The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

I saw "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science," and I KNEW I had to have it! Especially when I realized that Kate McKinnon wrote it...sort of. ;) The first Millicent Quibb book is technically by G. Edwina Candlestick (and "as told by" by Kate), which makes it all that much more quirky and magical. 

["So, you want to be a young mad scientist. Congratulations! Admitting it is the first step. The second step is reading the (definitely true) tale of the Porch sisters…  

Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where all girls have to go to etiquette school and the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia and their Aunt has more brooches than books. And they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school—they’re far more interested in science. After getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good... until they receive a mysterious invitation to a new school.

Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb—a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by Gerbils, and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab.  Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out, and determine what side they’re on—before it’s too late!"]

I loooooove the narrator in this! I'm obsessed!! And all of the footnotes and the appendixes?!?! It's so science-y without being over the top. Though, it is over the top (its MAD science after all ;) ). 

The book and all of the characters (especially Millicent and the "sisters") are weird and odd and unapologetic about it. It's (the book, each other, Mysterium Way) a home for those who don't fit in, even if they don't want to 100% stand out (yet). The ladies learn that they are important and special just the way they are, even with their rather unique interests. They are finally given a place to flourish and grow. 

There are sooo many layers to this novel. The secrets, the secrets's secrets, the found family, the STEAM, the individualism, the straightforward lessons, the subtle lessons. It's perfect.

This book is slightly reminiscent of the Series of Unfortunate Events series, with the orphans thing and special talents and the sense of steam-punk meets science. Don't forget about the untrustworthy and downright even adults (except for a special few). 

I'm obsessed. You all NEEEEEEEED to check this novel out!! Seriously. Please, I want to talk about it with people. I also need the second book, but I have a feeling that will be a while. :( 

#themillicentquibbschoolofetiquetteforyoungladiesofmadscience #gedwinagandlestick #katemckinnon #childrensbooks #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Textual Confusion

Again, who needs to read ARCs that are due soon (or even things on my (always growing) TBR piles) when you can read an ARC that you were just approved for? Because, when I read Fifer Rose's blurb on her new novel "Textual Confusion," I knew it was an immediate read.

["I need you tomorrow.
Same time and place as last week.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Who dis?
Did I f*ck you stupid last time? You know.

Between barely scrapping by financially and dealing with a stalker ex-boyfriend, Asher’s life was already problematic enough before randomly receiving a string of texts from an unknown number in the middle night.
He should have just done what a normal person would do and ignore them.
But since when had Asher ever been normal? Besides, based on the not-quite-nudes the guy sent, he was clearly hot.
Against his better judgment, Asher responds – which doesn’t take long to devolve into depraved sexting.
He wasn’t expecting the man to Venmo him an eye-popping amount of cash for his trouble. (Not that he ever got the money. The guy didn’t know who he was – or that he was even another man, for that matter.)
That should have been the end of it. Except they keep texting. And, like the utter moron he is, it doesn’t take long for Asher to catch feelings.
Honestly, he ought to know better than to fall for rich assholes by now.
(Otherwise known as how Asher Kodet, twenty-three-year-old baker extraordinaire, becomes the accidental sugar baby of Markus Kingston, richest, meanest – but actually the frickin’ sweetest – billionaire CEO in all of Seattle.)"]

I looooove the format in here, so much texting. There's also a series of imbedded pictures, though those aren't available on the ARC (which I getttttt, but it also kinda sucks (I want to see those thirst traps, too)).

These two. My fucking god. These two. I can't. I loved them sooooo much!!! D:

The only person who didn't realize that Markus was GONE for Asher the moment they met (possibly sooner) was Asher. And no matter how many times his friends (or Markus) reassured him, Asher still let his insecurities get to him. Granted, Markus wasn't the best at verbal communication either, so..

These two were adorable as hell. Yes, the entire novel was trope-y, but it was beautiful and steamy and utterly perfect. Like Pretty Women had a baby with Cinderella and then you ruled it in sugar. That was this book. 

Trigger Warnings: MC recently out of a controlling relationship, stalking and physical aggression an ex, past drug addiction, past child neglect, feelings of inadequacy, and more.

#grr #gayromancereviews #arcs #arcteammember
#textualconfusion #fiferrose #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lover Boy (The Boys of Apartment 13)

Another day, another arc due at the last minute. Here's "Lover Boy," the second book in Brianna Flores's The Boys of Apartment 13 series. 

["Lover boy Cadence Howard is unlucky in love...

Cade
Kissing my best friend was a stupid mistake. It earned me a few good hits to the face by his hulking boyfriend, Sebastian, and I can admit that I deserved that. Agreeing to let my stepbrother move in is another stupid mistake, and every single day since he moved in feels worse than Sebastian's beefy fists.
Nicolas Aldana has always hated me. His dad marrying my mom ruined his life, and he never lets me forget it. And I hate him too. I don't care how big of a glow-up the guy has had, I. Hate. Him.
But what I don't hate is the way his hands feel wrapped around my neck...

Nic
My life has sucked ever since my dad left me and my mom. My mom fell apart and my dad couldn't care less. Why would he? He had a new wife and a better son to love.
I can't stand my stepmom, but I hate my stepbrother. He's the son my dad loves and the friend everyone wants to be around. That's why living with him has to be temporary. There's just no way I can handle being couped up with him for long.
But there's just something about the way he takes my hate..."]

And another moment where I hate myself for waiting so long to read an ARC. I mean seriously, I've been waiting for this book for FOREVER. I wanted it before I knew it was the second in a series, and I wanted it even more after I read (and fell in love with) "Pretty Boy." You'd think this would teach me a lesson (it hasn't yet--not sure if (or when) that will happen).

Because honestly, this book was amazing. It was a looooot of hate and sooooo much hate-sex, but they eventually figured out some of those weird, swirly feelings and uncomfortable jealous-like thoughts meant they had accidentally fallen in love. Oops. ;) 

This one was a bit darker than the first novel, with the pain play and general hate. Be aware of some of the trigger warnings. Please. The negative thoughts and feelings of insecurities was a strooooong one, as was the depression and depictions of scars from self-harming. Read carefully. 

Also, I want Baby's book now. Like, right now. And Jax's. These twinks/thunks need their HEAs. 

Trigger Warnings: depictions of self harm and scaring (off-page), depictions of chronic pain, depression and anxiety, negative thoughts and feelings involving insecurities, death of a parent (by suicide, off-page), and more. 

#booksirens #arcs #arcteammember
#prettyboy #loverboy #goodboy #lonelyboy #briannaflores #theboysofapartment13 #theboysofapartment13sereies #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Pucking Vamps (Blackmoon University #1)

Here's Aria Clark and JF Miev's "Pucking Vamps." Its the first novel in their new Blackmoon University series.

["Hayden
A college hockey jock rising star? Sexy but dirt-poor?
Yep. That’s me.
I’m the left wing for the Tampa Scarecrows and the charity match in three months will decide my future in the pros. It’s do or die, no second chances.
I bust my ass every day. I don’t date. One-night stands are my jam and no repeats is my motto.
Until I end up living with my last hookup. He needs my help and happens to be a hot-as-sin vampire hotshot.
It’s a no-brainer deal, especially when our chemistry is off the charts.
The only problem? Our arrangement has an expiration date no matter how perfect my vamp Daddy turns out to be.

Leander
An arranged marriage is the last thing I need, but my overprotective aunt won’t take no for an answer. I’ll have to pick a suiter at her ball in three weeks.
Enter Hayden.
What was supposed to be a one-night fling turns into a fake dating situation when he discovers the world of vampires I’m a part of. And it might just get Auntie off my case. All I need to do is keep him around until the ball is over and convince her we are madly in love.
There is only one complication: it turns out that Hayden might be a lot more than just the hot jock I’m letting crash at my place."]

This book was entirely too perfect. The sexual tension, the feeling of rightness, the utter devotion and possessiveness and love. The mutual pining and low (ish) level angst. Everyone else knowing exactly how far gone these two were for each other, even before they did. 

It was sooooo freaking good! I can't. I want more. I want another, right pucking now. 

Plus all of the sweet but spicy nicknames Hadyen had for Leander?!?! Swoooooning. 

Quote of the Day (Hayden): "As if I'm not already addicted to him. What's adding one more reason to the pile, right?"

#booksirens #arcs #arcteammember
#puckingvamps #ariaclark #jfmiev #blackmoonuniversity #blackmoonuniversityseries #blackmoonu #blackmoonuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Notorious Park Avenue Prince (Park Avenue Princes #6)

I'm really not sure what took me sooooo long to read this ARC and why I didn't just read it the day I got it. Anywho, here's Ella Frank's and Brooke Blaine's "Notorious Park Avenue Prince," the sixth and final novel in the Park Avenue Prince's series (but don't worry, a new series is on the way: Park Avenue Kings).

["Who are we?
Like you even need to ask. We’re the seven richer-than-sin legacies causing debauchery at the prestigious Astor University in Manhattan.
Some call us spoiled.
Some call us trouble.
But everyone calls us the Park Avenue Princes. Notorious Park Avenue Prince is the sixth standalone novel in the Park Avenue Princes world.

James “East” Easton
“The Pompous One”
I’m so over college. It was supposed to be the time of our lives, a time of debauchery, but one by one, Cupid aimed his arrow and hit every one of my moron friends.
Relationships.
Could there be anything more soul-sucking and lame? To be tied to one person, and have to think about their…feelings.
Fine. Whatever. I’ll look for my fun elsewhere.
Like that teacher’s assistant who keeps giving me a hard time. I wouldn’t mind shutting him up—with my mouth.
I wonder if I could provoke him into it…

Zac Fletcher
“The Teacher’s Assistant”
There’s only one person in all of Astor University who makes me rethink my decision to be Professor Kingston’s TA—James Easton, the self-proclaimed leader of the Park Avenue Princes.
Pretentious doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s arrogant. Obnoxious. A complete and utter snob.
But when one fiery exchange between us leads to the hottest sex of my life, I find myself coming up with creative ways to shut him up. East isn’t someone I’d ever consider being within the real world, but lucky for me, he doesn’t want anything more than a hookup.
Even better, no one knows. Until the day my boss finds us coming out of the same empty room…together.
East misses nothing. Not the way I blush around “King.” Or the way my body reacts. When he finds out my secret, East makes it his mission to get the three of us together. After all, there’s nothing he likes more than a challenge.
And seducing the enigmatic, impenetrable Professor Kingston? That’s going to be the biggest challenge of all."]

This one starts "in media res" as in, who knows how long East and Zac have been fucking. Because they don't disclose that. So for all we know, they could have been sneaking around, doing their thing (but not having feelings about it) for most of the series. Which is just mind blowing to me, especially as East continues to curse Feelings and Relationships for 90% of the novel (spoiler alert?). 

And add King into the mix?!?! F I R E. Of course, King is the one who puts East in his place. I mean, who else would put East in a corner, or have the audacity to ignore him, or call him "little prince" and still breathe?!?! King. And the confidence he gives to Zac?!?! This throuple/triad was meant to me, utter perfection disguised by power dynamics and sexual tension. 

I can't with these three! D: They're explosive and perfect. And the other prince's reactions to all of this??? Priceless. 

King was the PERFECT segue and introduction to the Park Avenue Kings series. I mean, holy fuck. Wow. Just wow. I can't. I'm so freaking excited to meet the rest of the [redacted]!! 

#forewordprandmarketing #arcs #arcteammember
#infamous #infamousparkavenueprince #insatiable #insatiableparkavenueprince #scandalous #scandalousparkavenueprince #posessive #posessiveparkavenueprince #salacious #salaciousparkavenueprince #notorious #notoriousparkavenueprince #parkavenueprinces #parkavenueprincesseries #parkavenuekings #parkavenuekingsseries #ellafrank #brookeblaine #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

His Master (Omegas After Dark #3)

It feels like its been FOREVER since the last Omega's After Dark book came out, but MM Farmer's been busy. ANYway, here's the third novel in her series: "His Master."

["Power and wealth aren’t half as seductive as the promise of unexpected true love…
Simon
I had no idea what to expect from my first experiment with the Dark Fantasies Club. A good time that tickled some of my deeper desires? An easy way to indulge during heat without consequences? A chance to explore the more subservient part of my personality? I knew anything was possible.
What I didn’t expect was to end up at the center of someone else’s family drama…or to want to be a part of it with my whole heart.

Victor
Playing around with a random omega from the Dark Fantasies Club was supposed to help me let off some steam, not make me hotter than I’ve ever been before. But Simon isn’t like any other omega, and too big a part of me wants him to belong to me for real. The timing couldn’t be worse, though. Not when, after all these years, my corrupt uncle finally opened a door for me to take over the family business and set it back on the right track.
But doing the right thing with Victory Holdings comes with more danger than I ever thought possible, and when Simon becomes a pawn at the center of the game, I would do anything to protect the omega I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with."]

I can't. I just can't. How can a series be so freaking fluffy and so fucking depraved at the same time? Like seriously!?!? How does MM do it? And not just once, because this is the third book in a row that I've been blow away (in this series).

Simon had to work through some of his own personal insecurities and how his wants/needs can fit into his life and world few. Victor had to work through bettering himself and making up for past mistakes. Turns out, they helped each other grow and heal and accept themselves. ;) 

Add into that some trauma and some threats (and lots of sexy times) and you got yourself a fabulous red. 

Trigger Warnings: blackmail, threats, attempted assault, harassment, and more.

#gayromancereviews #arcs #arcteammember
#hishunter #hiscaptor #hismaster #theiralpha #mmfarmer #omegasafterdark #omegasafterdarkseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues (The Swifts #2)

It took me forever to finally get to this, but here we are! Beth Lincoln's "The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues."

["Shenanigan Swift is headed to Paris, where new mysteries and new relatives await. The hilarious, quick-witted sequel to Beth Lincoln’s instant bestseller.

Now that the murderer has been caught and her family is safe, Shenanigan Swift can return her attention to important projects, like combing the lake bottom for the family treasure. But the routine won’t last for long, because a new adventure is about to begin--in Paris. Shenanigan, Phenomena, and their uncle Maelstrom are off to France to unravel the mystery of a strange series of elaborately staged art museum heists."]

I'm still OBSESSED with the names of these family members and how they're just PERFECT for them (or they are perfect for their names--still an undecided chicken-or-egg thing). Their name and the definition of such is so much of their personality. It's hilarious and far too clever. 

I love the word games in this one as well, even if the Martinet's used them against our Swifts. I love how Shenanigan worked through some feelings of abandonment more, and I looooove how the sisters were still so close after the ending of the last novel. 

The mystery itself took a little bit to get started, in my opinion, but once it did, I couldn't put this thing down.

#theswifts #theswiftstheseries #theswiftsadictionaryofscoundrels #adictionaryofscoundrels #theswiftsagalleryofrogues #agalleryofrogues #bethlincoln #thriller #yathriller #murdermystery #yamurdermystery #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks