I just had to read this after seeing the description. I’ve been reading true crime for over 45 years now, and saw a lot of myself in what was written I just had to read this after seeing the description. I’ve been reading true crime for over 45 years now, and saw a lot of myself in what was written. It makes me a “murderino” too, I suppose. I had a good time reading this and was impressed with all of the effort and thought put into it. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, and the publisher....more
I often find these kinds of books fascinating, where people who do autopsies share some of their more strange or famous cases. I can think of at leastI often find these kinds of books fascinating, where people who do autopsies share some of their more strange or famous cases. I can think of at least 2 TV shows about a similar subject, one where the lead was a male, and one where the lead was a female. I was a fan of both shows. Being curious about death is pretty natural, I believe. This book, by Ryan Blumenthal discusses cases in Africa, which makes it unique from the start. There are a certain number of people killed by large wildlife, insects, lightening, even malaria. There are a wide array of deaths, related by the author in an interesting manner from his early years of his time at that profession. A read on the shorter side for those who are interested in this sort of medicolegal mystery. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Ryan Blumenthal, and the publisher....more
I found this to be an intimate look at the life of Bettie Page. There were thing fans have always wanted to know about the pin-up icon through the yeaI found this to be an intimate look at the life of Bettie Page. There were thing fans have always wanted to know about the pin-up icon through the years, seeing her pictures. She grew in fame yet became ever more reclusive as she aged and felt more insecure about how she looked, so she shunned the spotlight and avoided having pictures taken. Almost everyone has seen pictures of her in yer heyday and wondered about what she’s like and what her life is like after her modeling days, I know I have. Heck, I even share a birthday with her (April 22) although she was born back in 1923 and her modeling career had ended before I was born.
This book is filled with pictures of her and her sister Goldie that Goldie had saved and put away, among other family pictures included and also has letters written to family by Bettie that give insight into the years after her career. Together they form a memoir of Bettie Page that is surprising and a rare look into her life. It details her battles with aging, money struggles, how she was studying in different areas and working to be positive and maintain good health, among other things. I found it interesting to say the least, and enjoyed it. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by #netgalley, author Tori Rodriguez, and the publisher for my fair review.
This is Anni Fife's debut novel and a steamy start it is. I was ready for a change of pace to the non-fiction I've been reading and this was a good chThis is Anni Fife's debut novel and a steamy start it is. I was ready for a change of pace to the non-fiction I've been reading and this was a good choice. Katya Dalca decides she wants no part of a forced marriage by her criminal father when she learns of his plans...and especially not to a Russian drug dealer's son that she especially dislikes. So she runs off to New Orleans with a flash drive of incriminating data about his business dealings as leverage for her future safety from his plans. There she runs into Luke Hunter on an undercover assignment as Michael to get that flash drive, and the sexy crazy hijinks begin. I thought it was quite well written for a first book and it certainly holds one's interest. I look forward to trying another book in this series now. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. ...more
A rom-com type of book, my first by this author. It was a great change of pace from the usual true crime and biographies I usually read. A funny romanA rom-com type of book, my first by this author. It was a great change of pace from the usual true crime and biographies I usually read. A funny romance with some adult language, I enjoyed this thoroughly. Great momentum and sexy tension. Loved the characters and their sassy comeback retorts, very cute. Plenty of playful moments and mess ups trying to win each other along the way. A lovable read that makes me wish to see more by this writer. My thanks to Goodreads and Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. ...more
The first part of a dark and edgy BDSM trilogy that was a fairly quick read about a confused celebutante Fiona who awakens in a mental hospital. BeautThe first part of a dark and edgy BDSM trilogy that was a fairly quick read about a confused celebutante Fiona who awakens in a mental hospital. Beautiful, rich, and entitled but also addicted to drugs, sex, and drama. My first taste of Reiss' style and I found that I was wishing I already had Part 2 (Use) racked and ready to go after I got to the end of Part 1 (Kick). It's unique and leaves me wanting more....more
I got this ARC from Netgalley and Wild Blue Press.
From the previews, I could tell that this book was going to be unusual, and it sure is one heck of aI got this ARC from Netgalley and Wild Blue Press.
From the previews, I could tell that this book was going to be unusual, and it sure is one heck of a journey. The changes happen so fast that it feels like a demolition derby at times. A real life wild ride written by Gil Valle, a NY cop who has a new baby he's crazy about, and is going through a rough patch with his wife, who has moved out for a while as they work on things. He likes his job and is feeling he's becoming good at it, when one one day he is surprised by a bunch of cops as he's getting ready to leave for work. He's taken for questioning about his dirty little secret habit of going onto the Internet and looking at porn while talking about twisted fantasies with others who share his interests. He gets honest with them after seeing they know a lot and to his shock, he's arrested, not for these things he's only thought about and talked about...but for actually kidnapping women and doing horrific things to them that were only fantasies that he'd made up. So they charged him with being part of a conspiracy. This book shows that thought crimes can and do happen and did happen to this ex-cop in 2012. There is graphic adult language. Very eye opening about intellectual crimes....more
**spoiler alert** I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Surfeit Publishing to read and review.
I found Simon Eli Vella's book to be quite **spoiler alert** I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Surfeit Publishing to read and review.
I found Simon Eli Vella's book to be quite brave, funny at times, outrageous at others, yet sad for him through much of it. His situation is a tough one, growing up a sickly boy in Australia with "sinus issues" that leave him an object of ridicule much of the time, while he carries around "hanky" as his shield from the world. An extreme introvert, he enjoys only times where he doesn't have to endure other people and especially having to interact with them by speaking. His best times are spent alone in his room, as he feels he has no friends, no redeeming qualities, and no reason at all to even try in the world. He goes along through life just letting the river of life wash him in whatever direction it will, with the negative consequences that come along. And through much of it, he's got the snarky voice in his head telling him in no uncertain terms what a total wanker he is. It's so ever present that he's even given it a name, Freeman Attenborough, a cross between Freeman Morgan and Richard Attenborough.
He finds that using drugs helps to drown out that voice a bit, so he dives right into drug use, becoming quite an addict and drinker through much of his life. He feels that being blitzed is the only way to get through times where he has to interact with others, to make him less of a non-entity, an unwanted and unlikable waste of air. He doesn't notice much of a downside to the addiction until eventually he's told by a doctor that it's making his impotence worse. It's written in a painfully entertaining way, relating how he goes from one bad situation to the next with little insight for many years. But it left me a bit sad for so much of his life, while inspired by the eventual turnaround. ...more
This was an intense, gut-wrenching read about a hospital in New Orleans, Memorial Hospital, previously known as Baptist, in the days after being hit bThis was an intense, gut-wrenching read about a hospital in New Orleans, Memorial Hospital, previously known as Baptist, in the days after being hit by Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005. Written by Sherri Fink, a physician and reporter spent 6 years investigating and reporting before writing this epic book about what went on after the power went out, and the back up generators failed, and things got harder to contend with. The hospital had not only patients, but doctors, nurses, and other workers, but also many family members and even a bunch of employee and staff's precious pets. The first half deals with the many problems they were hit with, amazing efforts by so many to help and to keep things contained until an evacuation was determined to be necessary. Some of the decisions made regarding how the patients were to be handled came into question when reports of patients being euthanized near the end surfaced later.
The second half of the book deals with the legal issues that came out of it, as some of the caregivers were brought up on charges. It really shows how under=prepared we were and are for storms of this nature, and how things can get out of kilter when people are so exhausted and frightened, and rely on iffy information coming in also.
A very thought provoking piece of work, and winner of many awards A long read, but very worthwhile. Given to me by Goodreads....more
After enjoying the 50 Shades Trilogy, I saw this and decided to give it a read. Its the story of Christian and Anastasia, but told from Christian GreyAfter enjoying the 50 Shades Trilogy, I saw this and decided to give it a read. Its the story of Christian and Anastasia, but told from Christian Grey's perspective. ...more
A different book is this one by Polly Whittaker. An adult read. A memoir that tells of her various rebirths, going from her first normal one and life A different book is this one by Polly Whittaker. An adult read. A memoir that tells of her various rebirths, going from her first normal one and life in London, England, with then the 2nd birth was when she moved to San Francisco and took on the name Polly Pandemonium, began making and selling latex clothes, and throwing fetish parties to make a name for herself and collaborate.
The 3rd birth happened when she had an arc of rainbow stars tattooed on her belly. She becomes Polly Superstar, meets a unicorn and a guru and thought she could change the world.
Many stories about her eventual home and party venue, Mission Control, and lots of the crazy parties there over the coming years, some history of the sexual revolution in the area, and more. ...more
After trying to ignore all the hype, I finally bought the Trilogy. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the story of Christian Grey anAfter trying to ignore all the hype, I finally bought the Trilogy. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele and how they come together. I'm sure by now its been reviewed to death, so I won't bother....more
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