AUTHOR JESSICA E. SUBJECT
  • Home Page
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Books
    • City Wishes & Enchanted Dreams
    • Shifter Towers
    • Kaddim Brothers
    • Romance Tales from the Quadrants
    • Galactic Defenders
    • Alien Next Door
    • 1 Night Stand Stories
    • Stand Alones
  • Home Page
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Books
    • City Wishes & Enchanted Dreams
    • Shifter Towers
    • Kaddim Brothers
    • Romance Tales from the Quadrants
    • Galactic Defenders
    • Alien Next Door
    • 1 Night Stand Stories
    • Stand Alones
Search

JESSICA E. SUBJECT

Romance in Alternate Worlds

April 2025 Reads - Autism Awareness/Acceptance/Appreciation Month

5/3/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Below are the books that I finished in April and my thoughts on each. 

I'm not doing any formal reading challenges this year, but because April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance/Appreciation Month, and it's a significant topic for me, I decided to read books with Autism representation this month.

Why is it significant for me? My son is Autistic (diagnosed), as well as my cousin's son. In fact, with the research I've done since his diagnosis, I'm sure it runs in my family. If not for the political controversies and misinformation surrounding Autism, especially during the pandemic and happening now in the country south of us, I would try to get a diagnosis for myself. But it will not help me, and I need to be able to advocate for my son. 

But, I was labeled as "gifted" in school. And for anyone who has been around a bunch of "gifted" kids and done the research into neurodiversity and autism, you'll know that "gifted" is a title given to neurodivergent children who can mask well. Hence why the majority of my class was female. While I'm not sure if everyone of us in my class were neurodivergent, I am certain at least 90% were Autistic and/or an ADHDer. The "gifted" title focused on our neurodivergent strengths, but ignored the ways we struggled, instead telling us often that we "failed to perform to our full potential." I will say that the best thing to come from my "gifted" label was my parents being told that I think differently than others. Some parents are told their "gifted" children are smarter than others, but that is misleading and can lead to many mental health issues. Being told I think differently than others has helped me cope in many situations, but I still have a hard time understanding why some can't see the logic and obvious (to me) future results of certain actions. After my son's diagnosis, it's been an eye-opening experience, not only for me, but also for many in my family. We're learning, and trying our best to find ways to understand and support each other. It's not easy, and we're not perfect, but the knowledge we gain day after day, helps us through it all.

Anyway, it was another great month of reading. I'm not focusing on a theme for May, but in June, I will read for Pride month, and in September I will read books by Indigenous Authors since September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a symbolic day in Canada that recognizes the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools.

Picture
NO ROOM AT DRAGON'S LANDING by Lorelei M. Hart 

Boen and Cyrus's story is full of sweet dragon fun! Both the main characters and the secondary characters add to the charm of the book. Dragon's Landing sounds like a welcoming place to live. And the fact that Boen was a published author with his books about dragons before learning the creatures existed in real life made this story extra special.

*Boen is Autistic-coded.

RULES FOR SECOND CHANCES by Maggie North

This fabulous story by Maggie North felt like reading two books at the same time, in that it was a second chance small town romance, but also felt like women's fiction as the main character went through a journey of self-discovery. Liz knows her marriage is on the rocks. She can blame it on many things, yet simply says she needs to find herself as she heads down the street to her parent's house for some space. Avoiding Tobin is impossible in the small mountain town, especially since they work for the same company and are both preparing for the annual pitch competition. It also doesn't help when Liz learns her improv coach who is supposed to help her have confidence in front of an audience, is her husband's best friend. Or maybe it does. Together, Liz and Tobin work through McHuge's marriage self-help book and learn maybe their marriage is salvageable. But when the pitch competition takes a turn, everything is derailed, and Liz must face some honest truths about herself and those around her if she wants to be happy. I really enjoyed this book, especially how Liz came to the realization that she was autistic and learned whose opinions really mattered in her life. I look forward to reading Stellar and McHuge's story as well!
Picture

Picture
​CAMP DAMASCUS by Chuck Tingle

At first, I wasn't sure about this book. It starts off with a main character who is extremely religious, belonging to a cult-like church. Not something I set out to read. A couple times in the early chapters, I considered not finishing the book. It's very well written, but I had a hard time seeing where the author was going with the story. If not for Camp Damascus being included in some Autism Month posts I saw, I would likely have stopped reading it. But I pushed on, and I'm glad I did. Because the story took a turn I didn't expect with the introductionof a new character, and that's when it pulled me right in. I had to know the truth.

Camp Damascus is a YA horror story about extreme conversion therapy, parents who would rather change their children to meet their own ideals than accept and love them the way they are, and found family whose acceptance is unconditional and who are willing to fight with and for each other. The main character is autistic and lesbian with repressed memories she must recall in order to save herself and others from the demons cast upon them. I don't want to give too much away, but this was a great book to read!

Picture
Books with Autistic Main Characters and by Autistic Authors that I’ve read and recommend:
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - Autistic Character / Autistic Author
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum Edited by Bex Ollerton - comics by Autistic and Neurodivergent Authors and Artists

Books with Autistic Main Characters, many by Autistic Authors that I own but haven’t read yet:
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Somebody to Love by Mariah Ankenman
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
Speak Up by Rebecca Burgess 
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh - pre-ordered

There are many more on my Wish List. Please feel free to share any others I haven’t included so I can make sure they are on my Wish List, too.
0 Comments

March 2025 Reads ~ Canadian Authors

3/31/2025

 
Picture
Below are the books that I finished in March and my thoughts on each. 

I'm not doing any formal reading challenges this year, but due to the trade war and threat to our sovereignty from the leader of our neighbours to the south, I decided to read books from fellow Canadian authors this month.

Anyway, it was another great month of reading, and in April, my reading theme is neurodiversity.

Picture
EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR by E.K. Johnston

Though Exit, Pursued by a Bear deals with the serious subject matters of sexual assault and abortion, I enjoyed this story and believe it to be an essential book for any teenager and older to read. Hermione is not just a cheerleader, but the co-captain of the team, and she's getting ready for her last year of high school before her life changes. But everything changes before she reaches her last year of high school when she is drugged, raped, and left to die at a summer cheer camp. How she deals with the traumatic event and the fallout from it all is what this book is about. Because of Hermione's memory loss from that night and her amazing support system, the story shows her struggles, but also her push to not let herself be seen as a victim. Without those things, this story could have gone much differently, and the author does make note of that in their author's note at the end. I must also say that I have felt a strong connection to both of E.K. Johnston's contemporary YAs, because I grew up and live in the same area, so I can relate to it, and the characters could easily be people I know. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

BUILT OF SECRETS by Jemi Fraser

This book was a wild ride! From the burgeoning heat between Tansy and Sam to the arms dealer after Tansy's top secret project, there was never a dull moment in Built of Secrets. Like the average person, the MCs did have their share of secrets and communication issues, but nothing they couldn't work out. And Sam was determined to keep their communication open in order to keep Tansy safe. I loved the characters, the setting, the story, and how Jemi Fraser set up the entire series in the first book. I'm definitely excited to read more!
Picture

Picture
​KNOWN TO THE VICTIM by K.L. Armstrong

Wow, this book had me going around and around trying to figure out who the main character, Amy, could trust. After the murder of her mother, Amy struggles with her grief, and it's her half-brother who helps her through it. But then he gets framed for attempted murder of his girlfriend, and Amy isn't sure if he's guilty or not. Her podcast about intimate partner violence tells people how to spot red flags in relationships before things become violent, so surely she would see the signs in her brother, right? Or maybe someone set him up. But who? Known to the Victim has so many twists and turns throughout, especially in the second half, right up to the last chapter. I really didn't know what was going to happen, and I'm still a bit shocked, even if the "monster" was hinted at all along. I will definitely read more by this author under this pseudonym and the other one I've enjoyed books written by. 

July 2024 reads...

8/1/2024

 
Picture
Below are the books that I read in July and my thoughts on each one. 

I'm trying to do the Fold Reading Challenge to diversify my reading. In July, I was to read a book translated by an independent Canadian press. I failed. But I did read a diverse collection of books. In August, I'm to read a novel or book of poetry by a Caribbean author. And I've already started reading a book for that.

Picture
MISSING WHITE WOMAN by Kellye Garrett
​
In the beginning of this story, you might think it's a romance. Until it's not. And that's the point where the wild ride begins. Breanna stumbles upon an unalived body in the Airbnb she's staying at, with her boyfriend missing, and the entire internet looking at her. She must deal with her distrust of the police after serving time for a crime she didn't commit, all the assumptions online influencers make about the case, along with being doxxed by their followers, her own family issues, and a former best friend whom she doesn't know if she can trust. Missing White Woman is a fabulous book, and I enjoyed every page of it!​
Picture
PRETTY FURIOUS by E. K. Johnston
Reading Pretty Furious didn't feel like reading a fiction book. It felt like I was reading (or being told) the stories of my friends, or maybe my kid's friends because of the time period, from high school. Why? Because I know this area. I've driven through "Eganston" many times on the way to Goderich, been to the "Londsett" Conservation area, and even driven on some of those side roads. And I cheered these girls on the entire time, as they quietly got back at people for injustices that many of us females are told to keep quiet about, and not make a big deal about. I loved how we got the viewpoint of all five friends and got to know them and their families in such a short period of time! I definitely will read more from E.K. Johnston!

Picture
​DELIVERED TO MY TIGERS by Mazzy J. March
This was a fun story about deception, forgiveness, and finding true love unexpectedly through an app. Plus, I do particularly love sexy tigers shifters! 
Picture
MIDWIFE TO DESTINY by Nana Prah
This is a sweet romance (with Christianity references) about a doctor and nurse who first meet in South Africa while the nurse is on holidays there and needs to be treated for her sprain. The doctor shows her around, and they quickly fall in love. Though nothing comes of it when Ora returns home, they are reunited again three years later while working in Ghana. Jason is sure Ora is the one for him, but Ora must work through her fear of commitment in order for the two of them to find a happy ending together.
<<Previous

    Author

    Jessica E. Subject is a USA Today bestselling author of Sci-Fi and Paranormal Romance.

    Please note: Some links contain affiliate links.

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022

    Categories

    All
    1Night Stand
    2SLGBTQIA
    4 United
    Alien Admirer
    Alien Adoration
    Alien Attraction
    Alien Lover
    Alien Next Door
    Alien Romance
    Apocalypse Romance
    Book Series
    Bryce
    Bunny Omega On The Run
    Christmas Romance
    City Wishes & Enchanted Dreams
    Contest
    Cosmic Desires
    Cover Reveal
    Crash Landing
    Decadent Publishing
    Demon On Jackson Street
    Dystopian
    Event
    Excerpt
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Romance
    First Chapter Friday
    For Writers
    Fox Trapped
    FREE
    Free At Amazon
    Free-read
    Galactic Defenders
    Genj
    Gib-and-the-tibbar
    Giveaway
    Guest Post
    Guest-post
    Her-alien-hero
    Hey-santa
    His-alien-virgin
    His Omega On Stage
    Holiday-romance
    Horror
    It-took-a-zombie-apocalypse
    Jager
    Kaddim Brothers
    Lion's Crossing
    Love-in-a-new-world
    Made-for-her
    Meacutenage
    Memories-of-us
    Mf Romance
    Mink Omega In Hiding
    MM Romance
    Movies And Television
    MPreg
    Never-gonna-let-you-go
    New-adult
    New Release
    New-release
    Once Upon A Dance Club Wish
    Paranormal Romance
    Pika-omega-plus-one
    Polyamorous/Ménage
    Preorder
    Pre Order
    Reading
    Ret
    Romance
    Romance Tales From The Quadrants
    Sale
    Sapphic-romance
    Science Fiction
    Science-fiction
    Scifi Romance
    Sexy-suitors-from-space
    Shifters
    Shifter Towers
    Smashwords
    Suspense
    Taken-by-the-billionaire-alien-next-door
    Tayrym
    Teaser Tuesday
    The-power-of-three
    Thesaurus
    The-underground
    Thriller
    Title-reveal
    Unknown-futures
    Vawn
    Weekend-writing-warriors
    Writing-guide
    Year In Review
    Young-adult
    Zombies

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home Page
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Books
    • City Wishes & Enchanted Dreams
    • Shifter Towers
    • Kaddim Brothers
    • Romance Tales from the Quadrants
    • Galactic Defenders
    • Alien Next Door
    • 1 Night Stand Stories
    • Stand Alones