Category: Book Review

The Secret Life of “Pet” Book Review

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Sugar Baby 101, you never talk about the money, hell Pet never did I’m not going to, this is simply the review of a tale of a submissive young woman and a rich guy here or there. “The Secret Life of Pet”, it’s no secret that it is a decent read.

If the first thing that comes to mind is a cartoon and not Hentai then you might as well turn around now. As for everyone else if I have to sum up Isabella Starling’s “Pet” in one word it would have to be awkward, not that it wasn’t sexy, hot, it turned me on but as Madonna put it “like a virgin” so yeah awkward.

Not that original either, “Marco’s Redemption” and “Otherwise Alone” come to mind but like any other writer in this genre, Isabella puts her own spin on it. Think of it as sugar daddy 101 except they never discuss money, and with a name like Sapphire… relax she was a waitress one time and never a stripper, I actually have a cousin named after a jewel. I don’t know whether to compare this to a fairy tale or as I said before, for any guys reading, again this genre is either porn with more talking or Hentai without pictures and for me yeah this seemed animated.

“You’re excited but you don’t really know what the hell you’re doing. And some way, one way or another, it’s over too fast.” Yuri Orlov

I’m sure there are plenty of Sapphire’s out there minus the dark past… hopefully but it just seemed way too easy; there’s another comparison “Fifty Shades of Grey” young woman steps in for a roommate and ends up with powerful men. Men would want to live King’s life and I do mean life… what guy doesn’t want to have money and then have a girl that wants him but money not being the issue, to be honest, it never was between Sapphire and King. It was more their past that is the meat of the story other than them beginning together for the most part although I’m sort of okay with the fact that they glossed over some of that otherwise this would have been even more cringing inducing, and it will be a bit.

I looked up to see in this was Isabella’s first story, seems she built up a following and I haven’t read any more of her stories but this one was not a home run for me. There are pretty big moments but this is a decent story that transformed near the end into, just well, always leave them wanting more but this… always leave them wanting to know what they read and the reason why.

Okay, stop me if you’ve heard this one, poor girl down on her luck, rich guy, sex, bad history, more sex, another bad boy rich guy, climax, happy ending. I suppose these stories are made to make women feel more feminine and since I don’t know any other guys that read these, for me personally yeah I wanted Sapphire/Pet but daddy, protector, doctor; I said most men would want to be King in a way but I’m not most men…
“To call it a dungeon would be an insult. The women I played with came willingly, in more ways than one. It wasn’t a room out of a lame BDSM movie. The equipment was hidden in plain sight, and the room could look as innocent to an observer as it did dirty to someone who knew their shit.’ Isabella Starling, Pet: A Dark Menage Romance

This isn’t a spoiler if not happening this moment somewhere, Sapphire meets King who then names her Pet, his Pet and they begin a sugar baby relationship with elements of BDSM mixed in. We also have Angel/Maria who is the former pet and I will admit she was somewhat a surprise along with the Stranger/Felix that sort of just made me go hmm. Every other character will make you want to punch them in the face for various reasons and then the whole let’s tie this up in a neat little bow, so awfully fast.

As far as the cringe factor, Pet’s past… King, of course, wasn’t what was best but considering everything that happened to her he was pretty much a saint. The finale while a twist does make you think Isabella sort of ran out of ideas or maybe I’m just dense because I didn’t see it coming. For me though the absolute worst was something that happened in the playroom, see these stories let you know where your line is and let’s just say I would never do something like that to any woman, I’ve seen it done but it scares the crap out of me and I’m sure every woman clinched.

This book didn’t make any outlandish promises but even the erotic book club I’m in was disappointed, I can’t stress this enough though, it’s a decent read as long as you don’t have a history with these titles. It should make it easier for men to get, though most won’t pick it up, guys it’s this, disregard females acquire currency.

This ends up being a love story because don’t they always end up that way and I’m glad that a choice was made, albeit an accident, manipulation, and some luck but something had to give. With that being said I’ll give it three stars out of five and not just two, I didn’t hate this book but it didn’t exactly make me think anything other than I’m an old man who wouldn’t mind a sugar baby hanging on to me.

“Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, often violently, just like love.”
― Andrew Davidson, The Gargoyle (2008)

The sex scenes were pretty nice in the beginning but I guess I’m not a fan of the “devil’s three-way” at least not with women that are mine; I leaned more towards King getting back at people for hurting Pet. I also liked those easy relationship moments between King and Pet, and Felix and Pet/Sapphire, the innocence of her seduction, from calling one Master to F to baby it was what really brought out the characters. There are plenty of good quotes that I can’t use (Amazon *sigh*) but the dirty talk is pretty sweet, even if the story is just a decent holding place.

Three stars as Felix and King were rushed near the end… King’s final act just came out of nowhere for me, oh angry guy then, “Father Figure” in a George Michael sort of way to, everything is going to be okay. A woman… barely she’s eighteen, falling in love at first sight, as much as I want to believe it, everyone seems so susceptible to it, maybe that’s just me being a cynic and while this is decent fiction. If this was the first attempt it would be awesome but considering the litany of work, I suppose this was a shout out to Isabella’s fans.

The only reason I picked this one up was to stay in the know and now I know I might not go looking specifically for this author’s books unless I see a free one at some point. There is so much you can do to a pretty Pet but don’t be like King if you see this title, Isabella Starling’s “Pet”, please don’t walk out.

Saved by The “Belle” College Edition “Beauty and the Beast

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It’s alright, okay so it’s actually better than alright, not perfect but I’m probably just that much of a snob when it comes to this sort of thing. Saved by The “Belle” College Edition “Beauty and the Beast not Kelly and Zack but yeah Mr. Morris

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought this, “Blake Morris” it was the first thing that popped into my head at the time. Unlike the actual Saved by the Bell show, this book didn’t suck, if you’re willing to suspend a bit of disbelief in a few ways.

First, this book hits a bit close too close to home personally but that’s a story for another time let’s focus on Skye Warren’s work, shall we. Another way to put home is that Mr. Morris was a soldier once and that fact wasn’t used as a ploy to sell more books *cough* zombies *cough*. Now if the story is supposed to make you somewhat nostalgic for the fairytale classic… a hit and miss in some areas, I wonder have they ever made a non-cartoon parody of Beauty and the Beast, one of those parodies and no I’m not looking it up at the moment.

Now I said suspend disbelief and I’ve seen this more times than I care to but unless the guy is rich, a professional criminal, or a biker boy most of these stories just would not work. I’m not trying to disparage this story but the idea that a poor soldier with scars could pull the young coed… it just doesn’t work that way but yes fiction and all and you have to make the man a beast in some way. Just another difference between the fairytale and this story, the beast was monstrous before his makeover, Blake was a hero that got a bad deal.

If anything it reminded me a bit of Quasimodo, all it would have taken is this song “Heaven’s Light” and I would have lost it, and as Quasimodo, Blake didn’t exactly have the opportunity to change his face. The way that Blake and Erin met though… again there is just no way, I mean adult films aren’t exactly known for story content but the opening to this story was wow.

Another interesting concept is when people bring up the mental health issues in the fairytale the big one of course is Stockholm Syndrome but this story brought up its own illness. The story itself as we all know who read this genre, not exactly inspired but Skye Warren is pretty much well established and she gives you a few surprises here and there as always.

For the most part, we have our heroes dealing with PTSD and broken hearts, I mean as soon as they mentioned military you knew those burns would not be the worst thing for Blake. The first scene between him and Erin in the throes of passion was heartbreaking, again this story hits me in all kinds of ways. The connections though take me back to D H Sidebottom’s “Caged” and “Chained” how Erin dated somebody who is related to somebody, who knows her mom and so on, a bit of family drama to be sure.

Now, of course, stop me if you’ve heard this one, maid and her client, student and teacher, some roleplay and the idea of pity sex and you pretty much have this story. Guys need the visual and girls are apparently all good with the words, with book covers I tend to disagree but the dirty talk in this chapter is downright filthy awesome writing. The end of the book, if anything I think was somewhat light, you know in these titles you expect a pretty ugly fight but everything went off without a hitch, refreshing and eerie.

Anyway me being me, the monstrous looks of Blake, his first days with Erin and her family drama I was fully caught up and I think you will be too. All I can say to gentlemen is what we know all along, women are confusing as all Hell and in all my years I have never met a woman like Erin unless again you have a ton of money, or a uniform but don’t mess up your face.

A four out of five without a doubt and I was oh so tempted to go to five, so yes I think we have established that I’m a snob and even with an author who I’ve read a few stories from. Getting the epilog is a done deal and if you’ve made it this far you know Skye has a pretty hardcore fanbase and this is just one man’s opinion.

Reasons I could not give this five stars… Melinda Jenkins, and Erin’s other paramours, to me they felt somewhat tacked on, every story needs the drama of course but I wasn’t convinced of Melinda’s motivations and as I said, mental health issues. Melinda was obsessed or just another woman upset about a man and it was all too easy to just let go, and the other guys just seemed to be there to show Erin being desirable which beats the Wanderlust idea of every guy being a would be criminal in the making. The parallels between Erin and her mom were there to be in relation to Blake, PTSD and all, also the author was stretching for some climax bring Erin’s ex into the picture for a light scare actually.

I have always enjoyed Skye Warren’s work and introduced Wanderlust to a friend who says it’s one of her favorites and was a bit of her introduction into erotica. I haven’t talked much about Erin’s character but that’s because I relate to Blake without the military background, money, and being cursed with my face, I wonder how many women see themselves as Erin though I know plenty who play Melinda.

“She needed to understand. This was how it would be, him leading and her placid. It was the only way he could worship her properly, because if she spoke a single word, he’d obey.”
― Skye Warren, The Beauty Series

This book in a way reminds me of some of the dating manuals I’ve read just from a woman’s perceptive, unfortunately, that advice is wrong which is why this is a truly awesome work of fiction. I’ve learned that authors can also make somewhat nice parodies and not just adult films but Saved by the Bell wasn’t high school or college really and this story surely won’t be your typical Beauty and the Beast fairytale.

Becoming Alpha 5 Ay-Yi-Yi NOT

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My apologies to Alpha 5, for being a character from “Power Rangers” I find him so much more Alpha than anything you’ll find in this book. If this is the 4th Edition really I can’t even imagine the first three *shudders* and maybe I just don’t want to but I’m reviewing this so let’s go.

The advice in “BECOMING Alpha to The Core” isn’t anything that you can’t hear from the everyday man and at times seems to fly in the face of a lot of much better books I’ve read. Not that there isn’t the tiniest bit of merit here and there the only problem is there is nothing new about this and it actually reinforces a lot of Hollywood stereotypes. I often read about how these women’s magazines continue to promote how women aren’t good enough and need to look this way and do this or that to attract a man, after reading this book, ladies I feel you really.

This has got to be a cash grab of some sort, though in full transparency I received a free copy for an honest review which is great because if I had to pay for this in all my dealings with Amazon this is the second time I’d want my money back. To reiterate and oh yeah I’m going to be doing a lot of that just like the author does, you don’t need to purchase this as some secret to getting women… confidence and money, that’s about it. At times Rick Johnson sounds like any millionaire, saying “I got there, why can’t you” trust me when I write a book I hope it’s not some scam to talk men out of their money and not into some girl’s pants, I actually know a pimp here or there with more respectability.

Respectability, heart, and balls, this book was written with almost no feeling, other authors may be harsh and/or sympathetic with their advice, this would be instruction manual is cold and lifeless and I’m sure if it wasn’t shorter I might have given up. Was there some way to save this title, with the advice portion, don’t think so but with the format maybe given time.

I’m by no means an English scholar… wait until you read my book but anyway it’s terribly sad when I know it’s not my Kindle screwing things up, no it’s just garbage editing. The author also doesn’t look to have faith in their own drivel, how much time did he spend hyping pills, diets, yes I would spend time trying to sell my own books if I was actually writing well to any degree really.

This biggest cluster of errors is in “Chapter 9: Examples of Alpha Males: Reel and Real Life” I swear the author just repeats the bios of the same people over and over, did nobody read through this at all editing wise? Also, I want to know is English, Rick Johnson’s first language (no I hate Trump) this writing was just ridiculous you know how people have to say “The Big Game” because of all the money football makes, it was just so dumb what the author was trying to say. Again there was no real feeling or original thought given to this work, and I really want to say he tried but just no way.

“I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong, I’m going to defend it.” Cameron Frye – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

See now doesn’t that say something to you, those words alone make me want to get up and do something and I’ll agree we all can’t be so strong, personally I take meds to fight my anxiety what I don’t do is write a whole book about them; okay maybe I’m being unfair, wasn’t the whole book. Between the insipid advice, take this pill, go on this diet, seriously women cannot be so complicated as one of my friends tells me, give her food and she’s happy. Why is this a 4th edition anyway, does he know he’s screwing up because he’s definitely not learning anything new and if these are these results then sorry to say the entire project should be scrapped I think.

There is just no excuse for bad editing in this day and age, as I was telling a friend, I’m editing now, I got Grammarly so when I finish I’ll actually pay for it and edit again, I have friends, and then I’ll pay for more professional editing. Also, as much crap as I talk about my own work once it’s out there I’m going to defend it, not just plaster a smile on my face and hope to make a quick buck rehashing the same old concepts and ideas.

Two stars, one for just putting it out there and a second for the slightest reminders; I’ve only ever stopped reading two books my entire life and one of those was considered a classic, I feel sort of bad that I actually finished this book. If you’re looking for advice, as the author did, there are plenty of things that can be of far more use than reading this book.

“Do you truly feel that others will appreciate and regard you when you are not man enough to state what you truly think and to do what you truly need to do? Obviously, they won’t.”
― Rick Johnson, Dating: Becoming Alpha To The Core 4th

Maybe the author was only writing for himself but if that was the case… yeah, I saw the price and again I would have never looked up this title myself after much better reading. It’s these snippets of wisdom though that are keeping me from clicking just that one star. Probably the worst thing about this title though was other books do the same, they knock you down and then build you up, make you want to get out there, this book just made me really sad and put me back in that place of, if you don’t go to the gym she won’t love you, if you don’t have money she won’t love you, and yeah if you whine about your emotions that’s great… personal experience, I know that’s not true in the slightest.

“You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can’t do somethin’ themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. If you want somethin’, go get it. Period.” Christopher Gardner “The Pursuit of Happyness”

If you’re looking for real advice, look up Roosh V, now he is a lot of things and most of them I don’t like but the guy is honest and he tells you how it is, yeah not everybody is going to like you, a woman don’t want to give you the time of day, kick rocks, you want her, go get, confidence, always with the confidence. “The Manual: What Women Want and How to Give It to Them” by W. Anton is my bible, that is a billion times better that Becoming Alpha, the book will inspire you, now sure making money is awesome, working out, making moves, all aspirations but there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be pounding the pavement or some girl because you think you need more money, you need a better car, or anything else, confidence and be the man you are. Becoming Alpha is Hollywood, you have to be somebody else, women must be earned, no women must be valued but how often do I hear women talk about “trophies” and everything else.

What I learned from reading Rick Johnson’s book is, for the love of everything don’t write like that, have original thoughts, and don’t screw people over if you’ve got knowing of value, a book is not a slot machine. Two stars, just doing it and highlights, will probably never read this author again now if you’ll excuse me I need to go take some anxiety pills but not Phenibut unless I can get that for free at some point too.

My Two Weeks Notice… NOT

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Maybe I’ve just always wanted to say that because I hate my job so much but really it didn’t take me that long to finish the book after the somewhat slow start. Speaking of things, I’ve always wanted to say or should say, “Notice” is pretty awesome, I would say it hits a little bit close to home but that’s just it, the difference between the guy I am and the guy others would make me out to be honestly.

Perhaps slow isn’t the right way to put the beginning considering this is a love at first sight type of read and I’ve always been an avid believer in that. Also I’ll admit that the whole office setting changed my “pornographic passions” for a few days, until that lady in the parking lot but this is about K. Webster’s story and not mine. As usual there was that touch of feminism to be found, and considering my mother raised a gentleman to a certain degree I felt really bad for Violet in her roll which changed quite suddenly with Grayson.

Now Grayson, talk about a character I could relate to, daddy issues, obsession, insane in the membrane as the song goes, etc. On the other hand, he just goes to show you why this stuff only works if you’re rich or your love interest is equally crazy and the airs that we have to put on just to make it in this insane world. As I said relatable but I’ve never broken into some woman’s place or hacked her Facebook account or texted on her own phone, what about the dozens of other things he did that I can’t say because that crazy is blocked from most reviews half the time *cough* Amazon *cough*.

In two weeks Grayson and Violet would never be the same and honestly I really wish it did work like that, I think Christian Grey took longer with Ana, oh yeah I noticed that parallel job wise. So is it my job to recommend this book, better than my day job except I’m not getting paid but of course I have my reasons why here.

Probably one of the biggest would have to be that they actually dealt with mental illness; I know I said in a review before these books often make overtly sexual types look crazy but this title actually had PTSD, hoarding, stalking the whole nine yards. As far as plot goes… you’ve read one, you’ve read them all, bad boy, girl, courtship, conflict, and a happy ending that you will never see outside of a soft core adult movie.

You have our “hero” Grayson, veteran, businessman, and renowned stalker, not that Violet doesn’t have her share of issues, mommy drama, ex pimp, and I am woman hear me roar, breaking through the glass ceiling, all men are chauvinistic pigs, attitude. It would be interesting to know how Grayson’s mom and Gwen got started with their issues, anybody with those man issues has to have something wrong with them. The obsession though… I wish some girls I know could read this, having a few pictures isn’t bad, texting or asking to be friends isn’t so bad is it, but the things Grayson did?

Other than the love affair, here’s a question… if “Bull” Jeff, truly cared about his friend, how did he let Grayson sleep on the state of the company for six years, seriously I got girlfriends who would ask me, what I think about women or how am I at being a functional adult. Why does evil always rev up the IQ, I mean Vaughn, you can’t keep track of one woman and suddenly you have a stable, and subordinates, and you can’t find somebody until they’re front page news, I can find certain girls in less than five minutes that I haven’t seen in five years. Violet though, sick puppy that she was, if some girl would let me get away with that sort of stuff and the fact is she knew, that was a sore spot for me, women that know this sort of stuff is going on and then oh all is forgiven and she didn’t even take twenty-four hours to just think…

We’re all mad here as they say plus the ending more than made up for it, I wish I could say I saw the twist coming but I didn’t though it just shows the madness is in genetics. The sex… plenty of dirty tell but not so much show but I did mention, ladies will be breaking out the pencil skirts and flirty blouses and if you’re a guy, you’ll be bending your girl over a desk and looking for some of those naughty librarian glasses; where is my mind.

I’ll give Notice a four out of five, a part of me wants to be petty and say three because this book hit me at a personal level but it’s a solid four without a doubt. There’s plenty to like and dislike but in the end it is a love at first sight type of thing or maybe you should give it just two weeks.

It even has humor, that misdirect with Gwen, I don’t want to spoil it but that was some darn good writing because everyone had to be thinking the exact same thing. Once you get through the military aspect and the plan, there won’t be a heart attack moment, you know exactly what’s coming, that is until you get to that “what’s in the box” moment, talk about resolution. The ending was my favorite moment just because of my own life, that and one moment between Grayson and Violet… two words “I’m Yours” which was perfect.

Things I took from this story other than the lesson of if you’re rich you can get away with anything… expect the unexpected and really what is more unexpected than love. This also makes me a hypocrite because you have one side saying love just happens and the other saying, if you want something go get it and that was Grayson and Vaughn one hundred percent, while Violet was just there. Lastly why is it that we all have that type we focus on, Grayson saw Violet and that was it, Violet likes these obsessive types, and personally I like brunettes I mean a lot.

So four out of five, perfect twist, predictable outcome, more telling than showing, the whole men bad, women good but hey I know what I signed up for. If you’ll excuse me I’m going to go organize my own little portfolio, and find something to obsess over that walks on two legs but yeah my dog is pretty great too.

Some Things Can’t Be Erased

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“I don’t always like… the things that I like,”
― Erased: A Dark Romantic Thriller

So I liked this but I can’t help but wonder about the people that like this, especially the women. I wouldn’t change a word but how blurry that line must have been for the author. Some stories play jump rope with it, some do their best to fade it and for others the line isn’t there at all, my favorite.

I guess that makes the Halloran Asylum the perfect place for this story, and the whole dime a dozen aspect, or maybe I’m reading far too into this; in my experience most women wouldn’t cater to this, not out loud anyway. Maybe that’s what this book makes me think about the movie “Sucker Punch”, I don’t want to give too much away but yeah the bad guys, I mean the really bad guys don’t get to have their way with the heroine. See even now I believe I should have to talk to a shrink about these desires but why, feelings like this are natural or the characters seem to think so all the way.

“Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But chains and whips
Excite me” S&M, Rihanna

“Erased” doesn’t exactly cross the line, it seems to show the line of erotica and “reality” or at least in a way I’m reminded like in any movie this is all fiction and should not be duplicated… which parts though hmm? That’s where it gets blurry, on one hand I compared this to a movie on the other this could just as easily be ripped from any headline; news flash, our heroine is also a reporter. Now on a personal level I would have liked to see more from the villains and from Marla’s interactions, another reason I’m reading the bonus epilogue for this and the prequel, decent freebies really.

Seriously though why is this sort of stuff looked at as crazy, dirty for sure, hot as Hell definitely, makes you feel wrong somehow but talk about our influences. As though I can influence you to read this book and I’m talking to the ladies here, because being a straight guy with massive experience across the internet I doubt most guys would but should I give it a shot?

“You’re a natural submissive, and I want to work with that.”
Erased: A Dark Romantic Thriller

It’s a weird case with most women, how can Marla be so badass on one hand and then in the next so submissive, this is sort of the essence of BDSM. Now guys I could recommend “Kojin Taxi”, “Shusaku” pretty much anything in the Harem genre though you shouldn’t expect a lot of sex scenes from random beauties, I really hope you like Marla though.

Except that name… sorry just personally preference, but I’ve come up with some strange names but stop me if you’ve heard this, girl gets kidnapped, girl and bad boy hook up, everybody gets what’s coming to them in the end. I’m not spoiling anything if you read this genre that’s the common story thread and then I have to ask why don’t men and women watch this sort of stuff together. Truthfully it’s more a BDSM story than a prisoner story which just makes the setting all the more perfect because it’s treated as though it’s crazy for Marla, Gabriel, and Halloran to feel the way they do.

Which leads me back to the guys, you know what separates a guy like Halloran from, such and such guy in Nevada… consent, you don’t have to imagine this just go Nevada and you can find the same thing, guys losing money to spend time with beautiful women. I like this story, I really do but maybe for women it’s a fantasy and for guys that talk about or even consider it, quite possibly it’s just primal nature. There are a few things that will make you feel bad, maybe because you’ll like it or a touch a feminism but again, these stories are marked toward women.

Myself… I only got into the genre because of “Fifty Shades of Grey” and before that I studied the Marquis de Sade but to have someone actually say like in “Erased” that some of these things can actually be okay… For the fellas if missionary and maybe an occasional happy ending is all you’ve been taught then, this book will actually be a great read.

“Someday you and I are going to have to work out a safeword,” he says. “Because in our world, sometimes people say ‘stop’ and don’t mean it.”
― Sansa Rayne, Erased: A Dark Romantic Thriller

Being a guy of course I know plenty of girls and we sometimes talk about my latest read that might turn into their latest read but I’m actually more into putting let’s say words into action. With these words, I think I’ll give them a four out of five… yes I’m that hard to please or am I a snob?

For example, I know one woman who would be all for this except for being on the receiving end, she likes the whips and the bondage as long as she’s doing the whipping, so I think this book wouldn’t be anything new to her. Another one will talk about being spanked, choked, and even tied up but gets nervous if a guy gets close, she would read this with gusto though because it’s a different world sexually for her truthfully. How I got into this myself… that’s a story I’ll have to write someday but as for this book in general, I actually know an erotica reading group, so recommended.

“We live in a weird and random universe, people.”
― Erased: A Dark Romantic Thriller

So what didn’t I like… I asked this somewhere before but you can never have too much sex and I suppose the author didn’t want to overwhelm the reader but wait to you see my story. I honestly wish and maybe I’m a bad guy but if the other bad guys had taken their turns with Marla that would have been pretty interesting. Also that Iris tidbit was a bit of a snooze, yes I get it, Gabriel is good and everyone else is bad, didn’t necessarily have to drive another nail through her coffin.

All in all, four stars, easily earned, not as many quotable thoughts but there is always something and I am somewhat enticed to read a bit more from Sansa Rayne, did I mention the free epilogue and prequel? What did I learn from this, that again I’m not sick, that adult anime can take novel form, and straitjackets sort of creep me out but then again worked for Sucker Punch.

Beyond Ruin… Not This Series

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“They only love us when we’re perfect.”
― Beyond Ruin

This one was far from but that’s not the writers fault, that’s merely me being a heterosexual guy, with somewhat traditional values, wait did I really just say that. Let me say something else, that this story was a tremendous addition to the series despite what the title may imply.

Now what I didn’t like, I should say didn’t like right, it wasn’t that I was driven into a hate filled rage or anything just stuff I personally would have rather skipped; first and foremost, would be the Mad and Dylan hookups. As I said before I’m a straight guy that reads erotic novels, so I’ve read enough to sort of expect these things, but yeah I’ll stick to the M/F but I heard someone say once, as long as there’s a naked chick in the room it’s not gay… couldn’t give me that huh Kit. Secondly when I say traditional I’m all for an orgy but there is a level of intimacy, of love that I think should be shared with two people, that’s why this and Beyond Jealously, weren’t my favorites in the series but all the sex was awesome, besides the Mad and Dylan mashups of course.

As for the story as a whole, I’ve been out of the loop for quite some time but I knew what to expect and I’m already jonesing for the next book in the series, a benefit of being away. Another benefit of the Beyond Series, you know exactly what’s going to happen, Kit Rocha, tells us in the first few pages you’re only looking for the motivations. I usually don’t like books that are so predictable but that is part of the Beyond Series charm and dare I say the entire genre maybe, and yes I’m looking at you billionaires.

This one was a shot rather than a cup of tea but trust me there’s not enough alcohol in the world to open me up about doing some of this stuff but I’ve always wondered, do women get turned on by the idea of two men? Now opening up about this book, that’s something I’m more than willing to talk about and I’ll try not to spoil much but of course you’ve been warned okay.

“The thing that would hold them together in tough times and bring them back when they’d fought with one another. It would shelter them, give them strength, show the world what they meant to each other. Love.”
― Beyond Ruin

First we of course have the usual set up of lovers, Dylan, Mad, Scarlet, Jade/Jyoti and the set up for the next book Hawk and Jeni which I found downright cute. Maybe that’s not the right word for dystopian romance but what else would I say about other parts of this book, I’m weirded out, awesome, pretty hot and sexy.

You love her
But she loves him
And he loves somebody else
You just can’t win
And so it goes
‘Til the day you die
This thing they call love
It’s gonna make you cry
J. Geils Band, Love Stinks

Maybe it’s a bit too much to ask to be everything to somebody, I heard somewhere that, your heart and soul can belong to one person and your genitalia can travel and the O’Kanes know plenty about this. There’s also that touch of romance, as I said I’m a sucker for that one and only sweetness and when you’re not losing yourself to the sex, the way Lex hangs onto Dallas or how Hawk feels about Jeni and those moments between just Dylan and Jade or Mad and Scarlet, or Jade, Scarlet, and Mad, were incredible. Yes, that’s one of my favorite things, that just because this novel focuses on the main four-way, doesn’t mean that everyone else just disappears.

Well if you’re not counting death, just saying if anyone was attached to Colby and Scott… didn’t think so, which is probably another downside, trust me I know about the qualms about killing off characters but the series has lasted so long that if something were to happen to any of the O’Kanes… Speaking of which we’re at war now, which everyone knew was coming but at least it wasn’t stretched out like The Walking Dead right. There were a few surprises in Beyond Ruin but what thing that will never change, is at some level it will always be the man’s fault of course.

I can give away the ending because it’s always happy at least as far as the lovers are concerned, everyone loves a happy ending, though I’ve read an author here or there that actually had the guts for a tear jerker. Is that what’s coming next, I hope not but as for this book, there’s love, there’s war and as this is currently marketed to women… I’ve seen the Facebook page, there is female empowerment.

“Before he took Jeni to bed, he had to learn everything he could about what she wanted and needed. Because when he took Jeni to bed, he had to be ready to convince her to stay there.” ― Beyond Ruin

This is probably what I like most about these books, I would figure, women see themselves as the heroines or even the victims but honestly this shows me the type of man I want to be, maybe Roosh V would be impressed, confident, dominating, alpha. Who would I recommend this book to, well I have bought copies for two quite different friends both women so…

My favorite parts, other than when the four became pairs of two, would actually have to be the meetings among the sector leaders, I think other than Beyond Control and whenever Lili got to town this one showed even more of how the leaders have control, maybe I just like the idea of power. This is also why I couldn’t relate to any of the female heroines this time, maybe Cerys has a point, because my favorites are Noelle, Emma, and Lili; does that make me a bad person because I’m into submission and Emma is an artist of course. I was surprised with Jade/Jyoti, if one character stood out in particular, but my favorite scene with her was when she and Dylan were alone or when she took power actually which was pretty great.

As for my friends, one hasn’t read it but she’s all into BDSM so she would probably get off on the powerful women seeing she’s more of a top than a bottom. Female empowerment to be had, the one who has read it probably didn’t get past the first few chapters, these books are more for people who not only own their sexuality but embrace it and celebrate it, for it being dystopia and a bit violent at times this series is all about love, life, and did I mention all the sex. Is there such a thing as too much sex, I mean you know what you’re getting into when you pick something like this up right, but still you need to be ready.

“This is what it means to be an O’Kane. No fantasy off-limits if it gets everyone off.”
― Beyond Ruin

So because I did in a way I’ll give it four stars, I don’t think I have to explain anymore what’s keeping me from pushing that fifth star but there are plenty of people I don’t want to watch have sex or read about but I’m all for it honestly. There is plenty of educational opportunities and quotes for anyone willing to give this a read, O’Kane for life indeed.

I am Sleepless Because Of This Story

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“War, war never changes” Fallout Series

While our enemies do, our reasons, our methods, and everything else may, the concept of war I believe is universal, tale as old as time. “I am Sleepless: Sim 299” carries on in that tradition, though to be fair this book was more of a learning experience both in who the real enemy is and the all-around ideology of why we fight and how.

As what seems to be the norm, humanity is its own worst enemy, but we also have the Splicers and a wild array of creatures, which was interesting for the author to put together but also perhaps a bit lazy. The reason of course needs no real explanation… our continued existence and the stakes don’t get much higher than that, also the idea of the splicers and those in power gives rise to the idea of who the real monsters are. This of course leads us to the Primes and the Prime Initiative, if anyone remembers the television series Dark Angel or X-Men’s Genosha or anything with child soldiers or slaves, this is a somewhat new twist on the genre.

Remember I said this is a learning experience because there is so much to keep track of, what soldiers have what powers, strengths and weaknesses, and what animal got such attributes but there is a glossary in the back for the Primes. The plot keeps you going quite steadily but isn’t as complicated as the Primes themselves when you’re trying to keep up with the course of any one battle and it would have been helpful to know what the Splicers could do which several of the characters bring up as well. The world is flushed out well and I rather enjoyed some of the character motivations which I suppose will become even more complex with the next story but again this one was awesome.

While I won’t exactly call the concept original the story itself is actually quite creative in a lackadaisical sort of way, again the animals and the powers I’d like to know how long the author spent coming to what made the final cut. Speaking of final cut if I had one real problem and maybe this was just a computer glitch with my Kindle, none of the pictures ever showed up besides the cover but let me focus more on the ideas that did show.

“I have come to believe that there is no escape from war. The only solution is to control it.”
― Johan Twiss, I AM SLEEPLESS: Sim 299

As I said all too familiar which the author acknowledges along with several others, 1992’s TOYS, Ender’s Game, Divergent, The Hunger Games, another let the children lead us or children save the world type of deal. Besides not seeing the pictures there isn’t much I can say on the negative, that’s not to say there aren’t any faults.

Aiden and his coterie, his makeshift family and friends are all brought to life quite well and the bits of romance that the author did allow are thoughtful. The idea that the Meks (how long did that name take) subconsciously sabotage all their tech so only they can use it, like Hephaestus and his maze by comparison. The sim, and the pit remind me of Ender’s Game and if you’re up for a good riddle and a hell of a fight this will get you going, some head scratching there.

Now the names are laughable, maybe those were the pictures, I don’t know but I’m reading through and it’s like seriously Batmonkeys, Hippophants, Wolfstags, did some kid dream these up or is it an episode of Power Rangers. Another common idea in these stories is that having to prove you’re the chosen one, if there were two people before Aiden, did they not have some sort of test to prove themselves and why not or if so what makes Aiden different, yes I get the whole three thing (get used to seeing three a lot). There is also Director Tuskin, ever heard the expression, dumbest smart guy, his character just seemed, unhinged and I mean not the character’s insanity but from the book itself as if it couldn’t be agreed upon what he was truly doing with himself, okay mysterious but really counting on the sequel there to learn more.

Most people will appreciate the familiar spin and the twist, and the book has a habit of repeating itself because of the learning curve. If you don’t like the teen trend though and you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, yeah this book is more a sugar treat than a steak, for the record.

“I guess I have a face that only a blind woman could love,”
― Johan Twiss, I AM SLEEPLESS: Sim 299

I can’t say it was love but enough to put the sequel on my list; I liked this book plenty. If I was going to recommend this book to anyone; plenty of people would enjoy it but if we’re looking for a special breed…

I probably shouldn’t say this but I’ll say the tiniest bit of peer pressure to bump it up to four stars, I would honestly give it three for plot, character development, and actually caring when I went a day without reading it. There were too many problems in my case to say four directly and I can’t say I know the author’s other works but this book has loads of potential and much like Aiden’s friends I look to Johan Twiss and ask, what’s next. Can’t say I would have immediately sought this book out on my own but I’m glad I gave it a shot and the fact that I want more is praise enough or so I thought.

If you think Ender’s Game is one of the greatest things ever then this book will definitely be worth your time. If you’re a kid at heart with a touch of mad scientist in you, plus it helps if you’re into super soldiers that have plenty of flaws, then this is pretty good indeed. It could be that you just enjoy reading about futuristic wars and such, a bit of a space oddity (yes you read that right) then get ready for a bit of an adventure without a doubt.

As I said, personally a three out of five but I have a heart and shouldn’t we all for anyone that gives so much thought and energy into such an endeavor. For the record if I had to choose a class for myself I’d go either Mek or Lug, I like building things but on the other hand Lugs, well I’ll just keep my hands full so I don’t have to speak to anyone really.

Sim 299