Monique S.'s Blog, page 22

La vie en rose?

The Passing of Little Tough Guy by Adrienne Nash

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you want tto get some insight into what might go on in the mind of a male to female transgender teen, this is a very mild story, a bit of an idealised Fary-tale version by comparison to what some I know experienced.

Nevertheless it accurately describes the issues, that, usually in a much darker version, haunt trans teens.

As it is it is a pleasurable read with a happy ever after possibility as an end, but a very rose coloured view on the life of a male to female transgender teen, who finds acceptance and love with a girljust a little older and lesbian.

I know from experience that the sexual orientation may or may not change with the female hormones, for me, like the main character here, it didn't, so, there the story is true to reality.

In all it is a nice story about the coming off age of a trans teen and thus is a true YA book.



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An entertaining read

Not My Choice by Aria Storm

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Not my choice wasn’t all that easy to get into. Comments had said it can be read as a stand-alone and it can, but be prepared to be puzzled by the diction of the narrative of the main character, Beth, and the sometimes not quite clear changes of perspective, that at one or two places seemed just to be editing errors. I am not eve sure yet if they were or not.

I actual fact the plot would also make a wonderful Marvel comic with a completely new group of super-heroines. It is a rather gripping read in its present form anyway and very entertaining, even though the sweetness of the romance drastically contrasts the extreme sexual tension between Beth and her unlikely love interest.

In total it was a good read, for it to gain 5 stars from me though, it would have had to have a little more base in reality.



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Well worth the read.

Don't Tell Me Twice by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After contacting Nicole my initial resevations were resolved. It is an unfortunate coincidence that the cover image was previously used for another lesbian romance set in the music industry, which proves that it pays as an indie author to buy the rights to your cover image outright.

The story is well told and keeps you reading from start to finish. The romance clear cut and life-like for most of us. It is difficult to trust again after a betrayal by someone you well and truly loved.

The dangers of craving admiration and the all too present drugs of today in the stressful competition for stardom are well described and resolved with a hopeful end.

I am looking forward to reading part two and three.



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Poll A crazy little thing called YA

Poll

Who of you in the group "A Crazy Little Thing Called YA" would like to participate in a September keyword challenge?
Please post keyword ideas under the poll.

I 'd like to take part
Nah, not enough time
Not interested
WOW, YEAH, will we do groups again please?
Love it! can I help?

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A slight disappointment

Kidnapped Hearts by Morgan Elliot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




The blurb tempted me instantly and the plot, over all, makes for a gripping read on both fronts, the romance and the suspense. I enjoyed this book pretty much until the end, with just one criticism, but that really tainted the experience for me.

Almost everything in this story could happen or have happened in reality. That is the kind of story I like most, so what was the problem?

Attention:SPOILER!!!!!

While the whole story could have done really well without this one flaw and would have made a GREAT book, the authors did something I, had I been the editor, would have urgently advised them to edit out. It makes absolutely no sense at all, to turn an otherwise plausible and credible human villain into, were this a comic, I’d say a Mad-Scientist super-villain during the show down.

(End of spoiler)

The romance is nice and all too credible, the tension at the end almost too much, but the end is more than just satisfying. In all it still was a good read, don’t get me wrong, but real life scenarios should stay at least close to reality, so a weak four starts where there could have been a solid five from me.



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An amazing read!

Risk: Three Crime-fighting Women RISK All for Love, Lust and Justice.: A Lesbian Fiction Thriller by Sam Skyborne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I do write myself and have tried my hand at a crime story mixed with romance, too. It is not an easy task. Sam shows here how it can be done to not only excel in both, the crime and the romance bit, but also throw in some wonderful friendships for both the ladies who need to get to know themselves.

I like the way how in the beginning they are characterised by their actions towards one another, before the plot throws them into situations, in which they cannot help but to grow out of their emotional rut and become more of who they truly are. There is a lot of kind insight into all sorts of denial and while the case develops so do the protagonists.

The crime plot is cleverly constructed, drawing its tension more from intrigue than from actual physical danger, like I do in my stories, but it is very effective, I finished this in one go. Great work, Sam.



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Just what I needed!

I have read some of Clare Lydon’s romances before as well as other’s, age gap lesbian romances always being of interest to me. Actually I have a couple already in my favourite list. This one takes the cake, though!

The combined styles of TB Markinson and Clare make for a great read, a lovely setting, that reminded me a lot of the seaside resort, where I learned my English at thirteen in a student exchange: Lowestoft. It did not at all surprise me, that the location wasn’t entirely fiction, but based on another seaside resort from the same time and also on the east coast towards the North Sea, next to which I grew up on in Hamburg. I had no problem to imagine everything about Sandy Cove.

The Dialogues are brilliantly written and more often that not cause a smile or a laugh, even when the plot seems to be going a dark route. Knowing both authors one can be sure the two heroines will overcome the difficulties. [Spoiler alert!] The sizzeling hot attraction is too strong for either to let go completely of the other and, given the incredible sex they share on top of everything else, it is clear that they are meant for each other. All they need to finally do is let it happen.[end spoiler]

If you’re after a heart warming, well written and interesting plot for your summer read, this is for you.

nice variation on a well used trope

Perspective by Monica McCallan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Were it not for the inventive variation the otherwise pretty overworked trope would not have worked for me, but this is a well worked, well written and inventive seconnd chance lesbian romance.

Sloane and Campbell are two girls, who should have grown up long ago, but are struggling not only with their sexuality but also their lack of self steem, not to speak of the fear they have of feeling love or of being loved. So here we accompany two girls who pretend to be adult about things but sabotage themselves and another by letting their unwarranted panic rule their reactions.

So in a way, even though both charaters are in their mid thirties, I'd call this a coming off age story.
The characters are well developed and appear authentic, even when it is clear, that all is entirely fictional. The heavy stuff is kept to the background, making it a rather lighter read than the fitional MC, author Campbell, would have written, if the hints at the movies storyline are any indication.

In all it is a nicely entertaining book, even it sometimes is hard not to cringe reading another unnecessary fear twisted thought ruining the moment for both women.



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mind boggling story

Marée funèbre by Anne Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was another example of Mme. Perry's ability to write enthralling historical mystery stories, but also of the incredible translations of Florence Bertand.

Since I write books in English (UK) myself I usually read books by Anglophone authors in the original language. The William Monk series is the only exception due to the fact, that I so greatly admire Mme. Bertrand's work. I read the first of the series en Français and only a couple of days later I could not remember the language I had read it in, but the oh so typical atmosphere of England and it's stories based in Victorian times. Then, when I looked for further books in the public library I only found them in French, no wonder, since I live in Brittany.

That was the start of my love for this series and yes, I have read all of the books in French. In this one Anne Perry follows her usual storyline after a fashion and yet not. This book contains more emotional trouble for the protagonists, William Monk, his wife Hester and their friend Oliver Rathbone than most of the previous volumes and even though the true culprit should be obvious almost from the start, the author manages to lead her readers astray until the end. Even though I was sure I had clocked the villain she managed to make me doubt my instinct just as much as her characters theirs, the actual crime is just so deviously constructed it boggles the mind.

No more spoilers, if you like Anne Perry's writing as much as I do, you will most certainly not be able to put this down before your eyes fall shut with exhaustion, it is THAT good.



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Not a light read

95310720
My rating ****
review Aug 05, 2020

Miracle Girl isn’t a cosy romance and I am starting to doubt, whether it is actually possible to write one with the setting being the corporate world. It is not a bad book, mind you, but there is much pain, that is all too close to the real world to feel comfortable with.

TB’s writing is excellent, the characters are well defined and the story is almost too real, yet not even the love scenes can help over the sad life choices of the lead character due to her insecurity. Nothing unusual, especially if you’re young and strive to succeed in a cut-throat corporate business.

Of course it doesn’t help, that I had to watch people I liked break over the same issues as JJ and in the same fashion, only forty years ago now and in the music industry. So, even though it is a really good book, I was not able to enjoy it. But that should not keep you from reading it, but be prepared to shed some tears over JJ’s story.