While nothing will ever take the place of Lola and the Millionaires as my favorite Kathryn Moon book ever (it's just perfect), this is a VERY close seWhile nothing will ever take the place of Lola and the Millionaires as my favorite Kathryn Moon book ever (it's just perfect), this is a VERY close second.
From the opening scenario I knew I was going to love this book. Sunny, the heroine, is so REAL. She's a human equal parts enthralled and concerned by her potential proclivities, most (all) of which she's never acted on.
Enter, the Monster Smashing Agency. Like matchmaking but only for your naughty bits.
I'm always conflicted about sex work in romance books, because I feel like sometimes it doesn't come across well. There's usually a power imbalance, or consent issues, or sometimes if there are other customers I feel sad for the other MC. But it was done really, really well here (in my opinion!).
They talk a lot about consent and safety for the heroine, and the dynamic of Khell'ar as a sex worker wasn't one that felt unequal, or shameful, or awkward. Maybe I'm not expressing this correctly BUT overall, I really liked the set up of the MSA and it made me super excited for future books.
This is high heat and fast burn, obviously. Girlfriend pays for 5 days of fantasies with a, ahem, professional. It had me blushing. Sunny perfectly articulated why orcs are hot. I mean… the power. C'mon.
Loved every bit of this book from the 5 days to the aftermath to the ending.
*This is an arc, it'll be out next week but will not be on KU! Preorder now! ...more
I've been in a romance reading slump to end all romance reading slumps. I didn't read The Governess and the Orc (book 7 in the Orc Sworn series) when I've been in a romance reading slump to end all romance reading slumps. I didn't read The Governess and the Orc (book 7 in the Orc Sworn series) when it came out in early November, but when I saw this holiday MMF novella it seemed… less intimidating, maybe, than a full length book? And I was able to jump in - read - and love it.
The heroine of this book is a little older - in her 40s, I think. She's been a widow for over a decade and lately has a new visitor to her laundry business: Trygg, the father of a side character from The Maid and the Orcs. He's a silver fox (there's art of him on the author's Instagram/Discord as an orc Santa, definitely check it out) and after fooling around for a bit he invites her to spend Yule with him.
But, surprise, he also brings his boo! Who happens to be my favorite side orc, Ezog. He only got a one liner in either Rosa or Ella's book but I've loved him since I saw a fanart drawing of him (on Finley Fenn's Discord). Scarred sweet boy! (Well, man… I think he's older as well.)
This was high heat, fast burn, pretty low angst. It centered around holiday fun, down to a red ribbon on a green… you know. Super fun if you're looking for a monster holiday novella!!...more
That feeling when you finish a book, go to review it - happen to check the author's Twitter first, and realize… she's a TERF.
I won't bother putting eThat feeling when you finish a book, go to review it - happen to check the author's Twitter first, and realize… she's a TERF.
I won't bother putting effort into a full review but here are my thoughts:(**turns out my ranting about how much I didn't like it turned into a sizable review. Ah well.)
This book is not worth your time. I know, I know - you think I'm just being mean because she's a TERF! No, that was my opinion before I looked her up, wondering what she had gotten up to in the last 10 years.
See, this book says a whole lot of… nothing. I went into it hoping for a parenting book meets feel-good marathon story. Marathon videos never fail to make me cry so I thought this one, which combines the topic with parenting a child with autism, would be a winner.
Mmm, no.
Sophie spends so little time going over running, I wonder why it was even included in the premise of the book. What I mean is: she glosses over running in sweeping strokes, recounting entire months of training in a few paragraphs. It seems an afterthought sprinkled through the book but then slapped on the dust jacket as the thread that ties it together. She's running because… she wants to raise money for the National Autism Society? Born to Run, a far superior non-fiction book about running, goes into the psychology of running just a little bit - how in the times in our history where things were bleakest (the Great Depression, after 9/11), people ran. That's what I was expecting here. A soliloquy to running. A manifesto of overcoming hardship with running.
What I got was a woman complaining about her child over and over again. Rationalizing her own bad behavior. Asking open ended questions. Taking us through the legal system in the UK that prevented her daughter from getting proper/earlier diagnosis, treatment, fair schooling. Fair points - but definitely not "parenting" and definitely not a feel good running story.
From the book the only thing that really stuck with me was her clear mistreatment of her stepchildren, two boys from her second husband's previous relationship. She admits that she takes her anger out on them, that she treats them differently than Grace, that she asks them to bend to Grace's needs and wants. All I could think was, where is their father? Where is their mother? Grace is a child, yes, and she needs protecting - but so do they. Especially from the author. Yikes! ...more
Do you ever have a book that, while reading it, you're like - "This book is going to change my life" ?
In 2013 that was Eat Pray Love for me. I was stuDo you ever have a book that, while reading it, you're like - "This book is going to change my life" ?
In 2013 that was Eat Pray Love for me. I was studying abroad in Spain and I had an ebook and an audiobook and I'd fall asleep to it every night. There was something so romantic about the possibilities of life - that this person "lost everything" and found new things in three different places.
In 2014 when I was struggling with what I wanted to do post-college, The Defining Decade helped me and really shaped my thinking throughout my 20's. (If you are in college or your 20's, read this book - or at least watch her Ted Talk!).
Last year (2021) it was Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come, which shaped my year (2022) a lot.
And now I have a feeling Atomic Habits will be shaping 2023 for me. Every page, every chapter, every concept, I was like - "ugh, YES. That is SO TRUE." It was like having something that seems so simple - but that you've never thought of - illuminated for you in an easy to digest format.
There's so much information in this book that I feel like it's a disservice to rate it or just read it once. I read it on ebook and took notes (50 pages of notes on Google Docs...), then bought the physical copy and began annotating it. At the same time I went back through my notes and checked out a companion workbook (I've only tried one so far and don't recommend it, too many grammatical errors) to ask myself questions - then I'd add comments to my notes or go back to the original book if I feel I couldn't confidently answer a question or didn't understand a concept.
I am the queen of bad habits. I know what's good for me and I know I can do it. But the motivation to go for a 10, 15 minute walk? Or to stop scrolling on TikTok - because soon I'll realize its been an hour?? No where to be found most days. This book gave me the tools to work on this in a way that I'm HOPING will let me have real improvements.
The perfect book for someone who loves self-help, self-improvement, and goal setting....more
Praise be to Ruby Dixon for creating the single greatest line in modern romance books: "Did you just compare eating my pussy to your favorite noodle?"Praise be to Ruby Dixon for creating the single greatest line in modern romance books: "Did you just compare eating my pussy to your favorite noodle?"
This book was really fun, exactly what I needed as I'm in the midst of a LONG romance book slump (non-fiction + self improvement is just hitting right now). Risda is always a fun planet to go back to, and I enjoyed the inclusion of a neighbor going through depression who just needed a friend. Maybe her son will pop up in a clone book?? Hm......more
I really enjoyed this aptly titled book - part self-help, part parenting, part marriage counseling, part comedy. The way it was written and structuredI really enjoyed this aptly titled book - part self-help, part parenting, part marriage counseling, part comedy. The way it was written and structured made it so easy to read and get engaged; the author lays out what was her "current state" and each chapter/section is something she tries to help improve it. There was a celebrity relationship therapist that came at a MIND NUMBING cost (I hope it was paid for by her publisher)… interviews with an FBI hostage negotiator to talk about diffusing conflict… and a type-A organizer who I envisioned as Barbara Corchan (from Shark Tank) meets Marie Condo.
It's funny how throughout the book she commiserates with her sisters, her mom, and her mom friends on the problems they face from their husbands… and how they're all pretty similar. That seems to be a theme throughout the marriage and parenting books I'm reading - somehow, men default into more of a bystander role when they're a father. They're a single guy WITH a family, reaping all the benefits and few of the responsibilities. It's unbelievable to me but it's a commonality! How and why do we let this happen??
One wild example was how Jancee's husband volunteered to chaperone their daughter's field trip, then tried to back out at the last second because he was on deadline for an article. 1) You should have known the deadline earlier. 2) You made a commitment. 3) A working mom would NEVER do that. Jancee wound up pulling up the email with all the parents going and pointed out working moms on there and their careers - saying she was sure THEY were busy, too, but THEY were still going. (He went.)
I saw a lot of myself and D in Jancee and Tom. Jancee is the project manager of her home, the one who organizes and doles out the work - but also the one who's quick to anger and bickering. I definitely have a temper so seeing the unflattering portrayal was rough but a rude awakening.
My biggest gripe with the book was the … grammar, I guess? Or maybe it's a stylistic choice. In just about every sentence with a quote she would say something like: Apples are, according to Elmo, a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Like… you JUST quoted them. So you're attributing to them multiple times in the same paragraph. It reads: "Eating right is an important part of growing up," says Elmo, a fan favorite on Sesame Street. And apples are, according to Elmo, a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Obviously I made that ish up because I don't have my copy of the book right now but you SEE IT, right? That's weird!!...more
Isn't it funny when you read a book where the main character is very much YOU, and it holds a sort of un-funny mirror up to the way you view yourself Isn't it funny when you read a book where the main character is very much YOU, and it holds a sort of un-funny mirror up to the way you view yourself because you don't like it?
That was me reading Foreverland.
I went into this thinking it was a book about marriage. And it was, but not exactly what I was expecting. The author is a sort of "Internet person" (she writes the Ask Polly column, among other things online) and has a biting sort of self-deprecating wit. Heather tells the story of her courtship and marriage to her husband Bill with unflinching honesty, allowing herself to be totally real and come off… not great… in certain parts. It was a memoir, a reflection on marriage and love through the years, part self-help and part humor.
I found myself totally drawn in - I was listening to this on audiobook and looked forward to my drives and actually stayed in my car one night after coming home to finish a segment. I listened to it through a dental filling, before which I told my dentist all about the book and how I was worried about the ending.
There isn't really "advice" in this book, so maybe I was wrong in calling it self-help. But did it help me? I feel like it did.
It helped me to not feel crazy, in parts I resonated with. I thought - I do those same things. I feel those same things! I want those same things. I saw a lot of parallels between the author and myself, and her husband and mine. There was a particular passage I don't want to get into where it was SO EXACTLY what I wanted to tell my husband and make him understand… that I immediately bought a physical copy of the book. (Not only that, but I bought a HARDCOVER, since the paperback isn't out until next year.)
It also made me reflect on things I don't like about myself. There were things Heather did or said where I was like, "Girl… you're in the wrong." And I could see myself one day doing those things, potentially… even if I don't want to now.
Am I being too cryptic? It's not intentional, I swear. This is the problem with audiobooks. When I'm really sucked into one, I can remember how I felt while reading it (in this case: on the edge of my seat and INTO it), but I can't really remember the specifics. Hence the physical copy.
If you're at all interested in non-fiction memoirs and/or you've had a long term partner… this might be a read for you....more
If you're looking for a fun, fast burn, why choose romance with legit monsters… this is it.
Sometimes a fast burn just HITS, you k*Review from Nov 2022
If you're looking for a fun, fast burn, why choose romance with legit monsters… this is it.
Sometimes a fast burn just HITS, you know? I don't need the heroine to be scared of the monsters. She's turned on, she knows it's freaky, and she enjoys it.
There was a little mystery that was pretty fun (once revealed), too. ...more
*Read this in November and forgot to post the below review...
I've had this book checked out on KU for so long. I actually got a special edition versio*Read this in November and forgot to post the below review...
I've had this book checked out on KU for so long. I actually got a special edition version with art from a Renegade Romance box, which is why I both wanted and didn't want to read it. Because, FUN - art! But snakes? Ehhhhhh.
The world building is pretty interesting. Earth as we know it has long since been destroyed by aliens who helped then hurt humans. Since then, Earth has been a wasteland of sorts and the remaining humans live in colonies in space. Earth is inhabited by wild animals (including monstrous killer pigs, which was hilarious because pigs WILL eat full bodies!!) and "naga" - giant snake men.
I'm not positive on what these naga look like. Do they have legs, or only a tail? I'm not sure.
The romance itself? Kinda fun! The hero is a red viper and he's instantly taken by the heroine because she's a redhead and they're "the same color". That's so cute!
Enter a sort of hostage situation and kidnapping... a "lady doth protest too much"... a bit of adventure... some mystery...
I'm interested to see how future books work, and how they'll combine the plot (humans trying to recolonize Earth) with the romance. Admittedly, I prefer alien/monster books where the plot/world building is sort of matter of fact so the romance can be center stage, so I'm not sure how it'll shake out. Like, if the plot had been a ship of human women searching for life forms on Earth crashed... boom. Story. Dystopian, snake-infested version of Ice Planet Barbarian. To me, that's a bit more enjoyable because when there's too much overcomplicated plot it just naturally takes away from the romance and when I read a romance about a naga with a huge knotted peen, I want the steam to deliver....more
I really enjoyed this book! Especially after reading The Conscious Parent, which had a much dryer / less engaging tone, Precious Little Sleep packed aI really enjoyed this book! Especially after reading The Conscious Parent, which had a much dryer / less engaging tone, Precious Little Sleep packed a ton of information into an easy to follow pace. (Some would say the author of Precious Little Sleep goes overboard with little jokes and sidenotes to parents - but I appreciated it because the topic of sleep training is just… hard. A few corny jokes to keep people checked in and engaged is well worth it!)
I tabbed this book, I underlined it to heck, and I added mini Post-It notes for parts I really wanted to be able to reference (I write at the top of the Post-It note what the page/section is about - like "reduce SIDS" or "example sleep schedule" so I can flip directly to the one I want. This is different than the semi-transparent colored tabs I place basically anywhere I think there's valuable info.
If you have a newborn, baby, or toddler struggling with sleep (independent sleep, going to sleep, staying asleep) - give this book a try. ...more
I'm not a big audiobook person, but for some reason I really like listening to non-fiction books on audio.
Almost immediately I disliked this book.
I I'm not a big audiobook person, but for some reason I really like listening to non-fiction books on audio.
Almost immediately I disliked this book.
I implore publishers: vet your narrators. Because good gravy, the narrator of this audiobook sounded like a sports announcer. This is why I usually prefer for the author to read their own book, because a non-fiction book really doesn't need a theatrical performance... it needs authenticity. And this is just like, "MOTH-ers who have AMBIT-ion... are GOOD for their kids." I could barely focus on the words!
And then when I did focus on the words... ugh.
I picked up this book because I wanted a book about working mothers and being AMBITIOUS working mothers. Tell me why a full chapter+ (which feels so much longer as an audiobook) is dedicated to statistics on when women are fertile. That isn't the point of the book. Women who pick up this book are obviously looking for information on being WORKING MOMS, not "HOW AND WHEN TO GET PREGNANT".
I was hoping for a book that had quick info and bulleted lists of information compiled in one spot. And sure, that was in this book, but along with itI was hoping for a book that had quick info and bulleted lists of information compiled in one spot. And sure, that was in this book, but along with it came a hefty dose of typos and bullshit.
From the introduction I was feeling skeptical about this book. The author promoted that the newborn baby NEEDS to rely MAINLY on the mother. Bullshit! Yes baby and mother have a special bond but that feeds into the very heteronormative idea that fathers aren't needed during the newborn/baby stage. Not only do fathers miss out, but it lets lazy fathers get away with being unengaged.
And then the chapter on breastfeeding... ugh. Women in my family simply cannot produce milk. My mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother - none were able to breastfeed AT ALL. So I fully expect not to be able to either. And I'm okay with that. But listening to people harp on why "breast is best" when it's just not a physical possibility for some people is SO FUCKING ANNOYING.
The author writes, "Breastfeeding is healthy for women and there are a number of reasons why women should not shy away from providing their child with breast milk for at least 6 months. When a woman breastfeeds a child, it helps her connect with her child, making her feel happy as a person." At this point, I was no longer convinced this author was real. This book sounds like it was written by an AI.
Also, a page later she says breastfeeding acts as a contraceptive which... has now been disproven???? This is why doctors say so many patients show up pregnant at their 6 week check up. GOOD BYE.
No wait, wait. I kept reading and two pages later she called breastfeeding TIME SAVING. TIME SAVING??!??!?! First of all she doesn't mention pumping and saving at all - she says "A woman does not have to worry about the time that is required to prepare a meal for the babies because breast milk is always available." Does she think it's like a soft serve machine???? How is breastfeeding - when you have a literal human being physically latched onto your body - a time saver... when you would still have to pump, bottle, and store your milk?? If anything using formula is a massive time saver since once a woman goes back to work they will need to pump every few hours for 30-60 minutes in the office. Oh but I forgot - this author doesn't think moms should go to work / outsource care of their children.
I don't remember why I bought this book - it must have been recommended in one of my Reddit groups. After a few false starts I was able to start readiI don't remember why I bought this book - it must have been recommended in one of my Reddit groups. After a few false starts I was able to start reading the book, about an hour a day at lunch. It always takes me longer to read non-fiction books because there's so much info > storytelling, and I'm usually annotating, which means reading everything twice.
This is the first parenting book I've read so… what did I think?
There were some good nuggets of information. There were also some "woo-woo" things. I'm not trying to be disrespectful but there were definitely parts that made me kind of pucker like a lemon, just because it was a lot of mystical talk about metaphysical things. But I just picked out the kernels of truth.
The gist of the book is…
You cannot be the best parent you can be unless you face your past trauma. You cannot be the best parent you can be if you have expectations of your child - what you want them to be, act like, etc. Your children are not dolls to dress up or people you can control. You should make sure your child knows you always love and accept them, regardless of who they are, who they love, what they wear, if they fail....more
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would! It's probably my second favorite in the series so far. I'm not a huge fan of enemies to lovers anI liked this book a lot more than I thought I would! It's probably my second favorite in the series so far. I'm not a huge fan of enemies to lovers anymore, but this one is more rivals to lovers and even then, they're immediately vibing. I appreciate that Juliette Cross seems to like "hero pining" as much as I do!
I will admit: most of my highlights from this book are every cameo Clara and Henry made. When I tell you I am FROTHING AT THE MOUTH FOR THEIR BOOK… May 2023 cannot come soon enough.
I really enjoyed learning more about grims in this book. I liked Gareth's darkness. I kind of pictured his "darkness" / "dark side" as a tangible living thing, and for some reason I pictured it as the Pokemon Grimer… you know, the melting purple goop?? I DON’T KNOW WHY. But I pictured this little purple blob as being equally in love with Lavinia and chasing her like this with heart eyes:
[image]
Super satisfying story, and made me really excited for books 5 (out 10/31 - Jules and Ronan) and 6 (out May 2023 - Clara and Henry)!
CW: sexual harassment, attempted assault, past rape/murders (off page)...more
Before we begin, I just want to say: my marriage is not in trouble!! While I did complain about my husband on Instagram stories this week (he left a TBefore we begin, I just want to say: my marriage is not in trouble!! While I did complain about my husband on Instagram stories this week (he left a Triscuit box open so they all went stale and I found out as I went to pack my lunch), he is a sweet little lambchop despite the fact that he still leaves peanut butter on the kitchen sponge and doesn't know how to cook besides burgers and noodles.
Personally I think every couple should work proactively to always reflect on and improve their relationship. Especially when you both get busy and you're kind of in a routine of life, it's easy to be complacent. And I learn best from books. Even if I don't 100% resonate with a book, I can usually gain perspective and context from pieces of it.
This book goes through the author's experience with many, many couples who took part in his marital studies over years and years. The examples and activities were all great, but what I gained the most from was learning about communication and realizing all the things I did that were wrong, wrong, WRONG.
For example:
A "harsh startup" is when a discussion leads off with criticism and/or sarcasm, a form of contempt. Research shows if you begin with a harsh startup, it will end on a negative note even if there are a lot of attempts to "make nice" in between. A harsh startup dooms your discussion to failure. And yes, I have started many a discussion - er, argument - like this.
There are four types of negativity that are lethal to relationships, and I exhibit 3 of the 4 (my husband exhibits the other 1). The book nicknames these the "four horsemen of the apocalypse". They are criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. It was eye opening to read exactly how and why these cause conversations and communications to fail, and how they can bring down the relationship as a whole - especially over time.
"Repair attempts" are efforts the couple makes to deescalate the tension during a touchy discussion - to put the brakes on so flooding (a response to being so overwhelmed by your spouse that you're shell shocked and exhibit physical stress) is prevented. This can be by saying you need a time out from the conversation/argument, or trying to deescalate with a joke or loving gesture. The more contemptuous a couple is with each other, the less likely a repair attempt will work. This is something I immediately resonated with, because I'm someone who wants to calm down if we're having an argument - otherwise I'll just get more and more angry. My husband wants things resolved right then, otherwise he can't focus on anything else. But there's a scientific reason to use repair attempts! 20 minutes is the time it takes for your body to physically calm down.
These are just three examples of big concepts that were able to be boiled down into things that felt manageable. I also loved all the work on discussing solvable vs perpetual problems, and how to respond to each. This is a great book on respect and communication that anyone who's in a partnership can learn from....more
I really enjoyed this book - so much so that even though I listened to it for free from the library, I'm going to buy a physical copy to annotate it aI really enjoyed this book - so much so that even though I listened to it for free from the library, I'm going to buy a physical copy to annotate it and pull quotes.
I found myself nodding along as I was driving to and from work… and yes, getting angry. Because the facts ARE anger-inducing! Women are the "she-fault" (default) to domestic tasks and the cognitive labor of running a household. Women naturally take on more chores, take on the mental load of unseen work, are expected to assign out work to their partners like a project manager, and then get blamed for being a "nag". UGH.
While reading, I started asking women I know in real life about the split of their domestic work with their husbands. I also posted a not-super-nice Instagram story about my own husband after going to pack my lunch one morning and realizing he hadn't closed the Triscuit box properly, meaning they all went stale. And I got a ton of examples from women of shit their spouses do that piss them off or are ridiculous to them.
I couldn't help but wonder, as I was talking to all this women and reading the Fair Play book… are men really so much less capable than women? Of being self-sufficient, of multi-tasking, or taking on work and domestic tasks? Are all men wielding weaponized incompetence - pretending to be bad at something to get out of doing it in the future? Or, are men truly blind to the work that goes into keeping a household running?
While Fair Play scientifically knocks down the myth that women are better at multi-tasking or more suited to domestic chores, I do think both weaponized incompetence and blissful ignorance play a role in why today, even when women work outside the home (and even when women are the breadwinners / higher earners in their families) - they are still expected to act like a housewife.
I wish Fair Play went a BIT more into weaponized incompetence vs blissful ignorance and how to combat both (I read The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work as a companion book to this and found a lot of good information on how to actually get through to your spouse on solvable problems and perpetual problems) - but that wasn't really the purpose of this book and I get it. I just enjoyed Eve Rodsky's voice and research, and I think she could have made this interesting. Maybe one day she'll come out with a book on marriage and communication!
The second half of this book goes into detail on the Fair Play game. The basics: you need to define what tasks/chores are "musts" in your home. You need to define a minimum standard of care - the basis for completing the task successfully. You need to assign value to each one - how important it is for your home. You need to split the cards. And re-deal. And re-deal. And re-deal.
I fully see the merit in these cards and the game. It makes visible all the mental labor that goes into each task. When you hold a card (a chore, task, etc) you own the conception, planning, and execution. No reminders, no help, no delegating. If you want to see the cards, check out the Fair Play website - they're all listed on there with a description of each. (A Reddit forum I found talking about the game actually discouraged from buying the physical cards because they said you still have to go to the website for the DETAILS on each card - apparently they're not printed on there.)
Do I think that the game will work for every couple? No.
For my husband and I, who are currently childless and pet-less (RIP Lucy), working full time, living in a small two bedroom condo… we really wouldn't have a big deck of cards. Also, based on our current work schedules, it just isn't feasible to have one person in charge of dishes (all rinsing, loading, unloading) - unless we're okay with dishes in the sink for days at a time (and I'm not). There's also ground work needed for some of the cards. Sadly, my husband cannot cook. I mean, I'm not a great cook but I can figure it out. That's something we have to work on before I feel comfortable asking him to plan meals or make weeknight dinners. I'm not having a burger every night!
Personally, I really enjoyed this book for the information and context it provided. I will take the SPIRIT of this book and apply it to my life. I'm sure Eve advises against this and I fully get it - but at the end of the day you need to do what'll work for your relationship in the present. I'm hopeful that in the future we can fully "deal" cards that each of us will own, entirely. ...more
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