Robin Alexander (1)Rezensionen

A quick, light, funny read. Exactly what I needed today.

I really enjoyed this one. I'd go 3.5 if Goodreads would allow it. There were some places where the POV switched within the same scene and I had to stop to figure out whose head I was in and there were a couple of typos which didn't bother me nearly as much as the POV things... But the story and the characters were engaging and there were several aspects that reminded me of my favorite LJ Maas story, [b:None So Blind|2001545|None So Blind|L.J. Maas|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361467156s/2001545.jpg|2005397] except with less angst and much more honest communication.

This one will go on my re-read list.

Liked this one a lot. Light, easy, fun romance. I'd give it 3.5 but rounding up because of the laughs from the supporting cast.

Another enjoyable book from Robin Alexander. It took me a long time to finish this one because I just got burned out after reading several of the author's books in a row. This is one I might read again at some point. Alexander writes some fun characters.

I very much enjoyed Half to Death. The romance was sweet, the characters were fun and funny and some of the situations were more serious than I expected.

Thank you to whomever loaned it to me through Amazon!

Another fun read from Ms. Alexander. It has many of the same themes as other books by the author but it takes reading several of her offerings back to back before I get tired of them.

I'd go 3.5 but am rounding up because of the number of times I laughed out loud.

Anyone who has enjoyed a Robin Alexander book in the past will very likely enjoy this one, too.

Everything I want in a Robin Alexander book. I laughed out loud too many times to count. The only lesfic author who makes me laugh as much is Colette Moody and I adore her work. Hmm... Think it might be time for a reread of one of Moody's books now... But everyone who likes Alexander's work should immediately read this one. Now.

Another fun read with some laugh out loud moments and a sweet romance with no angst or drama.

This lighthearted rom-com was exactly what I needed after a couple of weeks of rage and upset over events in the world. There were lots of laughs and fun characters and even a bit of sex added to the mix.

If you've already read any Robin Alexander books, you'll very likely have a good time reading this one. If you haven't read anything by the author but are looking for something to bring a little laughter into your day - and can overlook head-hopping - this might be the one for you.

2.5 rounded up

I'm a big fan of Robin Alexander's books but this one just didn't do it for me. I mean, I laughed a bunch during the first few chapters but after that, I could only muster a chuckle now and then.

There was so much restating of information between characters - many times the same characters sharing the same thing more than once or twice - and the same phrases "attractive and interesting" I think was one of them, that I found myself getting annoyed. And there were typos. Mostly there were several things that combined to make this not the experience I was hoping for.

Will I stop reading Alexander's books? Hell no! I love her sense of humor and not every book by an author I like will make me all warm and fuzzy inside. As a matter of fact, I've already got another of her books in mind.

**Aug 2022 - I put off giving the audiobook a try because I didn't want the narrator to ruin the book for me (it's happened before) but she didn't! Lori Prince rocked the narration and I still love the book. Will absolutely indulge in the audiobook again.

Ok, this is my favorite of the three Robin Alexander books I've read. I swear I would have given it a 5 star rating except for the LOADS of typos everywhere that continued to pull me out of the story.

I honestly don't think I've laughed out loud so many times while reading a lesbian romance. Seriously one of the funniest books I've ever read. I mean, Blake and the chicken?? So funny!

Thank you, Robin!

**reread and enjoyed it just as much**

I really liked this book. The humor was fantastic.

Merged review:

While this isn't my favorite of the author's books that I've read (that goes to [b:Scaredy Cat|18745851|Scaredy Cat|Robin Alexander|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383302069s/18745851.jpg|26628393]) I do like this one a lot. I liked it even more the second time around.

My second read is the audio version. The narrator did a good job for the most part. I wish there had been a bit more of a difference between the voices for the main characters and that Tina didn't sound so, I don't know, harsh all the time.

I probably would have gone 3.5 but I rounded up for Aunt C and Grams because they really made the book extra funny.

It was cute and a nice way to spend a few relaxing hours. There was a lot of humor in the book and I enjoy that.

3.5 stars

I always end up busting out laughing while reading Robin Alexander's books and this one is no different. That said, I would read this one with my eyes instead of going with the audiobook for a reread.

While I loved Lori Prince's narration for Scaredy Cat, the snarky, sarcastic tone used for Brett and Cass were just too much and became grating.

Still a fun read and I'll likely pick up the ebook so I can enjoy it again. Listened to the audiobook through Hoopla. Libraries are the best!

That was one of the most entertaining stories I've read in a long time. Robin Alexander has the talent to captivate you not only with good storytelling but also with humour. And this book was exactly what I needed: Something that amuses me and intrigues me at the same time. In Alexander, it turns out that I have found an author whose stories are balm for my soul.

I was wondering how best to explain the plot of the book. Honestly, the closest thing you can compare it to is a queer version of "Gilmore Girls" because it's also a generational story, and there are actually one or two parallels. (Well, at least for me) For example, the plot is fast-paced. Additionally, the interactions and dialogues are quirky and so witty. I often had to laugh because of the humorous and unconventional portrayal of the characters. Another similarity is that the action also takes place in a small town. As is often the case, rumours and speculations spread like wildfire.

But now to the characters, because there were a handful of them. The most important ones are Blaze Sonnier and Caleigh Breaux. Blaze has had little luck with dating or social interactions lately. After several catastrophic incidents, she's the talk of the town. And one day, her estranged mother shows up on her doorstep to make matters worse. In addition, her older sister Ronnie is going through early menopause and is therefore facing some personal changes. So it happens that she often seeks shelter and help from Blaze.

Caleigh changes jobs and moves to Falcon, Louisiana, to be near her grandparents. But her journey goes awry when she gets a flat tire en route and gets stuck on a remote road. That's when she meets Blaze, and they hit it off right away.

As you can see, a lot is going on, but I had the best time reading this book. It has very little angst, lovely main and secondary characters. It is fast-paced and, on top of that, very entertaining. Recommended!

Three old women - a grandmother and her 'sister' (a long time next door neighbor who both see the other as a sister) and a third friend of similar age, set up a 'meet up' between two lesbians involving relatives. As in, the grandmother's granddaughter, and the third friend's niece. Neither of the younger generation set knows what's going on.

Book starts immediately with three people (a fourth is there as well, though not immediately obvious - she's sleeping) driving along in an RV ('not a bus'; - that joke? I did not get. Who the hell would call an RV camper a bus? Have you seen an RV Camper? Have you seen a bus? They do not look the same. Sure, both can be relatively the same shape and size and length but there's no mistaking one for the other). Apparently the two oldest in this foursome have decided to have a 'trip', and because they are super old, they 'get their way'. Even if others have other stuff to do at work (Jill - new accounting software system at work) and at home (Jill - currently has a girlfriend); or, because they are currently out of work and have just moved back to the state - work on getting a job, and 'fixing up' their currently messed up nurse license (Shay).

Anne and Ella, the two super old people who went on the trip (Chloe, I believe it's Chloe, stayed home), tricked Jill onto this trip - mostly because they wanted to use Jill's fathers (and Ella's son's) RV, and the father didn't trust anyone to drive it except for himself and Jill, and he wasn't going to go on the trip. Well, that's how they tricked people into allowing them to have the RV, and got Jill along for the ride. The trick part, though, was supposed to be referring to how they dragged a fourth member onto the trip - to set up with Jill unbeknownst to either Jill or Shay.

It's been a really long time - I forget now what they said to Jill about Shay's presence. But Jill is a massive bitch to Shay from the get-go, because she suspects that she's being set up on a really long 'blind date' type situation - really long because it will last the entirety of a RV vacation (2 weeks I believe I recall). Shay, I know, got tricked because she's a nurse and her aunt, Chloe, told her that she could go along to help because Anne and Ella are feeble and/or could use the use of a nurse.

Well, so - old wacky people, grumpy crotchety younger people - a mix common in Alexander books. Roadtrips are also something seen before in an Alexander book, though not as common. Here we go from Louisiana to Tennessee to West Virginia then back again. (Tennessee and Louisiana do not touch? Well . . . um . . obviously some time was also spent in either Arkansas or Mississippi, though I do not recall if either was actually mentioned; probably – one of the weird and wacky side trips was probably in one or the other state; maybe the hunting bigfoot part).

As expected, this book was filled with humor, people older than 30, mixed up with people older than dirt (or, say, 70; I mean as a side character, I do not mean in one of those May-December thingies because that’d be gross, having the 30+ year old granddaughter dating her grandmother, eww).

Unexpectedly, see I can also use the word ‘unexpected’, I rather enjoyed this book and grew to like all four main characters (you can’t share a RV camper for 2 weeks – have that be the entirety of the book, and not have all four people in that tin can be anything but main characters. Heck – the old people even sleep together (as in share the same bed, though both joke about being lesbians)).

I liked the book. I liked what occurred in the book. I still remember the book all this time (3 or 4 days) later. I do not really have much more to note. And so . . . I won’t.

October 31 2016

I glanced at the book description after I bought the book, something I do not normally do with a new Alexander book, and suddenly wasn't sure I wanted to read it. It didn't really look like something I'd normally like. So I read two short stories instead.

Then I started the book and, well, I was even more convinced this wasn't the book I wanted to read right then. But I continued. Then I found I couldn't stop laughing. Then....

Since I moved into my apartment a year ago, I've been watching a lot of recorded shows I didn't have access to before. Which I mention because one of them is 'Air Disasters. Which this book includes, an air disaster, not someone who watches that show.

So - humor, romance, disaster, adventure, lives in danger, and best of all - likable characters (even if bordering on insane).

Rating: 5.25

August 28 2019

So, reread this one. An one edition book so no ability to separate the reread. Still funny. Still good. Still had a few bits here or there that I found funny but hadn't first time.

Oh and I hate trying to type this In phone as I can't see anything. Not with the stupid bloodyGoodreads top section. covering almost half the screen and thge keyboard taking up the rest. I've no real idea what I'm typing. especially with that stupid bloody autocorrect on.

,,,,,,,,,,
This is yet another Alexander book I read and loved. Though I was worried there when I found that the book existed, had been read by others, and that the average rating was at 4 stars (it's since gone to something like 4.7, and is now back down to 4.5). I was worried because, while I say 'yet another . . .' that's more recent Alexander books that I've read and loved, there have been that I didn't love, some I didn't like, and at least one I loathed (unfortunately that one was the start of a three book series, and I'd already bought book 2 and three, still haven't read book 2 & 3 in that series).

I think I've used this phrase, or words similar, when mentioning an Alexander book: this book stars two people that have issues. Both have been working on them, and both might want to start work on the next phase of their lives, which may or may not involve a significant other (though one is more in that direction than the other; the other is still dodging the texts of her latest 'relationship' while going to a wedding, more on that later). One has commitment issues - in that they do not like being alone, hook up with someone, and use the love word way too quickly and easily (though, as noted, they know this issue and have been working on it), the other has the opposite commitment issue - one one commits too easily, this other can't commit at all (or, well, runs the other direction – away – from a woman if they start to express relationship type comments).

The commitment-phobe, Jodi, has ‘reasons’ for being what and who she is, though she can fake it. Which is where the book starts, with …. (dang, I can’t remember if it’s Jodi who is 37 or 40, or if it’s Val who is 37 or 40, one, I mean, is one age, the other is the other (though both are described as having the bodies of 20 year olds – said after seeing through lust filled eyes)). Right, let’s start that sentence again. 37 or 40 year old Jodi opens the book driving to a wedding – a ‘forced’ week long vacation. Next to her is Vince, her ‘pretend’ boyfriend (he’s gay and not out to his family). Vince, to note how the trip occurred, mentions something to his mother, after they arrive, that the trip normally takes an hour and a half but they did it in only 15 minutes, because of how Jodi drives.

Vince’s brother, by the way, is the groom. Jodi is there because of Vince. To round things out, Vince owns and operates an expensive car dealership, while Jodi owns and operates a furniture store (though it’s connected to the family store-chain).

While at the wedding, the only other lesbian in attendance takes one look at Jodi and drools. That’d be Val. Who works for a potty manufacturer (there’s a lot of good humor in this book, there’s also a lot of humor connected to Val’s job of being a potty seller that didn’t really work for me). Val’s at the wedding because she’s friends (from college) with the bride-to-be, whose name Everly. It’s important to note that another college friend is there as well – Renee, and . . . I cannot recall but I think the other two young women who pop up in the story are sisters of Everly and not Rene, though there’s a ton of people in this story and some do not even have accurate names (mostly because the others seem them as snooty and call them something like snooty one and two). I mention these two others, specifically, because of their impact on the story – Kara being the youngest at 21, though she’s much more ‘mature’ than her sister Riley (who is first seen by the reader wearing a very small barely there swimsuit that she keeps popping out of it – which is important to mention . . . for reasons).

So then: time is spent on the week-long wedding festivities (that’s about the first, oh, 50 to 55% of the book, I think), then later back in their home locations (I forget now, did they life in Baton Rouge or was the week long vacation in Baton Rouge?). Val and Jodi date. Have fun together. And stuff.

Quite fun hilarious book.

Rating: 5+

June 12 2018

I start off by noting that I am unsure how to rate this work. I’m fluctuating between 3.75 and 4.35, and saying ‘so I’ll pick 4 stars’ just doesn’t feel right for some reason.

This is one of this author’s early works – back when different genres, styles, etc. were being played with and it shows. Well, I do not mean this book is all over the place, it isn’t really. It’s just that it doesn’t really read like a Robin Alexander book. Mind there are unexpected flashes of humor that remind me of later books, but this work was never intended to be a work of humor. Its angsty, and psychological, and drama-filled, with crime and a bit of thrills here and there mixed in as well.

The book is called ‘Taking of Eden’, I mention the title so I can then say – one of the main characters is actually named Eden. Eden Carlton. Eden is an incredibly rich accomplished woman, who spends most of her time working, or at home – the fancy dress parties and the like are not her thing. She has few friends, and no living relative to speak of (though she is close to her grandfather’s friend). I mention all of this because it leads to the set-up of the story. Though the reader doesn’t know this going in, so maybe I shouldn't mention all of this, eh? I’ll add some spoiler tags and resume.

The reader of the book both does and doesn’t meet Eden at the beginning. Does because she’s there, but she’s not the main character in the beginning. No, that’d be Jamie Spencer, a nurse who got tired of the life and death found in hospitals and moved into working at a mental health facility. The McManus facility – a private one that caters to the rich, and is deeply concerned about privacy and confidentiality.

On her first day at this facility, Jamie is shown a particular patient – one intrigues her. No, this is not a book about a mental health nurse who becomes involved with a mentally ill patient inside a hospital. She becomes intrigued because of how much different that woman is being treated – only the supervising nurse is allowed access to her chart and only one doctor works with the patient. And anyone who asks questions about the patient gets run out of the building.

The book description is misleading. One of the reasons I was reluctant to read this book, beyond knowing it was an early Alexander book and highly unlikely to be humorous, was the book description. Well – ‘Murder and betrayal send three women fleeing for their lives deep into the woods of the Carolinas’ – isn’t exactly inaccurate but . . . is misleading for reasons I can’t really explain without spoiler tags being used.

Another character of importance is Holly – another nurse at the facility. She’s an important character, but not a POV character (the POV swings around a lot, and I mean a lot, so maybe she is at some point during the main section of the book). She’s one of the other people who notice the strange activities going on with that specific patient and both of them investigate the matter – both Holly and Jamie.

I liked this book a lot more than I did the other early Alexander books. Though mentioning ‘early’ reminds me why I give authors so much wiggle room – why I give them 3 to 5 books for me to come to a decision about them. If I’d read the first three books by Alexander, and only those three, I’d likely never have read another. And yet . . . bah, this isn’t a topic for this specific book. Though it made me look – first book I read by Alexander, no I mean by publication so let’s restart. First book published by Alexander that I read I gave a 1.5 star rating, then this book here, which is around 4 stars, then a 3.75 star book then a 4.75 star book . . . um, let’s pretend this paragraph never existed, or change the ‘if I’d only read the first three’ to ‘first book’).

Course this isn’t the 3rd or even second book I’ve read by this author, but the 27th (not counting rereads, which would raise things to … hmm, that number isn’t right I don’t think, looks closer; I’ve reread 4 of Alexander books, so this would be my 31st book read counting rereads). I do not remember the point of this paragraph.

Right, so, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.

Rating: 4.08

May 13 2018

Starting in roughly 1983, when both were pre-teens, and for roughly another 30 years, Faith ‘Chub’ Leblanc and Rachel Chauvin have been each other’s archrival/villain/enemy. Both were stubborn. Both were the kind of girl who’d much prefer getting dirty, and wandering the outdoors than being cooped up inside; both were quite similar, and ended up bumping into each other a lot. And both wanted to do what the other wanted to do – at the same time, and both were too stubborn to allow the other to go first. So, rivals. For 30 years. But for a moment here or there when college occurred. And, it should also be pointed out, Faith lost that ‘Chub’ nickname, given because she was, as might be expected, chubby – at least until about her senior year of high school.

Well, it’s some time in ‘contemporary time’. Dates were given for some childhood scenes, but I didn’t notice a date given for ‘present time’. Let’s call it something like 2013. Small town Louisiana, 2013.

Rachel has a kid of her own now and that leads directly into being thrust into a somewhat uncomfortable position. For right next door lives Faith, and while Faith herself doesn’t have any kids of her own, her sister Patty has recently moved in and has one – right around the same age as Kaycee (Rachel’s daughter). Sophie (Patty’s daughter) and Kaycee quickly become very friendly –f or they are quite similar in their desires of what they want to do – they are like miniature versions of Faith and Rachel – but without the stubborn streak that kept those two from becoming friends.

For the sake of her daughter, and for the sake of her niece, both Rachel and Faith attempt to tone down their rivalry . . and fail miserably. 30 years of pranks, stunts, name calling, and other antics is a long time to fall into a habit – one that won’t break easily.

Then the ‘worst of all worlds’ occurs, from both their perspectives – both end up being the adult chaperone’s on a 2 week summer camp trip – neither knowing the other was going until both showed up at the bus. Neither can now back out – they are there for the kids, Sophie and Kaycee to be specific.

After being literally caught rolling around the dirt fighting each other, the camp head informs Faith and Rachel that she’s going to make them leave if they don’t call a temporary truce. Neither wants to disappoint their blood relatives, so they attempt to restrain themselves.

Weeks pass, two to be exact. Stuff occurs, like swimming, and tackling massively huge snakes and weird scary camp visitors. And with the truce on, certain feelings leak out. And smother both of them.

A rather fun and exciting book. Hmm, exciting might not be the right word there. Well, humorous. Interesting. Fun. Enjoyable.

Rating: 4.90

February 2 2017

I do not know what it is about Alexander books. I always seem to have a certain amount of reluctance to start, I stumble a little in the beginning, but - most of the time (with a few exceptions), I end up giggling happily as I inhale the book. Also I like how Alexander seems to like people roughly around 37 years of age.

St. Claire Louisiana is, as the book description notes - 'straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting'. It's a lovely little town, off the beaten path, miles from hotels and highways, a more or less peaceful, calm, lovely . . . I'm repeating myself. Just a few things mar the perfection - there's one particular family that has some rather absurdly abusive and mean little shits . . um . . little boys who harass and terrorize the people around them. Plus the second imperfection - to live there one must be straight (or so thinks one Lindsay Juneau - owner and operator of the hardware store in town, mother of a small girl, and, secretly, a lesbian).

Into this 'perfect' setting comes one Nicole Allen, veterinarian and lesbian. Allen's there to take over the local veterinarian office.

Nicole and Lindsay meet almost immediately when Lindsay brings in her cat, Mr. Peepers, who had been terrorized by that earlier mentioned family of little shits. Caged in an abandoned house, and pelted with balloons filled with paint.

Their 'relationship' advances more through the pushing of Rose, Lindsay's mother, though both were quite happy to become friends.

The family dynamics, small town dynamics, cats and kittens, and budding friendships and relationships fill the book; as well as numerous moments of laughter. That and some neat holiday moments - Halloween and Christmas.

(Of note, as an aside, I need to stop listening to books while writing reviews, like I did with this one and the previous review. Listening to 'A Date with Angel' makes review writing hard).

October 12 2016

I first read this book in July of 2016. At the time it was the seventh book I’d read by Alexander. As of this reading, the second rereading of ‘Scaredy Cat’ would correspond as the 34th book I’ve read by Alexander (if each book that I’d reread counted as a ‘new’ book). And something around the sixth book I’ve reread written by Alexander (though there’s another I attempted to reread via audio some time back that ended up on the DNF pile).

Considering the topic at hand, the season the book is set, etc. etc., this book really is a much better October read than July read. So I’m glad I reread this one in October.

I just love both main characters that are on display in this book. Both of whom have periods of control over the POV. Blake Taylor has written 80+ books, probably all of which have been somewhere in the horror genre, and after a particular book got picked up to be made into a film – Taylor is routinely on the best-selling release with each new book published. Problem though: she’s blocked. Majorly. Family and therapists and book agent have come together and pushed Taylor from the safety of her NY apartment to the ‘wilds’ of ‘country-living’ in Louisiana. A great distance away from her mother (who, it appears, is smothering her).

So: title of book ‘Scaredy Cat’. Who is the sacredy cat? Well, actually, both main characters at times. Yes, Quinn Scott has her own issues, though she has better adjusted herself to living in the outside world – she still has her fears that have blocked her in certain ways (like she always wanted to travel, only lived in another city once, hates her local small bigoted town, stays there because she ‘can’t leave’).

Quinn and Blake come together because Quinn’s barely there, though talked about, sister was Blake’s agent’s real estate agent. And Dawn, this sister, has offered up Quinn to act as Blake’s, paid, local guide to the area. Quick note: It is distracting when two minor characters who play similar roles, and who rarely get seen by the reader have quite similar names to the point that I’m not actually sure if Dawn is Quinn’s sister or Blake’s (the real estate agent is Quinn’s sister, it’s the name part that is confusing, since Blake’s seldom seen sister is named Dani).

There are some great moments in this book (example one: the fight Blake gets into with a chicken (well reminder one); example two: the time Quinn was being judgmental about Blake, then realized she (Quinn) had her own biased issues to contend with), great personalities on display, great bits of humor. Quite enjoyable book.

Horror writer, fall-time, Halloween time (and yes, some of the action occurs during Halloween – the two main characters, along with Quinn’s brother Jacob and his wife Tonya join a ghost hunting expedition on Halloween night), ghosts, and things that go bump in the night and/or are very scary to some but not necessarily to others (like, say, squirrels. In general, not a specific evil squirrel, just squirrels in general).

Rating: 5+ The book didn’t end up on my ‘only rereads can get to it’ 6 star shelf because of my original rating of the book (4.75), plus there were a few slightly less than perfect parts.

October 8 2018

This is a) the seventh book I've read by Alexander (and fourth in 4 days); b) there is no b.

As is normal, this book involves a small town in Louisiana, and the antics of the people in it. Unlike those people in White Oak, the people of Cypress Glade are not very open/friendly to those in the LGBT community.

Quinn Scott is a local woman who works with her brother in a family owned plumbing business. She was outed by the local gossipy bitch of the town as a lesbian. Unlike the events that unfolded in White Oak during a similar incident involving Jaclyn (sex between two women that is observed by a third party who tells everyone about it), the people did not rally around Quinn and keep/develop/become friendly to the lesbian and lesbian kind. No, they figuratively or literally spat upon her (I forget if any literal spitting occurred). So Quinn mostly sticks with her job, her brother Jacob, and sister Dawn, and is kind of an outsider in her own town.

Dawn, a real estate person, finds a dwelling place for a celebrity author. Dawn also, through this author's agent, volunteers her sister to act as something of a guide to this author. For pay (I believe it was stated as being $1000 a month). Quinn is not exactly happy about this but . . .. By the way, it's known from the beginning that both the author and Quinn are lesbians - that's why Quinn was offered up as a 'guide' (no, I do not mean that as code for escort or prostitute or the like, the 'guide' isn't really what Quinn ends up being, at least not the typical kind of 'tour guide' kind of guide).

The author is a best-selling horror novelist named Blake Taylor. Who is the 'Scaredy Cat' of this novel. Since she really is scared of basically everything.

This was/is a rather neat, exciting, fun book. Humorous. Graphic sex. Etc.

Of note: there are three cats on the cover of this book (if you include the word 'cat' as part of the three cats). There are no cats in this book (at least I do not recall any). There is a dog, an owl, various other birds, squirrels, and other 'things', but no cats.

Of note 2: I read three books by Alexander in 2014. Now I've read 4 in 2016. Alexander is . . . um, well not rapidly, becoming one of my favorite authors (unexpectedly).

July 22 2016

This is a) the eighth book I've read by Alexander (and fifth in 5 days); b) 1 too many Alexander books all in a row.

That is basically what I wished to convey. That I've read this book. It's the 5th one I've read this year by Alexander, and that I probably read one too many Alexander books in a row for me to properly enjoy this one.

Though . . . it has been 3 days since I read the book, it is still fairly fresh in my mind (despite having read another book since then, and further stressed my mind with many tv shows and movies). And my rating is still were it would be. That does not specifically mean that I didn't overwhelm myself with Alexanderisms.

This book involves a relatively insane cast of characters. There's the two leads - Police Chief Kirsten Flyte (not so much insane as somewhat 'disturbed' from having to deal with all the crazy people around); and Rusty Martinez (hyperactive woman who has an inability to stop moving and doing stuff; and, depending on your desire/thoughts on the idea - a good or bad tendency to be incapable of keeping her clothing on (which is kind of bad, considering the nature of blinds/inability to remember to lock doors/and creepy pervert possible sexual predator lurking in the area).

The cast of 'others' includes the nearly insane older woman (who gets less insane once you get to know her), Stella, who likes to prance around in the very hot air wearing a coat and hat so that she can spy on people. There's also several 'real characters' police officers (the one who, though he has no military background, always struts around all military like, and is gung ho to do what his boss wants; and the other who is disagreeable and . . . um . . . crusty). There's the parents of Kirsten (Mona may or may not be a little clingy, and is a member of DOD - Daughters of Darkness (I forget if the final d is actually darkness or not), which is neither a heavy metal/death metal rock band, nor a satanic cult, but the name of the all woman 'secret' neighborhood watch; Tal, is grumpy, condescending, self-hating, and kind of a lackey for the mayor and city (town?) council, and the former police chief). Ah, yes, the mayor and his cronies – bunch of corrupt weirdoes. Oh, and then there’s Neil Bauer, who is super clingy, balding, and something of a real boneless dick – though that might just be how he rubs against me.

The plot consists of a woman really stressed out and needing rest who has been driven to a small town to get that rest. That would be Rusty. While there, Rusty becomes super bored and, since she’s kind of a hyperactive personality, almost goes insane. One thing leads to another, and the concept of a ‘hobby’ to fill her time is finally accepted. So, she then proceeds to spend her time building things. Like garden features. And bridges. Despite not needing or wanting a bridge (it was the building kit available at the hardware store, so she got it). Meanwhile Kirsten, the police chief, is wandering around doing her police job, which includes interacting with various busy-bodies (like Stella and her investigations), and investigating a possible peeping Tom who might be on the edge of, or is already over the edge into creepy sexual predator/rapist territory. So yes, there is also a mystery plot line going on here. The mystery one, actually, is pretty neat. The rest less so.

Rusty’s first interactions with the ‘townies’ involves screaming loudly when she spots someone in her window, and contacting the police. Who come out in force. The house ends up surrounded by many, and I mean many, police officers. It immediately becomes apparent to the police chief who the culprit is – Stella who lives across the street from Rusty and likes doing ‘investigations’. Stella thinks that Rusty looks like a terrorist, what with her dark hair and eyes and olive skin (what, Stella has never seen a Latina before?).
Eventually Rusty ‘settles’, both with finding something to do with her time (previously mentioned hobbies), and comes to an understanding with Stella (eventually).

On the romance side – Rusty and Kirsten kind of come to a near instant friendship. Then, eventually, some kind of sex/romance 'arrangement'. Rusty is the kind to want to come up with a contract; the idea is gotten across, whether or not said contract is ever made, that any and all relationships would be temporary and there might have been other considerations. Kirsten, for whatever reason, goes along with this ‘arrangement’. And so, they hump together for a while. While Rusty ‘gets better’, builds things, and dreams of the time she will be able to return to her business (while worrying it is being run into the ground and that she is being lied to about how things are going there). Hmms. I should not have used the word dreams there. She does desire that return, but ‘dreams’ is itself a plot-line – Rusty has these very vivid series of dreams involving her being in this bleak setting near a unbuilt house and some dead garden. Over time that setting morphs.

Interesting enough book. I just . . . found it a little too over the top and a little too cutesy. Still, that feeling might, again, be based on having read this book when I did – after four other Alexander books.

July 26 2016

This specific book here is both the second book I read by Robin Alexander, back in February 27 2014, and the second book I’ve successfully reread by Alexander.

When I started the book, I was somewhat uncertain what kind of reaction I might have, what I might find – for, you see, while Robin Alexander has become one of the top lesbian fiction authors I read (somewhere, without thinking too hard about it, within the top three), Alexander was also the author I read three books by in 2014, then didn’t read another until 2016. It’s also one of the four Alexander books I’ve read and not yet written a review for, but that’s neither here nor there. Let’s move on.

At the beginning, not sure how far along I’d put the change point, but at the beginning I was confused by my original 2014 rating of 3.5 stars. Because this was one damn funny book. And then . . . I recalled why I had rated the book ‘so low’, well low for an Alexander book. This is a one person point of view book – and it somewhat suffers because of that issue. For, unfortunately, the main character really started to annoy me.

Before I mention the main character, I feel the need to reference my most recent prior Alexander review – all about humor and stuff like humor. A lot of the humor in this book really seemed like it was/would be better with these specific characters (like, say, that vibrating strap-on on-going scene); while others were . . . kind of meh – possibly because of the characters involved. Which, in its way, added a layer of knowledge and appreciation to the humor and characters in the other books – for, I realized, some of the humor was meh because I didn’t really care that much about the characters by the time the event took place (thinking here, as an example, the time a goose attacked Shannon – it’s vaguely humorous moment, but more of a weak smile; oddly enough the prior book I read by Alexander, the prior reread, had a swan attack the main character – and there I found the entire scene much more satisfying – to a large extent because I much more preferred spending time with the characters in ‘Next Time’. Right, let’s move on again.

Shannon Brycen, like Ryann from ‘Next Time’, has an important to the story straight sister (here Kalen, there Shelly). Their family dynamic is otherwise quite different, and I only mentioned because both books had that situation of a straight sister being something of a best friend to one of the main lesbian leads. Right, so, Kalen is described as being quite charming and extroverted – quite capable of being a people person. She’s older than Shannon and married to a man called Todd. I mention all of that to then say that Shannon is basically the opposite (though her looks are supposedly similar) – she’s a lesbian, introverted (a shy introvert), and very much a back-office non-people pleasing, non-charming woman with no real skills at picking up women (all of this is learned by the reader very quickly at a meal shared between Shannon and Kalen at the start of the book; for someone quite bad at picking up women, Shannon sure did end up in a lot more situations with woman than that would imply – see above where I made mention of a humor gag that involved a vibrating strap-on, I won’t elaborate more on that specific scene). And by back-office, I mean that Shannon is the hair salon business accountant (they have four . . . um . . whatever you call an outlet in the hair business).

In an attempt to change her position in life, Shannon does two things: 1) create a profile on a dating website (which meets stiff opposition and outright derision from Kalen); 2) attempt to become fitter, or at least have a make-over. The dating profile lead to several run ins with various lesbians, some online, some in person; while the make-over lead to getting a hair-cut at a rival hair salon and finding someone there to hire for her own hair place. Which is important to note because the gay man who cut her hair, it’s important to note he is gay, becomes a strong side character in this story.

Right, so, that’s the story – a thirty-something woman living in New Orleans who’d prefer to spend all her time in her apartment, is forced to get out and attempt to upgrade her life (part of the ‘forced to get out’ is the part where the sister and brother-in-law go on vacation, and Shannon will be forced to step in, if called upon, as the boss – in person). Some humor is had along the way.

There are, as would be expected, several other characters of importance – there’d have to be, no?, since I haven’t even mentioned a potential love interest yet. Right, so – sister Kalen, several potential dates, gay hairdresser (I’d use his name, but I forget it, Marion or something like that, Marvin?) and the combo of new next door neighbor Hailey and her dog Fuzzy. There are some great scenes involving Fuzzy. And Hailey’s the love interest who is seen almost exclusively through the eyes of Shannon.

There is a lot of miscommunication, disinformation, and outright lying in this story that adds obstacles to love (and detract from my ability to enjoy this book). There is also graphic sex, humor, and . . . um . . . other stuff.

I’m not really sure how or why, but the characters in this book just seem to be of a lesser quality than others created by Alexander. And by ‘lesser quality’, I’m specifically referring to their creation, there ‘there-ness’. The connection between the reader and them. I might be talking gibberish so I’ll, once again, move on.

Rating: 4.12

December 19 2017