Review: After the End

After the End by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice brief update featuring each couple from the previous 4 books.  One couple gets engaged, another pregnant, another goes on a road trip, and another gets married.  

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Review: Sweep of the Blade

Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why did it take me so long to pick this up after reading the previous??? Anyway, this is Maud's (Dina's sister) story. Maud was previously married to a vampire. Melizard was scheming and betrayed his House and exiled with Maud and their daughter to a lawless planet. He was later killed because he betrayed the wrong people. This previous book details Dina coming to Maud's aid and the reunitment of siblings (they do not know the whereabouts of their brother Klaus or parents). There is fight at Dina's inn, Arland and Maud start to fall in love.
In this one, Maud travels with Arland to his home world and meets his vampire House. This is full of vampire politics, the knowledge of what will cause disrespect or respect, etc. I really liked Arland's acceptance of Helen, Maud's 5 year old daughter. I did think Helen seemed older than 5. It was pretty awesome seeing Maud's realization she was good enough for Arland. I would have liked a love scene beyond the fade to black one we did get.

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Review: Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heather Cox Richardson is a college professor who also happens to write news summaries and more on social media.  My sister introduced me to her summaries.  When I saw this book, I wanted to check it out.  This is a nice history lesson and contains warnings.  

Are we a country that believes in "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?"  Or are we a country that believes it's every person for themselves and some inherently are better and more worthy than others?  Do we believe the federal government shouldn't have social safety nets?  

If we don't pay attention, if we don't trust our news sources & journalists, if we continue to believe conspiracy theories and lies, if we don't use our brains and think critically, we could be in trouble.  We are in trouble.  A certain person is leading polls right now & on track for the GOP nomination (again), despite a multitude of criminal changes and with most of those trials on indefinite hold, he will never be held accountable.  With one exception, he does have one trial going on now, but I'm not hopeful on that one.  We shall see.  If he wins in Nov 2024, I am scared.  

See: 

https://www.project2025.org/  

https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981

https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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Review: Dirty Sexy Saint

Dirty Sexy Saint by Carly Phillips
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Samantha runs away from her father's house to avoid marriage to a man she doesn't love, but one her dad likes and wants to take over his company.  (I usually find these story-lines so annoying; why couldn't the daughter take over the company?  Oh wait, she's not a man).  She's in her mid 20s and hasn't really done much on her own.

Clay (Saint) owns a bar.  Sam gets drunk at his bar (so smart) and throws up (so sexy) from all that ETOH.  He lets her stay with him since she doesn't have a place to stay or money.  She also starts to work as a waitress at the bar.  He wants her, but shouldn't (he likes it dirty).  But, wait, she likes it dirty too.  Just okay.  

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Review: The House of Hidden Meanings

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

RuPaul is someone I admire. He has a super fun and full of personality. He is so fun to watch. I listened to the audiobook which he narrates. It was interesting listening to stories of his childhood and things he had to overcome. I love the love and support he got from his mom. I enjoyed this.

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Review: Carniepunk: The Three Lives of Lydia

Carniepunk: The Three Lives of Lydia by Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lydia ends up in Sang; an alternate world (I think?). There are bludmen (those who drink blood) and various carnivorous animals too (think bunnies, ie, bludbunnies). Point is, Lydia also very clearly has some sort of mental illness, so how much was in her head? Interesting.

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Review: Gray Card

Gray Card by Cassandra Chandler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Adam is an alien military officer whose tour is done and he wanted to see Earth.  Evelyn loves all things space.  She and Adam are in love.  We are not really told how they meet, but dropped in the middle of their relationship (and story).

Anyway, things work out just fine, the end.  

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