Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 64

What Makes a Woman Strong? What Makes Her Sexy? A Rant About Misconceptions.

Yes, she's strong...Image courtesy of Marin/ FreeDigitalPhotos.netI'm perturbed. Yes, I guess I'm having a rant. It's been a while, eh? And it being International Women's Day, today seems a good time as any to have this rant. 

But I'm seriously troubled. Over a year and a half ago, I started Strong is Sexy. I featured women of the past and heroines of the week--which you've seen a lot more of.

I edited an anthology called HerStory , featuring brief looks at women, brief moments in different women's lives from all walks of life and eras of our history. Yes, they were SHORT stories; yes, they felt like excerpts, because that's how I wanted them! BRIEF LOOKS INTO THEIR LIVES.

I digress. The point is, when I made the call-out for this anthology, I said, STRENGTH COMES IN MANY FORMS.

Being a woman requires strength and a woman's strength comes in many forms.

There were women who immigrated, faced the unknown, striving to give their children a better life. There were women who picketed the White House and were thrown in prison, merely for wanting to have a say in government. There were women who stood by king and country to help wage wars, fighting for either their religion or their people. There were women who quietly refused to move from buses to break the "color barrier." There were women who wrote poems, inciting revolutions that would be an inspiration for generations to come.

Without these women, you wouldn't be here. Each one, whether she fought with words or with swords helped make this world possible for you. She faced down adversity for YOU. She earned rights and made waves and got that vote for YOU.

But I failed in my mission. I failed to convey this. Terribly. A year and a half later, I get emails from authors that say, "I don't think you'll like my book. It's not a strong heroine."
"Um, why not? What's wrong with her?" I ask.
"Well, she isn't wielding a sword. She's not kick-ass."
First of all, I appreciate a sword-fighting heroine very much, but as I said above, STRENGTH COMES IN MANY FORMS. When my mother fought breast cancer and won, she was strong. When my grandmother left an abusive home and made her own family, she was strong. When my aunt went to work every day and faced discrimination against women, she was strong. When I went fought for the right to wear my hearing aid at work, win or lose, that took a lot of strength from me. 
None of them or myself had a sword.
And so is this woman...
Image courtesy of Praisaeng / FreeDigitalPhotos.netI see many strong women in books. I say, it takes a lot gumption to write a forbidden poem that cites a revolution and gets you exiled from your country. It takes courage to face each day in a society that beats women, to attend school when you know you'll be pummeled with rocks and ridicule for your trouble. It takes guts to call of a wedding to a man your family expects you to marry. It takes a ton of strength to sit by a sick child and show them you love and support them. How many women every day hold in their own emotions just to be strong for their loved ones?
Do I love kick-ass heroines? You bet I do, but I also see strength in all kinds of novels. I see strength in women every day.
And while I'm on the subject, what makes a woman sexy? I failed in this too. Too many authors still think by sexy I mean tits and ass. "My heroine has a great body..."
That's not what I mean by sexy at all.
Your heroine could have an ass the size of a brick house and be sexy. (I have no problem with asses the sizes of brick houses. I just didn't know how else to convey what I'm trying to say here.)
Why? It's what is INSIDE that really makes a woman sexy. Is she confident? Does she love who she is? Does she have compassion?
Show me a movie-starlet lookalike half naked, sticking out her tongue, strutting in a tight dress--whatever. I don't care. That's not sexy.
Show me a "normal" woman with tired but kind eyes offering a rare smile or showing her teeth in a laugh in some random moment in which for just a second, her troubles melt away...that's sexy.
And because I've failed in my endeavor, April will be the last of Strong is Sexy. I'm beyond tired of people not "getting it" and I don't feel I'm advancing my agenda here, or the cause of women, period.
Happy International Women's Day, ladies. Not many of you are wielding swords and even fewer of you look like Jennifer Aniston, but you're strong and sexy. Remember that. Remember what strong and sexy really is and quit letting television and yes, even books, dictate otherwise.

My Reading Radar 3/18/2014

Because a Book Babe follower suggested it in a comment... A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute is on the wishlist. 

Nevil Shute’s most beloved novel, a tale of love and war, follows its enterprising heroine from the Malayan jungle during World War II to the rugged Australian outback.

Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman living in Malaya, is captured by the invading Japanese and forced on a brutal seven-month death march with dozens of other women and children. A few years after the war, Jean is back in England, the nightmare behind her. However, an unexpected inheritance inspires her to return to Malaya to give something back to the villagers who saved her life. Jean travels leads her to a desolate Australian outpost called Willstown, where she finds a challenge that will draw on all the resourcefulness and spirit that carried her through her war-time ordeals.

***
Because I'm a huge fan and I've already pre-ordered the next book in the series, I jumped on the chance to read Red Skies by Kay Bratt.
"I feel empty, as though I'm leaving behind a piece of myself." As the daughter of the town scavenger, Mari grew up knowing hardship, but she could have never anticipated the struggles facing her as an adult. Feeling alone and isolated, she dreams of a better life. On the other side of town, a little girl is forced to live on the streets, but silently she longs for the one thing she's never known--a family. Max, a struggling American photojournalist, arrives in China with only one goal in mind; to face his demons and put an end to his own unbearable suffering. In Red Skies, the fate of three people who've never met will converge in profound and unexpected ways.

From the bestselling author of 'A Thread Unbroken' comes a fresh glimpse into the life of Benfu's remarkable family. Be swept up in this emotional yet hope filled story of Red Skies, set in the world of Kay Bratt's 'Tales of The Scavenger's Daughters'.

***
Because I loved their first book, I'm terribly excited about Empire Girls by Suzanne Hayes, Loretta Nyhan, Suzanne Palmieri.

The critically acclaimed authors of I'll Be Seeing You return with a riveting tale of two sisters, set in the intoxicating world of New York City during the Roaring Twenties.

Ivy and Rose Adams may be sisters, but they're nothing alike. Rose, the eldest, is the responsible one, while Ivy is spirited and brazen. After the unexpected death of their father, the women are left to reconcile the estate, when they make a shocking discovery: not only has their father left them in financial ruin, but he has also bequeathed their beloved family house to a brother they never knew existed. With only a photograph to guide the way, Ivy and Rose embark to New York City, determined to find this mysterious man and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Once in New York, temptations abound at every turn, and soon the sisters are drawn into the glitzy underbelly of Manhattan, where they must overcome their differences and learn to trust each other if they're going to survive in the big city and find their brother. Filled with unforgettable characters and charm, Empire Girls is a love letter to 1920s New York, and a captivating story of the unspoken bond between sisters.

The Ringmaster's Daughter by Grace Elliot

I was excited to read this book. I love circus-type stories and while this is more like an amusement park, it still has your acrobats, your fire-eaters, and a woman working with horses. This was especially cool because this story takes place in a time when it was scandalous for a woman to wear breeches and "behave" in this manner.

But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, especially to ensure there's a roof over her and her pa's heads.

Foxhall Gardens is under major renovation. This means changes are being made, some people are being put out of jobs, and others are plain disgruntled. This leads to a variety of twists in the story, motivations ranging from lust, jealousy, revenge, and of course, love.

It's a pleasant read and what I needed at the time. I can't say I was ever bored. The heroine is cool in that she doesn't back down from a challenge, but rises to meet it and works her butt off to get things done and save her home and horses. But, while I realize she's lived a rather sheltered existence--well, I don't know, really...living in pleasure gardens, surely she has some knowledge of the ways of the world?--I felt she was TSTL, especially toward the end. I mean, seriously, the duke, the dress, the wine--are you really that dumb? I saw it coming from a mile away.

So despite the fact she lives in pleasure gardens, in which all manners of ill-reputed things have been going on--she's a bit too naive. I found it a tad hard to fathom and I lost respect for her when she was so willing to whore herself, even a little bit.

The romance was too fast for me. They share a few lustful glances and have a few cold business discussions and suddenly they're in love. I'd have actually liked more development there. And the father...I don't see how he can approve when he's been upstairs sick the entire time and from my knowledge, hasn't even met the man.

But the story outside of the romance was a perfect pace. I really loved the horse too and how the heroine works with him. I def recommend this story for horse lovers.

P.S. GORGEOUS cover.

I won this on LibraryThing, lost the file, and then bought it on Amazon. LOL

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Rose the Iron Flower

Book: Legend of the Iron Flower Series
Author: Billy Wong
Heroine: Rose the Iron Flower

Rose the Iron Flower, star of the Legend of the Iron Flower heroic fantasy series, is strong in a more obvious and literal sense than most fantasy heroines. As an adult she's a 6 foot, 240-plus pound monstrous powerhouse of a woman, who doesn't need magic to be a physical match for the strongest men, and thanks to her freakish natural fortitude can survive injuries that would kill anyone else. She's an epic warrior in the spirit of Achilles or Beowulf - a wrecker of armies and terrible monsters, who bears countless scars from the deeds that make her a legend.

For all her fearsome appearance and might in battle, Rose is a gentle soul at heart, who feels guilt for the thousands who have fallen beneath her giant sword. She's caring and considerate, often puts others before herself, and later on in life becomes a loving wife and mother to her children. And if that's not enough to make her sexy, well, she also has ample (huge) curves in all the right places - there's a reason some have given her the title of "Beauty Brute."

The first book featuring Rose, Iron Bloom which chronicles Rose becoming a warrior in her teens, is available for FREE at all ebook retailers including Amazon and Smashwords.

Blurb:
Action-packed fantasy adventure with a powerhouse female epic warrior in the spirit of Achilles or Beowulf.

The tale of a mighty warrior torn between the power of the sword and her longing for a peaceful life.

A young woman with a kind heart and amazing resilience, Rose becomes a warrior thinking she can better the world. Despite the wealth and fame she wins as one of the greatest champions of her time, the bloody reality of her new life is nothing like her ideal dream. She yearns for a chance to escape the violence.

She finds that chance in Ethan, the leader of an altruistic pacifist group. But when a barbarian horde invades their kingdom, Rose knows that she could make a big difference by taking up her sword again. Will her need to protect her homeland cost her the man she loves?

A full length novel intended for both adults and older teens. First in the Iron Flower series.

Have you had the talk with your daughter? Just 4 Questions can save her life. A Guest Post from D. Bryant Simmons

From stock.xchngDating abuse is a reality not often discussed when the topic turns to domestic violence. Adults tend to dismiss the social interactions of pre-teens and teens as puppy love—immature and unequal to the romantic relationships between adults. Well, did you know that one out of three adolescent girls has been a victim of verbal, physical, or emotional abuse from someone they dated?i And nearly half of teenage girls know someone that is dealing with dating abuse.ii What you don't know about your kid's relationship with their boyfriend or girlfriend could be the makings of a life or death situation.Before dating becomes a possibility, before the first kiss, there are four questions every mother and father should ask their daughter.1. Do you know what makes you special?Ignore her awkwardness and wait patiently for a real answer. The goal is not for her to state the obvious, that she's tall or athletic or has a decent head of hair. The answer has to be more than skin-deep. Affirm the qualities that she's recognized and add a few of your own. Give her examples. Remember the time that you....I was so proud because....2. When you start dating what rights do you have?She has the right to end the relationship at any time. She has the right to withhold consent for anything at anytime. If she doesn't think of these rights describe situations where she would want to enact these rights to help her understand each one. Then restate the rights in a concise manner like above.3. When dating what responsibilities do you have? To yourself, to the other person, and to your family?This is your opportunity to lay out any rules you may have and dispel any dating myths. For instance, if a date spends a lot of money on you, then you owe him....4. How do you set boundaries and how do you respond when someone disrespects those boundaries?State clearly and explicitly what you expect and why at the beginning of a relationship. Have a no-tolerance policy regarding your physical and mental safety. No-tolerance means no second chances. If someone crosses the line tell your best friend, your parents, someone who cares about you. Ask for their support. Then report the person to the authorities. Do not let them get away without legal consequences and a permanent record. End all contact with the person.You may have doubts about bringing law enforcement into this. We are talking about adolescents and teenagers here, right? They're young. They can still change. Well, people do not change their behavior when the behavior doesn't result in significant consequences. Here's some more food for thought. If it happens again, this time to a different girl, and this time he goes even further the police will have to take it seriously. His parents will have to take it seriously because now we've established a pattern.Encouraging a no-tolerance policy is the only way to say unequivocally to our girls, "That is unacceptable. You deserve better." And have them believe it....................................................i Davis, Antoinette, MPH. 2008. Interpersonal and Physical Dating Violence among Teens. The National Council on Crime and Delinquency Focus. Available athttp://www.ocjs.ohio.gov/TDVMonth/Int... Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Study, Teenage Research Unlimited for Liz Claiborne Inc. and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. February 2008. Available at>http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/pdf/ Tween%20Dating%20Abuse%20Full%20Report.pdf D. Bryant Simmons is the author of the new book, How to Knock a Bravebird From her Perch. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor Degree in Sociology and later earned a Master Degree in Elementary Education. Her passion for social justice, female empowerment, and children’s rights is evident in her writing. For more information, please visit: http://www.dbryantsimmons.com
Poignantly exploring the choices that contemporary women must face and the consequences of domestic abuse, this family saga opens with the mother of The Morrow Girls Series.

After two years of marriage, a gnawing feeling leads Belinda “Pecan” Morrow to suspect that getting married before the conclusion of her senior year in high school and after her father’s sudden death—was a huge mistake. She packs up her few belongings and her baby girl and attempts to leave her husband, Ricky Morrow, the up-and-coming boxing sensation from Mississippi.

When he catches her, she learns that Ricky has no qualms about using his fists outside of the ring.

As the years roll by, Pecan does her best to protect herself physically and her four girls emotionally from the tornado that is Ricky. Then one day he crosses the line and their marriage comes to a dramatic end.

But leaving Ricky is only the beginning because as she quickly finds out, he doesn’t need to live under the same roof to wreak havoc in their lives.

City of Jasmine (City of Jasmine #1) by Deanna Raybourn

This is a desert adventure, complete with camels, shootings, Bedouins, sheikhs, thirst, and hidden relics. As a romance, it's very weak in my opinion, but I don't pick up books for the romance anyway, but the story within.

The best thing about this book is its heroine. She's as strong as they make them.

"I smoke cigars and I barnstorm and I wear red lipstick and I do as a I damned well please. And when this all over *content deleted so as not to spoil it for anyone* we won't ever have to see each other again. But at least you'll know what you were missing."

I love her sarcasm, her wit, her bravery,  her stubbornness. She even makes a moving target of herself...did I mention she's a pilot? Though honestly, there's very, very little flying. I'm disappointed in that.

But oh, goodness, I love, LOVE Aunt Dove. That's two incredible heroines. Aunt Dove made me laugh. I want a novel solely about Aunt Dove's exploits, from the kidnapping of the Aegean young man to her acquiring her parrot. I want her memoirs, not matter that they're fake. She's a true delight.

Sadly, she was only involved in the first quarter of the story. Once the heroine leaves Aunt Dove and gets "lost" in the desert and begins searching for a relic she really doesn't care about, I don't think, I began to get frustrated after a while. Despite all the exciting things that happen to her and her companion, I found them unemotional and I didn't care about the relic myself so I guess I didn't see the sense in the adventure. I also can't stand the hero. I'm glad I read the prequel, 'cause I'd gone solely by his character in this...well, I never would have seen what she saw in him.

I even learned something from this novel, however. Quite a few things actually, mainly about the relations between Britain and Arabs and Turks after the war, the promises not kept and such. So I found a lot of this interesting, just probably not what I was supposed to find interesting.

We meet an interesting cast of characters too, from Germans to British to Bedouin to Austrians, some with ill intentions and out to kill the heroine. As I said, there's no end to the excitement; I just felt its telling was unemotional.

Conclusion: Love the women; love the beginning, grew bored in the middle, when the book began to feel as if it would never end and Aunt Dove wasn't making any appearances, and enjoyed the ending.

I received this via Netgalley.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

At first I wasn't sure I'd like this book. The slave and the "master's daughter" has been done to death. I even thought it was taking a similar route to The Wedding Gift. For a while, I couldn't figure out how in the world these two ladies' stories came together. They hit that expected fork in the road and went their separate ways and I was like, "Wait...what's the point? How does this tie up?"

The point...gosh, there are so many points...the rights of the slaves, the rights of women, the rights of human beings. And the biggest lesson of all, the most profound message I got from this book is summed up right here:

She was trapped same as me, but she was trapped by her mind, by the minds of the people round her, not by the law. At the African church, Mr. Vesey used to say, Be careful, you can get enslaved twice, once in your body and once in your mind.

Though the evils of slavery are abundant in this novel, I feel Sarah, the southern daughter, stole the show. She's a girl whose parents have had to "break her like a horse". She wants the same rights and liberties as her brothers. She wants to be a lawyer. She's outspoken, until she truly is "broken like a horse".  The below quote is from her very own mother.

"Every girl comes into the world with varying degrees of ambition, even if it's only the hope of not belonging body and soul to her husband. The truth is that every girl must have ambition knocked out of her for her own good. You are unusual in your determination to fight what is inevitable. You resisted and so it came to this, to being broken like a horse."

With her story, there is so much going on as we watch a young woman not accepted by family, not accepted by church, not accepted by men... There's a very powerful moment when she has a choice between career and family, when her heart is just so crushed. I felt as though my heart was crushed with hers. We see plantation life and the makings of a slave revolt through Handful's eyes, but in Sarah's eyes we see the enslavement of women, the melancholy women in these families succumbed to, the Quaker lifestyle, the start of the powerful abolitionist movement, the controversy she faces when she begins to speak not only for the slaves, but for women. I got so angry when people said she was detracting from the greater cause.

I was riveted by this book. I hadn't the foggiest idea what Sarah was going to do next, what was going to happen to Handful, who though they owned her body, they certainly didn't own her mind. Handful, despite her dire circumstances, brightened the story with surprise bits of humor. Every time she acted out in some way, every time she opened her mouth with sarcasm for their "Missus", I'd chuckle. You wouldn't expect to chuckle at all while reading a story about the most embarrassing period in American history--the enslavement and brutal treatment of African Americans, but it goes to show that one must have humor in the darkest of situations, or perhaps you wouldn't survive.

For a long time, I was disappointed with Sarah, who is all talk, no action, who speaks out about this and that and yet does nothing. I'd given up on her. But around the same point I gave up on her, Sarah decided not to give up on herself and shocked me. Though she's thirty some years old at the point she finally finds a real backbone, it goes to show...you're never too old to make a difference, to make your mark on the world, to bring about change. So I guess there were two really strong morals in this.

Another bonus: I love, love, love that these women can do it on their own. No men required.

I received this via Netgalley.

Cover Reveal: Michelle Diener's The Golden Apple

To post this Cover Reveal and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, email Tressa at wishfulendings(at)outlook.com with "The Golden Apple" in the subject line!

Welcome to the Cover Reveal with a Double Giveaway for Michelle Diener's second fairy tale retelling: The Golden Apple An Adult Fantasy Romance based loosely on the Princess on the Glass HillComing March 24, 2014




Kayla's world has been turned upside-down...
Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.
Rane's honor is torn in two...
In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to--including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.
Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together...
Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla's actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.



From Michelle Diener about the cover:

I have always been really lucky to get great covers for all my books, historical and fantasy. The cover fairies smile on me, time and again. What I really love about The Golden Apple, though, is the rich, Brothers Grimm feel to it. Like my fantasy novel published last year, Mistress of the Wind, The Golden Apple is a fairy tale retelling. Mistress of the Wind involves a white bear and icy winds, and so my cover designer and I went for a winter look to the cover, and I absolutely love how it turned out. But with The Golden Apple, I wanted the lush colors of summer, the shadow of the wood, and the gleam of the golden apple--I wanted the fairy tale feel. My cover designer really hit a winner with the title font on the cover of Mistress of the Wind, and it works just as well for The Golden Apple--it has that fairy tale, Brothers Grimm thing going on. One of my friends told me there is a sensuality to the heroine on the cover of The Golden Apple, and I agree. There is a lot going on there, but it is still simple and uncrowded. I am so happy to share the cover with everyone today. Each cover involves hours and hours of work and thought and tweaking, and this one just hit all the right notes for me. I hope you like it just as much as I do!



Michelle Diener




LIMITED REVIEW COPIES FOR BOOK BLOGGERSAre you interested in fantasy romance?

Do you love fairy tale retellings?

Have you read Michelle Diener and enjoyed her work in the past?




If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can request a review copy of The Golden Apple! The Golden Apple is up for review by invitation only on NetGalley. Reviewers with book review sites can apply for a limited number of pre-approved copies. Book reviewers who post their review on their review site, Amazon, and Goodreads can enter a Rafflecopter draw to win one of ten copies of any Michelle Diener book of their choice, or a $10 Amazon gift card. (Instructions in sign-up form.)
Sign up HERE! 



Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King's Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.



Michelle's other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor's Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor's Conspiracy).



Michelle's first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.



Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.




Goodreads * Amazon * Website * Twitter * Facebook




1 of 2 Giveaways:


1 - Enter to WIN $15 Gift Card to Amazon plus a Kindle copy of The Golden Apple on its release and a Kindle copy of Mistress of the Wind.  March 3-17.



See Rafflecopter for restrictions.



a Rafflecopter giveaway







2 - For book bloggers: Review The Golden Apple by April 1, 2014 and enter to WIN one of 10 prizes:

- Choose any one of Michelle Diener's books or $10 Gift Card!


- March 24 - April 7



Request an early review copy using the form. Instructions on entering the second giveaway are included!





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My Reading Radar

I won this on my favorite blog, Unusual Historicals, and wanted to share the premise with you all. But for the Grace of God by Ginger Myrick. It promises to be a clean historical romance.

Set during the American Civil War, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD combines a sweet old-fashioned love story with a compassionate look at the people affected by the struggle for equality.

Hannah Carter never expected to find love, especially during a time of war. By the spring of 1864, the conflict between North and South has raged on for years and still shows no sign of resolution. On her small farm in West Virginia, the young widow and her household have managed to remain untouched until a mysterious green-eyed soldier shows up, wounded and in desperate need of medical attention. Never able to turn away someone in need, Hannah risks everything to take in the stranger and tend to his injuries.

Beau develops tender feelings toward Hannah, and she is equally smitten, but circumstances conspire to hinder their happiness. Beau is a Confederate soldier wanted for the murder of one of his own, and Hannah’s farm is a rest stop for fugitive slaves en route to freedom in the North.

Will justice catch up with Beau and force him to pay for his crimes? Will he discover Hannah’s secret humanitarian efforts and betray her to the authorities? Or will they find a way to overcome their differences—to make peace, to live, and to love.


***
Now, I don't do Sci-Fi, but I daresay it may be time to try it. This book came up on my aviation search. I think I'll give it a go eventually. Terrific premise! Shattered Veil by Tracy E. Banghart. It's on my wishlist. It screams STRONG IS SEXY.

When everything that defines you is stripped away, who do you become? For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face—and the one promise she swore she’d never break.

In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit. As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.


***
Discovered whilst doing a random Amazon search. I love lady matadors..and on my wishlist: Matadora by Elizabeth Ruth.

Matadora is set in 1930’s Spain and Mexico, in the years leading up to the Spanish Civil War. It begins on a bull-breeding ranch in southern Andalucia, Spain, and takes the reader to Mexico and then back to Spain.

The story centres on a girl named Luna Caballero Garcia, orphaned young and working as a servant of the famed Garcia family. Luna is determined to become a bullfighter, despite her lowly station in life and the fact that women are prohibited from graduating to the status of matador-do-toros. She burns for the ring, and is willing to bend or break any rule to enter it.

Fortunately, Luna finds unlikely patrons in her master’s sons. Manuel, an aspiring poet and socialist, sees in his surrogate sister the genius he wishes he was; Pedro sees a chance to make an astonishing amount of money. The trio decides to travel abroad where Luna will have the opportunity to prove her skill but she knows her true destiny lies in the blood-soaked sands of home.

Matadora is a powerful, compelling exploration of love and ambition. The pain that drives all our ambition, the yearning for love it reveals, the lengths we go to win love, and the price we pay along the way. Matadora is about someone like you, trying against all odds, to win love.

Risking It All by Lucy Oliver

A decent read. Sometimes I like a quickie, something I can read in an hour, a break from that longer book that is taking a week.

What I appreciate the most about this story is the look at flight operations during WWII. I'm just assuming the author did her research--even though I've never heard of a yoke called a wheel. Regardless, it's kinda neat to see what all could go wrong in the days before computers. Trying to safely get planes in the air in a timely manner during a war is no easy task. I also liked that we have a female control tower operator. Like I said, NOT an easy job.

Also appreciated the moral: It's better to have some happy memories, to have loved and lost, than to have nothing at all.

I felt the romance was awful quick and it didn't wow me. I got that they knew each other from before but it's not like that went well. But I expected that with the word count being what it is and I didn't pick it up for romance/sex anyway, but the war-time story.

It's well-written and edited as well. I believe there were only two typos in the entire tale. I've grown weary of small-press books and normally expect a hot mess, but this did not have those issues.

Not bad. At least it's different from most of the short historical romances out there. I give points for that. Terrific cover too. I can't resist a bomber.