Comic Book Tuesday #16: Monstress #5 by Marjorie M. Liu

Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Series: Monstress (Single Issues) #5
Genre: Comic Book, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: April 13th 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Maika struggles with the monster inside.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley and Image Comics in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way.

I really, really loved this installment of the story. When the previous issue ended, we got to meet a new character, and the present timeline picks up right after that moment. The reader also gets to learn more about Maika's past and about her growing up. We also learn how she and Tuya, the other girl on the cover, became friends.

This issue also helped me understand more about Maika herself. She has an interesting way of seeing things, and her inner monologue felt a bit different than how she talks to other people. It's almost like she's a different girl, like she's trying to protect herself from the bad guys, but also the people she cares for from herself, that she becomes someone else when she has to interact with other characters.

Kippa and Ren still make an appearance and they're still cute and funny. The stranger from the last issue is also in this one, and, like Ren, I don't really trust him. I'm still not sure who he is, and if he is who he says he is. Ren certainly thinks he's a liar.

The art is, as usual, beautiful. I love the colors used in the panels that tell Maika's past. Really dark, mostly grey-ish.

The pacing really picks up, and the ending was surprising. We also get to learn more about the Arcanics, from the lectures at the end. Really interesting storyline there, and I hope it gets explored in later installments of this comic book.

Book Review: Strung Up by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys #7.5, 1001 Dark Nights #46
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Western Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: September 13th 2016
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From New York Times bestseller Lorelei James…

Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life... Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he's a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or opinion of this book in any way.

Strung Up is one of those books that will take you for a wild ride, make you love it and want more. Lorelei James managed to touch so many important themes in this novella, from dealing with the loss of a partner, to finding love, to the struggles of being a gay man in a work environment where everyone prides themselves with their heterosexuality, to family dynamics and so on. You have it all here, and it's one of the reasons why I love James' books so much.

As I haven't yet got to read her Blacktop Cowboys series, I was not familiar with Breck from the very beginning of the series, to see how he changed and how he became the man he was in this book. But I can tell that even before this novella he was a strong, confident man. Reading about what he went through after his ex announced it to everyone that Breck was gay, really made me respect him more, and also be incredibly sad for him. I get even sadder when I think that this is real. Even today, there are people who can lose everything just based on their sexuality, and that is infuriating to say the least. But I greatly respect Breck for finding the strength to move on, to try to make a bad situation into a good one.

I met Cres in the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Six, and since then I've kept my fingers crossed that he would get his own story. I never imagined that his story would be so tragic, but I wanted his story told. I've hoped for an M/M story from Lorelei James since forever, and I was super happy when Cres got his story. As I said, he has a really sad story, but at the same time a very hopeful one. I also loved that his family was so cool with his sexuality, and that it wasn't something they focused on. Even in the previous novella, the one I was referring to earlier, it didn't feel like the Grant family defined Cres as his sexuality, which was honestly such a great thing.

I am super happy that I was able to read this book and I cannot wait to see what other stories will James write in the future.

Blog Tour Book Review: Playing It Cool by Amy Andrews

Author: Amy Andrews
Series: Sydney Smoke Rugby #2
Audience: +18
Genre: Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: September 12th 2016
My Rating: 4.5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Harper Nugent might have a little extra junk in her trunk, but her stepbrother calling her out on it is the last straw… When rugby hottie, Dexter Blake, witnesses the insult, he surprises Harper by asking her out. In front of her dumbass brother. Score! Of course, she knows it’s not for reals, but Dex won’t take no for an answer.

Dexter Blake’s life revolves around rugby with one hard and fast rule: no women. Sure, his left hand is getting a workout, but he's focused on his career for now. Then he overhears an asshat reporter belittle the curvy chick he'd been secretly ogling. What's a guy to do but ask her out? It’s just a little revenge against a poser, and then he'll get his head back in the game.

But the date is better than either expected. So is the next one. And the next. And the heat between them…sizzles their clothes right off.

Suddenly, this fake relationship is feeling all too real…

*Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from InkSlinger PR and Entangled Publishing, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of this book.

I was super excited when I saw that the second book in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series was going to be published so soon after the first one. I was even more excited about it since Harper, the heroine, sounded so cool, so I jumped at the chance to read this book.

I am so happy that Harper turned out to be exactly what I hoped she would be. She seems a bit like a modern version of Cinderella. She's a very loyal person, both to her friends, and family, even though that family doesn't really deserve it. She puts up a really good act, but years of being told that she's not pretty, that she's fat, has made her not trust her own sex appeal, as well as be suspicious of any guy that seems even a tiny little bit interested in her. I wanted to punch her stepbrother and her stepmom so bad, because Harper is a really amazing woman. Also, she's a gamer. So if I didn't love her before, I loved her once I realized she is. She's also really talented, and I'd love to see the team use her artistry in later books, not only because she deserves it, but also because someone needs to tell her family to shove it.

Dexter is the classic example of someone too focused on their career to be able to focus on anything else. And yet, at the same time, he's also probably the sweetest hero I've read about in a while. I liked that he's trying to help Harper with basically no hidden agenda. Sure, they end up having sex, but that was so not his goal. He saw someone who needed help and decided he could help her. I would've fallen for him just because of that. I can't really say I blame him for being career-oriented. Yes, he acted a bit harsh when things got tough, but I understand his motivation. I would have wanted more insight into his childhood than what we got, but other than that the guy is pretty perfect.

The pacing of the book is really good, and the sex is hot. There's also funny moments, some sad moments, so there's a little bit of everything for everyone. I really enjoyed this book and I am excited to see which player gets his book out next.