mixed bag of mini reviews…

There's a little bit of everything in this mini reviews round-up! YA/Contemp romance/LGBQT Superheroes/and erotica!


The book, which Sullivan calls The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight meets Bridesmaids, is a dual narrative novel by authors who dated when they were in high school, about a boy and girl who must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears about being virgins forever. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts:
Super cute, realistic depiction of teens and sex.

I loved Sam and Hannah, although their passive personalities and miscommunication's did wear thin at times. But I was very much like both of them as a teen so I got it.

There were a few plot threads (particularly with Pax, a potential love interest for Hannah) that weren't consistent or developed enough to explain some of the characters actions.

A Totally Awkward Love Story wasn't quite the straight up romance I was expecting but it's a very quick read about falling in love, complicated friendships and facing adulthood. Very sex positive for both boys and girls.


When Harper got pregnant at fourteen, her family abandoned her to be a single mother with no support system. She survived the only way she knew how—hard work and determination. Now she is a nurse in her early thirties, and her son Jamie is ready to embark on high school. Harper can finally say they’ve made it. She can’t take all the credit, though.

Dakota Daughtry isn’t family, but when he signed on to be a Big Brother to Jamie, he finally felt at home…

Joining the Big Brother community program was only meant to boost Dakota’s resume while working on his GED. Once he met Jamie and his mother Harper, he finally found a place where he belonged. Years later, Jamie is graduating the program, and his obligation to hang around is over, but he can’t make himself leave. Jamie is more like a son than a little brother now, and Harper…well, he’s been trying to deny his feelings for her all along.

Jamie is thrilled about the blossoming relationship between his mother and Dakota. His birth father Aiden, not so much…

Aiden doesn’t want Harper—he’s too focused on his career for that—but he doesn’t want Dakota to have her either, and he’s willing to play dirty to ruin Harper and Dakota’s chances at becoming a real family. But things get complicated when Aiden starts to develop actual feelings for Harper’s best friend, and a secret is revealed about Dakota’s past that could change everything…

Harper must choose…family or love? Or can she finally have both? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: I liked the premise for this one. Single mom falls for her sons - younger - former babysitter/Big Brother. Very sweet couple but 3rd person pov made the dialogue odd at times and standoffish. Dakota did this…Harper did that…rather than letting the actions and conversations flow easily. There’s also a major cliffie involving Dakota. The romance is a solid HEA though.


A superhero's intern falls in love with a supervillain's apprentice in this star-crossed LGBT YA story from The Book Smugglers.

Here's the thing about being a superhero intern: there's a lot less crime fighting than you think there will be, what with the whole liability issue and the administrative headache of constantly monitoring the Heroic Help Hotline. The most action that Jamie sees happens when he is kidnapped by the supervillain of the week--and then waits for his boss, Captain Superior, to show up and rescue him. Again.

On his most recent nabbing, Jamie gets to meet Tad, Terrorantula's new villainous apprentice. Even though they are supposed to be on opposite sides (or are they?), sparks fly almost immediately. So, when Tad offers to give Jamie much-needed self-defense classes, how could Jamie pass the opportunity to hang out with the coolest (and hottest) guy he knows?

But Tad has a secret--one that threatens the budding relationship between the two teenage sidekicks, and could destroy Captain Superior forever. ~ Goodreads

Thoughts: An adorable –quick read that lovingly pokes a bit of fun at the superhero genre while focusing more on the sidekicks than the heroes. The *real* story about working for heroes and supervillains. Verdict – it isn’t as fun as you would expect. lol But things get mighty interesting when Jamie, who works for Captain Superior, gets a crush on Tad, who works for Terrorantula. Warning – this is really short – 56 pages - so keep that in mind when buying but it was worth it to me. I hope there’s more!


Jeffrey Kuyper was a once-in-a-generation talent and I was his muse.

Jeffrey's death shocked the art world and upended my life. His last portrait is an intimate reminder of our final weeks together. Now it's up for auction and I want it more than anything. When a cold-mannered man in a dark suit outbids me, I'll agree to anything to buy it from him--even a weekend in his bed. ~ Goodreads

Thoughts:
I don't read a lot of erotica but I enjoyed Vanessa North's Blueberry Boys so I decided to give this novella a try. It's a very short story but beautiful, sensual and sweet. <3'd


Victor Benucci and Madeline Falco have a story to tell.
It begins with the death of Vic’s father.
It ends with the murder of Mad’s uncle.

The Hackensack Police Department would very much like to hear it.
But in order to tell their story, Vic and Mad must focus on all the chapters in between.

This is a story about:
1. A coded mission to scatter ashes across New Jersey.
2. The momentous nature of the Palisades in winter.
3. One dormant submarine.
4. Two songs about flowers.
5. Being cool in the traditional sense.
6. Sunsets & ice cream & orchards & graveyards.
7. Simultaneous extreme opposites.
8. A narrow escape from a war-torn country.
9. A story collector.
10. How to listen to someone who does not talk.
11. Falling in love with a painting.
12. Falling in love with a song.
13. Falling in love.
~ Goodreads

My thoughts: OK – so I feel like a loser but I am struggling with this one. I set it aside for now but because I adore the characters I might try to come back to it.

My problem is the dialogue. I just seem to have an aversion to teens that are quirky/precocious and have super life changing, quotable, profound thoughts on everything. Think John Green or David Levithan, If you love their characters then this is the book for you. As I mentioned the characters are fantastic - diverse and original.