Walking alone in a forest, I came upona deer—this was not a vision.It faced me, on its four thin legs,unmoved as a cave paintingbrushed by light. I made myself still.I spoke to it, softly. I can’t rememberwhat I said. The deer regarded me as a god would,eased by my astonishment.Then, slowly, I moved closer, and […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/25/the-deer-ama-codjoe/
Long ago, I find the housewith one blazing window and sneak upto peek in: there are my parents in each other’s armsnaked in the rumpled bed, mouths locked, eyesradiant like the glass. I put my ear to the sashto listen but the pane thrums and the cat Jupitercomes padding: Am I a sparrow? A grasshopper?I […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/25/the-extinct-d-nurkse/
for Dmitry Golynko You are leaving with all these poems. You are leaving. An over-the-shoulder bag is over your shoulder.And the river is leaving. It is making its unwavering way to no longer being a river.It is moving among façades that are neither moving nor moved.They are repeating like stanzas in a serial poem where […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/25/farewell-poem-eugene-ostashevsky/
We can change a face, change a gender, change a race, change a voice; produce the true illusion of someone speaking words they never spoke; sell tickets for events at which dead people will sing and dance for our delectation. Why, it’s almost as if we were alive to see them do it. What can […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/25/bewitched-by-goethe-conversations-with-goethe-eckermann/
1. In the mid-Aughts, advocacy groups for sexual assault survivors began to publish guidelines for journalists covering sexual violence. “Reporting Sexual Assault: A Guide for Journalists,” produced by the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, came out online in 2004. “Reporting on Rape and Sexual Violence,” a forty-page media “toolkit,” was issued by the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/05/25/the-limits-of-language-she-said-women-talking/
The Chimera Bounty by Ember Holt is the first novel in the romance fantasy series Fae Prison: Earth. Maeve, a student, journalist and bartender, has her world turns upside down when Corvin, a sexy & mysterious stranger, sits at the end of the bar. The tale that unfolds was action-packed and swoon-worthy as Maeve discovers everything she knows about our existence is wrong.
The Chimera Bounty
by Ember Holt
Series: Fae Prison: Earth #1
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Fae Rabies is a thing, and Corvin has it. Maeve is looking for the hottest story to uncover, and Corvin has that too…as well as several other things Maeve would like to uncover.
Before meeting Corvin, Maeve’s penniless investigative journalist days were on wash, rinse, repeat: gym, latte, class, bar job, and madly slamming her keyboard in between. When the tall, handsome shifter pulls back the veil, revealing that she too is a Fae shapeshifter, everything changes.
Now Maeve is tangled up with a Naga crime lord who’s demanding Corvin finish his mission. But given his “Fraebies,” Corvin’s magic is too dangerous to use and he’s forced to leverage Maeve’s investigative skills to find his quarry: a doctor that can cure him.
Maeve’s life is on a new trajectory. The grumpy, smoldering Corvin will teach her magic as they hunt down the bounty, and she’ll get a killer story out of it—Hopefully not too killer.
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2023-05-04T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “The Chimera Bounty by Ember Holt is the first novel in the romance fantasy series Fae Prison: Earth. Maeve, a student, journalist and bartender, has her world turns upside down when Corvin, a sex”,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/05/the-chimera-bounty-by-ember-holt.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “The Chimera Bounty”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Ember Holt”,
“sameAs”: “https://www.emberholtwrites.com/” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: 4,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
The Chimera Bounty pulled me in from the beginning with its easy flow and world-building that unfolded as Maeve learned about Corvin and the world she lives in. With a nod to video games and Jumanji, I quickly devoured the story and look forward to the next novel in the Fae Prison: Earth series.
Maeve is a twenty-something college student majoring in journalism who is currently investigating missing girls from a local nightclub in her spare time. She is working at a local bar and is tending tables at the bar when Corvin comes in. He keeps staring at her and the bangle she wears on her arm. The only thing she has of her mother’s.
The tale that unfolds brings danger, passion and discovery when Corvin is attacked outside her mobile home and Maeve in an effort to save him unlocks some weird powers. Corvin is looking for his brother and Maeve agrees to use her journalist skills to find him, IF he teaches her to unlock new skills.
The world-building was fascinating and included shifters, magic, the FAE, and aliens from other worlds. Earth and our creation isn’t what you think and magic has been suppressed, but i’ll leave you to discover that when you read this addictive tale.
The romance was swoony and involves fated mates. I loved Maeve and her fearless attitude. Corvin is a warrior who has been exposed to biological warfare and has some serious skills. I thought they made a brilliant match and was rooting for them.
Fans of fantasy & paranormal romance with shifters, and the Fae will want to check out this clever, addictive start to the series.
Amazon*
*KindleUnlimited
Ember loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too. When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well. Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/05/the-chimera-bounty-by-ember-holt.html
Breakage, authored by David-Michael Harding, is a captivating novel that introduces us to Donnie Chariot, a semi-retired mob boss and horse-betting legend who, unfortunately, receives a devastating diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This diagnosis is especially devastating considering his line of work as a lynchpin in the horse racing bookie world. As his health begins to deteriorate, he makes costly mistakes, leading to his granddaughter, Alexis, being kidnapped as leverage. Donnie must team up with his estranged daughter, Donna, to recoup the losses and save his reputation.
Harding masterfully weaves an intricate, fast-paced crime-drama that immerses the reader in the shady underworld of horse racing and the empire of Donnie Chariot, aka “The Book.” Donnie’s uncanny ability to predict outcomes has earned him millions of dollars and formidable power, inspiring both fear and envy. Although Donnie claims to have changed his ways, he finds himself a victim of his health and isolation. The author does an excellent job of creating relatable and engaging characters like Donnie, his daughter Donna, his granddaughter Alexis, and Donnie’s loyal henchmen, Nicky, Frank, and Mr. Abreu. These characters and their interactions add depth to the story and provide readers with intrigue, drama, and a range of emotions to enjoy. The plot is straightforward, with some unexpected twists, and is narrated from multiple viewpoints, contributing to its swift pace. However, readers unfamiliar with horse racing may find some of the racing jargon confusing. Additionally, the ending may feel rushed due to the quick resolution after the extended buildup of the conflict. Finally, as this novel centers on organized crime, readers should also anticipate some graphic violence.
Overall, the author succeeds in creating a fascinating and immersive world of horse racing and its criminal underbelly, offering a unique perspective from the vantage point of an aging man past his prime and the individuals who become entangled in his orbit. Breakage is the perfect read for those looking for a suspenseful crime thriller with interesting character development and relationships.
Pages: 345 | ASIN : B0C11T1NLG
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/04/breakage/
A shy older dog with a big scar on his forehead winds up in a shelter. He doesn’t know why he was abandoned by his family, but he is now afraid to trust anyone else. Then, one night he has a dream, and in it, a dog with golden eyes tells him that he has been chosen to go to a special forever home. His new mommy and daddy will show up the next day, and all Charley has to do is show them all the love in his heart. So Charley does, and sure enough, the new people take him home. On his first night with his new family, he sees a quilt that he wants to put on his bed, but he is told this quilt is not for him. He is sad but accepts this. Still, he often thinks of the soft quilt. Soon his new family sends him off to a special training camp, where he learns how to become a service dog for his mommy. He now has an important job, and when he gets home, a surprise is waiting just for him.
A Quilt for Charley is a beautifully written children’s book and is based on a true story. Author Sharon Winters shares Charley’s story with readers, and Toby Mikle illustrates the story with whimsical drawings that will leave readers of all ages smiling. This picture book teaches children that just because an animal is older or does not look perfect does not mean they have no value or do not deserve love and a home. Charley was older and had a scar on his face, but his heart and willingness to work made him the perfect dog for the couple in this story.
Children and adults will enjoy the picture book A Quilt for Charley with its heartwarming story that leaves you with a feeling of hope. Charley’s story has a happy ending, and with books like this to spread the message of adopting from a shelter and giving older dogs a second chance, more animals will have the opportunity to live the good life with a family that loves them, just like Charley.
Pages: 35 | ASIN : B0BK31YWGL
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/04/a-quilt-for-charley/
In OUT OF WEDLOCK, Jess Freeman, a facial plastic surgeon who refashions the identities of others, knows little of his own identity. Who are his biological parents and could they be the source of his sudden trances, when he drifts off into visionary worlds, by turns radiant and nightmarish? Reality checks—quick bops on the head—are administered by his nurse during delicate surgeries. But fumbling Jess pulls off a superb makeover of a severely injured patient, with a stunning sequel.
Set in Greenwich Village and Santa Fe from 1989 to 2008, Jess’s romantic misadventures echo perils of the heart endured in the days of Edna St. Vincent Millay and D. H. Lawrence, the sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies, and today’s hookup culture. But Jess and his close companions more than endure; whatever their fates, they are sustained by a group loyalty anchored in pluck, buoyancy, and affection. This is a novel of charmed human acts—from feasting and parading to sailing and dancing to yearning and loving to seeking roots and chasing jackrabbits. All these are brought within a brisk narrative of startling recognitions that prove transformative for Jess Freeman and his intimates.
“I read Out of Wedlock at one go, sitting down in the morning to give it a try and not getting up until early evening, when, with a deep sigh of satisfaction, I read the final line. With a plot as screwy as its characters, it charges ahead with manic energy. With all the fun you’re having, you may not be prepared for how deeply Out of Wedlock will end up moving you. Lockridge is our Voltaire and Out of Wedlock is his Candide.”
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of The Mind-Body Problem, Betraying Spinoza, and Plato at the Googleplex; MacArthur Fellowship, National Humanities Medal
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/04/out-of-wedlock-a-novel-the-enigma-quartet/
Monica Brashears debut novel is peculiar and slightly surreal. But it’s also dazzling, full of surprises, and told with a voice that’s unpredictable and — more importantly — one that lingers.
Original source: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171852627/monica-brashears-novel-house-of-cotton-book-review