Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 123
October 28, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Remember Me, Synthetica
Remember Me, Synthetica by K. Aten
Great start. The writing has quite o few nods to Asimov and Heinlein. The writing is fluent and original. After about 2/3 the story stays and moves not at the pace it used to. The romance is sweet up to the point of too sweet and too good. Overall a great and well-written scifi which does the genre proud.
https://amzn.to/3EobDZf
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Great start. The writing has quite o few nods to Asimov and Heinlein. The writing is fluent and original. After about 2/3 the story stays and moves not at the pace it used to. The romance is sweet up to the point of too sweet and too good. Overall a great and well-written scifi which does the genre proud.
https://amzn.to/3EobDZf
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Dead Lez Walking
Dead Lez Walking by G. Benson
This is a very well written zombie apocalypse – and at least the story is a “smooth” ride as far as any apocalypse can be smooth – all the appropriate elements are there: victims, survivors, a good background story for the existence of zombies, the reactions to the apocalypse. The action is fast, the romance element is subtle and the cast is diverse by the nth power, i.e. rainbow colors in any which way. The only complaint: cliffhanger ahead.
https://amzn.to/3pLEMtq
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This is a very well written zombie apocalypse – and at least the story is a “smooth” ride as far as any apocalypse can be smooth – all the appropriate elements are there: victims, survivors, a good background story for the existence of zombies, the reactions to the apocalypse. The action is fast, the romance element is subtle and the cast is diverse by the nth power, i.e. rainbow colors in any which way. The only complaint: cliffhanger ahead.
https://amzn.to/3pLEMtq
comments
October 27, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Seaworthy (Character Bleed Trilogy #1)
Seaworthy (Character Bleed Trilogy #1) by K.L. Noone
Making a movie that involves a sex scene with a co-star who doesn't like to be touched could be tricky. Jason, a macho, and at times snarky, action star finds his patience tested when faced by the lovable, if quirky, Colby, the producer/star of a movie he desperately wants to be in. During rehearsal, Jason gets carried away by the sexual close quarters necessary for the scene and expects to be fired. There isn't exactly an HEA to this interesting and definitely different story, but there is a part 2, so hopefully all desires will be fulfilled.
https://amzn.to/3GDgsQv
comments
Making a movie that involves a sex scene with a co-star who doesn't like to be touched could be tricky. Jason, a macho, and at times snarky, action star finds his patience tested when faced by the lovable, if quirky, Colby, the producer/star of a movie he desperately wants to be in. During rehearsal, Jason gets carried away by the sexual close quarters necessary for the scene and expects to be fired. There isn't exactly an HEA to this interesting and definitely different story, but there is a part 2, so hopefully all desires will be fulfilled.
https://amzn.to/3GDgsQv
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Fantastic Fluke
The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns
The story opens strong, engaging from the start, and continues in a charming way to the end. Charm isn’t easy to write, but then the main character is a social mage (not a socialist!). The title itself, “The Fantastic Fluke,” isn’t particularly compelling. It would not have caught my attention if I wasn’t asked specifically to read the book. Our introduction to Gideon is funny and sweet. Iris is an appealing character as well. Beez is OK but we simply don’t get enough of her to truly connect. The father is rather flat as a character, but that doesn’t mean he’s not believable. Some folks are just horrible human beings. I did like how the more we learned about the father, the worse he became. In that sense, there was still character development. I anticipated Grandma’s golem assistance, but the author still introduced it into the storyline in an unexpected and charming way. The one sex scene is well-written and not cliché. It was perfect near the end to have Sage figure out the big spell on his own (other than Fluke’s insistence he use the knife). I suspected who the villain was early on, but I didn’t feel cheated by that. I’d hoped that we’d learn the stepfather who killed Sage’s mother had done so because he’d been forced into it by a spell. Perhaps that will come out in a sequel. There’s still more to that incident to be revealed, I’m sure. I did not like that the book ended with a cliffhanger. I’d have preferred this to work as a stand-alone, even if it’s part of a series. Overall, the writing is confident and controlled. I noted no more than two or three awkward sentences in the entire book. A truly enjoyable read all around.
https://amzn.to/3pFL9y7
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The story opens strong, engaging from the start, and continues in a charming way to the end. Charm isn’t easy to write, but then the main character is a social mage (not a socialist!). The title itself, “The Fantastic Fluke,” isn’t particularly compelling. It would not have caught my attention if I wasn’t asked specifically to read the book. Our introduction to Gideon is funny and sweet. Iris is an appealing character as well. Beez is OK but we simply don’t get enough of her to truly connect. The father is rather flat as a character, but that doesn’t mean he’s not believable. Some folks are just horrible human beings. I did like how the more we learned about the father, the worse he became. In that sense, there was still character development. I anticipated Grandma’s golem assistance, but the author still introduced it into the storyline in an unexpected and charming way. The one sex scene is well-written and not cliché. It was perfect near the end to have Sage figure out the big spell on his own (other than Fluke’s insistence he use the knife). I suspected who the villain was early on, but I didn’t feel cheated by that. I’d hoped that we’d learn the stepfather who killed Sage’s mother had done so because he’d been forced into it by a spell. Perhaps that will come out in a sequel. There’s still more to that incident to be revealed, I’m sure. I did not like that the book ended with a cliffhanger. I’d have preferred this to work as a stand-alone, even if it’s part of a series. Overall, the writing is confident and controlled. I noted no more than two or three awkward sentences in the entire book. A truly enjoyable read all around.
https://amzn.to/3pFL9y7
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: A Blind Eye
A Blind Eye by David Jackson Ambrose
It took a long while to get through this book, for several reasons. First, the subject matter is difficult and unpleasant. Second, as a white man reading a book largely about black experiences, I wanted to be as objective as possible, afraid I’d lower my assessment because of my personal discomfort. It also didn’t help that the book is long at 370 pages. That said, I did like learning about PWS, which I’d never heard of before. I liked seeing the different types of cultural appropriation and outright lies (made with the “best of intentions,” of course). The opening is great, the POV strong, comparing and contrasting Black/white interpretations of the same experience. There was far too much exposition for my taste, though, but that’s also subjective. It just takes a long time before anything happens. There’s a fascinating dog bite scene, an interesting and unexpected development in the relationship between Babe and Chance, lots of truly interesting stuff in here. But it’s mostly unhappy and tragic, and because of my white privilege, I set the book aside for long periods before returning to it. Because it was uncomfortable. It’s a well-written book, worth reading, but it’s not one I’ll read again. I’m not sure I’m the target audience, though there was plenty of info in there I needed to know. So take my reflections with a grain of salt.
https://amzn.to/3vWUAKL
comments
It took a long while to get through this book, for several reasons. First, the subject matter is difficult and unpleasant. Second, as a white man reading a book largely about black experiences, I wanted to be as objective as possible, afraid I’d lower my assessment because of my personal discomfort. It also didn’t help that the book is long at 370 pages. That said, I did like learning about PWS, which I’d never heard of before. I liked seeing the different types of cultural appropriation and outright lies (made with the “best of intentions,” of course). The opening is great, the POV strong, comparing and contrasting Black/white interpretations of the same experience. There was far too much exposition for my taste, though, but that’s also subjective. It just takes a long time before anything happens. There’s a fascinating dog bite scene, an interesting and unexpected development in the relationship between Babe and Chance, lots of truly interesting stuff in here. But it’s mostly unhappy and tragic, and because of my white privilege, I set the book aside for long periods before returning to it. Because it was uncomfortable. It’s a well-written book, worth reading, but it’s not one I’ll read again. I’m not sure I’m the target audience, though there was plenty of info in there I needed to know. So take my reflections with a grain of salt.
https://amzn.to/3vWUAKL
comments
October 26, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Hold the Door (An Open Doors Novel)
Hold the Door (An Open Doors Novel) by Vinni George
A drunk kiss at a college party between friends leads to a break in their friendship and fifteen years of separation when one gets cold feet and the other is afraid to speak his mind. Then the two men—Sam and Max—end up having to work together at the same company due to a merger. One tries to apologize, the other tries to run away. There's a lot of buildup at the start of the story between the inebriated mess of a kiss and when the MCs meet again after so many years. The author did a great job with building tension. In fact, everything about this book feels natural. The writing flows well and the plot moves along swiftly. There's some internal ponderings and surf stuff that can be skipped, if necessary, without losing the story thread. Overall, the dialogue feels real and is smooth and casual. All in all, this was my kind of story. The plot wasn't too convoluted, the characters made me feel things (both good and bad), the story flowed well, the sex was hot, and the happy-ever-after never hurts. Recommended. I'm gonna be checking out the other books in the series too, that's for sure.
https://amzn.to/3vInZbz
comments
A drunk kiss at a college party between friends leads to a break in their friendship and fifteen years of separation when one gets cold feet and the other is afraid to speak his mind. Then the two men—Sam and Max—end up having to work together at the same company due to a merger. One tries to apologize, the other tries to run away. There's a lot of buildup at the start of the story between the inebriated mess of a kiss and when the MCs meet again after so many years. The author did a great job with building tension. In fact, everything about this book feels natural. The writing flows well and the plot moves along swiftly. There's some internal ponderings and surf stuff that can be skipped, if necessary, without losing the story thread. Overall, the dialogue feels real and is smooth and casual. All in all, this was my kind of story. The plot wasn't too convoluted, the characters made me feel things (both good and bad), the story flowed well, the sex was hot, and the happy-ever-after never hurts. Recommended. I'm gonna be checking out the other books in the series too, that's for sure.
https://amzn.to/3vInZbz
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Invisible, as Music
Invisible, as Music by Caren J. Werlinger
This warm and gentle love story doesn’t have a lot of plot: sort-of-but-not-quite friends to lovers. The setting in upstate New York, I wish she had devoted just a little more time to describing. I love the finger lakes, but she never really made me feel like I was there. I had to fill in too much with my own imagination. But the characters were just about perfect. Lives full of delights and obstacles, interests and frustrations. I felt like I was reading about neighbors I could walk down the street and have coffee with. Her writing style flowed like water in a lazy river. Not destructive, not spectacular like a waterfall, but pleasant, like the water in a river that you canoe in on a summer afternoon. It’s an unusual love story, and deeply satisfying.
https://amzn.to/3Cl7vbO
comments
This warm and gentle love story doesn’t have a lot of plot: sort-of-but-not-quite friends to lovers. The setting in upstate New York, I wish she had devoted just a little more time to describing. I love the finger lakes, but she never really made me feel like I was there. I had to fill in too much with my own imagination. But the characters were just about perfect. Lives full of delights and obstacles, interests and frustrations. I felt like I was reading about neighbors I could walk down the street and have coffee with. Her writing style flowed like water in a lazy river. Not destructive, not spectacular like a waterfall, but pleasant, like the water in a river that you canoe in on a summer afternoon. It’s an unusual love story, and deeply satisfying.
https://amzn.to/3Cl7vbO
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The God's Eye (Lancaster's Luck #3)
The God's Eye (Lancaster's Luck #3) by Anna Butler
Excellent! I hadn't read the first two in this series, but Ms Butler's skillful writing answered any questions I may have had about the characters and setting. Steam punk fiction isn't always convincing, but the author's alternate world building is spot on and the two leads are men you want to meet and join in their adventure. Just as in the Gyrfalcon series where I fell in love with Bennet and Flynn, so I did with Rafe and Ned. The secondary characters are strong and believable and the romance is just enough to satisfy. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3bdsBgu
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Excellent! I hadn't read the first two in this series, but Ms Butler's skillful writing answered any questions I may have had about the characters and setting. Steam punk fiction isn't always convincing, but the author's alternate world building is spot on and the two leads are men you want to meet and join in their adventure. Just as in the Gyrfalcon series where I fell in love with Bennet and Flynn, so I did with Rafe and Ned. The secondary characters are strong and believable and the romance is just enough to satisfy. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3bdsBgu
comments
October 25, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Passion of a Papillon (Fuzzy Love #1)
Passion of a Papillon (Fuzzy Love #1) by Tara Lain
This is one of the most organic meet-cutes I have ever read. Let me be clear about what I mean when I say this: most meet-cutes are helped along by expectation of the interaction, and thus the author is forgiven a certain amount of hand waving in acceptance of this pact between author and reader. But this meeting between potential lovers flows so seamlessly, the characters coming together as a natural procession of events and with so little finagling of the plot-- it's an utter delight. Though I felt the pacing of the story didn't truly find itself until the second half, the tension and reveal were deftly built, and then it was an engrossing ride toward the climactic encounter. And let's not even skimp on how adorable the doggo is! I love Batshit and all her little quirks, not the least of which is her NAME. Still chuckling here.
https://amzn.to/3b56jx5
comments
This is one of the most organic meet-cutes I have ever read. Let me be clear about what I mean when I say this: most meet-cutes are helped along by expectation of the interaction, and thus the author is forgiven a certain amount of hand waving in acceptance of this pact between author and reader. But this meeting between potential lovers flows so seamlessly, the characters coming together as a natural procession of events and with so little finagling of the plot-- it's an utter delight. Though I felt the pacing of the story didn't truly find itself until the second half, the tension and reveal were deftly built, and then it was an engrossing ride toward the climactic encounter. And let's not even skimp on how adorable the doggo is! I love Batshit and all her little quirks, not the least of which is her NAME. Still chuckling here.
https://amzn.to/3b56jx5
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: A Blind Eye
A Blind Eye by David Jackson Ambrose:
When I first began reading the prologue/epilogue to David Jackson Ambrose's novel, I held little hope for it. Boy, was I wrong. This novel is phenomenal, transcending the genre. I can't praise it enough.It was the setting that first drew me in. The Lark Bar, Leviticus Street, and Morristown. No clumsiness here--the characters inhabit the setting, and the setting seems like the destiny that drives them.Then the characterization. What a marvel. These are fully realized people, not stick figures. You can't anticipate what they're going to do until they do it, and then the action seems as preordained as the meeting of Oedipus and his father at "the place where three roads meet." There are really no minor characters. Babe and Chance, or course. But Alise and Reuben! Even the bulldog Mitzi. Mister Mitch and Peggy Ann, who help Alise move out of her house. Each one a miracle.Then the plot. You never know where it's going to go. Until it goes there, and, of course, the destination seems inevitable.This is one serious writer who really needs to reach a wider audience.Can't resist quoting this delicious piece of dialogue between white Alise and her mixed-race child, Reuben, as they spend the night in the car:“Mama, can you tell me a story?”“What do you want to hear?”He shook his head. “Anything.”“Okay. Let’s see. There once lived a town mouse in a great big city with a nice big house. The town mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. For lunch the country mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns with a dash of cold water for drink.”Rueben laughed and frowned. “Roots and wheat stalks? Who wants to eat roots and wheat stalks, Mom?”“Do you want to hear the story or not?"“Okay, sorry.”“So, anyway, the town mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner, making it very plain, she ate the simple food only to be polite.”“I wouldn’t even be trying to be polite.”“After the meal, the friends had a long talk, or rather the town mouse talked about her grand life in the city. . . There were sweetmeats—”Rueben snickered. “Sweetmeats? That sounds whack.”“Where’d you learn that ghetto talk? You don’t talk like that around me. You leave that right where you got it.”He huffed. “Mom. They say that on SpongeBob.”“Well, you leave it on SpongeBob. I’m not raising SpongeBob. Okay. How ‘bout this? On the table was some macaroni and cheese, candied yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried chicken with fresh made lemonade.”“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”“So SpongeBob says ‘now that’s what I’m talking about’?
https://amzn.to/3jwekzK
comments
When I first began reading the prologue/epilogue to David Jackson Ambrose's novel, I held little hope for it. Boy, was I wrong. This novel is phenomenal, transcending the genre. I can't praise it enough.It was the setting that first drew me in. The Lark Bar, Leviticus Street, and Morristown. No clumsiness here--the characters inhabit the setting, and the setting seems like the destiny that drives them.Then the characterization. What a marvel. These are fully realized people, not stick figures. You can't anticipate what they're going to do until they do it, and then the action seems as preordained as the meeting of Oedipus and his father at "the place where three roads meet." There are really no minor characters. Babe and Chance, or course. But Alise and Reuben! Even the bulldog Mitzi. Mister Mitch and Peggy Ann, who help Alise move out of her house. Each one a miracle.Then the plot. You never know where it's going to go. Until it goes there, and, of course, the destination seems inevitable.This is one serious writer who really needs to reach a wider audience.Can't resist quoting this delicious piece of dialogue between white Alise and her mixed-race child, Reuben, as they spend the night in the car:“Mama, can you tell me a story?”“What do you want to hear?”He shook his head. “Anything.”“Okay. Let’s see. There once lived a town mouse in a great big city with a nice big house. The town mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. For lunch the country mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns with a dash of cold water for drink.”Rueben laughed and frowned. “Roots and wheat stalks? Who wants to eat roots and wheat stalks, Mom?”“Do you want to hear the story or not?"“Okay, sorry.”“So, anyway, the town mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner, making it very plain, she ate the simple food only to be polite.”“I wouldn’t even be trying to be polite.”“After the meal, the friends had a long talk, or rather the town mouse talked about her grand life in the city. . . There were sweetmeats—”Rueben snickered. “Sweetmeats? That sounds whack.”“Where’d you learn that ghetto talk? You don’t talk like that around me. You leave that right where you got it.”He huffed. “Mom. They say that on SpongeBob.”“Well, you leave it on SpongeBob. I’m not raising SpongeBob. Okay. How ‘bout this? On the table was some macaroni and cheese, candied yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried chicken with fresh made lemonade.”“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”“So SpongeBob says ‘now that’s what I’m talking about’?
https://amzn.to/3jwekzK
comments
