebecca doesn’t have the money, while Arabella’s injury has insurance coverage issues that keep her from the car.

Naturally . . . well, it takes a while, mostly the arrival of more desperate looking people, but they agree to drive together. From Portugal to London (well, near London, Putney and Croydon, wherever the heck that is; I know Croydon has been ‘absorbed’ into London suburbs, while Putney is an hour away from Croydon).

Its 22 hours and 46 minutes driving between Faro Airport (the airport I think they are at in Portugal) and Croydon UK (1,478 miles). 23 hours and 23 minutes between Faro Airport and Putney UK. 1,491 miles. A roadtrip that includes the countries: Portugal, Spain, France, and England.

I fluctuated in how much I liked or not liked the main characters, but in the end I tended to like them well enough. There was a good mix of humor to help matters along. I suppose if I was to point to one thing I disliked, I’d point to how often Arabella referred to Rebecca as ‘the girl’.

For those who care about such things: there was no graphic depictions of a sexual nature in this work.

Enjoyable book.

Rating: 4.88

July 4 2018




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The Lady and the Thief (Deceived, #5) by Megan Derr

The Lady and the Thief by Megan Derr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever read a story where fun and exciting mysteries and adventures and stuff are going on? Daring do, and all that? Like a James Bond novel or film, or even an Austen Powers film? There is a specific individual that comes to mind I wish to mention – he’s a fella that appeared in several Bond films, if I recall correctly he was a fatter man who may or may not be from either Texas or Louisiana, and may or may not be involved in law enforcement. I’m taking the time to mention him so I can note: in the films James Bond is doing these exciting things, speeding past in a boat, in a car, on a train. Texas dude watches with his mouth open clueless to what all is going on. Ah, there we go – Louisiana Sheriff J.W. Pepper, appeared in ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

Adeline is the lead character in this short work, and the only one whose point of view is shown. Adeline is like Pepper in Bond. Exciting stuff is happening, but Adeline is just getting whiplash from it occurring around her, and occasionally to her, but without her knowing why.

This specific story open with Adeline seducing James Bond, saving money, and letting the individual know of her plans to run away together to ‘have a life’. The next morning Adeline wakes up to wails – ‘my jewelry!’ – the person she had expressed her love to, James Bond, had left the premise with Adeline’s money and jewels (as well as her aunt/uncles stuff). James Bond is, of course, not James Bond, but the chamber maid Lissette. Think a moment as to why I’d mention Bond here in this way. I do not wish to be too specific.

Two years later, 21 year old Adeline is finally ‘out for a season’ (and yes, this book reads like a vaguely English Regency period romance, but it is close enough to give that vibe, while also be irritating at the obvious differences between the 800,000 Regency romances I’ve read, and this story here – which, and this should be or should have been obvious, is not a Regency romance). While at a ball, Adeline spots a newcomer pop in. It’s Lizette! In a ball gown! And . . . calling herself Lady something or other!

One thing leads to another and . . . the reader follows Adeline mostly locked in her room ‘grounded’ while stuff happens. Since we, the readers, are following Adeline, ‘we’ know nothing, since Adeline knows nothing. Well, we and Adeline do know ‘something’ is going on. But not much more than ‘something’. Meanwhile, as far as the reader knows, an intricate chess match between rival spies could be occurring, or a game of poker, or high-speed . . . horse races . . . or nothing at all. That’s all the information we and Adeline have of the activities. Nothing at all.

Picture reading ‘North by Northwest’, and we are the Hitchcock character (not the director, the character – Hitchcock popped up on screen as someone at Mount Rushmore, sees ‘weird things occur’ but has no clue what’s going on). That’s us and Adeline. We are Hitchcock, or Pepper, or . . . any of a million other people who are near action, can sense something is occurring, but has no inside knowledge and is only involved indirectly (well, Adeline is involved directly, in a way, but she doesn’t know it).

Because of all of that – this is one of the most frustrating stories I’ve read. Borderline boring. Maybe more than borderline.

Adeline is a skilled and trained swords-person (fencer). Isn’t stupid. Etc. etc. But spends the majority of the story, as noted, locked in her room, or without agency – having people do things to her. Either for or against her. Sure, occasionally she gets to stab someone, but super rarely. Mostly she’s locked in a room.

I do not really like reading stories where the character has no agency, and stuff just happens to them. Especially if most of the stuff is off screen and sometime near the end the character has to be sat down and have things explained to them because . . . they both had no agency to act, and had no opportunity to observe anything.

Adeline remained true to her first love, but this is not, by any means, a romance. I can’t even call it a spy story, even though everything that occurs is spy related – Adeline just isn’t involved in it. It’s like a Sherlock Holmes story, and we the reader are following . . . the person off to the side, who is both blind and deaf, who shines shoes for a living. Hears and sees nothing. Feels only shoes and shoe cleaning stuff. Yay?

Oh, and the main character is also overly emotional and angsty. Hehehe, gah.

Rating: …. I really have no idea. 2.75

July 3 2018




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Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off: This is the first story I’ve read by this author. What did I know going in? Not much – something about a business partner proposing marriage to Rin, Rin not wanting to marry, turns to a Goddess for help, who tells her to marry her instead. Or . . I think that last part was something I read somewhere the story was about. Sounded interesting enough. Oh, and the cover indicated an interracial relationship of some kind.

What did I find? Well, I immediately knew my impression was off. From the ‘this is what the story is about’ I pictured some Middle Ages (knights and castles level) level fantasy world. And the story opens with Rin turning off a computer. Soooo… Oh, and the people in this world are super focused on business matters (’the Empire of Alhira was a corporate country through and through. Business was expected to be her first love’).

Oh, and that business partner who proposed marriage is male (with Rin 2being female).

So this is a ‘modern’ world with computers, technology, people living for their jobs, etc. etc., mixed with an active polytheistic religion with multiple Gods and Goddesses – who can be seen in person (‘the goddess walked the earth just as all gods did’ – so said after seeing the goddess Hina walking around picking up pastries to eat late at night).

….

Forgot to mention the Goddesses name (God/Goddess, whatever, they are/can be both, heck when first meet, they were a cat licking up milk) – that name being Vistri.

Not sure I particularly like either main character. Rather than saying no to Jarrod, the man who proposed marriage, Rin went to the Gods for help. Um, eh? Saying no is harder than making a plea for help from a trickster god? And the other, Vistri, appears to be a pompous asshole. Eh, whatever.

…

Vistri uses terms of endearment, like ‘dear’ way too much.
…
Right, so, short story read. Unfortunately I never really got into it as much as I thought I would. I was a little too detached from what was going on.

Rating: 3.44

July 2 2018



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