Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 6
June 1, 2024
May 2024 reads...
Below are the books that I read in May and my review for each. I guess I liked blue in May, as all the books I read during the month, including the one I'm reading now, have blue covers.I'm trying to do the Fold Reading Challenge to diversify my reading. In May, it suggested to read a Historical Fiction by a South Asian author. I tried, but it was a DNF (which I never post about). So, I read a Medial Thriller by a South Asian author. Though I take some liberties with their suggestions, I am still diversifying my reading. And that is the point. In June, I'll be reading a book by a Cree author. And I already have one sitting on my bookshelf for that.
ONE OF US KNOWS by Alyssa Cole
I was super excited when I found out Alyssa Cole was releasing another thriller, and pre-ordered this book. One of Us Knows is an intense thriller with so many twists and turns throughout the story! But, unlike When No One is Watching, the action and suspense take place externally AND within the MC's mind. I also learned a lot about DID from this book, presented with information I never would have thought about. And through it, I learned someone close to me has a friend with DID, so it helped to bring up conversation about DID. While I love Alyssa Cole's ability to write a fabulous thriller, it is important to note that there are some very gory scenes in this book for those who can't handle those types of scenes, and many of the secondary characters are horrible, horrible people. I definitely look forward to the next thriller from Alyssa Cole!
DEADLY CURE by Mahi Cheshire
In the first chapters, I didn't like either of the two female MCs. They were both deceitful and held a lot of resentment toward each other, even though they were supposedly friends at the beginning of the story. And while I did feel sorry for them at certain points in the book, I never grew to like them. I did like Feng though. Needless to say, I still enjoyed the story. Not once did I consider not finishing it. The author managed to write a great thriller with less than admirable main characters, and I applaud that ability.
THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang
I loved this twist on the Pretty Woman story where the rich FMC is an autistic econometrician and the escort MMC is Vietnamese, does Kendo, and loves his mother. Helen Hoang captured all the emotions of the characters so well, and gave a good glimpse into what it's like to be an autistic female. The Kiss Quotient is sweet and oh so spicy, captivating me from the beginning! I look forward to reading The Bride Test to reunite with many of these characters again!
May 1, 2024
April 2024 reads...
Below are the books that I read in April and my review for each. I'm trying to do the Fold Reading Challenge to diversify my reading. In April, I read a book by a Sikh author, and in May, it suggests to read a Historical Fiction by a South Asian author. Though I think I take some liberties with their suggestions, I am still diversifying my reading. And that is the point. 
HIS DUCKING ALPHA DRAGON by Lorelei M. Hart
This is a cute MM MPreg Shifter Romance about duck hoards, internet woes, fated mates, nesting, meggs, and adorable baby dragons!
TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE by Jesmeen Kaur Deo
This books is about so many things; growing up, young love, body image, body shaming, body hair, soccer, debate club, family, friendships, getting ready for university, learning who you are, traditional Indian/Sikh upbringing vs. leaving the traditions behind, Indian/Sikh parents vs. White parents, culture, online bullying, and so much more. And I enjoyed every bit of it, reading this book super fast (for me.) The characters were engaging, thrust into very real situations, and even though I wanted to point out some obvious things as an observer (and a parent,) I knew in the same situation, I would likely react the same way. Though maybe TJ was more brave and strong-willed than me.
This is a fabulous story! A YA must read!
THE MIS-ARRANGEMENT OF SANA SAEED by Noreen Mughees
I loved this story so much! While I was a little worried about the whole love triangle thing and what would happen to each of the characters in the end, I was so happy with the ending! Not only are the main characters wonderful, but so are all the secondary characters. Noreen Mughees did a fabulous job in illustrating their love for each other and how love can make us make the wrong decisions. Culture plays a HUGE role in this story, and it was so fabulously detailed and captivating! This is a must-read for me, and a great read for anyone looking to diversify their reading! The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed is an intense, yet a feel-good romance that will leave you anxious to read more from Noreen Mughees!
August 8, 2022
New Website and Blog
Hello everyone! I've switched over to Weebly for my Website and Blog, so come and find me over there to stay up to date on what I'm writing and more!
June 26, 2022
Enter to WIN $35 Amazon GC with @NNP_W_Light���s Summertime Books Bookish Event! #Reading #SummerReading #Giveaway
I'm excited to be part of the Summertime Books Bookish Eventhosted by N.N. Light's Book Heaven!
The event runs June 23 to July 3, 2022
My books will be featured June 26 & 28
Be sure to visit the event every day for your chance to WIN a $35 Amazon GC!
Visit the Summertime Books Bookish Event here!
Enter to WIN $35 Amazon GC with @NNP_W_Light’s Summertime Books Bookish Event! #Reading #SummerReading #Giveaway
I'm excited to be part of the Summertime Books Bookish Eventhosted by N.N. Light's Book Heaven!
The event runs June 23 to July 3, 2022
My books will be featured June 26 & 28
Be sure to visit the event every day for your chance to WIN a $35 Amazon GC!
Visit the Summertime Books Bookish Event here!
May 28, 2022
Is Utahn surprised? Weekend Writing Warriors from GENJ #Romance #SciFiRomance #MMRomance #KaddimBrothers
Hello and welcome to another Weekend Writing Warriors post!
Hello everyone! Thank you to all those who came to visit me last weekend! This weekend, I'm sharing one last snippet from GENJ, the second book in my Sci-Fi MPreg MM Romance series, KADDIM BROTHERS. Then I'm going full tilt on finishing and revising RET.
Set-up: Last weekend Genj landed on Orez and was standing outside of Utahn's bakery, ready to go in.
In this snippet, Genj goes inside. Enjoy!
I waited outside for the customer to leave then slid inside the bakery before the door closed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Utahn’s back was to me as he moved some jabkas from a storage container to the display case.
Clearing my throat, I anxiously awaited his reaction to me being there.
Releasing a yelp, he jumped then turned to face me. I expected him to be happy, excited, and run to give me a hug. But that was not what happened.
Utahn’s eyes went wide with surprise as the rest of his face fell, and he wrapped his hands around his stomach. His extended stomach, which I know wasn’t like that the last time I’d seen him.
“You… You’re…” This explained a lot. Why he barely talked to me. Why hadn’t he simply told me?He nodded, biting his bottom lip. “Yes, I’m pregnant.”
GENJKaddim Brothers book two
Genj is a cinnamon roll alpha. Even as one of the circuit’s best space racers, he’s shy and rather clumsy. Not qualities anyone wants in a mate, especially the omega he’s crushed on for years. But when Genj invites Utahn on a whim to visit him for a weekend, the omega agrees.
Utahn never expected his best friend’s older brother to reciprocate his feelings. Genj is a space racer, and everyone in the universe knows they rarely commit. When the two get together, sparks fly. And what once seemed impossible becomes a dream come true.
But situations change. And past relationships have a way of interfering with new ones. Can Genj and Utahn work through past traumas, or were they never meant to be more than a childhood crush?
NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK AND PAPERBACK
AMAZON US | UNIVERSAL BUY LINK
Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Participants!Click on the button below to find this week's list...
May 21, 2022
Are Genj and Utahn finally together again? Weekend Writing Warriors from GENJ #Romance #MMRomance #SciFiRomance #KaddimBrothers
Hello and welcome to another Weekend Writing Warriors post!
Hello everyone! Thank you to all those who came to visit me last weekend! This weekend, I'm sharing another snippet from my new release, GENJ, the second book in my Sci-Fi MPreg MM Romance series, KADDIM BROTHERS.
Set-up: Last weekend Genj decided to take some unscheduled time off. He's heading back to Orez. And his brother is not happy. That didn't stop Genj.
In this snippet, Genj is now on Orez. Enjoy!
Regardless of my brother’s objection, I left the shuttle once it landed on Orez. Call it stubbornness, or my alpha instincts finally kicking in, but I refused to return to Eurebly without spending time with Utahn. There was something drawing me here, and I couldn’t shake it.
I didn’t have any bags to collect, all of my belongings I’d taken to Harasa either still in our weekend accommodations or with my team, heading to Eurebly. So, unencumbered, I dashed out through the sliding door of the small spaceport and caught one of the waiting hovercabs.
Ojokun’s training school was within walking distance. I probably should have stopped in to visit my former-teammate turned brother-in-law, and say some encouraging words to his future space racers, but I had time to do that another day.
The cab took me straight to my old neighborhood where Utahn’s bakery sat, along with several other shops selling locally made goods. After swiping my wrist over the scanner to pay, I stepped out and stood on the walkway. Through the window, I spotted the omega I wanted to be my mate. His hair, now dark brown again, was up in a net. His apron and his round cheeks were covered in rolef as he stepped up to the counter and greeted the customer there. I couldn’t wait to see his expression when I surprised him.
GENJKaddim Brothers book two
Genj is a cinnamon roll alpha. Even as one of the circuit’s best space racers, he’s shy and rather clumsy. Not qualities anyone wants in a mate, especially the omega he’s crushed on for years. But when Genj invites Utahn on a whim to visit him for a weekend, the omega agrees.
Utahn never expected his best friend’s older brother to reciprocate his feelings. Genj is a space racer, and everyone in the universe knows they rarely commit. When the two get together, sparks fly. And what once seemed impossible becomes a dream come true.
But situations change. And past relationships have a way of interfering with new ones. Can Genj and Utahn work through past traumas, or were they never meant to be more than a childhood crush?
NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK AND PAPERBACK
AMAZON US | UNIVERSAL BUY LINK
Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Participants!Click on the button below to find this week's list...
May 14, 2022
Taking some unscheduled time off ~ Weekend Writing Warriors excerpt from GENJ #Romance #MMRomance #SciFiRomance #KaddimBrothers
Hello and welcome to another Weekend Writing Warriors post!
Hello everyone! Thank you to all those who came to visit me last weekend! This weekend, I'm sharing another snippet from my new release, GENJ, the second book in my Sci-Fi MPreg MM Romance series, KADDIM BROTHERS.
Set-up: Last weekend Genj was busy helping get everyone in the shed organized with the USRA for visitors to evacuate the planet. But, he also had some time to think....
In this snippet, we're getting closer to the moment you're all waiting for. Enjoy!
Since the race was now canceled for the weekend, I had no plans. If I returned to Eurebly, Ret would make us practice the thidemrev maneuver again, since we didn’t get to perform it here. But I had somewhere else I wanted to be.
As soon as we were given the signal, I ushered the rescued tourists to their designated space shuttle. Then I rushed over to the one heading to Quadrant One, with a stop on Orez.
Xac passed me, yanking on my flight suit. “You’re going in the wrong direction. Our shuttle’s over here.”
“No.” I shook their hand off. “Tell Ret I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
*And some more if you're interested...
They pursed their lips as their eyebrows lifted high into their forehead, but they didn’t say another word before walking away.
We both knew how my brother would react, and that was why I planned to be on my way to Orez before he learned I was taking some unscheduled time off.
GENJKaddim Brothers book two
Genj is a cinnamon roll alpha. Even as one of the circuit’s best space racers, he’s shy and rather clumsy. Not qualities anyone wants in a mate, especially the omega he’s crushed on for years. But when Genj invites Utahn on a whim to visit him for a weekend, the omega agrees.
Utahn never expected his best friend’s older brother to reciprocate his feelings. Genj is a space racer, and everyone in the universe knows they rarely commit. When the two get together, sparks fly. And what once seemed impossible becomes a dream come true.
But situations change. And past relationships have a way of interfering with new ones. Can Genj and Utahn work through past traumas, or were they never meant to be more than a childhood crush?
NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK AND PAPERBACK
AMAZON US | UNIVERSAL BUY LINK
Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Participants!Click on the button below to find this week's list...
May 9, 2022
Enter to WIN The Ultimate Writer's Toolkit Giveaway from Writers Helping Writers! #writing #amwriting #giveaway
ON NOW: The Ultimate Writer’s Toolkit Giveaway
They’ve scoured the internet for the best tools to help a writer strengthen their storytelling and give their career a boost – I’m talking software licences, subscriptions, course bundles, and even a full set of the Writers Helping Writers thesaurus guides. And some lucky writer is going to WIN IT ALL.
I would love for one of you to win, so head over to this post and enter by May 13th. Good luck to you!
Also, this is a good time for me to suggest looking into The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. If you struggle with how to show your character’s emotions, or simply need to stop using the same actions over and over (like me), this book has 130 different emotions and gives you lists of ways to describe them through body language, thoughts, visceral sensations, dialogue cues, and more. It’s helped me with every one of my stories! And when I bought the updated version, I passed the original one on to my oldest child, who is also a writer. Maybe it will help you, too!
(You can find a few sample entries here if you want to see what these lists look like.)
May 7, 2022
The storm cancelled the race. But what does that mean for GENJ? Weekend Writing Warriors #Romance #MMRomance #SciFiRomance #KaddimBrothers
Hello and welcome to another Weekend Writing Warriors post!
Hello everyone! Thank you to all those who came to visit me last weekend! This weekend, I'm sharing another snippet from my new release, GENJ, the second book in my Sci-Fi MPreg MM Romance series, KADDIM BROTHERS.
Set-up: Last weekend Genj got caught in a sandstorm and ended up in a shed. I hate to disappoint all of you, but it wasn't Utahn who he pulled in with him. It was a random stranger. But that doesn't mean Utahn and Genj won't be together soon....
In this snippet, I'm skipping ahead a little in this scene. Genj is still in the shed and had a helmet plopped on his head to clean his eyes. As soon as he could see, he asked one of the mechanics what he could do to help. She asked him to use the comm unit to try to contact the USRA or anyone else, as their personal communicators were all offline. Enjoy!
Static filled the screen, but I could hear a clicking sound. “Skyranked Laeu here. Please tell me your name and status.”
I let out a breath of relief. At least the storm hadn’t knocked out the comm system entirely. “Yes, this is Genj Kaddim of ORIXA. I’m in shed”—I glanced around for an identifying marker, and found the number next to the comm unit—“eighteen. All the crew are accounted for, and they rescued a few others caught in the storm. I should have names for you soon.”
“Got it.” The screen cleared, and I saw the skyranked for the first time. A Retemian, their gills pulsing in an odd manner. Had they been caught in the sandstorm, too?
*And some more if you're interested...
“The forecast shows the weather improving temporarily in an hour. We’re sending all racers to Eurebly, then, and the fans home while we can.”
“Okay. I’ll let everyone here know.”
The time passed slowly and quickly at the same time. I went back and forth between the shed and office, relaying information to both parties to arrange where everyone inside needed to go in order for all non-residents to evacuate the planet. No one had predicted such a bad storm, and the USRA could only estimate how long it would last, but they wanted to get everyone safely home while they could. Once all the details had been arranged, we still had to wait for the air to clear. Giving me plenty of time to think.
GENJKaddim Brothers book two
Genj is a cinnamon roll alpha. Even as one of the circuit’s best space racers, he’s shy and rather clumsy. Not qualities anyone wants in a mate, especially the omega he’s crushed on for years. But when Genj invites Utahn on a whim to visit him for a weekend, the omega agrees.
Utahn never expected his best friend’s older brother to reciprocate his feelings. Genj is a space racer, and everyone in the universe knows they rarely commit. When the two get together, sparks fly. And what once seemed impossible becomes a dream come true.
But situations change. And past relationships have a way of interfering with new ones. Can Genj and Utahn work through past traumas, or were they never meant to be more than a childhood crush?
NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK AND PAPERBACK
AMAZON US | UNIVERSAL BUY LINK
Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Participants!Click on the button below to find this week's list...
