Here’s how we’re wrapping up our reading this July:
Shana: I just finished All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim ( A | BN | K ) and I adored it. It’s a beautiful gay romance about a pianist who reconnects with his first love. I almost cried when it ended because I didn’t want it to be over.
Elyse: I have been struggling hard with anxiety over the election and general state of the world. When my brain gets overwhelmed I either look to super detailed non fiction or something really big and immersive in terms of world building to keep my thoughts busy. The Game of Thrones series is a comfort read for me. I KNOW.
I just started The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne ( A | BN | K | AB ) which is a Viking-esque epic fantasy with monsters. I’m only 5% in though so I don’t know if it’s good yet.
Claudia: I’ve been reading a lot of words on paper lately. I’m now re-reading A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews ( A | BN | K | AB ) since the brother of the FMC in that book is the MMC in her newest one out shortly.
Tara: I’m in the middle of Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey. ( A | BN ) I knew it was time to finally pick it up when I recently watched the narrator read a 10-minute segment at a conference. It’s a sapphic romance between an established pop star and and up-and-comer and I’m really enjoying it.
Lara: I wish I had more exciting reading to report. I’m still stuck in a cycle of comfort re-reading. Not sure how or when I’m going to brave a new-to-me book!
Sarah: What a cool idea for a conference panel, Tara! That probably sold a lot of copies!
I’m re-reading Lady Eve’s Last Con, a sapphic rom con heist in space. It’s extremely fun.
The reread is to prepare for the author event I’m doing Monday night. It’s been awhile since I’ve done an “in conversation with” event and I want it to be interesting and entertaining for the folks who come!
Sneezy: I’ve just stared Want to See My Cat? by Samtae
It’s SO SO CUTE and has such funny moments!!! I love this take on time travel!!! It’s so nice to see the main character loving herself up when she’s back in her early 20’s, like, “Wow! I’m so pretty! Make-up looks great because my skin’s great!” There’s something healing and lovely about seeing someone give love to their younger selves so directly. The story so far is also sidestepping some of my most haaaaated misogynistic tropes in romance webtoons. AND THE ANIMALS! OMG! It’s ADORABLE seeing the kitten teach the puppy to be an ‘awesome cat’!
How are you ending this month? Any winners to close out July?
Good morning, everyone (several hours ahead of most of you here!).
I’ve read a lot lately but not much that I feel is worth shouting about, so this will be fairly short and sweet:
Favourite has to be THE DUKE AT HAZARD by KJ CHARLES. M/M historical.
Always excited to read a new KJC and this didn’t disappoint. A charming, ‘soft’ romance between an unassuming duke in disguise and a ‘gentleman of uncertain fortune’. A stolen ring is the catalyst for a life-changing road trip. Adventures ensue, friends are made along the way, enemies get some satisfying come-uppances and it’s all just delightful. I found myself smiling often at these two lonely individuals slowly dismantling each other’s protective walls and letting friendship blossom.
It’s a loose sequel to THE GENTLE ART OF FORTUNE HUNTING to which I returned immediately. And it’s even better on second reading. The clever power imbalance/grumpy sunshine structure creates a deeply emotional and deeply erotic opposites attract relationship. All very satisfying. Five stars for both.
I also thoroughly enjoyed LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by BONNIE GARMUS. Not a romance but with some romantic elements. I’d avoided it because of all the hype but couldn’t resist a 99p KDD.
Set in the 1960s, our main protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a quirky (neurodiverse?) scientist, battling for equality in a male-dominated world; trying to balance a career with motherhood. I’m not selling it very well because I found it a difficult book to pin down but suffice to say, after reading it in bits and pieces on my phone on short Tube journeys, I got home one day and just sat down and read through to the end because I was enjoying myself and I wanted to know what happened. Sharp, entertaining and often funny, it’s definitely worth your time. Extra marks for the bits from the dog’s POV.
MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE by JENNA LEVINE. M/F contemporary paranormal.
Cassie, a down-on-her-luck artist, takes a cheap roomshare and it turns out that her roommate is (yes, you guessed it) a 300-year-old vampire. Frederick, said vampire, has been in a coma and needs Cassie to acquaint him with 21st century living. Cue lots of fish out of water shenanigans, plus a naughty, amusing vampire friend (Reggie, who gets his own book next) and you’ve got an enjoyable, funny, low-angst romance between the very likeable leads. I have pre-ordered Reggie’s book. Can’t say fairer than that.
Happy reading all.
On the whole, a good run of late:
THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK. Megan Bannen has a distinctive voice and point of view and I am here for it. She’s one of those authors who has great affection for her characters and it shows. Also! Pink herbivorous dragons! It’s delightful!
I enjoyed DIVINITY 36 by Gail Carriger, but was a bit lukewarm on the second book DIVINITY 12. Premise is interesting and original (basically, what if K-Pop stars were actually gods) and the first book is about the formation of a new pantheon (band) with a little side romance. The second book focuses much more heavily on the romance and a) I hated one of the MCs (Missit) and b) Carriger sometimes writes characters that are so MASSIVELY insecure that I just can’t. That said, am intrigued to see how the series wraps up (and am hoping for less Missit in book 3).
Currently reading IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER by Tessa Bailey for book club and I dunno. The female MC’s parents were, in my estimation, neglectful, and she’s just so into being Pretty that I keep having these feelings of “Holy internalized misogyny, Batman! Can we please interrogate this a little bit? Or at least stop glorifying it?” I might just be the wrong audience for this book.
Also reading Leigh Bardugo’s newest book THE FAMILIAR and it’s just generally stressing me out. It’s set in 1500s Spain and our heroine is a Jew/a conversa who can do magic. The specter of the Inquisition is obviously very strong and I just keep worrying for her.
This week is all about the vacation TBR pile that I’ve been saving up. We’re heading to the North Woods of WI for 3 days of camping and then 3 days in Galena IL. It’s a trip my husband and I took last summer and enjoyed. Especially the state park campground on an island. We’re bringing our 14yo girlies for this one. So actually a family trip, but still not having to do work or daily routine life – so yay!
I’ve got DO ME A FAVOR by Cathy Yardley – I enjoyed the grumpy sunshine and older main characters in ROLE PLAYING.
Also, the next book in Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series, THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD. I enjoy the quirky cast of main and side characters – excitement without the intense pressure of thrillers.
I’ll probably pick up THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK, but I’m feeling like a reread of THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY would be helpful beforehand. It’s in my Kindle library so dig it out while we’re hanging in the woods.
As for what I’ve been reading – I went on a binge of Hazel Mack’s HAVEN EVER AFTER series. Cozy, steamy, goofy – I like the flow of each book into the other. The next book is picking up the throuple vibe.
Read Lucy Score’s WORST BEST MAN – a pretty typical billionaire romance, but with a hefty side of goofy. Frankie, the FMC, is feisty and unapologetically herself. It takes her awhile to realize how her self-protective patterns are also hurting Aiden, the MMC, and keeping distance between them. And she’s got some legit reasons (paparazzi and evil rich bitches and such). When she does recognize her stuff, she steps up and owns it. Frankie’s family are a delight.
Found Kerrigan Byrne’s HIGHLAND MAGIC series on KU – I always enjoy her books. Steamy, strong alpha heroes. These are definitely novella length, which totally threw me off on the first one – the resolution came barreling down out of nowhere. They are a good one evening read. There’s definitely more power imbalance between the MMCs, who are all Berserkers (so far, I just finished book 3) and the FMCs. There’s some dubious consent mixed in. If you’ve read Byrne’s books, you know the consent line is definitely dotted. Lots of dominant males taking what they want. So be warned on these.
I picked up THE SCANDALOUS CONFESSIONS OF LYDIA BENNET, WITCH, when it was featured on SMTB recently. A nice change of pace from my typical romance picks. I don’t always like a mixed timeline storyline, but it worked for me here. It fit Lydia’s personality and allowed the reader to see her growth as the story came to the end.
Now off to pick up our rental trailer – so much camping gear – we’re not bare bones camping folks. And then pack for our trip. Have a great week everyone!
A friend recommended FIVE BROKEN BLADES by Mai Corland, so I’m looking forward to checking it out.
I also want to read LIONESS RAMPANT by Tamora Pierce and finish out the Song of the Lioness series. And there is a FIRST TEST graphic novel by Pierce that I also want to read.
FALLING by T. J. Newman also looks like an interesting thriller.
I also decided to break out my fall decorations this weekend. Bring on pumpkins, s’mores, fall, and football! 🙂
THE HEART IN WINTER by Kevin Barry. I had high hopes for this one, but like most literary Westerns, I was underwhelmed.
THE ADVENTURE ZONE: THE SUFFERING GAME by the McElroys and Carey Pietsch. Loads of fun, but a bit of a given as it was one of my favorite arcs on the podcast.
THE BRIGHT SWORD by Lev Grossman. This is the closest to THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING I feel like I’ve read in awhile. I’m tired of Arthurian stories trying to subvert the myths, like they’re smarter than the original chroniclers. I’m far more interested in versions that try to make the disparate stories cohesive.
Ari Baran’s HOME ICE ADVANTAGE, the third book in her Penalty Box series of m/m hockey romances, isn’t quite as gritty as the earlier two books in the series (GAME MISCONDUCT and DELAY OF GAME), but it’s still a great read featuring opposites attract, antagonists-to-lovers, bi-awakening, and older MCs. Forty-somethings Ryan “Sully” Sullivan and Eric Aronson are former professional hockey players, now coaching a struggling team. Sully is the newly-hired head coach and Eric is one of his assistants (although he had been hoping he would get the head coaching position). The two men immediately clash: Sully is calm, good natured, and wants to win over his rag-tag team with kindness and optimism. Eric, on the other hand, is gruff, often angry, and isn’t opposed to growling at the players when necessary. The men start out on an uneasy footing, until Eric deliberately circumvents Sully’s express strategy during a game. Sparks fly as the two argue, and before you know it…late night make-out session in the office! What I liked so much about HOME ICE ADVANTAGE was how, after their initial almost inexplicable kiss, both characters begin to let down their barriers and grow closer. Over the course of the book, each man changes: Sully sees that there are going to be some people for whom kindness and conflict avoidance will always be perceived as a sign of weakness, and he uses some of the edge he’s learned from Eric to confront both his awful bully of a father and a veteran player who isn’t trying very hard. Meanwhile, Eric realizes that it doesn’t hurt to be friendlier and to show consideration to others. And, in light of the recent SBTB post about what makes a good sex scene, I will say that HOME ICE ADVANTAGE has some of the most emotional and well-integrated I’ve read in a while (including two very hot, but also very sweet, role-play scenes). An engaging and entertaining read. Highly recommended.
Willow Dixon’s THEIR WICKED WAYS, the sixth & final book in her Crimson Club series of m/m romances, is a departure from the earlier books in a couple of significant ways: firstly, this is an m/m/m book in which an established couple invite another man to join them; secondly, the initial sex scene occurs much earlier in the book than in the previous ones. However, many of Willow Dixon’s trademarks are here: strong & supportive (non-sexual) male friendships, mental health challenges, dysfunctional upbringings, found family, and the difficulties of being Millennial/Gen Z in the current social/economic/political climate. THEIR WICKED WAYS also features recovery from religious trauma, with MC Jett (after divorcing the wife who had been selected for him) being ostracized by his family and the religious community in which he was raised. The particular belief system is not identified, but it’s clearly one that emphasizes having huge families: as Jett observes about his childhood spent being responsible for his younger siblings, “My parents loved having babies, they just didn’t care much for their kids.” Jett is a bartender at Crimson Club at nights while working construction during the day (everyone in the Crimson Club universe works at least two jobs). Jett is also in the process of acknowledging his bisexuality. He goes to a gay club where he meets Ezra & Wes, a long-established couple who enjoy occasionally playing with a third partner. Jett has a hot time with the guys and doesn’t expect to see them again. But guess who the new hires are on Jett’s construction crew? Shocker I know. Much of the rest of the story involves the three men determining how their throuple will work. It’s interestingly done and does not fall into the trap—as a lot of poly-am romances do—of assuming a tri-party relationship will be a slam-dunk because the sexual chemistry between the partners is so hot. I wouldn’t say THEIR WICKED WAYS is one of Dixon’s best books (seeing almost every incident or event from three different POVs can get somewhat tedious), but it still has a lot of the things I enjoy in Dixon’s work, especially empathetic & generous young people who don’t let society’s indifference ruin their concern for others. Recommended.
Part 2 (I forgot to say my previous post was Part 1, lol)
Sara Cate’s THE HOME-WRECKER had an intriguing premise undercut by inconsistent characters and events that escalated too rapidly. I will say, however, that the book is completely on-target about how bigoted and close-minded people (including friends and family) can be toward unorthodox relationships—in the case of THE HOME-WRECKER, an MMF throuple. The book is the second of Cate’s Goode Brothers series about four brothers raised in a very religious home and what happens to each of them when they discover that their mega-church pastor father was embezzling church funds, drinking heavily, visiting sex clubs, and (in the first book, which I haven’t read) being arrested for attempting to murder the owner of one such club. In THE HOME-WRECKER, Caleb Goode has been married for over ten years to Briar, they have a young daughter and have been trying unsuccessfully for another child. Into their lives comes Dean, a bisexual sex-worker who is the former teenage lover of Caleb’s younger brother (who long ago left the family and is now a famous musician). I found the early chapters of the book—with Dean moving into the family’s garage apartment and finding a way to seduce both Caleb and Briar—to be the best part of the book. I just wish there’d been a little more build up and a little more self-insight before all three MCs end up in bed together. Always straight Caleb, supportive “trad wife”-esque Briar, and cynical Dean change at the speed of light: suddenly Dean is fixing everyone dinner, Caleb is challenging his dreadful hypocrite of a father, and Briar is gleefully getting double-teamed in Dean’s apartment. (And, call me an overprotective mom, but I couldn’t believe that Caleb & Briar left their young daughter sleeping alone in the main house while they snuck off to the garage apartment for wild threesomes with Dean.) Going back to the discussion about good sex scenes: THE HOME-WRECKER has way too many sex scenes…and few of them are particularly good. The one element THE HOME-WRECKER gets sadly correct is how quickly some friends and family will be to shun those who don’t fit their notions of what consenting adults should do with each other. Much like Willow Dixon does with the MCs in THEIR WICKED WAYS, Sara Cate doesn’t pretend it won’t be difficult for Caleb, Briar, and Dean to be honest and open about their relationship outside of their own cocoon of love. It’s hard for me to recommend THE HOME-WRECKER: it had a lot of potential, but an absorbing foundation was let down by sloppy execution.
Earlier this month, I read Taylor Fitzpatrick’s BETWEEN THE TEETH, and mentioned how much I wanted to know the obviously fraught backstory of two supporting characters, Robbie & Georgie, who were once lovers and had a bad breakup but now find themselves playing on the same professional hockey team. @I_Simon kindly provided the links to two long on-going stories about the pair that Fitzpatrick has been posting to AO3 for a number of years: ALWAYS IN TANDEM and STILL ALWAYS IN TANDEM. I do not know if Fitzpatrick ever intends to revise and publish these works in a more formal way, but I can say that the stories as they now stand are some of the most melancholy I have ever read, suffused with regret, missed opportunities, mental health struggles, bone-headed decisions, the need to hurt someone as badly as they’ve hurt you, and the scary feeling that comes with knowing you’ve destroyed the best thing you’ve ever had. I can’t classify these stories as romance—even referring to them as love stories is a bit of a stretch at times—but I found them compulsively readable (Fitzpatrick has an elliptical “show-never-tell” style that hits my sweet spot), although I would recommend looking at them only after you finish BETWEEN THE TEETH. As is usually the case with Fitzpatrick’s m/m pairings, in ALWAYS IN TANDEM & STILL ALWAYS IN TANDEM, one MC (Robbie) is gay and the other (Georgie) is bi. They meet as college hockey players, have a wildly romantic teammates-to-friends-to-lovers relationship lasting about a year, until Georgie (unhappy and alone with his first professional team) cheats (this is no spoiler, it is revealed in BETWEEN THE TEETH), which destroys the men’s relationship. Fitzpatrick follows the guys through the ensuring decade: as the years go by, Robbie & Georgie end up playing opposite each other or sometimes even for the same team. Robbie (who is more-or-less out) has a long-term relationship with a man named Ted; meanwhile, Georgie marries and has children with a very perceptive woman named Melissa. Long stretches of time pass where Robbie & Georgie do not see each other, but they are never far from each other’s thoughts. I don’t know how or if Fitzpatrick plans to finish the series, but an HEA doesn’t look like it’s in the cards. I would recommend these stories for someone who was curious about the backstory of Robbie & Georgie after reading BETWEEN THE TEETH; but don’t go looking for a conventional romance because, with the way the stories stand now, that just ain’t gonna happen.
I saw Sarah at the book event and she and Rebecca Fraimow were in fact a delight 😉 I’m saving LADY EVE’S LAST CON for when I need some cheering up.
I’m plugging away at Dorothy Dunnett’s The House of Niccolò series, but this 4th book is going slowly, I need to make a push this weekend to finish it. I needed a break last night (Nicholas’s world is starting to feel a little claustrophobic even with all the to and fro-ing and adventuring) so I opened up BRIEFLY PERFECTLY HUMAN by Alua Arthur, a death doula. It’s a memoir of her life and what brought her to being a death doula (one who eases people through death in ways that can be both practical and emotional). Very gripping read and it’s giving me a lot to think about. I find it interesting that in the last few months, a ton of nonfiction books have come about dying, which I think is a good thing. Death isn’t a pleasant topic to dwell on, I do feel like the almost pathological way we (in the US at least) avoid thinking and talking about it isn’t healthy either.
My audiobook reading is going gangbusters. I listened to two Zoe Sharp thrillers, that start of new series. The first book is called THE LAST TIME SHE DIED and is about a woman showing up out of the blue for her father’s funeral ten years after she disappeared (as a teenager), but everyone is convinced she’s not the real Blake Claremont, just a con woman out for some money. Detective John Byron is in the area investigating her father’s death. Mr. Claremont had a rather unsavory past as a member of parliament and died in a mysterious car crash. Now Byron needs to figure out if the reappearance of this woman is somehow connected to his investigation. Saying too much would really not just spoil this book but also the sequel, THE GIRL IN THE DARK, but I will say they’re both good twisty thrillers that center on getting justice for people (particularly women and children) who have been exploited. The forms of justice aren’t always strictly within the legal system, for anyone that might be a minus (or a plus!). I don’t find the “who dun it” that hard to solve, but I have to constantly remind myself that’s not the point of a thriller. The main characters are appealing, there’s a hint of romance, and lots of great side characters. The books are definitely *not* for the faint of heart and I recommend checking trigger warnings. They’re not what would be my usual taste but I feel like the author is good about writing violence without being gratuitous or titillating. Very much YMMV.
For something almost completely different, I also enjoyed listening to REQUIEM FOR A MEZZO by Carola Dunn, third in the Daisy Dalrymple series. These are cozy historical mysteries where Daisy is a down-on-her-luck member of the aristocracy who is making her living as a journalist in 1920s London. Think similar to Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series. These aren’t quite as over the top comedic as that series, but I find them pleasant. I feel like Carola Dunn is really good at threading the needle of capturing an Agatha Christie 20s vibe without going overboard into parody. The mystery wasn’t that hard to solve, but like I said, I’m trying to let that go with my reading in general. I was spoiled by the first mystery author I binged being Agatha Christie and if you compare every mystery to hers, many are going to be obvious in comparison.
I know these books do not sound at all alike, but the common audiobook thread is that the British narrators (both women) had the cool, calm accent that I find so charming and easy to listen to. Like BBC storytime. They also made good chore/housework audiobooks for me in that they’re compelling enough that I’m engaged but not so detailed or complicated that if I zone out for a moment or get interrupted I’m totally lost. They were also available on hoopla, a definite plus. I tried to listen to a T. Kingfisher audiobook, but I realized it wasn’t going to work b/c I wanted to savor the details of every single sentence and that doesn’t fit the brief for my audiobook needs currently.
I am reading THE BRIGHT SWORD by LEV GROSSMAN and loving it. What has always intrigued me as an historian are the stories of the people who go on AFTER the GREAT LEADER dies or the revolution ends or whatever and, so far, TBS is giving me exactly that plus great use of flashbacks. It is long but is a fast read.
I also just started WHEN CRACK WAS KING by Donovan X Ramsey and I am not very far along. I can report, though, that the writing is terrific.
This summer’s patio reading is FIRE, Bitchery. Well, except for a week ago when the NWS clocked 23 tornados in NE Illinois. I was, because I am my father’s daughter, standing on the patio when one of my trees snapped in half 20 feet away. My poor tree.
Anyway, back to the patio read.
Laura Hankin’s ONE STAR ROMANCE was a five-star read. It’s told from the point of view of Nat, a struggling writer and Rob scholar moving up in academia. The book takes place over a half dozen years of meet ups at their respective best friends’ celebratory events as they progress through adulthood: engagement, wedding, housewarming, etc. There are sparks when they meet, but also reasons why those sparks cannot be acted on. At their second meeting things have changed for Nat. She’s published a book. Then in a sea of good reviews, a one-star review appears. Just a star with no comment. Who would do that? Why Rob. For a good reason based on emotion and loyalty. Budding romance nipped when Nat realizes it was him. Their way back to each other over the years is handled with honesty and tenderness. Nat and Rob come to see each other more clearly, but more importantly they grow as individuals before they grow together. They’re finally able to give support and kindness when their soft spots are revealed. Backdropping that is Natalie’s relationship with her BFF, which I really related to. Gabby marries someone Nat thinks is not worthy of her friend (been there twice, but unlike Nat, I was not wrong) and then watches as that friend happily continues to tick those adulthood milestones: career, a house, a child. All while she’s still living her starving artist life. Beautiful storytelling. A chef’s kiss of a book.
Circling back to the last WAYR, I finished THE GOOD KILLER and it delivered. Whatever had been holding me back disappeared, and I finished it in one multi-hour gobble during aforementioned stormy night. It was a high-octane ride, but delivered the most heartening, hopeful end. I KNOW. How did that happen? The story is told from multiple points of view, but the one it ended with had been all but forgotten, as we hadn’t seen her since the very beginning of the book. I should have known Dolan wouldn’t let me down.
I started A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston on the patio this morning with my coffee. High concept plot: woman gets lost on the way to her vacation cabin and finds herself in the fictional small town of her favorite romance series. A series cut short by the untimely death of the author. When the penny drops for her, the only person she doesn’t recognize is the proprietor of the town bookstore: the handsome grumpy (catnip alert) man whom she almost ran over when she arrived in town. I’ll be diving back in once the patio moves back into the shade this afternoon. I have cheap peach wine and Ranier cherries at the ready.
Yesterday the GBPL came through with Christina Lauren’s latest THE PARADISE PROBLEM & Lucy Score’s THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD so I expect the summer on the patio will continue to provide reading highpoints.
Having finished a re-read of much of Celia Lake’s Albion, was charmed by the The Duke at Hazard by KJ Charles and am now on the third of C.S. Poe’s Memento Mori series, Madison Square Murders, Subway Slayings, and Broadway Butchery. These are police procedurals and somewhat violent with homophobia but the compassion between the main characters is truly beautiful.
Finishing Jenkins July with *Through the Storm*. Love all the little character callbacks and such in her books, and Jenkins always tells an engaging story! Sable is another great Jenkins heroine who meets up with “the general” Harriet Tubman. Otherwise, it’s been a slow reading month for me–last week, finished *Topaz*, *Notes of a Native Son* by James Baldwin, and AR Capetta’s queer coming of age with a touch of magic and romance YA, *The Heartbreak Bakery*.
Continuing my summer of new-to-me authors, I picked up HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter when it was mentioned here & on sale a couple weeks ago. I greatly enjoyed the banter between the main characters, which seemed particularly clever but also realistic & not contrived.
The story worked for me, too– MCs Sophie & Max are “wedding objectors” who stand up during the “does anyone here object” portion of wedding vows to end nuptials that they know shouldn’t be completed (for instance, because one partner is cheating). It could have been outlandish but I thought the plot elements were believable, and Sophie & Max’s transition from friends to friends-with-benefits to more was well developed. A fun read overall.
Then I discovered I already had the previous Painter book, THE LOVE WAGER, on my Kindle– probably purchased long ago on sale and then forgotten (this never happens to anyone else, right?). THE LOVE WAGER had some attributes similar to HAPPILY NEVER AFTER (MCs who are friends first, then agree to some fake dating, and of course gradually discover they are “the one” for each other), but didn’t seem as polished to me, with banter that wasn’t as natural. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t read HAPPILY NEVER AFTER first.
Overall, though, Painter is an author I’m glad to have discovered and will read again.
Returned to one of my favorites, Jennifer Dugan, with her newest adult novel, THE RIDE OF HER LIFE. Not sure the title was the best for this story, but I had a great time reading this sapphic romance between Molly, a 24 yr old aspiring wedding planner who is surprised to inherit a horse farm from her aunt, and Shani, the 28 yr old farrier (that means horse shoeing) who lives on the farm & was the caretaker for Molly’s aunt as the aunt was dying of cancer.
There’s some family drama that affects both women & how they deal with relationship issues (after instant attraction when they meet), and an interesting dynamic with Molly’s best friend, Nat, whose ambivalence about Shani “taking Molly away” from the friendship plays a part in the third act break up. And also interesting information (new to me) about horse care and rodeo competitions, since that’s the profession of Shani’s brother, another intriguing character in the story.
I think Dugan is especially good at writing about teen and 20-something angst (and maturing away from continuous angst) in a compelling way, and her books have plenty of humor, too. I see that Dugan’s first adult novel, LOVE AT FIRST SET, is still on sale today at Amazon, so I recommend that one, this new one, and Dugan’s YA books as well.
Did some re-reading. SEP’s KISS AN ANGEL, arranged marriage where her father forces her to marry someone she does not know and who thinks she is a spoiled princess. H takes her to his trailer in the circus, treats her badly. She perseveres and wins the love of the animals and then the people. Gotta say, this one did not hold up. He was borderline abusive and I am not sure she should have forgiven him. Though it did hold my interest. Very Old School..
Also re-read OFF TO THE RACES by Elsie Silver. I enjoyed it the first time and liked it even better this time through. He has inherited a ranch with race horses and a tainted reputation. She is a trainer hired to get his horses ready to run. She is also avoiding her unpleasant back story.
A new to me was THE STAND-IN by Kristin Proby. Fake dating to feels. She is part owner of a football team in Seattle. He is one of the coaches and also younger. I would like to have seen the power imbalance addressed a bit more. Also, this is part of an ongoing series and, while fine as a stand-alone, has many characters from previous books. I did enjoy and would recommend,
Also wanted to mention that JUST FOR FUN by Rosalind James is currently free for kindle. This is part of her New Zealand rugby series and involves a secret baby. I enjoyed it and am happy to add it to my collection.
I’m reading “A Coup of Tea” by Casey Blair. It’s cozy fantasy that seems to lean into Asian cultures, first in a trilogy, and I’m finding it very interesting. I just got the next two books from the library.
In cozy sci-fi, I’m reading “The Stars Too Fondly” by Emily Hamilton. Maybe I saw it here? Described as “sapphic Star Trek”.
I’ve been wanting to lean more into SF&F romances lately, so these are working nicely for me.
Over the past two weeks ~
— enjoyed reading/looking at Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the World by Ian Wright. If you or someone you know likes maps/information, this book might hit the spot.
— I needed to read a book featuring pets for the summer reading bingo so enjoyed In Dog We Trust: #1 in the Golden Retriever Mystery Series by Neil S. Plakcy which is described as a cozy mystery. It’s the first in a series of nineteen books, I see. A man (serving parole for a hacking crime) is close by when his neighbor is murdered; he calls in the crime and ends up caring for her dog, Rochester. Rochester often alerts the man to clues that help him and others solve his neighbor’s murder. I would read on, but sadly none of my libraries carry the series.
— For my book group, I read Fever by Mary Beth Keane. This was an intriguing book about Typhoid Mary that left me feeling a lot of sympathy for her.
— bought and read a book on release day, JFH: Justin F**king Halstead by GiGi DeGraham. It’s a contemporary romance featuring two college students who become friends and then more. Both are well known on campus — one is a talented football player; the other suffered a brutal attack the prior year. A lot of attention in the story is paid to dealing with trauma and recovery. This is a book that I will reread.
— also reread one of the above author’s prior books, Lucky by GiGi DeGraham, as I thought the two books might be connected. If they are, I did not see it. I enjoyed the reread.
— For the summer reading bingo, I needed to read an epistolary work. I chose to read Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor. What a short and powerful read! This fictional collection of letters between friends and business colleagues was originally published as a magazine story in 1938 and covers about sixteen months from late 1932 to early 1934. One man has recently returned to Germany with his wife and children; the other, also German, writes him from their place of business in San Francisco. The man in the US is Jewish, the man in Germany is not. I recommend this though it is decidedly NOT a romance.
— enjoyed a reread of the Class 5 science fiction romance series by Michelle Diener with Dark Horse, Dark Deeds, Dark Minds, Dark Matters, and Dark Class. I also reread the companion pieces Dark Ambitions (a novella) and the Dark Class bonus epilogue.
— enjoyed You Can Do Magic: Carnival of Mysteries by R.L. Merrill which is set in the present but has a magical element. It features a rock star as well as a calliope player from an enchanted carnival. Both men have emotional issues due to past events.
— enjoyed the western set The Cowboy and the Hoodlum by Jackie North which featured a man serving parole and his team leader.
— enjoyed a reread of Lies and Lullabies by Sarina Bowen which has two people reconnecting after five years (and the birth of a child).
— One Bed for Christmas by Jackie Lau which was an enjoyable contemporary romance novella. It featured longtime friends who share accommodations when one has a power outage. She’s a CEO; he’s a graphic designer who dances in a T-Rex costume for extra funds.
Best thing I read recently was of course Charles’s THE DUKE AT HAZARD (and rereads of the other book, novella, and short story in the series*). Extremely satisfying.
I also reread THE FOUNDLING and THE CORINTHIAN, the two Heyer books TDaH most closely resembles, which was a bit of a mistake. I mean I still love them, and while obviously we wouldn’t have Charles without Heyer, Charles is all the best parts better, and reading them in such close proximity makes it transparent.
I was also extremely pleased by Demas’s THE HOUSE OF THE RED BALCONIES. Best one yet, or just the one I read most recently? My only complaint is that it ended.
LADY EVE’S LAST CON as discussed above is utterly delightful, not to be missed. It’s definitely going to be a series, right?? There’s so much scope for all the more that I require.
A DEATH AT THE DIONYSUS CLUB by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold is the second in a series that I’m enjoying. Not sure why I don’t love it even more as queer historical paranormal detective romance is my ideal genre. Definitely recommend, I am absolutely looking forward the next one, I just can’t put my finger on why it’s not as addictive as it might be.
*THE GENTLE ART OF FORTUNE HUNTING is a great romance but ugh I remain unhappy about that sex scene toward the end. Weirdly, her book with an upsetting number of beetles is *not* the entomologist one. And since A THIEF IN THE NIGHT deals with a hoarder property, it’s no wonder this is the series I reread the least. Still phenomenal, mind, just… apropos the thread about what makes a good sex scene, I need some base level hygiene and sanitation.
@Elyse and anyone else looking for GoTesque comfort reads, I know I keep raving about Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga, but it’s the series that engages the most similar response in me, and I am dying to know if anyone else feels the same. It’s different of course, among other things it’s contemporary and the magic is based in kung fu not dragons. But it is similarly real world building and complexity and full of backstabbing power grabs. The style and the politics are also better, fwiw.
Nothing else exceptional to rec.
I finished Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown earlier this week for SBTB Summer Bingo. It made me feel seen in the oddest of ways. I’ve moved on to re-reading Bethany Bennett’s Any Rogue Will Do as it can be put into two squares and I’ll pick the line it best fits in once I’m done.
Finished the VALOR & DOYLE mysteries by Nicky James and thought they were entertaining but they made me miss my favorite (human) gay crime fighting duo – Levi and Dominick – in Cordelia Kingsbridge’s SEVEN OF SPADES series. These guys are searching for (and being stalked by) a vigilante serial killer and it has some grisly situations. Both characters have serious issues (trauma, addiction) so this one is not for everyone but I really liked these guys.
I was on the verge of rereading my favorite not-entirely-human crime fighting duo, Cooper and Oliver in Charlie Adhara’s BIG BAD WOLF series (m/m,human/wolf shifter) but I was diverted when Amazon recommended CUT AND RUN, book 1 in a series by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux. I’m on vacation so I read it in a day and a half and it definitely held my interest. I’m going to take a break from gay crime fighters but I’d be interested in what others thought of this series. It looks like it has been re-released and I remember trying to find it a couple of years ago and being unable to find it in the kindle store.
@JT Alexis: I read the Cut and Run series in 2014 and then reread it in 2016. I certainly enjoyed them at the time and hope you will, too.
No real standouts good or bad for me this round.
THE MUSICIAN AND THE MONSTER by Megan van Dyke: Beauty and the Beast inspired romance. It was OK, but I’m not inspired to look for more by the author. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
FORGET ME NOT by Julie Soto: A second chance story that did some fun things with dual timelines. The present is told from the FMC’s point of view while the past is from the MMC’s point of view. I really enjoyed this one.
RADIANT SIN by Katee Robert: Book 4 of a series, but I think you could read this one without having read the previous. The series is inspired by Greek mythology, with this entry taking on Apollo and Cassandra. I enjoyed this one. It’s still on the darker side of things, but maybe not quite as dark as the other entries in the series.
THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren: The setup is a little crazy, but I liked the characters. The ending felt a little abrupt and the epilogue does a lot of work in terms of tying up loose ends. Overall I had a good time with this one.
YOU, WITH A VIEW by Jessica Joyce: The setup involves the FMC going on a road trip with her high school antagonist (enemies to lovers trope) and his grandfather, who it turns out was once engaged to her grandmother. The story of the grandparent’s romance comes out in letters from the grandmother that are shared during the trip. Overall, I liked this one.
ICEBREAKER by Hannah Grace: Hockey player + figure skater, college aged. I picked this one up because the blurb reminded me of the movie The Cutting Edge. I liked it well enough, but it seemed a little long in the middle. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
Ooh, I’ve been waiting for this to come around! I raced through the Kate Daniels books one week—I mean I read all up to book 4 I think, and then started skimming and scanning the rest because I was besieged by gotta know-itis. I will at some point go back and re-read the books properly but I understand why Ilona Andrews is so beloved. I love their Innskeeper Chronicles and also enjoyed the Hidden Legacy and it is just incredible to see the breadth of their imagination. They really do know how to write gripping storylines with just the right dash of romance. And I love all their female leads!
Oh, I also finally read Tooth & Claw by Jo Walton (I think I read it years ago but had no recollection!) and it was delightful as well! I went to her website and really enjoyed the genesis of the book: what if you could literally see if maidens ceased to be well maidens in Victorian times. The dragons’ biology makes it so!
I loved loved loved Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard. But start with Hands of The Emperor. Oh, I so highly recommend Hands of The Emperor—start there. It’s a fantasy steeped deep in a culture inspired heavily by Polynesia, and features the inner workings of bureaucracy, and leveraging that bureaucracy for the highest good. It also features asexuality between its two heroes, one of whom is so earnest in the best way possible. It is heartfelt, and lovely, and just perfect. I am going to be re-reading it again shortly!
The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness—I read in an interview that Harkness has filled up notes for 6 more books in this universe! I am there for it! I enjoyed this installment a whole lot of lot. It was good to see Diana claim the “Darkness” of the higher magic, and doing something for herself. I like that Harkness decided to develop the dark magic which so far has been a taboo in the series. I am interested in where she’s going with this!
Oh, I also read the The Murder of Mr. Wickham, I think inspired by some post/comment here, and enjoyed it hugely!
Also thought A Most Unusual Duke by Susanna Allan was a lot of fun. I always did enjoy Catherine’s recommendations.
Since the last WAYR, I enjoyed DJ Jamison’s DOCK TEASE and PRETTY BUOY, the first two in her Swallow Cove m/m small-town series–I liked getting to know the friend group here, and liked the intersection with her Rom-Com Reboot universe.
Other satisfying latest in series–INDESCRIBABLE LOVE by Samantha Chase (the second in her Wylder Love series, about three brothers), DADDY BY DESIGN by Taryn Quinn (the latest in Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott’s Crescent Cove series, where babies are in the water), OFF THE CLOCK by Annabeth Albert (the second in her Mount Hope small-town series with first-responder heroes).
New to me authors–Michelle Frost’s DISRUPT (the first in her m/m Iron Heretics MC series) was entertaining enough, but I’m also OK not continuing with the series right now; Rikki Leighton’s CHERRY PICKING (m/m hockey, part of the multi-author The Games We Play series) was good, and I’m interested in reading other books by them. And Rachael Herron’s THE BALLARD BROTHERS OF DARLING BAY is a trio of entertaining contemporary romances set in the little town of Darling Bay. The brothers in question are tapped to star in a renovation/dating reality show, and I’m finding these a fun read.
DRACO MALFOY AND THE MORTIFYING ORDEAL OF BEING IN LOVE by isthisselfcare. I don’t read much fan fiction because often when a book ends I feel the story ends and I don’t need (or sometimes want) it to continue. This book, however, was clever, engaging, and funny. Harriet works as a healer in the wizarding world and a doctor in the muggle one, and she’s onto something very important in her research. It’s clear, however, that someone (or something) does not want her project to succeed. Draco is assigned by the Auror office to protect her, so they now must spend far more time with each other than they wish. Literal (they are wizards, after all) and figurative sparks ensue. I loved Draco’s self-talks as he insists he is not – definitely not – attracted to Hermione, and it’s fun to see how these talks evolve as his feelings evolve. With everything going on in the Real World, it was comforting to turn to a world where former enemies turn into friends as well as lovers.
THE WITNESS FOR THE DEAD and THE GRIEF OF STONES by Katherine Addison (Sarah Monette). These take place in the world of THE GOBLIN EMPEROR, although Maia and most of the other characters from the first book do not make an appearance. The protagonist is Thara Celehar, who for services rendered in TGE is allowed to move away from the court to Amalo, where he will be a witness for the dead. Celehar has the ability to touch a recently dead person and see their last sights, feel their last thoughts, and understand their last wishes. It allows him to bring peace to their spirits and those of their families, as well as to help solve murders. Thara begins to build a new life for himself in Amalo, but he still carries the great burden of guilt from his past. These books felt to me like fairy tales, where the main character must solve riddles and overcome obstacles in a world both like ours but infused with magic. Thara is a lovely character, and as he helps others he helps himself. There is another book in the series scheduled for Spring 2025, and I look forward to seeing how Thara moves on from the challenges posed in TGoS. I do wish the author had a glossary, however, as there were occasional terms I did not understand. TGE does have a glossary, but some of the words in these subsequent books weren’t in that one. It’s a bit annoying to not be able to look up a word or determine it’s meaning from the context (or maybe that’s just me and others could figure it out). I’d also love it if she told us a bit of what’s going on in the Emperor’s Court, as I adored Maia and would happily read more about him.
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus. Like AnneUK, just read this and enjoyed it. It tells us about the world 60 years ago, but the issues reverberate today (it should be noted that while it’s about Important Things, it never felt like a lecture). It’s also a lovely story of soulmates and friendships, parents and children, minds and hearts and how important both are. Am now watching the TV miniseries, which I think is quite good. One of the major secondary characters is very different, which might have annoyed me but does not.
So many useful recommendations from the comments. Really think I must read The Hands of the Emperor, as I’ve seen so much positive comment. Also a big fan of Thara Celehar, so am glad to hear another book is coming. The review of A Duke at Hazard sent me back to my Heyer collection, so I reread all my favorites, starting with The Foundling and The Unknown Ajax. Finished with my top favorite, A Civil Contract, savoring once again the complete reversal of my allegiance since I first read it as a teen and the brilliance if the writing, which remains constant. And I’ve read the 4th book in the Thursday Murder Club series (The Last Devil to Die), laughing and crying pretty equally.
Lots of people are “struggling hard with anxiety over the election and general state of the world”. I find that action is the antidote for my anxiety. Are all the USians here registered to vote? The stakes are very high – that should be motivating.
I mostly enioyed the first two books of the Cainsville series by Kelley Armstrong, OMENS and VISIONS.
The repetitive scenarios and conflicts started to get tedious by book three though and I did not like the characters enough to slog through the rest of the series. I also could not help but think about that essay about small-town witch romances being very white and obsessed with bloodlines. Cainsville is an example of that. There’s a lot of fixation on who has fae blood, how much of it they have, how strong it is. Anyway, the books were a fun distraction but it just did not work for me.
@Jennifer Excel
I really enjoyed FALLING! I’m keeping an eye on the author-I’d like to read more!
Hehehehehehe….
Don’t mind me, still remembering random moments from Deadpool & Wolverine and occasionally giggling maniacally.
Anyway, books. I had been saving The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty, and decided it was time. Rarely does a book live up to the hype, but it does. Loved Amina, loved her voice, would die for Dalila, and was happy to see the villain fully get his. And I would love for her next book to be out already, because I really want to see what Amina gets into next. Then I went in on So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison (fished it out of the Netgalley pool, it comes out in October, I think, and it will be a perfect Spooky Season Read). I think I would have liked the heroine to pull out of her funk just a tad sooner, because I really would have enjoyed her having more time to just not give a f*ck and wreck stuff, because when things got bloody and vengeful, it was glorious. I am a supporter of women’s rights and especially their wrongs, and the last 3rd of the book was full of the best kind of wrongs. Now I’m back in the Netgalley pool, and reading Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz, the latest in the Orphan X series (and it comes out in February). I’m not very far into it, but we’re getting some background on Evan’s best friend/armorer, as he will actually be who Evan sees himself as having to go up againt (he broke a code, you see). But these books are always a ride, and I look forward to an exciting one.
So until next time…baby knife!
It’s been months since my last wayr post. At the beginning of this month I went to California for my nibling’s wedding (which was great) and came home with Covid (which sucked, even though it was a mild case) and that messed with my reading. Here are some of highlights from the last couple months.
Heartwaves (Greyfin Bay #1) by Anita Kelly – 4.5 stars, queer non-binary contemporary romance
Emotionally satisfying Bi4Bi queer romance with 40 something protagonists, one of whom is opening a queer friendly bookstore in a small town on the Oregon Coast.
The Duke at Hazard (The Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2) by KJ Charles – 4.5 stars, m/m historical
KJ Charles’ latest is a delightfully fluffy road trip romance. Remarkably fluffy for KJ Charles – no dead bodies anywhere. It’s the 2nd in a series – it’s stand alone but the cameo appearances of characters from book one are fun.
Nowhere Else (Nowhere #3) by Felicia Davin – 4.5 stars, m/m SFR
Enjoyable conclusion to the Nowhere trilogy – SFR set in the near future, with teleportation and alternate universes. Definitely not stand alone.
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun – 4.5 stars, f/f contemporary romance
Oof. This Sapphic romance really packed an emotional punch – former best friends, current rivals go on a final road trip with their dying mentor. It took me a while to buy into the premise but once I relaxed into it (and once the MCs started having semi-adult conversations instead of sniping) I really loved it. Don’t believe the cover – this is definitely not a rom-com, this is a tear jerker.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar – 4.25 stars, weird, queer literary fiction that didn’t quite live up to the hype but that I still really enjoyed. I wish I hadn’t gotten Covid while I was reading this – I don’t think I quite had the brain power that it deserved. There’s a low key love story but it’s not really a romance.
I just read BOOKS & BROADSWORDS by Jessie Mihalik. It contains two cozy fantasy romance novellas, and they were both adorable. If there were an endless supply of them, I would read one every night before bed. (I’m hopeful for more because this book is labeled “Volume 1”.)
I just finished Death, the second-to-last book in Ellen Mint’s Coven of Desire. It won’t be released until September 10, but I’ve been a fan for many years, through all of the books that started with Ink–so I got an early ARC. Wow! This is a writer in her prime, writing about people I’ve come to care for so much–specifically, Layla, the witch, who is involved with her reverse harem that includes: Ink(the sin of Lust), a werewolf who is tortured by the angst of his horrible childhood and people wanting him to take over and become a pack leader, Daniel, who was a ghost, but Layla worked a spell to make him human again, Garavel, a demi-god who used to serve an angel, and Raul, an elf who is only beginning to understand what he is and what he can do. Sounds confusing, but through 10 books, they all become so real. Trust me, you’ll thank me when you read this series!
Thanks to @DiscoDollyDeb I read two very satisfying baseball-related romances: TEAM PLAYER and BENCH PLAYER by Julianna Keyes. I also read CAUGHT UP by Liz Tomfforde (although I found it kind of weird that the hero refers to the heroine as having “thick thighs” at least six times in the book!). Liked all three of them. It’s a good thing, because right now, the Phillies are in a slump. I just finished rereading GRAVE MERCY by R. Lefevers (His Fair Assassin trilogy) and started the second in the series (although I may read something else first to change it up)– also thanks to SBTB which alerted me to the sale on the Kindle bundle. My book club tentatively decided on the new Kate Quinn (THE BRIAR CLUB) so if they commit, then I’ll start that next. Kate Quinn is an autobuy for me anyway.