Happy Saturday and welcome to Whatcha Reading! Here’s how we’ve been kicking of August:
Lara: I’m finally reading new-to-me books again! I read the truly bonkers Dark Restraint by Katee Robert and now I’m wading through A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire. ( A | BN | K | AB ) I thought this one would have more bite to it than the others in the series, but we’ve lapsed into tweeness, alas. It had such promise as the vampire succubus is an assassin. And it started strong! But then… now it’s a slog through the last few chapters.
Sarah: LOL MORE BITE.
I think it was flchen1 (Hi!!) who posted about Blood of a Gladiator ( A | BN | K | AB ) in the comments a week or so ago, but I inhaled that book. Ashley Gardner aka Jennifer Ashley writes great mysteries with very slow connections and growing emotional depth between the characters, and this book was excellent. It got me through some insomnia (perimenopause can fuck right off) and I found myself thinking about it constantly while I wasn’t reading but hadn’t finished – a sign that it’s grabbed my brain in a good way. I really liked the historical details, the length of time it took to walk everywhere in ancient Rome, and the glimpses of character history for the leads, Leonidas and Cassia.
Elyse: I’m about a quarter of the way into Quicksilver. ( A ) There is a lot of fae romance out there thanks to ACOTAR that’s basically just ACOTAR, but this one is unique and I’m enjoying the world building and magic system.
Maya: I’m listening to the audiobook of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. It’s pretty great so far, but I’m not sure I agree with the description the library had that called it a “darkly romantic fantasy.”
Shana: I almost finished Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham and it’s so good. It’s a vacation romances set in Panamá and it’s totally inspired me to plan a visit.
Whatcha reading? Let us know in the comments!
I decided to stop doling out KJ Charles rereads on an as needed basis, even though this has been my reward system for functioning since I first broke down and read her books. Does that mean I have finally stopped compulsively rereading her books? Don’t be silly. I’ve stopped reading everything else.
That initial Magpie Lord cover is for realz off putting to me still, lol. Even though I know that the inside is phenomenal, I look at it and shudder. It might be my favorite of her books, except that they are all my favorite.
Well, no, A Gentleman’s Position is definitely not my favorite. Fucking Richard. There’s nothing worse than sharing flaws but not redeeming qualities with a character to make me resent them.
Before I decided that I needed to double check exactly how many bingo squares each KJ Charles book could fulfill – for no reason whatsoever especially since I weirdly actively dislike stickers and I know I know how can anyone dislike stickers but listen they’re *sticky* – I did read Darius the Great Is Not OK. I am not a YA fan at all, and avoid contemporaries, and under no circumstances do I wish to read about hereditary depression (unless it’s magically curable in like the first chapter in which case it’s got my whole heart). So not only does it have what I consider deal breakers, there’s no magic, no romance, no mystery, none of the things that usually entice me. I can’t remember the last time I was so impressed by a book that’s not my thing. It’s just utterly charming and delightfully written.
I just finished TRIPLE SEC by TJ ALEXANDER. They are an autobuy author for me and I was utterly charmed by this well-written, well-paced romance. It had lots of healthy communication! But still acknowledged what (I assume) are the differences of navigating polyamory. 4.4 stars.
Currently still (STILL) reading THE BRIGHT SWORD by LEV GROSSMAN. I will finish this book. Someday.
Only partially charmed by PARDON MY FRENCHIE by Farrah Rochon. I have such high standards for this author that, although this book is cute and fun, I was expecting more.
On the tbr: THE EX VOWS by JESSICA JOYCE and THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA.
School’s back in session, and I’ve been slammed at work. Between registering new students all day and finally witnessing some positive political news (what’s the opposite of doom-scrolling? Hope-scrolling? Whatever it is, I’ve been doing a lot of it in my downtime), I only managed to finish two books since the last WAYR, but they were both really good—in fact, one is on my Favorites of 2024 list.
I loved, loved, loved Kate Clayborn’s THE OTHER SIDE OF DISAPPEARING which I grabbed when it was recently on sale. It’s a beautifully crafted story about two people, both of whom have essentially disappeared inside their grief and pain, connecting as they embark on a road trip while recording a podcast. Jess, a 31-year-old hairdresser, has been raising her half-sister, Tegan, for the past ten years—ever since their mother ran off with a con-man who was the subject of a long-ago podcast. When the podcast host, Salem, and producer, Adam, show up—invited by Tegan pretending to be Jess—the foursome embark on a road trip to find the missing con-man and the women’s missing mother. Adam, a former football player who had experienced his own terrible loss, and Jess connect (initially very unwillingly on Jess’s part) immediately, their shared sense of grief and loss giving them insight and awareness into each other. Jess and Adam grow closer even as the group gets closer to finding the missing couple. And when they do finally achieve the ostensible goal of their trip, there’s a lot to unpack. THE OTHER SIDE OF DISAPPEARING is smartly literate in all the best ways, lovely, melancholy, and just as much about the journey as the destination. One of my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommended.
Nicky James’s THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (published in 2021) feels in many ways to be a precursor to her Valor & Doyle series and her now-ongoing Domingo & Krause series, with opposites-attract MCs, at least one of whom is involved in law enforcement and one with significant mental-health challenges. In THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, Charlie experienced a terrible childhood trauma (please read the trigger warnings—nothing is too graphically described, but an awful thing did happen to him) and uses a series of OCD gestures (constantly checking and rechecking the locks on the doors and windows) as a coping mechanism. When the policeman who frequently helped Charlie retires, a belligerent younger cop, Takoda, is assigned to Charlie’s case. Initially skeptical of Charlie’s insistence that he is being followed, Takoda eventually becomes the only person who believes Charlie and helps him uncover the truth of his past—even at the risk of losing his (Takoda’s) job. Although not quite as deep or affecting as some of James’s other books (such as THE ENDLESS ROAD TO SUNSHINE), I still enjoyed THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY and especially appreciated the fact that the physical connection between Charlie (a complete virgin) and Takoda (very much a player) is necessarily slow to develop and does not include any penetration. A worthwhile read. Recommended.
Morning all. Imagine if you will, a cat staring intently at a mousehole. That is me and my Amazon wishlist. I will stalk certain books for YEARS, waiting patiently for them to come down to a reasonable price point. And my patience has paid off in a big way this August – my TBR has grown exponentially. But you will hear no complaints…
The books I was most excited about and for which I have waited the LONGEST time are LUCY PARKER’s LONDON CELEBRITIES stories. I kid you not, I actually yelped when I saw these on offer – all five in the course of a couple of days. So I just dived right in:
Book one is ACT LIKE IT (M/F contemporary, age gap, fake relationship). The whole series is set in London, in the world of West End theatre, and this is the story of actors Richard, whose reputation needs rebuilding, and Lainie – the fresh-faced but feisty co-star who gets the job. It’s well done, although the sex is a bit coy for my taste – all build up and no climax, if you’ll excuse the phrase – but I like the author’s style generally and she’s good at getting the reader invested in her characters. Enjoyable but not life changing.
Book two, however, PRETTY FACE, is a knockout. Loved this one. Another age gap and power imbalance with added grumpy/sunshine. But even though MFC Lily is inexperienced on the stage, she takes no bs from MMC Luc, the director. In fact she rocks his world. My favourite so far. And much better sex! (CW: death of a parent)
Book three, MAKING UP was just OK for me. Throughout the series, all the players are interlinked and pop up in each others’ stories but unfortunately this one features two characters I didn’t really care about: Trix and Leo. She is an acrobat/dancer recovering from a mentally abusive relationship and he is a makeup artist dealing with some career issues. Childhood friends to enemies to lovers. Interesting enough as part of the overall timeline.
I am now partway through book four: THE AUSTEN PLAYBOOK and I am back in love with the series. Will report next time.
Other notable reads pre-dating my Lucy Parker obsession/binge: THE PROSPECTS by KT HOFFMAN and HOME ICE ADVANTAGE by ARI BARAN. Both M/M sportsball (a favourite category of mine) and both new authors to me. One of the leads in The Prospects is trans which brought a different aspect to the story and I found the character an absolute delight. I thoroughly enjoyed both books. Ari Baran’s two previous books are already on my wishlist and I will be interested to see what KT Hoffman comes up with next.
Happy reading all.
I’m stalled out on The House of Niccolò series and I’m not sure if I’ll get back to it b/c I start Chemistry (boo!) in the fall. That will take all my brain power. I may try to read THE UNICORN HUNT this month at least b/c if I finish that I’ll have gotten halfway through the whole series. THE MIDNIGHT FEAST by Lucy Foley was her usual. Pretty luxury location, pretty and rich (and mostly nasty) people all with secrets, and a chopped up timeline. These books are all a bit samey, but I feel like she writes stylishly and suspensefully that they hold my attention well. This one really fit the bill for a long day of jury duty. I did not get picked. I think even in Washington DC they’re a little leery if almost everyone in your family (and your three closest friends) are all lawyers. . .
I also really enjoyed LOCKED IN PURSUIT by Ashley Weaver, the 4th in her Electra McDonell mystery series. Electra (or Ellie) is a locksmith/safecracker/sometimes thief who is working for the government in WWII London. She and her government handler have a bit of a Scarecrow and Mrs. King/Moonlighting/Remington Steele thing going on (which is so, so my jam, you have no idea) and I wouldn’t recommend jumping in at this one. There’s also a plot thread of Ellie’s (dead) parents having a mysterious past. It’s definitely more satisfying to watch these various plot threads unfold over time. I would say this entry was almost more “cozy spy thriller” rather than “cozy historical.” You wouldn’t think that would be a thing, but it works here. It also ends on a pretty big cliff hanger, so heads up if you hate that.
THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE AND THE SOUP OF DOOM by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris was more delightful, zany fun for mother son book club. Graphic novel for middle readers that gets pretty meta and weird. We love Mac Barnett in our house, so this was fun. Another one that is better if you read the first one. This is only the 2nd and they read very fast.
Audiobooks continue to be a big part of my summer, although I only finished one since last Whatcha Reading, MURDER ON THE FLYING SCOTSMAN by Carola Dunn. This was another breezy easy historical cozy set in 1920s, this time on a train (yes, please!) these books are pleasant and were written almost 30 years ago, so there’s definitely a different feel. They just seem a little less gimmicky than the current historical mysteries in a way I can’t pinpoint. Less striving for high concept hooks or something. Sadly, I enjoyed the book but didn’t really care for the narrator and she narrates a lot of the ones in the series after this, so I may keep going but I’ll probably space them out quite a bit.
Hi, everyone! Been traveling with my kids, which has been fantastic but also not super conducive to reading, LOL. Managed a reread of Ashlyn Kane’s THE INSIDE EDGE, which is a new coworkers who get off on completely the wrong foot but eventually realize the other person isn’t really a jerk plus they’re smart and hot, and uh, toss in a smidge of fake dating for the parents… fun plane read in between nodding off and trying not to drool on myself…
Really enjoyed Jax Calder’s THE UNLIKELY PAIR, about a couple of guys on opposing political parties who end up having to escape a kidnapping and survive in the wilderness, which really changes one’s perspective… I found it quite entertaining.
Also really liked Maryann Jordan’s IN THE ARMS OF A HERO, the latest in her Baytown Heroes series. She does a great job of balancing the romance and suspense, and I like the sense of community she builds with the characters.
About to start some of the novellas I downloaded from the m/m Summer Nights Prolific Works promotion.
Can’t wait to see what everyone else is reading!
This post is going to take a while to finish. Not because I’ve got a ton of books to post, but because it’s competing with Olympic platform diving. I never thought I’d say these words, but these commercial breaks aren’t nearly long enough.
Where did I leave off? Oh, A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston. I was a little concerned at first. High concept doesn’t always work for me, and this was pretty much the definition of. It is a dark and stormy night when Elsy Merriweather finds herself lost on an upstate New York backroad. She’s on her way to the cabin where her online book club has their annual retreat. (I so need a romance reading retreat) There’s no one waiting for her. Everyone has begged off, even her bff/roommate. Elsy is determined to have this vacation from her life: unchallenging job and an ex-fiancé who begged off one week before the wedding having fallen for someone more interesting. Suddenly, as she enters a small town hoping to stop for directions, there’s a man in the middle of the road. A grumpy, handsome man. She has no bars on her phone, but there’s a bar where she can get out to the rain. The longer she’s there, the more things seem familiar until the realization sets in that she is in Eloraton, the fiction small town of her favorite series created by her favorite writer, Rachel Flowers. Here’s where I generally start getting nervous. Too many waking up from a coma to find the handsome MMC is actually the doctor who’s been caring for her or endings to that effect. I start questioning where the food comes from. I mean fictional characters in a fictional town would have fictional food, right? So how would a real person sustain themselves on fictional food? It’s a rabbit hole. Happily, the story is so well done that those little voices disappeared, and I want answers to better questions. Who is Anders? He knows he’s in a town that doesn’t exist, but also is so ingrained into the towns structure that surely, he’s the MMC of Rachel’s final, unfinished romance novel. As Elsy marvels at meeting all her favorite characters, she’s slowly coming to have feelings for Anders while still looking out for his FMC to appear. Not going to say any more about where these characters go, but it was a lovely emotional ride. The moment Elsy realizes why the birdsong sounds familiar? Her last conversation with Anders before she leaves? Le Sigh. The story is ultimately about letting go of grief, of learning that making yourself happy can mean letting go of parts of your life that feel safe, that people deserve the best version of you. The end? Chef’s kiss.
On to Lucy Score’s BODY IN THE BACKYARD, the latest Riley Thorne mystery. I do love these books, but they move really fast. And each story starts within a day or so of where the previous mystery ended. Riley hasn’t had a chance to take a breath in a while. Still the characters are delightful, if numerous. The writing is punchy and witty. Definitely recommend. Wear a seat belt.
Currently, I’m hip deep into THE PARADISE PROBLEM from Christina Lauren. Anna and Liam had a fake marriage of convenience back in college. Anna needed cheap housing. Liam had reasons that Anna was oblivious to. Along with the fact that Liam and his brother are members an obnoxiously rich family. She also doesn’t know that Liam’s name isn’t actually West Weston, even though his real name is on all the paperwork. They separate after college, and Anna thinks that’s that. Three years later Liam is back. Turns out they aren’t divorced and Liam needs a favor in order to protect his so-close-he-can-taste-it access to his inheritance. His $1,000,000,000 inheritance. Anna, who has just lost one of her two minimum wage jobs that she uses to support herself and pay down her father’s medical debt, isn’t in a position to say now when Liam dangles a life changing payout if she stays in the marriage until they officially pass the five-year mark that releases his inheritance, and comes with him to attend his sister’s wedding on a private island in Indonesia. What’s a girl to do? Why take his black AmEx and play the best fake wife ever for his awful family, of course. I didn’t actually like Anna at first. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not an awful character. I just a personal taste thing. She’s grown on me though as she helps Liam deal with his toxic parents & difficult siblings. I’m going to stop here and get back to it now that the sun has come out. The patio calls.
Oh, and just going to say: Greg Louganis? Still one of the most beautiful humans on the planet.
I’m in the middle of what I call The Reading Itchies. My reading brain wants something specific, but it can’t say what that is, so I’m picking up things and starting them (or continuing them) and then putting them down. There’s nothing wrong with a single one of them, except they’re not what my reading brain wants.
The last thing I finished was the latest Celia Lake, FACETS OF THE BENCH. It’s Celia Lake, so it was lovely. One of the things I realized, reading this book, is the range of personalities in her characters. Even when characters are kind of like one another, it’s a tiny bit of likeness, not a lot. Griffin in FACETS reminded me of Gabe Edgarton (of many books) in his capacity for delight, but the two men aren’t alike otherwise. And all that is on top of the diversity of her world, in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and ability/disability.
I just finished HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter. I thought the wedding objector plotline was a lot of fun.
Waiting on my TBR pile are FROGKISSER! by Garth Nix (the title/cover makes me smile every time I see them) and QUICKSILVER by Callie Hart (which a friend recommended).
I also want to check out the ENOLA HOLMES books by Nancy Springer after watching/enjoying the Netflix movies.
I can’t believe it’s the middle of August already, but I am ready for fall to come around! 🙂
Lately, I’ve been reading:
A DUKE IN THE NIGHT by Kelly Bowen. Historical M/F. She’s the head of an exclusive girl’s school who needs money. He’s the wealthy investor who, unbeknownst to her, just bought the school building. Years before they had shared a dance that neither of them forgot, but will they be able to work through the secrets and competing interests to get to their HEA? I liked this one while I was reading it, but even though it’s just been a couple of weeks I had to look up the back of the book to remember what it was about to write this.
FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros. Romantasy that’s been really popular lately. There’s an enemies to lovers romance with dragon riders, a killer military academy, magic, and a heroine with physical disabilities. This is the first book in a series, so the ending is not “and everyone lived happily ever after”. There’s a lot of world related plot threads threatening them and their relationship to sort out. I’ll admit that this one took me a few chapters to get into, but I’m glad I kept going. (Side note: I had just gotten this one from the library when Kindle Unlimited sent me an email saying that a book I’d enjoy is now available. Timing!)
Bonus book that I read last spring: RIDING THROUGH THE FIRE by Charlene Hartnady: I think this one popped up in my Kindle recommended books because I had search for Fourth Wing. There’s a lot of similarities. So, let’s just say that if the sleeping with someone in your chain of command part of Fourth Wing didn’t bother you and you kept thinking “why doesn’t the school do more to encourage the students to work together”, then this one might work for you. However, whereas Fourth Wing’s world insists that everyone who joins the school must be a volunteer, in this world, all the students are conscripts. And that just seems like a really stupid way to fight a war to me. It’s the first of series, and I couldn’t get past the power imbalance in the romantic leads or what felt like some impractical world building. (Kindle Unlimited)
A COURT THIS CRUEL AND LOVELY and A KINGDOM THIS CURSED AND EMPTY by Stacia Stark: More fantasy romance! First two books in a four book series. Our heroine’s life is about to get turned upside down. Magic is illegal, but guess what? Our heroine has powerful magic that she can’t quite control. Our hero bargains with her to teach her how to use her magic if she will use it to help him. I’ve been entertained by the story. (Kindle Unlimited)
FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry: I really loved this one. I think it was also on that list from Time that was mentioned on Amanda’s post this week (Links: Embroidery, Dragons, & More).
This is basically my summer so far.
Books that gave me book hangovers this summer:
* Jennifer Donnelly – REVOLUTION (re-read in audio): excellent YA novel about a trouble young woman who finds the diary of woman living through the French Revolution. I was surprised that my memory of how good this was correct
* Julie Soto – NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG: Ah the descriptions of music in this one. And the cello scene!
* B.K. Borison – BUSINESS CASUAL: Great characters and have grown to really like this community.
* Annabel Monaghan – SUMMER ROMANCE: I find her books reliably good.
* Ali Hazelwood – NOT IN LOVE: One of my favourites of hers and she was already a library autohold and autobuy when they’re on sale
* Tarah DeWitt – SAVOR IT: She definitely an autobuy for me. Always strong and great characters.
Books that made me happy this summer:
* Shirlene Obuobi – BETWEEN FRIENDS AND LOVERS: Strong second novel with great characters.
* Julie Kriss – SONGS TO BREAK UP TO: Wow, I love this Road Kings series and really enjoyed this part of it.
* Megan Bannen – THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK: Also loving this cozy fantasy series.
* Scarlett Peckham – THE MISTRESS EXPERIENCE: as good as the first in this series. Back to form!
* Laura Wood – UNDER YOUR SPELL: a strong debut romance.
* Jenn McKinlay – LOVE AT FIRST BOOK: I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one.
* Sarah Brooks – THE CAUTIOUS TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO THE WASTELANDS: fantasy Silberian Express!
* Katherine Center – THE ROMCOMMERS: she’s reliable a strong read and this is one of my favourites of hers, especially the love letter to romcoms that this is.
* Jacqueline Winspear – THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS – fitting wrap up to the Maisie Dobbs series, hitting so so many of the series’ touchpoints.
* Elsie Silver – THE FRONT RUNNER: now out in audio, so a re-read
* Katelyn Doyle – JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY: yes, enjoyable.
* Stacia Stark – A QUEEN THIS FIERCE AND DEADLY: strong end to this fantasy series
Also liked:
* Alexandra Kiley – KILT TRIP – good characters + Scotland travel!!
* Debbie Johnson – JENNY JAMES IS NOT A DISASTER – good characters + England travel!!
* Lorraine Heath – AN AFFAIR WITH A NOTORIOUS HEIRESS and GENTLEMEN PREFER HEIRESSES: reliably good.
* Rainbow Rowell – SLOW DANCE: liked it but wanted to like it a little more. Not sure exactly why I didn’t
* Tessa Bailey – THE AU PAIR AFFAIR: not a huge fan of nanny/au pair romances but I guess authors need to find a way that the relationship is “forbidden” but I liked this anyway.
* Lana Ferguson – THE GAME CHANGER: Liked her first book better than this despite it being a nanny book.
Mhairi McFarlane – YOU BELONG WITH ME: reliably good.
Leslye Penelope – THE MONSTERS WE DEFY: 1920s Washington DC fantasy!
Ashley Poston – A NOVEL LOVE STORY: DonnaMarie said everything I’d want to about this one. I’ve liked Poston’s previous adult romances a little more than this one.
* Brynne Weaver – LEATHER & LARK: liked the first a little better than this but this was still good.
(Yes, I’ve been off work for the summer and in recovery mode, spending far too many hours reading, especially audio when walking and doing necessary chores.0
Besides re-reads of KJ Charles and Josh Lanyon (inspired by there recent new books), I’ve not read much new stuff:
FOX OF FOX HALL – R. Cooper m/m fantasy. I like Cooper’s writing, but I this book wasn’t my cup of tea I admit, though I finished it. It’s not just medieval-ish fantasy, the characters are also not quite human – for want of a better word (plus knotting and MPREG). Definitely not my kind of fantasy world and not something I’ve read before! I found understanding this world it was set in hard, and I had expected more pining and slow-burn. Yes there was pining and the end was beautiful once a few things were revealed, but the getting there was sometimes hard to understand, moving too fast in terms of sex and then again tedious with all the political goings on.
MARKED OUT WITH GREATER BRIGHTNESS – KL Noone, m/m/m historical. A follow-up novella to the earlier, and very melodramatic As Many Stars. Makes no sense without reading the previous story first. A bit less melodramatic, as we see the three MCs setting up their live together. Just a cute short read.
STRAWBERRY MOON – Lily Morton, m/m contemporary. Morton’s contribution to the Prolific Works summer reads. Has all of Morton’s tropes, snarky pixie twink dream boy secretly in love with his older boss, plus only one bed and their going to a wedding as fake boyfriends. Well, there wasn’t much of the wedding but at it’s a novella, things progressed quickly and there was quite a bit of sex.
Currently reading: THE GAME OF HEARTS – True Stories of Regency Romance by Felicity Day. This was recommended here recently. Basically the authors goes through the real aspects of Regency courtship, marriage, romance and so on. A lot of quotes from letters and diaries, and there are some main protagonists that she gets back to again and again. I’m about half way through and I really like it! It’s engagingly written and it’s interesting to see which aspects Regency romances get right, and which not. Not that I ever expected them to get everything right ;-). But it’s also an interesting look at women’s lives.
Almost done with Loretta Chase’s A Duke in Shining Armor. Thought I’d read all her books but… Laugh out loud and witty banter. Just soooo good. Recommend highly. 5 Such fun reading.
Over the past two weeks ~
— I enjoyed Mind Games by Nora Roberts. The story starts with the main character at age twelve and the violent death of her parents which she experiences in a dream. The killer, who is also a psychic, is aware of her notice and continues to play a role throughout the book. Most of the book (including a romance) takes place when she is an adult. There is a strong bond with her grandmother (who has a lesser talent) and her brother; it is set in Kentucky. The male lead is a musician.
— enjoyed Seatmate by Cara Bastone. This romance begins on a bus (in the last row across from the lavatory) where the two leads begin a lively conversation on their way from Boston to NYC. He’s returning home from a visit to see his mother while she’s racing to get to an important job opportunity. The book is unusual in that much of it is dialogue.
— enjoyed Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian which is a 1950s set romance novella featuring two baseball players. I will likely reread this.
— enjoyed a reread of His Road Home by Anna Richland which is a contemporary (~ 2014) romance novella. A medic in Afghanistan invents a fiancée (a woman who graduated from his small town highschool) and digitally creates a photo of them together in order to not offend a warlord who is offering his daughter in marriage. The medic is severely injured (double amputation) and is flown back to the US, and the photo is published nationwide. His ‘fiancée’ goes to visit him in the hospital and a friendship/relationship develops.I was very happy to read this again.
— read The Alien Bodyguard by Eryn Ivers. This was a science fiction romance between an alien and the human for whom he is a bodyguard. It was a pleasant story, but I’m not compelled to read on in the series.
— read Trust by Hernan Diaz for my book group. This book is divided into three long and a short fourth part. It wasn’t until I was reading the third part that I finally understood what was happening. It was an intriguing read and led to a lively discussion.
— quite enjoyed Death in the Spires by KJ Charles and will likely reread this historical mystery about the murder of one of seven college friends. The story’s present is 1905, but many chapters take place ten years earlier at Oxford College. I am curious to learn if the author will return to these characters; I would happily read more.
— very much enjoyed The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder, a contemporary male/male romance set in Britain and another location. I can’t recall the last time I laughed so much or so hard while reading a book; the banter in this book clearly appealed to me.
— enjoyed Christmas On Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh about a firefighter and a crafter of jewelry; this is also a m/m romance.
— enjoyed Starting From Zero by Lane Hayes, a contemporary m/m romance featuring two musicians (one struggling, one successful).
I glommed the newest T. Kingfisher book (A Sorceress Comes to Call) in 1 day and do not regret it! And the newest Courtney Milan (The Earl Who Isn’t) did not disappoint either.
I started the latest Crusie/Mayer collaboration, ROCKY START, this weekend, and I am loving it!
JULIAN KESTREL mystery series by Kate Ross: I recently reread the first two books in this historical (1820s) series, read the third for the first time, and have now started on this last of the series. I am just so sad that Ms. Ross died so young, for her family, for her friends, and for us readers who don’t have more Julian Kestrel books to read. It’s clear that she meant each book to reveal more about who he was and how he came to be the man that he is. I came to care about his character and would have loved to see his arc over more books – this book was the last not because Julian’s story was complete but because Ms. Ross wasn’t here to tell it to us.
A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston: Liked but didn’t love it. The concept is clever, and there’s an odd connection to the Kate Ross mysteries in that Rachel Flowers (the fictional) author of Elsy’s favorite romance series died young before the series was finished. That means some threads remain lose and there is an unfinished quality to Eloratron. Elsy is still emotionally crippled after the break-up with Liam, her former fiance, and she repeatedly wonders why he broke it off with her when she had devoted herself to him. But Liam tells her that that was, in fact, part of the problem; he didn’t feel he knew who Elsy truly was because she felt like merely an echo. I did like Anders and guessed who he was before we were told, and I liked that Elsy, by interacting with the characters in the books, was able to move the stories forward. Now if only someone could do the same for Julian Kestrel . . . . .
ONCE PERSUADED, TWICE SHY by Melodie Edwards: A retelling of Austen’s PERSUASION. Edwards has also written a contemporary version of Bronte’s JANE EYRE, EDWARD & JANE, which I liked a bit better than this one. It is cleverly done, however, with all the most important parts appearing in appropriate 21st century form. When young, Anne Elliot is persuaded to give up her boyfriend, Ben. The advice comes from Anne’s mother and, while a bit different than in the original, was understandable: Mrs. Elliot sees Ben as charming but directionless and worries that Anne will be burdened caring for him the way she has had to care for Anne’s father. Of course, Ben turns out to be protective and responsible, different from Mr. Elliot in almost every way, but it takes 8 years apart for Anne to learn to trust herself and not feel she has to carry all the burdens her mother carried.
SWEET SORROW by David Nicholls: Charlie is 16 and lost. His mother has left his father and taken his younger sister with her. The book follows Charlie in pretty complete details. The book is a bit of a slog, and while I have much sympathy for adolescent boys (I had 3 sons so have significant experience on that front), I got a bit tired of seeing Charlie’s self-defeating actions. Then Charlie meets Fran and first love is a revelation. She takes part in a summer acting troupe doing ROMEO & JULIET, so Charlie winds up playing Benvolio. The play and the discussion as Fran helps him learn both his lines and his character, change his life. Not immediately, and certainly not in unbelievable ways. I’d have liked to see more of adult Charlie, and this isn’t a romance, but the book definitely ends more happily than one might have thought in the beginning.
BOOKS AND BROADSWORDS by Jessie Mihalik: Two romantic fantasies involving humans, dragons, books, and broadswords. Liked that dragon hoards could be most anything, but felt the stories were a bit too short. There was on page sex, and in such short stories I’d have preferred more time for character development and less sex.
I retired this summer, so I and my tbr are in hog heaven. I’m seven books ahead in my Goodreads challenge. That’s never happened before, so I chortle like a supervillain every time the overage goes up a notch.
I launched the August dog days with Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn. This title came up in a recent Rec League for “low stakes” fantasy/historical featuring road trips. Since I love me some road trips, M & R was a natural choice. However, if low stakes had been my chief criteria, I might have had some issues. Maybe this wasn’t LOTR or Harry Potter, but when the “stakes” include the suppression or extermination of a group of humans due to religious fanaticism and political maneuvering, that cannot be considered a minor conflict in this fraught election year. That said, I deeply enjoyed Mystic and Rider and plan to eventually read the series, since coziness is rarely a priority in my reading choices.
Maybe the best book I’ve read this summer (and probably destined to be among the best this year) is Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon. I read Bend to the Sun, Devon’s debut, when it came out and loved it. It was fiercely emotional and exceptionally well written, as is her latest. Though Right Where We Left Us is not marketed as a sequel at this point, it does pick up the story of the Brady family, their Pennsylvania vinyard, and their community. Temperance and Duncan are linked to the central couple in the first book, and their story is distinguished by the same nuanced character building and absolutely glorious writing. My only reservations concerned the seemingly star-crossed nature of their relationship and the need to sort out the cast of supporting characters several years after reading Bend to the Sun.
I finally read Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren which suffered from rear view mirror syndrome. You know, when you pick up a book and the story grabs you right away and you are immediately engaged with the characters. You can’t stop turning those pages, but after awhile there’s a little itch of doubt, like something seen but barely processed in your rearview mirror. You sink back into the story, but the process repeats until finally you look in that mirror, and there’s someone in your back seat–a ghoul or a skellington or maybe Thom Yorke. Anyway, for me that face in the rear view was the biker bar scene in Tangled etc. I’m not gonna spoil it, but after that point, I could no longer ignore the inconsistencies and improbabilities in the plot. I should have known better. Yes it was Christina Lauren, BUT it was a fairy tale reboot and a Disney re-reboot. That dead horse melting by the side of the road I first saw in the rearview? That was Rapunzel.
Penny Reid’s Bananapants was a much appreciated palate cleanser after the relentless sugar rush of Tangled etc. I love Penny Reid even when her stuff doesn’t work for me 100%. She always leavens her HEAs with reality, even when plot elements push the bounds of reality. This particular book did work for me, and I particularly loved the character of Des and his complicated relationship with his father, Quinn. I love that Reid addresses the fact that parents can absolutely love their kids, do their best to raise them, and still totally fuck up. Bananapants is both funny and poignant and a wonderful opportunity to touch base with the Knitting in the City family.
Most recently, I finished Facets of the Bench by Celia Lake. I always feel like reading one of Lake’s books is like sinking into one of the baths underneath the Temple of Healing in Trellech. Warm, soothing, and see what I did there. . . I liked this particular book better than some recent ones that struck me as being a bit too diffuse and undefined. Griffin and Annice are solid and likable characters, embedded in fascinating backgrounds. Theirs is a relationship that clearly makes each of them a better person than they are alone. I find that infinitely satisfying.
After a couple of false starts (Smart Move from Smartypants Romance=DNF for me), I am currently rereading Meredith Duran’s Fool Me Twice. It’s been long enough to seem new again, and I’m enjoying this excursion into historical romance.
I also read THE OTHER SIDE OF DISAPPEAR8NG by Kate Clayborn. Definitely on my list of best books of the year.
Also enjoyed THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD by Pippa Grant. A really fun read.
Also read SHADOW’S END, the 12th and concluding book in the Lizzie Grace paranormal series by Keri Arthur. I have enjoyed reading about Vampires, Demons and witches in the hills near Melbourne, where I live, and it was a satisying end to the series.
Have started ARCHANGEL’S LINEAGE by Nalini Singh. Good so far.
Too tired to go into full detail/list but need to shoutout BETWEEN FRIENDS & LOVERS by Shirlene Obuobi and THE EX VOWS by Jessica Joyce. Haven’t finished either yet but soo good. Also really enjoying WHISKY BUSINESS by Elliot Fletcher, though not sure yet whether it’s yelling-at-everyone-to-read-it level. And I’m co-signing the recs for Stacia Stark’s KINGDOM OF LIES series on KU, though I haven’t started book 4 yet.
@Kareni yessssss Cara Bastone is easily one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all but one or two of her books, and they’re consistently heartfelt, smart, funny, and original. Her full-length ones always have a lovely sense of community, too. Have you read the previous books in that series? They were written as Audible Originals, but I’m picky about narrators and had to wait for ebook of CALL ME MAYBE (book 1).
Also for smthg very different, NOTHING IS OKAY by poet Rachel Wiley (“Fat, Mixed Girl also Queer / Yes, Really / Queer, Fat, Mixed Girl’s pronouns are / She/Her/Your Majesty”)—truly cannot rec strongly enough.
Was really loving JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY by Katelyn Doyle (aka Scarlett Peckham) and ready to yell it to everyone, until I actually had to set it aside bc the third-act breakup resolution was/is so aggravating to me. FMC takes (and is given) 100% full responsibility for the conflict, even though *he* had made a wildly insensitive, short-sighted, self-serving decision that she only reacted badly to bc of the way she was traumatized as a kid. He knew full well about her emotional baggage going into it, and she’d done a lot of therapy and work on herself, but she’s still a human who endured long-term traumatic events growing up. Yet she’s all, “So awfully sorry you were unpleasantly affected by my deep psychological scars!!” WHEW. Really didn’t mean to rant, but ugh. I’ve enjoyed the rest of her books, so this is pretty disappointing. About to comfort myself with more EX VOWS 🙂
I just found Sarah Wallace and fell in love with the alternate universes that she creates. The first book by her that I read is BREEZE SPELLS AND BRIDEGROOMS, co-written with S.O. Callahan – it’s an alternate Regency London where magic and fae exist, but LGBTQ+ are normal and accepted and women seem to be equals. Classism and social hierarchy are present, along with a hierarchy of magical ability and a form of racism between humans and fae (for example, human-fae marriages are frowned upon). The enemy-to-lovers story between human Roger and fae Wyn is a sweet slow burn M/M.
The second through sixth books I read by Sarah Wallace is her Meddle and Mend series: LETTERS TO HALF MOON STREET (M/M), ONE GOOD TURN (F/F, sort of – the main character seems aromantic, so the love story is less prominent), THE EDUCATION OF PIP (M/M, but the focus is on Pip’s trauma recovery, so I’m hoping there is a part 2), DEAR BARTLEBY (M/FTM trans – probably my favorite in the series), and THE SPELLMASTER OF TUTTING-ON-CRESS (M/F). The alternate Regency England universe is similar in that it has magic and LGBTQ+ people are accepted. No fae, no racism (characters are diverse) – maybe minor sexism (what people are in which jobs seems similar to our universe). But birth order is extremely important in this universe, and there’s still classism. The way that nextborns’ (as opposed to firstborns) reputations have to been guarded (regardless of whether they’re M or F or NB) is a cute twist. This is what Bridgerton should be (plus magic!)
Yesterday I read Suzanne Brockmann’s Letters to Kelly in one sitting. It was published Silhouette from 2003, and scores 4 out of 5 bikes () in my interpretation of Sarah’s new yikes on bikes scale. The heroine was 16 and the hero 22 when they first fell in love. When they meet up again, the hero stalks the heroine and manipulates her. He fails to tell her a lot of information- like his current occupation (romance writer) and where he was when he disappeared. With pretty much any other author, I would not have trusted them enough to keep reading. But I ended up liking the hero, there was a book within a book subplot that was amusing, and the book was short enough that I could get through it before I thought about it too much. So, while I can’t say that I would recommend it, I had fun reading it.
@Liz: I have read Bastone’s Sweet Talk: Is it love on the line? which I also enjoyed. I look forward to reading more of her books.
You know, you can get quite a bit of reading done when you live in Florida in August, because chances are, you’re pretty loathe to leave your house.
I had had a pretty intense run of books over the last few books. All very good, but there was a lot of violence and emotional intensity and all that. So I was like “Oh, look at this adventure-romance with the pretty illustrated cover! That’ll be perfect!”, especially when you factor in my love of movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones, and fired up Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea. Ha, totally played myself. There was adventure and hijinks, for sure, but the two main characters’ motivations for embarking on said hijinks had a lot to do with complicated grief. That said, it was actually super-fun, and the characters’ grief was sensitively and sensibly treated. Plus, there was a lost jewel and definitely a lot of running from a bad guy and his henchmen. I also started my audiobook of The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. Like everyone else, I have a pretty good acquaintance with Winston Churchill and his role in WWII, but I also enjoy a good deep dive, especially when history is involved, and Larson is one of my favorite history writers. I may have quizzed my husband on why blackout rules were necessary in England during this time, because I am an inveterate know-it-all at times, and we have a dynamic, okay? I had also gone to the library on Friday. I had two books targeted in my head to pick up, and gave myself a good talking-to in the car about how I was only going to pick up THOSE TWO. Yeah, I walked out with 5, I need a responsible adult sometimes. Anyway, I plucked out one of the books that I had not actually intended to walk out with, Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa. It is a historical gothic horror set in late 19th-century Sri Lanka. I don’t know much, if anything, about Sri Lankan folklore, but if anyone describes their book as having elements of a mythology I’m unfamiliar with, sets it in an environment I don’t know much about, and then mentions things like “female rage”…well, you have my interest. I really like it so far. I am enjoying the main character’s voice, her sense of determination, and the righteous anger that she is doing her best to quash. I mean, based on the entire premise of the book, eventually she’s going to go full vengeance on some folks, but the slow revelations of information and the tone of dawning horror are really working for me. So until next time, walking out of the library with 5 books instead of 2 is a valid lifestyle choice.
Feisty Felines and Other Fantastical Familiars – short story collection by different fantasy authors, featuring Mercedes Lackey and Jody Lynn Nye. Mixed bag, so far out of three stories we have: The Dragon’s Cat, cute and funny; So Burn Us Both, dark and haunting, does what the title says; and Trial by Cow, refreshingly different.
Tribute by Sherwood Smith (who has been recommended on here) – fantasy with superb worldbuilding that has me visiting the Bad Decisions Book Club repeatedly and dreaming about the musical instruments that the protagonist is learning to play. No romance so far. First in a trilogy, $2.49 and available in kindle unlimited.
I led my first book club discussion as a Reference Librarian on A Marvellous Light as part of our romance book club. It went really well even though I was nervous. So I reread that and enjoyed it and now rereading the series and To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, which was an inspiration.
I’m currently near the end of The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo which is good but feels more YA than adult and isn’t catching me as much as some of her other books. My ebook hold ran out, I have the physical book but other things are being more compelling. I’m near the end of the new Juneau black, Summer’s End, which is an enjoyable cozy mystery. I like the new setting for this one and its a good, light summer mystery.
I’ve been reading some interesting nonfiction this month, Race to the Future, about a car race in the early 1900s, it was a book that I felt didn’t go deep enough into anything. Well written and intriguing subject but left me going that’s all.
On the other hand, Dress Diary by Kate Strasdin, I recommend to anyone fascinated by historical dress. It does great work on cultural, political and social aspects of one woman’s life. That one left me satisfied. If you enjoy the realm of youtubers like Bernadette Banner, Nicole Rudolph and Abby Cox talking and making historical dress, this book will be perfect for you.
I guess technically those last two were last month but I wanted to mention them as good nonfiction isn’t easy to spot.
Just finished “The Secret of Lillian Velvet”, the last book in Jaclyn Moriarty’s Kingdoms & Empires series for children, which someone here recommended a while back. Excellent series, but I wish I had been warned of the verbal/emotional abuse the narrators in both “Lillian Velvet” and “The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst” would endure for almost the whole of each book because honestly, it was pretty traumatic for me to read and I had to put down the book a lot and skip to the end to make sure the characters would get a happy ending.
I’ve been on a Chloe Liese kick for a bit: enjoyed the last few books of the Bergman Brothers series first (I read in the order i find them at the library, alas), and then the 2 out already in the Wilmot sisters. Fun books with great representation of neurodivergent and disabled characters, and even a demisexual character who made sense to me as an ace/demi person. I wish the library wouldn’t get series half in print and half in ebook or audio…
“A Nest of Vipers” by Harini Nagendra is the recently released 3rd book in her Bangalore Detectives Club series, set in 1920s Bangalore. I’ve been really enjoying all the history I’m learning from this, and the network of supportive relationships among the characters is also wonderful to see.
I’m just finishing NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG by Julie Soto. I had to put it down mid-dark-moment to go to sleep last night, so I’m now struggling to focus on work today. It’s so good! I feel like somehow this book has three times as much emotion packed in as any other book (and same with Forget Me Not). The music descriptions kind of make me want to dig my viola out of the closet… if only one of the characters were a viola player!
House renovations and the prep for same have left me with very little time or mental energy for reading, despite the fact that reading is my usual escape from Too Much Going On In My Life. So I’ve been doing a fair bit of rereading, beginning August with THE LIAR by Nora Roberts, in which a young widow discovers that her husband was a liar. And a con man. And a thief. And maybe worse. What I love about the story is Shelby’s grit and determination to take a situation that keeps getting worse, and build a strong, positive life for herself and her young daughter. And I love the big, supportive family she goes home to, and the handyman who falls hard for her and her daughter.
After that, I read Celia Lake’s new Albion novel, FACETS OF THE BENCH, which I really enjoyed. I’ve been mildly obsessed with Albion, the setting of Celia’s historical fantasy romances, since I first read ECLIPSE in 2021, and I’ll be honest, I reread about half of the books at least once or twice a year. FACETS OF THE BENCH picks up a minor secondary character from several earlier books, Griffin Pelsen, an ambulatory wheelchair user, and introduces a craftswoman from Whitby who works in jet, by the name of Annice. (I’ve forgotten her last name at the moment.) As always, Celia handles differences of gender, class, and education as deftly as she does other diversities, including of course Griffin’s disability (the result of a war injury.)
After that, I reread Nora Roberts’s Circle Trilogy: MORRIGAN’S CROSS, DANCE OF THE GODS, and VALLEY OF SILENCE. These are contemporary fantasy crossed with paranormal romance, as a sextet comprised of a sorcerer, a witch, a vampire, a warrior, a scholar-queen, and a shapeshifter take on a formidable vampire army bent on the destruction of worlds. I’m not a huge fan of vampires, with a couple of notable exceptions… of whom Cian, the vampire hero in this series, is one. While the battle scenes and the scenes from the enemy vampires’ POV are not pleasant, I do enjoy the mix of magic, portal fantasy, found family, and romance in this series.
In the last few days, the lack of sleep and stress of the renovations caught up to me, and I came down with a cold. (Yes, it could be Covid, since it turns out our painting contractor has it. I’m testing negative, but isolating as if positive.) Anyway, I’ve been alternating napping and rereading more of Celia Lakes Albion books, specifically FOUR WALLS AND A HEART (MM romance novella) and PASTICHE (arranged marriage to love match; my review is coming out later this week.)