Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

Friday Finds #72

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I only added one new title to my reading pile for the week. I bought a hardback copy of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. I'd heard good things about this graphic novel from others, so thought I'd give it a try.

What books have you added to your reading pile or reading wishlist?

Taking Instructions (Taboo #1) by Cheyenne McCray

BDSM Erotica Novella

Taking Instructions (Taboo #1) by Cheyenne McCray is a novella approximately 77 pages in length that I read in a single afternoon on my Kindle.

I was able to download this book for free from Amazon and below is my honest opinion/review of Taking Instructions (Taboo #1) by Cheyenne McCray.

Taking Instructions started off too slowly for me and contained some of the cheesiest cliches ever that I almost stopped reading it before the book finally picked up steam.

Taking Instructions is a BDSM erotica novella. So, if you are into this type of genre, then you'll probably enjoy reading Taking Instructions. I'm not into BDSM at all, so didn't find reading this novella all that appealing. The sex scenes are pretty graphic and the description of the sex toys used is pretty descriptive. One sex scene even includes a threesome with two men having sex with a woman.

The ending was too abrupt and felt rushed. I felt like the author could have embellished things a bit more.

The following is a book summary from Amazon's site:

Jessica Grayson is a college freshman who's had the hots for her university professor all year long. He's sexy and unobtainable—and she's determined to get into his bed.
Dating one of his own students is taboo and Craig Bennett intends to never break that school rule… Until he finds an end-of-the-semester present in his office—the gorgeous co-ed he hasn't been able to keep off his mind. And she's naked, sitting on his desk. 

It isn't long before Jessica discovers she's gotten more than she bargained for. She finds out exactly who's in control as she learns how the professor likes to play. A whole new world of BDSM is opened up to her and being a bad girl never felt so good.

I'm giving Taking Instructions (Taboo #1) by Cheyenne McCray a rating of 3 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Do condoms kill the mood/feel of an erotica book?

I read erotica novels, novellas, and short stories from time to time. In fact, I've probably read about five erotica themed reads so far this year alone. 

In one of my recent blog posts, I wrote a review of Out to Sea by Laina Charleston. In my review Out to Sea, I had mentioned my dismay regarding the lack of using condoms in a sex scene where two couples are having sex with a new sexual partner without using condoms. This left me wondering if a writer should have their characters using condoms in certain sexual situations or not? Or is erotica fiction solely fantasy, where the writer caters to the explicit fantasies of the reader without the regard of STIs? Or does the topic of fictional characters wearing condoms fall into the grey area where it depends on the circumstances? I believe the topic of condom use in erotica fiction depends on the author's discretion and the nature of the sex scene itself.

Interestingly enough, while perusing Google News yesterday, I came across and interesting article on Salon's website titled, Do condoms kill the mood of a book? Erotica authors don’t agree on safe sex demands by Rachel Kramer Bussel. Bussel's article addresses the topic of condom use in erotica fiction quite nicely. In her article, Bussel writes the following:

When I give a basic definition of my chosen genre, written erotica, I usually say, “writing intended to arouse.” But what does that look like in terms of safer sex? Do erotica and erotic romance writers owe their readers the courtesy of making their characters act responsibly when it comes to birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs, often called sexually transmitted diseases) and BDSM? On the heels of the criticism E.L. James has received for what many considered unsafe BDSM practices in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” this is a hotly debated issue by authors, readers and reviewers, with no clear answers.

For some readers, the lack of safe sex practices is an immediate red flag, not out of “political correctness,” but because it detracts from the reading experience. In a review of KD Grace’s “The Initiation of Ms. Holly,” blogger Reading With Analysis called out the author: “I am in favor of safe sex in erotica (and romance), because it reinforces our cultural reality and could — perhaps — help contribute to the idea that the only sexy sex is safe sex. So I noticed right away that there weren’t any condoms present during any of the crazy sexual encounters in this book…. Everything was tracking along OK, until one scene … when a dude is about to have sex with a lady, and he puts on a condom and remarks in his inner monologue that he doesn’t know where she’s been. Hold up. No one in this book knows where anyone else has been, either, so…. And that was the only condom in the book! It made all the other scenes — especially the pet sequences — seem incredibly questionable and more than a little disturbing.”

I liked the point that author KD Grace made about condom use... Again to quote Bussel's above mentioned article:

Grace isn’t sorry, and defended her work’s right to exist in a fantasy zone. “Erotica, like all other fiction, is indeed fiction,” said Grace. “We don’t become cannibals after reading a Thomas Harris novel, and we don’t go biting people’s necks after reading a vampire novel. Surely people who read erotica are no less intelligent than people who read crime or horror. Though safe sex and the need for condoms is the reality of the world we now live in, I seriously doubt that using a condom is a part of our fantasy life, if we’re honest.”

Rachel Kramer Bussel goes on to write more in her article about condom use in erotica fiction. Click on the above link to read the full story.

So, what's your take on this topic? Should erotica writers have their characters wearing condoms or not during sexual encounters? For me, I think it depends on the circumstances of the story and the relationship of the characters... And also the writer's discretion.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dreams of Desire #1 by Cassie Wright

eBook Novella

I was able to read Dreams of Desire #1 by Cassie Wright in a single afternoon on my Kindle. Dreams of Desire #1 is an eBook novella approximately 147 pages in length.

I downloaded Dreams of Desire #1 by Cassie Wright to my Kindle for free from Amazon. Below is my honest review of Dreams of Desire #1... So read on!

Okay, Dreams of Desire #1 is a first in a series... I enjoyed reading it despite the cliffhanger for the ending. I usually hate cliffhangers as a way to end a book with a passion. I feel that authors should wrap their book's ending up at the end of each work verses making the reader buy the next installment to see what happens next... But, I'll make an exception for this novella as I thought the writing was good overall. For the most part, I liked the story, plot, characters, and dialogue in Dreams of Desire #1.

Aside from the cliffhanger ending, I only had two other major complaints with Dream's of Desire #1 as follows:

1. The intro scene where leading lady, Jessie Ford, is on a double date with her friend and her friend's boyfriend and the man who they've set her up on a blind date took too much of this novella's plot. I felt this scene could have been shortened a bit.

2. Jessie's brother Tommy is a major f*$k up and is once again in way over his head with gambling debts. So, Tommy calls his sister to bail him out of his problems, which only gets Jessie into some dangerous situations because of Tommy's behavior... I understand the need to be there for family during a chrisis. But when is a enough really a enough?? Would someone really do what she does to help bail out a brother that never seems to learn his mistakes? 

The following is a book summary for Dreams of Desire #1 on Amazon's website:

Shattered by the loss of her family in a brutal car accident, Jessie Ford has spent the past two years trying to piece her life together. It's not until she meets Julian St. Claire that she realizes just how broken she really is.

As wealthy and enigmatic as he is handsome, Julian recognizes in Jessie a hidden talent for piloting Dreams - his new technology that allows people to share their fantasies - and asks Jessie to come work for him.

Yet the the intensity of their chemistry makes his proposition a dangerous one. It's only when her brother calls, desperate and owing far too much money to the wrong people, that Jessie realizes she may have no choice. She just has to let go of her fears, and set this alluring stranger's world on fire.

Other than what I said above, I liked reading Dreams of Desire #1 by Cassie Wright! I am giving Dreams of Desire #1 a rating of 7 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Out to Sea by Laina Charleston

Short Story eVersion

I read Out to Sea by Laina Charleston in less than an hour on my Kindle. Out to Sea is an erotica short story approximately 30 pages in length.

I received Out to Sea as a free download. Below is my honest review of Out to Sea by Laina Charleston.

I thought that Out to Sea was a really quick read. It's an okay short story for the most part. Married couple Ryan and Amy take a Caribbean cruise. They've been married for 12 years. They are still very much in love and still have a very steamy sex life. They meet Seth and Leah on their cruise and end up have sex with each others partners during the course of their cruise.

The sex is hot and very steamy if you like these types of sex scenes... I thought the way the sex scenes were described in Out to Seas were not all that sensual or sexy to me. There was also more sex than story for my tastes... Not that I don't like reading sex scenes, but there has to be a balance of both a well written story and great sex scenes mixed into the story. 

I also have a difficult time with couples having sex with people they barely know. Yay, I know it happens all the time... One night stands that is... But characters not using condoms in this day in age with STIs raises red flags big time for me. Having sex with a person on a whim without a condom is very unwise... But, I guess erotica novels/stories are pure fantasy and just that... And, if I think of erotica as pure fantasy, then Out to Sea is perfectly fine.

So, if swinging couples are what turns you on as a reader, then Out to Sea may be the short story for you. After all, who hasn't fantasized about having sex with another couple?

I'm giving Out to Sea by Laina Charleston a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxie Rivera

ebook Version

I read Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) by Roxie Rivera in 2013 and really enjoyed reading it... So, I've been looking forward to reading Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxie Rivera and the rest of the Her Russian Protector Series as well.

So, after buying the ebook version of Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxie Rivera with an Amazon gift card I'd received for Christmas last year, I read it on my Kindle over the course of three days.

I found Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxie Rivera to not be quite as good (in my opinion) as Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1). There were some good elements to Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2), but overall, I felt it was just an okay read.

What I liked most about Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) was the story itself (read the summary below) and the main character of Benny and the relationship she has with Dimitri.

I wasn't all that crazy about the sex scenes in Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) as they weren't that appealing to me.

Benny's brother Jonny, wasn't a very believable character to me as his reasons for joining a gang weren't made clear. One could assume his motives, but I felt like the author could have defined his reasons for the reader. 

Plus, Jonny goes from being a complete badass gangsta wannabe, who couldn't be reasoned with on any level and makes his sister's life a living hell... To Jonny suddenly making a complete 180 degree personality change after witnessing one gang related event he participates in that goes bad. It seemed unrealistic to me that at that point in time, Jonny should suddenly become so remorseful about his behavior when he couldn't be reasoned with before. How does one go from being a badass to kitty cat overnight?

There are a few other characters that could have been flushed out a bit more and a few other scenes that were a tad unrealistic as well.

The ending was wrapped up a bit too neatly/quickly for my tastes. I would have liked a bit more umph to it. At this point, I'm not so sure if I'll be continuing reading the Her Russian Protector series or not.

The following is the summary for Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) from Amazon's website:

Refusing to lose her brother to the violent Hermanos street gang, Benny turns to Dimitri, the dead sexy Russian who lives in the apartment above her family's bakery. He's the only man tough enough to get through to Johnny and save him from a life in prison—or worse.

There's nothing Dimitri won't do for Benny, even if it means dealing with her troublemaking brother. He quickly realizes that it's not just Johnny and his thug friends that pose a threat to Benny. A shady real estate developer needs to buy her bakery to secure a multi-million dollar deal and he'll stop at nothing to make her sell.

Threatened from all sides, Benny finds safety in Dimitri's strong arms—and in his bed. Her big, sexy Russian has no intention of ever letting her go—and he'll brave the fires of hell before he lets anyone harm her.

Reader's Note: Dimitri is an incredibly passionate man with a dominant streak—and Benny is only too happy to indulge his need for a little…restraint.

I'm giving Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) by Roxie Rivera a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars as I didn't think it was awful, but didn't love it either.

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

2015 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon --- QUESTIONNAIRE

Yes, I'm excited to be participating in the 2015 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon!! The following are my answers to the Questionnaire... Enjoy!

QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. What’s your name?

Hello happy readers, my name is Lisa!

2. Where in the world are you blogging from?

I'm blogging from San Ramon, California, which is a city in Northern California and is part of San Francisco's East Bay Region.

3. How did you get into blogging in the first place?

I'd always wanted to keep a blog of some sort, but didn't want my blog to be a bunch of random topics... Since I love to read and discuss books I chose to start a book blog as a way to share my love of reading with others... Plus, as a way to interact with other readers and bloggers as well. 

4. How did you come up with your blog name?

I like to read and am really captivated by a book if it really captures my attention.... So, hence 'Captivated Reader' became my blog's name.

5. What genre do you read and review the most on your blog? 

I probably read and review novels from the mystery/thriller genre the most on my blog... Followed by fiction, nonfiction and perhaps young adult/children too.

6. What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from reviews?

What don't I blog about that isn't book related?? I blog about indie bookstores I visit, author events/signings I attend, literary prizes (such as Nobel Prize Winners), bookish related quotes, weekly book memes, collecting rare books, anything library related... basically anything related to books, authors, or reading in some way.

7. Best blogging experience so far?

I have so many wonderful blogging experiences that it's difficult to chose only one experience. 

Usually read-a-thons, blog hops, weekly book memes and other book blogging community events have yielded the best results in terms of interacting with other readers and bloggers for me. These are the types of posts that have yielded the most positive interactions within the blogging community for me.

Here is a very small sampling of posts that have been fun for me to participate:

1. The First Book of 2015!!
2. 2014 Audiobook Blog Hop
3. The Liebster Award
4. The Sisterhood of World Bloggers Award
5. 2013 End of the Year Book Survey

8. Favorite thing about the blogging community?

Interacting with other readers and bloggers.

9. Name the 5 books you’re most excited for this 2015!

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
2. Go Set A Watchmen by Harper Lee
3. The Fear Cure: Cultivating Courage as Medicine for the Body, Mind, and Soul by Lissa Rankin MD
4. Effortless Healing: 9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, Shed Excess Weight, and Help Your Body Fix Itself by Dr. Joseph Mercola
5. The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

10. What’s an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read?

Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself
by Lissa Rankin MD. I don't think this book is underrated, but perhaps it may not be very well known to some people. 

I've been dealing with a health issue and reading this books gave me hope that things will get better!!

11. Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF?

I'd select Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series as my bff.

12. Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies or interests?

I am a newbie knitter. My hobby of knitting is something I started last year and am loving it immensely!!

My hubby and I geocache together and is something we've been doing together for almost 10 years now.

We also like to travel as well, but not nearly as much as we'd like to travel.

13. Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for?

Well, I love jewelry... Actually, I drool over jewelry and wish I had the budget to buy all the expensive fine jewelry I wish I could afford... I find myself window shopping for jewelry more than actually buying anything because I'm pretty picky about what kind of jewelry I wear. Plus, most of the jewelry I like is way out of my budget/price range.

14. At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song – and it’s your song. What song is it?

Oh, What A Night by The Four Seasons.

15. Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/TV show, or a film/TV show you want turned into a book.

I'd love to see the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers made into a mini-series.

Friday Finds #71

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I won the following books through the Goodreads First Reads Program:

1. Going Gypsy by David and Veronica James
2. Duplicity by N. K. Traver
3. Murder on the Champ de Mars by Cara Black

Which books did you add to your reading list this week?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Peeler by Gord Rollo

Short Story

Peeler by Gord Rollo is a short story approximately 70 pages in length that I read in approximately an hour's time on my Kindle. Peeler falls into both a psychological thriller and horror genres.

Before I write my review, let me add that I was able to download the eVersion of Peeler for FREE last year through Amazon. This in no way effects my review of Peeler in any way. Below is my honest review of Peeler, so happy reading!

I like psychological thrillers quite a bit, but stories and novels that fall into the horror genre are ones that I normally shy away from in most cases... Especially, ones that are gory in any way, shape, or form as I become kind of queasy and squeamish while reading these types of reads. With that said, I did read several online reviews regarding Peeler and learned that this short story is rather on the gory side... But, I decided to read Peeler anyway as I'm trying to expand my reading repertoire. Besides Peeler was free, so why not give it a shot!? If I didn't like Peeler, I could always stop reading it and I wouldn't feel guilty about doing so because it was a free download.

What did I like about Peeler? I thought Gord Rollo's writing and storytelling were well done and very vividly descriptive... I could see every detail in my mind's eye as the story unfolded. Peeler definitely is a psychological thriller and a captivating one at that. I kept wanting to know who 'Peeler' was, what was going to happen next, and how things were going to end. True to the reviews I read online, Peeler turns very gory about 75% into it and the goriness left me feeling rather ill at ease... I had a pit in my stomach for quite awhile after I finished reading it... Not a pleasant feeling at all to have after reading anything.

So, the goriness is the main thing I didn't enjoy from reading Peeler. But as a psychological thriller/horror short story, I think perhaps it was a 'necessary evil' to have the gory gruesomeness play a part in Peeler. I find that even though I felt ill at ease while reading the gory part of Peeler and had an awful pit in my stomach afterward, that this must be a sign that Gord Rollo is a good writer if he could evoke this type of response in me... If that makes sense.

The following is a summary for Peeler that I found on Amazon's website:

Randy Baxter is an aspiring chef who dreams of better days ahead. He’s come to work as part of the kitchen staff at Ashbury Creek Asylum, a federally funded institution for the criminally insane. Randy’s not crazy but he does harbor a past filled with psychological issues including the need to cut himself to make the memories of his abusive childhood go away. When he learns about the man they call Peeler, a long term resident at Ashbury who has a severe problem with self-mutilation, all of Randy’s anxieties start to rise to the surface again.

Determined to overcome his inner demons once and for all, he manipulates a face to face meeting with Peeler but as with all things, there’s a price to pay. To see one of the most violent, disturbed men ever to be imprisoned in the maximum security asylum Randy must bring Peeler a small gift. Something no one in their right mind would even think of giving him.

A shiny new razor blade…

Even though I found the last 25% of Peeler a bit too gruesome for my tastes, I'm still giving Peeler by Gord Rollo a rating of 7.5 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Red Velvet & Absinthe by Mitzi Szereto

eBook Paranormal Erotica 

I read the ebook version of Red Velvet & Absinthe and edited by Mitzi Szereto on my Kindle.

Red Velvet & Absinthe is a collection of fifteen Gothic/paranormal erotica short stories. Red Velvet & Absinthe is a book I initially saw at a Barnes & Noble store. I was intrigued by the cover art and the idea of reading paranormal erotica with Gothic elements, but I didn't buy this book then. It wasn't until some time later that I bought the ebook version to read on my Kindle.

I finally got around to reading Red Velvet & Absinthe this month in celebration of Valentine's Day. After reading this book, I kind of felt ho-hum about the entire collection. Two of the short stories were so boring I couldn't bring myself to finish reading them. Other short stories were just okay and left me wanting more... While others were pretty good. The following short stories were my favorites: Cover Him With Darkness, The Blood Moon Kiss, Dolly, The Persistence of Memory, The Queen, and Benediction.

The following is a book summary for Red Velvet & Absinthe from Amazon's website as follows:

Red Velvet and Absinthe explores love and lust with otherworldly partners who, by their sheer fantastical nature, evoke passion and desire far beyond that which any normal human being can inspire. Although the greats such as Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, and Daphne du Maurier are long dead, these contemporary authors keep the Gothic spirit alive and well by interpreting it in new and exciting ways. Red Velvet and Absinthe offers readers a collection of unique and original stories that conjure up the atmospheric and romantic spirit of the Gothic masters (and mistresses) but take things a bit further by adding to the brew a generous dosage of eroticism. Lie back and listen to the wind howling outside your window as you read these stories in the flickering light of a candle, the absinthe you’re sipping warming your body like the caressing touch of a lover’s fingers . . .

I'm giving Red Velvet & Absinthe by Mitzi Szereto a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars. I wanted to L-O-V-E this collection of short stories so much more than I did, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday -- Ten Book Related Problems I Have

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The following are my top ten book related book problems I have in no particular order:

1. Having more books in my 'to be read pile' than I can possibly read in several years... Or my lifetime! 
2. Yet, I still want to keep adding more books to my reading pile!
3. I'm addicted to not only buying books, but downloading free ebooks from Amazon to my Kindle... This year I have a goal of not buying any more books or downloading any free ebooks from Amazon during 2015... I've already purchased 3 or is 4 more books so far this year already, yikes!
4. I can't pass up visiting indie bookstores or FOL Used Bookstores, where inevitably, I end up buying more books.
5. Being interrupted while reading, especially if it's in an exciting/crucial scene!
6. Staying up late to read a book that is impossible to put down because it's so good.
7. Donating, giving away, or selling some of my unread books that I once bought for myself because I thought I wanted to read them at the time... Then decided I didn't want to read them after all due to changing tastes, etc.
8. Reading more than one book at a time... Right now, I'm currently reading three different novels and a nonfiction novel. It would be nice to focus on one book at a time.
9. I'm in need of new book shelves!! We moved last year from Southern California to Northern California and when we moved, we donated our old bookshelves. We've yet to replace them, so most of my books are still sitting in boxes waiting to be unpacked and places onto bookshelves. 
10. Putting off doing other tasks to read instead!
11. Needing a library card!!
12. Bringing more books with me on vacation than I actually need!

What are your book related problems?

Banned Books Infographic --- An Interesting Look at Banned Books!!

I liked viewing Printerinks infographic on Banned Books throughout time. Check out the link above! I also found it interesting to see which books are banned in other countries.

Friday Finds #70

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I went to an author event and signing on Friday, February 6, 2015!! I saw Paula Hawkins at Towne Center Books in Pleasanto, California and she signed my copy of The Girl on the Train.

I also purchased a used copy of The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates through Amazon.

And lastly, I received two free books through The Goodreads First Reads Program... A copy of A Dental Odyssey by Howard S. Selden and a copy of The Poser by Jacob Rubin.

Which books did you add to your reading pile/reading wishlist?

Author Event/Signing with Paula Hawkins --- The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins Reading Her Novel

Happy news for me! I attended my first author event/signing of 2015. Paula Hawkins, the best-selling author of The Girl on the Train came to Towne Center Books in Pleasanton, California on Friday, February 6, 2015. 

The festivities began at 7pm with Ms. Hawkins reading a bit from her new novel, The Girl on the Train, followed by a Q & A session, where the audience members were able to ask Ms. Hawkins questions and lastly, Ms. Hawkins signed copies of her novel for those who had purchased it.

Quite a large crowd of people showed up for this author event... No surprise! I really enjoyed attending it. I haven't read The Girl on the Train yet, but it sounds awesome from the plot summary and reviews I've read about it online. So, I was excited to have my hardback copy of The Girl on the Train signed by the author at the end of the evening.

I thought Paula Hawkins was an interesting person to hear speak... She's funny and engaging. I liked her answers to many of the questions that various audience members asked for her. She gave some really thoughtful answers and seems like a pretty cool person.

At the end of the evening, she signed novels. I can't believe that I forgot to have my picture taken with her while she was signing my copy of The Girl on the Train!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

This week I am going to share 5 things I like and 5 things I dislike when it comes to romances in book!

Five things I LIKE when it comes to romances in book:

1. Steamy romantic/tasteful erotic scenes in novels. There has to be a good storyline too... Otherwise sex scenes by themselves are just plain weird!
2. Well developed/well written romance stories with good character development.
3. Contemporary romance novels are a plus... Usually, I'm not a big on historical romance fiction... And futuristic or fantasy romance novels are hit or miss for me.
4. Realistic relationships... I totally get that fiction novels are written for entertainment and the author has to keep things interesting for their readers, but don't make romantic relationships overtly phony.
5. See # 2, I can't emphasize one that enough!

Five things I DISLIKE when it comes to romances in book:

1. Women who can't take the initiative in the relationship. I mean really, this is the 21st century. If you like someone ask them out instead of pining for them and/or waiting for the guy to make a move. You can let the person know your interested in them... Sure, it is difficult to make yourself vulnerable, when you don't know how the other person feels about you, but if you never make a move, you may lose out on a fabulous relationship. I simply don't like it when authors make the man (usually) be the one to make the first move.
2. Romance novels that contain too many typical relationship stereotypes.
3. Writers that throw in too many misunderstandings in their storyline to prolong the inevitable... You know the leading characters are going to hook up by the end of the novel, so stop toying with us and make it happen already!! We want to see the romance blossom already and see the relationship in full bloom. A few bumps in the road are fine and make for a fun read... But too many hurdles for a couple in a book becomes annoying really fast.
4. Abusive relationships.
5. I'm not into BDSM either in novels.

What things do you like or dislike when it comes to romances in books?

Ring Around The Rosie by Jen Wylie

Free Short Story

I first became acquainted with Jen Wylie's writing from reading Flashy Fiction & Other Insane Tales Volumes 1 & 2, which she wrote with Sean Hayden. 

I really enjoyed reading both volumes of Flashy Fiction & Other Insane Tales. So, when I discovered the free eVersion of Ring Around The Rosie by Jen Wylie on Amazon, I downloaded it to my Kindle.. I looked forward to reading it. Ring Around The Rosie falls into the young adult fantasy genre... It's also a short story approximately 22 pages in length and it took me about 30 minutes to read it from start to finish.

The following is my unbiased review of Ring Around The Rosie by Jen Wylie.

I didn't find Ring Around The Rosie to be that good. I thought it was just okay, nothing special. Basically, the premise of the story is Wylie's take on the children's classic nursery rhyme, Ring Around The Rosie, for her short story. 

I thought that Wylie's story could have been a bit more captivating and alluring from the beginning and by also talking a little more about Shay's character... Like Shay's transformation at the end of the story, where he ends up going, and why he does what he does. Ring Around The Rosie just felt flat to me most of the way through it. I didn't feel a huge sense of excitement or tension build in anticipation as the end of the story draws to a close... Just a small spike of tension. The ending was a let down as I expected more from it than there was of it.

I'm giving Ring Around The Rosie by Jen Wylie a rating of 4 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!

Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client by Kathi Honeycutt

Erotica Short Story

Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client by Kathi Honeycutt is an erotic, short story approximately 20 pages in length and takes less about 30 minutes to read.

I downloaded the eVersion of Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client to my Kindle from Amazon for free a few years ago and have finally found the time to read it. The following is my unbiased review.

Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client is the CHEESIEST erotica read ever! The only redeeming features of this short story were that it was free and took less than 30 minutes for me to read. Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client contained a poorly written storyline, underdeveloped characters that I could care less about, and sex, Sex & (you guessed it!!) MORE SEX! 

I like erotica short stories, novellas and novels with more substance to them verses ones with poor storytelling and bad characters. Sex should be part of the story and well executed, but not poorly written drivel like this stuff.

I'm giving Naughty Lisa & An Unexpected Client by Kathi Honeycutt a rating of 1.5 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!

The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree

Cozy Mystery eBook Novella

With the Valentine's Day holiday right around the corner, I decided to read a Valentine's Day themed novella titled The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree. This novella is approximately 160 pages in length.

I was able to download The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree for free to my Kindle from Amazon a couple of months ago. The following is my unbiased review of this novella.

Okay, it's no secret, but I really enjoy reading cozy mystery novels/novellas. The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree is a good read. I liked the storyline and characters a lot. There are lots of twists and turns in The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre along with plenty of potential murder suspects to choose from!! 

The following is a book summary of The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree from the Amazon website:

It’s Valentine’s Day in quiet, cozy Hatter’s Cove, Florida and food columnist, Kat Archer, has been assigned the event of the year, the grand opening of Miss Dolly’s Cookie Jar and Sweets Emporium.

What begins as a run of the mill, albeit tasty, assignment turns into something much more dangerous when one of the Cookie Jar’s employees is poisoned.

Now Kat is chasing the biggest story of her life, while trying to catch the eye of her handsome editor and avoid becoming the killer’s next victim.

I'm giving The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Paperback Edition

I read the paperback version of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This is my second experience with anything written by Neil Gaiman.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a short novel and I had high expectations of this novel when I first began reading it as it seems that more people than not seemed to really enjoy reading this book and/or are HUGE fans of Gaiman's work. 

However, after reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I have mixed feelings about it. I felt like the first 40 to 50 pages of this novel were pretty slow going for me and with that said, I'd set the novel aside and began reading other works. I was seriously wondering if I'd ever pick it up again and finish reading it...

I ended up reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane through to the end, as I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about regarding this novel. Thank goodness the storyline picks up for The Ocean at the End of the Lane in chapter five and becomes more entertaining. I'll admit I did like all the imagery presented in this novel, but which genre exactly does this novel fit into??? Is it fantasy?? Magical realism?? What exactly... I'm not sure.

I didn't like not knowing the narrator's name. I didn't like knowing whether what happened to him as a child was real or fantasy or a combination of both... It was all too weird. Good all around imagery was presented in The Ocean at the End of the Lane, but what did it all mean? Too much gray area for me. Overall I just didn't like this novel.

I'm giving The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman a rating of 4 stars out of 10 stars.

The Beekeeper by Juliet Moore

First Novel in a Mystery Series

Earlier this week, I read the ebook version of The Beekeeper by Juliet Moore. The Beekeeper is the first novel in the Detective Elizabeth Stratton Mystery Series and it is also my first experiences with reading anything written by Juliet Moore. The Beekeeper is approximately 147 pages in length.

I downloaded The Beekeeper a couple of years ago to my Kindle for free from Amazon. The following is my unbiased review of The Beekeeper. 

I enjoyed reading The Beekeeper quite a bit. I like reading mystery novels where the leading character is a female cop and good at what she does... Elizabeth Stratton is a good female leading character and also a good detective. I like the fact that she isn't perfect, makes mistakes, but works hard to be the best detective she can be.

At the start of The Beekeeper, we met Elizabeth Stratton. She's on suspension from the police force and staying at the Roosevelt Hotel after a hurricane displaced her from her home. Elizabeth comes across the body of a dead woman covered in bees and mouth filled with honey in one of the hotel rooms on a floor of the hotel in need of renovation... She places a call to the police force and eventually lands back on the force to assist with the investigation of the murdered woman... Two more bodies of women murdered found with mouths filled with honey are discovered and it's soon realized a serial murderer is on the loose.

The Beekeeper is a nicely paced mystery novel. I liked the characters and the storyline. I liked the use/imagery of bees in this novel along with honey as part of the murderers killing ritual as it made for a unique read. The writing was decent as well.

Some things didn't seem plausible, like searching for the killer/suspect during a severe hurricane... Or Elizabeth Stratton starting a search without waiting for back up. Otherwise The Beekeeper was a good read. I also liked the red herrings in this novel as it left you guessing to whodunnit.

The following is a book summary of The Beekeeper from Amazon's site:

A trigger-happy young detective becomes immersed in a world of bees and mad honey in order to catch a murderer.

Miami homicide detective Elizabeth Stratton knows she's lucky to still have a job, but she's tired of only getting the easy cases. She'll never be able to regain the respect of her colleagues without a chance to prove she's no longer an anxious mess who shoots at anything that moves.

Her opportunity comes during a routine check at a near-abandoned hotel. While trying to save the living, she finds the dead. In the midst of a bee infestation is the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with honey.

Elizabeth is grudgingly allowed to keep the case, which rapidly becomes compelling when the honey is found to be poisonous and the bees follow her home.

But just when she's closing in on the killer, he targets her new friend and Elizabeth must brave the high winds of a category four hurricane to save her.

I'm giving The Beekeeper by Juliet Moore a rating of 7 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!

Friday Finds #69

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Well, I was lucky enough to receive a couple of books from other Bookcrossers as follows:

1. Crusader's Cross by James Lee Burke

2. The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel

Plus, I also received two additional free books, which I won through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway as follows:

1. The First Wife by Erica Spindler (ARC)

2. The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton

My goal this year was to not buying books for myself or download and free ebooks from Amazon to my Kindle. But after a month of adhering to my New Year's Resolution, I  broke down and purchased three books:

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Audible edition)

2. The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates (Nonfiction hardback used edition)

3. The Scent of God by Beryl Singleton Bissell (Nonfiction hardback used edition)

I am going to a couple of author events/book signings later this month... So, I have the strong feeling that I will be adding more books to my ever growing 'to be read' pile.

The Convenience Boy by Sujata Massey

eBook

I read The Convenience Boy by Sujata Massey in less than an hour. It is a short story approximately 21 pages in length and features sleuth, Rei Shimura. 

Reading The Convenience Boy was my first experience with anything written by Sujata Massey and I liked what I read. I now want to read more novels by Sujata Massey in the future.

What I like about The Convenience Boy is the storyline, the characters, and the unexpected ending! It's kind of difficult to discuss this short story without giving away too much detail. Suffice it to say that the leading character, Miho Haneda, has nightly erotic visits from an unknown character that she finds pleasurable. This person suddenly stops making visits, so Miho Haneda hires Rei Shimura to find the young man who brought her so much sexual pleasure. You're left guessing who the perpetrator is until the very end!!

I'm giving The Convenience Boy by Sujata Massey a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!

Do You Want to Be The Best Book Club Member You Know?

If you belong to or want to belong to a book club, I thought the following article I discovered on the Huffington Post website titled, Here's How To Be The Best Book Club Member You Know by Claire Fallon, was awesome. Gotta love some of the gifs used in this article! Click on above link to read the full story.

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read From the Classics Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

There are so many classics that I have read and loved... And there are so many classics that I have yet to read, but very much want to read... Narrowing down my list of which classics would make my top ten list was a tough one!

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy -- I graduated with a Russian language degree, so I'm surprised that I have yet to read this classic novel. 
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury -- I'm not a sci-fi fan normally, but I've wanted to read this novel for a while.
3. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain -- I've always wanted to read this novel and have started reading it at two different points in my life, but have never finished reading it.
4. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury -- I'm not a sci-fi fan normally, but I've wanted to read this novel for quite a while.

5. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov -- I've wanted to read this novel, just to see what it is all about.

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde -- This sound likes an intriguing novel read.
7. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson -- This has been in my 'to be read' pile and I want to read it... Hopefully, sooner rather than later.
8. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens -- This has also been in my 'to be read' pile for a long time and I want to read it.
9. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas -- Another one of those reads I've put off, mainly due to the length of this novel.
10. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedman -- I can't believe I haven't read this landmark feminist nonfiction work yet.

I found it interesting that the only classic book written by a woman I've added to my list is Betty Friedman's feminist classic The Feminine Mystique.

Which books did you choose this week?

Must Read Books For Step Moms!

Alright, let me first state that I am not a stepmom, nor have I read any of the books mentioned in the Huffington Post article titled, 6 Must-Read Books for Overwhelmed Stepmoms by Peggy Nolan.

I do know someone who has had a very bad personal experience with a stepchild who was 'hell on wheels'. I only wish this person had access to the list of books mentioned in the article as maybe they would have helped out. 

In Nolan's article, she writes the following:

Are you married to a man with kids from a previous relationship? I bet you never thought how hard being a stepmom is. In the rush of love, when you see the world through gorgeous love goggles, no one tells you that you're going to want to ran away or find a place to hide when his kids are visiting.

Whether you are a new or veteran stepmom, you know that the marriage statistics for second marriages are stacked against remarried couples. The odds of success plummet even further with third marriages.

The good news is you're not alone. There are amazing resources and I want to share with you the six books every overwhelmed stepmom must read.

I've heard plenty of other 'minor' horror stories from women trying to deal with blending families together and trying to make things work. Perhaps these books can help.

Until my next post, happy reading!