TW/CW: Sexual assault and harrassment. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a slow burn fantasy romance that (despite the slowness of the romance) takes place over a week. There’s magic and assassinations, but for all its perceived elements of adventure, it was a rather subdued and odd read. If a child is born when the twin moons align in the world of Aerthlan, they are known as Embraced, gifted with a variety … Continue reading How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks →
CW/TW: domestic violence, violence against sex workers, depression, child neglect, and of course, murder, since it’s a murder mystery. I mentioned in my review for Murder on Astor Place, book one in the Gaslight Mystery series, that I tapped out after this book. In this installment, Sarah Brandt is called to what she thinks is a birth, but turns out to be a call to help Agnes, a pregnant mother whose younger sister, Gerda, has just … Continue reading Murder on St. Mark’s Place by Victoria Thompson →
CW/TW: in this book there is child assault, child sexual assault, incest, murder, more murder, and history of sexual assault revealed but not depicted on the page. I described the plot of this book to Elyse, and she, who reads all kinds of things that would scare me sleepless, said, “Holy mother of god. That is a PLOT.” Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Now, I can hear you thinking, “Sarah. Whoa. Why did you read this?” … Continue reading Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson →
We have some more Lightning Reviews! Yay! This time, we have two very different novellas. One is a holiday contemporary romance and the other is steampunk, alternate goodness. Lastly, Carrie reads a book that might appeal to only the biggest of Wuthering Heights fans.
We have a guest review from Lara! Thanks so much, Lara! Lara is a teacher, feminist, knitter and proud co-parent to the greatest three-legged black cat in the southern hemisphere. … CW: There are discussions of child abuse and neglect in this novel. There is also a suicide attempt in the novel. The title is a lie, or rather, it is the lie that Eleanor tells herself. She has retreated (understandably) into a rigid routine … Continue reading Guest Review: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman →
I read Princess of Zamibia because it’s a romance between an African prince and an African American woman, and because it avoids negative stereotypes of African countries. I ended up being triggered and upset and a little bit murderous. Rant ahead. TW for kidnapping and rape. I’m angry, people, and anger is contagious. It’s OK to skip everything ahead. Short version is that the hero in Princess of Zamibia is an asshat. It’s my duty … Continue reading Princess of Zamibia by Delaney Diamond →
CW/TW for mentions of violence, rape, and abuse both in the book and in this review. Phoenix Unbound is a brand new fantasy romance from Grace Draven and the start to a new series. While the world building is fantastic, the pacing greatly affected my reading experience. I also want to warn that I’m going to spoil some elements of this book because some things are integral in discussing my feelings. Also, please keep the … Continue reading Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven →
CW/TW for rape, coercion, child abuse, child murder, and general horribleness of Nazis and WWII. The Paris Seamstress is told in parallel storylines between two women, Estella and her granddaughter Fabienne. Estella escapes Paris prior to the Nazi invasion, bringing with her a sewing machine and not much else. She arrives in New York having newly learned that she is a dual citizen of France and the US because her father was American – but … Continue reading The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester →
At RWA last July, I was at lunch with author Adriana Herrera and we started talking about a book I’d recently read where a heroine flees her abusive husband. Adriana works with victims of domestic violence, and she was worried that most romances don’t accurately portray abusive relationships. The statistics on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in America are grim and unsettling. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men … Continue reading Domestic Violence in Romance →
Much Ado about Magic looks like the perfect beach book. The back cover promises a psychic portrait painter and a “rogue” sea captain. How could I ask for more? Well, I’ll tell you what more I could ask for – a hero who isn’t sexist and the avoidance of racist stereotypes. I made it more or less halfway through (I skimmed a lot) before even the skimming was too much. TW for racism and sexism … Continue reading Much Ado about Magic by Patricia Rice →
TL;DR: this is one of the most hurtful and painfully cruel books I have ever attempted to read. I have serious concerns about readers’ potential experiences with this story, and the harm and hurt it may cause. My notes begin with the following sentence and I stand by it: THIS BOOK IS TOXIC. Please proceed with this review and with this book with extreme caution. TW/CW: fat shaming, disordered eating, and physical and emotional self-harm … Continue reading Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins →
