Look Of Love/Miradas De Amor: Miradas De Amor by Lynda Sandoval

Look Of Love/Miradas De Amor: Miradas De Amor by Lynda Sandoval

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is both the first and second time I've read this book here. Complicated, eh?

First time I've read a book with this title (Look of Love) and by this author (Lynda Sandoval), second time I've read the underlying story, though with a different title and author (Little White Lie by Lea Santos).

First off (I need to stop starting sentences with first), that funny looking title? Look of Love/Miradas De Amor? This is actually a split book - the first part is Miradas de Amor, second part is Look of Love. So, two books in one, eh? No, same book, just first time in Spanish (reminds me I need to get the translator's name added to the book record), second time in English.

Second off - there are very few ratings/reviews for the 'Look of Love' version of the book that came out in 1999 (11 years before 2010's 'Little White Lies' appearance). Which is sad - because the book really is a well written heterosexual romance. And the man? Currently there is kind of a 'clamor' for 'Alpha' or 'Beta' men. Gavino Mendez is neither. He's just a man, a nice man with a bad past (I do not actually recall if the female version of this character, Gia Mendez, has this 'bad past' aspect). He's neither an alpha asshole, nor a weak-ass whimpy 'beta-man'. I have no idea why I'm going down this specific path here. hehe.

Okay, so, as my memory recalls to me, this book here - the het and the FF versions, are basically the same book with gender differences (Gavino became Gia; that man in this book who tricked Esme onto the television show became a woman in 'Little White Lies'). By the way - it's shocking how long it took me to realize that when Gavino was talking to himself in his brain, and used 'Vino', he was using a nickname for himself. bah. heh.

Another thing I do not specifically recall - how much, if any, humor is in the FF version of the book. I mention because there was some rather funny moments in this book here. It's not a laugh riot or anything like that, just some funny moments here and there.

Right, enough of that. I liked both versions. This version ended up with a lower rating mostly, I believe, because I'd already read the other version of the book, so already knew everything that was going to happen so it wasn't 'fresh'. Though that male/female vs. female/female aspect certainly added a layer of freshness.

Rating: 4.50

January 27 2017


ETA: that 384 page number? Counts both the Spanish and English versions of the book. The book itself is closer to 163 pages in length. I didn't actually 'power-read' from page 96 to 384, no, just from 96 to 163.



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The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston

The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*I received this book from NetGalley, and Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group) in return for a fair review.*

- werejaguar

South of the furthest extent of Mayan civilization, rested another civilization, distinguishable from the Mayan, though incorporating certain influences from the Maya. The name for this multi-city culture? …. According to the book I read, the culture has been in the shadow of the Maya – so much so, that it doesn’t even have its own official name. At the present time what is known is that several ruins have been found in the La Mosquitia region of Honduras – some of which are quite large scale in size. None have been fully investigated by Archaeologists.

I read an ARC version of the book, so I’ll quote from a National Geographic article by the same author instead of from the book (since the wording might have changed in the final published version) – “In contrast to the nearby Maya, this vanished culture has been scarcely studied and it remains virtually unknown. Archaeologists don’t even have a name for it.” - Honduras Lost City by Douglas Preston, March 2 2015.

A man, Steve Elkins, spent a very long time dipping into and out of exploration. A cinematographer by trade, Elkins had long been interested in digging into ‘lost things’ – like the treasure that had been looted from Lima and the legendary 'White City' otherwise known as 'the City of the Monkey Gods' in Honduras.

Elkins had set everything up to enter Honduras, after much research among archaeological files, and myths, and legends, and folk-lore, and search for this ‘lost city’. This was late in the 1990s (1997?). But Honduras fell apart and Elkins lost his chance. At least, for a decade or two.

In 2012 Elkins finally was able to get in – and he was going to use a technology newish to Archaeology. Not new to science – heck they mapped the moon and Mars with it, just newish to Archaeology (not new, since they had used it to find Ubar lost in the sands of Arabia (see: Lost City of Ubar found; also, it should be noted that Elkins is not the first to use the tech in the Americas). That technology? Lidar (“LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth”). He had determined that there were four possible locations of interest he wanted to look at – one was removed from the list when rainforest deforestation was detected in the area. Using an old plane loaded with advanced technology from NASA, a map could be generated that – hopefully, could find the markings of man-made alterations.

- Illustration by Ron Kurnlawan in Douglas Preston New Yorker article from 2013.

- Business Insider – Ciudad Blanca Honduras Lidar images – 2013-5

The book describes, somewhat, Elkins earlier investigations in the 1990s, then three that occurred in the 2010s. The first in 2012 involved that plane I mentioned with the LIDAR thingie in it. The author of the book, Preston, was along for that one. And describes the process – including one wild ride with him on board (in a tiny space that wasn’t really big enough for him – he accidentally turned off the machine once with his knee).

Preston was also along when the team actually went into the valley that contained T1 (T1 being the designation given by Elkins for the first place he wanted looked at) in 2015. Rain. Mud. A valley hidden from man for hundreds of years – but extensively modified by man (as found when the city was examined). The description given by Preston of both expeditions he joined into the T1 valley was quite interesting.

The book also contains, eventually, a little history on the area – both pre and post arrival of Columbus and what had happened to the natives – who had many extensive sophisticated civilizations in the Americas prior to Columbus’ arrival. Preston included a chart that ‘tells the story’ of Hispaniola as an example (the island contains both the Dominican Republic and Haiti). There’s debate on the numbers pre-Columbus. Some say millions, some say 500,000. Whatever the number, at least 500,000 natives were on the island in 1492. Only 60,000 16 years later (1508). 18,000 10 years after that (1518). And 0 by 1542. Two reasons to note this little issue – there are many reasons why this rapid decrease in population occurred, the largest one being death by disease; and there is evidence that – even though the European invaders never even made it to the T1 city – no one had (supposedly) before Preston’s team in 2012 – that area itself was wiped out by disease (evidence of extensive trade network mentioned; also mentioned was what happened in the Americas when the Spanish arrived (relatively easy conquest – several near defeats that turned into victories when their native opponents died from disease; compared with the Spanish in the Philippines – where the Spanish never were able to ‘complete’ their conquest (Philippines natives had ‘suffered’ along with Europe, Asia, and Africa from the many diseases that wiped out the American natives – who hadn’t gone through that suffering before the arrival of the Europeans).

Also included in the book – a really long discussion on how he, the author, and other members of the team were infected from their time in the valley and the treatments that had to occur to not cure but beat back the disease.

One last point – the findings of the team Preston joined were revealed – or mentioned – in the previously linked National Geographic article on March 2 2015, lead almost immediately to controversy. A letter went out carrying many signatures attacking the article and the expeditions. Preston handles that section quite well. One of the points of contention involved how cameras were along for the ride, the word choices used (‘lost city’, etc.), and the lack of proper archaeological oversight. And that it ‘ignores decades of research and indigenous peoples knowledge’ (which is countered by Preston).

A quite interesting and intriguing book. It should be noted that while the National Geographic article includes pictures, the book does not. I read an advanced readers copy so I do not know if pictures or the like appear in the finished published version of the book.

- base camp

- ‘A stream winds through part of an unexplored valley in Mosquitia in eastern Honduras, a region long rumored to contain a legendary ‘White City,’ also called the City of the Monkey God’



January 26 2017




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Kitsune Tales: Two Short Stories by Emily Kay Singer

Kitsune Tales: Two Short Stories by Emily Kay Singer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was perfectly happy to read and love whatever story I found in this book. But . . . it is harder to do so when the main character, the female fox spirit, spent so much time rubbing up against men. Annoying, that.

so, 2 stories. Story 1 saw the kitsune forced to work a case by herself. That god of love guy could help her but thinks she needs to do it on her own. She's literally shaking in fear and panic at the idea. But eventually goes to work. To hunt down the magical cat that snuck over from that parallel magic world.

admittly an interesting story. My problem is that I didn't like any of the characters.

Story 2 sees kitsune on vacation (by the way, kitsune's name is Yuri). First day at that. She's on the beach in barely there swimsuit. Loving the looks she is getting. From men. Suddenly her phone rings. The phone that is off. She answers. It's that god of love guy warning that there is a siren in the area. - A warning not a call to work/action.

Displaying an opposite personality than in the previous story - where she was literally shaking in fear - here she, despite being told to stay clear, dives into action.

The mini gecko dragon was neat. Siren less so. Kitsuns still an annoying character. And there a still stronf vibes of heterosexual tension - despite both siren and fox being female.

One of the reasons kitsune dives in is because sirens feed on me & parallel world magic. And kitsune is female & has earth magic.

kitsune tracks down siren. Who 1) is molesting a woman and 2) easily beats up fox.

A mini dragon now enters the picture and helps kitsune.

too bad there isn't a third story. Because book was going certain direction 1st story - news kitsune has humped male god of lovw. 2) story has female/female action that mostly doesn't involve kitsune though there was a 'kissed a girl & like it' moment. 3rd story would probably have had kitsune on side of women love.

January 26 2017.



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Nightshade by Brooke Radley

Nightshade by Brooke Radley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the first book that I have read by this author.

This is a very solid book. With . . . well . . . a certain amount of ‘problems’ I had to overlook to enjoy the book. Which I mostly did.

Eleanor Reed, and some random dude (Ben), are sent undercover into the largest criminal gang in the city. There is a very major drug problem impacting the city, and the city council want to end it and have information that the Nightshade Brotherhood is responsible. This information comes from a spy who has been implanted into this thief gang and will act as the new spies’ access-point to the gang.

Ben and Eleanor are tasked with the mission of being inserted into the brotherhood via Toby – long time spy imbedded in the brotherhood. They have a week to complete their mission. (three problems right off the bat – 1) a week? seriously? 2) as will be mentioned below, Ben and Eleanor are super inexperienced, and have no training for this mission; 3) why the fuck isn’t Toby getting this information? (long time spy, experienced, and, apparently, despite being a long time spy . . . has ‘other means’ to communicate with the council which doesn’t make use of the ‘report directly to the council’ which is the excuse for having inexperience untrained spies).

We now come to one of those problems that I have, and overlooked, while enjoying the book. Both Ben and Eleanor are brand-new in their professions. Eleanor just graduated from the Darten Academy – the magic school; while Ben just graduated from . . . whatever they have set up for solider types. Neither has training as spies. Neither has experience. And the reason for having these two inserted as spies is kind of stupid (these two instead of, you know, actual spies, or, at the very least, people trained to be spies even if they lack experience). That reason? Spies report to the council, it is assumed that the council is watched, therefore the ability to use a spy decreases with use (which is . . . dim on many levels – they believe this so . . . don’t have them report directly to the council chambers? I mean, the whole reason Eleanor is going along on this spy mission is because she has the ability to send messages via water to the council so . . . . spies don’t need to report directly to the council (and even if they did, do it elsewhere, eh?). So . . . they, instead of experienced spies, use newly graduated people. Except . . . one is from the mage academy. This is housed in a building literally right next door to the castle/council chamber. And the academy, while being supposedly open to any and everyone with even a token amount of magic, is quite small. It wouldn’t be that hard to learn who the students are; or, just learn who the graduates are. So the council is getting around using ‘known’ spies (aka, experienced trained spies) by way of using . . . . people who should be known to their ‘enemies’ (and, seriously, if you, the reader of my review, is shaking their heads at me – Eleanor Reed, in addition to being newly graduated from a well known mage school located adjacent to the castle, is also . . . . the niece of the most famous mage around who also sits on the city council (okay, replace ‘city’ with King. It’s the King’s council). Which the reader is reminded of constantly – what with how often Eleanor ducked and tried to hide while wandering around – ‘she’s a Reed!’; also reminded of constantly? How no one actually trusts her and are constantly trying to ‘protect’ her – and by that I’m referring to her employers and co-workers (Ben/Toby) not the Brotherhood specifically.

And Ben? Trained militia dude. Untrained at thief stuff. And quite incompetent at thief stuff, as it turns out. He probably sticks out like a sore thumb. An obvious ‘cop’ (or obvious soldier). But . . . whatever.

Right, so. I must have hated this book, eh? Why no. While I didn’t love the book, I did really enjoy it – sink into the atmosphere of what unfolded. Follow along as the spies dug themselves into the Brotherhood. Watch a budding romance unfold. Fun. Deeper than I expected. Much better written than expected.

Did spot a few things in reviews before I read the book that indicated that there was ‘issues’ with the ending. I liked the ending, though I did get that warning so . . . not sure how I’d have reacted/thought of the ending without that ‘warning’.

Rating: 4.52

January 24 2017




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Absolute Power: Tales of Queer Villainy! edited by Erica Friedman

Absolute Power: Tales of Queer Villainy! by Erica Friedman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


13 tales of Supervillians, LGBT Supervillians.

Final Grades - Erica Friedman
school, 'twists'

Unfortunately there is a fatal flaw in the story - one the author & main character know but still - the fatal flaw is this - the story is about a school for supervillains. That is both the core concept & fatal flaw. Because only 1 student has ever graduated (and this is known). And killing each other or being arrested are among the risks. Sooo what evil supergenius would allow themselves to attend?

I understand why the supervillain had the school. I don't understand why anyone would attend that school.

Rating: 3.00

January 21 2017

Date Night - Tristan J. Tarwater

A supervillain goes on a date during some unexpected time off. While on the date explosions start going off nearby - close enough to explode the restaurant glass in the restaurant she is in. Date over.

It's her stupid bumbling idiot side kick.

Interesting enough story. There were certain twists and turns, but they were obvious twists (maybe because I've seen it more than once before). Would be interested in more about the people in the story though.

Rating: 3.65

January 21 2017

Eden's Revenge - Missouri Vaun
Hacker/Geek-girl/terrorist, Police Detective

A young woman's sister died because of the actions of a specific man. Eden, the life woman (Jordan's the name of the dead woman, and Grey is the name of the Police Detective investigating Eden), has targeted the man who is responsible for Jordan's death with destruction.

It is highly likely I vastly overrated this story. I have my reasons.

No matter - well written story. Kept my interest.

Rating: 4.97

January 20 2017

Gentleman Jack - Barbara Ann Wright
Old West, Criminal, mind control, pinkerton, Arizona, bank robber

The story opens mid-stream, there's no explanation for how or why this person has the power that they do, nor what all they have done. Opens mid-bank robbery. Gentleman Jack, using the power of their own scent to control people (a scent of raw sex; most are turned into obedient lustful people), robs a bank then leaves.

Next town - uses their power to seduce a woman . . . for about a week. Plans to rob another bank but sees someone putting up a poster . . . with Gentleman Jack's face on it. Odd, that. Since the people impacted by the 'power' are left in a fuzzy state without much recall of what happened. But there's the face, under the name of Gentleman Jack (which is where the name came from - the Pinkerton lady used the name on the poster, not that Jack used that name - though has/had been known to use 'Jack'). Why Gentleman Jack? 1) as mentioned, has been known to use 'Jack'; 2) dresses very nicely in a suit and all gentleman like.

The reader knows already, though, that Gentleman Jack is a woman who dresses like a man.

The Pinkerton Lady and Jack flirt around each other and . . . . but I don't want to reveal the whole story here.

Quite interesting story.

Rating: 3.89

January 19 2017

Fallen - Audrey Chase
Amnesia, Fast healing

Jumbled story, though that works here as the POV character is insane.

rating: 4.22

January 22 2017

The Devil Inside - J.D. Glass
Hell, Reporter, Morningstar, Demons

Hell is visited by a reporter who interviews the devil. While there a coup attempt is undertaken.

Interesting story.

Rating: 4.44

January 20 2017

Glitter Bomb - Emily Kay Singer
Rainbow-Gun

Weird story. Villan with Rainbow love gun. Turns people gay. And very horny.

Rating: 3.77

January 22 2017

For Want of a Heart - A. Merc Rustad
Science-Fantasy

A woman with a gambling addition finds her self sinking deeper and deeper into debt and . . . stupidity. A very annoying story.

Rating: 1.5

January 22 2017

Absolution - Claire Monserrat Jackson
Ghosts, Zombies, Post-Apocalyptic

Another story that befuddles my mind. A woman with certain abilities takes a job to go help some homophobic Amish people with their possessed women problem.

Rating: 3.00

January 22 2017

So Many Things Seem Filled with the Intent - Jude McLaughlin

Damn, this one made me teary eyed for some reason. Main character, Naiad, and GF Sophie visit a mad scientist friend of Sophie'ss. Visit her lab I mean. Meet various creatures like cute kittens and a mermaid.

Rating: 5.00

January 22 2017

The Prado by Chance - Leia Weathington
Police, Crime, Madrid, Spain, future.

World run by superheros. A female cop takes an off duty case to guard a vault.

Rating: 4.43

January 22 2017

Jaguar Light - Susan Smith
Magic, Fantasy, Portland, Superheroes/villains, Cat-burglars, werecats, Native, PoC

While impulsively robbing a museum, Jaguar is interupted by Bloodmoon. No, neither is a superhero. Bloodmoon is the NWVA secretary (North West Villains Alliance (I might have both the letters and title wrong)). She is also a magic user who had been looking for The Source for a while. Apparently she's found it. And she's going to use it to kill all power users who got their power through some means other than magic (meaning that Bloodmoon, and for that matter Jaguar, will retain their powers, but people like Lady . . . um . . Light . . . Lady Light? Whatever the name of the solar powered Portland hero goes by (I know one of the heroes is named Rain Man because a joke is made about that)). Bloodmoon lets Jaguar know about this because Jaguar was nice to her. Like a cat sometimes is - towards vaguely unremarkable humans.

Jaguar, while not informing Bloodmoon of her opinion on the matter, is vaguely horrified. She is easily distracted - she needs the Portland hero.

And so the story unfolds - a cat against a witch, with the appearance of a solar powered superhero.

Neat story.

Rating: 4.67

January 20 2017

Chrome Crash - Mari Kurisato
Native, Abuse

A somewhat split story that follows several streams and comes together and apart somewhat randomly. One stream follows a young woman who apparently has come into a power that causes humans to burst. Another stream follows a 'super strong' man type and his quest for . . . whatever his quest was. Main stream, though, follows a native woman who has a long history of crap happening to her - having a drone blow up a village she is at, getting attacked and blamed for things, etc.

Quite interesting, disturbing story.

Rating: 3.88

January 22 2017


RATINGS
Final Grades - Erica Friedman - 3.00
Date Night - Tristan J. Tarwater - 3.67
Eden's Revenge - Missouri Vaun - 4.97
Gentleman Jack - Barbara Ann Wright - 3.89
Fallen - Audrey Chase - 4.22
The Devil Inside - J.D. Glass - 4.44
Glitter Bomb - Emily Kay Singer - 3.77
For Want of a Heart - A. Merc Rustad - 1.50
Absolution - Claire Monserrat Jackson - 3.00
So Many Things Seem Filled with the Intent - Jude McLaughlin - 5.00
The Prado by Chance - Leia Weathington - 4.43
Jaguar Light - Susan Smith - 4.67
Chrome Crash - Mari Kurisato - 3.88

Overall: 3.88



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