Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 121

Debonair Dyke by Roxy Harte

This was a very eye-opening book for someone who has never read about transgender issues before. It introduced me to a new world as far as the difficulties a person of transgender gender faces on a daily basis: how people perceive them, judge them, treat them, the rude questions. I mean, on some level, I know life isn't peachy for them, but just how far it is taken wasn't clear to me.


Danni left small town Kansas to get away from the hate and rules that were holding her back from being her. She lives the high-life in NYC, taking a new woman or women to bed every night by night and doing the college/speech/educating thing by day. Her goal in life seems to be 1. getting laid and 2. educating the rest of the world about transgender studies, etc.
But then she's called back to Kansas for her ill father, and it all comes crashing down, or does it? Maybe she was called there for a reason.
Enter gossip, hate crimes, discrimination, love, and self doubt. Run the garage? Date Jessica? Make a stand? Stay in po-dunk, hateful Kansas where she doesn't feel she can be herself or go back to NYC where she can? But can she leave some things behind? After all, one has to go back and face the trouble to heal from it, right?
"I've studied, I've theorized, I've lectured, I've educated. I'm seeing it now. Just now. That was all practice runs. This is the real deal. This is the part of the world that I need to be talking to, educating, changing."
She stays and she makes a difference, but like anything that really makes an impact, it's not easy. A shocking secret is revealed in the end, a misunderstanding is corrected, and though it has a happy ending, it's clear the path isn't paved in gold for Danni or Jessica.
The story really resonated with me for many reasons and it was incredibly well-written. I do have one quibble though. Two. 1. I didn't really get the strap on. I've never read a book in which a woman wore a strap on and will be the first to admit I'm ignorant and a poor judge, but what really confused me was Jessica. She couldn't be with Danni at first because of the strap on ("I don't like boys.") so her suddenly begging for it the second time around was strange and unexplained. I felt there was something psychological there I was missing. My second quibble: I felt all the women constantly throwing themselves at Danni was odd and slightly preposterous. It was instant. Immediate. I mean, just saunter into the garage, tear your pants off, and beg her to you know...immediate. *arches brow*
Four stars.

Have Books Turned Your Brain?

There was a time they said this...

[image error]Pendant bought from Jewelry Designs by Lula
Thoughts? Yes, I had to buy this... :)

Becoming Clementine by Jennifer Niven

Blurb:
After delivering a B-17 Flying Fortress to Britain, an American volunteers to copilot a plane carrying special agents to their drop spot over Normandy. Her personal mission: to find her brother, who is missing in action. Their plane is shot down, and only she and five agents survive. Now they are on the run for their lives.

As they head to Paris, the beautiful aviatrix Velva Jean Hart becomes Clementine Roux, a daring woman on an epic adventure with her team to capture an operative known only as "Swan." Once settled on Rue de la Néva, Clementine works as a spy with the Resistance and finds herself falling in love with her fellow agent, Émile, a handsome and mysterious Frenchman with secrets of his own. When Clementine ends up in the most brutal prison in Paris, trying to help Émile and the team rescue Swan, she discovers the depths of human cruelty, the triumph of her own spirit, and the bravery of her team, who will stop at nothing to carry out their mission.


Review:
Absolutely loved book two, Velva Jean Learns to Fly and so was super excited about this. So excited I broke my price rule and spent 9.99 on the Kindle edition.


But...if you're expecting lots of flying, you'll be disappointed. The story starts with her landing in England, then she crashes a plane and later steals a plane, but most of the book is her acting like a spy. I say "acting" cause really, she doesn't any real spying. I'll get to that.

She crashes in France, which in under the Germans so she's in enemy territory. Still searching for her brother, she insists on joining the resistance. She's mighty brave. I still love her. She ends up in Paris and has all these Resistance friends, even a French lover, but despite being surrounded by these people and making big plans, she does nothing.

She wears fancy lipstick, eats a map, PLANS to save a girl from prison, but gets arrested herself, wears knife bobby pins, but really, never once does she deliver pertinent information to anyone, just runs around with the Resistance. She can't even take credit for saving the girl in the end, because she didn't bomb the train and Eleanor is capable of escaping herself.

It's isn't until the very end of the book that Velva Jean aka Clementine does something worthwhile. Though I must give her credit for not caving under interrogation.

The beginning and ending was great, but the middle really dragged for me. As I said, she just runs around with these important people and spends time in prison.

So compared to Learns to Fly, it didn't wow me. But then again, that was more up my alley as I love aviation.

Three stars.

Ruff Love by Deadra Krieger

If you only buy one book this year, make this one. It will make you laugh, cry, gasp in surprise, chuckle, and you just may learn something too, about animal rescue, about caring for a rescued pet, about ruff love.


First, I want to share this bit from the beginning of the book:

"The stories within this book are all true accounts. Each and every single tale within this book is the story of an animal adopted out during my time with Kat's Kennel and Rescue. The majority of the profits generated from this book will be donated to said rescue as a gesture of thanks for the inspiration I received while working there and as a way to help keep the home fires burning."

Now, a bit about the stories.

There's a horse, lots of cats, a turtle, and as can be expected, plenty of dogs. Each story made me feel a different emotion.

I cried over the German Shepard and the wheelchair. (I think that one is my favorite of all.)

I chuckled over the chocolate lab and the pilot.

I gasped at the cats and the snakes. (Sadly, not all these tales are happy, but that's life, and having pets is a very REAL thing and responsibility  I love how this author tells us the good and the bad. Animal abuse should not be swept under the rug.)

I felt the author's frustration over the man who said "come get them or they'll be in my swimming pool, learning to sink or swim." *not a direct quote*

I clapped with glee over the Shitzu with seizures. (No, I'm not being mean. You read it for yourself and you'll see why I ended up happy.)

I hooted about the cat that was "spent enough time being mistaken for a female."

Mint to Be....OMG. If there's one story that is both happy and sad, this one is it. I was not aware of the symptoms of bleach poisoning and this chapter not only made my heart ache, but educated me. Thankfully, I am not a bleach user.

Every single pet, every single story, happy or sad, really touched me in some way.

I'd also like to quote another food for thought from the book. This is especially important for those of you who have balked at having your pets spayed or neutered: It is cheaper to have your pet spayed than it is to let them have litters every year.

It's a short read with a huge wallop. Though I read it in an hour, the stories will stay with me for a lifetime. As I said before, if there's one book you buy this year...

Five stars. And I'd like to end this with one last quote.

"A rescued animal who has been through a situation of abuse or neglect requires more than an animal who hasn't."

Have heart. Those of you living close enough to Illinois, considering contacting Kat's Kennel either to donate or check out their pets available for adoption. http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IL236.html

My Mother's Story

Many years ago, my mother hand breast cancer. I will never forget seeing the words on my VCO phone and the fear that struck my heart. I remember telling myself to stay calm, to merely sound supportive, not panicked. That's what my mother needed, to know I would be okay. Because that's a mother's first concern: her child.
My mother survived and when the trauma and radiation was over and years went by, she told me her main worry was what I would do, how I would react, who would take care of me if she didn't make it. Even though we were miles apart, she supported me in so many ways.
And she told me how the relay operator said, "I'm so sorry" before relaying the message to my Voice Carry Over.
This touched me all over again and when I heard about anthologies seeking donations of stories about surviving cancer, I wrote Telling Tatiana. In a way, it's my mother's story. I changed names, but kept the basic story, the sister, the fish tank, the fear and thoughts she had. I also eliminated the VCO phone though as it required more explanation than I was willing to put in a short story, and this isn't about my hearing impairment, but my mother.
Anyway, I'm pleased to say the story in an anthology put together by Dawn Colclasure. You can download a copy here. Profits are being donated to an organization that helps children of cancer patients.
And here is an excerpt from my story:
“Ella, come on back here.” Dr. Smith’s voice was gentle as he waved me through the door. I looked back to my sister who slowly stood from the chair, wincing as the skin on her legs unglued itself from the plastic. All three of us filed down a long hallway with pictures of mountains and calming rivers and creeks adorning the walls. I was surprised when he led us not to an exam room, but an office with a cluttered desk and two chairs facing it. A fish tank full of exotic fish stood where most doctors would have a shelf of books.              Shit. This can’t be good. I borrowed some of my sister’s vocabulary as I sat down in one of the chairs. Bethany sat next to me and mumbled something about wearing shorts to doctor’s offices. I gripped the sides of my own chair and offered Dr. Smith a weak smile.            “Ella,” he adjusted his tie nervously, “Dr. Cole called today regarding the spot on your mammogram.” I felt Bethany’s hand over my own. I felt a tightening in my chest and had a sudden shortness of breath. I’m going to die of a heart attack only to find out the spot was nothing. Sorry, Tatiana.            I nodded at the doctor to continue, struggling to appear calm. My hands were not shaking here either. He cleared his throat and his blue eyes met my own. “It’s cancer.”            The world went black. I couldn’t breathe. Bethany gasped. I heard an “oh no!” but I’m unsure if it came from me or from her. How do I tell Tatiana?


Thank you for your time. Is there someone in your life who has survived? Give them a hug today. Seriously.

Empowering Girls Through Clothing

I first found out about this company on Yahoo a few weeks ago. I was immediately impressed by the story. To quote the Yahoo article...

"...instead of venting to his friends or vowing not to buy the shirt, the single dad decided to do something about it."

Let's backtrack. The dad is Kevin Wagstaff. The shirt that offended him into action said "I'm Too Pretty To Do My Homework So My Brother Has To Do It For Me." 

Now, me, I would have ranted, raved, FB'd my outrage, but never would I have thought of making my own T-shirt company to retaliate and make a difference. HUGE thumbs up to this guy who created a line of T-shirts that EMPOWER GIRLS, rather than puts them down or belittles them.

I immediately bought a shirt. You can buy yours too. Here's the site: (Also, 10 percent of every purchase this month goes to Hurricane Sandy victims.)
https://keiraskollection.com/



Keira is his daughter and the inspiration. Even if you don't want a shirt, just read the quotes and be inspired. The one I bought says Be Strong, Be Inspired, Be Present. I put it on right away and reminded myself to be strong, be inspired, be present the entire time I wore it. I even wore my shirt to vote.

I'm also impressed with a quote another Yahoo article led me to: "There's nothing wrong with being girly," Melissa Wardy (owner of Pigtail Pals, another empower girls clothing collection designer) says. "I'm not anti-pink. I'm not anti-princess. I'm anti-limitations." 

I just had to share.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Caitlyn McCollum

Book: The Fire of Thieves
Author: Chacelyn Pierce
Heroine: Caitlyn McCollum


Thank you Tara for allowing me to be a part of Strong is Sexy. I'd like to introduce readers to the heroine from my debut book, The Fire of Thieves. Caitlyn McCollum is a woman that wants to make the right decisions, even among the wrong ones. Caitlyn is a trained thief, and she has stolen millions of dollars in artifacts all over the world with her ex, Jerrick. When things became rocky in their relationship, she started living an alternate life as Katie Summerly, an art dealer and average girlfriend to a guy named Ethan. It a life she's come to crave for herself, even if that choice means losing her first love, Jerrick. Caitlyn is strong because she knows what she wants and she's resolute about her decision to cut all ties to her bad lifestyle away. That's a tough choice, given all the situations that come into play for making it. But she's strong for believing in herself to complete such a difficult task.The sexy side of Caitlyn truly comes out when she's thieving, once her adrenaline gets pumping, she's in her element. Even if it's one she wants to leave. Her determination and surety causes her to be independent and cunning when on a heist. She doesn't necessarily need help and she does things her own way.
So I hope you would like to read Caitlyn's story, for more visit my website: http://www.chacelynpierce.com
Blurb Caitlyn McCollum and Katie Summerly have radically different lives. Caitlyn is a jet-setting thief, traveling the world with the handsome, uncompromising Jerrick. Katie curates art exhibits and just moved in with Ethan, her dependable new boyfriend. Katie and Caitlyn are two sides of the same woman, sharing a single heart with separate yearnings. Caitlyn lives for the adrenaline rush of her secret life, the passionate nights she shares with Jerrick, and her unyielding dedication to her first love. Katie wants a simple life with Ethan, free of Jerrick's manipulations and emotional distance. Her heart must choose or risk losing both men. Yet, as her last adventure unfolds, Caitlyn finds that love itself is the price of her final heist.
Scene from The Fire of ThievesThis was the first time she'd seen Jerrick so bent out of shape. Was he was concerned about her? Had he been worried she wouldn't make it out? Or was he fighting the need to join her heist and take over like he used to? The tense shoulders and stance screamed worry. She smirked and shook her head at her idiotic thoughts. Jerrick seldom fretted about anyone but himself. It was one of the things that had driven her away all those years ago."You ran a bit over your timeframe," he said dispassionately and took a sip of scotch. He turned to give her an irritated stare, no doubt for her sloppy time management. His pale gray eyes, which had spellbound so many others, tried to pierce an angry hole through her. She'd seen that glower so much over the years; it barely worked its magic on her. The statement bothered her, as Jerrick had a few guys that could've run the job just as she did, but the security of the place needed someone light to climb the walls. He'd called her, unexpectedly and out-of-the-blue, interrupting her life as usual.He was about to continue his lecture  but Caitlyn sighed, cutting his next words off, mainly because she'd heard it all a time or two before. "I don't need your lectures tonight. I did this because you needed someone small to scale the wall. If you don't like how I do my jobs, don't ask me again… ever." She laid the satchel with the Egyptian brooch on the coffee table and sat on the designer sofa. His gaze drifted from her down to the velvety pouch. He smiled, obviously pleased, showing his perfect teeth. That smile tugged at her heart even from behind the wall she'd built around it. His smile always had affected her powerfully.Against her mental warnings, she took everything about him in. Absorbing the now flawed form, wholly different from his typically well-maintained appearance. Still gorgeous, even disheveled, she made herself glance away from Jerrick as he moved closer to the coffee table.He ran a hand through his dark brown hair, which she noticed had gathered more salt and pepper at the temples. She thought the look suited him, made him appear more reserved. But then, Jerrick had always looked stunning for a thirty-nine-year-old man. He had the muscular body of a young twenty-something. His lethal physique was diamond-cut, sharp from working out and eating healthily, and fatal to her good sense.

Silent Weapon by Debra Webb

I wanted to like this book...you got a deaf woman wanting to prove she doesn't need pampering and can still work an elite career. She works with files/cold cases and after she apprehends a bad guy on her vacation, just from  using tricks and knowledge, she's offered a task and a chance to prove herself: pose as a deaf maid in a leading mob boss's household.

She ends up with two men attracted to her, a little girl stealing her heart, and semi sex on the laundry room floor.

But a couple of things bothered me.

This book was published in 2005, and I being a deaf woman myself, would like to know how the heroine came across this magical, fabulous cell phone she uses. Was I just not rich enough? Are they super expensive and only available to the elite? Because in those days, I had to call a relay operator and say "go ahead" after I spoke to let the operator know to switch plugs or whatever, then the operator would type what the other person said onto a screen. But a phone that just has some kind of built in operator? No...

Second of all, I didn't appreciate this:

"It wasn't possible that two men would be attracted to me. I was handicapped, for Christ's sake. What did I have to offer anyone?"

Feelings like that are normal in high school, not at 28. I was taken aback by this attitude and though we do at times struggle with self confidence, twenty-eight  years old should know better and for some reason, this was a slap in the face to me. I tried to chalk up to the heroine only being deaf one year, but it bothered me.

Between all this and the just...over predictability and the endless fluctuating of the heroine over "good guy or bad guy? I don't know" and the sexual awareness I didn't really feel as well as constantly being reminded it'd been over two years... I had lots of trouble with this book.

I think the mystery was okay and there were enough intense moments to keep me intrigued and I give the author thumbs up for attempting this so three stars.

I bought this book on Kindle.

Tuesday Tales: Word Prompt: Sexy

So, I'm part of a new group called Tuesday Tales, and every Tuesday, we post a flash fiction piece or a scene in our WIP using a specific word. There's going to be picture prompts too, but one thing at a time. LOL This Tuesday, the word prompt was SEXY. And as I'm currently writing a young adult novel, it just didn't fit in my WIP, but another idea took me entirely. Here it is. I hope it touches you.

Will he still love me? was her first thought when she looked in the mirror, naked, for the first time since her surgery.
She’d been avoiding it long enough—two weeks. At some point, she had to face herself and then the world. Having gone to the doctor’s office that morning to have the stitches removed didn’t count as facing the world.
When she went back to work, when she began doing the groceries again, when she went to her book club meeting, she’d be facing the world.
What would they say?
She’d been able to gently wash the area and had winced as it was a bit swollen and tender, but Dr. Mendelson had told her she’d healed nicely. She’d had none of the complications that often arouse from this type of surgery.
“You are very lucky,” he’d said. “No fluid buildup, no tightness between arm and shoulder, no blood clot or infection. Very lucky!” He’d placed his hand gently on her shoulder and patted her, as though she were a dog.
He’d meant well, but he didn’t understand. She wasn’t worried about blood clots or fluid—though she should be.
Will he still love me?
She gulped around the hard knot in her throat and watched as one-by-one, water drops trailed down the bathroom mirror and bit-by-bit, the fog hiding her from view dissolved into water. At first she saw only an eyeball—hers—and then her dark brow above it, soon her cheek and neckline as well.
Almost too soon, her entire upper body was visible to her own gaze. She shivered from the water drying on her own skin, from the water making lazy and cold trails down her flesh, dripping from the tips of her hair, over her shoulders, down her flat chest.
Soon, tears mingled with the remnants of her shower, running down her cheeks.With a shaky hand, she touched herself, touched the angry red slashes where her breasts used to be, where the stitches had been removed.
So ugly.
She raised her chin and looked in the mirror, fighting the quivering of her chin.If she placed her hair just so…
Quickly, she grabbed her wet tresses, dividing her hair in the middle, and placed the locks over each side of her sternum.
It was long enough to cover her empty cavities. It trailed down her chest, almost reached her belly button. She didn’t look half bad now.
She allowed herself a tremulous smile, blinked the tears from her eyes.
“Darling, how do you feel today? Are the meds still making you tired?” His voice surprised her. She hadn’t been aware he’d entered the bathroom, but there he stood, right behind her. She gasped and saw her eyes widen in the bathroom mirror.
“I… I feel okay,” she answered hesitantly and glanced quickly around for her towel—something, anything.
And then he took his hands, cupped her long dark hair, and twined his fingers in her wet locks. He pulled her hair behind her back—undoing her oh-so-careful placement!—and placed a kiss on the nape of her neck.
“I love you,” he murmured. “You are so sexy.” He placed his chin on her bare shoulder, her red slashes clearly visible to them both—and winked at her in the mirror.Her lips parted with surprise, but before she could protest, he was gone, having imparted one last kiss where his chin had just rested.
She touched the nape of her neck and then trailed her fingers to her shoulder. Her flesh tingled where his lips had touched.
Her lips curled up in a smile then.
“You’re very, very lucky,” the doctor had said.
Yes, I am.
The other Tuesday Tales are HERE. Please be sure to see what the other incredibly talented writers in my group came up with. Thank you for letting me share this story with you.

Irresistible Impulse by Nona Raines

This is a short erotic romance. It's sexy, to the point, not overly descriptive, but gives you just enough. I like that in a story. I prefer it over books that don't know when the heck to end. LOL

Two women for reasons of their own are at a speed dating event. There's only three men--three unappetizing men--and a gaggle of women. Tania and Latisha end up leaving with each other. Simple as that, right?

Wrong.

Tania is all in, but treading carefully. She thinks Latisha is interested, but if she pushes the woman too far... Latisha is sending mixed signals. Another woman hurt her once before. She pushes Tania away before the night is over...and there won't be another chance...

The ending throws a surprise twist at readers. I liked it. I'll just say that these chicks don't stand around and wait for men to save them. :)

I think there could have been more build up. After all, they just meet each other and suddenly, it love, but it being a short, I understand.

Four stars. I got this from Sizzling PR in exchange for an honest review.