NB: We have a doozy of a book rant this Saturday, but after spending some quality time with family members, we might all be in need of letting out a little aggression. The Ladies of Missalonghi also sounds like a pretty good candidate for an intense hate read. This particular book rant comes from author Marian Perera. Marian Perera lived in Sri Lanka, Dubai and Texas before settling in Toronto (for now), where she runs … Continue reading Book Rant: The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough →
Previously: All sorts of shit. Trigger warning for sexual assault at the end of the episode. In the yard at Nampara, D takes in the laundry and Jud comes in to talk to Ross. D eyes them darkly, and Ross tells her that Jud brought a proposal from Trencrom. D asks him if Ross will never learn, and Ross is like, no, probably not. D reminds him that he’s standing trial for the whole smuggling … Continue reading Poldark 2.07 →
TW: discussion of rape and sexual assault I’ve felt like I’ve had a vitamin deficiency for the past few months, and I finally realized what I needed to correct it. I needed crazysauce. I needed banana-crackers. Luckily, two people came to my aid to recommend something. Ellen DeGeneres took Michelle Obama to CVS to help re-introduce her to civilian life, and they stopped by the bookshelf, and pulled Lady Pirate off the shelf. Michelle was dubious, … Continue reading Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands →
Squee from the Keeper Shelf is a new feature wherein we share why we love the books we love, specifically the stories which are permanent residents of our Keeper shelves. Despite flaws, despite changes in age and perspective, despite the passage of time, we love particular books beyond reason, and the only thing better than re-reading them is telling other people about them. At length. If you’d like to submit your reasons for loving and … Continue reading Keeper Shelf: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen →
TW for descriptions of emotional and physical abuse. You ever have the sense when you’re reading a book in a series and think, “Oh, boy am I missing something here?” It’s even more disconcerting when you know you’ve read the other books in the series (or related series, as the case may be) but can’t remember much other than, “Uh…this seems familiar?” That’s what reading this book was like. The primary story – the perfect debutante … Continue reading The Rebel Heir by Elizabeth Michels →
TW: discussion of rape within the plot and within the book. Double-Souls is an odd little book that I liked very much despite some factors that bothered me. It’s a fantasy romance with paranormal and steampunk elements about a person who is “double souled.” One soul falls in love with a woman and one with a man. This means that the book has elements of a m/f romance, elements of an m/m romance, and elements … Continue reading Double-Souls by Devin Harnois →
Signs of Attraction is about two college students who have very different histories and experiences with hearing loss. When Reed notices Carli struggling in class, he befriends her and introduces her to his Deaf friends. Carli and Reed quickly become a couple, but Carli’s struggles to accept her hearing loss might undo everything. The main characters have not only different levels of hearing loss but also different family histories and means of coping. Reed is … Continue reading Signs of Attraction by Laura Brown →
Ransom Canyon is the first in the new series set in Crossroads, Texas. Even though it’s not my usual thing, I liked this book. It focuses on five people individually, two couples and one ex-convict. The conversations and inner thoughts came across as authentic, and if I ever have a cattle-rustling problem, I know what to do. This book is sweet, and non-explicit. The characters have some major back story, but the romances themselves were … Continue reading Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas →
(Trigger warning for rape that’s supposed to be romantic) Let’s rap a bit about rape! When is rape ever okay as a romantic fantasy? The way you answer this question will largely determine how you feel about Say My Name. You might guess by my grade how I feel about it. Old Skool romances in the 1970s and 80s were rife with sexual assault for a variety of reasons, as nicely summed up by Candy … Continue reading Say My Name by J. Kenner →
I just…I still…What the hell was this book? The trigger warnings alone…I had to take notes as I went so I wouldn’t miss any. Check out this list: child abuse (emotional and physical) drug addiction mental illness emotionally toxic parent child death mentions of child sexual abuse memories of marital rape attempted suicide/suicidal tendencies fat shaming slut shaming The thing is…only half of these were relevant to either the plot or the development of the … Continue reading The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak →
This is a second chance romance with a very dark backstory and a pretty yummy beta hero. Trigger warning for spousal abuse and rape. Sally Ryland is a widow who owns and runs Ryland Riding outside of Caribou Crossing, British Columbia. She was married for several years about seven years ago. She and her late husband bought and built the place, and Sally has maintained the business in the years since his death through incredibly hard work, a gift … Continue reading Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox →
