Whatcha Reading? June 2023, Part One

Beautiful English style garden with comfortable hammock on sunny dayWelcome to a very silly edition of Whatcha Reading!

Lara: I’m reading One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. ( A | BN | K ) It’s a gothic fantasy romance allegedly. So far it’s a little slow, but not slow enough to make me stop reading it. The premise is interesting and there is potential there so I’m sticking with it.

Sarah: I have started A Most Agreeable Murder and it is extremely silly and absurd and I’m turning pages. Or pressing a button to do so, whatever.

Elyse: TikTok got me to read The Coven by Harper L. Woods. ( A ) I’m a little bit confused by the mythology though.

Update: I just finished it. I don’t even know what I read. Fucking TikTok.

A Most Agreeable Murder
A | BN | K
Sarah: Update from me: there are glowing, I presume bioluminescent, frogs. Their glowy slime is likely used for face cream to create a similarly glowy complexion. These frogs are unique to the town and make a lot of noise.

I am reporting in that this book is zany. Zany to the max.

There’s baloney in its slacks.

Shana: Sarah, do you need to be rescued from this novel? Blink once for yes.

Sarah: Lol. It is the definition of unhinged.

I’m trying to write a review and I sound like an 8 year old telling you about a dream I had

Shana: I’ve fallen into a reading vortex and have been spending most of my waking moments with We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian.

When I’m forced into my car to like, go places, the audiobook of Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun pulls me in with some delightful worldbuilding.

Black Sun
A | BN | K | AB
So it’s been a pretty fucking amazing book week

Sneezy: I’ve been wanting to read Rebecca Roanhorse for a while but I’m scared!!!! How intense is it with suspense and horror stuff?

Shana: I am maybe the wrong person to ask because I’m a lightweight when it comes to suspense and I can’t handle horror.

I really liked Trail of Lightning but it had some scary moments I had the skim through. Black Sun is more fantastical and less gritty, so I’m finding it much less stressful.

Sneezy: You’re the exact person I want to ask, I am a lightweight too! This is VERY useful, thank you!

Susan: I’m reading Unnatural by Joanna Chambers, ( A | BN | K ) which is the fourth book in her Enlightenment series. I wasn’t expecting the returning dive into internalised homophobia exacerbated by bad parenting, but it’s fascinating to compare the way it manifests across the series’ protagonists

I’m getting a bit frustrated with the chapters set in the past though. Please, I just want Iain Sinclair to not make the worst choice available. Just once. Please.

So, whatcha reading? Let us know below!

Comments are Closed

  1. PurpleJen says:

    Just finished Cat Sebastian’s WE COULD BE SO GOOD. Ah, the yearning. Such good yearning. I’ve never been disappointed in a Cat Sebastian book.

    Also read:

    Grace Callaway’s GLORY AND THE MASTER OF SHADOWS. Picked this up after it was featured in the most recent Cover Awe post. Loved it! Hadn’t read any of the prior books in the series (this being book 4), but but guessed it wouldn’t be a problem and it wasn’t. I loved how playfully this historical romance was inspired by Charlie’s Angels. Such a fun idea! It handled the heavier subjects (specifically the hero wanting to avenge his family’s deaths) quite well I thought, and this couple… they are just so wonderful. Love them. I will definitely read more of the series.

  2. FashionablyEvil says:

    Reading has been slower of late due to going back to work from maternity leave (sigh) and just general life stuff going on. That said:

    WHO CRIES FOR THE LOST was a solid entry in the Sebastian St. Cyr series (#18). C.S. Harris doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts of the Regency period (and, boy, are there a lot) so it makes an interesting contrast to most Regency romances. Really enjoy Sebastian and Hero together and this one makes the most of them.

    I also enjoyed Olivia Atwater’s TEN THOUSAND STITCHES which is a spin on Cinderella that addresses some of the more problematic aspects of the original tale (i.e., that Cinderella deserves rescuing because she’s actually nobility and the fact that she and the prince don’t really know each other.) Lord Blackthorn, the fairy godmother character, is a delight. Will be back for the next book in this series.

    Currently reading Sherry Thomas’s A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN which has been on my TBR for ages. I hadn’t read it because my library only has it on audio (??) and it was kind of expensive to buy as an ebook. But! I had a credit on Amazon and decided to go for it and am glad that I did. Charlotte has just met Watson and I’m excited to see how their relationship develops.

    After that, my holds on the new India Holton and Rebecca Yarros’s FOURTH WING have both come in from the library so will be diving in.

  3. Jill Q. says:

    Not a lot of reads, but all of them I really enjoyed

    ALWAYS ONLY YOU by Chloe Liese – It seems like I’ve been meaning to read this forever, but the 1st book in the series was okay, not great, so I kept dragging my feet on this one. I’m so glad I finally read it. Sweet, cinnamon roll hockey playing hero who provides the sunshine. Grumpy heroine who has a squishy center and good reasons to be grumpy. I love when the heroine is the grumpy one in a sunshine grumpy pairing. Fairly light and breezy but grounded in real emotions and interesting pop culture references. My favorite type of read.

    PLAYING IT SAFE by Amanda Weaver. I’m so glad Amanda recommended this series in one of her Get Recc’ed columns. Historical mystery series set in England during WWII. The heroine is Electra McDonnell. She is a safecracker from a family of disreputable types who is now doing her part of the war effort. Her handler is a buttoned up upper crust spy. Of course, they are always stumbling over dead bodies and trying to solve crimes. There’s two continuing plot threads, one a romance (and somewhat love triangle) which is giving me SCARECROW AND MRS KING vibes (my husband commented that is high praise coming from me!) and the mystery of what exactly was going on in Electra’s past with her parents. I feel like the author is doing a good job with both these plot threads, doling out just enough to keep us intrigued without overshadowing the mystery or erasing progress from the last book.

    GLOBAL by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano. Another one of son’s selections in Mother-Son Book Club. This was a very gripping middle reader/young adult graphic novel that has two overlapping storylines of two children, halfway across the world from each other, confronting climate change in their communities. The 11 year old loved it and I did too, but I think I found it more scary than my son did. Mostly b/c one of the storylines was about a grandfather and grandson trying to eke out a living as fishermen on the Indian Ocean. The level of hardship they go through to survive is just heartbreaking. I think my son saw it as part of a big adventure. As an adult, my heart went out so much for the grandfather who is doing his best to protect and care for his grandson. The book is not a sad one, at all. It very much ends on a positive note, but it’s an intense ride to get there.

    I think I’ve decided this is going to be “the summer of the short story” for me. I may not be around much for Whatcha Reading since I tend to flit around and not read whole anthologies cover to cover. I’ll still be reading some books in Italian, some nonfiction and the occasional kids book if son asks nicely 😉 so maybe if I can find something interesting to say about those things, I’ll stop by. Everybody, have a great summer!

  4. Escapeologist says:

    @JillQ: “I love when the heroine is the grumpy one in a sunshine grumpy pairing.” Someone mentioned in a books on sale post that Role Play by Cathy Yardley has that trope. It’s on Amazon first reads (free) until official release in July.
    P.S. I also enjoyed Always Only You.

    Now back to my regularly scheduled programming of cozy fantasies:

    Ray and the Cat Thing: a contemporary cozy fantasy by Masha du Toit – young woman calls off her wedding, goes to photography camp in the woods (in South Africa), meets new friends and a supernatural cat, stumbles across a mysterious gate and more unexpected discoveries. A bit of romance but it’s mostly about the heroine’s personal growth. Quiet introspective moments, found family, cozy vibes and a unique fantasy plot. Bonus: photography fun facts.

    Goblins Wear Suits by K. M. Shea (book 2 of 2 in the Magical Beings Rehabilitation Center) – picked up the box set on sale, it’s also in Kindle unlimited. Light and fluffy YA paranormal adventure, with a bit more romance in this installment, also more plot armor and fan service. Fun enough if not taken too seriously.

    Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos – currently in the middle of this one, not sure if I’ll continue. The fantasy world is interesting but I’m not connecting with the characters.
    Side note, to me this has a very French flavor to the prose, something about the turns of phrase that comes through even in translation.

    The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales – a fantasy anthology with stories by Holly Black, Delia Sherman, Patricia McKillip, Theodora Goss, Caroline Stevermer and many more. Edited by the duo Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling who consistently do a great job with these themed collections.

    Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth – anthology of fantasy stories about plants and people growing in unexpected ways. Only read the first one so far, loved it.

    Unreal Alchemy: book 1 of Beladonna U by Tansy Rayner Roberts ($0.99 and in kindle unlimited). I recently picked this up on recommendation from r/cozyfantasy and read it twice in two days. Who needs sleep when there’s bad decisions book club… Set in a magical version of contemporary Australia, fun witchy college shenanigans with a lot of snark and pop culture references. Surprisingly heartwarming in the end, the friendships gave me warm fuzzies. Not a romance, though plenty of people hook up and break up (m/m, m/f, f/f). Starts off a bit confusing with a lot of characters and plot threads, I promise it makes more sense as it goes along and it’s even better on a reread.

    Tea and Sympathetic Magic by Tansy Rayner Roberts is also $0.99 on Kindle. This is book 1 of Teacup Magic, fun regency-ish novella with a light mystery and a romance (m/f).

  5. I’m still reading through the Protector of the Small series by Tamora Pierce. Up next is LADY KNIGHT, and I’m wondering if Pierce will bring back a character from a previous book. I also have TEMPESTS AND SLAUGHTER from her Numair Chronicles series to read.

    Also on my TBR pile are THE WITCH COLLECTOR by Charissa Weaks and BEHIND THE THRONE by K. B. Wagers.

    Hope everyone has a good weekend! 🙂

  6. Big K says:

    Hey, Smart Bitches!
    My 16 YO daughter organized a book bingo chart for our family’s summer reading. Each family member submitted 5 book categories, and there are prizes for completing a row, column, whole thing, etc. Prizes include getting to choose a movie, meal, or outing for the family – so more experiential, not stuff. Her goal is to get us all reading books we might not otherwise read. Obv. I am giddy about the whole thing. Highly recommend trying something similar with your friends or family – it is worth it for the bookish trash talking alone.
    Enjoyed THE SOCERESS TRANSCENDENT by Casey Blair. M/F fantasy novella. My only criticism would be it was over too quickly. I will keep an eye out for this author in the future.
    WITCH KING by Martha Wells was EXCELLENT! Not a romance, fantasy, lots of found family. I know many SBs love MW, and this book will not disappoint. As in MURDERBOT, MW has delivered a slightly removed, yet loyal and compassionate, main character working to make things right in a complex world. Give yourselves time to unravel exactly how all the characters and kingdoms intersect – the payoff is definitely worth it. Hope that she writes some more books in the series, and I’m sure I will reread this one very soon.
    Hope all are well! Things have been very smoky here in the Northeast, which is scary and lousy. Stay safe, everyone!

  7. kkw says:

    @shana I initially read “most of my waking moments with We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian” with an extra n in waking and I thought, huh, it was definitely the best thing I have read recently but I didn’t think it was *that* hot.

    The only other good (new) book I have to mention is BITTER MEDICINE by Mia Tsai. Cannot wait for more in what I at least am determined is the next popular fantasy series, even though I have no idea if it’s popular or a series. Definitely fantastic in both senses of the word anyway.

    I had to add a little NK Jemisin into my habitual KJ Charles comfort reading, because after the Cat Sebastian I needed more New York as a character but make it a better universe please stories.

  8. DiscoDollyDeb says:

    Zoe York’s very good REBEL AT HEART brings to a close her Kinkaids of Pine Harbour series and features one of my favorite (and least-utilized) tropes: “Oops, we’re still married!” Several years ago, Josh Kinkaid was working as a mechanic on the race car circuit with dreams of racing his own cars one day. Then he fell for Monica, his wealthy boss’s daughter. Elopement and a magical two-week honeymoon happened before it all came crashing down, leaving Josh to hightail it back to Pine Harbour. Now Josh spends his days changing oil and rotating tires at his garage, trying to forget that his marriage ever happened. But then Monica shows up: turns out the couple’s quickie divorce never went through and the two of them are still legally married. Oh noes! What will they do? If you guessed that they will ignite the spark that never went out, you’re right. Because “there was no right way to end a marriage that had never happened”, Monica & Josh decide to spend a few days experiencing the married life they never had—helped by a sudden storm that keeps them snowbound in Josh’s apartment. What I liked so much about REBEL AT HEART was how it squarely faced regrets and the melancholy of lost chances: as Monica says, “it’s never logic that holds on to past mistakes. Only emotion.” The book is also seriously hot—much hotter than most Zoe York books—with some scenes more in line with the erotic romances York publishes as Ainsley Booth than York’s generally more sedate stories. REBEL AT HEART is the complete package: melancholy, angsty, hot, and a great story. It’s one of my favorite books of 2023. Highly recommended.

    Most HPs would hand-wave a set-up that featured a man badly injured in a helicopter crash in the outback being rescued by a woman who just happened to be in the area documenting native plants, but Kelly Hunter leans into this premise in her excellent CINDERELLA AND THE OUTBACK BILLIONAIRE. It takes more than 20% of the book to establish the MCs and their relationship to each other: Reid, who crashes the helicopter he was piloting during a dust storm (he was the only person on board), and Ari, a botanist who witnesses the crash and saves his life. As Ari works to keep Reid alive (and to keep them both safe from the encroaching dust), we learn about each of them (although we don’t discover there’s a connection between them until later in the book). After Reid is rescued (while Ari is away looking for help), he spends the next few months rehabilitating and trying desperately to find the woman who saved him, but when Ari is finally “found”, Reid realizes that he doesn’t want her to know the extent of his injuries or that some of them are permanent—but no relationship can thrive when a person is not being honest with his partner or with himself. Vivid descriptions of the Australian Outback and nuanced character development combine to make CINDERELLA AND THE OUTBACK BILLIONAIRE one of the best-written books I’ve read this year and several cuts above the standard HP. Highly recommended.

    Marley Valentine’s WHAT WE BROKE is an uber-melancholy m/m romance about a supposedly strong marriage that disintegrates after the couple experience a tragic loss (I don’t want to spoil the book, so check the content warnings to make sure the topic will not be too upsetting for you to read). One of the things Valentine does so well is show that, while Jessie & Leo’s marriage looked strong from the outside, the couple have been papering over differences and fissures for many years—and one devastating event caused their relationship to implode. Jessie’s caretaker personality means he doesn’t always take care of his own needs, which becomes a huge problem when he needs comfort. And Leo’s belief that no one wants the “real Leo” leads him to self-destructive behaviors to prove himself right. As the story goes back in time to the couple’s meeting and their eventual marriage, we witness their relationship develop and blossom, and we also come to know Jessie’s young daughter and his supportive ex. Jessie and Leo each have their own reasons for agreeing to attend couples therapy, and there will be some major hurdles to surmount if Jessie & Leo’s marriage is to survive. WHAT WE BROKE explores loss, grief, pain, and hard-won joy—I liked it, but it does deal with some heavy topics, and there were moments when I really wondered how the MCs would get to an HEA. Recommended—if (like me) downbeat and angsty is your jam.

    GOOD AS GOLD is the latest book in Sarina Bowen’s Vermont-set True North series. It’s the story of childhood friends Leila and Matteo who have scarcely seen each other in 20 years and what happens when Leila (her biological clock ticking) asks Matteo to be the father of her child. Well, there’s more to it than that—including a lot of check-ins with previous characters from the True North books, particularly the Rossi clan—but this is essentially a story of missed connections and bad timings and how wonderful things can be when all the stars finally align. Bowen’s writing is, as always, solid, and there are subplots about craft beer and Leila’s difficult father and even worse ex-husband (although Bowen manages to redeem the ex somewhat by the end of the book), but the focus stays primarily on Matteo & Leila and how they move from clueless teenagers, unaware of their mutual crushes on each other, to fully-formed adults in their late-thirties who are ready for a mature relationship. Recommended.

    Caitlin Crews’s latest HP, WHAT HER SICILIAN HUSBAND DESIRES, is a rather spare story of a woman who has been (platonically) married to her erstwhile-stepbrother for a number of years and what happens when he decides it’s time for them to be a “true” married couple. WHSHD is very much cut from the “emotionally-frozen hero/emotionally self-aware heroine” template Crews excels in. There’s not much action in the book—a solid half of it takes place in one location over the course of a few days—because most of the actual action is on an emotional level where change is agonizingly hard and often requires accepting that the people (i.e., parents, particularly fathers) who were supposed to have our best interests at heart didn’t. WHAT HER SICILIAN HUSBAND DESIRES is very much a “Caitlin Crews HP”, and, if you’re down with that, I certainly recommend it.

  9. catscatscats says:

    Just inhaled The Hands of the Emperor. Obviously, I enjoyed it to make it through, but there was a lot of world-building that was lost on me (the Fall etc). I’ve bounced off Goddard before though so I’m glad to have enjoyed it. Refreshed myself with two Elsie Oxenham school stories (the Sussex set) and then went back to Goddard’s brief prequel, Petty Treason. Now started a Blessings book after the podcast reminder of them, but have that nagging feeling that I’ve read it before.

    Was glad to see there is a new Jenny Crusie / Bob Mayer out next month.

    I would also recommend Ray and the Cat Thing.

  10. Empress of Blandings says:

    I haven’t done one of these for ages – I had a busy patch where I didn’t have the spoons to put the list together, then just got out of the habit.

    At one point, I needed something very gentle and comfortable, so went through several Mary Burchells (drama in opera and in love!) and Betty Neels (clueless but stiff-upper-lipped British heroines, reserved Dutch doctor heroes. Often a child will be rescued by the h, raising the H’s admiration to new heights). And then I thought I’d try some Charlotte Lamb and YIKES on bikes was that a change in tone.

    It was like trundling along a quiet country lane in a nice old vintage motor and then suddenly you’re driving an armoured car covered in spikes through the middle of a Mad Max road battle and someone is standing on the roof playing a flaming saxophone. Some of Lamb’s books are insightful, and some are utterly banana pants and some have the most awful things happening to the h, and some books have all three at the same time. Weirdly compulsive reading. Some very old skool sometimes with more modern thinking starting to surface. Proceed with caution.

    Tried AMERICAN QUEEN by Sierra Simone. As I mentioned in a sale books post, I found it a bit ploddy and it took itself and its mythology a bit too seriously. I have read books by Simone before and enjoyed them, just not this one. For a different take, I liked Kneel Mr President by Lauren Gallagher with a similar set up but less angsty – an MMF romance where one of the ‘M’s is the US president. In this one however, the President is a sub, for a change, because letting someone else take charge has been one of the few moments of respite from the constant, crushing pressures of his career.

    Very much enjoyed Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly. A snappy, funny murder mystery set in 1920s Hollywood.

    HIS CURVY REJECTED MATE – Cate C Wells. The h is fat, the butt of everyone else’s ‘jokes’, and definitely on the lowest rung of the pack ladder, and after being rejected by the H, decides to leave and find somewhere she’ll be appreciated and cared about. The H follows her to try and persuade her to return, but discovers that his own life could have a wider scope. I don’t think I’ve read a duff one from Wells, although some seem to have a bit more meat on than others. This one didn’t seem to have as many levels of conflict and emotion that the first in the series did, but was still spot on about the way people see and value each other, how an upbringing can put limits on a person, and how messages of unworthiness get internalised, even when you know they’re wrong.

    A few Karla Sorensens – they didn’t hit the spot for me. The storylines just felt a bit thin – I never felt like the problems the couples overcame were especially difficult or interesting. Claire Kingsley does this sort of thing better, and Kate Canterbury better still.

  11. SaraGale says:

    Sometimes I just love reading these (and this site overall) because I realize I’m surrounded by folks who also cannot seem to pull their eyes from the pages of a book!!!

    I’ve found my way back into historical romance, mostly rereading, Kerrigan Byrne’s VICTORIAN REBELS, Kelly Bowen’s – pretty much anything – though currently on the second DEVILS OF DOVER book. Love the way her books subvert the assumptions about women’s roles and abilities in their time.

    I went back to Julie Ann Long’s PALACE OF ROGUES – cause I DNF I’M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU, cause I couldn’t stomach the FMC the first time. I’m so glad I so tried again because I found that book to be a beautiful read – totally cried at multiple parts. Love the homey feel of that series. Reminds me of INNKEEPER CHRONICLES – with the found family/beloved characters featured in each book. Didn’t totally love the 4th book but it was good enough. Reading those brought me back to PENNYROYAL GREEN – to read my favorites, WHAT I DID FOR THE DUKE, I KISSED AN EARL, and IT STARTED WITH A SCANDAL (that’s by far my fave. I adore the banter and humor of the leads.

    As I drive between patient visits and putter around gardening, I’m listening to Deanna Raybourn’s VERONICA SPEEDWELL books, these audio books have been a revelation in how the books can truly take on a personality and life if read by a great voice talent, Angele Masters is totally one of those talents. I don’t think I’ll be able to read those books on the page after listening. Love her Veronica.

    I have Olivia Atwater’s HALF A SOUL, in my TBR pile from the library, it’s always intrigued me so I grabbed it. Trying to get myself into the physical library more, though my paper books keep my husband awake with all that loud page turning ; )

    Happy summer reading everyone!!

  12. HeatherS says:

    I’ve been lingering over “We Could Be So Good” by Cat Sebastian. I ended up in the Bad Decisions Book Club last night while reading it because I just needed to see what happened next. I made myself put it down sometime after 1 AM because I’m working today and sleep was necessary. I have about 40 pages left, but am rather firmly of the opinion that this may be the best book Cat has done. (I’m a huge fan of her since her first book was published and I’ve read almost everything she’s written – I keep some on the back burner just in case we hit a stretch where she isn’t publishing at least 2 books a year.) I hope that she writes more books set in this time period, because I just might like the 50s/60s more than her historicals. Who would have thought?

  13. Elyse says:

    @BigK That’s so cool!

  14. DonnaMarie says:

    Started off this little while with Amanda (JAK) Quick’s THE BRIDE WORE WHITE. It’s a standard entry. I think I’ve mentioned before that whe has a formula, and even after 40 od years, it still works for me.

    Then it was on to GEORGIE ALL ALONG from Kate Clayborn which was a delight in every way. A FMC who excels at making sure other people’s lives run smoothly, while feeling like she isn’t quite measuring up. Returning to her hometown, one of the first people she encounters is Levi, the black sheep brother of her high school crush. He’s surly, grumpy, definitely damaged and pays for her milkshake. And coincidently, her parents have forgotten to tell her that they’ve loaned him their house while repairs are being done on his. OOPS. It was a wonderful read, full of growth and friendship and resolution. Oh, and smexy goodness.

    Currently doing Olivia Dade’s SHIP WRECKED in paper. Two actors who have a one night stand that, while satisfying, ends badly – at least for him when she slips away in the night. Cue the audition that Peter thinks may finally be a break out role for him in a hit cable show – think Game of Thrones – only to find himself paired with his hook up. And, of course, they both get cast and sent off to a remote island location with a small crew where they will be filming for months on end. It’s looking fun so far

    And on Kindle, keeping me up at night is THE THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER, the first installment in Lucy Score’s Knockemout series. I’ve been doing a binge of her backlist, but my work friend, who I recently discovered is a romance reader (YAY!!), has been telling me to READ THESE BOOKS NOW, so I passed her my copy of Julie James’ SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER with similar instructions. I think we’re both going to be pleased. It’s been rom-com grouch vs people pleaser with a soupcon of growing unease delicous so far. Good twin comes to the rescue of bad twin, only to have bad twin steal her purse, her computer and her care while leaving behind and 11yo daughter no one knew she had. She crosses swords with the town benefactor who has his own family drama (although his could mostly be solved by banging the brother’s heads together. It is as delightful as my friend promised.

  15. JenM says:

    I finally treated myself to A RAKE OF HIS OWN by AJ Lancaster, which is adjacent but tangential to her STARIEL series. This book is m/m and features the brothers of the two lead characters in Stariel (one human, one Fae) as they investigate a murder and fall in love. Other familiar characters make appearances and it would probably help to have all the backstory, but at the same time, I think this stands on its own pretty well and I loved it.

    I also loved THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER by Lucy Score. It was like reading early Kristen Ashley but with much better grammar and editing (all of the KA fans out there will know exactly what I mean LOL). A bit of a rough start with the FMC as she was a bit of a doormat and too naive, but then I fell into the story and couldn’t put it down.

    Currently I’m in the middle of the latest Jill Shalvis, THE SWEETHEART LIST which releases this Tuesday. Jill can always be counted on for great found family stories with likable, adult characters willing to work through their baggage with a good dose of banter and not too much angst. There’s also a goofy 125 lb Bernese Mountain dog who thinks he’s a lap dog and is a very good boi. Can’t go wrong with that.

  16. Lora says:

    Just read my first Cat Sebastian from the library (Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes) and did happy squee noises from the lightness and witty narration.

  17. Kareni says:

    Over the past two weeks ~

    — quite enjoyed Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian, a historical male/male romance novella set in 1950s New England featuring two once good friends who are reunited after 15 years.
    — enjoyed a reread of the science fiction novella The Sentinel by Eden Winters which features an augmented soldier, a baby he rescues, and a man on the planet to which they escape. It’s about family and is a lovely romance.
    — Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros; I enjoyed this fantasy (even if it did have a cliffhanger ending). Though this features young people, it is definitely NOT a young adult novel. It is set in a war college training candidates to ride dragons into battle; days at the college begin with a list of those who died in the last day.
    — enjoyed Murder in Admonishment: A Doyle & Acton Mystery by Anne Cleeland which is the twelfth? thirteenth? book in a favorite series. I don’t even try to solve the convoluted mysteries, I simply enjoy spending time with the characters. If interested, do begin with the first book, Murder in Thrall.
    — enjoyed and found poignant Of Sunlight and Stardust by Christina Lee. The book features a couple falling in love in the present day (one man is grieving the recent death of his wife and the other has just served four years in prison); the men discover a journal which tells of two young men in love in the forties when homosexuality was a crime.
    — read Crazy Foolish Robots (The Robot Galaxy Series 1) by Adeena Mignogna. This was a pleasant story about a young woman running away from home (an asteroid) and getting kidnapped by a robot. I don’t plan to continue on in the series.

    — My distant book group chose to discuss At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano which I quite enjoyed (but most of the others did not). This was a free World Book Day gift from Amazon in 2021. The book features a classical guitarist and the journalist who catches his attention. I’ll admit to wondering what might happen with the characters after the book ends.
    — quite enjoyed School Days (SC Marva Collins Book 1) by Nathan Lowell; this is a new space opera book by an author of a favorite series. I recommend starting with the author’s Quarter Share which features the same lead character.
    — enjoyed the contemporary male/male romance Damage Control (North Shore Stories Book 1) by Lynn Van Dorn which featured an actor and a dermatologist, both of whom had trauma in their past and present. Many content warnings on this.
    — also enjoyed Be My Mistake (North Shore Stories) by Lynn Van Dorn, a prequel novella that featured a character who had played a minor role in the above book. This had far less depth than the above book.
    — enjoyed The Memory in His Skin by B. Ripley, another male/male romance novella. This featured a grieving musician and a tattooist.

  18. flchen1 says:

    I really enjoyed RL Merrill’s EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH YOU, which is a sweet m/m sort of second chance, slow burn between a retired football player and an elite dancer, who are recruited by their alma mater to revamp and revitalize the athletics department. It’s warmly written, and has great secondary characters.

    DAX by Sawyer Bennett is a pretty good marriage of convenience story. (I read BISHOP, the first in the series, a couple weeks ago, and skipped to Dax, the fourth, because I don’t have books two and three.) It’s a older brother’s best friend, hockey romance and the leads have lots of chemistry but need to figure everything else out, which they do, eventually.

    THE LAST NANNY IN MANHATTAN is the first in K. Sterling’s Nannies of New York series. I enjoyed how the two main characters build trust and a friendship as they figure out how to maintain a professional as well as a personal relationship.

    Picked up Brigham Vaughn’s BROMANTIC GETAWAY as part of one of the Pride sales, and it is an entertaining bi-awakening, bromance to romance. Perfect beach read (or when you might wish you were on a beach 🙂 )

    And a conversation with another reader had me rereading Erin Nicholas’s GOING DOWN EASY, the first in the Boys of the Big Easy series, about single parents finding love in NOLA. Gabe and Addison and their kids are beautifully written, and I was reminded again why this is one of my favorite series…

    Happy reading, everyone!

  19. Darlynne says:

    ONCE UPON A TOME by Oliver Darkshire: Twitter followers of Henry Sotheran Ltd will recognize this tale of how Oliver came to work at Sotheran’s and the joys/terrors of becoming a rare book seller. As much fun as Oliver’s tweets.

    CONVICTION by Denise Mina: I read Mina’s crime series years ago and was intrigued to try this story of past secrets blowing everything to pieces. TW for off-page sexual assault. There’s a podcast, help from an unexpected source, a roller coaster of revelations and a satisfying (although incomplete) resolution. Cannot wait to read the next book.

    SAY NOTHING by Patrick Radden Keefe: Northern Ireland during the Troubles and the search for the “disappeared,” including a widowed mother of ten taken away in the night by the IRA. Heartbreaking, infuriating non-fiction in which everyone loses and nothing substantial is gained or changed.

    THE BOOK THAT WOULDN’T BURN by Mark Lawrence: Janine at DA wrote an excellent review of this book by an author we’ve both enjoyed previously. I will have to read the very long and complicated story again because … my mind is kind of bent. An infinite library, the characters trapped in it, the people who work to save it, time that doesn’t mean anything, and an absolute hatred for the sabbers (enemies) on all sides.

  20. Karin says:

    The standout book for me was FIVE DECEMBERS by James Kestrel. It deservedly won the Edgar award, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Don’t be put off by the 1940’s throwback pulp fiction cover. It is as noir as a detective novel can get. It starts off in Honolulu in late 1941. The MC is a police detective and he is in the middle of solving a gruesome double murder when the Pearl Harbor attack happens and sends his life careening in a new direction. So besides being a mystery it’s a World War II saga, and a love story too, but in Asia instead of the rather overused European setting. CW for some on-page violence and graphic descriptions of several murder victims. But the writing is beautiful. I read the last chapter 3 times, it was such a stunning conclusion.
    I also enjoyed THE BRIDE WORE WHITE and WHO CRIES FOR THE LOST. I preordered the new Mimi Matthews book, APPOINTMENT IN BATH, but I haven’t even caught up with 2 previous ones in the series.

  21. Karin says:

    Oh, my bad, FIVE DECEMBERS didn’t win the Edgar, it was a finalist. Anyway, not haven’t read the other finalists, I still say it should have won.

  22. Katie C. says:

    Well, I generally like if not outright love Tessa Bailey, but I really struck out with her recently, so much so I DNF’ed two of her books in a row (and I rarely DNF!!).

    Excellent:
    HOW TO KEEP HOUSE WHILE DROWNING: A GENTLE APPROACH TO CLEANING AND ORGANIZING by kc davis: My life is extremely overwhelming right now (two aging parents with health problems, two toddlers, building a house – and that is just the top level). The clutter in our house and sometimes mess drives me crazy – I need a new outlook and plan. This book had great suggestions on two fronts: 1) how to be kind to yourself, accept what you can do now, and take care of yourself and 2) practical advice – how to prioritize your care tasks (her reframing of the word chores). Highly recommended – thanks to whoever here at SBTB who recommended it on another WAYR!

    Very Good:
    THEFT OF LIFE by Imogen Robertson: Fifth (and seemingly last?) in the Westerman and Crowther mystery series set in late 1700’s England, the story was based around the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade and the torture, abuse and murder of enslaved people. The mystery revolves around how far people would go to conceal those horrors and their involvement in them. The mystery itself was mostly good, but the resolution was not totally satisfying and the arc for Westerman and Crowther was not really resolved (or perhaps I should say not resolved that way I had hoped or thought it might). I do still recommend the series.

    Good:
    TOO HARD TO FORGET by Tessa Bailey: Second in the contemporary Romancing the Clarksons series, I enjoyed it, but found it hard to connect with either of the MCs. The hero is a recently-fired political operative with little to no moral compass and the heroine the black sheep/loose cannon (with a traumatic past daughter) of a presidential contender. The problem is the first half of the book she was very manic pixie dream girl and then the second half she changed character – it almost felt like reading two drafts smushed together. I love a hero who is amoral or bordering on amoral who falls in love with a person with a heart of gold, but the development of the relationship just seemed too fast.

    Meh:
    None

    The Bad:
    See DNFs below

    DNF:
    TOO HARD TO FORGET by Tessa Bailey: I had been eagerly awaiting getting to Book #3 with Peggy, the heartbreaker, who had broken four engagements because she couldn’t forget a man in her past. When I found out it was an age gap second chance romance which started when the heroine was a college cheerleader and the hero the college football coach that made it all the better for me, but I quickly DNF’ed because the main conflict seemed to be that the hero was very Catholic and felt that his down and dirty sex with the heroine was blasphemous and sinful. For me, that internal conflict would be whatever the opposite of catnip is – hard pass.

    TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK by Tessa Bailey: Romancing the Clarksons #4, this book had been built up in the previous books in the series – the hero is quietly yet obviously in love with the heroine, but their relationship remains only as friends until this book. I can suspend a lot of thoughts of “this is not a healthy relationship” when I am reading a romance, but this toxic stew was too much even for me especially when there major crazy sauce plot twist about 3/4 of the way through. Usually I can keep reading something when I am that far in, no matter how much I might dislike it, but not this one.

  23. Neile says:

    I haven’t done one of these in a while but I had to tell everyone that Emma Torzs’s INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE is all the fantastic things. It’s a book to fall into and let it carry you. I loved the magic system, the human messes (complicated humans and complicated human relationships), everything. It has seriously dark moments related to the magic system but the overall warmth of it is what I felt from the start and throughout it all. It’s rich and dramatic and the hours flew by. I had the Good Book feeling throughout. Contemporary fantasy with romance.

    Full disclosure: I ran an intense residential writing workshop for 19 summers that Emma Torzs attended one year and I’m very fond of her as a person but I’m so picky about fantasy novels nowadays that I started the book with a skeptic’s heart and it blew me away. This book has a lot of strong blurbs and endorsements for a reason.

    Also excellent was Alison Goodman’s THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES, so huge thanks to Lara for the SQUEE review. Another book with all the Good Book feelings. I remember feeling those for her fantasy novel, EON, though less so for its sequel.

    Also really liked Rebekah Weatherspoon’s YA debut HER GOOD SIDE. A fake relationship story with charming characters and community.

    Sarah Adler’s MRS. NASH’S ASHES was a good contemporary road trip romance.

    As was Livy Hart’s PLANES, TRAINS, AND ALL THE FEELS. It was a little weird to read them one after the other!

    And loved Harper St. George’s THE DUCHESS TAKES A HUSBAND. I’ve enjoyed that whole series.

    Oh, the Christina Lauren’s THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT really worked for me. It’s my favourite of their more recent books.

    I also discovered my library had the audiobook of Mary Stewart’s THE GABRIEL HOUNDS and yes it’s dated and the romance is more hinted at than present on the page (and they’re cousins! Raised almost as siblings! In the earliest version of the book apparently they are first cousins!). But there’s something about Mary Stewart and then since Chirpbooks had a sale on several other Mary Stewarts and my libraries have no more of them on audio, I bought all the ones on sale. [I also spent a lot in the recent Audible sale. Oops. I have very bad impulse control when it comes to buying books. Hence a basement full of books, an overflowing Kindle and audiobook collection.]

  24. Musical Trees says:

    I loved WE COULD BE SO GOOD by Cat Sebastian. I agree with @HeatherS that I’m kind of enjoying her 20th century historicals even more that her other work. This book features sooooooo much delicious longing. It also features Sebastian’s classic nice people who are imperfect but never irritatingly so. The conflict between the MCs is generally pretty mild and relatable.

    I recently went through a tricky patch where I couldn’t find anything new I felt like reading, so I dug out Kate Canterbary’s THE WALSHES series. These are such competency porn books. I love it. But I don’t love all the leads. It’s the men. I must say it’s the Walsh men who aren’t my favorite, particularly Sam. I believe the author herself calls him whiny and yup, that’s accurate. The Walsh women, though, they kick ass and take names. The first one I read, THE SPIRE, is still probably my favorite because it warms my STEM heart, but THE CORNERSTONE is a close second. Are the Walsh women drama llamas like their brothers? I mean, yes. But they are also competent adults, which makes the drama much more enjoyable.

  25. Heather M says:

    Due to health issues I’ve been unable to read for about 4 months (probably the longest I’ve gone without a book since preschool). I’m slowly recovering and I decided to do a reread of a childhood favorite, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It absolutely held up and I was glad I picked it.

    Also finally reading the official translations of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. (I read the web serialization a few years ago.) Very funny, even more than I remembered.

    Happy to be back, finally, and seeing everyones reads!

  26. HeatherS says:

    @Kareni: “Tommy Cabot Was Here” is my favorite of the Cabot books. It gives the same quiet vibe that I’m enjoying so much about “We Could Be So Good”, and the fact that it’s set in the same time period is probably part of that. I would totally campaign for it to be expanded to a full book because those characters need more page time! At this point I don’t want to be put through the emotional wringer by what I read – I just want to read books that make me happy.

    Cat’s books really are happy books, even if sometimes there’s not such a happy backstory for a character or they’re in a time/place where being with the one they love isn’t easy because society/the law. I like to see characters who have anxiety or depression (or both) who end up with the person they love and they don’t have to “be fixed” or “get better”, they just take each other as they are and figure out life together. Love doesn’t fix everything, but it can make the hard days a little easier to handle. (Or so I’m told. I’m single. I wouldn’t know from personal experience.)

  27. Crystal says:

    Saturday night’s alright for fighting, and my daughter’s recital, which had a tap routine to the above tunage.

    Well, let’s see, I started things off with Triptych by Karin Slaughter. I wanted to check it out before watching the Will Trent TV series, and whoa nellie, ALL THE CONTENT WARNINGS. Alllllll of them. Be careful with yourselves. That said, I liked the story and I definitely rooted for a scene toward the end, when someone who had been done very wrong got some of their own back. I was also very relieved when someone turned out to be a bad guy, because some of the story was from this individual’s perspective, and all I got from reading his parts was “I hate this rat bastard and want to drop an anvil on him”. Then I read Nora Roberts’s latest suspense, Identity. I really enjoyed the family relationships in this one, and also liked that the book dealt with the reality of having to build one’s own life back from nearly the ground up. Also, there was a Very Good Dog. After, I was in a slasher-y kind of mood, so I went poking around in the NYPL overdrive teen thrillers and came out with The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky. I always like a book where the characters are aware of the tropes and are even aware when they’re falling into them, especially when it comes to horror. I am your target audience if you want to make a good horror movie reference, too. Which brings us to now, in which I am reading All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby. So far, so effing riveting. It involves a black sheriff in a small town that already has some tense racial relationships, and that tension has been kicked into high gear by the killing of a well-liked teacher (white guy) by his former student (black guy) and the student’s subsequent death at the hands of the responding police. It quickly becomes apparent that the seemingly harmless teacher was anything but. Cosby might be the best southern noir guy working right now. I said what I said. So until next time, get a little action in.

  28. Dreamingintrees says:

    @Heather M, From the Mixed Up Files…is one of my favorite books from childhood. Thrilled to hear it holds up.

  29. Kareni says:

    @HeatherS: I am definitely looking forward to reading We Could Be So Good!

  30. A FATAL ILLUSION by Anna Lee Huber (6/20/2023) is another strong entry in her Lady Darby historical mystery series. While the mystery is interesting, the real draw for me in this one was the family relationships. The plot centers around an attack on the heroine’s father-in-law, Lord Gage, by a gang of highwaymen. Readers of the series will know that both Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have a fraught relationship with Lord Gage. I’m not fond of family discord, as a rule, but the warmth and commitment of Kiera and Sebastian’s marriage serves as an antidote to the strain between Lord Gage and his son, and the situation—with Lord Gage injured and bed-bound while Sebastian and Kiera investigate, plus the presence of their infant daughter and Sebastian’s recently-discovered illegitimate brother—all serve to give Lord Gage more depth and humanity than in previous books. Add in the setting’s connection to Robin Hood, a more definite connection to the Yorkshire West Riding Revolt, and th intriguing doctor in whose house the family are staying, and it made for compelling reading; I really enjoyed it.

    I loved A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SHEEP by Sally Coulthard (also published as Follow the Flock: How Sheep Shaped Human Civilization.) As several reviewers have noted, it’s somewhat UK-centric, but as a fiber crafter and history buff, I found it fascinating, well-researched, and entertaining.

    Needing the comfort of a reread, I pulled out Mary Jo Putney’s ONE PERFECT ROSE, which is one of my favorites in the Fallen Angel series. I loved it just as much this time around. It holds up remarkably well for a romance written in the late 90s; there are no consent issues, and the hero is a good and decent man. The heroine (a young widow) is warm, compassionate, and wise. And I absolutely love the traveling theatre troupe in which about half the book is set. (I reviewed it on my blog this week, if you want more about the book and why I love it.)

    I’m currently reading FLOWERHEART by Catherine Bakewell, and though I haven’t gotten very far into it, I’m really enjoying it so far.

  31. Jess says:

    I just started “The Stars Undying” by Emery Robin, which is pitched as a sci fi take on Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra.” Only about 10% in, but it’s intriguing so far.

    “The Night Of” by Tal Baur: M/m romantic suspense involving a new president and a Secret Service agent who have to team up to investigate the previous president’s apparent suicide. I expected this to be pretty far-fetched and silly and it definitely is — lots of earnest melodrama with some outdated geopolitical tropes — but that’s what I was looking for and Baur is a skilled writer. I had fun with it.

    “Let There Be Light” by R. Cooper: Short m/m historical novella about an inventor and a solider in the WWII period. Not much to say about this other than I liked it and it makes good use of its low word count.

    “The Twyford Code” by Janice Hallett: Mystery novel about a man who’s recently been released from prison and tries to crack the supposed code in a series of children’s books, which seems to be linked to the disappearance of his childhood English teacher. I expected this to be more of a comedic mystery like Hallett’s previous book, “The Appeal,” and it’s actually much more downbeat and melancholy, but it was great. Very innovative and unique, would recommend to anyone who’s into mysteries and wands one with a different spin.

    “Peril at End House” by Agatha Christie: Classic mystery setup, Poirot and Hastings attempt to help a young woman who’s experienced several near-death experiences by catching the would-be murderer before they can strike again. Flew through this one, very fun. Next up for me is “Murder on the Orient Express,” which should be interesting even though I’ve seen the movie and already know the twist.

    “Sterling Karat Gold” by Isabel Waidner: Literary sort-of experimental fiction, a kind kind of modern-day UK take on Kafka’s “The Trial” that also involves time travel. Really just had to let this book go on its journey but I did end up enjoying it.

    In nonfiction, I read “The Shadow Docket” by Stephen Vladeck about the Supreme Court, “The Deficit Myth” by Stephanie Kelton about modern monetary theory, and “Otherlands,” Thomas Halliday about premodern life on earth. First two were great, third took me a while to get through and would have benefited from more images of the lifeforms it’s describing.

  32. Maeve says:

    Two books were mysteriously shipped pre release date and I have zero self control, so of course I have already inhaled both and am going back for another read!

    The newest Ilona Andrews book (Magic Claims) comes out on Tuesday. If you like previous Kate Daniels books you’ll like this one too. Plus, we get to see some fascinating conversations about short and long-term goals for Kate and companions.

    The other early book is a new Liaden Universe title, Salvage Right, out in early July. Clan Korval has a new space station. One of the main viewpoint characters has died and been resurrected by an evil entity many times, so he is understandably traumatized and in need of therapy. And everyone’s descending on the station — clan representatives to assist, repair workers, scientific specialists, and of course people trying to infiltrate and wrest control of the station. Multiple very fulfilling plot lines here, and although I wouldn’t call the main story arc a romance we do see a longstanding pair of friends get together.

  33. Katie C. says:

    Just a quick correction to my comment, the second book in the Romancing the Clarksons series by Tessa Bailey (which I rated as good) is TOO WILD TO TAME.

  34. flchen1 says:

    @Katie C, thanks for your thoughts on the Clarksons—they’re on my TBR, and I also usually am a big fan of Tessa Bailey. I just started Secretly Yours, but am not really far in enough to be certain how I’m feeling about it yet… I haven’t quite fallen in love yet, LOL

  35. JTAlexis says:

    Read the first six books in the IRON & WORKS series by E.M. Lindsey. The series is set in a tattoo parlor in a small town near Denver. Each book is about the development of a relationship involving one of the tattoo artists, all of whom are queer, have a disability and trauma in their pasts. The group accepts and supports each other in a way their bio families never did. The books take a pretty unflinching look at what it is like to live and love when your abilities don’t match what most of the world expects (and is designed for). Includes explicit m/m sex and lots of triggers, mostly described as things that happened in the past (homophobia, abandonment/abuse by a parent, cheating by a partner) so it’s not for everyone. If you liked Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series or AE Via’s True Lover’s Stories, I think this series would appeal to you.

  36. CK says:

    Camillia Monk’s Spotless series 🙂 I’m on book three now. Thanks SBTB & Sunflower for recommending it!

  37. Kir says:

    Lurker for a while, pushing myself to finally join the comments as I always enjoy the Whatcha Reading threads

    Finished THE NOVICE’S TALE by ANN SWINFEN today, book 2 in the Oxford Medieval Mysteries series. I thought book 1 hinted at a possible romance, and book 2 does feature some strong heart-eyes by one of the characters. Sadly the mystery element wasn’t as strong as book 1. Haven’t decided if I’ll go for book 3; I find them quite slow, soothing reads, with introspection and description of mundane medieval day to day activities, which suits me when I’m in a certain vibe but not at other times.

    Prior to that I read and much more enjoyed SILENT ON THE MOOR by DEANNA RAYBOURN. I’ve seen the Bitchery talking about her Veronica Speedwell series, which I haven’t read, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything about her Lady Julia Grey series (of which the above was book 3). I’ve binged the first 3 books recently after finding them for 0.99/1.99 – I love Julia as a character and her growth in self-confidence and self-awareness. She’s privileged by her class and background, and snotty at times, but also able to think and say, ‘sorry about that, I jumped to a conclusion there and I was wrong, my bad’. Sometimes she thinks it, then forgets to say it, but hopefully it’s not just me that finds that relatable There’s also a bit of diversity in the characters for the time period, and a barmy assortment of family members. The relationship has its brooding, lustful stares at times, but both characters can put this aside when needed to get pragmatic on the trail of a mystery, which is always preferred for me.

  38. AnneUK says:

    A bit of housekeeping before I rattle on: I have noticed that there is occasionally more than one Anne posting in WAYR, so to avoid confusion, from now on I will use the name AnneUK which is my regular ‘handle’ on most other sites in which I get involved.

    My first ever KATE CANTERBARY, BOSS IN THE BEDSHEETS was a revelation. Such fun and plenty steamy. I have been wanting to read her for ages but she’s rarely priced at the level I will pay for a digital book. This is in a current compilation called BEACH READS VOL 3 which also features (full length) stories by Claire Kingsley, Penny Reid and Pippa Grant to name the authors I already know.

    TEN TRENDS TO SEDUCE YOUR BEST FRIEND by PENNY REID (from the same compilation) is very angst-ridden but enjoyable enough. A neurodivergent MMC and an anxious, damaged FMC negotiate their way to an understanding and learn how to do the sex (they are both technically virgins). They get there in the end but it was hard going in parts and I found myself skimming their conversations at times.

    THE VISCOUNT’S DARING MISS by LOTTE R JAMES is short and sweet (but not without heat). I always love a tomboy story and this involves a high-stakes race across the country on horseback between the aforementioned tomboy FMC and an intimidating Viscount. Of course she is perfectly capable, he is smitten and of course there is only one bed/bedroll etc. Delightful.

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS by LAUREN ASHER is book two in her Dreamland Billionaires series. I read and enjoyed book one, THE FINE PRINT, last year and this came up as a KDD. A grumpy billionaire/sunshine PA office romance, it hits all the usual beats and I do love some billionaire shenanigans. Book three, FINAL OFFER, also came up as a KDD, so I shall finish the trilogy.

    And I finished STORM ECHO by NALINI SINGH which I thoroughly enjoyed. She was one of the early authors I read as part of my Romancelandia journey of discovery through the various lockdowns. I relentlessly consumed the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter books (in physical form) and they became serious comfort reading. As a story, it followed the usual pattern but it works for me and now I have the long wait for the next book in the series. And it will be particularly long, as I want it in (matching) paperback to join all the others on my shelves.

    MINERVA SPENCER’S PHOEBE hit the historical spot for me. I prefer her (slightly more erotic) alter ego, S M LaViolette, but this was a solid story in which, unusually, both M and F leads were not considered conventionally attractive. Although, of course, Our Hero is suitably well built… Rich man (from business – shock, horror) chooses the plainest but most capable of five sisters whose noble father has gambled their inheritance away, and finds he has discovered a hidden treasure. Nicely done.

  39. cleo says:

    It’s been a while since I’ve posted so I have a lot to share. I’ve been doing Laura Sackton’s Queer Your Year challenge and it’s pushed me to try a few new things, which is fun.

    Take a Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters, #2) by Talia Hibbert
    5 stars. Reread this m/f bi romance and loved it even more the 2nd time.

    Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth ed by Isabela Oliveira
    4.5 stars for this beautifully written and edited anthology of speculative short fiction on the theme of queer growth. I bought it for the story with the talking aloe vera and loved the rest of it too.

    Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
    Not quite sure how to rate this immersive and very intense, very grim dystopian space opera that genuinely surprised me more than once. This works as a feminist reimagining of Ender’s Game. I don’t think you need to have read EG to appreciate this book, but there are a lot of subtle and not so subtle call outs. It’s very ambitious and tackles a lot of big issues (racism, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, eugenics, fascism, genocide) but in a not particularly nuanced way. It works better as a summer block buster type story (just a very grim one). Also, this is not a romance.

    The Realist (The Vers Podcast #3) by Riley Hart
    4 stars. Tropey, emotionally satisfying mm romance from Riley Hart. Definitely stand alone.

    Unrivaled (Hockey Ever After #3) by Ashlyn Kane
    4 stars. Tropey, emotionally satisfying rivals to lovers mm hockey romance. This doesn’t break any new ground but it’s fun and engaging. And if you’re looking for something with a similar vibe to Heated Rivalry, this may work well for you.

    It’s my favorite of the series, by a lot. It’s also pretty stand alone. It references players from other books but the MCs weren’t featured in the other books so I don’t think you’d miss much by skipping them.

    Infamous by Lex Croucher
    4 stars. Sapphic Regency coming of age story with a low key but satisfying romance.

    The Mimicking of Known Successes (Mossa & Pleiti, #1) by Malka Ann Older
    4 stars. Sapphic Sherlock Holmes, on Jupiter. The pacing was a little slow for me but I enjoyed it. There’s a very understated romance but this is definitely a mystery with a little romance rather than a romance with a little mystery in it.

    Washed Up Former Child Star Ryan Lee by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock
    4 stars. Compelling, angsty second chance mm, but it works much better as a story of personal growth and the beginning of recovery than as a romance imo. This gets dark so read the content warnings.

    Full Throttle by Lisa Henry
    3.5 stars. This M/M Formula 1 racing romance, between a driver who went viral for the wrong reasons and the PR guy called in to rehab his reputation, started strong but didn’t really come together for me. I didn’t connect to the romance or the MCs – I wanted more character development. I did like the Formula 1 setting though.

    Muscle Cub (Bear Camp, #2) by Slade James
    3.5 or 3 stars. I enjoyed this mm romance set at a clothing optional men’s campground, even though I didn’t completely buy the romance. The MCs are both likable but not that believable as a long term couple. It’s written in single first person pov, which I think tends to be less effective in romance.

    It’s the 2nd novel in James’s Bear Camp series – mm written by a queer man who clearly is familiar with the sub-culture he’s writing about. The writing is a little uneven but I’m enjoying the whole series (this is the 2nd novel and there are several short stories).

    My Brother’s Husband, Volume 1 by Gengoroh Tagame
    Manga about acceptance and homophobia in Japan. A suburban Japanese dad finds himself questioning his beliefs when his late brother’s Canadian husband shows up for an unexpected visit.

  40. Eliza says:

    I’m currently reading WE COULD BE SO GOOD. And it is indeed very, very good. The only comment that I’ll add – that I don’t believe anyone else has mentioned yet – is that it’s written in the dreaded first person. See? When done right, you don’t even notice.

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