Welcome back to Whatcha Reading? As we close out January (already?!), we want to hear what you’ve been reading, the good or the bad.
Sarah: Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold! ( A | BN | K ) New Penric new Penric!
Penric and Desdemona makes me remember Catherine fondly, too, since she and I talked to McMaster Bujold in a podcast episode about this series. I love that the series is her retirement and I hope she’s still having a good time writing them.
Elyse: I’m reading House of Sky and Breath ( A | BN | K )
Tara: Not in the Plan by Dana Hawkins. I’m not very far, but I’m enjoying it. Owner of a coffee shop that’s close to closing inspires an author with big time writer’s block.
Carrie: I’m about halfway through Marry Me By Midnight. I love the premise and author’s note but I’m having a hard time with the characters.
Shana: What is it called when you read a bunch of books in a row and you hate all of them? It’s not a slump, but it’s not fun either. Anyway, Sarah reminded me that I’ve been hoarding Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAllister. ( A | BN | K ) I just started it and the curse has been broken!
Claudia: I’m still on a slump…
Lara: I’ve just started Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs ( A | BN | K | AB ) and I’m really enjoying it. It’s an unusual magic world which makes for fun reading.
Maya: I’m listening to That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming and narrated by Hazel Addison. I love that Hazel Addison chose to go with a southern accent, but I’m struggling a bit with the subplot about slavery. I got this book because it was on a list of cozy fantasies, but for me, it’s a bit hard to get cozy vibes while there is slavery involved.
Whatcha reading? Tell us in the comments!
Currently Reading:
EMILY WILDE’S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS by Heather Fawcett. I am liking this book although I think there is a
that is annoying me.
TOXIC: WOMEN, FAME, AND THE TABLOID 2000s. This would be a solid B book except for Sarah Ditum’s (or her editors’) decision to use both real names and deadnames when first introducing someone. A solid F it is! Like, google exists if you are confused about why Elliot Page is being contrasted with Lindsay Lohan in profiles. DNF
SWEETEN THE DEAL by Katie Shepard A little cringy at the beginning but I like the atyp rep and the tenderness of this one.
KLAN WAR: Ulysses S Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction by Fergus M Bordewich. Very detailed yet very readable
I finished CAMILLE by Alexander Dumas. THE WRITING WAS AMAZING. Five stars no doubt about it.
I am very excited for my February reading month though I do have many books to finish!
It’s only mid-January, and I’ve already read a book that made my favorite reads of 2024: Jax Calder’s angsty & poignant age-gap romance, BEAUTIFUL HEARTS, which is characterized by stellar writing, intricate plotting, and a twist that I absolutely did not see coming. Published in 2022 and the first in Calder’s Rainbow Redemption series of m/m romances, BEAUTIFUL HEARTS is about Tim, a widowed science teacher in his mid-thirties, and Jamie, a younger man (22) who is hired as the sports coordinator at the school where Tim teaches. Since the death of his husband in an automobile accident three years before, Tim has devoted his time to raising his young daughter and hasn’t dated or done much socializing. After Tim meets Jamie, things begin to change. Although they have instant chemistry, Tim & Jamie don’t act upon their physical attraction for a while. Jamie encourages Tim to join a LGBTQ soccer league and the two start practicing and playing in games together. Calder does a great job of showing how the couple’s friendship evolves organically—each of them giving the other some much-needed support and understanding—until it becomes physical (and hot!–Calder can really write some sexy-times). At about the three-quarters point of the book, I thought BEAUTIFUL HEARTS was well-written and engaging, but I was not prepared for a development that throws a grenade into Tim’s & Jamie’s future plans. Although the issue is neither Tim’s nor Jamie’s fault, it has a huge impact on what the men will do going forward. It was the plot twist (and how the MCs deal with it) that, in my mind, elevated the book from an angsty romance to a favorite read of the year. Key quote: “Isn’t that what we all do in life? Try to desperately make the facts fit the story we want to tell ourselves?” A lovely book. Highly recommended.
Sometimes a book hits my reading sweet spot even when I can objectively see that other readers might rightly have issues with the story. Such is the case with Jesse H. Reign’s RENT: PAID IN FULL, which takes the “dark billionaire using money to get the woman he wants” trope and transposes it to an m/m roommates/antagonists-to-lovers romance. Despite the premise (the wealthy roommate pays the poorer roommate for sexual services), I enjoyed the book—which is filled with heat, heart, and humor—and tore through it in a day. But I’m fully aware the book’s juxtaposition of dubiously-consented-to-sex-work with burgeoning romance won’t be for everyone. Working-class Ryan has a reputation for not getting along with his roommates and has already moved dorm rooms several times while attending an unidentified Ivy League school. It doesn’t help that Ryan has generalized anxiety, a mountain of debt, a truck on the verge of dying, and several part-time jobs that have to be juggled with his class schedule. When his latest roommate, trust-fund douche-bro Miller, seems attracted to Ryan’s grumpier side and suggests a quid-pro-quo to help Ryan pay off some of his debt, it’s a move appropriately directly from dark romance. I can’t tell you how fucked-up Ryan & Miller’s relationship is. There’s hate-fucking, antagonism (that never quite goes away), stalking, enforced sex-work, and bullying role-play. And yet, at the same time, somehow the two guys just work together. Sample quotes: Miller: “Is it wrong of me [to smack Ryan’s ass in public]? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s not right for me.” Ryan: “No, I don’t…like [being humiliated]…my dick does.” And when Miller offers Ryan a large sum of money for the full “Boyfriend Experience”, Ryan eventually “can’t tell if I’m playing a role anymore.” I completely enjoyed RENT: PAID IN FULL and recommend it, but be sure it’s your cuppa before you read it.
Caitlin Crews’s latest HP, WEDDING NIGHT IN THE KING’S BED, like many of her books, exists on two levels. On one level, it’s the story of a young woman, raised to be the “perfect” wife, who marries the king of an alpine kingdom. The marriage is, of course, physically very compatible, but emotionally the king is the product of his horribly dysfunctional upbringing and cannot bring himself to allow love into his heart (“there was not one part of him that childhood hadn’t touched, warped, even ruined”). On another level, WEDDING NIGHT IN THE KING’S BED is a dissection of the construct of virginity and how impossible it is to change the mind of someone who is willing only to believe the worst about someone. Because the heroine and the hero have such strong physical chemistry, the hero manages to convince himself that his bride could not have been a virgin when they wed (horrors!). This focus on physical purity harkens back to the virginity fetishism of the old-skool bodice-rippers, and the heroine, I’m pleased to say, has a strong backbone and tells the hero, “I think it’s the guilty who run around trying to get others to buy their story….I feel no need to prove my innocence. I know it to be true.” Operatic levels of heartache indeed. Recommended—for fans of HPs.
Willow Dixon was one of my “discoveries” last year—and I’ve enjoyed all of her books that I’ve read so far. I grabbed STRAIGHT BATTLE (published in 2022) from KU and finished it in a day. STRAIGHT BATTLE (part of Dixon’s Heroes at Home series) features MCs in their thirties who experience a double bi-awakening when one is hired to renovate the other’s house. Gabe is a military veteran, still dealing in a number of ways with his experiences in Iraq. He hires Tyler, a recently-divorced handyman, to renovate his Craftsman bungalow (if you like the home remodeling trope, STRAIGHT BATTLE has plenty of fixer-upper catnip). Gabe pays Tyler in part with free room & board at his house, so the men start spending a lot of their free time together. I really appreciated how Dixon emphasized the men’s developing friendship and non-sexual intimacy, and their confusion (but no revulsion or self-hatred) about being attracted to a person of the same gender; as Tyler says, “I wanted it. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to want it.” And, when the men finally have sex, there’s some realistic details about both their tentative explorations (I was amused by them getting sex tips from gay romance novels) and realistically dealing with the initial pain from anal sex. In the Dixon books I’ve read so far, she manages to avoid the “big mis” in the third act—and STRAIGHT BATTLE is no different. There is a bump in the road, but it comes from the outside and does not affect the men’s commitment to each other. Recommended for fans of the renovation trope and lower-angst m/m.
Briar Prescott’s UNTIL YOU (published in 2023 and the first book in her UNTIL series) is an angsty m/m romance between guarded and self-contained Jude and the seemingly much more open Blake. Rather than a grumpy-sunshine pairing, I would characterize the relationship between Jude and Blake as cynical-optimistic. The book begins with teenage Jude overhearing a conversation between his parents that leads him to believe he might be adopted. Jude’s attempt to discover the truth about his birth will have tragic consequences—although it takes most of the book for us to learn the story in full. When we next see Jude, he’s a decade older, living in New York City, working a series of part-time jobs, having casual hook-ups, and determined to stay away from any serious relationships. One evening Jude meets Blake at a party and, in spite of Jude’s contention that he is not looking for a friend, the two develop a friendship that doesn’t lead to anything sexual for quite some time. But at a certain point in the book, we learn that Blake is keeping some secrets too: not a plot twist on par with the one in BEAUTIFUL HEARTS, but enough of one to be concerned that the couple might not be able to recover from it. I enjoyed UNTIL YOU, but I think it would have benefited from including Blake’s point-of-view (the story is told exclusively from Jude’s POV until the epilogue) as it sometimes gets exhausting being in Jude’s head all the time. Key quote: “But life doesn’t stop for a broken heart….Being angry is easy. It’s when you run out of anger that you get screwed.” Recommended.
It’s been an interesting mix of books. MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW by Waubgeshig Rice is set in a First Nation community in Canada, where it takes people a while to realize that something apocalyptic has occurred. They are coping by returning to older ways (though not without problems and tensions), but then the outside world intrudes asking for help and shelter. It was a very tense read, and it was only when I saw there’s a sequel coming out soon that I understood one of the main POV characters had in fact survived.
I also read and enjoyed T. Kingfisher’s PALADIN’S FAITH, where again the last chapter/epilogue raised *so many questions*. I continue to hope for a book centered on Bishop Beartongue, who has become one of my favorite characters ever. I’m also thinking of setting up an altar to the White Rat, and possibly a five-sided one to Lois Bujold’s Holy Family. I love the faiths they have created, both the gods and their believers – except Kingfisher’s Hanged Mother.
Continuing in fantasy, I read Audrey Faye’s latest in her Ghost Mountain series, POET. The poem at the center of it still resonates with me. It starts with “Unworthy. They never used that word. They didn’t need to.” Strong words to contradict that: “I don’t give a fuck if you think you’re worthy. You’re pack. You’re mine.” These continue to be stories of healing and catharsis that I didn’t know I needed.
I was reading Gail Collins’ NO STOPPING US NOW, a survey history of older women in America, full of Kickass Women (TM). But I needed something different, so I’m currently reading Sarina Bowen’s I’M YOUR GUY – hurt/comfort, home furnishing, and hot hockey guys.
I’m reading LEGENDS & LATTES by Travis Baldree. I’m enjoying the D&D vibe of the book, along with the food descriptions.
Several books waiting on my TBR pile, including THE MONSTERS WE DEFY by Leslye Penelope and ASHWIN by Kit Rocha.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! 🙂
* My Name is Barbra – via Audible, the Barbra Streisand Memoir that is 48 hours and 17 minutes long, or 1000 pages. It’s good, but she needed an editor. I don’t need to hear all the reviews of all her movies, all her lovers, and nitty-gritty details of every movie, concert, etc she’s done. OTOH? It’s like having a conversation with an fascinating lady.
* Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (hardcover) – the satire about the Publishing Industry. It starts out well. Not that far into it yet. (I too am struggling with a massive reading slump that I’m trying to break. I have a lot of DNF books.)
* I Will Repay by Baroness Orczy – it’s a sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel (which was better). An enemies to lover’s romance. Juliette’s brother is killed by Paul D, in a duel. Mainly was the brother’s fault. Paul had insulted the brother’s paramour, and the brother called him out, and wouldn’t let it go. Takes place during the French Revolution. The writer kind of makes snarky fun of the characters and the times. The writing is kind of a light Georgette Heyer. It makes me want to re-read the Scarlet Pimpernell. I’m kind of bogged down in it – and may not continue. (Kindle)
Deep in the KJ Charles again. I don’t know if it’s January’s fault or what, but I am not liking anything new.
Freya Marske’s A POWER UNBOUND was good, but idk, I felt the first one was so promising that the rest of the series was somehow disappointing by being equally good. Which is sounds wildly unfair of me, and probably is. But… I was hooked on concept and assumed execution would improve? Also the power dynamic with this couple is one that bores me, so I found it less sexy, although the general consensus seems to be that it’s way hotter than the others.
I can unreservedly recommend Freya Marske’s KJ Charles fan fic however.
This was a stretch of reading that wasn’t great but also wasn’t bad. I read REDSHIRTS by John Scalzi as part of mother son book club 😉 b/c son was really enthusiastic about it. The plot is about people who are low ranking members on a spaceship that is remarkably similar to STAR TREK realize they might just be extras on a TV show. I enjoyed it as a bit of entertainment but it didn’t blow me away. Scalzi definitely doesn’t do a lot of depth to his characters or interactions but I knew that going in b/c I’ve read him before. It’s mostly just – high concept and decent banter. As the characters start to pile on late in the story it makes it confusing, but I just let it wash over me. This is one of his early books and it did sometimes seem like he was skipping over an important moment that could be fleshed out with more conflict, like he was just anxious to get to the next bit. Then came multiple epilogues for multiple characters that I had to skim. Buuuuuuuuut, son really liked it and it always feels precious to discuss something like that with him. Also, my husband had read it many years ago, so he got to be an extra special guest star 😉 when son and I started discussing it. Fun family time.
I read THE FIRE NEVER GOES OUT: A MEMOIR IN PICTURES by ND Stevenson for Book Riot as a twofer for Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, a YA (this might be a gray area but I’m counting it) by a trans author and a graphic novel that was banned. I’ve read LUMBERJANES and some other things by Stevenson and I found this very readable, but it’s very much just a slice of life of an artist developing their voice, grappling with early success and who they are. I like that, so it suited me fine, but it’s not NIMONA or anything action packed.
Last thing I read was THE CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS by Janice Hallett, another one of her ‘found documents’ twisty mysteries. This one involves true crime authors investigating a cult that centered around a baby that survived the cult but then disappeared. The baby should now be 18 and the writers are desperate to find them and break out with a big, splashy book. I have to say this one did not grab me as much as THE APPEAL and THE TWYFORD CODE. Those took the same format and did something very different. One, more of a cozy(ish) mystery and the second one a playful examination of DA VINCI CODE type thrillers. This one felt a bit more unfocused and some of the twists seem like a stretch. But I will say she always, always makes me gasp at least once and frequently I get a chuckle or two. She has a kind of dark humor that I appreciate.
What haven’t I read? Romance. Sighs wistfully. A lot on the TBR and hold lists, hopefully something grabs me soon.
Happy weekend! Thank you so much for all of your posts – I enjoy this community so much!
Reading (so far) for the last weeks of January:
MATED TO THE MADE MARQUESS S.L. Prater, M/F fantasy romance (society feels like Victorian fae world?) – very similar to the dynamics between the last couple in series (very powerful fae finds true mate who has old, immense power and is more removed from society), so enjoyable, but a little stale. Will probably read the next one.
THE GAMES OF ENEMIES AND ALLIES K.M. Shea, Contemporary fantasy M/F slow burn, no heat romance. I have read so many of these. They are not fantastic, but I keep coming back because they are so low angst for me. Action, but not death, feelings, but very vague. I think they are the perfect, “I’ve had a long day and I need a break from my brain books.”
THE NIGHTMARE IN HIM Suzanne Wright Contemporary paranormal/fantasy M/F, second book in three book series about one couple. This was not as entertaining as the first, but again, low commitment for the reader. A little darker, and the world doesn’t really make sense, but not a bad way to pass an evening.
WRECK THE HALLS Tessa Bailey, was my favorite for this round. Contemporary, M/F romance about the two children of a rock duo trying to get their famous mothers back together for another gig. I thought this would be annoying (the whole virtual following/paparazzi thing is annoying) BUT the connection between the two main characters was excellent, mostly because there was a basis for the insta attraction that turned into more. I also loved the heroine – she was introverted and shy, but she was also really funny, tough, and charming – TB did not make her a caricature – in fact, development of all the characters for the time spent was excellent, in my opinion. Highly recommend this book!
Stay safe and take care of yourselves! And that you again for all the recommendations!
I listened to CHARM CITY ROCKS BY Matthew Norman and loved every moment of the performance by narrator Kristen DiMercurio and the story of a cardigan-loving music teacher and former rock band drummer in their forties who meet after the teacher’s son invites the drummer to Baltimore under false pretenses. I cannot make enough happy book noises. Seeking out the author’s backlist and more books narrated by the narrator.
I’m currently reading RANDOM IN DEATH by JD Robb, which features Nadine, Jake, and Avenue A. The whole gang has made appearances so far, except Trina, who is mentioned. I ended up buying it because I didn’t want to wait 6 weeks at the library. (I really miss the days when you could recommend a book and automatically get on the hold list. Get your act together, Libby!)
Next up are EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett and an advance copy of THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley, which the publisher describes as a mix of time-travel romance, workplace comedy and spy thriller—which sounds perfect for me since my all-time favorite book is TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Connie Willis.
After spending time in the great sub-zero outdoors having my battery jumped, I went home, took a very hot shower, made a vat of hot cocoa and reread Meljean Brook’s FROZEN. Pretty much the highlight of my recent reading.
There was also Nora Roberts’ latest, INHERITANCE. My habit has become to see she has a new title coming out and reserve it from the GBPL basically sight unseen. This one was a bit of a surprise. I wasn’t expecting a paranormal. The titled trends toward her romantic suspense convention. I wasn’t aware it was, I’m assuming, the start of a trilogy. And I definitely wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger. SOAB!!!! Also, a better than average outing for her paranormal writing.
Currently reading THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. Rough, depressing start, but it seems to be taking an interesting twist. If the words “quantum mechanics” make your eyelid twitch, probably not the book for you. While I’ve been aware of it for awhile, I haven’t been motivated to pick it up, but then the characters in a book were both reading it… Does anyone else do that? Pick up a book that an author has the their character reading? Not classics, but current popular fiction? Just me?
It sounds like a lot of us are in a reading slump (or managing to read, but not liking anything). I’m reading a couple of books for some online classes I’m taking, but my library checkouts are pretty much purely aspirational and not actual reads at this point.
Reading Antonia Fraser’s biography of Caroline Lamb. No wonder so many romances are set in this time period. I don’t know how anything got done since everyone seemed to be busy with illicit affairs. They had an actual name for all the illegitimate children…”Children of the Mist”…which sounds like a great name for a fantasy or horror novel. Her cousin Harriet married a man who had already fathered 2 of children on Harriet’s aunt. Caroline’s real problem was lack of discretion, not immorality. I haven’t even gotten to Byron yet.
Week one: I had no power for several days so did quite some reading. It got down to 41°F in the house, so we were VERY grateful when power was restored.
— Neil Gaiman’s Chivalry by Neil Gaiman was an enjoyable graphic novel about an older woman who finds The Grail in a charity shop and what happens after she brings it home.
— Sweeten the Deal by Katie Shepard was an enjoyable contemporary romance about a young woman who, after inheriting two million dollars from her grandmother, hires a male escort to accompany her to the theatre, etc. The escort is an artist who has recently ended a relationship and is in need of funds.
— The Botanist’s Apprentice by Arden Powell was a historical romance featuring two men who are both botanists and wielders of magic. This was an enjoyable short work.
— An Heiress for Christmas: A M/M Victorian Romance by Samantha SoRelle was a short piece about a Victorian artist who will be disinherited if he does not marry. It was an okay read.
— For my local book group, I read The Beekeeper’s Apprentice: or, On the Segregation of the Queen (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Book 1) by Laurie R. King; this was an enjoyable mystery featuring a very intelligent young woman (from about ages 15 to 19) who meets Sherlock Holmes and ultimately partners with him to solve cases.
— I also finished The Name Drop by Susan Lee; this young adult novel features a young Korean man (heir to a company) and a young Korean-American woman. Both have the same Korean name and both are hired as summer interns at his family’s company. She works as an executive intern while he is in with the rank and file. They realize the mix up quickly and events (and romance) unfold. This was a pleasurable read, but I did put it down for a month mid-book so it wasn’t that compelling.
— reread two old favorites,
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and Murder In Thrall (A New Scotland Yard Mystery Book 1)
by Anne Cleeland.
Week two:
— Alawahea (The Azellian Affairs Book 1) by Sara L. Daigle was an enjoyable contemporary fantasy about a young woman and her involvement with a group of aliens visiting earth as exchange students. The aliens look like humans but have (unannounced) psychic powers; their planet also has very different cultural mores. I might read on in the series.
— I read two contemporary romances by the same author and enjoyed them both.
** Superfan: A Hockey Romance (Brooklyn Hockey Book 3) by Sarina Bowen features two people (a singer and a hockey goalie) who make a connection and then are reunited several years later.
** Good as Gold by Sarina Bowen which features long ago friends who reunite years later. The recently divorced heroine has decided to pursue becoming a single parent, and the hero is willing to help.
— I also read an illustrated book which was a combination of American history, food, and art: And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman.
I’m also reading House of Sky and Breath. Just read the first Crescent City book recently. These books are good but soooo long, so since my library loan is going to end, I set it aside and started Ruthless Vows, by Rebecca Ross. I really enjoyed the first book in this series. Not sure if this is it or if there will be a third book.
I needed something new but familiar (if that makes sense) after reading something very out of my zone for the Read Harder Challenge. So I turned to a familiar author but a series I hadn’t read, bingeing Honor Raconteur’s The Advent Mage series (first mage emerging in a country 200 years after the Mage Wars). Fantasy, with just a tiny bit of romance in the later books (and closed door).
Next up is Witch King by Martha Wells, to be my “read a book for an upcoming author event, then go to the event” task for Read Harder.
OH! I forgot to add one book. A month or two ago I read a review here about How to Tame a Wild Rogue, by Julie Anne Long. I read many of her books a few years ago, but it’s been a while, but I was intrigued so I put a hold on the book at the library and finally got it and it was so so so good! Obviously, I had not read the previous books in the series but I didn’t find that to be necessary. So thank you for pointing me in that direction and I may be doing a Julie Anne Long reread later this year. I have a very distinct memory about a couple trapped in an armoire and I’m pretty sure it was one of her books. She does simmering lust so well.
Let’s get the DNFs out of the way first!
The Witch King by Martha Wells – Somehow I just don’t connect with her fantasy writing, which is weird because I am a fantasy reader. I also tried and failed to connect with her Raksura series. But I absolutely love Murderbot! I had qualms about this book due to the mention of “pain magic” in the description, but thought I’d give it a try. Thank goodness I borrowed it from the library, because I didn’t make it very far before I DNF. It was because I was kind of bored and just not connecting with any of the characters, but especially with Kai. From the initial use of pain magic I don’t think it would end up being a problem for me, as it was his own pain and it was from injuries inflicted on him during a fight. It didn’t seem as though Kai would be torturing others to soak up their pain, though I guess that could change further into the book.
I’m going to try City of Bones next, as I have read a sample of it a few times and have been intrigued. Wish me luck!
Halfling by S E Wendel – M/F fantasy romance. A man who is half orc, half human saves a human woman who has been captured by his orc clan and helps her return to her family. I got 25% in before stopping. I don’t know if it’s a “me” problem or a book problem, but again, I just lost interest. I did skip ahead to the end to see what happened, I guess I cared a little 🙂 and it was the predictable conclusion. CW for SA, off page and not graphically depicted, slavery, kidnapping, verbal and physical abuse of the MMC by his clan because he’s only half orc, again not graphically depicted.
Now on to the ones I did finish!
The Sorceress Transcendent by Casey Blair – Novella, cozy fantasy, MF romance, off page. Story of a famous general and a famous sorceress quitting the war, finding each other, and stopping the war together. Cute story, some good banter, and I could believe in the love story. The world building is pretty hazy, and the solution to the war is very hand wavy and “there, we fixed it,” but a cute read nonetheless.
The Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair – Cozy fantasy, MF romance, very off-page. I read all three books in the series and enjoyed them, with the caveat that the editing of all three is very sloppy and gets worse in each subsequent book. We’re talking missing words, extra words, clunky sentence structure, wrong character names used mid scene, but surprisingly few punctuation errors, and kudos to the author for the proper use of both “discrete” and “discreet”! (Side rant, somehow the word “discrete,” meaning separate and distinct, has gained exclusive use when the word that is needed is actually “discreet,” meaning careful and circumspect or intentionally unobtrusive. I assume that’s because most books are now “edited” by spell check only? Okay, grumpy word nerd rant over.) And now back to the review! Miyara, the MMC, is a total magical Mary Sue and Mary Sues the solution to every problem, big or small. Lots of interesting characters and inclusion, there are lesbians, bisexual folx, non-binary folx, trans folx, though I don’t remember any specific mention of gay men. As a cishet woman I can’t speak to how well the inclusion is done, but I believe it is well intended and seems respectful. The magic systems are interesting, there are three different types of magic used by different groups of people, though the world building is a little hazy. There isn’t a map of the world, and this is one book where I would have really appreciated one! Overall I enjoyed these books. CW for discrimination based on ethnicity and magical ability
Daindreth’s Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley – Fantasy MF slow-burn romance. Cursed assassin meets cursed prince, forced betrothal happens, much angst ensues. I read this last month and can’t really remember much about it, though I remember being sort of annoyed by the FMC. Also, it ends on a cliffhanger but the next four (!) books in the series are out so if you liked the first one you can immediately jump into the next one. I did not, so will not continue with the series.
Still working on Simon Winder’s Lotharingia, which is sending me down so many rabbit holes, besides too much work.
Re-read Mary Balogh’s SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS, which is one of those books that never get old and that I have to reread every now and then.
KJ Charles’s THE GENTLE ART OF FORTUNE HUNTING, which is also totally fabulous, has been reissued with a new extra epilogue that is just fabulous and brings the story full circle. Plus, this has now been expanded into a series (Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune) and a next book, The Duke at Hazard, has been announced. I can’t wait!
I want to ditto Big K’s appreciation of this community. I appreciate how much everyone here cares about books and reading and this community Sarah and Amanda make possible. Thanks for making my day, so many times over.
I’m only listing quickly here because this is officially my writing rather than writing-about-reading time. And yes, I read a lot and fast.
Loved:
T. Kingfisher – SWORDHEART (an imperiled widow inherits a warrior magically attached to a sword, rather like a genie and his lamp)
T. Kingfisher – BRYONY AND ROSES (a wonderful T. Kingfisherly Beauty and the Beast)
Liked quite a lot:
Sarah Grunder Ruiz – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL (an itinerant busking musician meets an ex-tattoo artist pub owner in Ireland–and have to sort out all kinds of issues including neurodiversity)
Livy Hart – SOME KIND OF BLUNDERFUL (a new contemporary romance author who really knows how to write realistic characters I enjoy reading about, plus great banter)
Rebecca Ross – DIVINE RIVALS and RUTHLESS VOWS (a great fantasy duology–loved the correspondence between the wonderful characters
Mary E. Pearson – DANCE OF THIEVES (and just starting VOW OF THIEVES) Pearson is wonderful
Lorraine Heath – TEXAS SPLENDOR and TEXAS GLORY (a touch dated but I really liked the romances here)
Alix E. Harrow – STARLING HOUSE (her best so far! Loved the house and characters)
Liked:
Jill Shalvis – THE BRIGHT SPOT (wonderful farm and characters)
Katee Robert – MIDNIGHT RUIN (stuck on this myth-based series)
I needed quality comfort reading this week so I finished two of Jaclyn Moriarty’s Kingdom’s and Empires series, THE STOLEN PRINCE OF CLOUDBURST and THE WHISPERING WARS. Funny, smart, fantasy novels for kids that are a terrific grownup read as well. The stakes are real and high but the actual tension is low despite being full of twists. Not to mention terrific characters.
PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Victoria Christopher Murray and Marie Benedict: A fictionalized account of the life of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene. Greene became one of the most powerful women in the world as the curator for the Pierpont Library in the 1900s. Hers is an astounding and harrowing story of being a woman in a wealthy men-only field, as well as passing for white at a time when doing so was a crime. Highly recommended.
WHEN IN DOUBT, PLAY DEAD by Ally Burguieres: For anyone, any age, who wants to be completely charmed by sage life advice from an opossum, with adorkable watercolor illustrations. And it’s nobody’s business what’s in your pouch. Unless you’ve got snacks in there. In which case, you should share. Squee!
IT HAPPENED ONE FIGHT by Maureen Lenker: Mentioned here, I believe, and I enjoyed the story of famous movie co-stars with great chemistry on-screen and outright hostility off. My reaction is mixed because I’m not a fan of Big Misunderstandings and a refusal to listen to another person. It ends well and the journey was worth it, just use your words, people.
CAN’T STOP THINKING, How to Let Go of Anxiety and Free Yourself from Obsessive Rumination by Nancy Colier: Self-help books are not something I seek, but this one had my name on it. Hamster wheel thoughts? Check. Obsessive replaying of the past? Check. Surprisingly helpful is my conclusion and recommended.
Last night I read Christina Lauren’s novella The Exception to the Rule and it was a pure delight. Recommend to everyone not in the mood for angst, dark fantasy, alternate worlds, erotica, or any of the usual romance tropes.
Also read Pippa Grant’s Copper Valley Thrusters series and a sort-of stand alone, A Royally Inconvenient Marriage. If I remember accurately, Grant’s Girl Band series, which I read a year or so ago, segues nicely into the Copper Valley Thrusters series. It’s apparent I’ve been in the mood for happy humorous stories, although Grant’s books have serious issues and characters’ emotions underlying her stories. Somehow that – I’ll describe it as realness – enhances the happy and humorous.
I read two Elle Kennedy, Sabrina Bowen collaborations, Good Boy, and Stay, WAGS 1 and 2. Yes. I admit that I chose to read Good Boy that particular night because there is a dog on the cover. I’ll also mention that the cover art of the second conveys (to me) expectations of a dark story and both stories are fun, thoughtful, and not dark.
CONSPIRACY IN BELGRAVIA (Lady Sherlock #2) was a solid entry in the series. I will say, I am finding the blurbs for subsequent books to be super spoiler-y (which is not something I usually complain about.) I think Amanda has made similar complaints on the podcasts about reviews in RT about reviews of later books in series and I have to agree.
THE JASAD HEIR by Sara Hashem was more violent than is usually to my taste, but the slowest of slow burns, and well paced and plotted. I really liked the way the characters’ perspectives on their countries and families evolve (apparently the author was at least partially inspired by the Arab Spring). I just hope book 2 comes out soon since this has quite the cliffhanger of an ending. If you liked CITY OF BRASS, THE STARDUST THIEF, and/or THE JASMINE THRONE, would definitely recommend this to you.
Currently reading EMILY WILDE’S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS. I’ve just gotten started and it’s a delight—the sense of humor and characters are just great.
Side note: I’m a new fan of the “notify” feature in Libby. I flag upcoming books and then I get a notification when they become available at my library. Has been very helpful for getting on the list early for new releases. If you’re a regular ebook reader, definitely a helpful feature.
The last couple weeks have continued to be a mix of rereads and new books…
Rereads included Erin McCarthy’s FAST TRACK racing series and Kati Wilde’s THREE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS set, both of which I loved all over again.
New reads included an ARC of Amy Aislin’s GAME ON, which wraps up her Vancouver Orcas m/m hockey series, and Meryl Wilsner’s CLEAT CUTE. Both of these were real winners for me. Very real emotions and characters, and the love of the sport also shone.
Finally, read the first few books in Kat Obie’s Loving the Wild shifter hockey series, which was entertaining enough to keep me reading but also less polished than what I look for in keepers…
Can’t wait to see what everyone else has been reading!
I started the year with I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT, because Tiffany Aching/witchery is definitely the inspiration I want.
NOT HERE TO BE LIKED is a YA romance that’s definitely teen-y, but I liked the teen exploration of feminism and realising it’s not so black and white.
DNF’ed SCORCHED GRACE as it was far too much purple prose and internal monologue for my taste. Then decided to DNF THE SHADOW AND THE SUN as well, because magic vagina is an instant plot nope for me.
Went for a reliable to me author with Frances Hardinge’s THE LIE TREE, a middle grade/YA book, but absolutely readable for adults. The FMC is unlikeable but believable, and I loved the early women in science theme in a Victorian, slightly gothic-esque setting.
Followed up with FLAME AND BLADE, which I nearly DNF’ed at 90% – it’s romantasy and trope-y, but they’re not tropes I enjoy. And I expect my seasoned warrior women to actually behave like they’ve been in stressful situations before.
Followed on with MISS WONDERFUL, from the bitchery recommendations of pragmatic FMC meets flamboyant MMC; my notes read “Some mooning and derriere-eyeing but enough plot and sharp wit alongside that to carry it through” – lol.
Then LADY DANGER, a freebie from a daily deals post. Definitely some alpha hero and a “I-cannot-be-a-weak-woman”, but I liked the Scottish setting.
Then BEGUILEMENT (SHARING KNIFE), another daily deals score, which definitely hit my catnip buttons, except for the age gap, which I’m still unsure on. It reminded me of the STEERSWOMAN series, in a good way.
Currently reading A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT which I may DNF/set aside for now, as it’s not vibing with my current mentality. Which is a shame, because I’ve seen lots of good things about it, and I feel like I’m running into a number of DNFs so early in the year. But so many books, so little time – I am getting better at DNF’ing if I think a book’s not in my wheelhouse.
I bought a book on Tuesday-LOVE ME DO by Lyndsey Kelk. Have I been living under a rock? How have I never read anything by this author? I don’t even remember how this got on my wishlist, but the LA setting appealed to me, not the glitz and glamour, but the LA I love when I visit. I stayed up way too late, laughing like crazy in places, choked up in others. I adored this book! Happily she has a backlist available in my various libraries, and I’ve read THE CHRISTMAS WISH and ONCE IN A MILLION since then. This is an author that tickles my funny bone, but also has some very wise words about life. So I’ve read three of her books since Tuesday, and am happily starting a 4th.
What’s different is she has themes like Cyrano de Bergerac, Ground Hog Day (repeating the same day, like the movie), and Pygmalion that usually I wouldn’t be crazy about. Yet in her skillful hands I’ve been all in. Can’t recommend more highly!
Uggh-it’s LINDSEY Kelk-an i not a y!
Starting with my absolute favourite this month: THESE OLD LIES by LARRIE BARTON.This book. OMG. I loved it. The story of two men who meet in WW1 and how they negotiate their lives during and after the war. No manufactured drama/angst, just the ‘real’ drama that life brings when you are dealing with what was then an illegal love. Set across different time periods showing how the relationship develops, it’s very Cat Sebastian/KJ Charles in tone and story. If you like either author you will appreciate this.
LUCKY BOUNCE by CAIT NARY. Not what I expected. And from the author’s note, not the book she was expecting/expected to write either. Putting aside everyone’s expectations, I mostly enjoyed it. It’s very lightweight and as others have commented, I would have preferred a double POV, as the narrator came off a bit vacuous at times but it was sweet and steamy enough to pass the time. It feels like she needed less angst and complications in her head for a while and now she can get back to what she does best: torturing us and her characters!
Went straight from that into THE (FAKE) DATING GAME by TIMOTHY JANOVSKY. An M/M, fake relationship story which turned out to be another lightweight read, although there is unresolved grief about the death of a parent which might be a red flag for some readers. Again, sweet/steamy enough to pass the time but doesn’t motivate me to search out anything else by the same author.
THE LADY TEMPTS AN HEIR by HARPER ST GEORGE
Lovely M/F Gilded Age fake engagement story. I’ve read the previous two in this series and am waiting for a price drop on the latest. Grownup protagonists and a likeable cast of characters make this a solid three-star outing. I suspect that all of these Gilded Age stories must be benefiting from the TV series – it certainly has fleshed out the manners and visuals for me.
SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS by MARY BALOGH. I am now fully on board with the Bedwyn siblings saga. This is Freyja’s story but the (hugely supportive) family features very strongly which definitely adds to the entertainment. Combine a good-hearted rogue, a fake engagement and a few villains, plus a UK West Country (Bath and Cornwall) setting and it’s another five-star read.
GOING HOME by KRIS RIPPER. I was curious about this author because he is a favourite of Alexis Hall, and the storyline caught my interest. LGBTQ, set in a present day AU, a slave and his master, separated when slavery is declared illegal, decide that they want to be together anyway. A lot of feelings and preconceptions are aired and a diverse and inclusive family is found. Interesting concept but I didn’t love it.
RISING STAR by SUSANNAH NIX. I have read a few by this author and they are reliably charming and relatively low angst stories. This is an M/F, forced proximity, hunky Hollywood star/brainy girl tale, with added dog. Exactly what you’d expect from that and none the worse for it. Enjoyable and I will seek out the next in series.
On the hunt for some billionaire shenanigans, I found BILLION DOLLAR ENEMY by OLIVIA HAYLE already on my Kindle. Again, I have read a few books by this author and you know you are getting a quality product. This is the first in the Seattle Billionaires series and concerns a bookish FMC whose bookstore is threatened by a billionaire developer. Starts with a one-night stand and progresses satisfactorily from there. Exactly what I wanted.
So that’s January nearly done. Huzzah! Stay classy SBs!
@Wait, what?, re: discreet and discrete, I cant tell you how many times I see the wrong usage of ‘reigns’ when it should be ‘reins’ and vice-versa.
It hasn’t been a great reading month for me. SYSTEM COLLAPSE(Murderbot) was fine, but didn’t have enough action to suit me, until the end, when it got interesting. More space lasers, please!
I also didn’t like THE LILY OF LUDGATE HILL as much as the previous books in the BELLES OF LONDON series. It’s definitely me, because Mimi Matthews’s writing is as lovely as ever. It’s just that enemies to lovers/second chance romance are not my favorite tropes. I do love the friendships between the FMCs in this series, and it made me want to reread THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE right away, that one was absolutely swoony!
Fire from the Sky by Moa Backe Åstot m/m, YA
4.25 Lovely, immersive queer YA about a 16 year old Sami boy trying to figure out who he is and how to fully be himself in his home village. This is a gentle, poetic book – very much a slice of life type story. A lot is unsaid – in that way it’s very different from American novels. Definitely read the sample.
I discovered a new to me author and historical romance series – Annick Trent’s The Old Bridge Inn Series. It’s a series of stand alone queer romances set in 1790’s England and all of the characters are working people. The two I’ve read also have a hint of radical politics – the characters are everyday people struggling with injustice and oppression and trying to make things a little bit better for each other.
Sixpenny Octavo, #2, 4.5 stars
Harvest Season, #4, short story, 4 stars
And I reread the short story, Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian which is a lovely mid 20th C m/m romance between 2 baseball players.
@kkw Huge thanks for putting out there that Freya Marske writes/wrote fanfic; I just found her on AO3 and downloaded a bunch to read as she’s got a fascinating mix of fandoms there!
I wish more authors could be more open about fandom backgrounds, but maybe it’s just that I’ve not been into the ones that have seemed to go more mainstream (I never read the Twilight books nor do I give a crap about Rylo which seem to be the authors I’ve heard of making it).
Anyway here’s to fanfic which honestly the majority of the time is often better than the original fic (granted it’s an epic quest to find the gems, but it’s amazing when you do).
I read LUCKY BOUNCE by Cait Nary and was underwhelmed. I read it over 3 days which is a huge indicator for me – not a problem to put it down and continue later. I’m an instant gratification kind of person, with a permanent membership to the BDBC.
I just finished CHANGE MY TICKET by Zarah Detand. It’s a MM celebrity/non-celeb story which isn’t usually my thing, but I liked it. Both MCs have a lot to learn about themselves, and there’s growth throughout the story. I’ve read a couple of her soccer stories and liked them a little better, but I’m a big Premier League fan so a romance between a striker from Man U and a playmaker from Liverpool is totally my catnip.
I’ll second the recommendation of Jax Calder’s BEAUTIFUL HEARTS. I’m such a fan of her rugby series and BEAUTIFUL HEARTS was a bit of a pivot from that. It was super emotional, though, and I don’t think my heart could take a reread.
@Kir I’m reading A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT by Becky Chambers too! It’s not wowing me but I like it OK.
Also reading BEA WOLF by Zach Weinersmith and Boulet, a retelling of Beowulf in comics form with rowdy suburban kids instead of Danes and a grumpy old man instead of a monster (but he can supernaturally turn kids into boring grownups.) Fun so far. Takes a little more liberty with the poetic form than I’d like (I’ve been interested in that sort of thing lately so it’s distracting me).
I’ve been binging Anne Gracie. I had been reading contemporaries and fantasy for a while and finding most of it kind of blah, so I decided to go with a complete change of pace. I started with a reread of Marry in Scarlet which I enjoyed though, not as much as the first and second times I read it. After that I read her Devil Riders series. I enjoyed the series but at that point in Gracie’s career, her writing showed a lot of recognizable patterns in the plotting and language. It wasn’t a problem, but it made me sorry I wasn’t a recreational drinker because I would have downed a lot of shots at every reference to the heroine’s luminous, creamy skin or the hero’s scent of clean linen, soap, light cologne, and beneath it all the mysterious smell of MAN.
I switched from Devil Riders to Gracie’s most recent series, Brides of Bellaire Gardens, and the contrast between the two series was pretty pronounced. DR was much more adventure-y while BOBG was more a domestic drama. I did think book 1, The Scoundrel’s Daughter, was better than the sequel, The Rake’s Daughter. The former had much more engaging characters and parallel romances spanning two generations. The Rake’s Daughter was ok, but the side characters were more appealing to me than the main couple. Anyway, I’m back on the prowl in search of something new to glom.
A little over a week ago I stumbled across Anna Butler’s series Lancaster’s Luck, which begins with THE GILDED SCARAB. It’s a m/m romance set in a steampunk AU of the British empire at the turn of the 20th century. I really, really enjoyed all three books and I wish that I could remember who recommended it so I could thank them! If it was someone posting here, many thanks for mentioning it! I also browse the subreddits r/MM_RomanceBooks and r/RomanceBooks so it’s possible I saw someone talking about the books there.
I’ll note that the MC is very critical of his country’s ruling system (the Imperium, based around a limited set of extremely powerful ruling families) and also imperialism to a degree, but perhaps not sufficiently critical for some readers’ modern sensibilities. For example, he recognizes how British archeologists going into Egypt and bringing artifacts back to British museums is problematic … but he still becomes romantically involved with an archeologist and goes on digs with him. In recommending the books myself, I wanted to recognize this aspect of the books: that although it’s an AU, the setting is still dealing with imperialism and that while the lead characters recognize some of the problems in their world but they’re not always trying to actively dismantle the systems that govern their world. That said, the main character (Rafe) *is* very vocal about wanting to change the system of the ruling class (if not imperialism in general) and seems invested in making change happen over his lifetime to the degree that he can.
@Wait, what? & @Karin: I used to keep a list of the most eyebrow-raising grammatical and spelling mistakes I encountered while reading. Some of my favorites:
“Her life was moving at a world wind pace.”
“He gave her a rye smile.”
“The house was empty, so crying out for help was feudal.”
“The cruel words hit her like missals.”
Not to mention, as you pointed out, the frequent confusion between reins/rains/reigns—in a genre that often has recourse to mention all three. And lately I’m seeing “unphased” for “unfazed” all over the place. Proofreading & copy editing really are dying arts.
I’ve been quite sick with COVID and two weeks of isolation left me with a lot of time and not much brain power. Right before I got sick I read Mercedes Lackey’s newest, VALDEMAR, so I went on a deep dive and re-read (or read) 19 Valdemar books. Perfect sick reads. I’ve really enjoyed the newest series about the founding of Valdemar and I loved seeing how the Companions came to be. (I would love a book from a Companion’s perspective.) I’ve been reading these since about 1990, and some were better than I remember and some were worse. I only read Vanyel’s books once as a teen and didn’t like them – too angsty! – but they were good this time; some of the Mags books were better than I remembered; but my teenage absolute favorite Talia books did not hold up. Sigh. I still have those almost memorized. There were some serious continuity errors that I can’t believe an editor didn’t catch – like, in the first Mags series, the king is Kiril, and in the second Mags series it’s spelled Kyril, etc. But all in all a good escape from COVID.
Also several contemporaries: I started and DNF’d Susan Mallery’s latest THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP because I just didn’t care about the characters. Mallery’s Fools Gold series was one of my gateways into romance but I just find her pretty insipid these days. Started and DNF’d THE HOTEL NANTUCKET for similar – just didn’t like the characters. I started Anita Kelly’s SOMETHING WILD AND WONDERFUL and need to get back to it because I was enjoying it. Also started Jaci Burton’s HOUSEBROKE but I fear it’s heading to cringe town so I may not keep on with it. I started and DNF’d STRANGE LOVE because while it was well-written I just don’t like alien/human romance.
Before I got sick I read LEGENDS AND LATTES based on recs here and I loved it. So sweet and gentle and warm! I also read FOR NEVER AND ALWAYS. I absolutely love this series of contemporary Jewish romances – I don’t think I knew how much I needed this rep til I read these – but I did find Levi kind of obnoxious. I still loved it anyway and I liked the exploration of how someone can be good for some people in a family and absolutely terrible to others. Also read the IRON FLAME and it was not Good, in fact it was eyeroll-y, but I enjoyed it anyway.
I’ve been bouncing hard off a lot of contemporaries these days. Several other DNFs include: ROMANTIC COMEDY; 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED; THE WAKE UP CALL; MAYBE ONCE MAYBE TWICE. I just don’t like the cringe and miscommunication trend these days.
One recent contemporary I did like was Carla Neggers’ ThE RIVER HOUSE, but that was mostly because I grew up very near where these books are set and I love seeing the area in a book – there are so many little details that are really accurate! (I got a kick out of the characters doing tick checks every day, and the chip on the shoulder they all have about the Quabbin and Boston stealing our water is 200% accurate.)
@PamG – One of my favourite Regencies is an older Anne Gracie, GALLANT WAIF. Highly recommend it! Wounded military hero who hides his heart, competent heroine who has been through harrowing things in the war, a managing aunt and an ending that is just so satisfying.
I read a couple of her Devil Riders books last year after finding one at a street library. Totally agree with your comments. Also, the side romance with the companion/ex governess and the Irishman (sorry, can’t remember the names) in the first book was more fun. But try Gallant Waif if you’re not totally burned out on Gracie yet.
@DiscoDollyDeb, @Wait, what? and @Karin – so agree! English is not my first language but these kinds of things bug me endlessly!
A SHARP SOLITUDE by Christine Carbo
Murder mystery set in Glacier National Park. An FBI agent inserts herself in a murder investigation because the primary suspect is her ex and father of her child. I’m liking it so far. Both leads are flawed characters with a complicated history. I also now feel an urge to pack it all up and move to the wilderness.