“Those days of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless summer night air
Secret moments shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of stillness, soft spoken words
Say, Say it again”
–I Love You Always Forever
Month: January 2016
Depeche Mode
“I don’t want to be tied to anyone’s strings
I’m carefully trying to steer clear of those things
But when I’m asleep, I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me and kiss me tenderly”
–Somebody
BL Miller – Accidental Love
What happens when love is based on deception? Can it survive discovering the truth? Accidental Love is a captivating story between Rose Grayson, a destitute lonely young woman and Veronica Cartwright, head of a vast family empire and extraordinarily rich. A horrific accident brings them together, but will the truth end up tearing them apart?
REVIEW
BL Miller sure knows how to write a dramatic love story. This book has the characteristics of a traditional romance: heroine grows up under unfortunate circumstances due to status, money, broken family, etc. leaving her vulnerable, and a Knight in Shining Armor rides in to save the day. Except, the “Knight” in Accidental Love has a dark secret. You’ll be at the edge of your seat for this one.
This novel is lengthier than most in the genre, and you’ll experience a lot of highs and lows through the past and present of both characters. Financially, the characters are from opposite ends of the spectrum. Veronica’s got the big bucks and Rose hardly has two dimes to rub together. But both have a common history of having people in their lives take advantage of their generosity. This makes the reciprocation of love and affection between Rose and Veronica that much more tender, sweet, and genuine. Accidental Love is a novel that’s emotionally rich and readers experience the depth of feeling from both character from the trials and tribulations they face.
Oh, and I’d like to mention that there’s a cute cat in the novel. Everyone knows that lesbians luuuuurve cats. I can say that because I fit that stereotype to the tee. And don’t even get my started on (byname for cat) jokes. I could literally go on forever. Meeeeee-yowwwww!
The story’s great, the characters are well developed, the sex scenes will make you blush, and there are enough twists in the plot line that will keep you interested from Chapter 1 to Chapter 27. Just make sure your air-conditioner works before you turn the cover to the first page.
SOUNDTRACK
1. Duran Duran – Come Undone
2. Tears for Fears – Head Over Heels
3. REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling
4. Depeche Mode – Somebody
5. 10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night
6. Aerosmith – Amazing
7. Duran Duran – Ordinary World
8. Cranberries – When You’re Gone
9. Madonna – I’ll Remember
10. Chicago – Hard To Say I’m Sorry
11. Journey – Faithfully
12. Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever
CHEERS!
This book would be best read with a….
SHOCK TOP BELGIAN WHITE
Ben Rector
“I am wide-eyed with a penchant for running
But how many times does it take
‘Til I find that I’m lost when I’m alone
And that’s not where I belong”
–When I’m With You
Louisa Wendorff
“Slip your hand down to mine
And show me what it means to try this thing called love
Guide me through this pitch dark maze
And promise me we’ll find a way out”
–Every Little Thing
Eliza Lentzski – Don’t Call Me Hero
It’s been over a year since Cassidy Miller retired from the United States Marine Corps, but try telling that to her nightmares. she knew that coming back after eight years in a war zone wouldn’t be easy, but she’d underestimated the real difficulties of transitioning back to civilian life. War is hell, but the aftermath is endless.
Looking for a fresh start, she’s left her friends and career in Minneapolis to be a police officer in northern Minnesota. It’s in this tiny town of Embarrass where she learns more about Julia Desjardin. The city prosecutor is cool, professional, and untouchable. But she and Cassidy have history, and Cassidy isn’t going to let her easily forget that.
For all their surface differences, Cassidy and Julia have more in common than they first realized- both are reluctant to hand over their pasts to be judged and studied. But it might take someone just as damaged as the other to help each cope with the skeletons in their respective closets.
REVIEW
The beauty of books is the exposure that it gives readers to life experiences that may never be their own. This is the first novel that I’ve read where it features a character with a military background. I have friends that have served (some, still serving) in the military, and the extent of my knowledge is what they feel comfortable sharing with me. What Cassie goes through in adjusting to civilian life seems to mirror a lot of the stories that I’ve heard from soldiers returning from war. Though, I can’t speak for the authenticity of the details or the experience, I can say that this is an important story featuring two complex characters who are both deeply affected by the ravages of war, that find love and comfort with each other. Oh, love.
Cassie and Julia’s first encounter is far from ideal, but the chemistry between the two sizzles from start to finish. This isn’t your average, idealistic fairy-tale and there’s really not a lot of fluff. There’s a gritty intensity to the story, and I would say that it is less about romance than it is about passionate love. If a book could give you bruises by just reading it, Don’t Call Me Hero would be on that list. The main characters challenge each other, fight with each other, and tear through the others’ defenses (and clothes) like their house was on fire.
Also, you’ll want to get your Winter Jacket (har har) out for this one. Julia Desjardin is the epitome of ice queen, and her character remains chilly for a significant portion of the novel. The first time her character showed a bit of warmth… it’s like water to a nomad walking under the blazing sun in the desert for a million years. You might even think it’s a mirage of an oasis. She’s an interesting counterpoint to Cassie, who burns with her desire to do good for her community. They are both driven by justice and want to do right by their people. Their career paths intersect and they learn to work together as a team to bring out the best in each other.
Take heed, this is not a tale for the faint of heart! This is like a tattooed, chain-smoking Disney princess fighting for PETA and saving the world while having a lot of hot sex with her Prince(ss) Charming with a whip in her hand. The die-hard romance in me winced a little reading through this one, but really, I loved every word of it!
SOUNDTRACK
1. Lenachka – Breaking Down
2. Jeff Buckley – Lover You Should’ve Come Over
3. Evanescence – Hello
4. Bootstraps – Haywire
5. Lake Street Dive – Better Than
6. Brandon Flowers – Between Me And You
7. Louise Wendorff – Every Little Thing
8. Sam Smith – Make It To Me
9. Ben Rector – When I’m With You
10. Odessa – I Will Be There
11. Spencer Combs feat. Holley Maher – You Are Mine
CHEERS!
This book would be best read with a….
GLENLIVET 15 YEAR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Passion Pit
“The whole slew blossomed beautifully, and I was beside myself
So I gave in to your love as you rapturously commanded
And this is like I have always dreamed:
Cobblestone and dusty feet
That’s the way it should always be
Head over heels and deftly
Wonderful and healthy”
–Live To Tell The Tale
Sia
“Can you hear my call? Are you coming to get me now?
I’ve been waiting for you to come rescue me.
I need you to hold all of the sadness that I can not
Living inside of me”
–I’m in Here
Kim Pritekel & Alex Ross – Wild: The Wild Will Tame You
When six-year-old Abel Cohen wanders off from her parents’ cabin in the woods of Maine, she is rescued by Zac Lipton, a girl barely older than herself, who knows her way through the trees because they are where she has spent her entire life. That meeting sparks a summer-long friendship filled with laughter, stories, adventures and, of course, spinning.
Fourteen years later they meet again, and after a rocky introduction, strengthen that bond of friendship formed so many years ago. Abel loves introducing Zac to the world she’s barely glimpsed from her overlook in the woods, and Zac, in turn, shares her love of the outdoors. Together they explore not just their surroundings, but their fears, hopes and feelings.
When Abel nears the end of college and her regular trips to the cabin, will she be able to convince Zac to leave her beloved woods and join her in the bustling city of Boston? Or will Zac decide to remain in her comfort zone, hidden behind the branches and tree trunks, safe from the chaos of civilization?
REVIEW
Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawr!
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
If you ever wished to read to a Tarzan-type of story featuring women who love women, swing your way over to Wild: The Wild Will Tame You. This book has been on my “to read” list for awhile, and I just got around to finishing it last night.
Prior to reading les-fic, I spent most of my time in the world of classics and magic realism. It took me a few books to wrap my head around the concept of the “new adult” genre as a sub-category within les-fic. The les-fic that I knew prior to 2013 was just… well… fiction. Judging by book sales and reviews, “new adult” seems to be gaining some dominance in the market. Perhaps, this can be attributed to some of the more recent pivotal changes in our laws and society’s perception of sexuality. Maybe? Well, I’m just glad to see that our stories are diversifying. Variety is the spice of life… and literature.
Wild: The Wild Will Tame You seems to fit very nicely into this “new adult” category. It’s a sweet story about a girl and her not-so-imaginary friend from the forest, and their adventures in luuuuurve.
The story is told from a third person perspective. Wild: The Wild Will Tame You has an interesting narration, since the world is seen and experienced so differently between the two main characters. From the perspective of Zac, the readers see the innocence and the child-like qualities in her thought patterns. She reminded me of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, minus the fork and the scary octopus woman. There’s a wonder and bewilderment in all new things that Abel shows her, and the tentative steps that Zac takes outside of her beloved forest and into city life is steadied by the woman she’s loved all her life. From Abel’s perspective, the world is very much like the world that most of us live in: school, job, cars, vacations, etc. When Zac brings Abel deep into her forest, you can truly sense that it’s a special place that is far from civilization, but unfortunately, not a place where they can continue to grow the love that they have for each other.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I loved it’s message. This book shows its readers that home is not always the place you come from. Home is where the heart is.
SOUNDTRACK
1. Animal Collective – Leaf House
2. Wild Ones – Dim the Lights
3. Active Child – 1999
4. Sia – I’m in Here
5. Scavenger Hunt – Lost
6. Little Daylight – Love Stories
7. On and On – Drifting
8. Betty Who – Missing You
9. Alfred Hall – Someplace Beautiful
10. Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You
11. Feist – Mushaboom
12. Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
13. A Boy and His Kite – Cover Your Tracks
14. Passion Pit – Live To Tell The Tale
CHEERS!
This book would be best served with a….
BLACKBERRY SMASH
-4 blackberries
-8 mint leaves
-1 oz of lemon juice
-1/2 oz of honey
-2 oz of rye whiskey
Muddle all the ingredients together and serve. Blackberries can be substituted with other berries, just make sure it ain’t random berries you find out in the wilderness while camping.
Death Cab for Cutie
“If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy sign
If there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I’ll follow you into the dark”
–I Will Follow You into the Dark
Les Read Out Loud 