Review: The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: December 19th 2017
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description:

Whether you are simply curious about submission or regularly revel in the delights of BDSM, these sixty-nine erotic short stories about submissives will turn you on! From participating in a musical recital that takes a very kinky turn to making a grocery run while using sex toys to indulging in a risqué office encounter during working hours, these subs delight in obeying (or deliberately disobeying) their masters and mistresses in public and in private. They are rewarded and punished in the most wicked of ways that will leave you breathless. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, with stories by Selena Kitt, Jade A. Waters, Dorothy Freed, and Sommer Marsden among other talented writers, The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 offers arousing tales that delve deep into the thrills of spanking, bondage, power dynamics, service, exhibitionism, erotic adventure, and much more.

Review:

★★★★ ★

Rachel Kramer Bussel and Cleis Press have done it again. It's no secret that I absolutely adore these erotica anthologies. This one is no exception- in fact, The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 goes above and beyond. There's so much erotic goodness to unpack here.

As mentioned, this is an anthology of erotic stories, the connecting theme of which is submission. There are 69 stories total. People tend to think of submission and domination as strictly black and white, perfect puzzle pieces. But this book just goes to show that if you ask 69 people what "submission" means to them- you will get 69 very different interpretations. Which is good news for us, since it ends up producing books like this one.

Submissives of so many different types get a story here. This is hands down the most inclusive erotica (anthology or otherwise) that I have ever read. There are switches. There are dominant Females both with men and with women. There are Dominant males, both with men and with women. In some instances, there's more than those two in the scene. There are some that fit into neither gender category. There are people of color. There are those who are young or new to the idea of BDSM. There are those who are more experienced (such as a grandmother) and those who have been in the scene a long time, sometimes even professionally. There are different body types; those who are small, or curvier, or scarred, or surgically affected. They have representation of so many folks here, it's awesome. Proof that not all erotica is a stuffy white hetero dude in a suit and a doe eyed brunette who has no idea what's going on. *cough* moving on.

As for kinks, there is absolutely something for everyone. Kinks for days, my friend. Including some very specific ones that I enjoy that I did not expect to see. (But which ones? That's up to you to figure out, a lady never tells unless we're Fetlife friends). Here's a very oversimplified list of some of the things you can expect in the way of kink: BDSM (obviously), bondage, rope, training, power struggles, pet play, spanking, a host of different toys, affairs, pegging, role play, blades, gender play, tickling, different time periods, accents/language, food, and strangers. There's bound (pun intended) to be something on this list that sets off your fires.

There are some stories that focus heavily on the connection or romance between characters, so if you're more vanilla-minded don't be scared away!

The few issues I had with this anthology are pretty standard comments about anthologies. Namely, they won't all be winners to everyone. There are some kinks that are not my kinks (and that's okay!) so I didn't enjoy them as much. There are some names/titles/euphanisms that turn me off. There are some writing styles that I just don't enjoy. But the good thing is that in 69 stories, the ones I enjoyed far outweighed the ones I did not.

Plus, each story is completely independent of the other stories, so you can scan or skip or delay the stories you don't think you'll enjoy, without effecting story lines or anything like that.

Rather than talk about all 69 stories and their negative and positive traits, I'm going to highlight my three favorite stories from this collection.

The first is "Chased by the Wolf" by Mischa Eliot. It involves a male Dominant and a female submissive, a costume party, collaring, and a Predators and Prey themed party hosted at the zoo. This party- where dominants dress as predators, and submissives as prey- sounds like one I would absolutely go to. The writing style is playful but alluring, and stands out to me because of costuming and event type.

The second story is called "My Girl, My Boy, My Enby" by Annabeth Leong. The pairing in question here involves a female Dominant, and a submissive who is gender non-binary, who has "girl days" and "boy days" and "non-binary days". This stands out to me because it is honestly the first erotica I have ever read that has a non-binary character in it. And that means the world to me. My fiance is NB, so I was more into, more connected to this story and it set off sparks I didn't know I had. Well done you. It felt very intimate while still being dirty, it was a good balance.

The final story I'd like to highlight is called Oktoberfest Addiction by Roxanna Cross. It involves a male Dominant and a female submissive. It also involves Oktoberfest, risque themed outfits, hair ribbon bondage (fantastic idea), and German mustard in some very interesting places. I like women in dirndl dresses, food, and Germany. Sue me. It was very fun to read, and again the tone was a bit playful and a bit cheeky. It sounded like a fun festival that I'd love to be a part of.

Some other 5 star stories that get a shout out include "Metamorphosis" by Emanuelle de Maupassant (books, public play, libraries), "Imago" by Anna Sky (tattoo guns), "Cari's Recital" by Rod Harden (ha) [public play, bondage, piano], and "Apprendimento" by Kathleen Tudor (punishment, clothes pins, f/f).

All in all this book is one that has a secure place on my erotica shelf. It's such a mixed bag (in a good way!) of different stories and pairings and fantasies and even time periods. It's like hitting "shuffle" on my dirty thoughts, and that's a great thing.

If you're a fan of BDSM, erotica, RKB's other anthologies, or even sex in general, there's something in this book for you.

Thanks to Cleis Press who gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review & Sneak Peek: Rachel's Day in the Garden by Giselle Shardlow!

Title: Rachel's Day in the Garden (A Kids Yoga Spring Colors Book)

Author: Giselle Shardlow

Illustrator: Hazel Quintanilla

Format: Paperback, 34 pages

Pub. Date: December 23, 2014

Publisher: Kids Yoga Stories

Recommended Age: 3 to 6 years

Source: Mother & Daughter Book Reviews

About the Book:

Experience the benefits of yoga while learning about the signs of spring!
Join Rachel as she and her adorable puppy look for signs of spring in the garden. Crawl like a caterpillar, buzz like a bee, and flutter like a butterfly. Discover spring, explore movement, and learn the colors of the rainbow.

The storybook includes a list of kids yoga poses and a parent-teacher guide.

Kids Yoga Stories introduce you to engaging characters who will get your child laughing, moving, and creating. Reading is good for the mind AND body! The story links several yoga poses in a specific sequence to create a coherent and meaningful story.

This spring yoga story for ages 3 to 6 is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children. Rachel's Day in the Garden is the first book in a seasonal yoga book series. The summer yoga book is also now available: Ella's Summer Fun. The fall and winter ones are in production, coming soon!

Sneak Peek!:

Get it here!:

Amazon | Book Website

About the Author:

Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga stories for kids get children learning, moving, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories. She can be found at the Kids Yoga Stories website or her Amazon author page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review:

★★★★★

First of all, I have to say how much I absolutely love this idea. I'm a big fan of yoga myself and I think it's great that there exists a picture book series for young kids (and adults too!) to get started practicing it at a young age while maintaining a fun and safe atmosphere. This isn't a book I'd ever noticed missing in my life, but I can say that now that I know it exists, it's one that I'd definitely recommend to my parent friends and relatives who have small children.

Let's start with the fundamentals: this is a practical but easy to use book from an adult standpoint. At the end of the book, there's a little guide that goes into a bit more depth about how each of the poses demonstrated throughout the story should be done, as well as tips for staying safe while doing them, breathing control, and communication with the kids.

Now for the story part of the book. What's most striking to me about this book is the illustrations. They are simply stunning. They have bright, vivid colors that are perfect for springtime, and have this cool textured/layered look to them that I really enjoy. The illustrations of Rachel serve duel purposes. First, they highlight the story of Rachel's lovely spring day in the garden with her dog. Also, each time that Rachel is on the page, she is in a new yoga position. On each of these new pages, there is a bubble with the name of the pose as well as a highlighted word in the sentence of the story that best represents that pose. That key word is also correspondent to a color (like the yellow sun). It's a really simple book on the surface, but it teaches so much in a small space. It encourages fitness, imagination, and relaxation while simultaneously teaching the child about yoga and colors while also entertaining them with a story about a bright spring day. It's a pretty neat idea that is really well done, in my opinion.

This is a book that I think any yogi, fitness fan, or even parent of a young child would definitely benefit from reading. This is, from my gathered knowledge, the first book of a series with each book representing a different season. I would definitely read more from Giselle Shardlow and can't wait to see the illustrations and poses in the next book.

A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

Double Review: Mini Myths Series by Joan Holub!

Title: Brush Your Hair, Medusa!
Series: Mini Myths
Author: Joan Holub
Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli
Format: Board Book
Pub. Date: March 31 2015
Source: Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Description:

The Mini Myths board book series puts a modern spin on ancient Greek mythology for preschoolers.
* MEDUSA refuses to care for her hair, her long locks getting knottier and wilder with each passing page. Her hair rebellion elicits frozen expressions of shock from her family, but nothing will convince Medusa to brush. Only her hairdresser approaches Medusa with bravery and a blade, successfully solving the problem . . . with a short haircut! All are pleased with this drastic yet adorable solution.
* Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of this physical comedy bring a lively visual narrative to Joan Holub’s expertly focused text.
* Includes a short summary of the original Medusa myth at the end.

★★★★★

Review:

I have to be frank, I absolutely love this book. I've gone as Medusa a lot on Halloween because I look just like the adorable little girl Medusa in this book. I have wild, unruly curly blonde hair, and it was always a struggle for me to get my hair brushed too. So this book has a special connection to me, and I love it.

This book narrates a retelling of the Greek myth story of Medusa, the famed Gorgon who could turn men to stone with a glance and had snakes for hair. Holub transforms this story to a relatable, contemporary story of a little girl who just does not want to brush her hair! It's a great spin on a classic story that's well told for a child audience.

The illustrations are what make this book pop. The way that Medusa is drawn is positively adorable. She has a cute mermaid doll, and she is just the cutest little bundle of procrastination ever. I think little girls everywhere will relate to Medusa, but also be enchanted by the little girl on the pages.

What I liked best about this book is the last page. The final page of this board book tale is a simplified, kid-friendly version of the original Medusa myth. I think this is fantastic, because it's an approachable way to introduce kids to Classic literature and myth tradition. I'm a student of the Classic, and this concept warms my heart. I think that this book is a must-have for early elementary education teachers as well as parents who want a fun way to get their kids familiar with mythology.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.


Title: Make a Wish, Midas!
Series: Mini Myths
Author: Joan Holub
Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli
Format: Board Book
Pub. Date: March 24 2015
Source: Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Description:

Midas wants everything to be his favorite color—yellow! He chooses yellow clothes, eats yellow foods, and uses only the yellow paint at his easel. But when he impulsively paints his beloved green Dinoboo, Midas discovers that too much of a good thing is a big mess! Joan Holub’s carefully crafted text is brought to life by Leslie Patricelli’s famously humorous illustrations. Includes a summary of the original Midas’s Wish myth at the end.

★★★★★

Review:

I'm a Classic student, so when I came across the Mini Myths series I knew I had to give them a read, and I definitely was not disappointed!

Make a Wish, Midas! is a contemporary and child-friendly retelling of the familiar Greek myth of King Midas, who wished from the gods that everything he touched would turn to gold to make him rich, only with some complicated results. This story features little Midas who LOVES his yellow paint so much he wants to cover everything with it. It's a cute and relatable tale that kids are sure to enjoy.

The illustrations definitely help bring this tale to life. They're simple but charming, and done in such bright colors that it's impossible not to be happy and smile while looking through this board book. It's sure to hold a kid's attention and enamor them to the myth that's being told to them.

What I liked best about this book is the last page. The final page of this board book tale is a simplified, kid-friendly version of the original King Midas myth. I think this is fantastic, because it's an approachable way to introduce kids to Classic literature and myth tradition. I'm a student of the Classic, and this concept warms my heart. I think that this book is a must-have for early elementary education teachers as well as parents who want a fun way to get their kids familiar with mythology. This is a great story to read aloud and share together, and is hopefully one that will stick with a child as they grow!

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Shh! by Stacey Nash

Title: Shh!
Series: Oxley College #1
Author: Stacey Nash
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: February 23rd 2015
Source: YA Bound Book Tours


Book Description via Goodreads:

Nineteen-year-old Olivia Dean has the perfect reputation, the perfect boyfriend, and an increasingly perfect CV. She has it all, until Christian breaks up with her in public, calling her out as a self-gratifying sexoholic: the kind that plays solo. But Olivia doesn’t do any such thing — the only thing she does at night is sleep … right?

Now all the boys on campus seem to want her attention for the absolutely wrong reason — including resident hottie, Logan Hays. He's pulling out his best moves to gain her attention, so resisting his sexy charm is hard work. With rapidly slipping grades, a disturbingly lurid reputation and demanding parents, Olivia must discover the truth behind her rumoured sleeping problem. If she doesn't, the perfect life she's worked so hard for may slip away, including the one person who has Olivia breaking all her rules — Logan.

What do you do when you’re asleep?

***

Shh! is a story about acceptance, learning to trust and in turn love while facing life's unexpected difficulties.

NB: This book is of a mild heat level, and contains no explicit sex scenes.

Review:

★★★

I will say, I have never read a book that discusses the topics found inside Shh!. That's why I was drawn into reading this book, because I had never heard of such a condition as the one Olivia experiences throughout the course of the book. However, this one wasn't really for me.

The reason why this book and I didn't really gel together is because of the main character, Olivia. I expected more from her. She goes through a lot of rough stuff in this book. There's a lot of really nasty rumors and bullying and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. She does stand up for herself... Eventually. For a very large part of the book, she just seems to sit and wallow and feel sorry for herself, which is not a character that I can relate to. It went on too long, and it frustrated me. A large part of this frustration came from the fact that Olivia is quick to talk about how she wants to be a lawyer. That's why she's so concerned with her image and reputation, because she wants to be a lawyer. I was surprised that she was so passionate about something where you have to stand up for what you may or may not believe in (depending on the client) and yet she was still so quick to lay down. (Granted, her parents were the ones pushing her towards this career...)

That said, I loved the side characters. I found that her friends, Savvy and Megan, were really the stars of this novel. In a world where everyone is talking smack about Olivia, they are there to help her combat it and stop her from breaking down completely. I also really, really liked the love interest, Logan. He's pretty swoon worthy. There was a great supporting cast of characters, and I liked that they were fairly diverse from one another in regards to personality.

I also appreciate that while this book deals with a medical condition that is sexual in nature (I'm purposely being vague to avoid potential spoilers), there are no explicit or graphic scenes.

All in all, I was left a bit disappointed with this book because I couldn't connect, try as I may, to the main character. However, I'm not sorry I read this book, and I think a lot of people out there will like it. There's an interesting medical condition, clean New Adult romance, and an Aussie university setting that might work really well for you, but just fell short for me.

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show by Steve Bryant!

Title: Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show
Author: Steve Bryant
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 24th
Source: Month9Books, LLC


Book Description via Goodreads:

“Lucas Mackenzie has got the best job of any ten-year-old boy. He travels from city-to-city as part of the London Midnight Ghost Show, scaring unsuspecting show-goers year round. Performing comes naturally to Lucas and the rest of the troupe, who’ve been doing it for as long as Lucas can remember. But there’s something Lucas doesn’t know. Like the rest of Lucas's friends, he’s dead. And for some reason, Lucas can’t remember his former life, his parents or friends. Did he go to school? Have a dog? Brothers and sisters? If only he could recall his former life, maybe even reach out to his parents, haunt them. When a ghost hunter determines to shut the show down, Lucas realizes the life he has might soon be over. And without a connection to his family, he will have nothing. There’s little time, and Lucas has much to do. Keep the lights on! Lucas Mackenzie’s coming to town.

Review:

★★

Ultimately, I don't have too much to say on this book. I was really excited when I got the chance to read it, because I love books that are given a circus-y setting. I don't know why I'm fascinated by it, but I'm the first to admit that I am. I was hoping that it would be something like the Cirque du Freak books, which is one of my favorite young adult series. Plus, I love the cover. And I should know by now that that is not the best way to judge.

Anyway, that's not what I got.

I don't have a lot to say about it, because I found to this book to be really, really boring. That's a very weird and rare thing for me to say. Normally if I don't like the book I can pick a reason, like bad writing or bad character development. This book wasn't badly written per se, though it did use outdated language that made it a bit irksome at times.

I just felt like nothing was happening. I expected action or excitement or even to be creeped out at a book that has "London Midnight Ghost Show" in the title, but at the end of the day I was left just glad that the book was over so that I could go and read something else.

By all means, give this book a try. I think this is just one of those times where a book and me aren't meant to be friends. Maybe this will be right up your alley. But for me, it was a swing and a miss.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Series Review: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency by Iain Reading!

A few months back, I reviewed the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold. I really enjoyed it, and you can read my review by clicking here. The author was awesome enough to send me the rest of the books in the series. I'll talk a little about what I liked about each book, but because I read them all in a row, I'm doing a series rating.

I give the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series:

★★★★

Four stars!


Title: Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #2
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 339 pages
Pub. Date: September 10th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is the exciting second installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This second book in the series continues the adventures of Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot who has decided to follow in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart and make an epic flight around the entire world. After flying across North America Kitty's journey takes her down south to Florida where she plans to get a bit of rest and relaxation before continuing on with the rest of her long and grueling flight. As Kitty explores the strange and magical water world of the Florida Keys her knack for getting herself into precarious situations sweeps her headlong into the adventure of a lifetime involving mysterious lights, ancient shipwrecks, razor-toothed barracudas and even a sighting of the great Ernest Hemingway himself. This exhilarating story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept across the landscape and history of the Florida Keys all the way from Key West to the strange and remarkable world of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn about and experience as much of our amazing world as they can - just like Kitty Hawk herself.

Review:

★★★

In the second chapter of Kitty Hawk's series, we're taken away to the Florida Keys on an adventure. This one is probably my least favorite of the series so far, but it is still an enjoyable and educational read.

This book is encouraging of learning, that is, there is a ton of information in the story that is true. From the specific locations that Kitty visits or flies over, to some of the people she meets, to the animals that she encounters, there is a ton of real life knowledge threaded into the story that ensures that, whether you want to or not, you're going to learn a thing or two.

Kitty Hawk is a character that more kids should read about. She's independent and strong, and so very smart. She keeps her cool in the toughest of situations and uses her brain (mixed with skill and some luck, of course) to save herself and anyone else in trouble too. She's a good role model to have.

The setting of this one is really gorgeous. I'm sure that most people who read this book will enjoy the back drop of the Florida Keys and the waters around them. It's well described and vivid, and it definitely lured me in a bit since when I was reading it, I was in my own freezing back drop of Illinois.

Long story short, if you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two well enough. It's an adventure book that can be read by itself, but I recommend book one too, for a middle grade or young adult audience.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #3
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 306 pages
Pub. Date: April 19th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Following in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart, Kitty Hawk sets off on an epic flight around the world and arrives in Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik where she finds herself immersed in a beautiful alien world of volcanoes, Vikings, elves and trolls. Before she knows it Kitty is plunged head first into an amazing adventure that sweeps her across a rugged landscape where humans and nature exist side-by-side in an uneasy truce and magical realms seem to lie just out of sight beneath the surface.

Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue is the dazzling third installment of the Flying Detective Agency series featuring Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenaged seaplane pilot with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into - and out of - all kinds of precarious situations.

This is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages - armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike. From dangerous criminals and corrupt government officials to mystical beings and clashes with the elemental forces of nature, this book has it all. Come and join Kitty Hawk as she experiences the strange and extraordinary world of the Icelanders, and unravels the Icelandic Intrigue.

Review:

★★★★

This third book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency picks up the next chapter of Kitty's flying adventure. She finds herself in Iceland in a new story of action and this time, even fantasy.

I have a fascination with Icelandic custom as well as the country as a whole. It's so pretty looking, and is a place that I would love to go visit, so I was drawn in immediately by Reading's descriptions of the landscapes. I learned a lot, as can be expected from all of the books in this series. There is a cornucopia of information in this book that helps you learn more about what Kitty is going through as you move across the plot itself.

A plot which I really enjoyed. The first two books had fantasy elements, of course. Though this book series is an informative one they are still works of fiction. However, this book had my own personal preference of fantasy. That is, just below the surface, there is a land of magic. Kitty's new adventure involves plots involving Vikings and elves and trolls, all set in this gorgeous Iceland scenery. The plot was exciting and well paced, and kept my attention.

Kitty continues to be the tough heroine that she's proven herself to be throughout, with her head on her shoulders and her heart set and determined on her goals. I found that the character development was a bit weaker in this book than in the ones previous, but it didn't hinder me too much from reading it.

My one critique of this book is how it ended. I won't go into details, but it made the book end on a bit of a low note for me. The series doesn't end here, but it did put a bit of a damper on my reading.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who likes a young adult fantasy adventure, and those who liked the first two books are sure to enjoy this one as well.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #4
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 321 pages
Pub. Date: February 16th 2014
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world.

This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure.

Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.

Review:

★★★★

This is the fourth book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series by Iain Reading. These are adventure books that follow young pilot Kitty Hawk on a series of mysterious adventures that launch her all over the world in order to solve them all and learn along the way. The fourth book is an enjoyable addition to the rest of the Kitty Hawk lineup.

I was drawn in immediately by the cover and title. There are a few points in history by which I am fascinated. Somewhere near the top of that list, is the sinking of the Titanic. I was excited to see that this book deals with the ship. I knew a lot of the information already because of this fascination, but there was still things I didn't know previously and a lot of information to boot. This book weaved in stories of Jack the Ripper and the Titanic among other things, but did so in a way where it didn't seem encyclopedic. As usual, the book was descriptively written and made me want to travel, just as all the other books in the series have. From Ireland to England and even to Egypt, this adventure spans all over and I would love to travel with Kitty, despite all the strange mysteries she gets herself into.

For the first time in this series though, the characters fell short for me. I didn't connect or cheer for Kitty Hawk as much as I had in the first three books previous. She made a few decisions that set me aback a bit. She was still likable enough, but she wasn't quite as admirable in my eyes, and I hope this gets remedied in a future KHFDA book.

This will sure to be fun for young adult fans of mystery and adventure, or even just those who are as fascinated by the Titanic as I am.

Review- Sex and Cupcakes: A Juicy Collection of Essays by Rachel Kramer Bussel!

Title: Sex and Cupcakes: A Juicy Collection of Essays
Author: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: Kindle Edition, 64 pages
Pub. Date: October 16th 2014
Source: Thought Catalog Books & Rachel Kramer Bussel


Book Description via Goodreads:

Sex and Cupcakes is a collection of essays from writer Rachel Kramer Bussel reflecting on her years as a sex columnist and cupcake blogger, detailing her dirty and sweet sides as well as sexual adventures, politics, heartbreak, tattoos and more. Sex and Cupcakes reveals the woman behind the stereotype, one far more complex than Carrie Bradshaw and her Manolos, a woman willing to expose herself, on paper and in the flesh, who takes risks and gets hurt and keeps on searching for love, sex, passion and happiness. Includes essays such as “I’m Pro-Choice and I F***,” “Wearing My Tattooed Heart On My Sleeve,” “My Boyfriend’s Fat,” “Champagne Sex,” and “Monogamishmash.”

Review:

★★★★

Sex and Cupcakes is a collection of thoughtful and thought provoking essays from erotica writer (and so much more) Rachel Kramer Bussel. I've read a countless number of her short stories, articles, and anthologies, but this collection of essays is the one that most connected me to her. I feel like these essays act as a window into what makes Rachel, well, Rachel, and it was definitely an interesting read.

What I like about these thoughts is their honesty. They cover a wide range of topics, from body image to erotica writing to cupcake blogging, and each chapter serves to talk about a different facet of life. It kind of underlines the fact that each of us has so many different sides and pieces and masks that we show to different people. What makes me most appreciate her honesty is that it is done with utmost respect while still not sugar coating anything. For example, in one of the essays she talks about how her experience with polyamory was not a good one and that it didn't seem to be for her. However, while talking about that, she never insults the culture or the people in it, which is sadly something that happens a lot when people offer their opinion. It was something that I definitely noticed, in a positive way.

This collection of essays is a sincere one that is fairly quick to read, but offers a lot of information. I've toyed around with the idea of writing erotic short stories myself, but I always somehow manage to talk myself out of it. Rachel offers advice and tips on how to go about writing and getting published, and honestly she made me have a motivation, a want to test my writing skills to see what I could do. Props for that.

I also liked that these essays had citations/recommendations. If she thought a topic needed more exploring, she provided names of books or authors so the reader could go and investigate further. If she had something to say in response to a particular book or article, it was quoted and cited and then intelligently responded to.

This collection gives an interesting insight into the world of erotica, sexuality, and writing in general. I'd recommend it to those in the erotic writing field or to fans of Rachel Kramer Bussel's other works.

Thanks to Thought Catalog Books & Rachel Kramer Bussel for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Chapter Excerpt, Review, & Giveaway: Twisted by Lola Smirnova!

Title: Twisted

Author: Lola Smirnova

Release Date: January 21st 2014

Genre: New Adult/Suspense/Thriller



Book Summary:

In the corrupt economy of post-Soviet Ukraine opportunities are scarce. Young and eager sisters – Natalia, Lena and Julia – harbor dreams of a better life. Naïve and tempted by the allure of ‘quick’ money, the girls set off on an adventure that changes their lives forever.

Can they stay out of trouble enough to fulfill their ambitions? Can they hold on to their idealism in a world where depravity and danger are constant companions? How far are they willing to go to make a buck?

Twisted is a disturbing behind-the-scenes look at a world that most will never see. It is shocking, raw, and explicit.

“Twisted tells the story of a young Ukrainian girl named Julia, whose family is struck with poverty after the fall of the Soviet Union. Her two older sisters leave home and become sex workers, glossing over the more distasteful aspects of their occupation, planting the seeds of both curiosity and greed in young Julia. She eventually finds the lure of easy money too beguiling and begins her journey into the darker aspects of drug abuse, drunken stupors, and the horrid and loveless life of a sex-for-sale prostitute... Twisted is an amazing book that is well written and provocative. This book is a worthwhile read.” - Michael Alexander’s BDSM Review

“The characters are real, dialog intoxicating, and the plot well crafted.” – Reviewed by Gary Stout at Readers’ Favorite

Lola Smirnova is currently working on her second novel Crave – a sequel to Twisted. To learn more, click here

Excerpt:

Chapter 2

My name is Julia. I am from Ukraine. I work as an entertainer in one of the many cabarets in Luxembourg City. In other words … I am a prostitute.

Luxembourg City is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the pint-sized, landlocked country in the heart of Western Europe. By Shanghai, London or New York’s standards, it wouldn’t be strange to have sixty champagne bars in one city, but it does sound quirky when you consider that Luxembourg City is twice as small as Orlando Disney World.

This sleepy and conservative locale, the world’s eighth-largest banking and financial centre, motherland of prioress Yolanda and the 100-watt radio transmitter, is stuffed with sex-orientated ‘establishments’, like the one where I work. What’s more, they are jam-packed with able-to-eat-a-horse-for-the-dough girls from different countries – mostly, of course, Eastern Europeans, who would do anything to make an extra buck.

Champagne bar, whorehouse, brothel, house of assignation, bordello, den of vice; call them what you like, it does not change the core of these places. Although they are often called cabarets, and occasionally there is even strip-dancing involved, you shouldn’t associate them with merrymaking or extravaganza. ‘Trade’, ‘sex’, ‘transactions’, ‘carnal’, ‘barter’ or ‘perversion’ would be the better words to portray this type of nightery.

This is a place where one man can spend thousands of euro in an hour or sip only Coke all night long; where the currency is not money but champagne; where often nobody is really interested in the champagne’s quality or taste, but rather finds its value in the size and quantity of the bottles; where the sanctity of the sparkling drink of the gods and the missionary position are lost in the blue confusion of fake orgasms and sex noises.

It works as simply as a jukebox – to get music, you have to stick in a coin. If you want a girl to lavish attention on you, pay for her champagne.

The cheapest option is a €25 glass of bubbly, which gives you 15 minutes of an affectionate and solicitous bond with a girl at the bar. Pay twice that price and your ‘date’ drinks piccolo, the 250 ml bottle. In this case, the time you spend with her is doubled, but the storyline stays the same. Next: the demi-bouteille, a 375 ml bottle that costs about €180 for half an hour. This ‘denomination’ grants a little bit of comfort, because both of you can move to a dim semi-private lounge, as well as the confidence that physical manipulation will be involved. And last, but not least, is the ‘full house’ for the standard bottle, the price for which varies. It kicks off at €250 for questionable swill, which is reasonable damage considering that in addition to a drink, you get screwed for an hour in the séparé – a private room, most commonly upstairs. You could be asked to pay up to €650 for Cristal or Dom Perignon, where, of course, you cough up not only for sex but also for the champagne’s snobbish name, fine finish in the mouth, and the supplementary fondness and devotion. Sad to say, these pricey bottles – and the one-and-a-half litre magnums that go for €1,000 or more – are a rare occurrence in these clubs.

The uniqueness of such places is that while you, the customer, are having leisure time with your ‘pick’, her mind is constantly dividing the amount that you’ve already spent by five (this is how much commission the house pays her), adding her €60 daily salary and planning how to badger you to buy another bottle, all that while smiling or laughing hard enough to make sure that all of these calculations in her head are not reflected on her pretty face.

Most of the clubs open at one in the afternoon and cease their trading at about four in the morning. Of course, the run has to be split – there are day and night shifts. Even though, practically, there is no big difference between the two spells, the contrast in the clientele is huge.

The day shift – fuck, I hate it! – is all about the married and the perverts, but more often the married perverts. As a rule, they drop by to use their lunch break for a dull, uncomplicated quickie, or for depraved ‘activities’ they have never had the guts to share with their wives and girlfriends. They don’t drink much and have limited time. That is why the club is usually boring and full of freaks, but in the end, who cares if you can get the bottle?

On the other hand, the night transforms the club and fills it with a party flavour – the music is louder, the customers are drunker and the laughter gets more sincere. Even the girls’ sweat looks like a piece of cake. The problem is that the boys often get carried away by the alcohol and the thundering crowd, so their brains switch out of sex mode. If there is no sex, there is probably going to be no bottle either.

But enough, I don’t want to bore you. Let’s set in motion my adventure that, by the way, began without me.

Buy it here: ebook | Paperback

About the Author:

Lola Smirnova is an author from Ukraine, who for many years worked in the sex industry. She recently released her debut novel Twisted. Twisted is a work of fiction, but it is inspired by the author’s real life experiences making a living in the sex trade.
Facebook | Website | Twitter

Review:

★★★★

Wow. This book is one hell of a read, from start to finish.

Based on true events, Twisted is a book about three sisters navigating life in the sex trade. Going into this book, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Whatever I had been expecting, however, didn't prepare me for my reading. This book is intense. It's dark and gritty and crass- definitely not for the faint of heart. The realism is a striking, and often a hard to swallow one.

It's no surprise to my regular blog readers that I often read erotica and sex positive literature. However, that is NOT what this book is about. Sex is in no way romanticized or made to be glamorous. It is a harsh, manipulative, and necessary part of life that fuels a dark life. Add in the seedy nightlife underground, drugs, and alcohol, and this gets all the more real. That's exactly why this book has such a disturbing undertone: this is something that has and is really happening.

Twisted is gripping in an almost perverse way, and the writing itself is really detailed and well done. The thriller/suspense aspect has a sort of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo vibe to it, which I liked since that's one of my favorite books. I was also impressed since (it is my knowledge- correct me if I'm wrong) English is not Smirnova's first language. You wouldn't be able to tell by reading this. I also appreciated that non-English words were in Italics, helping the reader know its meaning by context.

Unrelated to the story itself, I really like the cover of this book. I think it's a good hint of what's inside, and I think it's pretty and quite striking.

This book is an eye opener, and is not one to be taken lightly. That said, it is definitely one worth reading. Be warned that this book is NOT for those under age 18: there is sex, violence, drugs/alcohol, and profanity aplenty. Also be warned that if you're like me, you won't be able to read this in one go- it got so intense that I had to take a breather or two. This is the first book by Lola Smirnova and with writings like this, I'm sure it won't be her last.

Thank you to Book Publicity Services for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

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Mini Double Review: Stars & Swipes and Hugs & Misses from Wilhelm Staehle!

Title: HUGS AND MISSES 30 POSTCARDS OF AWKWARD ROMANCE
Author: Wilhelm Staehle
Format: paperback, 30 pages
Pub. Date: December 3rd 2014
Source: Quirk Books












Title: STARS AND SWIPES 30 POSTCARDS OF AWKWARD AMERICANA
Author: Wilhelm Staehle
Format: paperback, 30 pages
Pub. Date: December 3rd 2014
Source: Quirk Books

About the Books:

Wilhelm Staehle’s Silhouette Masterpiece Theater (silhouettemasterpiecetheater.com) is the rare Web comic that deserves to be printed. Each panel in the popular weekly strip features a painstakingly detailed etching carved from a beautiful painting; the results are gorgeous and very funny.

These two postcard books feature some of Staehle’s finest work. Hugs and Misses is a terrific Valentine’s Day gift, full of lovelorn ladies, roguish gentlemen, renegade Cupids, and indecent proposals. Stars and Swipes offers a hilarious vision of classic Americana, with farcical frontiersmen, prattling presidents, and other all-American oddities.

Review:

★★★★

I have to say, these little books are super fun. I haven't sent snail mail, save for Christmas cards, in a long while but I can say with complete honesty that there are poor lucky souls out there who will be receiving post cards from me in the mail thanks to these books.

The artwork for both books is really pretty, but it is surely enhanced by the great humor that's brought to the cards within it.

Hugs and Misses is a collection that is perfect for upcoming Valentine's Day (still time to order, by the way), full of romantic puns and jokes and pretty artwork to match each awkward moment. There are 30 postcards in here, waiting to be shipped to your man or lady friend.

But, if romance isn't your thing, Staehle has a second postcard book called Stars and Swipes which features the same lovely art style and sense of humor with thirty postcards full of hilarious moments of Americana and patriotic laughs. I have a few friends that are history majors who I know will be getting a card or too in their mailbox.

These are unique little books that are perfect for that awkward geek in your life, or for yourself if you wish to send them out to your friends to brighten their day one joke at a time.

Thanks so much to Quirk Books for my copies in exchange for my honest review!

Stalk the Books:

Buy them here:

Hugs and Misses and Stars and Swipes.

Audiobook Mini Review- Studs: Edited by Richard Labonté

Title: Studs: Gay Erotic Fiction
Editor: Richard Labonté
Format: Audiobook, 7 hrs and 45 mins
Pub. Date: August 12th 2014
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Rough and surly, smooth and sultry, or quick and raw — however you like it, you’ll find it in Studs, 20 of the hottest and best-written man-to-man sex stories to appear in print this year. In “Underground Operator” two men on a nearly empty subway platform indulge in rough, anonymous sex that lets them momentarily forget the stifling summer heat. “Donuts to Demons” finds a self-described “rock-n-roll artfag” searching for a lover “as patient and gifted and generous as he advertised on Craigslist.”

Review:

★★★

This is an okay mix of m/m erotic short stories, but I think other people will enjoy it more than I did.

Normally with these anthologies, there are a few that I think are mediocre and a few that stand out better than the rest. But honestly, looking back on these stories, I can't name you one specifically. They all just kind of blended together. They weren't altogether bad, but I didn't take away anything from this collection either. For the first time I feel like maybe I'm just not an intended audience for it (which is weird, considering that I normally really enjoy male/male stories). So don't let my opinions deter you too much- if you're a hardcore fan of gay erotica, you might absolutely love it.

I think part of what caused this misclick for me was the audiobook format. When you're listening to erotica, you need that voice to have that special something, otherwise it just feels a bit weird. This narrator didn't do it for me so to speak. There's a good chance that if I read this on my own from a paperback, I would feel differently about the anthology as a whole.

I will admit though, I do love the cover art. I know that's not really pertinent to the discussion of the stories, but I mean look at it. So pretty.

I think that this collection will be up some people's alleys, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. It was an okay read, but it's not something I'm likely to recommend or reread in the future. If you're a fan of m/m erotica, you may enjoy it, and if you end up reading it let me know what you think about it.

Thanks to Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth

Title: The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black
Author: E.B. Hudspeth
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Pub. Date: May 21st 2013
Source: Quirk Books


Book Description via Goodreads:

Philadelphia, the late 1870s. A city of gas lamps, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages—and home to the controversial surgeon Dr. Spencer Black. The son of a grave robber, young Dr. Black studies at Philadelphia’s esteemed Academy of Medicine, where he develops an unconventional hypothesis: What if the world’s most celebrated mythological beasts—mermaids, minotaurs, and satyrs—were in fact the evolutionary ancestors of humankind?

The Resurrectionist offers two extraordinary books in one. The first is a fictional biography of Dr. Spencer Black, from a childhood spent exhuming corpses through his medical training, his travels with carnivals, and the mysterious disappearance at the end of his life. The second book is Black’s magnum opus: The Codex Extinct Animalia, a Gray’s Anatomy for mythological beasts—dragons, centaurs, Pegasus, Cerberus—all rendered in meticulously detailed anatomical illustrations. You need only look at these images to realize they are the work of a madman. The Resurrectionist tells his story.

Review:

★★★★★

This book is nothing at all like I expected, and I mean that in the best possible sense. I think that The Resurrectionist is a book that all lovers of Gothic literature, the macabre, horror, and fantastical creatures will devour if they get their claws into it.

A beautiful hardcover edition, The Resurrectionist is divided into two parts. The first part reads like a text book biography of the fictional scholar Dr. Spencer Black. It narrates his unusual upbringing and how it influenced his studies as he got older and more educated. It chronicles his descent into a more bizarre lifestyle involving freak show-esque performances in travelling shows and circuses as well as his experimentation on animals and humans alike in order to piece together his theory of evolution: that the creatures we know today as myth once existed and that humans and animals breathing now are ancestors of these elegant beasts.

The first part of this book is fascinating in and of itself because it's written with such detail and precision- including dated diary entries, circus flyers, and letters of correspondence- that if I didn't know better I would swear to you that this was a well researched non-fictional account of a doctor's life. From the first few pages, when you learn that his father was a grave robber, the book continues with this really dark, creepy tone to it reminiscent of Poe. It was almost like a car crash: his life is so bizarre and almost horrifying that you hesitate to turn the page, and yet you can't quite seem to turn away either.

The second part of the book is the final research of Dr. Black: The Codex Extinct Animalia. The art in this section of this book is absolutely phenomenal. It is here that Black explains the so-called method to his madness: the evolutionary ties and the anatomical make up of fantasy creatures. From the hellhound Cerberus to harpies and centaurs, each creature is given multiple pages of medical artwork that give up close examinations of the skeletal structures, muscle make up, and other traits of the animals. It looks like a medical text book, but with mythical beings, and I absolutely loved it. So much thought, work, and effort had to go into making these illustrations. I would totally hang a few of them up in my room (then again, my room is decorated in the Goth style, so that may just be me).

This book is a quick one to read but a slow one to absorb and is filled to the brim with equal dashes of horror and fantasy. I'd really recommend it to those who enjoy the Gothic genre, historical history, fantasy, horror, or realistic fiction. Thank you so much to Quirk Books for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt, Review & Giveaway: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold by Iain Reading

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #1
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Pub. Date: December 2012
Source: Author

Check out all four books by clicking here:


Book Blurb:

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new young adult series of adventure mystery stories by Iain Reading. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales, Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada. As the plot continues to unfold, this spirited story will have readers anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves.

Excerpt:

Prologue
Back Where The Entire Adventure Began

As soon as the engine began to sputter, I knew that I was in real trouble. Up until then, I had somehow managed to convince myself that there was just something wrong with the fuel gauges. After all, how could I possibly have burnt through my remaining fuel as quickly as the gauges seemed to indicate? It simply wasn't possible. But with the engine choking and gasping, clinging to life on the last fumes of aviation fuel, it was clear that when the fuel gauges read, "Empty," they weren't kidding around.

The lightning strike that took out my radio and direction-finding gear hadn't worried me all that much. (Okay, I admit it worried me a little bit.) It wasn't the first time that this had happened to me, and besides, I still had my compasses to direct me to where I was going. But I did get a little bit concerned when I found nothing but open ocean as far my eyes could see at precisely the location where I fully expected to find tiny Howland Island—and its supply of fuel for the next leg of my journey—waiting for me. The rapidly descending needles on my fuel gauges made me even more nervous as I continued to scout for the island, but only when the engine began to die did I realize that I really had a serious problem on my hands.

The mystery of the disappearing fuel.

The enigma of the missing island.

The conundrum of what do I do now?

"Exactly," the little voice inside my head said to me in one of those annoying 'I-told-you-so' kind of voices. "What do you do now?"

"First, I am going to stay calm," I replied. "And think this through."

"You'd better think fast," the little voice said, and I could almost hear it tapping on the face of a tiny wristwatch somewhere up there in my psyche. "If you want to make it to your twentieth birthday, that is. Don't forget that you're almost out of fuel."

"Thanks a lot," I replied. "You're a big help."

Easing forward with the control wheel I pushed my trusty De Havilland Beaver into a nosedive. Residual fuel from the custom-made fuel tanks at the back of the passenger cabin dutifully followed the laws of gravity and spilled forward, accumulating at the front and allowing the fuel pumps to transfer the last remaining drops of fuel into the main forward belly tank. This maneuver breathed life back into the engine and bought me a few more precious minutes to ponder my situation.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday," I said, keying my radio transmitter as I leveled my flight path out again. "This is aircraft Charlie Foxtrot Kilo Tango Yankee, calling any ground station or vessel hearing this message, over."

I keyed the mic off and listened intently for a reply. Any reply. Please? But there was nothing. There was barely even static. My radio was definitely fried.

It was hard to believe that it would all come down to this. After the months of preparation and training. After all the adventures that I'd had, the friends I'd made, the beauty I'd experienced, the differences and similarities I'd discovered from one culture to the next and from one human being to the next. All of this in the course of my epic flight around the entire world.

Or I should say, "my epic flight almost around the entire world," in light of my current situation.

And the irony of it was absolutely incredible. Three-quarters of a century earlier the most famous female pilot of them all had disappeared over this exact same endless patch of Pacific Ocean on her own quest to circle the globe. And she had disappeared while searching for precisely the same island that was also eluding me as I scanned the horizon with increasing desperation.

"Okay," I thought to myself. "Just be cool and take this one step at a time to think the situation through." I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, slowing it down and reining in the impulse to panic. Inside my head, I quickly and methodically replayed every flight that I'd ever flown. Every emergency I'd ever faced. Every grain of experience that I had accumulated along the long road that had led me to this very moment. Somewhere in there was a detail that was the solution to my current predicament. I was sure of it. And all I had to do was find it.

Maybe the answer to my current situation lay somewhere among the ancient temples of Angkor in Cambodia? Or in the steamy jungles of east Africa? Or inside the towering pyramids of Giza? Or among the soaring minarets of Sarajevo? Or on the emerald rolling hills and cliffs of western Ireland? Or on the harsh and rocky lava fields of Iceland?

Wherever the answer was, it was going to have to materialize quickly, or another female pilot (me) would run the risk of being as well-known throughout the world as Amelia Earhart. And for exactly the same reason.

"It's been a good run at least," the little voice inside my head observed, turning oddly philosophical as the fuel supplies ran critically low. "You've had more experiences on this journey around the world than some people do in their entire lifetime."

"That's it!" I thought.

Maybe the answer to all this lies even further back in time? All the way back to the summer that had inspired me to undertake this epic journey in the first place. All the way back to where North America meets the Pacific Ocean—the islands and glaciers and whales of Alaska.

All the way back to where this entire adventure began.

Buy the series here:
Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold | Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost | Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue | Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic |

About the Author:
Iain Reading is passionate about Root Beer, music, and writing. He is Canadian, but currently resides in the Netherlands working for the United Nations. He has published 4 books in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series. For more information, go to his Website, Twitter, or Goodreads

Review:

★★★★

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't too sure what to expect when I first started reading, but soon I was swept up in Kitty's adventures.

What I liked best about this book is definitely the impressive amount of educational/factual information. I wasn't necessarily expecting to learn anything from this book, but thanks to Kitty Hawk I have learned about wildlife in Alaska and Canada, history about the Gold Rush, information about a few native tribes, and I'm sure even more topics that I have forgotten to mention. Though at times these facts were presented a bit too much in an "info-dump" fashion, I think that it helped make the story have more depth, and it helped me to better understand and visualize the various settings. From small towns to the ocean, to the cliffs and the snow, I was definitely picturing the scenes playing out in my head in detail. I'll admit that Reading struck gold with me (see what I did there?) because I happen to be a sucker for books set in Alaska.

I also loved the characters. The lead character, Kitty, is the kind of character that I'd like to see more of in young adult fiction. She's strong, smart, independent, and adventurous. And on top of that, her parents are pretty great to. Her father teaches her to fly planes and her mother teaches her about the earth, and when she decides to fly to Juneau in order to observe humpback whales, both parents were happy for her and offered her their support 100%. I found this to be a really nice, positive touch.

Part of what I liked about Kitty specifically is her love for adventure. She sees her way out of challenges when they arise and is always up for doing whatever it takes in order to learn more about what she is interested in. The adventures and action were relatively well-paced in this book, and I was always cheering for her to take the next step on her journey to help solve mysteries and learn a bunch in the process too.

The only real issue that I had with this book aside from the info-dump moments was that sometimes the sections/time lapses/flash back sequences felt disjointed. I'd have to refocus and recalibrate to see what I was reading and when it should be taking place. It wasn't enough to turn me off of this book, but it was something of which that I definitely took note.

This is my first experience with reading an Iain Reading book, but based off my experience of reading Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold, I would definitely consider reading the rest of this series. I recommend it to fans of young adult fiction who want a good old fashioned adventure book or who wants to read a book with a determined, strong female lead character.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my 100% honest review.

Giveaway:

-This giveaway will run from October 10th to October 17th, 2014
-This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
-This giveaway is open to those 13 and older (with parental permission of course)
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-Six (6) winners will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
-My opinions are my own. Information will not be stored or sold, and will be used only to contact the winners.

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Review: American Angst by Laurel Osterkamp

Title: American Angst
Author: Laurel Osterkamp
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: May 12th 2014
Source: Laurel Osterkamp


★★★★★

Four and a half stars.

---

When author Laurel Osterkamp contacted me to read her latest book, I accepted immediately. I have previously read another one of her books, The Holdout, and I loved it. And, I can honestly say, I loved American Angst too.

American Angst tells interwoven tales from two different points of view, those of Robin and Lucy. If you're familiar with Osterkamp's previous novels, than these characters aren't new to you. Normally, I don't care too much for dual POV books, because so often the voices aren't different enough and they merge together. This is pleasantly not the case for American Angst. Lucy and Robin, though of course sharing some similarities, are extremely different characters that have different lives, thoughts, beliefs, and opinions.

This book is written in a tone that is a perfect balance of wit, humor, and emotion. There are parts of their stories that include some pretty major obstacles, and you can't help but to ache for them and cheer them on. That being said, there are definitely times where it was lighter, and I snickered aloud more than once at the girls' clever inner dialog or a sharp remark they make. From family to married life, to starting a family and bettering a career or even getting a better love life, Lucy and Robin absolutely have their fair share of experiences, and I enjoyed reading about them all.

All in all, this read is a pleasant one that I'd recommend for adult women, though it can definitely be appreciated by anyone. The light tone, girl power feeling, and the way the pages don't stop turning while you're reading it, this is a great beach read for this summer. Thanks so much to the author, who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Release Day Giveaway, Interview, & Review: Haunted Stuff by Stacey Graham

Hello my lovely followers. Today I'm happy to have author Stacey Graham here on the blog talking to me about her book, Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls & Other Creepy Collectibles. This book goes live today, and to celebrate the release Stacey and Llewellyn Publications have graciously offered up a few pretty copies up for a giveaway to a new home. But first, what's Haunted stuff about?



Synopsis from Goodreads:
Finding a one-of-a-kind antique doll at a garage sale is a great feeling--until you bring that doll home and discover it's haunted. Objects with restless spirits attached to them can quietly invade a home through auctions, antique dealers, estate sales, garage sales, and inheritance. This spooky collection examines a wide variety of haunted items, from screaming skulls to demonic dolls, and how they affect the owner's life. Haunted Stuff provides true accounts of possessed possessions, often found in the strangest places. Discover chilling stories of the island of haunted dolls, the tumbling coffin, Rudolph Valentino's cursed ring, and even the Queen Mary ocean liner--one of the largest haunted items of all. Experience these true accounts that will make you look closer at the antiques on your shelf . . . and wonder if that creepy doll just blinked.

Interview:

Thanks so much for stopping by to talk with me, Stacey! What inspired you to write Haunted Stuff?

I've had a lifelong fascination with things that we can't quite explain away, and wanted to know if there was more than just floating head stories. Haunted houses are the ultimate ghostly abode, but what about blenders or ceramic cupcakes? It was time to find out more, so I dug in and found some doozies.

Have you ever thought about what item you'd haunt? What would it be? Why?

Great question! I'd go old school and haunt an oil painting. I'd be the eyes watching you from across the room.

Have you ever visited a place that you knew was haunted? Where was it? What was it like?

been investigating the paranormal for over 25 years and have seen a lot of odd things, but one of the most compelling was at a haunted mansion I visited during a writer's retreat near San Francisco. Detailed in the book, I had my share of run-ins with a mustachioed gentleman, and a very noisy dining room.

Everyone has their own version of nightmare fuel. What are you most afraid of?

Rats. Next question. :shudder:

Thousand-leggers for me. Quickly, let's move on. What was the weirdest/most interesting thing you researched while writing Haunted Stuff?

I have a penchant for haunted ships. I was going to be a marine archaeologist before life (and children) took me in another direction; I think part of that lure to the sea was wrapped up in the stories shipwrecks bring. The ones that haunt the coastline, such as the Lady Lovibond, or relive its former glory, like the USS Constellation, make all of us shiver just a little bit. It's addicting.

What gave you the most trouble with the story?

I ran into a lot of dead ends when doing research. I tried to follow a story to the object's owner or at least have three solid references to it from reputable sources. A lot of urban legends fell apart when held up to scrutiny so they didn't make it into the book.

If you could have dinner with five people, living or dead, who would they be? Why?

Jane Austen, for writing tips and love life advice
Daniel Craig because Daniel Craig
Queen Elizabeth I & II because I want the skinny on the hidden tunnels in the castles
The Dalai Lama because I think he'd be a hoot at parties

What's one item you can't live without?

Lip gloss. I know I should say my husband and children, but I'd toss them over in a second for a great lip gloss.

Describe your book in ten words or less.

Is that clown doll looking at you funny? HAUNTED STUFF!

What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I didn't start writing professionally until I was 39, and then had four books and a dozen short stories published by the time I was 46. Five busy kids don't leave a lot of time for dillydallying, so I hit the ground running after the last one could walk.

Can you tell us about any upcoming or previous works?

My first books, The Girls' Ghost Hunting Guide (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), and the Zombie Tarot (Quirk) were so much fun to write. I like to read books with a heavy dose of humor, so try to add that to everything I send out. My next book, The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure: A How-To for Mystery Solving, Make-It-Yourself Projects, and More (Albert Whitman, & Co) and written as Gertrude Chandler Warner, will be released September 1, 2014. I love writing for younger audiences, they get all the booger jokes.

Some authors need to use pink ink, others have to sit in a special chair. Do you have any quirks when you write?

I get hyper-organized when I'm on deadline for a book. I have mind-maps, legal pads, Excel spreadsheets, multiple chapters, and two screens (or more) going for online resources. And a bowlful of chocolate doesn't hurt either.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Be sure to check out Haunted Stuff, and all her other books too!

About the Author
Stacey Graham has spent a good part of the last twenty years as a ghost hunter sitting in dark attics waiting to poke the paranormal and see if it giggles. When not wrestling ghosts, she enjoys reading Jane Austen and writing zombie poetry, humor, and ghost stories. She is the author of The Girls' Ghost Hunting Guide and the Zombie Tarot. Her current projects include: Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls, and Other Creepy Collectibles for Llewellyn Publishing (releases August 8, 2014), plus The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure: A How-To for Mystery Solving, Make-It-Yourself Projects, and More for Albert Whitman & Co (releases September 1, 2014).

Please visit her at her website at http://staceyigraham.com for information on Ghoul School and how to schedule Skype bookclub or Scout meetings, on Facebook at facebook.com/authorstaceygraham, and on Twitter at twitter.com/staceyigraham. She may also be found at her blog, Late Bloomer, at http://staceyigraham.blogspot.com.

Review:

Title: Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls & Other Creepy Collectibles
Author: Stacey Graham
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: August 26th 2014
Source: Stacey Graham



★★★★

Four stars.

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When I saw that this book existed, I knew that I needed to read it. I'm a frequent shopper at places like estate sales, thrift stores, and garage sales. When you frequent these sorts of places, or at least in my opinion, you get certain feels on older items. An item that comes to mind to me is a pink pearl necklace that I bought at an estate sale after the old woman who had lived there for decades had passed away. It hadn't bothered me much to buy the used necklace.... Until I held it in my hands. It felt... Sad. This was the first time, I think, that I'd ever experienced touching a non-living object and felt an emotional reaction to it.

So, when this book popped up on my radar, my ears (metaphorically of course) perked up, realizing that hey, I'm not the only one who has felt something like that. I needed to learn more. I was not at all disappointed when I got to reading Haunted Stuff. Stacey Graham takes you around the world and tells true story account of haunted objects and places with believable research and citations and first-hand accounts. This book is written in a very well-researched manner, but in such a tone that inspires a bit of humor and that puts me in mind of telling ghost stories around the campfire.

This book is fascinating, and if you're like me and are the type of person who believes that things can go bump in the night, then this book is right up your alley. It'll make you look twice at some of the items in your house that inevitably creep you out. (Thanks for that Stacey. I live with a woman who collects porcelain figurines and dolls. It won't be hard to fall asleep at ALL now >.>) Suitable for any age that can handle a few ghosties, this is a great book for anyone with an interest in the paranormal.

Thanks so much to Stacey Graham for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

Rules:
-This giveaway will run from August 8th to August 15, 2014
-This giveaway is US ONLY.
-This giveaway is open to those 13 and older (with parental permission of course)
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-Two (2) winners will each win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
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-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
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-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
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