A Glimpse into my mind

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Senior year of High School is never easy. But it's harder for Scottie when her girlfriend, Tally, breaks up with her and switches schools in order to play for a better basketball team. Then Scottie has to face Tally on the court - and loses. After the humiliation on the court, Scottie gets into a parking lot fender bender with Irene - head cheerleader and Scottie's nemesis. To make matters worse, Scottie and Irene's mothers work out that Scottie with give Irene a lift to and from school while Irene's car is in the shop.

When Scottie gets a text from Tally that shows she's jealous of the time Scottie is spending with Irene, Scottie hatches a plot to get Tally back. She works out a deal with Irene - Irene will act as Scottie's girlfriend for the rest of the basketball season and Scottie will help Irene pay for the repairs to her car.

What could possibly go wrong?

++++

A cute YA book that doesn't take itself too seriously. I liked that it actually calls itself out when Irene says that the deal seems to have been taken right out of the movie "Can't Buy Me Love" (which I loved when I was younger). I liked how the kids have a weird fascination for 80's and 90's movies.

There really wasn't anything I didn't like about the book. It was a good book for what it is - a YA rom-com.



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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5 but not quite a full 5 for me.

I do now understand why people have been raving about this series. This has many of the elements I love - magic, a heavy Russian-esque influence, a mysterious evil and a vague prophecy.

I will certainly be continuing the series and will be watching the series on Netflix.



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Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


at the closing of World War I, Macon, Georgia has seen a rise in the activities of the Klu Klux Klan. What most people don't know is that this is because the book, and the subsequent movie, The Birth of a Nation, is a conduit for bringing demons into our word. These demons have a developed a taste for human meat - specifically African American.

Mayrse and her friends hold the ability to see the demon behind the human mask and she and others fight to keep the demons at bay and save humanity.

++++++

This was an interesting book, just not my preferred genre. I think what worked best for me was the reader. She really brought the characters to life.



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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


They were just children when they were selected to be part of a challenge... to be trained and then eventually pitted against each other, at a location to be determined later, until there was a victor.

But they were never told the rules of the game. Just that they had to overcome their opponent.

The venue eventually becomes clear - the Night Circus. A Circus that travels around the world, mysteriously springing up in a new location without much warning at all.

But can they do what needs to be done so that there is a "winner" in the end?

+++++

I totally regret having kept putting this book off, every time it got brought to my attention.

It has feels of Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Game of Love and Death, and a good gothic magical realism mystery, but combined into something new and unique.

I highly recommend.



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I am participating in the St. Martin's Press promotion boycott.

While I do not do book tok or bookstagram posts, I do post on facebook, goodreads and dreamwidth. I hold no aspirations to being a book influencer of the scales on tik tok and instagram, I do know people here and my other platforms do read my reviews.

It is easier to share why book influencers around the world are participating in boycotting any social media promotions of books published under the St. Martin's Press imprint. As such, I encourage you to read these:

https://prismreports.org/2024/01/18/bipoc-book-creators-boycott-st-martins-press/

https://r4a.carrd.co/

His to Teach by Violet James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Harper is about to start her Masters Degree in the study of Human Sexuality. But the shortly before the term starts she finds herself with a special pass to an exclusive club that caters to the kinkier side of life. As not only a scholar, but one who has a genuine interest in the lifestyle, she goes in and finds herself introduced to the club and some of the wonders by a handsome older man named Nate.

Thinking she will never see Nate again, she partakes and goes on with her life... until she has lunch with her older brother who introduces her to his best friend Chase... the man from the club. Worse yet, he's Dr. Chase - famous author in her field of study and one of the professors at her college.

Now she needs to figure out how to give into her new desires, keep her brother from finding out what happened AND not fail her classes.

++++++

very nice and steamy spice. I liked how it actually showed a caring D/s relationship that did not have the Dom being someone who could not control himself and manipulated the sub to bend to his will. The two actually have conversations (what a concept)

What I did not like was that at some point, the degree that Harper was super focused on just kinda got thrown to the side as some sort of macguffin just to keep the two main characters interacting.

I probably will read others in this series as it was enjoyable enough.



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Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3.5 stars

Lilah has spent her young life either being too deaf or not deaf enough. With parents who insist that she use hearing aids and pass - foregoing the use of ASL, she has tried. But when she gets the opportunity to be a junior counselor at the camp for the deaf and blind that she attended a couple times when she was a kid, she gains the opportunity to learn and be a part of the deaf community.

Also at camp she makes a connection with Isaac, a fully deaf senior counselor, who encourages her to embrace the part of her that her family and most of society has tried to get her to ignore.

Over the course of one summer she learns about community, love and perhaps herself.

++++

This was a sweet own-voices coming of age story that addresses teenage love, ablism and finding yourself.

While I was not the targeted audience, it was an enjoyable story and I may get the next book out by this debut author when it comes out later this year.



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Teach Me by Red Phoenix

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


NO! NO! NO! NO!

This is not how any D/s relationships I have ever been in contact with works. Ignoring hard limits from the sub, not providing good support systems, no teaching and communicating beyond "what's your fantasy".

NO.

Other reviews state better what is absolutely wrong with this book. The wrongness turned off what could have been rather enjoyable smut. This was even worse than 50 Shades of Grey.





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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Viv has decided it's time to retire from being a mercenary. Hoping that a stone in her possession, that is rumored to be lucky, will help her start a new life, the Orc travels to the city and sets up a a coffee shop.

Despite the help of a ratkin, a hob and a succubus, it seems that factors are conspiring against her and she and her friends have to come together to overcome.

++++

I really enjoyed this book, having read Bookshops and Bonedust at the end of last year. I hope the author continues to give us tales in this world.



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Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


She has a highly wanted skill.. she can sing up storms or calm them with her song. Others of her kind are pressed into slavery onboard ships - private, royal and pirate alike.

After being captured and sold, Mary is able to escape and offers her service to rival ship, in exchange for helping her free her mother, the most powerful Stormsinger ever known, from the clutches of the most feared pirate on the Winter Seas.

He's a Sooth (one who can see into the other realm) as well as a Pirate Hunter granted the commission to hunt down the most feared pirate on the Winter Seas.

The two must figure out how and if they can work together to stop the pirate, rescue her mother and save themselves.

++

I can't remember which Book Toker that I follow recommended this book, but I am glad I listened to her and borrowed this wonderful epic fantasy novel.

Sweeping adventure, magic, a touch of romance - steamy but not spicy, and wonderful writing.

Highly recommend



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