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1Lexxi
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January:
Books Read:
Adult: 15
Choice Your Own Adventure: 5
Comics: 6
Comic Strip Collection: 1
Fantasy: 11
Graphic Novels: 28
Historical Fiction:
LGBT: 18
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 17
Memoir: 1
Mystery: 14
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 1
Poetry: 1
Police: 3
PI: 1
Romance: 7
Science Fantasy: 7
Science Fiction: 6
Star Trek: 5
Superhero: 16
Thriller: 1
Short Story: 17
Total # works read: 72
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
1. Sunstone - Stjepan Sejic - 1/1/15 - 4.5
Graphic novel about two women who have a keen interest in dominance, submission and bondage. Neither considers themselves lesbians, but something happens when they meet for the first time and these "feelings" develop.
2. The Batman Adventures: Mad Love - Paul Dini - 1/1/15 - 5.0
One of the first graphic novels I read that both included Harley Quinn, and followed her around. This particular story involves something of a backstory on how Quinn and Joker meet. (actually, now that I look closer, this might be the third or fourth Harley Quinn graphic novel I read).
3. Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Hot in the City - Jimmy Palmiotti - 1/1/15 - 3.50
The "modern" version of Harley Quinn. Living in Brooklyn. Doing stuff. Not connected to Joker any longer. There was an interesting enough plot, well was once we got past the comic issues involving Quinn playing outside the fourth wall with different comic illustrators. Wasn't a very good plot, but was interesting.
4. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 1: The Ring Bearer - Tony Bedard - 1/3/15 - 3.50
5. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 2: Beyond Hope - Tony Bedard - 1/4/15 - 4.0
6. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 3: Love and Death - Tony Bedard - 1/4/15 - 4.0
Obviously I got distracted by graphic novels right around January 1st. I don't really have anything to say about these there graphic novels other than the story/plot was interesting enough to keep me marching along. And unlike many "mainstream" graphic novels, there really was a beginning, middle, and end for this specific series. I like that. I hate how so many of these graphic novels put out by DC Comics and/or Marvel lack structure and seem endless. Though mostly dislike how they keep going down a particular story path and suddenly the creative teams (writer/illustrator) get replaced and the old story is tossed out and now a new path is being followed without finishing the old.
7. Gotham City Sirens Book One - Paul Dini - 1/5/15 - 3.0
I liked the first book I read by Dini. Too bad I didn't like this one. One of the ones I actually wrote a review for. I'll add that in a different post. The reviews. I think. I see what happens.
8. The House - Cassie Alexander - 1/6/15 - 3.0
Nothing really to say about this one. The first non-graphic novel I read this year. One of those Kindle Unlimited ones, so I was able to save some money there. Reminds me I want to make a post about that, about the cost. Tracking how much I might have had to pay.
This specific book here is one of those adult choose your adventure stories. Vaguely interesting. Somewhat repetitive. Both adult in subject matter and intended audience.
9. Choose Your Erotic Destiny - Luna Swift - 1/6/15 - 3.0
Second non-graphic novel read. Second adult choose your adventure story. My, I certainly am spreading my wings and exploring new things this year, eh? mmphs. I like Alexander's book better than this one. Oh. Just realized I wrote a review for this one as well. Must remember to post it. Oh. That review is mostly just about how Goodreads record for the book is all messed up. Ah well.
10. Choices: A Select Your Own Seduction - Jamie Klaire - 1/6/15 - 4.0
I really get people to want to read my threads, eh? hehe. Yeah, I probably wouldn't be interested either. Graphic novels and erotica fill out the first ten things read this year. Right. Another Choose-your-own-adventure book. Wrote a review for this one as well. Might remember to include it in a review post below in this thread.
11. Out on the Sound - R.E. Bradshaw - 1/6/15 - 4.0
My goodness. An actual non-erotic/non-graphic novel. Thought I'd written a review for this one but I don't seem to see on there. hmms. Story is about two Southern women meeting, falling in love, and coming out as a lesbian couple in a small community. Involves enraged insane mothers (1), insane enraged town folks, and emotional/physical drama/tension.
12. Mind the Gap #16 - Jim McCann - 1/6/15 - 3.0
13. Mind the Gap #17 - Jim McCann - 1/6/15 - 2.0
I hadn't intended to continue this series via comics. I've found that I actually do prefer reading the collections instead of individual comics. Unfortunately this series appear to have sputtered out. #16 came out something like 6 months after the publication date of the last collection, and #17 came out something like a year later. And that was May 21 2014. huh, no, that's six months. Maybe it was six months between issues then another six months since the last issue was published and today. Right, so, got tired of waiting for issues to appear and so just read the tiny little 32 page thingies as is.
14. Post-Hypnotic Wife - Heather McKinney - 1/6/15 - 2.5
ok. shesh. back to erotica. I'm quite boring.
15. Only One Naked - Cassie Caine - 1/6/15 - 4.5
Continuing my moral decay, another adult erotic story. This one by an author I'd read before. The third story I read by them.
16. She Plays His Tune - Misty Lane - 1/6/15 - 4.5
As probably expected, another adult erotic story.
17. Your Naughty Playmate 1 - Soapy Teen Car Wash Fantasy - Amanda Clover - 1/7/15 - 1.5
Horrible little story. At least it was another Kindle Unlimited one.
18. Clothes Call - J.J. Jackson - 1/7/15 - 0.5 stars
Supposedly a choose-your-adventure story with not much "control" actually given. I believe there were three choices in the entire book given to the reader to make.
19. Clockworkers - Ramsey Isler - 1/8/15 - 3.0
Fantasy involving a daughter inheriting her father's elf. Both father and daughter work(ed) in a watch repair shop. Father dies. Daughter gets the elf. Realizes elf exists. Uses elf to vastly expand business and begins selling watches. Daughter 'taught a lesson'.
First non-adult/graphic novel/LGBT book of the year.
20. Becoming a Bimbo - Barbara A. Billingham - 1/8/15 - ....
I could not rate this one.
21. A Pony Play - X. Torvald - 1/9/15 - 3.5
A producer has two plays to cast. A normal play (it is assumed) and a "dog and pony" play. Involving a dog and pony. The roles will be filled by desperate women. One as a dog. One as a pony. It's part one of a series, but since this was released in 2013 and nothing else ever appeared, I assume the series will never be completed.
22. Cassie's Conundrum - Eric Stray - 1/9/15 - ...
Second one i could not rate.
23. Jennifer's Backyard Bondage Tan - 1/9/15 - 4.5
Self bondage in the backyard.
24. Clean Slate - Andrea Bramhall - 1/9/15 - 5.0
Woman of about 36 is viciously attacked. Wakes up in the hospital. Asks for her mum. Mum's been dead these past 17 or so years. Morgan Masters has lost the memory of everything that has happened since she was 19. She does not remember her life, wife, children, nor why she walked out on them three weeks before that vicious attack. A quite good book.
25. Catwoman vol. 2: Crooked Little Town - Ed Brubaker - 1/9/15 - 4.0
Continuing my read of Brubaker's take on Catwoman. One of the problems of graphic novels, at least those which are collections of individually released comics of roughly 32 pages, is that more than one set of volumes can get released. In this particular case there are at least two volumes series that got released. Once back closer to when this series actually was published, second series of collections got released in roughly 2013. Point is that I read Volume 1, then got Volume 2. Volume 2 looked quite repetitive. Then I realized that I had read Volume 1 from the 2013 publications and then read volume 2 of the previous series of collections. That's wordy and probably not coherent. Same set of individual comics, but packaged differently, but both collections use "Volume 1" through whatever the last volume number would be.
So, year(s) ago I started Volume 2, found out I was rereading stuff I'd already read and stopped reading. Ironically, or not, when I restarted the other day I found new stuff. I had stopped where the Volume 1 of the 2013 set stopped overlapping. Good story, methought. Hmms. I've seen methinks. I don't think methought is anything.
Right, so I liked. Went out and got Volume 3. Which turned out to be Volume 3 of the 2013 set. And missing individual comic issues 11-24. So ..... mmphs. Gah, I hate trying to read comics that have been collected more than once.
26. Serenity: Leaves on the Wind - Zack Whedon - 1/10/15 - 3.5
Graphic novel picking up from where the movie left off.
27. Buffy: Season Ten Volume 1: New rules - Christos Gage - 1/10/15 - 4.0
Magic's all messed up and stuff. New rules in play. Etc.
28. First Night on Campus - D. Night - 1/10/15 - 3.0
Another self-bondage story. Not as good as the first one I read by this author.
29. Princess - A Disturbing Psychological Thriller - Jeff Menapace - 1/10/15 - 3.0
A disturbing short story picked up when I saw what challenge one asked for.
30. Empowered, Volume 6 - Adam Warren - 1/11/15 - 3.0
I'd read volumes 1-5 some time ago. Saw a new volume and read it. Also some time ago. Unfortunately that had been volume 7. Didn't really make any sense. Which I later found out because I'd overlooked volume 6. Which I read just now. Well, on the 11th. Wasn't great.
31. Omelette On The Rampage - Lacey Dearie - 1/11/15 - 3.0
Food is self-aware and lustful. Also capable of murder.
32. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
33. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 5.0
32 page individual comics. The group all, oddly at the same time, end up without dwellings. A building is offered if they would clean it up. Of ghosts.
Part 2 was the funniest bit of story I'd read in a while.
34. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Return to Sunnydale, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
35. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Return to Sunnydale, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
The gang return to Sunnydale. Chasing a someone who stole the new book of magic. Stuff happens.
36. The Twinning of Vincent Cassidy - Edward C. Patterson - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Read only because of that challenge to try something more by an author you didn't like. I'd tried two previous things by Patterson. Couldn't complete either. Well, at least this time I was able to complete the story.
37. The Heatwave: Volume 1 - Karen A. - 1/12/15 - 1.5 stars
Completely boring short story.
38. Training Stephanie - Sara Tyr - 1/12/15 - 2.5 stars
Read because of that "read something that starts with T" challenge.
39. To Every Thing There is Season: A Cape Breton Christmas Story - Alistair MacLeod - 1/12/15 - 4.0
Read because of that died in 2014 challenge. Neat little story.
40. Vaikunt - Hoshang Merchant - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Read because of that Indian Subcontinent challenge. A collection of poems. Some interesting.
41. A Simple Suburban Murder - Mark Richard Zubro - 1/12/15 - 4.0
Read because it won, or at least was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. I think it won. Can't recall. Read because of that and because I never seem to be able to read M-M books and like them. Gave that another go. Liked this book.
42. Catwoman Vol. 3: Relentless - Ed Brubaker - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Kinda boring. If you've been reading down my list of reads, this isn't the volume three I bought after reading Volume 2 above. This is a different volume 3. The Volume three that actually came after the volume 2 I read above. if you haven't read my thread down to here, these here have been a series of completely incoherent sentences.
43. Gay Pride and Prejudice - Kate Christie - 1/13/15 - 4.0
Read because of spotting it in whatever challenge it was in. I'd tried that Zombie one years ago. It looked neat, that zombie one, in the bookstore so bought it. Took home. Tried to continue. Gave up almost immediately. So . . . . I was reluctant to try this one.
Quite well done. Enjoyed it.
44. A Wolf for the Holidays - Bridget Essex - 1/14/15 - 5.0
A woman is once again stood-up by her girlfriend. For the sixth time in six months, this girlfriend either forgets, arrives hours late, or sends a text message hours afterwards to indicate that they won't make dinner. This time, it's Christmas Eve, and Mandy's made a special meal. She loves cooking. She loves showing her love through food. But her girlfriend fails to arrive in time. Then finally arrives hours late. With a massive wolf. As a present. She doesn't apologize for missing dinner. No, she demands to know where it is. Mandy finally gets up the courage to break up with her girlfriend.
Girlfriend leaves. Mandy looks down at the massive wolf with the intelligent eyes. Looks around her tiny studio apartment. Knows she can't keep the wolf. Goes to sleep. Wakes up to see a naked woman rummaging through her dresser looking for clothing. Also, the wolf is missing.
Neat little story.
45. King Lear - William Shakespeare - 1/14/15 - 3
46. The Scorpion God: Three Short Novels - William Golding - 1/15/15 - 2.5
"Accidentally read the last of the short novels first. The one involving steam power, printing presses, and gunpowder in ancient Rome. - I give that one a rating of 3.5."
"The Scorpion God completed. A story of the Nile. The rise and fall of the river. And the human who is declared a God. Who is to make the river rise, and make the river go down again. - 3.5 stars."
"I have no idea how to "take" the middle short novel. Apparently the point of it is that the only way women can be in control is if all men have the intelligence of fruit flies and are gay. I do not believe I've ever read anything more horrible in my life than the middle short novel of this book."
47. A Knight to Remember - Bridget Essex - 1/15/15 - 4.0
48. Big Nate: The Crowd Goes Wild! - Lincoln Pierce - 1/16/15 - 3.0
Needed another "childhood" book as insurance. Read this comic strip collection.
49. Out on the Panhandle - R.E. Bradshaw - 1/16/15 - 5.0
2nd in the series. I admit, some of the scenes brought tears to my eyes. Happy tears.
50. Catwoman Vol.4: Wild Ride - Ed Brubaker - 1/18/15 - 3.5
Weakest of the Brubaker Catwoman series.
51. Ravine Volume 1 - Stjepan Sejic - 1/18/15 - 2.0
Annoying fantasy series. Which got interesting right on the last page.
52. Catwoman Vol.3: Under Pressure - Ed Brubaker - 1/19/15 - 4.5
One of the better Brubaker Catwoman collections.
Note: Despite this being Volume 3 and previous Catwoman read being Volume 4, this book actually collects the individual comics that were issues after Volume 4.
53. Amateur City - Katherine V. Forrest - 1/20/15 - 4.0
54. The Fiend Queen - Barbara Ann Wright - 1/21/15 - 3.0
55. March: Book Two - John Robert Lewis - 1/22/15 - 5.0
56. Basti - Intizar Husain - 1/22/15
57. Ever - Gail Levine Carson - 1/22/15 - 4.0
A fun little book read in one moment. One sitting. The story of two born at the same time. One a god. One a mortal. And the story of them finding each other and of the tests they must pass for love.
58. Murder at the Nightwood Bar - Katherine V. Forrest - 1/23/15 - 5.0
Better than the first in the series.
59. Wildfire Volume 1 - Matt Hawkins - 1/24/15 - 4.0
Scientist creates chemical to speed growth of plants in effort to better feed world. During demonstration eco-terrorists break in and burst open containment device containing the gentically altered demonstration dandelions. Dandelions spread like mad. All over LA. Fire breaks out. The world is doooomed! Dooomed! doomed. ah, good, I was able to pull back on the ooo's. Briefly.
60. Star Trek Ongoing Volume 7 - Mike Johnson - 1/25/15 - 4.0
61. Star Trek Ongoing Volume 8 - Mike Johnson - 1/25/15 - 4.0
The comics based on the new version of Star Trek continues. First volume, if I recall correctly, has a coherent story throughout. Second volume has several adventures. I could be wrong about that.
62. Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor - John Byrne - 1/25/15 - 4.0
In between the end of the tv series and the beginning of the film series, McCoy wandered around in a two man, soon to expand to three passenger, medical spaceship. Dispensing medicine on various people.
63. Star Trek Deep Space Nine Fool's Gold - Scott Tipton - 1/25/15 - 4.0
Treasure hunters swarm Deep Space Nine under the idea that clues are hidden on the space station. Clues to a hidden deposit of gems and stuff buried on Bajor during the Cardesian (however that's spelled) reign.
64. Batgirl, Vol. 5: Deadline - Gail Simone - 1/26/15 - 1.0
This incoherent mess was annoying on almost every level. There were like five unrelated stories tacked together. And I kept seeing something like "three months ago". But I never saw anything like "present". So apparently we kept going back in time, by three month blocks. Yet the story arc itself kept moving forward. So what the bloody hell was up with that "three months ago" every other page? bah.
And then she has this mission that she can't accomplish by herself. So she scrambles to find people. The story before that? Or maybe two stories ago. bah. There's this mute super killer who hangs out with her. Tagging along on missions. Except . . . for some unknown reason she wasn't around for when she had to "do something by herself". Nor was she around when she realized she couldn't do the mission by herself and needed help. Then for no apparent reason, Catwoman and Batman's daughter showed up to offer her help (rereading this: I mean that Huntress showed up). The first Batgirl did upon being offered this help was to savagely beat the woman who offered to help her.
Batgirl was an emotional mess who beat everyone around her, was a nasty bitch to everyone who tried to help her (like Poison Ivy and Huntress) and had a massive chip on her shoulder. I'm surprised anyone would want anything to do with her. Or to help her.
And then the last story was set in the future. And Batgirl has bulked up to the size of the Incredible Hulk and goes by the name "Beast". It as quite . . . boring.
The whole bloody mess was incoherent, tedious, and boring.
65. Mirror Images - Scott Tipton - 1/27/14 - 3.0
Stories set in that mirror universe that kept popping up on the television series.
66. The Enemies Within - Michael Z. Lewin - 1/28/14 - 3.0
PI set in Indianapolis. Gets offered the opportunity to go "intimidate" someone. Turns out his client lied to him. Everyone at every opportunity lies to Albert Samson, that PI. He stumbles around, as he does, detecting. He detected good enough to solve the case. The fourth Samson I've read, though this one is the third in the series. I'd previously read 1, 2, 4. Not sure how that happened.
There's a '70s vibe I didn't expect to see regarding to male/female dynamics. For example, he keeps talking about his "woman" but barely ever uses her name. He keeps messing up the relationship but "fixes things" in mysterious ways. I don't know, there was just this odd vibe. Then there was all this talk about computers. I think Lewin even says something like "computer nerd" or "technonerd". Odd to see computers so promptly displayed in a book set in the 1970s. And written in the 1970s (1974).
67. Superman/Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Power Couple - Charles Soule - 1/28/14 - 4.0
I've not really read enough Marvel or DC Comics to say this, but, from what I've read, other than Spiderman, romance doesn't seem to pop up a lot in the mainstream comics. Oh, it might be briefly touched on, pushing one or more people together for a moment or two. But I'm not referring to coupling, I'm referring to romance. Well, this one involved two adults (unlike Spiderman which always seems stuck in teenager land) coming together and figuring out how to be a couple. With the added bonus that Superman isn't out about who he is in real life, as in Clark Kent, while Wonder Woman, apparently in this version, is out. And WW is vaguely concerned about how Superman doesn't want their relationship to be known by others. Etc. etc. Story kept being on the edge of ..... Edge of something. hmms. Edge of annoying me, I guess I'll put it for now. But it didn't tip over.
68. A Grave Talent: A Novel - Laurie R. King - 1/30/14 - 4.0
This is one of those that was quite solid, that I was seriously thinking of rating it 5 stars at one point. Then later seriously considering rating it 3 stars. There were certain elements I can't mention or I'd have to tag this "full of spoilers" that didn't so much annoy me as make me feel let down.
There was a certain amount of manipulation, of author pulling on heart strings to get reactions out of readers that I started to feel a little too acutely.
It was a solid book, beginning middle and end. Epilogue was needed for specific reasons, and yet seemed like it might have been a better book without that tacked onto the end. I mention the solidness of the book as I recall seeing reviews that seemed to indicate an split in the book, a solid mystery in the beginning then a dive into "lesbian matters" or however they put it. After reading the book, I'm quite surprised and confused by that reaction. I didn't get that sense at all.
69. Batgirl: Year One - Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon (Author), Álvaro López (Illustrator), Marcos Martin (Illustrator) - 1/30/15 4.0
This is actually a pretty neat little backstory/origin story on Batgirl's beginnings. And, shesh, people talk about Gail Simone and how much she does for women in comics, but this comic here really seemed to be digging deep into the "women are stronger than male chavinist pigs think".
I was somewhat reluctant to continue my reading of Batgirl after reading the most recent Gail Simone volume. Glad I did. Not five star quality stuff, but still enjoyable.
70. Catwoman: When in Rome - Jeph Loeb - 1/31/15 - 3.0
Catwoman heads off to Rome to try to clear her mind and allow herself to think about her relationship with Batman and how close she wishes to be/get. Since it's all a big riddle and stuff, she invites along the Riddler.
Flashbacks lead back to scenes involving Batman and Catwoman, and dreams/nightmares also lead her to think she keeps seeing Batman. And, for that matter, the Joker. And Freeze's gun turns up, but no Freeze. Scarecrow and Cheetah do turn up, though, as themselves. Cheetah and Catwoman even get into a catfight.
It was an interesting enough diversion, but not the best Catwoman story I've read. Was interesting to see Catwoman in Europe, or any American superhero/villain over there for that matter.
71. Batman: The Wrath - Tony Bedard - 1/31/15 - 3.0
A story from 1984 by Mike Barr & Michael Golden gets a sequel of sorts 25 years latter, this time by Tony Bedard & Rags Morales.
The first story involves a man saw his parents gunned down by a cop the same night Bruce Wayne saw his own parents die. The 'other one' became one of the best assassins around, specializing in targeting coos. Meanwhile, Wayne became Batman.
The second story told over several parts (4), involves a reunion of sorts with Batman, Robin/Nightwing and tge Wrath (Chikd).
Interesting concept. Wasn't the best thing I ever read, but interesting concept.
72. Catwoman, Vol. 5: The Replacements - Will Pfeifer - 1/31/15 - 3.0
Catwoman gives birth. Her friend Holly is the new Catwoman defender of the East End of Gothman.
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January:
Books Read:
Adult: 15
Choice Your Own Adventure: 5
Comics: 6
Comic Strip Collection: 1
Fantasy: 11
Graphic Novels: 28
Historical Fiction:
LGBT: 18
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 17
Memoir: 1
Mystery: 14
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 1
Poetry: 1
Police: 3
PI: 1
Romance: 7
Science Fantasy: 7
Science Fiction: 6
Star Trek: 5
Superhero: 16
Thriller: 1
Short Story: 17
Total # works read: 72
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
1. Sunstone - Stjepan Sejic - 1/1/15 - 4.5
Graphic novel about two women who have a keen interest in dominance, submission and bondage. Neither considers themselves lesbians, but something happens when they meet for the first time and these "feelings" develop.
2. The Batman Adventures: Mad Love - Paul Dini - 1/1/15 - 5.0
One of the first graphic novels I read that both included Harley Quinn, and followed her around. This particular story involves something of a backstory on how Quinn and Joker meet. (actually, now that I look closer, this might be the third or fourth Harley Quinn graphic novel I read).
3. Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Hot in the City - Jimmy Palmiotti - 1/1/15 - 3.50
The "modern" version of Harley Quinn. Living in Brooklyn. Doing stuff. Not connected to Joker any longer. There was an interesting enough plot, well was once we got past the comic issues involving Quinn playing outside the fourth wall with different comic illustrators. Wasn't a very good plot, but was interesting.
4. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 1: The Ring Bearer - Tony Bedard - 1/3/15 - 3.50
5. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 2: Beyond Hope - Tony Bedard - 1/4/15 - 4.0
6. Green Lantern: New Guardians, Vol. 3: Love and Death - Tony Bedard - 1/4/15 - 4.0
Obviously I got distracted by graphic novels right around January 1st. I don't really have anything to say about these there graphic novels other than the story/plot was interesting enough to keep me marching along. And unlike many "mainstream" graphic novels, there really was a beginning, middle, and end for this specific series. I like that. I hate how so many of these graphic novels put out by DC Comics and/or Marvel lack structure and seem endless. Though mostly dislike how they keep going down a particular story path and suddenly the creative teams (writer/illustrator) get replaced and the old story is tossed out and now a new path is being followed without finishing the old.
7. Gotham City Sirens Book One - Paul Dini - 1/5/15 - 3.0
I liked the first book I read by Dini. Too bad I didn't like this one. One of the ones I actually wrote a review for. I'll add that in a different post. The reviews. I think. I see what happens.
8. The House - Cassie Alexander - 1/6/15 - 3.0
Nothing really to say about this one. The first non-graphic novel I read this year. One of those Kindle Unlimited ones, so I was able to save some money there. Reminds me I want to make a post about that, about the cost. Tracking how much I might have had to pay.
This specific book here is one of those adult choose your adventure stories. Vaguely interesting. Somewhat repetitive. Both adult in subject matter and intended audience.
9. Choose Your Erotic Destiny - Luna Swift - 1/6/15 - 3.0
Second non-graphic novel read. Second adult choose your adventure story. My, I certainly am spreading my wings and exploring new things this year, eh? mmphs. I like Alexander's book better than this one. Oh. Just realized I wrote a review for this one as well. Must remember to post it. Oh. That review is mostly just about how Goodreads record for the book is all messed up. Ah well.
10. Choices: A Select Your Own Seduction - Jamie Klaire - 1/6/15 - 4.0
I really get people to want to read my threads, eh? hehe. Yeah, I probably wouldn't be interested either. Graphic novels and erotica fill out the first ten things read this year. Right. Another Choose-your-own-adventure book. Wrote a review for this one as well. Might remember to include it in a review post below in this thread.
11. Out on the Sound - R.E. Bradshaw - 1/6/15 - 4.0
My goodness. An actual non-erotic/non-graphic novel. Thought I'd written a review for this one but I don't seem to see on there. hmms. Story is about two Southern women meeting, falling in love, and coming out as a lesbian couple in a small community. Involves enraged insane mothers (1), insane enraged town folks, and emotional/physical drama/tension.
12. Mind the Gap #16 - Jim McCann - 1/6/15 - 3.0
13. Mind the Gap #17 - Jim McCann - 1/6/15 - 2.0
I hadn't intended to continue this series via comics. I've found that I actually do prefer reading the collections instead of individual comics. Unfortunately this series appear to have sputtered out. #16 came out something like 6 months after the publication date of the last collection, and #17 came out something like a year later. And that was May 21 2014. huh, no, that's six months. Maybe it was six months between issues then another six months since the last issue was published and today. Right, so, got tired of waiting for issues to appear and so just read the tiny little 32 page thingies as is.
14. Post-Hypnotic Wife - Heather McKinney - 1/6/15 - 2.5
ok. shesh. back to erotica. I'm quite boring.
15. Only One Naked - Cassie Caine - 1/6/15 - 4.5
Continuing my moral decay, another adult erotic story. This one by an author I'd read before. The third story I read by them.
16. She Plays His Tune - Misty Lane - 1/6/15 - 4.5
As probably expected, another adult erotic story.
17. Your Naughty Playmate 1 - Soapy Teen Car Wash Fantasy - Amanda Clover - 1/7/15 - 1.5
Horrible little story. At least it was another Kindle Unlimited one.
18. Clothes Call - J.J. Jackson - 1/7/15 - 0.5 stars
Supposedly a choose-your-adventure story with not much "control" actually given. I believe there were three choices in the entire book given to the reader to make.
19. Clockworkers - Ramsey Isler - 1/8/15 - 3.0
Fantasy involving a daughter inheriting her father's elf. Both father and daughter work(ed) in a watch repair shop. Father dies. Daughter gets the elf. Realizes elf exists. Uses elf to vastly expand business and begins selling watches. Daughter 'taught a lesson'.
First non-adult/graphic novel/LGBT book of the year.
20. Becoming a Bimbo - Barbara A. Billingham - 1/8/15 - ....
I could not rate this one.
21. A Pony Play - X. Torvald - 1/9/15 - 3.5
A producer has two plays to cast. A normal play (it is assumed) and a "dog and pony" play. Involving a dog and pony. The roles will be filled by desperate women. One as a dog. One as a pony. It's part one of a series, but since this was released in 2013 and nothing else ever appeared, I assume the series will never be completed.
22. Cassie's Conundrum - Eric Stray - 1/9/15 - ...
Second one i could not rate.
23. Jennifer's Backyard Bondage Tan - 1/9/15 - 4.5
Self bondage in the backyard.
24. Clean Slate - Andrea Bramhall - 1/9/15 - 5.0
Woman of about 36 is viciously attacked. Wakes up in the hospital. Asks for her mum. Mum's been dead these past 17 or so years. Morgan Masters has lost the memory of everything that has happened since she was 19. She does not remember her life, wife, children, nor why she walked out on them three weeks before that vicious attack. A quite good book.
25. Catwoman vol. 2: Crooked Little Town - Ed Brubaker - 1/9/15 - 4.0
Continuing my read of Brubaker's take on Catwoman. One of the problems of graphic novels, at least those which are collections of individually released comics of roughly 32 pages, is that more than one set of volumes can get released. In this particular case there are at least two volumes series that got released. Once back closer to when this series actually was published, second series of collections got released in roughly 2013. Point is that I read Volume 1, then got Volume 2. Volume 2 looked quite repetitive. Then I realized that I had read Volume 1 from the 2013 publications and then read volume 2 of the previous series of collections. That's wordy and probably not coherent. Same set of individual comics, but packaged differently, but both collections use "Volume 1" through whatever the last volume number would be.
So, year(s) ago I started Volume 2, found out I was rereading stuff I'd already read and stopped reading. Ironically, or not, when I restarted the other day I found new stuff. I had stopped where the Volume 1 of the 2013 set stopped overlapping. Good story, methought. Hmms. I've seen methinks. I don't think methought is anything.
Right, so I liked. Went out and got Volume 3. Which turned out to be Volume 3 of the 2013 set. And missing individual comic issues 11-24. So ..... mmphs. Gah, I hate trying to read comics that have been collected more than once.
26. Serenity: Leaves on the Wind - Zack Whedon - 1/10/15 - 3.5
Graphic novel picking up from where the movie left off.
27. Buffy: Season Ten Volume 1: New rules - Christos Gage - 1/10/15 - 4.0
Magic's all messed up and stuff. New rules in play. Etc.
28. First Night on Campus - D. Night - 1/10/15 - 3.0
Another self-bondage story. Not as good as the first one I read by this author.
29. Princess - A Disturbing Psychological Thriller - Jeff Menapace - 1/10/15 - 3.0
A disturbing short story picked up when I saw what challenge one asked for.
30. Empowered, Volume 6 - Adam Warren - 1/11/15 - 3.0
I'd read volumes 1-5 some time ago. Saw a new volume and read it. Also some time ago. Unfortunately that had been volume 7. Didn't really make any sense. Which I later found out because I'd overlooked volume 6. Which I read just now. Well, on the 11th. Wasn't great.
31. Omelette On The Rampage - Lacey Dearie - 1/11/15 - 3.0
Food is self-aware and lustful. Also capable of murder.
32. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
33. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 5.0
32 page individual comics. The group all, oddly at the same time, end up without dwellings. A building is offered if they would clean it up. Of ghosts.
Part 2 was the funniest bit of story I'd read in a while.
34. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Return to Sunnydale, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
35. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Return to Sunnydale, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 4.0
The gang return to Sunnydale. Chasing a someone who stole the new book of magic. Stuff happens.
36. The Twinning of Vincent Cassidy - Edward C. Patterson - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Read only because of that challenge to try something more by an author you didn't like. I'd tried two previous things by Patterson. Couldn't complete either. Well, at least this time I was able to complete the story.
37. The Heatwave: Volume 1 - Karen A. - 1/12/15 - 1.5 stars
Completely boring short story.
38. Training Stephanie - Sara Tyr - 1/12/15 - 2.5 stars
Read because of that "read something that starts with T" challenge.
39. To Every Thing There is Season: A Cape Breton Christmas Story - Alistair MacLeod - 1/12/15 - 4.0
Read because of that died in 2014 challenge. Neat little story.
40. Vaikunt - Hoshang Merchant - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Read because of that Indian Subcontinent challenge. A collection of poems. Some interesting.
41. A Simple Suburban Murder - Mark Richard Zubro - 1/12/15 - 4.0
Read because it won, or at least was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. I think it won. Can't recall. Read because of that and because I never seem to be able to read M-M books and like them. Gave that another go. Liked this book.
42. Catwoman Vol. 3: Relentless - Ed Brubaker - 1/12/15 - 3.0
Kinda boring. If you've been reading down my list of reads, this isn't the volume three I bought after reading Volume 2 above. This is a different volume 3. The Volume three that actually came after the volume 2 I read above. if you haven't read my thread down to here, these here have been a series of completely incoherent sentences.
43. Gay Pride and Prejudice - Kate Christie - 1/13/15 - 4.0
Read because of spotting it in whatever challenge it was in. I'd tried that Zombie one years ago. It looked neat, that zombie one, in the bookstore so bought it. Took home. Tried to continue. Gave up almost immediately. So . . . . I was reluctant to try this one.
Quite well done. Enjoyed it.
44. A Wolf for the Holidays - Bridget Essex - 1/14/15 - 5.0
A woman is once again stood-up by her girlfriend. For the sixth time in six months, this girlfriend either forgets, arrives hours late, or sends a text message hours afterwards to indicate that they won't make dinner. This time, it's Christmas Eve, and Mandy's made a special meal. She loves cooking. She loves showing her love through food. But her girlfriend fails to arrive in time. Then finally arrives hours late. With a massive wolf. As a present. She doesn't apologize for missing dinner. No, she demands to know where it is. Mandy finally gets up the courage to break up with her girlfriend.
Girlfriend leaves. Mandy looks down at the massive wolf with the intelligent eyes. Looks around her tiny studio apartment. Knows she can't keep the wolf. Goes to sleep. Wakes up to see a naked woman rummaging through her dresser looking for clothing. Also, the wolf is missing.
Neat little story.
45. King Lear - William Shakespeare - 1/14/15 - 3
46. The Scorpion God: Three Short Novels - William Golding - 1/15/15 - 2.5
"Accidentally read the last of the short novels first. The one involving steam power, printing presses, and gunpowder in ancient Rome. - I give that one a rating of 3.5."
"The Scorpion God completed. A story of the Nile. The rise and fall of the river. And the human who is declared a God. Who is to make the river rise, and make the river go down again. - 3.5 stars."
"I have no idea how to "take" the middle short novel. Apparently the point of it is that the only way women can be in control is if all men have the intelligence of fruit flies and are gay. I do not believe I've ever read anything more horrible in my life than the middle short novel of this book."
47. A Knight to Remember - Bridget Essex - 1/15/15 - 4.0
48. Big Nate: The Crowd Goes Wild! - Lincoln Pierce - 1/16/15 - 3.0
Needed another "childhood" book as insurance. Read this comic strip collection.
49. Out on the Panhandle - R.E. Bradshaw - 1/16/15 - 5.0
2nd in the series. I admit, some of the scenes brought tears to my eyes. Happy tears.
50. Catwoman Vol.4: Wild Ride - Ed Brubaker - 1/18/15 - 3.5
Weakest of the Brubaker Catwoman series.
51. Ravine Volume 1 - Stjepan Sejic - 1/18/15 - 2.0
Annoying fantasy series. Which got interesting right on the last page.
52. Catwoman Vol.3: Under Pressure - Ed Brubaker - 1/19/15 - 4.5
One of the better Brubaker Catwoman collections.
Note: Despite this being Volume 3 and previous Catwoman read being Volume 4, this book actually collects the individual comics that were issues after Volume 4.
53. Amateur City - Katherine V. Forrest - 1/20/15 - 4.0
54. The Fiend Queen - Barbara Ann Wright - 1/21/15 - 3.0
55. March: Book Two - John Robert Lewis - 1/22/15 - 5.0
56. Basti - Intizar Husain - 1/22/15
57. Ever - Gail Levine Carson - 1/22/15 - 4.0
A fun little book read in one moment. One sitting. The story of two born at the same time. One a god. One a mortal. And the story of them finding each other and of the tests they must pass for love.
58. Murder at the Nightwood Bar - Katherine V. Forrest - 1/23/15 - 5.0
Better than the first in the series.
59. Wildfire Volume 1 - Matt Hawkins - 1/24/15 - 4.0
Scientist creates chemical to speed growth of plants in effort to better feed world. During demonstration eco-terrorists break in and burst open containment device containing the gentically altered demonstration dandelions. Dandelions spread like mad. All over LA. Fire breaks out. The world is doooomed! Dooomed! doomed. ah, good, I was able to pull back on the ooo's. Briefly.
60. Star Trek Ongoing Volume 7 - Mike Johnson - 1/25/15 - 4.0
61. Star Trek Ongoing Volume 8 - Mike Johnson - 1/25/15 - 4.0
The comics based on the new version of Star Trek continues. First volume, if I recall correctly, has a coherent story throughout. Second volume has several adventures. I could be wrong about that.
62. Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor - John Byrne - 1/25/15 - 4.0
In between the end of the tv series and the beginning of the film series, McCoy wandered around in a two man, soon to expand to three passenger, medical spaceship. Dispensing medicine on various people.
63. Star Trek Deep Space Nine Fool's Gold - Scott Tipton - 1/25/15 - 4.0
Treasure hunters swarm Deep Space Nine under the idea that clues are hidden on the space station. Clues to a hidden deposit of gems and stuff buried on Bajor during the Cardesian (however that's spelled) reign.
64. Batgirl, Vol. 5: Deadline - Gail Simone - 1/26/15 - 1.0
This incoherent mess was annoying on almost every level. There were like five unrelated stories tacked together. And I kept seeing something like "three months ago". But I never saw anything like "present". So apparently we kept going back in time, by three month blocks. Yet the story arc itself kept moving forward. So what the bloody hell was up with that "three months ago" every other page? bah.
And then she has this mission that she can't accomplish by herself. So she scrambles to find people. The story before that? Or maybe two stories ago. bah. There's this mute super killer who hangs out with her. Tagging along on missions. Except . . . for some unknown reason she wasn't around for when she had to "do something by herself". Nor was she around when she realized she couldn't do the mission by herself and needed help. Then for no apparent reason, Catwoman and Batman's daughter showed up to offer her help (rereading this: I mean that Huntress showed up). The first Batgirl did upon being offered this help was to savagely beat the woman who offered to help her.
Batgirl was an emotional mess who beat everyone around her, was a nasty bitch to everyone who tried to help her (like Poison Ivy and Huntress) and had a massive chip on her shoulder. I'm surprised anyone would want anything to do with her. Or to help her.
And then the last story was set in the future. And Batgirl has bulked up to the size of the Incredible Hulk and goes by the name "Beast". It as quite . . . boring.
The whole bloody mess was incoherent, tedious, and boring.
65. Mirror Images - Scott Tipton - 1/27/14 - 3.0
Stories set in that mirror universe that kept popping up on the television series.
66. The Enemies Within - Michael Z. Lewin - 1/28/14 - 3.0
PI set in Indianapolis. Gets offered the opportunity to go "intimidate" someone. Turns out his client lied to him. Everyone at every opportunity lies to Albert Samson, that PI. He stumbles around, as he does, detecting. He detected good enough to solve the case. The fourth Samson I've read, though this one is the third in the series. I'd previously read 1, 2, 4. Not sure how that happened.
There's a '70s vibe I didn't expect to see regarding to male/female dynamics. For example, he keeps talking about his "woman" but barely ever uses her name. He keeps messing up the relationship but "fixes things" in mysterious ways. I don't know, there was just this odd vibe. Then there was all this talk about computers. I think Lewin even says something like "computer nerd" or "technonerd". Odd to see computers so promptly displayed in a book set in the 1970s. And written in the 1970s (1974).
67. Superman/Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Power Couple - Charles Soule - 1/28/14 - 4.0
I've not really read enough Marvel or DC Comics to say this, but, from what I've read, other than Spiderman, romance doesn't seem to pop up a lot in the mainstream comics. Oh, it might be briefly touched on, pushing one or more people together for a moment or two. But I'm not referring to coupling, I'm referring to romance. Well, this one involved two adults (unlike Spiderman which always seems stuck in teenager land) coming together and figuring out how to be a couple. With the added bonus that Superman isn't out about who he is in real life, as in Clark Kent, while Wonder Woman, apparently in this version, is out. And WW is vaguely concerned about how Superman doesn't want their relationship to be known by others. Etc. etc. Story kept being on the edge of ..... Edge of something. hmms. Edge of annoying me, I guess I'll put it for now. But it didn't tip over.
68. A Grave Talent: A Novel - Laurie R. King - 1/30/14 - 4.0
This is one of those that was quite solid, that I was seriously thinking of rating it 5 stars at one point. Then later seriously considering rating it 3 stars. There were certain elements I can't mention or I'd have to tag this "full of spoilers" that didn't so much annoy me as make me feel let down.
There was a certain amount of manipulation, of author pulling on heart strings to get reactions out of readers that I started to feel a little too acutely.
It was a solid book, beginning middle and end. Epilogue was needed for specific reasons, and yet seemed like it might have been a better book without that tacked onto the end. I mention the solidness of the book as I recall seeing reviews that seemed to indicate an split in the book, a solid mystery in the beginning then a dive into "lesbian matters" or however they put it. After reading the book, I'm quite surprised and confused by that reaction. I didn't get that sense at all.
69. Batgirl: Year One - Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon (Author), Álvaro López (Illustrator), Marcos Martin (Illustrator) - 1/30/15 4.0
This is actually a pretty neat little backstory/origin story on Batgirl's beginnings. And, shesh, people talk about Gail Simone and how much she does for women in comics, but this comic here really seemed to be digging deep into the "women are stronger than male chavinist pigs think".
I was somewhat reluctant to continue my reading of Batgirl after reading the most recent Gail Simone volume. Glad I did. Not five star quality stuff, but still enjoyable.
70. Catwoman: When in Rome - Jeph Loeb - 1/31/15 - 3.0
Catwoman heads off to Rome to try to clear her mind and allow herself to think about her relationship with Batman and how close she wishes to be/get. Since it's all a big riddle and stuff, she invites along the Riddler.
Flashbacks lead back to scenes involving Batman and Catwoman, and dreams/nightmares also lead her to think she keeps seeing Batman. And, for that matter, the Joker. And Freeze's gun turns up, but no Freeze. Scarecrow and Cheetah do turn up, though, as themselves. Cheetah and Catwoman even get into a catfight.
It was an interesting enough diversion, but not the best Catwoman story I've read. Was interesting to see Catwoman in Europe, or any American superhero/villain over there for that matter.
71. Batman: The Wrath - Tony Bedard - 1/31/15 - 3.0
A story from 1984 by Mike Barr & Michael Golden gets a sequel of sorts 25 years latter, this time by Tony Bedard & Rags Morales.
The first story involves a man saw his parents gunned down by a cop the same night Bruce Wayne saw his own parents die. The 'other one' became one of the best assassins around, specializing in targeting coos. Meanwhile, Wayne became Batman.
The second story told over several parts (4), involves a reunion of sorts with Batman, Robin/Nightwing and tge Wrath (Chikd).
Interesting concept. Wasn't the best thing I ever read, but interesting concept.
72. Catwoman, Vol. 5: The Replacements - Will Pfeifer - 1/31/15 - 3.0
Catwoman gives birth. Her friend Holly is the new Catwoman defender of the East End of Gothman.
2Lexxi
February:
73. Batman: Bruce Wayne, Murderer? - Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, et al - 2/1/15 - 4.0
It's an overall interesting story. Bruce Wayne is out with his bodyguard, Sasha, as Batman. Patrolling. Batman has a bodyguard because Bruce Wayne has a bodyguard. And Sasha is as stubborn and intelligent as Batman, so when Wayne heads off by himself, Sasha has to figure out what's going on. And finds out Wayne is Batman. Therefore she goes out on patrols with him.
So. Batman and Sasha out on patrol. Two different crimes occur right when they are about to head back, so they separate. Both arrive back safely, though Batman is already changed back into Wayne and all showered and stuff. Wayne heads upstairs and finds . . . the body of his ex-girlfriend. He kneels over the body, lifting it up. Sasha stands there stunned. Police break in right then and arrest Wayne and Sasha.
And that's the start of the 624 page volume.
The rest of the book follows various Bat related people, Tim Drake as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler, and Alfred the butler attempt to figure out what his happening and to try to help Batman. Though Batman doesn't want their help.
It's interesting to bump into characters I know and don't know. Judging by the other characters reactions, Sasha is relatively new to their gang. I've personally never heard of her before. Though it is possible I meant a later version of her after she got out of prison. I've meet Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler and Alfred before. But not specifically the same ones as are in this story. I don't think I've meet Tim Drake as Robin before. Not sure. The prior books that I read that included Robin seemed to involve Dick Grayson (or whatever Dick's last name is), who is Nightwing here (and Nightwing in other Nightwing related things I've read). Batgirl is yet another new woman in the role. No clue who she is. They never give her name. Other than Batgirl. Black Canary, Spoiler, and Alfred have all been meet by me before, but mostly as cameos/guest starring roles. So I don't have a good feeling of them.
It's one of those things that pop up in the Batman universe. That Batman doesn't kill. And doesn't like guns. So it seems a no brainer that he didn't kill his ex-girlfriend, right? Since she was shot three times. Except . . . she was shot by Wayne's gun. In his house. And Wayne was found with blood on him. And the dead girl's shoes in his bedroom. Then there's a 911 recording of Vesper Fairchild, the dead ex-girlfriend, moments before she is killed. Could Batman kill? Could something push him over the edge? Most of the characters have to confront the idea that Batman actually did kill. Nightwing can't stand the idea that Batman could kill, or that others might suspect that he could. The others are not so sure.
74. Catwoman: It's Only a Movie - Will Pfeifer - 2/2/15 - 4.0
Will Pfeifer takes over the Catwoman series started in 2002. He didn't take over directly from the guy who was first, Ed Brubaker, but his stories were collected. While the people in between Brubaker and Pfeifer remain uncollected.
Catwoman became pregnant. Could keep bouncing around on rooftops protecting the good citizens of the East End of Gotham, so she retired. But a Catwoman still pounces on bad guys in Gotham. That would be Catwoman's friend Catwoman. heh. Sorry, I just noticed I kept calling Selina Catwoman, so why should I not call the new Catwoman Catwoman? heh. Right. So. Selina Kyle became pregnant, retired. Holly Ican'trememberlastname took over as Catwoman. Meaning that a major DC character was taken over by a lesbian. I don't recall anyone mentioning this at the time.
75. The Cold Dish - Craig Johnson - 2/3/15 - 4.5
Not enjoying the reviews or the description for the book I put into challenge 1, Bitter Cold?, I looked over the other books slotted to be read by others for that challenge. Johnson's book caught my eye first and held it. It's funny, in a way, other than odd books here and there, I hadn't read LGBT related books much before 2011/2. Then I kind of went hog wild with the idea of reading such things. No, this is not a LGBT book. No, the funny thing is how odd it now feels to me when I read a non-LGBT book.
So, Walt Longmire is still mourning the loss of his wife. A call comes in that a body has been found. Being who and the type of man he is and being the Sheriff, he dispatches a deputy to look into this reported dead body. Which is probably a dead animal of one kind or another. I mean, it is being called in by a guy who no one can recall ever hearing sober. "Apparent" dead body turns out to be "actual" dead body. The hunt is on to catch the killer.
The book is thoroughly enjoyable. Top notch writing, story, etc. hmms. And yet I gave it 4.5 instead of 5. And haven't exactly hunted down the next book in the series. Wonder what that's about.
76. Olivia - Dorothy Strachey - 2/4/15 - 4.5
A coming of age story written around 1935 and finally published in 1949. Started off with an interesting introduction. Which was the only in the sample I tried. I'm somewhat glad of that. Otherwise I probably would not have bought it.
Beginning was a little off putting. In a tell not show way the author proceeded to give some details of Olivia up to a religious school she hated in England, and then over to a finishing school near Paris. But then . . . then the story picked up, grasped me and wouldn't let me go. Never really lost the tell not show vibe, but a lovely told story.
77. The Beverly Malibu - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/5/15 - 4.5
An interesting look into old Hollywood, the red scare, and a brief touch on AIDS.
78. Why Isn't Becky Twitchell Dead? - Mark Richard Zubro - 2/5/15 - 4.0
Tom Mason continues to help kids as much as he can (as long as they are over the age of 5).
This time Mrs. Trask comes by Tom's school room to report that her son has been arrested for murder and desires Tom's help. Tom agrees and goes with her to the police station with her. Thereupon unfolds a story involving teenage love, sports, drugs, drinking, parents, people with limited power but who act as if they have more (aka, School Board), teacher unions, car chases in blizzards, blizzards, and brief vague touches of gay sex. Oh, and the worst bratty teenager of all time (the Becky Twitchell from the book title).
An interesting enough story and mystery. And, like last time, Tom's boyfriend, MVP, 3 time Cy Young winner Scott Carpenter helps Tom investigate. And like last time, they kind of stumble around gathering information until they stumble enough into the correct solution. "I must talk to this person now. Now I must talk to this person." "But you shouldn't talk to that one, you could get fired." "So what."
79. Catwoman: Catwoman Dies - Will Pfeifer - 2/7/15 - 3.5
80. Catwoman: Crime Pays - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
81. Catwoman: Long Road Home - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
There are something like three Catwoman series, tagged as Catwoman. The one that came out in 1993-2001, the one that was out in 2002-2008, and the current run that started in 2011. Plus a bunch of mini-series here and there. As far as I know I've not read anything in the first series, and everything that has been published in collections for the second series. Plus four volumes in the most recent series. I obviously can't say anything about the first series.
The second series started off strong under the hand of Brubaker, but even he had his ups and downs. His "downs" though only were down to three stars. His stuff was consistent and made sense. Will Pfeifer's run started off unbalanced and turned left into even more wackiness. That's unfortunate.
Pfeifer controlled Catwoman for 5 collections, or 29 individual comic issues (picking up at 53 until the end of this Catwoman run). He actually had Catwoman for a longer run than Brubaker, but Brubaker's run was far superior. Brubaker had Catwoman for the first 24 issues.
I'm babbling, of course, but then Pfeifer's run felt that way. Him babbling around with vague story ideas. Plots with holes large enough to drive tanks through, and with enough holes for three armies. The Film Freak story line was pretty solid. I say that even though I couldn't wait for it to be over. All the other story arcs kind of went nowhere and came out of left-field. Suddenly Catwoman is on another world. Then . . . suddenly she's back. But . . wait, maybe that's just in her mind, and then . . . maybe not. bah. annoying.
82. Murder by Tradition - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/10/15 - 5.0 - Kate Delafield #4
Every book up until this one involved an investigation into murder. This time it's Law and Order. Opens with murder. Shortly thereafter the police arrest a man for the crime and he confesses. Rest of book is the murder trial.
One of the big points that pop up in both the defense of the defendant and among police officers who are supposed to be investigating the case is the "Homosexual Defense". Two-fold: 1) guy deserved to die because he was gay; 2) defendant deserves to get off due to how a "normal common sense person" would freak out if a homosexual person attempted . . . well, breathing near them.
Oh, and less seen, but this "homosexual element" also impacts the prosecution. None of the male attorneys want the case, so it gets "dumped" onto a female attorney who has never done a murder trial before.
Kate's police partner basically shuts down and wants nothing to do with the case when it turns out that the murder victim is a gay man, and the murderer, during the confession, notes that he freaked out and that's why he killed. Ed wants the guy to get involuntary manslaughter, if that, because gay people are icky. Also, the police officers interviewing neighbors, witnesses, etc., are quite brief as they don't wish to be involved with the case. So Kate has to handle the police side by herself. Mostly.
I wasn't sure how the murder trial would go. How it would be written. I had not read one written by Forrest before. First two witnesses were basically described as "they got up, they gave their testimony, they got off the stand." So, it wasn't looking that thrilling, but then things picked up. In the end, the trial parts were probably among the best scenes I've read.
83. Liberty Square - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/11/15 - 4.0
Kate gets dragged to a reunion in Washington D.C. Apparently Aimee got wind of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam vets. A gathering that Kate has been reluctant to attend before, and still doesn't want to attend. But she gets dragged along. To find herself shot at, then stumble over a dead body. The body of one of her fellow Vietnam vets.
84. Never Bite Anything That Bites Back - Jim Toomey - 2/13/15 - 3.0
85. Think like a Shark: Avoiding a Porpoise Driven Life - Jim Toomey - 2/14/15 - 4.0
86. Coming Home - Jack McDevitt - 11/14/14-2/14/15 - 2.0
Set thousands of years after the USA Space program, the landing on the moon and other such actions. Events take place on Earth and elsewhere, searching for missing artifacts from the 20th Century when humans first went into space.
87. Here we go again - Jim Toomey - 2/15/15 - 4.0
88. Apparition Alley - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/17/15 - 3.0
While recuperating from being shot, Kate is asked to be the defense representative for a fellow police officer. A man charged with shooting a drug dealer. Kate is quite reluctant but does so.
An interesting book. Why did the series fall as low as 3 stars? Because there wasn't anything particularly exciting about the book. It, and the series, have fallen into 'warm comfortable read' territory.
89. Lunch Wore a Speedo - Jim Toomey - 2/17/15 - 3.5
90. Sleeping Bones - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/18/15 - 3.0
A man is found dead next to the La Brea Tar Pits. Shortly thereafter one of the bones from Peking Man is discovered inside the museum. A set of bones missing since WWII. The dead man had been one of the Marines charged with safe-guarding the bones.
There were actually some interesting, exciting, character building stuff going on in this book. But . . still, for one reason or another it still felt more like a 'warm comfortable read' compared to prior books in the series which reached heights above 3 stars.
91. Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold - Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, Madeline D. Davis - 2/20/15 - 4.0
I might be able to get around to a more review review, but for the moment I move the notes I made from the update status part to here.
One of the things I've learned is that Ann Bannon was quite good at capturing the lesbian culture. Written and set in the 1950s and 1960s, the culture displayed corresponds to the culture learned of from the oral history presented in Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the book pulls mostly from the bar culture. There are reasons why it does so, mostly related to how, at the time, if you wished to be openly lesbian you had bars you could go to and . . . . not much else to experience the lesbian culture. At least if you were white. And working class. Blacks had house parties, and then later bars. Unfortunate as I'm not a bar person. So can't relate as well as I might otherwise.
92. Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive - Greg Rucka - 2/20/15 - 4.0
93. Hancock Park - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/21/15 - 3.0
94. High Desert - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/22/15 - 4.0
This is just a note, not a review: One of the things I keep coming across in the Delafield series, at least in the later books, is the idea that Kate knows that she needs to work on her relationship with Aimee, keeps hinting at this knowledge in the book and then . . . . oh look, books over, let's now repeat this in the next book while at the same time undoing what little had been promised in previous books.
If I remembered how to make spoiler tags ...
One of the books ends with Kate agreeing to go to couples counseling and thinking about how she will need to contact, wants to contact, that therapist who she meet when she got shot.
The book after this promise occurs indicates that Kate has not spoken with this therapist since her last session years ago related to the being shot incident.
And her relationship with Aimee is in even worse shape.
It's an interesting series in one specific way. The first book came out in 1984. And a few came out that decade, the '90s, one in the '00s, and then this one in the '10s. 29 years. Some series allow their characters to age and the like. Most, though, tend to stick to a certain range. Like, if a series started with a character at a specific age, somewhere along the line, they just become "an adult" without spending too much time indicating that the character started at roughly 29, and is now 58. Just keeping it at "youngish, middle-agish, still alive" type.
I mention all that because Kate does age. The book is filled with remembrances of her past. The various cases, various locations of her life. Buildings that meant a lot to her which are completely gone now. The book is deeply tied to past and its impact on the present. (less) edit
95. Discount Armageddon - Seanan McGuire - 2/23/15 - 2.0
96. Kick Ass 3 - Mark Millar - 2/26/15 - 2.5
97. Midnight Blue-Light Special - Seanan McGuire - 2/27/15 - 2.0
Reading a 2 star book right after reading another one? In the same series? Without break for something else? Simple enough reason for how that happened. I've read more than one series by McGuire wherein I've alternated between liking/loving/hating/disliking books in her series. With more than one series starting off as one of the lower rated books in the series. And so, with that experience behind me, I just charged forward and read the next book.
Why not anything in between, at least? I was in a hurry. I don't recall if I was leaving for work, or leaving work to go home, or some other situation, but I had limited time. So, I just read the next book in the series. I've done that more than once also. Continued a series simply because I didn't have anything else to read.
Oh. Right. I did read other things in between and during. But those were graphic novels, and I wasn't counting them. Plus I did start this one immediately after finishing the first book in the series.
The things I disliked in the first book were mostly gone. The things I liked were mostly there. So, why 2 stars? Well, first off, if I could give 1/2 stars, I would. So, it's more of a 2 1/2 star read. But, why not at least 3 stars? Well, it was oddly flat. The excitement/pleasure/whatever from starting a new series in a new universe was gone. And nothing really "new" was added.
Well, I've rambled enough without actually being informative or review-like. So, I depart.
73. Batman: Bruce Wayne, Murderer? - Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, et al - 2/1/15 - 4.0
It's an overall interesting story. Bruce Wayne is out with his bodyguard, Sasha, as Batman. Patrolling. Batman has a bodyguard because Bruce Wayne has a bodyguard. And Sasha is as stubborn and intelligent as Batman, so when Wayne heads off by himself, Sasha has to figure out what's going on. And finds out Wayne is Batman. Therefore she goes out on patrols with him.
So. Batman and Sasha out on patrol. Two different crimes occur right when they are about to head back, so they separate. Both arrive back safely, though Batman is already changed back into Wayne and all showered and stuff. Wayne heads upstairs and finds . . . the body of his ex-girlfriend. He kneels over the body, lifting it up. Sasha stands there stunned. Police break in right then and arrest Wayne and Sasha.
And that's the start of the 624 page volume.
The rest of the book follows various Bat related people, Tim Drake as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler, and Alfred the butler attempt to figure out what his happening and to try to help Batman. Though Batman doesn't want their help.
It's interesting to bump into characters I know and don't know. Judging by the other characters reactions, Sasha is relatively new to their gang. I've personally never heard of her before. Though it is possible I meant a later version of her after she got out of prison. I've meet Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler and Alfred before. But not specifically the same ones as are in this story. I don't think I've meet Tim Drake as Robin before. Not sure. The prior books that I read that included Robin seemed to involve Dick Grayson (or whatever Dick's last name is), who is Nightwing here (and Nightwing in other Nightwing related things I've read). Batgirl is yet another new woman in the role. No clue who she is. They never give her name. Other than Batgirl. Black Canary, Spoiler, and Alfred have all been meet by me before, but mostly as cameos/guest starring roles. So I don't have a good feeling of them.
It's one of those things that pop up in the Batman universe. That Batman doesn't kill. And doesn't like guns. So it seems a no brainer that he didn't kill his ex-girlfriend, right? Since she was shot three times. Except . . . she was shot by Wayne's gun. In his house. And Wayne was found with blood on him. And the dead girl's shoes in his bedroom. Then there's a 911 recording of Vesper Fairchild, the dead ex-girlfriend, moments before she is killed. Could Batman kill? Could something push him over the edge? Most of the characters have to confront the idea that Batman actually did kill. Nightwing can't stand the idea that Batman could kill, or that others might suspect that he could. The others are not so sure.
74. Catwoman: It's Only a Movie - Will Pfeifer - 2/2/15 - 4.0
Will Pfeifer takes over the Catwoman series started in 2002. He didn't take over directly from the guy who was first, Ed Brubaker, but his stories were collected. While the people in between Brubaker and Pfeifer remain uncollected.
Catwoman became pregnant. Could keep bouncing around on rooftops protecting the good citizens of the East End of Gotham, so she retired. But a Catwoman still pounces on bad guys in Gotham. That would be Catwoman's friend Catwoman. heh. Sorry, I just noticed I kept calling Selina Catwoman, so why should I not call the new Catwoman Catwoman? heh. Right. So. Selina Kyle became pregnant, retired. Holly Ican'trememberlastname took over as Catwoman. Meaning that a major DC character was taken over by a lesbian. I don't recall anyone mentioning this at the time.
75. The Cold Dish - Craig Johnson - 2/3/15 - 4.5
Not enjoying the reviews or the description for the book I put into challenge 1, Bitter Cold?, I looked over the other books slotted to be read by others for that challenge. Johnson's book caught my eye first and held it. It's funny, in a way, other than odd books here and there, I hadn't read LGBT related books much before 2011/2. Then I kind of went hog wild with the idea of reading such things. No, this is not a LGBT book. No, the funny thing is how odd it now feels to me when I read a non-LGBT book.
So, Walt Longmire is still mourning the loss of his wife. A call comes in that a body has been found. Being who and the type of man he is and being the Sheriff, he dispatches a deputy to look into this reported dead body. Which is probably a dead animal of one kind or another. I mean, it is being called in by a guy who no one can recall ever hearing sober. "Apparent" dead body turns out to be "actual" dead body. The hunt is on to catch the killer.
The book is thoroughly enjoyable. Top notch writing, story, etc. hmms. And yet I gave it 4.5 instead of 5. And haven't exactly hunted down the next book in the series. Wonder what that's about.
76. Olivia - Dorothy Strachey - 2/4/15 - 4.5
A coming of age story written around 1935 and finally published in 1949. Started off with an interesting introduction. Which was the only in the sample I tried. I'm somewhat glad of that. Otherwise I probably would not have bought it.
Beginning was a little off putting. In a tell not show way the author proceeded to give some details of Olivia up to a religious school she hated in England, and then over to a finishing school near Paris. But then . . . then the story picked up, grasped me and wouldn't let me go. Never really lost the tell not show vibe, but a lovely told story.
77. The Beverly Malibu - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/5/15 - 4.5
An interesting look into old Hollywood, the red scare, and a brief touch on AIDS.
78. Why Isn't Becky Twitchell Dead? - Mark Richard Zubro - 2/5/15 - 4.0
Tom Mason continues to help kids as much as he can (as long as they are over the age of 5).
This time Mrs. Trask comes by Tom's school room to report that her son has been arrested for murder and desires Tom's help. Tom agrees and goes with her to the police station with her. Thereupon unfolds a story involving teenage love, sports, drugs, drinking, parents, people with limited power but who act as if they have more (aka, School Board), teacher unions, car chases in blizzards, blizzards, and brief vague touches of gay sex. Oh, and the worst bratty teenager of all time (the Becky Twitchell from the book title).
An interesting enough story and mystery. And, like last time, Tom's boyfriend, MVP, 3 time Cy Young winner Scott Carpenter helps Tom investigate. And like last time, they kind of stumble around gathering information until they stumble enough into the correct solution. "I must talk to this person now. Now I must talk to this person." "But you shouldn't talk to that one, you could get fired." "So what."
79. Catwoman: Catwoman Dies - Will Pfeifer - 2/7/15 - 3.5
80. Catwoman: Crime Pays - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
81. Catwoman: Long Road Home - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
There are something like three Catwoman series, tagged as Catwoman. The one that came out in 1993-2001, the one that was out in 2002-2008, and the current run that started in 2011. Plus a bunch of mini-series here and there. As far as I know I've not read anything in the first series, and everything that has been published in collections for the second series. Plus four volumes in the most recent series. I obviously can't say anything about the first series.
The second series started off strong under the hand of Brubaker, but even he had his ups and downs. His "downs" though only were down to three stars. His stuff was consistent and made sense. Will Pfeifer's run started off unbalanced and turned left into even more wackiness. That's unfortunate.
Pfeifer controlled Catwoman for 5 collections, or 29 individual comic issues (picking up at 53 until the end of this Catwoman run). He actually had Catwoman for a longer run than Brubaker, but Brubaker's run was far superior. Brubaker had Catwoman for the first 24 issues.
I'm babbling, of course, but then Pfeifer's run felt that way. Him babbling around with vague story ideas. Plots with holes large enough to drive tanks through, and with enough holes for three armies. The Film Freak story line was pretty solid. I say that even though I couldn't wait for it to be over. All the other story arcs kind of went nowhere and came out of left-field. Suddenly Catwoman is on another world. Then . . . suddenly she's back. But . . wait, maybe that's just in her mind, and then . . . maybe not. bah. annoying.
82. Murder by Tradition - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/10/15 - 5.0 - Kate Delafield #4
Every book up until this one involved an investigation into murder. This time it's Law and Order. Opens with murder. Shortly thereafter the police arrest a man for the crime and he confesses. Rest of book is the murder trial.
One of the big points that pop up in both the defense of the defendant and among police officers who are supposed to be investigating the case is the "Homosexual Defense". Two-fold: 1) guy deserved to die because he was gay; 2) defendant deserves to get off due to how a "normal common sense person" would freak out if a homosexual person attempted . . . well, breathing near them.
Oh, and less seen, but this "homosexual element" also impacts the prosecution. None of the male attorneys want the case, so it gets "dumped" onto a female attorney who has never done a murder trial before.
Kate's police partner basically shuts down and wants nothing to do with the case when it turns out that the murder victim is a gay man, and the murderer, during the confession, notes that he freaked out and that's why he killed. Ed wants the guy to get involuntary manslaughter, if that, because gay people are icky. Also, the police officers interviewing neighbors, witnesses, etc., are quite brief as they don't wish to be involved with the case. So Kate has to handle the police side by herself. Mostly.
I wasn't sure how the murder trial would go. How it would be written. I had not read one written by Forrest before. First two witnesses were basically described as "they got up, they gave their testimony, they got off the stand." So, it wasn't looking that thrilling, but then things picked up. In the end, the trial parts were probably among the best scenes I've read.
83. Liberty Square - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/11/15 - 4.0
Kate gets dragged to a reunion in Washington D.C. Apparently Aimee got wind of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam vets. A gathering that Kate has been reluctant to attend before, and still doesn't want to attend. But she gets dragged along. To find herself shot at, then stumble over a dead body. The body of one of her fellow Vietnam vets.
84. Never Bite Anything That Bites Back - Jim Toomey - 2/13/15 - 3.0
85. Think like a Shark: Avoiding a Porpoise Driven Life - Jim Toomey - 2/14/15 - 4.0
86. Coming Home - Jack McDevitt - 11/14/14-2/14/15 - 2.0
Set thousands of years after the USA Space program, the landing on the moon and other such actions. Events take place on Earth and elsewhere, searching for missing artifacts from the 20th Century when humans first went into space.
87. Here we go again - Jim Toomey - 2/15/15 - 4.0
88. Apparition Alley - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/17/15 - 3.0
While recuperating from being shot, Kate is asked to be the defense representative for a fellow police officer. A man charged with shooting a drug dealer. Kate is quite reluctant but does so.
An interesting book. Why did the series fall as low as 3 stars? Because there wasn't anything particularly exciting about the book. It, and the series, have fallen into 'warm comfortable read' territory.
89. Lunch Wore a Speedo - Jim Toomey - 2/17/15 - 3.5
90. Sleeping Bones - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/18/15 - 3.0
A man is found dead next to the La Brea Tar Pits. Shortly thereafter one of the bones from Peking Man is discovered inside the museum. A set of bones missing since WWII. The dead man had been one of the Marines charged with safe-guarding the bones.
There were actually some interesting, exciting, character building stuff going on in this book. But . . still, for one reason or another it still felt more like a 'warm comfortable read' compared to prior books in the series which reached heights above 3 stars.
91. Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold - Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, Madeline D. Davis - 2/20/15 - 4.0
I might be able to get around to a more review review, but for the moment I move the notes I made from the update status part to here.
One of the things I've learned is that Ann Bannon was quite good at capturing the lesbian culture. Written and set in the 1950s and 1960s, the culture displayed corresponds to the culture learned of from the oral history presented in Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the book pulls mostly from the bar culture. There are reasons why it does so, mostly related to how, at the time, if you wished to be openly lesbian you had bars you could go to and . . . . not much else to experience the lesbian culture. At least if you were white. And working class. Blacks had house parties, and then later bars. Unfortunate as I'm not a bar person. So can't relate as well as I might otherwise.
92. Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive - Greg Rucka - 2/20/15 - 4.0
93. Hancock Park - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/21/15 - 3.0
94. High Desert - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/22/15 - 4.0
This is just a note, not a review: One of the things I keep coming across in the Delafield series, at least in the later books, is the idea that Kate knows that she needs to work on her relationship with Aimee, keeps hinting at this knowledge in the book and then . . . . oh look, books over, let's now repeat this in the next book while at the same time undoing what little had been promised in previous books.
If I remembered how to make spoiler tags ...
The book after this promise occurs indicates that Kate has not spoken with this therapist since her last session years ago related to the being shot incident.
And her relationship with Aimee is in even worse shape.
It's an interesting series in one specific way. The first book came out in 1984. And a few came out that decade, the '90s, one in the '00s, and then this one in the '10s. 29 years. Some series allow their characters to age and the like. Most, though, tend to stick to a certain range. Like, if a series started with a character at a specific age, somewhere along the line, they just become "an adult" without spending too much time indicating that the character started at roughly 29, and is now 58. Just keeping it at "youngish, middle-agish, still alive" type.
I mention all that because Kate does age. The book is filled with remembrances of her past. The various cases, various locations of her life. Buildings that meant a lot to her which are completely gone now. The book is deeply tied to past and its impact on the present. (less) edit
95. Discount Armageddon - Seanan McGuire - 2/23/15 - 2.0
96. Kick Ass 3 - Mark Millar - 2/26/15 - 2.5
97. Midnight Blue-Light Special - Seanan McGuire - 2/27/15 - 2.0
Reading a 2 star book right after reading another one? In the same series? Without break for something else? Simple enough reason for how that happened. I've read more than one series by McGuire wherein I've alternated between liking/loving/hating/disliking books in her series. With more than one series starting off as one of the lower rated books in the series. And so, with that experience behind me, I just charged forward and read the next book.
Why not anything in between, at least? I was in a hurry. I don't recall if I was leaving for work, or leaving work to go home, or some other situation, but I had limited time. So, I just read the next book in the series. I've done that more than once also. Continued a series simply because I didn't have anything else to read.
Oh. Right. I did read other things in between and during. But those were graphic novels, and I wasn't counting them. Plus I did start this one immediately after finishing the first book in the series.
The things I disliked in the first book were mostly gone. The things I liked were mostly there. So, why 2 stars? Well, first off, if I could give 1/2 stars, I would. So, it's more of a 2 1/2 star read. But, why not at least 3 stars? Well, it was oddly flat. The excitement/pleasure/whatever from starting a new series in a new universe was gone. And nothing really "new" was added.
Well, I've rambled enough without actually being informative or review-like. So, I depart.
3Lexxi
March:
98. Trees, Vol. 1 - Warren Ellis - 3/1/15 - 3.0
99. True Brit - Kim Howard Johnson - 3/1/15 - 3.0
100. Superman: Earth One - J. Michael Straczynski - 3/1/15 - 3.0
101. Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 - J. Michael Straczynski - 3/1/15 - 3.5
102. The Cornish Coast Murder - John Bude - 3/5/15
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude was originally published in either 1933 or 1935, I forget exactly which year. It's an interesting twist on a murder mystery that I hadn't really seen before. It's both a professional investigation, involving a police investigator, and an amateur investigation involving a Vicar (do you capitalize vicar?).
I've sometimes seen something vaguely similar when the police investigating a crime, mostly murder, lock in on a certain individual and so that individual has to try to find the real murderer. Which, in its way, is an amateur and professional investigation. Here, though, the Vicar was never a suspect. So it is two simultaneous investigations. Sometimes working together, sometimes working separately, and mostly following the police investigator.
A good solid book. Had a rather modern feel to it. Well, I guess maybe not. Modern murder mystery's seem depressing and filled with violence and drinking. This one didn't have that. Ah, I recall now how I thought of it while reading it. It had the feel of something written now, but set back in the 1920s, or 1930s (there is one moment when the year is given, though given with a dash; 193-). Not exactly sure why I felt that way while reading it. Anyway, good solid book. A three and a half star book.
102. Dead Heat - Patricia Briggs - 3/5/15 - 3.0
103. Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster): Life Lessons and Other Ravings from Dave Barry - Dave Barry - 3/5/15 - 3.5
104. The Belly of the Beast (Star Trek: S.C.E. #1) - Dean Wesley Smith - 3/6/15
A pretty exciting adventure/exploration story set in the Star Trek Universe.
The first story in the Star Trek: S.C.E. series finds Captain Picard fighting a massive moon sized ship. For hours. Eventually he disables it and calls on the S.C.E. to come investigate the unidentified spaceship. Geordi and Lt. Vale stay behind to help the S.C.E.
It was an interesting story about exploring an unknown spaceship, searching for the missing crew and passengers, trying to find out what they could find out.
A fully formed story on it's own that can be read without reading the 66+ stories that come after it. Some knowledge of Star Trek is likely needed, though I am not sure if required.
The only slow moments, reading-wise not story wise, were the Captain Picard sections, and the Scotty section. But they were quickly read through.
105. Fatal Error - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/6/15 - 4.0
An interesting story about a civilization that has a smart computer powering everything. And a biological race who built said computer so that they could delve more in softness and luxury.
A topic that's come up repeatedly in Star Trek shows and books. A supercomputer running everything. Well, here things are at a different stage than normal. For one, the supercomputer and the biological race are still living relatively well together, with neither devolved, nor evolved. Though the biological race has created a "priesthood" to function as the caretakers for the computer system. So, the story might advance down the path that other Star Trek showed the aftermath of. Devolved biologicals and malfunctioning computers, and a "priesthood" who don't know what they are doing except for "tradition".
Well, as I said, it hasn't devolved to that point yet. No, here, a group decided they didn't like how soft everyone was, and how much the computer control, so they attempted a revolution. A virus got injected into the supercomputer and people were cut off and inconvenienced. The supercomputer called Starfleet for help.
And interesting enough story. A good follow-up from the first story in the series.
106. Hard Crash - Christie Golden - 3/6/15 - 2.0
That's one of the problems when more than one author, separately, writes a series. The characters end up getting developed by one author, furthered by a second, and then a third one comes along and . . . everything is just slightly off enough to be annoying. Then you add an overly sappy storyline. Almost completely off-putting.
107. Interphase, Part 1 - Dayton Ward - 3/7/15 - 2.0
108. Interphase, Part 2 - Dayton Ward - 3/8/15 - 2.5
The two part Interphase story was a pain to get through. Didn't enjoy it at all. While I continue developing a loathing of Duffy, I did, somewhat, find his taking command to be an interesting thing.
It was an okay story. It was also somewhat tedious and by no means a "like" or likeable story.
109. Cold Fusion - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/9/15 - 3.5
Nice to see Nog again. Best part of this specific story. I'm not sure if I particularly like any of the main S.C.E. characters, and I know that I've developed a loathing of Duffy.
The story kind of had a big build up then things fizzled out. Then an abrupt ending.
110. Invincible, Part 1 - David Mack - 3/9/15 - 4.0
111. Invincible, Part 2 - David Mack - 3/9/15 - 3.0
Invincible was split into two parts and sold as such as ebooks way back when. When the omnibus came out, they were merged together with no indication of where the split used to occur. Therefore I have rated the two parts roughly how I felt as I read the story.
The first part got a four star rating as the combined book appeared to be roughly four star quality story/writing/etc. While the second part got a three star rating because the fact that Commander Sonya Gomez kept making mistake after stupid mistake. This is probably the bloodiest Star Trek story I've read that didn't involve ships or planets exploding. But involved up close and personal death. By "monsters".
A lot of those deaths were because of the unusual situation, but how the nature of the planet caused scanners/tricorders to not really work as well as they should. The nature of the planet also made weapons mostly useless, except for sonic weapons. And the unexpected nature of being confronted by a predatory animal that looked like a larger version of a relatively mild and unthreatening creature. So some of the deaths can be put into that category: unexpected developments. Some, though, are definately in the category of: commanding officer, i.e., Sonya Gomez, kept making stupid decisions and mistakes. And then some of the deaths fall into the category of: the aliens under Gomez command are described as being rather stupid and superstitious. Especially when confronted by death.
Right. So. Overall story is something like 3.5. First part gets a 4 star rating, second gets a 3 star rating, combined: 3.5 average.
112. The Riddled Post - Aaron Rosenberg - 3/10/15 - 3.0
113. The Candidate - Tracey Richardson - 3/10/15 - 3.0
114. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon - 3/13/15 - 4.0
115. Here There be Monsters - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/13/15 - 4.0
116. Some Assembly Required - Scott Ciencin - 3/16/15 - 4.0
117. Ambush - Dave Galanter - 3/16/15 - 3.0
118. Caveat Emptor - Ian Edginton - 3/18/15 - 4.5
An interesting story involving the Ferengi. Not many stories about them around. Second one for S.C.E.
119. No Surrender - Jeff Mariotte - 3/18/15 - 4.0
120. Alex + Ada #12 - Jonathan Luna - 3/18/15 - 3.0
121. The New Yorker Cartoons of the Year 2014 - 3/19/15 - 4.0
122. Alex + Ada #13 - Jonathan Luna - 3/19/15 - 3.0
123. Chrononauts #1 - Mark Millar - 3/19/15 - 1/2 star
This story annoys me almost on every level. It's as if Millar set out to have the most cocky scientists possible who ignore all the rules. Which is fine, of course, but . . . mmphs. They not only ignore "the rules", they ignore common sense.
Sending a satellite back in time to watch history unfold? Neat idea. But, um. It's kind of big. And sent back to a time when people stared up at the skies. It's not cloaked or anything, it's just sitting there above the battle of Gettysburg. Is Millar going to link in Jules Verne and the others of the time who pictured men traveling to the moon and the like? Saying it's Millar's scientists who inspired them? Maybe. I get the sense that Millar just forget that aspect.
Then again, he is self aware enough to have one of his scientists answer the obvious question of "what happens if something changes because humans go back?" with "we don't make mistakes." His scientists are morons. Everyone makes mistakes. Actually, the question itself annoys me. Because the reporter asked what I paraphrased above, but it was more "now that humans are going back in time . . ." completely ignoring that sending "stuff" like satellite's back in time that hover in space, degrade, and fall to earth kind of have an impact on the past. Which is ignored.
Oh, and finding an F-14 in a 6,000 year old temple, an F-14 that may or may not be the one missing from the 1970s is 1) a sign time travel can work, 2) not a sign that time travel should be studied. If you are finding a lot of stuff in the news about "recent past stuff" popping up in digs of ancient civilizations, then that's a big sign that stuff isn't working right. There should be no bloody evidence. No footprint left.
What the bloody hell is the idea behind the first test of sending humans back in time, is to send them to 1492 to meet Columbus? Um. Have the first test involve the human going back to, say, last Tuesday. M'okay?
Then when one idiot time travellor goes off course, a second one leaps into the system to "rescue him", without taking any consideration to disease, contamination, etc. Just "I'm going to leap into this machine now in my skin tight orange jumpsuit and be back in a jiffy". mmphs.
The set-up was annoying. The idea is interesting. But the set up makes me want to kick Millar in the balls.
125. Past Life - Robert Greenberger - 3/19/15 - 5.0
It would be neat if there had been a Star Trek series that had gone this direction. I'm not sure if other readers would have been interested, but I would have been. A series, that is, that was in the Star Trek universe and involved examining and studying the various artifacts, civilizations, ruins, remains spread around Federation space, and outside.
Which, in a way, this specific story was about. Finding an artifact, examining it. Interacting with it and the planet on which it rests.
Some of the best Stargate episodes were like this type of scenario. Star Trek had a few that went this direction, but most that went this direction involved being flung through time, and/or hints of exploration and desire to do so, while busy doing something else. So it was nice to see a scenario that involved exploration/examination/digging without an ancient computer/aliens/robots/insects/all powerful beings/floating brains trying to do harm.
126. Oaths - Glenn Hauman - 3/19/15 - 5.0
127. Infinity's Prism - Willaim Leisner, Christopher L. Bennett, James Swallow - 3/24/15 - 5.0
A three book collection of Star Trek themed stories. These three stories are unrelated to each other except in theme. In that they are alternate paths that might have occurred. Alternate universes, though none are part of the Mirror Universe that had popped up in Star Trek episodes, nor are any of them related to the alternate universe the current movie franchise is following.
The first book in the collection is by William Leisner called "A Less Perfect Union. It's the first 33% of the book. Making this part of the book to be roughly 176 pages in length. I think.
It involves a universe in which the foundation of the Federation collapsed in the formative stages. Due to a terrorist attack, Earth decided to go its own way, though not as "evilly" as in the Mirror Universe. Meanwhile, the others who were to be the founders of the Federation went off to form their own union.
The story picks up roughly.... Darn. They said in the book how long had occurred but I did not make note of it at the time. It may be about 50 to 100 years after the Federation was "supposed" to be founded. T'Pol as the last surviving member of the original Enterprise, Captain Pike of the current Enterprise, his first officer Kirk, and two diplomats head out on a mission to petition to join this other Federation which goes by another name that I forget now (hmms, it's actually up on Wikipedia, Coalition of Planets). A rather good story that I ended up rating 4.75 stars.
The second book is by Christopher L. Bennet and called Places of Exile. Roughly 192 pages in length. This one is a story involving the crew of Voyager. The story moves away from what occurred on the show at roughly the point Voyager meets the Borg in the Delta Quadrant (there is an internal note that the story takes place “during the latter half of the Voyager episode “Scorpion, Part 1” and concludes some two years later”; the two part Scorpion occurred at the end of season 3, and beginning of season 4.) A different choice is made when dealing with the Borg and Species insert long number here; a Star Trek website says that it is Species 8472. Species Numbers is from another universe and is retaliating on a Borg incursion.
Voyager had found itself in the middle in this fight. In the show Voyager gets past it by helping the Borg take on these others in return to safe passage through Borg space. In the "Places of Exile" book, Chakotay talks Janeway into rethinking her plan. Voyager is beaten up and is no longer warp-capable. And the crew, those still alive, must find some means of eeking out an existence in the Delta Quadrant.
Another interesting look into an alternate path, an alternate universe. The rating somewhat bumped up due to the action towards the end of the story. Bumped up to 4.50.
128. A Christmas to Remember - Matt Shaw - 3/15/15 - 4.0
Well, this started off strangely. Note to anyone reading this review before deciding to read the book: Don't start this at the same time you start eating food. You really don't want to be in that situation. Ended up not continuing lunch. Though I did continue the book.
Wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I kinda expected someone to jump out horror villain style. Lurking menacingly. Also, considering I didn't happen to skim any notice of it in the little I read of the description of the book or reviews or shelves, I certainly wasn't expecting erotica.
Well written. To be fair, I read only two of the tracks. One ended badly, one ended with a note like "this is the best possible ending." I'm hesitant to try the other tracks now. Probably ruin the book for me. Might lower the star rating. On the other hand I might love the other tracks. Doubtful, but, eh. heh.
This is my "I've read two beginnings, middles, and endings so ...." review. May or may not be updated if I do read other threads.
hmms. Something that put me off my lunch, then included erotica. Read while I was on break from work. That may or may not have an impact on the rating.
129. Thrusts of Justice - Matt Youngmark - 3/25/15 - 3.0
There is an interesting story embedded in this "Choose Your Own Adventure" type book. It might have been better as a straight forward narrative book. I say that mostly because there seems to be a specific path that must be taken to "succeed". Most paths seem to end way quicker than you would except and if you back track, you find that both choices lead to endings.
Still, there's an interesting enough story to keep things entertaining and enjoyable.
130. Choose Your Misadventure: Online Dating - Jenny Young - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This is mostly a dumbish book. With options that ddn't really meet what I was looking for. I suppose the book was saved from lower rating from two story lines that were weird and goofy, and apparently successful.
Mostly saved by the fish story line. The one moment when I actually did laugh. From the idea of a fish, I suppose. Don't make me examine why I laughed. It'd ruin it. Probably.
131. Death by Halloween - David Warkentin - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This was kind of boring with story lines that were more annoying than anything else. Until one story line was good enough to keep my interest. Still more odd than creepy and/or horrifying.
132. Magic Beginnings - Kayla Bashe - 3/25/15 - 3.0
Um, what the heck did I just read?
In terms of a "Choose your own adventure" type book, there were a little too many occasions wherein the choice was (1/1) go here. As in, the story just continued. But there was a hyperlink to click on to reach the continuation of the story.
In terms of a fantasy . . .. hmms. Not much background given, though some of the universe gets filtered into your brain. Sometimes in something like infodumps. Though they were interesting infodumps. Apparently in this universe there are these monsters that like to wander around attacking. By making people depressed, angry, etc. Occasionally by eating them. Humans are defended from these monsters by Magic Girls who become Magic Women. Who train at Magical Girls Academy.
In terms of LGBT . . .. Not actually sure what function the men serve in this society. The women are magical, at least the ones that are magical heh, have kids, and have lesbian partners. The men . . . um . . . farm? So, not only is lesbian activities allowed/accepted/etc., they are basically expected and maybe, though not directly stated in this book, required. So, that's the L in LGBT.
Last note: Seemed like a quick read but I have no idea how long the book actually was. No source, or at least here and Amazon, has information on the length of this book.
133. Under The Tuscan Son A 'Come As You Wish' Adventure - June Pea Kim - 3/25/15 - 4.5
134. Leger's Clowder - Lacey Dearie - 3/26/15 - 4.0
A solid and interesting entry in the Leger saga. A good beginning to the Hotel cat adventures. My brain does not seem to be functioning coherently enough for me to say much of interest.
So . . . a good short story. Involving Leger, Lily, Leger's friendly sea gull, the resident cats on the island, female construction workers, Tony from prior stories, his human companions, Bob his dog friend. Mixed up in the case of the "who stole the three wallets?" Which rapidly morphed into "did the person who appears guilty actually do the deed," before Leger could even begin investigating.
Hmms. Leger's Clowder. Odd. They are not exactly his Clowder, at least not at this point.
135. Time Travel Dinosaur - Matt Youngmark - 3/26/15 - 4.0
Another interesting choose your adventure story, somewhat marred by being broken. As in, at some point I'm told to turn to page 9. There is in fact a page nine, but I have to hunt all over the ebook to find it since the hyperlink that would have taken me to it is not included on the page that says to turn to page 9.
So. Alternate evolution (dinosaurs evolving to humoid like creatures), steampunk, mad scientists, insane goblins, biped dolphin women, time travel, references to Scott Bakula, all included.
I do not recall if gender is expressed in the "you", though "you" appear vaguely surprised to be about to give birth, so maybe "you" were male at some point. Your mind kind of drifts in the story, so you've probably been in every gender and in everything. Heck, the book starts with you inside a female dog (that's part of the "Bakula" reference, time travel through traveling into people's/things heads).
This is the third in this specific series, and the quality of the writing seems to reflect that, though I haven't read the first one yet. They are related in being choose your own adventure books, but not by any other means. Well, other than being by the same author. So . . . somewhat higher quality writing, mostly referring here to the choices given are less annoying than they were in the Superhero book.
hmms. Not sure what else to note here. Good enough read. Nothing erotic or romantic occurs. There's violence, blood, and death. I suppose all I'm left with is that I would recommend it.
136. Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations - The Collectors - Christopher L. Bennett - 3/27/15 - 4.0
If we had half stars on here I'd probably . . . hmms, seriously considering giving this book a half star above 4. Though, back in the days when I was really nitpicky, and diving deep into ratings, this would probably fall closer to being a 4.25 book.
Right. So, the third book in the Department of Temporal Investigations series set in the Star Trek universe. Included for the readers attention are: strange devices discovered; time travel devices stored in vaults; displacement in time; parallel universes; travels to the distant future; travels to the distant past; (view spoiler); changes . . . and stuff.
This is neither the best Star Trek themed book I've read this year, nor the worst. And if I recall correctly, it might be the second best Bennett Star Trek book I've read this year (this being a comparison of two books, I think only two, with each other).
There is an interesting plot and storyline. Interesting characters. And . . um . . . a good conclusion, I think, to this series. If it is a conclusion. Otherwise a good continuation of this series.
137. Leger's Son - Lacey Dearie - 3/30/15 - 4.0
There's more character building than mystery, but still another solid addition to the overall Leger storyline.
A woman has turned up to help out around the hotel. Mostly by painting the hotel. With the woman is Leger's son, August. So it's a reunion of sorts. Times two. August and Leger. That woman and Leger's family. A reunion due to who she is and who is related to in life.
She's the sister of the man (boy? I've forgotten how old the guy was) who had attacked Hugh at some point in the past.
heh. Looking back at the story description and I haven't really added much to what's already on the website. Let me see, what can I add that isn't in the description without moving into spoiler territory. Well, Lilly is involved, the friendly calico kitty who has been living with Leger's family. As is Bob, the dog. And Piper of the island clowder. Oh, and . . hmms . . Garity? Ah, heh, I'm combining the sister's name, Verity, with Garrix, the cat. Right, so Garrix of the clowder is also involved. No birds. Only one dog, several cats, and several humans.
138. Star Trek: Ongoing, Volume 9: The Q Gambit - Mike Johnson - 3/30/15 - 4.0
98. Trees, Vol. 1 - Warren Ellis - 3/1/15 - 3.0
99. True Brit - Kim Howard Johnson - 3/1/15 - 3.0
100. Superman: Earth One - J. Michael Straczynski - 3/1/15 - 3.0
101. Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 - J. Michael Straczynski - 3/1/15 - 3.5
102. The Cornish Coast Murder - John Bude - 3/5/15
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude was originally published in either 1933 or 1935, I forget exactly which year. It's an interesting twist on a murder mystery that I hadn't really seen before. It's both a professional investigation, involving a police investigator, and an amateur investigation involving a Vicar (do you capitalize vicar?).
I've sometimes seen something vaguely similar when the police investigating a crime, mostly murder, lock in on a certain individual and so that individual has to try to find the real murderer. Which, in its way, is an amateur and professional investigation. Here, though, the Vicar was never a suspect. So it is two simultaneous investigations. Sometimes working together, sometimes working separately, and mostly following the police investigator.
A good solid book. Had a rather modern feel to it. Well, I guess maybe not. Modern murder mystery's seem depressing and filled with violence and drinking. This one didn't have that. Ah, I recall now how I thought of it while reading it. It had the feel of something written now, but set back in the 1920s, or 1930s (there is one moment when the year is given, though given with a dash; 193-). Not exactly sure why I felt that way while reading it. Anyway, good solid book. A three and a half star book.
102. Dead Heat - Patricia Briggs - 3/5/15 - 3.0
103. Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster): Life Lessons and Other Ravings from Dave Barry - Dave Barry - 3/5/15 - 3.5
104. The Belly of the Beast (Star Trek: S.C.E. #1) - Dean Wesley Smith - 3/6/15
A pretty exciting adventure/exploration story set in the Star Trek Universe.
The first story in the Star Trek: S.C.E. series finds Captain Picard fighting a massive moon sized ship. For hours. Eventually he disables it and calls on the S.C.E. to come investigate the unidentified spaceship. Geordi and Lt. Vale stay behind to help the S.C.E.
It was an interesting story about exploring an unknown spaceship, searching for the missing crew and passengers, trying to find out what they could find out.
A fully formed story on it's own that can be read without reading the 66+ stories that come after it. Some knowledge of Star Trek is likely needed, though I am not sure if required.
The only slow moments, reading-wise not story wise, were the Captain Picard sections, and the Scotty section. But they were quickly read through.
105. Fatal Error - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/6/15 - 4.0
An interesting story about a civilization that has a smart computer powering everything. And a biological race who built said computer so that they could delve more in softness and luxury.
A topic that's come up repeatedly in Star Trek shows and books. A supercomputer running everything. Well, here things are at a different stage than normal. For one, the supercomputer and the biological race are still living relatively well together, with neither devolved, nor evolved. Though the biological race has created a "priesthood" to function as the caretakers for the computer system. So, the story might advance down the path that other Star Trek showed the aftermath of. Devolved biologicals and malfunctioning computers, and a "priesthood" who don't know what they are doing except for "tradition".
Well, as I said, it hasn't devolved to that point yet. No, here, a group decided they didn't like how soft everyone was, and how much the computer control, so they attempted a revolution. A virus got injected into the supercomputer and people were cut off and inconvenienced. The supercomputer called Starfleet for help.
And interesting enough story. A good follow-up from the first story in the series.
106. Hard Crash - Christie Golden - 3/6/15 - 2.0
That's one of the problems when more than one author, separately, writes a series. The characters end up getting developed by one author, furthered by a second, and then a third one comes along and . . . everything is just slightly off enough to be annoying. Then you add an overly sappy storyline. Almost completely off-putting.
107. Interphase, Part 1 - Dayton Ward - 3/7/15 - 2.0
108. Interphase, Part 2 - Dayton Ward - 3/8/15 - 2.5
The two part Interphase story was a pain to get through. Didn't enjoy it at all. While I continue developing a loathing of Duffy, I did, somewhat, find his taking command to be an interesting thing.
It was an okay story. It was also somewhat tedious and by no means a "like" or likeable story.
109. Cold Fusion - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/9/15 - 3.5
Nice to see Nog again. Best part of this specific story. I'm not sure if I particularly like any of the main S.C.E. characters, and I know that I've developed a loathing of Duffy.
The story kind of had a big build up then things fizzled out. Then an abrupt ending.
110. Invincible, Part 1 - David Mack - 3/9/15 - 4.0
111. Invincible, Part 2 - David Mack - 3/9/15 - 3.0
Invincible was split into two parts and sold as such as ebooks way back when. When the omnibus came out, they were merged together with no indication of where the split used to occur. Therefore I have rated the two parts roughly how I felt as I read the story.
The first part got a four star rating as the combined book appeared to be roughly four star quality story/writing/etc. While the second part got a three star rating because the fact that Commander Sonya Gomez kept making mistake after stupid mistake. This is probably the bloodiest Star Trek story I've read that didn't involve ships or planets exploding. But involved up close and personal death. By "monsters".
A lot of those deaths were because of the unusual situation, but how the nature of the planet caused scanners/tricorders to not really work as well as they should. The nature of the planet also made weapons mostly useless, except for sonic weapons. And the unexpected nature of being confronted by a predatory animal that looked like a larger version of a relatively mild and unthreatening creature. So some of the deaths can be put into that category: unexpected developments. Some, though, are definately in the category of: commanding officer, i.e., Sonya Gomez, kept making stupid decisions and mistakes. And then some of the deaths fall into the category of: the aliens under Gomez command are described as being rather stupid and superstitious. Especially when confronted by death.
Right. So. Overall story is something like 3.5. First part gets a 4 star rating, second gets a 3 star rating, combined: 3.5 average.
112. The Riddled Post - Aaron Rosenberg - 3/10/15 - 3.0
113. The Candidate - Tracey Richardson - 3/10/15 - 3.0
114. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon - 3/13/15 - 4.0
115. Here There be Monsters - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/13/15 - 4.0
116. Some Assembly Required - Scott Ciencin - 3/16/15 - 4.0
117. Ambush - Dave Galanter - 3/16/15 - 3.0
118. Caveat Emptor - Ian Edginton - 3/18/15 - 4.5
An interesting story involving the Ferengi. Not many stories about them around. Second one for S.C.E.
119. No Surrender - Jeff Mariotte - 3/18/15 - 4.0
120. Alex + Ada #12 - Jonathan Luna - 3/18/15 - 3.0
121. The New Yorker Cartoons of the Year 2014 - 3/19/15 - 4.0
122. Alex + Ada #13 - Jonathan Luna - 3/19/15 - 3.0
123. Chrononauts #1 - Mark Millar - 3/19/15 - 1/2 star
This story annoys me almost on every level. It's as if Millar set out to have the most cocky scientists possible who ignore all the rules. Which is fine, of course, but . . . mmphs. They not only ignore "the rules", they ignore common sense.
Sending a satellite back in time to watch history unfold? Neat idea. But, um. It's kind of big. And sent back to a time when people stared up at the skies. It's not cloaked or anything, it's just sitting there above the battle of Gettysburg. Is Millar going to link in Jules Verne and the others of the time who pictured men traveling to the moon and the like? Saying it's Millar's scientists who inspired them? Maybe. I get the sense that Millar just forget that aspect.
Then again, he is self aware enough to have one of his scientists answer the obvious question of "what happens if something changes because humans go back?" with "we don't make mistakes." His scientists are morons. Everyone makes mistakes. Actually, the question itself annoys me. Because the reporter asked what I paraphrased above, but it was more "now that humans are going back in time . . ." completely ignoring that sending "stuff" like satellite's back in time that hover in space, degrade, and fall to earth kind of have an impact on the past. Which is ignored.
Oh, and finding an F-14 in a 6,000 year old temple, an F-14 that may or may not be the one missing from the 1970s is 1) a sign time travel can work, 2) not a sign that time travel should be studied. If you are finding a lot of stuff in the news about "recent past stuff" popping up in digs of ancient civilizations, then that's a big sign that stuff isn't working right. There should be no bloody evidence. No footprint left.
What the bloody hell is the idea behind the first test of sending humans back in time, is to send them to 1492 to meet Columbus? Um. Have the first test involve the human going back to, say, last Tuesday. M'okay?
Then when one idiot time travellor goes off course, a second one leaps into the system to "rescue him", without taking any consideration to disease, contamination, etc. Just "I'm going to leap into this machine now in my skin tight orange jumpsuit and be back in a jiffy". mmphs.
The set-up was annoying. The idea is interesting. But the set up makes me want to kick Millar in the balls.
125. Past Life - Robert Greenberger - 3/19/15 - 5.0
It would be neat if there had been a Star Trek series that had gone this direction. I'm not sure if other readers would have been interested, but I would have been. A series, that is, that was in the Star Trek universe and involved examining and studying the various artifacts, civilizations, ruins, remains spread around Federation space, and outside.
Which, in a way, this specific story was about. Finding an artifact, examining it. Interacting with it and the planet on which it rests.
Some of the best Stargate episodes were like this type of scenario. Star Trek had a few that went this direction, but most that went this direction involved being flung through time, and/or hints of exploration and desire to do so, while busy doing something else. So it was nice to see a scenario that involved exploration/examination/digging without an ancient computer/aliens/robots/insects/all powerful beings/floating brains trying to do harm.
126. Oaths - Glenn Hauman - 3/19/15 - 5.0
127. Infinity's Prism - Willaim Leisner, Christopher L. Bennett, James Swallow - 3/24/15 - 5.0
A three book collection of Star Trek themed stories. These three stories are unrelated to each other except in theme. In that they are alternate paths that might have occurred. Alternate universes, though none are part of the Mirror Universe that had popped up in Star Trek episodes, nor are any of them related to the alternate universe the current movie franchise is following.
The first book in the collection is by William Leisner called "A Less Perfect Union. It's the first 33% of the book. Making this part of the book to be roughly 176 pages in length. I think.
It involves a universe in which the foundation of the Federation collapsed in the formative stages. Due to a terrorist attack, Earth decided to go its own way, though not as "evilly" as in the Mirror Universe. Meanwhile, the others who were to be the founders of the Federation went off to form their own union.
The story picks up roughly.... Darn. They said in the book how long had occurred but I did not make note of it at the time. It may be about 50 to 100 years after the Federation was "supposed" to be founded. T'Pol as the last surviving member of the original Enterprise, Captain Pike of the current Enterprise, his first officer Kirk, and two diplomats head out on a mission to petition to join this other Federation which goes by another name that I forget now (hmms, it's actually up on Wikipedia, Coalition of Planets). A rather good story that I ended up rating 4.75 stars.
The second book is by Christopher L. Bennet and called Places of Exile. Roughly 192 pages in length. This one is a story involving the crew of Voyager. The story moves away from what occurred on the show at roughly the point Voyager meets the Borg in the Delta Quadrant (there is an internal note that the story takes place “during the latter half of the Voyager episode “Scorpion, Part 1” and concludes some two years later”; the two part Scorpion occurred at the end of season 3, and beginning of season 4.) A different choice is made when dealing with the Borg and Species insert long number here; a Star Trek website says that it is Species 8472. Species Numbers is from another universe and is retaliating on a Borg incursion.
Voyager had found itself in the middle in this fight. In the show Voyager gets past it by helping the Borg take on these others in return to safe passage through Borg space. In the "Places of Exile" book, Chakotay talks Janeway into rethinking her plan. Voyager is beaten up and is no longer warp-capable. And the crew, those still alive, must find some means of eeking out an existence in the Delta Quadrant.
Another interesting look into an alternate path, an alternate universe. The rating somewhat bumped up due to the action towards the end of the story. Bumped up to 4.50.
128. A Christmas to Remember - Matt Shaw - 3/15/15 - 4.0
Well, this started off strangely. Note to anyone reading this review before deciding to read the book: Don't start this at the same time you start eating food. You really don't want to be in that situation. Ended up not continuing lunch. Though I did continue the book.
Wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I kinda expected someone to jump out horror villain style. Lurking menacingly. Also, considering I didn't happen to skim any notice of it in the little I read of the description of the book or reviews or shelves, I certainly wasn't expecting erotica.
Well written. To be fair, I read only two of the tracks. One ended badly, one ended with a note like "this is the best possible ending." I'm hesitant to try the other tracks now. Probably ruin the book for me. Might lower the star rating. On the other hand I might love the other tracks. Doubtful, but, eh. heh.
This is my "I've read two beginnings, middles, and endings so ...." review. May or may not be updated if I do read other threads.
hmms. Something that put me off my lunch, then included erotica. Read while I was on break from work. That may or may not have an impact on the rating.
129. Thrusts of Justice - Matt Youngmark - 3/25/15 - 3.0
There is an interesting story embedded in this "Choose Your Own Adventure" type book. It might have been better as a straight forward narrative book. I say that mostly because there seems to be a specific path that must be taken to "succeed". Most paths seem to end way quicker than you would except and if you back track, you find that both choices lead to endings.
Still, there's an interesting enough story to keep things entertaining and enjoyable.
130. Choose Your Misadventure: Online Dating - Jenny Young - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This is mostly a dumbish book. With options that ddn't really meet what I was looking for. I suppose the book was saved from lower rating from two story lines that were weird and goofy, and apparently successful.
Mostly saved by the fish story line. The one moment when I actually did laugh. From the idea of a fish, I suppose. Don't make me examine why I laughed. It'd ruin it. Probably.
131. Death by Halloween - David Warkentin - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This was kind of boring with story lines that were more annoying than anything else. Until one story line was good enough to keep my interest. Still more odd than creepy and/or horrifying.
132. Magic Beginnings - Kayla Bashe - 3/25/15 - 3.0
Um, what the heck did I just read?
In terms of a "Choose your own adventure" type book, there were a little too many occasions wherein the choice was (1/1) go here. As in, the story just continued. But there was a hyperlink to click on to reach the continuation of the story.
In terms of a fantasy . . .. hmms. Not much background given, though some of the universe gets filtered into your brain. Sometimes in something like infodumps. Though they were interesting infodumps. Apparently in this universe there are these monsters that like to wander around attacking. By making people depressed, angry, etc. Occasionally by eating them. Humans are defended from these monsters by Magic Girls who become Magic Women. Who train at Magical Girls Academy.
In terms of LGBT . . .. Not actually sure what function the men serve in this society. The women are magical, at least the ones that are magical heh, have kids, and have lesbian partners. The men . . . um . . . farm? So, not only is lesbian activities allowed/accepted/etc., they are basically expected and maybe, though not directly stated in this book, required. So, that's the L in LGBT.
Last note: Seemed like a quick read but I have no idea how long the book actually was. No source, or at least here and Amazon, has information on the length of this book.
133. Under The Tuscan Son A 'Come As You Wish' Adventure - June Pea Kim - 3/25/15 - 4.5
134. Leger's Clowder - Lacey Dearie - 3/26/15 - 4.0
A solid and interesting entry in the Leger saga. A good beginning to the Hotel cat adventures. My brain does not seem to be functioning coherently enough for me to say much of interest.
So . . . a good short story. Involving Leger, Lily, Leger's friendly sea gull, the resident cats on the island, female construction workers, Tony from prior stories, his human companions, Bob his dog friend. Mixed up in the case of the "who stole the three wallets?" Which rapidly morphed into "did the person who appears guilty actually do the deed," before Leger could even begin investigating.
Hmms. Leger's Clowder. Odd. They are not exactly his Clowder, at least not at this point.
135. Time Travel Dinosaur - Matt Youngmark - 3/26/15 - 4.0
Another interesting choose your adventure story, somewhat marred by being broken. As in, at some point I'm told to turn to page 9. There is in fact a page nine, but I have to hunt all over the ebook to find it since the hyperlink that would have taken me to it is not included on the page that says to turn to page 9.
So. Alternate evolution (dinosaurs evolving to humoid like creatures), steampunk, mad scientists, insane goblins, biped dolphin women, time travel, references to Scott Bakula, all included.
I do not recall if gender is expressed in the "you", though "you" appear vaguely surprised to be about to give birth, so maybe "you" were male at some point. Your mind kind of drifts in the story, so you've probably been in every gender and in everything. Heck, the book starts with you inside a female dog (that's part of the "Bakula" reference, time travel through traveling into people's/things heads).
This is the third in this specific series, and the quality of the writing seems to reflect that, though I haven't read the first one yet. They are related in being choose your own adventure books, but not by any other means. Well, other than being by the same author. So . . . somewhat higher quality writing, mostly referring here to the choices given are less annoying than they were in the Superhero book.
hmms. Not sure what else to note here. Good enough read. Nothing erotic or romantic occurs. There's violence, blood, and death. I suppose all I'm left with is that I would recommend it.
136. Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations - The Collectors - Christopher L. Bennett - 3/27/15 - 4.0
If we had half stars on here I'd probably . . . hmms, seriously considering giving this book a half star above 4. Though, back in the days when I was really nitpicky, and diving deep into ratings, this would probably fall closer to being a 4.25 book.
Right. So, the third book in the Department of Temporal Investigations series set in the Star Trek universe. Included for the readers attention are: strange devices discovered; time travel devices stored in vaults; displacement in time; parallel universes; travels to the distant future; travels to the distant past; (view spoiler); changes . . . and stuff.
This is neither the best Star Trek themed book I've read this year, nor the worst. And if I recall correctly, it might be the second best Bennett Star Trek book I've read this year (this being a comparison of two books, I think only two, with each other).
There is an interesting plot and storyline. Interesting characters. And . . um . . . a good conclusion, I think, to this series. If it is a conclusion. Otherwise a good continuation of this series.
137. Leger's Son - Lacey Dearie - 3/30/15 - 4.0
There's more character building than mystery, but still another solid addition to the overall Leger storyline.
A woman has turned up to help out around the hotel. Mostly by painting the hotel. With the woman is Leger's son, August. So it's a reunion of sorts. Times two. August and Leger. That woman and Leger's family. A reunion due to who she is and who is related to in life.
She's the sister of the man (boy? I've forgotten how old the guy was) who had attacked Hugh at some point in the past.
heh. Looking back at the story description and I haven't really added much to what's already on the website. Let me see, what can I add that isn't in the description without moving into spoiler territory. Well, Lilly is involved, the friendly calico kitty who has been living with Leger's family. As is Bob, the dog. And Piper of the island clowder. Oh, and . . hmms . . Garity? Ah, heh, I'm combining the sister's name, Verity, with Garrix, the cat. Right, so Garrix of the clowder is also involved. No birds. Only one dog, several cats, and several humans.
138. Star Trek: Ongoing, Volume 9: The Q Gambit - Mike Johnson - 3/30/15 - 4.0
4Lexxi
April:
139. Another Leason - Keno Yantaroh - 4/1/15 - 4.0
140. Foundations - Dayton Ward - 03/30/15 - 4/2/15 - 3.50
This book is a combination of three separately released ebooks that are in the Starfleet S.C.E. series. I'm not sure if the stories were just smushed together as is without any editing, or if there was a great deal done to make the three work well together as one whole story. If all three are collected as is, then these were probably three separately annoying stories. If "stuff" was done to make the stories work as one, and read as such, then they did a great job.
Hmms. That's wordy. Let me try again. This was three short stories. They have been merged into one book. The book reads as one complete work instead of three separate works that have been packaged in the same container.
Most of the story involves Scotty back long ago in Star Trek history. The first story of his took place shortly before he joined Enterprise. The second and third occur several years later. Intermixed in with his stories is a "contemporary" S.C.E. mission (contemporary to the rest of the S.C.E. universe).
The S.C.E. mission involves coming across a space ship traveling really really fast and out of control. The engineers help the runaway ship. As is, it is an interesting enough story but . . . lacking. If the S.C.E. parts were pushed together and presented by itself, I'd probably have another 2 star Ward book on my hands. There were interesting bits, don't get me wrong, but . . . kind of boring.
The Scotty parts involved Scotty helping an earlier version of S.C.E. An earlier corps of engineers. Which may or may not have been called Corps of Engineers. The first story involves him and a team from this earlier corps attempting to help an asteroid that has a runaway fusion engine. Actually a pretty exciting story. Running against time, trying to save the day. This particular part connected to the overarching S.C.E. story line through ion storms. The asteroid was damaged by an ion storm. The ship the S.C.E. team is trying to help was damaged by an ion storm.
The second Scotty story involves being on a particular planet helping the inhabitants adjust to thinking and making decisions by themselves, after having the all controlling computer removed from the system. An aftermath story to the television episode wherein Kirk talked the Landru computer to turn itself off. While Scotty and one of the people from the first Scotty story attempt to "fix" things so that the people on the planet can better function without Landru, Landru itself tries to turn itself back on. Instant chaos thus created.
The third story involves an engineering trial for a new type of warp engine. That goes haywire and flings the spaceship far into uncharted territory. Meeting aliens who do not like intruders.
All three of the Scotty stories are quite good. The S.C.E. overarching story less so. I don't know, but I don't think I actually like any of the S.C.E. people, at least not when Ward is writing them.
141. Zombocalypse Now - Matt Youngmark - 4/2/15 - 4.0
Yep, as I suspected when I wrote my notes however long ago it was that I wrote the two notes . . .
The two best scenarios/paths were traveled first. Well, best in that one lead almost immediately to death, and the other lead to great things and repopulating the planet. All the other choices seemed to involve you dying. mmphs. There were some funny bits, but those were not as well taken when the only choices left are bad choices. And you know before hand that they will be. And they are.
Ah well. There's another choice your own adventure book I read that I started off like this here. Two paths. A "best" one and a "bad" one. Then I stopped reading. Because, hey, I "won." Didn't do that this time. My mistake. Not as much fun to "play" when you know that you have already read the best path.
142. Death Without Company - Craig Johnson - 4/3/15 - 4.0
143. I Can See You Comin' - Juan Emilio - 4/6/15 - 1.0
144. The Art of Spanking - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 2.5
145. Teens at Play: NSFW - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.5
146. Miss Travel 1 - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
147. Miss travel in barcelona - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
148. Housewives at Play: Wide Open Spaces - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 2.0
149. Burdel 27 rue de L espoire - Francis Leroi - 4/6/15 - 2.0
150. Butterscotch - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
151. Butterscotch 2 - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
152. Butterscotch 3 - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
153. Teens at Play: Girls will Be Boys - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.0
154. Arkea de schat van de Zon - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
155. Fatal Rendezvous - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 2.0
156. Hot Moms No. 17 - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 4.0
157. Teens at Play: Like Mothers Like Daughters - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.5
158. Housewives at Play: Working Moms - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.0
159. Housewives at Play: Prequel - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.50
160. Alazar's Book of Bondage Vol 3 - Alazar - 4/6/15 - 1.0
Oddly both bored and vaguely offended. Drawings of women in bondage in black and white. Most with little cutesy groan inducing comments.
Like a picture of a woman tied to train tracks with the comment "And people say public transportation isn't sexy!" Nothing says sexy like a train driving over a bound woman and cutting into a thousand pieces and turning her into pizza paste! Wait, it isn't sexy? hmms, who knew? bah.
"Beverly insisted she wasn't a pole dancer. Vito begged to differ!" Next to a woman bound to a stripper pole. So tightly bound that she can't move. Um . . . she not dancing bound that tightly.
meh. I probably not in the right mood.
"'Oh, he's 87 years old and rich as hell! What could go wrong?'. Anne was about to find out the hard way." - next to a picture of a woman being bound up by a really old man. Subtly suggesting the old guy's about to clutch his chest and fall over dead. Leaving a bound naked woman. With no way to free herself. Who will then proceed to starve to death while being bound helpless next to a rotting corpse. Um . . yay?
Subtle "women are stupid and need to be bound up"/"binding women up in situations wherein they will die is sexy" . . . hmms . . Not sure I'm ever in the mood for that. mmphs.
Hmms. Ok, I like the one with the woman, bound up all nice and exposed like on a boat, next to a comment about a boyfriend owning a boat. And how playing pirate can have a different meaning in such a situation.
Which was immediately followed by a woman bound on one of those conveyor belts heading towards a saw. About two inches away from said saw. With indication saw is moving. So . . . um's . . how . . funny and sexy?
Well . . that was annoying. I need to remember to not read the messages, or something. It'd all probably be better that way.
161-162. Erma Jaguar & Erma Jaguar 2 - Alex Varnne - 4/6/15 - 3.0
163. The Silver Ships - S.H. Jucha - 4/6/15 - 4/7/15 - 4.0
Back story: Earth dying, colony ships sent out in various directions, fewer than planned. Book opens roughly 732 years later.
A single system ... um, country? Whatever the entity should be called, the single system entity has a ice tug captain floating around in space gathering ice asteroids. He spots a drifting spaceship of unknown design and investigates. And thus begins the reuniting of humanity. At least the descendents of two separate colony ships.
The book had an intriguing concept, an interesting concept. Progressed logically. Book ended somewhat abruptly though. The assumption is that this is a start to a series. Which it is, though only the first book has so far been released.
164. Liberty Meadows: Cold, Cold Heart - Frank Cho - 4/7/15 - 4/8/15 - 4.0
165. Heart of Montana - C.K. Alexander - 4/9/15 - 3.0
This is something like the second or third gay erotic book that I have attempted, going in knowing that it was a gay erotic book. I read it to read the requirements of a challenge, specifically to read books with erotic themes from the fifty states. Montana hadn't been covered, yet, so I looked around and felt adventurous enough to attempt another gay erotic book. I’m going in on the story while knowing that I normally do not find romances between two men to be, personally to me, that enjoyable.
So . . .. A newly minted doctor has a massive education debt to repay. Looks around. Spots a job over in rural Montana which will greatly help him pay much off his debt. So, mostly sight unseen, he accepts the job, finds a place to live while there, and then packs up to move. The short book opens with the good doctor packing up in New England. Ready for his trip to Montana.
Somewhat randomly, like throwing darts randomly, he buys a pick-up truck. Whereupon he almost promptly gets a flat tire. While trying to figure out how to fix it, a park ranger pulls up and offers to help. So, the damsel in distress in this situation is a dude. Being helped by another dude. Both of whom thinks that the other is quite handsome. It's interesting and somewhat refreshing to see both that the person in distress isn't a woman, like it almost always seems to be, and that the man in trouble is willing to accept help. This almost never seems to be the case.
So, there's one potential love interest meet almost immediately. The half-Cheyenne park ranger. Who isn't out as being gay. Later Dr. Adrian Cook, the doctor guy who I haven't actually named yet, gets to his new place of employment. Meets up with his boss. Another guy who appears to be quite attractive and is giving off gay vibrations. Another potential love interest, and another one who isn't out about who he is. There's mention of a lesbian worker at the hospital, not meet in the story, and a gay nurse, meet but much later. So, this small town of 5,162 in Montana has a lot of gay people.
So, the romance between Dr. Cook and Randall Banks, the park ranger, progressed nicely. With fishing and stuff. Then immediately hits a snag when Dr. Cook decides to go for a jog when the park ranger heads off to work. Only to spot said park ranger with his head bouncing up and down over another man in a car off the hiking trail. And so . . ..
There's an interesting bit of love triangle, blackmail, humans being humans, and the like going on. I like how one of the characters is out and out bisexual. The idea that such a critter can exist. Of course, in this specific situation, that little bit of detail causes a great deal of trouble.
Well, I'll depart with this thought: There's a good story here. Good character build up, and some interesting side stories, but . . . all the buildup kind of built up to . . . everything being wrapped up in a few words instead of actually writing what happened. Docked a star or half for that. Probably half star.
166. Feeding the Farmer's Partner - Lydia Litt - 4/9/15 - 2.0
Unfortunately this story is more boring than anything else. Farmer gets a milk distributor as a partner. Farm Foreman continues to fuck Daisy the human cow. Cow hands continue to feed off of her breast milk while she is fucked by a machine. Milk distributor is rough with Daisy, etc.
It was all a little too . . . boring, really.
167. The Atlantis Gene - A.G. Riddle - 4/8/15 - 4/11/15 - 2.0
The premise was interesting. That image on the cover really pulled me in. Looked like a great discovery/Indiana Jones/archeological related book. There is some vague amount of that but nowhere close to what I expected.
There are some major problems with the book that I ran into while attempting to enjoy the book. The book opens with researchers in/near Antarctica. Some good characterization employed. Then . . . um . . hmms. Two of the three people on the research expedition, the bloody ones who found the "archeological discovery", i.e., a submarine and some strange object beneath it, disappear for the rest of the book. The third member of this expedition continues to turn up but she's as detailed as she was in this part of the book. As in almost not at all. She's female. Vaguely lazy. Vaguely nympho-ish. She may or may not have had roughly 4 or 5 lines in the book.
If I recall correctly, the next guy up . . . well, I'd have to look again. The point, though, is that a bunch of people are mentioned, described in some detail, only to have them poof from the story line. So, trying to figure out whom the heck I'm supposed to actually care about and pay attention to in the beginning was quite annoying. Then the two who ended up being the main characters, well others still popped up to wrestle away the POV, but still, two ended up being the main-ish characters. Both somewhat clichés. Probably the least interesting members of the book. A really really fragile woman, and a walking cliché of a man with deep deep certainty that 9/11 was a big conspiracy different than the one the rest of the world believes in. He's right, but still, something of a vague turn off.
Right, so, many many points of view. Lots of character hopping. A ton of chapters. I think I was 10% into the book and was already on something like chapter 44. I mean . . . what the heck? Chapter 44?
There is an interesting story here. Felt kind of a pain to read, though, and am not sure I have the desire to attempt book two. I probably won't try it. The only reason I might is because it'd be "free" for me to try it, being in the Kindle Unlimited program at the moment.
168. The X-Files: Year Zero - Karl Kesel - 4/11/15 - 4/12/15 - 3.0
An interesting look back to the start of the X-Files, involving the FBI agent from the 1940s and a "special assistant" (which is as close as a woman could get to being an FBI agent in the 1940s).
This first case in the 1940s is connected to case belonging to the "present day" Mulder and Scully. It was neat to see a case from the 1940s. But . . .the present day case was kind of boring, and the 1940s case was a little too . . . knowingly cliche? Something like that. Still, fun to see such a story. I might even pick up something more along the lines, if they focused more on the 1940s agents without having to have a link to "present day".
169. Ocean - Warren Ellis - 4/13/15-4/14/15 - 4.50
A neat little story about an inspector set out to investigate objects found within Europa's oceans. But then, I do tend to like Ellis' space stories.
170. Channel U - Anthony Lampe - 4/14/15 - 3.0
A free book. Vague desire to read a choose-your-own adventure. So, I test it. Since it is free. Curious if the author's language is something other than English as this seems vaguely oddly worded at times. No matter.
You are a boy (no I'm not, shut up) who has decided to, against your parents orders, try out a brand new 80 inch television. Almost instantly you are trapped inside and a mirrored version of you is in the real world. Ordering you around. And so . . you are given three "shows" you can be the lead star in.
I picked Science Fiction first. Ended up captain on a star ship. On a rescue mission. Awkward stilted dialogue commences to fill the page as I continue.
Um. Big evil aliens suddenly start talking to you. Then the ensign cuts off the communication. Um. (A) there was no directive from the captain, you, to accept or initiate communications; (B) there is no indication that the alien ship is forcing their communication in (there's an "incoming message" but no "accept" or "deny" type command, message just plays); (C) the ensign cuts off the communication without waiting for you to tell the ensign to do so or to do anything. One example of the awkwardness of the book.
"Their weapons are nearly at maximum power," the ensign begins, "we need to act now, sir." Example two of awkwardness. Begins? The ensign has been communicating his thoughts for a while now. On these aliens. heh. Dangerous situation, huge alien ship is powering weapons, captain asks how powerful the ship is (or more exactly a question of whether or not the ship is a match). Ensign answers with a long story about how evil the Phantoms are. And how no one has survived. Um, so are they a match or not? Ensign did not answer the question.
Good grief. Powered up alien. You reach a decision. You crew argues with you while the alien is all set to kill you and your ship. Bad crew! Bad!
Bloody awful shields this ship has. Shesh. Completely unacceptable. Completely. Might as well have tissue paper as shields.
ARRRRRgh. Stop with all the "you ask" "states" "says" already. Shesh. It's driving me insane, and adding to the awkward wording.
Um. heh. "Emergency Bi-Separation". heh.
"Their shields are set to absorb our laser blasts . . . " hmm. At no time have I had the option to use laser blasts. Only torpedoes. What does it matter if their shields can absorb something I have not as yet used?
Right, so the other two adventures/television shows are "Fantasy Adventure" and "Horror Adventure".
"Fantasy Adventure" was competently written. It was even, to a certain extent, interesting.
Hmm. "Zombie Experience" aka "Horror Adventure" is also competently written. Apparently I chose the least well written story line to begin my examination of the book.
171. Enigma Ship - J. Steven York - 4/15/15 - 3.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
172. Captain Alatriste - Arturo Perez-Reverte - 4/13/15-4/16/15 - 3.0
Historical Fiction, Translated (Spanish), Action-Adventure, Setting-Spain
The early part of the book was quite interesting and well written. Which is good considering I'm reading a translation. Fairly rapidly, though, I started to get three feelings. Nothing much was happening, the flowery language was initially a neat look into another culture but quickly became annoying, and there was way too many words wasted on really long diversions into the future by the kid narrator that were cut off with "but that's not relevant to this story".
Frankly the book would have been much more interesting if it had either been sololy narrated by Captain Alatriste, or, if the kid just had to be the main narrator, then with fewer diversions into the future of his own time.
On the "feeling of nothing much happening": Stuff did actually happen, not much, but enough for a good solid book. It was just hidden beneath the flowery language and the long diversions into "Spain is very depressing now and blah blah blah, but that's not relevant to the story" sections.
Or, as I put it in my status updates when I was reading the book: It isn't true that "nothing much is happening but for flowery language" but the action can get lost in that flowery language. Also, for the love of something or other, stop all those long paragraphs/chapters about stuff that happened decades later and then cutting off such stories with "but that's from a different time and not much relevant to my story". Bah. heh.
One of the annoying things about all of the flowery wordy "all this is not relevant to the story" sections, is that the action scenes are so abruptly described. Though they tend to flow. Just abruptly.
On the whole, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read a book by someone from another country, one I do not recall reading something from before. I think. And the story was interesting, even the flowery language - when tied directly to the main story, added something extra to the book. It's just became irritating, though, when lots and lots of words were used on "irrelevant" bits, and the actual action sequences seemed to end up getting short-shift. End up not fully described. Put the two together and I was ultimately disappointed in the book.
173. The Thief and Her Reward - Paul Enock - 4/17/15 - 3.0
Adult, Non-Con-or-Dub-Con, Erotica, BDSM
174. Choose Your Own Erotic Odyssey #1 - Escape the Monster Breeding Grounds - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 4.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, LGBT, Bisexual, Non-Con-or-Dub-Con, TPE, Faerie, Demons
The, ah, the path to the queen was . . ah . . quite exciting and fun. Probably not for all, but enjoyable to me.
Wonder what a non-choose your own adventure story by this author would be like. Quite competent writer. Quite exciting pathways to follow. Well, the few pathways I followed. I must trace some more. Though like most "choose your own path" book I'm reluctant to look at the other paths once I found an enjoyable journey.
175. Your Point of View Fantasy 4 - Your Lesbian First Time - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 1.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Lesbian, LGBT, Exhibitionism
hmms. I keep alternating from liking and disliking the stuff this author writes. First thing I read I gave 2 stars. Second thing I gave 5. Third, this story here, I gave 1.5.
Bah. I don't know. It might be the you thing. How the story is intended to use "you" to work the reader into the story. Problem is that I don't see myself at all in the lead character. 19 and obsessed with ass. With licking ass. I don't even remember 19 and the entire idea of being fixated on that area of the body somewhat removes me from erotic desires of all kinds. And so . . .. Oh, and then there's the student/teacher thing that was icky.
So, yeah. This be icky story.
176. Stargate SG-1: Roswell - Sonny Whitelaw & Jennifer Fallon - 4/16/15 - 4/17/15 - 4.0
Space Opera, Science Fiction, Parallel Worlds, Historical, Alt-History, Time Travel, Alien-Encounters
I was a little worried I wouldn't like the book when I first started. I've always been less interested in Col. Mitchell's time at the head of the team, and the book start off focused on him.
Plus . . . you are fighting a war, many of your people have been butchered, slaughtered and . . . you take every opportunity possible not actually hit your attackers with your weapons while desperately trying to get to the Stargate, and get home. Meanwhile you care a weapon that can stun people. Which you don't use. Because . . . . reasons.
If I hadn't recalled that the book was supposed to have something to do with Time Travel and the like, I probably would have tossed the book before I even began. But that awkward opening was quickly gotten passed and the book ended up being quite enjoyable.
177. Choose Your Own Freaky Adventure - Temptation - 4/18/15 - 0.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica
178. Cinderella Bared: An Erotic Fairy Tale Adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/18/15 - 4.0
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, Fairy-Tales-Retold, Cinderella, Snow White, LGBT, Bisexual
Appears to be two diverging paths at the beginning with their own paths that branch off of them. One involves staying and doing chores at home. Other involves doing a chore that takes you outside.
The outside path appears to have two paths to follow. One path lead to an old woman/witch. Interesting enough but felt detached for the events. Another path lead to an exciting ride on a horse while being fingered and then finding a gorgeous woman in a box and pleasuring her awake. Fun. heh.
Inside path almost immediately has you humping a broom. Then a knock at the door with a solider. Who you play with. Quite exciting. The pathways that branch off from staying to do the inside chore are also interesting and exciting.
Actually, the only one that wasn't "exciting" was the first one I read with the old woman.
Correction. I decided to look at some of the other branching paths. There's one where you end up pleasuring your step-sister. Leave and head to the other. I don't like how you arrive there as if the prior scene never occurred. Or, to put another way, it's the same page you would turn to if you had snuck away instead of stayed to pleasure the step-sister. mmphs.
179. Intercorpse: An erotic Halloween adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/20/15 - 3.0
Adult, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Alien-Encounters, Erotica, Bisexual, Science Fantasy
A solid set of stories. Certain vague exciting elements. Certain boring elements. Overall a good quick read.
180. Thirteen Roses Book One: Before: An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga - Michael Cairns - 4/20/15-4/21/15 - 1.0
Religion, Zombies, Horror, Science-Fantasy
This was annoying on almost every level. From depressing stupid human actions to every character being quite unbearable.
Not sure how to rate this book. A weird mixture of religion, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. With the main character being a somewhat reformed fella named Luke, who probably went by Lucifer at one point or another.
This isn't a review but notes I write before I roll over asleep..
181. Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 2: War and Peace - Charles Soule - 4/1/15-4/22/15 - 0.5
Superman, Wonder Woman, Science Fiction, Superhero, Graphic Novel
I have no idea what I just read. A bunch of disjointed stories smushed together with some underlying theme of war.
One of the reasons I started this specific series is because I thought it was outside the normal DC Comics universe, to a certain extent. Why would that be important? It's important because I just can't read DC Comics collections any longer. At least not the current series. When there is a story it's very bare-bones, basic and really simple. Most of the time there isn't an actual story-line. Or at least not just one. Just story ideas.
What the heck is Lana Lang doing flying around in outer space? Why is Lois Lane green and doing evil things? Wait, why is she now . . . not doing evil things, but still green, and now in the Fortress of Solitude? Wait, when did Supergirl become a Red Lantern? These and other thoughts struck me as I attempted to follow along. I have a very real sense that I was reading an over-arching series. One of those things to be read by those who have read, currently read, and will read everything put out by DC Comics. At least, I hope so, because this mish-mash mess makes no sense on it's own. I'd hate to learn that this actually was unconnected to the rest of DC Comics story-line. Because it makes no sense on its own.
Ah well. Something of a reoccurring theme for me. Attempting to read these things separate from the DC Comics universe and finding myself lost and bored. Like when I attempted to "finish off" Batgirl a while back. Didn't have a clue what was going on.
Guess I'm done with DC Comics except for things that I know are separate story lines. Not sure how I'll know. That and Harley Quinn. Quinn seems to be off in her own little universe, despite how I dislike the direction the character went, still mostly understandable stories.
Also - for the love of something or other: Stop with the bloody Brainiac stories. Personally I never cared for any of them, and they keep being dragged back into comic book series. Bah.
182. War Stories 1 - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 4/23/15 - 4.0
Star Trek, Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGT
183. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie - 4/22/15-4/23/15 - 4.5
Mystery, Police, Setting-England, Author-American
A damned good little book. It's quite possible my rating might be influenced by how many 1 star books I've read lately, but still, I'd give this book at least 4.5 stars.
I like books like this one here. Kind of side step into meeting a character who ended up leading a series (not sure if there had been an intention in the beginning to make a series starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James). Side-step as in, Kincaid went on a holiday at a time share. Stumbled into a murder victim. Felt obligated to try to help. Especially as another visitor turns up dead as well.
Ah, I suppose I should include a note about how I didn't know the killer until the end. I do tend to know but didn't this time. It's possible I saw the clues but applied them wrongly. Not that I was activally investigating along with Kincaid. heh. Actually, it was more like no one and therefore everyone seemed a likely suspect.
184. The Raven - Edgar Allan Poe - 4/23/15 - 5.0
Poem
185. War Stories 2 - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 4/24/15 - 4.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
186. Ornitho 2 - Gari Suehiro - 4/25/15 - 3.0
Adult, Japanese, LGBT, Bisexual, Erotica, Manga, Adult Comics, Public
187. Wildfire 1 - David Mack - 4/25/15-4/26/15 - 3.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
188. A Far Country - Winston Churchill - 4/23/15-4/26/15 - 4.5
Religion, Business, Politics, Fiction
I've always been somewhat curious about Churchill's books. Here we have a guy who was a best-selling author, a former military man, and something of a failed politician at the turn of the century (the 20th century). At one point in time, everything he released seemed to end up on the best-seller lists. And, at one point in time, no one would confuse him for that guy who would later become Prime Minister of Great Britain during the second world war. If anything, they would see a book by that Churchill and wonder if the American Churchill had written it. Then the American Churchill retired from public life in 1919, had one unsuccessful book appear in roughly 1940 and became completely overshadowed by Sir Winston Churchill. But enough of the reasons why I was interested, more on the book itself.
A Far Country has an oddly modern feel to it. Men and women struggling with transition, the changing nature of marriage, the changing nature of power, economics, politics. If this book hadn't been written around 1915, but was only set in 1915, I'd have some vague feeling that it was too modern. I'm trying to think of exceptions to the modern feel, and the only thing I can think of would be the somewhat limited use of cars at the time, and in the book.
A man grows up in an upper-middle class household. Maybe even upper class. There seemed to be the idea in Hugh's mind, the main fella in the book, that his father hadn't been as rich as he actually turned out to be. But no matter, for all intents and purposes, Hugh was born in a leading family, in the higher class of a city. The city is never named, though I got the impression it was a mid-western city. Not sure if it was supposed to be St. Louis or not, but I was thinking of St. Louis as I was reading the book, mostly because Churchill himself was from there.
Got distracted there. Right, so, man grows up in a leading family, father and mother deeply religious, father a high-class and much respected lawyer, mother a housewife. Has many friends. Some of which from the lower classes. One particular female seems to hang around him, and there was some indication that she rather fancied him. And eventually they . . . went their separate ways during then after high school due to misunderstandings.
Hugh had the potential to be the best student in school, but didn't see any reason to push himself, so he just coasted. To the point that his father got him an opportunity to have a good job in business, instead of sending him to college. This both woke Hugh up, and lead to the misunderstandings that lead him and Nancy to part from each other. Not wanting to be "other", Hugh pushed himself and got into Harvard.
Estranged from religion, for the most part, and from love, also for the most part (due to the split from Nancy), Hugh went for power. Paths kept coming up, opportunities that would have lead one way or another and he always seemed to chose the one that went a particular direction. A direction that eventually lead to him being a lawyer. A "corporate lawyer". A very powerful man.
Quite interesting book. With much talk about the economics, politics, religion, and people of the time. Paths that might have been taken. Paths that should be taken in the future. Shortly after the mid-point in the book, the story turned heavily into Nancy-Hugh stuff. A turn that lead me to skimming. That section was important to the overall story, but could probably have been reduced from 20% of the book down to . . . oh, 10%. Or less. Enough to have its impact. But not so much that it would lead to skimming.
Well, I've read at least one book by the two fellas named Winston Churchill who were living at roughly the same time. Both, based on the several books I've read by Sir Winston S. Churchill (Winston S. Churchill being what he himself put on his books, after noticing the other Winston Churchill publishing books, the S not being a middle name but a part of his last name, Spencer-Churchill), and the one book by this Winston Churchill, I'd say that both are worthwhile reads. And enjoyable in their own ways. Though one mostly wrote fiction (this Churchill here), while the other mostly wrote non-fiction (that other Churchill).
189. Wildfire 2 - David Mack - 4/26/15-4/27/15 - 4.5
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
190. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal - Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Nonfiction, Biography, Legal, Police
191. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
192. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 3 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
193. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Day Off (or Harmony In My Head) - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
194. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
195. Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism - Laurie Lears - 4/28/15 - 3.5
Autism, Short Fiction
196. Not Enough Horses - Les Roberts - 4/27/15-4/28/15 - 4.0
Mystery, Private Detective, Setting-California, Setting-Los Angeles, LGBT, Gay, Hollywood, Crime
197. Last Train to Jubilee Bay - Kali Wallace - 4/29/15 - 3.0
Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
198. Gallows Lane - Brian McGilloway - 4/29/15 - 3.50
Setting-Ireland, Police, Mystery, Murder Mystery
199. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 1 - Victor Gischler - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
200. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 2 - Victor Gischler - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
201. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 3 - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
202. First Flight - Mary Robinette Kowal - 4/30/15 - 5.0
Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Historical
A lovely little story involving a well drawn old woman of a 100 who travels back in time to witness the Wright Brothers flying. I randomly stumbled across this one. Just having Fir.. in the title got me to glance at it (because of a challenge), and I got pulled in immediately.
Love to read more about this character, and the world created herewithin, but this would appear to be the only one with this specific character. If I'm looking correctly. And this specific story line.
203-207. Velvet vol. 2: dead men - Ed Brubaker - 4/30/15 - 5.0
Spy, Graphic Novel, Historical
139. Another Leason - Keno Yantaroh - 4/1/15 - 4.0
140. Foundations - Dayton Ward - 03/30/15 - 4/2/15 - 3.50
This book is a combination of three separately released ebooks that are in the Starfleet S.C.E. series. I'm not sure if the stories were just smushed together as is without any editing, or if there was a great deal done to make the three work well together as one whole story. If all three are collected as is, then these were probably three separately annoying stories. If "stuff" was done to make the stories work as one, and read as such, then they did a great job.
Hmms. That's wordy. Let me try again. This was three short stories. They have been merged into one book. The book reads as one complete work instead of three separate works that have been packaged in the same container.
Most of the story involves Scotty back long ago in Star Trek history. The first story of his took place shortly before he joined Enterprise. The second and third occur several years later. Intermixed in with his stories is a "contemporary" S.C.E. mission (contemporary to the rest of the S.C.E. universe).
The S.C.E. mission involves coming across a space ship traveling really really fast and out of control. The engineers help the runaway ship. As is, it is an interesting enough story but . . . lacking. If the S.C.E. parts were pushed together and presented by itself, I'd probably have another 2 star Ward book on my hands. There were interesting bits, don't get me wrong, but . . . kind of boring.
The Scotty parts involved Scotty helping an earlier version of S.C.E. An earlier corps of engineers. Which may or may not have been called Corps of Engineers. The first story involves him and a team from this earlier corps attempting to help an asteroid that has a runaway fusion engine. Actually a pretty exciting story. Running against time, trying to save the day. This particular part connected to the overarching S.C.E. story line through ion storms. The asteroid was damaged by an ion storm. The ship the S.C.E. team is trying to help was damaged by an ion storm.
The second Scotty story involves being on a particular planet helping the inhabitants adjust to thinking and making decisions by themselves, after having the all controlling computer removed from the system. An aftermath story to the television episode wherein Kirk talked the Landru computer to turn itself off. While Scotty and one of the people from the first Scotty story attempt to "fix" things so that the people on the planet can better function without Landru, Landru itself tries to turn itself back on. Instant chaos thus created.
The third story involves an engineering trial for a new type of warp engine. That goes haywire and flings the spaceship far into uncharted territory. Meeting aliens who do not like intruders.
All three of the Scotty stories are quite good. The S.C.E. overarching story less so. I don't know, but I don't think I actually like any of the S.C.E. people, at least not when Ward is writing them.
141. Zombocalypse Now - Matt Youngmark - 4/2/15 - 4.0
Yep, as I suspected when I wrote my notes however long ago it was that I wrote the two notes . . .
The two best scenarios/paths were traveled first. Well, best in that one lead almost immediately to death, and the other lead to great things and repopulating the planet. All the other choices seemed to involve you dying. mmphs. There were some funny bits, but those were not as well taken when the only choices left are bad choices. And you know before hand that they will be. And they are.
Ah well. There's another choice your own adventure book I read that I started off like this here. Two paths. A "best" one and a "bad" one. Then I stopped reading. Because, hey, I "won." Didn't do that this time. My mistake. Not as much fun to "play" when you know that you have already read the best path.
142. Death Without Company - Craig Johnson - 4/3/15 - 4.0
143. I Can See You Comin' - Juan Emilio - 4/6/15 - 1.0
144. The Art of Spanking - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 2.5
145. Teens at Play: NSFW - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.5
146. Miss Travel 1 - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
147. Miss travel in barcelona - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
148. Housewives at Play: Wide Open Spaces - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 2.0
149. Burdel 27 rue de L espoire - Francis Leroi - 4/6/15 - 2.0
150. Butterscotch - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
151. Butterscotch 2 - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
152. Butterscotch 3 - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 3.5
153. Teens at Play: Girls will Be Boys - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.0
154. Arkea de schat van de Zon - Chris - 4/6/15 - 3.0
155. Fatal Rendezvous - Milo Manara - 4/6/15 - 2.0
156. Hot Moms No. 17 - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 4.0
157. Teens at Play: Like Mothers Like Daughters - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.5
158. Housewives at Play: Working Moms - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.0
159. Housewives at Play: Prequel - Rebecca - 4/6/15 - 3.50
160. Alazar's Book of Bondage Vol 3 - Alazar - 4/6/15 - 1.0
Oddly both bored and vaguely offended. Drawings of women in bondage in black and white. Most with little cutesy groan inducing comments.
Like a picture of a woman tied to train tracks with the comment "And people say public transportation isn't sexy!" Nothing says sexy like a train driving over a bound woman and cutting into a thousand pieces and turning her into pizza paste! Wait, it isn't sexy? hmms, who knew? bah.
"Beverly insisted she wasn't a pole dancer. Vito begged to differ!" Next to a woman bound to a stripper pole. So tightly bound that she can't move. Um . . . she not dancing bound that tightly.
meh. I probably not in the right mood.
"'Oh, he's 87 years old and rich as hell! What could go wrong?'. Anne was about to find out the hard way." - next to a picture of a woman being bound up by a really old man. Subtly suggesting the old guy's about to clutch his chest and fall over dead. Leaving a bound naked woman. With no way to free herself. Who will then proceed to starve to death while being bound helpless next to a rotting corpse. Um . . yay?
Subtle "women are stupid and need to be bound up"/"binding women up in situations wherein they will die is sexy" . . . hmms . . Not sure I'm ever in the mood for that. mmphs.
Hmms. Ok, I like the one with the woman, bound up all nice and exposed like on a boat, next to a comment about a boyfriend owning a boat. And how playing pirate can have a different meaning in such a situation.
Which was immediately followed by a woman bound on one of those conveyor belts heading towards a saw. About two inches away from said saw. With indication saw is moving. So . . . um's . . how . . funny and sexy?
Well . . that was annoying. I need to remember to not read the messages, or something. It'd all probably be better that way.
161-162. Erma Jaguar & Erma Jaguar 2 - Alex Varnne - 4/6/15 - 3.0
163. The Silver Ships - S.H. Jucha - 4/6/15 - 4/7/15 - 4.0
Back story: Earth dying, colony ships sent out in various directions, fewer than planned. Book opens roughly 732 years later.
A single system ... um, country? Whatever the entity should be called, the single system entity has a ice tug captain floating around in space gathering ice asteroids. He spots a drifting spaceship of unknown design and investigates. And thus begins the reuniting of humanity. At least the descendents of two separate colony ships.
The book had an intriguing concept, an interesting concept. Progressed logically. Book ended somewhat abruptly though. The assumption is that this is a start to a series. Which it is, though only the first book has so far been released.
164. Liberty Meadows: Cold, Cold Heart - Frank Cho - 4/7/15 - 4/8/15 - 4.0
165. Heart of Montana - C.K. Alexander - 4/9/15 - 3.0
This is something like the second or third gay erotic book that I have attempted, going in knowing that it was a gay erotic book. I read it to read the requirements of a challenge, specifically to read books with erotic themes from the fifty states. Montana hadn't been covered, yet, so I looked around and felt adventurous enough to attempt another gay erotic book. I’m going in on the story while knowing that I normally do not find romances between two men to be, personally to me, that enjoyable.
So . . .. A newly minted doctor has a massive education debt to repay. Looks around. Spots a job over in rural Montana which will greatly help him pay much off his debt. So, mostly sight unseen, he accepts the job, finds a place to live while there, and then packs up to move. The short book opens with the good doctor packing up in New England. Ready for his trip to Montana.
Somewhat randomly, like throwing darts randomly, he buys a pick-up truck. Whereupon he almost promptly gets a flat tire. While trying to figure out how to fix it, a park ranger pulls up and offers to help. So, the damsel in distress in this situation is a dude. Being helped by another dude. Both of whom thinks that the other is quite handsome. It's interesting and somewhat refreshing to see both that the person in distress isn't a woman, like it almost always seems to be, and that the man in trouble is willing to accept help. This almost never seems to be the case.
So, there's one potential love interest meet almost immediately. The half-Cheyenne park ranger. Who isn't out as being gay. Later Dr. Adrian Cook, the doctor guy who I haven't actually named yet, gets to his new place of employment. Meets up with his boss. Another guy who appears to be quite attractive and is giving off gay vibrations. Another potential love interest, and another one who isn't out about who he is. There's mention of a lesbian worker at the hospital, not meet in the story, and a gay nurse, meet but much later. So, this small town of 5,162 in Montana has a lot of gay people.
So, the romance between Dr. Cook and Randall Banks, the park ranger, progressed nicely. With fishing and stuff. Then immediately hits a snag when Dr. Cook decides to go for a jog when the park ranger heads off to work. Only to spot said park ranger with his head bouncing up and down over another man in a car off the hiking trail. And so . . ..
There's an interesting bit of love triangle, blackmail, humans being humans, and the like going on. I like how one of the characters is out and out bisexual. The idea that such a critter can exist. Of course, in this specific situation, that little bit of detail causes a great deal of trouble.
Well, I'll depart with this thought: There's a good story here. Good character build up, and some interesting side stories, but . . . all the buildup kind of built up to . . . everything being wrapped up in a few words instead of actually writing what happened. Docked a star or half for that. Probably half star.
166. Feeding the Farmer's Partner - Lydia Litt - 4/9/15 - 2.0
Unfortunately this story is more boring than anything else. Farmer gets a milk distributor as a partner. Farm Foreman continues to fuck Daisy the human cow. Cow hands continue to feed off of her breast milk while she is fucked by a machine. Milk distributor is rough with Daisy, etc.
It was all a little too . . . boring, really.
167. The Atlantis Gene - A.G. Riddle - 4/8/15 - 4/11/15 - 2.0
The premise was interesting. That image on the cover really pulled me in. Looked like a great discovery/Indiana Jones/archeological related book. There is some vague amount of that but nowhere close to what I expected.
There are some major problems with the book that I ran into while attempting to enjoy the book. The book opens with researchers in/near Antarctica. Some good characterization employed. Then . . . um . . hmms. Two of the three people on the research expedition, the bloody ones who found the "archeological discovery", i.e., a submarine and some strange object beneath it, disappear for the rest of the book. The third member of this expedition continues to turn up but she's as detailed as she was in this part of the book. As in almost not at all. She's female. Vaguely lazy. Vaguely nympho-ish. She may or may not have had roughly 4 or 5 lines in the book.
If I recall correctly, the next guy up . . . well, I'd have to look again. The point, though, is that a bunch of people are mentioned, described in some detail, only to have them poof from the story line. So, trying to figure out whom the heck I'm supposed to actually care about and pay attention to in the beginning was quite annoying. Then the two who ended up being the main characters, well others still popped up to wrestle away the POV, but still, two ended up being the main-ish characters. Both somewhat clichés. Probably the least interesting members of the book. A really really fragile woman, and a walking cliché of a man with deep deep certainty that 9/11 was a big conspiracy different than the one the rest of the world believes in. He's right, but still, something of a vague turn off.
Right, so, many many points of view. Lots of character hopping. A ton of chapters. I think I was 10% into the book and was already on something like chapter 44. I mean . . . what the heck? Chapter 44?
There is an interesting story here. Felt kind of a pain to read, though, and am not sure I have the desire to attempt book two. I probably won't try it. The only reason I might is because it'd be "free" for me to try it, being in the Kindle Unlimited program at the moment.
168. The X-Files: Year Zero - Karl Kesel - 4/11/15 - 4/12/15 - 3.0
An interesting look back to the start of the X-Files, involving the FBI agent from the 1940s and a "special assistant" (which is as close as a woman could get to being an FBI agent in the 1940s).
This first case in the 1940s is connected to case belonging to the "present day" Mulder and Scully. It was neat to see a case from the 1940s. But . . .the present day case was kind of boring, and the 1940s case was a little too . . . knowingly cliche? Something like that. Still, fun to see such a story. I might even pick up something more along the lines, if they focused more on the 1940s agents without having to have a link to "present day".
169. Ocean - Warren Ellis - 4/13/15-4/14/15 - 4.50
A neat little story about an inspector set out to investigate objects found within Europa's oceans. But then, I do tend to like Ellis' space stories.
170. Channel U - Anthony Lampe - 4/14/15 - 3.0
A free book. Vague desire to read a choose-your-own adventure. So, I test it. Since it is free. Curious if the author's language is something other than English as this seems vaguely oddly worded at times. No matter.
You are a boy (no I'm not, shut up) who has decided to, against your parents orders, try out a brand new 80 inch television. Almost instantly you are trapped inside and a mirrored version of you is in the real world. Ordering you around. And so . . you are given three "shows" you can be the lead star in.
I picked Science Fiction first. Ended up captain on a star ship. On a rescue mission. Awkward stilted dialogue commences to fill the page as I continue.
Um. Big evil aliens suddenly start talking to you. Then the ensign cuts off the communication. Um. (A) there was no directive from the captain, you, to accept or initiate communications; (B) there is no indication that the alien ship is forcing their communication in (there's an "incoming message" but no "accept" or "deny" type command, message just plays); (C) the ensign cuts off the communication without waiting for you to tell the ensign to do so or to do anything. One example of the awkwardness of the book.
"Their weapons are nearly at maximum power," the ensign begins, "we need to act now, sir." Example two of awkwardness. Begins? The ensign has been communicating his thoughts for a while now. On these aliens. heh. Dangerous situation, huge alien ship is powering weapons, captain asks how powerful the ship is (or more exactly a question of whether or not the ship is a match). Ensign answers with a long story about how evil the Phantoms are. And how no one has survived. Um, so are they a match or not? Ensign did not answer the question.
Good grief. Powered up alien. You reach a decision. You crew argues with you while the alien is all set to kill you and your ship. Bad crew! Bad!
Bloody awful shields this ship has. Shesh. Completely unacceptable. Completely. Might as well have tissue paper as shields.
ARRRRRgh. Stop with all the "you ask" "states" "says" already. Shesh. It's driving me insane, and adding to the awkward wording.
Um. heh. "Emergency Bi-Separation". heh.
"Their shields are set to absorb our laser blasts . . . " hmm. At no time have I had the option to use laser blasts. Only torpedoes. What does it matter if their shields can absorb something I have not as yet used?
Right, so the other two adventures/television shows are "Fantasy Adventure" and "Horror Adventure".
"Fantasy Adventure" was competently written. It was even, to a certain extent, interesting.
Hmm. "Zombie Experience" aka "Horror Adventure" is also competently written. Apparently I chose the least well written story line to begin my examination of the book.
171. Enigma Ship - J. Steven York - 4/15/15 - 3.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
172. Captain Alatriste - Arturo Perez-Reverte - 4/13/15-4/16/15 - 3.0
Historical Fiction, Translated (Spanish), Action-Adventure, Setting-Spain
The early part of the book was quite interesting and well written. Which is good considering I'm reading a translation. Fairly rapidly, though, I started to get three feelings. Nothing much was happening, the flowery language was initially a neat look into another culture but quickly became annoying, and there was way too many words wasted on really long diversions into the future by the kid narrator that were cut off with "but that's not relevant to this story".
Frankly the book would have been much more interesting if it had either been sololy narrated by Captain Alatriste, or, if the kid just had to be the main narrator, then with fewer diversions into the future of his own time.
On the "feeling of nothing much happening": Stuff did actually happen, not much, but enough for a good solid book. It was just hidden beneath the flowery language and the long diversions into "Spain is very depressing now and blah blah blah, but that's not relevant to the story" sections.
Or, as I put it in my status updates when I was reading the book: It isn't true that "nothing much is happening but for flowery language" but the action can get lost in that flowery language. Also, for the love of something or other, stop all those long paragraphs/chapters about stuff that happened decades later and then cutting off such stories with "but that's from a different time and not much relevant to my story". Bah. heh.
One of the annoying things about all of the flowery wordy "all this is not relevant to the story" sections, is that the action scenes are so abruptly described. Though they tend to flow. Just abruptly.
On the whole, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read a book by someone from another country, one I do not recall reading something from before. I think. And the story was interesting, even the flowery language - when tied directly to the main story, added something extra to the book. It's just became irritating, though, when lots and lots of words were used on "irrelevant" bits, and the actual action sequences seemed to end up getting short-shift. End up not fully described. Put the two together and I was ultimately disappointed in the book.
173. The Thief and Her Reward - Paul Enock - 4/17/15 - 3.0
Adult, Non-Con-or-Dub-Con, Erotica, BDSM
174. Choose Your Own Erotic Odyssey #1 - Escape the Monster Breeding Grounds - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 4.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, LGBT, Bisexual, Non-Con-or-Dub-Con, TPE, Faerie, Demons
The, ah, the path to the queen was . . ah . . quite exciting and fun. Probably not for all, but enjoyable to me.
Wonder what a non-choose your own adventure story by this author would be like. Quite competent writer. Quite exciting pathways to follow. Well, the few pathways I followed. I must trace some more. Though like most "choose your own path" book I'm reluctant to look at the other paths once I found an enjoyable journey.
175. Your Point of View Fantasy 4 - Your Lesbian First Time - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 1.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Lesbian, LGBT, Exhibitionism
hmms. I keep alternating from liking and disliking the stuff this author writes. First thing I read I gave 2 stars. Second thing I gave 5. Third, this story here, I gave 1.5.
Bah. I don't know. It might be the you thing. How the story is intended to use "you" to work the reader into the story. Problem is that I don't see myself at all in the lead character. 19 and obsessed with ass. With licking ass. I don't even remember 19 and the entire idea of being fixated on that area of the body somewhat removes me from erotic desires of all kinds. And so . . .. Oh, and then there's the student/teacher thing that was icky.
So, yeah. This be icky story.
176. Stargate SG-1: Roswell - Sonny Whitelaw & Jennifer Fallon - 4/16/15 - 4/17/15 - 4.0
Space Opera, Science Fiction, Parallel Worlds, Historical, Alt-History, Time Travel, Alien-Encounters
I was a little worried I wouldn't like the book when I first started. I've always been less interested in Col. Mitchell's time at the head of the team, and the book start off focused on him.
Plus . . . you are fighting a war, many of your people have been butchered, slaughtered and . . . you take every opportunity possible not actually hit your attackers with your weapons while desperately trying to get to the Stargate, and get home. Meanwhile you care a weapon that can stun people. Which you don't use. Because . . . . reasons.
If I hadn't recalled that the book was supposed to have something to do with Time Travel and the like, I probably would have tossed the book before I even began. But that awkward opening was quickly gotten passed and the book ended up being quite enjoyable.
177. Choose Your Own Freaky Adventure - Temptation - 4/18/15 - 0.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica
178. Cinderella Bared: An Erotic Fairy Tale Adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/18/15 - 4.0
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, Fairy-Tales-Retold, Cinderella, Snow White, LGBT, Bisexual
Appears to be two diverging paths at the beginning with their own paths that branch off of them. One involves staying and doing chores at home. Other involves doing a chore that takes you outside.
The outside path appears to have two paths to follow. One path lead to an old woman/witch. Interesting enough but felt detached for the events. Another path lead to an exciting ride on a horse while being fingered and then finding a gorgeous woman in a box and pleasuring her awake. Fun. heh.
Inside path almost immediately has you humping a broom. Then a knock at the door with a solider. Who you play with. Quite exciting. The pathways that branch off from staying to do the inside chore are also interesting and exciting.
Actually, the only one that wasn't "exciting" was the first one I read with the old woman.
Correction. I decided to look at some of the other branching paths. There's one where you end up pleasuring your step-sister. Leave and head to the other. I don't like how you arrive there as if the prior scene never occurred. Or, to put another way, it's the same page you would turn to if you had snuck away instead of stayed to pleasure the step-sister. mmphs.
179. Intercorpse: An erotic Halloween adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/20/15 - 3.0
Adult, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Alien-Encounters, Erotica, Bisexual, Science Fantasy
A solid set of stories. Certain vague exciting elements. Certain boring elements. Overall a good quick read.
180. Thirteen Roses Book One: Before: An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga - Michael Cairns - 4/20/15-4/21/15 - 1.0
Religion, Zombies, Horror, Science-Fantasy
This was annoying on almost every level. From depressing stupid human actions to every character being quite unbearable.
Not sure how to rate this book. A weird mixture of religion, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. With the main character being a somewhat reformed fella named Luke, who probably went by Lucifer at one point or another.
This isn't a review but notes I write before I roll over asleep..
181. Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 2: War and Peace - Charles Soule - 4/1/15-4/22/15 - 0.5
Superman, Wonder Woman, Science Fiction, Superhero, Graphic Novel
I have no idea what I just read. A bunch of disjointed stories smushed together with some underlying theme of war.
One of the reasons I started this specific series is because I thought it was outside the normal DC Comics universe, to a certain extent. Why would that be important? It's important because I just can't read DC Comics collections any longer. At least not the current series. When there is a story it's very bare-bones, basic and really simple. Most of the time there isn't an actual story-line. Or at least not just one. Just story ideas.
What the heck is Lana Lang doing flying around in outer space? Why is Lois Lane green and doing evil things? Wait, why is she now . . . not doing evil things, but still green, and now in the Fortress of Solitude? Wait, when did Supergirl become a Red Lantern? These and other thoughts struck me as I attempted to follow along. I have a very real sense that I was reading an over-arching series. One of those things to be read by those who have read, currently read, and will read everything put out by DC Comics. At least, I hope so, because this mish-mash mess makes no sense on it's own. I'd hate to learn that this actually was unconnected to the rest of DC Comics story-line. Because it makes no sense on its own.
Ah well. Something of a reoccurring theme for me. Attempting to read these things separate from the DC Comics universe and finding myself lost and bored. Like when I attempted to "finish off" Batgirl a while back. Didn't have a clue what was going on.
Guess I'm done with DC Comics except for things that I know are separate story lines. Not sure how I'll know. That and Harley Quinn. Quinn seems to be off in her own little universe, despite how I dislike the direction the character went, still mostly understandable stories.
Also - for the love of something or other: Stop with the bloody Brainiac stories. Personally I never cared for any of them, and they keep being dragged back into comic book series. Bah.
182. War Stories 1 - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 4/23/15 - 4.0
Star Trek, Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGT
183. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie - 4/22/15-4/23/15 - 4.5
Mystery, Police, Setting-England, Author-American
A damned good little book. It's quite possible my rating might be influenced by how many 1 star books I've read lately, but still, I'd give this book at least 4.5 stars.
I like books like this one here. Kind of side step into meeting a character who ended up leading a series (not sure if there had been an intention in the beginning to make a series starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James). Side-step as in, Kincaid went on a holiday at a time share. Stumbled into a murder victim. Felt obligated to try to help. Especially as another visitor turns up dead as well.
Ah, I suppose I should include a note about how I didn't know the killer until the end. I do tend to know but didn't this time. It's possible I saw the clues but applied them wrongly. Not that I was activally investigating along with Kincaid. heh. Actually, it was more like no one and therefore everyone seemed a likely suspect.
184. The Raven - Edgar Allan Poe - 4/23/15 - 5.0
Poem
185. War Stories 2 - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 4/24/15 - 4.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
186. Ornitho 2 - Gari Suehiro - 4/25/15 - 3.0
Adult, Japanese, LGBT, Bisexual, Erotica, Manga, Adult Comics, Public
187. Wildfire 1 - David Mack - 4/25/15-4/26/15 - 3.0
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
188. A Far Country - Winston Churchill - 4/23/15-4/26/15 - 4.5
Religion, Business, Politics, Fiction
I've always been somewhat curious about Churchill's books. Here we have a guy who was a best-selling author, a former military man, and something of a failed politician at the turn of the century (the 20th century). At one point in time, everything he released seemed to end up on the best-seller lists. And, at one point in time, no one would confuse him for that guy who would later become Prime Minister of Great Britain during the second world war. If anything, they would see a book by that Churchill and wonder if the American Churchill had written it. Then the American Churchill retired from public life in 1919, had one unsuccessful book appear in roughly 1940 and became completely overshadowed by Sir Winston Churchill. But enough of the reasons why I was interested, more on the book itself.
A Far Country has an oddly modern feel to it. Men and women struggling with transition, the changing nature of marriage, the changing nature of power, economics, politics. If this book hadn't been written around 1915, but was only set in 1915, I'd have some vague feeling that it was too modern. I'm trying to think of exceptions to the modern feel, and the only thing I can think of would be the somewhat limited use of cars at the time, and in the book.
A man grows up in an upper-middle class household. Maybe even upper class. There seemed to be the idea in Hugh's mind, the main fella in the book, that his father hadn't been as rich as he actually turned out to be. But no matter, for all intents and purposes, Hugh was born in a leading family, in the higher class of a city. The city is never named, though I got the impression it was a mid-western city. Not sure if it was supposed to be St. Louis or not, but I was thinking of St. Louis as I was reading the book, mostly because Churchill himself was from there.
Got distracted there. Right, so, man grows up in a leading family, father and mother deeply religious, father a high-class and much respected lawyer, mother a housewife. Has many friends. Some of which from the lower classes. One particular female seems to hang around him, and there was some indication that she rather fancied him. And eventually they . . . went their separate ways during then after high school due to misunderstandings.
Hugh had the potential to be the best student in school, but didn't see any reason to push himself, so he just coasted. To the point that his father got him an opportunity to have a good job in business, instead of sending him to college. This both woke Hugh up, and lead to the misunderstandings that lead him and Nancy to part from each other. Not wanting to be "other", Hugh pushed himself and got into Harvard.
Estranged from religion, for the most part, and from love, also for the most part (due to the split from Nancy), Hugh went for power. Paths kept coming up, opportunities that would have lead one way or another and he always seemed to chose the one that went a particular direction. A direction that eventually lead to him being a lawyer. A "corporate lawyer". A very powerful man.
Quite interesting book. With much talk about the economics, politics, religion, and people of the time. Paths that might have been taken. Paths that should be taken in the future. Shortly after the mid-point in the book, the story turned heavily into Nancy-Hugh stuff. A turn that lead me to skimming. That section was important to the overall story, but could probably have been reduced from 20% of the book down to . . . oh, 10%. Or less. Enough to have its impact. But not so much that it would lead to skimming.
Well, I've read at least one book by the two fellas named Winston Churchill who were living at roughly the same time. Both, based on the several books I've read by Sir Winston S. Churchill (Winston S. Churchill being what he himself put on his books, after noticing the other Winston Churchill publishing books, the S not being a middle name but a part of his last name, Spencer-Churchill), and the one book by this Winston Churchill, I'd say that both are worthwhile reads. And enjoyable in their own ways. Though one mostly wrote fiction (this Churchill here), while the other mostly wrote non-fiction (that other Churchill).
189. Wildfire 2 - David Mack - 4/26/15-4/27/15 - 4.5
Star Trek, Space Opera, Science Fiction
190. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal - Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Nonfiction, Biography, Legal, Police
191. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
192. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 3 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
193. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Day Off (or Harmony In My Head) - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
194. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Love Dares You, Part 1 - Christos Gage - 4/28/15 - 4.0
Buffy, Spike, Comic, Fantasy
195. Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism - Laurie Lears - 4/28/15 - 3.5
Autism, Short Fiction
196. Not Enough Horses - Les Roberts - 4/27/15-4/28/15 - 4.0
Mystery, Private Detective, Setting-California, Setting-Los Angeles, LGBT, Gay, Hollywood, Crime
197. Last Train to Jubilee Bay - Kali Wallace - 4/29/15 - 3.0
Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
198. Gallows Lane - Brian McGilloway - 4/29/15 - 3.50
Setting-Ireland, Police, Mystery, Murder Mystery
199. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 1 - Victor Gischler - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
200. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 2 - Victor Gischler - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
201. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found, Part 3 - 4/29/15 - 4.0
Angel, Faith, Comic, Fantasy
202. First Flight - Mary Robinette Kowal - 4/30/15 - 5.0
Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Historical
A lovely little story involving a well drawn old woman of a 100 who travels back in time to witness the Wright Brothers flying. I randomly stumbled across this one. Just having Fir.. in the title got me to glance at it (because of a challenge), and I got pulled in immediately.
Love to read more about this character, and the world created herewithin, but this would appear to be the only one with this specific character. If I'm looking correctly. And this specific story line.
203-207. Velvet vol. 2: dead men - Ed Brubaker - 4/30/15 - 5.0
Spy, Graphic Novel, Historical
5Lexxi
May:
208. Worlds' Finest, Vol. 4: First Contact - Paul Levitz - 5/1/15 - 4.0
209. Alex + Ada #14 - Jonathan Luna - 5/2/15 - 4.0
210. Fables, Vol. 21: Happily Ever After - Bill Willingham - 5/3/15 - 4.0
211. Batwing, Vol. 3: Enemy of the State - Judd Winick - 5/4/15 - 4.0
212. Shooting at Loons - Margaret Maron - 5/1/15-5/4/15 - 4.0
213. Batwing, Vol. 4: Welcome to the Family - 5/5/15 - 4.0
214. Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo - Liz Schulte - 5/4/15-5/5/15 - 4.0
215. The Worst Class Trip Ever - Dave Barry - 5/5/15 - 5.0
216. Batwing, Vol. 5: Into the Dark - Jimmy Palmiotti - 5/6/15 - 4.0
217. All You Need is Kill (manga): 2-in-1 Edition - Hiroshi Sakurazaka - 5/7/15 - 4.0
218. Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Vol. 1 - J. Michael Straczynski - 5/8/15 - 4.0
219. Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Vol. 2 - J. Michael Straczynski - 5/9/15 - 4.0
220. Last Minute Customers - Jessica E. Subject - 5/10/15 - 3.0
I went into the story expecting to dislike it. And, indeed, there were little warning bells going off telling me I didn't like how the story was progressing. But, eh, the warning bells going off were false alarms, and the story had it's elements of excitement. If I could, I'd probably give it 3 1/5 stars. It's just a snippet of a story. Well, slightly more complex than just a snippet, what with the dream sequence, but still, just a tiny little story. Not nearly enough there to give that extra 1/2 star.
221. Sunstone Volume 2 - Stjepan Sejic - 5/8/15 - 5.0
222-225. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found - Victor Gischler - 5/11/15 - 4.0
226-229. Angel & Faith: United - Victor Gischler - 5/11/15 - 4.0
230. Worlds' Finest, Vol. 5 - Paul Levitz - 5/10/15-5/11/15 - 4.0
231. Age of Unreason - Scott Ciencin - 5/12/15 - 4.0
232. Home Fires - Dayton Ward - 5/11/15-5/12/15 - 4.0
233. A Fatal Grace - Louise Penny - 5/7/15-5/12/15 - 4.0
234. Gotham Girls - Paul D. Storrie - 5/13/15 - 4.0
235. Balance of Nature - Heather Jarman - 5/12/15-5/13/15 - 4.0
236. Breakdowns - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 5/13/15 - 3.0
237. Superpowered - James Schannep- 5/12/15-5/13/15 - 3.0
238. Batman: Harley & Ivy - Paul Dini - 5/13/15 - 5.0
239. Batman: Harley Quinn #1 - Paul Dini - 5/13/15 - 4.0
240. What Do You Give the Alien Who Has Everything? - A. Regina Cantatis - 5/13/15 - 4.0
241. Harley Quinn Valentine's Day Special (2015-) #1 - Amanda Clover - 5/14/15 - 3.0
232. Harley Quinn Holiday Special (2015-) #1 - Amanda Clover - 5/14/15 - 4.0
233. Gotham City Sirens Vol. 3: Strange Fruit - Tony Bedard - 5/17/15 - 4.0
234. Stargate: Reconnaissance - Bill McCay - 5/13/15-5/17/15 - 4.0
For most of the book I was annoyed with Daniel Jackson. That didn't leave, but other factors intruded to remove the irritation. Annoyed because he was putting the weight of the world on himself without any seeming cause to do so. He was/is a trained archaeologist. Not a world-builder. Not a diplomat. Not a bureaucrat. So his pushing himself into n early grave against the tide of hatred from all quarters - his wife, from random Urt-men (Earthmen), from the tribes of people he is trying to help . . .. Sorry, but no sympathy for you Daniel Jackson.
Right, so the book is basically about setting up a colony/new homeworld for those um . . the name gets used a lot in the book but I can't seem to find it on wikipedia so . . . those natives from the planet the Earth men went to in the film. The refugees from that planet.
It was interesting in and off itself. Somewhat dragging. Somewhat boring. Then some cats were found and the action redoubled for the final 33% or so of the book. Discoveries made. War broken out.
One of the annoying things that occurred is that the dog-faced aliens had wandered over to look over the colony. Then war broke out involving cat-faced aliens and . . . there was no mention at all of the dog-faced aliens. They had advanced tech. They probably could have helped in the fight. But . . . did I overlook them leaving? I don't recall them leaving.
One last note: Unlike other books I've read and made comments one way or another about 1/2 stars and the like, this book is a solid 4 stars. Not 3.5, not 4.5, and nothing in between.
235. All Shall Be Well - Deborah Crombie - 5/18/15-5/19/15 - 4.75
236. Zatanna 1: The Mistress of Magic - Paul Dini - 5/14/20-5/20/15 - 3.0
237. Goldie's Three Werebears - Nikki Wild - 5/20/15 - 3.0
238. Serving The Werebear - Nikki Wild - 5/20/15 - 3.0
239. A Dirty Little Milkmaid For Bimbo Hucow Farm - Daisy Evans - 5/20/15 - 3.0
240. Villainess Love - Lexi Archer - 5/21/15 - 4.0
241. The Fourth Descendant - Allison Maruska - 5/19/15-5/21/15 - 4.5
242. Hucow Heaven - Daisy Evans - 5/21/15 - 4.0
243. a Hucow for the Archaeologist - Daisy Evans - 5/21/15 - 3.0
244. Strangers in a Parking Lot - Anais Rim - 5/22/15 - 4.0
245. May I Buy That For You? - Anais Rim - 5/22/15 - 4.0
246. Miss Midnight Versus the Diabolical League of Perverts - Amanda Clover - 5/22/15 - 2.0
247. Zatanna 2: Shades of the Past - Paul Dini - 5/22/15 - 3.0
248. ENF - C.M. Noe-Flores - 5/22/15 - 3.0
249. Angie; infirmière de nuit - Chris - 5/22/15 - 4.0
250. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 3.0
251. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls 2 - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 2.0
252. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls 3 - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 1.0
253. Only One Naked Part 2 - Cassie Caine - 5/23/15 - 4.0
254. Bound By The Biker Gang - Hannah Wilde - 5/24/15 - 2.0
255. Susan's Humiliation - Sarah Millward - 5/24/15 - 4.0
256. Taken By The Babysitter - J. O'Brien - 5/24/15 - 4.5
257. Secret Sorority - J. O'Brien - 5/24/15 - 4.0
258. Ménage à 3 v 1 - Giesele Lagace - 5/24/15 - 4.5
259. Susan's Further Humiliation - Sarah Millward - 5/24/15 - 4.0
260. Locked Out Naked - Poppy Romero - 5/24/15 - 4.0
261. My Sweet Little Anna Has Been Stealing My Panties - Ashley Foster - 5/25/15 - 0.5
262. Sandra Smiles - B.J. Slippy - 5/25/15 - 4.5
263. Conquered By Courtney: Rough First Time Lesbian Domination - I.M. Rogue - 5/26/15 - 4.5
264. Conquered By Courtney 2: The Corset Redemption - I.M. Rogue - 5/26/15 - 4.0
265. Leger's Fear - Lacey Dearie - 5/26/15 - 4.0
266. Hour of the Lion - Cherise Sinclair - 5/27/15 - 3.5
267. Babysitter in Heat: Taken by the Housewife - J. O'Brien - 5/27/15 - 4.0
268. Babysitter in Heat - J. O'Brien - 5/27/15 - 2.0
269. The Student, The Rogue & The Catburglar - Laura Gibson - 4/17/15 - 5/27/15 - 4.0
270. Making Missy Happy - B.J. Slippy - 5/27/15 - 2.0
271. Kindness Goes Unpunished - Craig Johnson - 5/26/15 - 5/27/15 - 5.0
272. Medical College Volunteer: First time medical fetish BDSM - Jenny B. Vincent - 5/28/15 - 4.50
273. The Grimoire Dungeon - Kristy Flowers - 5/28/15 - 3.0
274. Opening Up Karen - Jenny B. Vincent - 5/28/15 - 4.50
275. Daite - Hildred Billings - 5/9/14-5/28/15 - 4.50
276. The perverse instincts. Volume 4: The vicious - Bruce Morgan - 5/28/15 - 5.0
277. Gangbang at the Frat House - Sonata Sorento - 5/29/15 - 2.0
278. Ménage à 3 Round 2 - Gisele Lagace - 5/29/15 - 5.0
279. Rohit and Riya - Rishi - 5/29/15 - 2.5
280. A Canning In The Forest - Sophie Sin - 5/29/15 - 2.0
281. The Farmhouse - Rishi - 5/29/15 - 0.5
282. Press My Buttons - Nina Fairweather - 5/29/15 - 4.50
283. Sleepover - Nina Fairweather - 5/29/15 - 4.50
284. Milked by the Viking - olivia Reed - 5/30/15 - 4.0
285. Milked on the Ranch - Olivia Reed - 5/30/15 - 4.50
286. Conquered By Courtney 3: The Ultimate Betrayal - I.M. Rogue - 5/31/15 - 2.0
287. Hard Candy for Christmas - Ella Dominguez - 5/31/15 - 5.0
288. Ménage à 3 Round 3 - Gisele Lagace - 5/31/15 - 5.0
208. Worlds' Finest, Vol. 4: First Contact - Paul Levitz - 5/1/15 - 4.0
209. Alex + Ada #14 - Jonathan Luna - 5/2/15 - 4.0
210. Fables, Vol. 21: Happily Ever After - Bill Willingham - 5/3/15 - 4.0
211. Batwing, Vol. 3: Enemy of the State - Judd Winick - 5/4/15 - 4.0
212. Shooting at Loons - Margaret Maron - 5/1/15-5/4/15 - 4.0
213. Batwing, Vol. 4: Welcome to the Family - 5/5/15 - 4.0
214. Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo - Liz Schulte - 5/4/15-5/5/15 - 4.0
215. The Worst Class Trip Ever - Dave Barry - 5/5/15 - 5.0
216. Batwing, Vol. 5: Into the Dark - Jimmy Palmiotti - 5/6/15 - 4.0
217. All You Need is Kill (manga): 2-in-1 Edition - Hiroshi Sakurazaka - 5/7/15 - 4.0
218. Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Vol. 1 - J. Michael Straczynski - 5/8/15 - 4.0
219. Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Vol. 2 - J. Michael Straczynski - 5/9/15 - 4.0
220. Last Minute Customers - Jessica E. Subject - 5/10/15 - 3.0
I went into the story expecting to dislike it. And, indeed, there were little warning bells going off telling me I didn't like how the story was progressing. But, eh, the warning bells going off were false alarms, and the story had it's elements of excitement. If I could, I'd probably give it 3 1/5 stars. It's just a snippet of a story. Well, slightly more complex than just a snippet, what with the dream sequence, but still, just a tiny little story. Not nearly enough there to give that extra 1/2 star.
221. Sunstone Volume 2 - Stjepan Sejic - 5/8/15 - 5.0
222-225. Angel & Faith: Lost and Found - Victor Gischler - 5/11/15 - 4.0
226-229. Angel & Faith: United - Victor Gischler - 5/11/15 - 4.0
230. Worlds' Finest, Vol. 5 - Paul Levitz - 5/10/15-5/11/15 - 4.0
231. Age of Unreason - Scott Ciencin - 5/12/15 - 4.0
232. Home Fires - Dayton Ward - 5/11/15-5/12/15 - 4.0
233. A Fatal Grace - Louise Penny - 5/7/15-5/12/15 - 4.0
234. Gotham Girls - Paul D. Storrie - 5/13/15 - 4.0
235. Balance of Nature - Heather Jarman - 5/12/15-5/13/15 - 4.0
236. Breakdowns - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 5/13/15 - 3.0
237. Superpowered - James Schannep- 5/12/15-5/13/15 - 3.0
238. Batman: Harley & Ivy - Paul Dini - 5/13/15 - 5.0
239. Batman: Harley Quinn #1 - Paul Dini - 5/13/15 - 4.0
240. What Do You Give the Alien Who Has Everything? - A. Regina Cantatis - 5/13/15 - 4.0
241. Harley Quinn Valentine's Day Special (2015-) #1 - Amanda Clover - 5/14/15 - 3.0
232. Harley Quinn Holiday Special (2015-) #1 - Amanda Clover - 5/14/15 - 4.0
233. Gotham City Sirens Vol. 3: Strange Fruit - Tony Bedard - 5/17/15 - 4.0
234. Stargate: Reconnaissance - Bill McCay - 5/13/15-5/17/15 - 4.0
For most of the book I was annoyed with Daniel Jackson. That didn't leave, but other factors intruded to remove the irritation. Annoyed because he was putting the weight of the world on himself without any seeming cause to do so. He was/is a trained archaeologist. Not a world-builder. Not a diplomat. Not a bureaucrat. So his pushing himself into n early grave against the tide of hatred from all quarters - his wife, from random Urt-men (Earthmen), from the tribes of people he is trying to help . . .. Sorry, but no sympathy for you Daniel Jackson.
Right, so the book is basically about setting up a colony/new homeworld for those um . . the name gets used a lot in the book but I can't seem to find it on wikipedia so . . . those natives from the planet the Earth men went to in the film. The refugees from that planet.
It was interesting in and off itself. Somewhat dragging. Somewhat boring. Then some cats were found and the action redoubled for the final 33% or so of the book. Discoveries made. War broken out.
One last note: Unlike other books I've read and made comments one way or another about 1/2 stars and the like, this book is a solid 4 stars. Not 3.5, not 4.5, and nothing in between.
235. All Shall Be Well - Deborah Crombie - 5/18/15-5/19/15 - 4.75
236. Zatanna 1: The Mistress of Magic - Paul Dini - 5/14/20-5/20/15 - 3.0
237. Goldie's Three Werebears - Nikki Wild - 5/20/15 - 3.0
238. Serving The Werebear - Nikki Wild - 5/20/15 - 3.0
239. A Dirty Little Milkmaid For Bimbo Hucow Farm - Daisy Evans - 5/20/15 - 3.0
240. Villainess Love - Lexi Archer - 5/21/15 - 4.0
241. The Fourth Descendant - Allison Maruska - 5/19/15-5/21/15 - 4.5
242. Hucow Heaven - Daisy Evans - 5/21/15 - 4.0
243. a Hucow for the Archaeologist - Daisy Evans - 5/21/15 - 3.0
244. Strangers in a Parking Lot - Anais Rim - 5/22/15 - 4.0
245. May I Buy That For You? - Anais Rim - 5/22/15 - 4.0
246. Miss Midnight Versus the Diabolical League of Perverts - Amanda Clover - 5/22/15 - 2.0
247. Zatanna 2: Shades of the Past - Paul Dini - 5/22/15 - 3.0
248. ENF - C.M. Noe-Flores - 5/22/15 - 3.0
249. Angie; infirmière de nuit - Chris - 5/22/15 - 4.0
250. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 3.0
251. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls 2 - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 2.0
252. Dr. Denton's Asylum For Little Girls 3 - Raya Black - 5/23/15 - 1.0
253. Only One Naked Part 2 - Cassie Caine - 5/23/15 - 4.0
254. Bound By The Biker Gang - Hannah Wilde - 5/24/15 - 2.0
255. Susan's Humiliation - Sarah Millward - 5/24/15 - 4.0
256. Taken By The Babysitter - J. O'Brien - 5/24/15 - 4.5
257. Secret Sorority - J. O'Brien - 5/24/15 - 4.0
258. Ménage à 3 v 1 - Giesele Lagace - 5/24/15 - 4.5
259. Susan's Further Humiliation - Sarah Millward - 5/24/15 - 4.0
260. Locked Out Naked - Poppy Romero - 5/24/15 - 4.0
261. My Sweet Little Anna Has Been Stealing My Panties - Ashley Foster - 5/25/15 - 0.5
262. Sandra Smiles - B.J. Slippy - 5/25/15 - 4.5
263. Conquered By Courtney: Rough First Time Lesbian Domination - I.M. Rogue - 5/26/15 - 4.5
264. Conquered By Courtney 2: The Corset Redemption - I.M. Rogue - 5/26/15 - 4.0
265. Leger's Fear - Lacey Dearie - 5/26/15 - 4.0
266. Hour of the Lion - Cherise Sinclair - 5/27/15 - 3.5
267. Babysitter in Heat: Taken by the Housewife - J. O'Brien - 5/27/15 - 4.0
268. Babysitter in Heat - J. O'Brien - 5/27/15 - 2.0
269. The Student, The Rogue & The Catburglar - Laura Gibson - 4/17/15 - 5/27/15 - 4.0
270. Making Missy Happy - B.J. Slippy - 5/27/15 - 2.0
271. Kindness Goes Unpunished - Craig Johnson - 5/26/15 - 5/27/15 - 5.0
272. Medical College Volunteer: First time medical fetish BDSM - Jenny B. Vincent - 5/28/15 - 4.50
273. The Grimoire Dungeon - Kristy Flowers - 5/28/15 - 3.0
274. Opening Up Karen - Jenny B. Vincent - 5/28/15 - 4.50
275. Daite - Hildred Billings - 5/9/14-5/28/15 - 4.50
276. The perverse instincts. Volume 4: The vicious - Bruce Morgan - 5/28/15 - 5.0
277. Gangbang at the Frat House - Sonata Sorento - 5/29/15 - 2.0
278. Ménage à 3 Round 2 - Gisele Lagace - 5/29/15 - 5.0
279. Rohit and Riya - Rishi - 5/29/15 - 2.5
280. A Canning In The Forest - Sophie Sin - 5/29/15 - 2.0
281. The Farmhouse - Rishi - 5/29/15 - 0.5
282. Press My Buttons - Nina Fairweather - 5/29/15 - 4.50
283. Sleepover - Nina Fairweather - 5/29/15 - 4.50
284. Milked by the Viking - olivia Reed - 5/30/15 - 4.0
285. Milked on the Ranch - Olivia Reed - 5/30/15 - 4.50
286. Conquered By Courtney 3: The Ultimate Betrayal - I.M. Rogue - 5/31/15 - 2.0
287. Hard Candy for Christmas - Ella Dominguez - 5/31/15 - 5.0
288. Ménage à 3 Round 3 - Gisele Lagace - 5/31/15 - 5.0
6Lexxi
June
289 Pickup Styx - Liz Schultz - 5/28/15-6/1/15 - 3.50
290 Molly: House on Fire - R.E. Bradshaw - 6/1/15-6/2/15 - 4.50
291 The Venus Ring - Lexi Archer - 6/2/15 - 2.50
292 Damage Control - Jae - 6/2/15 - 4.0
293 Dress-tease - Jae -6/2/15 - 5.0
294 Airport Cavity Search - Jenny B. Vincent - 6/3/15 - 2.50
295 Thrill - Park Series Book 1: Mirror, Mirror (Thrill - Park SeriesThrill Park: Mirror, Mirror - Abigail Kinkade - 6/3/15 - 4.0
296 Groot #1 - Jeff Loveness - 6/3/15 - 3.0
297 Angel & Faith Season 10 #15: Fight or Flight - Kel McDonald - 6/3/15 - 4.0
298 Huntress: Year One - Ivory Madison - 6/3/15 - 4.0
299 Manhunter, Vol. 1: Street Justice - Marc Andreyko - 6/4/15 - 4.0
300 Off Screen - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15- 5.0
301 The Red Carpet - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15 - 4.0
302 Dim All The Lights - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15 - 4.0
303 Writer's Block - J.A. Armstrong - 6/5/15 - 4.50
304 Your Point of View Fantasy 2 - Your Public Groping Obsession - Amanda Clover - 6/6/15 - 2.0
305 Grocery Whore: BDSM Flash Fiction - Nina Fairweather - 6/6/15 - 3.0
306 Manhunter, Vol. 2: Trial by Fire - Marc Andreyko - 6/5/15-6/6/15 - 4.0
307 Ménage à 3 Round 4 - Gisele lagace - 6/6/15 - 5.0
308 First Time Lesbian Menage - Suze Snow - 6/6/15 - 2.0
309 Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl - Barbara Randall Kesel - 6/6/15 - 3.0
310 Ménage à 3 Round 5 - Gisele lagace - 6/7/15 - 5.0
311 Ménage à 3, round 6 - Gisele lagace - 6/7/15 - 5.0
312 THE SCREAM OF NO RETURN - Kim Hardwick - 6/8/15 - 3.0
313 The Black Masquerade: Your Erotic Story #1 - Celestia Dew - 6/8/15 - 2.0
314 Mystery in Sin City - J.R. Brown - 6/8/15 - 3.0
315 Manhunter, Vol. 3: Origins - marc Andreyko - 6/8/15 - 4.0
316 By Design - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 4.0
317 Princess Miri - Cerys de Lys - 6/8/15 - 2.0
318 Power Girl, Vol. 1: A New Beginning - Justin Gray - 6/7/15 - 4.0
319 Under Construction - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 5.0
320 Solid Foundation - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 4.0
321 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal - G. Willow Wilson - 6/9/15 - 4.0
322 A Thousand Hands - Sarah Anon - 6/9/15 - 3.50
323 Power Girl, Vol. 2: Aliens and Apes - Justin Gray - 6/9/15 - 3.50
324 Nightwing/Huntress - Devin Grayson - 6/9/15 - 3.50
325 Grayson Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral - Tim Seeley - 6/9/15 - 3.50
326 Coffee Shop Dare - Sarah Anon - 6/9/15 - 4.50
327 Under My Skin - A.E. Dooland - 6/9/15-6/10/15 - 5.0
328 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why - G. Willow Wilson - 6/10/15 - 4.0
329 Let's Dominate My Girlfriend: - Regan Irons - 6/10/15 - 1.0
330 The First in a Series of Unexpectedly Erotic Adventures - Victoria Bushfire - 6/10/15 - 2.0
331 Vanishing Fame - Selina Rosen - 6/11/15 - 5.0
332 Power Girl, Volume 3: Bomb Squad - Judd Winick - 6/11/15 - 4.0
333 Falling Slowly - Lila Bruce - 6/11/15 - 4.0
334 Manhunter, Vol. 4: Unleashed - Marc Andreyko - 6/12/15 - 4.0
334 Winter Jacket - 6/12/15 - 3.0
335 The Scent of Jasmine - Lila Bruce - 6/12/15 - 2.0
336 The Cheerleader and the Secretary - Tabathia Quick - 6/13/15 - 3.50
337 Lucy the Nympho Stripper - Jenny B. Vincent - 6/13/15 - 3.0
338 Sex Shooter (An Erotica Crime Fiction Mystery Series): Episode One - A.T. Parks - 6/13/15 - 1.0
340 Manhunter, Vol. 5: Forgotten - Marc Andreyko - 6/12/15 - 4.0
341 XX Erotica: Video Fun - Stephanie Stewart - 6/13/15 - 1.0
342 A Passion for Running - Paul Enock - 6/13/15 - 1.0
343 Georgiana's Dilemma - Claudia Harbaugh - 6/13/15 - 4.0
344 Kodomo No Jikan Vol.1 - Akira Gotoh - 6/14/15 - 3.50
345 Harley Quinn Vol. 3 - Amanda Conner - 6/14/15 - 4.0
346 露出妻麗子 - Mon-Mon - 6/14/15 - 4.50
347 Rain Falls - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/15/15 - 4.50
348 Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1 - Tom Taylor - 6/15/15 - 4.0
349 Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 - Tom Taylor - 6/15/15 - 4.0
350 In Absentia - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/16/15 - 4.0
351 Nude in Public All Day Long, Book 1: Morning - Embarrassed Wife - 6/16/15 - 1.0
352 Dynasty: The Heavenly Fox - Sam Ryan - 6/17/15 - 4.0
353 Pariahs & Prodigals - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/16/15 - 6/17/15 - 2.0
354 MILF and Milk - J. O'Brien - 6/17/15 - 2.0
355 Dynasty: The Wandering Traveler - Sam Ryan - 6/18/15 - 5.0
356 The Lifeguard - Mariana Lewis - 6/19/15 - 1.0
357 Gift of Hearts - Melissa Grace - 6/20/15 - 3.50
358 The Text Message: Becoming a Dormroom Quean - Vivianna Autumn - 6/20/15 - 1.0
359 First Time Christmas Cougar - Daisy Dydo - 6/20/15 - 3.0
360 Garage Fun - Daisy Dydo - 6/20/15 - 2.0
361 Pitfall: A Jurassic Romantic Adventure - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/18/15-6/21/15 - 3.50
362 Life Is Not a Country Song - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
363 Love Is Not a Romance Novel - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
364 The Lady Astronaut of Mars - Mary Robinette Kowal - 6/22/15 - 5.0
365 Life, Love, and Loyalty - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
366 A Christmas Proposal - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 3.0
367 A Wolf for Valentine's Day - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 5.0
368 Falling for Summer - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 5.0
369 Clockwork Chickadee - Mary Robinette Kowal -
370 Wolf Queen - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 3.0
371 Dakiti - E.J. Fisch - 6/4/15-6/23/15 - 3.0
372 Relatively Rainey - R.E. Bradshaw - 6/24/15 - 4.0
373 Forever and a Knight - Bridget Essex - 6/25/15 - 4.0
374 Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two, Vol. 1 - Tom Taylor - 6/25/15 - 3.0
375 Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two, Vol. 2 - Tom Taylor - 6/25/15 - 4.0
376 Aspen's Stunt - Melissa Grace - 6/26/15 - 2.0
377 The Morning After - Jae - 6/27/15 -
378 A Friend for Christmas - J.P. Walker - 6/28/15 - 3.0
379 Full Court Pressure - Lynn Galli - 6/29/15 - 4.0
380 The Princess Affair - Nell Stark - 6/29/15 - 4.0
381 Midnight In Orlando - Amy Dawson Robertson - 6/30/15 - 5.0
382 Midnight On A Mountaintop - Amy Dawson Robertson - 6/30/15 - 3.0
289 Pickup Styx - Liz Schultz - 5/28/15-6/1/15 - 3.50
290 Molly: House on Fire - R.E. Bradshaw - 6/1/15-6/2/15 - 4.50
291 The Venus Ring - Lexi Archer - 6/2/15 - 2.50
292 Damage Control - Jae - 6/2/15 - 4.0
293 Dress-tease - Jae -6/2/15 - 5.0
294 Airport Cavity Search - Jenny B. Vincent - 6/3/15 - 2.50
295 Thrill - Park Series Book 1: Mirror, Mirror (Thrill - Park SeriesThrill Park: Mirror, Mirror - Abigail Kinkade - 6/3/15 - 4.0
296 Groot #1 - Jeff Loveness - 6/3/15 - 3.0
297 Angel & Faith Season 10 #15: Fight or Flight - Kel McDonald - 6/3/15 - 4.0
298 Huntress: Year One - Ivory Madison - 6/3/15 - 4.0
299 Manhunter, Vol. 1: Street Justice - Marc Andreyko - 6/4/15 - 4.0
300 Off Screen - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15- 5.0
301 The Red Carpet - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15 - 4.0
302 Dim All The Lights - J.A. Armstrong - 6/4/15 - 4.0
303 Writer's Block - J.A. Armstrong - 6/5/15 - 4.50
304 Your Point of View Fantasy 2 - Your Public Groping Obsession - Amanda Clover - 6/6/15 - 2.0
305 Grocery Whore: BDSM Flash Fiction - Nina Fairweather - 6/6/15 - 3.0
306 Manhunter, Vol. 2: Trial by Fire - Marc Andreyko - 6/5/15-6/6/15 - 4.0
307 Ménage à 3 Round 4 - Gisele lagace - 6/6/15 - 5.0
308 First Time Lesbian Menage - Suze Snow - 6/6/15 - 2.0
309 Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl - Barbara Randall Kesel - 6/6/15 - 3.0
310 Ménage à 3 Round 5 - Gisele lagace - 6/7/15 - 5.0
311 Ménage à 3, round 6 - Gisele lagace - 6/7/15 - 5.0
312 THE SCREAM OF NO RETURN - Kim Hardwick - 6/8/15 - 3.0
313 The Black Masquerade: Your Erotic Story #1 - Celestia Dew - 6/8/15 - 2.0
314 Mystery in Sin City - J.R. Brown - 6/8/15 - 3.0
315 Manhunter, Vol. 3: Origins - marc Andreyko - 6/8/15 - 4.0
316 By Design - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 4.0
317 Princess Miri - Cerys de Lys - 6/8/15 - 2.0
318 Power Girl, Vol. 1: A New Beginning - Justin Gray - 6/7/15 - 4.0
319 Under Construction - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 5.0
320 Solid Foundation - J.A. Armstrong - 6/8/15 - 4.0
321 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal - G. Willow Wilson - 6/9/15 - 4.0
322 A Thousand Hands - Sarah Anon - 6/9/15 - 3.50
323 Power Girl, Vol. 2: Aliens and Apes - Justin Gray - 6/9/15 - 3.50
324 Nightwing/Huntress - Devin Grayson - 6/9/15 - 3.50
325 Grayson Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral - Tim Seeley - 6/9/15 - 3.50
326 Coffee Shop Dare - Sarah Anon - 6/9/15 - 4.50
327 Under My Skin - A.E. Dooland - 6/9/15-6/10/15 - 5.0
328 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why - G. Willow Wilson - 6/10/15 - 4.0
329 Let's Dominate My Girlfriend: - Regan Irons - 6/10/15 - 1.0
330 The First in a Series of Unexpectedly Erotic Adventures - Victoria Bushfire - 6/10/15 - 2.0
331 Vanishing Fame - Selina Rosen - 6/11/15 - 5.0
332 Power Girl, Volume 3: Bomb Squad - Judd Winick - 6/11/15 - 4.0
333 Falling Slowly - Lila Bruce - 6/11/15 - 4.0
334 Manhunter, Vol. 4: Unleashed - Marc Andreyko - 6/12/15 - 4.0
334 Winter Jacket - 6/12/15 - 3.0
335 The Scent of Jasmine - Lila Bruce - 6/12/15 - 2.0
336 The Cheerleader and the Secretary - Tabathia Quick - 6/13/15 - 3.50
337 Lucy the Nympho Stripper - Jenny B. Vincent - 6/13/15 - 3.0
338 Sex Shooter (An Erotica Crime Fiction Mystery Series): Episode One - A.T. Parks - 6/13/15 - 1.0
340 Manhunter, Vol. 5: Forgotten - Marc Andreyko - 6/12/15 - 4.0
341 XX Erotica: Video Fun - Stephanie Stewart - 6/13/15 - 1.0
342 A Passion for Running - Paul Enock - 6/13/15 - 1.0
343 Georgiana's Dilemma - Claudia Harbaugh - 6/13/15 - 4.0
344 Kodomo No Jikan Vol.1 - Akira Gotoh - 6/14/15 - 3.50
345 Harley Quinn Vol. 3 - Amanda Conner - 6/14/15 - 4.0
346 露出妻麗子 - Mon-Mon - 6/14/15 - 4.50
347 Rain Falls - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/15/15 - 4.50
348 Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1 - Tom Taylor - 6/15/15 - 4.0
349 Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 - Tom Taylor - 6/15/15 - 4.0
350 In Absentia - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/16/15 - 4.0
351 Nude in Public All Day Long, Book 1: Morning - Embarrassed Wife - 6/16/15 - 1.0
352 Dynasty: The Heavenly Fox - Sam Ryan - 6/17/15 - 4.0
353 Pariahs & Prodigals - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/16/15 - 6/17/15 - 2.0
354 MILF and Milk - J. O'Brien - 6/17/15 - 2.0
355 Dynasty: The Wandering Traveler - Sam Ryan - 6/18/15 - 5.0
356 The Lifeguard - Mariana Lewis - 6/19/15 - 1.0
357 Gift of Hearts - Melissa Grace - 6/20/15 - 3.50
358 The Text Message: Becoming a Dormroom Quean - Vivianna Autumn - 6/20/15 - 1.0
359 First Time Christmas Cougar - Daisy Dydo - 6/20/15 - 3.0
360 Garage Fun - Daisy Dydo - 6/20/15 - 2.0
361 Pitfall: A Jurassic Romantic Adventure - Kelli Jae Baeli - 6/18/15-6/21/15 - 3.50
362 Life Is Not a Country Song - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
363 Love Is Not a Romance Novel - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
364 The Lady Astronaut of Mars - Mary Robinette Kowal - 6/22/15 - 5.0
365 Life, Love, and Loyalty - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 4.0
366 A Christmas Proposal - Rhavensfyre - 6/22/15 - 3.0
367 A Wolf for Valentine's Day - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 5.0
368 Falling for Summer - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 5.0
369 Clockwork Chickadee - Mary Robinette Kowal -
370 Wolf Queen - Bridget Essex - 6/23/15 - 3.0
371 Dakiti - E.J. Fisch - 6/4/15-6/23/15 - 3.0
372 Relatively Rainey - R.E. Bradshaw - 6/24/15 - 4.0
373 Forever and a Knight - Bridget Essex - 6/25/15 - 4.0
374 Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two, Vol. 1 - Tom Taylor - 6/25/15 - 3.0
375 Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two, Vol. 2 - Tom Taylor - 6/25/15 - 4.0
376 Aspen's Stunt - Melissa Grace - 6/26/15 - 2.0
377 The Morning After - Jae - 6/27/15 -
378 A Friend for Christmas - J.P. Walker - 6/28/15 - 3.0
379 Full Court Pressure - Lynn Galli - 6/29/15 - 4.0
380 The Princess Affair - Nell Stark - 6/29/15 - 4.0
381 Midnight In Orlando - Amy Dawson Robertson - 6/30/15 - 5.0
382 Midnight On A Mountaintop - Amy Dawson Robertson - 6/30/15 - 3.0
7Lexxi
July:
383 J.A. Armstrong Casting Off - 7/1/15 - 4.0
384 Catherine Gilbert Murdock Dairy Queen - 6/30/15 -7/1/15 - 5.0
385 Rhavensfyre A Gift from the Past - 7/3/15 - 2.0
386 Rachel Spangler Heart of the Game - 7/3/15-7/8/15 - 4.0
387 Peter Lovesey Down among the dead men - 7/8/15-7/9/15 - 4.0
388 Selina Rosen How I Spent the Apcolypse - 7/9/15-7/10/15 - 4.0
389 Joshua Guess Damage - 6/26/15-7/12/15 - 4.0
390 Dorothy L. Sayers Whose Body? - 7/13/15 - 4.50
391 Lacey Dearie Leger's Foe - 7/14/15 - 5.0
392 Charlotte Elkins A Dangerous Talent - 7/15/15 - 2.0
393 Charles Williams A Touch of Death - 7/16/15 - 4.0
394 Rachel Spangler Learning Curve - 7/17/15 - 4.50
395 A.M. Dellamonica Child of a Hidden Sea - 7/16/15-7/17/15 - 4.50
396 Rachel Spangler The Long Way Home - 7/17/15-7/19/15 - 4.0
397 Suehirogari Path of the Cloud - 7/19/15 - 3.50
398 Tracey Richardson The Song in my Heart - 7/20/15 - 3.50
399 Lynn Galli Uncommon Emotions - 7/19/15 - 4.50
400 Erica Abbott Fragmentary Blue - 7/21/15 - 4.0
401 Rachel Spangler Trails Merge - 7/22/15 - 4.50
402 Michael Crichton Odds On - 7/21/15-7/22/15 - 4.50
403 Chloe Cox The Exam - 7/23/15 - 4.50
404 K.G. MacGregor T-Minus Two - 7/23/15 - 4.50
405 Eden Redd Psychic Raptors in Lust - 7/24/15 - 2.0
406 Lynn Galli Imagining Reality - 7/24/15 - 5.0
407 Alicia Dahl Ball of Yarn - 7/24/15 - 3.50
408 Lynn Galli Wasted Heart - 7/23/15-7/24/15 - 5.0
409 Bridget Essex The Guardian Angel - 7/25/15 - 4.0
410 Lynn Galli Blessed Twice - 7/25/15-7/26/15 - 5.0
411 Lynn Galli Mending Defects - 7/26/15 - 4.0
412 Lynn Galli Forevermore - 7/27/15 - 3.0
413 Kate Genet Don't Go There - 7/27/15 - 4.0
414 Laurie Salzler Positive Lightning - 7/28/15 - 4.0
415 Karis Walsh Blindsided - 7/29/15 - 4.0
416 J.A. Armstrong Special Delivery - 7/29/15 - 4.0
417 Mae Lynette Rebound - 7/29/15-7/30/15 - 3.0
418 Karis Walsh Mounting Danger - 7/31/15 - 4.50
383 J.A. Armstrong Casting Off - 7/1/15 - 4.0
384 Catherine Gilbert Murdock Dairy Queen - 6/30/15 -7/1/15 - 5.0
385 Rhavensfyre A Gift from the Past - 7/3/15 - 2.0
386 Rachel Spangler Heart of the Game - 7/3/15-7/8/15 - 4.0
387 Peter Lovesey Down among the dead men - 7/8/15-7/9/15 - 4.0
388 Selina Rosen How I Spent the Apcolypse - 7/9/15-7/10/15 - 4.0
389 Joshua Guess Damage - 6/26/15-7/12/15 - 4.0
390 Dorothy L. Sayers Whose Body? - 7/13/15 - 4.50
391 Lacey Dearie Leger's Foe - 7/14/15 - 5.0
392 Charlotte Elkins A Dangerous Talent - 7/15/15 - 2.0
393 Charles Williams A Touch of Death - 7/16/15 - 4.0
394 Rachel Spangler Learning Curve - 7/17/15 - 4.50
395 A.M. Dellamonica Child of a Hidden Sea - 7/16/15-7/17/15 - 4.50
396 Rachel Spangler The Long Way Home - 7/17/15-7/19/15 - 4.0
397 Suehirogari Path of the Cloud - 7/19/15 - 3.50
398 Tracey Richardson The Song in my Heart - 7/20/15 - 3.50
399 Lynn Galli Uncommon Emotions - 7/19/15 - 4.50
400 Erica Abbott Fragmentary Blue - 7/21/15 - 4.0
401 Rachel Spangler Trails Merge - 7/22/15 - 4.50
402 Michael Crichton Odds On - 7/21/15-7/22/15 - 4.50
403 Chloe Cox The Exam - 7/23/15 - 4.50
404 K.G. MacGregor T-Minus Two - 7/23/15 - 4.50
405 Eden Redd Psychic Raptors in Lust - 7/24/15 - 2.0
406 Lynn Galli Imagining Reality - 7/24/15 - 5.0
407 Alicia Dahl Ball of Yarn - 7/24/15 - 3.50
408 Lynn Galli Wasted Heart - 7/23/15-7/24/15 - 5.0
409 Bridget Essex The Guardian Angel - 7/25/15 - 4.0
410 Lynn Galli Blessed Twice - 7/25/15-7/26/15 - 5.0
411 Lynn Galli Mending Defects - 7/26/15 - 4.0
412 Lynn Galli Forevermore - 7/27/15 - 3.0
413 Kate Genet Don't Go There - 7/27/15 - 4.0
414 Laurie Salzler Positive Lightning - 7/28/15 - 4.0
415 Karis Walsh Blindsided - 7/29/15 - 4.0
416 J.A. Armstrong Special Delivery - 7/29/15 - 4.0
417 Mae Lynette Rebound - 7/29/15-7/30/15 - 3.0
418 Karis Walsh Mounting Danger - 7/31/15 - 4.50
8Lexxi
August:
419 William Rabkin A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read 7/30/15-8/03/15 - 3.0
420 Lynn Galli Life Rewired 8/3/15 - 4.0
421 Lynn Galli Something so Grand 8/3/15 - 4.50
422 Lynn Galli One-Off 8/4/15 - 5.0
423 Erica Abbott Certain Dark Things 8/5/15 - 4.0
424 Karis Walsh Mounting Evidence 8/5/15 - 4.0
425 Andi Marquette From the Boots Up 8/5/15-8/6/15 - 2.0
426 Erica Abbott Acquainted with the Night 8/7/15 - 5.0
427 John Lange The Venom Business 8/6/15- 8/7/15 - 3.0
428 R.E. Bradshaw Sweet Carolina Girls 7/22/15-8/8/15 - 1.0
429 G. Willow Wilson Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed 8/8/15 - 3.50
430 Deborah Crombie Leave the Grave Green 8/10/15 - 3.0
431 Bill Willingham Fables Vol. 22: Farewell 8/9/15-8/10/15 - 3.0
432 Erica Abbott One Fine Day 8/10/15-8/11/15 - 4.0
433 Erica Abbott Desert Places 8/11/15 - 4.0
434 Dana Cameron Seven Kinds of Hell 8/12/15 - 4.50
435 Dana Cameron Pack of Strays 8/13/15 - 4.0
436 Francois Walthery une Femme Dans la Peau tome 1 8/14/15 - 3.0
437 Dana Cameron Hellbender 8/14/15 - 4.0
438 Dana Cameron The Serpent's Tale 8/14/15 - 4.0
439 Francois Walthery Dans la peau d'une femme 8/14/15 - 3.0
440 Kathryn Immonen Operation: S.I.N.: Agent Carter 8/15/15 - 3.0
441 Francois Walthery Au Malheur des dames 8/15/15 - 3.0
442 Dana Cameron The Curious Mind of Miss Amelia Vernet 8/17/15 - 3.0
443 Dana Cameron Burning the Rule Book 8/17/15 - 3.50
444 Ramsey Isler Ghosts of ARCADIA 8/17/15 - 4.0
445 Kelli Jae Baeli Armchair Detective 8/17/15 - 3.0
446 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as DNA 8/19/15-8/20/15 - 4.0
447 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Syzygy 8/20/15-8/21/15 - 2.0
448 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Rising & Falling 8/21/15-8/22/15 - 3.50
449 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Sleepy Cat Peak 8/24/15 - 3.0
450 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Blue, Dark & Bright 8/24/15 - 4.0
451 Mira Grant Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus 8/24/15 - 4.0
452 Erich von Gotha Twenty 3 8/26/15 - 3.5
453 Paula Meadows Sabina 8/26/15 - 4.0
454 Tulli Education anglaise 8/26/15 - 3.0
455 Paula Meadows Sabina 2 8/26/15 - 3.5
456 Winston S. Churchill The Great Democracies 8/27/15 - 4.0
457 Nancy C. Davis Cats on the Prow 8/28/15 - 4.0
458 Nicholas Yermakov Last Communion 8/28/15 - 4.0
459 Nicholas Yermakov Epiphany 8/31/15 - 4.0
460 Nicholas Yermakov Jehad 8/31/15 - 4.0
419 William Rabkin A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read 7/30/15-8/03/15 - 3.0
420 Lynn Galli Life Rewired 8/3/15 - 4.0
421 Lynn Galli Something so Grand 8/3/15 - 4.50
422 Lynn Galli One-Off 8/4/15 - 5.0
423 Erica Abbott Certain Dark Things 8/5/15 - 4.0
424 Karis Walsh Mounting Evidence 8/5/15 - 4.0
425 Andi Marquette From the Boots Up 8/5/15-8/6/15 - 2.0
426 Erica Abbott Acquainted with the Night 8/7/15 - 5.0
427 John Lange The Venom Business 8/6/15- 8/7/15 - 3.0
428 R.E. Bradshaw Sweet Carolina Girls 7/22/15-8/8/15 - 1.0
429 G. Willow Wilson Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed 8/8/15 - 3.50
430 Deborah Crombie Leave the Grave Green 8/10/15 - 3.0
431 Bill Willingham Fables Vol. 22: Farewell 8/9/15-8/10/15 - 3.0
432 Erica Abbott One Fine Day 8/10/15-8/11/15 - 4.0
433 Erica Abbott Desert Places 8/11/15 - 4.0
434 Dana Cameron Seven Kinds of Hell 8/12/15 - 4.50
435 Dana Cameron Pack of Strays 8/13/15 - 4.0
436 Francois Walthery une Femme Dans la Peau tome 1 8/14/15 - 3.0
437 Dana Cameron Hellbender 8/14/15 - 4.0
438 Dana Cameron The Serpent's Tale 8/14/15 - 4.0
439 Francois Walthery Dans la peau d'une femme 8/14/15 - 3.0
440 Kathryn Immonen Operation: S.I.N.: Agent Carter 8/15/15 - 3.0
441 Francois Walthery Au Malheur des dames 8/15/15 - 3.0
442 Dana Cameron The Curious Mind of Miss Amelia Vernet 8/17/15 - 3.0
443 Dana Cameron Burning the Rule Book 8/17/15 - 3.50
444 Ramsey Isler Ghosts of ARCADIA 8/17/15 - 4.0
445 Kelli Jae Baeli Armchair Detective 8/17/15 - 3.0
446 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as DNA 8/19/15-8/20/15 - 4.0
447 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Syzygy 8/20/15-8/21/15 - 2.0
448 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Rising & Falling 8/21/15-8/22/15 - 3.50
449 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Sleepy Cat Peak 8/24/15 - 3.0
450 Kelli Jae Baeli Also Known as Blue, Dark & Bright 8/24/15 - 4.0
451 Mira Grant Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus 8/24/15 - 4.0
452 Erich von Gotha Twenty 3 8/26/15 - 3.5
453 Paula Meadows Sabina 8/26/15 - 4.0
454 Tulli Education anglaise 8/26/15 - 3.0
455 Paula Meadows Sabina 2 8/26/15 - 3.5
456 Winston S. Churchill The Great Democracies 8/27/15 - 4.0
457 Nancy C. Davis Cats on the Prow 8/28/15 - 4.0
458 Nicholas Yermakov Last Communion 8/28/15 - 4.0
459 Nicholas Yermakov Epiphany 8/31/15 - 4.0
460 Nicholas Yermakov Jehad 8/31/15 - 4.0
9Lexxi
September:
461 J.A. Armstrong Rough Drafts 9/1/15 - 4.0
462 Chris Roberson iZombie 9/1/15 - 4.0
463 Chris Roberson uZombie 9/1/15 - 4.0
464 Chris Roberson Six Feet Under and Rising 9/1/15 - 4.0
465 Chris Roberson Repossession 9/1/15 - 2.0
466 Kelley Puckett Silent Running 9/2/15 - 3.5
467 Craig Johnson Another Man's Moccasins 9/3/15 - 4.0
468 D. Jackson Leigh Bareback 9/4/15 - 4.0
469 D. Jackson Leigh Long Shot 9/5/15 - 4.0
470 Amanda Clover Your Naughty Playmate 2 - Succubus Fantasy 9/6/15 - 2.0
471 Craig Johnson The Dark Horse 9/8/15 - 5.0
472 D. Jackson Leigh Every Second Counts 9/8/15 - 2.0
473 Alannah Rogers The Counterfeiter-Catching Cat 9/10/15 - 3.0
474 Craig Johnson Junkyard Dogs 9/10/15 - 4.5
475 Alannah Rogers The Extortion Cat-astrophe 9/11/15 - 4.0
476 Craig Johnson Hell is Empty 9/14/15 - 4.5
477 Craig Johnson As the Crow Flies 9/15/15 - 5.0
478 Craig Johnson A Serpent's Tooth 9/16/15 - 5.0
479 Craig Johnson Any Other Name 9/17/15 - 4.0
480 Craig Johnson Dry Bones 9/20/15 - 3.0
481 Camille Carida Lick-it Man 9/22/15 - 2.0
482 Qiu Xiaolong Shanghai Redemption 9/22/15 - 4.0
483 Jena Cryer The Initiation 9/23/15 - 4.0
484 Rhavensfyre The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters 9/23/15 - 4.50
485 Cayla Kluver Wild and Willful 9/23/15 - 4.50
486 Seanan McGuire A Red-Rose Chain 9/24/15 - 4.0
487 Ashley Zacharias On the Auction Block 9/24/15 - 4.50
488 Barbara Ann Wright Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory 9/25/15 - 3.50
489 Amanda Clover The Filthy Time Machine: Mated and Milked by the Morlocks 9/25/15 - 4.0
490 Becky Cloonan Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy 9/26/15 - 4.0
491 Joshua Luna Girls: Conception 9/27/15 - 3.0
492 Joshua Luna Girls: Emergence 9/27/15 - 3.0
493 Joshua Luna Girls: Survival 9/27/15 - 3.0
494 Joshua Luna Girls: Extinction 9/27/15 - 3.0
495 Cameron Stewart Batgirl, Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside 9/27/15 - 4.0
496 Geoff Johns Batman: Earth One 9/28/15 - 4.0
497 Kat Christie Solstice 9/28/15 - 3.50
498 Leigh Matthews Don't Bang the Barista! 9/29/15 - 2.50
499 Alannah Rogers The Tail of the Secret Identity 9/30/15 - 4.0
461 J.A. Armstrong Rough Drafts 9/1/15 - 4.0
462 Chris Roberson iZombie 9/1/15 - 4.0
463 Chris Roberson uZombie 9/1/15 - 4.0
464 Chris Roberson Six Feet Under and Rising 9/1/15 - 4.0
465 Chris Roberson Repossession 9/1/15 - 2.0
466 Kelley Puckett Silent Running 9/2/15 - 3.5
467 Craig Johnson Another Man's Moccasins 9/3/15 - 4.0
468 D. Jackson Leigh Bareback 9/4/15 - 4.0
469 D. Jackson Leigh Long Shot 9/5/15 - 4.0
470 Amanda Clover Your Naughty Playmate 2 - Succubus Fantasy 9/6/15 - 2.0
471 Craig Johnson The Dark Horse 9/8/15 - 5.0
472 D. Jackson Leigh Every Second Counts 9/8/15 - 2.0
473 Alannah Rogers The Counterfeiter-Catching Cat 9/10/15 - 3.0
474 Craig Johnson Junkyard Dogs 9/10/15 - 4.5
475 Alannah Rogers The Extortion Cat-astrophe 9/11/15 - 4.0
476 Craig Johnson Hell is Empty 9/14/15 - 4.5
477 Craig Johnson As the Crow Flies 9/15/15 - 5.0
478 Craig Johnson A Serpent's Tooth 9/16/15 - 5.0
479 Craig Johnson Any Other Name 9/17/15 - 4.0
480 Craig Johnson Dry Bones 9/20/15 - 3.0
481 Camille Carida Lick-it Man 9/22/15 - 2.0
482 Qiu Xiaolong Shanghai Redemption 9/22/15 - 4.0
483 Jena Cryer The Initiation 9/23/15 - 4.0
484 Rhavensfyre The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters 9/23/15 - 4.50
485 Cayla Kluver Wild and Willful 9/23/15 - 4.50
486 Seanan McGuire A Red-Rose Chain 9/24/15 - 4.0
487 Ashley Zacharias On the Auction Block 9/24/15 - 4.50
488 Barbara Ann Wright Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory 9/25/15 - 3.50
489 Amanda Clover The Filthy Time Machine: Mated and Milked by the Morlocks 9/25/15 - 4.0
490 Becky Cloonan Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy 9/26/15 - 4.0
491 Joshua Luna Girls: Conception 9/27/15 - 3.0
492 Joshua Luna Girls: Emergence 9/27/15 - 3.0
493 Joshua Luna Girls: Survival 9/27/15 - 3.0
494 Joshua Luna Girls: Extinction 9/27/15 - 3.0
495 Cameron Stewart Batgirl, Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside 9/27/15 - 4.0
496 Geoff Johns Batman: Earth One 9/28/15 - 4.0
497 Kat Christie Solstice 9/28/15 - 3.50
498 Leigh Matthews Don't Bang the Barista! 9/29/15 - 2.50
499 Alannah Rogers The Tail of the Secret Identity 9/30/15 - 4.0
10Lexxi
October:
500 Ashley Zacharias - A Lady Pays her Penalties - 10/1/15 - 4.0
501 Laurie Salzler - In the Stillness of Dawn - 10/1/15 - 4.50
502 K.R. Thompson - Wynter's War - 10/2/15 - 3.0
503 Alan Moore - Batman: The Killing Joke - 10/6/15 - 3.0
504 S.H. Jucha - Libre - 10/6/15 - 4.0
505 Ben McCool - The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat and Pokey!, #1 - 10/7/15 - 4.0
506 Alexis Long - A Shuffled Pack - 10/7/15 - 4.50
507 Mike Johnson - Star Trek: Ongoing, Volume 10 - 10/8/15 - 4.0
508 Cayla Kluver - Wicked Wants - 10/08/15 - 3.0
509 Hailey Edwards - Dog with a Bone - 10/9/15 - 3.0
510 Hailey Edwards - Heir of the Dog - 10/9/15 - 4.50
511 Hailey Edwards - Lie Down with Dogs - 10/12/15 - 4.0
512 Genevieve Valentine - Catwoman, Vol. 6: Keeper of the Castle - 10/12/15 - 3.0
513 Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Volume 3 - 10/13/15 - 4.5
514 Hailey Edwards - Old Dog, New Tricks - 10/13/15 - 4.0
515 Michael C. Bailey - Action Figures: Secret Origins - 10/14/15 - 4.0
516 Alex Gabriel - Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero - 10/15/15 - 5.5
517 Alex Gabriel - Still Waters - 10/15/15 - 4.0
518 Kate Christie - In the Company of Women - 10/16/15 - 5.50
519 A. Regina Catatis - Dark Spaces: An Anthology - 10/17/15 - 4.0
520 J.A. Armstrong - Small Packages - 10/17/15 - 3.0
521 Kimmy Estrada - Animal Ecstasy - 10/18/15 - 5.0
522 Mimi Wilde - Community Service - 10/18/15 - 4.0
523 Bridget Essex - Big, Bad Wolf - 10/19/15 - 4.0
524 Bridget Essex - Wolf Heart - 10/19/15 - 5.0
525 Renee Stark - Shewolf - 10/19/15 - 2.0
526 Whitney Dineen - She Sins at Midnight - 10/20/15 - 2.50
527 Lacey Dearie - Leger's Dream - 10/20/15 - 4.50
528 Johnny Rio - Codename: Cornflower - 10/20/15 - 3.0
529 Whitney Dineen - The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan - 10/21/15 - 4.50
530 Tracie Banister - Blame it on the Fame - 10/22/15 - 4.0
531 Tracie Banister - Twin Piques - 10/22/15 - 4.0
532 Beth Labonte - Summer at Sea - 10/23/15 - 5.0
533 S.B. Sheeran - Burning Specks of Gold - 10/23/15 - 3.50
534 Tracie Banister - In Need of Therapy - 10/25/15 - 4.0
535 Beth Labonte - What Stays in Vegas - 10/26/15 - 2.0
536 Meredith Schoor - Blogger Girl - 10/27/15 - 4.0
537 Graeme Simsion - The Rosie Project - 10/27/15 - 5.50
538 India Lee - Hidden Gem - 10/29/15 - 4.0
539 Michele Gorman - Christmas Carol - 10/30/15 - 3.50
540 Michael C. Bailey - Black Magic Woman - 10/30/15 - 4.0
500 Ashley Zacharias - A Lady Pays her Penalties - 10/1/15 - 4.0
501 Laurie Salzler - In the Stillness of Dawn - 10/1/15 - 4.50
502 K.R. Thompson - Wynter's War - 10/2/15 - 3.0
503 Alan Moore - Batman: The Killing Joke - 10/6/15 - 3.0
504 S.H. Jucha - Libre - 10/6/15 - 4.0
505 Ben McCool - The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat and Pokey!, #1 - 10/7/15 - 4.0
506 Alexis Long - A Shuffled Pack - 10/7/15 - 4.50
507 Mike Johnson - Star Trek: Ongoing, Volume 10 - 10/8/15 - 4.0
508 Cayla Kluver - Wicked Wants - 10/08/15 - 3.0
509 Hailey Edwards - Dog with a Bone - 10/9/15 - 3.0
510 Hailey Edwards - Heir of the Dog - 10/9/15 - 4.50
511 Hailey Edwards - Lie Down with Dogs - 10/12/15 - 4.0
512 Genevieve Valentine - Catwoman, Vol. 6: Keeper of the Castle - 10/12/15 - 3.0
513 Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Volume 3 - 10/13/15 - 4.5
514 Hailey Edwards - Old Dog, New Tricks - 10/13/15 - 4.0
515 Michael C. Bailey - Action Figures: Secret Origins - 10/14/15 - 4.0
516 Alex Gabriel - Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero - 10/15/15 - 5.5
517 Alex Gabriel - Still Waters - 10/15/15 - 4.0
518 Kate Christie - In the Company of Women - 10/16/15 - 5.50
519 A. Regina Catatis - Dark Spaces: An Anthology - 10/17/15 - 4.0
520 J.A. Armstrong - Small Packages - 10/17/15 - 3.0
521 Kimmy Estrada - Animal Ecstasy - 10/18/15 - 5.0
522 Mimi Wilde - Community Service - 10/18/15 - 4.0
523 Bridget Essex - Big, Bad Wolf - 10/19/15 - 4.0
524 Bridget Essex - Wolf Heart - 10/19/15 - 5.0
525 Renee Stark - Shewolf - 10/19/15 - 2.0
526 Whitney Dineen - She Sins at Midnight - 10/20/15 - 2.50
527 Lacey Dearie - Leger's Dream - 10/20/15 - 4.50
528 Johnny Rio - Codename: Cornflower - 10/20/15 - 3.0
529 Whitney Dineen - The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan - 10/21/15 - 4.50
530 Tracie Banister - Blame it on the Fame - 10/22/15 - 4.0
531 Tracie Banister - Twin Piques - 10/22/15 - 4.0
532 Beth Labonte - Summer at Sea - 10/23/15 - 5.0
533 S.B. Sheeran - Burning Specks of Gold - 10/23/15 - 3.50
534 Tracie Banister - In Need of Therapy - 10/25/15 - 4.0
535 Beth Labonte - What Stays in Vegas - 10/26/15 - 2.0
536 Meredith Schoor - Blogger Girl - 10/27/15 - 4.0
537 Graeme Simsion - The Rosie Project - 10/27/15 - 5.50
538 India Lee - Hidden Gem - 10/29/15 - 4.0
539 Michele Gorman - Christmas Carol - 10/30/15 - 3.50
540 Michael C. Bailey - Black Magic Woman - 10/30/15 - 4.0
11Lexxi
November:
541 Billi Tiner - Dogs Aren't Men - 11/2/15 - 4.0
542 Sam Ryan - The Glorious Strategist - 11/3/15 - 4.0
543 Bridget Balentine - Sass - 11/3/15 - 4.0
544 Mia Archer - Girl on Geek - 11/4/15 - 4.50
545 Stephanie Motes - After the Dawn - 11/4/15 - 4.50
546 Stephanie Motes - Dawn of Christmas - 11/5/15 - 5.0
547 Elizabeth Edmondson - A Man of Some Repute - 11/6/15 - 4.50
548 Alex Gabriel - Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps. Step One: Tetris / Step Two: Fun and Games - 11/8/15 - 4.0
549 Alex Gabriel - Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps: Step Three: Innocence / Step Four: Perspective - 11/9/15 - 3.0
550 Rhavensfyre - Rest and Relaxation - 11/10/15 - 4.0
551 Elizabeth Edmondson - A Question of Inheritance - 11/12/15 - 4.0
552 T.L. Brentley - Love By Chance 1 - 11/13/15 - 3.0
553 T.L. Brentley - Love By Chance 2 - 11/16/15 - 3.0
554 James W. Huston - The Blood Flag - 11/16/15 - 3.0
555 Emmanuelle Arsan - Emmanuelle - 11/16/15 - 2.0
556 Siera Maley - Dating Sarah Cooper - 11/17/15 - 4.50
557 Susan Sey - Taste for Trouble - 11/17/15 - 4.0
558 J.A. Armstrong - New Additions - 11/18/15 - 5.50
559 Billi Tiner - To Love a Cat - 11/18/15- 4.0
560 Billi Tiner - Every Day Needs a Dog - 11/18/15 - 4.0
561 Alannah Rogers - The Purrfect Halloween Prank - 11/19/15 - 3.0
562 Hailey Edwards - Stone-Cold Fox - 11/19/15 - 4.0
563 Amanda Conner - Starfire Vol. 1: Welcome Home - 11/20/15 - 4.0
564 Michael C. Bailey - Pasts Imperfect - 11/21/15 - 3.0
565 Natalie Vivien - The Thousand Mile Love Story - 11/22/15 - 4.0
566 Scott Lobdell - Doomed - 11/23/15 - 3.5
567 Deborah Crombie - Mourn Not Your Dead - 11/25/15 - 4.0
568 Simon Hawke - Clique - 11/27/15 - 3.50
569 Beth Orsoff - Honeymoon for One - 11/30/15 - 1.50
541 Billi Tiner - Dogs Aren't Men - 11/2/15 - 4.0
542 Sam Ryan - The Glorious Strategist - 11/3/15 - 4.0
543 Bridget Balentine - Sass - 11/3/15 - 4.0
544 Mia Archer - Girl on Geek - 11/4/15 - 4.50
545 Stephanie Motes - After the Dawn - 11/4/15 - 4.50
546 Stephanie Motes - Dawn of Christmas - 11/5/15 - 5.0
547 Elizabeth Edmondson - A Man of Some Repute - 11/6/15 - 4.50
548 Alex Gabriel - Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps. Step One: Tetris / Step Two: Fun and Games - 11/8/15 - 4.0
549 Alex Gabriel - Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps: Step Three: Innocence / Step Four: Perspective - 11/9/15 - 3.0
550 Rhavensfyre - Rest and Relaxation - 11/10/15 - 4.0
551 Elizabeth Edmondson - A Question of Inheritance - 11/12/15 - 4.0
552 T.L. Brentley - Love By Chance 1 - 11/13/15 - 3.0
553 T.L. Brentley - Love By Chance 2 - 11/16/15 - 3.0
554 James W. Huston - The Blood Flag - 11/16/15 - 3.0
555 Emmanuelle Arsan - Emmanuelle - 11/16/15 - 2.0
556 Siera Maley - Dating Sarah Cooper - 11/17/15 - 4.50
557 Susan Sey - Taste for Trouble - 11/17/15 - 4.0
558 J.A. Armstrong - New Additions - 11/18/15 - 5.50
559 Billi Tiner - To Love a Cat - 11/18/15- 4.0
560 Billi Tiner - Every Day Needs a Dog - 11/18/15 - 4.0
561 Alannah Rogers - The Purrfect Halloween Prank - 11/19/15 - 3.0
562 Hailey Edwards - Stone-Cold Fox - 11/19/15 - 4.0
563 Amanda Conner - Starfire Vol. 1: Welcome Home - 11/20/15 - 4.0
564 Michael C. Bailey - Pasts Imperfect - 11/21/15 - 3.0
565 Natalie Vivien - The Thousand Mile Love Story - 11/22/15 - 4.0
566 Scott Lobdell - Doomed - 11/23/15 - 3.5
567 Deborah Crombie - Mourn Not Your Dead - 11/25/15 - 4.0
568 Simon Hawke - Clique - 11/27/15 - 3.50
569 Beth Orsoff - Honeymoon for One - 11/30/15 - 1.50
12Lexxi
December:
570 Mira Grant - Chimera - 12/3/15 - 4.0
571 Jae - Just Physical - 12/3/15 - 5.0
572 Amanda Conner - Harley Quinn and Power Girl - 12/5/15 - 4.0
573 浩久, 鬼窪 - 呪縛のステージ - 12/5/15 - 2.0
574 A.M. Dellamonica - A Daughter of No Nation - 12/6/15 - 3.0
575 Natalie Vivien - French Lessons - 12/7/15 - 3.50
576 Bridget Essex - The Christmas Wolf - 12/8/15 - 5.0
577 Ace Atkins - Robert B. Parker's Kickback - 12/8/15 - 3.0
578 Michelle DiCeglio - Friday Night Players: Big Fish - 12/9/15 - 5.0
579 Natalie Vivien - Christmas Carol - 12/9/15 - 4.2
580 Barbara Ellen Brink - Chosen - 12/10/15 - 3.3
581 Saxon Bennett - Family Affair - 12/10/15 - 4.75
582 Saxon Bennett - Marching to a Different Accordion - 12/11/15 - 4.0
583 Saxon Bennet - In the Unlikely Event - 12/13/15 - 2.0
584 S.H. Jucha - Meridien - 12/15/15 - 4.0
585 Michele L. Rivera - Never the Same - 12/16/15 - 4.4
586 Shei Darksbane - Awakened - 12/16/15 - 4.50
587 Shei Darksbane - Hunted - 12/17/15 - 4.0
588 Nancy C. Davis - Cats on the Prowl 2 - 12/17/15 - 3.80
589 Susan Sey - Talent for Trouble - 12/18/15 - 4.3
590 Nancy C. Davis - Cats on the Prowl 3 - 12/18/15 - 3.75
591 Selina Rosen - The Ghost Writer - 12/20/15 - 3.80
592 Scott Meyer - Off to be the Wizard - 12/20/15 - 1.50
593 Susan Sey - Touch of Trouble - 12/22/15 - 4.0
594 Lila Bruce - Love Bites - 12/22/15 - 4.90
570 Mira Grant - Chimera - 12/3/15 - 4.0
571 Jae - Just Physical - 12/3/15 - 5.0
572 Amanda Conner - Harley Quinn and Power Girl - 12/5/15 - 4.0
573 浩久, 鬼窪 - 呪縛のステージ - 12/5/15 - 2.0
574 A.M. Dellamonica - A Daughter of No Nation - 12/6/15 - 3.0
575 Natalie Vivien - French Lessons - 12/7/15 - 3.50
576 Bridget Essex - The Christmas Wolf - 12/8/15 - 5.0
577 Ace Atkins - Robert B. Parker's Kickback - 12/8/15 - 3.0
578 Michelle DiCeglio - Friday Night Players: Big Fish - 12/9/15 - 5.0
579 Natalie Vivien - Christmas Carol - 12/9/15 - 4.2
580 Barbara Ellen Brink - Chosen - 12/10/15 - 3.3
581 Saxon Bennett - Family Affair - 12/10/15 - 4.75
582 Saxon Bennett - Marching to a Different Accordion - 12/11/15 - 4.0
583 Saxon Bennet - In the Unlikely Event - 12/13/15 - 2.0
584 S.H. Jucha - Meridien - 12/15/15 - 4.0
585 Michele L. Rivera - Never the Same - 12/16/15 - 4.4
586 Shei Darksbane - Awakened - 12/16/15 - 4.50
587 Shei Darksbane - Hunted - 12/17/15 - 4.0
588 Nancy C. Davis - Cats on the Prowl 2 - 12/17/15 - 3.80
589 Susan Sey - Talent for Trouble - 12/18/15 - 4.3
590 Nancy C. Davis - Cats on the Prowl 3 - 12/18/15 - 3.75
591 Selina Rosen - The Ghost Writer - 12/20/15 - 3.80
592 Scott Meyer - Off to be the Wizard - 12/20/15 - 1.50
593 Susan Sey - Touch of Trouble - 12/22/15 - 4.0
594 Lila Bruce - Love Bites - 12/22/15 - 4.90
13Lexxi
In order of stuff read.
1. Gotham City Sirens Book One - Paul Dini - 1/5/15 - 3.0
One of the main off-putting parts of this story, and while I ended up giving it only 3 stars, is how much Harley Quinn is depicted as a blond bimbo. Which is strange considering that isn't exactly how Paul Dini depicted her in his prior book staring Quinn. Batman Adventures Mad Love.
Right. So. Catwoman, Harley Quinn. Poison Ivy. Three female criminals. Catwoman is weak from having her heart ripped out. And put back, I guess I should mention. Magically. Harley Quinn is a blond bimbo. Poison Ivy, uses her powers to dominate men. In this case the Riddler. Who, once he breaks out of that, becomes a private detective.
Strange story. I've never seen the Riddler do anything but cameo's and evil villain stuff, so it's interesting to see him with more lines. And as a Private Detective. Though still being in a cameo role, just an expanded cameo role. Guest star I guess.
Poison Ivy actually plays being a human female for a bit and goes and gets a job. Hadn't seen that before. I mean, I hadn't. In the comics.
Harley Quinn is targeted by 'the Joker' for stepping out with Bruce Wayne. Who is actually a criminal or something. There's a back story that I missed wherein Batman and Bruce Wayne are being played by some guy named "Hush". Whoever the that person might be. Oh, and Hush is the one who tricked Catwoman and caused her heart to explode. Or whatever happened. I don't know. It happened before this collection of comics.
Oh, right. The blond bimbo thing. Harley Quinn keeps alternating between being depicted as a genius who faked her way into having a graduate degree, and being depicted as a . . hmm . . flightly, bimbo-esque . . . um . . nutball. She's some combo of nutball and genius, but some writer/artist teams lean more one direction or another. Sometimes in the same series. She's only a blond bimbo in this one. A somewhat dim blond bimbo.
4. Mind the Gap 16-17 - Jim McCann - 1/6/15 - 3.0/2.0
An interesting Act I. You can tell that a series has a super slow pace when "Act I" took three graphic novel size collections to tell.
Those three graphic novel size collections lead to . . . pictures (well, lead to a funeral issue, then mostly picture issue). I don't know. Maybe if there weren't seemingly years between issues I might rate this one different. There were at least 2 months between issues 15 and 16 (or, at least, between Volume 3 and issue 16). Then five months between comic issue 16 and 17. And unless I just can't find it, no issue 18 after seven or eight months. And this issue was mainly pictures. Sure, it advanced the story a tiny bit. And if issue 18 had popped up the next week or month, I might even have rated this one higher. Maybe.
As mentioned. An interesting Act I. More an interesting premise. First couple issues were quite fun and intriguing. Then concept slowly unraveled and we are left with a mostly picture issue.
I'd say that I'm probably done with this series but . . . the last time I did that, was "done", I looked up after five years to find no new books, and the author dead. Course I say all this and I might find a new issue tomorrow. heh.
(actually, the last three times I did that (Walking Dead, Fables, Saga), the series continued, it was only the cat detective series (Cat Who series) that went silent for five years while I was assuming books were being published that I was ignoring).
10. Clothes Call - J.J. Jackson - 1/7/15 - 0.5
Unfortunately the lead character is quite irritating. Luckily, despite being a "you choose" type novel, the lead character isn't a "you" type, i.e., it isn't me. Every choice she made in the beginning annoyed me. Yes, she made the choices. This is a you choose. When the heck do I get to choose anything? mmphs.
Being reluctant at career advancement opportunities. Drooling over a guy she dated in college who appears to be into other women. Being a doormat. mmphs. I keep expecting to able to choose a path that will lead in another direction. If nothing else away from this jerk guy.
Good grief I'm disliking this woman as I watch events unfold out of my control. No control no control. mmphs. I think I misunderstood exactly what my part in all of this would be.
Woman goes to Montana. From New York. Has no idea people on ranches have anything to do. Bloody hell. I live in New York. I know . . gah. I've moved from disliking the main character to actively hating her.
Is professional enough to look up the place she is going. To look up the person she is going to work for. Does not pay any attention to what she should pack to wear. gah.
Heh. Bored out of my mind and I see a hyperlink. Ah, finally. I can make a decision. I'm sure this is much better than I'm letting it be. I just was looking forward to being able to control things. A lot more things.
Good grief. The only options I was given had obvious choices. I don't want to slip spoilers in, so I put something completely made up. The choices given are like the made up choice: 1) put gun to head and pull trigger; 2) ride a pony. Shesh. Given almost no control, and the only decisions I can make are pointless. There's no bloody way I'm choosing the other option. So . . . bah.
Yay! The book is done! Yay! I can finally stop reading it!
11. Becoming a Bimbo - Barbara A. Billingham - 1/8/15 - no rating
I've been not including the "adult" reviews. But I include this one as it is for one I couldn't give a rating to.
This is an evil evil book. *nods* Even so, I'd probably been close to giving it 5 stars if it had had some slight differences. The injection of male supremacy and the true lack of consent bothered me and took me too far out of the story.
Sure, there's some argument for consent but it's like saying that girl over there who said yes gave consent. After you roofied her. That's not consent. It's not really even dubious consent. It's like turning a particularly smart human's intelligence into that of a drunk dim cow and then asking them if they wished to have . . . well anything at that point. A small tail. A donkey to lick them. Much larger breasts. To remain a bimbo.
I misread the description of the story. Mostly because I was skimming and going too fast. I picked up on the fact the father didn't want to pay for college. I overlooked that he was the one who paid for the trainer to make her into a bimbo. For some odd reason I misread that into her trying to humiliate him or something by pretending to turn into a bimbo, but found that she liked it. That story is not the story presented, nor the story that was described in the summary provided. If it had been that I probably could have given close to five stars. Maybe. Still, the injection of male supremacy and the catch phrases of men who murder women while saying how evil they were for not agreeing to go with them. Date them. Like what happened relatively recently. When that bloody jackass drove up and shot at women, killed one or two just because he "couldn't get any". (at this moment I injected real life events into my review. At no time did someone drive around killing women in the story. No, in the story there were just some male supremacists mocking and humiliating the woman while using language that could have been directly lifted from real life murderers).
bah. That's my problem, in a way. The idea of mind control. Of submission, of all that triggers something in me. Half of me gets all excited. Other half begins flexing my muscles and begins to look for someone that looked at me wrong. That's just with submission. Add in the male dominance/supremacy bullshit and I'm at about 110% looking to find someone that looks at me the wrong way.
Therefore I can't rate this story. I got pulled out of it somewhere around the middle and just got pulled along to the conclusion. It was beginning to go in a direction wherein I could 'save myself' from being unable to rate the story. In a direction that saved the story for me. But it twisted yet again. Probably an expected and easily foreseen direction. Still. Just makes me annoyed.
It's well written for what it is. The last time I was in this position, well annoyed with a BDSM book, but for a different set of reasons, I ended up not rating at first. Then slipping in later and tacking a 3 star on it. I'll probably do that in a few months. Maybe. Probably not.
(I went a little enraged there in the next paragraph. I've "spoilered" out the profanity. If the spoiler tag works here on LT. If it doesn't I'll just remove those words; hmms. ok, I just spoiler out multiple sentences instead just words)
Bah. It's still driving me up the wall. Father won't pay for college. So. The.
(side note: the things that drive me wild and make me blindly pound at the keyboard so I can give a story five stars (to later go back and probably lower the rating to something like 3), and the things that cause me to blindly, while in a rage, pound at the keyboard . . . well, there's this thin line between them. Slight tilt one way or another can change a story in my mind from good story to raging . . um . . rage.)
12. Cassie's Conundrum - Eric Stray - 1/9/15 - no rating
I include this one as well because it also was not ratable by me.
Hmms. So . . .. Randomly stumbling around Kindle Unlimited stories. Spot this one. Check it out. And . . . a girl gets turned into a dog? And can't reach orgasm except under certain circumstances? And is drooling over dogs and what dogs might do to her?
Eek. This crossed the line, it did. And while mind-control/brainwashing and the like seems . . . possible, the reaction of the pet store was quite odd. Unbelievable.
Actually the whole thing leans way too far into unbelievablity land. Reads too much like an all powerful author getting himself off rather than a story with credible characters. Don't need to be fully formed, just something more than puppets to push around while squealing.
Ah. And another "Master" asking someone too out of it to understand or give consent, if they wish to "continue". Too out of it in a constantly horny, can't stop rubbing themselves and moaning like a puppy in heat while barely keeping their clothes on, and sometimes forgetting to do so. That out of it.
Adding fake little "she gave consent" scenes like that annoy me. Then again, whatever her decision turned out to be is left up to the reader.
16. Serenity: Leaves on the Wind - Zack Whedon - 1/10/15 - 3.50
This is an odd graphic novel from the get go. No no, not that it's a follow-up to a movie is odd. No, it's the characters. And how they are drawn. They are drawn so the characters don't actually look like themselves. What's up with that? Malcolm Reynolds looks like his younger brother. Related, but not Malcolm. Jayne Cobb doesn't look like himself either. The Washburns don't look like themselves either. Maybe one being a ghost and the other being pregnant can be used as an excuse there.
Kaylee Frye looks somewhat vaguely like herself. River and Simon look like themselves. Shesh.
Right. The story. Beginning was somewhat annoying. Though that might be due to me being distracted by the art decisions. Middle picked up. End of middle got to be exciting. And the ending . . . was an ending. I guess. Set up for next part of the story.
Overall it was somewhat as disjointed as the tv series. I mean in how Fox made them air Firefly out of order for some weird unknown reason. The story in this graphic novel was also odd and out of order.
ETA: I rated this because I thought it was over. Since it said "the end". Then found another story sitting there. Damn good little story. Worth bumping this up from 3 to 3.5 stars. Now if the whole thing had had that level of quality storytelling . . ..
18. Omeltte on the Rampage - Lacey Dearie - 1/11/15 - 3.0
Food await their fate inside a fridge. Eggs. Bacon. Pudding. Sausage. Self-aware and talking food.
Like the other story by Dearie involving talking self-aware food there's an undercurrent of lust/need/desire. Like how Tudor, bacon, fancies he belongs somehow or another with Orla, sausage. Though he can't stop starring at Elissa, pudding.
Meanwhile the chef's going around making things. Like omelette's. Turns out Edgar, the omelette, is a mean one and goes on a rampage. "Killing" innocent rice and the like.
Meanwhile times two, or the second meanwhile, the chef tries to get close to the waitress but she ducks him and darts out carrying food. Not that she appears opposed to his actions.
Yet another odd story involving food. It's an interesting concept, though I do not know how to, or how I'm supposed to . . . hmms . . . take it.
The only thing I know, after reading this story, is that I'm now insanely hungry.
19. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 2 - Christos Gage - 1/11/15 - 5.0
Ah, I do love when the humor comes out.
Buffy: ... only you, Xander, are strong enough to protect from forces of darkness.
Xander: Thank you, Buffy. I swear to you, I'll guard it with my life.
Spike: Whilst I shall stand here awkwardly, feeling vaguely uncomfortable and wondering why we're all speaking in exposition.
Tis one of the things that make the series great. The humor. It doesn't always show up enough in the comic version of Buffy.
Spike to angry Xander: You throw those darts at me, you'll end up with a pincushion for an arse.
Oh my. When nearly naked Xander and nearly naked Spike are fighting Sirens . . .. One of the funniest scenes I've read.
Hilarious addition to the Buffy universe. This comic.
20. Vaikunt - Hoshang Merchant - 1/12/15 - 3.0
The poems seem to be obsessed with death. A dead mother, died young. A dead father, died old. A sister who always went first, before the author, dead as well, first.
One poem involves searching for a man, a specific man, the author's love. The one of two hints of homosexuality in this collection of poems. And it is, in it's way, just a hint. Though the second is more than a hint. The second involves his first love. And how he was taken from behind, just like St. John was by the Holy Spirit.
It's always interesting to read poetry from other cultures. This is my first from India. I've read several from China and Japan. Britain. Canada. USA. Eventually I might expand to include at least ten countries. heh. hmms.
21. A Simple Suburban Murder - Mark Rishard Zubro - 1/12/15 - 4.0
I'd have to check to make sure, but I believe this is the first M-M book I've read that I've been able to give as much as 4 stars to. It's not the first non-sexual/erotic M-M book I've read, that would probably be that China Mountain Zhang book. I believe it's the first M-M mystery I've read, though.
The book is fairly straight forward as far as plot/story. As in as far as an amateur detective type book. It did include the lead having a partner. That doesn't always happen in amateur detective stories. Mostly tends to be a secretary or the like in those other stories. Actually, those wouldn't be amateur detective stories. Hmms. Well, at least in this case it's an amateur detective and his gay lover who just happens to be a star baseball player. One who 1) had thrown two no-hitters in the World Series, and 2) has a name I recognize as a real life baseball player. That part I found vaguely odd (looked the name up. Guess I was wrong as there's no listing of a baseball player having that name).
I also looked up the books on my gay shelf. I was wrong there as well. I have one previous book rated 4 stars that involves a main character who happens to be gay. The other three 4 star books on that shelf are only there because the writer won and or was nominated for the Lambda award. May or may not be gay characters in those three Steven Saylor books, but none main characters. So the long and short of it is that this is the second four star book I've read that includes main character gay men. The other is Fogtown. And, judging by its average rating of 2.91, I might be the only one who liked that book.
Right. Distracted myself there. I was mentioning the plot/story. Teacher arrives at school to begin his daily teacher chores. Notices a person sitting way in the back. Goes to investigate. Finds a dead body, that of a man, a fellow teacher he barely knew. One thing leads to another and the teacher who found the dead body begins investigating and searching for the murderer. Twists and turns lead to gay bars, prostitution rings, and porno films. Strong plot.
Stronger characterization than I was lead to believe. Yes, I did something I rarely do - looked at other reviews before reading this book. Lead me to believe the characters were lacking. Were paper thin. I found them fully formed. From lead characters down to the kids. The only ones who appeared paper thin, for the most part, where the cops, and they didn't really play that big of a role in the book.
In terms of relationships - you could tell that Scott and Tom were a couple, and were romantically involved. But most action occurred off the page. Beyond some kissing and massaging.
One of the things that normally drive me insane with gay books, and I do not know if it's just the books I previously chose to try, or if it is a common theme in gay books, and I've lost this sentence. A common theme I've found in gay books is an overly emotional group of people, filled with angst. I don't care who the characters are, what their gender might be, or what their sexual orientation might be, I just don't particularly like reading that type of thing (angst). And, fortunately, that didn't occur in this book.
I liked this book and would recommend it.
22. Catwoman Vol. 3: Relentless - Ed Brubaker - 1/12/15 - 3.0
A woman from Selina's past appears. Well, women. A former friend from the street, and Selina's sister.
The first half of the book is filled with Selina trying to do good. The second half is filled with more angst and emotional pain than can fill . . . um . . . an ice tray. Quite sappy emo pain.
23. A Wolf for the Holidays - Bridget Essex - 1/14/15 - 5.0
A woman is once again stood-up by her girlfriend. For the sixth time in six months, this girlfriend either forgets, arrives hours late, or sends a text message hours afterwards to indicate that they won't make dinner. This time, it's Christmas Eve, and Mandy's made a special meal. She loves cooking. She loves showing her love through food. But her girlfriend fails to arrive in time. Then finally arrives hours late. With a massive wolf. As a present. She doesn't apologize for missing dinner. No, she demands to know where it is. Mandy finally gets up the courage to break up with her girlfriend.
Girlfriend leaves. Mandy looks down at the massive wolf with the intelligent eyes. Looks around her tiny studio apartment. Knows she can't keep the wolf. Goes to sleep. Wakes up to see a naked woman rummaging through her dresser looking for clothing. Also, the wolf is missing.
Neat little story of unexpected occurrences, and unexpected love.
46. The Scorpion God - William Golding - 1/15/15 - 2.0
"Accidentally read the last of the short novels first. The one involving steam power, printing presses, and gunpowder in ancient Rome. - I give that one a rating of 3.5."
"The Scorpion God completed. A story of the Nile. The rise and fall of the river. And the human who is declared a God. Who is to make the river rise, and make the river go down again. - 3.5 stars."
"I have no idea how to "take" the middle short novel. Apparently the point of it is that the only way women can be in control is if all men have the intelligence of fruit flies and are gay. I do not believe I've ever read anything more horrible in my life than the middle short novel of this book."
57. Ever - Gail Carson Levine - 1/22/15 - 4.0
A fun little book read in one moment. One sitting. The story of two born at the same time. One a god. One a mortal. And the story of them finding each other and of the tests they must pass for love.
58. Murder at the Nightwood Bar - Katherine V. Forrest - 1/23/15 - 5.0
Most books I rate five stars I know right away that it's possible. Oh, something might happen that lowers it, sometimes all the way to 1 star, or even no stars, but I tend to know. This one? Sneaked up on me. I figured for the longest time, while I was reading it, that it would likely end up being somewhere between a three and four star work. There wasn't really anything to put it there, just nothing that leapt out at me grabbed me by the neck and screamed "this will be a five star book". At least not till the last part of the book. Where it kind of hit me how deep the book was. How . . . bah.
Mostly I was noticing things, before this revelation, like how this head homicide detective only seemed to get involved with women when they are part of her investigation. There's a back story there that may or may not be spoiler-y. Happened in the first book. Happened in this one. And they are the kind where people in need hook up, and not people in love. That's one of the things I noticed. It is not something I'd add or subtract stars for.
The racial, homophobic annoyances that popped up in the first book were toned down. A lot of the things like that were toned down. Still there but milder. Which is odd, in a way, when you consider the plot of the book. heh.
Right. I'm not great with reviews so I'll just leave it as normal. Just some notes randomly said.
16PaulCranswick
My goodness Lexxi what a start to the year. Three books a day pretty much. I hope your eyes can last out this year.
17Lexxi
i actually have had some days wherein I started to lose the ability to see. Got caught up in a story and didn't realize the light wasn't right.
I tend to load up on reading in January then start to ease off the rest of the way. Or at least first part of January. At my current pace I'll have read 10,110 pages by the end of the month. I don't really see that happening. I mean, I tend to average closer to 6,286.5 pages a month, not 10,000.
And they are not all books. 16 of the 45 are independently available short stories. hmm. Actually I have recorded 47 over on Goodreads. Not sure what the missing two might be.
The switch over to ebook reading has really increased both my reading pace and the number of short stories I read.
I tend to load up on reading in January then start to ease off the rest of the way. Or at least first part of January. At my current pace I'll have read 10,110 pages by the end of the month. I don't really see that happening. I mean, I tend to average closer to 6,286.5 pages a month, not 10,000.
And they are not all books. 16 of the 45 are independently available short stories. hmm. Actually I have recorded 47 over on Goodreads. Not sure what the missing two might be.
The switch over to ebook reading has really increased both my reading pace and the number of short stories I read.
19PaulCranswick
>17 Lexxi: Only 16 are short stories (a couple of anthologies worth at least) which would make in excess of 30 full lengthers anyway - still impressed.
It is funny because e-books have tended to slow me down as, especially with thrillers, you don't get that rush to turn the pages as with paper.
It is funny because e-books have tended to slow me down as, especially with thrillers, you don't get that rush to turn the pages as with paper.
20Lexxi
>19 PaulCranswick: Oh, I still get that to a certain extent. Instead of pages I go by percentages. 10% left, 5% left, etc. Course with ebooks that percentage number includes anything packed into the end of the ebook. I've had times thinking I had a ton of reading to do and . . . book ended at about 60% mark. Rest was filled up with sample chapters for other books and the like. Quite annoying, that.
21Lexxi
>18 scaifea: I think I might have read 2 or 3 Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid. Vaguely recall an Indiana Jones one. A Star Trek one. May or may not have had a Scooby Doo one.
I read my first three "adult" ones last year. First two were by James Schannep. Infected and "Murdered". "Infected" put you into a world where zombies are attacking. "Murdered" put you into a murder investigation.
Five of the six I read this year, plus the other one I read last year are erotic choose your own adventures. One of the six I read this year is just geared for adults and is not erotic.
For all nine books geared towards adults that I've read, the average rating works out to 2.78 stars out of 5.
I read my first three "adult" ones last year. First two were by James Schannep. Infected and "Murdered". "Infected" put you into a world where zombies are attacking. "Murdered" put you into a murder investigation.
Five of the six I read this year, plus the other one I read last year are erotic choose your own adventures. One of the six I read this year is just geared for adults and is not erotic.
For all nine books geared towards adults that I've read, the average rating works out to 2.78 stars out of 5.
22Lexxi
Forgot I was going to make a Kindle Unlimited post. Ok, so, I've spent $9.99 for this month's membership. Let's see what I got for it.
22 of the works I read so far this year have been part of the Kindle Unlimited program.
I would have had to pay $43.83 so far this month for what I've read.
22 of the works I read so far this year have been part of the Kindle Unlimited program.
I would have had to pay $43.83 so far this month for what I've read.
23Dejah_Thoris
Hi Lexxi -- I looked for a your thread a while back and couldn't find it obviously because you hadn't started it yet. You've done some fascinating reading already this year - the erotic choose your own adventure concept cracks me up! I'll be keeping an eye on all your reading.
24Lexxi
>23 Dejah_Thoris: Hello hello. Thanks for stopping by. :) Yeah, I hadn't started one, a thread, until the 14th. Mostly because I recalled the one I started in 2011, and the one I started in 2014 wherein I appeared to mostly be talking to myself.
I'm somewhat random with my reading, but there does tend to be some underlying reason for things. Like how I read all that erotica at the beginning of the year. I figured I'd see how much Kindle Unlimited I could find and read. Got to make some use of spending $9.99 a month. A good portion of what I'd read up to a certain point was in that, in KU. All that erotica, plus things like King Lear, Clockworkers, etc. Then after a certain point I wanted to read what I wanted to read, as in LGBT books, and they rarely turn up on KU. So I drifted away.
hmm. What I had meant to write and what I wrote isn't the same. heh. I had meant to write that my reading is random, but challenges and the like guide me as I bounce around. Read a bunch this month I might not have, to fulfill challenges. That and I seem incapable, for whatever reason, to be without a book of some kind in my hands, reading. Odd that. Not the reading part, but the constant reading part.
I'll probably slow down in February. I suppose. Maybe this constant reading bug will keep infecting me.
I'm somewhat random with my reading, but there does tend to be some underlying reason for things. Like how I read all that erotica at the beginning of the year. I figured I'd see how much Kindle Unlimited I could find and read. Got to make some use of spending $9.99 a month. A good portion of what I'd read up to a certain point was in that, in KU. All that erotica, plus things like King Lear, Clockworkers, etc. Then after a certain point I wanted to read what I wanted to read, as in LGBT books, and they rarely turn up on KU. So I drifted away.
hmm. What I had meant to write and what I wrote isn't the same. heh. I had meant to write that my reading is random, but challenges and the like guide me as I bounce around. Read a bunch this month I might not have, to fulfill challenges. That and I seem incapable, for whatever reason, to be without a book of some kind in my hands, reading. Odd that. Not the reading part, but the constant reading part.
I'll probably slow down in February. I suppose. Maybe this constant reading bug will keep infecting me.
25Lexxi
February Reads, so far:
73.
- Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, et al - 2/1/15 - 4.0
It's an overall interesting story. Bruce Wayne is out with his bodyguard, Sasha, as Batman. Patrolling. Batman has a bodyguard because Bruce Wayne has a bodyguard. And Sasha is as stubborn and intelligent as Batman, so when Wayne heads off by himself, Sasha has to figure out what's going on. And finds out Wayne is Batman. Therefore she goes out on patrols with him.
So. Batman and Sasha out on patrol. Two different crimes occur right when they are about to head back, so they separate. Both arrive back safely, though Batman is already changed back into Wayne and all showered and stuff. Wayne heads upstairs and finds . . . the body of his ex-girlfriend. He kneels over the body, lifting it up. Sasha stands there stunned. Police break in right then and arrest Wayne and Sasha. And that's the start of the 624 page volume.
The rest of the book follows various Bat related people, Tim Drake as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler, and Alfred the butler attempt to figure out what his happening and to try to help Batman. Though Batman doesn't want their help.
It's interesting to bump into characters I know and don't know. Judging by the other characters reactions, Sasha is relatively new to their gang. I've personally never heard of her before. Though it is possible I meant a later version of her after she got out of prison. I've meet Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler and Alfred before. But not specifically the same ones as are in this story. I don't think I've meet Tim Drake as Robin before. Not sure. The prior books that I read that included Robin seemed to involve Dick Grayson (or whatever Dick's last name is), who is Nightwing here (and Nightwing in other Nightwing related things I've read). Batgirl is yet another new woman in the role. No clue who she is. They never give her name. Other than Batgirl. Black Canary, Spoiler, and Alfred have all been meet by me before, but mostly as cameos/guest starring roles. So I don't have a good feeling of them.
It's one of those things that pop up in the Batman universe. That Batman doesn't kill. And doesn't like guns. So it seems a no brainer that he didn't kill his ex-girlfriend, right? Since she was shot three times. Except . . . she was shot by Wayne's gun. In his house. And Wayne was found with blood on him. And the dead girl's shoes in his bedroom. Then there's a 911 recording of Vesper Fairchild, the dead ex-girlfriend, moments before she is killed. Could Batman kill? Could something push him over the edge? Most of the characters have to confront the idea that Batman actually did kill. Nightwing can't stand the idea that Batman could kill, or that others might suspect that he could. The others are not so sure.
74.
- Will Pfeifer - 2/2/15 - 4.0
Will Pfeifer takes over the Catwoman series started in 2002. He didn't take over directly from the guy who was first, Ed Brubaker, but his stories were collected. While the people in between Brubaker and Pfeifer remain uncollected.
Catwoman became pregnant. Could not keep bouncing around on rooftops protecting the good citizens of the East End of Gotham, so she retired. But a Catwoman still pounces on bad guys in Gotham. That would be Catwoman's friend Catwoman. heh. Sorry, I just noticed I kept calling Selina Catwoman, so why should I not call the new Catwoman Catwoman? heh. Right. So. Selina Kyle became pregnant, retired. Holly Ican'trememberlastname took over as Catwoman. Meaning that a major DC character was taken over by a lesbian. I don't recall anyone mentioning this at the time.
75.
- Craig Johnson - 2/3/15 - 4.5
Not enjoying the reviews or the description for the book I put into challenge 1, Bitter Cold?, I looked over the other books slotted to be read by others for that challenge. Johnson's book caught my eye first and held it. It's funny, in a way, other than odd books here and there, I hadn't read LGBT related books much before 2011/2. Then I kind of went hog wild with the idea of reading such things. No, this is not a LGBT book. No, the funny thing is how odd it now feels to me when I read a non-LGBT book.
So, Walt Longmire is still mourning the loss of his wife. A call comes in that a body has been found. Being who and the type of man he is and being the Sheriff, he dispatches a deputy to look into this reported dead body. Which is probably a dead animal of one kind or another. I mean, it is being called in by a guy who no one can recall ever hearing sober. "Apparent" dead body turns out to be "actual" dead body. The hunt is on to catch the killer.
The book is thoroughly enjoyable. Top notch writing, story, etc. hmms. And yet I gave it 4.5 instead of 5. And haven't exactly hunted down the next book in the series. Wonder what that's about.
76.
- Dorothy Strachey - 2/4/15 - 4.5
A coming of age story written around 1935 and finally published in 1949. Started off with an interesting introduction. Which was the only part in the sample I tried. I'm somewhat glad of that. Otherwise I probably would not have bought it.
Beginning was a little off putting. In a tell not show way the author proceeded to give some details of Olivia up to a religious school she hated in England, and then over to a finishing school near Paris. But then . . . then the story picked up, grasped me and wouldn't let me go. Never really lost the tell not show vibe, but a lovely told story.
hmms. Rereading that and . . . apparently I forgot to mention how it was a LGBT book from 1949, and had been banned by the Catholic Church.
73.
- Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, et al - 2/1/15 - 4.0It's an overall interesting story. Bruce Wayne is out with his bodyguard, Sasha, as Batman. Patrolling. Batman has a bodyguard because Bruce Wayne has a bodyguard. And Sasha is as stubborn and intelligent as Batman, so when Wayne heads off by himself, Sasha has to figure out what's going on. And finds out Wayne is Batman. Therefore she goes out on patrols with him.
So. Batman and Sasha out on patrol. Two different crimes occur right when they are about to head back, so they separate. Both arrive back safely, though Batman is already changed back into Wayne and all showered and stuff. Wayne heads upstairs and finds . . . the body of his ex-girlfriend. He kneels over the body, lifting it up. Sasha stands there stunned. Police break in right then and arrest Wayne and Sasha. And that's the start of the 624 page volume.
The rest of the book follows various Bat related people, Tim Drake as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler, and Alfred the butler attempt to figure out what his happening and to try to help Batman. Though Batman doesn't want their help.
It's interesting to bump into characters I know and don't know. Judging by the other characters reactions, Sasha is relatively new to their gang. I've personally never heard of her before. Though it is possible I meant a later version of her after she got out of prison. I've meet Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Oracle, Spoiler and Alfred before. But not specifically the same ones as are in this story. I don't think I've meet Tim Drake as Robin before. Not sure. The prior books that I read that included Robin seemed to involve Dick Grayson (or whatever Dick's last name is), who is Nightwing here (and Nightwing in other Nightwing related things I've read). Batgirl is yet another new woman in the role. No clue who she is. They never give her name. Other than Batgirl. Black Canary, Spoiler, and Alfred have all been meet by me before, but mostly as cameos/guest starring roles. So I don't have a good feeling of them.
It's one of those things that pop up in the Batman universe. That Batman doesn't kill. And doesn't like guns. So it seems a no brainer that he didn't kill his ex-girlfriend, right? Since she was shot three times. Except . . . she was shot by Wayne's gun. In his house. And Wayne was found with blood on him. And the dead girl's shoes in his bedroom. Then there's a 911 recording of Vesper Fairchild, the dead ex-girlfriend, moments before she is killed. Could Batman kill? Could something push him over the edge? Most of the characters have to confront the idea that Batman actually did kill. Nightwing can't stand the idea that Batman could kill, or that others might suspect that he could. The others are not so sure.
74.
- Will Pfeifer - 2/2/15 - 4.0Will Pfeifer takes over the Catwoman series started in 2002. He didn't take over directly from the guy who was first, Ed Brubaker, but his stories were collected. While the people in between Brubaker and Pfeifer remain uncollected.
Catwoman became pregnant. Could not keep bouncing around on rooftops protecting the good citizens of the East End of Gotham, so she retired. But a Catwoman still pounces on bad guys in Gotham. That would be Catwoman's friend Catwoman. heh. Sorry, I just noticed I kept calling Selina Catwoman, so why should I not call the new Catwoman Catwoman? heh. Right. So. Selina Kyle became pregnant, retired. Holly Ican'trememberlastname took over as Catwoman. Meaning that a major DC character was taken over by a lesbian. I don't recall anyone mentioning this at the time.
75.
- Craig Johnson - 2/3/15 - 4.5Not enjoying the reviews or the description for the book I put into challenge 1, Bitter Cold?, I looked over the other books slotted to be read by others for that challenge. Johnson's book caught my eye first and held it. It's funny, in a way, other than odd books here and there, I hadn't read LGBT related books much before 2011/2. Then I kind of went hog wild with the idea of reading such things. No, this is not a LGBT book. No, the funny thing is how odd it now feels to me when I read a non-LGBT book.
So, Walt Longmire is still mourning the loss of his wife. A call comes in that a body has been found. Being who and the type of man he is and being the Sheriff, he dispatches a deputy to look into this reported dead body. Which is probably a dead animal of one kind or another. I mean, it is being called in by a guy who no one can recall ever hearing sober. "Apparent" dead body turns out to be "actual" dead body. The hunt is on to catch the killer.
The book is thoroughly enjoyable. Top notch writing, story, etc. hmms. And yet I gave it 4.5 instead of 5. And haven't exactly hunted down the next book in the series. Wonder what that's about.
76.
- Dorothy Strachey - 2/4/15 - 4.5A coming of age story written around 1935 and finally published in 1949. Started off with an interesting introduction. Which was the only part in the sample I tried. I'm somewhat glad of that. Otherwise I probably would not have bought it.
Beginning was a little off putting. In a tell not show way the author proceeded to give some details of Olivia up to a religious school she hated in England, and then over to a finishing school near Paris. But then . . . then the story picked up, grasped me and wouldn't let me go. Never really lost the tell not show vibe, but a lovely told story.
hmms. Rereading that and . . . apparently I forgot to mention how it was a LGBT book from 1949, and had been banned by the Catholic Church.
26Lexxi
January recap:
Books Read:
Adult: 15
Choice Your Own Adventure: 5
Comics: 6
Comic Strip Collection: 1
Fantasy: 11
Graphic Novels: 28
Historical Fiction: 1
LGBT: 18
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 17
Memoir: 1
Mystery: 14
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 1
Poetry: 1
Police: 3
PI: 1
Romance: 7
Science Fantasy: 7
Science Fiction: 6
Star Trek: 5
Superhero: 16
Thriller: 1
Short Story: 17
Total # works read: 72
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
Top Rated: 5 stars:
Book length:
Clean Slate - Andrea Bramhall - LGBT/Lesbian, Romance, Mystery
March: Book Two - John Robert Lewis - Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Memoir
Murder at the Nightwood Bar - Katherine V. Forrest - Police, Mystery, LGBT/Lesbian
Out on the Panhandle - R.E. Bradshaw - LGBT/Lesbian, Romance, Mystery
shorts:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 2 - Christos Gage - comic, fantasy, humor
That seems like an overly large number of 5 star works. hmms.
Books Read:
Adult: 15
Choice Your Own Adventure: 5
Comics: 6
Comic Strip Collection: 1
Fantasy: 11
Graphic Novels: 28
Historical Fiction: 1
LGBT: 18
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 17
Memoir: 1
Mystery: 14
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 1
Poetry: 1
Police: 3
PI: 1
Romance: 7
Science Fantasy: 7
Science Fiction: 6
Star Trek: 5
Superhero: 16
Thriller: 1
Short Story: 17
Total # works read: 72
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
Top Rated: 5 stars:
Book length:
Clean Slate - Andrea Bramhall - LGBT/Lesbian, Romance, Mystery
March: Book Two - John Robert Lewis - Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Memoir
Murder at the Nightwood Bar - Katherine V. Forrest - Police, Mystery, LGBT/Lesbian
Out on the Panhandle - R.E. Bradshaw - LGBT/Lesbian, Romance, Mystery
shorts:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I Wish, Part 2 - Christos Gage - comic, fantasy, humor
That seems like an overly large number of 5 star works. hmms.
27Dejah_Thoris
There's no problem with having plenty of five star works - I think it's far sadder to have few of them!
I'm looking forward to reading March: Book One this month.
I'm looking forward to reading March: Book One this month.
28Lexxi
I hope you end up liking March.
Oh, I like five star reads, heh. It's just that I know I've overrated some because of the limitations of the rating system (and I've cut some from my list above because of that). I normally record stuff first over at Goodreads. And they don't have half stars. Sometimes a book is somewhere between 4.0 and 4.5. If it's close enough to 4.5, I might rate it 5 stars, but am more likely to rate it 4. Things that fall between 4.75 and 5 I rate 5 stars. Leaving a gab between 4.51 and 4.74 wherein I don't really know how to rate it. Then when I do "best of" or "top rated" I try to weed out those that I rated five stars not because they were actually 5 stars, but because that was the closest rating I could give them.
Oh, I like five star reads, heh. It's just that I know I've overrated some because of the limitations of the rating system (and I've cut some from my list above because of that). I normally record stuff first over at Goodreads. And they don't have half stars. Sometimes a book is somewhere between 4.0 and 4.5. If it's close enough to 4.5, I might rate it 5 stars, but am more likely to rate it 4. Things that fall between 4.75 and 5 I rate 5 stars. Leaving a gab between 4.51 and 4.74 wherein I don't really know how to rate it. Then when I do "best of" or "top rated" I try to weed out those that I rated five stars not because they were actually 5 stars, but because that was the closest rating I could give them.
29Dejah_Thoris
I've never used Goodreads - I stumbled on to LT first, and here I've stayed. I find it very difficult to assign stars / ratings to books, so I mostly avoid it!
30drneutron
So if I read things right, you've hit 75... And I think you're the first this year, so Congrats!
31Lexxi
>30 drneutron: Thanks. :) I've read 77 works so far, 60 of which are "long", 17 are "short".
Over on GoodReads I set up a year challenge of 365 books. Mostly because I kept going way over estimates due partly to having short stories and the like count towards the challenge. That reading challenge over there says that I am "44 books ahead of schedule" with 22% completed. heh. I should probably not count the short works, but they are just so much easier to get, read, and record now-a-days as opposed to in the past. When they would be locked away inside massive anthologies, or hidden inside slim (or sometimes fat) magazines.
Over on GoodReads I set up a year challenge of 365 books. Mostly because I kept going way over estimates due partly to having short stories and the like count towards the challenge. That reading challenge over there says that I am "44 books ahead of schedule" with 22% completed. heh. I should probably not count the short works, but they are just so much easier to get, read, and record now-a-days as opposed to in the past. When they would be locked away inside massive anthologies, or hidden inside slim (or sometimes fat) magazines.
32Dejah_Thoris
Congratulations on 75, Lexxi!
34Lexxi
77. 
The Beverly Malibu - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/5/15 - 4.5
An interesting look into old Hollywood, the red scare, and a brief touch on AIDS.
78.
Why Isn't Becky Twitchell Dead? - Mark Richard Zubro - 2/5/15 - 4.0
Tom Mason continues to help kids as much as he can (as long as they are over the age of 5).
This time Mrs. Trask comes by Tom's school room to report that her son has been arrested for murder and desires Tom's help. Tom agrees and goes with her to the police station with her. Thereupon unfolds a story involving teenage love, sports, drugs, drinking, parents, people with limited power but who act as if they have more (aka, School Board), teacher unions, car chases in blizzards, blizzards, and brief vague touches of gay sex. Oh, and the worst bratty teenager of all time (the Becky Twitchell from the book title).
An interesting enough story and mystery. And, like last time, Tom's boyfriend, MVP, 3 time Cy Young winner Scott Carpenter helps Tom investigate. And like last time, they kind of stumble around gathering information until they stumble enough into the correct solution. "I must talk to this person now. Now I must talk to this person." "But you shouldn't talk to that one, you could get fired." "So what."
The Beverly Malibu - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/5/15 - 4.5An interesting look into old Hollywood, the red scare, and a brief touch on AIDS.
78.
Why Isn't Becky Twitchell Dead? - Mark Richard Zubro - 2/5/15 - 4.0Tom Mason continues to help kids as much as he can (as long as they are over the age of 5).
This time Mrs. Trask comes by Tom's school room to report that her son has been arrested for murder and desires Tom's help. Tom agrees and goes with her to the police station with her. Thereupon unfolds a story involving teenage love, sports, drugs, drinking, parents, people with limited power but who act as if they have more (aka, School Board), teacher unions, car chases in blizzards, blizzards, and brief vague touches of gay sex. Oh, and the worst bratty teenager of all time (the Becky Twitchell from the book title).
An interesting enough story and mystery. And, like last time, Tom's boyfriend, MVP, 3 time Cy Young winner Scott Carpenter helps Tom investigate. And like last time, they kind of stumble around gathering information until they stumble enough into the correct solution. "I must talk to this person now. Now I must talk to this person." "But you shouldn't talk to that one, you could get fired." "So what."
35Dejah_Thoris
>34 Lexxi: I just requested the first of this series from my library system - I'm actually a little surprised they had it!
36Lexxi
>35 Dejah_Thoris: Which one, the LGBT mystery one or the LGBT mystery one? heh. I mean, the series the Beverly Malibu one is in or the series the Becky Twitchell one is in?
If it's the Kate Delafield Series, I should note that I liked the second one in the series best of the three I've read ( Murder at the Nightwood Bar). Odd how my ratings are kind of all over the place for the series. I'm normally more consistent one way or another. Here I rated the first book 4 stars, second 5, and third 4.5 stars. A LGBT series involving a lesbian detective. Hmms, she doesn't specifically detect lesbians. A murder detective.
The Tom and Scott mysteries series is the first M-M series I've been able to rate at least 4 stars. Though the second and third gay books I've been able to rate at least 4 stars. Tom's a high school teacher, and the series is one of those amateur detective ones.
If it's the Kate Delafield Series, I should note that I liked the second one in the series best of the three I've read ( Murder at the Nightwood Bar). Odd how my ratings are kind of all over the place for the series. I'm normally more consistent one way or another. Here I rated the first book 4 stars, second 5, and third 4.5 stars. A LGBT series involving a lesbian detective. Hmms, she doesn't specifically detect lesbians. A murder detective.
The Tom and Scott mysteries series is the first M-M series I've been able to rate at least 4 stars. Though the second and third gay books I've been able to rate at least 4 stars. Tom's a high school teacher, and the series is one of those amateur detective ones.
37Dejah_Thoris
>36 Lexxi: Whoops. I didn't even notice that The Beverly Malibu was a mystery series! I reuested A Simple Suburban Murder - you caught my attention with the Cy Young award winner! I don't read as many mysteries as I used to, but I like to mix them in occasionally.
38Lexxi
>37 Dejah_Thoris: hehe Before you said that I didn't even realize how little I've written for each of the three books I've read so far for the Kate Delafield Series. I mean, I have mountains of words for so many of the books I've read, while this one series I have one liners. Or nothing. One liners like "better than the first book". Or one liners that make the book look like it's nonfiction. bah. I like the series. I don't know why I can't write about it.
Yes, Tom and Scott. Tom's a high school teacher, while Scott's a MLB Cy Young award winning pitcher who pitched two shut-outs in the world series. I mention that last part because it keeps coming up in the books, the two shut-outs. heh. Tom's the lead, while Scott's more . . . there. If I recall correctly, it's first person, from Tom's perspective.
Oh. Oops. I did write more. I just put it into my "Review" post that I started to put reviews into, got bored with the idea, and stopped doing. Instead putting the reviews with the list of books read.
Well, the Kate Delafield series is one that was started in 1984. And the first book in that series reads as if it was written in 1955. At least in terms of the racial and sexual bigotry that pours out from some character's mouths. Still, that first book in that series was good despite that.
Amateur City, book 1 in the series, involves an executive who was murdered (1984). Two LA police detectives, Kate Delafield (lesbian), and Ed Taylor (bigot), investigate. Oddly the story seemed to be more focused on someone who just joined the firm as a secretary. Ellen O'Neil. It's actually a rather rich detailed little book that might even have ended up rated higher by me if it had cut back on the bigotry. Which later books, at least the second and third, had done. - Amateur City is something Ed Taylor says that the case should be. Or, that the case is "Amateur City", an amateur killer, so it should be an easy case to solve.
Murder at the Nightwood Bar, book 2 in the series involves a young woman found dead outside a lesbian bar. It's the only book of the three I actually wrote anything for, so:
" Most books I rate five stars I know right away that it's possible. Oh, something might happen that lowers it, sometimes all the way to 1 star, or even no stars, but I tend to know. This one? Sneaked up on me. I figured for the longest time, while I was reading it, that it would likely end up being somewhere between a three and four star work. There wasn't really anything to put it there, just nothing that leapt out at me grabbed me by the neck and screamed "this will be a five star book". At least not till the last part of the book. Where it kind of hit me how deep the book was. How . . . bah.
Mostly I was noticing things, before this revelation, like how this head homicide detective only seemed to get involved with women when they are part of her investigation. There's a back story there that may or may not be spoiler-y. Happened in the first book. Happened in this one. And they are the kind where people in need hook up, and not people in love. That's one of the things I noticed. It is not something I'd add or subtract stars for. At least here.
The racial, homophobic annoyances that popped up in the first book were toned down. A lot of the things like that were toned down. Still there but milder. Which is odd, in a way, when you consider the plot of the book (a young woman who realizes she is a lesbian, and is kicked out of her house by her religious parents; later murdered outside a lesbian bar). " 1987
The Beverly Malibu, the third book in the series, involves the murder of Owen Sinclair, a man who gleefully and proudly testified for the House Un-American Activites Committee in the 1950s. A rotten horrible man. Smelly. Rude. Unrepentant. He was murdered in his room at the "Beverly Malibu", the name of the apartment complex. Most of his neighbors loath him. Most of his neighbors are in one way or another related and/or former Hollywood people. Actors, script supervisors, editors, directors (Sinclair), etc.
Once again Kate Delafield falls into a fling with someone she meets at a crime scene. The first time with Ellen O'Neil, a woman struggling with her long term lesbian lover (Amateur City). The second time with . . . um. Name isn't given in the description. I believe her name was Andrea. A woman who also had struggled with a long term lesbian lover, though for a different reason. She had been a gorgeous woman. She could not stand the reaction her lover gave when she first removed the bandages and revealed her scarred body. And so, another "people in need" hook up for Delafield.
The hook up in Beverly Malibu . . . hmms. Kate hadn't gotten over the death of her lover in the first book. It had been years, but Anne had been her only love and they had lived together for . . . I believe 12 years. Kate had started to get over the death in the second book, but was still iffy/leery/shattered. Andrea was in need. Need to be reassured that she was still attractive. But not in need for a relationship. Right. So, the hook up in Bevelry Malibu finds Kate beginning to be ready to move on from Anne.
While at the crime scene at the Malibu, she spots Paula. An elegant majestic woman. Who lived next to the murder victim. There was another woman there, Paula's niece Aimee, but Kate barely noticed her. Trapped by Paula. So much so that she kept having to recover her detective persona while in her presence. Ed Taylor noticed Aimee though. Mentioned she was a 10. Gorgeous. Kate just kind of looked at him in confusion. As mentioned, she didn't really pay much attention to the fact that there was another woman in Paula's room. It was Aimee, though, who had been most effected by the death of Owen Sinclair. Shocked. Horrified. Unable to sleep. Paula was ice water. Walked right in and starred at the tortured murdered man.
Kate's kind of distracted during the investigation. Ed's focused on a playwright who has been blocked since 1974 when Sinclair stole his script. One thing leads to another and . . . case solved. 1989
Yes, Tom and Scott. Tom's a high school teacher, while Scott's a MLB Cy Young award winning pitcher who pitched two shut-outs in the world series. I mention that last part because it keeps coming up in the books, the two shut-outs. heh. Tom's the lead, while Scott's more . . . there. If I recall correctly, it's first person, from Tom's perspective.
Oh. Oops. I did write more. I just put it into my "Review" post that I started to put reviews into, got bored with the idea, and stopped doing. Instead putting the reviews with the list of books read.
Well, the Kate Delafield series is one that was started in 1984. And the first book in that series reads as if it was written in 1955. At least in terms of the racial and sexual bigotry that pours out from some character's mouths. Still, that first book in that series was good despite that.
Amateur City, book 1 in the series, involves an executive who was murdered (1984). Two LA police detectives, Kate Delafield (lesbian), and Ed Taylor (bigot), investigate. Oddly the story seemed to be more focused on someone who just joined the firm as a secretary. Ellen O'Neil. It's actually a rather rich detailed little book that might even have ended up rated higher by me if it had cut back on the bigotry. Which later books, at least the second and third, had done. - Amateur City is something Ed Taylor says that the case should be. Or, that the case is "Amateur City", an amateur killer, so it should be an easy case to solve.
Murder at the Nightwood Bar, book 2 in the series involves a young woman found dead outside a lesbian bar. It's the only book of the three I actually wrote anything for, so:
" Most books I rate five stars I know right away that it's possible. Oh, something might happen that lowers it, sometimes all the way to 1 star, or even no stars, but I tend to know. This one? Sneaked up on me. I figured for the longest time, while I was reading it, that it would likely end up being somewhere between a three and four star work. There wasn't really anything to put it there, just nothing that leapt out at me grabbed me by the neck and screamed "this will be a five star book". At least not till the last part of the book. Where it kind of hit me how deep the book was. How . . . bah.
Mostly I was noticing things, before this revelation, like how this head homicide detective only seemed to get involved with women when they are part of her investigation. There's a back story there that may or may not be spoiler-y. Happened in the first book. Happened in this one. And they are the kind where people in need hook up, and not people in love. That's one of the things I noticed. It is not something I'd add or subtract stars for. At least here.
The racial, homophobic annoyances that popped up in the first book were toned down. A lot of the things like that were toned down. Still there but milder. Which is odd, in a way, when you consider the plot of the book (a young woman who realizes she is a lesbian, and is kicked out of her house by her religious parents; later murdered outside a lesbian bar). " 1987
The Beverly Malibu, the third book in the series, involves the murder of Owen Sinclair, a man who gleefully and proudly testified for the House Un-American Activites Committee in the 1950s. A rotten horrible man. Smelly. Rude. Unrepentant. He was murdered in his room at the "Beverly Malibu", the name of the apartment complex. Most of his neighbors loath him. Most of his neighbors are in one way or another related and/or former Hollywood people. Actors, script supervisors, editors, directors (Sinclair), etc.
Once again Kate Delafield falls into a fling with someone she meets at a crime scene. The first time with Ellen O'Neil, a woman struggling with her long term lesbian lover (Amateur City). The second time with . . . um. Name isn't given in the description. I believe her name was Andrea. A woman who also had struggled with a long term lesbian lover, though for a different reason. She had been a gorgeous woman. She could not stand the reaction her lover gave when she first removed the bandages and revealed her scarred body. And so, another "people in need" hook up for Delafield.
The hook up in Beverly Malibu . . . hmms. Kate hadn't gotten over the death of her lover in the first book. It had been years, but Anne had been her only love and they had lived together for . . . I believe 12 years. Kate had started to get over the death in the second book, but was still iffy/leery/shattered. Andrea was in need. Need to be reassured that she was still attractive. But not in need for a relationship. Right. So, the hook up in Bevelry Malibu finds Kate beginning to be ready to move on from Anne.
While at the crime scene at the Malibu, she spots Paula. An elegant majestic woman. Who lived next to the murder victim. There was another woman there, Paula's niece Aimee, but Kate barely noticed her. Trapped by Paula. So much so that she kept having to recover her detective persona while in her presence. Ed Taylor noticed Aimee though. Mentioned she was a 10. Gorgeous. Kate just kind of looked at him in confusion. As mentioned, she didn't really pay much attention to the fact that there was another woman in Paula's room. It was Aimee, though, who had been most effected by the death of Owen Sinclair. Shocked. Horrified. Unable to sleep. Paula was ice water. Walked right in and starred at the tortured murdered man.
Kate's kind of distracted during the investigation. Ed's focused on a playwright who has been blocked since 1974 when Sinclair stole his script. One thing leads to another and . . . case solved. 1989
39Dejah_Thoris
Hmmmm. I'm not certain that series is going to do it for me. I'm not always very fond of mysteries written in the 1980s, so I may hold it in reserve. Your comments, though, are great! I'm so lazy in writing about books myself I truly appreciate other readers who take the time and have the skill to write insightful comments. Thanks, Lexxi!
40Lexxi
79. Catwoman: Catwoman Dies - Will Pfeifer - 2/7/15 - 3.5
Read too many of these back to back to know which events happened in which collection.
80. Catwoman: Crime Pays - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
81. Catwoman: Long Road Home - Will Pfeifer - 2/8/15 - 2
There are something like three Catwoman series, tagged as Catwoman. The one that came out in 1993-2001, the one that was out in 2002-2008, and the current run that started in 2011. Plus a bunch of mini-series here and there. As far as I know I've not read anything in the first series, and everything that has been published in collections for the second series. Plus four volumes in the most recent series. I obviously can't say anything about the first series.
The second series started off strong under the hand of Brubaker, but even he had his ups and downs. His "downs" though only were down to three stars. His stuff was consistent and made sense. Will Pfeifer's run started off unbalanced and turned left into even more wackiness. That's unfortunate.
Pfeifer controlled Catwoman for 5 collections, or 29 individual comic issues (picking up at 53 until the end of this Catwoman run). He actually had Catwoman for a longer run than Brubaker, but Brubaker's run was far superior. Brubaker had Catwoman for the first 24 issues.
I'm babbling, of course, but then Pfeifer's run felt that way. Him babbling around with vague story ideas. Plots with holes large enough to drive tanks through, and with enough holes for three armies. The Film Freak story line was pretty solid. I say that even though I couldn't wait for it to be over. All the other story arcs kind of went nowhere and came out of left-field. Suddenly Catwoman is on another world. Then . . . suddenly she's back. But . . wait, maybe that's just in her mind, and then . . . maybe not. bah. annoying.
82. Murder by Tradition - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/10/15 - 5.0 - Kate Delafield #4
Every book up until this one involved an investigation into murder. This time it's Law and Order. Opens with murder. Shortly thereafter the police arrest a man for the crime and he confesses. Rest of book is the murder trial.
One of the big points that pop up in both the defense of the defendant and among police officers who are supposed to be investigating the case is the "Homosexual Defense". Two-fold: 1) guy deserved to die because he was gay; 2) defendant deserves to get off due to how a "normal common sense person" would freak out if a homosexual person attempted . . . well, breathing near them.
Oh, and less seen, but this "homosexual element" also impacts the prosecution. None of the male attorneys want the case, so it gets "dumped" onto a female attorney who has never done a murder trial before.
Kate's police partner basically shuts down and wants nothing to do with the case when it turns out that the murder victim is a gay man, and the murderer, during the confession, notes that he freaked out and that's why he killed. Ed wants the guy to get involuntary manslaughter, if that, because gay people are icky. Also, the police officers interviewing neighbors, witnesses, etc., are quite brief as they don't wish to be involved with the case. So Kate has to handle the police side by herself. Mostly.
I wasn't sure how the murder trial would go. How it would be written. I had not read one written by Forrest before. First two witnesses were basically described as "they got up, they gave their testimony, they got off the stand." So, it wasn't looking that thrilling, but then things picked up. In the end, the trial parts were probably among the best scenes I've read.
41Lexxi
February so far:
Books Read:
Adult: 0
Amateur Detective: 1
Choice Your Own Adventure: 0
Comics: 0
Comic Strip Collection: 4
Fantasy: 0
Graphic Novels: 5
Historical Fiction: 0
LGBT: 8
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 6
Memoir: 0
Murder Mystery: 8
Mystery: 9
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 0
Poetry: 0
Police: 6
PI: 0
Romance: 0
Science Fantasy: 1
Science Fiction: 1
Star Trek: 0
Superhero: 5
Thriller: 0
Short Story: 0
Total # works read: 19
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
These are easier done as you go instead of at end. Or something like that.
Hmms. Of the first five I read this month, 4 of them involve murder mysteries. And the fifth has a murder near the end that is mysterious. I didn't count it as a murder mystery as that isn't the point of the book. First set of five had 2 graphic novels. 2 books with LGBT themes. 4 mysteries.
Second set of five books had 3 graphic novels. 2 murder mysteries. 2 books with LGBT themes.
Books Read:
Adult: 0
Amateur Detective: 1
Choice Your Own Adventure: 0
Comics: 0
Comic Strip Collection: 4
Fantasy: 0
Graphic Novels: 5
Historical Fiction: 0
LGBT: 8
LGBT - Gay: 2
LGBT - Lesbian Fiction: 6
Memoir: 0
Murder Mystery: 8
Mystery: 9
Nonfiction: 1
Play: 0
Poetry: 0
Police: 6
PI: 0
Romance: 0
Science Fantasy: 1
Science Fiction: 1
Star Trek: 0
Superhero: 5
Thriller: 0
Short Story: 0
Total # works read: 19
Note: Works can land on more than one spot above.
These are easier done as you go instead of at end. Or something like that.
Hmms. Of the first five I read this month, 4 of them involve murder mysteries. And the fifth has a murder near the end that is mysterious. I didn't count it as a murder mystery as that isn't the point of the book. First set of five had 2 graphic novels. 2 books with LGBT themes. 4 mysteries.
Second set of five books had 3 graphic novels. 2 murder mysteries. 2 books with LGBT themes.
42Lexxi
83. Liberty Square - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/11/15 - 4.0
84. Never Bite Anything That Bites Back - Jim Toomey - 2/13/15 - 3.0
85. Think like a Shark: Avoiding a Porpoise Driven Life - Jim Toomey - 2/14/15 - 4.0
86. Coming Home - Jack McDevitt - 11/14/14-2/14/15 - 2.0
87. Here we go again - Jim Toomey - 2/15/15 - 4.0
88. Apparition Alley - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/17/15 - 3.0
43Dejah_Thoris
What was your favorite so far in February?
44Lexxi
89. Lunch Wore a Speedo - Jim Toomey - 2/17/15 - 3.5
90. Sleeping Bones - Katherine V. Forrest - 2/18/15 - 3.0
45Lexxi
>43 Dejah_Thoris:
Favorite so far in February?
Well, let me see, I've read 17 so far this month. Only one 5 star book so far this month. And three 4.5 star books. Everything else would be at 4 stars or less.
My favorite book so far this month is Murder by Tradition by Katherine V. Forrest. The fourth in the Kate Delafield series. For the first time in the series the book actually moves over to and focuses on the court trial side of 'law and order'. Relatively early on in the book Kate captures the murder suspect, gets him to confess, then a rather good murder trial is described for the rest of the book.
Favorite so far in February?
Well, let me see, I've read 17 so far this month. Only one 5 star book so far this month. And three 4.5 star books. Everything else would be at 4 stars or less.
My favorite book so far this month is Murder by Tradition by Katherine V. Forrest. The fourth in the Kate Delafield series. For the first time in the series the book actually moves over to and focuses on the court trial side of 'law and order'. Relatively early on in the book Kate captures the murder suspect, gets him to confess, then a rather good murder trial is described for the rest of the book.
46Lexxi
91. Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold - Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, Madeline D. Davis - 2/20/15 - 4.0
47Lexxi
102. The Cornish Coast Murder - John Bude - 3/5/15 - 3.50
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude was originally published in either 1933 or 1935, I forget exactly which year. It's an interesting twist on a murder mystery that I hadn't really seen before. It's both a professional investigation, involving a police investigator, and an amateur investigation involving a Vicar (do you capitalize vicar?).
I've sometimes seen something vaguely similar when the police investigating a crime, mostly murder, lock in on a certain individual and so that individual has to try to find the real murderer. Which, in its way, is an amateur and professional investigation. Here, though, the Vicar was never a suspect. So it is two simultaneous investigations. Sometimes working together, sometimes working separately, and mostly following the police investigator.
A good solid book. Had a rather modern feel to it. Well, I guess maybe not. Modern murder mystery's seem depressing and filled with violence and drinking. This one didn't have that. Ah, I recall now how I thought of it while reading it. It had the feel of something written now, but set back in the 1920s, or 1930s (there is one moment when the year is given, though given with a dash; 193-). Not exactly sure why I felt that way while reading it. Anyway, good solid book. A three and a half star book.
104. The Belly of the Beast (Star Trek: S.C.E. #1) - Dean Wesley Smith - 3/6/15
A pretty exciting adventure/exploration story set in the Star Trek Universe.
The first story in the Star Trek: S.C.E. series finds Captain Picard fighting a massive moon sized ship. For hours. Eventually he disables it and calls on the S.C.E. to come investigate the unidentified spaceship. Geordi and Lt. Vale stay behind to help the S.C.E.
It was an interesting story about exploring an unknown spaceship, searching for the missing crew and passengers, trying to find out what they could find out.
A fully formed story on it's own that can be read without reading the 66+ stories that come after it. Some knowledge of Star Trek is likely needed, though I am not sure if required.
The only slow moments, reading-wise not story wise, were the Captain Picard sections, and the Scotty section. But they were quickly read through.
48Lexxi
105. Fatal Error - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/6/15 - 4.0
An interesting story about a civilization that has a smart computer powering everything. And a biological race who built said computer so that they could delve more in softness and luxury.
A topic that's come up repeatedly in Star Trek shows and books. A supercomputer running everything. Well, here things are at a different stage than normal. For one, the supercomputer and the biological race are still living relatively well together, with neither devolved, nor evolved. Though the biological race has created a "priesthood" to function as the caretakers for the computer system. So, the story might advance down the path that other Star Trek showed the aftermath of. Devolved biologicals and malfunctioning computers, and a "priesthood" who don't know what they are doing except for "tradition".
Well, as I said, it hasn't devolved to that point yet. No, here, a group decided they didn't like how soft everyone was, and how much the computer control, so they attempted a revolution. A virus got injected into the supercomputer and people were cut off and inconvenienced. The supercomputer called Starfleet for help.
And interesting enough story. A good follow-up from the first story in the series.
106. Hard Crash - Christie Golden - 3/6/15 - 2.0
That's one of the problems when more than one author, separately, writes a series. The characters end up getting developed by one author, furthered by a second, and then a third one comes along and . . . everything is just slightly off enough to be annoying. Then you add an overly sappy storyline. Almost completely off-putting.
49Lexxi
108. Interphase, Part 2 - Dayton Ward - 3/8/15 - 2.5
The two part Interphase story was a pain to get through. Didn't enjoy it at all. While I continue developing a loathing of Duffy, I did, somewhat, find his taking command to be an interesting thing.
It was an okay story. It was also somewhat tedious and by no means a "like" or likeable story.
109. Cold Fusion - Keith R.A. DeCandido - 3/9/15 - 3.5
Nice to see Nog again. Best part of this specific story. I'm not sure if I particularly like any of the main S.C.E. characters, and I know that I've developed a loathing of Duffy.
The story kind of had a big build up then things fizzled out. Then an abrupt ending.
111. Invincible, Part 2 - David Mack - 3/9/15 - 3.0
Invincible was split into two parts and sold as such as ebooks way back when. When the omnibus came out, they were merged together with no indication of where the split used to occur. Therefore I have rated the two parts roughly how I felt as I read the story.
The first part got a four star rating as the combined book appeared to be roughly four star quality story/writing/etc. While the second part got a three star rating because the fact that Commander Sonya Gomez kept making mistake after stupid mistake. This is probably the bloodiest Star Trek story I've read that didn't involve ships or planets exploding. But involved up close and personal death. By "monsters".
A lot of those deaths were because of the unusual situation, but how the nature of the planet caused scanners/tricorders to not really work as well as they should. The nature of the planet also made weapons mostly useless, except for sonic weapons. And the unexpected nature of being confronted by a predatory animal that looked like a larger version of a relatively mild and unthreatening creature. So some of the deaths can be put into that category: unexpected developments. Some, though, are definately in the category of: commanding officer, i.e., Sonya Gomez, kept making stupid decisions and mistakes. And then some of the deaths fall into the category of: the aliens under Gomez command are described as being rather stupid and superstitious. Especially when confronted by death.
Right. So. Overall story is something like 3.5. First part gets a 4 star rating, second gets a 3 star rating, combined: 3.5 average.
52Lexxi
123. Chrononauts #1 - Mark Millar - 3/19/15 - 1/2 star
This story annoys me almost on every level. It's as if Millar set out to have the most cocky scientists possible who ignore all the rules. Which is fine, of course, but . . . mmphs. They not only ignore "the rules", they ignore common sense.
Sending a satellite back in time to watch history unfold? Neat idea. But, um. It's kind of big. And sent back to a time when people stared up at the skies. It's not cloaked or anything, it's just sitting there above the battle of Gettysburg. Is Millar going to link in Jules Verne and the others of the time who pictured men traveling to the moon and the like? Saying it's Millar's scientists who inspired them? Maybe. I get the sense that Millar just forget that aspect.
Then again, he is self aware enough to have one of his scientists answer the obvious question of "what happens if something changes because humans go back?" with "we don't make mistakes." His scientists are morons. Everyone makes mistakes. Actually, the question itself annoys me. Because the reporter asked what I paraphrased above, but it was more "now that humans are going back in time . . ." completely ignoring that sending "stuff" like satellite's back in time that hover in space, degrade, and fall to earth kind of have an impact on the past. Which is ignored.
Oh, and finding an F-14 in a 6,000 year old temple, an F-14 that may or may not be the one missing from the 1970s is 1) a sign time travel can work, 2) not a sign that time travel should be studied. If you are finding a lot of stuff in the news about "recent past stuff" popping up in digs of ancient civilizations, then that's a big sign that stuff isn't working right. There should be no bloody evidence. No footprint left.
What the bloody hell is the idea behind the first test of sending humans back in time, is to send them to 1492 to meet Columbus? Um. Have the first test involve the human going back to, say, last Tuesday. M'okay?
Then when one idiot time travellor goes off course, a second one leaps into the system to "rescue him", without taking any consideration to disease, contamination, etc. Just "I'm going to leap into this machine now in my skin tight orange jumpsuit and be back in a jiffy". mmphs.
The set-up was annoying. The idea is interesting. But the set up makes me want to kick Millar in the balls.
125. Past Life - Robert Greenberger - 3/19/15 - 5.0
It would be neat if there had been a Star Trek series that had gone this direction. I'm not sure if other readers would have been interested, but I would have been. A series, that is, that was in the Star Trek universe and involved examining and studying the various artifacts, civilizations, ruins, remains spread around Federation space, and outside.
Which, in a way, this specific story was about. Finding an artifact, examining it. Interacting with it and the planet on which it rests.
Some of the best Stargate episodes were like this type of scenario. Star Trek had a few that went this direction, but most that went this direction involved being flung through time, and/or hints of exploration and desire to do so, while busy doing something else. So it was nice to see a scenario that involved exploration/examination/digging without an ancient computer/aliens/robots/insects/all powerful beings/floating brains trying to do harm.
127. Infinity's Prism - Willaim Leisner, Christopher L. Bennett, James Swallow - 3/24/15 - 5.0
A three book collection of Star Trek themed stories. These three stories are unrelated to each other except in theme. In that they are alternate paths that might have occurred. Alternate universes, though none are part of the Mirror Universe that had popped up in Star Trek episodes, nor are any of them related to the alternate universe the current movie franchise is following.
The first book in the collection is by William Leisner called "A Less Perfect Union. It's the first 33% of the book. Making this part of the book to be roughly 176 pages in length. I think.
It involves a universe in which the foundation of the Federation collapsed in the formative stages. Due to a terrorist attack, Earth decided to go its own way, though not as "evilly" as in the Mirror Universe. Meanwhile, the others who were to be the founders of the Federation went off to form their own union.
The story picks up roughly.... Darn. They said in the book how long had occurred but I did not make note of it at the time. It may be about 50 to 100 years after the Federation was "supposed" to be founded. T'Pol as the last surviving member of the original Enterprise, Captain Pike of the current Enterprise, his first officer Kirk, and two diplomats head out on a mission to petition to join this other Federation which goes by another name that I forget now (hmms, it's actually up on Wikipedia, Coalition of Planets). A rather good story that I ended up rating 4.75 stars.
The second book is by Christopher L. Bennet and called Places of Exile. Roughly 192 pages in length. This one is a story involving the crew of Voyager. The story moves away from what occurred on the show at roughly the point Voyager meets the Borg in the Delta Quadrant (there is an internal note that the story takes place “during the latter half of the Voyager episode “Scorpion, Part 1” and concludes some two years later”; the two part Scorpion occurred at the end of season 3, and beginning of season 4.) A different choice is made when dealing with the Borg and Species insert long number here; a Star Trek website says that it is Species 8472. Species Numbers is from another universe and is retaliating on a Borg incursion.
Voyager had found itself in the middle in this fight. In the show Voyager gets past it by helping the Borg take on these others in return to safe passage through Borg space. In the "Places of Exile" book, Chakotay talks Janeway into rethinking her plan. Voyager is beaten up and is no longer warp-capable. And the crew, those still alive, must find some means of eeking out an existence in the Delta Quadrant.
Another interesting look into an alternate path, an alternate universe. The rating somewhat bumped up due to the action towards the end of the story. Bumped up to 4.50.
53Lexxi
128. A Christmas to Remember - Matt Shaw - 3/15/15 - 4.0
Well, this started off strangely. Note to anyone reading this review before deciding to read the book: Don't start this at the same time you start eating food. You really don't want to be in that situation. Ended up not continuing lunch. Though I did continue the book.
Wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I kinda expected someone to jump out horror villain style. Lurking menacingly. Also, considering I didn't happen to skim any notice of it in the little I read of the description of the book or reviews or shelves, I certainly wasn't expecting erotica.
Well written. To be fair, I read only two of the tracks. One ended badly, one ended with a note like "this is the best possible ending." I'm hesitant to try the other tracks now. Probably ruin the book for me. Might lower the star rating. On the other hand I might love the other tracks. Doubtful, but, eh. heh.
This is my "I've read two beginnings, middles, and endings so ...." review. May or may not be updated if I do read other threads.
hmms. Something that put me off my lunch, then included erotica. Read while I was on break from work. That may or may not have an impact on the rating.
129. Thrusts of Justice - Matt Youngmark - 3/25/15 - 3.0
There is an interesting story embedded in this "Choose Your Own Adventure" type book. It might have been better as a straight forward narrative book. I say that mostly because there seems to be a specific path that must be taken to "succeed". Most paths seem to end way quicker than you would except and if you back track, you find that both choices lead to endings.
Still, there's an interesting enough story to keep things entertaining and enjoyable.
130. Choose Your Misadventure: Online Dating - Jenny Young - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This is mostly a dumbish book. With options that ddn't really meet what I was looking for. I suppose the book was saved from lower rating from two story lines that were weird and goofy, and apparently successful.
Mostly saved by the fish story line. The one moment when I actually did laugh. From the idea of a fish, I suppose. Don't make me examine why I laughed. It'd ruin it. Probably.
131. Death by Halloween - David Warkentin - 3/25/15 - 3.0
This was kind of boring with story lines that were more annoying than anything else. Until one story line was good enough to keep my interest. Still more odd than creepy and/or horrifying.
132. Magic Beginnings - Kayla Bashe - 3/25/15 - 3.0
Um, what the heck did I just read?
In terms of a "Choose your own adventure" type book, there were a little too many occasions wherein the choice was (1/1) go here. As in, the story just continued. But there was a hyperlink to click on to reach the continuation of the story.
In terms of a fantasy . . .. hmms. Not much background given, though some of the universe gets filtered into your brain. Sometimes in something like infodumps. Though they were interesting infodumps. Apparently in this universe there are these monsters that like to wander around attacking. By making people depressed, angry, etc. Occasionally by eating them. Humans are defended from these monsters by Magic Girls who become Magic Women. Who train at Magical Girls Academy.
In terms of LGBT . . .. Not actually sure what function the men serve in this society. The women are magical, at least the ones that are magical heh, have kids, and have lesbian partners. The men . . . um . . . farm? So, not only is lesbian activities allowed/accepted/etc., they are basically expected and maybe, though not directly stated in this book, required. So, that's the L in LGBT.
Last note: Seemed like a quick read but I have no idea how long the book actually was. No source, or at least here and Amazon, has information on the length of this book.
54Lexxi
134. Leger's Clowder - Lacey Dearie - 3/26/15 - 4.0
A solid and interesting entry in the Leger saga. A good beginning to the Hotel cat adventures. My brain does not seem to be functioning coherently enough for me to say much of interest.
So . . . a good short story. Involving Leger, Lily, Leger's friendly sea gull, the resident cats on the island, female construction workers, Tony from prior stories, his human companions, Bob his dog friend. Mixed up in the case of the "who stole the three wallets?" Which rapidly morphed into "did the person who appears guilty actually do the deed," before Leger could even begin investigating.
Hmms. Leger's Clowder. Odd. They are not exactly his Clowder, at least not at this point.
135. Time Travel Dinosaur - Matt Youngmark - 3/26/15 - 4.0
Another interesting choose your adventure story, somewhat marred by being broken. As in, at some point I'm told to turn to page 9. There is in fact a page nine, but I have to hunt all over the ebook to find it since the hyperlink that would have taken me to it is not included on the page that says to turn to page 9.
So. Alternate evolution (dinosaurs evolving to humoid like creatures), steampunk, mad scientists, insane goblins, biped dolphin women, time travel, references to Scott Bakula, all included.
I do not recall if gender is expressed in the "you", though "you" appear vaguely surprised to be about to give birth, so maybe "you" were male at some point. Your mind kind of drifts in the story, so you've probably been in every gender and in everything. Heck, the book starts with you inside a female dog (that's part of the "Bakula" reference, time travel through traveling into people's/things heads).
This is the third in this specific series, and the quality of the writing seems to reflect that, though I haven't read the first one yet. They are related in being choose your own adventure books, but not by any other means. Well, other than being by the same author. So . . . somewhat higher quality writing, mostly referring here to the choices given are less annoying than they were in the Superhero book.
hmms. Not sure what else to note here. Good enough read. Nothing erotic or romantic occurs. There's violence, blood, and death. I suppose all I'm left with is that I would recommend it.
136. The Collectors - Christopher L. Bennett - 3/27/15 - 4.0
If we had half stars on here I'd probably . . . hmms, seriously considering giving this book a half star above 4. Though, back in the days when I was really nitpicky, and diving deep into ratings, this would probably fall closer to being a 4.25 book.
Right. So, the third book in the Department of Temporal Investigations series set in the Star Trek universe. Included for the readers attention are: strange devices discovered; time travel devices stored in vaults; displacement in time; parallel universes; travels to the distant future; travels to the distant past; (view spoiler); changes . . . and stuff.
This is neither the best Star Trek themed book I've read this year, nor the worst. And if I recall correctly, it might be the second best Bennett Star Trek book I've read this year (this being a comparison of two books, I think only two, with each other).
There is an interesting plot and storyline. Interesting characters. And . . um . . . a good conclusion, I think, to this series. If it is a conclusion. Otherwise a good continuation of this series.
55thornton37814
>47 Lexxi: I just recently read the Bude book too.
56Lexxi
>55 thornton37814: I liked it. Hopefully I'll get around to trying another one by him.
57Lexxi
137. Leger's Son - Lacey Dearie - 3/30/15 - 4.0
There's more character building than mystery, but still another solid addition to the overall Leger storyline.
A woman has turned up to help out around the hotel. Mostly by painting the hotel. With the woman is Leger's son, August. So it's a reunion of sorts. Times two. August and Leger. That woman and Leger's family. A reunion due to who she is and who is related to in life.
She's the sister of the man (boy? I've forgotten how old the guy was) who had attacked Hugh at some point in the past.
heh. Looking back at the story description and I haven't really added much to what's already on the website. Let me see, what can I add that isn't in the description without moving into spoiler territory. Well, Lilly is involved, the friendly calico kitty who has been living with Leger's family. As is Bob, the dog. And Piper of the island clowder. Oh, and . . hmms . . Garity? Ah, heh, I'm combining the sister's name, Verity, with Garrix, the cat. Right, so Garrix of the clowder is also involved. No birds. Only one dog, several cats, and several humans.
58Lexxi
140. Foundations - Dayton Ward - 03/30/15 - 4/2/15 - 3.50
This book is a combination of three separately released ebooks that are in the Starfleet S.C.E. series. I'm not sure if the stories were just smushed together as is without any editing, or if there was a great deal done to make the three work well together as one whole story. If all three are collected as is, then these were probably three separately annoying stories. If "stuff" was done to make the stories work as one, and read as such, then they did a great job.
Hmms. That's wordy. Let me try again. This was three short stories. They have been merged into one book. The book reads as one complete work instead of three separate works that have been packaged in the same container.
Most of the story involves Scotty back long ago in Star Trek history. The first story of his took place shortly before he joined Enterprise. The second and third occur several years later. Intermixed in with his stories is a "contemporary" S.C.E. mission (contemporary to the rest of the S.C.E. universe).
The S.C.E. mission involves coming across a space ship traveling really really fast and out of control. The engineers help the runaway ship. As is, it is an interesting enough story but . . . lacking. If the S.C.E. parts were pushed together and presented by itself, I'd probably have another 2 star Ward book on my hands. There were interesting bits, don't get me wrong, but . . . kind of boring.
The Scotty parts involved Scotty helping an earlier version of S.C.E. An earlier corps of engineers. Which may or may not have been called Corps of Engineers. The first story involves him and a team from this earlier corps attempting to help an asteroid that has a runaway fusion engine. Actually a pretty exciting story. Running against time, trying to save the day. This particular part connected to the overarching S.C.E. story line through ion storms. The asteroid was damaged by an ion storm. The ship the S.C.E. team is trying to help was damaged by an ion storm.
The second Scotty story involves being on a particular planet helping the inhabitants adjust to thinking and making decisions by themselves, after having the all controlling computer removed from the system. An aftermath story to the television episode wherein Kirk talked the Landru computer to turn itself off. While Scotty and one of the people from the first Scotty story attempt to "fix" things so that the people on the planet can better function without Landru, Landru itself tries to turn itself back on. Instant chaos thus created.
The third story involves an engineering trial for a new type of warp engine. That goes haywire and flings the spaceship far into uncharted territory. Meeting aliens who do not like intruders.
All three of the Scotty stories are quite good. The S.C.E. overarching story less so. I don't know, but I don't think I actually like any of the S.C.E. people, at least not when Ward is writing them.
141. Zombocalypse Now - Matt Youngmark - 4/2/15 - 4.0
Yep, as I suspected when I wrote my notes however long ago it was that I wrote the two notes . . .
The two best scenarios/paths were traveled first. Well, best in that one lead almost immediately to death, and the other lead to great things and repopulating the planet. All the other choices seemed to involve you dying. mmphs. There were some funny bits, but those were not as well taken when the only choices left are bad choices. And you know before hand that they will be. And they are.
Ah well. There's another choice your own adventure book I read that I started off like this here. Two paths. A "best" one and a "bad" one. Then I stopped reading. Because, hey, I "won." Didn't do that this time. My mistake. Not as much fun to "play" when you know that you have already read the best path.
59Lexxi
160. Alazar's Book of Bondage - Alazar - 4/6/15 - 1.0
Oddly both bored and vaguely offended. Drawings of women in bondage in black and white. Most with little cutesy groan inducing comments.
Like a picture of a woman tied to train tracks with the comment "And people say public transportation isn't sexy!" Nothing says sexy like a train driving over a bound woman and cutting into a thousand pieces and turning her into pizza paste! Wait, it isn't sexy? hmms, who knew? bah.
"Beverly insisted she wasn't a pole dancer. Vito begged to differ!" Next to a woman bound to a stripper pole. So tightly bound that she can't move. Um . . . she not dancing bound that tightly.
meh. I probably not in the right mood.
"'Oh, he's 87 years old and rich as hell! What could go wrong?'. Anne was about to find out the hard way." - next to a picture of a woman being bound up by a really old man. Subtly suggesting the old guy's about to clutch his chest and fall over dead. Leaving a bound naked woman. With no way to free herself. Who will then proceed to starve to death while being bound helpless next to a rotting corpse. Um . . yay?
Subtle "women are stupid and need to be bound up"/"binding women up in situations wherein they will die is sexy" . . . hmms . . Not sure I'm ever in the mood for that. mmphs.
Hmms. Ok, I like the one with the woman, bound up all nice and exposed like on a boat, next to a comment about a boyfriend owning a boat. And how playing pirate can have a different meaning in such a situation.
Which was immediately followed by a woman bound on one of those conveyor belts heading towards a saw. About two inches away from said saw. With indication saw is moving. So . . . um's . . how . . funny and sexy?
Well . . that was annoying. I need to remember to not read the messages, or something. It'd all probably be better that way.
163. The Silver Ships - S.H. Jucha - 4/6/15 - 4/7/15 - 4.0
Back story: Earth dying, colony ships sent out in various directions, fewer than planned. Book opens roughly 732 years later.
A single system ... um, country? Whatever the entity should be called, the single system entity has a ice tug captain floating around in space gathering ice asteroids. He spots a drifting spaceship of unknown design and investigates. And thus begins the reuniting of humanity. At least the descendents of two separate colony ships.
The book had an intriguing concept, an interesting concept. Progressed logically. Book ended somewhat abruptly though. The assumption is that this is a start to a series. Which it is, though only the first book has so far been released.
60Lexxi
165. Heart of Montana - C.K. Alexander - 4/9/15 - 3.0
This is something like the second or third gay erotic book that I have attempted, going in knowing that it was a gay erotic book. I read it to read the requirements of a challenge, specifically to read books with erotic themes from the fifty states. Montana hadn't been covered, yet, so I looked around and felt adventurous enough to attempt another gay erotic book. I’m going in on the story while knowing that I normally do not find romances between two men to be, personally to me, that enjoyable.
So . . .. A newly minted doctor has a massive education debt to repay. Looks around. Spots a job over in rural Montana which will greatly help him pay much off his debt. So, mostly sight unseen, he accepts the job, finds a place to live while there, and then packs up to move. The short book opens with the good doctor packing up in New England. Ready for his trip to Montana.
Somewhat randomly, like throwing darts randomly, he buys a pick-up truck. Whereupon he almost promptly gets a flat tire. While trying to figure out how to fix it, a park ranger pulls up and offers to help. So, the damsel in distress in this situation is a dude. Being helped by another dude. Both of whom thinks that the other is quite handsome. It's interesting and somewhat refreshing to see both that the person in distress isn't a woman, like it almost always seems to be, and that the man in trouble is willing to accept help. This almost never seems to be the case.
So, there's one potential love interest meet almost immediately. The half-Cheyenne park ranger. Who isn't out as being gay. Later Dr. Adrian Cook, the doctor guy who I haven't actually named yet, gets to his new place of employment. Meets up with his boss. Another guy who appears to be quite attractive and is giving off gay vibrations. Another potential love interest, and another one who isn't out about who he is. There's mention of a lesbian worker at the hospital, not meet in the story, and a gay nurse, meet but much later. So, this small town of 5,162 in Montana has a lot of gay people.
So, the romance between Dr. Cook and Randall Banks, the park ranger, progressed nicely. With fishing and stuff. Then immediately hits a snag when Dr. Cook decides to go for a jog when the park ranger heads off to work. Only to spot said park ranger with his head bouncing up and down over another man in a car off the hiking trail. And so . . ..
There's an interesting bit of love triangle, blackmail, humans being humans, and the like going on. I like how one of the characters is out and out bisexual. The idea that such a critter can exist. Of course, in this specific situation, that little bit of detail causes a great deal of trouble.
Well, I'll depart with this thought: There's a good story here. Good character build up, and some interesting side stories, but . . . all the buildup kind of built up to . . . everything being wrapped up in a few words instead of actually writing what happened. Docked a star or half for that. Probably half star.
166. Feeding the Farmer's Partner - Lydia Litt - 4/9/15 - 1.0
Unfortunately this story is more boring than anything else. Farmer gets a milk distributor as a partner. Farm Foreman continues to fuck Daisy the human cow. Cow hands continue to feed off of her breast milk while she is fucked by a machine. Milk distributor is rough with Daisy, etc.
It was all a little too . . . boring, really.
167. The Atlantis Gene - A.G. Riddle - 4/8/15 - 4/11/15 - 2.0
The premise was interesting. That image on the cover really pulled me in. Looked like a great discovery/Indiana Jones/archeological related book. There is some vague amount of that but nowhere close to what I expected.
There are some major problems with the book that I ran into while attempting to enjoy the book. The book opens with researchers in/near Antarctica. Some good characterization employed. Then . . . um . . hmms. Two of the three people on the research expedition, the bloody ones who found the "archeological discovery", i.e., a submarine and some strange object beneath it, disappear for the rest of the book. The third member of this expedition continues to turn up but she's as detailed as she was in this part of the book. As in almost not at all. She's female. Vaguely lazy. Vaguely nympho-ish. She may or may not have had roughly 4 or 5 lines in the book.
If I recall correctly, the next guy up . . . well, I'd have to look again. The point, though, is that a bunch of people are mentioned, described in some detail, only to have them poof from the story line. So, trying to figure out whom the heck I'm supposed to actually care about and pay attention to in the beginning was quite annoying. Then the two who ended up being the main characters, well others still popped up to wrestle away the POV, but still, two ended up being the main-ish characters. Both somewhat clichés. Probably the least interesting members of the book. A really really fragile woman, and a walking cliché of a man with deep deep certainty that 9/11 was a big conspiracy different than the one the rest of the world believes in. He's right, but still, something of a vague turn off.
Right, so, many many points of view. Lots of character hopping. A ton of chapters. I think I was 10% into the book and was already on something like chapter 44. I mean . . . what the heck? Chapter 44?
There is an interesting story here. Felt kind of a pain to read, though, and am not sure I have the desire to attempt book two. I probably won't try it. The only reason I might is because it'd be "free" for me to try it, being in the Kindle Unlimited program at the moment.
61Lexxi
168. The X-Files: Year Zero - Karl Kesel - 4/11/15 - 4/12/15 - 3.0
An interesting look back to the start of the X-Files, involving the FBI agent from the 1940s and a "special assistant" (which is as close as a woman could get to being an FBI agent in the 1940s).
This first case in the 1940s is connected to case belonging to the "present day" Mulder and Scully. It was neat to see a case from the 1940s. But . . .the present day case was kind of boring, and the 1940s case was a little too . . . knowingly cliche? Something like that. Still, fun to see such a story. I might even pick up something more along the lines, if they focused more on the 1940s agents without having to have a link to "present day".
62Lexxi
169. Ocean - Warren Ellis - 4/13/15-4/14/15 - 4.50
A neat little story about an inspector set out to investigate objects found within Europa's oceans. But then, I do tend to like Ellis' space stories.
63Lexxi
170. Channel U - Anthony Lampe - 4/14/15 - 3.0
A free book. Vague desire to read a choose-your-own adventure. So, I test it. Since it is free. Curious if the author's language is something other than English as this seems vaguely oddly worded at times. No matter.
You are a boy (no I'm not, shut up) who has decided to, against your parents orders, try out a brand new 80 inch television. Almost instantly you are trapped inside and a mirrored version of you is in the real world. Ordering you around. And so . . you are given three "shows" you can be the lead star in.
I picked Science Fiction first. Ended up captain on a star ship. On a rescue mission. Awkward stilted dialogue commences to fill the page as I continue.
Um. Big evil aliens suddenly start talking to you. Then the ensign cuts off the communication. Um. (A) there was no directive from the captain, you, to accept or initiate communications; (B) there is no indication that the alien ship is forcing their communication in (there's an "incoming message" but no "accept" or "deny" type command, message just plays); (C) the ensign cuts off the communication without waiting for you to tell the ensign to do so or to do anything. One example of the awkwardness of the book.
"Their weapons are nearly at maximum power," the ensign begins, "we need to act now, sir." Example two of awkwardness. Begins? The ensign has been communicating his thoughts for a while now. On these aliens. heh. Dangerous situation, huge alien ship is powering weapons, captain asks how powerful the ship is (or more exactly a question of whether or not the ship is a match). Ensign answers with a long story about how evil the Phantoms are. And how no one has survived. Um, so are they a match or not? Ensign did not answer the question.
Good grief. Powered up alien. You reach a decision. You crew argues with you while the alien is all set to kill you and your ship. Bad crew! Bad!
Bloody awful shields this ship has. Shesh. Completely unacceptable. Completely. Might as well have tissue paper as shields.
ARRRRRgh. Stop with all the "you ask" "states" "says" already. Shesh. It's driving me insane, and adding to the awkward wording.
Um. heh. "Emergency Bi-Separation". heh.
"Their shields are set to absorb our laser blasts . . . " hmm. At no time have I had the option to use laser blasts. Only torpedoes. What does it matter if their shields can absorb something I have not as yet used?
Right, so the other two adventures/television shows are "Fantasy Adventure" and "Horror Adventure".
"Fantasy Adventure" was competently written. It was even, to a certain extent, interesting.
Hmm. "Zombie Experience" aka "Horror Adventure" is also competently written. Apparently I chose the least well written story line to begin my examination of the book.
66Lexxi
hmms. I must be slowing down. I only have 3 or 4 more to add to that 41. So, 45 or 46 more to add.
heh, yeah. I get lazy and not add stuff in my thread. *nods* It's only 6,037 pages in 21 days, that I haven't added on here yet.. Which is only 287.4761904761905 pages a day.
heh, yeah. I get lazy and not add stuff in my thread. *nods* It's only 6,037 pages in 21 days, that I haven't added on here yet.. Which is only 287.4761904761905 pages a day.
67Lexxi
172. Captain Alatriste - Arturo Perez-Reverte - 4/13/15-4/16/15 - 3.0
Historical Fiction, Translated (Spanish), Action-Adventure, Setting-Spain
The early part of the book was quite interesting and well written. Which is good considering I'm reading a translation. Fairly rapidly, though, I started to get three feelings. Nothing much was happening, the flowery language was initially a neat look into another culture but quickly became annoying, and there was way too many words wasted on really long diversions into the future by the kid narrator that were cut off with "but that's not relevant to this story".
Frankly the book would have been much more interesting if it had either been sololy narrated by Captain Alatriste, or, if the kid just had to be the main narrator, then with fewer diversions into the future of his own time.
On the "feeling of nothing much happening": Stuff did actually happen, not much, but enough for a good solid book. It was just hidden beneath the flowery language and the long diversions into "Spain is very depressing now and blah blah blah, but that's not relevant to the story" sections.
Or, as I put it in my status updates when I was reading the book: It isn't true that "nothing much is happening but for flowery language" but the action can get lost in that flowery language. Also, for the love of something or other, stop all those long paragraphs/chapters about stuff that happened decades later and then cutting off such stories with "but that's from a different time and not much relevant to my story". Bah. heh.
One of the annoying things about all of the flowery wordy "all this is not relevant to the story" sections, is that the action scenes are so abruptly described. Though they tend to flow. Just abruptly.
On the whole, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read a book by someone from another country, one I do not recall reading something from before. I think. And the story was interesting, even the flowery language - when tied directly to the main story, added something extra to the book. It's just became irritating, though, when lots and lots of words were used on "irrelevant" bits, and the actual action sequences seemed to end up getting short-shift. End up not fully described. Put the two together and I was ultimately disappointed in the book.
174. Choose Your Own Erotic Odyssey #1 - Escape the Monster Breeding Grounds - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 4.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, LGBT, Bisexual, Non-Con-or-Dub-Con, TPE, Faerie, Demons
The, ah, the path to the queen was . . ah . . quite exciting and fun. Probably not for all, but enjoyable to me.
Wonder what a non-choose your own adventure story by this author would be like. Quite competent writer. Quite exciting pathways to follow. Well, the few pathways I followed. I must trace some more. Though like most "choose your own path" book I'm reluctant to look at the other paths once I found an enjoyable journey.
175. Your Point of View Fantasy 4 - Your Lesbian First Time - Amanda Clover - 4/17/15 - 1.5
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Lesbian, LGBT, Exhibitionism
hmms. I keep alternating from liking and disliking the stuff this author writes. First thing I read I gave 2 stars. Second thing I gave 5. Third, this story here, I gave 1.5.
Bah. I don't know. It might be the you thing. How the story is intended to use "you" to work the reader into the story. Problem is that I don't see myself at all in the lead character. 19 and obsessed with ass. With licking ass. I don't even remember 19 and the entire idea of being fixated on that area of the body somewhat removes me from erotic desires of all kinds. And so . . .. Oh, and then there's the student/teacher thing that was icky.
So, yeah. This be icky story.
176. Stargate SG-1: Roswell - Sonny Whitelaw & Jennifer Fallon - 4/16/15 - 4/17/15 - 4.0
Space Opera, Science Fiction, Parallel Worlds, Historical, Alt-History, Time Travel, Alien-Encounters
I was a little worried I wouldn't like the book when I first started. I've always been less interested in Col. Mitchell's time at the head of the team, and the book start off focused on him.
Plus . . . you are fighting a war, many of your people have been butchered, slaughtered and . . . you take every opportunity possible not actually hit your attackers with your weapons while desperately trying to get to the Stargate, and get home. Meanwhile you care a weapon that can stun people. Which you don't use. Because . . . . reasons.
If I hadn't recalled that the book was supposed to have something to do with Time Travel and the like, I probably would have tossed the book before I even began. But that awkward opening was quickly gotten passed and the book ended up being quite enjoyable.
178. Cinderella Bared: An Erotic Fairy Tale Adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/18/15 - 4.0
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Adult, Erotica, Fantasy, Fairy-Tales-Retold, Cinderella, Snow White, LGBT, Bisexual
Appears to be two diverging paths at the beginning with their own paths that branch off of them. One involves staying and doing chores at home. Other involves doing a chore that takes you outside.
The outside path appears to have two paths to follow. One path lead to an old woman/witch. Interesting enough but felt detached for the events. Another path lead to an exciting ride on a horse while being fingered and then finding a gorgeous woman in a box and pleasuring her awake. Fun. heh.
Inside path almost immediately has you humping a broom. Then a knock at the door with a solider. Who you play with. Quite exciting. The pathways that branch off from staying to do the inside chore are also interesting and exciting.
Actually, the only one that wasn't "exciting" was the first one I read with the old woman.
Correction. I decided to look at some of the other branching paths. There's one where you end up pleasuring your step-sister. Leave and head to the other. I don't like how you arrive there as if the prior scene never occurred. Or, to put another way, it's the same page you would turn to if you had snuck away instead of stayed to pleasure the step-sister. mmphs.
179. Intercorpse: An erotic Halloween adventure - Colleen Chen - 4/20/15 - 3.0
Adult, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, Alien-Encounters, Erotica, Bisexual, Science Fantasy
A solid set of stories. Certain vague exciting elements. Certain boring elements. Overall a good quick read.
180. Thirteen Roses Book One: Before: An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga - Michael Cairns - 4/20/15-4/21/15 - 1.0
Religion, Zombies, Horror, Science-Fantasy
This was annoying on almost every level. From depressing stupid human actions to every character being quite unbearable.
Not sure how to rate this book. A weird mixture of religion, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. With the main character being a somewhat reformed fella named Luke, who probably went by Lucifer at one point or another.
This isn't a review but notes I write before I roll over asleep..
181. Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 2: War and Peace - Charles Soule - 4/1/15-4/22/15 - 0.5
Superman, Wonder Woman, Science Fiction, Superhero, Graphic Novel
I have no idea what I just read. A bunch of disjointed stories smushed together with some underlying theme of war.
One of the reasons I started this specific series is because I thought it was outside the normal DC Comics universe, to a certain extent. Why would that be important? It's important because I just can't read DC Comics collections any longer. At least not the current series. When there is a story it's very bare-bones, basic and really simple. Most of the time there isn't an actual story-line. Or at least not just one. Just story ideas.
What the heck is Lana Lang doing flying around in outer space? Why is Lois Lane green and doing evil things? Wait, why is she now . . . not doing evil things, but still green, and now in the Fortress of Solitude? Wait, when did Supergirl become a Red Lantern? These and other thoughts struck me as I attempted to follow along. I have a very real sense that I was reading an over-arching series. One of those things to be read by those who have read, currently read, and will read everything put out by DC Comics. At least, I hope so, because this mish-mash mess makes no sense on it's own. I'd hate to learn that this actually was unconnected to the rest of DC Comics story-line. Because it makes no sense on its own.
Ah well. Something of a reoccurring theme for me. Attempting to read these things separate from the DC Comics universe and finding myself lost and bored. Like when I attempted to "finish off" Batgirl a while back. Didn't have a clue what was going on.
Guess I'm done with DC Comics except for things that I know are separate story lines. Not sure how I'll know. That and Harley Quinn. Quinn seems to be off in her own little universe, despite how I dislike the direction the character went, still mostly understandable stories.
Also - for the love of something or other: Stop with the bloody Brainiac stories. Personally I never cared for any of them, and they keep being dragged back into comic book series. Bah.
183. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie - 4/22/15-4/23/15 - 4.5
Mystery, Police, Setting-England, Author-American
A damned good little book. It's quite possible my rating might be influenced by how many 1 star books I've read lately, but still, I'd give this book at least 4.5 stars.
I like books like this one here. Kind of side step into meeting a character who ended up leading a series (not sure if there had been an intention in the beginning to make a series starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James). Side-step as in, Kincaid went on a holiday at a time share. Stumbled into a murder victim. Felt obligated to try to help. Especially as another visitor turns up dead as well.
Ah, I suppose I should include a note about how I didn't know the killer until the end. I do tend to know but didn't this time. It's possible I saw the clues but applied them wrongly. Not that I was activally investigating along with Kincaid. heh. Actually, it was more like no one and therefore everyone seemed a likely suspect.
188. A Far Country - Winston Churchill - 4/23/15-4/26/15 - 4.5
Religion, Business, Politics, Fiction
I've always been somewhat curious about Churchill's books. Here we have a guy who was a best-selling author, a former military man, and something of a failed politician at the turn of the century (the 20th century). At one point in time, everything he released seemed to end up on the best-seller lists. And, at one point in time, no one would confuse him for that guy who would later become Prime Minister of Great Britain during the second world war. If anything, they would see a book by that Churchill and wonder if the American Churchill had written it. Then the American Churchill retired from public life in 1919, had one unsuccessful book appear in roughly 1940 and became completely overshadowed by Sir Winston Churchill. But enough of the reasons why I was interested, more on the book itself.
A Far Country has an oddly modern feel to it. Men and women struggling with transition, the changing nature of marriage, the changing nature of power, economics, politics. If this book hadn't been written around 1915, but was only set in 1915, I'd have some vague feeling that it was too modern. I'm trying to think of exceptions to the modern feel, and the only thing I can think of would be the somewhat limited use of cars at the time, and in the book.
A man grows up in an upper-middle class household. Maybe even upper class. There seemed to be the idea in Hugh's mind, the main fella in the book, that his father hadn't been as rich as he actually turned out to be. But no matter, for all intents and purposes, Hugh was born in a leading family, in the higher class of a city. The city is never named, though I got the impression it was a mid-western city. Not sure if it was supposed to be St. Louis or not, but I was thinking of St. Louis as I was reading the book, mostly because Churchill himself was from there.
Got distracted there. Right, so, man grows up in a leading family, father and mother deeply religious, father a high-class and much respected lawyer, mother a housewife. Has many friends. Some of which from the lower classes. One particular female seems to hang around him, and there was some indication that she rather fancied him. And eventually they . . . went their separate ways during then after high school due to misunderstandings.
Hugh had the potential to be the best student in school, but didn't see any reason to push himself, so he just coasted. To the point that his father got him an opportunity to have a good job in business, instead of sending him to college. This both woke Hugh up, and lead to the misunderstandings that lead him and Nancy to part from each other. Not wanting to be "other", Hugh pushed himself and got into Harvard.
Estranged from religion, for the most part, and from love, also for the most part (due to the split from Nancy), Hugh went for power. Paths kept coming up, opportunities that would have lead one way or another and he always seemed to chose the one that went a particular direction. A direction that eventually lead to him being a lawyer. A "corporate lawyer". A very powerful man.
Quite interesting book. With much talk about the economics, politics, religion, and people of the time. Paths that might have been taken. Paths that should be taken in the future. Shortly after the mid-point in the book, the story turned heavily into Nancy-Hugh stuff. A turn that lead me to skimming. That section was important to the overall story, but could probably have been reduced from 20% of the book down to . . . oh, 10%. Or less. Enough to have its impact. But not so much that it would lead to skimming.
Well, I've read at least one book by the two fellas named Winston Churchill who were living at roughly the same time. Both, based on the several books I've read by Sir Winston S. Churchill (Winston S. Churchill being what he himself put on his books, after noticing the other Winston Churchill publishing books, the S not being a middle name but a part of his last name, Spencer-Churchill), and the one book by this Winston Churchill, I'd say that both are worthwhile reads. And enjoyable in their own ways. Though one mostly wrote fiction (this Churchill here), while the other mostly wrote non-fiction (that other Churchill).
201. First Flight - Mary Robinette Kowal - 4/30/15 - 5.0
Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Historical
A lovely little story involving a well drawn old woman of a 100 who travels back in time to witness the Wright Brothers flying. I randomly stumbled across this one. Just having Fir.. in the title got me to glance at it (because of a challenge), and I got pulled in immediately.
Love to read more about this character, and the world created herewithin, but this would appear to be the only one with this specific character. If I'm looking correctly. And this specific story line.
68Lexxi
Well, caught up with April. It's mid-May though and . . . I'll add the May reads at some point.
69Lexxi
234. Stargate: Reconnaissance - Bill McCay - 5/13/15-5/17/15 - 4.0
For most of the book I was annoyed with Daniel Jackson. That didn't leave, but other factors intruded to remove the irritation. Annoyed because he was putting the weight of the world on himself without any seeming cause to do so. He was/is a trained archaeologist. Not a world-builder. Not a diplomat. Not a bureaucrat. So his pushing himself into n early grave against the tide of hatred from all quarters - his wife, from random Urt-men (Earthmen), from the tribes of people he is trying to help . . .. Sorry, but no sympathy for you Daniel Jackson.
Right, so the book is basically about setting up a colony/new homeworld for those um . . the name gets used a lot in the book but I can't seem to find it on wikipedia so . . . those natives from the planet the Earth men went to in the film. The refugees from that planet.
It was interesting in and off itself. Somewhat dragging. Somewhat boring. Then some cats were found and the action redoubled for the final 33% or so of the book. Discoveries made. War broken out.
One last note: Unlike other books I've read and made comments one way or another about 1/2 stars and the like, this book is a solid 4 stars. Not 3.5, not 4.5. But 4.
70Lexxi
January Best
Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Vol.1 - 1/1/15 - 5.0
Paul Dini - The Batman Adventures: Mad Love - 1/1/15 - 5.0
Andrea Bramhall - Clean Slate - 1/9/15 - 5.0
Woman of about 36 is viciously attacked. Wakes up in the hospital. Asks for her mum. Mum's been dead these past 17 or so years. Morgan Masters has lost the memory of everything that has happened since she was 19. She does not remember her life, wife, children, nor why she walked out on them three weeks before that vicious attack. A quite good book.
R.E. Bradshaw - Out on the Panhandle - 1/16/15 - 5.0
Katherine V. Forrest - Murder at the Nightwood Bar - 1/23/15 - 5.0
Most books I rate five stars I know right away that it's possible. Oh, something might happen that lowers it, sometimes all the way to 1 star, or even no stars, but I tend to know. This one? Sneaked up on me. I figured for the longest time, while I was reading it, that it would likely end up being somewhere between a three and four star work. There wasn't really anything to put it there, just nothing that leapt out at me grabbed me by the neck and screamed "this will be a five star book". At least not till the last part of the book. Where it kind of hit me how deep the book was. How . . . bah.
Mostly I was noticing things, before this revelation, like how this head homicide detective only seemed to get involved with women when they are part of her investigation. There's a back story there that may or may not be spoiler-y. Happened in the first book. Happened in this one. And they are the kind where people in need hook up, and not people in love. That's one of the things I noticed. It is not something I'd add or subtract stars for.
The racial, homophobic annoyances that popped up in the first book were toned down. A lot of the things like that were toned down. Still there but milder. Which is odd, in a way, when you consider the plot of the book. heh.
Right. I'm not great with reviews so I'll just leave it as normal. Just some notes randomly strewn about in a small "what do you thing" box.
Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Vol.1 - 1/1/15 - 5.0
Paul Dini - The Batman Adventures: Mad Love - 1/1/15 - 5.0
Andrea Bramhall - Clean Slate - 1/9/15 - 5.0
Woman of about 36 is viciously attacked. Wakes up in the hospital. Asks for her mum. Mum's been dead these past 17 or so years. Morgan Masters has lost the memory of everything that has happened since she was 19. She does not remember her life, wife, children, nor why she walked out on them three weeks before that vicious attack. A quite good book.
R.E. Bradshaw - Out on the Panhandle - 1/16/15 - 5.0
Katherine V. Forrest - Murder at the Nightwood Bar - 1/23/15 - 5.0
Most books I rate five stars I know right away that it's possible. Oh, something might happen that lowers it, sometimes all the way to 1 star, or even no stars, but I tend to know. This one? Sneaked up on me. I figured for the longest time, while I was reading it, that it would likely end up being somewhere between a three and four star work. There wasn't really anything to put it there, just nothing that leapt out at me grabbed me by the neck and screamed "this will be a five star book". At least not till the last part of the book. Where it kind of hit me how deep the book was. How . . . bah.
Mostly I was noticing things, before this revelation, like how this head homicide detective only seemed to get involved with women when they are part of her investigation. There's a back story there that may or may not be spoiler-y. Happened in the first book. Happened in this one. And they are the kind where people in need hook up, and not people in love. That's one of the things I noticed. It is not something I'd add or subtract stars for.
The racial, homophobic annoyances that popped up in the first book were toned down. A lot of the things like that were toned down. Still there but milder. Which is odd, in a way, when you consider the plot of the book. heh.
Right. I'm not great with reviews so I'll just leave it as normal. Just some notes randomly strewn about in a small "what do you thing" box.
71Lexxi
February Best
Katherine V. Forrest - The Beverly Malibu - 2/5/15 - 5.0
The Beverly Malibu, the third book in the series, involves the murder of Owen Sinclair, a man who gleefully and proudly testified for the House Un-American Activites Committee in the 1950s. A rotten horrible man. Smelly. Rude. Unrepentant. He was murdered in his room at the "Beverly Malibu", the name of the apartment complex. Most of his neighbors loath him. Most of his neighbors are in one way or another related and/or former Hollywood people. Actors, script supervisors, editors, directors (Sinclair), etc.
Once again Kate Delafield falls into a fling with someone she meets at a crime scene. The first time with Ellen O'Neil, a woman struggling with her long term lesbian lover (Amateur City). The second time with . . . um. Name isn't given in the description. I believe her name was Andrea. A woman who also had struggled with a long term lesbian lover, though for a different reason. She had been a gorgeous woman. She could not stand the reaction her lover gave when she first removed the bandages and revealed her scared body. And so, another "people in need" hook up for Delafield.
The hook up in Beverly Malibu . . . hmms. Kate hadn't gotten over the death of her lover in the first book. It had been years, but Anne had been her only love and they had lived together for . . . I believe 12 years. Kate had started to get over the death in the second book, but was still iffy/leery/shattered. Andrea was in need. Need to be reassured that she was still attractive. But not in need for a relationship. Right. So, the hook up in Bevelry Malibu finds Kate beginning to be ready to move on from Anne.
While at the crime scene at the Malibu, she spots Paula. An elegant majestic woman. Who lived next to the murder victim. There was another woman there, Paula's niece Aimee, but Kate barely noticed her. Trapped by Paula. So much so that she kept having to recover her detective persona while in her presence. Ed Taylor noticed Aimee though. Mentioned she was a 10. Gorgeous. Kate just kind of looked at him in confusion. As mentioned, she didn't really pay much attention to the fact that there was another woman in Paula's room. It was Aimee, though, who had been most effected by the death of Owen Sinclair. Shocked. Horrified. Unable to sleep. Paula was ice water. Walked right in and starred at the tortured murdered man.
Kate's kind of distracted during the investigation. Ed's focused on a playwright who has been blocked since 1974 when Sinclair stole his script. One thing leads to another and . . . case solved. 1989
Katherine V. Forrest - Murder by Tradition - 2/10/15 - 5.0
Every book up until this one involved an investigation into murder. This time it's Law and Order. Opens with murder. Shortly thereafter the police arrest a man for the crime and he confesses. Rest of book is the murder trial.
One of the big points that pop up in both the defense of the defendant and among police officers who are supposed to be investigating the case is the "Homosexual Defense". Two-fold: 1) guy deserved to die because he was gay; 2) defendant deserves to get off due to how a "normal common sense person" would freak out if a homosexual person attempted . . . well, breathing near them.
Oh, and less seen, but this "homosexual element" also impacts the prosecution. None of the male attorneys want the case, so it gets "dumped" onto a female attorney who has never done a murder trial before.
Kate's police partner basically shuts down and wants nothing to do with the case when it turns out that the murder victim is a gay man, and the murderer, during the confession, notes that he freaked out and that's why he killed. Ed wants the guy to get involuntary manslaughter, if that, because gay people are icky. Also, the police officers interviewing neighbors, witnesses, etc., are quite brief as they don't wish to be involved with the case. So Kate has to handle the police side by herself. Mostly.
I wasn't sure how the murder trial would go. How it would be written. I had not read one written by Forrest before. First two witnesses were basically described as "they got up, they gave their testimony, they got off the stand." So, it wasn't looking that thrilling, but then things picked up. In the end, the trial parts were probably among the best scenes I've read.
Katherine V. Forrest - The Beverly Malibu - 2/5/15 - 5.0
The Beverly Malibu, the third book in the series, involves the murder of Owen Sinclair, a man who gleefully and proudly testified for the House Un-American Activites Committee in the 1950s. A rotten horrible man. Smelly. Rude. Unrepentant. He was murdered in his room at the "Beverly Malibu", the name of the apartment complex. Most of his neighbors loath him. Most of his neighbors are in one way or another related and/or former Hollywood people. Actors, script supervisors, editors, directors (Sinclair), etc.
Once again Kate Delafield falls into a fling with someone she meets at a crime scene. The first time with Ellen O'Neil, a woman struggling with her long term lesbian lover (Amateur City). The second time with . . . um. Name isn't given in the description. I believe her name was Andrea. A woman who also had struggled with a long term lesbian lover, though for a different reason. She had been a gorgeous woman. She could not stand the reaction her lover gave when she first removed the bandages and revealed her scared body. And so, another "people in need" hook up for Delafield.
The hook up in Beverly Malibu . . . hmms. Kate hadn't gotten over the death of her lover in the first book. It had been years, but Anne had been her only love and they had lived together for . . . I believe 12 years. Kate had started to get over the death in the second book, but was still iffy/leery/shattered. Andrea was in need. Need to be reassured that she was still attractive. But not in need for a relationship. Right. So, the hook up in Bevelry Malibu finds Kate beginning to be ready to move on from Anne.
While at the crime scene at the Malibu, she spots Paula. An elegant majestic woman. Who lived next to the murder victim. There was another woman there, Paula's niece Aimee, but Kate barely noticed her. Trapped by Paula. So much so that she kept having to recover her detective persona while in her presence. Ed Taylor noticed Aimee though. Mentioned she was a 10. Gorgeous. Kate just kind of looked at him in confusion. As mentioned, she didn't really pay much attention to the fact that there was another woman in Paula's room. It was Aimee, though, who had been most effected by the death of Owen Sinclair. Shocked. Horrified. Unable to sleep. Paula was ice water. Walked right in and starred at the tortured murdered man.
Kate's kind of distracted during the investigation. Ed's focused on a playwright who has been blocked since 1974 when Sinclair stole his script. One thing leads to another and . . . case solved. 1989
Katherine V. Forrest - Murder by Tradition - 2/10/15 - 5.0
Every book up until this one involved an investigation into murder. This time it's Law and Order. Opens with murder. Shortly thereafter the police arrest a man for the crime and he confesses. Rest of book is the murder trial.
One of the big points that pop up in both the defense of the defendant and among police officers who are supposed to be investigating the case is the "Homosexual Defense". Two-fold: 1) guy deserved to die because he was gay; 2) defendant deserves to get off due to how a "normal common sense person" would freak out if a homosexual person attempted . . . well, breathing near them.
Oh, and less seen, but this "homosexual element" also impacts the prosecution. None of the male attorneys want the case, so it gets "dumped" onto a female attorney who has never done a murder trial before.
Kate's police partner basically shuts down and wants nothing to do with the case when it turns out that the murder victim is a gay man, and the murderer, during the confession, notes that he freaked out and that's why he killed. Ed wants the guy to get involuntary manslaughter, if that, because gay people are icky. Also, the police officers interviewing neighbors, witnesses, etc., are quite brief as they don't wish to be involved with the case. So Kate has to handle the police side by herself. Mostly.
I wasn't sure how the murder trial would go. How it would be written. I had not read one written by Forrest before. First two witnesses were basically described as "they got up, they gave their testimony, they got off the stand." So, it wasn't looking that thrilling, but then things picked up. In the end, the trial parts were probably among the best scenes I've read.
72Lexxi
March Best
William Leisner, Christopher L. Bennett, and James Swallow - Infinity's Prism - 3/24/15 - 5.0
A three book collection of Star Trek themed stories. These three stories are unrelated to each other except in theme. In that they are alternate paths that might have occurred. Alternate universes, though none are part of the Mirror Universe that had popped up in Star Trek episodes, nor are any of them related to the alternate universe the current movie franchise is following.
The first book in the collection is by William Leisner called "A Less Perfect Union. It's the first 33% of the book. Making this part of the book to be roughly 176 pages in length. I think.
It involves a universe in which the foundation of the Federation collapsed in the formative stages. Due to a terrorist attack, Earth decided to go its own way, though not as "evilly" as in the Mirror Universe. Meanwhile, the others who were to be the founders of the Federation went off to form their own union.
The story picks up roughly.... Darn. They said in the book how long had occurred but I did not make note of it at the time. It may be about 50 to 100 years after the Federation was "supposed" to be founded. T'Pol as the last surviving member of the original Enterprise, Captain Pike of the current Enterprise, his first officer Kirk, and two diplomats head out on a mission to petition to join this other Federation which goes by another name that I forget now (hmms, it's actually up on Wikipedia, Coalition of Planets). A rather good story that I ended up rating 4.75 stars.
The second book is by Christopher L. Bennet and called Places of Exile. Roughly 192 pages in length. This one is a story involving the crew of Voyager. The story moves away from what occurred on the show at roughly the point Voyager meets the Borg in the Delta Quadrant (there is an internal note that the story takes place “during the latter half of the Voyager episode “Scorpion, Part 1” and concludes some two years later”; the two part Scorpion occurred at the end of season 3, and beginning of season 4.) A different choice is made when dealing with the Borg and Species insert long number here; a Star Trek website says that it is Species 8472. Species Numbers is from another universe and is retaliating on a Borg incursion.
Voyager had found itself in the middle in this fight. In the show Voyager gets past it by helping the Borg take on these others in return to safe passage through Borg space. In the "Places of Exile" book, Chakotay talks Janeway into rethinking her plan. Voyager is beaten up and is no longer warp-capable. And the crew, those still alive, must find some means of eeking out an existence in the Delta Quadrant.
Another interesting look into an alternate path, an alternate universe. The rating somewhat bumped up due to the action towards the end of the story. Bumped up to 4.50.
William Leisner, Christopher L. Bennett, and James Swallow - Infinity's Prism - 3/24/15 - 5.0
A three book collection of Star Trek themed stories. These three stories are unrelated to each other except in theme. In that they are alternate paths that might have occurred. Alternate universes, though none are part of the Mirror Universe that had popped up in Star Trek episodes, nor are any of them related to the alternate universe the current movie franchise is following.
The first book in the collection is by William Leisner called "A Less Perfect Union. It's the first 33% of the book. Making this part of the book to be roughly 176 pages in length. I think.
It involves a universe in which the foundation of the Federation collapsed in the formative stages. Due to a terrorist attack, Earth decided to go its own way, though not as "evilly" as in the Mirror Universe. Meanwhile, the others who were to be the founders of the Federation went off to form their own union.
The story picks up roughly.... Darn. They said in the book how long had occurred but I did not make note of it at the time. It may be about 50 to 100 years after the Federation was "supposed" to be founded. T'Pol as the last surviving member of the original Enterprise, Captain Pike of the current Enterprise, his first officer Kirk, and two diplomats head out on a mission to petition to join this other Federation which goes by another name that I forget now (hmms, it's actually up on Wikipedia, Coalition of Planets). A rather good story that I ended up rating 4.75 stars.
The second book is by Christopher L. Bennet and called Places of Exile. Roughly 192 pages in length. This one is a story involving the crew of Voyager. The story moves away from what occurred on the show at roughly the point Voyager meets the Borg in the Delta Quadrant (there is an internal note that the story takes place “during the latter half of the Voyager episode “Scorpion, Part 1” and concludes some two years later”; the two part Scorpion occurred at the end of season 3, and beginning of season 4.) A different choice is made when dealing with the Borg and Species insert long number here; a Star Trek website says that it is Species 8472. Species Numbers is from another universe and is retaliating on a Borg incursion.
Voyager had found itself in the middle in this fight. In the show Voyager gets past it by helping the Borg take on these others in return to safe passage through Borg space. In the "Places of Exile" book, Chakotay talks Janeway into rethinking her plan. Voyager is beaten up and is no longer warp-capable. And the crew, those still alive, must find some means of eeking out an existence in the Delta Quadrant.
Another interesting look into an alternate path, an alternate universe. The rating somewhat bumped up due to the action towards the end of the story. Bumped up to 4.50.
73Lexxi
April Best
Deborah Crombie - A Share in Death - 4/23/15 - 5.0
A damned good little book. It's quite possible my rating might be influenced by how many 1 star books I've read lately, but still, if we had half stars, I'd give this book at least 4.5 stars.
I like books like this one here. Kind of side step into meeting a character who ended up leading a series (not sure if there had been an intention in the beginning to make a series starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James). Side-step as in, Kincaid went on a holiday at a time share. Stumped into murder. Felt obligated to try to help. Especially as another visitor turns up dead as well.
Ah, I suppose I should include a note about how I didn't know the killer until the end. I do tend to know but didn't this time. It's possible I saw the clues but applied them wrongly. Not that I was activally investigating along with Kincaid. heh. Actually, it was more like no one and therefore everyone seemed a likely suspect.
Mary Robinette Kowal - First Flight - 4/30/15 - 5.50
A lovely little story involving a well drawn old woman of a 100 who travels back in time to witness the Wright Brothers flying. I randomly stumbled across this one. Just having Fir.. in the title got me to glance at it (because of a challenge), and I got pulled in immediately.
Love to read more about this character, and the world created here within, but this would appear to be the only one with this specific character. If I'm looking correctly. And this specific story line.
Deborah Crombie - A Share in Death - 4/23/15 - 5.0
A damned good little book. It's quite possible my rating might be influenced by how many 1 star books I've read lately, but still, if we had half stars, I'd give this book at least 4.5 stars.
I like books like this one here. Kind of side step into meeting a character who ended up leading a series (not sure if there had been an intention in the beginning to make a series starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James). Side-step as in, Kincaid went on a holiday at a time share. Stumped into murder. Felt obligated to try to help. Especially as another visitor turns up dead as well.
Ah, I suppose I should include a note about how I didn't know the killer until the end. I do tend to know but didn't this time. It's possible I saw the clues but applied them wrongly. Not that I was activally investigating along with Kincaid. heh. Actually, it was more like no one and therefore everyone seemed a likely suspect.
Mary Robinette Kowal - First Flight - 4/30/15 - 5.50
A lovely little story involving a well drawn old woman of a 100 who travels back in time to witness the Wright Brothers flying. I randomly stumbled across this one. Just having Fir.. in the title got me to glance at it (because of a challenge), and I got pulled in immediately.
Love to read more about this character, and the world created here within, but this would appear to be the only one with this specific character. If I'm looking correctly. And this specific story line.
74Lexxi
May Best
Dave Barry - The Worst Class Trip Ever - 5/5/15 - 5.0
Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Volume 2 - 5/10/15 - 5.0
Paul Dini - Batman: Harley & Ivy - 5/13/15 - 5.0
Deborah Crombie - All Shall Be Well - 5/19/15 - 5.0
Ella Dominguez - Hard Candy for Christmas - 5/31/15
For a challenge, I decided to try this short story. Hmms. Thought it was supposed to be short, but there are 14 chapters. hmms. At least I will after I get Sims 4 to stop accidentally loading. Taps foot.
Right, so, the story. Pixie Lia flirted with the wrong guy. Witch Samara was grumpy about the whole thing and cursed Pixie. Now Lia's without wings or magic. Constrained to the mundane human world. Unless she does something or other by Christmas (edit: find true love). Which is bad, apparently, because humans have small dicks. Right, sorry "average sized dicks".
Hmm. I kind of know what kind of story I'm getting myself into when the book opens with the main character lazily playing with engorged clit. hmms. Swollen, engorged, pfft. Ok, book says swollen.
Apparently the tranisition to human world was relatively simple for Lia, who found an aparment (with roommate) and a job (at a 900 sex telephone line).
Hmms. So, dragged to a Christmas costume party dressed like a pixie. Meets up with two potential "true loves" almost at same time. Which is easy since they came to the party together and she sits at their table.
Cute story so far. Despite being depressed and overly horny, I kind of like Lia so far.
Re: title of Hard Candy. Found line in book that explains that. The two men Lia meets are the "hard candy". "Which hardy candy do I want to lick?" “It’s what you and Dale are. You’re both eye candy with hard bodies. Hence, hard candy.”
Hmms. This story suddenly took a turn into BDSM. At least dominance and submission. And bondage. I was not prepared for such as none of the shelves on the top level say BDSM.
"he fingered her ass and licked her clean." - ewwwww
Hmms. Erotic stories don't normally bring tears to my eyes. But this one did. During one particular moment at least when it appeared everything was doomed. Ok, two particular moments.
I had to check to make sure and I was right. Before now I've rated several, many?, erotic/adult books five stars, but only one sits on my favorites shelf. Why? Because of the nature of artificially being limited to full stars. Heck, even being limited to half stars. So, some things are just "good enough" to merit, say, 4.5, or even 4.75 stars. Should I "punish" them by marking them 4 stars? To a certain extent, I wouldn't really mind that. Except . . . then they mingle with books that truly are 4 stars. Should I take a star from them so they don't intermingle with higher quality works? Something has to break somewhere along the line. I broke into letting everything below five be rated accurately, and have five mixed up with some books that are really less than five but much more than 4 stars.
And then put the true five stars, the true favorites, on my favorites shelf. I have fifty works on there. At least I did. I now have 51. And the number of adult books on my favorites shelf have immediately doubled. To two.
The last thing I'll say is just this: I'm always saddened when I see that the works I find to be favorites aren't for others. Heck, before I input my rating, this work has an overall rating of 3.49. That makes me sad. And teary eyed. I'm not normally teary eyed. I think the story broke me.
Dave Barry - The Worst Class Trip Ever - 5/5/15 - 5.0
Stjepan Šejić - Sunstone Volume 2 - 5/10/15 - 5.0
Paul Dini - Batman: Harley & Ivy - 5/13/15 - 5.0
Deborah Crombie - All Shall Be Well - 5/19/15 - 5.0
Ella Dominguez - Hard Candy for Christmas - 5/31/15
For a challenge, I decided to try this short story. Hmms. Thought it was supposed to be short, but there are 14 chapters. hmms. At least I will after I get Sims 4 to stop accidentally loading. Taps foot.
Right, so, the story. Pixie Lia flirted with the wrong guy. Witch Samara was grumpy about the whole thing and cursed Pixie. Now Lia's without wings or magic. Constrained to the mundane human world. Unless she does something or other by Christmas (edit: find true love). Which is bad, apparently, because humans have small dicks. Right, sorry "average sized dicks".
Hmm. I kind of know what kind of story I'm getting myself into when the book opens with the main character lazily playing with engorged clit. hmms. Swollen, engorged, pfft. Ok, book says swollen.
Apparently the tranisition to human world was relatively simple for Lia, who found an aparment (with roommate) and a job (at a 900 sex telephone line).
Hmms. So, dragged to a Christmas costume party dressed like a pixie. Meets up with two potential "true loves" almost at same time. Which is easy since they came to the party together and she sits at their table.
Cute story so far. Despite being depressed and overly horny, I kind of like Lia so far.
Re: title of Hard Candy. Found line in book that explains that. The two men Lia meets are the "hard candy". "Which hardy candy do I want to lick?" “It’s what you and Dale are. You’re both eye candy with hard bodies. Hence, hard candy.”
Hmms. This story suddenly took a turn into BDSM. At least dominance and submission. And bondage. I was not prepared for such as none of the shelves on the top level say BDSM.
"he fingered her ass and licked her clean." - ewwwww
Hmms. Erotic stories don't normally bring tears to my eyes. But this one did. During one particular moment at least when it appeared everything was doomed. Ok, two particular moments.
I had to check to make sure and I was right. Before now I've rated several, many?, erotic/adult books five stars, but only one sits on my favorites shelf. Why? Because of the nature of artificially being limited to full stars. Heck, even being limited to half stars. So, some things are just "good enough" to merit, say, 4.5, or even 4.75 stars. Should I "punish" them by marking them 4 stars? To a certain extent, I wouldn't really mind that. Except . . . then they mingle with books that truly are 4 stars. Should I take a star from them so they don't intermingle with higher quality works? Something has to break somewhere along the line. I broke into letting everything below five be rated accurately, and have five mixed up with some books that are really less than five but much more than 4 stars.
And then put the true five stars, the true favorites, on my favorites shelf. I have fifty works on there. At least I did. I now have 51. And the number of adult books on my favorites shelf have immediately doubled. To two.
The last thing I'll say is just this: I'm always saddened when I see that the works I find to be favorites aren't for others. Heck, before I input my rating, this work has an overall rating of 3.49. That makes me sad. And teary eyed. I'm not normally teary eyed. I think the story broke me.
75Lexxi
June Best
J.A. Armstrong - Off Screen - 6/4/15 - 5.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with this short story. Everything seemed to indicate, everything being the reviews and the description, seemed to indicate a "sweet slow story". With some seeming to imply sappy sweet, overly sweet. Maybe sickeningly sweet.
All of which through me off guard for when I actually read the story. I mean, bloody hell. I think I might be a little in love with Em and Addy myself, and I'm just the reader reading a fictional story. And a "sweet slow story" doesn't lend itself to imply in my mind "exciting graphic sex scenes."
This was a fun little story on many levels. I got the next three stories in the series before I even read this one. But now I'm kind of scared to read the next one. I mean, I read this one, I don't want to be let down. It could be said that I'd always have this story, if any future one disappointed me. But that isn't the fear. The fear is that something would be done or said that would cause me to reinterpret this story in a displeasing way. But enough of that, and enough of this "review".
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 4 - 6/6/15 - 5.0
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 5 - 6/7/15 - 5.0
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 6 - 6/7/15 - 5.0
J.A. Armstrong - Under Construction - 6/8/15 - 5.0
Huh. I'm kind of surprised. After the first story in this series, I'm surprised by how much I loved this story here. I always seem to get smacked by family stories. Family gathering stories, I mean. Not really sure what that's about. If well written, I seem to end up loving them. Which is weird, because I don't think I actually like family gatherings.
Right. So. J.D. and Candy have their families over for a July 4th celebration. Meanwhile both are working really hard at work, while at the same time adjusting to being in a loving relationship with each other.
Meanwhile Candy's kids are adjusting to having J.D. in the family. Well, mostly Marianne, the oldest.
re: J.D. - I tend to try to use the names as used in stories/series. For a while there I thought it was going to be J.D. so I used that. I'm not sure anyone called her J.D. in this one. mmphs. hehe. Everyone was calling her Jameson. Ah well, I got stuck using J.D. so . . ..
A.E. Dooland - Under my Skin - 6/10/15 - 5.0
Right. I've been letting myself down review wise. So, let's see if I can put anything here.
The story is about Min Lee, a worker at Frost International located in Sydney Australia. Working as a marketer in the diamond division. Somewhat unexpectedly, Min is made a program lead on a secret project with a small team. Highly confidential. Very stressful.
Meanwhile Min's boyfriend, Henry Lee (no relation, Lee's a popular Korean name), works in the HR department at Frost International. Has a psychology degree. Is very patient and understanding. Apparently visits Korea a lot, and while there, visits Min's mother. Min's mother keeps pressuring Min to marry Henry (not that Henry has actually proposed or anything). Henry and Min date, every once in a while see each other at the office, and even less often, about once every three weeks or so, have unfun, disagreeable sex. Because Min feels it's expected to do so.
Min has one friendly acquaintance/friend at the office. One Sarah. Sarah's always trying to drag the workaholic Min out for drinks and the like, but Min is always busy. Too busy.
Not too busy, though, to occasionally paint. And upload paintings to DeviantArt. And interact with users through comments and private messages. Which is important to this story on several levels.
One night, feeling inspired, Min paints. Uploads picture. Min doesn't normally paint people, but did this time. Titling it something like "self-portrait". Goes to sleep. Wakes up to hundreds of comments and notes. Most from women gushing over the painting. Both in how much they like the painting and how handsome and attractive the man is in the painting. Flirting with Min. Since it is Min, right? What with labeling it with the title given.
Course, Min's somewhat confused. Looks at profile picture. Realizes/remembers had, at some moment of this or that, removed gender indications. Min keeps almost deleting the painting, taking it down. Doesn't like how it appears to be misleading people. For Min is in the body of a woman, not that of a man.
A certain amount of mounting tension builds from having uploaded that painting. And then, Min uploads a new profile picture. Clearly showing that Min is a woman. A picture taken by a coworker when a group were out celebrating the end of a project. The picture shows How tall Min is, how serious. Against the backdrop of drinking/drunk coworkers. Oddly the positive comments continue.
And then Min leaves a little earlier than normal. Waits at a crosswalk. Hears two high school aged girls giggling behind her. Looks back at them. Notices they are gazing at her. Min feels quite uncomfortable. Much more so when they start loudly saying things. Then one bubbly chatty one finally bounces over and demands to know if it actually is Min Lee. The artist. Apparently (1) Min uses own name on DeviantArt page; (2) the two schoolgirls had used the internet to track down Min Lee.
One thing leads to another and Min Lee finds herself in a super expensive restaurant with her young female stalker. Who talks a mile a minute. About everything.
I haven't yet noted that Min Lee almost always dresses up. Wears nice jewelry. Make-up. Skirt or dress. Almost never pants. With massive high heels Attempting to look very feminine. Unless at home alone, when she wears comfortable clothing. Which is important on two levels. One, Min hates having to look feminine and drag on the bra and skirt and all that. Two, Bre, the schoolgirl stalker, makes a comment that drives Min to flee the restaurant. A comment about how the super tall woman doesn't look . . . right in the outfit she is wearing.
So, while highly stressed at work, and while being stalked by a bubbly schoolgirl, Min begins to seriously think about how she might really be a he. And, after certain interactions, maybe is attracted to women. I mean, Min accidentally kissed another woman while drunk. Found it quite pleasurable. Much more so than anything she gets from Henry.
The story unfolds. Lives, careers, relationships shift, tense, explode, come together. A quite good story. Several times I thought Min might be too depressing to continue to follow, but I'm glad I did. And, oddly, I came to really like Bre. Despite her baggage, bubbliness, flightiness.
Other than side characters, this is the first transgender novel I've read. First with a lead transgender lead character. I'd recommend the book. Apparently there are other things by this author, well, not apparently, I've seen them, but none up on GoodReads. They are all over on a blog. Including a sequel to Under the Skin. I found it difficult to try to read in that setting, so I hope the sequel finds it's way to published status at some point.
Selina Rosen - Vanishing Fame - 6/11/15 - 5.50
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.
Mary Robinette Kowal - The Lady Astronaut of Mars - 6/22/15 - 5.0
My second story by this author. And another science fiction short story. I'm kind of annoyed about that. Because this author can seriously write. A great writer of interesting science fiction stories. And I want to read more. But all I get are these teases, these tastes, but not the actual meal. Where's the science fiction books to devour. I'm sad.
This specific short story again involves a really old woman. Like the old woman in the time travel story about going back in time to see the first airplane flight. This one's about an old astronaut. Who was "The Lady Astronaut" (unless that was without the The). The one who was involved with flying to Mars. Some point after 1953.
She hasn't been in space for, something like, thirteen years. But they have a mission now. A three year mission. To go to a habitable planet nearby. The radiation would most likely be too much for a young astronaut. So, they ask for an old one. Since . . . she old. It matters less if she dies. Or something like that.
"when the Secretary of Agriculture, who found himself president through the line of succession" - that always confuses me. The idea that people think the cabinet members are in the line of succession. It goes: (1) Vice President; (2) Speaker of the House; (3) President Pro Tempore of Senate. I guess somewhere in line would be the cabinet (ETA: First cabinet member would come 4th - Sec of State). It's just stories that involve succession always seem to leap to the cabinet, leaving everyone else out of the line. Also, of course, this is an alt history story. Maybe the Secretary of Agriculture is, in fact, third in line. Or, because he got to be president due to the destruction of Washington D.C., he might have been 88th in line. ETA: Sec. of Agriculture is 9th in succession.
For no reason, I feel I need to include this here:
"I wanted to. I wanted to get off the planet and back into space and not have to watch him die. Not have to watch him lose control of his body piece by piece.
And I wanted to stay here and be with him and steal every moment left that he had breath in his body."
Bridget Essex - A Wolf for Valentine's Day - 6/23/15 - 5.0
My fifth Essex story. And I'm confused. The main character doesn't seem to be a bundle of emotion. Overly emotional. Or whatever. I kid.
So. Single woman. Is given a gift certificate for a week at a yoga retreat. For Valentine's day (I assume the week around it). Sorry, I should have said a "singles yoga retreat" or "yoga singles retreat."
Ah, there we go. Finally dug up the name. Trish. The woman's name is Trisha 'Trish' Dalton. (Sister's name is Jackie, but that's less important).
Trish doesn't want to go but as the gift is given on Christmas day, she has a lot of time to turn it down. So, she ignores it. Until it comes time to go on the retreat and she can't get out of it now. So . . . she goes. 'It'd be stupid not to go.' (p. 13).
-- notes as reading -- she lives in Florida. Retreat is in Boulder Colorado. She doesn't exactly have much in the way of winter gear. Realizes this at last minute - - -
'Okay, so I think I should send my sister more than just a thank you card as I race after the tall chauffeur.' (p. 20). - note: you, apparently, got the "elite package", I assume that being able to leisurely follow your chauffeur is part of eliteness. Don't run after your driver. mmphs. heh.
-- more notes -- the gorgeous woman who walks like wolf is named Kennedy Butler; “'So, what brings you to our retreat weekend?'” (p. 28). - wait, I thought it was a retreat week? I confused.; okay, they said weekend again. She arrived on a Monday.
A retreat weekend that starts on a Monday? I actually went back to the beginning to see if they ever said week; other than stuff about being too busy for a week, and schedule cleared for a week, and see you next week, I don't see that the retreat is actually a week. But, what weekend starts on a Monday? I'm annoyed that I just got pulled out of this story to spend twenty minutes trying to figure out week/weekend issue. mmphs.
'Kitted out like this, I look a little bit like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.' (p. 47). - hehe, see, I can find humor in stuff. *nods* - -
'The electricity that has been crackling all over my skin roars through me like a bolt of lightning as we kiss each other now. I shudder against Kennedy as the electric kiss devours the both of us in waves of need. This is not a simple little kiss. This is energy, this is want and desire as our lips merge, as our tongues entwine, hers sneaking into my mouth even as I smile against her, breathing out in a hiss of want.' (p. 64).
'Like she knows what's inside of me, what makes me.... me.' (p. 65). - hmms, that's beautifully put.
hmms. Well. That's kind of embarrassing. Well, I haven't actually said the embarrassing thing yet. And I'm not sure I want to. I'm fairly certain that I don't want to. Course now I'm vaguely curious as to what some reader might think I might mean. hehe. So I'll just blurt it out, since it isn't really anything that should be embarrassing. This story might be the best one I've ever read. I've said that once before, I believe. But, even taking that once before into consideration, I still make the comment. It was a beautiful story. I feel vaguely at peace, content, and happy to have read this story. I'm not 100% sure I can write coherently at the moment, but that's okay. A perfect beginning middle and end.
And this time I'm not completely saddened by the knowledge that I'm highly unlikely to meet these characters again. I'm just happy to have been able to see this glimpse into their lives. Though, if they did suddenly turn up again, I'm almost completely positive that I'd gobble it up. The story.
Hmms. My third Essex of the day. And two of them end up being five star reads. And one of those two feels more than five plus somehow or another. This one. Then the third one which was a 3 star, but I still liked it. Heck, it was the first one I read today, so if I'd disliked it, I'd not have continued reading Essex.
(oh, and I never did found out if it was a weekend or a week retreat, as the story ended before I could find that out)
Amy Dawson Robertson - Midnight in Orlando - 6/30/15 - 5.0
A slow neat little story about a lawyer and a paralegal meeting up at a conference. Circling each other. Dating. In Orlando. And while an ABA (lawyer) conference is going on in Orlando, that isn't the conference they are attending. They are at the, well some long name. Basically a lesfic conference with the readers and writers of lesbian fiction in attendance.
Quite a nice little story. Two women with insecurities. Meeting. Having fun. Romancing.
J.A. Armstrong - Off Screen - 6/4/15 - 5.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with this short story. Everything seemed to indicate, everything being the reviews and the description, seemed to indicate a "sweet slow story". With some seeming to imply sappy sweet, overly sweet. Maybe sickeningly sweet.
All of which through me off guard for when I actually read the story. I mean, bloody hell. I think I might be a little in love with Em and Addy myself, and I'm just the reader reading a fictional story. And a "sweet slow story" doesn't lend itself to imply in my mind "exciting graphic sex scenes."
This was a fun little story on many levels. I got the next three stories in the series before I even read this one. But now I'm kind of scared to read the next one. I mean, I read this one, I don't want to be let down. It could be said that I'd always have this story, if any future one disappointed me. But that isn't the fear. The fear is that something would be done or said that would cause me to reinterpret this story in a displeasing way. But enough of that, and enough of this "review".
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 4 - 6/6/15 - 5.0
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 5 - 6/7/15 - 5.0
Gisèle Lagacé & David Lumsdon - Ménage à 3 Round 6 - 6/7/15 - 5.0
J.A. Armstrong - Under Construction - 6/8/15 - 5.0
Huh. I'm kind of surprised. After the first story in this series, I'm surprised by how much I loved this story here. I always seem to get smacked by family stories. Family gathering stories, I mean. Not really sure what that's about. If well written, I seem to end up loving them. Which is weird, because I don't think I actually like family gatherings.
Right. So. J.D. and Candy have their families over for a July 4th celebration. Meanwhile both are working really hard at work, while at the same time adjusting to being in a loving relationship with each other.
Meanwhile Candy's kids are adjusting to having J.D. in the family. Well, mostly Marianne, the oldest.
re: J.D. - I tend to try to use the names as used in stories/series. For a while there I thought it was going to be J.D. so I used that. I'm not sure anyone called her J.D. in this one. mmphs. hehe. Everyone was calling her Jameson. Ah well, I got stuck using J.D. so . . ..
A.E. Dooland - Under my Skin - 6/10/15 - 5.0
Right. I've been letting myself down review wise. So, let's see if I can put anything here.
The story is about Min Lee, a worker at Frost International located in Sydney Australia. Working as a marketer in the diamond division. Somewhat unexpectedly, Min is made a program lead on a secret project with a small team. Highly confidential. Very stressful.
Meanwhile Min's boyfriend, Henry Lee (no relation, Lee's a popular Korean name), works in the HR department at Frost International. Has a psychology degree. Is very patient and understanding. Apparently visits Korea a lot, and while there, visits Min's mother. Min's mother keeps pressuring Min to marry Henry (not that Henry has actually proposed or anything). Henry and Min date, every once in a while see each other at the office, and even less often, about once every three weeks or so, have unfun, disagreeable sex. Because Min feels it's expected to do so.
Min has one friendly acquaintance/friend at the office. One Sarah. Sarah's always trying to drag the workaholic Min out for drinks and the like, but Min is always busy. Too busy.
Not too busy, though, to occasionally paint. And upload paintings to DeviantArt. And interact with users through comments and private messages. Which is important to this story on several levels.
One night, feeling inspired, Min paints. Uploads picture. Min doesn't normally paint people, but did this time. Titling it something like "self-portrait". Goes to sleep. Wakes up to hundreds of comments and notes. Most from women gushing over the painting. Both in how much they like the painting and how handsome and attractive the man is in the painting. Flirting with Min. Since it is Min, right? What with labeling it with the title given.
Course, Min's somewhat confused. Looks at profile picture. Realizes/remembers had, at some moment of this or that, removed gender indications. Min keeps almost deleting the painting, taking it down. Doesn't like how it appears to be misleading people. For Min is in the body of a woman, not that of a man.
A certain amount of mounting tension builds from having uploaded that painting. And then, Min uploads a new profile picture. Clearly showing that Min is a woman. A picture taken by a coworker when a group were out celebrating the end of a project. The picture shows How tall Min is, how serious. Against the backdrop of drinking/drunk coworkers. Oddly the positive comments continue.
And then Min leaves a little earlier than normal. Waits at a crosswalk. Hears two high school aged girls giggling behind her. Looks back at them. Notices they are gazing at her. Min feels quite uncomfortable. Much more so when they start loudly saying things. Then one bubbly chatty one finally bounces over and demands to know if it actually is Min Lee. The artist. Apparently (1) Min uses own name on DeviantArt page; (2) the two schoolgirls had used the internet to track down Min Lee.
One thing leads to another and Min Lee finds herself in a super expensive restaurant with her young female stalker. Who talks a mile a minute. About everything.
I haven't yet noted that Min Lee almost always dresses up. Wears nice jewelry. Make-up. Skirt or dress. Almost never pants. With massive high heels Attempting to look very feminine. Unless at home alone, when she wears comfortable clothing. Which is important on two levels. One, Min hates having to look feminine and drag on the bra and skirt and all that. Two, Bre, the schoolgirl stalker, makes a comment that drives Min to flee the restaurant. A comment about how the super tall woman doesn't look . . . right in the outfit she is wearing.
So, while highly stressed at work, and while being stalked by a bubbly schoolgirl, Min begins to seriously think about how she might really be a he. And, after certain interactions, maybe is attracted to women. I mean, Min accidentally kissed another woman while drunk. Found it quite pleasurable. Much more so than anything she gets from Henry.
The story unfolds. Lives, careers, relationships shift, tense, explode, come together. A quite good story. Several times I thought Min might be too depressing to continue to follow, but I'm glad I did. And, oddly, I came to really like Bre. Despite her baggage, bubbliness, flightiness.
Other than side characters, this is the first transgender novel I've read. First with a lead transgender lead character. I'd recommend the book. Apparently there are other things by this author, well, not apparently, I've seen them, but none up on GoodReads. They are all over on a blog. Including a sequel to Under the Skin. I found it difficult to try to read in that setting, so I hope the sequel finds it's way to published status at some point.
Selina Rosen - Vanishing Fame - 6/11/15 - 5.50
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.
Mary Robinette Kowal - The Lady Astronaut of Mars - 6/22/15 - 5.0
My second story by this author. And another science fiction short story. I'm kind of annoyed about that. Because this author can seriously write. A great writer of interesting science fiction stories. And I want to read more. But all I get are these teases, these tastes, but not the actual meal. Where's the science fiction books to devour. I'm sad.
This specific short story again involves a really old woman. Like the old woman in the time travel story about going back in time to see the first airplane flight. This one's about an old astronaut. Who was "The Lady Astronaut" (unless that was without the The). The one who was involved with flying to Mars. Some point after 1953.
She hasn't been in space for, something like, thirteen years. But they have a mission now. A three year mission. To go to a habitable planet nearby. The radiation would most likely be too much for a young astronaut. So, they ask for an old one. Since . . . she old. It matters less if she dies. Or something like that.
"when the Secretary of Agriculture, who found himself president through the line of succession" - that always confuses me. The idea that people think the cabinet members are in the line of succession. It goes: (1) Vice President; (2) Speaker of the House; (3) President Pro Tempore of Senate. I guess somewhere in line would be the cabinet (ETA: First cabinet member would come 4th - Sec of State). It's just stories that involve succession always seem to leap to the cabinet, leaving everyone else out of the line. Also, of course, this is an alt history story. Maybe the Secretary of Agriculture is, in fact, third in line. Or, because he got to be president due to the destruction of Washington D.C., he might have been 88th in line. ETA: Sec. of Agriculture is 9th in succession.
For no reason, I feel I need to include this here:
"I wanted to. I wanted to get off the planet and back into space and not have to watch him die. Not have to watch him lose control of his body piece by piece.
And I wanted to stay here and be with him and steal every moment left that he had breath in his body."
Bridget Essex - A Wolf for Valentine's Day - 6/23/15 - 5.0
My fifth Essex story. And I'm confused. The main character doesn't seem to be a bundle of emotion. Overly emotional. Or whatever. I kid.
So. Single woman. Is given a gift certificate for a week at a yoga retreat. For Valentine's day (I assume the week around it). Sorry, I should have said a "singles yoga retreat" or "yoga singles retreat."
Ah, there we go. Finally dug up the name. Trish. The woman's name is Trisha 'Trish' Dalton. (Sister's name is Jackie, but that's less important).
Trish doesn't want to go but as the gift is given on Christmas day, she has a lot of time to turn it down. So, she ignores it. Until it comes time to go on the retreat and she can't get out of it now. So . . . she goes. 'It'd be stupid not to go.' (p. 13).
-- notes as reading -- she lives in Florida. Retreat is in Boulder Colorado. She doesn't exactly have much in the way of winter gear. Realizes this at last minute - - -
'Okay, so I think I should send my sister more than just a thank you card as I race after the tall chauffeur.' (p. 20). - note: you, apparently, got the "elite package", I assume that being able to leisurely follow your chauffeur is part of eliteness. Don't run after your driver. mmphs. heh.
-- more notes -- the gorgeous woman who walks like wolf is named Kennedy Butler; “'So, what brings you to our retreat weekend?'” (p. 28). - wait, I thought it was a retreat week? I confused.; okay, they said weekend again. She arrived on a Monday.
A retreat weekend that starts on a Monday? I actually went back to the beginning to see if they ever said week; other than stuff about being too busy for a week, and schedule cleared for a week, and see you next week, I don't see that the retreat is actually a week. But, what weekend starts on a Monday? I'm annoyed that I just got pulled out of this story to spend twenty minutes trying to figure out week/weekend issue. mmphs.
'Kitted out like this, I look a little bit like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.' (p. 47). - hehe, see, I can find humor in stuff. *nods* - -
'The electricity that has been crackling all over my skin roars through me like a bolt of lightning as we kiss each other now. I shudder against Kennedy as the electric kiss devours the both of us in waves of need. This is not a simple little kiss. This is energy, this is want and desire as our lips merge, as our tongues entwine, hers sneaking into my mouth even as I smile against her, breathing out in a hiss of want.' (p. 64).
'Like she knows what's inside of me, what makes me.... me.' (p. 65). - hmms, that's beautifully put.
hmms. Well. That's kind of embarrassing. Well, I haven't actually said the embarrassing thing yet. And I'm not sure I want to. I'm fairly certain that I don't want to. Course now I'm vaguely curious as to what some reader might think I might mean. hehe. So I'll just blurt it out, since it isn't really anything that should be embarrassing. This story might be the best one I've ever read. I've said that once before, I believe. But, even taking that once before into consideration, I still make the comment. It was a beautiful story. I feel vaguely at peace, content, and happy to have read this story. I'm not 100% sure I can write coherently at the moment, but that's okay. A perfect beginning middle and end.
And this time I'm not completely saddened by the knowledge that I'm highly unlikely to meet these characters again. I'm just happy to have been able to see this glimpse into their lives. Though, if they did suddenly turn up again, I'm almost completely positive that I'd gobble it up. The story.
Hmms. My third Essex of the day. And two of them end up being five star reads. And one of those two feels more than five plus somehow or another. This one. Then the third one which was a 3 star, but I still liked it. Heck, it was the first one I read today, so if I'd disliked it, I'd not have continued reading Essex.
(oh, and I never did found out if it was a weekend or a week retreat, as the story ended before I could find that out)
Amy Dawson Robertson - Midnight in Orlando - 6/30/15 - 5.0
A slow neat little story about a lawyer and a paralegal meeting up at a conference. Circling each other. Dating. In Orlando. And while an ABA (lawyer) conference is going on in Orlando, that isn't the conference they are attending. They are at the, well some long name. Basically a lesfic conference with the readers and writers of lesbian fiction in attendance.
Quite a nice little story. Two women with insecurities. Meeting. Having fun. Romancing.
76Lexxi
July Best
Catherine Gilbert Murdock - Dairy Queen - 7/1/15 - 5.0
I know the book started off with me thinking "wow, this is really boring", but I kept reading. Because I'd seen others say they had felt the same way in the beginning then loved the book. So I kept reading. I'm not sure when it moved from "boring" to "this is really fun and interesting". But somewhere along the line, that occurred.
Most of the time I write something while reading, and then just post that as a review. Well, the only thing I wrote while reading was:
"Does it count as a chick lit book if the chick goes out for the football team? Does it count as lesbian fiction if the chick doesn't realize she's dating someone? Because D.J. just found out that Amber thought they were a couple. So. There's that."
This was a really funny, really interesting book. One of those that, if I'd stopped at about the 49% mark, I'd have thought was kind of boring. And . . . . something. Well, maybe not the 49% mark probably.
(everyone's a cow, eh? hmms.)
Lynn Galli - Wasted Heart - 7/24/15 - 4.75
I have three or four problems with this book. Probably, more likely than not, my own fault.
1) While this is the first book in a series, and while the first book I actually read was published after this book, that book I first read isn't listed as being in any series. And yet, I already knew the ultimate result of at least two or three of the characters in this book. Because they popped up in other books. Cameos. So, my fault for not reading this authors books in publication order.
2) I'm getting bloody tired of how so many books seem to need to have a conflict spring up. I realize that's kind of taught in creative writing. A conflict to resolve needs to be in there. But still. I'm getting mighty tired of how cliche and overused miscommunication/misunderstandings are used to create a conflict that needs to be resolved. But, again, that's also mostly my fault. I mean, what do I expect if I were to read a romance novel? There's going to be some conflict, then some resolution. If it's a romance. Most likely the conflict will be miscommunication. Or a dangerous situation. It's like written in stone, or something.
3) I found the whole friends thing smothering. I mean, the part wherein they are constantly talking over each other, rolling over each other excitedly, like they were over-excited kittens. But that's also my issue. In that I don't like being smothered.
4) I knew I had four things. By the time I got to the third thing, I couldn't remember what the other two were. So I came up with that smothering thing. Now I don't know what to put here.
Character-wise, I liked the two main characters. Mostly. Elise has a tendency to jump to conclusions and be stubborn about it, which I found vaguely, slightly annoying. Austy was kind of annoying with her depressing thoughts and need to talk out-loud to herself, but eh.
I don't remember which book it was, which review, where ever it was I read it, but I recall seeing some comment about how the reviewer disliked how everyone always seemed to be described as being gorgeous. I shrugged when I read that. Mentally. If it's a romance, and it's two people at the start of a relationship/romance/fling, more than likely they are going to see the positive, and see every new look, whether in a fancy dress, covered in grease after working on a car, or whatever, as lovely. So it might come across as if everyone involved are just so damned pretty/beautiful/gorgeous. Which I mention because that came up again in this book.
Not sure, really, how attractive Austy looks. The book is a one-point-of-view book from Austy's point of view. Some comments by others seemed to indicate that she's attractive, but we don't have Elise's point of view to drive up the "beautiful/gorgeous" comments/thoughts/etc. Elise, on the other hand, doesn't need just Austy's view of her to have her beauty conveyed. She actually is the kind that cause people to stop and stare. And drool. She was even a model back in the day. Something like age 16-23. To pay for college and graduate school (I think graduate school was mentioned). So this is one of the few times when I have objective evidence of someone's looks, instead of just subjective.
I had a point. I can't recall it now. Just that the fact that a book has a character marveling over the beauty of the person they love, doesn't mean that that individual would be seen as beauty to those not in love with them. So if romance books seem to be filled with beauties, there's likely a reason for that. On the other hand, we have objective evidence of Elise's looks. Okay, I still don't recall specifically what idea I wanted to convey. So I'll move on.
Lynn Galli - Blessed Twice - 7/26/15 - 5.50
This is my, I'm fairly certain, fifth book I've read that was written by Lynn Galli. I was somewhat reluctant to start, not to buy and eventually read, but just to start. Because it involved two people who were not a part of the Virginia Clan when this series started. And I wasn't really sure I wanted to know anything else about Bri. Also, I, yet again, already knew that the couple would, at the very least, be a couple, because the last book included them in the epilogue.
So. I read. Started whenever it was I started. I glance up and I see I'm done (ETA: actually, I forgot that I had a sleeping break at some point. heh). Of the five books I've read by Galli, I believe I liked this one best of all. Also, there was a certain heightened eroticism about everything, added because everything was made much more heightened by having a frightened woman set the pace. And go super slow. So each touch, just two fingers touching, each caress, each kiss, were that much more important than they probably are for the vast majority of other people. For M touching others, or being touched feels very painful to her. Like she's being burnt. So anything she was able to do, anything she could do, was something of a gift to both Bri and M. (Also, as a side note, though directly related, made the actual physical intimacy that much more heightened and exciting).
Catherine Gilbert Murdock - Dairy Queen - 7/1/15 - 5.0
I know the book started off with me thinking "wow, this is really boring", but I kept reading. Because I'd seen others say they had felt the same way in the beginning then loved the book. So I kept reading. I'm not sure when it moved from "boring" to "this is really fun and interesting". But somewhere along the line, that occurred.
Most of the time I write something while reading, and then just post that as a review. Well, the only thing I wrote while reading was:
"Does it count as a chick lit book if the chick goes out for the football team? Does it count as lesbian fiction if the chick doesn't realize she's dating someone? Because D.J. just found out that Amber thought they were a couple. So. There's that."
This was a really funny, really interesting book. One of those that, if I'd stopped at about the 49% mark, I'd have thought was kind of boring. And . . . . something. Well, maybe not the 49% mark probably.
(everyone's a cow, eh? hmms.)
Lynn Galli - Wasted Heart - 7/24/15 - 4.75
I have three or four problems with this book. Probably, more likely than not, my own fault.
1) While this is the first book in a series, and while the first book I actually read was published after this book, that book I first read isn't listed as being in any series. And yet, I already knew the ultimate result of at least two or three of the characters in this book. Because they popped up in other books. Cameos. So, my fault for not reading this authors books in publication order.
2) I'm getting bloody tired of how so many books seem to need to have a conflict spring up. I realize that's kind of taught in creative writing. A conflict to resolve needs to be in there. But still. I'm getting mighty tired of how cliche and overused miscommunication/misunderstandings are used to create a conflict that needs to be resolved. But, again, that's also mostly my fault. I mean, what do I expect if I were to read a romance novel? There's going to be some conflict, then some resolution. If it's a romance. Most likely the conflict will be miscommunication. Or a dangerous situation. It's like written in stone, or something.
3) I found the whole friends thing smothering. I mean, the part wherein they are constantly talking over each other, rolling over each other excitedly, like they were over-excited kittens. But that's also my issue. In that I don't like being smothered.
4) I knew I had four things. By the time I got to the third thing, I couldn't remember what the other two were. So I came up with that smothering thing. Now I don't know what to put here.
Character-wise, I liked the two main characters. Mostly. Elise has a tendency to jump to conclusions and be stubborn about it, which I found vaguely, slightly annoying. Austy was kind of annoying with her depressing thoughts and need to talk out-loud to herself, but eh.
I don't remember which book it was, which review, where ever it was I read it, but I recall seeing some comment about how the reviewer disliked how everyone always seemed to be described as being gorgeous. I shrugged when I read that. Mentally. If it's a romance, and it's two people at the start of a relationship/romance/fling, more than likely they are going to see the positive, and see every new look, whether in a fancy dress, covered in grease after working on a car, or whatever, as lovely. So it might come across as if everyone involved are just so damned pretty/beautiful/gorgeous. Which I mention because that came up again in this book.
Not sure, really, how attractive Austy looks. The book is a one-point-of-view book from Austy's point of view. Some comments by others seemed to indicate that she's attractive, but we don't have Elise's point of view to drive up the "beautiful/gorgeous" comments/thoughts/etc. Elise, on the other hand, doesn't need just Austy's view of her to have her beauty conveyed. She actually is the kind that cause people to stop and stare. And drool. She was even a model back in the day. Something like age 16-23. To pay for college and graduate school (I think graduate school was mentioned). So this is one of the few times when I have objective evidence of someone's looks, instead of just subjective.
I had a point. I can't recall it now. Just that the fact that a book has a character marveling over the beauty of the person they love, doesn't mean that that individual would be seen as beauty to those not in love with them. So if romance books seem to be filled with beauties, there's likely a reason for that. On the other hand, we have objective evidence of Elise's looks. Okay, I still don't recall specifically what idea I wanted to convey. So I'll move on.
Lynn Galli - Blessed Twice - 7/26/15 - 5.50
This is my, I'm fairly certain, fifth book I've read that was written by Lynn Galli. I was somewhat reluctant to start, not to buy and eventually read, but just to start. Because it involved two people who were not a part of the Virginia Clan when this series started. And I wasn't really sure I wanted to know anything else about Bri. Also, I, yet again, already knew that the couple would, at the very least, be a couple, because the last book included them in the epilogue.
So. I read. Started whenever it was I started. I glance up and I see I'm done (ETA: actually, I forgot that I had a sleeping break at some point. heh). Of the five books I've read by Galli, I believe I liked this one best of all. Also, there was a certain heightened eroticism about everything, added because everything was made much more heightened by having a frightened woman set the pace. And go super slow. So each touch, just two fingers touching, each caress, each kiss, were that much more important than they probably are for the vast majority of other people. For M touching others, or being touched feels very painful to her. Like she's being burnt. So anything she was able to do, anything she could do, was something of a gift to both Bri and M. (Also, as a side note, though directly related, made the actual physical intimacy that much more heightened and exciting).
77Lexxi
August Best
Lynn Galli - One-Off - 8/4/15 - 5.0
The tenth book I've read by Galli. Strange to think that it was only as far back as June 29, 2015 that I read my first book by Galli. Reading 10 books in 37 days isn't that strange. I mean, it is 10.14% of an entire year. But the reality is that there is a month gap between the first book I read by Galli, and the second. Or, more accurately, 22 days. So, in actual fact, I read 9 books in 16 days. So, roughly 1.8 days per book instead of 3.7 (though, in reality, more like a day a book; I mean, I did read a lot of other things during that month). Maths fun, eh?
Right. This book here. Right off the start I'll note that I didn't like Skye when I first meet her. Rather rapidly my opinion began to change, and by the end, I rather liked her. Both her and Ainsley Baird. Never really grew to like either Dallas or Colin, the two people who brought Skye and Ainsley back together for a wedding. But then, they were mostly off to the side. Literally on a different continent for much of the book.
Dallas and Colin are co-anchors on a cable news show. They have/had great on-screen chemistry, but fought bitterly off camera. Until they stopped doing that, and suddenly got all lovey dovey. And rather rapidly got engaged. Then decided to marry in something like three weeks after getting engaged. Because, otherwise, they'd have to wait a year - apparently a spot opened up at the church they wanted. All of this is important, because Dallas asked Skye to be her maid of honor, or as it is put in the book, her MOH. While Colin asked Ainsley to be his best . . .something or other. It fluctuated what she was called. Some even said best man, other's said best woman, and some just said best person.
Then, almost immediately, Dallas and Colin are suddenly in some other country in a situation wherein they couldn't be in close contact with anyone in the states. Which is important, because they still plan on getting married within 3 weeks. So, it's up to Skye and Ainsley to plan and make decisions about the wedding. Which they do. Reluctantly.
Reluctantly for Skye because everything about weddings - the wedding itself, churches, etc., are among her least favorite things. Plus, Skye and Ainsley had lived together, no not that way, about 15 years before. While at college - sharing a room with two other people. So four total. Skye and Ainsley fought like cats and dogs. At least the kind of cats and dogs that fought. As opposed to the kind that make that stereotype cliche look stupid.
Right. So. Skye, I forget her exact title, but she is head of news content at the cable channel she works at, or something like that. Ainsley is the greatest expert on Scotland and lives and works as a professor in Scotland.
For the sake of their friends (Skye - Dallas (BFF)), and relatives (Colin - Ainsley (cousins)), they put their differences aside to get the wedding planned and carry it off.
I'm already 50%+ into the next book, so I'm not 100% certain of this, but I'm fairly certain that the point of view, this time, focused almost solely on Skye. It might have been interesting to see the USA through the eyes of a Scottish woman, but it was not to be. Well, technically. I mean, Skye MacKinnon is, in fact, half Scottish, but, baring a trip to Scotland, might feel a connection to Scotland, but not at the level of someone born and raised in Scotland. She's half Italian, half Scottish, and all American (and it didn't help that her Scottish father refused to have anything to do with her)).
The reader does get a sense, though, of seeing America through foreigner's eyes, by watching Skye reacting and interacting with Ainsley. Though Ainsley herself isn't a fresh off the boat Scottish woman. She herself is half Scottish (and half American, though she might punch you if you try to stress that American part too much, and/or called her half-Scottish; in her mind she's fully Scottish). My earlier comment, about not being fresh off the boat, is more about how Ainsley had spent time in the USA previously, having gone to college there 15 years earlier.
Right. So. Most of the book involves planning a wedding. Watching two people circling each other, with both coming to the realization that they seem oddly to like each other, despite their previous bitter experience during college.
An interesting book. A neat book. A lovely little book. And the last one I have to read, at least at the moment. Well, there's one more in the Virginia Clan series, but I had skipped that one on purpose. It's supposedly more of a short story collection, as far as I can tell. So, even if I counted it as something more to read, it isn't a full book left to read. So, I'm all sad and stuff. Hmms. I just realized I had to actually buy all these books, as opposed to getting them through Kindle Unlimited or something like that. So, now I'm poor. And sad.
Lynn Galli - One-Off - 8/4/15 - 5.0
The tenth book I've read by Galli. Strange to think that it was only as far back as June 29, 2015 that I read my first book by Galli. Reading 10 books in 37 days isn't that strange. I mean, it is 10.14% of an entire year. But the reality is that there is a month gap between the first book I read by Galli, and the second. Or, more accurately, 22 days. So, in actual fact, I read 9 books in 16 days. So, roughly 1.8 days per book instead of 3.7 (though, in reality, more like a day a book; I mean, I did read a lot of other things during that month). Maths fun, eh?
Right. This book here. Right off the start I'll note that I didn't like Skye when I first meet her. Rather rapidly my opinion began to change, and by the end, I rather liked her. Both her and Ainsley Baird. Never really grew to like either Dallas or Colin, the two people who brought Skye and Ainsley back together for a wedding. But then, they were mostly off to the side. Literally on a different continent for much of the book.
Dallas and Colin are co-anchors on a cable news show. They have/had great on-screen chemistry, but fought bitterly off camera. Until they stopped doing that, and suddenly got all lovey dovey. And rather rapidly got engaged. Then decided to marry in something like three weeks after getting engaged. Because, otherwise, they'd have to wait a year - apparently a spot opened up at the church they wanted. All of this is important, because Dallas asked Skye to be her maid of honor, or as it is put in the book, her MOH. While Colin asked Ainsley to be his best . . .something or other. It fluctuated what she was called. Some even said best man, other's said best woman, and some just said best person.
Then, almost immediately, Dallas and Colin are suddenly in some other country in a situation wherein they couldn't be in close contact with anyone in the states. Which is important, because they still plan on getting married within 3 weeks. So, it's up to Skye and Ainsley to plan and make decisions about the wedding. Which they do. Reluctantly.
Reluctantly for Skye because everything about weddings - the wedding itself, churches, etc., are among her least favorite things. Plus, Skye and Ainsley had lived together, no not that way, about 15 years before. While at college - sharing a room with two other people. So four total. Skye and Ainsley fought like cats and dogs. At least the kind of cats and dogs that fought. As opposed to the kind that make that stereotype cliche look stupid.
Right. So. Skye, I forget her exact title, but she is head of news content at the cable channel she works at, or something like that. Ainsley is the greatest expert on Scotland and lives and works as a professor in Scotland.
For the sake of their friends (Skye - Dallas (BFF)), and relatives (Colin - Ainsley (cousins)), they put their differences aside to get the wedding planned and carry it off.
I'm already 50%+ into the next book, so I'm not 100% certain of this, but I'm fairly certain that the point of view, this time, focused almost solely on Skye. It might have been interesting to see the USA through the eyes of a Scottish woman, but it was not to be. Well, technically. I mean, Skye MacKinnon is, in fact, half Scottish, but, baring a trip to Scotland, might feel a connection to Scotland, but not at the level of someone born and raised in Scotland. She's half Italian, half Scottish, and all American (and it didn't help that her Scottish father refused to have anything to do with her)).
The reader does get a sense, though, of seeing America through foreigner's eyes, by watching Skye reacting and interacting with Ainsley. Though Ainsley herself isn't a fresh off the boat Scottish woman. She herself is half Scottish (and half American, though she might punch you if you try to stress that American part too much, and/or called her half-Scottish; in her mind she's fully Scottish). My earlier comment, about not being fresh off the boat, is more about how Ainsley had spent time in the USA previously, having gone to college there 15 years earlier.
Right. So. Most of the book involves planning a wedding. Watching two people circling each other, with both coming to the realization that they seem oddly to like each other, despite their previous bitter experience during college.
An interesting book. A neat book. A lovely little book. And the last one I have to read, at least at the moment. Well, there's one more in the Virginia Clan series, but I had skipped that one on purpose. It's supposedly more of a short story collection, as far as I can tell. So, even if I counted it as something more to read, it isn't a full book left to read. So, I'm all sad and stuff. Hmms. I just realized I had to actually buy all these books, as opposed to getting them through Kindle Unlimited or something like that. So, now I'm poor. And sad.
78Lexxi
September best
Craig Johnson - The Dark Horse - 9/8/15 - 5.0
In my last review I noted that I was taking Johnson's books slowly. Something like a book every other month or so. Well, before I could even write a review for this one, I'd read this one and completed the next. Meaning that three of the six books I've read in the series all were read in the beginning of September. Exciting information, I'm sure. Obviously I've moved over to just gobbling the books instead of taking things slow.
Let's see. This one sees Longmire going undercover as an insurance claims adjuster back in his hometime of Powder Junction Wyoming. A county over from the one he is sheriff of. Occasionally, it appears, his county makes a little extra, money wise, by taking in prisoners from other counties. Well one such turned up in the form of Mary Barsad. Accused with the crime of shooting her husband in the head. While said husband was resting on their bed after setting her horses on fire. Husband's body was found with six bullets in his head. Husband going by the name of Wade Barsad.
I kind of put the last paragraph backwards. The important things to note: woman turns up to occupy Longmire's cell. She's accused of killing her husband and setting him on fire (actually, I don't recall if they are acussing her of that, now that I think about it, they think the husband got caught up in his own fire, or fire was caused by lightning). Being the kind of man he is, Longmire finds himself in the next county over. Undercover. As a claims adjuster.
I liked Longmire's interactions with that Guatemalan woman. Whose name I should probably have recalled, but can't recall at the moment. I liked his interactions with her a lot more than his on-again, off-again flirtations with his own deputy, Vic. Vic keeps throwing herself at him. He keeps dodging while, at the same time, thinking bad thoughts about himself. She keeps up with saying things like "fuck" every other word. Sometimes just Fuck. Repeatedly. Her favorite phrase appears to be "Fuck me", though that might have been more of a thing in the next book (and no, she's not saying that to Walt Longmire to get him to fuck her, she's not being literal).
The mystery was good. Exciting. The characters interactions were . . um . . nice and stuff. I still haven't seen the tv series, and I still plan to probably avoid it.
(As an aside, why is this book on a list called "Best Books Set in Appalachia"? I went to a college in a valley with the Appalachian mountains running on either side of it. The Appalachian mountains, as I therefore have direct knowledge and so know, are not in Wyoming. This book was set in Wyoming.)
(A second aside, this is the fifth book I've read by Johnson, and I've since read the sixth book in the Longmire series. Of the six, I've rated two of them 5 stars, and the others all got 4 stars from me. At least one of those was a half star, I mean four and a half stars, though, since we don't have half stars here on GoodReads, I forget what all I actually rated them.)
Craig Johnson - As the Crow Flies - 9/15/15 - 5.0
My 8th book by Johnson, and, oddly enough, the 8th book in the Longmire series. I read books 1 through 3 between Feb 3 and May 27th (1 or 2 days each, not four months). Read books 4 through 8 between Sept. 3rd and Sept. 14th. Apparently my reading of this series has picked up a little speed. And I've still to see an episode of that tv series each book seems to want to tell me about on the book cover.
Let me see. A super rare event occurs in this specific book. An entire Longmire book occurs and . . . Longmire doesn't end up either complaining about the cold, or marching through snow drifts. Weird, I know.
So. Longmire's daughter is getting married. Longmire's helping. Badly. The place Cady dreams of having her wedding, has set a date for, has reserved months ago has suddenly, two weeks before the date of the planned wedding . . . been taken over by . . . I'm not sure what to care her. Stubborn Cheyenne librarian? Well, said librarian has taken over the wedding spot and proclaimed that a cultural event will be occurring there. Not a wedding. I forgot to mention - the wedding spot is on the Cheyenne Reservation and is kind of culturally important. So, naturally, some attempt is made to change her mind.
So. While that is going on, Longmire and Henry Standing Bear head off to check out a potential substitute spot. Painted Warrior something something. I just recall it being called "Painted Warrior". Walt Longmire and the Bear stand around examining said substitute. Take pictures. While Walt's taking a picture he captures someone falling. From high up the cliffs. They rush over and find a dying woman. Dog howls. Sheriff keeps trying to shush him. Then looks over. Spots a baby.
While rushing the baby to the hospital, . . . well, while moving the pickup truck from out of the entrance to the emergency room, the sheriff is arrested by the new police chief for the reservation. Chief Lolo Long.
Once the idea of a dead woman is finally pushed into Long's head, they head over to look at it. At the base of the cliffs. Federal agents show up. Eventually. And now, and only now, do I realize that the action that has been so far described actually has been taking place in . . . Montana. If that had been mentioned before, I completley overlooked it. I found out because one of the FBI agents, the one, specifically in charge of the FBI people, makes a comment about whether or not there is cell phone reception in Montana.
So. For one reason or another, the FBI slide back and let the locals run the investigation. Being basically brand new to law enforcement, the police chief reluctantly accepts Sheriff Longmire's help. Longmire, it should be noted, is not only not in his own county, he isn't even in his own state. On Cheyenne Reservation land.
So. Longmire investigates, with Long, the dead woman. Running around with a brand new police chief with a certain amount of PTSD, while attempting to, at the same time, handle some wedding issues that have cropped up.
It was a somewhat different book than normal, though I'm not sure what specifically I mean. I mean, different more than just the lack of cold and/or snow. I liked the underlying mysteries, cultural clashes, characterizations, etc. Good solid book. Maybe closer to 4.5 than 5 stars, but I'll leave it at 5 stars for now.
Craig Johnson - A Serpent's Tooth - 9/16/15 - 5.0
Vaguely drained after reading the end of the book, I try to see what to put in this little box thingie here.
The religious cult version of Mormonism is sweeping the states. Compounds in Texas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas. But then, Walt Longmire doesn't know this until he happens to run across a skittish young man who happened to be living, illegally, in a pump room behind a older woman's house. Without her knowledge. That's the illegal part.
Walt attempts to track him down and comes across information from a sheriff in South Dakota linking the kid to one of those polygamous Mormon cults that had moved into the county. Apparently the kid's mother had been looking for the boy, and had listed, as her address, a specific location. That turned out to be a fortress. That the South Dakota sheriff hadn't realized had been built in his county. A fortress filled with . . . what'd they call themselves, Apostles of the Lamb of God? Something like that. The people there, in that fortress, claimed to have never heard of the woman. Or the boy.
That South Dakota sheriff, though, recalled a phone number on the paper that woman had given as contact information. The number linked to one in Walt's county. Walt finds a combo general store and bar. And, while looking around, evidence of more of these cult people. And another compound. With high fences, and towers, and stuff. This time in his own county. In a part that he rarely visits.
I'm being purposely vague. And am leaving out a lot.
Fires, deaths, religion, and ex-government agents crowd the pages. A good solid book. Vaguely deeper than some of the others in the series. And another one without snow. Mostly. Though mention of snow on the mountains was mentioned. Plus coldness.
Craig Johnson - The Dark Horse - 9/8/15 - 5.0
In my last review I noted that I was taking Johnson's books slowly. Something like a book every other month or so. Well, before I could even write a review for this one, I'd read this one and completed the next. Meaning that three of the six books I've read in the series all were read in the beginning of September. Exciting information, I'm sure. Obviously I've moved over to just gobbling the books instead of taking things slow.
Let's see. This one sees Longmire going undercover as an insurance claims adjuster back in his hometime of Powder Junction Wyoming. A county over from the one he is sheriff of. Occasionally, it appears, his county makes a little extra, money wise, by taking in prisoners from other counties. Well one such turned up in the form of Mary Barsad. Accused with the crime of shooting her husband in the head. While said husband was resting on their bed after setting her horses on fire. Husband's body was found with six bullets in his head. Husband going by the name of Wade Barsad.
I kind of put the last paragraph backwards. The important things to note: woman turns up to occupy Longmire's cell. She's accused of killing her husband and setting him on fire (actually, I don't recall if they are acussing her of that, now that I think about it, they think the husband got caught up in his own fire, or fire was caused by lightning). Being the kind of man he is, Longmire finds himself in the next county over. Undercover. As a claims adjuster.
I liked Longmire's interactions with that Guatemalan woman. Whose name I should probably have recalled, but can't recall at the moment. I liked his interactions with her a lot more than his on-again, off-again flirtations with his own deputy, Vic. Vic keeps throwing herself at him. He keeps dodging while, at the same time, thinking bad thoughts about himself. She keeps up with saying things like "fuck" every other word. Sometimes just Fuck. Repeatedly. Her favorite phrase appears to be "Fuck me", though that might have been more of a thing in the next book (and no, she's not saying that to Walt Longmire to get him to fuck her, she's not being literal).
The mystery was good. Exciting. The characters interactions were . . um . . nice and stuff. I still haven't seen the tv series, and I still plan to probably avoid it.
(As an aside, why is this book on a list called "Best Books Set in Appalachia"? I went to a college in a valley with the Appalachian mountains running on either side of it. The Appalachian mountains, as I therefore have direct knowledge and so know, are not in Wyoming. This book was set in Wyoming.)
(A second aside, this is the fifth book I've read by Johnson, and I've since read the sixth book in the Longmire series. Of the six, I've rated two of them 5 stars, and the others all got 4 stars from me. At least one of those was a half star, I mean four and a half stars, though, since we don't have half stars here on GoodReads, I forget what all I actually rated them.)
Craig Johnson - As the Crow Flies - 9/15/15 - 5.0
My 8th book by Johnson, and, oddly enough, the 8th book in the Longmire series. I read books 1 through 3 between Feb 3 and May 27th (1 or 2 days each, not four months). Read books 4 through 8 between Sept. 3rd and Sept. 14th. Apparently my reading of this series has picked up a little speed. And I've still to see an episode of that tv series each book seems to want to tell me about on the book cover.
Let me see. A super rare event occurs in this specific book. An entire Longmire book occurs and . . . Longmire doesn't end up either complaining about the cold, or marching through snow drifts. Weird, I know.
So. Longmire's daughter is getting married. Longmire's helping. Badly. The place Cady dreams of having her wedding, has set a date for, has reserved months ago has suddenly, two weeks before the date of the planned wedding . . . been taken over by . . . I'm not sure what to care her. Stubborn Cheyenne librarian? Well, said librarian has taken over the wedding spot and proclaimed that a cultural event will be occurring there. Not a wedding. I forgot to mention - the wedding spot is on the Cheyenne Reservation and is kind of culturally important. So, naturally, some attempt is made to change her mind.
So. While that is going on, Longmire and Henry Standing Bear head off to check out a potential substitute spot. Painted Warrior something something. I just recall it being called "Painted Warrior". Walt Longmire and the Bear stand around examining said substitute. Take pictures. While Walt's taking a picture he captures someone falling. From high up the cliffs. They rush over and find a dying woman. Dog howls. Sheriff keeps trying to shush him. Then looks over. Spots a baby.
While rushing the baby to the hospital, . . . well, while moving the pickup truck from out of the entrance to the emergency room, the sheriff is arrested by the new police chief for the reservation. Chief Lolo Long.
Once the idea of a dead woman is finally pushed into Long's head, they head over to look at it. At the base of the cliffs. Federal agents show up. Eventually. And now, and only now, do I realize that the action that has been so far described actually has been taking place in . . . Montana. If that had been mentioned before, I completley overlooked it. I found out because one of the FBI agents, the one, specifically in charge of the FBI people, makes a comment about whether or not there is cell phone reception in Montana.
So. For one reason or another, the FBI slide back and let the locals run the investigation. Being basically brand new to law enforcement, the police chief reluctantly accepts Sheriff Longmire's help. Longmire, it should be noted, is not only not in his own county, he isn't even in his own state. On Cheyenne Reservation land.
So. Longmire investigates, with Long, the dead woman. Running around with a brand new police chief with a certain amount of PTSD, while attempting to, at the same time, handle some wedding issues that have cropped up.
It was a somewhat different book than normal, though I'm not sure what specifically I mean. I mean, different more than just the lack of cold and/or snow. I liked the underlying mysteries, cultural clashes, characterizations, etc. Good solid book. Maybe closer to 4.5 than 5 stars, but I'll leave it at 5 stars for now.
Craig Johnson - A Serpent's Tooth - 9/16/15 - 5.0
Vaguely drained after reading the end of the book, I try to see what to put in this little box thingie here.
The religious cult version of Mormonism is sweeping the states. Compounds in Texas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas. But then, Walt Longmire doesn't know this until he happens to run across a skittish young man who happened to be living, illegally, in a pump room behind a older woman's house. Without her knowledge. That's the illegal part.
Walt attempts to track him down and comes across information from a sheriff in South Dakota linking the kid to one of those polygamous Mormon cults that had moved into the county. Apparently the kid's mother had been looking for the boy, and had listed, as her address, a specific location. That turned out to be a fortress. That the South Dakota sheriff hadn't realized had been built in his county. A fortress filled with . . . what'd they call themselves, Apostles of the Lamb of God? Something like that. The people there, in that fortress, claimed to have never heard of the woman. Or the boy.
That South Dakota sheriff, though, recalled a phone number on the paper that woman had given as contact information. The number linked to one in Walt's county. Walt finds a combo general store and bar. And, while looking around, evidence of more of these cult people. And another compound. With high fences, and towers, and stuff. This time in his own county. In a part that he rarely visits.
I'm being purposely vague. And am leaving out a lot.
Fires, deaths, religion, and ex-government agents crowd the pages. A good solid book. Vaguely deeper than some of the others in the series. And another one without snow. Mostly. Though mention of snow on the mountains was mentioned. Plus coldness.
79Lexxi
October Best
Alex Gabriel - Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero - 10/15/15 - 5.50
Hmm, this certainly is a strange position to find myself in. I read and enjoyed a book involving two gay men, with several erotic graphic scenes of sex. Technically one of the men is apparently theoretically bisexual, though I am unsure if he has gone beyond the occasional attempt to include women in his masturbation scenes; and the other, in one scene, casually mentioned something like ‘if it had been Sophie on this date’, which may or may not indicate that he also is bisexual (though none of his ‘companions’, aka hookers/escorts, on his pre-approved list are women). So this might be more two bisexual men. Doesn’t tremendously matter since neither are shown in scenes involving dating, and/or otherwise in a sexual relationship with a woman.
Why is all the above me in a strange position? I haven’t had much luck with M/M romances. As in a romance between two men. I have 28 books on my Gay shelf, though only 25 have been read. And not all of those are romances.
Let me see . . . the Anne Rice book more had homoerotic tension than openly gay characters/etc. The Roma Sub Rosa books involved a gay son. That takes care of four of them. I’m not going to go book by book, let me just dive straight to the important things – 1) main characters being gay; 2) graphic sex. 8 of the books involve main characters being gay men (overall average rating of 3.25 out of 5 stars). 5 of those 8 involve graphic descriptions of male on male sex (3.0 overall rating; though it had been an overall rating of 2.5 before I read this book here).
Wait, let me go back. Of those five, how many of them have been romances? Three of these books are male/male romances. With an overall rating of 3.33. Bah, whatever, I’ve spent too much time babbling to myself.
This rather humorous book involves the son of a super villain, who, accidentally gets into a relationship with a superhero. Pat West, son of . . . um . . I know the name; I just don’t know how to spell it. Serpteaniousalsdkjfalsdfj. Dread Serpent. And the superhero is billionaire Nick Andersen, aka Silver Paladin.
Pat’s family want Pat to enter the ‘challenger’ business (the people on ‘that’ side call themselves challengers and minions; the people on the ‘other’ side call challengers – villains and supervillians; but then again, the challengers/minions, etc. call heroes hoagies. Yeah, I don’t get why they get called sandwiches, but whatever). There’s still a tug, a pull, from them but they have mostly accepted that Pat doesn’t want to enter that life and would rather became a city planner. That’s what he is at college to learn.
Despite his serious desire to learn, Pat is one of those people who always seem to be giggling and finding it hard to act serious. Much rather wear jeans and t-shirts of his favorite bands, and or ‘challengers’, than anything more fancy. Is, mostly, unable to keep his mouth shut and/or keep from babbling. As mentioned, he’s in college, and on the swim team – so is in shape.
Nick Andersen is a billionaire who is a very stiff, formal type. Not exactly one who is given to fits of giggles. Apparently in fantastic shape. Lives in something of an ivory tower (metaphor, not actuality), in that he doesn’t realize that his pizza isn’t actually delivery (5 star chefs make it in his kitchen), and in that he doesn’t feel very comfortable interacting with random strangers. He also likes using ‘companions’, aka escorts, for his sexual relief.
Pat, while at college, makes some extra money as the night manager at Nick’s house. As in, if an order for pizza, or the like, is sent down, Pat throws it together and sends it up. Well, one night he gets an order he doesn’t specifically understand. It was something like “yeah, send a guy up”. Being that he is a guy, and he has no clue what Nick is asking for, Pat goes up. Whereupon a scene of miscommunication and misunderstanding unfolds and the two men end up in bed together. Pat thinking he’s the luckiest guy on earth (well, something like that), while Nick’s thinking he’s with a ‘companion’. Someone he is paying for sex.
It’s a weird little world that’s been developed for this book. There are these superheroes and supervillians (challengers). Every once in a while a challenger will zoom in and start demanding stuff and or attempting to take over stuff. Heroes rush in and ‘stop’ them. Quite melodramatic and stuff these hero and villain fights. And while the heroes end up ‘triumphing’ over the challengers, the challengers never actually seem to get permanently stopped. As I said, it’s a weird little world that’s been created here. Interesting, somewhat vague, and weird.
In terms of the adult side of things, the graphic depictions of sex – well, I’m not exactly the person to ‘ask’ about that. I don’t exactly ‘get anything’ from reading descriptions of graphic sex involving men, so the best I can do is say that everything seemed quite entertaining to read, for the most part, and there appeared to be both humor and eroticism involved.
I was thinking, while reading the book, that the whole thing seemed outside my normal reading wheelhouse. I do not normally read fiction involving a romance between two gay (and/or bisexual men whose bisexual nature is more a possibility than confirmed) men. And as much as I like humor fiction books, I so rarely seem to actually find and read them. Prose superhero books are also somewhat off my normal path, though I have read them, and the book right before this one was one as well. Though stating that makes it seem more common that it actually is.
All that, in the prior paragraph, to say that I have no clue who I’d recommend to book to, or if I should. Though I rather enjoyed the book. I mean, it is the highest rated book I’ve read that involved two men graphically screwing each other. Or, for that matter, just involving gay men as main characters.
Kate Christie - In the Company of Women - 10/16/15 - 5.50
Nearly 400,000 American women served in uniform during the Second World War (which is more or less directly lifted from the afterward; I think that all I did differently was write out WWII – so, this from 99% mark of eBook). “During the war years . . . female independence and love between women were understood and undisturbed and even protected (Faderman, book:Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America|451044, 119). This book tells the fictional story of Caroline “CJ” Jamieson, of Michigan, and Brady Buchanan, of California while both are stationed at Fort Bliss Texas during the Second World War.
This is my second book that involves women in uniform during WWII, and my third book written by Kate Christie (by the way, I did notice that one of the characters names was Kate, but she was a side character with few lines). Tereska Torrès 1950 book book:Women's Barracks|409104 being the first ‘women in uniform during WWII’ book I had read. Considering that I rated Christie’s book 5 stars, and Women’s Barracks 3 stars, I do not need to go that far to note that I liked Christie’s book more than Torrès.
When the book opens, it is 1943 and CJ is on her way to Fort Bliss Texas after extensive training. She’s not so vaguely annoyed that she’s going to Texas instead of her original assignment, California. Almost immediately, though, her opinion begins to change. This change might be largely due to her bumping into another woman, also a (in?) the WAC, while zooming around the PX. Brady Buchanan gives CJ a tour of Fort Bliss. One thing leads to another, and . . . well, it’s 1943 and neither are exactly aware of their own lesbian natures (well, at least I know that from being in CJ’s head, I’m less sure of Brady), so naturally there’s some tension that develops. Instead of, say, instant coupling.
CJ works in the mechanical division, keeping planes up and running. Brady works in the Admin division. Two things work against them developing . . . happy attachments with each other. There is a kind of hierarchy/division in the military and the Admin people and the Mechanical people do not tend to hang out together. Plus, there are several regulations regarding fraternization, specifically on point for Brady and CJ is the regulation against same sex relationships. Despite this, they circle each other and flirt with the idea of ‘bending’ regulations and societal mores.
This is a strong well written book. Quite interesting book. It is quite nice to be able to read about lesbians back in time, historically. I have some relatively vague idea of the history, really vague, from about 1940 to 1960 from reading a nonfiction book on the topic, book:Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community|187541, and an even vaguer idea of the history 1970 to today. Prior to, say, 1930? No real clue. I say prior to 1930 because I think that nonfiction book I had read had a few details provided for 1930.
Hmm, I know I want to write more, or should write more, but I just finished reading it and probably should have waited, oh, three days or something before attempting to write. But, meh.
Bridget Essex - Wolf Heart - 10/19/15 - 5.0
I’ve read two stories back to back which are both completely different, and oddly similar. Well, certain elements are similar. I suppose that the only similarities involve: both involve lesbians, involve werewolves, both are drenched in sex, and both involve people who do not know that the other woman is a werewolf. One is written tightly, competently; the other seems to have a word or two wrong every sentence or every other sentence. It even mixes up people’s names here and there.
Here’s where I could show how much better one is over the other by saying something like ‘the less well written one was a better story’ or something like that. And that got reinforced by my reading both stories back to back. Fortunately or unfortunately that isn’t the case. The one written incompetently is in fact the lesser of the two stories. This one here, Wolf Heart, is the competently written story.
The story involves a woman going on vacation for the first time in two years. Needing rest and relaxation. She had a dream of being happy and content walking through a forest, the one her family owns a cabin in, so she takes her vacation there. Alone.
Immediately on arrival she checks in with the park ranger to say she’s there. Barbara, the park ranger, is super bitchy and growls at her that she shouldn’t be there. Abby, the main character, grunts at her and ignores the words. Or tries to ignore. They kind of frightened her.
In the darkening, gloomy, forest area, Abby drives up to her cabin and, instead of immediately carrying her things in; she turns and heads to the public shower and bathroom building. While showering, she hears the door open and close. She peaks around the shower curtain and sees . . . a wolf.
Essex seems to be fixated on the ‘normal human woman bumps into werewolf women, they fall in love, but there’s this initial ‘werewolves aren’t real’ moment that most be overcome’ storyline. It keeps coming up over and over again. Yeah, in real life, if I saw someone morphing/shifting between shapes, I’d probably freak out and flee. But still, it gets tiresome to read the exact same scenario play out over and over again. Woman sees wolf, wolf becomes a woman. Human woman falls into either lust or love with the woman. Woman shifts to wolf.
I probably could have taken that a lot better if it wasn’t an often reoccurring story-line by Essex. And even though it is, I still probably could have ‘taken it’ if Abby, in this story, didn’t keep disbelieving her eyes and constantly saying things, to herself ‘how is that even possible?’ (as a side note, one of those things I feel the need to note but not explain – if someone finds that two women have exited a building, disrobed, and left everything behind, and one had looked like she had some form of weapon before going outside – take a few moments to check to see if there was, in fact, some kind of weapon. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, but take a few moments. Then grab it, if it exists, and the flashlight. Abby in this story just gawked at the clothing and jewelry, and only grabbed the flashlight when she went further outside).
I’m tempted to give a lower rating because of that ‘but . . . but werewolves aren’t real!’ which also included a ‘wolves aren’t in this park!’ element. But I don’t. Because it was a good story. Pumped my adrenaline, it did. I just wish I could actually read a full story some day, instead of all these tastes, something that moved past ‘werewolves aren’t real! . . . well, maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, but I kind of like you . . .’ and got to the ‘pass me the salt, please’ stage (as in a couple stage).
Beth Labonte - Summer at Sea - 10/23/15 - 5.0
This is my first story by this author, and my fifth chick-lit book. Man, that word really has no deep meaning to me, but each time I write it or say it I think of chiclets candy. mmphs. Right, distracted myself there.
As I mentioned, this is my fifth chick lit book, and I add, by my third author in this genre. I'm not really certain what that is supposed to mean, really.
"Chick lit or Chick literature is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly."
The only thing that seems to differentiate it from regular romance seems to be 'a story told humorously and light-heartedly that includes the heroine's relationship with her family and friends in a modern setting'. Which . . . well, I've read plenty of romances that meet most of those criteria. For the most part, the thing that doesn't normally match up is the modern part. I tend to read historical romances, not contemporary. So, seriously, what is the difference between contemporary romance and chick-lit? The humorous and light-hearted part? Guess I have to relabel some of the books I've read to move them to chick-lit, then.
Right - this story here. The beginning was humorous. Which is good, because I almost didn't read it. Which would have been a shame, since it's the first book I've been able to give five stars to in this genre. Why did I initially have an issue? Initially think I didn't wish to read it? Because the main character had this 'woe is me, I'm forced to live with my parents at the advanced age of 26, and I could easily move out and live by myself, but . . . um . . stuff' attitude. Fortunately she was quite humorous about the whole thing or I'd have not been able to read this book.
Books that involve characters feeling trapped in their families are not books that I can read easily. For various reasons which I do not specifically wish to mention.
I liked all the main characters, though some take a little to get used to. Summer Eve Hartwell, the main character (26, middle school librarian, lives with her 60+ year old mother and father), Mom Hartwell, Dad Hartwell, and Graham Blenderman (Summer's brother's best friend) all go for a week long cruise to Bermuda. Set up by Eric, Summer's brother, to celebrate his and Graham's success with their Fart App.
Summer hopes to use the 8 days to fulfill The Prophecy - find a husband, finally move out of her parent's home. Mom and Pop Hartwell are kind of along for the ride, reluctantly. But their son paid for it all so . . .. Graham's decision to join and his mission while aboard is not at first apparent.
The story is a fun, sweet, humorous little story.
Graeme Simsion - The Rosie Project - 10/27/15 - 5.50
There are roughly 23,100 reviews already. So . . ..
1) I do not know what genre to put this book here. I realize some put it into chick-lit but one of the main points of chick-lit is to follow, as the main character, a woman. It's 'neat' to have the main character be a dude, but that removes it from chick-lit. I've read at least one book that fell into the genre 'dick-lit' - similar genre to chick-lit, just with male lead. I do not know if that genre still exists.
2) fun, hilarious book.
3) I know there's a sequel, but I'm not really sure I'd be that interested. This is one of those things that kind of work once. And looking at the description of the sequel does not lead me to squeal in joy and rush out to read it.
Alex Gabriel - Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero - 10/15/15 - 5.50
Hmm, this certainly is a strange position to find myself in. I read and enjoyed a book involving two gay men, with several erotic graphic scenes of sex. Technically one of the men is apparently theoretically bisexual, though I am unsure if he has gone beyond the occasional attempt to include women in his masturbation scenes; and the other, in one scene, casually mentioned something like ‘if it had been Sophie on this date’, which may or may not indicate that he also is bisexual (though none of his ‘companions’, aka hookers/escorts, on his pre-approved list are women). So this might be more two bisexual men. Doesn’t tremendously matter since neither are shown in scenes involving dating, and/or otherwise in a sexual relationship with a woman.
Why is all the above me in a strange position? I haven’t had much luck with M/M romances. As in a romance between two men. I have 28 books on my Gay shelf, though only 25 have been read. And not all of those are romances.
Let me see . . . the Anne Rice book more had homoerotic tension than openly gay characters/etc. The Roma Sub Rosa books involved a gay son. That takes care of four of them. I’m not going to go book by book, let me just dive straight to the important things – 1) main characters being gay; 2) graphic sex. 8 of the books involve main characters being gay men (overall average rating of 3.25 out of 5 stars). 5 of those 8 involve graphic descriptions of male on male sex (3.0 overall rating; though it had been an overall rating of 2.5 before I read this book here).
Wait, let me go back. Of those five, how many of them have been romances? Three of these books are male/male romances. With an overall rating of 3.33. Bah, whatever, I’ve spent too much time babbling to myself.
This rather humorous book involves the son of a super villain, who, accidentally gets into a relationship with a superhero. Pat West, son of . . . um . . I know the name; I just don’t know how to spell it. Serpteaniousalsdkjfalsdfj. Dread Serpent. And the superhero is billionaire Nick Andersen, aka Silver Paladin.
Pat’s family want Pat to enter the ‘challenger’ business (the people on ‘that’ side call themselves challengers and minions; the people on the ‘other’ side call challengers – villains and supervillians; but then again, the challengers/minions, etc. call heroes hoagies. Yeah, I don’t get why they get called sandwiches, but whatever). There’s still a tug, a pull, from them but they have mostly accepted that Pat doesn’t want to enter that life and would rather became a city planner. That’s what he is at college to learn.
Despite his serious desire to learn, Pat is one of those people who always seem to be giggling and finding it hard to act serious. Much rather wear jeans and t-shirts of his favorite bands, and or ‘challengers’, than anything more fancy. Is, mostly, unable to keep his mouth shut and/or keep from babbling. As mentioned, he’s in college, and on the swim team – so is in shape.
Nick Andersen is a billionaire who is a very stiff, formal type. Not exactly one who is given to fits of giggles. Apparently in fantastic shape. Lives in something of an ivory tower (metaphor, not actuality), in that he doesn’t realize that his pizza isn’t actually delivery (5 star chefs make it in his kitchen), and in that he doesn’t feel very comfortable interacting with random strangers. He also likes using ‘companions’, aka escorts, for his sexual relief.
Pat, while at college, makes some extra money as the night manager at Nick’s house. As in, if an order for pizza, or the like, is sent down, Pat throws it together and sends it up. Well, one night he gets an order he doesn’t specifically understand. It was something like “yeah, send a guy up”. Being that he is a guy, and he has no clue what Nick is asking for, Pat goes up. Whereupon a scene of miscommunication and misunderstanding unfolds and the two men end up in bed together. Pat thinking he’s the luckiest guy on earth (well, something like that), while Nick’s thinking he’s with a ‘companion’. Someone he is paying for sex.
It’s a weird little world that’s been developed for this book. There are these superheroes and supervillians (challengers). Every once in a while a challenger will zoom in and start demanding stuff and or attempting to take over stuff. Heroes rush in and ‘stop’ them. Quite melodramatic and stuff these hero and villain fights. And while the heroes end up ‘triumphing’ over the challengers, the challengers never actually seem to get permanently stopped. As I said, it’s a weird little world that’s been created here. Interesting, somewhat vague, and weird.
In terms of the adult side of things, the graphic depictions of sex – well, I’m not exactly the person to ‘ask’ about that. I don’t exactly ‘get anything’ from reading descriptions of graphic sex involving men, so the best I can do is say that everything seemed quite entertaining to read, for the most part, and there appeared to be both humor and eroticism involved.
I was thinking, while reading the book, that the whole thing seemed outside my normal reading wheelhouse. I do not normally read fiction involving a romance between two gay (and/or bisexual men whose bisexual nature is more a possibility than confirmed) men. And as much as I like humor fiction books, I so rarely seem to actually find and read them. Prose superhero books are also somewhat off my normal path, though I have read them, and the book right before this one was one as well. Though stating that makes it seem more common that it actually is.
All that, in the prior paragraph, to say that I have no clue who I’d recommend to book to, or if I should. Though I rather enjoyed the book. I mean, it is the highest rated book I’ve read that involved two men graphically screwing each other. Or, for that matter, just involving gay men as main characters.
Kate Christie - In the Company of Women - 10/16/15 - 5.50
Nearly 400,000 American women served in uniform during the Second World War (which is more or less directly lifted from the afterward; I think that all I did differently was write out WWII – so, this from 99% mark of eBook). “During the war years . . . female independence and love between women were understood and undisturbed and even protected (Faderman, book:Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America|451044, 119). This book tells the fictional story of Caroline “CJ” Jamieson, of Michigan, and Brady Buchanan, of California while both are stationed at Fort Bliss Texas during the Second World War.
This is my second book that involves women in uniform during WWII, and my third book written by Kate Christie (by the way, I did notice that one of the characters names was Kate, but she was a side character with few lines). Tereska Torrès 1950 book book:Women's Barracks|409104 being the first ‘women in uniform during WWII’ book I had read. Considering that I rated Christie’s book 5 stars, and Women’s Barracks 3 stars, I do not need to go that far to note that I liked Christie’s book more than Torrès.
When the book opens, it is 1943 and CJ is on her way to Fort Bliss Texas after extensive training. She’s not so vaguely annoyed that she’s going to Texas instead of her original assignment, California. Almost immediately, though, her opinion begins to change. This change might be largely due to her bumping into another woman, also a (in?) the WAC, while zooming around the PX. Brady Buchanan gives CJ a tour of Fort Bliss. One thing leads to another, and . . . well, it’s 1943 and neither are exactly aware of their own lesbian natures (well, at least I know that from being in CJ’s head, I’m less sure of Brady), so naturally there’s some tension that develops. Instead of, say, instant coupling.
CJ works in the mechanical division, keeping planes up and running. Brady works in the Admin division. Two things work against them developing . . . happy attachments with each other. There is a kind of hierarchy/division in the military and the Admin people and the Mechanical people do not tend to hang out together. Plus, there are several regulations regarding fraternization, specifically on point for Brady and CJ is the regulation against same sex relationships. Despite this, they circle each other and flirt with the idea of ‘bending’ regulations and societal mores.
This is a strong well written book. Quite interesting book. It is quite nice to be able to read about lesbians back in time, historically. I have some relatively vague idea of the history, really vague, from about 1940 to 1960 from reading a nonfiction book on the topic, book:Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community|187541, and an even vaguer idea of the history 1970 to today. Prior to, say, 1930? No real clue. I say prior to 1930 because I think that nonfiction book I had read had a few details provided for 1930.
Hmm, I know I want to write more, or should write more, but I just finished reading it and probably should have waited, oh, three days or something before attempting to write. But, meh.
Bridget Essex - Wolf Heart - 10/19/15 - 5.0
I’ve read two stories back to back which are both completely different, and oddly similar. Well, certain elements are similar. I suppose that the only similarities involve: both involve lesbians, involve werewolves, both are drenched in sex, and both involve people who do not know that the other woman is a werewolf. One is written tightly, competently; the other seems to have a word or two wrong every sentence or every other sentence. It even mixes up people’s names here and there.
Here’s where I could show how much better one is over the other by saying something like ‘the less well written one was a better story’ or something like that. And that got reinforced by my reading both stories back to back. Fortunately or unfortunately that isn’t the case. The one written incompetently is in fact the lesser of the two stories. This one here, Wolf Heart, is the competently written story.
The story involves a woman going on vacation for the first time in two years. Needing rest and relaxation. She had a dream of being happy and content walking through a forest, the one her family owns a cabin in, so she takes her vacation there. Alone.
Immediately on arrival she checks in with the park ranger to say she’s there. Barbara, the park ranger, is super bitchy and growls at her that she shouldn’t be there. Abby, the main character, grunts at her and ignores the words. Or tries to ignore. They kind of frightened her.
In the darkening, gloomy, forest area, Abby drives up to her cabin and, instead of immediately carrying her things in; she turns and heads to the public shower and bathroom building. While showering, she hears the door open and close. She peaks around the shower curtain and sees . . . a wolf.
Essex seems to be fixated on the ‘normal human woman bumps into werewolf women, they fall in love, but there’s this initial ‘werewolves aren’t real’ moment that most be overcome’ storyline. It keeps coming up over and over again. Yeah, in real life, if I saw someone morphing/shifting between shapes, I’d probably freak out and flee. But still, it gets tiresome to read the exact same scenario play out over and over again. Woman sees wolf, wolf becomes a woman. Human woman falls into either lust or love with the woman. Woman shifts to wolf.
I probably could have taken that a lot better if it wasn’t an often reoccurring story-line by Essex. And even though it is, I still probably could have ‘taken it’ if Abby, in this story, didn’t keep disbelieving her eyes and constantly saying things, to herself ‘how is that even possible?’ (as a side note, one of those things I feel the need to note but not explain – if someone finds that two women have exited a building, disrobed, and left everything behind, and one had looked like she had some form of weapon before going outside – take a few moments to check to see if there was, in fact, some kind of weapon. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, but take a few moments. Then grab it, if it exists, and the flashlight. Abby in this story just gawked at the clothing and jewelry, and only grabbed the flashlight when she went further outside).
I’m tempted to give a lower rating because of that ‘but . . . but werewolves aren’t real!’ which also included a ‘wolves aren’t in this park!’ element. But I don’t. Because it was a good story. Pumped my adrenaline, it did. I just wish I could actually read a full story some day, instead of all these tastes, something that moved past ‘werewolves aren’t real! . . . well, maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, but I kind of like you . . .’ and got to the ‘pass me the salt, please’ stage (as in a couple stage).
Beth Labonte - Summer at Sea - 10/23/15 - 5.0
This is my first story by this author, and my fifth chick-lit book. Man, that word really has no deep meaning to me, but each time I write it or say it I think of chiclets candy. mmphs. Right, distracted myself there.
As I mentioned, this is my fifth chick lit book, and I add, by my third author in this genre. I'm not really certain what that is supposed to mean, really.
"Chick lit or Chick literature is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly."
The only thing that seems to differentiate it from regular romance seems to be 'a story told humorously and light-heartedly that includes the heroine's relationship with her family and friends in a modern setting'. Which . . . well, I've read plenty of romances that meet most of those criteria. For the most part, the thing that doesn't normally match up is the modern part. I tend to read historical romances, not contemporary. So, seriously, what is the difference between contemporary romance and chick-lit? The humorous and light-hearted part? Guess I have to relabel some of the books I've read to move them to chick-lit, then.
Right - this story here. The beginning was humorous. Which is good, because I almost didn't read it. Which would have been a shame, since it's the first book I've been able to give five stars to in this genre. Why did I initially have an issue? Initially think I didn't wish to read it? Because the main character had this 'woe is me, I'm forced to live with my parents at the advanced age of 26, and I could easily move out and live by myself, but . . . um . . stuff' attitude. Fortunately she was quite humorous about the whole thing or I'd have not been able to read this book.
Books that involve characters feeling trapped in their families are not books that I can read easily. For various reasons which I do not specifically wish to mention.
I liked all the main characters, though some take a little to get used to. Summer Eve Hartwell, the main character (26, middle school librarian, lives with her 60+ year old mother and father), Mom Hartwell, Dad Hartwell, and Graham Blenderman (Summer's brother's best friend) all go for a week long cruise to Bermuda. Set up by Eric, Summer's brother, to celebrate his and Graham's success with their Fart App.
Summer hopes to use the 8 days to fulfill The Prophecy - find a husband, finally move out of her parent's home. Mom and Pop Hartwell are kind of along for the ride, reluctantly. But their son paid for it all so . . .. Graham's decision to join and his mission while aboard is not at first apparent.
The story is a fun, sweet, humorous little story.
Graeme Simsion - The Rosie Project - 10/27/15 - 5.50
There are roughly 23,100 reviews already. So . . ..
1) I do not know what genre to put this book here. I realize some put it into chick-lit but one of the main points of chick-lit is to follow, as the main character, a woman. It's 'neat' to have the main character be a dude, but that removes it from chick-lit. I've read at least one book that fell into the genre 'dick-lit' - similar genre to chick-lit, just with male lead. I do not know if that genre still exists.
2) fun, hilarious book.
3) I know there's a sequel, but I'm not really sure I'd be that interested. This is one of those things that kind of work once. And looking at the description of the sequel does not lead me to squeal in joy and rush out to read it.
80Lexxi
November Best
J.A. Armstrong - New Additions - 11/18/15 - 5.50
Let me see, this is the 12th story I've read by this author. There are three series, and a funny thing happened along the way. At least in terms of favorites.
The Hollywood one, aka 'Off Screen', had been both the first one to appear and my favorite of the three. It started off with a solid five star story, and then four sequels good enough for 4 stars each. It's been almost six months, though, since the last story popped up. In the meantime two other series appeared (ETA: rereading what I wrote - by 'in the meantime' I had meant since the first Off Screen story appeared, not in the mean time meaning in the last six months).
The first 'other series' to pop up was the Politics one, i.e. - By Design. I wan't really sure what to think of that one. It started off weaker than the first. Though weaker still meant a 4 star story to open the series. Then the second and fifth ones were so good I ended up giving both 5 stars each. Meaning this series now averages out to 4.4. While the first one is at 4.2.
I'm kind of sad about the third series. The . . . um . . .hmm. Well, the Special Delivery series. And that there, my lack of easy categorization in my brain, and/or nickname, corresponds to my inability to remember it. I just can't get a handle on it. It includes the only story by Armstrong that I've given less than 4 stars to. But enough about that. This little box here is for the fifth story in the Politics series.
It's interesting how easily I slipped back into this series. Remembering all the characters. Pulling back into my mind why I like it so much. (I keep going about 'interesting' without saying why - well, I find it interesting how I didn't initially find it that intriguing of a series, but now find it to be my favorite of the three).
So, this is one of those weird stories. I mean in terms of my own reactions. I don't mean in terms of plot or anything like that. No, it's a fairly straight forward 'normal' story. It's just weird in how many thoughts/feelings/emotions it captures and tugs on inside of me.
This is one of those stories where I realized that my eyes were, at the very least, glistening while I was riding along on the subway. Just sitting there with a small electronic device in my hand. With glistening eyes. And I didn't care if anyone saw me like that. Wow, I'm turning into one of those authors I used to 'favorite' but don't any more. As in, wordy. Let's try that again, eh?
This story had sadness, humor, politics, family, tension, fear, and eroticism all mixed together. Well, I mean in one story. Not all in one scene. Well, some of that was mixed into the same scene.
Well plotted/written/good solid characters/...
I've said before, in my life, something like 'I laughed, I cried, I had a good time.' But this might be one of the few times I've said 'I laughed, I cried, I had a good arousing time.' There were some tearful scenes, and some well-written sex scenes.
Hmm. I'm not sure why I'm being so wordy. Boil this down into basic concepts and I've probably not written a whole hell of a lot.
Boiled down: I liked this story. Damn good continuation of the series. Seeing that the series will return in 'Renovations' was a happily little thing to see after 'The End'.
J.A. Armstrong - New Additions - 11/18/15 - 5.50
Let me see, this is the 12th story I've read by this author. There are three series, and a funny thing happened along the way. At least in terms of favorites.
The Hollywood one, aka 'Off Screen', had been both the first one to appear and my favorite of the three. It started off with a solid five star story, and then four sequels good enough for 4 stars each. It's been almost six months, though, since the last story popped up. In the meantime two other series appeared (ETA: rereading what I wrote - by 'in the meantime' I had meant since the first Off Screen story appeared, not in the mean time meaning in the last six months).
The first 'other series' to pop up was the Politics one, i.e. - By Design. I wan't really sure what to think of that one. It started off weaker than the first. Though weaker still meant a 4 star story to open the series. Then the second and fifth ones were so good I ended up giving both 5 stars each. Meaning this series now averages out to 4.4. While the first one is at 4.2.
I'm kind of sad about the third series. The . . . um . . .hmm. Well, the Special Delivery series. And that there, my lack of easy categorization in my brain, and/or nickname, corresponds to my inability to remember it. I just can't get a handle on it. It includes the only story by Armstrong that I've given less than 4 stars to. But enough about that. This little box here is for the fifth story in the Politics series.
It's interesting how easily I slipped back into this series. Remembering all the characters. Pulling back into my mind why I like it so much. (I keep going about 'interesting' without saying why - well, I find it interesting how I didn't initially find it that intriguing of a series, but now find it to be my favorite of the three).
So, this is one of those weird stories. I mean in terms of my own reactions. I don't mean in terms of plot or anything like that. No, it's a fairly straight forward 'normal' story. It's just weird in how many thoughts/feelings/emotions it captures and tugs on inside of me.
This is one of those stories where I realized that my eyes were, at the very least, glistening while I was riding along on the subway. Just sitting there with a small electronic device in my hand. With glistening eyes. And I didn't care if anyone saw me like that. Wow, I'm turning into one of those authors I used to 'favorite' but don't any more. As in, wordy. Let's try that again, eh?
This story had sadness, humor, politics, family, tension, fear, and eroticism all mixed together. Well, I mean in one story. Not all in one scene. Well, some of that was mixed into the same scene.
Well plotted/written/good solid characters/...
I've said before, in my life, something like 'I laughed, I cried, I had a good time.' But this might be one of the few times I've said 'I laughed, I cried, I had a good arousing time.' There were some tearful scenes, and some well-written sex scenes.
Hmm. I'm not sure why I'm being so wordy. Boil this down into basic concepts and I've probably not written a whole hell of a lot.
Boiled down: I liked this story. Damn good continuation of the series. Seeing that the series will return in 'Renovations' was a happily little thing to see after 'The End'.
81Lexxi
December Best
Jae - Just Physical - 12/3/15
It’s easier to write something if there’s something super positive or super negative to say. I’m not sure I have much of either to note.
This is my ninth book I’ve read by Jae. 17th ‘thing’ if you include the short stories. It seems that I both almost like everything I read by Jae, and have some odd vague reluctance to leap in. Like there’s this second book in a police series that I’ve been eyeing for more than a year, but I still can’t seem to get myself to start it. And, despite rather enjoying ‘Backwards to Oregon’, I’ve never been able to even contemplate trying anything else in that series. I’m odd that way, apparently. This book, though, I snapped up immediately when I saw it was out and began reading immediately after whatever book I had been reading when I bought this book here.
So, what’s this one about? Jae likes having series that follow different characters, as in the first book would follow certain characters, and the second book would follow a different set of main characters. I knew that going in. I just didn’t remind myself of the prior books in this series so didn’t immediately recall that Jill had been in the prior books. Ah, see, I went back to look at the books just now and what I had initially thought was in fact true. Jill wasn’t in the first book, she was in the second and then in the short story sequel.
Hmm. Okay let me back up. I recall now why I just leapt into Just Physical without paying much attention to the prior books. Amanda Clark and Michelle Osinski are the stars of the first book. Amanda pops up in the second as a co-worker of Grace’s (her name pops up 91 times, to be exact). Michelle is named and seen but has more of a cameo role in the second book. Neither Grace nor Lauren, the stars of the second book, are in the first book. Though Grace is mentioned in it about three or four times. Held up as a model of gorgeousness. Amanda mentioned 3 times in the third book. Or um. A person named Amanda is. No, it says in certain spots ‘Amanda and Michelle’, so it’s the same Amanda. Huh. It just skipped past me.
“Same thing with Amanda, her ex-girlfriend-turned-friend. Since she had moved in with Michelle, she saw the world through rose-tinted glasses.” (69% mark) – Amanda and Jill had dated? Why am I only learning of this in the third book, most of the way through the third book for that matter? Great. Now I’m going to have to reread all three books (and short story) to figure out how everyone ties together.
So. Amanda and Michelle star in the first book. Grace is mentioned in that first book. Jill is not despite being ‘ex-girlfriend’ of Amanda. Amanda pops up in the second; Michelle is mostly a cameo part at best in second. Neither pops up in the third book, though a party involving them is mentioned. Grace and Lauren star in the second book (and short story). Jill appears in the second book. Amanda, Jill and Grace work together on a show (if I’m recalling correctly). Both Grace and Lauren are in the third book, much bigger roles than the first couple get to be. Especially since their, Amanda and Michelle, roles consist of being mentioned.
Right. So. Jill Corrigan first appeared in the second book in this Hollywood series, as a co-worker of Grace. And she gets entangled in something of a scandal involving Grace because both are seen hobbling into one of their trailers. This forced Jill to come forward to make an announcement about her condition. She had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 25. Grace had just been helping her. They were not, in fact, secret lesbian lovers.
Third book opens. Jill is still attempting to wrap her brain around the fact that she has multiple sclerosis. She decides that she doesn’t want to be a burden, doesn’t want to tie someone to her – to make them become her care-giver. To, in her mind, ruin their life. So, she decides on never again having a romantic entanglement.
Lauren’s written a film, based on the 1908 earthquake in San Francisco. Starring two, if I recall correctly, lesbians. Jill likes the script and wants to play one of the lead roles. She’s not even offered the chance to audition for either part because of her multiple sclerosis. It’s a disaster picture. Lots of action. The studio and producers are afraid. Lauren, though, has gotten them to consider her for a secondary character. One who actually pops up in about as many scenes as the two main characters. And Jill takes the job.
The two main characters, one of whom’s names is Nikki, the other one escapes me (Shawn?), do most of their own stunts (and have very limited interaction with the story line of the book). Jill, on the other hand, has a stunt double. One named Crash Patterson.
Crash and Jill meet for the first time when the stunt coordinator (or the director? I forget which), describes the first stunt Crash will be performing. Stumbling over a bed pan. Crash, confused at the simplicity of the ‘gag’ makes some comment that consists of calling Jill a prissy prima donna. Only to find that Jill was standing behind her.
Jill is as stubborn as a mule. Takes a little bit for her to accept Crash’s apology. Sparks fly between them but Jill lets Crash know that nothing can happen between them. Crash, probably the only person on the set who didn’t initially know about the multiple sclerosis (and doesn’t yet at the time I’m describing), ‘accepts’ this comment. But wants to be friendly/friends.
Crash works on trying to wear down Jill’s reluctant determination to die alone. Jill’s stubborn, as noted, as a mule.
There are some great scenes in this book. Involving romance, friendship, trust, … scenes of learning about and living with multiple sclerosis. And a lot more sex scenes than I’m used to from Jae. If I recall correctly, the second book had roughly zero. At least that’s the way it felt – since the sequel short story is where the sex occurred for that couple. Again, if I recall correctly. There will be no need for a sequel sex short story here. They didn’t exactly fuck like bunnies, but they were graphically intimate numerous times. I don’t recall now how many times. I appear fixated on this aspect of the book. Heh.
Overall a great book, hence the five star rating. I’ve been putting ‘the best of the best’ books on a 5.5 star shelf. This one will probably go onto the 5 star shelf. It’s a solid five star book. I just don’t know yet, have to give it time, eh, to see if it has that little bit extra that lingers and causes me to elevate the book.
As of yet, no book by Jae has risen to the top tier of that 5.5 shelf, but this is the sixth work by Jae that I’ve given five stars. Five of which are books, 1 of which is a short story. Hmms. My math must be wrong. I’ve an overall rating of 4.19 for the stuff I’ve read by Jae. That seems oddly low. Considering everything except two short stories have been given at least 4 stars. I probably should just get a rating average for the full length books. Too much work. I move on.
The Christmas Wolf - Bridget Essex - 12/8/15 -
This is something like my tenth Bridget Essex story I’ve read. This is one of those ‘woman meets werewolf, woman falls in love with werewolf’ short stories Essex likes to write. Many of which have holiday themes. This one being Christmas. Well, hmm, seasonal themes? Right.
So, Ebbie Scrogg worked in a place called Christmasland and hated Christmas (forced to work there because of ‘duty, responsibility’ etc.). A kind of downer type of person. A depressing kind of person. But that was Essex’s wife’s story released this year, not this specific story. I mention because both stories seemed to have had Christmas explode onto the people involved in the stories.
Kathryn loves Christmas. To the point that her apartment looks like Santa entered it one day and exploded all over it (I don’t know, I recall some phrase like that used in the story, seemed vaguely off putting at the time, and I can’t convey it correctly). Point being that there’s Christmas stuff all over the place. Many Christmas trees, Christmas themed . . . um . . stuff, all over. So, Ebbie works in Christmasland, Kathryn lives in an apartment that she calls ‘a Christmas Wonderland’. Hmms.
Kathryn’s roommate abruptly up and left her to go with a man. And Kathryn really can’t afford to live in that apartment by herself. She really needs help. Potential roommates, though, take one look at the Christmas Wonderland and flee (she has it up year round). But she has a potential roommate call her while she’s out having her weekly coffee with her prior roommate. They set up a meeting . . . an immediate meeting.
But, and I must stress this, but only if Kat is okay with werewolves. At this point the reader learned two things (1) werewolves have ‘come out of the closet’ and (2) the potential new roommate is a werewolf.
So – they agree to meet. Kat is all nervous because potential roommates have a tendency to flee. And she’s dressed as a Christmas elf (for work). And wants to change before Jewel arrives. But her bus is super slow and . . . doesn’t.
This is one of those stories oozing sweetness and sugar. Just dripping off the screen. And yet, I’m not sure how Essex does this, but yet again I’m pulled in and instead of fleeing for the hill country, I end up loving the story. Even finding a few tears appearing here or there.
Partly that ‘love’ has to do with the extra layers added. Moving past the insta-love, there’s the linking of ‘coming out as a werewolf’ with ‘LGBTQ rights’. It was actually quite interesting to see that angle. I’ve read numerous books/series involving ‘things’ – shifters, vampires, etc., ‘coming out’, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it being conveyed in way similar to a homosexual coming out of the closet. Fearing the response. Some hating them simply because of who they are. Set against the backdrop of seeing the good (and bad) all around you during Christmas time.
Quite good, really. By the way, that – I don’t know how she does it part – I was all set to think this would be a four star (at best) story, especially with that insta-love, and the like (and another woman who refuses to clean herself; she doesn’t have time before work so she just pulls the clothing she had been wearing back on, and heads to work, eww). But, I got pulled in and stuff. I think I broke my thought train there. Oopsie.
Friday Night Players: Big Fish - Michelle DiCeglio -
My first book by this author, and the first book I’ve read wherein the main character is a drag person. I’ve read at least one series where a main character had a . . . I think cousin, who was a drag queen, but this is the first main character. And I say person instead of queen, because the main character is a drag king not queen (those unfamiliar with the concept could probably get it from the word choices – drag queen –> man dressing up as a woman and performing on stage; drag king -> woman dressing up as a man and performing on stage).
Okay – first off, where does this book fall, where does it line up shelving/genre wise? Well, it’s not a romance. Unless I misunderstood some of the ages, it’s neither a young adult nor a new adult book. It’s not a thriller, mystery, suspense, fantasy, or horror book. The best I can come up with is that it is ‘Slice of Life’. A concept I believe I first encountered while reading plays. And have run across once or thrice in books. So, a slice of life book starring a lesbian (slice of life being a term used to convey that the book is a dip into someone’s life, or, as wiki puts it “mundane realism depicting everyday experiences”).
The book starts with Lauren, the main character, sitting in a nearly empty lesbian bar in a town with basically two such bars. Boredly looking around, vaguely distracted by a bachelorette party nearby, hit on by one of the drunken women . . . until she’s snapped out of her boredom by the entrance of a new person. Who steps up to the bar and begins handing out a flyer. Lauren watches her walk around, giving her spiel. She finds this woman quite captivating. She may or may not be drooling – Lauren that is. Finally, this woman approaches. Offers up a flyer, does her little speech. This Friday there’s going to be a performance at a nearby bar. A performance by the Friday Night Players.
Lauren had seen a performance about five years ago and thought it was quite dumb. She more or less conveys this, somewhat by accident, to the gorgeous woman. Siren, the name of this woman, notes that things have changed under new management. Once Lauren learns that Siren will be there she indicates that she might be there.
Lauren then spouts out the first thing that comes to her mind to try to get Siren to stay a little longer at her table. She asks how people could join the performers. And thus does a drag king’s origin story begin. By being aroused by a woman and wanting to be near her. And finding an excuse to do so through joining the group. Well, asking to do so. I’m leaping ahead here.
So, Siren invites Lauren to stop by the bar one night to meet some of the performers. Lauren does, gets talked to, etc. Shortly thereafter she learns one unsettling bit of information – Siren is actually in a long term relationship with the star of the show, one Spencer Love (ETA: this is what happens when I do a review involving people who take on the aspects of men, but I forget to convey certain information; Siren is a lesbian, Spencer (Spenser?) is a woman who performs as a drag king). Lauren isn’t sure if she should continue down this performer path, since Siren is unattainable, but decides to stick to it a little longer because Siren has been assigned to be her ‘mentor’ for an upcoming performance called ‘University of Drag’ – an event designed to allow outsiders to participate and, potentially, join the Friday Night Players.
The book is a very interesting look into a world that I have no experience of, though have known about for a while. The story is intriguing, good, and solid. Those looking for a romance book should look elsewhere. Those looking for anything other than a slice of life story about a performer, should look elsewhere. There’s cheating, there’s angst, there’s scandal, there’s a tiny bit of sex (more mentioned than explicit, though there might have been one explicit scene, I forget now how graphic things got), and characters grow and change before the readers eyes.
I’ll mention one bit of negativity – the description on GoodReads says ‘drag king novel series 1 of 3’ (ETA2: this is a fully formed novel, a stand-alone, there is not a cliff-hanger ending). Right above the published date of 2013. The end of the book, or the ending section on the Kindle after the end of the book, mentions looking for the sequel, ‘Friday Night Players: Showstopper’, spring of 2015. It’s now December of 2015. You know what came out instead of the sequel? A mystery book, and that came out in November not Spring. Through a publisher, which might be important to note, since ‘Friday Night Player’ and ‘Till Dreams Do Us Part’, the two books by this author that came out in 2013, were self-published. So it’s possible that any further books involving these Friday Night Players have been pushed to the side in favor of material pushed through a publisher. Hmms. The two self published books are 500+ pages each. ‘Sight Lines’, the mystery, is 138 pages. Hmms.
Right, so, I enjoyed and liked Friday Night Players: Big Fish, and recommend it. I initially gave this book 4 stars, with the intention of adding it to the 4.5 shelf. Thinking about the book a day later, and after writing whatever you might call this babbling above, and I’ve decided to push it up to 5 stars. The only ‘ding’ against it, the only reason why it might have lost ½ a star would be the cheating aspect. It’s the only real negative I can think of, and it was presented in a lot better way than normal. That was an awkward sentence conveying a not fully developed idea. People cheat. One for bad reasons. One for . . . still bad reasons, but a certain amount of . . . something (strong feelings that might be love, plus when the event occurredthe other party might have been broken up – at least she, Siren, conveys the idea that she’s done with Spenser (crap, is it Spenser or Spencer?); no break up had occurred, though, before sex ). And there are strong negative consequences for the cheating. So I tentatively mark this 5 stars, though wish I could mark it something like 4.75 stars, or the like. And fully reserve the option to push the book down to 4 stars.
Family Affair - Saxon Bennett - 12/10/15
My first book by Saxon Bennett and . . .um . . . hmms. All editions that have covers have Saxon Bennett on the cover. And only Saxon Bennett. Yet the book page says Saxon Bennett and Laycee Gardner. I’m not sure if this is a co written book or a solo work. Whichever it is/was, let’s move on to the book.
I’ve been adding and removing Bennett books to my possibilities pile for a longish while now. I kept adding because they both looked interesting and were part of the Kindle Unlimited program. I kept removing them because they were humor books. Books that out and out say they are hugely funny tend to go two directions. Be entirely about the humor, or have other things. And if the humor is flat; and or just not my type of humor, I’m stuck with nothing – if it’s one of those that rests entirely on humor. So, yeah, I was reluctant to try a Bennett & Gardner book. And now I don’t even know if I did. Since the cover only has one of their names.
The book opens with Chase Bennett in her writer’s room moodily editing. She’s been estranged from her long time girlfriend/partner for several miserable days. Well, they are both lesbians in a long term relationship, and they both had just learned that Gitana is pregnant. One of those things that seems unlikely to happen by accident when the people involved in a relationship are both lesbians (or both gay men, but that’d be an even weirder book).
Fairly quickly everyone learns that there actually had been an accident. Gitana went in to the doctor’s office to have one thing done at the same time someone with the same last name went in to be artificially inseminated. So, it was all a mix-up. They decide to keep the kid.
This means that Chase, here-to-for a grouchy, hermit-like person with borderline insane issues, and deep hatred of other humans, has to, as the book description puts it, grow up.
Oddly enough two things occurred while I was reading this humor book – I found the humor to actually be humorous, and I found a rather compelling, riveting, good story. Now I don’t know if I’d have still liked it if the humor part had hit me wrong, and/or didn’t work for me, but the strong story line that doesn’t rest on humor indicates that I just might have.
Re: riveting – This is one of those books that I found hard to stop reading. I just kept reading and reading and . . . book done. I purposely started a book by a different author this morning so that I’d not be distracted by knowledge of the second book in this series before I had had a chance to write a review. I even read 25% of that book. This seems like an odd thing to be mentioning in a paragraph about ‘riveting’ books. No, that’s coming up – the book I’d read 25% of just wasn’t doing it for me, so I switched to the second book in the Chase series to glance at over lunch. And I just couldn’t stop reading. And am now 19% through that one in a really short batch of time.
So, humor that is actually fun, a good solid story – an interesting intriguing story, good solid supporting cast of characters and actual genuine character growth. Plus, the main character being a writer, and the writer’s group was quite fun to read about.
So, I had fun, I liked the book, and apparently it won some award I’d never heard of before. The “Golden Crown Literary Award for Dramatic/General Fiction (2010)”. Hmm. That sounds like an award for a television program. Drama. Or a play. Or an acting performance. I’m not sure how that corresponds to this specific book. I don’t recall drama, or melodrama. Confusing. Weird. Three books win each year for the same category? Along with ‘Family Affair’, ‘Detours’ by Jane Vollbrecht, and ‘Gemini’ by Geonn Cannon also won this award in 2010.
I just spent way too much time trying to figure out this ‘Golden Crown Literary Award for Dramatic/General Fiction’ – it’s the catch-all category for fiction that doesn’t fall into any other category. It’s not erotica/historical fiction/mystery/thriller/romance/etc. And there were three winners because at least . . . um . . ah, 8 or more books were nominated. If there had been less, say 5-7, 2 winners, 2-4 books, 1 award.
I’d originally awarded . . bah, I got too distracted with awards. I originally rated this book 4 stars last night immediately after finishing the book. Thinking more about the book as time has passed, and I’ve upped the rating to 5 stars. Why? The only negative I can think of associated with the book is the confusion over whether this is a solo or two author work. This isn’t really a negative one way or another. Therefore I can’t think of any negatives, only positives. And it was a good solid humorous book that brought me much joy. So, 5 stars.
Love Bites - Lila Bruce - 12/21/15-12/22/15
My third work by Lila Bruce, and second novel (one of the three is a short story). If I only counted the book length works, the two of them I’ve read, I’d find that my overall rating for the author would be somewhere near 4.65 stars. Including the short story, the overall rating would be closer to 3.7666667. All of which is exciting, I’m sure.
So, this book here. There are three points of view, if I recall correctly. Well, I know there are at least three, and I think only three. The book opens up with one of the three. Obviously enough. And if I had not read something prior by this author, I might have immediately stopped reading. Well, probably not, but it’s hard to continue when the book opens with a character saying how much they hate cats. I mean, that’s just super off putting, you know? I’d like to say that I understood what was going on right around when this character lifted their hind leg and scratched their ear, since that would be fitting, but I caught on earlier.
Viewpoint one: Moose Baldwin. Dog. Specifically the dog of one Ashley Baldwin, who joking calls Moose her boyfriend. Since this cat-hating was expressed through the view point of a dog, I figured I’d not allow that to put me off. The perspective from the dog’s point of view as actually quite good and well constructed. Enjoyable even. For the most part.
Viewpoint two: Ashley Baldwin. High school teacher. Long term resident of, if I recall correctly, small-ish town Georgia (I say small-ish as it is for the most part, but it is also near two colleges). She’s spent the last twelve years attempting to move on with her life but finding it difficult to do so. Move on, that is, from a bad breakup which occurred near the end of College with her longish term girlfriend, who she actually first meet, if the stories are matching up right in my mind, back in high school. Part of the break up was based on how Ashley wanted kids and a house. With, I assume, a white picket fence. Peyton Maxwell, this so far unnamed ex-girlfriend, expressed the view that she didn’t want that. Couldn’t give that to Ashley. Expressed, or implied the opinion (it’s murky) that she didn’t like kids. So, that’s what Ashley has been attempting to move on from. Attempting relationships, breaking them off, trying again, repeat. (There was some comment somewhere along the line that all Ashley had was her dog – her parents, that she was somewhat estranged from, live in Florida now; and yet there are at least two best friends who pop up in the story. I might have misunderstood the comment. Since one of them’s off for the summer ‘elsewhere’, so the comment might have been related to that).
Well, I just distracted myself there, sorry.
Viewpoint three: Peyton Maxwell. Ex-girlfriend of Ashley Baldwin. Recently moved back to Georgia from Texas with her daughter Daisy, in the last six months I believe, and taken a position as a vet at Ridgeview Animal Clinic. There are ‘reasons’ for her return, for return it is, one of which involves living closer to her parents. One may or may not involve being near Ashley again.
Book opened, as noted, in the viewpoint of Moose. Which I mention because he’s at the animal clinic. For fleas. They wander back, when called, to an exam room. Get all settled. Find a vet come in and . . . it’s that ex-girlfriend. Moose, unlike himself, growls and instantly takes a dislike to the vet. Largely due to how tense and flustered his person is when this newcomer entered (plus he doesn’t particularly like meeting new people anyway). Ashley and Peyton somewhat nervously bounce off each other, Peyton offering to get another vet to cover, Ashley saying no, etc. etc. Visit over. Both flustered. At some point the possibility of being platonic friends came up, mayhap on this visit.
Friends:
Ashley – Cassie (fellow teacher, going off for the summer), Melanie - she only seemed to turn up at Cassie’s grill party as someone to rub her hands against Peyton’s leg and make her feel all uncomfortable and drool over how hot Peyton is.
Peyton – um, her parents? Other than attempting to become friends again with Ashley, I don’t recall any specific friends mentioned.
Moose – Elvis – Cassie’s dog. And some others, but Elvis is the one he runs into most often.
Glad I finally tried this book here. I rather liked the first book I had read by Bruce, but the second one – the short story, was such a letdown that I’d been kind of burned and was distrusting my initial impression of the author. Like maybe I had tricked myself into liking the first book or something. But this one was quite good. Solid characters, story-line, pace, humor. Not sure I’ve read a book like this one before. Oh, right. Of course I have. Before I go too far done the road of vagueness, I mean a book involving two people who appeared to love each other but broke apart, only to bump into each other again years later and have sparks fly again. The other book I’d read that had that specific relationship arc, though the stories themselves were different, was “The Thousand Mile Love Story” by Natalie Vivien.
Jae - Just Physical - 12/3/15
It’s easier to write something if there’s something super positive or super negative to say. I’m not sure I have much of either to note.
This is my ninth book I’ve read by Jae. 17th ‘thing’ if you include the short stories. It seems that I both almost like everything I read by Jae, and have some odd vague reluctance to leap in. Like there’s this second book in a police series that I’ve been eyeing for more than a year, but I still can’t seem to get myself to start it. And, despite rather enjoying ‘Backwards to Oregon’, I’ve never been able to even contemplate trying anything else in that series. I’m odd that way, apparently. This book, though, I snapped up immediately when I saw it was out and began reading immediately after whatever book I had been reading when I bought this book here.
So, what’s this one about? Jae likes having series that follow different characters, as in the first book would follow certain characters, and the second book would follow a different set of main characters. I knew that going in. I just didn’t remind myself of the prior books in this series so didn’t immediately recall that Jill had been in the prior books. Ah, see, I went back to look at the books just now and what I had initially thought was in fact true. Jill wasn’t in the first book, she was in the second and then in the short story sequel.
Hmm. Okay let me back up. I recall now why I just leapt into Just Physical without paying much attention to the prior books. Amanda Clark and Michelle Osinski are the stars of the first book. Amanda pops up in the second as a co-worker of Grace’s (her name pops up 91 times, to be exact). Michelle is named and seen but has more of a cameo role in the second book. Neither Grace nor Lauren, the stars of the second book, are in the first book. Though Grace is mentioned in it about three or four times. Held up as a model of gorgeousness. Amanda mentioned 3 times in the third book. Or um. A person named Amanda is. No, it says in certain spots ‘Amanda and Michelle’, so it’s the same Amanda. Huh. It just skipped past me.
“Same thing with Amanda, her ex-girlfriend-turned-friend. Since she had moved in with Michelle, she saw the world through rose-tinted glasses.” (69% mark) – Amanda and Jill had dated? Why am I only learning of this in the third book, most of the way through the third book for that matter? Great. Now I’m going to have to reread all three books (and short story) to figure out how everyone ties together.
So. Amanda and Michelle star in the first book. Grace is mentioned in that first book. Jill is not despite being ‘ex-girlfriend’ of Amanda. Amanda pops up in the second; Michelle is mostly a cameo part at best in second. Neither pops up in the third book, though a party involving them is mentioned. Grace and Lauren star in the second book (and short story). Jill appears in the second book. Amanda, Jill and Grace work together on a show (if I’m recalling correctly). Both Grace and Lauren are in the third book, much bigger roles than the first couple get to be. Especially since their, Amanda and Michelle, roles consist of being mentioned.
Right. So. Jill Corrigan first appeared in the second book in this Hollywood series, as a co-worker of Grace. And she gets entangled in something of a scandal involving Grace because both are seen hobbling into one of their trailers. This forced Jill to come forward to make an announcement about her condition. She had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 25. Grace had just been helping her. They were not, in fact, secret lesbian lovers.
Third book opens. Jill is still attempting to wrap her brain around the fact that she has multiple sclerosis. She decides that she doesn’t want to be a burden, doesn’t want to tie someone to her – to make them become her care-giver. To, in her mind, ruin their life. So, she decides on never again having a romantic entanglement.
Lauren’s written a film, based on the 1908 earthquake in San Francisco. Starring two, if I recall correctly, lesbians. Jill likes the script and wants to play one of the lead roles. She’s not even offered the chance to audition for either part because of her multiple sclerosis. It’s a disaster picture. Lots of action. The studio and producers are afraid. Lauren, though, has gotten them to consider her for a secondary character. One who actually pops up in about as many scenes as the two main characters. And Jill takes the job.
The two main characters, one of whom’s names is Nikki, the other one escapes me (Shawn?), do most of their own stunts (and have very limited interaction with the story line of the book). Jill, on the other hand, has a stunt double. One named Crash Patterson.
Crash and Jill meet for the first time when the stunt coordinator (or the director? I forget which), describes the first stunt Crash will be performing. Stumbling over a bed pan. Crash, confused at the simplicity of the ‘gag’ makes some comment that consists of calling Jill a prissy prima donna. Only to find that Jill was standing behind her.
Jill is as stubborn as a mule. Takes a little bit for her to accept Crash’s apology. Sparks fly between them but Jill lets Crash know that nothing can happen between them. Crash, probably the only person on the set who didn’t initially know about the multiple sclerosis (and doesn’t yet at the time I’m describing), ‘accepts’ this comment. But wants to be friendly/friends.
Crash works on trying to wear down Jill’s reluctant determination to die alone. Jill’s stubborn, as noted, as a mule.
There are some great scenes in this book. Involving romance, friendship, trust, … scenes of learning about and living with multiple sclerosis. And a lot more sex scenes than I’m used to from Jae. If I recall correctly, the second book had roughly zero. At least that’s the way it felt – since the sequel short story is where the sex occurred for that couple. Again, if I recall correctly. There will be no need for a sequel sex short story here. They didn’t exactly fuck like bunnies, but they were graphically intimate numerous times. I don’t recall now how many times. I appear fixated on this aspect of the book. Heh.
Overall a great book, hence the five star rating. I’ve been putting ‘the best of the best’ books on a 5.5 star shelf. This one will probably go onto the 5 star shelf. It’s a solid five star book. I just don’t know yet, have to give it time, eh, to see if it has that little bit extra that lingers and causes me to elevate the book.
As of yet, no book by Jae has risen to the top tier of that 5.5 shelf, but this is the sixth work by Jae that I’ve given five stars. Five of which are books, 1 of which is a short story. Hmms. My math must be wrong. I’ve an overall rating of 4.19 for the stuff I’ve read by Jae. That seems oddly low. Considering everything except two short stories have been given at least 4 stars. I probably should just get a rating average for the full length books. Too much work. I move on.
The Christmas Wolf - Bridget Essex - 12/8/15 -
This is something like my tenth Bridget Essex story I’ve read. This is one of those ‘woman meets werewolf, woman falls in love with werewolf’ short stories Essex likes to write. Many of which have holiday themes. This one being Christmas. Well, hmm, seasonal themes? Right.
So, Ebbie Scrogg worked in a place called Christmasland and hated Christmas (forced to work there because of ‘duty, responsibility’ etc.). A kind of downer type of person. A depressing kind of person. But that was Essex’s wife’s story released this year, not this specific story. I mention because both stories seemed to have had Christmas explode onto the people involved in the stories.
Kathryn loves Christmas. To the point that her apartment looks like Santa entered it one day and exploded all over it (I don’t know, I recall some phrase like that used in the story, seemed vaguely off putting at the time, and I can’t convey it correctly). Point being that there’s Christmas stuff all over the place. Many Christmas trees, Christmas themed . . . um . . stuff, all over. So, Ebbie works in Christmasland, Kathryn lives in an apartment that she calls ‘a Christmas Wonderland’. Hmms.
Kathryn’s roommate abruptly up and left her to go with a man. And Kathryn really can’t afford to live in that apartment by herself. She really needs help. Potential roommates, though, take one look at the Christmas Wonderland and flee (she has it up year round). But she has a potential roommate call her while she’s out having her weekly coffee with her prior roommate. They set up a meeting . . . an immediate meeting.
But, and I must stress this, but only if Kat is okay with werewolves. At this point the reader learned two things (1) werewolves have ‘come out of the closet’ and (2) the potential new roommate is a werewolf.
So – they agree to meet. Kat is all nervous because potential roommates have a tendency to flee. And she’s dressed as a Christmas elf (for work). And wants to change before Jewel arrives. But her bus is super slow and . . . doesn’t.
This is one of those stories oozing sweetness and sugar. Just dripping off the screen. And yet, I’m not sure how Essex does this, but yet again I’m pulled in and instead of fleeing for the hill country, I end up loving the story. Even finding a few tears appearing here or there.
Partly that ‘love’ has to do with the extra layers added. Moving past the insta-love, there’s the linking of ‘coming out as a werewolf’ with ‘LGBTQ rights’. It was actually quite interesting to see that angle. I’ve read numerous books/series involving ‘things’ – shifters, vampires, etc., ‘coming out’, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it being conveyed in way similar to a homosexual coming out of the closet. Fearing the response. Some hating them simply because of who they are. Set against the backdrop of seeing the good (and bad) all around you during Christmas time.
Quite good, really. By the way, that – I don’t know how she does it part – I was all set to think this would be a four star (at best) story, especially with that insta-love, and the like (and another woman who refuses to clean herself; she doesn’t have time before work so she just pulls the clothing she had been wearing back on, and heads to work, eww). But, I got pulled in and stuff. I think I broke my thought train there. Oopsie.
Friday Night Players: Big Fish - Michelle DiCeglio -
My first book by this author, and the first book I’ve read wherein the main character is a drag person. I’ve read at least one series where a main character had a . . . I think cousin, who was a drag queen, but this is the first main character. And I say person instead of queen, because the main character is a drag king not queen (those unfamiliar with the concept could probably get it from the word choices – drag queen –> man dressing up as a woman and performing on stage; drag king -> woman dressing up as a man and performing on stage).
Okay – first off, where does this book fall, where does it line up shelving/genre wise? Well, it’s not a romance. Unless I misunderstood some of the ages, it’s neither a young adult nor a new adult book. It’s not a thriller, mystery, suspense, fantasy, or horror book. The best I can come up with is that it is ‘Slice of Life’. A concept I believe I first encountered while reading plays. And have run across once or thrice in books. So, a slice of life book starring a lesbian (slice of life being a term used to convey that the book is a dip into someone’s life, or, as wiki puts it “mundane realism depicting everyday experiences”).
The book starts with Lauren, the main character, sitting in a nearly empty lesbian bar in a town with basically two such bars. Boredly looking around, vaguely distracted by a bachelorette party nearby, hit on by one of the drunken women . . . until she’s snapped out of her boredom by the entrance of a new person. Who steps up to the bar and begins handing out a flyer. Lauren watches her walk around, giving her spiel. She finds this woman quite captivating. She may or may not be drooling – Lauren that is. Finally, this woman approaches. Offers up a flyer, does her little speech. This Friday there’s going to be a performance at a nearby bar. A performance by the Friday Night Players.
Lauren had seen a performance about five years ago and thought it was quite dumb. She more or less conveys this, somewhat by accident, to the gorgeous woman. Siren, the name of this woman, notes that things have changed under new management. Once Lauren learns that Siren will be there she indicates that she might be there.
Lauren then spouts out the first thing that comes to her mind to try to get Siren to stay a little longer at her table. She asks how people could join the performers. And thus does a drag king’s origin story begin. By being aroused by a woman and wanting to be near her. And finding an excuse to do so through joining the group. Well, asking to do so. I’m leaping ahead here.
So, Siren invites Lauren to stop by the bar one night to meet some of the performers. Lauren does, gets talked to, etc. Shortly thereafter she learns one unsettling bit of information – Siren is actually in a long term relationship with the star of the show, one Spencer Love (ETA: this is what happens when I do a review involving people who take on the aspects of men, but I forget to convey certain information; Siren is a lesbian, Spencer (Spenser?) is a woman who performs as a drag king). Lauren isn’t sure if she should continue down this performer path, since Siren is unattainable, but decides to stick to it a little longer because Siren has been assigned to be her ‘mentor’ for an upcoming performance called ‘University of Drag’ – an event designed to allow outsiders to participate and, potentially, join the Friday Night Players.
The book is a very interesting look into a world that I have no experience of, though have known about for a while. The story is intriguing, good, and solid. Those looking for a romance book should look elsewhere. Those looking for anything other than a slice of life story about a performer, should look elsewhere. There’s cheating, there’s angst, there’s scandal, there’s a tiny bit of sex (more mentioned than explicit, though there might have been one explicit scene, I forget now how graphic things got), and characters grow and change before the readers eyes.
I’ll mention one bit of negativity – the description on GoodReads says ‘drag king novel series 1 of 3’ (ETA2: this is a fully formed novel, a stand-alone, there is not a cliff-hanger ending). Right above the published date of 2013. The end of the book, or the ending section on the Kindle after the end of the book, mentions looking for the sequel, ‘Friday Night Players: Showstopper’, spring of 2015. It’s now December of 2015. You know what came out instead of the sequel? A mystery book, and that came out in November not Spring. Through a publisher, which might be important to note, since ‘Friday Night Player’ and ‘Till Dreams Do Us Part’, the two books by this author that came out in 2013, were self-published. So it’s possible that any further books involving these Friday Night Players have been pushed to the side in favor of material pushed through a publisher. Hmms. The two self published books are 500+ pages each. ‘Sight Lines’, the mystery, is 138 pages. Hmms.
Right, so, I enjoyed and liked Friday Night Players: Big Fish, and recommend it. I initially gave this book 4 stars, with the intention of adding it to the 4.5 shelf. Thinking about the book a day later, and after writing whatever you might call this babbling above, and I’ve decided to push it up to 5 stars. The only ‘ding’ against it, the only reason why it might have lost ½ a star would be the cheating aspect. It’s the only real negative I can think of, and it was presented in a lot better way than normal. That was an awkward sentence conveying a not fully developed idea. People cheat. One for bad reasons. One for . . . still bad reasons, but a certain amount of . . . something (strong feelings that might be love, plus when the event occurred
Family Affair - Saxon Bennett - 12/10/15
My first book by Saxon Bennett and . . .um . . . hmms. All editions that have covers have Saxon Bennett on the cover. And only Saxon Bennett. Yet the book page says Saxon Bennett and Laycee Gardner. I’m not sure if this is a co written book or a solo work. Whichever it is/was, let’s move on to the book.
I’ve been adding and removing Bennett books to my possibilities pile for a longish while now. I kept adding because they both looked interesting and were part of the Kindle Unlimited program. I kept removing them because they were humor books. Books that out and out say they are hugely funny tend to go two directions. Be entirely about the humor, or have other things. And if the humor is flat; and or just not my type of humor, I’m stuck with nothing – if it’s one of those that rests entirely on humor. So, yeah, I was reluctant to try a Bennett & Gardner book. And now I don’t even know if I did. Since the cover only has one of their names.
The book opens with Chase Bennett in her writer’s room moodily editing. She’s been estranged from her long time girlfriend/partner for several miserable days. Well, they are both lesbians in a long term relationship, and they both had just learned that Gitana is pregnant. One of those things that seems unlikely to happen by accident when the people involved in a relationship are both lesbians (or both gay men, but that’d be an even weirder book).
Fairly quickly everyone learns that there actually had been an accident. Gitana went in to the doctor’s office to have one thing done at the same time someone with the same last name went in to be artificially inseminated. So, it was all a mix-up. They decide to keep the kid.
This means that Chase, here-to-for a grouchy, hermit-like person with borderline insane issues, and deep hatred of other humans, has to, as the book description puts it, grow up.
Oddly enough two things occurred while I was reading this humor book – I found the humor to actually be humorous, and I found a rather compelling, riveting, good story. Now I don’t know if I’d have still liked it if the humor part had hit me wrong, and/or didn’t work for me, but the strong story line that doesn’t rest on humor indicates that I just might have.
Re: riveting – This is one of those books that I found hard to stop reading. I just kept reading and reading and . . . book done. I purposely started a book by a different author this morning so that I’d not be distracted by knowledge of the second book in this series before I had had a chance to write a review. I even read 25% of that book. This seems like an odd thing to be mentioning in a paragraph about ‘riveting’ books. No, that’s coming up – the book I’d read 25% of just wasn’t doing it for me, so I switched to the second book in the Chase series to glance at over lunch. And I just couldn’t stop reading. And am now 19% through that one in a really short batch of time.
So, humor that is actually fun, a good solid story – an interesting intriguing story, good solid supporting cast of characters and actual genuine character growth. Plus, the main character being a writer, and the writer’s group was quite fun to read about.
So, I had fun, I liked the book, and apparently it won some award I’d never heard of before. The “Golden Crown Literary Award for Dramatic/General Fiction (2010)”. Hmm. That sounds like an award for a television program. Drama. Or a play. Or an acting performance. I’m not sure how that corresponds to this specific book. I don’t recall drama, or melodrama. Confusing. Weird. Three books win each year for the same category? Along with ‘Family Affair’, ‘Detours’ by Jane Vollbrecht, and ‘Gemini’ by Geonn Cannon also won this award in 2010.
I just spent way too much time trying to figure out this ‘Golden Crown Literary Award for Dramatic/General Fiction’ – it’s the catch-all category for fiction that doesn’t fall into any other category. It’s not erotica/historical fiction/mystery/thriller/romance/etc. And there were three winners because at least . . . um . . ah, 8 or more books were nominated. If there had been less, say 5-7, 2 winners, 2-4 books, 1 award.
I’d originally awarded . . bah, I got too distracted with awards. I originally rated this book 4 stars last night immediately after finishing the book. Thinking more about the book as time has passed, and I’ve upped the rating to 5 stars. Why? The only negative I can think of associated with the book is the confusion over whether this is a solo or two author work. This isn’t really a negative one way or another. Therefore I can’t think of any negatives, only positives. And it was a good solid humorous book that brought me much joy. So, 5 stars.
Love Bites - Lila Bruce - 12/21/15-12/22/15
My third work by Lila Bruce, and second novel (one of the three is a short story). If I only counted the book length works, the two of them I’ve read, I’d find that my overall rating for the author would be somewhere near 4.65 stars. Including the short story, the overall rating would be closer to 3.7666667. All of which is exciting, I’m sure.
So, this book here. There are three points of view, if I recall correctly. Well, I know there are at least three, and I think only three. The book opens up with one of the three. Obviously enough. And if I had not read something prior by this author, I might have immediately stopped reading. Well, probably not, but it’s hard to continue when the book opens with a character saying how much they hate cats. I mean, that’s just super off putting, you know? I’d like to say that I understood what was going on right around when this character lifted their hind leg and scratched their ear, since that would be fitting, but I caught on earlier.
Viewpoint one: Moose Baldwin. Dog. Specifically the dog of one Ashley Baldwin, who joking calls Moose her boyfriend. Since this cat-hating was expressed through the view point of a dog, I figured I’d not allow that to put me off. The perspective from the dog’s point of view as actually quite good and well constructed. Enjoyable even. For the most part.
Viewpoint two: Ashley Baldwin. High school teacher. Long term resident of, if I recall correctly, small-ish town Georgia (I say small-ish as it is for the most part, but it is also near two colleges). She’s spent the last twelve years attempting to move on with her life but finding it difficult to do so. Move on, that is, from a bad breakup which occurred near the end of College with her longish term girlfriend, who she actually first meet, if the stories are matching up right in my mind, back in high school. Part of the break up was based on how Ashley wanted kids and a house. With, I assume, a white picket fence. Peyton Maxwell, this so far unnamed ex-girlfriend, expressed the view that she didn’t want that. Couldn’t give that to Ashley. Expressed, or implied the opinion (it’s murky) that she didn’t like kids. So, that’s what Ashley has been attempting to move on from. Attempting relationships, breaking them off, trying again, repeat. (There was some comment somewhere along the line that all Ashley had was her dog – her parents, that she was somewhat estranged from, live in Florida now; and yet there are at least two best friends who pop up in the story. I might have misunderstood the comment. Since one of them’s off for the summer ‘elsewhere’, so the comment might have been related to that).
Well, I just distracted myself there, sorry.
Viewpoint three: Peyton Maxwell. Ex-girlfriend of Ashley Baldwin. Recently moved back to Georgia from Texas with her daughter Daisy, in the last six months I believe, and taken a position as a vet at Ridgeview Animal Clinic. There are ‘reasons’ for her return, for return it is, one of which involves living closer to her parents. One may or may not involve being near Ashley again.
Book opened, as noted, in the viewpoint of Moose. Which I mention because he’s at the animal clinic. For fleas. They wander back, when called, to an exam room. Get all settled. Find a vet come in and . . . it’s that ex-girlfriend. Moose, unlike himself, growls and instantly takes a dislike to the vet. Largely due to how tense and flustered his person is when this newcomer entered (plus he doesn’t particularly like meeting new people anyway). Ashley and Peyton somewhat nervously bounce off each other, Peyton offering to get another vet to cover, Ashley saying no, etc. etc. Visit over. Both flustered. At some point the possibility of being platonic friends came up, mayhap on this visit.
Friends:
Ashley – Cassie (fellow teacher, going off for the summer), Melanie - she only seemed to turn up at Cassie’s grill party as someone to rub her hands against Peyton’s leg and make her feel all uncomfortable and drool over how hot Peyton is.
Peyton – um, her parents? Other than attempting to become friends again with Ashley, I don’t recall any specific friends mentioned.
Moose – Elvis – Cassie’s dog. And some others, but Elvis is the one he runs into most often.
Glad I finally tried this book here. I rather liked the first book I had read by Bruce, but the second one – the short story, was such a letdown that I’d been kind of burned and was distrusting my initial impression of the author. Like maybe I had tricked myself into liking the first book or something. But this one was quite good. Solid characters, story-line, pace, humor. Not sure I’ve read a book like this one before. Oh, right. Of course I have. Before I go too far done the road of vagueness, I mean a book involving two people who appeared to love each other but broke apart, only to bump into each other again years later and have sparks fly again. The other book I’d read that had that specific relationship arc, though the stories themselves were different, was “The Thousand Mile Love Story” by Natalie Vivien.
82thornton37814
>73 Lexxi: The Duncan & Gemma series is one of my favorites.
83Lexxi
>82 thornton37814: - I've loved two of them so far. The first two. Solid 5 star books. Book three was something of a let down. Though book 4 picked back things back up, mostly. And . . that's all I've read so far in that series.
