Month: August 2013

Throwback book – Urban Shaman by Lyn Gala

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7859755 Urban Shaman by Lyn Gala

3.74  average rating  · My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Published April 12th 2010 by Dreamspinner Press

 

 

A few thoughts…I reread this book recently over my staycation (beach vacation was cancelled sadly). I quite like Lyn Gala and there are several of her books I want to re-read. This one just came out at me. I didn’t remember anything about it, just that I gave it a very high rating and remember loving it. I didn’t even read my review before I dove back into the book. I only read my review after I finished reading and it’s very on point for how I still feel about the book.

While I urge everyone to read the full review on the book, which I think covers everything, my thoughts on re-read were as follows. I would still rate this at 4.5 stars easily. I instantly became absorbed in the book once again. At several points all I wanted to do was continue reading. I had forgotten there was little romance, but that suited me just fine. I found Nikolai slightly more annoying this time around and the magical ending to the missing children bothered me more this reading. However, I still found this to be an exceptionally written and paced book. I kept wanting more of Rob and Miguel. I was sorry to see the book end and curious where the characters could go from there.

One reason I really enjoyed the re-read, not just reading a great book, was that I didn’t remember the book while reading. It kept feeling like a fresh, brand new book. I knew I’d read it before but none of the details came to mind when reading so I was free to experience the book all over again as if it were the first time. I loved that, especially having the freedom to not worry. I could trust the book was good and would satisfy.

This was one of the most enjoyable books – re-read or new – that I’ve read in weeks, if not months. I may need to pull this out again in a year or so.  Continue reading →

Wow… has it really been that long?

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I didn’t realize I’d been gone that long. Sorry! Life in August has been busy and hectic and wonderful and shitty. Time has flown by! I’m sorry for not updating the blog, though reading has been sporadic, but I promise to do better soon.

This past month has really been trying. I finished my triathlon and didn’t die. Yay! Though someone did actually die at the race (heart attack on the swim, poor guy) so saying I survived is actually an accomplishment. I placed fourth in my division so there’s something good. My brother did it with me, wonderful man there!

I also found the house of my dreams and submitted an offer. However the sellers rejected it. My realtor thinks they got a much higher (and absurd) offer but it really broke my heart. I’ve been looking for other houses for almost a month and seen nothing like that one. Everyone tells me I’ll find the house of my dreams again but I’m not so sure. Hopefully. It’s an exhausting process and this looking has gone on for 3 months. In 3 months I’ve found 1 house I loved. I really REALLY hope it doesn’t take me another 3 months.

There have been some negative things on the family front, what’s life without a dysfunctional family somewhere in the mix, and I’ve been stressed at how it’s being handled. It’s hard not to jump in and tell people how to handle it (I’m always right of course) and I’ve obsessed about it way too much.

On the reading front I’ve been reading a little, mostly non-m/m which I’ll update soon. I found a series that I am devouring. I mean I’ve listened/read 4 books in the series in about 2 weeks. Part of me wants to save them for running but they’re so good! I’m addicted and can’t quit. I’m going to be REALLY sorry soon when I hit the end of the 7th book, all that’s currently out.

I promise to be back with reviews this week!

 

Review: Birds of a Feather

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Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather by Nicole Kimberling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although Birds of a Feather, book 5 in the series, is the longest book in the series, it’s the least interesting. It feels incomplete and almost like a throw away or unimportant entry, which doesn’t seem to fit with the main characters actually getting married in this installment. It’s hard to describe, but the story feels like more fluff and less actual story. Even the wedding scenes, very few and hurriedly rushed over, feel like filler. There’s no weight to their connection and the mystery is weak at best. It’s nicely written and the characters are as charming as always with several scene stealing newbies, but you could skip this one entirely and not miss anything in the series. Continue reading →

Throwback read…Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story by Ruth Sims

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8489115Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story by Ruth Sims
4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 170 ratings · 58 reviews
Published 2010 by Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
At eighteen Dylan Rutledge has one obsession: music. He believes his destiny is to be the greatest composer of the rapidly approaching twentieth century. Only Laurence Northcliff, a young history master at The Venerable Bede School for Young Gentlemen, believes in Dylan’s talent and encourages his dream, not realizing Dylan is in love with him. But Dylan’s passion and belief in his future come at a high price. They will alienate him from his family and lead him on a rocky path fraught with disappointment, rejection, and devastating loss that kills his dream. A forbidden love could bring the dream back to life and rescue Dylan from despair and bitterness, but does he have the courage to reach out and take it? Will he deny the music that rules his soul?

I can still remember how much I loved this story. Not so much the details per se but just reading the title made me think “god what a great book.” If you haven’t read this…you must! Sims is a phenomenal author.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars Continue reading →