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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Oct 9, 2020  
Sneak a peek at the culinary cozy mystery novel SAVING IRENE by Judy Alter Author on my blog, and enter the GIVEAWAY to win your own signed copy of the book! (There will be three winners.)

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-blitz-and-giveaway-saving-irene.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Irene Foxglove wishes she were a French chef. Henrietta James, her assistant, knows she is nothing more than a small-time TV chef on a local Chicago channel. And yet when Irene is threatened, Henny tries desperately to save her, wishing always that “Madame” would tell her the truth—about her marriage, her spoiled daughter, her days in France, the man who threatens her. Henny’s best friend, the gay guy who lives next door, teases her, encourages her—and maybe loves her from afar. Murder, kidnapping, and some French gossip complicate this mystery, set in Chicago and redolent with the aroma of fine food. Recipes included.
     
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Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Love, Simon (2018) in Movies

Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)  
Love, Simon (2018)
Love, Simon (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Love, Simon tells the rather delightful story of Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) who has a secret that he doesn’t want anyone to know about until he makes a connection with “Blue” by email. The two start up a communication that will lead to some life-changing decisions for both of them.

But who is “Blue” and is it, someone, that he knows in school? Maybe it’s one of his classmates?

Simon is finding it hard to let anyone know his secret, but he confides in Blue via the emails that he is gay, in turn, the two build up a relationship over their emails and Simon starts to fall for Blue. But things take a turn for the worse when Simon’s emails are leaked on to social media, his secret is out and now he is worried that he will never find out who Blue is and get to meet him.
  
Little Mate (Gay Monsters in Space #1)
Little Mate (Gay Monsters in Space #1)
Rome Ford | 2023 | Erotica, LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
LITTLE MATE is the first book in the Gay Monsters in Space series, and it is a perfect hot-and-spicy coffee break book!

The pacing is fast but the story is all there. We're also talking about a HUGE case of instalust, although Jake does do his best to fight it at the beginning. His sarcasm was spot on. And Zahn's reaction to it was brilliant.

I would have liked a little more to the story, but I'm always greedy with novellas and end up wanting more. And it was nice to see Jake's sister get her HEA too.

A great start to the series and I look forward to reading more.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 13, 2023
  
THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS by Kelly Gay

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Crime Thriller, Romance

Rating: 5/5

My Summary: Charlie isn’t your average detective/police officer—she works for the new futuristic law enforcement department called ITF. The world has changed since the other dimensions have been discovered. Aliens (who hate being called aliens) now live on earth with humans, and some humans possess supernatural powers. Charlie and her Siren-partner, Hank, have been working on a disastrous case—trying to track down the source and destroy a new drug that is putting people all over Atlanta in comas. But after they begin digging deeper, they discover a whole new level of their assignment: one that puts Charlie, her ex-husband, her daughter whom she loves more than anyone or anything in the whole world, everyone in Atlanta, and the rest of the world, at stake… and only Charlie Madigan can save them.

The Better Part of Darkness is a fast-paces riveting debut novel that holds you by the neck until the last page. I’ve never enjoyed science fiction so much in my life.

This book had the perfect combination of sci-fi, crime, thriller, and romance to make it an addicting read to lover of any genre. The writing makes it wonderfully plausible and incredibly witty, and the characters were the kinds that you cheered for.

Charlie was my kind of girl—totally kick-butt in every way, shape, and form. She was tough as nails, rock-hard, dedicated to her job, but she had her soft spots for those that she held closest to her.

I will be sitting on the edge of my seat for the sequel of this book, titled “The Darkest Edge of Dawn.” 5 stars and two thumbs up to you, Kelly Gay: you just made my bookshelf.

Content: This book is not for the easily offended. There was language and sexual aspects of the book that make it an adult novel, though there were no sex scenes.

Recommendation: Ages 17+ to anyone who wants to read a really exceptional book.

**Thank you to Sarah from pocketbooks for supplying my review copy!**

~Haleyknitz
  
When Katie Met Cassidy
When Katie Met Cassidy
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was one of my Book of the Month picks this month, so I got it a little early. It's a very quick read, and a sweet story. Basically, it's lesbian romance fluff. We need more fluff with non-heterosexual romances, so this is great stuff!

The book touches on gender issues - Cassidy is a woman, and seems happy to be so, but abhors feminine clothing and instead dresses solely in men's suits. (The scene with her fabulously gay tailor was an absolute delight!) She flashes back a little onto her childhood when she wasn't allowed to wear the clothing she felt best in. She also has a few conversations with Katie about gender roles. Katie is much more traditionally feminine, wearing dresses and heels and long hair.

I'm a little torn on whether I dislike the use of the trope "straight woman turned gay after breakup" or like the point that Katie isn't sure she likes women, but she knows she likes Cassidy. Cassidy's gender is secondary to her personality. And it's not like Katie decided to go hit on women after her fiance cheated on her; she got practically dragged to the lesbian bar by Cassidy, who saw how much she was hurting and decided to help her.

I enjoyed seeing that Cassidy has casual sex partners, many of them former sex partners, who are still good friends with her. Granted, she has lots of one-night stands who are upset with her since she's quite the player, but there are several women who she's been involved with before the book opens, who are close friends of hers and care about her future. I wish we saw more relationships like this in heterosexual romantic fiction instead of only in GLBT fiction! These kinds of relationships do exist in heterosexual groups, but it seems like romantic fiction is always divided between "heterosexual monogamy" and "everything else." I did read an exception in Next Year, For Sure, but I greatly disliked the ending.

I really loved this book. It was sweet, and light-hearted, and a pleasant breath of fresh air from a lot of what I've been reading recently!

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
Smartly written, highly engaging, totally unputdownable - I love this book! Seriously, it's not often that a book will so capture my interest in the first page that I don't put it down for seventy pages (regrettably), and when I next pick it up, keep reading until it's finished - at 509 pages too!

Deanna Raybourn did a wonderful job bringing the characters and Victorian setting alive, and in a fairly realistic fashion. The only iffy thing was how easily it was accepted that Portia was a lesbian. I know that the March's are a peculiar and unconventional bunch, but still. All the 'gay' plotting felt too modern to me and that's my only beef with the book, not that I overly minded it (just enough to mention it :P). The way the story unfolded was seamless and fitting with the atmosphere of the mystery. Lady Julia was a wonderful character and it really is amazing how well everything was brought to life using a first-person narrative. I am looking forward to the next installment and know that won't be enough of these characters!
  
Wynonna Earp  - Season 1
Wynonna Earp - Season 1
2016 | Sci-Fi
If Buffy grew up and moved to the wild west
I stumbled across this show on Netflix and almost immediately fell in love.

Wynonna Earp is a hard drinking, hard living 27 year old. She's the black sheep and the town fuck-up. She's spent years avoiding her family and her responsibilities, but when she finally returns to her home town of Purgatory, she finds that she can't outrun the family curse.


Now, if she ever hopes to break the curse and save her family, she must battle the seventy seven revenants of the Ghost River Triangle and send them back to hell. But at least she doesn't have to do it alone.


If you've been dying to find an at least decently written fantasy/supernatural TV show with witty dialogue and compelling relationships, this one is definitely for you.


Also if you're like me and will watch anything that has adorable and fully fleshed out lesbian relationships, this one is also for you. Wynonna's younger sister Wavery and the dashing town deputy are SO GAY in the BEST possible way.
  
RM
Read Me Like a Book
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
⚢⚢⚢⚢ <b>4 'Be True To You' Stars</b> ❤

This was such a beautiful book, inside and out (just look at this gorgeous cover art) I could of done with having this book years ago!
Here we have our wonderful MC Ashleigh who is on a journey of self-discovery in the world of love. When things start to fall flat with her current boyfriend she turns to her teacher Miss Murray for help and support...little did Ashleigh know that friendship would turn into love.

A wonderful 'coming-out' story split into 3 sections following Ashleigh's bond with her teacher, the warm fuzzy feelings to ice cold heartbreak, this book will put you through the wringer...but in a good way!

I liked all of the characters and I found that it some ways I could relate to the story. The only downside for me was everyone 'knew' Ash was gay before she knew herself. This didn't sit too well with me...stereotyping maybe? Perhaps.

Overall, a great read!
  
Revenge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, that’s what Livark is learning. Blackmailed she turns thief for a wizard and lands herself in a plot that threatens the existence of the known world.

Livark is a gambler basically a grifter. She is the main character and her story is told in 1st person pov. There are other povs involved that are third person? Which include but are not limited to Casuel a wizard that is so easy to hate. That sorry sycophant. And Planir the Black Archmage.
You also meet Shiv another wizard that partners with Livark (blackmails really) he is also the first character that I had ever read that was openly gay. Or how did he put it. “Doesn’t cross the dance floor to find his partner.” Maybe not a direct quote but close. Also, Darni and Rashad warriors as well as a few other characters. If you want excitement danger and magic, this is a book for you. Edited: It is also very violent, blunt, and graphic in its content.
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness in TV

Mar 29, 2020 (Updated Mar 29, 2020)  
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
2020 | Crime, Documentary
What the f--- did I just watch? All of these people were cuckoo-cuckoo for coco puffs.
This documentary features some of the strangest flipping people I've ever watched, all big cat enthusiast. I love cats, so I was most interested in them. I could not handle if there was anything mean done to them, and was thinking, well, your ass should be mauled at this point.
There was a strange sex cult big cat place, a sanctuary, and a rural, hick, white trash zoo. The craziest person was Joe Exotic, a gay, mullet-haired, polygamous, obsessed with big cats and killing the lady of the big cat sanctuary. Did the big cat sanctuary lady kill her husband? Was there really a murder for hire plot?
The one negative is the organization of the docu-series. It didn't make sense to me, and could have been better.
Anyway, if you want to see an interesting cross-section of America, and love cats and true crime documentaries, this is the show for you. Crime docs are one of the only things Netflix does right.