Category Archives: BHBC

Diary of a Submissive: Pushing it to the Edge

October 18, 2012 By in BHBC, Book Review, Diary of a Submissive, memoir, Sophie Morgan Tags: , , , , , , 4 Comments

Sophie Morgan candidly shares her sexual awakening by pushing the reader to the edge in “Diary of a Submissive.” It was in this memoir in which the author pulls you into the world of BDSM and shows you it through the eyes of a submissive. A gut wrenching hard read but if you make it to the end it is your own just reward for understanding why she is conflicted between pain and pleasure.


This novel was challening  and there were moments when I cringed; reading scenarios of paddling, foot sucking, and hand cuffing.  As the book develops she allows her conquests to push her further breaking her limits.  In my opinion it all seemed exhausting to put forth so much effort into receiving a mind-blowing orgasm as a just reward.

I was left exhausted by the sexual scenarios and her taking her beatings like a “good girl.”  As much as I wanted to understand her world the book became tedious to read after another “take-off your knickers.” At one point I just wanted to exclaim, “Good Grief! Can we move on from the paddling? I have had a very long day!”

“Diary of Submissive” is not for the faint of heart as Sophie Morgan pushes you to the edge by allowing you to glimpse into her world.  It is an eye-opening read to anyone who has ever been curious of the BDSM culture.  Sophie Morgan points out  that being “submissive” is only one small part of her identity and that there is so much more to her than meets the eye.

Come join in on the conversation of Diary of a Submissive at BlogHer Book Club.

“This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.”


Trust Your Eyes

September 8, 2012 By in BHBC, Book Review, Mystery, thriller Tags: , , , , , , 14 Comments

Linwood Barclay’s, Trust Your Eyes, is the story of a man who must come to terms with the death of his father and negotiate through rocky waters with his schizophrenic brother.  The only thing Ray Killbride did not count on was his brother discovering an online murder walking through the streets of New York through  Whirl 360.

It is this story that unravels that leads us it into a world suspense as they attempt to put the pieces together and find out who was the victim in the window.  They begin to unravel the mystery unexpected territory and fall into hot water with the wrong people.

Thomas and Ray must work together to solve the mystery and learn to communicate with each other.  Ray learns the meaning of patience as he struggles with his brothers uniqueness and obsessions with travelling the through the screen of the computer imagining he is a CIA operative.

Trust Your Eyes makes you run through a maze of plot twists and turns leaves you in suspense with every turn of the page.  It the perfect fall thriller on one of  those cold nights when you want to curl up with a warm blanket, a good book, and a nice glass of scotch.

Do you have a good thriller or mystery novel that you are looking to curl up with this fall?

Join in on lively discussions and more at BlogHer Book Club!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns

July 26, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, fiction Tags: , , , , , , 8 Comments

Margaret Dilloway’s The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns  draws the reader into a story of love and friendship.  Gal  is  a lonely biology teacher on Kidney dialysis for over eight years which has slowly taken it’s toll on her spirit. It is her daily routine which involves the tender care and love of her roses which helps to lift the spirits of a tired soul.

The problem for Gal is as much as she works on perfecting her roses she fails to look at the people in her life and only judges them by face value. It is this critical judgement  which forces her to see the world only in black and white.

It is when her niece Riley comes to live with her that forces Gal to realizes  sometimes we need look beyond the façade and into the depths of people’s  hearts.

The moment Gal begins to open her heart she begins to open  the process of friendship and love. It is this friendship which will garner her the support she needs to live a more fulfilled  life that has the  lasting beauty and lingering fragrance of  her roses.

Do you observe the world in black and white? 

Drop by BlogHer Book Club and join in on lively discussions about”The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns.”

 “This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.”

Born Wicked: Do You Stand Out from the Crowd?

April 5, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, Born Wicked, fiction, Jessica Spotswood Tags: , , , , , , , 49 Comments

In Born Wicked, Jessica Spotswood, take us on a  journey to the puritanical past a  dark chapter in American history when women were taken away for witchcraft accused for  merely being different and outspoken.  Cate the oldest of three sisters is forced to hide the secrets of her family in order to survive the perils of being a witch in these dangerous times.

She views her and her sisters fate as a curse which could destroy the core of her family. It is in these times that women are to be seen not heard  powerless to the decisions of the brotherhood. It is at the whim of the brotherhood that can control a women’s fate under the name of God.

Born Wicked  reminds me that superstitions and religion can hold people captive with their beliefs  in defining what is good and evil.

I remember my Grandfather  being an extremely superstitious man and as a young child  I recall several arguments he had with my Mother about the devil controlling the left-hand.

At the end the battle he would always look at me defeated and say “The nuns would never allow this!”

My Mother would walk off in a huff and I was left with a red face wondering what was wrong with  my left hand.

At some point and time we have all considered to Born Wicked by being different, outspoken, or having the wrong last family name. It is at these times when I reflect on the past I thank my lucky stars that I live in a time that accepts me for who I am regardless of my left-hand and out-spoken opinions.

It is only in Kate’s time that she must hide her talents in order to protect herself and family from the brotherhood acting in the orders guised under the will of God.

Join the conversation on Born Wicked with BlogHer Book Club. It’s always lively and full of surprises!

Do you think you were Born Wicked? What character traits make you stand out from the crowd?

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

The Weird Sisters: What is in a Name?

February 20, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, Eleanor Brown, fiction, The Weird Sisters Tags: , , , , , 46 Comments

Eleanor Brown weaves a tale that would make the bard proud in The Weird Sisters. It is a novel about the struggles of coming home, hiding secrets, facing disappointments, and finding a little piece of yourself which may have been lost from the treasured moments of childhood.

Rose, Bean, and Cordelia each have a name to live up too. “We wear our names heavily. And though we have tried to escape their influence, they have seeped into us, and we find ourselves living their patterns again and again.” It is the  patterns of their name which they try to break free of in order move forward in their life.  

As a child growing up I remember reading the meaning of each of my sisters names the oldest meaning Pure Maiden, the middle Little Princess, and by the time I came along I was named the Dark One.

I have always been in awe of my oldest sisters always graceful, elegant, and smart. They each followed their own life paths which have led them great successes.  I was always sauntering behind to catch-up…

As the dark one it is with this  I could relate more  to the youngest sibling Cordelia’s bohemian qualities the need to escape to travel and life the on the road. It was away to distinguish herself in her own right and stumble upon many more of her own quirky foibles.

One of the many things that I loved about this novel is sometimes it is okay to let our guard down and share our deepest secrets with the ones that already know us best.  The Weird Sisters capture the awkward family dynamics, the strength in sisterhood, and the ability to rediscover yourself. It is a truly worth while read which will have you laughing and crying through some of their many challenging moments.

Does your name have meaning? Have you ever questioned your parents judgement in your name? Also  check out more about The Weird Sisters at BlogHer Book Club and join in on the  lively discussions!

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.


Rules of Civility is All That Jazz

August 18, 2011 By in Amor Towles, BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, BlogHer Fiction, Book Review, Books, fiction, Great Books, NaBloPoMo, reading, The Rules of Civility Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Rules of Civility sets the page of New York where the jazz is hopping, the champagne is flowing, and you want to be dancing or under the fella next to you. Amor Towles introduces us into the gritty world of New York society and narrates the story through the eyes of Katey Kontent were she describes the people of her life as a “turn to the kaleidoscope that gave color and passage of my 1938.” It is this changing kaleidoscope of twists, shapes, and colors which makes for a marvelous read.

Check out the rest of my review at BlogHer Book Club.

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