Mace's Awakening by Lisa Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What happens when a straight, human male police officer meets his mate, a gay, homeless younger omega wolf shifter? This is the premise in this book in Lisa Oliver's Stockton Wolves series. I haven't been disappointed in the past by this author and this book continues this trend. For those new to this series, the Stockton pack has an alpha and alpha mate who are police officers and the remainder of the pack is also made up of mated shifters, though they are not all wolves.
Those looking for a lot of hot sex will be somewhat disappointed. There is hot sex but it much more of the story is about two people who have totally different cultures, communication, behaviors and expectations trying to come together when miscommunications keep interfering. Lisa shows a clear understanding of the misunderstandings that can happen between two when they come from two different cultures and know little about the other's culture. We see the same thing happen in everyday life when people meet someone from a different culture and assume that what they say and do mean the same thing to both of them. The rest of the book deals with the suspense of finding and arresting a serial killer.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, hot men in uniforms, M/M romance, shifters and omegas. I loved it and plan to buy my own copy so I can read it over and over.

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Aspertools: The Practical Guide for Understanding and Embracing Asperger's, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Neurodiversity by Harold Reitman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aspertools by Harold Reitman, MD with Pati Fizzano and Rebecca Reitman
5 stars

This book is written by a doctor but this book is written as a father. This book presents the difficulties those with aspergers or other differnet neurological brains. Each chapter presents an issue that those with different brains may have in clear simple language. To make it easier for readers to understand each issue he presents an "imagine this happening to you" thisis followed withan explaination of whatyour person with the aspie brain isexperiencing and clear informationon how to handle the issue. The final two sections are written by Pati Fizzano who is a special education teacher who works with children with different brains and his daughter Rebecca who was diagnosed after college with aspergers but, who was born with multiple brain tumors and survived three brain surgeries.
Pati's section talks about how she uses the tool presented in a setting with real students. Rebecca talks about how she experiences the issue and how the tool works for her or how she deals with the issue.
This book is great for family and friends who have someone with a different brain in ther life. Their brain may be different because they have Asperger's, are on the spectrum, have ADD or ADHD, have a traumatic brain injury or other neurological or psychiatric issues. This book gives the tools for them to have a calmer and more full life.
It is a fast read but I would suggest taking the time to absorb each chapter that fits your unique brained person. I learned quite bit about things that can make life easier for me as I havea traumatic brain injury. Some I already knew, some I knew about but needed the explainations to help me understand how they would help me. I plan to buy a copy of this book for both my family and for the helping professionals that work with me. This is a fantastic and very accessible book providing explanations and tools to understand and help make life easier and more accessable for those with different brains.
I received a free copy of this book fromthe publisher on netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest reveiw.

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Omega Academy by Jules Finley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Omega Academy by Jules Finley
5 Stars

This was a book that I had trouble putting down. The alternate USA where this takes place is a place where the USA needs every benefit they can get to fight their war and win. It is never stated but it appears to be after 9-11 except in this US more than just the Twin Towers were bombed.
A scientist creates a serum that makes supersoldiers, alphas. Extreme poverty leads many young men to sign up to be given the serum for the monetary payout plus what guy doesn't want to be stronger, faster,better than everyone else. But, there is a downside that they are not told about and that is that not all will become alphas, many will become omegas.This book follows identical twin brothers who sign up for the alpha experiment, despite being identical, one becomes alpha while the other becomes omega. We then follow the brother who got the short end of the stick as he goes to the Omega Academy. This is not what he signed up for, he has always been the stronger, more dominate twin.
This story follows him as he attempts to train as an omega to fulfill his part of the two man team. The story explores the rigidity of the military when an unforseen variable requires them to change how they plan to do things. The alpha and omega serum is definitely taking this story into sci-fi or fantasy but the behavior of the military and the scientist are pretty true to what is done today. The idea of changing someone one the genetic level to change their personality and physiology has been explored by many writers but Omega Academy takes it in a direction that is totally unique.
The story is fast paced and well-written. The twin that is the focus of this book is well developed as is the alpha he is drawn to. The other twin is not as well developed but he is developed enough that the reader knows being dominate is a big change for him and that he will do anything for his brother.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Sci-fi, m/m pairings, hot guys and menin uniforms. Though the book is not extremely graphic it does contain scenes that could be triggering to some readers because of this it is most appropriate for New Adult and older. Older teens may be able to handle the dark subject matter and the triggering materials. I loved this story and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

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Born of Betrayal

Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Born of betrayal by Sherrilynn Kenyon

4✨ stars

This book in the series is Fain Hauk's story. He played a minor part in several of the earlier books but it was usually him helping out his brother Dancer. I was really glad to see Fain was getting his own story. Although I really enjoyed this book it isn't one of my favorite books in the series. It was much less action oriented that most of the earlier books. The story was well written and I didn't see any editing errors.
I wish I knew exactly why I didn't like this one as well as many of the others. For me it just seemed to be missing that intangible it factor. It still needs at least 4 stars just based on the story and writing. I am very much a fan of Sherrilyn and her writing. I've read most of all four of her series. She always seems to write the story that I really want to see.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi and romance. The heat factor is fairly low. This book is more about resolving the past than having hot sex every other page. This book focuses on lost trust and rebuilding it and regaining emotional intimacy.

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Been busy reading, and living life. Have 10 reviews to write. Don't think I will do it today. Is getting late and I need to relax so I fall asleep at a reasonable hour. One of the fun things that goes along with head injuries is developing sleep disorders. Most people are lucky enough to get just one. I have both insomnia and h so I either don't sleep or sleep all the time. Can't really treat either because the treatment could push me into the other.
I actually also sleepwalk, talk, sing and have my entire life.

clean scrubbed NYC

Defective by B. Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Defective by B. Austin
5✨ stars

Talk about an interesting dichotomy, the setting of this book is utopian to the majority of the people but to the Outcasts it is dystopian. This is the first book in this series with the main characters being Outcasts. The creep factor is high in this version of the world. The descriptions of the city; its streets, buildings, people and those watching and enforcing the rules make my skin crawl.
This entire world is divided in many ways. Though everyone is supposed to be equal, except the Outcasts, NYC is divided with each of the Burroughs ranked by wealth or poverty of those living within. This book is both dystopian and sci-fi.
The author did a fantastic job at creating this world and the people who live in it. There is much mystery about everything that isn't quite right in this world. This book doesn't end with a cliffhanger but the questions left unanswered will make you want to read the next book. What information is learned just leads to more questions.
I would highly recommend this book. Even when it was creeping me out I was drawn into the story deeply enough to keep reading. This book could be triggering to anyone with PTSD thanks to flashbacks experienced by the main character and other Outcasts.
I received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review from the publisher on netgalley.com

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The Company We Keep

The Company We Keep by Kay Simone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Company We Keep by Kay Simone
5 stars

Kay Simone doesn't disappoint in this latest release. In this thriller she takes us on a journey to an alternate version of the U.S.A. and California. She creates a force that rivals the FBI and an organized crime group that functions as a family. The two men who are her main characters begin as one who is asexual and the other primarily straight with no recent partners.
This book explores the fluidity of gender and sexuality in the setting of a created family. Kay does a great job on exploring this family made up of people who chose to be family. She uses the past to show how they got to where they are now.
Things are not always as appear from the outside and the reader is kept guessing about what is truth and what is not through the book. But through all the action this is at its base a love story. The love between the two men and the love they have for the rest of the company. The acting scenes keep the reader turning pages to see what happen next. I read this in one sitting not taking a break for anything.
I received this book free from the author in return for a fair and honest review.

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Out of Order by Casey Lawrence
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Out of order by Casey Lawrence
4.5 stars
This my first book by Casey Lawrence but it won't be my last. The author did a fantastic job of witing stream of consciousness for the main character. As she tells the story the reader is treated to learning her past life in jumping memories. As the reader follows her memories they learn what lead to what happened to bring her to this point. The memories are labelled by date so it gives the reader some grounding in where in the past or present this section is. Through her memories the reader gets to know her three best friends though they are already dead as the book starts. It was a bit confusing when I began reading since it jumped from date to date giving pieces of memory. I figured out the who and what fairly quickly but being confused at the beginning made me aware some ya readers might have trouble getting into it. Once they get into it they will discovery it is an unique way to hop into the past.
I would recommend this book to teens and YA as well as New Adult. This book is well written and by the time you reach the final chapters you will know and love her best friends.
I received this book free for an honest and fair review from the publisher on netgalley.com

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The Night Screams by Devon McCormack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Night Screams by Devon McCormack
5 stars
This an intense story that is acceptable for older teens and young adults. The author does a great job of handling the negative or less than positive reactions gay teens may receive when coming out or being outed. Both main characters have had bad life experiences but one escaped that when he went to live with his aunt and uncle. He remains a very black and white thinker through much of the book. The other MC is more able to see the shades of gray that make up life. This allows the the author to demonstrate hte willingness of some to learn to be more acccepting an openminded.
Though it is not graphic in discussing the violence that Cal survives the author is able to paint a word picture that makes the reader feel the fear. This book has a very astute handing of the messages. These two young men are survivors. I would be a bit hesitant about recommending this book to younger teens just because of the many bad things that happen both before and during this book. There is very lttle bad language . This is more than just a coming of age story it is a coming to life story.
I received this book for free in return for an honest and fair review from the publisher at netgalley.com.

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craft book

Lazy Crafternoon by Stella Fields
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lazy Crafternoon by Stella Fields
5 stars

This is a great book for a young crafter. The directions were clear and easy to follow. The needed materials are relatively inexpensive and the vast majority or the crafts can be done with minimal adult assistance or supervision.
My only area of concern is that nearly every craft in the book is geared towards girls. Many boys like crafts just as much as girls and so using girl nearly everytime the crafter is mentioned may discourage boys from wanting to do even the gender free crafts. Most of the crafts themselves are gender free or can be used as gifts. I did a couple of the crafts with my nephew and he had a great time. He had no trouble reading the directions and following them.
I would recommend this book to anyone with crafty kids or anyone looking for simple crafts. There a few that I plan to use and I am an experienced crafter.

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Bullet Riddled: The First S.W.A.T. Officer Inside Columbine ... and Beyond
by Grant M. Whitus with Thom Vines
5 stars


This is  an impressive collections of stories about being a police officer and S.W.A.T. officer. It is amazing that the writer survived these encounters alive and well. I was also impressed by the degree of fact checking he did. Every chapter had many footnotes. Most memoirs do not fact check and note where they did the checking. He wanted to get his facts right.
I was impressed that the author was able to be so self aware. He stated at various places that looking back he was  too hard on this or that person. He does not try to assign reasons to the actions of other officers. He takes both credit and blame for the results of each police action.
This book not only gives answers on things such as Columbine it also talks about what was learned and how the author changed how he responded to situations. The author talks honestly about his beliefs and views. He makes no apologies for working to create the best S.W.A.T. team humanly possible.
This is not a book for anyone who is strongly against shoot first to protect other lives or the death penalty. The author is plain speaking when discussing his beliefs and why. Even though I don't share his beliefs I was able to see why he had those beliefs.
I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in the development of present S.W.A.T. methods and anyone interested in Columbine and other police actions that the author was involved with.
I received this book free, in return for a honest review, from Netgalley.com.