NB:  Review originally posted 20-Dec-2012 on GR but actually read in June 2012 (minor edits made post-import to BL).  In retrospect, this was probably one of my earliest brushes w/ NA-PNR.  Which is kinda surprising, given the publisher.

Genre: PNR

Length: novel

Heat Level/Content: sensual/steamy (??)

Publication Date: May 2011

Publisher: Samhain

Series Info: Secret McQueen #1

BLURB:

I realise that many others liked this book. Some really liked it. So to say that I didn't click with the character of Secret, her background history, or this storyline would be an understatement. For me, there were too many loosey-goosey stuff.

  I won't address the rather vague fated mates concept.

Also, I didn't find Secret particularly "kick-ass", especially given the frequent (and sometimes self-acknowledged) TSTL moments. And due to the number of times that I thought "huh?" or "wtf?" or "oh, fecking kidding me", I think that I finished the book in the hopes that something, anything would save the overall story. Only to get a huge *eyeroll* at the end.

And I got books #1-3 as a gift... *sigh*

Note:  Originally posted on Amazon & GR on 9 Sept 2012 (minor edits made).  Seems fitting that this be the first of my reviews to be removed from GR because unlike later ones, I included an anecdote which makes this book a bit more memorable to me.

For me, a book transcends the ordinary and becomes a classic not so much because the general consensus deems it so, but because there is something about the story which speaks to each reader in a different way every time that it is read (and re-read).  The very first sentence of “A Prayer for Owen Meany” provides the reader with a hint of things to come:

Ambivalent.  That's the word which best describes how I felt at the end of RED by Kate Kinsey, a NTM author.

Part of my ambivalence about RED is that it seemed to try for too much so that the sum of its parts ultimately diluted the individual elements.  So as much as I wanted the "WOW", it didn't quite get there.

But there are many aspects about RED which appealed to me and I snickered at certain banter and asides.  And I particularly loved the various quotes and excerpts at the beginning of each chapter.  (I would never have had BDSM and Ralph Waldo Emerson in the same thought!)  So I would recommend RED to anyone who enjoys suspense mixed with a bit of romance and/or kink.  I look forward to the next book by Ms. Kinsey, a smart and refreshing writer with much promise.  Definitely like her style and philosophy.

First and foremost, RED is not erotica, despite a few erotic moments and the frank and explicit words used to describe sexual activities and events.  I point this out only because some readers may be bothered by such language in books, even if I'm not.

RED is a murder mystery—specifically, a police procedural told from the male protagonist's POV (think James Patterson's Alex Cross series)—about a serial killer whose victims appear to have only one common denominator: the BDSM lifestyle.  (In this sense, the plot loosely reminded me of Evangeline Anderson's “Dangerous Cravings”.)   This revelation creates the opportunity for Tom Hanson to re-connect with Gina Larsen, his former partner and lover, for help in navigating the local BDSM community.  As expected, past feelings are resurrected during the course of the investigation.  I pretty much guessed most of the plot twists but was engaged enough to finish so to learn the how and why.

RED works in an "Introduction to BDSM", pinpointing certain stereotypes, misconceptions and behaviour primarily through the various characters (some better drawn than others), as well as insights into what happened with Tom and Gina in the past.  While I understood the author's intent, I felt that some of the discussions weren't critical to the main goal of solving murders and only served to slow the pace of the book.  Tension would build up with each new lead or twist in the investigation and then deflate as the "action" derailed temporarily to focus on the BDSM aspect.

Lastly, the side plot of the renewed relationship between Tom and Gina further weakened the book for me.  What I assumed was meant to be the pivotal turning point didn't work for me because there wasn't enough before or after it to document and substantiate the change in mindset and resolution of past/current hurdles.  Based on what was provided, I think that I would've more easily accepted Tom and Gina simply resolving past hurts.  As for the end scene... well, I'll have to see if my suspicion is correct.

TECHNICAL: Very well-written.  But odd and single-sentence paragraph structuring impeded smooth reading in many places, especially when the speaker and the actual dialogue were in separate paragraphs.  At times, kept having to pause to confirm which character went with which dialogue.  A final, more aggressive editing pass may have produced a much tighter story.

* ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publisher/the author.

Note: Review originally posted 8-Dec-2012 on Amazon & GR. Minor edits (clean-up) made after import to BL.

Full title: There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History

Recommended but with some caveats...

I had to think long and hard about this one. Based on the cover (so cute!) and age guide of 5+, I was expecting a book a couple of notches above Yolen's "How Do Dinosaurs..." series—specifically for a child who had graduated from "The Land Before Time" and "Ice Age" movies.

However, despite the rhyming verses and illustrations, THERE WERE DINOSAURS EVERYWHERE! is more a pseudo-textbook—very comprehensive and technical in content. Consequently, it seems more appropriate for secondary school children. But it IS a worthwhile investment if your child is fascinated with dinosaurs (or science in general) because s/he can "grow" with the book, understanding more with each re-read over the years.

THE GOOD:

1. Table of Contents which a parent can use to plan in advance which sections to read and when. At 80 pages, this book is not a quick, one-sitting read so the clearly delineated sections are very helpful. In addition, the "Dinosaur Timeline" at the end is a very useful reference but again, the wording and content is more akin to a reference book. Children will require translation of many facts to simpler terms.
   
   
2. Creative rhyming verses, sprinkled with humor here and there (e.g., "But isn't it an awful shame / They couldn't find a better name?"). At times, some verses were a bit awkward/forced so I recommend a practice run or two prior to reading to/with a child.
   
   
3. Wonderful illustrations which are realistic yet modified enough so they shouldn't frighten younger children. (Note: The pictures in my copy were a bit fuzzy but I will attribute that to reviewing a digital ARC.)
   
   
4. Better for afternoon storytime, as opposed to bedtime reading. And in addition to learning about specific dinosaurs and their time period, children will get a general sense of the cycle of life (hopefully).

THE CONCERNS:

1. Disagree with age appropriateness noted as "Reading level: Ages 5 and up", given the concepts, long/difficult dinosaur names (thankfully, the author provides a pronunciation guide), and extensive text. As a fun yet educational book, I feel that it's more suited for middle school ages.
   
   
2. Text is not very kid-friendly, with many technical terms used throughout (e.g., "theropod") in addition to more adult terms (e.g., "fossilized", "fibrous", "methane gas", "flatulent", and "masticate"). Thus, a parent may need to prep in advance and/or have a dictionary handy and be prepared to stop and explain at various points. I had a long and deep fascination with dinosaurs as a youngster so I enjoyed reading this book for my own sake. But because most information had been forgotten (and seeing "Jurassic Park" eons ago doesn't count), even I encountered some rough spots.
   
   
3. Some discretionary censoring may be required. For example, I found "Raptors Always Chewed Their Food" to be humorous but for a young child? It was a bit too descriptive as to how a raptor would eat a human. "The Death of the Dinosaurs" section also could be tricky so maybe hold off reading it until ready for a conversation about asteroids/meteors striking Earth. (As an aside, the pictured asteroid was scarily not drawn to scale—that sucker would've obliterated Earth!) Lastly, while true, I'm not sure how many kids are ready to learn that "The greatest predator of all is YOU".

The only real negative I had? Thought that the "Dinosaur Attack! The Movie" section was unnecessary. Its inclusion and mention of aliens took the focus away from the primary subject of dinosaurs.

* My thanks to the author/publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy.

BEYOND SHAME is a solid ★★★1/2 and a definite recommend! Don't be scared off by mentions of BDSM because there's only a tease of it and it's not critical to the overall story.

Only familiar with the PNR books by Kit Rocha's other persona (Moira Rogers), I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I admit that the blurb made my inner smut sit up and growl. Sure, there was an orgy, a few F/F action, a ménage à quatre, exhibitionism/voyeurism, and a little slap and tickle. But in the end, BEYOND SHAME ended up being a rather sweet, sexy/hot story involving some memorable characters.

Set in a dystopian world struggling to survive in the aftermath of solar storms, the story starts when Noelle is cast out of Eden—literally—for possession/consumption of alcohol and fornication. Expelled with nothing but the clothes on her back, Noelle is the proverbial innocent lamb thrown to the wolves prowling the debauched and depraved Sector slums. Luckily, she's saved by Jasper, a member of the O'Kane gang which controls Sector Four. I actually gave a mental "thumbs up" to the author for foregoing instant sex in favor of building up the sexual tension from their instant attraction.

Raised and trained to be a proper wife (organize/manage a household and host elaborate dinner parties), Noelle plaintively says at one point:

"I don't know what I want. I don't know anything."

Through Noelle's experiences and interactions with various members of the O'Kane "family", as well as the multiple POVs, we realize that they all have a heart of gold underneath their rough and tough exteriors. And each member helps Noelle in some way to get her bearings, gain a little self-esteem, and carve her own niche within the gang. But most of all, Noelle learns to overcome her ingrained shame and embrace her sexual desires within the accepting openness found in Sector Four.

I initially thought that this book was a 4-star shoo-in. But when I started to write my review, the left side of my brain (aka "Party Pooper") suddenly popped up like a petulant child and reminded me of notes and questions taken subconsciously. (E.g., Noelle was sexually curious, but I had difficulties separating that from her more basic condition of being touch-starved due to Eden's tenet that "raising healthy, moral children" necessitated minimizing a child's dependence on tactile affection, even in the form of toys or stuffed animals, as well as the social taboo forbidding unnecessary physical contact.) Because this review is based on an ARC, some of the plot weaknesses I noticed may have been addressed prior to actual publication (ARC had 239pgs while Kindle has 354pgs).

Technical assessment based on the ARC may have ultimately lowered my final rating, but I still thoroughly enjoyed BEYOND SHAME and plan to read the next book in this series. Is it 2013 yet?

* ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of the author, without any obligation to review.