Tuesday 27 January 2015

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

Title; One of the Guys
Author; Lisa Aldin
Source; Netgalley
Publisher; Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date; Feb 10th 2015
Rating; 5*s
Description; Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She'll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she's sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be alady while the guys move on without her.

Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service. 

But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends--the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she's built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love.


Review; What a perfect ending.

Toni Valentine was a perfect character for me. Flawed and uncertain of herself, real.  A tomboy that discovers it is okay to have more than one side of yourself.
I liked every one of Toni's friends , and though I knew the love interest quickly I was happy about because that character was another of my favourites.

The girls within the book were not bitchy. There were no competitions or fighting over boys as there so often is in books of this type. I am so so so glad about that.

Every boy in the book had different personalities and they weren't just 'typical' guys. It made everything more realistic. Gosh I could rave about this book for hours. This book definitely deserves recommendation. This is Lisa Aldin's first title, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Sunday 25 January 2015

dr.a.g by Christopher Logan

Title; Dr.a.g.
Author; Christopher Logan
Source; Netgalley
Publisher; bookthefilm edition
Publication Date; 12th May 2012
Rating; 5*s
Description;Drag has become a diverse form of expression that challenges, entertains, and educates by pushing boundaries, while embracing beauty, comedy and glamour. The performers in this book are evidence of that diversity, captured by some of the top photographers working in today's world.

Review; I love the confidence that men in drag have, they are unafraid to shw who they are, unafraid to show their beautiful selves. I admire that. I really do. In many pictures this book shows that confidence.
This book is also very diverse. Men and women of all colours and cultures are appreciated here and I feel that is very important.
This book is mostly pictures, but I'd still recommend it. Seriously a beautiful book.

For the Love of Cake by Erin Dutton

Title; For the Love of Cake
Author; Erin Dutton
Publisher; Bold Strokes Books
Publication Date; 17th Feb 2015
Source; Netgalley
Rating; 5*s
Description; 
4.0
Maya Vaughn, the hottest young pastry chef to emerge from the reality television machine, enjoys spending time with men and women alike. When she takes a turn as a judge on the very show that launched her career, she expects to find a nice change of scenery and a little diversion.

A late-bloomer at forty-two years old, Shannon Hayes is finally on the precipice of achieving her dreams. She has one shot to prove she can compete with chefs half her age with much more experience. Engaging in a fling with a judge fourteen years her junior would almost certainly kill that chance.

Review; This was my first book by Erin Dutton, but I highly doubt it will be my last. Having been in a major, and I mean major, reading slump lately when I picked up this , though I loved the idea of it, I doubted I would get awfully far. Well I was wrong, I finished the book with in a matter of days and I loved it.
I am a sucker for romance books and so called chick lit, I can't get enough. Now when that romance book is LGBTQIA plus, especially when it involves lady love, well colour me smitten. Of course, I don't just fall for any queer romance. This one however was perfect for me.
I love baking and decorating baked goods. And having recently started a diet, I miss. This book made me nostalgic, it made me want to bake so bad, even though I know I can't. So baking being a part of the book, especially it being centred around a baking comp, well, that just made the book better for me.
The characters were great and the book was an easy read that kept me coming back. I would love to read more about any of these characters and can't wait to read more by this author. Any author that can get me out of a reading slump is a good author in my books. Definitely recommend.