A young man, a second son, releases a book that contains a list of woman with a fortune to their name. Widows and spinsters. Which leads to two men paA young man, a second son, releases a book that contains a list of woman with a fortune to their name. Widows and spinsters. Which leads to two men paying a call on one widow at the start of this book, that widow being one of the main characters.
Because of a diligent butler, that young woman comes into possession of a copy of that list of woman book. She becomes angry and confronts the author; then holds a gathering to inform some of the women in the book. Those women decide to take advantage of the situation, to turn the tables on the men. At least one of them are high enough up in society that they provide a certain cover, while at least one of them has been shunned by society based on action taken when they were 17. The women hold a ball and stuff. Invite men.
*I received this book from NetGalley, and Less Than Three in return for a fair review.*
The story was both not what I expected and what I expected. Fo *I received this book from NetGalley, and Less Than Three in return for a fair review.*
The story was both not what I expected and what I expected. For I expected a story involving an Angel and a Priest, and that the Angel would be looking for his mother - with the help of the Priest. And that there had been conflict between the two species in the past. And possibly still some conflict on-going in the present.
An Angel did pop up looking for his mom. And a priest did help. But . . . I . . . for some reason I didn't expect that the Angel would be 17-I'm-almost-18 year old. Stupid of me, I know, but I just assumed that it would be an adult who was curious about his past, not some wet-behind the ears kid. One who is smug, arrogant, and very very determined to smirk at everything (I'm actually surprised that the word 'smirk' only appears 21 one times in the short story). Quite frankly the Angel was completely unlike-able. The priest? While he also seemed to like smirking, he also seemed . . . less than what I'd want to find, but he was tolerable just the same. (I suppose Eli took up that 'really arrogant, smug, extremely smirk-able, asshole priest' position - Eli being one of the side characters of the piece).
There were many things that just baffled me. Like, is this short story supposed to be part of a larger series? Because I kind of entered it and found myself confused immediately. It was hard to get a handle on the society I found. Words I know, like 'Angel', 'Priest', 'Chapel', 'Pope', 'Western Europe', 'London', kept appearing in the story . . . and yet, it was the back drop to a society and people that did not correspond to what I would naturally think of when those terms were used. For one thing the priests are not celibate, women have more power than I'd expect for anything that has a 'Pope' as the religious head, the Pope apparently lives in London, and Angels . . . appeared to be massive pricks.
I didn't really get a good handle on this culture. Just that there were three entities in it - Angels, Priests, and mundane humans. And that the Priests, I think, came from humans. And that everyone with any kind of position is forced to give up their kids to orphanages - which is also where the same people go to get people to be things like Priests and Angels. But, is there a society outside of that? Just . . . Angels who do not correspond to the concept I have for angels, priests who do not appear priest like, etc. etc. And don't get me started on how women were treated in this story (the only one with a bit of power is kind of disliked, had her (view spoiler)[baby stolen from her, and is a bit evil, more than a bit (hide spoiler)], while those without specific 'power' are seen as being 'common' and somewhat beneath contempt - at least in the only ways you see them in the story (evil, or lessor, common - like, for example, three types of Angel healers, Male (rare), It (?), and Female - with female on the bottom). And, oddly, except for that one 'Lady', the Priests side apparently had no other women in evidence except door-minders (one). I can't really go with the council part on the Angel side - only one council member was shown, it wasn't explicitly stated that no women were on it, and just because the only female seen over there was the receptionist doesn't really mean anything.
Saying all that - the story had some interesting aspects. Part of my problem is I didn't really know the society at all so I couldn't pick up on some of the things I would have in another story. Like there was kissing, but mentions that it 'wasn't really what it seemed', or maybe it was - I do not have the background to tell what's going on. I do not know enough about the people and society.
I didn't particularly like 'kid-angel' though as the story progressed I 'accepted him' more. The Priest dude . . . well, everything was from kid angel's point of view. And he didn't exactly like some of the things the priest dude did. Though, by observation, the priest dude also had some disagreeable aspects. Like when he ended up in a jail like cell with the kid, his immediate reaction seemed to be to turn to tease the kid (until he realized something that caused him to stop, but that still was his first reaction).
Oh and - we all have differing levels of 'explicit content'. I went into this story with this little note on NetGalley: 'Angel Fever contains no explicit content.' Which made me think that there would be no explicit content at all - like no touching, kissing, etc., at least not passionate type. A lot more kissing in this story than I'd expect for 'no explicit content'. Which, of course, brings us back to different levels of what 'explicit content' means. And, well, kissing is icky - you know the amount of germs the mouth contains? 'A single tooth can host 500 million bacteria.' And one of the worst things about a bite wound isn't the bite itself, it's the icky gross germs, bacteria, and the like that will infect the wound - transferred over from the mouth, from the bite (my own grandmother ended up in the hospital less because of the cat bite, but because of the germs that infected her from the cat bite).
Rating: 3.05
June 7 2017 and June 8 2017
Merged review:
*I received this book from NetGalley, and Less Than Three in return for a fair review.*
The story was both not what I expected and what I expected. For I expected a story involving an Angel and a Priest, and that the Angel would be looking for his mother - with the help of the Priest. And that there had been conflict between the two species in the past. And possibly still some conflict on-going in the present.
An Angel did pop up looking for his mom. And a priest did help. But . . . I . . . for some reason I didn't expect that the Angel would be 17-I'm-almost-18 year old. Stupid of me, I know, but I just assumed that it would be an adult who was curious about his past, not some wet-behind the ears kid. One who is smug, arrogant, and very very determined to smirk at everything (I'm actually surprised that the word 'smirk' only appears 21 one times in the short story). Quite frankly the Angel was completely unlike-able. The priest? While he also seemed to like smirking, he also seemed . . . less than what I'd want to find, but he was tolerable just the same. (I suppose Eli took up that 'really arrogant, smug, extremely smirk-able, asshole priest' position - Eli being one of the side characters of the piece).
There were many things that just baffled me. Like, is this short story supposed to be part of a larger series? Because I kind of entered it and found myself confused immediately. It was hard to get a handle on the society I found. Words I know, like 'Angel', 'Priest', 'Chapel', 'Pope', 'Western Europe', 'London', kept appearing in the story . . . and yet, it was the back drop to a society and people that did not correspond to what I would naturally think of when those terms were used. For one thing the priests are not celibate, women have more power than I'd expect for anything that has a 'Pope' as the religious head, the Pope apparently lives in London, and Angels . . . appeared to be massive pricks.
I didn't really get a good handle on this culture. Just that there were three entities in it - Angels, Priests, and mundane humans. And that the Priests, I think, came from humans. And that everyone with any kind of position is forced to give up their kids to orphanages - which is also where the same people go to get people to be things like Priests and Angels. But, is there a society outside of that? Just . . . Angels who do not correspond to the concept I have for angels, priests who do not appear priest like, etc. etc. And don't get me started on how women were treated in this story (the only one with a bit of power is kind of disliked, had her (view spoiler)[baby stolen from her, and is a bit evil, more than a bit (hide spoiler)], while those without specific 'power' are seen as being 'common' and somewhat beneath contempt - at least in the only ways you see them in the story (evil, or lessor, common - like, for example, three types of Angel healers, Male (rare), It (?), and Female - with female on the bottom). And, oddly, except for that one 'Lady', the Priests side apparently had no other women in evidence except door-minders (one). I can't really go with the council part on the Angel side - only one council member was shown, it wasn't explicitly stated that no women were on it, and just because the only female seen over there was the receptionist doesn't really mean anything.
Saying all that - the story had some interesting aspects. Part of my problem is I didn't really know the society at all so I couldn't pick up on some of the things I would have in another story. Like there was kissing, but mentions that it 'wasn't really what it seemed', or maybe it was - I do not have the background to tell what's going on. I do not know enough about the people and society.
I didn't particularly like 'kid-angel' though as the story progressed I 'accepted him' more. The Priest dude . . . well, everything was from kid angel's point of view. And he didn't exactly like some of the things the priest dude did. Though, by observation, the priest dude also had some disagreeable aspects. Like when he ended up in a jail like cell with the kid, his immediate reaction seemed to be to turn to tease the kid (until he realized something that caused him to stop, but that still was his first reaction).
Oh and - we all have differing levels of 'explicit content'. I went into this story with this little note on NetGalley: 'Angel Fever contains no explicit content.' Which made me think that there would be no explicit content at all - like no touching, kissing, etc., at least not passionate type. A lot more kissing in this story than I'd expect for 'no explicit content'. Which, of course, brings us back to different levels of what 'explicit content' means. And, well, kissing is icky - you know the amount of germs the mouth contains? 'A single tooth can host 500 million bacteria.' And one of the worst things about a bite wound isn't the bite itself, it's the icky gross germs, bacteria, and the like that will infect the wound - transferred over from the mouth, from the bite (my own grandmother ended up in the hospital less because of the cat bite, but because of the germs that infected her from the cat bite).
A short story about two women who work in a small clothing store. One night one seduces the other. Sexual activity ocurs in potential plain sight of cA short story about two women who work in a small clothing store. One night one seduces the other. Sexual activity ocurs in potential plain sight of customers. The end.
Oh: one of the women spends the vast majority of her thinking power thinking about how she isn't, you know, a lesbian (if for no other reason, this is why I didn't put this book on my lesbian shelf). If not for certain words and thoughts that pass through her mind during the activities, she'd be described as a completely and utterly naive. Those brief occasional thoughts that poke through the other dimwitted naive thoughts let the reader know, though, that the woman does in fact know what is happening and wants it to happen.
A woman goes to a formal company party wearing no underclothing. She encourages the man she went to the party with to finger and fuck her at the partyA woman goes to a formal company party wearing no underclothing. She encourages the man she went to the party with to finger and fuck her at the party.
Not badly written or anything like that, just not a lot here. ...more
The first book I've read by this author. Also the first book in a series.
From book description: "a paranormal Regency romance series." The book is setThe first book I've read by this author. Also the first book in a series.
From book description: "a paranormal Regency romance series." The book is set when there's a queen on the English throne, and a shifter queen. This is not a Regency romance. This is a Victorian Romance. But, eh, whatever. Maybe implying that there was a human queen was a mistake, there were several obvious mistakes; or a misread by me. No matter.
Right, so, basically a romance with titled people in England. Two things make this different than most books set in this time period: while not "out" in public, shifters exist and some (not all) are part of the titled wealthy people of England (though not all titled people are shifters); and two, somewhat even more shocking to me personally: the two main characters, who both have POVs in the book, are . . . the same age. No, really. In most books about this time period, the women are something around 17 (at least if it is their first season, like here), and the men are . . . hmms, 30-something? So reading two people of the same age is both weird and refreshing.
Right, so. The main female character is a fox-shifter and has a twin sister. The twin is barely in the book, but looked like a lot more interesting than the main point of view character. The male point of view character seemed like a standard cookie-cutter 'Viscount who needs to find a wife for heir reasons, and doesn't really want to do so' type. The main female character is kind of naive and doesn't appear to be that attractive (ETA: no idea what word I meant there, attractive wasn't it - main POV character sees her sister and thinks she's gorgeous, and they are twins, so . . .; possibly I meant attractive personality-wise?). And has the nerves of a . . . hmm, platypus.
This is a super short book, or an extra long short story. Even so, I found myself becoming bored with the pace, and rushing through the last few chapters. I didn't actually skip any words, but if it had been longer, I might have.
There were a few nice moments, like when the fox shifters ran around having fun as foxes. Though very brief, very short.
I believe this is after the first season, prior to second season. Well, Seven is still a member of the Fenris Rangers, so....
Right, so, this is a StarI believe this is after the first season, prior to second season. Well, Seven is still a member of the Fenris Rangers, so....
Right, so, this is a Star Trek mini-comic series following the people from the Picard television series. Picard is given the opportunity to revisit a planet he visited when he was on Stargazer, but finds the planet empty of life. And, um. I'm having a lot of problems remembering what this is about. heh. mmphs. One of the problems of reading a tiny little snippet rather than a full work - I end up forgetting what the heck I read.
I rather liked the Blade Runner miniseries I watched last year called "Blade Runner: Black Lotus". This graphic novel here is a continuation of that sI rather liked the Blade Runner miniseries I watched last year called "Blade Runner: Black Lotus". This graphic novel here is a continuation of that series (which, in itself, probably limits the audience for this work).
Interesting enough story, and I probably would have liked it better if they hadn't been weird about how they drew the main character, Elle. Elle looked, on the tv series, roughly like how she looks on the over of this work. But inside? Inside she looks like a 12 year old girl. It was confusing. She is/was a small thin woman on the tv show, but didn't look like a 12 year old.
This was published by Titan comics, the same publisher that publishes the Hard Case graphic novels. So, since it's the same company, I figure I should note: no nudity occurs in this work. Unlike every other Titan graphic novel I've read (all of which have been connected to the Hard Case imprint). Massive amounts of violence, death, and bones sticking through skin, so this isn't a G rated comic. The R(estricted)/A(dult) rating here would be for the violence and gore, as opposed to the other Titan works I've read. Which would be R/A for sex and nudity (and, depending on the specific work, on violence and blood-shed).
The continuation of the story, and no you shouldn't read this without reading book one (at least one part of book one).
In the first book, I read a buThe continuation of the story, and no you shouldn't read this without reading book one (at least one part of book one).
In the first book, I read a bunch of the story lines before heading to the second book. Here I followed one of the story lines before heading on to book three. So you could say this is an initial rating. That might end up never being updated.
Rating: I rated the path I choose 3.1 stars July 31 2022...more
This is the second book I've read by this author. The first book I read by them, Flaw in Our Design, I rated 5+ stars. Then . . . I took forever to reThis is the second book I've read by this author. The first book I read by them, Flaw in Our Design, I rated 5+ stars. Then . . . I took forever to read another book by them. Instead of gobbling up everything by them. Well, this was what I read next roughly 8 or 9 months after reading the other.
This is one of those fake relationship/pretend relationship type books. I thought I had a pretend relationship shelf, but apparently I don't. Relationship of convenience isn't the same thing. pfft.
Right, so, two point of view characters. Next door neighbors who got to know each other and develop a friendship, though it is surface deep (as both come to realize). One of them, Emery Bates, has an upcoming wedding to attend in Hawaii. Both a wedding event and a reunion of old college friends Emery hasn't seen in years. For . . . reasons. Not wanting to go to the wedding by herself, and figuring it'd be easier to "come out" as lesbian to her friends by going to the event with a girlfriend, she asks her friend Jordan Davis to come with her and pretend to be her girlfriend. So that's the set up.
The book had a few good moments. And some elements of both main characters that were interesting, but I kind of didn't like Emery. I think. It has been about 9 days since I read the book. Which is the same length of time it took me to read the book (9 days is super slow for me).
hmm. Not sure what all else to note. Vacation in Hawaii; pretend relationship; wedding event; friend reunion; etc. etc.
ETA: Hawaii: There are scenes by a pool that could have happened at any hotel that had a pool (well, more any resort with a pool); running on the beach that, again, could have happened on any beach; a hike to a secluded spot was better at conveying "this is Hawaii", though could have happened in Costa Rica and . . . for a book that mostly takes place in Hawaii, there was enough there to indicate "a vacation spot/resort type situation with a beach and a nearby jungle" but not a lot of much to scream "must be Hawaii".
This actually the first book I was going to read by this author, but I saw something about how The Setup was connected somehow (I think more just "samThis actually the first book I was going to read by this author, but I saw something about how The Setup was connected somehow (I think more just "same universe" or some wording like that), so I looked at that book . . . and saw I owned it. So I read that first. Loved it, then immediately read this book here. Mistake.
Right, so. Another solo-POV book from the point of view of the American in an American-born woman hooking up with an English-born woman in London. And like in that other book I read, the two women meet immediately after the American arrives in England. Despite, you know, there being this longish period of time they are staying in the country. And, again like in the prior book I read, most of the time shown in the book is short (again despite the longish period the American is set to be in that country).
That first book I read, and I didn't note this at the time I wrote the review, was edging along certain lines but not going over. Those "lines" being . . . if the book went over a particular line, I'd probably start to dislike and/or grow irritated with the characters/book/plot. Prior book seemed miraculously able to keep from crossing that line. This one seemed bound and determined to cross that line. I wish I could remember something exact to point at. mmphs. Possibly the wise-cracks/internal monologue/external chatter crossed a particular line to being irritating instead of being humorous and or endearing (both POV's, the one in the prior book and the one in this one, babbled a lot - but the one in the prior book seemed incapable of stopping herself, while the one in this book sometimes seemed to both be incapable of stopping herself, and occasionally babbling on purpose, which slid things into irritating zone).
Oh, I should mention this: no, this book has no connection what-so-ever with The Setup. Other than USA flag/British flag; American solo POV; two women hooking up in London, etc. etc. Similar but not same plot line. The four women, the two mains in prior, and the two mains in this one, share certain characteristics (both Americans were originally from Colorado (unless I'm misremembering prior book), and both English women originally from London; English women make almost overly rude comments about "foreigners" and "immigrants"; both Americans appear overly giddy about being in London; etc. etc.).
Right, so: this particular American is a graduate student in London for a year (other American was/is an accountant on a two year assignment to London). This particular English woman owns a bakery and bakes stuff like cakes (owned with her twin sister Polly).
It is quite possible that if I hadn't read this book immediately after that only other book I've read by this author, I might have liked this book more. Possibly. It is hard to know now.
I've been writing this with my eyes on a college playoff softball game involving one of the universities I went to, and am distracted. So I'll wander off here and devote more attention to watching game.
Interesting plot. Interesting-enough characters. But no chemistry & rushed romance.
A straight single mother's kid randomly decides an open acting audInteresting plot. Interesting-enough characters. But no chemistry & rushed romance.
A straight single mother's kid randomly decides an open acting audition for kids was perfect as she "always wanted to act.". With no idea of what might happen if kid did (or even if didn't) get the part, mother brings kid to audition.
Kid gives Oscar worthy performance in audition. Gets part.
POV from single mother & the actress playing the role of mother on show.
Actress uses app to find one-and-done sex partners. Mother has no life of own, lives for daughter. But even if they did allow tentatively imagine dating (or sex), the person they dated would be a man.
The part kid won was for mini series. The single mother & the woman who plays the mother on tv, flirt a lot, and fall into a relationship.
Long long ago I'd read and enjoyed some of Grisham's legal thrillers. And, over time, read and liked his sports books. And here we have yet another spLong long ago I'd read and enjoyed some of Grisham's legal thrillers. And, over time, read and liked his sports books. And here we have yet another sports book and . . . I didn't like it as much.
This one follows a kid, Sooley (the nickname forced onto him), from Southern Suden. Basic story is that the kid is from a dirt covered village, joins the national team, goes to USA, and one reason or another ends up (view spoiler)[in a USA college (hide spoiler)]. Don't think that last part was actually spoiler, but I'll tag it anyway.
There was this "distancing" between the reader, me, and the characters. It's been a while since I've read a Grisham book, so I do not actually remember how good he is with characters and characterization. Well, here, I felt quite distant. Eh, basically, there was a disconnect.
Book was both interesting and boring . . . at the same time. And I have no idea how to write the next sentence without being spoilery, so I don't write it. (view spoiler)[book ended not at all the way I expected it to end. I've no idea why Grisham ended the book that way. (hide spoiler)]
I like Tyson, for the most part. I thought this would be like Cosmos. At least the part I saw. Instead it was like watching a particularly smart guy rI like Tyson, for the most part. I thought this would be like Cosmos. At least the part I saw. Instead it was like watching a particularly smart guy randomly wander through topics small & large, occasionally even things of an outer space nature.
Many times I was thinking 'well, this is boring, though I assume it'll lead somewhere'. It almost never lead anywhere. One example: talking about atoms, neutrons, electrons, quarks, etc. I already knew these things and am not fascinated with them. Figured mentioning was a foundation to talk about something deeper. It didn't get deeper, at least not with this particular set of factoids.
My interest in this series decreases with each book read. My desire to read each sequel is less than the desire to read each previous book. My enjoymeMy interest in this series decreases with each book read. My desire to read each sequel is less than the desire to read each previous book. My enjoyment, after completing each book, is also less than my enjoyment of reading the previous book.
I don't often get to read a werecat book, and this entire series involves werecats (at least up to now and the next book). That certainly helps keep my interest. And I have not read a were-eagle book before, so that made this book worthwhile. There were two leads, one a weretiger, the other a wereeagle.
The first book in this series has one or more reviews mention that the book promised more than delivered. Specifically referring to the level of danger, on page combat, etc. Most of the books, so far, have had a kind of 'we are all likely to die' vibe. Including this one. This is the first time, though, that keeping most of the combat/violence off page annoyed me. And, quite frankly, other than the part wherein the two leads were shifters, I didn't care about either. So the characters didn't entertain me, nor did the plot.
It is annoying to write a review in the review box, because I can't see what I've written.
Lexxi Kitty
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