review: wheels up (out of uniform #4) by annabeth albert

Their love is forbidden, but their hearts aren't listening to rules and regulations.

Lieutenant Dustin Strauss is a reformed man. No longer a twentysomething hell-raiser, he's his SEAL team's new XO-and a man with a secret. Or seven. He's kept his bisexual identity under wraps for years, along with his kinky side and a fondness for the military-themed semianonymous hookup website Joe4Joe. His latest chat buddy is more than a sexy online distraction-they're taking their very not-safe-for-work relationship into real time.

Petty Officer Wes Lowe has a smart mouth, a take-charge attitude and an uncanny ability for making things go boom. The life of an enlisted man isn't always enough to satisfy him, but one wild, no-questions-asked weekend with his online love comes close. When a transfer order comes in, Wes feels ready and centered. He'll make a good impression on his new SEAL team and keep his growing feelings for Dustin on the down low.

But as they log more time online and some very real emotions surface, Dustin and Wes struggle to pretend they're just a harmless fling. And when his commander introduces Dustin to his team's newest member, they're in for the shock of a lifetime...and a crushing disappointment: their difference in ranks means even a friendship without sexual contact could end their navy careers for good.

With their hearts on the line, Dustin and Wes may not survive their next mission, let alone find a way toward a future together. ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review:

I adore this series (and Albert's writing) but this book fell a little flat for me.

Wes and Dustin have been chatting and skyping online after meeting through a military themed dating app and an opportunity comes up for them to meet in person.

Right off the bat, I felt no connection with these two. Like, why were they continuously drawn to each other? Besides their mutual shared kink? I got the physical attraction but not why they felt something special between them that made it more. And their draw to each other is almost at the exclusion of all other characters which is rare for Albert's stories. Neither accepts any type of support system despite being surrounded by wonderful friends and family. Dustin’s best friend is Apollo – the MC who is with Dustin’s brother Dylan from the previous book - but in Wheels Up there’s very little of those bonds and friendships shown.

I understood their fears and reservations - even having supportive people around you doesn't mean coming out is easy. And the have the complication of going against regulations by being together at all. Even a friendship is off limits. But the story was written in a way that the characters just kept going around in circles. I want you - I can't be with you - be together anyway - rinse and repeat.

There was a clinginess between the two that felt unhealthy rather than empowering. They both became hot messes in the training field and on deployments, and the solution to all this is introduced so early on that it was a struggle for me to hang in there waiting for Dustin to figure it out.
Highlight for SPOILER –> And of course it's the tried and true work for a private security company run by your former SEAL friend solution. It's a good solution but it's the standard one for books like this. <-

This book was ok just but also frustrating. All it made me to is want to read Dylan and Apollo's story again after their cameos.
If you love the series, and particularly if you like a light D/s, dirty tallk, and forbidden relationships than I think it might work better for you.

monday musings: TBR reading progress

Back in January I posted about my goal to tackle my physical TBR pile. It’s been growing since I attended my first BEA (book Expo) in 2011.

Over the past few years I’ve managed to wrangle my Kindle books, ARC’s and Netgalley under control but this pile – not so much. It just keeps getting bigger.

This is the before pic of ALL of my books laid out in my kitchen. Total of 139 books.

To be honest, I have not been doing a great job working my way through them because I am such a mood reader!

I know! 139 books and nothing I want to read but it’s true! I had only read about 10 books of these books since January despite averaging 20-ish reads per month.

But starting in September I really started to focus on this pile. I sorted, went through Goodreads reviews and passed on books that no longer interested me and cracked down on the reading.

Here’s the after!


I’m down to 85 books (I read several more after taking this shot). My goal is to get down to 50 but I don’t think this is too bad. It’s progress and I feel like such a HUGE weight has been lifted off me.

Most of these books were from book cons I attended over the years and I was far less picky and thought I could read ALL the books. Even though I wasn’t necessarily obligated to read them all – I felt like broke a code or something. The arc’s were given out for the intent to review or give publicity to said arc’s.

I feel actual joy about reading again. I can’t even believe how much it changed my attitude about both reading and blogging – just having that pressure removed.

So all in all – I want to get this down more but I’m VERY happy with my progress so far!

friday fast 5

I spent last weekend reading all the children's books and books pretending to be children's books (you'll see lol) from my TBR shelf, so I thought I would write some mini’s for my Friday Fast 5 this week.

1.

Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist at Your Service

by Daisy Whitney

Source: Publisher via BEA14

Published: October 14th 2014 - 128 pages

Goodreads

My thoughts:

Super cute story of 10 year old Ben Fox, who loves his super playful dog, Captain Sparkles, but not his sister’s grumpy Siamese cat, named Percy.

Turns out Percy is raising an army of zombie squirrels in the backyard and in 3 days they will be able to use the portal (the new dog door) to start the Animal Zombie Apocalypse.

Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist at Your Service touches on disability - Ben has Cerebral Palsy and wears leg braces - sibling relationships, bullying, science, responsibility and diabolical cats.

Charming, funny and would make a cute Halloween read for kids, ages 7-12.

2.

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrations by Sophie Blackwell

Published: October 20, 2015 – 54 pages

Source: Purchased

Goodreads

My thoughts:

This is the true story of Harry Colebourn, the veterinarian who bought a tiny bear that would go on to be the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.

I loved how the author wove the story of Harry, who rescues Winnie just before going off to war, to care for the horses, leading to the tale of the Christopher Robin and the Winnie-the-Pooh we all know, then coming full circle tying it to her family heritage (she is Colebourn's great-granddaughter) as she tells the tale to her son Cole.. 

"Sometimes," I said, "you have to let one story end so that the next one can begin.”

The photographs and diary entries of Winnie and Harry's time together at the end of the book were also a nice touch as I already had my hand on my phone ready to Google to verify the story lol

I wasn’t too thrilled with Winnie spending her entire life in a London zoo, giving rides to children. It sounds awful - but I had to kind of let that go and just roll with it.

Finding Winnie was so sweet and the illustrations are just gorgeous.

3.

The Thing Beneath the Bed (The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Wiffle #1)

by Patrick Rothfuss, Illustrations by  Nate Taylor

Published: June 21, 2010 – 72 pages

Source: Freebie with another book purchase from Subterranean Press

Goodreads

My thoughts:

There are multiple warning that despite looking like a children's book this is NOT a children's book and I gotta say - this is not a children's book. lol At first I was thinking this isn't so bad. A cute little story of a girl and her bear, having adventures, being afraid of things you can’t see under the bed.

There are a few scary elements but nothing that doesn't turn itself around and inspire an awwww -

that's cute. But then things take an unfortunate turn and yeah...not a children's book. lol

There are three separate endings. You can read each one and be satisfied but then the next story builds on the previous and has it’s own ending.

It's too short to hold the interest of most adults IMO but probably a fun coffee table book to have lying around to lure in unsuspected people into a bit of fun reading with a diabolical twist.

4.

There’s  a Hair in My Dirt: A Worm’s Story

by Gary Larson

Published: April 15, 1998 – 65 pages

Source: Gift

Goodreads

My thoughts:

My sister-in-law bought this book for me and I give it a re-read every once in awhile. If you’ve read and enjoy the Far Side comics by Gary Larson, you’ll enjoy this one.

A young worm finds a hair in his dirt and besides being grossed out, starts to have a little worm existential crisis about the meaning of his life. The dad worm tells him a tale of girl named Harriet who loves nature but doesn’t always respect the natural balance.

There’s a Hair in My Dirt has kind of quirky, sarcastic humor and maybe isn’t the best book for real young kids since there’s swearing, death and mention of sex. This is more satire than sweet but it does a great job of explaining eco-systems and our place in them without ever being preachy.

“…loving nature is not the same as understanding it. And Harriet not only misunderstood the things she saw – vilifying some creatures while romanticizing other – but also her own connection between them”

“That’s the fateful key that Harriet missed, the key to understanding the natural world.”

5.

?

This is awkward…It’s Friday Fast 5 but I only read 4 books. So here’s your chance to recommend your favorite children’s book (or slightly adult book masquerading as a children’s book).

unpopular opinion book tag

UNPOPULAR BOOK TAG

I was tagged (an embarrassingly long time ago!) by Boricuan Bookwarms. You can check out her answers here and let me know your picks below. 

A Popular Book or Series You Didn’t Like

On the Jellicoe Road – I’m surprised that I didn’t enjoy this one. It sounds like a story I would like and it has RAVE reviews but I was bored and baffled for the whole book.

The Hating Game – I love a good hate to love romance and verbal sparring but these two (especially Lucy) were so immature and annoying to me.

Outlander – I KNOW. Epic love story! Jamie! Well, I didn’t like it so there! lol To be fair – I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction and I like lighter historical romance – but while I loved the beginning and the premise, the whole thing quickly wore out it’s welcome with me. I’m also the one female weirdo in the world that doesn’t get turned on by a Scottish accent. It annoys me. 



Popular Book or Series that Everyone Hates But You Love

Grave Mercy – I don’t know that people HATE it. It was a popular series - but I loved it while most of my friends thought it was boring and a few even dnf’d it.



Love Triangle Where the MC Ended Up with the Person You Didn’t Want them to End Up With



The Sookie Stackhouse series. I knew Sookie wasn’t going to end up with my choice - Highlight for SPOILER: Eric so I bailed after book number 10.

Most have ended up with who I picked but I get so mad at everyone – mostly with trilogies resolving the triangle in the last 30 pages – that it’s unrewarding no matter who it is at that point. I’ve stopped reading books with love triangles.

Popular Book Genre You Hardly Reach For

Other than non-fiction – probably erotica and thrillers, sci-fi historical fiction. Although I am willing to give them a try if a blurb catches my attention. I won’t rule any genre out completely.

A Popular or Beloved Character that You Didn’t Like



Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss.

I thought he was wishy washy and let Anna down every single time she needed him until the bitter end. I know he had his own issues and if I hadn’t been told how amazing he was or how romantic this book was supposed to be beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have expected so much and thus been disappointed in him.

A Popular Author that You Can’t Seem to Get Into

Melinda Marchetta, John green, Melissa de la Cruz. I’m totally over J.R. Ward and Charlaine Harris. I used to love both of them but when I pick up their books now I can’t make it through more than a few pages.

A Popular Book Trope that You’re Tired of Seeing

Love triangles but I just won’t read them anymore. I’m not the type of reader that’s drawn to certain tropes or that avoids them.

Like second chance or best friend romances for example. I won’t pick up a book just because it says “friends to lovers!” I enjoy them but there has to be something else that grabs my attention like the setting, characters etc.

I just don’t like when ANYTHING is done to death. Variety is the spice of life! Let’s have a little bit of everything! Write a different twist on a tired trope.

A Popular Series that You Have No Interest in Reading

All of them?? lol

That’s not entirely true of course, but I’m just trying to keep my head above water with my reading so while I make note of books that I’m interested in, I’m not OMG I’m gonna die if I can’t.

Show/Movie Adaptation that You Liked Better Than the Book



Me Earl and the Dying Girl.

The protagonist, Greg, was a heartless, self absorbed jerk. His friend Earl and the dying girl were better but the book isn’t really centered around them. The movies balanced it out better and I liked it.

*I forgot to mention this - but consider yourself tagged if you want to join in! If you do, leave a link so I can read what your picks are.

review: ms. marvel, vol 1: no normal

Collects Ms. Marvel (2014) #1-5, All-New Marvel Now! Point One (Ms. Marvel story).

Marvel Comics presents the all-new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she is suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the all-new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! As Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to handle? Kamala has no idea either. But she's comin' for you, New York! ~ Goodreads

Source: Amazon Kindle Unlimited




Review: 

A few things to keep in mind before you read this review…I’m not a comic book/graphic novel/manga reader (this is only my 3rd one), and I’m not a huge super hero movie fan so my knowledge of the Marvel universe and such is limited. As a fan of those things – you could have a very different opinion.

While there's nothing groundbreaking with Ms. Marvel as far as super hero origin stories – a strange event (in this case an ominous fog) leads to new powers, a sidekick/potential love interest who knows her secret/helps with costume, how to balance family and being a secret super hero - the writing is wonderful, warm and funny. I was giggling so often and that was so unexpected.

I could totally relate to young Kamala and her wanting to break free of parental constraints and desire to be someone different in order to be popular. She initially desires to be the stereotypical female superhero - white, long blond hair, revealing costume - what she considers the standard for beauty - but then settles into the best version of Kamala as Ms. Marvel instead of a mini Captain Marvel clone.

A+ for diversity - Kamala is a Muslim American, gender swapping the roles where she saves the boy and I adore Kamala's family including her smothering mother, dad who struggles to see her side of things and slacker brother.

It was super easy for this novice comic book reader to follow the story and I loved the art work – although whenever a panel shows a faraway view the characters look more cartoonish and less defined and while it's an artistic choice - it was unnecessary and odd. A few times I didn't even recognize the characters.

I was a little lost as to references to the Marvel universe (I had never even heard of Captain Marvel lol) but it wasn't too big of a deal. Ms. Marvel can stand alone and was a great entry point for me.

Ms. Marvel really took me by surprise with how relatable and heartfelt the story and characters were. Volume 1 ends with the introduction to the Big Bad and I quickly downloaded volume 2.

If you have Kindle Prime or Unlimited Volume’s 1&2 are both available with your subscription.

tell me something tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

For the month of October she has fun Halloween themed questions so go check out her blog for upcoming topics.

Question:
If you could have any paranormal gift what would it be?

I was struggling to think up all the possible paranormal gifts that I could have and found a website to help me at least narrow it down.

I know I wouldn’t want to be an empath or precog. Those seem awful. Feeling everyone’s emotions or seeing the future must be physically and emotionally draining.

Regeneration is interesting for obvious reasons and shapeshifting would be kind of cool but I think I would get bored with it and not have much use for it in my life.

I’m very tempted by mind control lol But would I use it for good or end up thinking I know better than everyone else and become a super villain?? Yes, I think I would.

The other gift that tempts me is invisibility. I could use it to travel around yet not have to talk to everyone and remain my anti social self. I could check up on people who I think are lying and call them out. I think I have super villain tendencies. 😈

I talked to Kevin about this question and he wants mind control AND telekinesis. Se he can bend everyone to his will and toss them out of the way lol

This seems like one of those questions that I’ll come up with way better answers once I post – so I’d love to hear what your paranormal gift would be. Or name a few that I might not have thought of.

*Note: Teleportation is a gift I would like but that's part of next weeks TMST question so I decided to leave it out of this post.

monday minis: The Great Hibernation & Pashmina

The most important tradition in tiny St. Polonius-on-the-Fjord is the annual Tasting of the Sacred Bear Liver. Each citizen over twelve must eat one bite of liver to prevent the recurrence of the Great Hibernation, when the town founder's fell asleep for months.

This year is Jean Huddy's first time to taste the liver. It doesn't go well. A few hours later, all the adults fall asleep. And no one can wake them.
The kids are left to run things, and they're having a blast. That is, until the town bullies take over the mayor's office and the police force.

Jean suspects that this "hibernation" was actually engineered by someone in town. She starts to investigate, and inspires other kids to join her in a secret plan to save St. Polonius. ~ Goodreads (Mid-Grade)

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

My thoughts: I adore Dairman’s mid-grade All Four Stars trilogy about a pint sized chef becoming an undercover food critic so I was excited to dive in her latest mid-grade, stand alone novel.

Combining folklore, tradition, science, and of course…food, Dairman has crafted an exciting mystery after all the adults fall into a coma like sleep after the annual Tasting of the Sacred Bear Liver festival.

The children are left to keep the town running, assuming their parents positions in society. Some let the power go to their head, others want to make their parents proud and a few want to forge a new path and break free of expectations.

This got a little darker than I was expecting at times. A little Lord of the Flies-ish – albeit at a mid-grade level so nothing too dark and there are also references to killing and eating endangered species. All can be used as a starting point for important conversations, but something to keep in mind for sensitive readers.

One thing I love about Dairman’s writing is that she never talks down to children and she seemlessly weaves new vocabulary, cultures and ideas throughout.



Pashmina tells the story of an Indian-American girl who struggles to fit in at high school, then discovers more about her family's history with the help of her mother's magical pashmina. ~ Goodreads (YA)

My thoughts: This was my first graphic novel and what a sweet little story. An Indian American girl named Priyanka lives in the US with her mother, who left India at Priyanka’s age and is reluctant to tell Pri about her Indian heritage or her father. Pri’s imagination of a vibrant India vs her mother’s not so happy memories lead them to clash quite often.

Pri discovers a pashmina in her mom's belongings that allows her to magically travel to India and experience it as Pri imagines it to be.

The illustrations are  beautiful and switch from color panels for Pri in the real world to monotone – grays for the fantasy world, although there are whimsical animals that act as her guide. This seems like an odd choice, since Priyanka’s idea of India is bursting with color and life but it works, especially after she realizes her dream of visiting India in real life.

When Pri finally does make it to India and finds out the truth about the country and her mom's difficult past, the story takes a wonderful turn that explores culture, feminism and familial bonds.

If I have any negatives they would be that there were abrupt turns in the story at times without adequate transitions. Maybe this is a common thing with graphic novels and I need to learn the how they flow a bit more or a genuine issue – I haven’t read enough graphic novels to make that call and the story read a little young, almost mid-grade, at times but that's a very minor issue.

friday fast 5!

1.

Love, Simon

I don’t usually get too excited about book to movie adaptations but I’m cautiously optimistic abut the big screen version of Simon Vs the Homosapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli.

It was a super cute book that already had a screenplay vibe and should translate quite nicely.

“Everyone deserves a great love story. But for Simon it's complicated: no-one knows he's gay and he doesn't know who the anonymous classmate is that he's fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, scary and life-changing.”

2.

Fierce Reads Fall Tour Interview & Giveaway

My blogging buddy (& one of my favorite people 😍 Brooke - from Brooke Reports, was lucky enough to interview the Fierce Reads authors of Moxie, Last Seen Leaving, Wild Beauty, You Bring the Distant Near, during one of their stops. Brooke did such a great job asking really fun questions.

Check out her post & enter the giveaway for a Fierce Reads Fall Tour Prize Pack!

3.

Florida Fall!

We’re finally getting a few cooler mornings and less humidity so I was able to get out and take a nice long walk at my favorite local park.

4.

Fonzi got his first Starbucks Pup Cup (a cup of whipped cream)

He loves going to Starbucks and getting tons of attention but for some reason he’s never gotten the pup cup. The barista gave him a HUGE cup! I did not let him have it all and he was not thrilled but graciously shared with Indy and Figment when he got home.

5.

Sofi Tukker – Best Friend

feat. Nervo, The Knocks & Alisa Ueno

This song is a little kooky but catchy!

My 2017 playlist for songs featured on the blog

ICYMI on the blog this week:

Tell Me Somethng Tuesday: Team Wolf or Vamp?
Fall Theme Tag

Happy TGIF everyone!

And as always - what should I be be reading, watching, listening to this weekend?

monday minis: wolf by wolf duology by ryan graudin

Wolf by Wolf #1

Her story begins on a train.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.

Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.

But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission? ~ Goodreads

Source: ARC’s provided via BEA in exchange for an honest review

My thoughts: I’ve had this duology on my shelf for years. *hangs head in shame* but I finally got to it!

Wolf by Wolf is wildly inventive. Alternative history WWII, mixed with a high stakes motorcycle race, skin shifters and an assassination plot keep readers constantly on their toes.

I enjoyed it but once you get past the dynamic setting – it’s still the same old – young kick ass girl, Yael, out to seek revenge only to get derailed by the hot, arrogant boy with depth behind those eyes and a softening towards people she shouldn't be getting soft towards. (Note: see more about the romance aspect in the review for book #2 – I changed my mind about it lol)

Yael wears the 5 tattoos of wolves on her arm as a constant reminder of her past and of her mission to avenge the 5 lives taken from her by Hitler. The story flashes back and forth between the stories of how she lost those she loved and then to her current situation of the bike race which she has to win in order to get close enough to assassinate Hitler.. The things that were done to her and the horror's she's been through were heartbreaking.

I don’t know if it’s my age or a result of how much I read but I’m growing really weary of books that mix too many things – especially important things like genocide – into one plot. It’s very hard for me to shift from torture... to race!, cute boy! assassination! even thought he author did an excellent job of weaving those together.

I would have much rather this book focused on Yael, a skin shifter that can assume anyone’s face, and Felix, whose twin sister Adele, Yael is masquerading as now. That’s a pretty complex situation in itself combined with the motorcycle race that she must win to face Hitler in person so adding a romance? Even thought it was a subtle romance...eh. But I think most people will really enjoy this book.



Blood for Blood (Wolf by Wolf #2)

*Spoiler if you haven’t read book #1 this might be a spoiler – highlight if you would like to see the blurb


Highlight -> For the resistance in the Third Reich, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun. Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against Hitler’s army, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

But in the midst of the chaos, Yael’s past and future collide when she comes face to face with a ghost from her past, and a spark with a fellow rider begins to grow into something more. Dark secrets reveal dark truths and one question hangs over them all—how far can you go for the ones you? ~ Goodreads

Source: ARC’s provided via BEA in exchange for an honest review

My thoughts: I’ll try to stay spoiler free here – I saw that a lot of readers were disappointed in Blood by Blood but I actually liked it more than Wolf by Wolf. The adrenaline rush of the motorcycle race is gone so it is less action packed than it’s predecessor but the moral and ethical decisions the characters are forced to make more than made up for it in my opinion. In fact, I live for that stuff so I was a happy camper reading this one.

I also enjoyed the romance between Yael and Luka more here. This is no longer about passing appreciative glances and flirting. It’s now about life and death, pulling back the veil on atrocities and deciding what you’re willing to put on the line for those you love. Their relationship and choices matched the severity of the subject matter whereas I didn’t feel that was the case in Wolf by Wolf.

In Blood by Blood, characters are flawed, blood is spilled and a HEA, might not be how we traditionally define it but everything that happened felt true to me and the situation and felt hopeful. I can see why some were not happy though.

I'm tired - therefore I ramble...

I’m feeling really tired today after going to a concert last night. We didn’t get home until 1am and after letting the dogs out, giving Figgy a snack and getting ready for bed – I didn’t get to sleep until close to 2am and had to get up early this morning.

Basically, at 52 years old, I’m too old for this shit lol But I’m determined to stay young at heart and not become an old curmudgeon who yells “I don’t get what these kids are listening to these days!” “That’s satan’s music!” (of which I heard all the time growing up during the bat head eating Ozzy Ozborne days).

So, how tired am I? Well, I tried to eat a banana with the peel still on. I don’t advise doing that. It’s gross. I wrote a review for a book I didn’t need to while ignoring the one I did need to write. Then when editing it – realized it was a hot mess of typos so I shouldn’t have bothered at all.

Anyway! It was a fun concert and totally worth it.


We saw Romes (new to me but I really liked their set), Colony House, and Mutemath. This is the second time I’ve seen Mutemath and they put on a fantastic show. They played for 2 hours and move almost non stop. I honestly don't know how these guys do it night after night. I need a week to recover from WATCHING it. lol


Their set was all white which looked really stark and weird until they came out and projected images on the backdrop and on them (dressed in white) Very cool effect.




In other news…Fonzi is weird.

No sooner had I done a post about how he falls head first into the pool and he will only sleep next to his dog beds but not in them he did this. A compromise perhaps?



But wait…there’s more.



This is Fonzi with my cat Figment. Normal picture until I tell you that Fonzi is stuck in the chair waiting for me to come save him. Because he’s afraid of the cat. Whenever Fonzi isn’t shadowing me around the house, I know Figment has him cornered in his chair (which was supposed to be MY reading chair – but I digress).

Need more evidence that Fonzi is a little odd? (but absolutely 100% adorable anyway!)



Fonzi vs the gargoyle.

The gargoyle has been in my garden for years but we had to move it to the shed for hurricane Irma. I took it out last week but haven’t had a chance to move it back to the garden. Fonzi discovered it and just stood there staring at it for over 10 minutes. No exageration. I had time to go back in the house, grab my camera and come back out and get a picture. Didn’t bark, didn’t move. Just stared.

I make fun but I LOVE this dog. Nothing makes me smile faster than his little squishable face!

As you can tell from this rambling post, I’m running on fumes and am trying everything possible to avoid whatever I’m supposed to be doing lol Job well done Karen!

I guess I can’t avoid real life and work anymore…so happy TGIF and have a great weekend!

review: in memoriam by nathan burgoine

With one diagnosis, editor James Daniels learns that he's literally running out of time. Looking at his life, he sees one regret: Andy, the one that got away. Andy was the first man that James ever loved, but Andy has been gone for years, and might not want to be found.

But as his cancer progresses and James starts to lose his grip on time and memory, it might just be that time and memory are losing their grip on James, too.

It's the biggest and most important re-write of his life. Restoring love from nothing but memory might be possible, if the past isn't too far gone to fix. ~ Goodreads

Source: Purchased (Kindle Unlimited – $0.00)

Review:

Clocking in at 46 pages, I wasn’t going to review In Memoriam on the blog. I mean, what can you say without spoiling only 46 pages of story?

However, I read In Memoriam back in August and I still keep thinking about it so I’ll do my best to give my thoughts without giving up the whole game.

James, a book editor, is diagnosed with brain cancer and only has a short time to live. His biggest regret is letting the love of his life, Andy, go. Through his journals he relives the romance and it’s end, while hiring someone to look for James before he dies.

You are never quite sure whether James is misrembering, dreaming an alternative reality as his mind deteriorates, or if he’s truly getting a second chance to rewrite history but it’s oddly compelling anyway. I wasn’t frustrated at all and just went for the ride.

I can see how this might not appeal to some. It’s a strange, trippy, non linear story that has very dark humor, a touch of magic/time travel and a hopeful but not entirely solid ending (spoiler: it does end on a hopeful note!) but I loved it.

There’s so much packed into those 46 pages and if you’re looking for something different, this is a quiet little story that is somehow still loud with it’s emotional impact, if that makes sense.

I’m not even sure I fully understand what happened but like I said – I’m still thinking about James months later.

tell me something tuesday

I’ve missed the past few weeks of TMST because they were *best of* genre questions and I’m a complete reader fail at those things.

It seems that a photographic memory comes standard with most book bloggers but has somehow skipped right over me. Once I finish a book, it may linger somewhere in the back of my mind but for the most I’m done and move on.

That’s why I never participate in Top Ten Tuesday. I could never come up with 10 of anything! I can only remember my Top Ten’s after I read everyone else’s. lol

So I’m going to combine the past few weeks of TMST into one post because I just came up with answers for the previous questions, and I actually have an answer for this week!

From September 12th: Favorite comedy books

Sustained (the Legal Briefs #2) by Emma Chase ~ Goodreads

This is one of the funniest romances I’ve ever read. An intimidating lawyer falls for a woman who is taking care of her sIx orphaned nephews and nieces. This should not have worked for me but it did. Jake falls so hard and fast for Chelsea and the kids and everyone is just so funny and sweet.

* I know there must be more, because humorous books – especially romances are my FAVORITE, but THE PRESSURE





September 19th: Best Teen Romances



The Winner’s Curse Trilogy by Marie Rutoski ~ Goodreads

I can’t think of a couple who was tested more than Kestrel and Arin! Man, was it brutal yet satisfying.

 Vanguard (Razorland #4) by Ann Aguirre ~ Goodreads

This has a pretty unconventional romance between two characters that have to overcome political forces, different cultures, violent pasts and so much more. I really loved watching Tegan and Szarok navigate it all.

*Full disclosure – I beta read Vanguard for the author.

September 26th: Favorite UF Books

Look at me go! I remembered FOUR of my favorites! lol



WVMP Radio series by Jeri Smith-Ready ~ Goodreads - One of my first UF reads. I love the fresh take on vampires and the snarky dialogue

Arcadia Bell series by Jenn Bennett ~ Goodreads - I adore this underrated series. Great characters, action packed with the best kid ever (Jupe) in a series. I also loved the sense of family - something we don't see very often.

Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews ~ Goodreads - Um...the Beast Lord. Nuf 'said. But seriously, this series takes a little while to gain steam but once it does it's non stop action and no series develops it's cast of characters as well as this one does.

The Others series by Ann Bishop ~ Goodreads - I had issues with a few of the books in the series. For me, it lost steam BUT Bishop has created one of the most engrossing worlds and characters that I've read in a very long time.

What are your favorites in comedy, teen romance and UF?

I KNOW I'm going to remember a 100 books once this posts!!!

review: All in pieces by suzanne young

“Anger-management issues.”

That’s how they classified Savannah Sutton after she stuck a pencil in her ex-boyfriend’s hand because he mocked her little brother, Evan, for being disabled. That’s why they sent her to Brooks Academy—an alternative high school that’s used as a temporary detention center.

The days at Brooks are miserable, but at home, life is far more bleak. Savvy’s struggling to take care of her brother since her mom left years ago, and her alcoholic dad can’t be bothered. Life with Evan is a constant challenge, but he’s also the most important person in the world to Savvy.

Then there’s Cameron, a new student at Brooks with issues of his own, a guy from a perfect family that Savvy thought only existed on TV. Cameron seems determined to break through every one of the walls Savvy’s built around herself—except if she lets herself trust him, it could make everything she’s worked so hard for fall apart in an instant.

And with her aunt seeking custody of her brother and her ex-boyfriend seeking revenge, Savvy’s fighting to hold all the pieces together. But she’s not sure how much tighter she can be pulled before she breaks completely. ~ Goodreads

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: I’m really torn on this book. There are things that pack such an emotional punch that I was close to tears. Other things had me raging at the characters, and for at least 1/2 the book, I was left scratching my head in confusion.

So here’s the quick of it.

Savannah Sutton stabbed her ex-boyfriend in the hand after he called her little brother the r ( retard ) word (Evan is developmentally disabled) and landed in an alternative HS program. The ex, Patrick, is still harassing her and calling her Slutton whenever he sees her in public. She has two best friends at the new school – Retha, a girl with anger issues and the Travis, a boy from an abusive home with a drug/alcohol addiction. She also meets the mysterious Cameron who has a BMW and only speaks to Savannah. If you’re rolling your eyes at the description of Cameron – you should – and I’ll get back to that in a minute.

At home, Savannah is basically the sole caretaker for her 7 year old brother, Evan. Her mother left them and her father is a drunk who wants to give up custody of Evan to Savvy’s aunt. Something that Savvy refuses to let happen despite struggling to go got to school, be home for Evan, handle his outbursts, take care of her father and keep food on the table.

Everything about Savannah and her brother was wonderful and gut wrenching. She is doing everything possible to keep him and take care of him but it’s not enough. Their aunt keeps threatening to take full custody of Evan and it broke my heart how she didn’t want Savvy too and was so cold about wanting to keep Evan from his sister. Her father is no better with his drunken outbursts. It was hard to read and I hated them but it was that good kind of emotional reading – when you’re so caught up in the book that you want to crawl in and smack the characters.

Her friendships with Retha and Travis were a bright spot – even though they have troubles of their own, they are all supportive and protective of each other.

Then there’s the romance.

Cameron is in the HS program but doesn’t talk to anyone except Savvy. But it’s a “hi” or “what’s up?” with no eye contact and then he just walks away. This goes on for a while until Retha forces the issue so they have to talk face to face. There’s mysterious and then there’s mysterious. Cameron is SO mysterious that I thought he might be an alien or something lol He asks her dozens of questions, invites himself everywhere and then won’t answer anything. He's evasive and turns hot and cold. Not in anger but just walks off or stops talking. He picks her up, drives her everywhere and is obviously supportive but then walks away as if he wasn’t just about to kiss her. He’s a weirdo and somehow this is supposed to be super romantic and sexy. And I can see why people would think that – because, as he's written, the boy has zero flaws when it comes to Savannah. He’s like this perfect unicorn of a boyfriend. Always appearing at the perfect moment, doing the perfect thing.

Except, it’s ignoring an awful lot about him. Like the fact that he did hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to HS because he wanted to drop out because he’s not a school or job kind of guy. His parents are rich so they had previously bought his way out of trouble. The only reason he’s agreed to go to the alternative HS ( and I say that loosely because he skips classes all the time) is because his parents threatened to take his BMW away. And they didn't after all the damage he caused?? Nope. Instead they're worried he hasn't' made friends in his new school and order him take out all the time.

They're perfect unicorn parents too. They welcome Savannah and her brother right into their home – which is wonderful! – but they let her stay over, sleep with Cameron, pay for whatever Cameron wants – which apparently includes a road trip at the end of the book. Because Cameron is free man...can't tie him down...

He may be a supportive guy to Savannah but he’s also an entitled brat with anger issues that apparently don’t matter.

And let’s talk about the anger issues in this book. Several characters solve everything by beating people up. No-one calls or tells the authorities. There are no consequences to anyone’s actions. No-one really learns anything IMO.

The end just wraps it all up says – oh look there’s hope! but while it does wrap up Savannah’s immediate problems well (if too easily after all that heartache) – Evan, her aunt, her father – it doesn’t deal with Cameron (who’s so perfect who cares if he’s a slacker who beats up people and destroys property) or her friends who pretty much vanish except by phone for the second half of the book.

I don’t know…there were things I really liked about All In Pieces but the romance was a deal breaker for me. I adore romance in my stories but I’m finding it more and more difficult to be on board when they are shoehorned into books with serious issues. I absolutely think relationships and love can help turn your life around but in this book it’s ignoring some pretty big red flags and acting like Savannah finding a rich boyfriend solves everything. Cameron and his family are nice but it’s a weird way to disentangle Savannah from all her problems without addressing anything else the author brought up.

So yeah…that was a bit of a ramble.  I had feelings. Which I haven't had in a long time about a book. So there's that. lol

music: alice merton & Nothing but theives

I'm still plugging away at my TBR pile. I'm reading Wolf by Wolf right now and I'm not sure how it will go. Alternative history isn't something I read much of but there's a skin shifter element that has me intrigued. Either way it will get two books (it's a duology) off my shelf so it's a win win lol

In the meantime - I'm really loving these two songs right now.

***

No Roots by Alice Merton

Super fun catchy earworm.



Sorry by Nothing But Thieves

I’ve featured Nothing But Thieves on the blog before - Trip Switch – but the lyrics to this one….LOVE.

And here’s a link to a pretty acoustic version



What do you guys think of these two songs? What are you listening to this week?

*Click here for my 2017 Spotify playlist of songs featured on the blog.

monday musings…

I’m still getting my bearings after Irma passed through last week. We did fine other than losing a few tree limbs but the week of preparation then a week of putting everything back was draining lol No complaints though! We were really lucky!

If you recall my last post, I said I made it through my ARC pile and was turning my focus to the physical TBR pile. While I didn’t get much reading done last week – I managed to get four books in this weekend.


Waiting for Spring was my first manga about a shy girl who befriends the very popular basketball team. Cute – a little young for me but a good way to learn to read *backwards* and get used to the panels.

All in Pieces by Suzanne Young left me alternately between tears and stabby. I have a, slightly ranty, review for that one coming up Wednesday.

All the Liars by Charlaine Harris is the 9th book int he Aurora Teargarden series and it was a DNF. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Harris went on to describe Aurora’s bathroom habits…this was so tedious and boring – filled with unnecessary filler.

Summer Days and Summer Nights anthology – I’m reading this one now and we’ll see. Anthologies are always 50/50 but it does have some of my favorite authors and was put together by Stephanie Perkins.

Let’s get random!

So, this has nothing to do with books, but I noticed this weird thing about Fonzi lately. He won’t use the dog beds but he does sleep right next to them. I don’t know why, but I find this fascinating. Is it just me? Probably. lol

 
 

Indy on the other hand is almost twice Fonzi’s size and jams himself into the cat bed. lol



Not to be ignored – this is how Figment spent Irma….



He LOVED it! We spent the night in the living room so we could be closer to the space we chose to go if there was a tornado. He had mom, dad, and several blankets and pillows everywhere. He was in kitty heaven. Didn’t even move for 12 hours.

Have a laugh at Fonzi’s expense…

I meant to do an end of summer post this past week but…Irma. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve already seen it but it’s so damn funny.

Don’t worry – he didn’t get hurt and was up and running (and falling in again) right away.

(I know there's a pic under the video but I'm having problems removing it so...sorry and just ignore it)