Tag: book

adult, ARC, Erotica, Four Star Book, graphic novel, LGBT

Super Fun Sexy Times ARC Review

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  • Title: Super Fun Sexy Times
  • Author: Meredith McClaren
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 128
  • Publisher: Limerence Press
  • Genre: Graphic Novel, Romance, Short Stories
  • Rating: ★★★★

Cartoonist Meredith McClaren (Hinges) tells five short, sexy stories featuring superheroes, supervillains, sidekicks, and the people who love them.

Showing consent and character-driven erotic relationships, Super Fun Sexy Times answers the age-old question: what happens when the mask comes off? 

Two sidekicks on opposite sides get stuck in an underground lab together, and find a great way to pass the time. A tactician and superhero discuss their desires, limits, and kinks before their first time, and perhaps get a little too excited in the process. A pair of supervillains explore gender and sex together, while growing closer in their relationship. Lesbian heroes try out a kinky rolepaying scenario, and discover how to make it work for both of them. And an exhausted assassin relaxes after a long day with the kind (yet firm) attentions of his husband.

Told with care, sex-positivity, and humor, and featuring a wide variety of sexualities and bodies, Super Fun Sexy Times aims to create an erotic reading experience that lives up to its name!

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own. 

This graphic novel was surprisingly… graphic. 

Not that it’s a bad thing! But the first anatomy I saw kind of took me aback. I loved it though! I mean, I read erotica and romance all the time. But something about seeing it on the page. I don’t know. It’s like a weird mix of porn and erotica books.

This was a graphic novel of 5 short stories. There was SO MUCH lgbt rep. I loved it. It explores all kinds of sex positive things. Consent, safe words, trying and failing new endeavors. It was SO GOOD. I can’t recommend this enough. So much positivity throughout this book. That’s the thing that stuck out most to me, and also what I loved the most. It shows it’s okay to try new things. It’s ok if things don’t work out. It’s GREAT to have conversations before getting in too deep.

But beware, it is nsfw and has nudity.

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, ya

Symptoms of a Heartbreak ARC Review

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  • Title: Symptoms of a Heartbreak
  • Author: Sona Charaipotra
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 304
  • Publisher: Imprint
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
  • Rating: ★★★★

Fresh from med school, sixteen-year-old medical prodigy Saira arrives for her first day at her new job: treating children with cancer. She’s always had to balance family and friendships with her celebrity as the Girl Genius—but she’s never had to prove herself to skeptical adult co-workers while adjusting to real life-and-death stakes. And working in the same hospital as her mother certainly isn’t making things any easier.

But life gets complicated when Saira finds herself falling in love with a patient: a cute teen boy who’s been diagnosed with cancer. And when she risks her brand new career to try to improve his chances, it could cost her everything.

It turns out “heartbreak” is the one thing she still doesn’t know how to treat.

– Goodreads

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this book In exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own. 

Omg. Love this book. 

It’s contemporary. It’s ya. It’s medical. It’s romance. It’s everything! 

I’m a nurse, so I love me a good medical story. This follows Saira, the United State’s youngest doctor. 16 years old. Okay. I’ll roll with it. 

Her first day on the job she meets a boy. A patient. And love ensues. Obviously. 

She has her ups and downs on the job. People are hard on her. They don’t think she should be there because of her age. And it shows, as it should. A 16 year old doctor will still have a 16 year old’s feelings. 

I loved the ups and downs of her career and life. It felt real even though it’s kind of unheard of. And honestly, I’d be scared of a 16 year old doc too. I know I wouldn’t have been as amazing as the nurse practitioner in the story. (One complaint though. He acted more as a nurse than a nurse practitioner, but most people not in the medical field wouldn’t pick up on that.) 

Would I recommend this book? Yes. 100%. Will you like it even if you aren’t in the medical field? Yes. Think of it as a YA Grey’s Anatomy with a little doctoring and a lot of drama.

Until next time…

adult, ARC, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Five Star Book, Four Star Book, graphic novel, Memoir, Nursing, three star book, two star book, ya

May Wrapup AND June TBR. What?!

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Yall. This month has been CRAZY. I’ve been getting back to the gym. My husband had his wisdom teeth taken out. I have a two year old so that’s crazy.

I’ve gotta carve out more me time somewhere! I also need to read. Its June 9 and I have read a whopping ZERO books this month! Omg.

I am almost done with an ARC from Netgalley that I’m so excited to share with you guys! Its serving YA, contemporary, medical realness and I am in LOVE!
Okay, so maybe I have been watching A LOT of Queer Eye this month and I am OBSESSED. Especially with Jonathan. Be my bff? Please?

Jonathan if he ever sees this post.

ANYWAYS. So May reads.

The Beautiful Brain.
Audible Original.
Four stars for a medical book about CTE and brain injuries. I loved it. Most people probably won’t though, I wouldn’t think. I just look a good medical book.

The Shift.
Four Stars.
I read this in honor of Nurse’s Week that was May 6-12. Its a memoir about a day in the life of a nurse. I loved it. It brought back the feels of being a nurse on the floor I used to have.

Nimona.
3.5 Stars. This is a graphic novel, but I listened to the audio. The audio was good, the actors were good. But I think I would have liked the graphic novel better.

Collective 3 stars for this sci-fi romance series. Each book follows a different alien and his mate. They were good. The romance scenes were spicy. It just didn’t jump out as being over a 3 star.

Aurora Rising.
Oh my.
Definitely my most favorite read of the month and will probably be top 5 for the year.
I am LIVING for Kal. I mean. I want that body. haha!
Plus, I got to talk DnD with Jay Kristoff after our author chat. He is the sweetest, most genuine guy. I love him and want to play DnD with him. Love him. Love this book. Full review to come but just go read it right now.

Caraval.
Four star book.
This was a great book about magic and carnivals and deception. I can’t wait to read the next two installments!

Illuminae.
Five stars.
This was a reread. I read the physical version last year and LOVED the format. It was so interesting and original.
I listened to the audio this month and it may have been better! It was full cast. All the voice actors were amazing. Its a book that I would love to listen as I read along.

Whatever Normal Is.
Two stars.
This was the very first ARC I received.
I loved the cover, but the story was just… not good.

12 Days of Forever.
Three stars.
Typical audio romance. Wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad.

Gemina.
Five Stars.
Book two of the Illuminae files.
AMAZING. Again, I read the physical. The format was amazing. It follows different characters, so I was scared I wouldn’t like them as much. This was not the case.
New book boyfriend in the bad-boy main character.

Standing Sideways.
Four Star.
Full review posted. This was an arc I received and I really loved the way it looked at loss and redemption.

June plan? WHAT June plan?

I’m just trying to read a book, guys. But really, my plan is to read as many ARCs as possible and get caught up. Fingers crossed!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, ya

Standing Sideways ARC Review

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  • Title: Standing Sideways
  • Author: J. Lynn Bailey
  • Book Form: E-Arc
  • Pages: 318
  • Publisher: J. House Publishing
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary
  • Rating: ★★★★

When Livia Stone suddenly loses her twin brother, Jasper, she must learn to navigate her new life alone. As she faces tragedy and starts down a road toward 
self-destruction, Daniel enters Livia’s life—at a moment when she needs it most. 

Standing Sideways is a poignant, relevant, and touching story of survival, courage, and compassion that will have readers crying, laughing, and most of all, debating the issues affecting the lives of parents and teens alike on a journey of hope and forgiveness.

– Goodreads

Wow. May was INSANE. It was my son’s second birthday. My mom moved and had a garage sale. We were just generally much busier than normal. I’m so sad my blog got neglected! My reading did, too. I only read 12 books this month. Eek. But more on that tomorrow, hopefully!

The plan is to do my May wrap up on June 1, then my June plan on June 2! Crossing my fingers.

Alright. Lets get into this review.

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and the publisherfor a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This was such a good read. Although quick, it definitely wasn’t easy. This was definitely a page turner. I kept wanting to read to find out what happened to Livia’s brother and how her life would end up.

Standing Sideways follows the story of Livia, who just lost her twin brother. The better twin, as she says.  You see all had decisions after the death. The bad, and good, decisions. It shows how everyone deals with grief differently. Not all ways are good. 

This book took a few twists and turns. Some parts surprised me. I keep rooting for Livia to make the right decisions and to follow who she ‘used to be’. A bit toward the ending got a little muddled for me, but it ended up nicely!

At the end of the book, I was surprised to learn this is based off a true story. It made it that much more real, heartbreaking, but also joyous. Also— all proceeds of this book go to charity so how great is that?! 

I would definitely recommend this book. It gave me all the feels.

Until next time…

adult, Four Star Book, Memoir, Nursing

The Shift Reveiw

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  • Title: The Shift
  • Author: Theresa Brown, RN
  • Book Form: Ebook
  • Pages: 272
  • Publisher: Algonquin Books
  • Genre: Memoir, Health/Nursing
  • Rating: ★★★★


In a book as eye-opening as it is riveting, practicing nurse and New York Times columnist Theresa Brown invites us to experience not just a day in the life of a nurse but all the life that happens in just one day on a hospital’s cancer ward. In the span of twelve hours, lives can be lost, life-altering medical treatment decisions made, and dreams fulfilled or irrevocably stolen. In Brown’s skilled hands–as both a dedicated nurse and an insightful chronicler of events–we are given an unprecedented view into the individual struggles as well as the larger truths about medicine in this country, and by shift’s end, we have witnessed something profound about hope and healing and humanity.

Every day, Theresa Brown holds patients’ lives in her hands. On this day there are four. There is Mr. Hampton, a patient with lymphoma to whom Brown is charged with administering a powerful drug that could cure him–or kill him; Sheila, who may have been dangerously misdiagnosed; Candace, a returning patient who arrives (perhaps advisedly) with her own disinfectant wipes, cleansing rituals, and demands; and Dorothy, who after six weeks in the hospital may finally go home. Prioritizing and ministering to their needs takes the kind of skill, sensitivity, and, yes, humor that enable a nurse to be a patient’s most ardent advocate in a medical system marked by heartbreaking dysfunction as well as miraculous success.

– Goodreads

So Nurse’s Week is May 6-12. I read this book in honor of Nurse’s Week. And I just love nursing memoirs. It reminds me why I became a nurse, because it’s so easy to forget sometimes.

This follows Theresa Brown, RN through one of her shifts. Just 12 hours. Parts of it my soul remembered, and reminded me why I now have a desk job. Parts of it my soul remembered in a good way, and made me miss patient care. I loved growing close to patients and feeling like I made a difference. I wasn’t as excited about the difficult patients, though.

Theresa works on an oncology ward – cancer and blood diseases. When I was a nurse, I worked medical-surgical (medical illnesses and some surgery post-op). We were right next door to the oncology unit, so I got pulled there frequently. The nurses over there always had the best attitudes and were so friendly, which surprised me since they dealt with cancer daily.

There were some major differences, though. Theresa talks about having four patients and being overwhelmed. If I had four patients, my day was going good, but it would probably go to shit. I routinely had 5-6 patients. Sometimes SEVEN. SEVEN PATIENTS to ONE ME. There is no time to adequately assess seven patients. Theresa talks about her struggles with four.
On that note, did you know California is the ONLY STATE with SAFE nurse/patient ratios? Yeah. When you think your nurse doesn’t care, maybe she doesn’t. Or she may have 7 people she’s trying to keep alive for 12 hours.
NEWSFLASH – If you want better nursing care, we all have to fight for safer nurse/patient ratios, whether you are in healthcare or not. It could be you laying in that bed one day. Would you want your nurse to be looking after you and three others, or you and six others? Yeah, I’ll let you think on that.

Ugh, sorry for that rant. That’s why I left bedside nursing. I currently am in love with my job. But I know I’ll never go back bedside unless safe ratios are established.

Back to the book. Theresa talks about feelings of inadequacy as a nurse. I should have done that sooner. I should have picked up on that. Is there something wrong here, or am I just freaking out? Nursing is STRESSFUL yall. We are the eyes and ears for the doc. The doctor sees them for 5 minutes. We see them for 12 hours. It’s up to us to pick up on anything and everything.

This was such a great read. If you want to know what nurses really do, please read this book. It’s such a realistic view into a day in the life. A life we all chose. A life some regret choosing. It’s hard. It’s emotionally draining. But sometimes, its the most rewarding profession in the world.

Until next time…

fantasy, Historical Fiction, three star book, ya

An Affair of Poisons Review

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  • Title: An Affair of Poisons
  • Author: Addie Thorley
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Pages: 391
  • Publisher: Page Street Kids
  • Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, YA
  • Rating: ★★★.5


No one looks kindly on the killer of a king. 

After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge.

Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half of the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant dauphin. Forced to hide in the sewers beneath the city, Josse’s hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible―until his path collides with Mirabelle’s.

She’s a deadly poisoner. He’s a bastard prince. They are sworn enemies, yet they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed?

– Goodreads

I was so, so excited to read this book. The description was amazing. Then, only on page 1, was this quote:

Today I will kill a man.

– Mirabelle

So I’m like, hell yeah! I’m here for this girl who is so nonchalant about killing. But then, I just couldn’t get into it. I stopped and started this book multiple times throughout the month. It wasn’t that it was bad, it was just … slow.

The action was so slow to build. It took over half the book. But once the action hit, man it hit. Once they started making plans, acting them out, and creating potions for the right reasons, I was here for it! It just took a little too long to get to it.

I loved that it was set in Paris around the time of Versailles. I am in love with that time period in Paris. There was a little French here and there, but not near as much as Enchantee. I loved the premise of this book. A girl making potions for a society who gets caught up in things she doesn’t agree with, so she decides to make a change. Yes, please. It sounds amazing. I just think it took a little too long to get there.

Up until the end, I wasn’t invested in the characters. I didn’t care who lived or died. The last like, 25% though really changed my mind. But that’s a lot of book to get through before you start caring.

If you like old Paris, poisons, and political unrest, give this book a try. Maybe it will suck you in from the beginning. I hope it does, because the ending was great.

Until next time…

adult, Five Star Book, Humor, Memoir

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told Review

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  • Title: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
  • Author: Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman
  • Book Form: Audio
  • Pages: 269
  • Publisher: Dutton
  • Genre: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir
  • Rating: ★★★★★


At last, the full story behind Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman’s epic romance, including stories, portraits, and the occasional puzzle, all telling the smoldering tale that has fascinated Hollywood for over a decade. 

The year: 2000. The setting: Los Angeles. A gorgeous virtuoso of an actress had agreed to star in a random play, and a basement-dwelling scenic carpenter had said he would assay a supporting role in the selfsame pageant. At the first rehearsal, she surveyed her fellow cast members, as one does, determining if any of the men might qualify to provide her with a satisfying fling. Her gaze fell upon the carpenter, and like a bolt of lightning, the thought struck her: No dice. Moving on.

Yet, unbeknownst to our protagonists, Cupid had merely set down his bow and picked up a rocket launcher. Then fired a love rocket (not a euphemism). The players were Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, and the resulting romance, once it ignited, was . . . epic. Beyond epic. It resulted in a coupling that has endured to this day; a sizzling, perpetual tryst that has captivated the world with its kindness, athleticism, astonishingly low-brow humor, and true (fire emoji) passion.

How did they do it? They came from completely different families, endured a significant age difference, and were separated by the gulf of several social strata. Megan loved books and art history; Nick loved hammers. But much more than these seemingly unsurpassable obstacles were the values they held in common: respect, decency, the ability to mention genitalia in almost any context, and an abiding obsession with the songs of Tom Waits.

Eighteen years later, they’re still very much in love, and have finally decided to reveal the philosophical mountains they have conquered, the lessons they’ve learned, and the myriad jigsaw puzzles they’ve completed, in a book. Featuring anecdotes, hijinks, interviews, photos, and a veritable grab bag of tomfoolery, this is not only the intoxicating book that Mullally’s and Offerman’s fans have been waiting for, it might just hold the solution to the greatest threat facing our modern world: the single life

– Goodreads

Okay guys. This book!!! I was so in love. I’ve been a huge Nick Offerman fan for a while now so I loved learning about his real life. I’ve never seen Will and Grace (I know, shame) but Megan was so funny and instantly pulled me in. I listened to the audio, which I fully recommend. It’s so funny to hear their back and forth banter and plethora of sex jokes.

This is a book about, well, the greatest love story ever told. It takes you from when Nick met Megan, their dating, their wedding, and how they manage to stay in love when other Hollywood couples fail.

I love learning the things they do to stay connected with one another. They take you through this journey in such a funny way. I just loved learning about them.

One downside to the audio was you couldn’t see the section of pictures that comes with the print book. Obviously. But never fear! Nick and Meagan hilariously describe the pictures to you. Sure, it’s not the same as looking at them, but it gave me a good laugh.

If you are a fan of Parks and Rec or Will and Grace, you should read this book. Or listen, that’s probably even better. It shows the love these two still have for one another. They are great #relationshipgoals

Until next time…

adult, Romance, three star book

One of the Guys Review

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  • Title: One of the Guys
  • Author: Delaney Diamond
  • Book Form: Audio
  • Pages: 194
  • Publisher: Garden Avenue Press
  • Rating: ★★★.5


Mechanic Ronnie Taylor spends most of her time with men. As such, she’s always been tough, but Diego Molina makes her feel the opposite of tough. The big Cuban is brash, bold, and gets under her skin. She finally has to admit the reason he annoys her isn’t because she dislikes him. It’s because she likes him a little too much.

When Diego turns the tables on Ronnie, he uncovers the sensual woman hiding underneath. But past regrets threaten to derail their new relationship. Before they can get to forever, they must trust that they’ve found what they’ve been looking for all along.

– Goodreads

I was apparently on a romance kick last month.

This was a good read. I loved that Ronnie – Veronica – was a mechanic. She was a strong female character, but she also had some baggage. She seemed super cool with a shaved head and a no-one-cares attitude.

Diego was relentless, though. He had a longing for Ronnie for as long as he had known her. He finally was able to convince her to give their relationship a try. Ronnie was, of course, into it. I also loved that Diego was into Ronnie since she’s not a girly girl. I loved he was into her shaved head. So when she did dress up for him it was a wowza moment.

This wasn’t just a blow your mind romance novel. The spicy scenes were good. I liked the progression of the romance. I am looking forward to reading more of Delaney’s books in the future!

Until next time…

adult, Erotica, Romance, three star book

Yield: Emily & Damon Review

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  • Title: Yield: Emily & Damon
  • Author: Lilia Moon
  • Book Form: Audio
  • Pages: 246
  • Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Genre: Erotica, Romance, Adult
  • Rating: ★★★.5


Emily Madigan is Seattle’s best wedding planner. Her superpower is managing a thousand details without dropping a single one, and her deepest desire is an hour-long bubble bath and a foot rub. 

Until her newest clients want to get married at a BDSM club. 

Damon Black owns Fettered. He’s proud of who he is and what he does, and nothing scares him – until two of his favorite people want to get married at the place where they fell in love, no matter how many spanking benches they have to move out of the way to do it. 

Damon knows as soon as he lays eyes on Emily that she doesn’t belong in his world. A quick tour of his club will prove it. 

Except it doesn’t…

– Goodreads

This is the only way to describe this book. Hot. I was listening at work and oh man, at parts I knew I was blushing.

Emily is good. She’s put together, wears dresses with matching floral shoes. She’s everything a BDSM club is not. Then she meets Damon.

Of course, she instantly falls for him. Realizes somehow she’s turned on by all the BDSM play while walking through the club, then gets thrown into a world she’s scared of but excited by.

Damon agrees to a 24 hour contract to show her what it’s all about. Once the 24 hours are over, they are over. No more. But it never works that way, does it?

The main thing I liked about this book was the focus on consent. Damon takes pride in making sure his club is safe. That carries over to Emily too. He explains everything. Let’s her know she can opt out at any time. Has safewords in place. But over and over throughout the book, they mention consent consent consent. I think that’s very important for a novel with content such as this one.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a typical at-first-sight romance. It got points added for consent. If you want an easy read/listen, this is a good choice.

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, graphic novel, Sci-Fi, ya

May Plan

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WOW! May already. This year is flying by with Book Battle! Here are my 15 planned reads for next month! Not including the random audios I will find on scribd.

As you can see, a lot of Jay Kristoff this month, since he is coming to chat with Book Battle May 21! Also a lot of space, since our theme is Space: The New Frontier!

Sadie is the only audio I know I am going to read. I’m also tempted to get Aurora Rising in audio, but we will see. There’s also eight ARCs listed! I hope I can stick to my TBR this month! I’m excited about it!

Also, notice the nurse book! Nurse’s Week is May 6-12 so Kahla included a nurse prompt for me! I’m super excited about it, too!

Until next time…