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

Psych: A Fatal Frame of Mind by William Rabkin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4.27

July 20 2018



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Magnetic by Robin Alexander

Magnetic by Robin Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4.25

July 19 2018



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Fearless by Robin Alexander

Fearless by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great book. Lots of great humor.

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

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

Gave both of these six stars on reread.

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

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

All read once, all rated 5+.

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

Rating: 5+

July 15 2018



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Temporary Girl by Robin Alexander

Temporary Girl by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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

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

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

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

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

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

Quite fun hilarious book.

Rating: 5+

July 12 2018




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Patty's Potent Potion by Robin Alexander

Patty's Potent Potion by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is my second reading of this book. My first reading of this book occurred in May 2017.

Robin Alexander is the perfect example to be used for why I tend to give authors 3 to 5 books before I decide on if I like them or not – if I’ll continue to read them or not (previously I would have used Georgette Heyer). Why do I say this? Simple enough – I read three books by Alexander in 2014 and, naturally, I loved . . . . heh, no. I gave those three books an overall rating of 3.8, though that was mostly due to giving one of the three a rating of 4.5. It then took me two more years to try another book – and then I went on a longish string of 5 star reads. Did I love everything I read after that point? No, of course not. Some books I actually ended up rating worse than the initial three reads, but this is all boring and stuff so I move on. The point is that Alexander ended up being, basically, my favorite author and I almost gave up on her books before I should have. Eh, happens.

If I recorded things correctly, this is the third book I’ve reread by Alexander. And second I’ve placed on my top shelf reachable only by reread books. Alexander is the only author who has more than one work on my 6 star shelf.

Strangely enough, this book was even better than I recalled, and I spotted bits of humor here and there that I am fairly certain I hadn’t noticed the first time. There are both humorous lines, and humorous passages (as in, humorous banter; and, in context, humorous scenes). I loved everyone involved with this book, character-wise (well, I mean, ‘obviously’ I wouldn’t want anything to do with Janice, the grandmother, and she wasn’t great on her own, but the interactions added something to the book). Let’s step back and say: I loved the two main characters, Shawna and Ashton; and a good number of the side characters like Jet the daughter, and Patty the friend (actually, I believe I came to like Patty more this go-around than in the previous read).

The interaction between Shawna & Ashton as friends and lovers was great; the interaction between Patty and both Shawna & Ashton was good; the dynamic of the ex-Megan (Shawna’s ex) was quite good, and I kinda want to see a book starring Megan and Lucy (or Megan and anyone, really, but she seems to be doing well with Lucy so . . .).

Great story line. Humor, romance, sex, . . . hmms . . . humor again.

Rated: 6 stars

April 26 2018




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Psych: The Call of the Mild by William Rabkin

Psych: The Call of the Mild by William Rabkin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Rereading books can be fun, for many reasons. Especially if you liked the book in the first or previous readings, and do not have instant recall of the entire book when you start a new rereading. On the other hand, I believe my lack of remembrance, for the most part lack of remembrance of the story-line here, is due less to the great number of years and books between first reading and this rereading, and more because the book itself is kind of . . . to put it bluntly . . . boring.

On the other hand – I believe I enjoyed the sub-plot involving Psych’s father and the ‘foot cop’ more this time than I did in the previous reading. On the other hand, I think I enjoyed the Gus and Shawn story, plot line, more in the first go around. A good deal of, maybe all of the humor that I know I noticed before (since I spotted a few times when I had previously laughed), just didn’t hit me as humorous this time. At least in regard to Shawn and Gus’s story.

Decent enough book. Seemed like an Episode of Psych. Just not an exciting episode of Psych.

Rating: 3

April 24 2018



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Kellen's Moment by Robin Alexander

Kellen's Moment by Robin Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There was a brief moment, as I mentioned in my only status update, when I worried about this book. That was in the prologue that opens with two people apparently on the way to commit crime. And one is reluctant to do so while the other is gung-ho on the idea. And, as I also mentioned, that’s somewhat common with me and Alexander books – I open them, gaze upon the opening with some worry and fear, then gobble the book like it was chocolate and someone was coming to take all my chocolate (I’ve no idea why I went to chocolate). As in, I end up really enjoying the book and reading it in quick gulps.

Right, so, this book is about a 39 year old and a 34 year old (I forget which is which, though I’m fairly certain the 34 year old is Stevie Sealy, while the 39 year old is Kellen McLin). While Stevie grew up in a small town in Louisiana, the next town over from Kellen’s small town, she’s spent her entire adult life living elsewhere – mostly in New York. But she’s home now, temporarily (that’s the plan) as she’s broken up with her male partner (I’m still vaguely confused as to whether or not they were actually ever married). Kellen, on the other hand, appears (it’s not 100% clear), to have lived her entire life in that small town next to Stevie’s small home town.

I’m being vague on purpose. For, you see, the small town Stevie Sealy comes from is named . . . Sealy. And the small town Kellen McLin comes from? The town is named McLin. And as the book description notes, the McLin and Sealy families have been feuding for a long time like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. Though, since I do not actually know of any Hatfield’s getting involved with McCoy’s, I’ll go with Capulet and Montague (you know, Juliet and Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). Since this specific story here involves two people from rival families falling for each other. Though, luckily for my own sanity, and as already noted, the two who fell for each other in this book are in their 30s, not early teens.

And that’s basically the story – two people from rival families fall for each other, then have to deal with the fact that they are from rival families. There’s more, but that’s the core. Lots of great humor, lots of interesting action, good solid side characters (including probably one of the better gay couples I’ve seen in lesbian fiction), some interesting to me sexy-times, and . . . stuff.

There’s more I could say – like how the McLin’s are the opposites of the Sealy’s in certain matters (they hold similar positions in their towns, and both have much money, but one is very concerned about appearances – ‘keeping up appearances’ (Sealy), while the other keeps a very tight hold on their money to the point they’d prefer wearing used underwear (or none at all) to buying new underwear (McLin’s). And how Stevie’s parents are complete and utter dickwads; and Kellen’s father figure (though uncle who raised her after mother died and father ran away) is an utter vile human turd; or how Kellen has a twin – Kyle, who is one half of the gay coupling I mentioned above; or . . . stuff. But I’ll let people read for themselves.

For my own information-purposes, though, I include: Kellen McLin is currently mayor of McLin, though would prefer not to be. Would prefer to be running her business (she’s a tree surgeon – an arborist). And Stevie Sealy works from home writing tech manuals (mostly for electronic things, though occasionally for other things).

I really loved the chemistry on display between Kellen and Stevie.

Every time I read a Robin Alexander book, I feel like I need to go back through all of my top tier ratings shelves and rerank everything. Granted, there are a few Alexander books I’ve rated very poorly, but most seem to push the upper limits. As this one did.

Rating: 5+ (something around 5.35)

March 4 2018


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The Vampire's Mail Order Bride (Nocturne Falls, #1) by Kristen Painter

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My second book read by the same author on the same day. And, importantly, both first in their series. Why did I not, instead, read book 2 in the series I read earlier today? Because of two reasons: 1) this book here, the Mail Order one, is actually the main series that the other series spun-off of; 2) and I'd already owned this book - free. So, two free books read same day.

Two things to note: This is much more of a romance book than the other book I read today (Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case) - which was more of a mystery with a romance subplot, though this book, the Mail Order one, had mystery elements as well; & a) this book was slightly less humorous than the other book, b) though one of the laughs that erupted was based almost entirely on the fact that I had read that other book today, for, you see, I already had some information about a particular club, and the words that were uttered were funny with that prior knowledge (which is a little weird since this book here came before that other book).

Right, so - a young woman of about 27 works in a diner in Brooklyn. The story opens with her walking home after her shift, babbling to herself (I'm fairly certain this babbling was occurring inside her own brain, but this is NY so . . .), only to suddenly realize that she had left her apron and tips on the counter at her work. So she goes back to retrieve it. Which lead to her being in perfect position to witness, and record, her boss shooting a man. Now, it is true that the diner had a 'mob' vibe about it, and there was this vague overall feeling of the place being a mob hangout (which, strangely, unlike ever other such hangout I've known about in fiction and in real life, lead to the place being always packed - by people wanting to 'check out' the mobsters). And Delaney knew of this reputation, but, until this moment, she hadn't realized it was real.

As Delaney flees the scene, but before she exits the diner, her phone rings. Alerting everyone there that someone else was on the scene. She continues to flee. Ducks into a random open establishment. Which turned out to be a match-making place. Which lead her to steal a file, inform the woman in the file that the man had decided to turn down the offer, and Delaney took her place.

After gathering a few of her belongings and her 28 pound Maine Coon cat, Delaney drives from New York to Nocturne Falls Georgia (where the woman was supposed to go for this 'arranged marriage' type thingie). Unbeknownest to her: 1) the man hadn't actually signed up, it was his grandmother who signed the man up; 2) the man was fabulously wealthy, and handsome; 3) the grandmother, the man, and his brothers are all vampires - and the human woman Delaney was taking the place of, knew that they were vampires (though Delaney doesn't know).

And so human woman escaping the mob, assumes someone else's identity, and turns up at a huge mansion like place and meets . . .well, I've already indicated things but let's move on.

Everything I've relayed was in the opening parts of the book. The book unfolds from here.

I liked this book. I liked the story. I liked the actual chemistry the two people displayed. Still, I just liked the 'things' seen in that other book just slightly more than here. Heck, I even liked the cat in the other book more than the cat in this one (maybe because the cat in the other one seemed to interact with the story more than the one in this book).

Rating: 4.55

January 30 2018



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The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin by Colette Moody

The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin by Colette Moody

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the third book by Colette Moody that I’ve reread – and each of Moody’s three books improved on rereading. Like this one here, the pirate one, I found to have a lot more detail in it that I had recalled. I believe I might have initially read this one too quickly – still enjoyed it on first read, but read it too quickly.

Right, so – the action takes place in various locations in or near the Caribbean Sea. Florida (St. Augustine), Cuba, Jamaica (Kingston, Port Royal (which is actually just across a stretch of water from Kingston)), Bahamas, Santo Domingo (in what is now the Dominican Republic). And the Berry Islands (just north of Bahamas). Action took place during a few months in 1702.

And that action? A pirate ship, the Original Sin is attacked by a military ship and the captain is injured. With the doctor killed in the same action, the crew (and daughter Gayle Malvern, who takes over as acting captain) need to find a doctor. A few are tasked with heading to the nearby coast of Florida to find the lucky fella. Instead they find Celia Pierce, who just happened to be visiting her doctor fiancée – that fella was in the backroom but is quite the coward and hid while the pirates were there. Since Celia is a seamstress, and the doctor apparently is in some other town, the pirates ‘make-do’ with the seamstress.

Dark haired Celia and fiery haired Gayle go to work on Captain Mad Malvern, and the rest of the injured crew. Then start sailing around – dropping Captain pops at a particular tavern where the ex-ship doctor is currently residing. Ex-doctor will tend to injured captain, while the ship bounces around the region. First mission: retrieve a captured sister of another doctor – a doctor who had been following her from England and is willing to work aboard the pirate ship if they go get his sister. And then more fun and exciting things occur as Celia and Gayle take a cruise around a very small portion of the Caribbean (months apart in sailing time, but just a tiny bit of the Caribbean Sea).

There’s much humor, action, romance, and graphic depictions of sex to be found within the pages. Quite fun all around. And the humor was not just reserved for the ‘good characters’ – like, for example, a few bits dribbled out of others. Like right in the beginning with the feckless doctor who talks about his attempts to woo women in Spanish Florida when he himself only knows English (‘luckily’ for him, there’s a British fella there who married a Spanish woman and had an offspring – that being Celia, making her half British and half Spanish).

It was astoundingly difficult to woo a lady who thought he was either trying to purchase a chicken or a few tomatoes from her, or ask her for directions.

And while there’s no real romance between Celia and Philip (the doctor), there’s much humor to be found in their interactions. Like when Philip calls Celia his cabbage. And she calls him on it – and he is so dim it takes him a while to understand she’s being sarcastic.

”I find you attractive as well, my cabbage.”

She fought her natural urge to grimace at his unpleasant metaphor. “Cabbage? Might you compare me to a vegetable with a slightly more palatable smell?”

His brow furrowed. “My little . . . mushroom?”

“You would liken me to a fungus?” Celia laughed. “Such wooing, sir. You might make my heart burst within my breast.”

Phillip eyed her with belated suspicion. “Are you mocking me?”

“I? Your devoted mushroom dares not,” Celia replied insincerely. “Were I perhaps a potato or a leek, however, I would be brimming with mockery. They, sir, are victuals of the trickiest sort and are not to be trusted.”

But the humor is not just limited to Phillips and people talking around him (which is good, since he isn’t the main character and is rarely in the book). The humor with Celia by herself, or between Celia and Gayle is also quite good. Like when Celia, after waking up hung-over, asked what happened the night before between herself and Gayle . . .

”Did we…” She jumbled her fingers chaotically together in some sort of peculiar, yet demonstrative hand gesture.

“Milk an animal of some kind?”

Right, so, many more moments of humor – better in context, I’m sure, than randomly strewn about my review here.

As mentioned – this is the third book I’ve reread by Moody – and all three improved with rereading. ‘Parties in Congress’ rose from 4.5 (since bumped to 5) stars to 6 stars (and top tier) on reread; while ‘The Seduction of Moxie’ moved from 4.5 stars up to 4.25 stars. Wait. Mmphs. Okay, so now that I actually look at the ratings, they did not actually all improve on rereading. Mmphs. Probably due to all the vomiting, diarrhea, and nastiness* in Seduction that knocked it down a little (* yes, instead of firing your agent – poison him). This book here, ‘Sublime’, was rated 4.75 on first read and 5+ on second read (which rearranges the order of ‘favorite Moody books’ – had been 1) Sublime, 2) Parties; 3) Seduction; and is now 1) Parties; 2) Sublime; 3) Seduction.

Rating: 5+

January 12 2018



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Pitifully Ugly by Robin Alexander

Pitifully Ugly by Robin Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This specific book here is both the second book I read by Robin Alexander, back in February 27 2014, and the second book I’ve successfully reread by Alexander.

When I started the book, I was somewhat uncertain what kind of reaction I might have, what I might find – for, you see, while Robin Alexander has become one of the top lesbian fiction authors I read (somewhere, without thinking too hard about it, within the top three), Alexander was also the author I read three books by in 2014, then didn’t read another until 2016. It’s also one of the four Alexander books I’ve read and not yet written a review for, but that’s neither here nor there. Let’s move on.

At the beginning, not sure how far along I’d put the change point, but at the beginning I was confused by my original 2014 rating of 3.5 stars. Because this was one damn funny book. And then . . . I recalled why I had rated the book ‘so low’, well low for an Alexander book. This is a one person point of view book – and it somewhat suffers because of that issue. For, unfortunately, the main character really started to annoy me.

Before I mention the main character, I feel the need to reference my most recent prior Alexander review – all about humor and stuff like humor. A lot of the humor in this book really seemed like it was/would be better with these specific characters (like, say, that vibrating strap-on on-going scene); while others were . . . kind of meh – possibly because of the characters involved. Which, in its way, added a layer of knowledge and appreciation to the humor and characters in the other books – for, I realized, some of the humor was meh because I didn’t really care that much about the characters by the time the event took place (thinking here, as an example, the time a goose attacked Shannon – it’s vaguely humorous moment, but more of a weak smile; oddly enough the prior book I read by Alexander, the prior reread, had a swan attack the main character – and there I found the entire scene much more satisfying – to a large extent because I much more preferred spending time with the characters in ‘Next Time’. Right, let’s move on again.

Shannon Brycen, like Ryann from ‘Next Time’, has an important to the story straight sister (here Kalen, there Shelly). Their family dynamic is otherwise quite different, and I only mentioned because both books had that situation of a straight sister being something of a best friend to one of the main lesbian leads. Right, so, Kalen is described as being quite charming and extroverted – quite capable of being a people person. She’s older than Shannon and married to a man called Todd. I mention all of that to then say that Shannon is basically the opposite (though her looks are supposedly similar) – she’s a lesbian, introverted (a shy introvert), and very much a back-office non-people pleasing, non-charming woman with no real skills at picking up women (all of this is learned by the reader very quickly at a meal shared between Shannon and Kalen at the start of the book; for someone quite bad at picking up women, Shannon sure did end up in a lot more situations with woman than that would imply – see above where I made mention of a humor gag that involved a vibrating strap-on, I won’t elaborate more on that specific scene). And by back-office, I mean that Shannon is the hair salon business accountant (they have four . . . um . . whatever you call an outlet in the hair business).

In an attempt to change her position in life, Shannon does two things: 1) create a profile on a dating website (which meets stiff opposition and outright derision from Kalen); 2) attempt to become fitter, or at least have a make-over. The dating profile lead to several run ins with various lesbians, some online, some in person; while the make-over lead to getting a hair-cut at a rival hair salon and finding someone there to hire for her own hair place. Which is important to note because the gay man who cut her hair, it’s important to note he is gay, becomes a strong side character in this story.

Right, so, that’s the story – a thirty-something woman living in New Orleans who’d prefer to spend all her time in her apartment, is forced to get out and attempt to upgrade her life (part of the ‘forced to get out’ is the part where the sister and brother-in-law go on vacation, and Shannon will be forced to step in, if called upon, as the boss – in person). Some humor is had along the way.

There are, as would be expected, several other characters of importance – there’d have to be, no?, since I haven’t even mentioned a potential love interest yet. Right, so – sister Kalen, several potential dates, gay hairdresser (I’d use his name, but I forget it, Marion or something like that, Marvin?) and the combo of new next door neighbor Hailey and her dog Fuzzy. There are some great scenes involving Fuzzy. And Hailey’s the love interest who is seen almost exclusively through the eyes of Shannon.

There is a lot of miscommunication, disinformation, and outright lying in this story that adds obstacles to love (and detract from my ability to enjoy this book). There is also graphic sex, humor, and . . . um . . . other stuff.

I’m not really sure how or why, but the characters in this book just seem to be of a lesser quality than others created by Alexander. And by ‘lesser quality’, I’m specifically referring to their creation, there ‘there-ness’. The connection between the reader and them. I might be talking gibberish so I’ll, once again, move on.

Rating: 4.12

December 19 2017




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Next Time by Robin Alexander

Next Time by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Humor is tricky to pull off well for many reasons – chief among them the relatively simple fact that there’s no form of humor that appeals to everyone (and I mean 100% of all people), and the more you drive to reach a large significant portion of the audience, the more likely the humor will end up being super mild and would likely, at best, generate just a weak smile. Not only is it super easy to offend with humor, it is, in some ways even worse, very easy to bore with humor.

And here I thought of putting in a bunch of stuff about different types of humor, like: satire/parody, broad humor, low humor, high humor, word play humor, domestic humor, etc. etc. And mention how one of the types of humor I like best is the kind somewhat rarely actually seen, at least by me, in prose novels – the quick-witted sharp dialogue that seems more easily shown, in example form, in plays by Noël Coward (who, largely, seemed to like the comedy of manners type of humor (at least his popular early work) – married couples (Private Lives, Blythe Spirit), families (Hay Fever), etc. I rarely see it in prose novels as, as noted, it tended to involve married couples, not something that’s hugely popular, it appears, with what I personally read. But all of this is beside the point: the point being that humor is difficult to do well, and even when it is done well – 50% of your intended audience might still be bored (at best), or disgusted (at worst).

I specifically mentioned Coward above so I’d mention married couples – so I’d note that this book here involves a married couple. In snippets, at least, in the ‘present’. They, Payton Foret & Ryann Seely, technically aren’t married since, at the time this book was published and set, lesbian marriage was not yet legal in Louisiana, but the two are a long term couple who see themselves, basically, as married. But that’s the ‘present’. And most of the story consists of what happened in the past, when Payton & Ryann first meet, entangled with others, and then finally come together in coupledom. So it’s a variation that both allows the reader to see a ‘married’ couple long after they got together, and see what is normally shown in romance books – a couple coming together.

Payton and Ryann first meet in a bar – as ‘wingwomen’ for Jana and … um, I’m going to say Melena, but could be Melissa, or Melina, or . . . well, doesn’t really matter. Jana and Payton are best friends, while Ryann and M are friends – though, as is both seen throughout the book, and stated at the upfront – M would rather have had Ryann’s significant other there as the wingwoman, as Leigh is more of M’s friend. Leigh being Ryann’s long-term partner of roughly 8 years (several years go by in the telling of this story, and the number 8 got tossed out there at some point, not sure when the number was used, so I’m going with 8).

Payton and Ryann meet well – they have an instant spark, but they also have no obligation to like/dislike/or go through the ‘game’ of romancing – since they are there for their friends, not for themselves. Though Payton does mention that she might have made some kind of play for Ryann but for the fact that she knew that Ryann had a long term girlfriend.

The two meet again about … oh, several months later when M and J have a BBQ. By this point Ryann is still dating Leigh, and Payton is dating ‘squirrel-woman’ (a successful voice actor who specializes in ‘funny voices’ who doesn’t have good control over the ‘on/off’ switch). Squirrel-woman is in and out so quickly from Payton’s life that I didn’t really catch her name (but, then again, I couldn’t recall M’s name and she’s there throughout the book so . . . ). Payton and Ryann reconnect at this party and continue their liking of each other, and their witty banter. For reasons this is only the second time they both have meet, months after first meeting, largely due to how easily Leigh falls into jealous rages at the slightest opportunity, and how little Ryann does to fight this impulse of Leigh’s (beyond basically never going anywhere but for work and home – at least not without Leigh).

Payton and Ryann meet for the third time on J & M’s anniversary – Payton, by this point, is by herself, while Ryann is still with Leigh. Throughout all this time Ryann has made noises that indicate that she doesn’t really want to still be with Leigh, and is ‘just about’ to break up with her. For roughly a year or more. And so the two still don’t date, or cheat with each other, for neither are the cheating type and Ryann is still with Leigh.

Payton works as a ‘children’s educational music jingle writer’, or something like that. She writes children’s show/commercial/film songs. Ryann works as a teacher, I believe a high school teacher though I might have that part wrong.

Of importance: the woman whose name I can’t remember, Melena or whatever, is in the book throughout but mostly on the side as she’s the lover/girlfriend of Jana (not a main character) and more friends with Leigh (not a main character) than with Ryann (main character). Jana is best friends with Payton and therefore pops up whenever the book needed someone like her to pop up (you know, to say things like ‘I know you aren’t the cheating kind’ and stuff like that). Shelly is Ryann’s straight sister, and seems very much her close friend (mom Carol and the two named sisters, and two (or was it three?) unnamed brothers play little part in this story, at least until near the end when the sisters and Carol pops up – for reasons). Shelly’s kids and husband are there when needed for excuses for certain things – like why Shelly’s suddenly over at Ryann’s place (Evan, the husband, tried to burn down the house making food), or why there’s a ‘rat’ running around (Brody, Shelly’s son, got a ferret without asking permission) – but are not otherwise of any real importance to the plot.

Beyond everything else, like say romance and humor, there are two things Alexander likes including in her books: travel and ‘old people’. Here, in this specific book, the travel is covered by several impromptu car trips, while the ‘old person’ is covered by Grace, Payton’s next door neighbor of advanced age. The old people tend to be sources of amusement and be quite wacky, here, though, the wackiest thing about Grace is her weird food combinations.

This is the first book by Alexander that I have successfully reread. I’d previously attempted to listen to the audio for one prior book, without success, which is why I worded the first sentence the way I did. As I somewhat expected/suspected, rereading a book I’d previously rated 5+ stars by Alexander ends up with me pushing this book onto the exclusive ‘reread only’ six star shelf.

Right, so, great bits of humor that I personally found quite good and others might find boring; great romance that others, not me, might find vaguely lacking something (in terms of the potential angst/drama of one woman already in a relationship when she meets her ‘soulmate’ – tension somewhat lessoned by the fact that the story is being told by a happy long term couple about how they meet). Oh, and there’s some graphic sex that occurred. Lovely top tier book.

Rating: 6.0

December 18 2017



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Good Enough to Eat by Alison Grey, Jae

Good Enough to Eat by Alison Grey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've probably read more than 4000 books, 3586 of which are listed on Goodreads (there's a bunch of books that I've either not listed, or combined - like, where possible, most of the Robert B. Parker books I've read have been removed and in their place are omnibus editions that include a bunch of them). I mention that specific factoid at the start of this review for one simple reason: I've read a lot of books, but very few of them have I read more than once - probably something around 50 or so books (I've not always remembered to enter rereads on Goodreads so only 42 are listed on here). Well this specific riveting paragraph is just to note that I've 1) reread another book; 2) the author I've reread the most books by is Jae. I've reread 11 of Jae's books - and this book here is that 11th book.

Right, so...

Robin Caldwell is a 68 year old successful author with an addiction problem. Which is why the book opens with Robin sitting outside a church in her car. For roughly 30 minutes. Just sitting there. For there's an AA meeting scheduled at that church and Robin's been working up the nerve to actually attend. Though she's shaking and looking kind of rough. She's really thirsty. Once she finally gets inside, though, she meets the other POV in the book - Alana.

Alana Wadd is also up there in years, and she also has an addiction problem. But she has been fighting it and been sober for roughly 2 years when this book opens. Brian, her own sponsor and leader of that specific AA's group, assigns Alana to work with Robin as Robin's sponsor. Alana, by the way, is a divorce lawyer.

Sponsors and sponsorees do not have to be friends, but can become so - they are not supposed to become sexually or romantically involved though. So the two older women move through the stages of accepting their positions (sponsor/sponsoree); friendship, before reaching sex (which was graphic and . . . quite enjoyable).

Neither of the women, despite my wording so far, look like old women. No, both look to be . . . well, I'm not sure that ever actually came up, but judging by the covers and some words here or there, I put them both as looking to be in their 30s. Neither fell into a fountain of youth or anything like that. No, while Robin is in fact 68, she is also a Girah (aka, vampire). Alana, on the other hand, is a human - but she used to be a djinn (aka Barbara Eden's role on 'I Dream of Jeannie'), and has been alive roughly 450 years.

This isn't as fluffy as some reviewers put it, but it is 'fluffier' than average. I mean there is conflict in the story - inner and outer (trying to restrain self from drinking blood, despite the fact that that is literally the thing that keeps Girah's alive; fighting family, friend, and Girah elders about restraining from drinking blood; etc. etc.). And this isn't one of those insta-love/relationship/whatever - the two women do have to go through several stages, and several walls to be together - especially the part where Alana never wants to have a relationship with another human (and thinks Robin is human); while Robin has to lie about being a human with Alana (lying is not a good relationship foundation, but then neither is perceived insanity ('right, you are some kind of vampire type creature?") or actual fear ('noo! don't drink my blood!') - plus Robin keeps alternating between wanting to hump Alana, and wanting to drink her blood. Oh, that reminds me - Robin being in an AA meeting for her addiction to blood is kind of like Alana being in an AA meeting in a fully functioning bar (since Robin's addiction is to blood - specifically the type of blood, O negative, running in Alana's veins).

Right, so, I really really enjoyed this book, and thought everything about it was great, including, did I mention? the sex scenes. And by 'really really enjoyed', I mean to the extent that the book is joining the four other books on my top shelf.

Rating: 6 stars (shelf accessible only to rereads; something only 9 to 11% of rereads reach).

November 21 2017







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Leger's Ghost by Lacey Dearie

It's Halloween time in Leger's part of Scotland. Leger's a happy, content, cat enjoying his time back in the families original home, enjoying the oddly quiet/peaceful moments of no crime. Until spotting a black cat in a shop window (and not his own reflection) jars him back to his own reality. For it is cold, it's Halloween time, people get extra freaked out about black cats around that time of year, and, before he can come himself down, he overhears two men discussing crimes to be committed.

I'd say that this is a fun, entertaining, fluffy-ish, humorous short story, except for the part where death does unfortunately appear in this story. But over-looking such things as, you know, death, the story was quite fun. And humorous.

Here I'd insert a quote, but I always seem to do so only to return and find that what I quoted, while still humorous to me, is much less so out of context. Bah, I include an example, hopefully it isn't too far from context to see the humor of the interactions between the cats Leger and Isabella.

‘I’m faking my own death.’

She continued to study him for a moment and then said, ‘The smell is a step too far.’

*rereads* Yep, better in context. drat. heh.

Well, I flee my inability to convey humor and depart with - this was an entertaining addition to the series.

Rating: 4.8

October 16 2017

Blindr dot com, or, The Importance of Coconut-Milk Lattes to Long-Term Success by antennapedia

Title: Blindr dot com, or, The Importance of Coconut-Milk Lattes to Long-Term Success
Author: antennapedia

Fanfiction: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (alt universe)
Link: Archive of Our Own

Review:
A short humorous story. Set .. . well, not in the Buffy universe, since it's an 'alternate universe' version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but something like that.

So, see, this is an alternate universe that uses characters from the Buffy tv show - Giles owns and runs a coffee shop, Tara, Oz, Anya, and Xander work for him. They believe, they being his employees at least, that Giles needs to date again. So, with reluctance, Giles uses a dating app called 'Blindr' (every date is a blind date). Well, they had already signed him up for it and marked three of them as 'interesting', and given him the mission to try to set up dates with all three. That week.

Don't want to spoiler-ify things, but will say the story was good, humorous, and the characters resembled the characters they were supposed to resemble.

Rating: 4.50

September 30 2017

Benevolent Haunting by Hypnobyl

Fanfiction: Ghostbusters (2016)
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7517804?view_full_work=true

This is a solid book set in the same universe as the 2016 film Ghostbusters. Just as the film starred four women, the book stars those same four women: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan.

The book does have some differences though: I believe that the idea is that this book takes place after the events of the movie, but that the events played out slightly differently - there's still Rowan and his antics that caused massive issues in New York, but the Ghostbusters handled him with just three of the Ghostbusting women involved - Erin, Abby, and Patty (and, just to round things out, Kevin, the very dumb hunky man from the film is also still present in this book).

I'm not sure how long after the events of the film the book is set, but probably not long after. The story opens with Erin noticing a few things 'odd' going on in her apartment, though it takes her a really long time to realize that she actually had a ghost in there. Turns out that Holtzmann, who was always causing things to explode and stuff in the film, killed herself in an explosion ten years before the start of this book. And has been a ghost for the last ten years.

Holtz and Erin connect - develop a relationship - build stuff (Holtzmann died building a 'lifebelt' that would allow a ghost to 'materalize' on the physical plane. Erin completed work on the belt (or, more accurately, since there's no belt now to complete, used the blueprints Holtz drew to make a belt)).

The story focuses on the relationship of Holtz and Erin, Erin's family, Holtz's family; the ghostbusting stuff (which was actually quite well done); and bits and pieces of both Patty and Abby's lives. While the book focused more on Hotlz and Erin, both Patty and Abby got some time to shine, Abby somewhat more than Patty.

I had originally put this book on my lesbian fiction shelf, but no one is actually a lesbian here (with the possible exception of Holtz). All, including Kevin, are apparently some form of bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, something) - except, as noted, Holtz's exact nature wasn't fixed in stone (she's in a relationship with a woman, the rest is wording). So I have this book on my bisexual/biromantic shelf.

I also have it on my aromantic shelf. I didn't expect this going in, but this story has one of the best, probably the best, aromantic representation I've seen (which isn't really saying anything, I think I've three works on that shelf?). For, you see, Abby is aromantic. But unlike the every other aromantic person I've come across, Abby isn't asexual. But, instead, as noted, some form of bisexual.

Everyone in the book, including the aromantic Abby, has someone in their lives (in Abby's case it's someone who they have a no-strings type relationship with).

Right, so - there's humor, excitement, romance, ghosts, etc. etc. And graphic depictions of a sexual nature.

Rating: 4.44

September 13 2017

Fearless by Robin Alexander

Fearless by Robin Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was slightly concerned when I opened the book to find two people bickering and fighting on a cruise ship. Luckily one of the two was quickly out of the story, and my fears did not move past that initial slight concern.

I love everything about this book - the main characters, the adventure (stuck in Honduras together after their cruise ship left without them, Falon and Haley had fun adventures around the area (they kept saying 'island', Honduras isn't an island but there are islands off the coast - oh, that's what Roatán is, it's an island off the coast of Honduras, one of the Bay Islands)), the side characters, the best friends, the hotel owner, - everything.

This book has excitement, adventures, romance, chemistry, humor, travel, and more. I now feel like I'm writing an advertisement. pfft.

At this exact moment, minutes after finishing the book, I can confidently say that this book is within the top 3 books I've read by Alexander. Though I'd be more tentative as to where in that 3 book list this book would fall. I wish to clarify that I've read 25 books not just three.

Rating: 5+

September 5 2017



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Fowl Language: The Struggle Is Real by Brian Gordon

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

This is the second book in the series and second book I've read by this author.

Like the first book, this is a collection of funny little drawings with words on them focused on birds - humanized birds who are parents to baby ducks. Well, the ducks area also humanized. hmms. I probably could have worded that better. Right, so - a collection, as noted, of humorous comic strips about parenting.

There's an introduction - mentions some tips. Including:

If you forget to priortize care for yourself, it's gonna bite you in teh ass one way or another.

If your kid will tolerate it, swaddle the crap out of them. It totally helped my son calm down as a baby. I'd still do it, but he's in fourth grade now, and evidently that's frowned upon.

hehe - 'if all else fails, try the cathartic act of bitching about your children by drawing them as ducks'

To remind readers, and/or show new readers, what the comci is like, I insert a panel:

(if the insertion works - that's the latest panel on the website for Fowl Language.

hehe - non-parents 'T.G.I.F'. Parents - 'T.G.I.M.' (at least while school is in session) - and TGIF becomes OMGIF

Lots of funny comics here. I kept having burst of laughter explode out of me.

Last time I did a review for a book in this series it consisted mostly of me giggling. I'm not really sure what else to put here other than another review of me giggling. So: Imagine me - giggling.

Parent tells kid that he sounds like a broken record. Kid wants to know what a record is. Then what a CD is, etc. hehe. Parent starts mumbling.
Kid 1: I think he's buffering.
Kid 2: Try refreshing him.

Parent: here comes the plane!
Kid: I don't like the way planes taste, either.

Publication Date: October 10 2017

Rating: 4.56

September 2 2017

Veronica's Tale by Saxon Bennett & Layce Gardner

Veronica's Tale by Saxon Bennett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a humorous short story about a woman who woke up one day to find that she had a tail. She first noticed it, and I mention so I can show what I mean by tail, when she saw her naked body in the mirror and saw a snake biting her butt. Eventually she realized that the snake was a tail. After some sharp tugs, and the lack of anyone leaping out to film her and scream something about pranking her, she realized it was real and there. Where you might expect a tail on a human.

I rather liked the story, the humor, the 'coming out' aspects - including having to tell mother.

It is unfortunate that this was only a short story, though, because right when we moved to possible romance time, the story ended. So, slice of life. If life involves rolling over and squealing in pain. Because you grew a tail.

Rating: 4.28

August 30 2017



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If My Dogs Were a Pair of Middle-Aged Men by The Oatmeal

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I've read several things by 'The Oatmeal', though only one previous book. Most of what I've read I've spotted here or there posted by others in threads on the internet, or in his own twiter feed, and occasionally on The Oatmeal's own website. I've generally tended to find the material to be humorous so when I spotted one of his books pop up on Netgalley, I . . . after a certain amount of time, jumped on it (the hesitation was based on the book being 'just' 36 pages).

So, let's open it up and see if it's any good, eh? The other book I've read by him involved cats plotting to kill you, so it seems fitting for the next book I read by him to be about dogs. Specifically, as the title indicates, comics arranged around the concept of what humor might be found by imagining the author's dogs (author of the book, not author of this review) as middle aged men.

Right, okay now I'll open the book. Or I well when I figure out where I lost the thing. Tabs everywhere, but where art thou book? Found it.

Well so far I've snorted when I saw two men bouncing around acting like dogs, specifically when they sat on the same sofa as another man and licked him. I assume this other man is supposed to actually be human, though it is hard to tell if you make both humans and dogs look like humans. Maybe 'The Oatmeal' should have made the humans look like dogs so it'd be easier to tell them apart?

And now I'm ill. Barfing isn't something I like to see. By anyone or anything. A barfing catepillar would be horrible to watch. A dog that looks like a human who eats too much too quickly and then barfs? Yeah, I'm ill now. Thanks.

Hmm. Then the barfing comic is followed up by watching the middle aged man be coached to stare at another man like shape and stare at them in the eye. Then poop. Yes, the author should have made the humans be dogs or something. I just assume that the boy scout is supposed to be human, but . . . the dogs are human so . . . is the boy scout also a dog? A human? A dog-human?

Oh. Well. Then one of the 'dogs' accidentally goes missing and a 'lost' poster is put up. Noting that a middle-aged man has gone missing. So . . it's not just the readers who see these middle-aged men as middle-aged men. Everyone does. So . . this is creepier than I thought it was. Because these are not dogs who the reader sees as middle aged men. These are actually middle-aged men acting like dogs. As I said, creepy.

Hmm. Then the book is completed. As I noted somehwere along the way, this is only 36 pages in length (though I think the last page was actually not as far as 36 pages in).

So, to recap, I snorted (once), was made ill, felt creeped out, then came to the realization that the middle-aged men were in fact middle-aged men acting like dogs. Not actually dogs that the reader is suppsoed to see as middle aged men. So felt even more creeped out.

Sadly I did not find this humorous.

June 28 2017

Holy Crap! The World is Ending!: How a Trip to the Bookstore Led to Sex with an Alien and the Destruction of Earth by Anna-Marie Abell

Holy Crap! The World is Ending!: How a Trip to the Bookstore Led to Sex with an Alien and the Destruction of Earth by Anna-Marie Abell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Alien Abduction Press in exchange for an honest review.

I could easily imagine Simon Pegg making this into a movie, though back around 2005 or so, before he made 2013's 'The World's End' since you can only make so many end of the world type films. This has a kind of 'Shaun of the Dead' kind of vibe. Without zombies. And with a little more dumb jokes. But still - serious situation mixed with humor is what I'm going for here.

I saw something recently that talked about the humor of Mel Brooks that turned up in his films - the kind of humor that was rapid fire, and if a joke fell flat, it didn't matter because 12 more are on the way. Well, that's kind of what a reader faces in this book.

Though there was a moment when everything kind of turned on me. I knew there was a serious edge to things, but the constant 'funny chapter headings' and pictures of cows in space somewhat blocked the serious nature for a longish time. That is until, well I only mention this because there are those that need to know this type of thing before they decide to read the book or not, so I'll put it behind a spoiler tag. (view spoiler)[I was having fun with the humor and all up to the point when rape and death occurred. (hide spoiler)]

Just looking at the title reminds how this book started, which I mention so I can very briefly note what the book is about. 'How a Trip to the bookstore . . .' The lead character, a woman named Autumn, is on the way to her 'pig out' with her friend (they, apparently, starve themselves for something like two days then eat massive quantities of food) when the podcast she was listening to lead her to decide to stop by the bookstore to look up books. Whereupon she meets two other relatively main characters in this book. Devon, the person who works there and has very tall hair, and Rigel, the 7 foot blonde haired blue eyed Greek god looking fella who was browsing a book in the New Age section when Autumn stumbled in.

You can tell the book is 'wacky' and 'different' by the fact that Autumn keeps stumbling around like she does at the opening, knocking things over, hearing voices, drooling over well built men, etc. Oh, and having literal out of body experiences.

So, that's what the book is about, boiled down - a woman stumbling around doing weird stuff, and drooling over very tall people. Well, mostly drooling over Rigel. Finding out things like aliens exist, and the world is about to end. You know, normal stuff.

Rating: 3.58

August 3 2017



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