Sappho’s Sisters by Berengaria Brown
Purchase: Kindle | Nook
Genre: Lesbian Historical Erotica

My Thoughts:
This story wasn’t what I was hoping for when I purchased it. Thankfully, it was cheap, so I’m not too heartbroken over it. Live and learn, I always say. Well, I lived through this short story and here’s what I learned: Sappho’s Sisters’s is pretty boring fare. Two-dimensional characters, a too-simple angst-free plot, and a mechanical writing style really didn’t do anything for me except disappoint. I had trouble suspending disbelief that a young and sheltered regency miss would know so much about oral sex, fisting, etc. There was also a touch of OK Homo to it that didn’t sit well with me. I know it’s supposed to be an erotic fantasy, but too many things kept pulling me out of the story. In the end, I just didn’t find it very enjoyable or erotic.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Title: A Husband for Margaret
Series:Nebraska Series #2
Author: Ruth Ann Nordin
Publisher: Self-Published
File Size: 151 KB
Print Length: 248 pages
Availability: Smashwords | Print
Genre: Historical Romance

Blurb:
When Margaret Williams posted an ad for a husband, she expected Paul Connealy to arrive, but instead, his older brother, Joseph, came…and he brought four children with him.

FYI:
A Husband for Margaret is a free read from Smashwords and is the second in the author’s Nebraska series. It isn’t necessary to read the first book to understand this one.

My Thoughts:
This was a light, sweet enough read, but I think I would have enjoyed something a bit more substantial and angst-ridden given the characters and their situations. After his brother’s untimely death, a widower with four children offers to marry his brother’s fiancée, a woman his brother met through an ad in the newspaper. This, to me, opens the door to all sorts of possibilities. The story could deal with the hero’s loss of his brother and that of his first wife, of his marrying a total stranger and having to learn to live with and love another woman. It could deal with the heroine and her choice to marry a man she’s never met (something that she accepts all too readily, in my opinion), her struggle to get to know her new husband, etc. All sorts of possibilities are there in that situation – but the author chose instead to focus a little too simply on the two marrying, a comically jealous woman, and a group of busy-body woman who don’t see the heroine as a woman mature enough to care for four rowdy boys. It deals with appearances more than anything, I think. How the townsfolk see the heroine, how she deals with the boys and the jealous woman, the silly plan she concocts to get rid of said woman. The romance between hero and heroine doesn’t develop so much as appears. It wasn’t the focus of the story when it should have been. The husband is barely in the story, and he has little, if any, character development. He seems more a prop than anything. The four boys have more dialogue and interaction with the heroine than he does. In all, I found it too convenient, contrived, and a little too inaccurate when it comes to historical details (1800′s Nebraska with parks, park benches, and kindergarten?). You may enjoy it if you’re looking for a light diversion, but it really wasn’t to my taste.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Title: The Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
File Size: 433 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Availability: Kindle | Print
Genre: Literary Fiction

Blurb:
When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn’t happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing. In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

My Thoughts:
I had high hopes for this one, but I just couldn’t finish it. The pacing was so inconsistent, that I found myself bored and skimming whole pages. What started with impact fizzled too quickly and my attention wandered, ultimately leaving me with a strong sense of detachment – I couldn’t feel anything for the characters or their situation anymore, not even for Susie, the victim of a horrible rape and murder. In the end, I wasn’t willing to keep plodding through it, so I put it down about halfway through. This definitely wasn’t the read for me.

ETA:
Since writing the above review, I have read other reviewers, on Amazon and on Goodreads, who did finish the book and provided spoilers for the ending. I am relieved that I didn’t make it that far because that type of ending would have left me feeling angry and disgusted. I am so glad I didn’t stick around long enough for all that.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Only Words (Max & Skylar #1) by Acer Adamson
Purchase: Smashwords | Kindle Edition
Genre: Gay Contemporary Romance (Short Story)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts:
Usually short romances like this one feel rushed and rather sparse to me, but this one is the exception. Yes, it’s short – only about 20 pages or so, but don’t let that turn you off. I found this tiny, little story to be quite a fun and enjoyable read. As one reviewer has said, it has a very “day in the life” feel to it, which I liked. I got dropped right into the middle of the story and just wanted more! I’m looking forward to reading the second story in the series.

Aidan and Ethan (Seeking Redemption #1) by Cameron Dane
Purchase: Liquid Silver Publishing | Kindle Edition
Genre: Gay Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts:
This was a great read with a measure of angst and drama thrown in. The firefighters were definitely a plus! The writing was good, though I think it faltered a bit during a few of the sex scenes. The plot stalled a little in the middle, but the emotional payoff more than made up for it for me. And did I mention the firefighters? Yummm….firefighters….

Note: This review and its potential comments contain spoilers. If you wish to avoid spoilers, please skip this review. If you’ve already read this book or are a spoiler-loving reader, please feel free to join the discussion.

Title: Love Me
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Buy It: Samhain | Kindle Edition
More Info/Reviews: Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Blurb:

How far does she have to go to get his attention? Another girl’s arms?

Melina Wenham is worried and frustrated. Lately, her boyfriend of six months seems to have lost interest in her. Yes, she knows he’s stressed about his big project at work, but jeez, it seems like he’d rather go solo than have sex with her. Sexy lingerie, a Brazilian…nothing seems to get his attention.

Gavin’s frustrated too. He’s under enough pressure at work, without feeling more from Melina every time he gets home.

Another night, another party, and Gavin is off talking to the boys. Feeling ignored yet again, Melina confides her troubles to an acquaintance, Abby, who suggests shaking him up by flirting with another guy. Hmm. Not a bad idea, except there are no flirt-worthy guys at this party.

Then Abby suggests a different tack – flirt with her.

Could a little girl-on-girl tango be the match that reignites romance with Gavin? There’s only one way to find out…

My Thoughts:

Love Me was a pretty predictable, if not outright boring, read. The heroine, Melina, is rather immature and whiny. She constantly complains that her boyfriend, Gavin, isn’t giving her the attention – in bed and out of it – that she deserves. Gavin is a hard-working, if closed-mouthed, sort. He isn’t known for talking about his feelings, even when he has the time to do so. He’s been working long hours, late nights, and weekends in order to seal an important deal at work – a deal that could mean promotion, more money, and more respect within his company.

When the two attend a party and Gavin goes off with the guys, Melina feels even more neglected. She turns to Abby, another party attendee and an almost complete stranger. This doesn’t stop Melina from pouring out all her problems and frustrations onto Abby. Abby’s solution? Flirt with someone else to make Gavin jealous. Or, better yet, flirt with her! Melina is reluctant at first, but Abby talks her into it. She does such a good job of convincing Melina, who insists that she’s not gay, to play along, that the two quickly find an upstairs bedroom so they can continue their flirting in private.

When Gavin catches them, he doesn’t get angry (well, not for long), he joins in and a great time is had by all. Melina has definitely gotten her boyfriend’s attention now. But even a night of enthusiastic sex doesn’t make Melina feel wanted or loved. The next morning, Melina leaves a note for Gavin and moves out of their apartment. Gavin comes home, finds the note, and spends the rest of the story drinking himself silly. Melina, meanwhile, finally talks to a friend who is quick to set Melina straight on how selfish and immature she’s being. Feeling guilty, Melina goes back home to Gavin. Angst ensues and the two finally talk things out. They get their happy ending complete with airline tickets to an expensive and romantic getaway.

As I said before, this was a predictable read. I don’t think it was badly written, but the plot left me pretty flat. I was unimpressed with Melina, who had the emotional maturity of an 8th grade girl. Gavin, though hard-working and clearly in love with Melina, was still a cardboard cut-out. I couldn’t understand what he saw in Melina, why he loved her so much. When he catches Melina in bed with Abby, he’s hurt and sees Melina’s actions as definite cheating, but he’s (conveniently) so turned on by seeing her with another woman, that he jumps into bed with the two of them anyway. I’m glad this was a free read. I’d hate to think that I’d wasted my money on something like this. There is a sequel, but I think I’ll pass on it.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Title: Something For Santa
Author: A.K.M. Miles
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Purchase: Silver Publishing | Kindle Edition
More Info/Reviews: Goodreads
Genre: Gay Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Derek Campbell is working a couple of jobs to help pay off some debts from his mother’s illness. One job is playing Santa at Martin’s Department Store. On a break he’s alone and lamenting the lack of love in his life and that no one really sees him. A small voice tells him that he sees him. Derek looks down to find an elf beside him. Said elf is in need and Derek helps him out, not knowing that he is going to meet the man of his dreams.

Max Martin is a busy man, CEO of all the Martin’s empire, father to Michael, and in need of help in many areas. Derek steps up to the plate offering help in several of those areas, including one that Max wasn’t aware of. He hadn’t known how badly he needed someone to love him, to make his life whole. There is fun, laughter, romance, jealousy, revenge, heartache, fear, and it’s Christmas, so, a happy ending.

My Thoughts:

Derek Campbell is a sweet and capable young man. Where other men might buckle under the pressure of losing their mother to illness, mounting medical debts, and the stress of working numerous jobs just to get by, Derek smiles, rolls up his sleeves, and does what needs to be done.

Max Martin is a hard-working man struggling to find a balance between his job and his family. He’s a good father and he does his best to make time for his son, but even he admits that he needs help. When the stress finally overwhelms Max, it’s Derek who steps in to lend a hand.

Derek and Max’s story is an easy, sweet, feel-good read with likeable characters, a hint of drama, and a pleasant absence of angst. At about 74 ebook pages, it’s a pretty short read, but it doesn’t feel cramped or rushed. My only quibble would be the epilogue. The story up to the point of the epilogue has a hopeful-for-now feeling, which I liked and felt was the perfect tone for Derek and Max’s building romance, especially given the short amount of time they’ve known each other. I felt as if the epilogue was a bit of a fix-it for something that wasn’t broken to begin with. Even so, it does add that little bit of extra happy that is nice during the holidays. Everyone wants that for Christmas, right?

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars