book review | Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness

Author: Jonathan Van Ness
Title: Over the Top
Series: –
Genre: Biography; LGBT literature
Pages: 273
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Since I remember old Queer Eye with nostalgia, announcement of the new crew got me very happy. The fact they turned out to be so passionate about what they do made it all even better. So I’m slowly going through their biographies as I find it. Today I’ve discovered “Over the Top” by Jonathan Van Ness and it was a magical read.

About the Book: Jonathan starts early and tells a tale of life full of love, joy, tragedy, addiction, and illness all the way up to Queer Eye. Power of will, love for life, and an infectious positivity in every, even the very darkest page.

My Opinion: A beautiful and magical soul, inspiring with the tales of beaten struggles, problems solved, and a choice to work for better, authentic life, despite all the odds. I love me a survivor story, but this was more. This was a story of life itself.

A very worthy read, 5 out of 5.

book review | The Capital by A.H. Lee | The Knight and the Necromancer 1

Author: A.H. Lee
Title: The Capital
Series: The Knight and the Necromancer 1
Genre: Fantasy; LGBT Romance
Pages: 222
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

No, my search for necromancer fiction hasn’t ended, why you ask? I’ve finished “The Capital” by A.H. Lee, first in the trilogy by the title of “The Knight and the Necromancer“, and it was truly well written.

About the Book: A country at war, slowly but surely losing due to enemy necromancers deploying already dead soldiers right back into it. It will take drastic measures to survive, let alone win, one cannot rely solely on political unions anymore. So the soon to be queen makes a hard decision and invites an apprentice of one of the most hated necromancers out there, to negotiate…

My Opinion: Been a while since I’ve read such a well written plot. Tidy, interesting, clear, and good. War ridden streets, no glamorizing of the necromancy, slow burn romance, and a very steadily paced rule breaking.

A very solid piece, 4 out of 5. Will read more.

book review | King Slayer by Layla Reyne | Fog City 2

Author: Layla Reyne
Title: King Slayer
Series: Fog City 2
Genre: Romance; Crime
Pages: 195
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Didn’t I say I won’t read book 2 of Fog City? And yet here I am, having read “King Slayer” by Layla Reyne, having needed something not demanding of brain power.

About the Book: Betrayal and dark secrets put a wedge in between Dante and the King of the Madigan criminal empire. Neither can trust the other, it seems, being sword enemies and all. And yet, as threat to the Fog City rises, they have no choice but to work together.

My Opinion: A very overused tale. Vengeance for dead partners, partner’s dark past bubbling up, the no-surprise surprise of who the culprits were and all that.

At least it was short. 2 out of 5.

book review | Prince of Killers by Layla Reyne | Fog City 1

Author: Layla Reyne
Title: Prince of Killers
Series: Fog City 1
Genre: Crime; Action
Pages: 200
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

Eh, wanted something short, so I picked up “Prince of Killers” by Layla Reyne, first in the Fog City series. Sappy criminals and even sappier love story.

About the Book: Someone’s always trying to take the crown of the Prince of Killers, soon to be a king. So this here, new threat, would not have been all that different. Were it not for how the warning about it came to the head of the organization, in a shape of a handsome fella called Dante Perry. He seems to have a lot of sensitive information about a lot of things and is determined to stay nearby and keep that crime throne under whom it belongs to.

My Opinion: I understand the want and even a need to write some mortals into your killers. But there has to be a balance, else you end up with batman on your hands and that’s just not the same. A dull love story didn’t help it either. Not my cup of tea.

Yeah, not for me, I won’t be reading farther. 3 out of 5.

book review | You will get through this night by Daniel Howell

Author: Daniel Howell
Title: You Will Get Through This Night
Series: –
Genre: Nonfiction; Self-Help
Pages: 320
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

I used to watch Daniel Howell on YouTube way back when, but then, for some reason, stopped. Still, I kept up with the majors, like his coming out video that I will post below. And now I’ve also read his wonderful book, called “You Will Get Through This Night“.

About the Book: This book is pretty much all you need for your mental health first aid kid. From cheating and playing your own system, to being better to yourself. From self care at its core, so self grounding when that overthinking thought-thought train derails.

My Opinion: This is like the best parts of all the self-help books I’ve ever read. On top of that, author assures he did his consultation and research, but encourages to seek help if it seems like it’s not enough. There’s little exercises you can totally skip if it gets overwhelming, and very relatable examples from Dan’s life.

I recommend this very much. A 5 out of 5.

book review | Slip and Slide by Patricia Logan | Death and Destruction 3

Author: Patricia Logan
Title: Slip and Slide
Series: Death and Destruction 3
Genre: Crime; LGBT romance
Pages: 352
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

I’ve finished “Slip and Slide” by Patricia Logan, third book in Death and Destruction series and the last I will read.

About the Book: Suspicious accidents in the mines where Evans grew up land the pair there for an investigation. Corrupt officers, strangely functioning coal mine, rural way of life and Evans’s estranged family…

My Opinion: The book consists of fairly dull and sometimes outright passive action, very long inner monologues that offer little to nothing for the characters, and sex where “so hot” is every other word you read. You know, just so you don’t forget how hot these guys are.

Sorry, but this was very dull. 2 out of 5.

book review | Flash and Bang by Patricia Logan | 2

Author: Patricia Logan
Title: Flash and Bang
Series: Death and Destruction 2
Genre: Action literature; LGBT romance
Pages: 347
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

Eh, alright. I’ve finished “Flash and Bang” by Patricia Logan, second book in Death and Destruction series. It was alright.

About the Book: A former marine with a past that comes back to bite him in the ass at the worst possible time. Just as he warmed up to the idea of being in love with his partner, amidst a wild chase of a terrorist cabal. Someone is trying to kill him and by doing so – keep endangering Wolfe, his partner. Time’s ticking and the list of suspects is thinning out…

My Opinion: I don’t enjoy long inner monologues of why the other person is so great and amazing. But the whole action was great, the chases, the explosions, the shooting. It’s half-half kind of situation here.

Book ended on a miniscule cliffhanger, so I’m considering the third book. Even if just to read about family reunion or something. But this one gets a 3 out of 5.

book review | The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter by K.J. Charles | 0.5

Author: K.J. Charles
Title: The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter
Series: Lilywhite Boys 0.5
Genre: Historical Fiction; LGBT Romance
Pages: 59
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

How much action can 59 pages fit? Well, according to “The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter” by K.J. Charles – a lot.

About the Book: A street gang jumps for power by terrorizing those less fortunate, and other “freelancers” as themselves. Pressure, payments, bought debts that grow greater. But Lilywhite boys aren’t easy to push and force into something they don’t feel like doing…

My Opinion: Fights, threats, people flying out the windows, utter chaos and a beautiful love story with a sweet unexpected turn, as, actually, should be expected from K.J.C.

As always, a fantastic book. I’m not even biased over gangsters. Well… Okay, just a little bit. 5 out of 5.

book review | Death and Destruction by Patricia Logan | 1

Author: Patricia Logan
Title: Death and Destruction
Series: Death and Destruction 1
Pages: Crime; LGBT Romance
Pages: 460
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I keep trying to tidy out my home library, so I’ve dusted some more TBR old-timers for the end of the year. This time with some good crime thriller “Death and Destruction” by Patricia Logan.

About the Book: After a long nightmarish work undercover Wolf must go into witness protection program just to survive until one of the most dangerous gangsters gets behind bars for life. An ex marine to guard him, Jared, a man with his own demons to fight. Together they try to survive and not give in to ever growing feelings for one another.

My Opinion: Pretty good, high tension bits were epic, interesting backgrounds, fun time with sniper prep. Could have been more of that and less of relationship clichés.

All in all a very decent book. 4 out of 5 from me, might just read another too.

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book review | Among the Living by Jordan Castillo Price | PsyCop 1

Author: Jordan Castillo Price
Title: Among the Living
Series: PsyCop 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance; LGBT Literature
Pages: 156
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Since there’s less time to read before the holidays hit, I’m on a hunt for shorter books. The first one I found that required some virtual dusting is “Among The Living” by Jordan Castillo Price. Pretty good for the paranormal mystery detective that’s this short.

About the Book: To solve crimes police force uses teams of two. A psychic detective, someone able to communicate with the dead on scene. And regular, someone able to keep cool and match unheard testimonies to evidence. But the new cases leave even someone as strong as Victor – baffled. There’s just no one on the scene to talk to. As if the soul moved on or…

My Opinion: Simple but good, easy to read, with pretty good protagonists. Though I somehow ended up liking the side characters better. They just had more dynamic to them, more story, more substance. Detective itself was nice, a little bit scary, a little bit twisty, just enough to keep you interested in what’s next.

Pretty good, will read more, 4 out of 5.

How’s you with time for books as holidays creep in?