Review: Double Full

Double Full by Kindle Alexander
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Colt is a college football star on track for a NFL career.  He also has a crush on Jace, a cheerleader.  Jace is out and proud.  The book opens with them having sex in the locker room (with no condom).  A few days later they are hot and heavy in HI.  Colt's homophobic father gets involved with threats and Colt ghosts Jace.

Fast forward 10 years and Colt is miserable, but has a successful NFL career.  Jace has his own cheer-leading school.  Colt's made Many Bad Decisions in an effort to forget Jace.  Things finally change when he decides to grew a pair and straighten out his life that things change.  

This was not my jam.  There was too much angst and they got back together way too quickly.  I thought it was creepy Colt's stalking of Jace in college (not romantic).  Throw in the cliche evil girlfriend, awful homophobic father, an accident (that is not an accident), and you have even more angst that was not needed.  And that accident?  Not even resolved.  

Mitch is the next book (who had a significant part in the back half of this book).  Probably will pass.   

View all my reviews

Review: Bitterburn

Bitterburn by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice Beauty and the Beast retelling. This has the hallmarks of the original tale with some of the problematic moments re-done. Amarrah and Njal are characters you like. The goats were awesome. Amarrah figured out her abilities quickly and I thought the end (in regards to the villains) was somewhat anti-climatic.

View all my reviews

Review: Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service

Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service by Josh Shapiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5* rounded up

Josh Shapiro came on my radar when he was vested for the VP position in Kamala Harris's administration. And also the antisemitic attack on the governor's residence.
At times he is humble and other times he is braggadocios. Either way, he is clearly proud of his (as he should be) life in public service. Depending on how things shake out, I would anticipate him to be a contender for a certain nomination in 2028. I think he is fairly centrist in his views and probably would appeal to many. I have some issues with him, so he's not my first (or second) choice, but we shall see.

View all my reviews

Review: Boyfriend Material

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Luc has (somewhat) famous parents. His dad was a rock star, fell from grace, and is on a comeback tour on a reality show (think something like the "The Voice"). His mom was a singer/song writer and is now retired, having been there, done that. His dad also walked out on him and his mom when he was 3. Luc's been a bit (make that a lot) of a fuck-up since a break-up and betrayal 5 years prior. And now he's in danger of losing his job.
Oliver is a buttoned-up lawyer. He needs a date to his parents anniversary party. Luc needs a normal boyfriend to help rehab his image (and keep the job).
I was a bit surprised I liked this so much. When I say Luc is a fuck-up, he 100% completely is. He made the same mistakes constantly and didn't seem to learn from them. And I was so annoyed with him at the beginning. But then, you realize that he really doesn't like himself or think much of himself. I liked Luc's character growth throughout the book. Both he and Oliver have interesting groups of friends who really dish it out (and take it too) and are supportive. Luc's co-workers are a hoot. His mom and Judy were pretty good too.

View all my reviews

Review: The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America

The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America by Katherine Turk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lot of history is crammed in this book.
I am very lucky to have been born after the women's rights movement. I am a MS supporter. Once upon a time a woman was beholden to a dude for everything. No bank or credit account in her name. You get the point.
It's not surprising that the women's movement had a lot of growing pains. A lot of opinions and thoughts about the direction(s) to go. Often at the expense of people of color. A great many things were accomplished. And now. Now, until this current administration we see a roll back of rights. Roe v Wade; gone. An interest in pro-natalism and having a shit ton of kids. The "Trad-wife" phenomenon. Voting rights on the chopping block (I understand the SAVE America Act is stalled in the Senate and is (effectively) dead- only for now). Christian nationalism growing in the US government. Doug Wilson (yeah, he's from Idaho, of course he is) stating women shouldn't vote (or vote how their husband tells them). Pete Hegseth echoing that statement. If we are not careful we will lose what these courageous women throughout history fought for. Suffered for. Died for.

View all my reviews

Review: The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Willa is a fae who ran away from home as a teen because she was being forced into something she didn't want to do. After years of on the run, she puts down roots in Nocturne Falls. She has the ability to "talk" to and control metals and works as a jeweler. Nick is ex-military and as an orphan (his parents were killed in a car accident) wants to put down roots. He is also a gargoyle.
Willa has a stalker and when she makes a wish inadvertently binds Nick to her. The fae have a negative history with gargoyles. Gargoyles are sensitive to fake magic and a long time ago, gargoyles were enslaved to some fae. So this, at first, doesn't go over well with Nick. They quickly bond and fall for each other. Add in some estranged siblings and parents and you have a conflict.
Very light and fun read.

View all my reviews

Review: Detained: A Boy’s Journal of Survival and Resilience

Detained: A Boy’s Journal of Survival and Resilience by D. Esperanza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When "D" was 13 he lost his grandmother and uncle who were his primary caregivers.  He parents were living and working in the US.  After a bit, he decides to travel north to join his parents.  Some of his cousins also go with him.  

This book is split into 2 parts.  The first part details his relatives deaths and the struggles to live both before and after.  Children leave school after 5th, 6th grade (and earlier/later) to work because their families need the income.  People getting into the cross-hairs of local gangs and being scared to leave the house.  His journey north is also detailed.  Being chased by men, jumping into moving trains, being hungry all the time, tired all the time.  Stressed.  Scared.  All.  The.  Time.  His (and his cousins) journey was harrowing, scary.  They saw the best and worst of humanity.

The 2nd part details his time in US detention.  During Trump's first term, children (often unaccompanied) in detention got a lot of press and criticism.  Then it got buried as things do when other things happened and took over the headlines.  Trump lost and now, 4 years laters, he is back.  And if I thought things were aweful then, they are hell now based on what I've read.  But, back to this.    

US immigration detention (and I think this is the case for adults too) is built to dehumanize you.  Children were frequently moved around to keep them off balance, keep them from forming relationships with other children who were also in detention, and to hide them.  They were lied to time and time again (really, we are trying to reunite with parents/relatives).  These were children and were treated like a criminal.  Every.  Single.  Day.  Food that makes you sick.  Food that is limited (no you make NOT have another box of cereal!).  Kids are discouraged from talking, touching (no hugs, no high-fives), and when one leaves it's at night.  No goodbye.  

This is a necessary story right now from someone who lived it.  Luckily, "D" kept a diary during this time.  And he is sharing his story now.  His experience is likely only the tip of the iceberg.  Be prepared to be frustrated, angry.  And also hopeful, because "D" is here.  And speaking out.  

It's also notable that D and is cousins were able (and they had many close calls) to make it to the border together.  It was the US government that separated them.  

View all my reviews