BDSM

The Missing Orchid by Fia Black (Submissive Beth Mysteries #3)

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 11 Comments

<–The Red Rose (SBM #2)

Title: The Missing Orchid
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: February 2, 2017
Date Started: February 8, 2017
Date Finished: February 20, 2017
Genre(s): Mystery, BDSM, Erotica

Pages: 122
Publication Date: February 3, 2017
Media: Kindle

Lily aka Mistress Orchid needs Beth to help her find the daughter she was forced to give up when she was sixteen. With the help of Jason and Lily, Beth tries to find the girl only to learn she was searching for Lily too. But the happy ending turns tragic when they find the girl only to learn she is missing. Beth and Jason become determined to bring Lily the closure she needs even if that means solving two missing person cases.

This is the third book in Ms. Black’s Submissive Beth series, and I’m happy to say she continues to impress with her mystery, erotica novels.  Each iteration has done something new, but still upholds her paradigm of Beth, the BDSM worker turned successful PI.   The Missing Orchid hits a bit close to home with several characters and their familial issues, and I like where Beth and Jason are heading in terms of a potential partnership.

The end reveal is psychologically sound, and the author seems to be making a great effort to not become stale, formulaic, or boring.  I was half-expecting a particular ending, so I was happy and impressed when that did not occur.

The only issues with the novel are some grammar and spelling errors that could be taken care of with a careful edit.  The Missing Orchid is a swift, fast-paced read that perfect intersperses Beth’s work at the Club with her work on her cases.  It does BDSM the right way in terms of ensuring consent, going over the rules, and participating in after care.  I’ve said before I’m not remotely an expert on that lifestyle, but I understand the basics, and the author is far better at the basics than a certain, unfortunately popular series out there that’s giving many people wrong information.  I want them to read this instead since it’s better written and doesn’t promote abusive relationships.  Ms. Black also manages to leave a little bit of mystery and addition to an overarching theme that I’m sure will be explored in novels to come.

I linked Fia Black’s WordPress site above under her author name, and she has an excerpt for the next book right here (Warning: Graphic descriptions of torture).

4 stars.

<–The Red Rose (SBM #2)

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The State of the Reader: 2/8/17

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 22 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 2/1/17          The State of the Reader: 2/15/17–>

A weekly post updated every Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and where I am with them in addition to what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads to make it easier for interested parties to add any books that might strike their fancy.  I attempt to use the covers for the edition I’m reading, and I’ll mention if this is not the case.  If you have a Goodreads account feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Finished This Week: 1

Title: Rest in Piece
Author: B. W. Ginsburg
Date Added: December 12, 2016
Date Started: January 22, 2017
Date Finished: February 6, 2017
Reading Duration: 16 days

I’ll be working on a review for this soon.  I’m still a bit backlogged with them.  I’m in the middle of one for The Raven Boys, which I should’ve finished last weekend.  If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to catch up on Ms. Steifvater’s novel and review Ms. Ginsburg’s this one.

Books Purchased: 1

Title: The Missing Orchid
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: February 2, 2017

Media: Kindle
Price: $0.00

Books Currently Reading: 5

Title: The Missing Orchid
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: February 2, 2017
Date Started: February 8, 2017

Media: Kindle
Progress: 5%

This is currently available for free on Amazon, so if you’re interested in erotica and/or mystery, I highly recommend it.  I never really considered myself an erotica reader (I’m not against it, and I’ve even dabbled in writing it), but Ms. Black does what I wish other authors would with the subject matter.

This is the third book in her Submissive Beth Series, and I’m already liking what I’ve read.  The lovely author sent me a gratis copy, but I had some trouble sending it to my Kindle.  It was odd because the format was correct, but I kept getting an error message.

Title: The Illustrated A Brief History of Time/The Universe in a Nutshell
Author: Stephen Hawking
Date Added: June 25, 2016
Date Started: January 2, 2016

Media: Paperback
Progress: 23%

I just started the chapter on black holes and the history of such.  One of the main ideas around black holes is contingent on light being considered both a wave and a particle.  If it’s the latter, that means gravity could have some sort of effect on it, but a large amount of gravity is require in order to have said effect.

Title: The Dream Thieves
Series Title: The Raven Cycle
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Date Added: January 23, 2017
Date Started: January 26, 2017

Media: Kindle
Progress: 28%

Ugh this book is so freaking good.  There’s no quality loss in the second book, and the author never lets up with the surprises.

Title: The Mabinogion Tetralogy
Author: Evangeline Walton
Date Added: August 24, 2014
Date Started: July 31, 2016

Medium: Paperback
Progress: 61%

I am finally in the last section, or Fourth Branch, of this book.  There are three sections, and I’m hoping to finish at least one per month, so I can say I read this compendium in less than a year.

Title: Vassa in the Night
Author: Sarah Porter
Date Added: October 15, 2016
Date Started: January 25, 2017

Media: Hardback
Progress: 20%

I’m giving this book a few more chapters to capture my interest.  I’m currently on Chapter 4 around page 50.  I think I’ll give it until around page 100 before relegating it to the DNF pile.

Fanfictions Finished: 0

Fanfictions Currently Reading: 1

Title: I’m the Darkness, You’re the Starlight
Author: runicmagitek
Fandom: FFVI
Pairing: Celes Chere/Setzer Gabbiani

No updates yet, but I’m still on the lookout for them.

Fanfictions Added to TBR List: 0

Books Added to Goodreads TBR List This Week: 4

Title: The Missing Orchid
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: February 2, 2017

I was graciously given a copy of this by the lovely author; it’s the third book in the series.  I try to keep at least one indie or new author book in my rotation.  This will be the next one after I finish Rest in Piece.

Note: I know this book is in the Purchased and Currently Reading section, which are the more recently updated.  I update the books I add to my TBR list during the week so as not to be overwhelmed in one day.

Title: The Ripper’s Shadow
Series Title: Victorian Mystery
Author: Laura Joh Rowland
Date Added: February 2, 2017

I’ve admitted before that I’ve never really been particularly interested in Jack the Ripper, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be interested in novels about Jack the Ripper.  Since the entire story isn’t known, writers have a duty to fill in the gaps, and this book comes recommended by Kim of By Hook or By Book who gave it 4.5 stars, so I’m sure it’s worth my time.

Title: Behind Her Eyes
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Date Added: February 3, 2017

The fore mentioned Kim of By Hook or By Book recommended this to me on Goodreads, and initially I didn’t add it, because it didn’t quite strike my fancy, and I have plenty of books on my TBR list to get through already, but then I read her review of it, and I’m dying to know what kind of a twist could throw a (former?) librarian for a loop.

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Date Added: February 8, 2017

A pun led me to add this book to my list.  A friend tagged me in the below meme:

dory-in-gray

Once I finished unashamedly giggling, I realized I didn’t have the Wilde work on my TBR list and went to remedy that.

Total Books on Goodreads TBR List: 551
Change from Last Week: +3

Books Added to Goodreads To Be Reread List This Week: 0

What are you currently reading and/or what’s on your radar to read next?  What would you recommend based on my current and recently added?  As always I look forward to your comments and suggestions!

<–The State of the Reader: 2/1/17          The State of the Reader: 2/15/17–>

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The Red Rose by Fia Black (Submissive Beth Mysteries #2)

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 8 Comments

<–The Jade Dragon (SBM #1)                                                 The Missing Orchid (SBM #3)–>

Title: The Red Rose
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Genre: Mystery, BDSM
Date Added: August 8, 2016
Date Started: Unknown
Date Finished: August 23, 2016

Pages: 119
Publication Date: August 5, 2015
Media Type: Kindle

Allana Bale dropped off her eight-month-old daughter at her mother’s house and never returned. With a pattern of running away and drug use, her disappearance isn’t given a second look. Until Beth comes along.
Beth, now a professional PI and submissive tries to juggle the two when she is given this missing person’s case. Having to delve into a person’s past can be dangerous but Beth is determined to learn what happened to Allana. Did she run away from the pressures of motherhood or is everything not as it seems?

This is the second book by author Fia Black that I’ve had the pleasure to review.  She provided me with a free copy under no obligation, but I was delighted to have another novel in the Submissive Beth Mysteries series to read.

The main character Beth remains just as intriguing with her “day” work as a PI and her “night” work as a submissive.  If you are not well-versed in the BDSM world, this is a far better series to set your sights on than some others.  It’s incredibly sex positive and non-shaming in addition to presenting BDSM with all the rules of consent in place.

As in the first novel The Jade Dragon, the missing person is someone of “ill repute,” a recovering drug addict and prostitute who seemingly abandons her eight month old daughter before going off on another bender, but there are numerous factors pointing away from what seems the obvious option, and Beth is more than willing to take this case that the police believe is open and shut  As in Dragon the victim is doubly victimized by utter lack of empathy and justice on the system’s part, the latter of which would’ve stood unless Beth intervened.  What complicates matters is our heroine’s rocky relationship with Detective Reiner whose help she needs in order to work the case.

This mystery is a quick read that uses direct and no nonsense language.  The parts where Beth is working her submissive job are so immersive and fascinating, and as I mentioned above, the novel and series as a whole are very sex positive/non-shaming, which is refreshing and needed.

Miss Black’s style of writing works very well for this genre.  It’s quick and to the point with no unnecessary fluff bogging it down.  Beth does serious work whether or not she’s sleuthing a case or satisfying a client, and in both instances, she always gets results.

4 stars.

<–The Jade Dragon (SBM #1)                                                 The Missing Orchid (SBM #3)–>

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The State of the Reader: 8/24/16

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 16 Comments

<–The State of the Reader: 8/17/16          The State of the Reader: 8/31/16–>

A weekly post updated every Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and where I am with them in addition to what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads to make it easier for interested parties to add any books that might strike their fancy.  I attempt to use the covers for the edition I’m reading, and I’ll mention if this is not the case.  If you have a Goodreads account feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Finished This Week: 1

Title: The Red Rose
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: August 8, 2016
Date Started: Unknown
Date Finished: August 23, 2016

This was a nice quick-read mystery that I highly recommend along with the first book in the series The Jade Dragon.  I’ll be writing a full review of this hopefully by the end of the week.

Books Currently Reading: 4
Change from Last Week: +1

Title: The Mystical Qabalah
Author: Dion Fortune
Date Added: August 13, 2012
Date Started: Unknown

Mystical Qabalah, TheMedium: Paperback
Progress: 77%

I finally finished the chapter on Malkuth, and I’m about to start the one on the Qliphoth or Unholy Sephiroth (emanations from the left hand of God).  After that the format of the book changes to be more instruction like for practical workings so I’m not sure how much of that I’m going to read.  We’ll see when we get there.

Title: The Mabinogion Tetralogy
Author: Evangeline Walton
Date Added: August 24, 2014
Date Started: July 31, 2016

Medium: Paperback
Progress: 7%

I read two and a half chapters in one setting this week instead of my customary one.  This compendium continues to delight.  Ms. Walton has a wonderful way with language.

Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Series Title: Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Date Added: May 11, 2016
Date Started: August 24, 2016

Medium: Paperback
Progress: 13%

I added this book on the May 11, 2016 State of the Reader post.  The instant I picked this volume up in the bookstore a tingle ran through my bones.  I knew it was going to be extraordinary, and I have not been disappointed.  It grips you from even the prologue, which is amazing since prologues are considered out of vogue these days and Ransom Riggs is a new writer, (or rather this is his first published book) so I know the story is fantastic since newbies are usually castigated for making that faux pas (I removed the prologue from my original WIP for that very reason).

This is a mystery that involves a murder, but the murder is only the start.

Title: Sigil
Author: Aidan J. Reid
Date Added: June 9, 2016
Date Started: August 23, 2016

Medium: Kindle
Progress: 10%

I added this book on the June 16, 2016 State of the Reader post.  Like the first story I read by this author, Spectrum (reviewed here), Sigil immediately grips you.  Each chapter so far hangs you on a cliff and you have to see what happens next.  Murder-mystery in a sleepy (Irish) town is certainly something that’s been often done, but the unconventional priest detective puts me in the mind of another unconventional murder-mystery 3 Gates to the Dead by Jonathon Ryan (which I’ve reviewed here).  The author himself is from Northern Ireland so there’s a powerful and authentic voice behind every word.

If you didn’t notice I’m currently reading four books instead of my customary three.  I noticed I was getting a bit of reading done on my Kindle right before bed with The Red Rose.  I’d already decided I was going to read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children next, and realized that since Kindle reading (on my phone at least) doesn’t require a light, I could snatch some pages up before going to sleep.  I used to read from my Kindle prior to jazzercise (back when I was able to go ;_;) and have noticed I can even get some chapters read at work during lunch.  I’m always trying to get as many finished read as possible especially considering I’ve over 500 on my TBR list.  Since I managed to read 10% in only about a day, I think this plan has merit.

Therefore I’ll now be doubling up on my fantasy/general fiction reading since I can have both a physical book and a kindle copy going concurrently.

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The State of the Reader: 8/17/16

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 10 Comments

<–The State of the Writer: 8/10/16          The State of the Writer: 8/24/16–>

A weekly post updated every Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and where I am with them in addition to what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list.  Title links go to Goodreads to make it easier for interested parties to add any books that might strike their fancy.  I attempt to use the covers for the edition I’m reading, and I’ll mention if this is not the case.  If you have a Goodreads account feel free to friend me!  I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.

Books Finished This Week: 0

Books Currently Reading: 3
Change from Last Week: 0

Title: The Mystical Qabalah
Author: Dion Fortune
Date Added: August 13, 2012
Date Started: Unknown

Mystical Qabalah, TheMedium: Paperback
Progress: 73%

I’m still on the chapter about Malkuth. It’s a slow crawl to the finish, but I’m making progress every week, which is something.  It’s been ten years since I’ve attempted to read this book, what are (potentially) ten weeks more?

Title: The Mabinogion Tetralogy
Author: Evangeline Walton
Date Added: August 24, 2014
Date Started: July 31, 2016

Medium: Paperback
Progress: 5%

I considered adding Ms. Walton’s fantasy novel Witch House to my TBR list, but held off for the nonce.  Now that I’m looking, I can see that she has a bunch more stories to her credit.  You may see some of them on my Goodreads added list next week.

This compendium continues to delight.  I’m only reading a chapter with each session, and since the chapters are short, but the book is long, it’s going to take quite a while at this pace.

Title: The Red Rose
Series Title: Submissive Beth Mysteries
Author: Fia Black
Date Added: August 8, 2016
Date Started: Unknown

Medium: Kindle
Progress: 69%

I’m breezing through this book thanks in part to the author’s quick and easy to read style. I didn’t realize how much I’d love that for mysteries, but it fits so much better than the heavy prose I use and am used to for high fantasy.  It’s definitely a stylistic tip I want to remember if/when I try my hand at the genre. I just hit a big point in the narrative the other night. I’m hoping to finish before my update next week.

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The Jade Dragon by Fia Black (Submissive Beth Mysteries #1)

/ The Shameful Narcissist / 2 Comments

The Red Rose (SBM #2)–>

The Jade Dragon is a novel by fellow writer and blogger Fia Black.  I decided to read and review it after seeing her promote the work on her blog.  It is available through Amazon (as linked in the title above) or through Smashwords.  Spoilers will be marked.

This story is the first in the Submissive Beth Mystery Series and the initial offering follows our so named protagonist who is a professional submissive weary of keeping her occupation hidden from her friends.  She decides to to become a private investigator, and her first job is quickly forthcoming when Mistress Jade, the madam of the club she works for, approaches her about investigating a stalker.  Unfortunately, before Beth can even scratch the surface, Jade is found beaten to death with her place in shambles.  It becomes abundantly clear that the police are going to do nothing due to the nature of Jade’s work, so the new made PI decides to open up her own investigation.  With the help of a sort of rogue Detective Reiner, Beth sets out to solve Jade’s murder and discover how deep the rabbit hole goes.

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