Last Line

by Harper Fox

CCCC

This takes some mental acuity not to get lost between the supernatural and the brainwashing elements, but it is powerful. Watching Michael unravel and then twist and break and recoil is exhausting. As horrible as it is, you can't look away. The degree of psychological conditioning and its success is terrifying. Mesmerizing, it really does play into traditional Russian folklore and the implications are devastating to watch.

And John, the partner we all dream of in devotion, honor, and action. He brings a smile even from afar. 

The story is fast paced and the suspense and the characters are intrinsically woven together. There are some hard moments in the story that just ache, but you can't help but want more. It is another foray into the sensory delight of Fox's storytelling even if some of the lyricism is sacrificed to the hard edge driving the plot.

Favorite quote:

It was weird how you could go through life and never need a thing until you fell across it.

A Girl For Me

by Failte

CCCC

A thoughtful and measured exploration of a misunderstood sexuality in this coming of age story.

Dani/Daniel and Kevin make an unlikely couple, but isn't that where some of the best surprises of synergy come from? On opposite sides, they quickly find that they are not as far apart as they think. In fact, where the truly important things count--they're perfectly aligned. Neither is completely at ease with their respective discoveries, but Dani's struggle to understand and find peace with the constellation of feelings, fears and desires s/he experiences as a transgendered male is the focus. It is well done, not exploitive, and leaves one feeling optimistic.

Favorite quotes:

"'OUT', Mom... Coming 'OUT' to you. If I were coming 'on' to you, I would be going to therapy. My god..." Against all odds, a smile played on Danny's lips.--Ch. 4

"If you want tits – get tits. If you want a vagina – get one. If you want a snowmobile – get a snowmobile. It's not important! Jesus H. Christ on a bicycle!"--Ch. 12


"Good sons don't wear bras, Kevin."

"So you're a good daughter then... who sometimes goes bra-less. Topless, even."

"Not funny," Danny said, smirking.--Ch. 16

Safe in His Arms

by Renee Rose

CC

2.5 stars

Super hot spanking in this domestic discipline story. 

The scenes were great. Focused, passionate and thoroughly about Zac and Becca's needs for D/s and spanking respectively. I loved the way the characters interacted, but the actual plot of the story was a miss for me. 

One needs to suspend belief and just accept the fantasized thriller or be utterly frustrated. Which though I often roll my eyes at, I was like, "Okay, sure. Take me on the magic carpet." What really annoyed me were inherent character flaws for both protagonists. Becca's really a bit of a dolt and Zac's kinda an alphahole.  

Becca is hit by the bad idea fairy when she decides to attract Zac's attention by setting up a fake meeting at a renown drug trafficking park--really? And Zac, god did this one cheese me off, decided not to share that fact that there was a condom failure with his sexual partner cause he hoped she'd get pregnant--dickhead. 

I want to rate this BIG points for the kink. Majorly hot if DD is your thing. The other half that pays attention to character and plot is going--aahhh...No. What I'd really like to see is a representation of sexual differences in a way that doesn't imply that a fundamental flaw with the individual is necessary for these to be desires. I would love to read these scenes in that context. 

Favorite quote:

If I exist in any form--if there is a man to know--I would want him to be the one I am when I'm with you.

Vanilla Boy

by H.C. Brown

CC

Incredibly cheesy with cookie cutter characters. 

Disaster of a club, bad behavior all around, corny lines, an alphahole who's reformed and a meek sub that I could have beat up when I was eight. *rubs eyes* Overall, it comes across formulaic.

Favorite quote:

"It must be Christmas. My sac’s full, and I just found Santa’s little helper.”

A Fostered Love

by Cameron Dane

CCCC

Emotional read about two guys who met during foster care and reunited again later.

Jonah took the hard road, but when called returns to fulfill a promise. After some hard knocks he's sorted out a lot of things, but there's still damage. Never having been emotionally invested he's having a hard time expressing himself.

Christian is a stand up guy. While his life wasn't easy he's managed just fine and is no one's doormat, but sometimes the past doesn't stay in the past. That can be good and bad, and in Christian's case--it's both. 

Favorite quote:

“Deeper down, I didn't feel like I could fly like a real bird, so I only got the one wing.”

17 Black and 29 Red

by Richard Ryder

CCCC


Heartbreak and desolation. This book is like lancing an infected wound, it's got to hurt before it can get better.

Stockholm Syndrome abandoned us in a bleak place and here, like Dante, we traverse the depths of despair before we can resurface. This is an absolute mess as Lindsey deconstructs in an orgy of sensory overload, and when that doesn't work--deprivation. Wandering aimlessly trying to find the one thing that will spare him the pain. 

Meanwhile, Pip takes a similar track. Like two peas in a pod they find solace in the one place we can hide in plain sight, especially if others are willing codependents. Eventually, the ugly truth is acknowledged and things progress. Is it worse to spin in a safe circle or flail off into space? 

Favorite quotes:

Or maybe it's better not to feel it at all, just let this blank non-emotion run itself out like a road that disappears so gradually you don't even know it's happening until there's grass under your tyres.


"Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé."

This book is funny, but lacks the laugh out loud humor of its predecessor. The pop cultural references are still great and such a fun little tickle. Overall, loved it. Hated it. But then, I love lots of things I hate.

Big Sky

by Kitty Thomas

C

How much do I dislike this book? Let me count the ways...

1. The "heroine", Veronica, is so incompetent and disassociated from herself and her surroundings that she inspires nothing but contempt.

2. The "hero", Luke, is equally as mental as Ronnie and disappointingly never managed to snap enough to kill her. Talk about let down.

3. The 70s bodice-ripper attitude of "Please...please...no...no--orgasm". If you can't accept your own desires, you don't deserve good sex.

4. The utterly misguided/moronic understanding of feminism espoused. It's not about behaving a certain way, it's about having the rights and abilities to choose what you want in a society even if that choice is to give up choice for yourself.

5. The sex-- 'cause lets face it, it should be a significant factor in rating this book--was boring. Had to be the most uninteresting gangbang I've read. The non-con elements--boring. Lame D/s.

6. Read the status updates listed below because I pointed out things that I'm not going to reiterate. But I categorize this under "chronically stupid".

This book actually makes me wonder if Thomas is a misogynist. I think this is the final nail in the coffin as far as reading Thomas's books go. I've read several and while the storytelling was less mindnumbingly dull in others, all of her heroines are such wastes of space that I have zero interest in reading about them.

Overall, this book is a train wreck and a boring one at that.

Recommended to readers who think Wuthering Heights is a romance and think "Every Breath You Take" is a love song.

Favorite quote:

"Let the fucker kill her. What difference did it make at this point?" --my sentiments exactly

Goodreads' status updates:

06/24			2.0%	"Already hate the heroine. Anyone with that amount of disdain for fiscal responsibility deserves...disdain." 7 comments
06/24			3.0%	"Not only financially incompetent, but mouthy, too. *LE sigh Leah goaded me into continuing; I want to the record to show my hesitance--trusting you, girl."
06/24			5.0%	"Feminist. I don't think that word means what she thinks it means--*face palm"
06/24			11.0%	"Sweet bejeezus! They're both crazy. I think this book requires alcohol." 3 comments
06/24			17.0%	"Really? REALLY?! Barefeet are going to stop you?"
06/24			32.0%	"Your indignant behavior over the slightest perceived gender inequality makes it almost certain that inequality is what you masturbate to at night.”" 7 comments
06/24			76.0%	"Let the fucker kill her. What difference did it make at this point? --Ironically, I've been thinking the same thing, but not for the same reason." 6 comments