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He Gets That From Me
He Gets That From Me
Jacqueline Friedland | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Maggie is a young mom who dreams of going to college. But her current life--toiling at a grocery store while her boyfriend works as a chef--can't support her dreams. When she sees an ad about becoming a surrogate, and sees how much it could pay, Maggie wonders if this could solve all her problems. Her boyfriend, Nick, is reluctant, but Maggie decides to go for it. She winds up being selected by a loving gay couple, Chip and Donovan, from New York. Maggie delivers their beautiful twin boys, and everyone is happy. But ten years later, she gets a call from the fertility clinic that will change her life.

This is a mesmerizing book that pulls you in from the beginning. It's extremely easy-to-read, and the story basically tells itself. I was immediately attached to Chip and Donovan and their family. The story is told from Donovan's POV and Maggie's. Through Donovan, we learn about their family, their pasts, and how much they love their boys. When they end up having DNA tests done on the twins, it upends things and forces Donovan, especially, to rethink so much of what he took for granted. I wanted to like Maggie more than I did; she didn't come across as a consistent character, which was frustrating for me.

DNA stories are certainly the fad the right now. My biggest issue with this book, was, paradoxically, the part I also liked the most, and that was the inclusion of Donovan and Chip's story. As best I can tell, Friedland is a straight woman, and, as a member of the LGBTQIA community, I'm not sure I felt fully comfortable with her including a gay couple in her story. We have enough problems with our families being accepted without them being told in such a "Lifetime movie" fashion--especially by someone who isn't part of our community. This story could have been told just as easily without including a gay couple. It's probably something that wouldn't occur to most readers, but it just rubbed me the wrong way.

Otherwise, this book does make you think and it makes some good points about the meaning of family. It's a fast read, but I just felt a little off overall when I finished it. 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from SparkPress and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
  
Silas's Sweetheart (Divergent Omegaverse #4)
Silas's Sweetheart (Divergent Omegaverse #4)
JP Sayle | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
SILAS'S SWEETHEART is the fourth book in the Divergent Omegaverse series. For the majority of this book, it takes place at the same time as Taylin's Temptation and Booker's Bliss. So while I suggest you do read those books first, it isn't 100% necessary. You just might miss little parts of the story, for example, the Omegas in the factory. That had a massive impact on me in the first book, less so in Booker's, and even less in this one.

Silas is the oldest of the brothers and a divergent. He has his concerns about taking over from Derick as the 'face' of Starling, as well as 101 concerns about working with his brothers. Throw in an Omega he met at Hidden Desires and can't get out of his mind, who turns up at his PA, and Silas has it all going on.

There were so many parts to their story that I enjoyed. Ziggy and his relationship with the other PAs, learning to be in a family, Silas learning to trust, to name just a few.

I just couldn't stretch to five stars for a couple of reasons, and let me tell you why. Firstly, the constant bickering between the brothers. Now, I know some families are like this in real life, but for me, it's just plain exhausting, and I found myself skipping over parts where they were acting like immature Alphaholes, instead of the adults they were supposed to be. And secondly, while I enjoyed reading events from Silas and Ziggy's point of view, I felt like it took up too much of their story. They didn't even get to the ranch, something I haven't yet read about, until 70% in. Add those things together, and it's a 4-star read from me.

Maybe I will enjoy the overlap more for the next book, when I haven't read the others so close together? I don't know. What I can say is I did enjoy this story and have no hesitation in recommending it. I look forward to returning to their world and seeing how the next one falls.

** 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!
Aug 14, 2025
  
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Andrew Peterson | 2008 | Religion, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
We get introduced to the world, and how Fangs of Dangs are wondering about Skee?
Why are they picking up children and then never returning them? We meet the Isby family.
There are Janner, Tink [Kalmar], Lelli, their grandfather, and their mother, Nia. Where is their father? Who is their father? What adventure will they have?

We hear more snow children as they get ready for the Dragon Day festival.
Janner feels like he always has to keep looking out for his brother and sister. However, he does get to do what he wants.
His grandfather wants to tell him, but his mother doesn't want him to say anything or bring up memories. Why secrets and no truth? Though Janner knows his father's name is Esben.
Will the children enjoy the festival together? Janner is trying to keep his siblings nearby. Will it work?

Leeli has gone missing. This happened between sad songs and before dragons came up to start dancing.
But before Tink and Janner can watch the dragons. They had to find their sister Leeli.

Their dog Nugget seems to give a clue with his barking. Once they find Leeli and Nugget, they are in a fight with two Fangs of Dangs.
Someone may have helped the children with the two stones thrown at them.

Janner and Tink help their sister. Tanner thinks they should head for home. When they get close, they see that it's dark. Podo seems to have gone to see the dragons. They go, they take Glipper Trail.

Will they find Podo (grandfather)? Where did Podo go?
Will they find their moma with Podo? Did they go to see the dragons? Why was everything dark and no smoke, as if no one was home?

We get a dragon dance and a song that Leeli sings. But where did it come from, and how did she know it?
Fangs have caught them. March them to a jail. But what will happen to them? Will they be tortured or sent away?

Will their mother or grandfather find them? We see that the adventures are starting.
What will Igiby's children do and what adventures will they get into? Who is this mysterious stone thrower?

There seem to be secrets, and they don't seem to know why. Why is Nia not really telling the children about their father? Especially Janner.
What is their family history? What adventures will all three children have?
  
Pomegranate Kiss (Charmed In Charleston #2)
Pomegranate Kiss (Charmed In Charleston #2)
Katherine McIntyre | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
so sweet, how Lex fell first!
I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Charmed In Charleston series and I have not read book 1, Taking Root. My only thing to say would be, other than massive spoilers for THAT book you don't need to have read it before THIS book. I want to, though. Lex is Adrian's sister, and Cam is Danny's best friend.

Lex and Cam hook up, and neither can forget the event. When thrown together for Adriana dn Danny's wedding as maid of honour and bridesmaid, they quickly set a time line for the interlude. More pressing, Cam is in the closet and her parents want her to marry a nice man of their chosing. Returning to college looks better and better for Cam. But how can she tell lex, when this was only supposed to be a fling?

I liked this, I liked this A LOT. I couldn't quite love it though, but I haven't been able to love anything at the moment due to ill health, so take this review as a very good one, please!

I loved that Lex, the love em and leave queen, falls first. She knew Cam was special after that one time, and having tasted her once, she wants more. Far more than she ever wanted before, with anyone. Cam has more pressing issues. Her parents wants her to marry a nice man of their chosing and their faith is very against same sex relationships. She doesn't want to lose them, but things move at a pace she doesn't see coming and flips.

But I loved that the flip comes AFTER she returns to college, after she and Lex break up. And I loved that Cam didn't immediately run to Lex. Oh she wanted to, she really did. But she waits for Lex to come to her and that scene, on the harbour, where it all began, was amazing.

It's steamy, and smexy. Some drama and full of the found and realted families that McIntyre is so good at! I did find it kinda sweet, too, how Lex fell. She really did NOT see that coming!

4 very VERY good stars (my apologises!)

*same worded review will appear elsewhere