Review: History vs Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don't Want You to Know

History vs Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don't Want You to Know by Anita Sarkeesian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating since most of the women featured here are unknown (or mostly unknown). This has women who were rebels, villains, athletes, artists, and/or politicians. Most will have heard of Ida B Wells and Margaret Thatcher. And maybe Griselda Blanco (courtesy of Netflix). Just about everyone else will be someone new (or n"newish").

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Review: In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some

In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some by Josh Gad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Olaf! Anyway, Josh Gad is interesting.

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Review: Sagitta

Sagitta by Ruby Lionsdrake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This picks up where the 2nd book left off. A bit of a summary; because while each book covers a different couple, the story-arc continues. In book one, aliens have found (accidentally from the sound of it) Earth (Gaia). Bad thing is, these aliens were slavers who kidnapped humans, aliens and sell them. There is an alien race called the Zi'i that love the taste of human flesh, and these slavers assist them with procuring their preference of meat. Enter the Star Guardians. They are the intergalactic police force. They rescue and arrest the kidnappers. The first book was Orion (a bounty hunter working with the SG) and Juanita (one of the women).
The 2nd book is Angela (she worked at an animal shelter with dreams of becoming a dog trainer & had an unconventional upbringing) and Treyjon's (a SG whose specialty of training svenkars; think dog-like, but bigger and more lethal) story. The story-line progresses. There is an issue with returning to Earth. Some in the coalition do not want to make their presence known. There is also worry of other groups taking advantage of Earth's resources (in this case, the people).
This book is Sage (the Captain) and Tala's (a surgeon on earth) story. Sage has defied orders and left to return the women to Earth. On the way, they encounter the Zi'i who may or may not have an alliance with another alien race (the Scyllan). The Scyllan are fairly unknown and have not been interested in alliances with the human contingent. They barely escape and end up in an unknown & unexplored part of the galaxy. Tala and Sage have a HFN ending (the romance was weaker in this one IMO & is was slow until the Zi'i made an appearance) and a bit of a cliffhanger ending.

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Review: In Pieces

In Pieces by Sally Field
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SF's memoir is raw, honest. She wasn't to admit when she did things incorrectly and was able to move forward. Audio is narrated by Sally Field herself!

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Review: A Conspiracy of Alchemists

A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The cover. Love this cover! The book? Well, I struggled.
Elle is a pilot and is resourceful. Hugh Marsh is a warlock. Their romance was so lukewarm, I just couldn't see it. Lots of info in the first book of the series, but just not enough to catch (and keep) my interest.

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Review: Second Chance Summer

Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This had a super slow start.  Anyway, Lily left town after experiencing a tragedy.  Her sister died doing something she shouldn't have and her father had a heart attack at the funeral and died.  Lily is back in town because the saloon where she worked fired her for leaking the name of a celebrity client.  Lily had done so at the behest of her boss (and boyfriend) and when it backfired, she was thrown under the bus.  She has had a crush on Aidan for a long time, but nothing really came of it, because her sister had a huge crush on him too.  It turns out, Aidan feels the same for Lily.

Aidan is a firefighter, works in search and rescue, and also helps his siblings out on the resort they own.  Aidan has a lot of siblings; his father was busy (with more than 1 woman) and there is background there with an asshole father.  

I thought Lily focused too much on the past and what was.  She does gradually look forward.  I had a hard time connecting with her.  The romance fell a bit flat.  

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Review: Unprotected: A Memoir

Unprotected: A Memoir by Billy Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy Billy Porter as an actor and singer. He had an interesting and traumatic childhood. I like how open he was about his past and feel his story will help others. This was powerful to listen too; he reads and performs in the audio book.

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Review: Alan Cumming: Legal Immigrant

Alan Cumming: Legal Immigrant by Alan Cumming
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alan Cumming is super fun to watch in The Traitors. This was a good mix of musical & spoken comedy. Appreciated the theme of the show (Legal Immigrant) and how the US is build on immigrants (and immigration). As the Cheeto has shown, no one is safe.

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Review: Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares

Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares by Laura Benanti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adore her Melania impression on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This had so many LOL moments and I liked the songs mixed in. Many of her jokes were relatable. Like how people feel free to judge women; especially if you have kids.

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Review: Alex Newell and the Gospel of a Diva

Alex Newell and the Gospel of a Diva by Alex Newell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an entertaining musical comedy special. I was not super familiar with Alex Newell & a simple internet search fixed that!

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Review: Home For the Haunting

Home For the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mel volunteered for a neighborhood service project to renovate a few disabled people's homes.  Mel and her volunteer come across a body.  It also turns out the home across the street from the one she is working on was the scene of a double murder-suicide.  It was witnessed by one of the family's daughters, Linda.  But did her father really do it?  The body they found was Linda's.  Was it an overdose (she had an alcohol and drug problem).  

I really like Mel, but wish she was more comfortable in her body.  I found her sister Cookie super annoying and I hated her.  Mel is more comfortable in her psychic abilities and is learning more about them.  Not sure if I like Graham for her; we shall see.  Good mystery.

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Review: The Jack Smith Report: Final Report on Efforts to Interfere with the Lawful Transfer of Power Following the 2020 Presidential Election by Donald Trump and Others

The Jack Smith Report: Final Report on Efforts to Interfere with the Lawful Transfer of Power Following the 2020 Presidential Election by Donald Trump and Others by Jack Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read some of this when this came out earlier in the year.  When it was announced that it would be published by a small publisher, I wanted to support that.  And have a copy in the event it is purged later in DT's purge of anything that is critical of him.  

As someone who is fairly politically engaged.  I get my news from a wide variety of local, national, and international sources.  I do periodically check out what is on Fox, Newsmax, OAN to see/hear/read what things are being put out there.  And I am the record here (even though I live in a deeply red state) of where I stand on DT, Musk & his DOGE goons, all of DT cabinet picks, and the spineless elected officials who rubber stamped it.  Risch, Crapo, and Simpson all know I personally despise what is going down in DC.  

Back to this.

Bottom line is the Special counsel's investigation found sufficient evidence to convict Donald Trump in a trial for his election subversion crimes.  There is more than enough here and I am so angry, frustrated that he will never stand trial for it.  Or see jail time.  

I think those who don't care or have an opinion would feel differently if they picked this up.  I'm not saying you would need to read all of it, but Special Counsel Jack Smith's letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and the results of the investigation would be the sections to read if you didn't want to read the whole thing.  Sadly, I don't think this would make a difference to MAGA and change minds there.  

Melville House Publishing is also publishing the DOJ's report on the Tulsa massacre of 1921.  

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Review: How to Charm a Nerd

How to Charm a Nerd by Katherine Garbera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5*

Liberty has never had a relationship with or known her dad.  She learns her dad's name by accident from her grandma who has dementia.  Her mother had offered in the past to tell her some info on him, but Liberty was not interested.  For some reason, this sets Liberty on a mission to find out more about him, without asking her mom (which would have made things so much easier).  She enlists Merle, her crush and computer expert to help. 

Merle also has a crush on Liberty and they've had a friendship.  Merle is Poppy's cousin (Poppy co-owns the store where Liberty, Poppy, and Sera each have their own business).  Merle also has issues with his family; he feels like he doesn't quite fit in.  His parents are super sporty and competitive and never tell their kids they love them as they are (or just a simple I love you).  It felt like their love was conditional.  

Anyway, I did like this.  Liberty is sure of herself even if I thought she should have involved her mom.  I knew much more about Liberty, but much less about Merle.  It would have been nice to have a little bit more on him.  I enjoyed the friendship with Poppy, Liberty, and Sera.

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Review: The Secret Bridesmaid

The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Think of the movie "The Wedding Ringer," but with a professional bridesmaid instead.
Sophie is a professional bridesmaid, she loves weddings. She gets an opportunity to advance her career when, the Marchioness of Mead's daughter Cordelia is getting married. Sophie is hired by Lady Mead.
It starts out rocky, Cordelia is a huge bitch and I hated her. But, yes but, things aren't as they seem and there is a reason for why she does what she does. Sophie also develops feelings for Cordelia's brother Tom, who is not only nice, but super hot. I liked Sophie, but thought she was a little too perfect, a little too nice.

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Review: Wickedly Dangerous

Wickedly Dangerous by Deborah Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Barbara Yager is a Baba Yaga, the fairytale Russian witch. The US has 3 of them and they travel when summoned.  She is summoned when a child goes missing.  Liam is the town's sheriff and is frustrated that there hasn't been any trace of the missing kids (3 of them).   

Nice mystery, there is more going on then meets the eye.  In addition to the missing kids, there are nasty councilmen who question your every move and do not support you, suspicious town folk, and a shady business who wants to take the town over so he can frack and make some money.

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Review: The Message

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

His writing is very lyrical and flows. In this he talks about his travels in Africa and Palestine. He also talks about the education system here. It's amazing how freaked out people get by the written word which leads to book bans. I felt we were going in the right direction (teaching history- the good, the bad, the ugly & being honest) and now we are backsliding. A lot.
"When you are erased from the argument and purged from the narrative, you do not exist."

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Review: The Secret Loves of Geek Girls

The Secret Loves of Geek Girls by Hope Nicholson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice variety of mediums; this had comics, short graphic novellas, and the more traditional short stories.
Standouts: Margaret Atwood's comic, Erin Lossar's, Cherelle Higgins's short stories, and my favorite Diane McCallum's Four Fictional Happy Endings.

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Review: The Austen Playbook

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Freddy is an actress in her 20s.  She has been working as a teenager.  She comes from a family of actors/play-writes.  Her dad has a vision for her career that doesn't quite match what she wants.  

Griff is a theater critic.  He and his family have some financial concerns.  He does what he can.  

This had a lot going on.  There is Freddy's family legacy and breaking free of expectations and doing what you want.  There are good sibling interactions.  Two people who can't help but fall for each other.  Fun HP references too.  Sadie was a bitch.    

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Review: Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty

Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty by Hillary Rodham Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I've never been a big fan of the Clintons, but I do admire HRC for all that she has accomplished. This was a series of stories/events that have happened and told from her point of view. Think Jan 6th, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan (I hadn't realized that she was involved in getting multiple women out), when she taught in college, Russian propaganda. There is a lot in this book.

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Review: The Devil in Blue Jeans

The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5* rounded up
Charly and her friends (Aubrey and Willow) make a pact after college to move to Timber Falls and go all in on a bar/restaurant if they don't like where their lives are at at the ripe out age of 28. To Charly Timber Falls has a magical appearance to it. (TF is in Montana and is in close proximity to Yellowstone). Well, Charly walked in on her fiance cheating on her, Willow had an abusive boyfriend, and Aubrey was sexually harassed by co-workers, so time for a fresh start!
They buy the Naked Moose and renovate it, turning it into a high end cocktail bar; serving only cocktails. The locals are disappointed and don't feel welcome since the new format seems to cater more to tourists. Enter Jaxon, the former owner who is pissed. He father unexpectedly died and he sold the bar to take over his family's ranch; raising, training, and selling world class Quarter Horses.
This starts out as an enemies, "how can I use you to help with the bar's success/make the locals welcome", before turning into lovers. There is a subplot with Charly's ex that she has to deal with (that was probably not necessary), but it did give her closure. I liked Jaxon's friends, Gunner (a country singer) and Eli (his sister was murdered by her boyfriend). Both work with Jaxon on his ranch.
I did think it strange that in a small town a bar would only serve cocktails and not beer. And those cowboys are smart- they only like craft beer. (yes, "craft" beer was mentioned a lot).

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Review: Purple Hearts

Purple Hearts by Tess Wakefield
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

1.5* Rounded up b/c I did finish this (although in hindsight, I should have DNF'd it)
This had so much potential. A fake relationship for health insurance? Cassie has diabetes and has to regularly choose between rent and insulin. When she realizes that military spouses get good health insurance, she proposes to a childhood friend. He turns her down, but Luke, who has reasons of his own for wanting the extra pay, volunteers.
So many problems with this. Not knocking the military, but this had racist, misogynistic parts that I just couldn't get past. I also didn't care for either main character and thought the ending could have been different.

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Review: South Beach Love: Now a Hallmark Channel original movie!

South Beach Love: Now a Hallmark Channel original movie! by Caridad Piñeiro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tony is an executive chef at a New York restaurant. He comes for a long overdue trip to Miami to see family and to help with his niece's quinceanera. Sara is also a chef in Miami with her own restaurant to promote. She also has a niece whom she will be helping with her quinceanera. Add to the pressure of creating the perfect menu, there is also a competition to be featured in the local paper.
This was a nice slow burn (clean) romance. I would have liked more in the end. Don't read if you are hungry (lots of descriptions of food).

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