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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Falling into Her by Erin Zak

Book received from both Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review

Somewhere around 75 to 87% I was seriously considering ways I could sneak this book onto my six star shelf, despite that being reserved for reread books only (and only the best of the best rereads - there's a reason there's only 4 books on that shelf). Somewhere around there, though, an odd kind of conflict point came up and I no longer had to worry about sneaking this book where it didn't belong.

Don't get me wrong - I liked both the 'item of conflict/point of conflict' and how it was handled. It just . . . side-tracked me from the happy little bubble I was in that had me read 25% in one setting, then another 31% in another. Then I read the final 43% in a third sitting, but that 'magical bubble' was gone.

I loved everything about this book. The characters, the interactions, the descriptions of 'things' (city (Chicago), and rural Michigan), and holidays. If you were to look at my book, you'd probably find most of it highlighted for 'goodness'. For 'remember this passage here'. Oh, and yes, there is graphic sex. And I read it, and I enjoyed it.

Right, so, what should I say?

There were two point of views in this book, two lead characters. 40 year old Pam Phillips, and 32 year old Kathryn Hawthorne. Pam spent twenty-one years married to a man she never loved, and didn't really particularly like, but is still recovering from his relatively recent death from cancer when this book opens. She never has to work again, since her husband did very well as a lawyer, but she feels freed now to do so - and works in one of those beauty shops. As might be expected with this particular set of facts, Pam is straight (she could have been bisexual, but if so she probably wouldn't have married and stayed married to Harold, but that's another story).

Kathryn is something of a celebrity in Chicago. In the way anyone who appears on television can be - in a 'do I recognize her? I should recognize her, right?' way. For she's a movie critic on one of the local stations. Some time before the start of this book she had her heart broken and therefore has spent a lot of time, and I mean a lot of time, bouncing from one women to another for meaningless one-night-stands. Which is seen in this book from the opening when the book opens with her annoyed that a woman still hadn't left when the morning came. And seen in how her friends react to certain things. But - that player/player reputation never gets seen again in the book in any other way. Not, at least, after she stopped into a particular beauty store to try to find a gift for her mother's birthday - assuming she'd fail and get yelled at by her mother (her mother is that kind of person). Whereupon she meets Pam. And is smitten. It isn't seen in her point of view section, but apparently she left her phone number with Pam on . . . hmm, some kind of receipt. For later Pam finds it and, after much reluctance, calls the number.

Whereupon Pam and Kathryn begin slowly edging towards possibly becoming friends. While both feel some odd feelings of lust towards the other (well more odd for straight Pam to feel odd about the feelings). Kathryn's open to the idea of making a new friend, which is hard when you are an adult, but nothing more. Especially since Pam is straight. The woman who broke her heart was straight.

Everything about this book kind of blinks at me like something I wouldn't want anything to do with. It has more red flags bouncing around warning me away than an overly highly penalized football game (I'd no idea where to go with the red flag thing and the idea ran away from me). Age difference, an older woman who never thought she was anything but straight, somewhat annoying best friend, straight-lesbian romance, overbearing mother, etc. etc. Yet . . . other than that best friend, I loved every single second of this book. Loved it.

Completely unexpected reaction. I'm always slightly worried when I try a book by someone who a) I've never heard of before; b) never published anything before (as far as I know). Especially if the book is in a sub-niche market area. But I'm quite glad I found my way to trying this book and reading it. And enjoying it.

Rating: 5+

November 11 2017

You Gave Me the Word, I Finally Heard by LeighKelly

Title: You Gave Me the Word, I Finally Heard
Author: LeighKelly

Fanfiction: Glee (alternate universe)
Link: Archive of Our Own

Review:
There are three ways I could begin this review:

1) This is the kind of book where I wouldn’t be surprised to be one of the few people to give the book 5 stars for reasons related to how the book is set up/structured . . .
2) To start with: this book falls within the fandom of Glee, though an alternate universe version in which Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez meet in their late 20s (Britt – 29; Santana – 26). And: Santana is a radio personality while Brittany is a successful children’s artist (illustrates children’s books) & is deaf.
3) Then there’s the way the review actually starts –

This book needs to come with a warning: Warning: drink plenty of fluids while attempting to read this book as fluid loss, directly from your eyeballs, may occur.

This is not a book I would have expected to read but for one very specific reason: I put ‘deaf’ (or was it ‘deaf character’?) into the search box over on AO3 and came up with several book length works. Two of which I ‘captured’, this being one of them. It is unlikely I would have otherwise attempted this book for several reasons: fandom (wasn’t sure I had a huge desire to read a Glee fanfiction); but mostly because of the writing style – more on that later.

Fandom – Unlike, say, Killjoys, The 100, and other television series that pop up when I search for possible things to read on AO3 (Archive of Our Own), I actually have watched episodes of Glee. I have some kind of . . . issue with music based shows, so I always kind of ‘snuck’ peaks in on the series, though. I sneaked peaks at episodes throughout the first 3 or so seasons before dropping it from my vague fringe orbit of things to maybe pay attention to (and thus stopping one season short of Supergirl’s appearance on the show – or, I should say, I suppose, Melissa Benoist). I mention so I can note that unlike these other fanfictions I’ve read or could read, I actually did have some vague understanding – pre-understanding I suppose, of both Brittany Pearce and Santana Lopez.

I have to immediately dive into the main reason why I believe this would be a tough sell/read for many readers – writing style. Hmm, ‘writing style’ might not be the correct way to enter this topic. Bah, no matter. This book is, I believe, the only book I've read that uses the ‘second person point of view’ that wasn’t a choose-your-own-adventure book. Despite the use of you, the reader has no control over this story. Other than reading or not reading. There are two points of view – both use you during their own sections (though not when that person is in the other persons sections, as in, you’d have Brittany’s sections be like: ‘You gazed down at Santana . . .’ instead of the super complicated ‘You gazed down at you . . .’ because that’d just be weird and difficult to read).

This is a 132,472 word book. I thought from the near beginning that this might be better as a short story – not because of the information coming in, not because of the plot, not because of the story, but specifically because of reading alternating ‘you’ sections is tough over the long haul. Yet I did it. And, barring a few moments here or there, I loved every second of it. Well that’s odd – now I have tears in my eyes just thinking about the book. Not sure that’s happened before.

Right so, story: Brittany and Santana meet in their late twenties in something like a split second random event type way. The way in which neither might have known the other except for this random split second event occurring. Brittany, you see, accidentally slammed into Santana while both were out walking on the Philadelphia city streets. Coffee splashing all over Santana’s expensive coat. Anyone who has seen Glee probably could predict how Santana would react to this type of situation. And she did begin to react that way – angry, belligerent, etc. Until something about Brittany made her slow and stop. It might have been the deaf thing, it might have been the attractiveness of Brittany, it might even have been the cute dog, but something stopped her angry words.

The two then begin a slow burn type of relationship that occurs over many years. With the book ending something like six years after the start of the book (I think it was six years), during which time, a romance occurred, family issues occurred (both positive and negative), holidays, travel, life occurred. Then the nice introduction of another character near the end.

A good solid book. And bloody hell, I’ve tears in my eyes and it’s hard to see now. Ah, blinking. That helped.

Rating: 5+

October 5 2017

Policies and Procedures for Being Emily Locke by Nerissa

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I rather liked the show, despite it's very short appearance on television, and rather liked Emily Locke. Sad to see both disappear from my life. (Referring to Powerless, not Supergirl - since Supergirl is still on the air)

The story is cute and funny. And rather good at capturing Emily's character. To a certain extent, goodish at capturing Kara. I suppose I'm used to Supergirl stories wherein there's a big deal about Supergirl actually going out with another woman, while this one . . ., well, before we got anywhere in the story, Kara had asked Emily out for a 'non interview' . . . um, thing. Evening? I forget now how it was worded. Mind, it could be Emily misreading things . . . but then Kara asked about the tabloids saying that Emily was dating Green Fury, and then being happy it was fiction. Because.

Okay, when I said that the story was 'cute and funny' - I really meant it. There were times I laughed openly and loudly.

Said while eating a meal at a restaurant after Kara appeared to have said something more than she had meant to say:

So Emily, determined to make it, if not less awkward for Kara, at least equally awkward for both of them, blurted out “I think you are unfairly beautiful and I’d really like to kiss you on the mouth.”

Oh, and the erotic parts were . . . funny and . . . erotic. *Noted with wide bright eyes* And, um, I now understand the attraction of love making with someone who can read your body through various super-powers. Is . . . good.

Hmm, action good too. *nods*

I love this short story more than life itself. Wait, no, that's stupid. Um, I really really like this story? Hmms. Well, something like that.

Rating: 5+

September 19 2017



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Patty's Potent Potion by Robin Alexander

Patty's Potent Potion by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A very sad thing happened just moments ago – the book ended. I’m sad now.

It is rare for me to think and/or say this but I loved the characters in this book to the point that I want to know them in real life, and if they are based on real life people the author knows, then I’m jealous, I am.

There’s Shawna Haydel, 39, work-at-home (she also has a gas station, and is the reason for the ‘financial services’ shelf since she also works as an accountant) mother of 16 year old Alicia ‘Jet’ Haydel; and there's Ashton Guidry, 39, biology teacher and (reluctant temporary) color guard coach at the same school Jet attends. Both of them are the point of views in this book. And both are darn right lovable. The others, the non-point of view characters, are also lovable – though slightly less so depending on the character. There’s Jet, already mentioned, who is also a member of the color guard; and both of Shawna’s parents (Lou and Will) are also still alive and around (Will being the bald man (but for two hairs) who is there in the story, has a distinct personality, but hasn’t much to do with the book; and then there is Lou, another one with a distinct personality, though shown more through her interactions with her own mother – who just happens to live with Lou and Will), and grandmother (Janice, who had been the principal at the high school and is very prim and proper). Rounding out the first tier side characters is Patty – one of the four who were friends in high school (Shawna and Ashton being two of the others, while Cassie makes the fourth but isn’t around the town any longer). Filling in the second tier are those like the band leader Stiles, who is a pushy dick, his girl-friend Joann (who Shawna and the rest knew at high school – as a stuck up bitch), and . . . well, Janice probably goes on this level instead of first tier. Hmm. I kind of ‘ruined’ my tier system so let’s forget about that. Like, I should have had Meagan (Megan?) on the first tier but, like I said, let’s forget about tiers. Megan is Shawna’s 1) best friend; 2) ex-partner/wife (and referred to by Jet as Mom-Megan – one of Jet’s two mothers).

The book opens with a bunch of 16 year olds giggling and writing on paper while 16 year old Patty made a ‘potion’ (not the drinking kind of potion, luckily, since . . . well, spit and stuff). The potion is some kind of love potion – the girls wrote down the person they loved and/or wanted to love them, and put that paper into the potion. Shawna is nervous about the whole thing because she wants to write the name of one of the other young women there, but doesn’t want anyone to know or see the paper. The ritual is concluded, the page is turned, and it’s now 23 years later.

Shawna works out of her home while overseeing her daughter Jet. The ‘present’ part of the book, which apparently takes place in 2015 based on a comment in the book (which literally said ‘it is 2015’), starts off with Jet being super annoyed. And wanting to drop out of the Color Guard team. Because there’s a new coach and she’s bitchy and mean and stuff. Coach Ashole (or Ashhole, I forget spelling now). I suppose I should interject two things here – Shawna and Ashton haven’t communicated in roughly 20 to 21 years, and Shawna has no clue that Ashton has moved back to the small town, so there’s no inherent reason for her to immediately hear ‘Ashole’ and think ‘Ashton’. And she doesn’t immediately realize this fact. But she does want Jet to remain on the team, for now, because of the promises Jet made (and the money spent on the ‘stuff’ associated with being a member of the color guard).

Ashton, meanwhile, has been forced to become the temporary color guard coach due to the current coach needing to step away for a while for emotional reasons (going through a divorce).

And, um, stuff.

There’s no way I can do this book justice so I’m going to move on from my normal rambling.

The book is super humorous, lovely, great book. Brought tears to my eyes several times (from laughter), and there were many humorous moments/scenes. Some of which are created by having the daughter (Jet) catch her mother (Shawna) doing things. Like dance around.

“Were you backing it up on the fridge?” [Jet]

“I was…uh…was…removing smudges with my butt. Did you forget something?” [Shawna]

“My laptop. I have a paper due Monday for English. I’ll just go get that now,” Jet said, still looking disconcerted as she left the room.

“I saw a smudge, and I rubbed my butt on it. That’s perfectly normal,” Shawna called after her."

- 24% into the book. Jet catches Shawna dancing for joy when she reconnects with Ashton (and this also might be the scene after Shawna learned that (view spoiler)[Ashton is also a lesbian (hide spoiler)])

Some of the humor scenes involve just Shawna and Ashton – like the time Shawna catches Ashton sleep walking and (view spoiler)[sleep fighting the vacuum cleaner (hide spoiler)], or the time Ashton catches Shawna drinking wine out of a pickle jar due to nerves. Things more humorous in context. Or, I should say, read in the book.

"You're having wine...in a pickle jar. Why is that?" Ashton asked, looking confused.

"Oh." Shawna looked closely at it. "I didn't even notice. I just grabbed it."

Several of the sex scenes are quite humorous as well. For . . . reasons.

I, relatively recently, read two Alexander books close-ish together and labeled one as the best romance book I’d ever read and the other the best humor book I’d read. Well, I’m pushing both books out of their positions and sliding this book here in their place. This book here is both the best romance book I’ve read and the best humor book I’ve read. I wish to put this book on my top tier, but, sadly, I have to wait until I reread this book to do that.

Rating: 5.99 (only rereads can be 6 star books)

May 4 2017



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Spanking New by Clifford Henderson

Spanking New by Clifford Henderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of those books that's probably somewhat impossible to pin down genre-wise. It is a strange book concept wise and in actuality. And I loved 99.9% of every second of it. I laughed, I cried, I . . . um . . completed the book.

An entity has been ripped from the collective knowledge and been forced to be. To be an I, instead of a we. The entity is somewhat annoyed about that separation from The Knowledge, but what’s done is done. And now it’s time to look for parents. To make the next step. All the while losing bits and pieces of knowledge until ‘the great forgetting’ that occurs at birth. But for now the entity can float around, observing, knowing, and sliding into people’s thoughts, memories, and brains. Watching.

Finds itself in an alley behind a theatre. Looks around, curious, wondering why they are there. Spots Rick and Howie talking and smoking a joint. Next to a dumpster. Ew, this can’t be . . . wait, there’s something about this Rick guy . . .. Sliding from one to the other the entity examines their thoughts and desires and feelings. Having knowledge they do not. Learning that the Rick guy is there because he’s showing Howie a ‘good time’ on his last night before he has to return to duty with the military; and because a girl he is interested in is there – no not in the alley – she had been on stage in a really weird play.

The entity, seeing and feeling Rick and Howie, experiences things and comes to a decision – the entity . . . is a he! He will be a boy when he finally gets his parents together.

Time passes. It is possible that Rick and Nina (that girl that Rick was interested in) might not actually get together. Stupid stupid entity! Choosing two people to be his parents when they hadn’t even meet yet! So thinks Spanky – the name used for the entity in the book description (for a reason) and so I use now so I can stop saying ‘the entity’.

Spanky slides along, watching, feeling, visiting the parents and families of both Rick and Nina, sliding along, watching Dink and Pablo – two of Nina’s friends – interact. At first Spanky is worried about Pablo, less so about Dink – for Nina is really into Pablo. I mean really. Will Spanky not get to be born? Will he get reabsorbed? But! And this is something Nina actually knows but is suppressing, Pablo is a gay man. Massively gay. On the other hand . . . the friend that Spanky didn’t initially worry as much about, Dink, is really into Nina – the way Nina is into Pablo. Though Dink keeps pretending to herself (and mostly herself) that she isn’t a lesbian, so there’s still an opening for Rick. For Spanky to be born.

And time passes. Relationships build, fall apart (more background characters than main characters), and build again; romantic and family relationships fluctuate. Spanky continues watching and learning and knowing that once he is born that he will stop knowing – that he’ll go through the veil of forgetfulness and forget all that he knew.

Strange thing occurs, though, once Spanky actually ‘gets inside’ Nina (and yes there is a rather graphic depiction of Spanky ‘getting inside’). Spermy and (I’ve forgotten now what Spanky called Miss Eggy) have merged, but . . . XX. They have created an XX entity! Spanky is . . . a girl?!? Spanky is confused. Then considers the idea that he just saw Rick and Howie’s and the father’s interactions and wanted to be with them – tossing a baseball, playing a guitar – manly stuff (eventually learning more about ‘boy things’, ‘girl things’ and fluidity).

This is an awesome book, a great book, had me in tears, from laughter and otherwise. I want a sequel _ want to watch the life that I saw being created – live. Grow. Spanky, by the way, does not actually get named ‘Spanky’ – that’s just her name while ‘inside’ Nina. A joke – probably drug influenced (there’s a lot of drugs, alcohol, and stuff going on in this book).

Rating: 5.5

April 19 2017



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First Position by Melissa Brayden

First Position
by Melissa Brayden
Pages: 264
Date: August 16 2016
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: connected to the books 'Waiting in the Wings' and the Soho Loft series

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: July 4 to 5 2016

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

(For those who care about such things, two people from Waiting in the Wings appear and have relatively significant roles); just an FYI in case someone would wish to read that one before this book here (which I’d recommend doing)

This story has seemingly a cast of thousands, but two of them are the most important for today’s discussion, both of whom are roughly 27 years of age. Natalie Frederico and Anastasia Mikhelson.

Natalie Frederico is something of a wild child, rebellious type, who has great dancing talent and spent some time in a prestigious ballet school but found it too restraining, controlling, rule-based and so left without graduating. As the book opens, Natalie is wrapping up a show in Los Angeles, a show she created that mixes classical, and modern dance with ‘mixed media’. A show that’s fabulous successful and always is sold out. As you might expect in such a situation . . . heh, no. Natalie is very much an ‘art before profit!’ type, and so she and her show are being kicked out of their building because she only charges $10 a ticket. A man wanders by, after the last show (actually the next day, but I needed to work in the ‘last show’ part) and offers Natalie a job with the New York City Ballet. Natalie doesn’t really want to have anything to do with ballet, but she doesn’t exactly have any other opportunities pounding on her door, so she agrees to head off to New York.

One little tidbit about a ball and chain around Natalie’s ankle. Always a good thing to toss into a romance story, no? The young Natalie happens to have an adoring girlfriend (I think her name might be Morgan, though it might be something else – the current book I’m reading has someone named Mrs. Morgan Morgan in it, so that’s causing me doubts about the name; okay, looked it up – the girlfriend’s name is in fact Morgan. Weird - that). Right, so, heading off to New York, has a girlfriend – Natalie offers to bring Morgan along. Morgan notes that she would rather just stick around Los Angeles. Veg out. Party. Maybe Morgan is less of an adoring puppy, eh? Well, they decide on trying that ‘long distance’ thing.

Anastasia Mikhelson is the other lead in this here book. She’s fabulous talented, gifted, the kind who can cause grown men to weep with joy upon seeing how technically accurate, how flawless her movements are, while also shuddering in despair at how lifeless, emotionless Ana’s dancing tends to be. The book opens with Anastasia having spent the last nine years slowly moving up the ballet hierarchy. This year though, this year will be hers!

When a new season starts, Ana is warming up in a crowd of ballet dancers, though at the same time somewhat off by herself, since she’s kind of stand-offish (her co-workers call her ‘Frozen’). Just then someone bursts through the door – a late arrival. Ana feels vaguely sad for the girl – first day and she’s late – making a bad impression for her first day as an apprentice (see, Natalie’s addition to the Ballet company is kind of abnormal, atypical, both from not being a ballet school graduate, and for leaping over several levels to land at soloist position).

One thing leads to another and Ana realizes that she actually went to school, ballet school, with this other woman. And was annoyed/irritated by her at the time. And was actually happy when she had dropped out. But here she is again, in the unusual role of leaping up to soloist. Ana’s pissed.

Still, it’s her year. She’s going to lead in a show. She approaches the guy, Roger Eklund (the same guy who invited Natalie to the Ballet company), running that show, is told that she isn’t really right for the role – it calls for someone much better at expressing emotions through their dancing than Ana gives in performances. Ana begs. The guy agrees to watch Ana try out.

Later that afternoon – Ana, Natalie, and several others compete for the lead role of Mira, rehearse. Jason Morales is also there – he’s the lead male and . . . only one invited to the rehearsal (to play the role of Titus). Ana and Natalie compete. Ana’s technically perfect. Natalie’s emotionally perfect. Neither is perfect by themselves.

Roger decides to split the duties. Ana will dance three nights, Natalie three nights, and Jason will be Titus throughout.

To round things out – as noted Jason is Natalie and Anastasia’s dance partner in the show they are putting on. He is also madly in love with Anastasia and is not clued in to the fact that Anastasia doesn’t exactly feel the same way.

Right, so, that’s the basic set-up. Cast of thousands. Some come and go before you can blink and learn their name (the people who worked in Natalie’s Los Angeles show); others hang around like lead balloons (Jason). The two women work together to impart what they both know (Ana helping Natalie with technical stuff; Natalie helping Ana loosen up). And they grow closer together romantically and otherwise, while, in the background, are three ‘things’ – (1) girlfriend Morgan; (2) Ana’s father (super-duper great ballet dude); (3) injuries and the like natural to people who perform strenuous physical activities like professional ballet.

This is my seventh book by Brayden. As I mentioned in some review here or there, there’s a particular formula that Brayden seems to follow. A top-notch writer, so the reader can kind of forgive that formula usage. Except here – yes certain things occurred that kind of followed the formula framework, but it was the smoothest I’ve seen. Seemed natural, organic. Brilliant really.

There are really just two issues that I have with the book – (1) the unexpected entrance of odd ball uses of ‘merde’ (which I learned, along the way from outside the book sources, is something said in ballet) – each unexplained usage of the phrase jerked me out of the story (I mean, I know what it means when someone says to other ‘break a leg’, but merde?); (2) the book is a natural lovely organic story, near perfect in its way and . . . then an epilogue appeared that moved things from natural perfection to cutesy too perfect to breath perfection. Unfortunate that.

Regardless of these two issues, I found that the book is either the best I’ve read by Brayden or tied for first place. A very enjoyable book.

July 5 2016

Clichéd Love: A Satirical Romance by Lynn Galli

Clichéd Love: A Satirical Romance
by Lynn Galli
Pages: 314
Date: March 31 2016
Publisher: Penikila Press
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: April 25 to 26 2016

I was excited and surprised to see a new book appear - as in; I was poking around and happened to notice a book had been published a couple days before I noticed it even existed. I really need to pay more attention to things like that - publication schedules and stuff.

I was not sure what to expect from this book - in July of last year I'd basically read everything by Galli, all in the same month (except for a book here or there). And I had rather enjoyed all of them, mostly. So I was vaguely nervous about trying a new book after a 9 month gap - especially with the way this book was structured - a series of interviews by a journalist who would learn the 'love story' of many couples. Luckily, for my peace of mind, what I vaguely suspected would happen, didn't. This isn't a series of connected short stories - 'connected' by having a 'narrator' move from couple to couple. No, there's a real story here, a real novel with some rather deep characters. Much deeper than some I've seen in a while.

Vega is a 46 year old journalist who has come up with a ‘brilliant’ proposal to write a series of articles based on interviews with long term LGBT relationships (there is a mixture of gay and lesbian couples interviewed, though I am not sure, based on how she seems to set up in lesbian bars, if the gay couples were originally part of the proposal). The point of the series would be to showcase LGBT couples in a ‘good’ light, to ‘humanize’ them, now that that Supreme Court ruling had come out regarding lesbian and gay marriage.

I put brilliant in quotes, because Vega has come to the conclusion that she has found herself a goodish long term project to work on, but she is kind of tired of how clichéd everyone’s stories seem to be.

(ETA: this isn't a spoiler so much as something I left out to cut down on the details, but then, after reading my review a few times, made it seem like I probably should mention this specific factoid: after beginning her series of interviews, Vega hits on a variation of her plan, and proposes it to her editors - they accept this change - now the articles will involve two couples in each article - one LGBT, one straight - with the names changed to make them as unisex as possible; then people would vote on which couple they thought was gay/lesbian; or straight - winner would get a $100,000 wedding, or a really nice vacation).

The book opens with Vega stopping on her tour of interviewing in a bar in Seattle. She plans to be there for a certain amount of time, gather interviews, and then move on. That’s the plan at least.

The point of view, by the way, is purely from Vega’s point of view.

Iris is a woman who Vega spots in the Seattle bar. Vega’s intrigued by the roughly 46 year old woman, though not specifically attracted to her – not really her type. But still intrigued. Many people, oddly, come up to Vega while she’s in the bar to do interviews, to note that Vega should ‘watch out’ for Iris. Iris, apparently, is a one-night stand type woman. Vega doesn’t particularly care, re: ‘not really her type’, but is still intrigued, in a maybe new friend type.

Vega sets up a temporary place of residence close-ish to the bar. Conducts interviews mostly in the bar. Hangs out with people, and over the summer months, develops a friendship with Iris. Playing tennis. Going on stake-outs, etc. Oh, did I not mention that? Iris is a private investigator. Vega initially laughed at Iris, assuming she was pulling her leg.

The book is a rather fun, humorous, neat book – deeper than I expected. Considering I was somewhat hesitant to start the book, I am somewhat surprised by my reaction. The reaction being that this is one of the best books I’ve read in a while.

Oh and there’s at least one rather good sex scene in this here book.

Two last notes: 1) I’m purposely being less detailed than I might normally be so that others would have even less chance to be spoiled by anything I note (like I’m completely leaving out the part about how important a role a third person plays in this book – Lane; and how others – in the bar, and meet elsewhere, have their own deeper roles to play); 2) those who have read prior books by Galli will likely notice a few familiar names here and there – mostly side characters in prior books, though a few ‘name’ (as in main in prior books) characters are mentioned but not seen.

April 26 2016

How Sweet It Is by Melissa Brayden

How Sweet It Is
by Melissa Brayden
Pages: 264
Date: November 16 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: April 6 to 7 2016

This is my fifth book by Brayden. By this point I’ve become very familiar with the fact that Brayden seems to follow something like a template. I’m not actually going to say what the template is, for ‘reasons’ (mostly because I don’t actually recall every part of it). Simplistically: two people circle, there are reasons why hooking up ‘wouldn’t work’. They hook. Problems that have been heavily foreshadowed occur. More than likely the couple will split apart for a time or two.

Keeping them apart: Kiss the Girls – business rivals, own team (on Brooklyn’s side) see the other woman to be a huge bitch, age difference; Just Three Words - business partners – potentially disrupt the team (even if things ‘worked’ between the two, the team could get disrupted), player reputation; Ready or Not - class differences, Mallory can’t imagine getting involved with ‘just a bartender’ (though Hope isn’t just a bartender); Waiting in the Wings - age differences, different points of career (one is successfully established, other is just starting out in the business); How Sweet It Is - age difference (though that one came up differently than norm – Molly first met Jordan when Molly was ~17 and Jordan was 10 – Molly, at times, makes comments about how she, at times, still sees the 10 year old), family (both in that two of the people Molly sees in a parent-like role are believed, by Molly, to be anti-relationship between Molly and Jordan; and in that Jordan is the sister of Molly’s dead lover).

Characters
Molly O’Brien is something around 33 years of age and has spent her whole life (baring vacation and like) living in Applewood Illinois. Her mother died when Molly was young, and she doesn’t really recall her. Her father is still alive but in poor-ish health. The mother and father had started a bakery called Flour Child, and somewhere along the way, Molly took over the business. When Molly was around the age of 17, the love of her life moved in nearby when the Tuscana’s moved to town. Cassandra and Molly became instant friends, and eventually lovers. The parents were initially disappointed, but they came around. Then four years before the start of this book Cassandra’s plane went down. Molly hasn’t dated since. The bakery is in financial trouble. And her father appears to be on death’s door.
Of Importance to Molly: The Tuscana’s (each of them separately and together); father O’Brien; her three employees at Flour Child. Rover the fish. Jordan. Her ‘loyal’ customers.

Jordan Tuscana is around the age of 26 or 27 and has always had something of a bad relationship with her parents. More on their side than hers. In that they wanted her to be a doctor and work in their clinic, or, at the very least, meet the standards set by her older sister Cass (who, apparently, was super good in school, and on the soccer field). Jordan tried for a while, but nothing she ever did was ever good enough, nor anywhere close to Cass’s abilities, and it didn’t help matters that her parents didn’t think she was trying her best, but she had been. Eventually, though, she stopped trying to be Cass 2.0, and tried to be herself. This included not going to med school, in not becoming a doctor, and in moving away and joining the movie industry. Well, she’s a high paid producer now, but she got tired of a high priced actor constantly hitting on her, so she snapped at him. The film studio is not happy with Jordan at the moment, and have put her on leave (so to speak). So, the book starts with her wondering what to do next in her life.
Of Importance to Jordan: her parents, her brother Mikey, her brother’s kids (if Mikey has a wife/husband, I somehow missed her/him), George her almost flaming homosexual friend. Little Bobby, a bartender in Applewood. Molly. Francis Ford Coppola (Frankie, the cat).

Plot/Romance
As I sometimes accidentally do, I kind of put a good bit of the detail about the plot up above *points*. So, Jordan’s on the outs with her film studio, and is on forced vacation. She takes the opportunity to return home to Applewood. For the first time in four years. Four years is also how long ago that she lost her best friend, her sister Cass.

While in Applewood, Jordan doesn’t have any specific plans except to try to rebuild her relationship with her parents, which includes volunteering at their clinic. Though while there she also reconnects with her friends there, including Little Bobby the huge bartender, her friend Molly, and . . . um . . . her favorite spots in town.

Molly, meanwhile, is busy working on finding ‘things’ to add to her bakery rotation/menu. While also attempting to find some means to ‘save’ her bakery. Business took a nosedive when Starbucks moved in. At least during the work-week.

Molly and Jordan were, apparently, good friends. I’m not exactly sure how the dynamic worked; though just know that they were on a good relationship level – the kind where they would seek out the other for help with issues. Something of a newish dynamic occurs, though, when Jordan returns to town. Molly seems drawn to Jordan. Jordan isn’t exactly newly drawn to Molly; she’s always had a ‘connection’ to her. But she had to take a backseat to her sister Cass.

So. Molly and Jordan circle. Molly thinks its super super wrong to have anything to do with Jordan, since she’s Cass’s sister. Jordan wants Molly. They take things one day at a time.

Overall
As I noted early on – there’s something of a template that Brayden follows. Everything was a lot more smoothly handled, this time around, or, in other words, I was able to ‘absorb’ the stuff that occurred without wishing to toss my book reader across the room. I’d say that it helped that I generally rather liked both Jordan and Molly, but that would imply that I hadn’t liked the other characters I’ve run across put forth by Brayden. This would be wrong.

So, yes, very enjoyable book. Of the five books I’ve read by Brayden, this one is my favorite. Three of the previous books I’d given 5 stars to, though there was a certain vague reluctance. This one here I’d probably put on the 5.5 shelf to show how much more I liked this book.

April 8 2016

Lucky Loser by Yolanda Wallace

Lucky Loser
by Yolanda Wallace
Pages: 288
Date: November 1 2011
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: N/A

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: February 23 2016

My second book that I have read by Yolanda Wallace. I was both somewhat nervous about trying another book by this author, and excited to do so. Both feelings developed for the same reason – the first book I had read by Wallace had been one that I had read recently and had felt to be a rather solid 5 star book. And so, we turn to ‘Lucky Loser’, or, this book here.

[Inserted after the fact: I lost this review rather early on, so, I’ll note up here – I loved this book. A lot.]

It’s somewhat unfortunate that I ended up somewhat ill right around the time I had read this and roughly 5 other books (well, that’s awkward – I was ill-ish from about Friday of last week until, say, this morning). Unfortunate in that I could read, but doing things like writing reviews was a tougher thing to tackle. Though I still did, mostly. But for three books. And the first of those is from before this ill time. So . . . this is boring. Let’s get to the book.

This book opened in such a way that I almost beat it with a stick and ran screaming away from it. Or, in other words, it opened with the lead character (well, there are two points of view, but Sinjin Smythe’s portion seemed vaguely larger) being unable to keep from being wrapped around another woman’s finger. A nasty bitchy woman who loved to undermine her and was doing Sinjin a very bad turn – both career wise and relationship wise. I really didn’t want to read a book wherein the two somehow overcame the obstacles to find that they were each other’s true loves. That would have been really annoying and sickening. But, before I set the book on fire and never looked at it again, I reconfirmed something I thought I had seen in the books description. The name of the two women in the opening part did not match the name of the women in the book description that were supposed to be the main characters. And so . . . I put the lighter fluid away and actually gave the book a chance. Since the book was supposed to be about Sinjin Smythe and Laure Fortescue, not Sinjin Smythe and . . . um, whatever and however you spell Victoriaovich’s name (Viktoriya Vasilyeva).

A funny thing happened along the way. Despite the lowish rating this book enjoys, both in terms of overall rating, and in terms of just the average rating of those who are on my list of friends, I found myself rather drawn into this book and story.

To a limited extent, I think I know why there are certain books I like while others kind of dislike (or not love), books I kind of dislike (or not love) while others like/love them, and while there is this third category wherein everyone, including me, love the book.
That was an awkward sentence.

I’ll put what I originally wrote behind spoiler tags, not because it spoils anything in this specific book here, but because I do not yet have the ability to convey my specific thought I desired to convey, and probably won’t find that ability any time soon. I’m probably, in a way, reading into things a little. Though it is based on this book, and most other books I’d read recently (including that ‘Course of Action’ book – which will be the stand in for the second category of books (those that I vaguely dislike while others love). ‘Give Me A reason’ stands in as a representative of the third category (books everyone seems to love/or at least like). This book here, as in ‘Lucky Loser’, is the representative of the first kind of book (those that I love and others don’t – I mean, it did have a 3.55 rating before I read and rated it).

To a limited extent it boils down to emphasis. The main thread/theme of the book. For example, ‘Course of Action’ is a book about an actress and a rich woman with many businesses (for the sake of simplicity, I’ll call her the executive producer, since she is also that – of the film the actress wants to act in). There are ‘other stuff’ going on in the book, but the book is mostly a ‘relationship’ book – seen through the lens of having both internal and external pressure being brought to bear onto the relationship. The most important thing, basically is what I’m driving at, is the relationship. That and plenty and lots of sex. The ‘other story’ type stuff was there, just not as important. Personally I was looking for more of the ‘other stuff’ – including the stuff about the movie. Therefore I was vaguely disappointed. Of course I’m probably reading into what others liked and disliked the book. On the other hand – ‘Give Me A Reason’ had as one of the main themes this ‘relationship’ thing, but that was neither the main nor only theme. The book was a mixture of themes (relationships, family, PTSD, teaching, crime, sex, etc.). Hmms. I think I’m wasting mine and everyone else’s time. I could probably have written this review twenty years ago, but my brain doesn’t function any longer. Or something. Well, I supposed I’ll finish up since finishing up involves the book this review was supposed to be about anyway – the emphasis, the main point, of this book, ‘Lucky Loser’, is not the relationship, but . . . um . . . I don’t think it’s specifically ‘overcoming yourself’ but saying ‘sports’ seems limiting. Yeah, I’d probably be better just eliminating the last two paragraphs. Instead I’ll just put it behind spoiler tags.

The long and short of all that I hid behind the spoiler tag above is that this specific book has less of an emphasis on relationships, and more on an elusive ‘something else’. I won’t attempt to define this ‘something else’, though I suspect it has something to do with ‘sports’. I did have a thought while reading this book – using a sports theme can add tension to a relationship, the good and bad kind of tension, and potentially side step some of the somewhat overused clichés used in ‘other’ books (though there was an awkward moment there between the two). While at the same time side stepping one of the hurdles that a different type of romance book uses to add tension – external threats like big evil men/the environment/etc. Side stepping ‘knowing’ what’s going to happen. Like, say, reading a James Bond book – there’s lots and lots of danger, but it’s a James Bond book – the reader ‘know’s that whatever tension and danger exists, Bond will still triumph (in actuality, he doesn’t always, but I’m trying to make a point here, so let’s pretend ‘not dying’ is good enough). As opposed to a sports book. You can have a great riveting; uplifting sports book . . . and not know the ending. Know that, of course, x is going to do y. Sure, Rocky eventually won, but not in the first movie. Basically is what I mean.

Shesh, I keep adding these ‘extra’ little side things. I should have just done one of my reviews where I have ‘character’, ‘romance’, ‘plot’, etc. sections. Instead of me bouncing around like crazy.

The book opens with Sinjin Smythe watching as her girlfriend of the time (and that might not be the correct word to use – the girlfriend one) wins the US Open. Doesn’t help matters that Sinjin had been her opponent in the champion match, but those things happen. An important thing, though, is what happens afterwards – Sinjin and Viktoriya ending up in bed together that night. After Viktoriya basically saying that doubles tennis doesn’t matter (or words to that effect) – which is important because Sinjin is in the champion match for that one as well . . . tomorrow. But Viktoriya wants to celebrate her own singles championship right then and there – or at least that night. No matter that this will make Sinjin tired. And stuff. Because . . .even more than ‘doubles doesn’t matter’ is that Sinjin’s feelings don’t matter, what matters is what makes Viktoriya happy. Yeah, see, this is why I wanted to set this book on fire. Gah, I thought, No way I wanted to read something like this here. Luckily I had noticed something – the book moves from here to three years in the future. And is not about the bitchy Viktoriya and the easily lead (at least by Viktoriya) Sinjin.

Three years later Sinjin is attempting to recover from a mid-season knee treatment procedure. And is attempting to qualify for Wimbledon. I should probably note, now, that Sinjin is British (mother is from Nigeria, I believe, and I don’t know where father is from). This is important. Because Wimbledon, if you the reader of this review don’t know, is in England. And they haven’t had an English winner in a ton of years (I forget now how many is mentioned in the book, 34?). Of course they don’t really expect Sinjin to be the one to do it – at least not any more. She’s fallen so far down the standings she isn’t really on them any more (ranked in triple digits). And has to go through qualifying matches to get into the tournament. To which she loses. See, this is like Rocky! Okay, so this book was about 22 pages in length and is about how Sinjin failed to . . what’s this? Oh, someone pulled out, and so Sinjin is that ‘Lucky Loser’ that’s on the front of the book. A lucky loser because she lost her last qualifying match but was had done well enough that when someone pulled out; she was at the top of the list of those waiting for someone to pull out.

Also involved at this tournament is Viktoriya, but she’s both important and not important. Or, in other words, she isn’t the other point of view of the book. No, Sinjin has her point of view, as does Laure Fortescue, of France. Laure had had her own little burden to carry – in the similar manner had the weight of Wimbledon on her back (English – 34 years), Laure had the French title weighing her down. But she begins the Wimbledon portion of the book without that specific weight. She’s interested in winning Wimbledon, though, again.

The book proceeds following both women as the move through the tournament – both on and off the court. Helping each other get ready, and helping giving tips about competitors. (A point is made that the women’s side is more helpful and stuff, with exceptions (like Viktoriya) than the men’s side of tennis).

Well, I really messed up this review so I’ll just flee with a few closing thoughts. I, unexpectedly, loved the book and seriously considered some way to convey that fact more than just having it on a 5.5 shelf. I’m still seriously considering putting this even higher than that, even though there is nothing higher among my shelves, as of yet. Ah, this switch over to only being able to convey my rating in full stars (or artificial half stars). Long ago were the days when I could rate something 4.433 and be able to tell it apart from a book I rated 4.421. Basically, I mean, this book would have used to have been a solid 5 star book. But because I have to include everything I’d have rated 4.65 up to 5.0 in the past as 5 stars, I have to add stuff to show that a specific book is ‘more than’/’better than’ etc. *Shrugs* Just feels weird to have a book that I want to rate 4.65 stars up at the 5 star level; even worse if I put it down at the 4 star level (ah, where art thou, ½ stars?). 4.65 star books resting uneasily next to 5.00 star books on the 5.0 star shelf. Mmphs.

February 25 2016

Give Me A Reason by Lyn Gardner

Give Me A Reason by Lyn Gardner
Pages: 662
Date: October 25 2013
Publisher: Self
Series: N/A

Awards:
**Winner of the 2015 National Indie Excellence Awards in LGBT Fiction**
**Finalist in the 2015 International Book Awards for Fiction: Gay & Lesbian**
**Winner of the Silver Medal in the 2014 Global Ebook Awards in Gay / Lesbian / LGBT Fiction**
**Winner of the Silver Medal in the 2014 eLit Book Awards – Illuminating Digital Publishing Excellence in Gay / Lesbian Fiction**

Review
Rating: 5.50 out of 5.50
Read: February 12 to 14 2016

By the time I got to this book, there were a large-ish number of reviews, and all but 24 people 'liked' the book (or 4% of the readers; I'm going with how GoodReads takes everyone that rates a book 3,4,5 and calls them 'like' for % purposes). And so, I'll just tackle a few things here and there.

1) I loved how fully formed the characters were. I'm sure there were things here or there that could be pointed at, probably some of the side characters, but there's even more fully formed side characters going on in this book than is normal in a romance.

2) And we come to the main thing I wanted to mention - the . . .genre of romance novels, I guess I could label the 'thing'. Romance novels, with exceptions, seem to be relatively repetitive in at least one way - they might not all get there the same way, they might have a million and one variations, but they tend to follow a certain path. Two people (occasionally more, but I do not tend to read love triangle books, and rarely poly books) circle each other for most of the book, and even if they 'come together' as a couple fairly early on in the book, that doesn't remove the book from the repetitive cycle. It just means that the couple will probably either have outside forces pound on the relationship (a danger/damsel in distress type situation), or internal forces pound on the relationship (fear, miscommunication, cheating, etc.). And then, as long as the book is actually in the capital R Romance category, then the book ends with a HEA (Happily Ever After) or HFN (hmm, I have the second one wrong, but whatever the letters are, they mean 'Happy for now'). Some include a chapter or two in an epilogue section that follows the couple as a couple. As a fully formed entity. Some don't have that epilogue.

Romance novels tend to get around this relatively repetitive trap of having the majority of the book being about the formation of a couple-hood instead of being about a couple as a combined entity through two to three means - (A) create a series wherein the couple in book 1 can show up as a fully formed entity in book 2 but are not the main characters (see such series like Soho Loft, that Shifter Universe by Jae, the two series by Lynn Galli (Virginia Clan and Aspen Friends) etc.), (B) have a book that's really really long, like, say, this book here. (C) is something like a trick - have romance elements but put the book in a different genre - which the fanfiction by Fletcher DeLancey involving Star Trek Voyager mostly is - Science Fiction with very strong elements of Romance. Or be like two of Galli's books - follow the same couple, but add an element, the second book changes the normal emotional 'things' that wrap themselves around a couple and slam against them, and wrap themselves, instead, around family - so it's a two book series involving a Romance, and something else (Slice of Life?).

I thought, while reading, that the book could have had a great closing roughly around the 56% mark. And when I feared, as I occasionally fear, how this specific author was going to 'mess with' the couple, I kind of wanted it to end there. I'm really really glad that the book did not, in fact, end there, though. But if it had, then it would have been two things - longer than the average romance novel (being, as it is, that 56% of the book would be 371 pages, and most Romance books from 'official channels' in the lesbian genre tend to be closer to 240 to 300 something); and, the second thing, roughly in line with that repetitive thing I mentioned above that Romance books fall into. However they get there, the books are about the formation of a couple, not about a couple living their life after formation of their relationship. Well, this 'formation' didn't end at 56%, but there was enough there for it to close, then have some epilogue tacked on the end. Then spin the second book out as a sequel. I'm, roughly, 100% happy that that isn't the direction this author went.

As I think I mentioned somewhere along the way - this is a fully formed book. A mixture of a Slice of Life book, with a Romance, with a Family novel all rolled into one (with the addition of a 'Holiday' novel slipped inside as well). It even had the element of danger/damsel in distress/etc. mixed in. And no I'm not only talking about flashbacks for that/this point.

Hmms. I just realized that I finished this book in the early morning hours of the 14th. It's one of those books I figured I'd read a little then close it for sleep, glanced at the clock and saw it was 1 am, glanced again when I realized I'd finished the book and noticed it was 3:30 am. *shrug* Back to the 14th - it's a rather good book to read/finish up on/begin the day with on Valentine's Day.

ETA: Oh, right, forgot two elements that I reminded myself of when I glanced at my status updates. This book includes a love scene, and yes I call it love instead of sex, that is arguably the best I've read. And I forgot when I was mentioning things that this book contains - it also contains humor. Bits and pieces here and there.

From my status updates:
- Now that, friends and whatevers, is how you write a love scene. A+ and words like that.

- 'Smiling at her accomplishment, Toni looked over at Laura. “I recommend we don’t open this until Scotland or the bloody thing will projectile vomit all over the motorway.”' - re: filling trunk with luggage. Was funny. I laughed.

February 14 2016

Forward Motion by Fletcher DeLancey

Forward Motion
by Fletcher DeLancey
Pages: 892
Published Date: 2008
Publisher: Fanfiction
Series: Past Imperfect (5th in series)

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: February 5 to February 7 2016

I was somewhat reluctant to read this book for two specific reasons. This be a really really long book, and, secondly, I'd already read an 'after return' series of books through the official canon. I figured any need to learn more about the 'after stuff' had been satisfied both by the official books and by the previous book in this here series. Since they did 'get back' at the end of the last book. Well, no, just reading that tells me that it didn't include 'after stuff'.

Right, so. This really long book involves family, assassins/terrorists, couples, briefings/parades, and business. This book was jammed backed with stuff. All of which was handled quite well.

On the family side – I guess anyone who wanted something more, longer, more in depth involving Seven of Nine and her human relatives will have to read the official books. Because that is something tackled relatively deeply there. But only lightly here. Well, more than lightly. The aunt and Annika meet. The ‘after’ versions of 7 are vaguely interesting in their two different interpretations. The official version has 7 actually using her real name (and dating Chakotay, which was really gross on many many levels; more than just because I despise Chakotay). While the fan fiction has 7 still using 7 of Nine. Yet, 7 seemed to have grown more as a character, filled out more, in the fan fiction than in the official version.

More family – the Janeway family, as might be expected, was an important feature in this book. With mother Gretchen, sister Phoebe, Kathryn herself, and Lynne. Plus the motherly-ness Gretchen brings, in certain scenes with Revi.

Even more family – it was only touched on very briefly, but B’Elanna’s mother turns up in this book, along with Tom’s father. B’Elanna’s father wasn’t involved, and I don’t recall if Tom’s mother was mentioned. In the official canon, B’Elanna's father and mother turn up, however briefly.

I suppose I should mention that Alison’s aunt plays a role as well, but then she always did, what with being Admiral Necheyev, Janeway’s direct boss. Their dynamic of being aunt/niece played a part in this book, but not as importantly, on one level, as some other families.

Revi Sandovhar’s mother and father also popped up. Good/bad. Those who actually read this series in order, probably already recall that there is something like bad blood between Revi and her family. Mostly between Revi and father. Well, that gets addressed in this book here.

One last family to mention (though I’m sure I’m missing others). And that would be the Hamilton family. Both the living (Elise, Brian, Melanie (Elise’s mother, Brian’s sister), and . . um, Adele and . . Stephen is mentioned, he’s Elise’s brother; and, of course, Lynne Hamilton), and the dead (Lynne’s parents via messages).

That whole family dynamic was handled quite well.

In terms of coupling/Romance. The main couples continued living their lives – Revi & Seven, Lynne & Kathryn Janeway, but they also had to share the spotlight this time around with a third main couple. Alison and Elise.

Well, darn. My ability to write stuff is sadly lacking. Failing. I’m failing!

Well, I liked everything that occurred in this book, despite my reluctance to read it. Quite enjoyable time spent by me reading this here book.

February 8 2016

Soul Unique by Gun Brooke

Soul Unique
by Gun Brooke
Pages: 264
Date: July 20 2015
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: N/A

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5.0
Read: February 1 2016

My first book by this author. Truth be told, I had actually been interested in this specific book for a while now, but two things kept me away. I think, and I could be wrong here, but I think I had briefly tried one of the author’s other books and couldn’t get into it. It was a science fiction book, and if she hasn’t written anything like that, then I’m obviously thinking of someone else. (I looked it up, I am thinking of and indirectly referring to Protector of the Realm, the first book in a science fiction series by this author – mind you, there’s a reason it isn’t on a DNF, or paused shelf – I’d read the sample, not attempted to read the book).

The second reason for my hesitation is something that I would normally not allow to influence me. The cover. The cover with two fake looking 3d avatars. I’m the kind of person, who is sometimes drawn to off-ball covers, but something about 3d avatar covers pushes me away, and so, I was pushed away because of the cover.

Characters
One point of view – that of Greer Landon.
Greer Landon - art gallery owner (a network of galleries, not just one), has a big reputation in the art community. Her age, if given, isn’t clear. She’s apparently older than Hayden, though I’m not sure how much older. Several comments, which would lead one to think ‘much older’ could also be ‘much more experienced’ type comments, which can be made regardless of age. She is also wealthy. Whether from her own efforts or family money is unclear.

Hayden Rowe - 25(?) – from an old family with lots of money. Aspergers’ syndrome. Very bad relationship with mother and father who, apparently, have no ability to deal with the facts involving their daughter (more the mother who can’t handle it, and a father who doesn’t help the situation, but still, both). Has good/close relationship with grandmother, though grandmother had a stroke a year ago. Book opens with Hayden living in an art school, in one wing of it, on a cot. Art school owned by her mother. The same mother who treats her daughter like a stupid retarded (I use that specific word on purpose) moron.

Others: India and Erica – India is Greer’s assistant, and Erica is India’s partner. If it isn’t clear, everyone in this sentence is a lesbian.

Hayden’s mother, Leyla Rowe, – bitchy small woman, who is in her late 50s, who wants her art school to be endorsed by Landon. Bitter over losing control of her daughter when daughter was around 14, but sees her as a thing, a broken thing.

Hayden’s grandmother, Isabella Calthorpe Rowe, – sharp witted woman who is currently in a rich-person’s nursing home like place. The Calthorpe part is important – that’s the name of the family from the dawn of time (or something like that).

Penelope Moore – a neighbor of Greer’s who Hayden paints. Famous author.

Romance
Hayden and Greer’s romance started slowly. They have something of an instant connect (at least as far as I can tell from only Greer’s point of view; and her insight into Hayden’s feelings). At times I worried that things might lean a little too far into a certain icky territory. It depended on how much Greer saw Hayden as an independent woman with her own thoughts and desires. Instead of, say, the way Leyla Rowe saw her daughter – as someone incapable of caring for themselves, and probably needs to be locked away from the public. There were times when Greer almost tipped into that direction, but she kept on the ‘sane’ side of the line.

Because of Hayden’s ‘condition’, aspergers, Greer wanted to take things slow, to really make sure everyone knew what was happening and agreed with everything. Her attraction to Hayden, though, made things hard for Greer. And, at times, Hayden pressed/pushed Greer on the issue.

Despite, or because of this, their relationship and romance grew somewhat naturally – and was something of a treat to read. Bah, I looked up how to spell aspergers and treat came from me seeing ‘treatment’ out of the corner of my eye. Hehe. I don’t know what “Chronic: can last for years or be lifelong” means.

Sex
As I’m sure some want to know, yes there is graphic sex in this book. Eventually. Other than kissing and the like, the ‘heavy’ stuff starts with something like 80% of the book already over. It was descriptive, graphic, and I liked it. I have nothing more to say on the subject.

Location
Most of the book takes place in Boston. I have a strong sense of Leyla Rowe’s art school, particularly Hayden’s wing of it; a strong sense of Greer’s home, an unexpected strong sense of the grandmother Rowe’s place. But if it wasn’t for the fact that the word Boston was used at some point, I would have no idea I was in Boston. Not exactly a negative, just an FYI, don’t read this as something like a travel guide to Boston (for that: look at a travel guide, or if you want fiction, pick up a book by Robert B. Parker, especially one of the Spenser ones that doesn’t mention heading off to some other location).

Some part of the action takes place in Chicago as well. Briefly.

Plot
A person with a high level of acclaim in the art community is asked by an art school person to come by her place and potentially ‘endorse’ the school. That person of influence being Greer Landon, and the person with the art school being Leyla Rowe. I do not know Landon’s background, though the area she lives in, and vague hints left here and there indicate that she comes from some form of money and the like. Which I mention, because one of the things I wanted to say, in reaction to the first sentences I had written, involved how Leyla came from the kind of money and family background that is very deep and ancient. And Greer . . .. So having things being flipped like this . . . .

But then I recalled that the ‘old family’ was Leyla’s husband, daughter, and mother-in-law. I don’t actually know Leyla’s background. Plus, everything seemed to indicate that Greer didn’t exactly spring up out of nowhere. Though there are indications that Leyla was something of a ‘social climber’.

So then. Rowe kept very strongly more or less begging Greer Landon and her assistant India, to have Greer stop by. To make her stop, Greer finally agrees. She finds a bitchy short woman who is full of herself once Greer arrived at Rowe’s school. That being Rowe herself. She then is introduced to the ‘advanced class’ being taught by some ‘maestro’ from Italy. Whose name is instantly recognized by Greer. But not in a good way. Greer was one of the people instrumental in getting this fraudster to flee Italy. He isn’t a good painter and isn’t a good teacher.

Before Greer could relay any of this information, she overhears someone basically saying just that. A young woman who is instantly attacked by this ‘maestro’, and by Leyla Rowe. I have to stop just calling Leyla by the name of Rowe, because the young woman also has that name. Hayden Rowe, being Leyla’s daughter, makes her comment then leaves (though after Greer says that Hayden is correct).

Leyla and maestro talk in a corner. Greer looks over the students’ easels and says something about leaving, but they say they have some stuff set up in a gallery, so Greer decides to look at it. She isn’t exactly ‘blown away’ by any of it until she rounds a corner and is. Deeply impacted emotionally by gazing upon a painting hanging on the wall. She demands to know who did that painting. Turns out that it was Hayden’s work.

Somewhere along the way, Hayden’s wing of the school is visited by Greer. She sees more brilliant artwork. Etc. Etc.

For various reasons, Greer agrees to endorse the school but only if Hayden assists, and that ‘maestro’ guy is terminated.

Greer Landon feels protective of Hayden, and as the book progresses, they grow closer.

Overall
As the saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (see, I can have a review where I express something in the beginning, then follow it up in the end). That works for books and people. If you let a label like ‘Aspergers’ syndrome’ get in your way, to guide your actions and reactions to someone, to allow you to use it as a screen to block the real live person beneath then you will miss out on life, love, happiness. You can, of course, put anything in that label section. Race, creed, nationality, gender, socio-economic class, political affiliation, anything. Heh, that reminds me of a particular segment on a British show I loved (the show I loved, not specifically the segment) – ‘I can’t date him! He’s a Tory!’ (not exact quote, I don’t recall exact quote, though ‘but he has a massively large penis’ might be in there as well).

My point about all that, of course, was more directed at myself instead of anything in the book itself (though that mother sure did seem hung up on that ‘condition’ her daughter had). Myself in that the cover kind of threw me and made me question whether I should try this book.

Glad I got passed that, eh? Or had someone pick the book for me to read for a challenge and therefore ‘push’ me into reading it. Because I rather loved the book. And I’m not saying that lightly. This is both the first day of February, and the first time this year that I felt a book was so good that it broke the scale (or, in other words, is one I’d put on my relatively smallish 5.5 shelf).

February 1 2016

What Should I Read Next - website; or - My Top Rated Reads

Saw this website mentioned on . . . I believe Pinterest, so I'd look to see what they recommended if I put in my highest rated books.

New Additions wasn't found, and I do not have a ISBN for it. Nor has it been collected into a larger work yet, though other parts in the series have been. Let's see if that is in the system. Nope, the collected stories in 'By Design: 1 to 3' is not in the system.

The Rosie Project is in there. Gave me a really long list. 51 results returned. I've read one of them previously. No idea how Harlan Coben's Missing You matches up with The Rosie Project. And, based on the little given, I'm not sure any match up, with the possible exception of Mark Haddon's - The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.

- Not in the system.

- not in the system.

- not in the system.

- not in the system

Gave me a list. I read and liked a few of those books on the list.

- not in the system. You know, some of these are award winners/nominees. Like this one here. Nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery (2011), and winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award for Mystery/Thriller (2011)

- not in the system.

- not in the system.

- not in the system

Gave me a list. I'd previously read one of them. Wouldn't have necessarily linked the two books.

oookay, that's odd. It gave me a list of two books? WTF is that about? Just two books? And one of them is by the same author.
Judas Child (O'Connell) and When the Bough Breaks (Jonathan Kellerman) are the entirety of what I should read next. hmms.

4? Only 4 results? Shesh.
This Perfect Day (Ira Levin)
The House of God (Samuel Shem)
Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (JK Rowling)

Hmms, only 5 results but that's more than I expected.
Only read one of these 5.

Quarry (Susan Cummins Miller)
Over Her Dead Body (Kate White)
The Myth Hunters (Christopher Golden)
Bootlegger's Daughter (Margaret Maron)
Blue Shoes and Happiness (Alexander McCall Smith)

- huh 'not in the system'.

Vanishing Fame by Selina Rosen

Vanishing Fame
by Selina Rosen
Pages: 328
Date: June 20 2014
Publisher: Yard Dog Press

Review
Rating: 5.5 out of 5 stars
Read: June 11 2015
This story was something of a roller-coaster. And quite frankly I was a little scared of it. In an odd little way. I just felt that there was no way it could have a happy ending. I mean, there's this happy moment at something like 16% into the book (16, 9, 11, whatever it was). And I knew, that was too bloody early for such a moment. Unless bad things were about to happen. And I was right. The little roller coaster car the reader was in was at a high point. Then whee . . . falling quickly downwards. Then up again. And down.

I'm being somewhat purposely vague. For the most part I loved the side characters. And, for the most part, I loved the main characters of Jessy and Joan.

I don't normally particularly like the "love at first sight" type of story, but here it had to work that way. Because of the people involved. Jessy is a hermit, because of events in her past she had to get away. She's spent, basically, six years up on a mountain by herself building a massive lovely home. Joan's a self-proclaimed rude bitch who must try everything, at least once. Including every kind of man out there. Striving to get that itch scratched that never seems to actually get scratched.

That, above, is a false impression on one level. Jessy had been a hermit. But had been dragged out on tour for several months by the time she bumps into Joan. Naked. In her . . . hmm, I suddenly can't recall if it was called a hot tub or not.

But I was mentioning why it had to work this way, love at first sight. Jessy had been burned way too often to allow herself to try to get close again. Hell, one of the reasons, not sure how high or low this falls, but one of the reasons she agreed to go out on the road again was, to put it crudely, is for pussy. Out on the road for months. People screaming in joy that she's back again. Out there. Throwing underwear at her. And . . . even though she keeps saying that she's just about to go have fun with groupies, or something like that, she never actually does so. Because she doesn't want to be burnt again.

So, basically what I'm saying is that the only real way that a relationship could suddenly develop would be through love at first sight. Lust at first sight certainly wasn't going to do it.

Course, that's one of the reasons I was somewhat scared about the book, after I started. Two reasons. One, I came to like Jessy and knew that if something bad happened, Jessy would become unglued. Two, Joan's one of those women who didn't realize that they might actually be a lesbian, and once realize such, didn't want to admit it publicly because of fear for their career. And Jessy has been burnt many times, well two times, by getting into relationships with women who don't want to admit, publicly, to be in a relationship with Jessy.

Right, so, Jessy James was born in a rat infested building. Was found at the age of three hiding in her closet, nearby was her dead decaying mother who had been killed, probably, by one of her "tricks". Mother having been a junkie prostitute. Tossed around in the system, Jessy eventually made it, too late to a certain extent, to a good couple. Who bought her a real drum set. One thing lead to another and Jessy and her band, Tidal Wave, became massively popular. Rode the wave for about five years then imploded. Mostly because every other band member got hooked on drugs. And Jessy's lover of the time died in a exploding car. A car driven by this lover into a pole. Around this time, Jessy gets hit by a drunk driver. Gets put into a walking cast. Gets dumped by a different girlfriend who couldn't admit to being a lesbian and returned to her husband. After all of this, Jessy had to get away. Story opens six or seven years later with Jessy living on a mountain in a home-built home. Watching television. VH1 to be specific. And randomly stumbles across the story of her own band. And life.

Hmm. That's a wall of text if I ever saw one. Was going to mention Jessy, then Joan, but bah. It'd just be another wall of text. So.

Jessy - fabulously talented singer/songwriter/hermit in hiding last 6 years.

Joan - fabulously talented singer/actress/songwriter with a reputation of being flightly in romance, hooking up with everyone.

Jessy + Joan = ?

Loved the book. Though, as I've mentioned, I was on edge and scared everything would be ruined.