Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)

August 2, 2023 By 1 Comment


Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)
Publisher: Tyche Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Deep, mysterious, beautiful . . . dangerous . . .

Women and the sea have been tied together in myth and story from the beginning of time. Tales of women being drawn to the sea or being left on the shore, waiting for their men’s return, have been passed down through the ages.

But what mysteries lie beneath the sparkling placid waters? What power drives the wind and waves crashing against the shore? There is transformation and exaltation—magic—in the ocean and women alike. And both know that while the sea gives, the sea also takes.

Sink into the icy depths of the ocean with these stories by: E.E. King; Natalie Cannon; Morgan Melhuish; Paul A. Hamilton; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Sarah Van Goethem; Adria Laycraft; Dino Parenti; B. Zelkovich; Lisa Carreiro; Lea Storry; Nikoline Kaiser; Elin Olausson; Chandra Fisher; Hayley Stone; V.F. LeSann; Catherine MacLeod; and Jennifer R. Donohue.

Safety isn’t guaranteed, but magic is.

Adelia lost multiple relatives to the sea in “Salt in Our Blood, Salt in Our Tears.” When she grew older, she attempted to figure out a way to keep her loved ones safe while they were on the water. I loved her determination and grit and couldn’t stop reading until I’d learned her fate. She wasn’t a wealthy or powerful woman, so anything she accomplished took every ounce of energy and luck she could scrounge up. This was one of my favorite instalments, and I’d love to read a sequel to it someday if the author ever writes one.

In “The Ghost of Violet Gray,” Arthur was distracted by a mysterious woman while surveying a beach to see how much damage the erosion on it was doing to the historic properties that lined the shore. The descriptions of the beach and the stately old homes that had weathered so many storms were beautiful. I would have happily remained in this tale for much longer, especially once my suspicions about how the plot might turn out began to be confirmed. This was a gorgeous snapshot of how the past can be honored by a community who also must adjust to an ever-changing coastline that can’t safely be used in the same way it was before.

“Glass, Paper, Salt” explored how a small group of strangers reacted to a zombie outbreak. The combination of references to zombies, mermaids, and the sea surprised me, especially once I realized how logically the characters were thinking about their longterm chances of survival now that their world was falling apart. This is one of those stories that works best if new readers walk into it unaware of what is coming. I only mentioned the zombies in this review because of how quickly they appeared in the text, but I will leave the rest of the creative plot twists up for others to discover for themselves. It was yet another excellent addition to this book.

One of the biggest reasons why I gave this anthology a full five-star rating was how beautifully different each tale was from one another. Some of them were heavy, difficult, but deeply meaningful reads, while a few were surprisingly light and airy given the dark theme. I wish I had the time and space to review every single one of them in this review. It was tricky to narrow down my selections to only a few! I’d recommend reading this with an open mind and while making as few assumptions about what might happen next as possible. There were so many gems included here.

Saltwater Sorrows was the perfect snapshot of the ever-changing nature of the sea.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

July 6, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman
Publisher: Graphix
Genre: LGBTQ, Graphic Novel, Contemporary, YA (15+ yrs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The Heartstopper Yearbook is packed full of exclusive content from the Heartstopper universe: never-before-seen illustrations, an exclusive minicomic, character profiles, trivia, and insight into Alice Oseman’s creative process, narrated by a cartoon version of Alice herself. In full-color for the first time, this companion book is perfect for fans of Heartstopper!

More Heartstopper? Yes, please.

If you like the Heartstopper books, then you’ve got to check out the yearbook. These are bits and pieces about the series as well as early drawings and tidbits by the author about the series. Hardcore fans will eat this book up.

I liked seeing the evolution of Charlie and Nick because it showed they weren’t fully formed when the author started them and there was some growth beyond the story. I liked seeing the way the author handled the issues with each character, too. There were snippets of other characters and their stories, too. I liked seeing a bit in on the teachers, too. They’re my favorite characters of the series.

If you like the Heartstopper series and want just a little more of these characters, then this is the book for you. Check it out.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Space Ships & Other Trips by Raven Oak

July 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Space Ships & Other Trips by Raven Oak
Publisher: Grey Sun Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Part II of this debut collection by multi-award-winning author and artist Raven Oak brings together speculative fiction stories from the past ten years of her career, ranging from space adventures with a dash of mystery and other near-future tales to post-apocalyptic stories and deep dives into the mind.

You’ll find closed-ship mysteries, foul-acting apps, talking cats, retail hell, and hacked programs in these ELEVEN speculative fiction pieces. Space Ships & Other Trips contains FIVE never-before seen stories for your enjoyment, including a tie-in story from Jeff Sturgeon’s The Last Cities of Earth universe.

STORIES INCLUDED: The Loss of Luna, Hungry, Mouth, Only a Bird, Q-Be, Hands, Ol’ St. Nick, Drip, Level Up, Scout’s Honor, and D.E.A.T.H.

How much hope do you have for the future?

“Only a Bird” explored what happened after some students found an injured bird outside of their classroom. The empathy they had for that creature was beautiful. I especially enjoyed their conversations that compared it to the robotic birds that had just begun to be released into the wild. This was a sweet and gentle story that could fit into so many different genres.

There were several stories in this collection that I thought would have been better with more development. “Drip” was one of them. As intrigued as I was by the protagonist’s struggle with insomnia, I had a lot of unanswered questions about the world they lived in. For example, I would have liked to know what was going on with all of the out-of-control fires they were worrying about as they tried to go to sleep. Was this an unusual portion of daily life in their world or was it something frightening that ordinary people had no choice but to deal with regularly? These sorts of questions about the world building kept popping up for me and influenced the rating I ended up choosing.

To be perfectly honest with all of you, eating out of a dumpster isn’t something I ever expect to read about in the science fiction genre. The fact that “Level Up” began with a scene about the main character doing this intrigued me, especially once she was interrupted a moment later just as she was about to enjoy an English muffin. There are so many plot twists I wish I could dive into, but this is one of those tales that works best for readers who know as little as possible about what is to come. What I can say is that it was creative and made me want more.

This is the second anthology in a series that does not need to be read in order. Just like with Dragon Springs & Other Things, be sure to read the author’s notes to learn about where her ideas came from!

Space Ships & Other Trips was full of surprises.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Solids And Stripes by Julia Talbot

May 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Solids And Stripes by Julia Talbot
Publisher: Turtlehat Creatives
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

One of the new guys at the young Apex Security company, Lucas loves his work as a bodyguard, and he’s pretty fond of his work family too. When they send him out to protect jaguarundi shifter movie star Cash Weatherby, Lucas figures he’s going to get a spoiled, bored actor who has way too much time and money on his hands. Cash’s reputation bears that out, too, but Lucas soon finds out nothing could be farther from the truth.

Cash is easy to work with, good to his team, and is under threat from someone who sets off a bomb on one of his movie sets. As Lucas tries to keep Cash safe, two things begin to become clear: the threat to Cash is not political or professional, it’s personal, and that Cash might just be the one this tiger shifter has waited for all his life. Can they keep Cash safe long enough to make a life together?

Lucas loves his work as a bodyguard at Apex Security, and while he figures the young movie star he’s sent out to protect will be some spoiled, bored kid he’s pleasantly surprised to find Cash isn’t like that at all. Sparks fly between Lucas and Cash, but can they both stay safe long enough to see if they might become more together?

I thoroughly enjoyed Talbot’s Apex Investigations series so was pretty happy when I stumbled on this – the first book in an offshoot series. While Lucas and Cash are new characters, Apex Security is a side-line for the old Investigations crew and so there are decent cameos from all the gang there. I feel this was a really smooth move by the author – it helped bring me in as a reader, and once Lucas and Cash were introduced, I was solidly on board for their adventure together.

Much of what I loved about Talbot’s previous books are still on show here – strong friendship links and a sort of pack mentality between the characters, and a decently paced plot. Add in some smoking chemistry and two shifters who are both strong willed but crazily attracted to each other and it’s a brilliant formula that I greatly enjoyed. The sub-plot of the dangerous stalker was a little bit cliched, but I still felt it was handled quite well by the author – keeping tension and some conflict in the story but not leaning too heavily on the trope and being boring.

Readers looking for a sizzling paranormal romance story with some different shifters and a lot of strong ties and emotion between the characters and a hint of adventure/danger should find this to be a good and interesting read. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

My Daughter’s Boyfriends by Penny Jackson

May 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


My Daughter’s Boyfriends by Penny Jackson
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

My Daughter’s Boyfriends is a short story collection from the Pushcart Prize–winning writer Penny Jackson. Her female narrators explore the loss of love and innocence, as well as the strength to overcome adversity and the need for redemption. The setting of these stories ranges from a hotel in Jamaica to New York City during the terror reign of Son of Sam to a summer camp for teenage girls in New Hampshire. Original, entertaining, thought-provoking, My Daughter’s Boyfriends will prove to be of special appeal to readers with an interest in coming-of-age stories about women.

These are the parts of womanhood that most women don’t discuss out loud.

The main character in ‘The First Brassiere” was irritated by the prospect of needing to wear a bra for the first time. Growing up isn’t always easy, and I liked the way she described what she wanted out of life instead and why she was so hesitant to start acting like a proper young lady. Ms. Jackson captured that stage of development perfectly and with the perfect amount of humor.

As soon as “The Elephant in the Bush” mentioned that Ida had Alzheimer’s disease and her former daughter-in-law was looking after her, I was interested in hearing more. I’d been a little suspicious this might be the case as soon as she was introduced, and I wanted to see what the plot did with characters like these. The relationship between them was warm, loving, and slightly unusual given that Susan had been divorced from Ida’s son for many years. This was something shared very early on in their conversation, and it only deepened my curiosity about how their family worked and what else I could learn about them.

Rose had a complicated and sometimes painful relationship with her father in “Green Love.” I was intrigued by how little she knew about what he did for a living and how uninterested she was in learning more. This was a memorable snapshot of a dysfunctional family that loved each other but struggled to express emotions like love for reasons that I will leave up to other readers to discover for themselves.

My Daughter’s Boyfriends made me yearn for more. What a poignant and gorgeous collection.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Salt Water by Eugenia Triantafyllou

April 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Salt Water by Eugenia Triantafyllou
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

While all her friends’ fish are changing into mermaids, is 12-year-old Anissa’s fish becoming something else?

Change isn’t always easy, especially when you don’t have any control over how or when it happens.

Anissa was a likeable and thoughtful main character. There were times when I wished she’d go into more detail about her physiology, but it made sense for someone her age to assume the audience was already familiar with the idea of various aquatic animals developing in people’s bodies. Of course, she didn’t know any differently! She barely even knew herself yet, much less had time to envision what life might be like on other worlds.

I loved the fact that Ms. Triantafyllou expected her audience to put some effort into understanding the analogy she was making. It was only after rereading this tale that I fully understood what she was saying, but I relished the opportunity to spend more time with the characters as I looked for more clues about Anissa’s relationship with her fish and what might happen to them after she became an adult.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that gently encouraged readers to make the connection between this symbiotic society and what it can be like for LGBTQ people to grow up in a world that isn’t always welcoming or kind to them by any means. There were other analogies that could work well here, too, and I applaud the author for leaving space for them, but I kept coming back to how different Anissa felt from her classmates and how desperately she wanted to be accepted no matter who she grew up to be.

Salt Water was brilliant, and I’m crossing my fingers that we might get a sequel to it someday.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Triple Intent by Kristian Parker

April 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Triple Intent by Kristian Parker
Village Affairs series, book 3
Publisher: Pride Publishing, Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When a billionaire and his assistant bring change to the village, Michael has to adapt…

The future’s uncertain for Michael Fleming. He came to the sleepy Yorkshire village of Napthwaite a year ago as Thorpe Hall’s gardener, but now the Hall’s been sold…to billionaire hotelier Darryl Burlington.

When self-made Darryl and his handsome French assistant, François Vernier, come to set up the new property acquisition, they plan to find a willing third party to share their bed. Darryl and François aren’t together, but they like to celebrate success. But instead of indulging themselves in a treat after their hard work, they trigger events which no one could have foreseen.

This chain reaction Darryl, François and Michael leads to big changes in Napthwaite—and in all three men’s lives…

Three men, one relationship and one big…love?

I love books with thruples in them. This one didn’t disappoint. I also love the books of Kristan Parker and again, not disappointed. The writing moved along at a great clip and kept me reading to know what would happen next. I’ve read the others in this series and loved them, so seeing Michael in this one made me happy. I’m glad I picked this one up.

Michael, the gardener, has kept the property’s gardens in tiptop shape. I loved his dedication to his plants. He’s concerned he might not have a place when the new owners show up. Darryl is a billionaire and loves to have a third in his relationship. He’s been sharing his bed with his assistant Francois for years and knows there is a third out there for him. There is love in this story, but also complication and misunderstanding, which makes sense and made the characters more human.

It took me a bit to warm up to Francois, but once I did, I liked him more. He’s hurting because he’s been in love with Darryl for years and is fine with sharing him, but he’s unsure of how Darryl truly feels for him. When he thinks he’s been edged out, he lashes out. It’s mean at times, but understandable.

If you’re looking for something hot, with a thruple and packed with great writing, then try this series. I highly recommend.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Heartstopper, Vol 3 by Alice Oseman

April 19, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Heartstopper, Vol 3 by Alice Oseman
Publisher: Graphix
Genre: YA (ages 14+), LGBTQ, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Charlie didn’t think Nick could ever like him back, but now they’re officially boyfriends. Nick has even found the courage to come out to his mom. But coming out isn’t something that happens just once, and Nick and Charlie try to figure out when to tell their friends that they’re dating. Not being out to their classmates gets even harder during a school trip to Paris. As Nick and Charlie’s feelings get more serious, they’ll need each other more than ever.

Back to the world of Nick and Charlie and it’s so good.

I love this series because the characters are so realistic. They’re funny, heartbreaking and real. I’m wrapped up in this couple. Really. I couldn’t put this volume down and was sad to see it end. The writing is much like that of the age group the boys are and it’s shown in the same manner that young people in their situation struggle. It’s realistic and that’s great.

I’ve read the others in this series and I’m glad I did. It helped me to understand what the characters are going through and how hard it is to be a teen. Nick is just starting to come to terms with who he is and coming out to his family. It’s hard and the book shows that. Charlie, while already out, is dealing with an eating disorder, brought on by teasing because he’s gay. A lot of young people can identify with the characters.

This is written in a tender, but real way. The characters struggle, but it’s like reading the picture diary of friends. I loved it.

If you’re looking for a book with tender but teen characters and a great storyline, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Various Intentions by AE Lister

April 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Various Intentions by AE Lister
Persuasions, book 3
Publisher: Pride Publishing, Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When best-laid-plans fall apart, all you can do is pick up the pieces—and host a gallery exhibit.

Nic Walker and Vincent Blake lead charmed lives—or so thinks their neglected friend Juno. But when Juno’s plans come crumbling down, it’s their boyfriend Charles who reaches out to get Nic to help. Nic, Vincent, Matteo and even Taylor are there with solid plans for assistance, including an emergency art exhibit called Electric Dreams.

Amid an unexpected revelation about Matteo’s past, a surprising romantic development in Daphne’s life and a personal challenge of Nic’s, the gang comes together to help their friends and demonstrate what real loyalty looks like. Nobody ever said life was easy, but sometimes a challenge can bring out the best in people—and remind you of the true meaning of friendship.

A family that’s found is a family that’s strong.

I love stories that aren’t the usual. This one is one of those stories. That’s not to say this book isn’t good. It’s very good. I’ve been on the hunt for stories of people who are coming into their own, accepting who they are and being comfortable in their own skin. This is one of those books.

Juno and Charles are a good pairing, but they’re troubled and that made them more human. I liked how Nic’s role switched into a fatherly/best friend role with these men. I won’t lie, this is a hot book. I mean, it’ll melt the screen, it’s that hot. But there’s emotion to the heat. It’s not just kink. Plus, this story shows that sometimes the family you make is the strongest bond. Stronger than the one you’re born with. I liked that. Sure, there’s kink, but there’s family.

If you’re looking for a story that’s full of heart and heat, then this is the story for you. It’s not the usual erotic romance and that’s what makes it so good. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Magic & Home by Alexa Piper

April 13, 2023 By 1 Comment


Magic & Home by Alexa Piper
Monster Apocalypse 2
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Futuristic, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Over the past two years, Rory has learned that other people aren’t the best of company, that the guilt of causing the Apocalypse is a heavy burden, and that monsters only see him as a meal. Until Rory met Inkiri, who sees Rory as his mate.

Now, Rory has to navigate what it means to be with someone who not only isn’t human but who also is from another world altogether… and since Rory finds himself in that otherworld all of a sudden, he has to adapt fast. Inkiri definitely has no intention of slowing down in his quest to make his human mate happy.

While Rory is beginning to wrap his head around liking the new place and the new customs, he can’t relax into a peaceful happily ever after because whatever connection Rory has to the magic that unleashed the Apocalypse, people want that, meaning they want him. Where Rory and his newfound family ran to may not have been far enough to escape their pursuers’ clutches.

More magic, more intrigue and more love.

I liked book one in this series and I’m glad I picked up book two. This one is set in Ink’s world, and I really felt like I was there with the characters. I liked the pacing and the way this book is set up. The story moves so fast, but it’s a great clip. I was right there with the characters and liked how they grew through this book.

Ink and Rory are good together and I liked seeing how they grew together. Rory is starting to come into his magic a bit more and Ink has welcomed Rory into his world. They’re a great pairing.

This isn’t a simple story. Ink has found family with him, and they add their own complications. Plus, Rory seems to be a magnet for trouble. These added layers to the story and I liked it. I liked how things never really slowed down.

If you’re looking for a monster romance that’s not the usual, then this might be the one you’re looking for. Check this one out!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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