Tag Archives: Book Reviews

Burn for Me ReRead by Ilona Andrews

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Overview
Burn for Me: A Hidden Legacy Novel: 1

Title: Burn for Me ReRead
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2014

Thoughts

It doesn’t matter how many times I reread literally anything by Ilona Andrews, I still love it the second, third, fourth, fifth time around. And Burn for Me is no exception. I honestly couldn’t put this down, even though I had a rough idea of what was going to happen (my goldfish brain forget the minutiae). There is just something about this world building and the strong women that make up this world that I absolutely loved. Plus, I always route for the Underdog, and Nevada and her family definitely qualify as the Underdogs. They have the grit, determination, and fight though to win the day. It may not happen in real life, but I love reading about characters who are able to turn things around like this.

Nevada is brilliant, beautiful and a whole lot of fun. And by beautiful, I mean on the inside (the outside I imagine is the same). I love that above all, she has a loyalty to her family and loved ones that beats everything else. Having a character that is driven by the love of family isn’t always typical in the books I read, they often feature people who are total outcasts and have no family. So the fact that Nevada’s internal confidence and power absolutely come from her mother, grandmother, sisters and cousins – too wonderful for words.

Mad Rogan is a great contrast to Nevada. Where Nevada is all about family and loyalty and love, Rogan is ridiculously about power. The fact that he has almost lost his humanity in points of this is a great opposites attract kind of counterpoint. And I love that Nevada is able to bring him back to centre a little bit – remind him that nothing in this world is worth doing unless there are people you love to share it with. I also love how Nevada’s willingness to to sacrifice herself (continuously and with enthusiasm throughout this story) is balanced out by Rogan’s need to survive and ensure her survival.

I may have read this series before, but I loved picking up all of the little hints and tips about the future. It gave me a little more insight into some of the moments and how that would feed into what is to come. I also love that, with each read through, different themes show up and different moments hold importance. For me, this read through was all about loyalty and love of family. I wonder what I will focus on the next time I have the pleasure of picking up this series.

<- More Ilona AndrewsWhite Hot ReRead ->

Image source: Amazon

So Gay For You by Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig

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Overview
So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All

Title: So Gay For You: Friendship, Found Family & The Show That Started It All
Author: Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Celebrity, LGBTQI, Memoirs
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

Thoughts

I’ve watched all of The L Word, except for the final season (and the reboot), so, when I saw that two of the actresses had written a memoir together, I was intrigued. And, I was definitely not disappointed. I mean, everything about this was interesting and intriguing. I enjoyed the insight into what it was like to be a part of The L Word team and how groundbreaking it was at the time. But, I also enjoyed how honestly and openly Hailey and Moennig wrote about their lives, before, after and during their hit show. I always love how insightful memoirs that are built around a TV Show (or movie) can be, and how it can provide an insight into the lives of others and different experiences.

Although I loved the insight into The L Word, mostly I just really loved the voices of Hailey and Moennig. They were smart and sassy, with a whole lot of honesty that I seriously appreciated. One woman was out before the show even came to form, the other slowly had her sexual recognition throughout her filming of The L Word. I loved how different their tales and journeys were, but how they built together. Particularly to the moments when they first met, how they felt about it, and then how they built a friendship that is the envy of all friendships. Their love for one another and honesty was enviable and I really enjoyed learning more about how other women have grown and found each other.

I read a lot of stories which feature Found Family and Soul Mates (not romantic Soul Mates, those friends who are forever). But I haven’t read many memoirs that actually feature the reality of this kind of relationship. I love how they were able to find each other in this insane world that we live in, and figure out a way to have each other’s backs. But, they aren’t romantically entangled – I love that Hailey and Moennig found each other and created their own Found Family – one in which they are accepted and beloved. That support and love is something that I think everyone deserves, and I absolutely loved reading about it.

Although I picked up So Gay For You because of my knowledge of The L Word, I love that this novel wasn’t actually all that much about it. Yes, it featured in it for a fair chunk of the book, but even then, it was just a part of a greater story. One which I really enjoyed, and would definitely enjoy reading further. Mostly though, the focus was on the beautiful friendship between these two women, and the ways in which they were able to find each other. The community that they built together and the way that their love for one another was supportive and helped them both to grow into better versions of themselves.

<- The Last Black UnicornThe Hospital by the River ->

Image source: Amazon

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish

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Overview
Accidentally On Purpose by Kristen Kish

Title: Accidentally on Purpose
Author: Kristen Kish
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Celebrity, Food, LGBTQI
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

Thoughts

I know of Kristen Kish from the Disney+ show, Restaurants at the End of the World, but I didn’t really know much about her beyond that. Which meant, that when her biography showed up on one of the Goodreads Challenges that I wanted to read, I couldn’t wait to dive in. It was also pleasant reading a biography about someone I knew I liked, but with no actual idea of any of her life. Everything about Accidentally on Purpose reminded me of the voice of Kish from her food documentary, but with an extra layer of honesty and integrity that I admired.

One of the parts of this memoir that I really loved is how Kish is able to incorporate multiple facets of the life that she lives. It starts pretty simple with Kish talking about her adoption and upbringing. But, the more she shares, the more she talks about how the different aspects of her personhood intersect. From being adopted, to being Korean, to being gay, Kish is honest and open about who she now is. But, also the struggles that she experiences to get there. And I loved how she talks about each and every part of her identity with raw brilliance.

Before reading Accidentally on Purpose, I knew nothing about Top Chef, beyond the fact that it was a TV show. Now, knowing that this is how Kish got her Celebrity Chef start, I’m a more than a little intrigued. The whole idea of the show and Kish’s love for it make me want to watch it. Then there’s the history behind it and the importance of representation which Kish touches upon. Again, all aspects of the story that make me really want to get to know more about Top Chef, and maybe watch a season or two.

Each memoir I read has some kind of life message or wisdom to impart that I enjoy. In the case of Accidentally on Purpose, it’s Kish’s openness to new experiences and just enjoying the path that you are on. She frequently shares how she just stumbled into lucky positions throughout her life, and took advantage of them. It’s a good reminder that sometimes we have to take advantage of the path we are on, and remember that the journey is absolutely more important than the destination.

<- Twas the Nightshift Before ChristmasPirate Hunters ->

Image source: Amazon

June 2017

List, ,

June 2017

You just have to love finals time… for me it always means a lot of short story readings to reduce the stress. After all, there is nothing like momentarily losing yourself in a story to help you get away from the daily stresses.

Image source: Glen Park Healthy