The Leopard King by Ann Aguirre

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Leopard King
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Ars Numina #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2016

Thoughts

I’ve read a book by Ann Aguirre before, but it was a young adult dystopia novel (and I still need to finish the series). Having said that, I had NO IDEA what to expect from a adult paranormal romance by the same author. Until I dug into kobo plus, I actually had no idea that there WAS an adult series. But, wow, am I glad that I found out about Ars Numina!!! This was an amazing novel and I literally read it cover to cover.

At first, I was wondering how the complexities of Dom and Pru’s relationship would work out. His dead wife was her best friend and her booty call his best friend. But somehow Aguirre was able to make this work perfectly. In fact, you feel an emotional connection to everyone in this. Even Slay, who definitely acted a bit like an idiot. You still want him to find his happily ever after. Which will happen much later in this series I believe…

The world building in this romance was particularly enjoyable- there’s the history of the arcana’s separation from humans. But, then there’s the five warring factions that are trying to come to a Peace Treaty. And all of the insane politics that slowly get unraveled throughout. Honestly, the multitudes of complexities throughout this were amazing and, even though I loved the central relationship, it was also all of the intricate details that Aguirre was able to cram in that had me grinning from ear to ear.

Pru and Dom’s story was very sweet and filled with just enough lust to make my toes curl. It was also a fantastic way to start a whole new series. Each of the 6 men who are featured in this series were introduced, and almost all of the women. Since I already love all of these characters, it’s going to be hard not to just dive headfirst into the rest of the series, and forget about all of the other great books on my shelves.

<- More Ann AguirreThe Demon Prince ->

Image source: Kobo

A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: A Woman in the Polar Night
Author: Christiane Ritter
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Memoirs, Nature
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 1938

Thoughts

A Woman in the Polar Night is a stunning and incredibly emotive memoir. I can see how it is a popular classic. Ritter’s writing is just filled with emotive imagery that I doubt I’ll ever get out of my head. You can feel her love for the landscape and journey with every passing paragraph. You can also feel the different challenges she faces to her mental health as she undergoes a night that lasts for over 100 days.

Living at the north pole like this would be a phenomenal journey all on its own. But to do this almost 100 years ago? I can’t even imagine the intensity and difficulties of such a journey. I love how as you go on this journey with Ritter, you can slowly begin to process the difficulties of this life right alongside her. As Ritter realises that there are unforeseeable and dangerous challenges, you grow to appreciate them too. As Ritter falls in love with the landscape, so do you.

There is something incredibly soothing about the whole tale. I’m not sure if it’s the idea of the endless night and solitude, or the beauty of the landscape. But there is most definitely something about the dark Polar nights that leave you with a sense of serenity and peace. Again, I think that’s just the incredibly powerful and emotive way with which Ritter writes about her journey.

I loved this memoir and will definitely look forward to picking it up again in the future. It is a wonderful tale of triumph and hardship. But also, the majestic beauty of the far-flung corners of the earth.

<- Anna: A Teenager on the RunMy Fight / Your Fight ->

Image source: Kobo

Roommate by Sarina Bowen

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Roommate
Author: Sarina Bowen
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, LGBTQI
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Since their mentions in Sweetheart, Kieran and Roderick are just too damn cute a couple. Which, of course means that I’ve been hanging to read their romance. Plus, Kieran is such a sweet and quiet boy in all of his appearances throughout the True North series. It made me want to get to know him more. Which, as seems to be the case with Sarina Bowen stories, didn’t disappoint.

Although throughout this Kieran is discovering and acknowledging his sexuality, it’s not really the point of conflict throughout. I love that his being gay really isn’t treated as anything, well, at all in his internal dialogue. Rather, it is all of the family conflicts and his sense of self within the Shipley clan that is the main driving point of contention throughout. It’s nice to have an LGBTQI+ story that doesn’t really make any kind of deal about accepting one’s sexuality.

Then there’s Roderick. He’s a great counterpoint to Kieran’s quiet reticence. He is bubbly and cheerful. And accepting of his own crap. Accepting to the point that he is so self-aware he almost self-sabotages. Again, the point of intention doesn’t come from his crappy family or anything like that, but from his self-awareness and sense of self. For Roderick, this fact is that he worries that he throws too much of himself into a relationship.

I love that although there is initially a little resistance between these two gorgeous hunks, once they’re together, it’s the journey of self-awareness that drive the story’s conflict. Yes, other people come into this, but it’s a bit of a tangential influence. Mostly, the two figure out how to work through their own nonsense and make it work in a relationship together. Definitely a story too cute for words.

<- More Sarina BowenTop Secret ->

Image source: Goodreads

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Know My Name: The Survivor of the Stanford Sexual Assault Case Tells Her Story
Author: Chanel Miller
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Feminism, Memoirs, True crime
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I knew that this was going to be one of the most emotional and confronting reads of my life. And I was completely right. But holy crap, this was amazing. I actually remember when this case went viral and Miller’s victim statement. It was a moment that made me (like many others) realise that we’re all fed up with this crap. But this review is about the book, not my soap box… so yes, holy crap, amazing book.

Know My Name made me cry multiple times throughout. And for so many reasons. To start with it’s just horrifying what Miller experienced throughout her whole ordeal. The legal system failed her again and again. As did so many other systems that are supposed to be there to assist, but instead retraumatised Miller again and again.

But then there’s the amazing love and support she received throughout the battle. Where at the beginning of the book I cried because of pain, then I started crying because of the beauty and hope that surrounds Miller. The amount of support she is surrounded by is phenomenal and reminds us in this shit storm that not everyone is a piece of crap. There is beautiful hope and light in even the darkest hours.

This is a terrible and tragic story, but there is a great sense of triumph and hope. I think this is a book that everyone needs to read. Something that can help people gain insight and understanding into a survivor’s journey. Into the toll that sexual assault takes on everyone, not just the victim. A phenomenal, life changing book that I want to read again. Just maybe not for a while yet, I need to emotionally recover.

<- The Beekeeper of SinjarRadium Girls ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Happy-Go-Lucky by L.H. Cosway

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Happy-Go-Lucky
Author: L.H. Cosway
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

The whole sunshine and grump romance trope is honestly one of my favourites. Maisie is such a lovely sunshine character, although she does admit that her level of sunshine is a bit of an issue. And Cameron is a ridiculously cute and rude grump. If this was a Christmas story, I’d say “bah humbug” every time he made an appearance. It was fantastic how these two characters complemented each other so much.

In fact, Maisie and Cameron are such a great match that throughout their whole courtship, they constantly help to change each other for the better for Maisie, it’s with Cameron’s support that she figures out how to stand up for herself. And stops herself from people pleasing so damn much. Cameron on the other hand needs to stop being such a cantankerous, unapproachable grump to everyone, and Maisie helps him to open and up let people in. Both changes that they KNEW they each needed to make but needed the help with.

Woven throughout this romance is a great mystery. As it should since this office romance is based in a PI company. Although I spent most of the time focused pretty intently on the character development, I did enjoy trying to untangle the web of the mystery. I mean insurance fraud, stolen identities, and a mob connection? It was all very intriguing, and hard to figure out just where that side quest was headed.

This was a fantastic, easy read and a great office romance. I loved that this storyline included the typical office bullshit and bitchiness. Pettiness, jealousy, and squabbles actually take up quite a bit of this story. But they don’t take up any emotional space, which made it feel that little bit more realistic and tangible.

<- Beyond the SeaThe Nature of Cruelty ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Gender Games by Juno Dawson

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Gender Games: The Problem with Men and Women, from Someone Who Has Been Both
Author: Juno Dawson
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, LGBTQI, Memoirs
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

This memoir is fantastic, intense, and seriously wonderful. It was also very thought provoking and sometimes confronting. Dawson has a great style of writing that makes you want to dive into her story page after page. Even in those moments that you might feel a little bit uncomfortable. There is just something about her writing that is enjoyable and emotional, even when the topic is sometimes difficult.

As one would expect, this memoir is a very intense look at gender and how it makes life difficult. Dawson is a lot more brutal with her analysis of that, but that’s the overall idea. I also love that Dawson is able to highlight the different challenges that come to each gender. Whilst she was identified to society as a male for the first twenty, thirty (I can’t remember exactly) years of her life, and then has started her transition, the expectations which are placed on us for an arbitrary classification are all encompassing. And Dawson has the unique experience of seeing this from both sides.

This was one of those slower reads for me. Not because it wasn’t brilliant, but because every single chapter was thought provoking. It took me a long time to absorb everything that Dawson had to say. And I honestly felt like Dawson’s words deserved that time to process. Gender and sexuality is something that has long fascinated me, and I really wanted to understand more of Dawson’s experiences. As much as someone who identifies as the gender, I was born ever can…

This memoir is brilliantly written, impossible to forget and just all round fantastic. I definitely fell completely in love with Dawson’s voice. And now that I know she is a YA author, I just want more of her work on my shelves!!!

<- An Appetite for WonderSurvival ->

Image source: Booktopia

50 Years at Gombe by Jane Goodall

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: 50 Years at Gombe
Author: Jane Goodall
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Memoirs, Nature
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2010

Thoughts

Personally, I would recommend that you read In the Shadow of Man before reading 50 Years at Gombe. Mostly because it gives a much more in-depth insight into Goodall’s first experiences in Gombe. Which, then gives you so much more of a base from which to understand this wonderful 50th anniversary insight into Jane’s work.

This novel is a great overlook at all of the ground-breaking work that has occurred at Gombe over the years. It’s filled with images and snapshots into the many different aspects of not only life at Gombe, but Goodall’s life and her j fluency throughout the world.

I’ve always admired people like Jane and wished that I could accomplish what they have. But, for a long time, I didn’t actually understand the sacrifices that have to be made for this to happen. Goodall spends approximately 3 weeks a year at her home. She is amazing and so important to the survival of earth, but I can’t imagine the sacrifice that that would be.

I loved revisiting the world of Jane Goodall and Gombe, it’s reminded me that I want to dive into more of her books. And even watch the documentary about this phenomenal woman’s life and contributions not only to science, but the way we move through the world.

<- More Jane GoodallAfrica in My Blood ->

Image source: Amazon

Over the Moon by Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra & Sunny

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Over the Moon
Author: Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra & Sunny
In: Over the Moon (Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra & Sunny)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2007

Thoughts

Everything about this anthology made me happy. Although one novella wasn’t in a series that I’ve read before, they’re all by authors on my shelves that I genuinely enjoy. All four tales were steamy and yummy. They had great aspects of the paranormal in them. And, most importantly, each and every one of these tales can easily be read alone, even if you have no idea about the rest of the series.

Reading this was like a great walk through a familiar neighbourhood. Knight, Davidson, and Sunny’s series represented in this anthology are in my shelves, ready to go. In fact, reading these novellas bumped those books up my TBR. And even Kantra’s tale has another novella sitting on my shelves ready to go. And it acted as a reminder to finish another series by her that I’ve begun.

I seriously adored this collection of four novellas. They were perfect read on my kobo late at night when I wasn’t really ready to do the whole going to sleep thing. Long enough to enthral me, but short enough that I could start and finish them right before falling asleep. A great anthology, one that I will most definitely look forward to reading again and again.

<- Mona Lisa ThreeMoon Dance ->

Image source: Penguin Random House

Reading List

List, ,

It’s been a while since I scheduled anything, because, well, I’ve been crazy busy with a baby on the move. I’ve read a lot since last time, but I haven’t actually had the chance to sit down at my computer yet…

Series

Short story collections

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Standalones – Short stories

Wilde One by Janelle Denison

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Wilde One
Author: Janelle Denison
Series: Wilde #1.2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2003

Thoughts

This was just a yummy, yummy novella. Nice and steamy. Completely predictable and a whole lot of fun. Adrian and Chayse are a fun couple. I like that they’re both damaged, but find a way to deal with their crap. I am reading this series a little out of whack, so some of the mentions of the established relationships were confusing. But it was still fun.

The photography angle and artistry provided me with a lot of entertainment. I love when Chayse shows Adrian her profile, like all art, the insights it gives into her character are phenomenal. I also love how her very passion is the very vessel through which she is able to accept her own flaws.

The Wilde One was a fun and easy read. One that I seriously enjoyed. I look forward to reading more romances in the Wilde family in the future…

<- All She Wants for ChristmasThe Wilde Side ->

Image source: Goodreads