Mirror Mirror by Bridget Balentine

Mirror, Mirror by Bridget Balentine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book . . . this book . . ..

I hated the main character so much I put this book on my paused shelf. I'd have put it on my DNF immediately without that intermediate step but I'd read books by this author before and given them something around 4 stars each. And this was 'free' to me via Kindle-Unlimited. Sooo, I put it on my 'Paused' shelf with every intention of never actually looking at the book again. Until this morning. When I was bored, somewhat, with what I had been reading lately, randomly looked at my paused shelf to see if there was anything there to move to my DNF shelf, and clicked on 'Mirror, Mirror'. My intention was just to take a glimpse then move it.

No, it didn't blow me away. It isn't one of those occasions I put a book on pause, came back to it and found it became super interesting seconds after the pause point. No, it still annoyed me. I kept reading though. And reading. Things were beginning to get interesting, vaguely, and . . . ah crap, near the mid point another character suddenly took over (that was something like strike three, not one (strike one: main character, the singer, beautiful, talented, super rich . . . hates her life, her job, her sex life, her friends, her . . . well, everything about her life. And . . . it drove me mad. She put herself in that position and then complained about it instead of doing anything about it. Strike two: I've a vague feeling I read a rough draft. Because there were a ton of weird mistakes in this book - sentences that only made sense in context (they'd ramble along, a word would be inserted that made no sense there, sentence continued. Not sure there were typos, just weirdly placed words). Strike four: everything restarted. From this new characters point of view. mmphs. (to clarify, strike three was the switch in POV's to a character who had been in the book but hadn't had any of her side shown until mid-point; strike four was the decision to not continue the story from there, but to restart it and show things from this other character's point of view).

Miranda is a gifted talented musician who signed a contract with a record company. They sanitized her music a lot, forced her to hide her gayness, forced her to 'date' men, paid her obscene amounts of money. They did not hold a gun to her head, though, to sign the contract.

Stephanie, from Miranda's perspective, is a prostitute who Miranda meet at a 'meet-the-client' shindig put together by Miranda's 'friends' Hope and Faith (twins who Miranda knew through working with them on their children's show (I mean the show they were on as children, the twins, Miranda was a teen (I think)). A prostitute that Miranda didn't pay but continued to see (and assumed that 'Stephanie' (she assumed it was a fake name) was 'being taken care of' - most likely by Hope and Faith (or one or other other).

Stephanie - from her point of view, was a dancer whose friend dragged her to a party for some extra money. A struggling dancer, hence the acceptance (reluctant) to be dragged along. Stephanie dates Miranda - she's not a prostitute. And I'd say more but, you know, spoilers.

For the vast majority of my time I kind of assumed I'd either a) DNF the book; b) rate the book some low rating. HOw the heck did I end up here? mmphs. Well, I actually liked Stephanie, and Miranda had started to grow on me before the POV change. Then I rather liked - for the most part - Stephanie's section of the book (somewhat reluctantly liked on my part). So . . . here I am. Rating a book 3.75 stars after spending most of the book wonder why it had such a high rating. mmphs.

Rating: 3.75

December 29 2016



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Snowflakes by Suzie Carr

Snowflakes by Suzie Carr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Thoughts as I read -
Confusing story. Can't figure out which person has point of view - which is compounded by the fact I've no clue who anyone might be. Maybe it's a dog's thoughts? Can dogs be lesbians? Okay, probably not the dog's thoughts. Or . . maybe?

Odd family. Spending the night before Valentine's day (is Valentine's day Eve a thing?; I'd mention All Hallow's Eve here, but I'm already taking too long). Right, sorry, so on Valentine's Eve, a family gathered together to play trival pursuit. And drink shots of whiskey. Your answer is that little Timmy? Wrong! Drink your shot! (or 'right, drink your shot'). What an odd family.

'eyeing me with the energy of ten trains' line in story. About a dog. 1) That is either one powerful stare, or one weak one - notice it is the eye that has the energy of ten trains, not the wagging tail; 2) when I think of ten trains all together, I think of a train yard. And therefore picture them all sitting there. Silent. Unmoving. Powerless. Hence my 'or weak one' above.

Well, eventually I got the idea. Two people meet at a dog part, by accident. With their dogs. There's snow on the ground. And one tosses a ball around.

Ah darn. See, here I am bouncing along picking things here and there to pounce on, like a cat pouncing on string, and the story had to go and actually get me interested. With two people meeting for the first time. And both seem interesting. mmphs. Alice and Desiree.

You know, I got rather deep into this story, then it went and reminded me that it was a short story by abruptly ending. Ah well.

My second story I've read by this author. Even hough I had rather liked that first I'd read, I had held off trying another. Something about them didn't pull me in. But, in I went again.

I'd give this one a rating of 4. Longer and less . . . telling, drifting aimlessly, etc. and I'd probably rate it higher.

December 13 2016





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Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter

Requiem for Immortals
by Lee Winter
Pages: 295
Date: August 17 2016
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Series: None

Review
Rating: 3
Read: October 1 2016

I was, tentatively, excited about this book. But what I was looking for and expecting wasn't there (a hard nosed assassin assassinating people; what I got was someone with a mommy complex who failed to do the job given to her).

I didn't need or want the change in POV. The icky lust for mommy was off putting (sure, not biological mother but still icky). The issue of accidentally targeting the wrong person was vaguely not believe able - at least not for this super assassin.

The various sex scenes were also borderline icky. Especially the one in public with the other assassin during a fight scene.

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

Love's Autograph by Michele M. Reynolds

Love's Autograph
by Michele M. Reynolds
Pages: 325
Date: April 5 2014
Publisher: Self
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.75
Read: September 21 2016

I rather enjoyed this one, surprised me how much I did. Though for a while there I wanted to reach into the book and squeeze Ria's neck a little, you know, just a little.

Maggie - the kid, Ellie - the rockstar, and Ria - the annoyingly heartbreaking-esque mother of Maggie, were all lovely characters. A few of the side characters were quite interesting as well.

There were one or 8 errors here and there. I do not normally notice or care, but there was at least once that I got briefly pulled out of the story because of it (it was a scene where one of the characters were talking, and they said something to the other - and the wrong name was used (their own) instead of the other person's name).

Wasn't an error, per se, but another tiny bit of annoyance was the text messages. In and of itself, they worked - it was just the part wherein I didn't always know which text were by which sender. Didn't help that that part was all in italics and, at times, 'mushed' together in a vaguely hard to read way.

Overall, though, an enjoyable and readable book.

One last thought - I just read a book that was about 259 pages (out of 264) eroticism, so the relatively low key graphic nature of this book was meet by me in a way that might not be similar to someone coming to this book without that filter . . um . . prior read . . something. Okay, my point is that some might, or might not, be annoyed by the relatively low key graphic nature of the book. I found it down right pleasant or something like that.

September 21 2016

Songs Unfinished by Holly Stratimore

Songs Unfinished
by Holly Stratimore
Pages: 264
Date: January 19 2015
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Read: April 12 2016
This is my first book by this author, and, unless something got misfiled somewhere, this is also the first book by this author.

I've read many stories involving people in the entertainment industry, which includes actors, musicians, dancers, novelists, and others (I could change it to 'creative industry' or some term like that, to include the gallery owners, and artists characters I've read). This book here contains two musicians as the co-leads (and a budding novelist side character).

Most of those books that I've read that involve the entertainment industry involve people who are: (a) comfortably established in their field interacting with people comfortably established in their field (that one book by Selina Rosen that I read, and loved, that others tended to be less enamored with, involved a famous/formerly successful musician and a successful actress (and musician); the 'attempting to restart their career, reluctantly' is something of a sub-genre of this 'entertainment industry' field); (b) comfortably established in their field characters interacting with those just starting out in the entertainment industry (which includes, as my example, Brayden's 'Waiting in the Wings'); (c) two characters who have been in the entertainment industry for a while, and neither have exactly comfortably established themselves yet (strangely, I've never read a book/story in this category, until now. Until this book. While it is true that Jaymi and Shawn are not at the same success point, it is true that neither is 'just starting out' nor 'comfortably established. Jaymi's band is regionally known, and just on the cusp of stardom (though they've been on the cusp before and, for personal family reasons, didn't make the transition to stardom; while Shawn's been in the business for 7 years and is still at the open mic stage of her career); (d) everyone involved is just starting out in the entertainment industry (oddly, while I'm somewhat sure I might have read something like this at some point, I do not specifically recall any story/book that falls into this category).

Characters
Jaymi Del Harmon is a musician and band member of 'Passion Fruit' (I could be wrong about the band name, though I know Passion is in the name). She is a college graduate, and the band itself formed while she was in college. Formed after she meet and set up an arrangement with one Nikki while at college. Nikki would help Jaymi become comfortable on stage, while Jaymi would help Nikki become better with the guitar. The two then went on to form the band that incorporated two further members (Kay being a friend of Nikki's, and . . . Brian? being Jaymi's cousin). All of this back-story occurred before start of the book. The band went west to find their fame and fortune (as in went to California). While there they bumped into Shawn Davies out at open mic gigs. But I'm way far down the plot section now so I'll move on. The band was on the cusp of success when two things happened at once (well, first: Jaymi's mother needed her because the mother had cancer; second: slightly after news of the need of Jaymi's need to return to the east coast, and possibly in reaction to it, Jaymi's long time girlfriend (who actually had been showing signs of distance before the cancer issue came up) was caught cheating (possibly on purpose). Jaymi returned to New Hampshire. The band, not wishing to give up on Jaymi, followed her back east. Jaymi spent time helping her mother. Then the mother died. Eventually, and I think this is two years later, the band started up again and as of the start of the book, are on the cusp of stardom. Again. At the very least, they have some regional celebrity status, and their songs are on regional independent radio stations.
Of Importance: the other band members, Devin (journalist and budding novelist - linked to Sara; friends with Jaymi) & Sara (...; linked to Devin; friends with Jaymi), Alice & Peter (old family friends of Jaymi's mother who allow Jaymi to live in the apartment over their horse barn when Jaymi returned east). Randi - through Nikki, as she's friends with Nikki & is a police officer).

Shawn Davies is a musician who has mostly failed in her attempts to have a live as a musician. Just after high school, Shawn headed west (as in to California). She was somewhat nervous and clumsy on stage, but a musician she bumped into at open mic gigs helped her gain some confidence. This musician being Jaymi. Shawn was out west without any support structure, and with very poor abilities to hold a job. Relatively quickly in the process she descended to a form of homelessness - using one-night stands to find a place to sleep at night; or sleeping in her car - more often using one-night stands. The book opens with Shawn fleeing California to head back home. She's fleeing homelessness, failure, and, the real reason for her flight, fleeing a brutal attack.
Of Importance: the ghost of her dead mother (not literally, figuratively), her basterd father, an old girlfriend from high school named Mel, a dead aunt.

Others: Others are of importance, but through their connections to the lead characters (both of whom have alternating points of view). I've mentioned several up above. There's two entities though, who become significant later in the story-line: Shawn's bitchy boss (once she actually finds a job back east), and Jaymi's stalker.

Plot
Everything I've mentioned above, for the most part, happened before the start of this book. The book opens with a woman fleeing a brutal attack. Grabbing all of her belongings, and heading from California back to New Hampshire. Along the way, for gas money, she basically performs on the street. If the takings are good, she'd stay for a week or so (no more than). If not, she'd hurry along the road. Eventually she arrived back in New Hampshire. Drives up to her aunt’s home. Sees a car in the driveway but can't seem to get a reaction from her aunt. While prowling around looking in the windows, a neighbor yells at Shawn (who I just notice I didn't yet mention in this paragraph as the woman fleeing California). Before he calls the cops, Shawn notes who she is and why she is there. Only to be informed that her aunt died the month before. Her one good connection to home has been severed. And she hadn't been in a good position to learn of this issue until just then.

So. She's hungry and tired and eventually will need to put gas in the gas tank. Reluctantly she turns towards her actual former home. She somewhat timidly knocks on the door. A man answers. Screams at her, asking why she is there. Shawn begs to stay the night. The man screams at her again then slams the door. Shawn dejectedly leaves her father's house, after making some comment about how the man still blames her for Shawn's mother's death. Gets back in her car. Drives. Seriously contemplates parking on some railroad tracks. Turns on the radio. Hears a familiar band on. And learns they are performing nearby. That band being the band Jaymi performs in. Shawn heads in that direction instead of towards the train tracks.

POV shifts to Jaymi. She's exiting the 'gig' and is in the process of attempting to start her truck and go home. But the engine only sputters. She looks around. Sees a car start to head her direction. She's vaguely nervous. Eventually she learns that the young women in the car will help her. And that she knows this woman - it's Shawn. Who she hasn't seen in about 2 years.

One thing leads to another and Jaymi offers the use of her guest room to Shawn until Shawn can find a job and get her own place. They somewhat nervously circle each other but the strings of their earlier friendship rejoin. Romance is not, yet, on either's minds. Jaymi can't have the complications and distractions of a romance right then and there, not right when the band is on the cusp of stardom. Shawn needs to re...um . . revive her life. Reform? Something like that.

Romance
Jaymi has certain feelings for Shawn that she knows she can't do anything about (because of her own need to devote time to her career; and because Shawn isn't in a great place at the moment, is vulnerable). Shawn has fancied Jaymi since she first meet her two years ago. But doesn't want to fall into the trap of 'using' her. She wants something more. But isn't in a good position to ask for more at the moment. So tries to keep things on the friendship level.

So - things are a slow burn. Yes, they become friends first (and/or rekindle the friendship); but both separately, and with a certain amount of awareness of the other's feelings, 'burn' for the other. They kind of fall into a pattern of one being in a vulnerable position, making a pass at the other, the other wanting to lean into this flirtation, this possible love making, but not wishing to take advantage, and pulling/pushing back. And yes, both find themselves in both roles - the vulnerable one making the pass; the one being flirted with who must be strong. First occasion, I think it's the first occasion, involves Jaymi being tipsy from wine and attempting to 'get with' Shawn. Another occasion finds Shawn being the tipsy one.

Overall
There are a lot of complications and 'issues' that pop up, but things flow rather well - nothing seems contrived (well, the stalker subplot bordered on almost falling into annoying territory, though skidded just short of that). Things flowed nicely. I don't mean their lives flowed smoothly, I mean the writing and plot seemed to flow nicely. No, their lives were not smooth. But bumpy.

Overall - a satisfying book by a writer who I had not read before. I'm not actually sure how I'd stumbled upon her - I just know that I had two disappointing books in a role (as in attempted to start reading them, and paused both) and saw this as a sample on my Kindle and read the sample. Then read the book.

Overall, to overuse a word, I'd give the book a rating of something approaching 5 out of 5 stars (maybe 4.75?)

April 12 2016

Jolt by Kris Bryant

Jolt
by Kris Bryant
Pages: 264
Date: September 15 2014
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: N/A

Review
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
Read: March 2 2016

This is my second book by this author, though it's her first published book. I'm apparently doing things backwards.

This book involves a woman of around 30 (Bethany Lange) who is a successful author, in some way introverted (she makes conflicting comments about how she is and isn't), and the main point of view. Sorry, I meant to say that as the point of view. She's also the sole child of her parents, and an idea is conveyed that she has some family money.

The book also involves, less so, a woman of around 33 (Ali Hart) who is a successful folk singer. She's on tour throughout most of the book; has a large-ish family (at least one brother, and I believe at least 2 sisters; plus a niece; and living parents). I say that her involvement is 'less so' both because Ali Hart does not have her own point of view and the manner in which information is conveyed kind of subsumes everyone and everything into almost figments of Beth's imagination.

No, this isn't a book about someone who may or may not be in a mental institution or anything like that. It's just the way the book is conveyed is almost entirely through Beth's thoughts, mental impressions, and barely seems to move outside Beth's head. So, as I noted, others kind of get subsumed into Beth's thoughts and feelings.

The book opens with Beth at a camp for . . . . oh. Hmms. I can't recall now if it is conveyed as a camp for the children of LGBT parents or for LGBT children. I've a vague recollection that both possibilities might be in play. Not that important which it is - the important thing is that it is a LGBT summer camp. That Beth is at when the book opens. As something of a volunteer (what kind of volunteer can she be if she goes there to work on her books; writing, editing, etc. - how involved can she be in being a fully involved volunteer? . . . sorry, stray thought I had distracted me).

While at the camp, Beth encounters a visitor. One Ali Hart. Who Beth finds quite attractive and alluring. Eventually, even though she only kind of maybe recognizes the name, Beth learns that Ali Hart is quite famous as a music person.

Beth, feeling a strong pull towards Ali, proceeds to spend most of the week that Ali is visiting the camp . . . . hiding from Ali. Because she, Beth, is still reeling from having her longish term partner walk out on her. And can't allow herself to . . um . . live again. Only, she then learns that Ali isn't actually currently in a relationship, and she, Beth, proceeds to berate herself mentally for wasting time that could have been spent rubbing herself against Ali. Yeah, that kind of confused me. One moment Beth is trying to hide and fleeing from her emotional instability, the next she's acting like a cat in heat. But, whatever. I distracted myself again.

So, Beth and Ali have a brief weekend to stare moodily at each other before Ali has to return to her music tour. They agree that Beth, at some point or another, will attempt to be there - visit, something or other, with Ali while she's on tour. Meanwhile Beth will be spending time writing two different books at the same time, and working as a camp volunteer at this camp I already mentioned.

Their relationship then proceeds long distance. Until, as expected, since this is in fact a romance book, sorry Romance book, something happens that creates conflict. Creates a wedge. Drives them apart. Causes anguish and whimpering. - well, that's my babbling recap of the plot up to a certain point, the point wherein if I said more I'd be into spoiler territory.

I'll now convey the much shorter brief thing I was going to leave when I didn't feel like writing much:
I had one major and specific 'issue/problem' with this book. It isn't the fact that this book has but one (1) POV, though that issue was annoying); it wasn't how everyone is conveyed as being absolutely gorgeous (both the main character thinking this of herself; thinking this of the other main character in the book; and even thinking this of that other character's family); it wasn't the weirdness of seeing Beth refer to Ali's parents by their actual names (I don't know, that's probably normal or something; it's just that the way it was conveyed, I couldn't actually tell if she was talking about Ali's parents, or just two people who happened to be nearby); no the main problem/issue had with this book is/was directly connected to how everything is/was conveyed to the reader. Conveyed as if through an especially overally-hyper poodle squeaking continously -or, as I had originally worded it, opened their mouth and then just could not shut it again. In a 'and then this happened; and then this happened; and then I felt sad for myself more; and I really overreacted but don't feel bad, specifically, about really overreacting; gosh darn it, why doesn't she ever actually say [insert something here - referring to the main character talking to herself about the other main character] (despite, you know, dedicating a song; constantly making comments that convey love/desire/etc. - recall, if you will, that this is information conveyed by the point of view about the observable feelings/desires/etc. of the other - the one whose head we aren't in) - mind you there are also constant comments by the main character - the comments are made internally and not conveyed to the other party that convey things like how they love what's going on, or how they want the other to touch them - now; or stuff; but how she doesn't bloody actually say any of this stuff because .... reasons.'

So, to recap, the main issue that I had is how everything is conveyed through the thoughts, feelings, and observations of one character. That being Beth. Who, as far as I could tell, is actually probably a little insane. And/or mentally unstable. What with all the voices talking to her in her head. As in - 'Em, Robert, and Shakespeare are so angry with me right now.' Kindle Location 2712

Even with all that babbled, I still believe the book is probably closer to 3.5 stars than to 3. But I'll mark it down as 3 stars. *marks*

March 2 2016

Vanishing Fame by Selina Rosen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jessy + Joan = ?

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