Accidental Ashes by Sara C. Roethle

Accidental Ashes
by Sara C. Roethle
Pages: 192
Date: May 5 2011
Publisher: Self
Series: Xoe Meyers (2nd in series)

Review
Rating: 4.25
Read: January 4-5 2017

Accidental Ashes by Sara C. Roethle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The life and times of Xoe, half-demon, picks up more or less immediately after the end of the last book. And certain plot lines that weren't completed in that one continue in this one (like the one about how the various werewolves in the area need to form a pack or there'd be trouble).

Most of the important characters from the previous book continue to appear in this one (though Xoe remains the most important; and some disappeared here or there); with the addition of a few new-comers - like a fella named Chase. And another named Alexandre and . . well, you get the idea. More people).

It should be noted that the main character is somewhere around 16 to 17 and the author did a fairly good idea of creating character around that age - bearing in mind two things - 1) she's 'different' than the normal 16 year old - literally, since she's half-not-human and there are major implications of that that impact her life; 2) it has been at least 21 or so years since I was a teenager, sooo . . . maybe the main character is 'obviously' acting too young or too old, but - from my long distance perspective, they appear to be about right.

This specific story here picks up from the end of the last - a group of friends have gotten together, some are 'fantasy' creatures, or in some way 'half-creatures', and they continue attempting to just live. They aren't the Scooby bunch, here to solve mysteries and reveal controversies (here thinking back to the original cartoons I saw, not referring to the movies I hadn't seen; though working in the part where the Buffy the vampire slayer group liked using that term for themselves might work - they aren't the chosen one of this generation to vanquish evil . . . etc. etc. . . ). Or, if they are, they haven't been told yet. No, they are just trying to live their odd little lives. Interacting with each other, other outside creatures, and long lost parent types.

A good solid book. Somewhat thin. Both the previous and this book had a kind of comfortable 'fluffy' vibe, which probably says more about myself than the books since several people died horribly in both books. Fluffy deaths. heh.

I liked both books I've read so far in this series. And to think, I only tried this because the first book started with an X and I wanted an X for a challenge. Just a little random tip for authors - include a hook to get readers, could be any random thing - lovely lush covers, grim covers, pun-filled titles, or just having a title that uses a less well-worn letter of the alphabet.

Rating: 4.25

January 5 2017


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The Queer and the Restless by Kris Ripper

The Queer and the Restless by Kris Ripper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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

This is the third book in the Queers of La Vista series, which is important in several ways – somewhat minor characters (depending on the book and situation) pop up throughout the series – sometimes getting major starring roles of their own, sometimes just mentioned in passing, there’s a murder mystery that’s been running throughout the series (well, at least the first three books now), and – maybe most importantly on a personal level – I acquired access to this book a good longish while ago, but didn’t read it until now. Because I’d read and loved the second book (no not because of that), so asked for the third – then when I got it, attempted to read the first book . . . and couldn’t (mind you, I know that some people ‘still’ see that one as the ‘best’). Which blocked me.

The Queers of La Vista series is one of those oddball ones that require a certain broad reading ability. As in – the first book involves two men getting hot and heavy (so MM romance; one of whom is a rather depressing sort – and I believe he was before he acquired multiple sclerosis – which certain didn’t help his depressing personality) with a touch of BDSM tossed in (not sure how much, there were tastes of it in the 27% of the book I’ve been able to read so far (the two main characters in this book are Emerson Robinette and Obie ‘NoLastNamegiven in book synopsis’ – both get mentioned, and Obie has one or three lines of dialogue in the third book); second book involves two women (so FF romance), one kind of a poster child for Butch women (the well dressed kind), while the other is all curves and feminity (Jaq Cummings and Hannah – both show up and have significant lines in book three); book three, this book here, involves a man and a woman, so MF romance. With a twist (more detailed later). Book four involves a poly relationship involving three men (so a MMM romance – Cameron plays a biggish role in book three; and both Josh and Keith (to certain extents) play roles in prior books)). And book five involves another FF romance (and this one also being something of a twist – what with it being a ‘pretend’ dating thing, but I’m just going by the book description here; this one stars Zane Jaffe who has popped up in all of the books I’ve read as a fun loving, weird dancer, who is obsessed with putting a baby in herself (as in getting pregnant, not as in humping people to put a baby there).

Right. Those were some rather large paragraphs. But this is supposed to be about this book here, so let’s get to that, eh?

The book stars Ed Masiello, half Mexican half Italian, and Alisha, whose genetic make-up – if given – didn’t stick in my brain. Ed works as a reporter on fluff general interest stories – though he’d prefer more hard hitting work; while Alisha works in an adventure company – setting up adventures for people (like setting up hang-gliding in Hawaii for fat lazy balding accountants), but would prefer to be doing the adventures herself – though ‘going with the flow’ type of adventures, not preplanned.

Ed and Alisha have known each other for a while, before the book opening, but they’ve mostly been in adjoining circles, not talking much to each other. Until this book that is. When the two hook up. Which is where the twist comes in, you know that MF romance, but with a twist. Since Alisha is a lesbian and feels odd thinking of herself as straight (so she thinks of switching to using ‘queer’); while Ed also has some issues thinking of himself as straight – even though he has always been attracted to women. It’s the part wherein his father wants nothing to do with ‘Anna’ until she ‘starts acting normal again’ that might explain a few things (what with Ed’s birth name being Anna – Ed’s spent most of his life as a lesbian attempting to figure out how to fit his body, until he realized what exactly was going on – i.e., he is transgender (and is in the transition process)).

The murder mystery that has been bubbling along for a while now in the series plays a big role in this story – Ed is obsessed with it and works diligently to try to figure out what is going on – mostly on his own time, though. It’s an obsession that has an impact on his life (gets in trouble at work, relationship issues, etc. etc.). Quite neat how everything occurred.

Another ‘neat’ thing was the relationship involving Ed and Alisha. In some ways it felt more real than some I’ve read lately – especially their point of conflict. For both have personalities that the kind that do not exactly mesh together well. So it was neat to see that actually play out in a more realistic way than have a point of conflict that was some generic romance trope, but that actually focused on the characters that were in the story. (view spoiler)[On the other hand, it was rather easily overcome. (hide spoiler)]

You know those couples you see, who have been together for 10, 20, 30 years and are ‘known’ as always fighting, always bickering, but showing occasional flashes of love? I’ve a suspicion that if Ed and Alisha actually made it that long, that they would be one of those kinds of couples. Because their personalities really are, at times, opposed.

Neat to see this story unfold and fill up the pages of the book. Both the romance and the mystery.

One last thought that I almost forgot to include – I like humorous sex scenes – there was at least one quite good humorous sex scene in this book.

Rating: 4.38

January 3 2017




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Xoe by Sara C. Roethle

Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My! by Sara C. Roethle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A young woman, Xoe, is starting her junior year in high school. She has three obvious friends (as in, she mentions she has a few friends and no more, but is slow in mentioning who they are; in such a way that at first I thought she only was friends with Allison and Lucy, but then her next-door-neighbor Brian got into the mix as well - potentially there are more 'friends' out there).

During the school day a new student intrudes into their little circle (that being Lucy, Allison and Xoe - but not Brian). A young man named Dan. Allison and Lucy find him attractive and give off signs of lusting after him. Allison, the bolder of the lot, wanders over, grabs Dan, and drags him back to their table (I should have mentioned somewhere along the line that this is all happening at lunch time - well first meeting). Xoe, though, finds Dan to be super creepy. What with his constant staring. And general . . . creepiness.

Allison invites Dan to come along on the groups shopping trip, though now it's morphed into movies. Dan goes along. His creepiness rises higher when Xoe wanders off to get some popcorn, and he confronts her. Grabbing her arm roughly and glaring at her, demanding to know 'her game' (or whatever he said). She's confused and annoyed - especially as it's been Dan doing all the staring all the past week and stuff.

Group outing continues. Eventually the group head to eat food - Lucy and Dan traveling in one car, Allison and Xoe in another. Which is important to note. For reasons. Eventually the night ends. everyone goes home, sleeps, goes to school, stares moodily at each other and are very emo and stuff. heh, no. When Dan dropped Lucy off at her place he scratched her arm. More like clawed it. And his hand looked like a wolf's paw. Lucy, naturally, is freaking out.

One thing leads to another and both Lucy and Xoe, independently of each other, come to the belief that werewolves are involved (with Lucy believing that Dan is one, and Xoe assuming that since werewolves are fictional, that Dan believes that he is a werewolf and stuff).

The point is driven home, though, along the way that things are weird. For various others come out of the woodwork. Vampires, werewolves, and demons. I'm suddenly being vague, I know, on purpose.

Interesting story. The level of maturity and 'plodding along' works when you consider everyone is around 16/17 years of age. Would work less well if everyone was older. So . . that young adult thingie works to it's own advantage. Or something like that.

Curious how the rest of the series unfolds.

Rating: 3.8

December 31 2016



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Catch Me by Lorelie Brown

Catch Me by Lorelie Brown

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I've read two books by Brown before I read this one. I loved both of them. But have been very reluctant to try anything else by her for a rather simple reason - those two other books had something in common that the rest didn't have - those two books were FF romance books. The rest are/were MF romance books. Which is odd, in it's way, to be a deterant since I also read MF romance books. But still. Made me hesistant.

So, eventually, I finally broke down and tried one of them. The only one that interested me enough to try it. A western/historical novel. Set in the territory of Arizona, and the state of Texas. With a couple of minutes, so to speak, spent in New Mexico.

Because her father is deathly ill, is in an medical institution in Texas, and because 1) everything that could be turned into money has been turned into money - and hasn't been enough to pay the bills; 2) and because the local bank - which is owned and operated by her father's long time friend - turns down her request for help; a young woman of, if I recall correctly, 22 robs the local bank. And then zooms on over to Texas to turn the money over. To pay her father's bills.

Her father, who had been and still technically is, the sheriff of this small town is, naturally, not exactly pleased with her actions. But she had to do it. Because.

The mean old man who owns the bank, naturally, won't let her get away with this and so hires a bounty hunter. A very successful one. He's to hunt down, capture, and bring back this woman who has wronged him.

And so that man does. And he and the woman interact. And, for reasons that largely escape me, they engage in physical relations while she's a prisoner and being brought back to that small town.

The book had some interesting elements, and moments, but was rather too . . . melodramatic. And, sure did include much sexual relations in deed. A little too much. I was, frankly, bored during those moments, but don't assume they were poorly written (or written perfectly and with skill), for I mostly just skimmed those portions. Not really my kind of sex (less the MF nature of the thing, and more the kind presented as in - prisoner/captor + a bit of angry energy mixed in).

Well, I've now done it. Completed an MF book by that author who has given me two FF books that I've loved. I'm strongly inclined to now forgo the other MF books previously released and just take the FF (and potentially the MF) as they come down the pipeline.

That is all.

Rating: 2

December 14 2016



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The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was reluctant to read this one, and now I forget why I did. But I had read and enjoyed books by Hayes before - all but the most recent book in that NPC series were read and enjoyed.

This book was a series of short connected stories.

Really really boring man, who works as an accountant, was 'turned' into a vampire at some point prior to the start of this book. He is as boring now as he was before, and he didn't suddenly gain 'super-cool' . . . coolness. He's slimmer and doesn't need glasses any longer (though still wears them), but he has the same personality he had before he was turned.

First story involves Bob going to his high school reunion. Being bored. Being boring. Then watching as werewolves attack.

Second story involves . . . well, it's been too long to make sure I get these all correct. Let's just say that at some point there was a story where his new hot girlfriend drags him to a 'live role-play' thingie while on the way to the movies. A real life wizard like guy, and a zombie were meet.

Another story involved Bob and the gang (every story seems to increase the number of people in 'Bob's gang', from 'Bob', to 'Bob + girlfriend (highly qualified superagent type)', to 'Bob + girlfriend + zombie', to 'Bob etc + gay weresteed', to etc.). Right sorry. Another story involved Bob and the gang heading off to Las Vegas for . . I think Thanksgiving was mentioned. Though they are really there because the girlfriend's friend is in deep deep trouble and she's going to try to help.

Then the vampire who turned Bob returns to 'unleash' Bob. Whereupon it turns out that some of the 'humans' in the group might not actually be humans.

Was not a horrible book. Just . . . kinda boring.

December 18 2016



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Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (With 2nd Epilogue) by Julia Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


1) This author is either a) very obsessed with breasts or b) assumes every man is super obsessed with breasts (for various reasons I'm leaning towards a). I say this because this is the fifth book I've read by this author and all of them (with the possible exception of the first book, which I need to go back to reread my review to see if I indicated anything) have had men obsessing over fondling, licking, and sucking breasts. What, I notice certain things.

2) Somewhere during certain revelations I wanted to kick Colin very hard in the groin and close the book - never to reopen it. Happily those feelings subsided but . . . mmphs.

3) All of the Bridgerton children are adults now (including Gregory and Hynacnith (whose name I can never spell), though Gregory is off . . um . . somewhere in this specific book; oh, and this is the first time that I learned that Francesca also got married at some point - I looked to see if I read a book out of order - no, apparently I hadn't. it was a brief marriage that lodged her with a family in Scotland, but her husband has been dead now for a short while. She is mentioned but if she had any words in this book, I seem to have overlooked them. Everyone else, including Daphne from the first book, make appearances (some much larger than others).

4) So. Fourth book, I'd say 4 down, 4 to go but as I already noted, one of the four to go already got married, and is now a widow, so 4 down and 3 to go with another one going to have another crack at potential happiness (I assume). Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinthia are left to find matches.

As can be seen from my rating and my lack of careful thought out review, I liked this book the least of the ones by Quinn that I've read.

Oddly, things went about how I expected, including the big reveal (there's a big reveal in this book). That big reveal was why I was actually excited to read this specific book, but alas.





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An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If we had half stars, I'd probably give this one at least 4.5. Have to think about it more to see if I up it any more than that.

This is the fourth book I've read by Quinn, and the first that involved someone outside the norm - a love interest found among the servant class (though there is a story there). Oh, and a bit of Cinderella retelling stripped of the magic parts.

Quite neat in its way. Also neat to actually see some more of the family members start to show up and let their specific characters shine a little bit. Like Eloise, Fran... um, whatever the F's name is; and of course Benedict shined the most of the 'less known members' since he was one of the two main characters in the book. Colin, Anthony, Daphne, Hyancinth(sp?) and Violet also showed up - while Gregory was off at Eton.



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An Offer from a Gentleman: Epilogue II by Julia Quinn

An Offer From A Gentleman: The Epilogue II by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A little additional story about the couple, eh? From the original book? Yet the story is about Sophie's non-blood sister, Posy Reiling, finding a love match. Seems to be breaking that 'so you wanted to watch more of this couple . . here! Enjoy!' that marks a break from the book as originally released and second epilogue.

Except.

Except that the love match is watched through the eyes of Sophie and Benedict. Mostly through Sophie's eyes.

Good enough little story. I'd probably have rated it lower if it had just been offered out there by itself without the connection to the Bridgerton series, but it wasn't so that probably means I might have overrated it. Perhaps.



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The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Viscount Who Loved Me (With 2nd Epilogue) by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have read 347 books this year (so far). 239 of those 347 books rest on my LGBT shelf (69% of total; 210 of those 239 books being lesbian fiction – 87% of LGBT)). There’s a point, of course, in me mentioning this in this review here instead of, say, some ‘end of year review’ type of review. Let me think, it’ll come to me – right, simple enough – my point is that I haven’t read many non-LGBT books this year, and three of those ‘not many’ (108 books) are by the author of this book (2.7% of the total).

Okay, I indulged myself because I have less to say about this book, this time, and was looking for things to say. That paragraph above filled in for my normal ‘I’ve read x number of books by author y’ I sometimes include. 3 books by Quinn, all read this year, all part of the extended Bridgertons series (first was the first book in a prequel series; other two are part of the earlier published 8 book Bridgertons series).

Violet and Edmund (brother of Billie – star of the first book in the Rokesbys series (Because of Miss Bridgerton - set in 1779) had 7 children before Edmund died in 1803 – Violet was pregnant at the time with Hynacinth . . . I think (or they had 8 children before Edmund died). Book 1 of the series, The Duke and I, was set in 1813 and involved the eldest female child of Violet and Edmund – Daphne. Book 2, this book here, deals with the eldest male child – Anthony, and is set in 1814 (no, the books don’t move 1 year in time, somewhere along the line, maybe with the fourth book, we leap to 1824). The rest of the books in the series follow the six other children (actually, that reminds me that technically there are 9 books in the Bridgertons series since there’s a short story collection at the end).

Anthony is fast approaching his death – at least he thinks he is; his father, you see, that being Edmund recall, died when Edmund was 38 (and Anthony was 18). And since he, Anthony, doesn’t believe he could surpass his father in anything, he ‘knows’ that he will be dead by at least the age of 38. If not earlier. For that reason and because he saw what happened to his mother after his father died, he has decided to not pursue a love marriage (since the father and mother were obviously in love). Most of his life that meant that he wouldn’t pursue marriage at all; instead he had been a rake. The kind who had many mistresses, but no loves, and no marriages. But at this late stage Anthony recalled that he is the eldest child, there is a title on the line, and so he’ll get himself a wife. He’d find one attractive enough to keep his interest, someone he can be friendly with, but by no means will he allow himself to fall in love with this woman. For that spells doom.

So that’s what he sets out to do at the beginning of this book – find himself a woman to marry and bred with. Which is how he ended up targeting one Edwina Sheffield – newly debuting into society, and declared by many (all?) as the . . . whatever they call the most attractive women – I’ve forgotten now. Edwina is sisters, younger, to Kate Sheffield. Kate being the other main character in this book.

Kate, for her part, is also debuting for the first time into society. Though already almost 21. The family, you see, isn’t exactly wealthy enough to launch two daughters in two different years. And so they waited. A little late for Kate, a little early for Edwina (who is 17). Kate has attractive features of her own, but being in the same family as, and in the same room with Edwina normally causes people to overlook these attractive features (she’s neither fat, nor plain, nor is she unsightly). Kate mostly doesn’t care about that, at least she either says or thinks, because her goal is to find her sister a good match.

And Kate knows, knows, that that man is not one Anthony Bridgerton. No, not because Kate fancies him for herself. No, it’s because Anthony is the biggest rake of the time. Naturally, then, this means that Kate and Anthony are on a collision course. Anthony could, of course, set his sights on someone else, but he’s both stubborn and lazy. He randomly, without ever even setting eyes on her, decided on Edwina for his future Lady Bridgerton. And the fact that she, at some point, mentioned that her sister’s approval was important to her, and that sister, Kate, clearly hates him does not move Anthony from his goal.

And so – bickering, humor, reappearance of the two leads from the previous book, a few of the other relatives from that book, parties in London, parties outside of London, walks in gardens, interactions with a dog, and much fixation on breasts proceeds to unfold before the readers eyes (the men in Quinn’s books seem much taken with breasts – dreaming of fondling and suckling on them; taking every opportunity to do more than dream of that action . . . etc. etc.).

I’ll leave with two last notes.
1) As I think I’ve hinted at, bluntly stated, or however it was conveyed before – there is a strong feeling of sinking into a Georgette Heyer/Jane Austen type of world when you read these books by Julia Quinn – but these books, the Quinn ones, do not hold back on the graphic nature of human relations – there’s much of that indeed. Graphically conveyed. Take it as a warning or inducement to read the books.
2) Two of the three Quinn books I have read came with ‘second epilogues’. These epilogues were written and released separately from the original books, but are now packaged with the books. I do not recall specifically why I skipped the 2nd epilogue the first time it came around, but I read it this time. Which lead me to certain information that I wished to not know yet – though it was heavily hinted at (that or I picked it up from the series books descriptions; actually it might be in the family tree). Plus – it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth – a feeling of dislike for more of the characters than just Anthony.
I, despite my vague dislike of Anthony, liked and enjoyed this book. I would rate the book somewhere in the four something range.

Rating: 4

December 8 2016




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The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke and I (With 2nd Epilogue) by Julia Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Note: My rating is for the original work, not the expanded work - as in, I read the original book and the first epilogue, but have not yet read the second epilogue which was written some time after the original book appeared.

Violet Bridgerton has four unmarried children, Anthony (29), Benedict (27), Colin (22), Daphne (21), Eloise (17), Francesca (16), Gregory (12), and Hyacinth (10; and yes, that's in order of ages, and yes the family does in fact go A to H in order). Her, as in Violet, husband died at some point prior to the start of this book. I know - now - but didn't at the time, when he died - he died in 1803 and it is currently 1813. So Violet has been a widow for 10 years, and became a widow at the age of 37 (making her 47 now). And has four children to find spouses, and two more coming fast into 'needing' a spouse found.

This book here specifically focuses on Daphne, though Anthony and Colin play big-ish roles, and Benedict and Hyacinth are not that far behind (Gregory is probably at or just behind Hyacinth in 'screen time' but I think of him as having less for some reason). Eloise and Francesca are there in the book as well - and there are family 'stuff' that occurs, but they mostly aren't in the book - the most a reader gets is the fact that they look very much alike, and Simon (the outsider) couldn't tell them apart.

Right, so Simon. He's the other main character. He is Duke of Hastings. A prequel tells the tale of Simon's emergence into this world - no I mean birth from mother, not emergence into society. The Hastings, as in Simon’s parents, had tried very hard to have living children, but they kept failing – stillborns, and other mishaps occurred. Finally, when the Duke was 40 (or, no, it was the wife who was said to be forty – one of the reasons the doctors said that they should stop trying, because she kept failing, and she was 40 now). Right, messed that sentence up. So, finally when the Duke was presumably older than 40, and his wife was 40, a baby was finally born alive. The Duke was so happy that he proudly wandered around holding the child, completely unnoticing as his wife bleed to death. They were kind of friendly with each other, the duke and duchess, but it wasn’t a love match and it didn’t really impact him much, apparently, when the wife died – since he has his heir now. I mention all this because I’m leading to the part wherein the duke is a massive asshole, and when it turned out Simon had a few issues with talking, like not talking for his first years, the father decided he was an idiot and pushed him from his life. Therefore warping young Simon’s mind.

The story opens with Simon just back from his world travels (there’s an easy thing I can insert here to say why he was on his world travels, but I’ll leave something, eh, for people to read for themselves). And the Bridgertons (well, the three older brothers, the mother, and Daphne) at a party that the duke (since Simon is now the duke) visits. Simon had been at school at the same time as Anthony and they are friends – he, as in Simon, knows the Bridgetons. Though he hasn’t yet meet Daphne.

Daphne, we the readers, learn quickly really desires to find a husband. So she can have a big family. But she isn’t having much luck finding that husband – because, and there are several theories about this, but her own theory (based on some things people have said and the like) is that she is seen as too much of a friend – ‘different’ than the ‘other young unmarried women’. She’s, therefore, someone men can relax around – and apparently men don’t marry such women. Apparently. Though some men do still pursue such a woman – the very old, the very dim, and the very stupid – and the first meeting of Daphne and Simon occurs while Nigel, one of Daphne’s dimwitted pursuers, is very aggressively indicating that he wishes to make Daphne his wife. One thing leads to another, and obviously Simon can’t leave a woman to be violated (or something like that) in a back hallway at a party, so he steps forward, only to see Daphne punch out Nigel.

So – there are similarities between the two Quinn books I’ve read. Large families (at least on one side), one of which is a wiser than her years youngster (I’m referring to Billie’s sister (from ‘Because of Miss Bridgerton’) and Hyacinth); and strong women. The strength is ‘explained away’ somewhat the same way – both had brothers (or more exactly, in the case of Billie, grew up very close to another family who had many brothers). Billie, though, is a more independently minded woman than Daphne.

Right, so – Simon finds out immediately that he’ll be swamped by young unmarried women and their mothers if he goes to parties – which is okay, in its way, because he never planned to go to parties – except that his friends, while he was away on his world tour, went and got married – and they, with their now married wives, wish to have the duke at their parties. I mention this because Daphne is in a somewhat similar/different situation (similar in being pushed by mothers (her own), and um . . stuff, my brain just shut off so I’ll push past). I mention because Daphne and Simon come to an agreement to pretend to court each other because Simon thinks this will cause him some greater ability to dodge these unmarried women and mothers (Daphne thinks otherwise), and Daphne does this because she expects that being courted by a Duke will push her out of the ‘she’s just a friend’ zone. And so the two court.

The first book I read by Quinn also involved the Bridgertons, but was a prequel book. Because I have the dates, I can note that Because of Miss Bridgerton is set in 1779, Violet was born in 1766 (though she married into the family, so I should use Edmund (the dead husband's name) for this - he was born in 1764, so he was 13 during the events of 'Because of', and dead during the events of the Bridgerton series. If I recall correctly, Edmund wasn't around in that earlier book either, because he was away at school. I think.

I liked the first book I read by Quinn more – the ‘Because of Miss Bridgerton’, because I liked the characters more, and it seemed to have a touch more humor (though both have humor).

Rating: 4.78

December 2 2016




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Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the second time I have read this book. First time I read this book was almost exactly 7 years ago.

Of note: of those people directly meet (as opposed to only mentioned), the only people from the prequel series who turn up in this book would be that Lord Akeldama (that vampire guy who lives for information). And Countess something or other - Westminster hive queen. The Hisselpenny family also turned up in the prequel series, but not specifically Ivy - Alexa Tarabotti's friend.

The Queen of England was mentioned in prequel series but was not meet (she was meet in this book). Maccon, who for some reason was referred to as 'Lord Conall Maccon', despite being an Earl, was mentioned in prequel but not meet. Dewan & potonte(sp?) meet in prequel but only mentioned in this book.

Genevieve Lefoux, the woman (girl) who liked dressing like a man (boy) in the prequel series and has a spinoff FF book, is not seen or mentioned in this book.

Of note 2: To those reading this series chronologically - the prequel series involves characters ranging in age from early to late teens plus side characters who are adults. There is a bit of romancing but at a different level than in this book (the difference between slight touches and outright naked humping (which happens once or thrice in this book here)).

Also, I suppose it should be noted, the prequel series seems to have had a larger Steampunk vibe than this book here (which, apart from actual scientists running around, and mention of 'machines' and mechanical things, has a much more of a Urban Fantasy vibe).

Right. There was humor, mysterious actions, fantastic creatures and a bit of eroticism in this book. An enjoyable book. And I believe that there was sufficient distance from my prior reading to be able to fully enjoy this book without running into one of the issues I have with rereading - being annoyed by repetition (or already knowing, with great detail, what will happen).

Rating: 4.63

November 23 2016



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Soul Bonded by Meghan Malone

Soul Bonded by Meghan Malone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A woman, escaping from a ‘boring’ get together in Lake Tahoe with friends (boring because she expected an exciting singles weekend, but instead found a bunch of woman alternating talking with lust about significant others or offering ‘condolences’ to Katie for her singlehood at the ripe old age of 33 (actually that might have been ‘alternating between making lustful comments about significant others, or bitchy comments about significant others, plus offering condolences to Katie for being single’), ends up finding out that leaving a couple hours early was a bad mistake. A very bad mistake.

That woman, who I’ve referenced indirectly, is Katie Connelly. The book opens on day three or four, or possibly five of her trapped inside her car on the side of the road. She decided that it would be better to stay there for someone to help her than trying to walk anywhere (for many reasons, including her lack of direction, plus the blizzard conditions (that’s part of her ‘leaving early’ thing – if she’d stayed until she was going to originally leave, then she’d have seen the bad conditions and not have tried to drive in those conditions), and her lack of warm clothing (though she has a suitcase and stuff – that part was vaguely confusing to me, though I did pick up on the concept that ‘cute adorable gloves aren’t the thing if you want to keep your hands warm’).

So, right, day three or four. She’s starving, cold, scared, and finally decides to pop out of her car and make a break for it. Except that the snow, by this time, has more or less covered her car. So when she actually opens her car door, it only manages to move an inch, though that’s enough for a mound of snow to fall on her. She manages to close the door again, but she’s in even worse conditions now. Minutes, hours, possibly days pass. Then, while in a daze, Katie notices a bare hand and arm moving in front of her, knocking the snow off of her front window. Then punching through her window. Then vague idea of being carried. Then vague idea of being snuggled against.

When Katie finally awakens she finds herself in an unfamiliar location. Warmer, much more refreshed than she expected to find herself. Very hungry. With a warm body next to her. She jerks up and notices that the warm body is . . . a friendly dog. One thing leads to another and it the man who rescued her turns up, a guy named Rafe. Who, it appears, has no means of contacting the outside world. And the weather conditions are still quite bad.

Katie alternates feelings of fear of the strange muscular man, with odd feelings of . . . attachment, lust towards him. Then, to complicate matters more, someone knocks on the door. She over hears someone berating Rafe for getting involved with Katie. Mentioning how she’s going to be raped, murdered and (forgot third thing, eaten?). Maybe even by Rafe himself. Rafe does not make any comments to this that sound like disagreement with the idea. Naturally Katie is even more disturbed by these events.

Is it spoiler to note what actually is going on? A cabin in the wilderness. A blizzard. Rival gangs sharing territory somewhat peacefully but with an edge of almost war between the two. And both seem to think of outsiders as humans - said with disdain – the humans part. Well, if you haven’t picked up on it yet I’ll point you to the cover – which happens to show wolves.

This book here is the fifth book that I’ve read by this author. Fifth, eh? Anyone coming across my review blind might not catch the significance of that statement, that number. Well, simple enough really – Meghan Malone, the author of this book, has written a sum total of . . . one book. And no I have not read this book five times – this is my first reading of this book. No, the four prior reads by me of this authors work were under a different name – that other name being Meghan O’Brien – lesbian fiction writer.

O’Brien is kind of known for having graphic depictions of sex scenes in her work. Involving women. With Women. Well, how about Malone? Well there are no erotic displays of graphically described sexual encounters between women in Malone’s work . . . but there are involving men and women – or between one man and one woman. Several. The first one was nice enough – the second one was . . . not something I wanted to read (a woman going wiggling around and placing her lips there on a man, and licking, and sucking . . . is not something I wish to read). After the second I reverted to just skimming the sex parts to make sure I didn’t miss anything important.

Overall a rather tense, exciting, thrilling book – if this was television I’d call this a ‘bottle episode’ (no idea if that’s a real tv trope – I picked up that term from an episode of Community – meaning an episode wherein people are trapped in one small location for the entirety of the show – here that means that the action of the book takes place mostly in and around a cabin during a snow storm.

This, as noted, is my fifth book I’ve read by this author, and the fifth that I’ve rated five stars. And yet I still seem so reluctant to start books by O’Brien/Malone. No idea what that’s about – the reluctance.

November 21 2016




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Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a surprisingly readable book - one that I would not have even thought to look at but for the fact that I was 'frustrated' that I had nothing much to vote for during a round of GoodReads choice voting. So was looking over the books - trying samples and the like. Tried the sample for this one and instantly acquired it.

Set in or around 1779 in Kent England, the story alternates points of view between one George Rokesby (heir to the land, title, and most of the fortune of the Rokesby’s), and one Billie Bridgerton (eldest child of the Bridgerton’s, a titled family that lives 3 miles from the Rokesby’s – though because this is England in the 1700s, being the eldest doesn’t mean anything if one is also a female (otherwise it means everything)).

We meet George and Billie for the first time on a roof. Near a cat. For, you see, Billie had been attempting to save said cat from up a tree. But I said we had been on a roof, yes? Yes – Billie and cat had fallen – a great distance – from said tree to said roof (said said said, mmphs . . . hehe). Billie has injured herself and has no means of getting down even if she hadn’t injured herself. So she was quite happy when George and wandered by – even if he is the one Rokesby brother who she is on a somewhat near to dislike level relationship. George proceeds to get himself stuck up on the roof as well – a matter of an annoyed cat darting at the wrong time, a near fall, and a foot that accidentally knocked over a ladder. Whereupon another Rokesby brother wandered by – and saved them both (though not the cat; considering that they left the ladder up, and cats are quite resourceful, don’t worry for the cat).

So – right from the beginning you, the reader, meet three of the characters and learn something about their personalities. Andrew is flippant, always joking, and making clever remarks. Billie is the kind of woman who is ‘singular’ – wearing ‘breaches’ out and about when women of the time didn’t do that kind of thing (though she does wear dresses most of the time – so yes, that book cover that shows a woman in a long green dress is her). George is the eldest Rokesby and less . . . or more . . . hmms. Less playful and more serious.

A great book, a fun book, a much more modern book than I expected to find – modern in terms of the information and graphic nature of the scenes – it still is a book set in the 1770s, it just allows the fact that the people are in fact human and have human . . . reactions, adventures, etc. Basically, what I am saying is that this is not a ‘Clean Romance.’ I believe this might be the first book that I’ve read set back in the 1600-1700-1800s that was in fact graphic. And I’ve read a lot of books set back then. So it was somewhat jarring when George suddenly had an erotic dream involving fondling breasts (or, later, when he was awake and wandering around – having to ‘hide an erection’ because of his arousal); then, of course, there were the actual interactions between Billie and George – considering that George and Billie were contemplating the fact that the mere fact that they might get stuck on the roof for an entire night might end up forcing them to marry each other – the stuff they actually get up to, shockingly enough, goes a lot further than that.

I rather liked both of the main characters – though both had tendencies wherein I was reminded that they both were in their twenties, and not as characters tend to be in books like these (well, at least men – many of whom seem to be in their thirties – and courting women in their teens (or women who are so ‘old and spinsterish’ to actually be in their 20s).

It should be noted, I suppose, that this is a prequel series. Which should be noted. But I can’t really say anything more than that – since this is also the first book I’ve read by this author. This is the prequel series to a later series titled Bridgertons (though that somewhat confuses me considering the role and importance of George – since the Bridgerton and Rokesby are said to be great friends and see each other as family - and George is the eldest and heir of the Rokesby’s . . . and is a new character. Confused as to how this can be a prequel series in that situation – you’d have thought George would have turned up before now; especially since Billie is described as being the elder sister to Edmund – who, apparently, plays some role in the Bridgerton series). The first book in the Bridgerton’s involves a ‘Daphne Bridgerton’ – not a name that appears to have come up in this book here.

Hmm. Billie is the oldest in this book. She’s supposedly the elder sister to Edmund – who appears to pop up in the later series. But, looking at a chart I saw on a review for the first book in that later series, neither person appears. That lists Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. Hmms. I should pay better attention. Of course. The first book in the later series starts in 1813. This book here, ‘Because of Miss Bridgerton’, is from 1779. So I’m confused as to the mention of Billie being the older sister to Edmund that is made in the Q&A for the book.

Second book involves Anthony and takes place in 1814. Benedict is in book three. Colin in book four. Eloise in book five. Francesca in book 6. Hyacinth (who the heck is that?) in book 7. Gregory in book 8.

Ah. Edmund is the father of all those Bridgerton people. He’s too young to be in the ‘Because of Miss Bridgerton’ book – off at school and off ‘screen’, and ‘too old’ for the later series.

Right, sorry, got distracted trying to link things up. Hmms.

Rating: 4.88

November 9 2016



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Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire

Once Broken Faith
by Seanan McGuire
Pages: 418
Date: September 6 2016
Publisher: DAW
Series: October Daye (10)

Review
Rating: 4.83
Read: October 13 to 14 2016

I was long down the road to marking this 5 stars, maybe even 5+ stars, but it is hard to do so now. Though it would be somewhat unfair to not do so for the specific reasons that are currently blocking me: the book ended abruptly. No, I do not mean that it ended on a cliff-hanger, or that there wasn't an ending, but that it ended at 84% of the Kindle file. I think I was at something like 80% when I decided to call it a night last night. Woke up this morning for a good long read and . . . 3 pages after I ended (more or less) and the book was over.

Right, so, this is the 10th book in a series - there's no way someone can come in and read this as a stand-alone. There's way too much back story a person needs to know to be able to enjoy this book (I was going to say 'fully enjoy', but just 'enjoy' works). As for those who have been keeping up with the main books (as in not having read the short stories, like me) there's enough 'there' to both bring you back up to speed and not be annoying about it (as in hints dropped here and there about who and what has gone before; enough for someone who has read the prior books, not enough for someone who hasn't - hence both the 'can't read this as a first book in the series read' and the 'not heavy-handed backstory info drops' way).

So - as people know - . . . bloody hell. I can't say anything really about this book without spoiling prior books. Right so - there's this conclave going on, bunch of kings/queens/other assorted higher ups are all meeting to decide how to deal with an issue that has popped up that is something of a 'game-changer' to how the current system operates. While this conclave is going on, someone starts killing and/or 'putting to sleep' various conclave members - and October Daye investigates.

I was being purposely vague as that's about as deep as I can be without spoiling everything. So . . ..

Enjoyed the book. Enjoyable book. Still vaguely annoyed to have the book end at 84% of the kindle file (or, if I'd read the physical copy, end with a massive wad of pages still sitting there unread). To be fair - there is 'something there'. A whole other story. Not a snippet, but a story. I think. That's the impression I got. Don't particularly wish to read it at the moment, though. And no, I do not mean that at 84% of the book the POV changed and I feel like the book ended, it actually is a situation wherein the book I had been reading ended, and there's this 'bonus' other story there. I purposely did not look at the cover of the book, book description here or on amazon, because I already knew I wanted to read this book and did not wish to be spoiled by a book description (as so many seem to do; or, if not that, then present things in a way completely unrelated to the actual book). Looked at those things just now. Nothing in the book description (on Goodreads), but the cover does have 'Includes a brand new map (I do not recall seeing a map, what map? there's no map; *looks* oh, there's a map (I can't really tell, but I think there's a guy doing inappropriate things to a goat on the map; no wait, he's sitting on a rock next to a seal. hmm. My eyes don't work.)) and an original Arden Windermere novella!' (of note: Arden Windermere is not the main character of this series, no that would be October Daye). So if I had looked at the cover I'd have seen that note. And maybe be less annoyed now about the book ending at 84%.

Right, whatever. Book read. Rating just the book I thought I was reading and not including the 'bonus novella', I rate this 4.83 stars.

October 14 2016

Rocked by the Band by Ruby Mars

Rocked by the Band
by Ruby Mars
Pages: 37
Date: April 19 2015
Publisher: Twisted Pair Publishing
Series: None

Review
Rating: 2.74
Read: October 9 2016

I got a recommendation for this short story and decided to give it a look-see (eventually decided). Haven't read the author before and I'm not really sure the book falls inside my wheel-house . . um, things I like to read.

As I can tell from the description and title - the book will involve a BBW - Big Beautiful Woman, and her sexual adventures with an entire band. A band called 'Lipstick Revolver'.

And so, away I go . . .. And immediately leap into something I dislike. heh. mmphs. So the story is entirely a flashback. Since it starts of with some much older woman finding a photograph of her naked on a bed. Um. Yay? Don't particularly like when things are 'defused' like that, but whatever.

Oh bloody hell. So her husband has a fantasy of watching his wife, the star of this book, with multiple men. Just what am I reading here? I expected a woman with a band. Not voyeurism and whatever 'husband watching wife fucking' is called. mmphs. This be a short story! Stop being in 'present' time! mmphs.

And so, the wife tells the story about her time with many men to her obviously excited husband . . . and as that idea is thrust into readers minds, we drift back to 1988 when these events occurred.

*drifts*

Young gorgeous slutty woman goes to Lipstick concert, drags along her fat friend. While at concert, gorgeous one keeps flashing her bare breasts at the stage. Eventually she gets the results she wanted, and the lead singer spots her. After the show gorgeous one gets a backstage pass. Fat one is told to hit the road. But gorgeous one notes she isn't going backstage without fat one. So, reluctantly, roadie gives fat one a pass. Fat one, recall, is the main character.

Roadie basically forces fat one to give him a blow job. To thank him. For letting her backstage. Um. Gross. Need more context to know if this is borderline rape or not. I'll side on 'not'. Though his forcing her to 'receive his semen' (instead allowing her to lift her head, like she tried to do) kind of pushes this closer to forced activity, you know, eh?

Second act was at least was more of Michelle's idea. Marginally. Well, second almost act that got interrupted. And all the acts with each band member was agreed to by all parties.

Eww - husband made his wife agree to fuck a tribute band. eww. While he watched.

Right, so that's over. I've no problem with the writing. The entire event being a flash-back was kind of annoying - especially as it wasn't Michelle thinking back on the night, but Michelle telling her really excited husband about the night. And then that part about the tribute band (which didn't occur in this story, just the promise to do it). The sex didn't do anything for me - I mean, the most 'exciting' part was when Michelle was able to see her gorgeous friend completely naked. But that wasn't actually 'exciting' so you can probably guess how excited I was for the rest of the action. Was a little to . . . mechanical I guess I could say.

Was okay story. Did nothing for me positively or negatively. I suppose the best part of the story is the part where now I can say I've read a 'groupie' story. Vague idea I've already done that, but whatever.

(Note: technically I should put this on a fmmmm shelf, not a fmmm shelf, but I do not wish to create a new shelf for this story. Plus, I think there were only three men involved at the most . . . hmm . . active point.)

October 9 2016

The Rock Cocks by Brad Brown and Leslie Brown

The Rock Cocks
by Brad Brown and Leslie Brown
Pages: 215
Date: 2016
Publisher: Hivemill
Series: The Rock Cocks (1)

Review
Rating: 4.5
Read: September 30 2016


Note: The spoilers are pictures from the comic. Since they contain nudity, I've hidden them behind spoiler tags.

Review lifted from the individual parts:

Track 1:
Randomly ran across this just now. Not much to say - it's about two people who I hope are not related (since they kind of fuck a lot) who are attempting to make it in the music business as 'Rock Cocks'. This specific 'track' here involves the couple 1) losing (female) or not acquiring (male) a job; 2) having their phone contract expire; 3) get evicted from their apartment.

So they decide to hit the road in their van. And basically become homeless while still trying to get their band up an running. Mostly by busking (performances on the street with a hat near them while they look dirty and starving).

Much nudity and sex. It was never actually stated, but I believe the 'track' (the first part of this 'thingie') started with them performing in a strip club. Though, considering people seem to like to spontaneously pull their clothing off, masturbate and or fuck when the 'Rock Cocks' perform . . . I'm not 100% certain if that first performance was at a strip club or not.

I'm probably mixing the story line of track 1 and 2 because I didn't realize I was reading 'separate thingies' or I'd have paid more attention. One just goes into another. As is what happens, you know, with a webcomic.

http://www.therockcocks.com/comic/page-1-nsfw-track-1-start

You can tell what you are getting yourself into just by seeing the first page.

Track 2:

Right, so this is 'track two'. Not sure of exact split between track one and two as I read both at same time without realizing I should pay attention to breaks.

Okay then - wherever the break occurs, I know this one finds the music duo on the road in their van, busking for money, dirty, showering in public, and accidentally exposing themselves because they forget to wash their clothing before washing themselves (though there still would have been the issue of one or the other being dirty - their body after washing the clothing if they had washed clothing first, or the clothing if they washed their body first).

Right, so, this one finds them on the street playing - well the woman at least. The man sees a sign for a $1000 music prize and so they are going to try for it (which is also the inspiration or cleaning themselves up - as in literally cleaning - with water and stuff; though not cleaning up as in 'cleaning up their act' since both perform showing lots of skin. Man topless. Woman almost topless in her barely there top which does not actually cover her breasts all the time.)

Apparently their music is so good that it causes people to strip and play with themselves or with others nearby.

Track two begins on page 36. http://rockcocks.slipshine.net/comic/page-36

- busking

- performing almost nakedly.

Track 3:
So. Track three. That certainly was a lot quicker to read than I expected. 25 pages just flew by (it felt a lot less than 25 pages, I'm not sure I can trust the page count listed here).

So - Carol Hopkins and Stephen Guerrero (they signed a contract and their names were visible, otherwise I'm not sure I'd ever have picked up on what their names might be) get signed by an agent. Confused because I thought he was a album owner in a prior 'track'. Now he's an agent? No matter. They've got a year contract.

Not much happened this time. Most of the nudity was that Sterling guy standing around pantsless with a bulging erect cock while having a meeting with the Rock Cocks (though there were at least two 'strips' wherein he apparently had pants on again, then they fell off again *shrugs).

Track 4:
Let's see - the duo is all signed up and off to 'Redd's place in a limo. Going to record an album. And that's basically it.

Track 5:
It's a month later, they've made an album, released it, had a celebratory orgy, and the 'blonde bitch' mentioned earlier in the book makes an appearance.

She, it turns out, is with a rival music album. No idea what her story is, or why Roxanne Richards and Seth Sterling are in some kind of rivalry (Seth's gay - and I'll take a moment to note that gay sex occurs in this book (there's also a bunch of straight sex, and lesbian sex - though, obviously (or not), Seth isn't involved with that other sex); while Roxie's apparently at least bisexual, or, potentially, straight - so it isn't a lover's tiff kind of thing.)

Roxanne, by the way, is quite . . . hmms . . well look for yourself:

Right. So, book over. Lots of nudity, sex, and stuff occurred. When the duo are last left before the end, they were heading off to some nudist place in Arizona to have someone there record a video. But, if that occurs, it'll have to be something occurring in the next book.

September 30 2016

Innocent Catch by Weebod

Innocent Catch
by Weebod
Pages: 316
Date: 2009
Publisher: Self
Series: None
Fanfiction: Xena uber
URL: http://www.academyofbards.org/fanfic/w/weebod_innocentcatch1.html

Review
Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0
Read: August 10 to 11 2016

Two things I was to mention immediately:

1) I do not understand why this hasn't been published - put out there for sale. a) It appears to be a well polished work, - though I am not always the best at spotting 'need for editing'; b) other than a little too many times the two main characters getting referred to by hair color or job title, there's nothing much that makes this appear to be 'unpublishable fanfiction'. It is true that one of the leads is a tall dark haired woman, and the other is a shorter blond haired woman, but they seemed very much their own characters - not reflections of any other characters out there.

2) I rather loved this book. I may have laughed once or twice. Got misty eyed once or twice. Damn good book - romance-wise and police wise (I'd say 'mystery wise' though I know some people might have certain issues - the only one I'll mention, feel free to mention, would be the part where the undercover agent fell for one of their 'targets' (more targets to get information rather than targets for arrest)).

Oh, and since I mentioned it in my status updates:
3) There is graphic sex in this book. Involving both men and women (one man and one woman together), and women and women (one woman and one woman; though there was another coupling that I forget if it got graphic or not). There may have been one or two of these graphic scenes involving women that I liked. I shall not speak more on this topic.

4) I'd rate this, if I could, something around 4.8... 4.80 stars (hesitated there if I wanted to give more than 4.8).

August 11 2016

The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford

The Darkness Knows
by Cheryl Honigford
Pages: 352
Date: August 2 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Series: Viv and Charlie Mystery (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Read: July 28 to 29 2016

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review

A quick addition to the book for those coming across my review through a feed or other means - this book is: Historical Fiction Mystery, and any and all romance is M/F.

As I noted in a status update, I initially was made aware of this book when I happened to notice it being recommended to me by GoodReads when I was on the GoodReads page for Strivers’ Row Spy. This book, out of all the ones being recommended to me, looked interesting enough to examine closer. For it reminded me, at first glance, of a show I had watched long ago which also involved a radio station slightly before then during the second world war. That one, though, was set in Pittsburgh (‘Remember WENN’), while this one is set in Chicago.

This book specifically follows a woman named Vivian Witchell (‘I prefer Viv) as she attempts to advance in her career as an actress on the radio. Certain things get in her way of being successful, or at least get in the way of her ability to concentrate, like finding dead bodies in lounges. For you see, Vivian stumbled across the dead body of Marjorie Fox – much beloved radio star (and much hated coworker by everyone who knew her).

A letter is found along with Vivian’s body. A letter implying that Vivian’s life might be in danger as well. So, since she happens to work on a show, The Darkness Knows, that has a private detective as a consultant, that detective is hired to work as Vivian’s bodyguard. So, private detective Charlie ‘don’t call me Chick’ Haverman appears on the scene.

Vivian and a somewhat reluctant Charlie then attempt to solve this specific murder.

I was surprised when I happened to look at the author’s page on GoodReads and saw that this book had started life as a Nanowrimo novel – for it is quite well written, very interesting, fun little book. It’s not that I can’t imagine such a book coming from Nanowrimo, I just imagine that forcing yourself to cram a full book length work into a month of writing somewhat diminishes an author’s ability to massage the work into a readable lovely work. Which this one is, a quite, as noted, well written book.

I have/had certain issues with some of the characters, but then I remind myself that it is the late 1930s, and a character that literally faints, is something of an odd mix of weak and strong, and who keeps almost collapsing because her knees grow weak in certain situations, might just be period accurate.

My knowledge of P.I.’s come from before (mostly the 1920s) and after the war (with the exception of one German P.I. who operated pre-WWII, during, then post WWII), and so I cannot say anything, really, about how the P.I. in this book is depicted. Though he does seem to be something of a cold, smug, smirking dick.

Regardless, despite saying what I say about the characters, I, for the most part, liked them well enough.

I do, though have two major issues with the book that adversely impacted on my enjoyment of the book. (1) the book includes some tense moments involving Charles and Vivian that are defused by the simple fact that this book is listed as being the first in a Viv and Charlie mystery series (two-fold issue – I know that they have to have some form of relationship, friend, other, something, for this book to be the first in said series and there’s this moment wherein Vivian begins questioning Charles motives and the possibility that he might be the killer; before I even reached that specific scene I had some issues with Charles – specifically the part wherein he is supposed to be acting as a bodyguard, yet he kept disappearing on Viv – several (numerous?) scenes during which Viv is frantically searching for Charles and can’t find him – making him both not that great at being a body-guard, and something of a suspect; (2) I do not particularly like Charles and his smirking attitude (Vivian has some troubles at work, in a ‘I might have been fired’ way, and Charles just laughs at her and says she deserved it; which leads directly to – Charles has been acting like a dick to Viv and the only reason I can imagine her rushing to his side at one point is because he ended up in a hospital bed. ).

Despite the preceding paragraph, I again note that I enjoyed this book. And look forward to future books by this author.

July 29 2016

Truth or Dare by Raven J. Spencer

Truth or Dare
by Raven J. Spencer
Pages: 53
Date: August 26 2014
Publisher: Self
Series: None

Review
Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0
Read: July 16 2016

This is the first story I've read by this author.

I'm somewhat surprised both by my reactions to the story, and when I happened to, just now, glance around to see what others had said. Well, mostly I just looked at their ratings. I see that I'm the odd one out here, mostly. No matter.

In a moment of needing something quick to read, I looked at the synopsis of this story to see if I should give it a chance. And, no, I do not mean on here (GoodReads), I meant inside the book. I'm used to Lesbian Fiction books including a synopsis in the books that I normally skip (skipping the synposis not the book, shesh I need to write better). Sometimes read when I need to fill a minute or ten. Why am I mentioning this 'synopsis'? Spending so much time on it? Because there isn't one in this ebook. Yet, I didn't immediately realize that. Because the book is written on about the same level as a synopsis. This happened, then that, then that over there, and then.

I did not feel connected to either character at all, and the only emotions generated were created from the cheating involved, but (since there was a bit of 'wink wink, the husband/boyfriend is okay with it') mostly with the people involved. The out of work woman dates women. Yet she somehow accidentally got into a relationship with a man? Then accidentally ended up on vacation with him? What the fuck? How . . how does that even happen?

I mean, the other woman in the story also annoys me greatly, but she's on this little vacation with her husband. Who, granted, she wants nothing to do with now, but supposedly did at some point. Though we, the readers, are again treated to a character who apparently never in their life considered the possibility of women as potential dates. There are ways in how such a character can come about (in reality and in fiction), but we have none of this woman's backstory, so all we have is this kind of incredulous and vague 'never-realized-women-existed' feeling. *shrug, whatever*

I'm happy others liked the story well enough, I didn't but we can't all like the same things.

July 16 2016

Points of Departure by Emily O'Beirne

Points of Departure
by Emily O'Beirne
Pages: 282
Date: June 29 2016
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Read: July 12 to 14 2016


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

This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

Five young women all of whom, I believe, are 18, are nearing the ends of their high school years. One, who is a friend to them all, and the glue that holds the various parties together, has come up with a plan to travel together. That would be Kit. Kit has roped in Liza, super athlete/runner/lesbian/BFF of Kit; Olivia and Mai (they seem to get lumped together for whatever reason; they hang out in the same social group – Olivia and Mai – they also are deeply into ‘law’ and taking that when they go to ‘uni’); and Tam – Kit’s cousin. All but Tam are from Melbourne Australia, and all attended the same high school. Though Liza has mostly been off on her own training and running so, while she knows all of them, she only is friends with Kit. Tam, obviously, knows Kit, being cousins, and Liza – and is from Tasmania (an island state of Australia; until I looked that up just now, I was thinking Tasmania was a separate country).

Beyond ‘Australian’, the ancestral make-up of Olivia, Tam, and Kit is not given. Liza, beyond being ‘Australian’, is half-Dutch and half-Sri Lanka (known to me as the place Arthur C. Clarke lived before his death; an island off the coast of India). Being half-Dutch and half-Sri Lankan apparently corresponds to being ‘Burgher people’, which is picked up along the way. Mai, another person born in Australia, has a Vietnamese mother and Chinese father.

So that’s the main cast of characters. Four of which have their own point of views in this book (I’ve off and on wished Mai had her point of view as well, because she seems quite interesting; constantly excited; etc. I’m sure if we did have her point of view it’d be filled with self-doubt and angst, because, hey, that’s what everyone else is, but still. I live with the dream that her POV would not be that).

Shortly before the five are to take off on their trip, Kit has to inform them (separately) that she will not be able to go. Because she has, once again, messed up her life. The money she had saved up for the trip is gone. Gone to massive debt brought on by rent money being due, and damages to a statue that has to be covered. So the glue that was holding the group together will not be able to go. Don’t worry, though, her point of view remains. Three of the four going on the trip give the reader their versions of the on-going trip, while Kit gives readers some insight into being a young woman living in Australia.

Right, so – Melbourne and Tasmania are encountered first by the reader – since that’s where the characters are ‘coming from’. Then there’s a stopover in Hong Kong (just the airport). Then off to Portugal (Algarve, Lisbon), Italy (Florence, Trieste, and Venice), Slovenia (Bled, Ljubljana), England (London), and Thailand (Kata, Phuket).


Algarve Portugal


Lisbon Portugal


Florence Italy


Trieste Italy


Bled Slovenia


Ljubljana Slovenia


Kata Thailand


Phuket Thailand

Before starting the trip (weeks, months? I forget now), Liza has informed her parents of two issues 1) she’s a lesbian; 2) she is giving up running competitively (or is thinking of giving it up). Tam is super worried about her father (he’s recovering from cancer); and, somewhat on the spur of the moment, begins a relationship with a nearby young man named Matt – so she’s super distracted by that while on the trip. And Olivia’s super distracted by knowing that she messed up her VCE (whatever that is), the tests people going off to ‘uni’ apparently take to decide their courses of study (at least that’s what I got from context; otherwise I’d think of them as the Australian equivalent of the SAT; except that the SAT does not determine courses of study); and is worried about how her friends (social group; and specifically Mai) will react; plus she’s super duper interested in reestablishing some form of relationship with her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend Will. Mai? No idea. We do not have her point of view (from things said here or there, she might have some worries about the VCE results as well, perhaps). To a certain extent, without being inside Mai’s head, all we know is that she’s very chatty, excitable, boy crazy, and has a need to constantly party (probably connected to how restrictive her parents are – being on the trip frees her from them).

So, fairly early one the reader learns that they are following along as three supposedly heterosexual women who mostly do not know each other vacation abroad – plus one lesbian with limited social skills. Oh, and not everyone on the trip knows that Liza is a lesbian.

On one level, the book was somewhat difficult to follow along because everyone who has a point of view has reasons to be super depressing and angst filled. And the only one who doesn’t seem to be that way, doesn’t have their point of view expressed directly (though may or may not be as angsty as everyone else). On the other hand, the angst/drama is both reasonable and not overwhelming.

In terms of the trip/vacation/etc – I did get a feeling, a certain sense, of the various locations. Not a very deep sense, but more than just a vague feeling of movement. It’s about on par as a bunch of 18 year olds traveling around (there’s one scene that I can use as an example – Tam and Liza are on a bench in London. The sky, as might be imagined, since it is London, is dreary and it has just finished misting. Both are tired and dealing with issues. They just sit there on the bench looking at stuff directly around them. At one point one mentions to the other that the changing of the guard is about to occur. Neither can get the strength to get up, so they both continue sitting there starring at squirrels and thinking thoughts within their heads).

There’s certain ‘things’ of an Australian nature that I never did learn. Things that may or may not have been explained or explainable from context. Some I just never figured out. Like I have assumptions about the VCE. But there’s an item of clothing that Liza is constantly putting on or taking off that I haven’t a foggiest idea what it could possibly be. And I Googled it. Got nowhere. So, what the bloody hell is a ‘slinget’? Bah, I misspelled the word when I put it in my status updates. It’s a singlet not a slinget. What the hell do I know? I’ve never seen the word before in my life. (I’ve seen people on tv put that on to wrestle, but I didn’t know what the garment’s name was).

So, if I understand correctly, Liza was running around wearing something that looks like this here:

Though probably looked more like this


Long and short – this was an enjoyable read. Though filled with teenagers with teenager like angst/deep feelings filling them. If I was to deduct any points specifically, it would probably correspond to how Mai lacked her own point of view. In the end I kind of liked her best of all. I’m sad now.

July 14 2016