Our Smart Bitches Movie Matinee for July is the very famous The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston and that skyrocketed the song “I Will Always Love You” into pop culture history. Here’s the plot synopsis: Best-selling pop diva Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) has a stalker whose obsession has risen to the level of disturbing threats. At the urging of her manager (Gary Kemp), Rachel hires former secret service agent Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) as her bodyguard. Initially resented … Continue reading July Movie Selection: The Bodyguard (1992) →
I don’t read much M/M romance. However, when HelenKay Dimon announced this series, I knew that I trusted her enough as an author to give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed. The action is fast, often reading like an action adventure movie, men in suits with guns chasing after bad guys & girls. It should be noted I’m half-watching Skyfall as I write this review, so I’m channeling a Daniel Craig style Bond vibe for … Continue reading Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon →
This is the first book I’ve ever read by HelenKay Dimon, so I can’t tell you if it’s a typical book for her, or some new and exciting direction she’s taking her fiction in. A quick glance at Goodreads shows me that she has written quite a lot of books that all seem to be romantic suspense, some with a m/f and others with m/m focus. In this series, Tough Love, we are introduced to … Continue reading Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon →
There was a dark moment in my life recently when I thought maybe I was going to break up with steampunk. We had a good run, steampunk and I, but I read a string of steampunk books that were pretty much identical and thought, “Eh, maybe we should start seeing different people.” I’m pleased to say that The Guns Above has rekindled our relationship by being funny, gritty, realistic, and full of good character development … Continue reading The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis →
Have you ever read a book or watched a show, and after it’s over and someone asks you what you think, all you can do is scrunch your face, hunch your shoulders, and make a sound that sounds something like “Hmnghhhhh?” So they ask you if that means you didn’t like it, you say “Mmmm no…” but when they ask if you did like it, you say “Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm nooo…” And any attempts to properly explain … Continue reading Always a Bridesmaid by Lizzie Shane →
Sometimes you get a celebrity memoir that you can tell is ghostwritten and focus-grouped to death, and it’s as boring as shit. This is not that. Gabourey Sidibe is an American actress, whose first acting role in Precious in 2009 catapulted her into the public eye. She’s a Black woman who is fat, with an African name, and she’s in a business where all of those things work against her. She’s got the personality and the … Continue reading This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe →
First and most obvious: Trigger Warnings. ALL OF THEM. We’re talking about true crime, so we discuss murder, crime, assault, kidnapping, sexual abuse, all of it. So please be safe, both in your brain, and in your life, ok? Amanda and Elyse like true crime in several forms, from podcasts to books to television programs, while I can’t nope hard enough. So we talk about the true crime programs they enjoy, and what they get … Continue reading 254. Reframing History, Crime, and Women – Exploring True Crime Stories with Elyse and Amanda →
The first thing that you should know about this book is that it is YA romance, which I didn’t realize when I signed up for it since it was under the “best first book” category. Abby and Zeke’s ages are never actually given, although their French professor ensures they are both over 17 due to some explicit course content. It is difficult to review it because certain things that are hallmarks of YA don’t work … Continue reading The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt →
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught is $2.99 at Amazon! This is a Kindle Daily Deal and so far, isn’t being price-matched. Some readers had mixed feelings about the ending/epilogue, while others loved the tortured hero. This book was originally published in 1988 and recently received a new cover design. What do you think?
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Yay for another guest review! Let’s welcome Rachel Hope and her review of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. Rachel Hope Cleves is professor of history at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. She specializes in the history of sexuality and is the author of Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America (2014). When not writing the serious stuff, she also likes to write fiction, and has … Continue reading Guest Review: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee →
This book about a marriage of convenience almost works. I enjoyed it the first time through, but it didn’t benefit from a second reading. I usually don’t like modern day marriage of convenience plots. I just don’t find it believable that someone would require their child or grandchild to marry someone to inherit the family corporation or a trust fund. I’m all for suspension of disbelief, but my logical brain balks when it has to … Continue reading Once and For All by Cheryl Etchison →
It’s Wednesday and yesterday was the Fourth of July! For those who had plans, did you have fun? I hope so! I’m currently now on my way to Florida from Boston for a funeral, so this edition of links might be a bit shorter than usual AS I AM EXHAUSTED. … Are you tired of Wonder Woman stuff yet? Clearly, the answer is no. For those who have seen the movie and remember the “sword … Continue reading Links: Dresses, Baths, & Choose Your Own Adventure →
Moonshadow by Thea Harrison is 99c! This is a paranormal romance and the start to a new series, which many readers have recommended in previous comments. Readers loved the witchy heroine, but found the romance bordered on insta-lust. For lovers of this book, tell us what you enjoyed!
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This HaBO is from Chloé, who wants to find the name of a particular series she read recently. Also, potential spoilers for the series ahead: Next, this HABO is dumb, because I literally just read these books a few months ago as a salve after the election, and they obviously didn’t stay with me because I can’t remember the name, but I know a new one is coming out in 2017 and I have to … Continue reading HaBO: Heroine’s Father is Head of Assassin Organization →
Heroine Worship is the second book in a series about people with superpowers in San Francisco. I previously reviewed the first book, Heroine Complex, which followed the journey of Evie Tanaka, who broke out of the shadow of her overbearing friend, Aveda Jupiter, AKA Annie Chang. If you had told me, back when I reviewed Heroine Complex, that I would end up identifying more with the problems of Aveda/Annie, than with Evie, I would have thought … Continue reading Heroine Worship by Sarah Kuhn →
I was both excited and scared to death when it came time to sign up for the RITA Reader Challenge this year so I was more than relieved when I had the chance to choose a book from my favorite genre – romantic suspense. After I looked up the blurb for each offering in the category, I happily selected J.T. Ellison’s Field of Graves because it seemed to have so much catnip for me: a … Continue reading Field of Graves by J. T. Ellison →
Passion Favors the Bold by Theresa Romain is 99c! This is the second book in the Royal Rewards series and Sarah gave it a B:
Rushed and hurried resolutions aside, I still enjoyed so much of this book, and recommend it to anyone who likes thoughtful, character-driven historicals with a bit of mystery and an increasing community of characters not often seen in historicals which surrounds the protagonists.
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