The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden: Jessica Sorenson

Well, if you're looking for some nice light reading, the Coincidence Series isn't for you.  I'll start off with the first two books in the series, The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden and The Redemption of Callie & Kayden.

Blurb: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden

For Kayden, suffering in silence was the only way to survive. If he was lucky, he could keep his head down, do as he was told, and make it through the day. But one night it seemed like his luck -- and his life -- might finally end... until an angel named Callie appeared just in time to rescue him.

Callie has never believed in luck. Not since her twelfth birthday when everything was taken from her. After the worst was over, she locked up her feelings and vowed never to tell anyone what happened. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.

When fate lands Kayden and Callie at the same college, Kayden is determined to get to know the beautiful girl who changed his destiny. Quiet and reserved, Callie still fears letting anyone else into her world. But Kayden is certain that Callie has come back into his life for a reason. And the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes that, this time, it's Callie who needs to be saved...

Blurb: The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is finally out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way to clear his name is for Callie to speak up-something he'll never ask her to do. Instead, he'll do whatever he must to protect her . . . even if it means letting go of the only girl he's ever loved.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But that means facing her greatest fear and admitting her own painful secrets aloud. The thought of breaking her silence terrifies her-but not as much as the thought of losing Kayden forever.

Deep in her heart, Callie knows the time has come for her and Kayden to forget the pain of the past. With the help of her friends Seth and Luke she makes a plan to show Kayden the life they could have. But can she convince him they can make a fresh start together-or is she already too late?

Review: 4.5 Stars (for The Coincidence) and 4 Stars (for The Redemption)

I came across this book when I was going through a list on Goodreads for Best Book Boyfriends.  After reading Broken, I was ready to read about a good guy.  Kayden was just that, a good guy; but he's also not a laid back, drama-free guy. 

I loved the first book in the series because it was about Callie and Kayden getting to know each other and drawing strength from each other.  Callie is one of those characters that you can't wait to see flourish.

The Redemption was a harder book to read.  Kayden's issues come to a head and it makes for more angst and a darker storyline (not that the first book was all sunshine).  I'm not a big fan of the whole "I'm not good enough for her, but I can't stay away" story line.  It gets a bit old after a while.  But, I do love to see characters rid themselves of the negativity that has held them back and take their power back.

I am a few books ahead of these two in the series, but was a bit surprised to see that #6 returns to these two characters.  Looking forward to reading it -- though I am a bit weary about the need for three books.

Broken: Lauren Layne

Blurb:

When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.

Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?

Review:  3 Stars

It's not an easy feat to take a cheater (from one book in the series) and make them the heroine in the next book.  Although Olivia exceeded my expectations with her maturity in Isn't She Lovely, I was a bit nervous about whether I would like her in Broken.  Kudos to the author for crossing that hurdle and, in my opinion, being successful with creating a likeable character who could have easily been a cliche of a snobby socialite.  

Unfortunately, this book was not as enjoyable for me as the previous one in the series.  There's only so much abuse (from Paul) and watching Olivia be a doormat that I can take.  I prefer female main characters who don't put up with any shit.  I'm also not good at forgiving ass-aholic behaviour, regardless of the underlying reasons for it.  So, Paul just didn't float my boat.   Taking a bit of a break from the series, but I do plan to return to read Michael's story.

Isn't She Lovely: Lauren Layne

I often find myself wanting to jump into a book midway through a series that I have yet to read.  With the Redemption Series, I was able to resist jumping ahead because the blurb for the first book in the series, Isn't She Lovely, peeked my interest too.

Blurb:

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she's pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn't exactly Ethan Price's type, either. He's probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund... or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie's a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan's brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan's privileged world, the "acting" begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating "them." And Stephanie faces a question she's too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

Review: 4 Stars

I'm  sucker for a story like this - watching two people who seem to be complete opposites finding more common ground than expected.  I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  I liked the banter between  Stephanie and Ethan, as they poked fun at each other after being paired together to work a project for their screenwriting course.

And how do I know you won’t go rogue on this project and turn in our screenplay with a dead bird smashed on the front?”

The end of the story is a bit weak, in my opinion.  But, a fun read nonetheless.  I've already moved on to reading the next book in the series!

Spark: Erin Noelle

Blurb: 

I’m failing. 

My younger brother is getting worse, and my job - my duty - is to help him at all costs. We’ve tried everything modern medicine has to offer and nothing works. 

Nothing. 

Deciding to turn to unconventional treatments, we end up at Fire-on-the-Mountain, a holistic resort deep in the Rockies. 

In our search for medical marijuana, I find beautiful, free-spirited Hudson Shavell - a girl who may not only hold the key to heal my brother, but to fix me as well. Even though I can’t afford distractions right now, she’s all I can think about. All that I want. 

It’s funny how everything can change with one little SPARK.

Review: 4.5 Stars

I try to not read too many reviews before getting into a book.  If I know I want to read a book, I don't want to be tempted by spoilers or biased by others' options.  As a result, I was not prepared for this one.  I spent part of the book steeling myself for what might come, the next part breathing to avoid breaking down and then taking deep breathes to try to find my happy place again.

After seeing acquaintances have their lives turned upside down by untreatable epilepsy and related symptoms, I am completely in favour of trying medical marijuana.  I hope this book helps to shed some light on the topic.

The author did a very good job of making me feel connected to the characters.  At times, I could imagine myself sitting at the dinner table with the family, experiencing everything along side of Hudson and Crew.  I loved them as a couple, but wanted to pummel them at times too.

Looking forward to the next books in the series!

In the Absence of Light: Adrienne Wilder

I've been on a bit of reading binge on stories that feature characters with autism (or on the autism spectrum).  That, combined with really strong reviews, catapulted In the Absence of Light to the top of my reading list.

Blurb:  

For years Grant Kessler has smuggled goods from one end of the world to the next. When business turns in a direction Grant isn’t willing to follow he decides to retire and by all appearances he settles down in a nowhere town called Durstrand. But his real plan is to wait a few years and let the FBI lose interest, then move on to the distant coastal life he’s always dreamed of. 

Severely autistic, Morgan cannot look people in the eye, tell left from right, and has uncontrolled tics. Yet he’s beaten every obstacle life has thrown his way. And when Grant Kessler moves into town Morgan isn’t a bit shy in letting the man know how much he wants him. 

While the attraction is mutual, Grant pushes Morgan away. Like the rest of the world he can’t see past Morgan’s odd behaviors. 

Then Morgan shows Grant how light lets you see but it also leaves you blind. And once Grant opens his eyes, he loses his heart to the beautiful enigma of a man who changes the course of his life.

Review: 4 Stars

The manifestation of Morgan's autism is different from other characters I've read.  The blurb describes him as "severely autistic".  I'm not sure if that's accurate, but I had a harder time understanding the relationship between him and Grant than other books I've read that feature a relationship with an autistic main character.  I tried to listen to Morgan's words and ignore the rest.

“The light is a funny thing, Grant. We think it shows us what we need to see, but in reality, it blinds us. That’s why I brought you here. I wanted you to see me.”

Most people can't see past Morgan's tics and verbalizations.  He has been underestimated his entire life.  I feel like the author did a good job of creating a complex, interesting character in Morgan.  But, in the end, I felt that there was a lot about Morgan that was never said and that storyline would have intrigued me more than any of the FBI storyline.  However, I'm not a big fan of police story lines in general.  

Aside from that, it's the kind of book that makes me wish I belonged to a book club because I would like to discuss it with a group of people to get their impressions and interpretations of what happened.  What did Morgan see in the light?  What was missing from his sculptures?   What does Morgan see that others don't and what parts of the book are influenced by this?   

Aflame: Penelope Douglas

Blurb:

The tables have turned. Now I have the power—and it’s his turn to beg…

Everyone wants to be me.

Maybe it’s the sway of my skirt or the way I flip my hair, but I don’t care. Even though their attention is the last thing I crave, I just can’t stop. I dominate the track, the speed rattles my bones, and the wind and the crowd screams my name.

I’m her. The girl driver. The queen of the race. And I’m surviving—something he thought I’d never do.

They all still talk about him. Did you see Jared Trent on T.V? What did you think of his last race, Tate? When is he coming back to town, Tate?

But I refuse to care too much. Because when Jared does come home, I won’t be here.

Tatum Brandt is gone. I’m someone new.

Review: 3.5 Stars

Like many others, when I read the sneak peak for Aflame, at the end of Falling Away, I was pissed off.  I was really angry with Jared.  But that's not logical; he's just a character.  So, in the end, I settled with being pissed off at the author.  Although I agree that Jared and Tate's story never really reached the HEA point, it all felt like a financially-motivated decision to eke out one more book from a popular series; akin to a major studio doing a remake on a movie that is sure to fill seats.  So, with that in mind, it's hard to review this book without being biased by how I felt about the storyline.  I guess I fundamentally don't agree that Jared needed to leave Tate to find himself.

All of that aside, the book was an enjoyable, quick read.  I don't think the blurb does a very good job of representing the book.  But, I always liked Jared and Tate together, so I was happy to read about them and how their relationship progressed.  It wasn't as steamy as Falling Away, but it had its moments.  I don't think the extra book was necessary.  Not after the two previous books featuring Jared and Tate.  Still, I'm sad to see the series end.  I got attached to the characters.

Everything: Melissa Pearl

Blurb:

Jody Pritchett had a dream...but life had other plans. Instead of singing and dancing on Broadway, Jody's a twenty-year-old single mom, living at home with her disapproving father and overbearing sister. The choice to keep her little Angelia came with a high price and although she adores her baby girl, it doesn't take away the sting of kissing goodbye her chance at a career on the stage.

Leo Sinclair had his own dream...but got lost along the way. After a failed marriage that left him hollow and downtrodden, the Australian songwriter wonders what joy his future could possibly hold. Encouraged by the one family member who doesn't think he's a failure, Leo decides to stop living the life everyone expects him to and start chasing his dreams again. 

When the perfect opportunity comes knocking, Leo leaves Australia behind and hops a flight to LA. With his sights set on selling a musical to a Broadway producer, Leo is determined to finally realize his life-long dream. But life gets in the way again, when he spots a young mother outside his apartment in tears. He never realized how one person, one voice, and one Angel could have him contemplating abandoning his dreams once again. 

As these two burned hearts wrestle to overcome their past struggles, Leo and Jody must decide what dreams are worth clinging to...because, sometimes, everything you want is not everything you need.

Review: 4.5 Stars

This was a really sweet book that had me smiling throughout.  I loved Leo.  He is a breathe of fresh air in contrast to the way many men are portrayed in romance novels.  I also really enjoyed flipping back and forth to Youtube to listen to the songs the characters were thinking of at various moments.  It added an element of closeness to the story.  

As an aside, I really like the book cover.  For the most part, I find romance book covers to be pretty cringe worthy.  The guy in the picture gives off the same vibe I got from Leo's character.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Upside Down: Lia Riley

Blurb:

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Review: 2.5 Stars

I was pretty excited to read this book.  I have a soft spot for stories involving finding love abroad.  I was also eager to read about a love story taking place in Melbourne.  I didn't spend a long time there, but I have fond memories of visiting many of the sites in Melbourne, mentioned in the book.

As well as the Great Ocean Road.

Unfortunately, my enjoyment of the book didn't extend much beyond those aspects. 

Do you every have the dilemma of having to be around your friend's partner after your friend has complained about said partner?  It is hard not to hold a grudge on the friend's behalf, even long after the friend has gotten over whatever led to the complaint to begin with.  The friend has the benefit of making up with their partner or seeing the issue that led to the complaint as a negative incident mixed into several positive memories.  In contrast, you're just stuck with the negative complaint and have to swallow it to not let it affect your friendship.  

That's kind of how I felt about Bran.  He didn't do enough to win me over and did some pretty shitty things, which stuck with me more than anything that may have attracted Natalia to him.  Even the chapters with his POV did little to make him seem like a decent guy.  Sure, he has a past and that has affected his current behaviour.  But, at some point in the novel, he has to turn things around to make me want to root  (or as they say in Australia, to barrack) for him.  

Aside from my dislike of Bran, I had a bit of a hard time with the writing.  I found it choppy.   The transition between scenes was abrupt at times.  

There are two more books in this series.  I'm not sure that I'll be reading them.  But, in looking at the online reviews, most others felt more positively about the series than me.  

A review copy was provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Try & Take: Ella Frank

I'm going to review the first two books of the Temptation Series, Try and Take, by Ella Frank, together.

Blurb: Try

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed—after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto—if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?

And he wants to try Tate Morrison.

Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate’s mind. He’s starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.

The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell – a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.

Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.

As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.

Logan doesn’t do relationships. Tate doesn’t do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and…tried?

Blurb: Take

Logan Mitchell is a man who’s always been more than happy to take what he wants. It’s a philosophy that’s proven lucrative in both his business and personal life, and never was it more apparent than the night he laid eyes on Tate Morrison. After pulling out all the stops and convincing the sexy bartender to give him a try—he’s hooked. 

Now, Logan finds himself in a predicament that demands more from him than a smart-ass answer and his innate ability to walk away when things get too deep. 

He has a choice to make, and it’ll force him to do something he’s never done before—take a chance.
Tate Morrison knows all about taking a chance. He took the biggest one of his life the night he showed up at Logan’s apartment to explore his unexpected reaction to the man. 
Ever since then, he’s thought about little else.

At first he was convinced his attraction was based solely on his body’s curiosity. But the more time he spends with the silver-tongued lawyer, the more Tate realizes that their physical chemistry is only the beginning.

He’s starting to catch a glimpse of what life with Logan would be like, and it’s one full of excitement and satisfaction—a far cry from what he had in the past with his soon to be ex-wife.
Each man will face their fears as they begin to understand the true meaning of give and take. Their feelings for one another will be tested, as will their very beliefs. But now that they’ve found love where they least expected it, will they be brave enough to reach out and take it?

Review: 4 Stars
After recently reading my first m/m romance, Carry the Ocean, which was fairly PG, I thought I would give some m/m NC-17 a try.  

I have been interested, lately, in the psychology behind sexual preference in romance/erotica novels.  I have so many questions about how/whether sexual preference of the author influences the way characters are portrayed when their MCs have similar or different sexual preferences to that of the author.  Why do women want to write about a m/m relationship?  In popular culture, so often straight men are portrayed as being interested in/turned on by f/f couplings.  Is the truth that women (homo- or hetero-sexual) are just as turned on by m/m erotica?  Is there distinct patterns in the way m/m relationships are portrayed when the story is by a woman vs. a man?  Are the audiences for these books distinct in terms of gender (e.g., Do gay men prefer reading m/m books written by gay men?  Do straight women prefer reading m/m books written by straight women?)  Are there consistent differences in the way m/m relationships are portrayed relative to m/f relationships?

Ack - I could go on with all of these questions!

So, now, to talk about Try and Take, in particular... It took me a while to get into the books.  I wasn't into Logan's character for most of the first book.  His aggressiveness felt more like sexual harassment than anything else.  When the MCs got together, it took a long time for it to go beyond sex, which was a pretty obvious difference from the m/f books I've read.  I don't recall any m/f erotica where the emotional connection lagged behind the sexual one for so long.  I'm not sure that that lag would work for the readers of traditional m/f erotica.  

At times the books dragged for me.  I think this has to do with writing style; the characters often don't finish their sentences.  Then, they are prompted by the other character to finish the thought.  It ends up slowing down the pace of conversation.  There is a lot of sex in the books.  It's basically sex, conversation that leads to sex, and then more sex.  

By the end of Take, I was happy with where the Tate and Logan were in their relationship.  I'm astonished by Tate's ability to be so honest with himself, his family and the world about his relationship.  I can't imagine that there would be very many men who have been exclusively straight come to be so open, so quickly, about being in a same sex relationship.  

I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for the next book in the series, which is supposed to come out this spring.  I'm curious to see what happens next.

Beautiful Secret: Christina Lauren

I'm not sure there is a character out there who is more different from Bennett, Max and Will (the male leads from books 1, 2 and 3, respectively, in the Beautiful Bastard Series) than Niall.  Christina Lauren  clearly have what it takes to get into the mind of a range of personality types.

Blurb:

When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside—and staying in a hotel with—Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive…until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

Review:  4 Stars

In the acknowledgements, the authors say:

“Some books roll off our fingers easily, while others seem to require some combination of the following: (1) rocking in a corner, (2) cake, (3) chaining self to computer, (4) tears, (5) bloodletting, (6) hard liquor, (7) starfishing on the floor, (8) Ryan Gosling and/or, (9) virgin sacrifice.
We’re not saying Beautiful Secret required most of these strategies, but we’re not not saying it, either.”

I'm going to guess that deciding and conveying what was going on inside of Niall's head and figuring out how Ruby should react to it was a challenge.  Truth be told, of all the male leads in this series, I'm probably a Niall girl.  As hot as an alpha is, in theory, I always fall for the shy ones.  That doesn't mean he wouldn't drive me up the wall.  I wanted to yell at him on several occasions.  But, his loyalty, timidness, insecurity and vulnerability made me want to hold him and make up for the wasted years.

I enjoyed Ruby as the female lead.  I'm glad she took her time after Niall chose to go for dinner.  Niall needed a wake up call.  I was hoping for an epilogue, so the ending felt a bit quick.

The Music of Temptation: Verity Jacobs

Pretty much the second I finished The Science of Attraction, I went back to Amazon and purchased The Music of Temptation.

Blurb:

Margot Duke can’t keep her long-distance relationship alive any more than she can the cells that are supposed to be taking center stage in her PhD thesis. Both seem to be suffering an inexplicably long and drawn-out death, and she’s spent more than enough time fretting about it, without any solution in sight.

It figures that the one day she chooses to pack it all in and stop caring is the day she meets Jonathan Young.

Jonathan swings through town with his band, just long enough to knock Margot off her feet, and leave her feeling a little giddy in his wake. The encounter proves once and for all that her inter-continental love affair is over, but can she really stomach the idea of starting another one right on its heels? And with the darling of the indie rock world at that?

Review: 4 Stars

The quality and style of writing is similar to the first book.  A really enjoyable read.  I couldn't put it down.  However, I preferred the storyline of the first book to this one for a few reasons.  For starters, I don't really like reading about angsty long distance relationships.  They're hard on the main characters and hard on my heart.  However, I did like how Margot's labmates rally to support her.  

Like Tom, from the first book, Jonathan is a go-all-night sort (rivals for Gideon Cross, perhaps?)  It's hot and all, but after a while, I started to feel bad for real men who have to compete with the likes of these guys.

Here's my plug for a bonus chapter on Jonathan's POV following their performance in Lisbon.   I'd like to know where his head was at while Margot prepared for her review and the conference.  Also, I'd like more information on any emails that might have been diverted in that timeframe.  This was mentioned in the book, but never picked up on again.

I can't wait for The Risk of Seduction and will be keeping an eye out for a publication date.  Hopefully sooner than later!

The Science of Attraction: Verity Jacobs

Sigh....kind of crushing on Tom and Jonathan right now.  I just finished a bit of a marathon reading of two really great books: The Science of Attraction and The Music of Temptation, both written by Verity Jacobs.  I'll stick to writing about The Science of Attraction for now.

Blurb (Science of Attraction):

She’s the hot new recruit at the most prestigious research institute in Germany, and she’s determined to live up to the hype — even if it means working day and night. Stress relief comes in the form of a no-nonsense affair with her neighbor, who also happens to be the director of the institute. Who says sex should be anything more than a contract between two people who have other things on their mind?

So when Tom Baker saunters into her life, Kate is understandably upset to see this well-oiled machine splutter and seize. Tom is young and smart, and far too pretty for his own good. Kate can’t help but be drawn to him, even if giving in to the attraction would mean risking everything she’s worked for.

Review:  4.5 Stars

I kind of love romance books set in an academic setting.  In my real life, I don't deal with CEOs, motorcycle clubs, rock stars, star athletes, etc.  In contrast, I have a lot of dealings with academics.  I spent about 10 years in university (between my undergraduate and graduate degrees) and a lot of my friends are academics.  So, I already feel a kinship to characters who are slogging through their academic research.  

Added to this, I was really excited to find out that the book is primarily set in Bonn, Germany.  The first international conference I attended was held in Bonn.  I even dragged out my external hard drive to find a picture from my visit.  

Having been there and walked the streets around the university, helped me feel more immersed in the story.  It's a pretty city, with a large cobblestone centre.  Now, I kind of want to pack up and move to Bonn.  Okay - moment of insanity passed.  No packing.

I really liked this book.  Tom is basically a dream guy.  My only small critique is that there could have been a little bit more plot and less sex.  But, I loved reading about the Kate and Tom.

I've also been enjoying the prelude the author has been writing about Tom on her blog.  Go check it out here!

Neanderthal Seeks Human: Penny Reid

Blurb:

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse.

Review: 2.5 Stars

After reading the first instalment of the Elements of Chemistry, I was curious about what other "Geek Chic Lit" (a name I recently read for this genre) books Penny Reid had in her arsenal.  Neanderthal Seeks Human is a decent read.  Penny Reid does a good job of creating female characters who are highly intelligent, but socially awkward.  But it didn't really hit the mark for me. Quinn was too self-contained to elicit strong feelings.  Everything he is feeling is described by his eyes alone.  He often avoids directly answering a question.  So, trusting him is an issue.  Plus, I was left with a number of unanswered questions about what happened in the story.  I won't go into them here to avoid spoilers.  

My other main issue, which may not be a drawback for other readers, is that Penny Reid is light on the sex scenes.  I feel like there was a lot of angst leading up to the main characters getting together.  When they finally do, it's hardly described.  The description is abstract and then they wake up the next morning.   I felt a bit ripped off.

So, not sold on the writing style. Also not sold on the title.  I know where it comes from in the book, but the neanderthal/human aspect of the conversation didn't really resonate with me.  I may return to the series at some point in the future.  I do plan to keep up with the next instalments of Elements of Chemistry. 

Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

I want to start my reviews off on a high.  I just finished reading Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan and loved it!

Blurb:

Normal is just a setting on the dryer. 

High school graduate Jeremey Samson is looking forward to burying his head under the covers and sleeping until it’s time to leave for college. Then a tornado named Emmet Washington enters his life. The double major in math and computer science is handsome, forward, wicked smart, interested in dating Jeremey—and he’s autistic.

But Jeremey doesn’t judge him for that. He’s too busy judging himself, as are his parents, who don’t believe in things like clinical depression. When his untreated illness reaches a critical breaking point, Emmet is the white knight who rescues him and brings him along as a roommate to The Roosevelt, a quirky new assisted living facility nearby.

As Jeremey finds his feet at The Roosevelt, Emmet slowly begins to believe he can be loved for the man he is behind the autism. But before he can trust enough to fall head over heels, he must trust his own conviction that friendship is a healing force, and love can overcome any obstacle.

Review: 5 Stars!

This book is a quiet, heartfelt book about learning how to love and support someone, even if you experience the world very differently from them.  It is the third book I've read recently about having a relationship with someone on the autism spectrum; the other two being Puddle Jumping  and The Rosie Project.  Carry the Ocean is written from both MC's (Jeremey and Emmet) perspectives.  It also has the added elements of Jeremey's disability (clinical depression and anxiety) and the fact that the two MCs are in a same-sex relationship.  

You can tell that there was a lot of research (or personal experience) behind this book.  The thoughtfulness in describing how the disabilities affect the MCs is clear.

My depression will tell me things are bad, really bad, and I can say I don’t believe it for a while, but at some point it’s the same as the game you play with kids, where you say “yes” and they say “no” and after a few rounds the adult switches but the child doesn’t catch on and ends up saying yes because they were tricked.

It gives a realistic portrayal of life for these two young men.  I also feel like the author included information that could be helpful to readers experiencing similar issues (or knowing others with similar issues).  Not only are certain techniques for dealing with the disabilities discussed, the author also incorporates online resources in the storyline.

What you can do is learn to manage your emotions. To learn how to tell yourself your feelings are not facts. That they seem real, are real, but that does not make them laws and truths.

It's my first m/m relationship, but that aspect is very secondary to other challenges the MCs face.  I appreciated that homophobia was not a significant issue in this book.  

Welcome to Reading Through the Night

Hello!  Thanks for visiting.  After months of reading and reviewing books on Goodreads, I decided to start a book blog.

About me

What can I say about me?  First, I'm a mother.  I have two kids: a toddler and a baby.  Most of the time, when I am reading, I have a baby sleeping on me or beside me.  In addition to being a full-time mom, I am a part-time independent research consultant.

I have the impression that people who identify as readers spent most of their lives being bookworms.  This isn't me.  I spent so many years reading academically, that I didn't want to look at a book in my free time.  With my first child, I spent a lot of time watching television while stuck under a baby.  It got really boring.  I've discovered that I'm much happier reading.

Why a book blog? 

I started writing short reviews on Goodreads because I was finding that I couldn't remember the plot of a book that I had already read based on the blurbs written.  If I write a review, it's easier for me to remember the book because my review covers the aspects of the book that stuck out to me.  But, there is something impersonal about writing my opinions on Goodreads.

I hope to use this blog to delve deeper into the books that interest me.  To go beyond the book, when inspiration strikes.  I'd like to do things like interview authors, discuss books with related themes (which doesn't seem appropriate for a Goodreads review) and, knowing me, write about tangential thoughts.

Why Reading Through the Night?

Simply put, I chose the name "Reading Through the Night" because I do most of my reading at night.    It's my "me time", of which I don't get a lot during the day.

What type of books do I read?

I like a range of book.  Mostly fiction.  Lately, I've been mostly reading  romance, erotica and new adult books.  I love me a good alpha, though they usually piss me off.  Although I've read a lot of books with man whores and virginal woman, I'm getting tired of this dynamic.  My favourite books tend to feature main characters on equal footing.  I like sassy/quirky female characters and men who haven't slept with hundred of women before meeting "the one".  Contradictorily, I like reading about motorcycle clubs, CEOs and athletes (characters that tend to be portrayed as being promiscuous).  I've read and enjoyed a fair number of books about teacher-student relationships, step siblings and couples with large age differences.  Most recently, I've been interested in reading about romantic relationship involving a disability.

Feel free to leave a comment or introduce yourself if you pop by for a visit.  A large part of why I like blogging is because it connect me to a community of others with similar interest, so don't be shy!

You can also e-mail me at readingttn@hotmail.com