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Confessions of an Ugly Girl (Ugly Girl Series #1)Confessions of an Ugly Girl by Alice Wasser

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally! A book that isn’t about the thinnest, sexiest, and most beautiful people. Is anyone else as bored as I am by this trend in books and movies/television? Heck, I’ve gotten to where I can’t tell actors and actresses apart as they all attempt to look the same. And they are always striving to be the same age. Don’t other ages, shapes, shades, orientations, etc. deserve adventures, love, money, their story told? And don’t get me started about the lack of strong females, having many of them in the same show. Look, I’ve spent my last year reading books by women with female main characters. Once I was convinced of this lack I started seeing how badly our reflections in films, have also been in short supply. Oh, and take a look at the news, no matter what channel you watch. Okay, stepping down from my soap box…

So when I saw this title for free I had to grab it. It was fun and yet had good strong bones of reality. The main character isn’t needing a man. She has a great career with plenty of income to cover all her needs and wants. The job is boring but she likes it. But she would like to meet someone and have romance in her life. Her perception of herself is that she is ugly and fat. Is it her reality that keeping those things from her, or her own self-image?

Then she meets someone who’s picture shows he’s far too handsome for her. He likes her, flirts with her… on the phone. When they meet she finds she has some of her own biases to overcome. I love how well the author expresses this relationship and its growth.

Because the main character is an actuary the book is full of random facts that I feel add a lot to the story.

Oh, and I may as well include that the love interest is a quadriplegic. Now here are some life issues to deal with. This is such an interesting story that I had to grab book two to see what happens next.

Please, if you get the chance, read this book and see how some of the non-rich and famous and gorgeous people find their way to love.

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Misconceptions (It's Complicated)Misconceptions by Erika Land

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Drama. The kind of drama I hate. Drama wrought from jealousy and suspicion. I can’t tell you how often I thought about putting this book down and moving on to another more interesting book. But I was curious to see why the secondary character acted so pitifully ambivalent.

But knowing why brought even more questions. Why, if all that bad stuff happened, could she go to therapy and group sessions and still not tell her partner? Why was she so mean?

This book also had one or more African American lesbians in it. What I found sad was that I just didn’t feel those characteristics were brought up until about halfway through the book. It wasn’t a bad thing. It was just that I assumed we had two characters who were thin, white, and beautiful as most authors think we want to read about. But I, for one, would love to read of ordinary people. People of different colors, different ages. Heck, I spent most of my 66 years reading about the adventures of men. Now that I am reading of diverse women I’d like that pointed out right up front. Kudos for diversity!

But this was a story of what happens when people don’t communicate and let their suspicions and bad emotions lead their lives. I don’t like to be around those kinds of people. I don’t need that kind of drama.

Oh, and another bad thing: cliffhanger. Grrrr! For the jealousy and the cliffhanger I should rate this one star. But for the attempt at diversity and the honest idea that a person can love more than one person at a time (mothers love more than one child!) and for different reasons. But one doesn’t need to be dishonest in it. Communication was what the characters needed to do and to listen to each other.

I can’t decide if I am interested in the next book as I can see more of the emotions reflected in that bonus chapter, just a different character.

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Organization: Declutter: House Cleaning Hacks (Tidying Up House Cleaning Organizing) (Cleaning Reference DIY Projects)Organization: Declutter: House Cleaning Hacks (Tidying Up House Cleaning Organizing) by Hanif Wyatt

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was tucked into Crochet: Knitting: Beginner’s Guide for Crochet (Crochet Sewing Crafts) by Dorothy Smith as a bonus book. I included a bit of a this review on that book. Here’s a bit of what I said:

Yes, this had some good ideas. I especially liked the recipes for household cleaners. Guess, all in all, that was a good idea to include the book here as I was able to read it. Who couldn’t use new housekeeping ideas?

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Crochet: Knitting: Beginner's Guide for Crochet (Crochet Sewing Crafts) (Hobbies DIY Quilting)Crochet: Knitting: Beginner’s Guide for Crochet (Crochet Sewing Crafts) by Dorothy Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Shoot! Darn, this computer without a rechargeable battery! I had nearly finished writing this review when it became unplugged and turned the whole thing off. So let’s see if I can find my way back to this review.

This book promised to be different than the last two books I read on crochet, it said there would be pictures. There were. Just not enough. Since this is for the beginner it should have pictures about the initial loop and foundation chain. The pictures were of swatches of yarn patterns. They were beautiful. Looked like they were done by professionals. Nothing would be more intimidating that seeing those pictures. Better would be pictures of the swatch in progress showing how to hold the hook and move it into the proper places.

This review isn’t finished. But I need to stop writing for the night due to aches and pains from the five-mile walk we just got back from. I will edit and write more here tomorrow. Sorry.

Twenty-four hours later I am ready to attempt this again.

There were all the usual new stitches. No patterns for articles of clothing or anything, Just stitch swatches. Not a bad thing, especially for newbies. But I was hoping for something to make for me. There were new stitches for me to learn, though, so that made me happy.

I would have written this review just as I finished the book, but this one came with two more books. It might have been a good thing if they were more about crochet. But the next one was about housekeeping/organization. Well, for someone with ADD this is a shiny thing that can’t be resisted. So I continued reading/scanning as I went. Yes, this had some good ideas. I especially liked the recipes for household cleaners. And I will copy and paste this part of the review to that book as I already had it. Just hadn’t read it yet. Guess, all in all, that was a good idea to include the book here as I was able to read it. I will keep these books in mind when I am ready for new patterns, new housekeeping ideas… and yes, there was yet another preview.

The preview in the back of the book was Vegan Cookbook. All three of these books need some thought in the title department. Just like the other two books, I already have this book so it was nice to have the chance to see that I will be able to enjoy it later. I wish I were a vegan. I keep trying but I like cheese too much. But it is my aim and I will read this one later and see if it can help me.

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Modern Crochet For Women: 20 Delightful Crochet Projects That Make Your Home The Coziest Place: (Crochet patterns, Crochet books, Crochet for beginners) ... beginner's guide, step-by-step projects)Modern Crochet For Women: 20 Delightful Crochet Projects That Make Your Home The Coziest Place: by Abigail Seiters

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is an example of what most of the free crochet Kindle books are like. There are a lot of patterns and the only picture is the cover. I’m giving this book one extra star, though. Mainly because a few of the titles of the patterns seems to describe the finished product well. Toilet Paper Cover, Pineapple Doily, Kleenex Box Cover. Pretty self-explanatory. In this case, I may try to keep this book handy. Who doesn’t need a cozy for their paper products and a lacy thing to sit under each? Sorry. But just like the books, remember this humor is free. πŸ˜‰

By the way, I object to the title: Modern Crochet for Women. Many men, who are progressive and crafty love to keep a cozy house and love to crochet. Modern and for Women is archaic. And WRONG!

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Modern Crochet For Women 25 Sweet Crochet Projects to Make Your Place Cozy: (tunisian crochet, how to crochet, crochet stitches, tunisian crochet, crochet ... babies,crochet for women, modern crochet)Modern Crochet For Women 25 Sweet Crochet Projects to Make Your Place Cozy: by Amber Nikols

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This is more disappointing than most of the free crochet books I’ve looked at recently. Most of those have patterns but no pictures of finished product or enough pictures of how to do certain stitches. No. This one has fantastically fun pictures of things I’d love to make but there are no patterns. And why are there so many books with the history of crochet? And worst of all–the title: Modern Crochet for Women. What? How modern can it be if it is only for women? There are a lot of men who love crocheting. I wish there was a lower star rating for my disappointment.

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Maximum Ride ForeverMaximum Ride Forever by James Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon Prime isn’t all it’s supposed to be. Okay, I know that has nothing to do with the book at hand, but it affects how I felt as I went into it. You see, when you have Amazon Prime, you can have a family account. How exciting is that? That means we shouldn’t have to replicate purchases. My husband has a normal amount of books in his Kindle collection. The Maximum Ride Forever was a part of it. I tried to borrow it.

Okay, let me back up here. I have a full public library’s amount of Kindle books and I get more every day. With Prime, my poor husband was getting all my books onto his Fire carousel. So he called Amazon and they worked him through a couple fixes (two phone calls). He thought he had it fixed. But as of that moment, his copy of Maximum Ride Forever disappeared from my carousel with only 15% read. After much hassle, we decided to sign him into my Audible so I could listen to it on my tablet. Phooey with the book. So I spent my day listening to the story while I sewed. Not a bad way to read, huh?

Kasey Lee Huizinga does an amazing job as narrator for the story. She encompasses Max’s attitude. She does all the characters with the acting skills that should be on Broadway. BUT…

I just wasn’t thrilled with yet another Maximum Ride book that seemed the same as the last few. Boring! Even in the height of adventure, even with bad things happening left and right, it seemed the same story as last time and the time before. Sure, it was a distraction I was glad to put my non-sewing mind to. Still, I found myself calling out to the room, “Again?” I know. What do I want for a post-apocalyptic world that still had mutants in it? There were a couple surprises but I shall not place a spoiler here if you can read it and be as surprised as I was with each… bad or good surprises.

By the way, I think that listening to Maximum Ride is far better than reading it. Get the Audible version if you can. Just an FYI: the Kindle version is $9.99. Too high for me. But it does have text-to-speech. It may not be as much fun as with Kasey Lee Huizinga, but it could help the story go faster as you drive and listen.

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Sweet Carolina GirlsSweet Carolina Girls by R.E. Bradshaw

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My review is from a first edition, I think, because I can’t seem to find mine on Amazon. So I am posting this on the second edition pages.

Although I finished reading this one a couple days ago, it is still fresh in my mind. Yes, I am late in reviewing. But as I said in the review just before this (Before It Stains) life has had me busy with this project and that. Today I am ignoring those projects to try and catch up on my reviews.

Funny having read Before It Stains before this book. It might work out better in reverse. This story shows how the wrong attitude for a break-up can spoil everyone’s point of view. So I recommend you read this one first. Even if these are not the same characters. And maybe because I have the earlier edition, I think I can see how Decky’s writing has improved.

I have to admit that I get sick and tired of perfect characters in books. It is not just a R.E. Bradshaw thing that the main characters are always slim and beautiful with the perfect shoes and hairdos. But beyond that, the traits of the characters are realistic enough. The situations keep the story feeling real while most make it seem–a story. So I have to admit this wasn’t my favorite book by this author. Still, I think I will remember it as one more cautionary tale.

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Before It StainsBefore It Stains by R.E. Bradshaw

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! am I behind! I finished this book and Sweet Carolina Girls a few days ago and am onto my next books. So sorry to not review this sooner. More sorry to me than you. Because NOW I have to think back to this book and my experiences with it. I blame: Christmas, Snow, sewing projects, crocheting projects, etc., etc.

Luckily this book had some memorable moments for me. I can remember ordering it so long ago (a year?) because I have read other books by ‘Decky’ (R.E. Bradshaw, author). They were mystery/thrillers that just happened to have lesbian main characters. So look at the cover. Before It Stains? Yep, I thought it was about blood on one’s hands, even though the picture shows wine with the wine glass. I don’t like murder mysteries or thrillers because I read these books at bedtime. Well. lucky me! This wasn’t one of those!

Instead, this is about what can go wrong in any relationship. In this case, the main characters are lesbian. But this scenario would go with any romantic relationship. It is a cautionary tale to keep us all loving and forgiving of those we love. I don’t think that counts as a spoiler. I think it helps others who might not have read books about lesbians or gays to be open to expanding their reading horizons.

I love how Decky writes, regardless of who she writes about or the genre the book is in. Her characters are real people in real places, at least, they feel that way. It takes a talent to pull that off. Ms. Bradshaw is that talented!

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Scavengers (Lesbian Adventure Club, #1)Scavengers by Rosalyn Wraight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t read paper books much any more as the font is too small and the lines too close together for my eyes to stay on track. But in small bits I try to get through the tree books I do have. So, though this book is only 90 so pages long, it took me forever to read it. Even so, it kept my interest.

The story is about a group of lesbian couples who get together to go on a scavenger hunt set up by the older couple of the group. That sounds boring, But Ms. Rosalyn Wraight’s writing is so entertaining and the story is very cohesive. There isn’t any erotica but rather it is about the characters and their significant others and how life’s challenges are met by each, not just the game but where the characters are in their lives and how they react to aspects of the game as they do to life. Gee, I’m not doing this justice.

It doesn’t matter if you are straight or any of the rest of the lbgt alphabet, this story is worth the read. Rosalyn know how to write in clever, poetic ways that work in this cute story. Try it, you might like it, too! By the way, the first book is only $.99 and the rest of the series is $2.99 each. I can’t wait to read more of them. Those are the Kindle prices I will go buy with from now on. πŸ˜‰

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