Shut Up and Book Up!

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "But the thing that’s always been most painful? How gorgeous my jackass stepbrother is. Everyone knows it, including him, which is both part of the reason he’s such an asshole, and part of the reason I still let him get away with what he does. He just looks so pretty doing it." - Val Valentina has been fighting and denying her longtime crush on her stepbrother. If only her father hadn't fallen in love with Banon's minotaur mom! Not really, she's very happy for her dad and the love he shares with Marissa. It just makes things awkward for her, even after the events of HS her heart still wants Banon. Distance and ignoring one another hasn't helped to solve anything between the two. The caps about to blow when the two have to come home for the Holidays and be in close proximity to one another. If Val speaks her truth to Banon will this blowup horribly and ruin their combined family? Could Banon even possibly see her in that way or is ...

Book Review 4 out of 5 stars! "It will be the perfect day--all about you and Isaac and your awe-inspiring love story. And no worries if something goes wrong, Aunt Effie will be there to fix it!" - Lavinia Lavinia's home for her best friend's wedding and to enjoy being in a familiar small town! With all the smells, sights, and that home cooking nothing can replace. It was supposed to be a fun little getaway from the city and a relaxing time of catching up with everyone. But things turn sour when a body turns up! One that sparks a domino effect within the town and the two famous already feuding families. Refusing to just sit on her hands Lavinia decides she will do some amateur sleuthing! Uncovering secrets, fishing out the truths within the rumors, and trying to comfort her best friend. Rediscovering her small towns, she grew up in and understanding the adult version of things. Including the nasty side of a family feud and the not so sweet side of funerals and large su...

Book Review 3.5 out of 5 stars! "She may be terrorized by me, but she' supposed to at least be enjoying the holiday season, dammit!" - Seth Ada used to love the holidays until her anxiety overtook everything. Now she stays wrapped up in blankets and cozy sweaters inside her cabin. Running her business of helping others manage their lives and enjoying the holidays. But Ada has a secret Santa who is refusing to let her ignore the festive time of year. From mysterious packages, text messages, and Christmas lights they won't stop! Unsure if this is an overzealous Christmas lover or a creepy stalker Ada is at a loss. Sleep hasn't been helping to ease her mind because it's full of nightmares. Maybe some of the dreams border on darker desires that she should see a therapist about. Will she get a break or will all this break Ada? "How do I go from being her Krampus to her secret Santa? She's never been anything but good. She deserves presents and candy, not p...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost! This very, short story can be read as a standalone but there are some minor spoilers. Personally, I think reading  "Minas" first is best before reading this, since you will understand the world and lore around the characters more. However you choose, happy reading! * * * * "I want this barbarian's wine, sweet and honeyed and forbidden." - Daidalos Minas Zakros has decided to make a move in Zakros' best interest. Little does she know that her power move won't go fully the way she intended. Since Daidalos only prefers the company of men. Whether at sea or on land. . . How can he pledge himself to a woman even if his Minas ordered it?! I was excited to get this little tease into Lykos and Daidalos' newly forming relationship! Having read Minas and see the ending I felt like something was missing in regard to Lykos. In walks in a towering man that has Lykos and I grinning ear to ear stating "Bingo...

Manga Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Though seldom seen, there are certain mysterious lower life forms that seem to differ entirely from everyday plants or animals. People have long feared this strange class of creatures, which have come to be known as Mushi." Ginko is a traveling Mushishi who helps out those who are troubled by Mushi. But unlike other Mushishi he doesn't always kill the Mushi, depending on the case. Some are terrifying and shouldn't be taken lightly while others seem to be able to semi exist alongside humans. There's still so much people don't understand about Mushi, and he aims to uncover more. Teaching those along the way. Supernatural phenomena, mysteries, intense forces of nature, parasitic like Mushi, and more. Ginko will investigate all and try to help anyway he can. "His power defies human understanding. That's the sort of thing that rattles people." I've gotten into anime and manga later in life, not having grown up with ...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "But I do believe something is wrong with this forest. It twists and winds in a way that is unnatural, almost as if it were alive." - Ruth An isolated cabin in the woods holds the last flicker of hope within the dark woods. A raging storm that wraps a dark blanket around the entire area so that you cannot see your own hand in front of your face. Six strangers all running from something find their way to the cabin with a kind, old woman inside eager to offer help. But little do any of them know that they may be walking away from their happily ever after's. We all know the different fairy tales whether Disney, fluffy version or the dark, brother Grimm's traditional tales. Only what if all the stories are a little connected and occur on one night? Will any of them figure out the clues and escape in time? Or will this be their final night. . . "Why would you come into these woods?" Being a millennial, I grew up with the Disney class...

Manga Review 4.5 out of 5 stars! Manga by Takiba Story by Fuuko Minami "I was drawn to your pure, innocent spark." - Aki Aki and Minagi became inseparable in high school along with Sarara. But Aki developed a crush on Minagi and chose to hide his feelings. Both of them had dreams and goals they wanted to achieve, and Aki wasn't going to stand in Minagi's way of becoming a "world class medical expert". After an accident things take a turn and the two have a falling out. Years later Minagi is dragged to Aki's doorstep in need of a place to stay. Neither one's career has taken them that far from the other. They seem to always be close to the other's orbit but slightly out of reach. Until now, when they may be living together?! Will the two be able to work through the past? Does Minagi feel the same way Aki does? Or could this result in the last thing that separates them for good? "I'm just a curious person." - Minagi I love a good BL m...

Book Review 4.5 out of 5 stars! Releasing Oct. 30, 2025 "Not that she couldn't do this on a humid day with cottony clouds and an oncoming sunburn, but there was just something right about lurking through the fog and gloom in pursuit of evil." - Pippa I mean it really helps to set the mood and the tone. Pippa hunts demons by night and works a nine to five by day like a normal adult. But when her target results in a messy and deadly domino effect things bleed over into her day job. . . Doing paperwork, answering emails, and fighting boredom until the clock ticks down was bad enough but now, she has to worry about a couple other things. It was easy to keep that barrier in check between her two worlds until it wasn't. Her life is in jeopardy, the risk for exposure is significantly greater, and she still can't convince the coven to accept her application. Pippa couldn't in good conscience turn her back on Maxim when he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time....