Just as I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson

June 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Just as I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

“Just as I Am is my truth. It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside. In these pages, I am indeed Cicely, the actress who has been blessed to grace the stage and screen for six decades. Yet I am also the church girl who once rarely spoke a word. I am the teenager who sought solace in the verses of the old hymn for which this book is named. I am a daughter and a mother, a sister and a friend. I am an observer of human nature and the dreamer of audacious dreams. I am a woman who has hurt as immeasurably as I have loved, a child of God divinely guided by his hand. And here in my ninth decade, I am a woman who, at long last, has something meaningful to say.” –Cicely Tyson

Unvarnished and honest.

I never read much about Cicely Tyson. I knew she was an actress and beautiful, but it’s not until I got into this book that I realized how cool she is. I don’t mean cool as in hard to talk to, but cool as in: she’s awesome. She’s not pretentious and tells things how they are without being mean. This book was like reading something a friend would tell me. It’s just her life how she saw it and how she felt while it happened. Some might call it simple, but I consider it engrossing.

Cicely Tyson is definitely someone who deserves more air time. It’s brilliantly written and shows how much she cares for her friends and even past lovers. I felt smarter by reading the book. I also realized the empathy she has while writing this. Her life wasn’t easy. She had troubles and some of her hardest times are what she writes about so eloquently.

If you’re looking for a Hollywood autobiography, then this might be the one to choose. I’m glad I did.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

His Refused Mate by Jade Marshall

June 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment


His Refused Mate by Jade Marshall
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Wolf shifters are fated with one mate. Losing your mate or refusing it causes immense pain and, in some cases, death. But what if fate gives you a second chance?

Payton has been on her own for longer than she can remember, even when she was still part of a pack. Being refused by her fated mate has her fleeing, starting a life of solitude away from any other shifters

Caine is the Alpha to his pack and although he loves his pack dearly, he longs for his true mate. When he catches her scent he will do everything to make her his. But can he convince her to take a chance?

While Peyton hasn’t enjoyed the last few years effectively being a servant in her Alpha’s house, she has the warm, loving memories of what her family life had been before her father had left and the life as Peyton knew it had irrevocably changed. On the morning of her eighteenth birthday she thought something might change, but she could never have guessed that it would have been her whole world shifting around. In a matter of minutes she’d discovered her one true mate only to have him refuse her and sever their bond, casting her callously aside without even attempting to try. Caine is rightful Alpha of a small pack and while he’s been desperately lonely the last eighteen months he’s determined to wait for his true mate – for the life partner the goddess has chosen for him. When Caine and Peyton find each other how will they manage to merge their two very different lives?

While I was a little disappointed that this enjoyable short story was quite predictable, I was impressed that the author managed to infuse the book with a few really interesting and relatable main characters. Peyton still held compassion and had a strong streak of independence that I really enjoyed. I was considerably relieved when Caine didn’t just beat his chest and let his ego or arrogance overtake his brain when Peyton refuse to submit immediately to his claim they were mates. I loved how Caine was willing to show and prove himself to Peyton, to show her he could support her and take some time to really get to know her and what she wanted from their relationship. This really helped sell me on the story.

There is some conflict in this short story and I thought for the most part it was handled really well. I felt the author put a really interesting twist on the end result of the conflict and could easily see how it could become important in the next few books as Caine’s brothers also find their own true mates. I feel readers looking for a unique or vastly different paranormal romance might not find themselves completely satisfied with this story but I admit I really enjoyed Peyton and Caine’s characters and found that reading their interactions was time well spent.

A fun and sexy short story this was a good paranormal romance.

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

A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

June 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte
Cat Cafe Mystery Series, 4
Publisher: St Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she’s busy enough that she doesn’t have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie’s care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area’s wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.

But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels. . .and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical―and more than nine lives are lost.

Good intentions can get you into trouble and how!

This is the first book by Cate Conte I’ve read, so I walked into the story fresh. The writing is good and I was transported to the cat cafe in the story. I liked the idea of the story – helping feral cats and controlling the population humanely. I even liked the idea of the cat cafe. Why not? It’s a cute story and worth the read.

I have to admit the protagonist, Maddie, did drive me crazy a few times. I guess it’s a thing with cozy mysteries, but the amateur sleuths always seem to get right into the investigation and circumvent laws to get there. Seems like that’s not safe, but this is fiction, so it’s still a good read. Maddie does tend to waffle concerning her boyfriend and that got a tad old. I get she wanted a clean break, but I’m the type who wants closure for my characters and I wanted to see her get it. Plus, there aren’t many mentions of cats in this book. I expected more, but there weren’t. Oh well.

It’s still an interesting mystery and I had no idea whodunit until the end. I liked how this story had a small town feel and am interested in reading more in this series.

If you’re looking for a cute holiday mystery, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Date With A Stranger by Pelaam

June 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Date With A Stranger by Pelaam
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Cassidy opts to spend special evenings at a high-end club and casino. His favorite part of each night is role play.

There he meets his husband Jeff —younger, slender, elegant, and classy. Their chemistry is as electrifying as always.

But Cassidy plays for keeps and while others may look, none can touch. Because at the end of the night, and every day, Jeff belongs to him.

Cassidy had heard good things about The Basement Bar – how it was for high rollers and the elite, but also how you could gamble without the usual casino atmosphere. When Jeff enters the Bar Cassidy knows immediately this is the man he wants to spend the night with, but neither man is willing to rush into anything, happy to enjoy themselves and each other’s company.

I enjoyed this sensual and fun short story. I was particularly pleased that, despite their instant and sizzling attraction, Cassidy and Jeff didn’t just blow off their night at the Bar and jump straight into bed. I was really pleased they chatted a while, drank, then had a bit of a flutter in the gambling area. This interaction between them helped me as a reader see them both and how they meshed and could potentially work together long past just a one night stand. I also adored how realistic this story was. While sure its pure fantasy material – a chance meeting in a Bar that leads to a true and real connection with someone – there was nothing that occurred in this short story that couldn’t be happening in real life every night. I really enjoyed this realism.

With an interesting and fun twist towards the end I found this to be a lovely and steamy story. Readers looking for something light and sensual, realistic but still fun should find this a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read.

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

Back Forty by BA Tortuga

May 31, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Back Forty by BA Tortuga
Publisher: Turtlehat Creatives
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Rusty’s going it alone on the family farm, trying to make ends meet and his breeding scheme work. Too bad he’s really a college boy at heart, and having a hard time getting all of the work done all by himself.

When he finds Wayne standing next to a broken down truck on the side of the road, it just seems like someone out there was hearing his prayers. Wayne stays on for room and board and a chance to get his truck fixed up, and as they get to know each other, both Wayne and Rusty decide maybe they don’t have to be single guys anymore.

Rusty is driving back to his farm, hoping to beat the storm blowing in, when he passes a stranger with a broken down truck. Being friendly, Rusty gives Wayne a tow to his farm and they each find perhaps exactly what they were looking for.

This is a deliciously hot, fairly short cowboy romance. While I really enjoyed both Rusty and Wayne’s characters the main thrust of the story is the blossoming romance and steamy intimacy between the two men as they grow ever more fond and attracted to each other. Readers looking for a deeply plotted or complicated story might not find this suits their tastes – but I personally really enjoyed the connection between the two main characters and enjoyed watching them come together and begin to build a strong and meaningful relationship together.

I found the intimacy between the two cowboys hot and descriptive. I also enjoyed the fact that they clearly meshed well together on an emotional level and not just physically. Readers looking for a short but hot cowboy M/M romance story should find this satisfying and enjoyable.

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

Master Fabrizzio’s Vault: Taking Eric by Catherine Dolore

May 31, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Master Fabrizzio’s Vault: Taking Eric by Catherine Dolore
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 2 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Behind the marble walls and manicured gardens of the Calvianni estate existed dark corners of temptation, torture and triumph…

Whew doggie….this one is hot.

I knew when I picked up this short story that it would scorch. It did. Eric thinks he’s going for business and he’s going to get so much more. He’s the type of guy who uses women and doesn’t think twice about it. It’s sort of nice to see him get the treatment he’s given in return, too.

This is a story of a man who gets it from three other men, so be warned. There is play in every orifice and even toys. It’s a complicated story. How will he respond when he’s treated in the same way he’s treated women before?

Granted, this is a hot story, but I have a few quibbles with it. This story could be great with a little more. I would’ve liked to have had a little more about Eric and his background. I know who he is, but I never really saw him. I don’t really know how he treated people in his past–it’s just hinted at. Adding those details would really round out the story well. Then there’s the editing. It could use a bit more going over from an editor as there are missing words and choppy sentences that messed with the flow of the story.

This is a hot story and it’s pure erotica. It’s also a bit of revenge fantasy in that some might want to see Eric get what he’s due. If you want a hot story that’s got lots of male-male action in a few pages, then this might be the one for you.

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

The Veggie Patch Bandits by Riya Aarini

May 28, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Veggie Patch Bandits by Riya Aarini
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When a group of pesky animals raid Mr. Bagban’s garden, the gardener grows frustrated. Mr. Bagban tries everything to protect his veggie patch, but the animals just keep stealing! Will Mr. Bagban come up with a way to keep the thieving critters out? Find out in this hilarious garden tale!

Sharing is one thing, but how fair is it for a gardener to do all of the work and get none of the reward of eating the vegetables he worked so hard to grow?

The dialogue made me giggle. Much of it happened just after the main character discovered that the animals who lived nearby him had yet again eaten something from his garden that he was planning to harvest himself that same day. He was understandably quite upset about that, and it often showed in the short exclamations of annoyance he made each time it occurred. It was cool to see how much emotion the author packed into those moments. I had exactly what I needed as a reader to empathize with his disappointment.

There was a minor plot hole involving how Mr. Bagban communicated with the hungry animals in his garden that I would have liked to see explained more clearly. The illustrations gave a partial answer. If the story itself had acknowledged it and gone into some detail, I would have happily given a five-star rating to this tale. Everything else about it was well written.

I adored the messages about handling conflict and channeling negative emotions that were included in this story. It was refreshing to see a character openly discuss his problems, admit that they made him angry, and try to find a solution that worked equally well for everyone involved. These are things that even adults struggle with at times. They’re even more difficult for young children who are still learning how to see the world from other points of view and think before they act. Luckily, all of these characters were excellent role models in these areas.

The Veggie Patch Bandits was a delightful read for gardeners of all ages.

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

The Accidental Fiancé by Christi Barth

May 28, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Accidental Fiancé by Christi Barth
(Love Lottery Book one)
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Is it the chance of a lifetime or his biggest mistake?

When former hotel manager Alex Kirkland, his sister and their best friends pooled their money for an unusual lottery prize—a historic, dilapidated inn on the Maryland shore—as a last-ditch attempt to escape rotten circumstances, they never expected to win. But they’re all looking for a fresh start and a second chance, so Alex convinces everyone to move in and repair the building in time for the spring wedding season.

Sydney Darrow never planned to return to her hometown. But her family needs her and Sydney can endure anything for 90 days—including making sandwiches and serving coffee with a smile until she returns to her jet-setter career. When her grandma mistakes a handsome customer for the “fiancé” Sydney created when she thought her grandma was on death’s door, well…Sydney will do anything to keep her spirits up during treatment. She can persuade him to keep up the charade for a few months, right?

But when Alex agrees to play along, will they both fall for their own fiction?

I’ve never read a story by Christi Barth before but I would definitely consider reading another. In fact, The Accidental Fiancé is the first book in the series, Love Lottery, and it’s made me curious enough to read book two.

The synopsis says it all. Literally, two hundred and ninety-four pages later there weren’t any additional surprises or plot twists but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story, I did. My advice is, if the synopsis intrigues you like it did me, then don’t hesitate to give it a try. I’m certainly glad I did. There are times I’m not in the mood for an unpredictable, high adrenaline or complex book. Sometimes it’s nice to relax and read a heartwarming, fluffy story.

The characters were well-developed and relatable. I look forward to meeting them again in the sequel.

The prologue was a bit far-fetched but anything is possible. My interest was captured early on and was easily kept until the last page.

The romance between the hero, Alex, and the heroine, Sydney, was mostly sweet. I appreciated the sense of humor they brought into the story line. Someone not from a small town, such as Alex, had a lot to learn about how fast small town gossip spreads.

I recommend picking this book up to read and I’ll be picking up Book 2: Definitely Not Dating. Enjoy!

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

Doctor on Call by Alla Shapiro, MD

May 28, 2021 By 1 Comment


Doctor on Call: Chernobyl Responder, Jewish Refugee, Radiation Expert by Alla Shapiro, MD
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Dr. Alla Shapiro was a first physician-responder to the worst nuclear disaster in history: the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. Information about the explosion was withheld from first responders, who were not given basic supplies, detailed instructions, or protective clothing. Amid an eerie and pervasive silence, Dr. Shapiro treated traumatized children as she tried to protect her family. No protocols were in place because no one had anticipated the consequences of a nuclear accident. From the outset of the disaster, the Soviet government worsened matters by spreading misinformation; and first responders, including Alla, were ordered to partake in the deception of the public.

After years of persistent professional hostility and personal discrimination that she and her family experienced as Jewish citizens of the USSR, four generations of the Shapiro family fled the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. As émigrés, they were each allowed to take no more than 40 pounds of possessions and $90 in cash. Their escape route took them first to Vienna and then to Italy, where they were stranded as stateless persons for six months. Eventually the family received permission to enter the United States.

Motivated by her Chernobyl experiences, Alla Shapiro ultimately became one of the world’s leading experts in the development of medical countermeasures against radiation exposure. From 2003 to 2019, she worked for the FDA on disaster readiness and preparation. Dr. Shapiro issues stern warnings regarding the preparedness―or lack thereof―of America for the current Covid-19 pandemic. Doctor on Call exposes the horrifying truths of Chernobyl and alerts us to the deceptions that undermine our ability to respond to global disasters.

Dr. Alla Shapiro has written a poignant story about being a first responder during the Chernobyl crisis. She has also described her experiences as a Jewish refugee and immigrant to the United States. Readers are treated to an inside look at what really happened, and the writing draws one into the account.

One may be shocked at times to discover the bare facts. It is quite enlightening; though, Dr. Shapiro’s personal comments add depth to this story. Her struggles and the struggles of those she witnessed will tug at hearts.

When the doctor and her family move to the United States, they must get used to a new culture and language. Readers will get a good sense of what this is like. Dr. Shapiro does not let the tragedy at the Chernobyl plant and its aftermath keep her from continuing forth bravely. Her continued work in her field and cooperation with other experts is explained and is sure to bring hope to others. She brings such a personal touch to technical ideas that readers will be made to truly understand. She also makes a connection to the Covid-19 Coronavirus, linking it to modern events.

One will not only learn much from this book but will also probably enjoy doing so.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Master Fabrizzio’s Vault: Clarissa Unveiled by Catherine Dolore

May 27, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Master Fabrizzio’s Vault: Clarissa Unveiled by Catherine Dolore
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: Three Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

What is a birthday party without candles?
What girl doesn’t want jewelry as a gift?
What girl hasn’t wanted a pony?

Clarissa gets all three, but not in the way she expected.

A young woman’s birthday bash becomes a surprise that she never saw coming. But, in the end she does.

Catherine Dolore blows out the candles in “Master Fabrizzio’s Vault: Clarissa Unveiled”.

What a birthday party!

This is a short story and moves fast. It’s essentially just one scene and man, it’s hot.

The writing flows along and it’s fast. There aren’t many details because this is meant to be a hot, naughty story. It’s meant to arouse. To that end, it succeeds. There are multiple partners, back door play, toys and bondage in this story.

That said, this book could use a bit of editing to make it shine. There are words missing. Some readers might not be bothered by that. If you’re looking for the heat factor and the naughty angle, then it might be fine. I would’ve liked a bit more emotional response from Clarissa as well. This is a big event for her and one she didn’t see coming, so it would’ve been nice to get in her head and know how she felt about this situation. It’s not really written from any one point of view, so it was hard to know how she felt.

If you want something hot for a quick afternoon read and want the scorch factor, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »