Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Blair

 Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Blair, 137 pages

Regardless of where one might fall on the political spectrum, Ejaculate Responsibly offers insights and suggestions to a post-Roe America.  It's equal parts informative, funny, insightful, and somber.  

Mystery by Jonathan Kellerman

 

Mystery (Alex Delaware #26) by Jonathan Kellerman

The closing of their favorite romantic rendezvous, the Fauborg Hotel in Beverly Hills, is a sad occasion for longtime patrons Alex Delaware and Robin Castagna. And gathering one last time with their fellow faithful habitués for cocktails in the gracious old venue makes for a bittersweet evening. But even more poignant is a striking young woman—alone and enigmatic among the revelers—waiting in vain in elegant attire and dark glasses that do nothing to conceal her melancholy. Alex can’t help wondering what her story is, and whether she’s connected to the silent, black-suited bodyguard lingering outside the hotel.

Two days later, Alex has even more to contemplate when police detective Milo Sturgis comes seeking his psychologist comrade’s insights about a grisly homicide. To Alex’s shock, the brutalized victim is the same beautiful woman whose lonely hours sipping champagne at the Fauborg may have been her last.

But with a mutilated body and no DNA match, she remains as mysterious in death as she seemed in life. And even when a tipster’s sordid revelation finally cracks the case open, the dark secrets that spill out could make Alex and Milo’s best efforts to close this horrific crime not just impossible but fatal.

Kellerman takes you through sooo many suspects and theories before he gets to the truth. It kept me guessing.

Someone You Know by Brian McGilloway

Someone You Know by Brian McGilloway - 384 pages
Lucy Black Series Book 2

Detective Lucy Black of the Derry, Northern Ireland police force is called in when the body of a young girl is found on the railroad tracks north of town.  Black investigates the girl's last hours and discovers that the girl's so called friends may have turned out to be her worst enemies as she uncovers a web of sex, drugs and kidnappings that reach back into the past to rip apart families, including Black's own. 

Perfectly Good White Boy by Carrie Mesrobian

Perfectly Good White Boy by Carrie Mesrobian - 304 pages

Sean's life doesn't seem to be heading in a great direction.  His father has left the family after an incident last spring that caused them to move to a rundown rental house on the outskirts of town.  His girlfriend has just broken up with him before leaving town for college.  And he has no plans for after high school except to maybe join the marines, which his family opposes.  The only bright spot in his life is his new co-worker Neecie who is quickly becoming his best friend.

I enjoyed this book.  It was nice to see the teen characters figure out their lives in a realistic way.  I would suggest it for older teens as it does focus on sex quite a bit and with some detail.

Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs

Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs, 385 pages
(Book 2 in Dark Heroine series)

I think all the built up anticipation for this book over the last year is likely the cause of so much disappointment. The story was well done, but lacked the attraction of the first book in the series. 15 year old seer Autumn Rose is one of the Dark Heroines we read about in the first book. I will admit after meeting her through the eyes of Violet Lee (the main character of the first book), I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about who she was. This book gives us a look into her life (how her grandmother died, what role she plays in the school/Sage/her world) and what part of the prophesy she fills --from her point of view. She is a sage, a duchess no less, who acts as guardian for her public school until the day the Sagean Prince Fallon shows up. Romance, mystery, murder, and secrets follow in the building of the story. The interaction between Prince Fallon and Autumn Rose is not as intense as it was between Voilet Lee and Kaspar... Likely that is because Fallon and Autumn are young teens, but I still think the author could have done more with their story.  I hope the next book in the series is much better than this one. (I had to drag myself through the last 10 chapters). I think I'll hold off on purchasing it until I've borrowed it first.

Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story by Shanna Hogan

Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story by Shanna Hogan, 342 pages

Picture Perfect is a very well written book that tells the story of how Jodi Arias murdered her Mormon lover, Travis Alexander in a very gruesome way.  The author, Shannon Hogan, writes in great detail how the relationship spiraled out of control.  She interviews Travis' closest friends and writes details from the very beginning of their relationship. She even gives us background on Jodi's and Travis' childhoods.  Travis Alexander was an up and coming executive for the Prepaid Legal Group, which is how he came to meet Jodi Arias.  This book describes in great detail how their relationship started innocent enough, but then turned sexual and at many times, perverted.  Jodi was extremely obsessed with Travis and could not let go of him even when she discovered he had been seeing other women.  The author describes in great detail the day of the murder and the day Travis' friends discovered his body.  I had not known that the body had been in the house five days before it was discovered, but what was even more shocking was that he had two roommates that were living with the dead body and did not realize it.  This book covers so much more than the trial and reveals shocking details of Jodi and Travis' twisted and toxic relationship.  This was the best true crime book I have read in a long time.  Also, included in the book are many graphic and disturbing photos.

Masters of Sex by Thomas Maier

Masters of Sex by Thomas Maier- 415 pgs

Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson were pioneers in the area of sex research and conducted this research at Washington University in St. Louis.  By observing thousands of couples in the throes of passion, Masters and Johnson were able to disprove long held beliefs about sex.  Later, they expanded their work to include counseling couples who were having problems in the bedroom.  The pair moved from a research team to a married couple.  The book goes through the work and private life of the couple who brought sex out of the bedroom and into the mainstream.

The Crime of the Century by Dennis L. Breo and William J. Martin

The Crime of the Century by Dennis L. Breo and William J. Martin, 463 pages

Reading this book was a great accomplishment for me.  It was a very graphic and detailed book of one of the most heinous crimes in history. On July 14, 1966, in Chicago, Richard Speck gruesomely sexually assaulted and murdered eight student nurses from South Chicago Community Hospital.  The book details Richard Speck's days before and after the murders.  He had been eyeing the young women's townhouse while looking for work at the National Maritime Union.  This book included many graphic details of the murders.  It was disturbing at times to read how sick he was.  Corazon Amurao, a young Filipino woman, was the only survivor. She  had crawled under a bed and went unseen and witnessed the crimes. During the trial, it was very important to keep her protected and guarded from the public and the press.  The State's Attorney even brought over her mother and cousin to keep her company while in protective custody.  William J. Martin, Assistant State's Attorney and coauthor of this book, was the prosecuting attorney on the case.

There were many details of this case I did not know.  For instance, someone called the police on July 16th to report Richard was seen at a seedy hotel, but it was not until July 17th when he attempted suicide that he was identified as the suspect.  Also, I did not know Richard had been married and had a child.  Richard had been sentenced to death by the electric chair, but the Supreme Court overturned it.  Richard was serving a life sentence when he died of a heart attack in jail at the age of 49.  He never confessed to the crimes.

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke, 354 pages
(Book 1 of Immortal Empire series)

This was a great read and I'm looking forward to finishing the series. Xandra's youngest half sister, Dede, has gone missing and she will do anything to find her. Nevermind that the authorities found a body that her sister and brother agree is Dede. Xandra senses something odd is at foot and starts out on a road that will lead her to startling discoveries about herself and the world she lives in. Xandra is a halfie - half human and half vampire. Vampires rule this world controlled by the Monarchy. Queen Victoria is still alive and kicking - ruling for 175 years now. Goblins, Werewolves and other creatures that go bump in the night are very much real. This is your classic Sci-fi/Fantasy Steampunk novel complete with twists and turns that will keep your head spinning. To say anymore would give too much away. This is a definite - must read for yourself book. It does have language, violence, torture, sex and some pretty graphic parts, but considering you have vampires, werewolves, goblins and humans ... it's kind of hard not to.

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep, 368 pages
Book 2 of Mythos Academy series

I was disappointed in book 2. The retelling of book one took up at least 100 pages of book 2. I found myself wanting to skip ahead because I felt like I was listening to a broken record.  It was really easy to figure out exactly who the "bad guy" was in this book. There really was no suspense and very little action. And the big secret that Logan is trying to keep from Gwen is really ridiculous. There were some good parts, but the bad really brought those down. I really hope the third book is much better. I might just browse it to see who Loki's Champion is and be done with it.

Magic Study, Maria V. Snyder

Magic Study, Maria V. Snyder, 392 pages
(book 2 in the Study series)

With an execution order over her head, Yelena makes her way back home to meet with her past and discover her family before being trained as a wizard by the Counsel. Unfortunately for her, there are many that want her dead including a family member. Once again, staying alive will require Yelena's stealth, wit and magic.  I was thrilled to find her love, Valek, within the pages of this story. Their romance is bittersweet but wonderfully satisfying. The delve into Yelena's past with the introduction of her parents and brother really shine a light on some things I picked up on in the first book. I loved getting a deeper look into what makes Yelena tick. Readers will also discover how Yelena became a victim in book one. Filled with magic, mystery, danger, romance, and a little bit of comedy, this second book in the series does not disappoint.

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep, 336 pages
(book 1 of Mythos series)

Gwen Frost is a gypsy teenager with the gift of touch. Anytime she touches an object or person, she can see, hear and feel everything they've ever felt, seen or said. The gift brings in a little cash for her until one day she inadvertently picks up  her friend's hairbrush and sees more than she has ever wished to see. Shortly after Gwen's mom is killed in an accident  and Gwen is taken from her grandmother's home and sent to Mythos Academy. A special school for those gifted by the gods to fight Loki and the Chaos war he wishes to bring. There Gwen learns all about who she is and what is so special about her long line of ancestors. She will also have to fight for her life because things are not always as they seem at Mythos Academy. The book is your typical teen fiction with teen angst, romance, drama, drinking, sex and drugs ... yet, it's still well done.