A Glimpse into my mind

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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The Maleficent Faerie by Rebecca F. Kenney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5 stars

The world has been driven asunder and is in danger of disappearing into the Void. When the King and Queen refuse to help the Maleficent One in an attempt to stop the encroachment, instead putting their faith in the Goddess, the Maleficent One curses their daughter that before her 25th birthday she will fall into a hundred year sleep.

It's been almost 25 years since the Princess was cursed, and it's Aura's job as her bodyguard to keep her from falling into the clutches of the Void King. But when his Knights surround them, Aura uses the little bit of Fae magic she has at her disposal to glamor herself to appear as the Princess and allows herself to be kidnapped instead.

Malec, the Void King and Maleficent One, senses that something is not right with the Princess, but time is running out and he needs her to complete the magic to hold back the Void for good, even if it means she must fall to the curse he placed 25 years ago.

++++

I really enjoyed this reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. The story was compelling, the characters fleshed out well, and man was the spice spicy.

If you are in the mood for erotic romantasy I would actually recommend this one.



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X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II by Leah Garrett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a very gripping look into a commando troop in the British Army during WWII that was made up of Jewish German ex-pats.

These men endured so much - losing their homes due to the raise of the Third Reich, getting to a different country (England) only to be interred in camps or shipped off to Australia to be interred in camps (if they survived the trip), then having to give up their identities to help the British War movement by being specially trained in warfare, subterfuge, scouting, and interrogation before being shipped to some of the worst battles in the history of the War.

I was pulled in from the start and had difficulty putting this book down.



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Regifted: Ganged by the Ghosts of Christmas by J.L. Logosz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


2.5 stars but I rounded up.

A spicy re-imagining of A Christmas Carol, with a Scrooge-like FMC who is visited by 4 ghosts on Christmas Eve to punish her and get her to change her ways.


++++

Was this earth shattering? No. Did I feel i wasted the 40 minutes it took me to read it? (I was doing a couple things while reading it) Not really.

It wasn't the worst and it wasn't the best smutty short story I've read. And there wasn't the ew factor that other shorts have had.



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Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea Ritchie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When most people hear the words “Police Violence” the image that usually comes to mind is Rodney King, or George Floyd. But seldom thought about and even less discussed, especially in the media, is the idea of police violence on women. And even further ignored is police violence against BIPOC and LGBTQ+ women of color. This book looks at this phenomenon and brings to light what is oft times ignored and swept under the proverbial rug.

++++

It has been a very long time, if ever, that I have been moved to such extreme rage by a book’s subject. This was an emotionally draining book that I was very glad I read.

I fully admit that throughout the entirety of this book, I found myself muttering to myself “What the F*** is wrong with white men?”




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Owned by the Alphas by Jayce Carter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well, let's just slap the reader right away with the hardcore sex. Cuz, dang...

That being said, I have mixed emotions about this story. The plot was good, but I found myself annoyed with the stubborn idiocy of the main female character. She just kept getting on my nerves.

But the three male main characters... yes please.



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