Book review: Unraveling

Rise and shine, pornies. How are you feeling today?

I just finished reading a book that left me speechless. It was a fictitious reality-slap-in-the-face, if that makes any sense for you. I’m speaking about Unraveling, by Rick R. Reed.

• Print Length: 277 pages
• Publisher: NineStar Press (January 7, 2020)
• Publishing Date: January 7, 2020
• ISBN-10: 195188017X
• ISBN-13: 978-1951880170

Randy has worn a mask for far too long, and he decides to give up on life, leave everything behind. Enter the story’s Wonder Woman, Violet, his first and only love so far, his wife and mother of his only son. Violet encourages Randy to be his true self and tells him he deserves to be happy, no matter if he is gay. After Randy listens to her, he meets John, who hasn’t had any luck with men, and that is not sure if he can deal with a married, closeted man with a son. And Randy is not sure, either.

I had to stop several times to read Unraveling. The reason is that this is a painful and beautiful book at the same. Told from Randy’s, John’s and Violet’s points of view, I discovered the story of a man who is both terrified and excited about being who he really is.

Rick R. Reed doesn’t skim on details, giving a full picture of what being gay meant in the 80s, when AIDS was claiming more lives each day and when LGBT people were not as free as we can be today. However, you also get a realistic portrait of what it means to discover your identity when you should have already done so.

As I said, I had to stop now and then to process everything I was reading. Although beautiful, Unraveling also presents the storms that of coming-out as an adult. It was intense to get into the skin of such a complex character as Randy but to have John and Violet tell part of the story made it all the more interesting.

Although this is my first book by Rick R. Reed, I will definitely read another one from him. He has a strong voice and, as his bio says, “doesn’t disappoint.” I’m eager to see if all of his stories are as powerful and charming as this one. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About Rick R. Reed:

Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”

You can find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband and is forever at work on another novel. You can also like Rick on Facebook or on Twitter. Rick always enjoys hearing from readers and answers all e-mails personally. Send him a message at rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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Book review: To the Flame

Hello over there, you sweethearts! How are you feeling today? I just read a novelette and thought you’d like to know about it.

In To The Flame, by A.E. Ross, we meet Emerson and Morrie. The attraction between them was so powerful Emerson cannot keep thinking about Morrie, even though they is ignoring him after that kiss, but now Morrie keeps avoiding him for no apparent reason. To make things more interesting, a radio host keeps preventing Emerson from deadly situations.

• Print Length: 80 pages
• Publisher: NineStar Press (February 3, 2020)
• Publication Date: February 3, 2020
• ASIN: B0844HVY79

First of all, let me say that the idea of a moth-person is way too good for a story so short. Please, dear author, this reader wants MORE!

I don’t remember exactly where, but I read long ago that moths are related to death and are considered as omens of it. Reading about a moth-person who sees when someone’s about to die made To The Flame a great. Morrie was a character I fell in love with because of that, but they are also a great character.

Emerson is just the same, one hell of a great character. I could relate to the confusion, the nerves, the crazy ideas that A.E. Ross represented in Emerson, making him a very human character.

I’m not sure whether this is a love story since it theirs was a rushed love, almost an instalove (hey, almost, but it wasn’t,) but I enjoyed nonetheless. It has a dark charm and magic that made me read it in a sitting, although it was short enough for it, truth be told.

Despite all of this, I still want to know more about this world the author created. I’m not sure about a series, but To The Flame could have been the basis for a longer novel. Let’s cross out fingers and hope to get more in the future. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About A.E. Ross:

A.E. Ross lives in Vancouver, B.C. with one very grumpy raincloud of a cat. When not writing fiction, they can be found producing and story-editing children’s cartoons, as well as producing & hosting podcasts like The XX Files Podcast. Their other works have appeared on Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Netflix (and have been widely panned by 12-year-olds on 4Chan) but the projects they are most passionate about feature LGBTQIA+ characters across a variety genres.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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Book review: Love on the Spectrum

Hello, pornies! How are you feeling today?

Do you know something curious? That every single time I ask the Universe for a new, different reading, It never fails me. I always find a book that catches my attention and I quickly think “this is exactly what I was looking for”. It sure happened to you now and then, I’m sure. This time, when I asked, and saw Love on the Spectrum, by Alec Nortan.

• Print Length: 144 pages
• Publisher: NineStar Press (January 6, 2020)
• Publication Date: January 6, 2020
• ASIN: B083D7ZVHG

Hervé is a man that looks like any other until you start to pay attention. With several “ticks” and an eye for details, his difficulty to interact with others and focused interest, Hervé has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism that makes social interaction harder for him. It certainly hasn’t stopped him from achieving a good job, yet the road has been anything but easy. However, Luc, a man with a scarred face that avoids social contact just as much as him, seems to be the solution. In fact, each other could be exactly what they need and what they want.

Let’s start at the beginning. When I read the title, I asked for a copy, right away, (and thanks a lot for the publisher for sending it!) How many times have you seen a book with an Autistic main character? There, I dare you to name more than five books. Now, what about an Aspie? Love on the Spectrum is one of those strange, yet lovable stories you don’t forget because of how inclusive and sweet they are.

The story is simple, yet with so many details and insights into what it is like to have Asperger’s that I guess Alec Nortan should have it, and yes, he has. It was amazing to read about the experience of falling in love from the point of view of Hervé, not only because of how different things are under that perspective but also because the author has a simple yet realistic style.

There are no decorations but a beautiful dose of reality. I am inclined to think that maybe there is a bit too much internal drama from the perspective of Hervé, just a bit, but I guess this is due to my own experience. Surprise, I’m an Aspie. I could relate to every single time Hervé felt bad, the way he thought and the way he behaved, and I am sure you will feel in his skin as well.

Love on the Spectrum is a story I will treasure for a long while because it made me know, once again, that I’m not weird, just different. It’s a book that educates a lot without taking out the fun and beauty of reading. I guess some may find it dense at some scenes, but Alec Nortan offers a realistic insight into an Aspie’s life. And yes, I want more books and stories from this man, please! Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy!

About Alec Nortan:

Alec Nortan is a French jack-of-all-trades. He has been working as OSH officer, social services worker, and is now into computing, and his hobbies range from computer games to singing, including movies, food and wine, skiing... and obviously writing. Though he learned English at school, he chooses this language to write his first published stories in. He now also publishes stories in French. His works are gay-related fictions, varying from young adult, science fiction or fantasy adventure, to romance. He has recently been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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Book Review: Unashamed

Hello, hello, helloooo pornies! hope you are all doing fine so far.

I wanted to read this book so badly I didn’t think twice when I finally had a copy. Why? Because almost all of us come from an Abrahamic, mostly Christian, family/background, and had a hard way figuring out what will be of us LGBT+ people, even more when we were young. That’s why I’m so in love with Unashamed: A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians, by Amber Cantorna.

The author explains what it means to be an LGBT+ Christian, describing several of her own experiences and episodes that marked her journey. She also uses many passages of the Bible to illustrate her point, always putting herself in the shoes of the reader, knowing beforehand what they will think, ask and be afraid about.

• Print Length: 176 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (March 12, 2019)
• Publishing Date: March 12, 2019
• ISBN-10: 0664265057
• ISBN-13: 978-0664265057

Unashamed is that Coming-Out Guide we all wanted when we where in High School, the book that would have let us know that it is okay to feel that way and that we are lovable, that there is nothing wrong with us. Not only that, but it also includes a guide for parents at the end of each chapter, meant to help them known how to see things the way they are.

I liked how Amber Cantorna demystified the idea that being Christian and LGBT+ is impossible, little by little. One of the reasons I became a Witch was because I didn’t feel I had a place in the Abrahamic faith of my family, but now I see that, perhaps, there are options I may not see right now.

Unashamed is a book that heals you as you read it, and prepares you for the process that comes with being honest and crystal clear with the world about who you are. We know only clothes belong in the closet, but some people don’t get it (yet), but Amber Cantorna helps you deal with it, not to mention she gives you the tools to fight against it. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re not Christian, but if you are in a position from which you can help, guide and educate our beautiful LGBT+ teenagers, by all means, go get this book. There is so much useful information you won’t regret it, and will make you look at things from a different point of view. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About Amber Cantorna:

Amber Cantorna is a national speaker, a columnist for Patheos, and the author of Refocusing My Family: Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God. As a leader dedicated to supporting LGBTQ people throughout their coming out process, Cantorna uses her platform to inspire others and works to dissolve shame, foster self-acceptance, and generate a message of love and inclusion for all.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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Book review: We Still Live

Hello, pornies! Looking good and feeling fine? (Yes, I just quoted Gaga, because why wouldn’t I?) Rough days these have been, but I am becoming more active in Twitter as a result, you can say hello anytime! You will find sexy content, witchcraft and gaga. Good enough for you?

Anyway! I finished reading We Still Live, by Sara Dobie Bauer, and you definitely need to read this book! I had my doubts for a moment, but hey, this novel surprised me a lot! It is sexy, it is funny and sweet and sexy again. So, let’s know a bit about it, shall we?

Isaac Twain is the new teacher at Hambden University, but he knows nothing about the shooting three months ago that marked them all, teachers and students alike. To make things better, or worse, he becomes interested in colleague and YA writer John Conlon, the one who stopped the shooter. Isaac should know better than to mess around a man as broken as he is, but for different reasons. Each has demons of their own, but are they strong enough to keep on living or will they fall down?

• Print Length: 233 pages
• Publisher: NineStar Press (December 9, 2019)
• Publishing Date: December 9, 2019
• ISBN-10: 1951057805
• ISBN-13: 978-1951057800

Sounds promising, doesn’t it? The idea of two broken men falling in love for each other was way too sweet for me to resist, so I got a copy. Before anyone says anything, this does not romanticize mental illness but presents it in a very real way.

We Still Live touches painful topics as family, coming out, depression, trauma, and stalking, although I expected this last one to have more protagonism. Sara Dobie Bauer can be sweet or dark as needed, which I admire and respect a lot. She is not a one-style writer, but a versatile one who naturally shifts the reading atmosphere, impacting the reader.

There’s a side of me would like a sequel, but I know that part of the magic in this book is because it is a standalone story, and wouldn’t change that. However, I’m keeping an eye on the author. We Still Live was a beautiful story that I will remember for a while. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About Sara Dobie Bauer:

Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody series, among other sexy things. Read more at SaraDobieBauer.com or find her on Twitter @SaraDobie.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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Book review: He Dreams Magic

Hello, pornies! I hope you’re in the mood for a reading because I come with one you don’t want to miss. I recently finished reading He Dreams Magic, by Emme C. Taylor, and I have to say that I'm amazed!

Ren has always dreamed of magic, golden threads of wonder that fill his nights, mostly because of the carnival that visits his village every year. Despite everyone in there tells him not to go, Ren does otherwise, and there he meets Nico, a magician who captures his interest right away. However, both guys have their own demons, and they may need something more than magic and courage, and to put their differences aside, to stop them from conquering the world.

• Print Length: 337 pages
• Publisher: NineStar Press (November 5, 2019)
• Publishing Date: November 5, 2019
• ISBN-10: 1951057740
• ISBN-13: 978-1951057749

He Dreams Magic is a story that takes a little to read, that’s the truth, but you savor every page as if you lived it along with Ren and Nico. This slow-burn romance in a winter-ish world captured my heart with each chapter.

The author has a beautiful, yet risky style. I first didn’t get where Emme C. Taylor was going, and the descriptions bothered me a bit, but once you get used to it, there is beauty in each of her words. You cannot help but imagine it all as you read it.

I liked how the characters interacted with each other, and although it became a little toxic at some point, their relationship improved, slowly, oh so slowly, but it did, and I smiled every time it did. Seriously, I found several pretty, cute and sexy moments, but don’t expect sex in this one.

Again, this was a little bit toxic, so keep that in mind if you decide to grab the book, but I recommend you strongly to do so. The dialogues and scenes, many of them, in fact, made me think about the many times I used my past as an excuse. He Dreams Magic, by Emme C. Taylor, puts you in the shoes of fictional characters with painfully real situations. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About Emme C. Taylor:

Emme C. Taylor can be found wandering stormy beaches with a pen and notebook in hand, waiting for inspiration or lightning to strike. She believes the atmospheric environment helps her to write the grittiest parts of her stories. Crochet and dark chocolate ease her mind when her characters aren’t cooperating. Emme will happily talk about almost anything to avoid having to talk about herself. How about this weather, huh?

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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My 2020 resolutions

Hello there, pornies! How was that Winter break? Pardon my language, but mine was fucking awesome! Rest, books, and some jerking off now and then. The Godds know I needed that, hehe.

Now that the world is back to normal and everyone has calmed down a bit (don’t know about you, but December drains me too much some times,) I am putting my priorities in order. For privacy’s sake, I can only speak about so many things, but most of them are witchy things, so you won’t be missing a lot. So…

Sometimes I picture my ancestors like this

First and foremost, I want to strengthen my necromancy skills. Last year’s session was amazing, really, and I want more of that, a stronger connection and faster answers. When I read What is Remembered Lives, by Phoenix LeFae, and Morbid Magic, by Thomás Prower (Click on the titles to read my review,) I saw things under a different light. The first one reminded me that you don’t need to know all your ancestors by family to honor them, for they already recognize you as a descendant, and the second one told me the obvious: it’s not a must to need something to contact them, because who likes a person who is constantly asking for help and never says hello?

My altar actually looks like this, with more tools, hehe

I want to explore other Godds. I have worked with Hekate and Melek Tawus for a while, and although I know I can trust them and they will always answer my calls, there are other deities that are calling me. Apollo, Cernunnos, Horus, and Aradia are the ones I will start with. All of them sent signs of their presence when I need help in the past, sometimes when I was desperate, and it’s time I pay some attention.

Should it worry me that the gif ends with The Tower?

Also, I want to get better at divination. It is an integral part of who I am as a witch and as a human, so I’m aiming at a better understanding in this practice and for better results. Although I feel confident when using my cards and pendulums, sometimes even bibliomancy (here’s a bit on what that one is about,) I often notice I either repeat the meanings and fail to see something else or cannot see them as easily as I would like.

Bedroom goals

Finally but not less important, I want to get to really, really, explore the masculine side of magic. There is so much talk about feminine power, the Sacred Femininity, the Goddess and Her power, but what about the God? What about the masculine side of the Divine? I will read and meditate about this, and I will share it here when I think I get something. First topics? The elements, and in the order I work with them: Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Ether.

That’s it. Not long, almost impossible goals, but actually ones I can work with. There are a couple of other projects but that are not that solid right now, so the focus is on those first four. Maybe I will share details on the future, maybe I will add more goals in the coming months, but I am thinking only about these ones right now.

What about you? Any new year idea or project or resolution you want to share? Let me know! And if you do, and they happen to be similar to mine, by all means, let me know! It will be all the more exciting to be on the same path together.

Kinky regards, K!

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