Leigh Kramer

Some Like It Scandalous (The Gilded Age Girls Club #2) by Maya Rodale {review}

Genre: Historical Romance

 

My Review - 5 Stars

For as much as I love discussing beauty and skincare, I know very little about the history of cosmetics. Some Like It Scandalous provides a crash course on the history of complexion balm and makeup, thanks to budding entrepeneur and scientist Daisy.

Daisy has no interest in marriage and is solely focused on figuring out how to bring her complexion balm, based on an old family recipe and tweaked thanks to her background in chemistry, to market. Her plans are foiled when her mother joins forces with the father of her childhood bully and demands she wed Theo before disaster falls on her father’s business. Theo, on the other hand, is embroiled in the latest scandal and his father has decided he will marry or be cut off.

I love enemies-to-lovers plots and Daisy has valid reasons for hating Theo, even if he’s befuddled by her reaction to him. They decide to join forces and fake an engagement in order to buy time. And in the meantime, Daisy gets to start selling her complexion balm while Theo puts his marketing genius to good use, which also gives him purpose for the first time. In the process, they get to know one another and truly see and understand the other person, versus the image they’ve both presented to the world.

This series just plain works for me. The women go hard after their dreams and they don’t have to compromise their career for the sake of love. I’ve read some criticisms that Theo’s character is under drawn but I didn’t feel that way or if I did notice it, it didn’t bother me. I really liked Theo and Daisy together and how perfectly they complemented one another.

Plus, the Gilded Age continues to fascinate me. I look forward to where this series goes next!

CW: bullying, financial fraud, abortion for side character

 

Synopsis

They are sworn enemies… 

Theodore Prescott the Third, one of Manhattan’s Rogues of Millionaire Row, has really done it this time. The only way to survive his most recent, unspeakably outrageous scandal is marry someone respectable. Someone sensible. Someone like Daisy Swan. Of all the girls in Gilded Age Manhattan, it had to be her.

Pretending to be lovers... 

Daisy Swan has plans and they do not involve a loveless marriage with anyone. But when a devastating family secret threatens to destroy her standing in society, suddenly a fake engagement with Theo is just the thing to make all her dreams come true.

And now it’s time to kiss and make up… 

Daisy Swan aspires to sell cosmetics that she has created, but this brainy scientist needs a smooth talking charmer’s flair for words and eye for beauty to make it a success. Before long, Daisy and Theo are trading kisses. And secrets. And discovering that despite appearances, they might be the perfect couple after all.

 

Buy the book (includes affiliate links):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice

Home Field Advantage (Milwaukee Dragons #3) by Liz Lincoln {review}

Genre: Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance

 

My Review - 5 Stars

The Milwaukee Dragons series is my kind of sports romance. It’s not afraid to examine the negative sides of the industry, which makes the stories that much more compelling. Case in point: Home Field Advantage.

Dragons reporter Natalie dated football star Quinn back in college before ghosting him. He’s never known why and he’s carrying quite the grudge after she wrote an article a few years later laying out his alcoholism. Now Quinn is making a comeback and on the Dragons, meaning he’s back in Natalie’s orbit.

Natalie’s career frustrations were really relatable, especially when the boss she idolized for years has turned out to not be the person Natalie thought she was. She also wrestles with the article she wrote about Quinn, knowing she maintained journalistic integrity and that it helped save him from the path he was on but still feeling guilty nonetheless. I really enjoyed seeing her interview the players and figure out what stories to develop and that the story did not shy away from showing how sexism impacts her work.

Quinn was such a compelling character. Not only is he looking for a comeback on his new team, he’s in recovery for alcoholism, as well as thinking about how many more years he might have left in football. I commend Liz Lincoln for the way she wrote about his recovery. He’s doing the work! We get to see him in therapy and using different coping skills. While I’ve never worked in addiction and recovery, it felt like a very authentic portrayal. I also very much appreciated that he’s two years in to his recovery and so starting a relationship won’t compromise the work he’s done. I’ve read a couple of books this past year with characters in recovery who were not treated with as much care and whose author made plot choices that would harm their recovery. That made this all the more refreshing to read.

Neither Natalie or Quinn want to be around the other person and yet their path keeps crossing until there’s no denying their old chemistry never went away. I thoroughly enjoyed their evolution from exes to friends to finally friends with benefits. Finding out why Natalie left him all those years ago is a big moment and really highlighted how the deck could be stacked against them. It’s clear neither of them want to recognize something more is going on and they have valid reasons for being skittish. But there’s so much satisfaction in watching them give in to their feelings and work through their concerns and fears.

I simply adore this series and I’m really hoping Matt’s story will be next because I’m dying to know what happened to break him and Celia apart. Plus, I am fascinated by what the Center for TBI Research is doing and want to learn more about the important CTE research happening.

CW: alcoholism, recovery, references to hospitalization due to seizures, toxic family members, sexism

 

Synopsis

Is the Dragons’ new wide receiver: A) a fallen NFL star looking for a comeback, B) the sexy player your boss wants you to write an exposé on, or C) the former love of your life?

For Milwaukee Dragons beat reporter Natalie Griffith, he’s clearly D) all of the above. Three years ago, Natalie’s bombshell report on her ex-boyfriend’s off-the-field scandals landed her the job she loves, but she still feels guilty about destroying his career. Now Quinn Lowry’s back, and he’s taking over her locker room, flashing his charming smile and reminding her exactly how hot they were together.

After two years out of the league, Quinn is sober and on the field again. He’s worked his ass off and he’s not going to blow his second chance, not even for the woman who broke his heart—twice. Having Natalie around is the last thing Quinn needs while he’s trying to prove he deserves to stay on the team.

Maybe one final night together will give them both some much-needed closure. But with Natalie’s boss pressuring her for another headline-grabbing scoop, can she admit to herself that she’s falling for Quinn all over again?

 

Buy the book:

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.

Trashed (Eastside Brewery #2) by Mia Hopkins {review}

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

My Review - 5 Stars

Thirsty was one of my favorite romances of 2018 and I’ve been quite eager to read Sal’s brother’s story. Trashed exceeded my expectations! I know male POV can be hit or miss for people but Mia Hopkins absolutely nails it.

Eddie is newly out of prison after serving 5 years when he encounters Carmen crying in the garden. They have a hot encounter before she takes off and while he can’t stop thinking about her, he doesn’t expect to see her again until they have a disastrous encounter at Eddie’s new job. He’s had a tough time finding his feet again and he’s trying to figure out who he is, as well as who he wants to be. Plus, the specter of his gang East Side Hollenbeck still looms. He has scars from being shot the night that sent him to prison and got tattoos in prison to disguise them. This became his armor and now he wears it whether he wants to or not, which has implications for his future and for his ability to separate himself from the gang.

Eddie is a romantic, even if he doesn’t admit it, and this made me fall for him. He was a player before he went away to prison but that’s not really who he is anymore at age 23. He worries he’s awkward and deep down he wants a relationship like what Sal and Vanessa have. But he’s also not sure what he has to offer someone like Carmen, who is practical at her core.

Eddie is reckless and impulsive and he can still live up to his old nickname Trouble. But he’s a good man, no matter how he’s struggled post-prison. He’s so hopeful and naive concerning his father. Dreamer Rosas is presumed dead but Eddie refused to believe it and much of the plot involves him trying to track down his father and what ensues. This broke my heart and I was quite worried about what would happen whether or not he found his dad but the way this played out was excellent.

Chef Carmen was a perfect foil for Eddie. She had a big crush on him growing up but he never noticed her. Well, he certainly notices her now! Carmen is stuck between her parents’ overly high (and inherently sexist) expectations and her own dreams. No one thinks Eddie is good for her but she believes in him and this kind of belief is transformative.

We also get some great glimpses of Sal and Vanessa, as well as see the next moves for Eastside Beer. If that’s not enough, this story explores class and gentrification in some nuanced ways. Plus, the continued insights into prison life and parole are much appreciated. I love when authors are able to explore these issues and do it well. Hopkins has done her research and it shows. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

CW: gang culture, shooting, violence, alcoholism, casual drug use, addiction and recovery, grief, reference to death of loved ones by car accident, reference to past domestic violence

 

Synopsis

He burns for her. Lucky for him, she likes to play with fire. . .

My name is Eddie Rosas, but everyone calls me Trouble. Since I got out of prison six months ago, I’ve had one goal: find my father, whatever the cost. My older brother says I need to move on. He also wants me to leave our gang, East Side Hollenbeck, and go straight, but I can’t—not until I uncover the truth about our family and its missing piece.

One problem? I’m distracted. My distraction’s name is Carmen Centeno. Smart, passionate, and tough as hell, Carmen is a woman from the neighborhood who’s built her career as one of the city’s top chefs. She’s a master of creating pleasure both in and out of bed. But when our connection deepens, how can I show her I’m not the trash everyone says I am?

The pressure’s rising. Carmen deserves a man she can depend on. And when the ghosts of my past rise up, I’ll have to outsmart them—or lose my shot at a future with the only woman who believes in me.

 

Buy the book:

Amazon (affiliate link) | Barnes & Noble

 

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Sissy by Jacob Tobia {review}

Genre: Memoir

 

My Review - 5 Stars

Powerful and equal parts moving and funny, Sissy skillfully breaks down the gender binary and our understanding of what it means to be trans.

Tobia shows the importance of moving beyond the “usual trans story,” which is often packaged for cis consumption and does not always honor the trans community. This is illustrated through sharing their own story of understanding their sexuality and then their gender. Tobia discusses the ways they experienced gender-based trauma, some due to limited information and understanding while they were growing up and some due to transphobia. But what takes this book further is Tobia’s assertion we have all experienced gender-based trauma due to the patriarchy. This is a timely message and I hope people will take it to heart. It’s so important to be able to own your identity and express yourself the way you want to and for us not to be beholden to the limitations of gender stereotypes.

I was very moved by the way Tobia shared the things they will never get over, the ways they were marginalized and excluded, and why there are things we shouldn’t, in fact, get over. I hadn’t thought about it in that light before but I was nodding my head in agreement when they wrote: "I will not get over these things. I will never be quiet about them. I will go down screaming, wailing, and shaking my cane to the very last breath. A goddess never forgets...And if acknowledging, loudly and without shame, all the ways the world has been cruel to me and so many others makes me a sore loser, then so be it. I'll be the most glamorous, well-adorned sore loser you've ever seen.” What a statement for the world.

Tobia can be a bit heavy-handed with the gay/queer stereotypes. Not all LGBTQ people like glitter and flowers, for instance. But overall this is a marvelous memoir and I'm so glad I read it. I'm reviewing this as a cishet woman and as always, I encourage you to seek out reviews by trans and nonbinary reviewers.

CW: homophobia, transphobia

 

Synopsis

A heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and giggle-inducing memoir about what it's like to grow up not sure if you're (a) a boy, (b) a girl, (c) something in between, or (d) all of the above. 

"When the political reality facing this country seems dark, we need shinier, sparklier thinkers in the public eye. With a signature style matched only by their wit, Jacob fits that bill perfectly." --Alan Cumming

From the moment a doctor in Raleigh, North Carolina, put "male" on Jacob Tobia's birth certificate, everything went wrong. Alongside "male" came many other, far less neutral words: words that carried expectations about who Jacob was and who Jacob should be, words like "masculine" and "aggressive" and "cargo shorts" and "SPORTS!"

Naturally sensitive, playful, creative, and glitter-obsessed, as a child Jacob was given the label "sissy." In the two decades that followed, "sissy" joined forces with "gay," "trans," "nonbinary," and "too-queer-to-function" to become a source of pride and, today, a rallying cry for a much-needed gender revolution. Through revisiting their childhood and calling out the stereotypes that each of us have faced, Jacob invites us to rethink what we know about gender and offers a bold blueprint for a healed world--one free from gender-based trauma and bursting with trans-inclusive feminism.

From Jacob's Methodist childhood and the hallowed halls of Duke University to the portrait-laden parlors of the White House, Sissy takes you on a gender odyssey you won't soon forget. Writing with the fierce honesty, wildly irreverent humor, and wrenching vulnerability that have made them a media sensation, Jacob shatters the long-held notion that people are easily sortable into "men" and "women." Sissy guarantees that you'll never think about gender--both other people's people's and your own--the same way again. 

 

Buy the book:

Amazon (affiliate link) | Barnes & Noble

Glitterland by Alexis Hall {review}

Genre: Contemporary Romance, MM Romance

 

My Review - 5 Stars

CW: depression (bipolar), reference to past suicide attempt

How does Alexis Hall get me every time?! SO SO GOOD. I always go very cautiously into books featuring characters dealing with depression or who have a history of suicidal ideation because it’s so easy to get it wrong or to stigmatize. But Ash was handled with such compassion and grace. Enough time has passed since his suicide attempt for him to reasonably start a relationship, even if he’s not ready to admit that’s what is happening between him and Darian. He’s not off the hook for his non-depression-related behavior but he’s also shown dealing with anxiety and managing his medication and figuring out how to keep the depression at bay. He’s such a snobby grump of a man and he could be quite unfairly mean to Darian. There were times I certainly wanted to shake some sense into him. But we also see what he’s overcome and we also get to see him make his way toward happiness. The arc of his growth was stunning and lovely.

Darian was just a delight of a character. Hall excels at giving his characters distinct voices and this is certainly on display with Darian’s Essex accent. However, we get such a strong sense of his upbeat, sweet personality too. He’s so good for Ash and while I wasn’t always sure the opposite was true, I really did like them together in the end. Their dynamic cracked me up!

Funny, moving, utterly compelling. This was a story to savor and that’s exactly what I did.

Additional CW: fatshaming (which is not countered), reference to being abandoned by mother as a child, homophobic slur, mental health stigma/shaming (which is countered)

 

Synopsis

The universe is a glitterball I hold in the palm of my hand.

Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on love, hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people’s expectations.

Then a chance encounter at a stag party throws him into the arms of Essex boy Darian Taylor, an aspiring model who lives in a world of hair gel, fake tans, and fashion shows. By his own admission, Darian isn’t the crispest lettuce in the fridge, but he cooks a mean cottage pie and makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it’s like to step beyond the boundaries of anxiety.

But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can’t see past the glitter to the light. Can a man who doesn’t trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can a man who doesn’t believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

 

Buy the book:

Amazon (affiliate link) | Barnes & Noble