Happy Saturday!
Here’s how we’re kicking off our reading this March:
Claudia: I’m reading Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday. ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s interesting because Earls Trip didn’t quite hold my attention but I am enjoying this one much more. It’s out in late May.
Shana: I’m reading Taken to Lemora by Elizabeth Stephens. ( A | BN | K ) It’s a dark alien romance. Her worldbuilding is solid but I haven’t decided if it’s too dark for me.
Sarah: I am reading The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon. There’s pining and unrequited crushes and complicated history, and big secrets. So big they don’t come out of the characters’ mouths easily.
Lara: I’m about five pages in to Swept Away by Beth O’Leary. ( A | BN | K | AB ) Too early to know if I’m loving it but the premise is amazing. A one night stand on a houseboat that drifts out to sea forcing the pair to stick together.
Sneezy: I’ve been rereading What’s Wrong with You, Duke?
It’s such a comfort read for me!
Elyse: My husband and I are going on a road trip in two weeks so I’m listening to The Three Dahlias. ( A | BN | K ) He’s already read it so then we can listen to the sequel while we drive.
Sarah: I also just started reading The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley. ( A | BN | K | AB )
So, whatcha reading? Let us know in the comments!
Currently reading Fairs’ Point by Melissa Scott. Picking this series up after a long time away from it. This one is rather low-key, nothing too major happens, at least so far and not to the major characters. It’s a bit slice of life, but that makes it quite a pleasant read, the characters growing a bit in a world that is always enjoyable to spend time in.
Also in the middle of Whiskeyjack, the third Greenwing & Dart by Victoria Goddard. I am enjoying it, and I love her writing style, but have to take breaks from it because I find it so confusing. Always feel with this series that I’ve missed a memo.
Just finished The Century Girls: The Final Word from the Women Who’ve Lived the Past Hundred Years of British History by Tessa Dunlop, and recommend it. It’s non-fiction about six women born around 1916-18, so aged about a hundred when Dunlop was writing the book. It’s their life stories and lots of interviews with them. Some of them are formidable and have achieved a lot. Others have lived more ordinary lives and struggled with poverty. Really interesting.
Just finished reading Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries and Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. I enjoyed and definitely recommend, but I can see why they’re controversial in the romantasy community – they’re less a romance series than a fictional journal of an autistic academic in an alternate history version of England with faeries. The academic just happens to have a romantic attachment.
I also recommend You, Again by Kate Goldbeck which is a messy contemporary romance that takes place across several years. While the main romance is female/ male it is very not hetero-normative. I loved how New York was a character in its own right.
I enjoyed Rachel Aaron’s Tear Down Heaven series and DFZ Changeling series. Both are urban fantasy with strong romantic elements and, like her Heartstriker series, feature taking down abusive figures that initially seem all powerful.
I know I’ve read other books since the last Whatcha Reading, but they were too forgettable to list here.
Sarina Bowen’s excellent THE LAST GUY ON EARTH (the latest in her Hockey Guys series of m/m hockey romances) is the rare dual-timeline story where you can clearly see why the MCs didn’t make it the first time around and how much it’s going to take to get them to their HEA the second time. 15 years ago, Jethro and Clay were minor league hockey players in their early twenties. They went from teammates-to-roommates-to-fuck-buddies-to-(at least as far as Clay was concerned)-lovers (Bowen does a great job tracing the evolution of their early relationship). But it’s obvious that Jethro, whose life has been defined by parental addiction and family dysfunction, is not in the right space to see himself as worthy of love, and the relationship ends acrimoniously when Clay is sent to a major league team (sorry if I’m using baseball terminology for a hockey romance, but you get the idea). 15 years later, Jethro (after a solid career in Detroit) finds himself traded to the Denver team where Clay is now the coach. Bowen captures the humiliation of a stellar player at the end of his career being sent as a lame duck player to another team. Jethro, along with his now-sober dad and the nephew he is raising while his sister is incarcerated, moves to Denver where none of his small family (nor anyone on his new team, particularly the coach) is happy about the state of things. Clay (gay, strictly closeted, and still carrying the torch for Jethro) is a good coach but upset about the sudden reappearance of his great love. Jethro (bi, taciturn, and initially not as in touch with his memories of his time in the minors as Clay is) starts out by playing badly with his new team. Gradually, things improve on the ice, although not immediately between Clay & Jethro. I really liked how Bowen shows parallels between the team’s play starting to gel and Clay & Jethro’s relationship starting to thaw (and then heat up!). As Jethro astutely notes, “We’re both kind of stuck in the same spots we were fifteen years ago. You’re still the people-pleaser who puts every one else’s needs first. And I’m still the grumpy loner.” As with last year’s I’M YOUR GUY, Bowen does not shy away from how difficult it is for a professional athlete to come out—although it’s rather disheartening to realize, even with that, Bowen’s world is so much more accepting and inclusive than our own. I loved everything about THE LAST GUY ON EARTH: the top-notch writing, the pining, the angst, the flashbacks, the emotional growth, the hot sexy-times, and the way the MCs do finally find a way to be together. A favorite read of 2025. Highly recommended.
I’m pleased to report that Kate Canterbary’s latest, IN A RUSH, is far less busy and cluttered than her previous book, CHANGE OF HEART (which was so crammed with subplots and supporting characters that for long stretches the MCs weren’t together on-page or off). IN A RUSH is a fake-relationship romance between Emme, a school teacher, and Ryan, a professional football player, and is far more streamlined and MC-focused than Canterbary’s recent output. Emme & Ryan have known each other and been best friends since high school when their different types of family problems (the acrimonious divorce of Emme’s parents; the loss of Ryan’s father to a progressive muscular disease) drove them together and has kept them best friends for over a decade. Ryan has always pined for Emme, but Emme has deliberately viewed him only as a dear friend not wanting to run the risk of destroying their friendship with a romance. But then Ryan (for…reasons) proposes a fake marriage to Emme, and the plot takes off. I liked a lot about IN A RUSH: the strong female friendships, the details about teaching in an elementary school, the way Emme deals (although not always in the scorched-earth way I would have preferred, lol) the people who have hurt her (her ex-fiance, her verbally abusive father, her narcissistic mother), the patience Ryan brings to getting Emme to trust him and believe in their future together. But I also felt the story bogged down in places: the endless planning for Emme’s best friend’s wedding, the way Ryan is always the deus-ex-machina, coming in with his money & influence to solve every problem, and perhaps even more annoying—while knowing that he can help with many of the logistical problems Emme faces—the fact that Emme only ever turns to Ryan as a last resort. There’s also the question of the sex scenes in the book: yes, they’re hot (Canterbary always writes seriously blistering sexy-times), but they also seem to be sprinkled hither and yon without much thought to their placement, and it felt at times that all the action came to a halt so that we could have yet another sex scene. All in all, a serviceable romance, but not one for the reread/keeper shelf. A mild recommendation from me.
Eve Dangerfield’s PLAYING FOR KEEPS consists of five novellas, four of which feature the post-HEA lives of MCs from her Playing for Love series of romances (where all the heroes are involved in professional football—Australian football that is). The other novella features a new couple (although the hero is also a football player). Role-play of one form or another factors into the first four novellas as the couples find ways to address and overcome situations in their relationships by working them out through role-play scenarios. I liked and recommend all five of these stories—but I do think you have to have read the full-length books from which the first four derive to get the full impact of what’s happening:
In BACK INTO IT (the novellas all have the same titles as the full-length romances that featured their MCs), Cheryl & Patrick plan their wedding as Cheryl gets more anxious about the upcoming event (not about getting married to Patrick, but about the elaborate ceremony itself). The novella includes a long “kitten/owner” role-play, but the most interesting part of it is that Cheryl initially has ulterior motives for creating the scenario but ultimately realizes that she’s been acting like a “reverse Bridezilla” and that it’s ok to allow wealthy Patrick to foot the bill for the type of wedding he also wants. And I must admit to tearing up when, at the end of the story, Cheryl’s wheelchair-bound mother escorts her down the aisle.
In RETURN ALL, Mara & Derek have made consensual non-con role-play a regular feature of their sex lives—and both enjoy it very much. But Mara is worried that Derek—now retired from football—is at loose ends and is not handling the lack of daily structure as well as he might, leading to more intense and frequent games but without as much tenderness and aftercare. With the help of a friend, Mara sets up an elaborate scenario where Derek is the partner without the perceived power. I thought this story was very well done and used the role-play scenario in exactly the right way.
[CW/TW: post-partum depression] BEGIN AGAIN AGAIN is the most astute and perceptive of the novellas in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, but it deals in some detail with post-partum depression, so be cautious if this will be a trigger for you. Beth & Bryon have a new baby, and Beth is afraid that if she talks to doctor about her depressive symptoms, her baby will be taken away (many women who have had PPD have exactly the same fear). As Beth puts it, “She’d been taking cues from the voice in her head that said she needed to handle everything alone, or [else] she was a useless sack of shit.” Finally, with help from a therapist, her husband, and friends, Beth begins to emerge from the fog of depression. She then creates a nanny-employer scenario that she and Bryon can both enjoy.
In FIRST AND FOREVER, music producer Eden has recovered from a severe vehicle accident, but her husband Willow no longer wants to play the “rough stuff” sex games they both used to enjoy. While meeting with a potential client in Los Angeles, Eden decides to create a scenario based on the Victorian doctor-patient game she and Willow played in the early days of their relationship. The story is interesting in that it addresses how sometimes we have to inhabit another persona in order to get out of our own heads.
WHERE THE HEART IS is the final novella in PLAYING FOR KEEPS and features a new couple: Sal (who is non-binary) and football-player Curtis. Curtis has had a crush on Sal for years, but Sal is worried that Curtis will not stand by them if the going gets tough. Curtis makes many good-faith gestures to let Sal know he is serious, but Sal continues to be reluctant about a relationship—although they really like Curtis—because they do feel some sadness that Curtis is so “comfortable in his assigned gender” which is something Sal can never be. Then a friend advises Sal not to “back away because it’s easier than having to be vulnerable,” and Curtis makes a very public gesture of support for the non-binary community, giving Sal the courage to move forward with their relationship.
Over the past couple of years, Willow Dixon has become a reliable comfort read for me. When I pick up a book from her I know what I’m going to get: strong (non-sexual) male friendships, found family, bi-awakening without angst or self-loathing, a nicely-developed m/m romance, an acceptance of mental health struggles, and Millennial & Gen Z MCs who deal with the real problems of their generation (especially when it comes to employment and home ownership—or lack thereof). Dixon’s latest, IN PLAIN SIGHT (part of her Legacy Mechanics series) is generally representative of her style (although the MCs—one gay, one bi, both closeted—do not experience the bi-awakening that many of her others characters do). Co-workers Zander (gay) and Luka (bi) are both “straight-presenting” and both closeted. Each of them likes the other but—assuming the other is straight—thinks there’s no chance. As they becoming friends at work, Zander and Luka unknowingly start talking to (and eventually sexting) each other anonymously on a hook-up app. I liked how the guys’ friendship in the real world reflected their growing trust with each other in cyberspace. I also liked how Dixon resolved the issue with the guys discovered who each of them were without too much sturm und drang. Zander is possibly neuro-diverse and has issues with his very religious mother (one of the reasons he has kept his sexuality a secret); meanwhile, Luka has anxiety, panic attacks, and racing thoughts. I enjoyed seeing the guys help each other through these obstacles (especially Zander helping Luka get through his panic attacks). IN PLAIN SIGHT covers no new ground in the Dixon universe, but it’s a comforting visit with her reliable themes and tropes. Recommended. (An added note: someone on the m/m romance subreddit says that Dixon published almost this exact same book under another name a while ago. I don’t know if that is accurate, and I haven’t read the other book, so I can’t make any comparisons, but I’d hate to think a reader would assume Dixon was plagiarizing if they have read the other book. I guess “recycling” would be a better word, lol.)
Lots of books waiting on my TBR pile, including THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE by K. X. Song and WITCHES GET STUFF DONE by Molly Harper.
I’m also still reading my way through the backlist of Tamora Pierce. Up next, I’ll probably start TERRIER (the Beka Cooper books).
I’m also excited about the new DAREDEVIL series on Disney+, but so far, it hasn’t grabbed me like the Netflix series did.
Hope everyone has a good weekend! 🙂
I’m currently reading Babylonia by Costanza Casati. I’m only a few chapters in but so far is fantastic. It’s one of those books where I feel like I’m right there in the middle of the action. So far it’s an A read. Back to it.
Let’s start with the good stuff:
– THE FALL RISK: A SHORT STORY by Abby Jimenez is very good contemporary. A couple of neighbors get to know each other when their apartment complex accidentally takes out their stairs, trapping them on the second floor together. (Kindle Unlimited)
– THE MYSTERIOUS MARQUESS (THE BAD HEIR DAY TALES BOOK 2) by Grace Burrowes is solid historical with her usual elements like “interesting” family, fortune hunters, and a bit of mystery.
– MOON CALLED (MERCY THOMPSON BOOK 1) by Patricia Briggs. This one is a reread for me. Not exactly a romance, more of a paranormal mystery with romantic elements. This book introduces Mercy Thompson, the shapeshifting coyote VW mechanic who was raised by werewolves. No surprise that there’s some dark stuff in there (e.g., kidnapping and assault of a minor), but if paranormal stuff is your jam, it’s worth checking out.
And move on to the more frustrating stuff:
– COVEN OF CONSEQUENCE by S.L. Prater has a lot to like in it. I love the characters but I’m so annoyed by the ending that I need to vent. See spoiler text. This book is the sequel to Coven of Ill Repute, and should not be read as a standalone. The setup: Grumpy witch and grumpy vampire detective characters who got together in the last book attempt to figure out why they are being haunted by clown specters. (Kindle Unlimited)
For the record: There is a happy ending. After the stabbing, the heroine does come back as a vampire, so all’s well that ends well.
– A DUKE WON’T DO (DUELING FOR DUKES BOOK 1) by Jessie Clever was fine when I was reading it, but the more I thought about it later, the more annoyed I got. This one is also getting a spoiler tag so that folks can avoid my negativity if they want to. The basic setup is an arranged marriage between a smallpox-scarred not-quite-young woman and a sheep farming earl. There’s some good gothic vibes at the beginning, including a remote manor and the mysterious death of the earl’s first wife.
Good couple of weeks reading!
Best was IN A RUSH Kate Caterbary, as has been discussed here. Contemporary M/F, lots of yearning from the M. Really enjoyed it.
Been digging into the works of Mallory Dunlin. Fantasy M/Fs – THE CHANGELING AND THE DRAGON was very good, as was CAPTURED BY THE FAE BEAST.
RUIN by Stacy Jones was also enjoyable. Sci Fi, alien M/F. I am a sucker for someone being rescued by a partner when they are at the end of their rope – or in this case, a leash because they were enslaved by aliens (of course). Almost always it’s the male rescuing the female – I’d really like to see that trope reversed, now that I think of it. Powerful woman helps man escape his awful life – would someone please write that for me? Preferably without an age difference. Is there a book like that out there?
Going to be taking a few days off this week and am very excited to get my read on. Thank you for all the recommendations! I always comb through them and they lead me down so many delightful rabbit holes!
I am still failing to read things other than KJ Charles and Taylor Fitzpatrick/youcouldmakealife on AO3. I really don’t have new recs for y’all. Im starting the newest Ari Baran tonight, and I expect enjoy but I have things to do so I can’t open it yet.
I try to stick to books that are at least satisfying if not stellar, because we’re here for good recs but occasionally I feel like something needed a warning, or like it didn’t work for me but might for someone else, and I have one of each this time.
I was determined to like SAVANNAH BLUES. Determined. Couldn’t hack it. The whole vibe is…ok, like, is scrappy cozy a thing? I was clearly meant to be sympathetic and having fun but the narrator talks -just a casual aside- about making a special trip to look at some old slave quarters on a plantation and getting so turned on by it she slept with her boyfriend then and there (despite not being the kind of girl who would have sex in high school). So, no. There are a LOT of slurs thrown around. If you’re also giving this a shot be aware that you’re heading into that.
I did finish BREAKING THE ICE by Kim Baldwin, Arctic set f/f romance that I found unsatisfying, but just that I was sufficiently interested to finish it these days might be a ringing endorsement? It’s sweet. There’s an excess of plot but the characters interested me. However. One lead has to give up her entire life to be with the other lead, and I hate that as a concept. I really hate the wholesome close to nature propaganda, but someone who hates cities might adore this. Choosing to not having plumbing but flying a plane everywhere definitely shows ethical superiority sure. And such concern for the environment, yup. Idk, there was something in it that kept me hanging on to the end, I can see people who are all in on the Alaska fantasy being happy about this one.
I am reading a bunch of really great books:
54 Miles by Leonard Pitts Jr starts during Bloody Sunday in 1965 and goes from there. It is an intense read of historical fiction that is extremely well written. If you read one book of historical fiction this year, make it this one.
Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built The Civil Rights Movement by Elaine Weiss is a very accessible social history of the early days of the Movement.
I have just started: Swordheart by T Kingfisher and I like it so far but it is early.
I finally had to DNF the third Emily Wilde book (I read more pages, like I said I would!). I just thought the writing wasn’t up to the quality of the first two books. I couldn’t get past that even though I was interested in Emily’s journey. Alas.
Happy March to everyone and a meaningful Ramadan or Lent to those who observe this month.
I really only have the one book, because I’ve been reading kind of slow. Between my job being very busy, my side job in full swing, and a lot of events happening with my kids, there has not been time. But I am reading A Touch of Blood by Sajni Patel, which is the sequel to A Drop of Venom, which I LOVED. I’m enjoying this one too, but I’ve found it a little bit harder to follow. It’s a retelling of the Hades/Persephone story but through Indian mythology. I especially like the descriptions of Eshani’s powers, and how her understanding of them progresses through the story. I also enjoy Hiran, the Hades counterpart, and the fact that he is kind of covert babygirl, and is completely gone over her. There isn’t an explicit sexual assault in this one (there was one in A Drop of Venom, it wasn’t gratuitous, but it wasn’t glossed over either), but the threat is there, so please be careful with your brain. So until next time, spring break approaches, and I have such glorious reading plans.
Happy March! Thank you to everyone who shares their book recommendations – I really treasure this community.
THE SPELLSHOP by Sarah Beth Durst has an absolutely beautiful cover and is described as cottage-core so I was super excited to give it a go…I am so pleased that the story absolutely lived up to my (admittedly high) expectations. This book was delightful in so many ways – but it also had a surprisingly serious undertone which kept the story grounded and gave it added depth. I felt that it really hit the perfect balance. I connected so much to Kiera: “It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.” She also has a sentient spider plant assistant named Caz who stole several scenes. The secondary characters were fully fleshed out and the romance was superb. I recently discovered there will be another book set in this universe (THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE) releasing in July and I could not put it on hold fast enough!
INHERITANCE by Nora Roberts is the first in a paranormal romance trilogy. Nora Roberts is a master of her craft and her skills shone in this book…only Nora could take the tired and improbable trope of inheriting a mansion from an unknown relative and make it so vivid and believable. Everything about this book worked for me. The setting was atmospheric and the characters were fully fleshed out. I loved immersing myself in the story and was sad when I finished. I have plans to read book two (THE MIRROR) this weekend and am looking forward to revisiting the characters and seeing what comes next.
UNICORN BOOK CLUB by Dana Simpson is #21 in the utterly delightful Phoebe and her Unicorn graphic novel series. Phoebe and Marigold continue to be a delightful respite from the real world. I highly recommend this series to young people and adults alike as there are levels of humor that will delight readers of all ages.
RED DIRT HEART 3 by NR Walker is one of her earliest series but stands the test of time. I wouldn’t start the series here, it truly is best read in order but this is by far my favorite of the series so far. Set on a huge ranch in the outback of Australia, Charlie and Travis have a lot of tough situations to navigate in this one, but the tone never gets too dark or dreary. A lot of that is down to Noodle, a baby wombat who steals every scene he is in. The rest is due to the wonderful found family and friendships Charlie (and Travis) have been cultivating over the course of the series. Loved.
MURDER AT QUEEN’S LANDING by Andrea Penrose is the fourth entry in the Wrexford & Sloane historical mystery series. I love that this mystery series has a strong romantic thread running through it. This particular entry in the series started out a bit slow for my taste but the second half definitely amped up and I found the last bit impossible to put down.
BETTER THAN FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis was the seventh entry in her Sunrise Cove series. Jill Shalvis can be reliably depended on to provide me with a solid romance but she also excels at creating well fleshed-out secondary characters. Olive Porter has returned to her hometown to support her best friend whose husband is in a coma following a terrible work accident. Olive’s best friend just happens to be the sister of her ex-boyfriend, Noah. Noah is best friends with his sister’s husband and so both have to figure out how to navigate being back in each other’s orbit during this stressful time. I loved the maturity of both Olive and Noah…they knew when to put their personal history aside in order to step up to be the support so desperately needed by their friends and family. At the same time, they both were upfront about their history (which is a long one) needing to be addressed and putting in the effort to do so. While this is book seven, this series is unique in that the books are connected only by the Lake Tahoe setting. There is no overarching plot or inter-connected characters so readers can jump in at any point and in any order (unless you are like me and are incapable of reading out of order in which case begin with book one as the whole series has been fabulous). Highly recommended.
THE PRETENDERS OF COPPER COUNTY by May Archer was OTT in all the best ways. This book will not be for everyone, but it hit my personal sweet spot. This is technically a spin-off of the Sunday Brothers series but I felt it stood alone fine. It also crosses over the O’Leary series which I never finished and it didn’t diminish my enjoyment although there were quite a few cameos that I didn’t recognize. Reed is a bodyguard assigned to protect Chris. Chris is one of the most naive characters I have ever met…which I think will be a sticking point for some readers. I put aside all expectations of realism and just went along for the ride and found it to be an enjoyable one. I couldn’t look at the plot too hard or it started to fall apart, but I was having fun so didn’t care too much.
THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley was recommended by a friend so I gave it a go. I still have no idea what genre this book is supposed to be as it changes between romance, historical, speculative, literary fiction, and spy thriller. Several goodreads reviews called it self-insert fanfiction which was a term I hadn’t heard before but also seems to fit. I didn’t really enjoy the book as a whole but at the same time I kept reading because there were scenes that I very much enjoyed. The writing on a sentence level was often beautiful and more than once I would stop and reread. At the same time, around the two third mark I had to work hard not to start skimming ahead for something, anything to happen beyond continued ruminations over events already ruminated over. All in all, a mixed bag.
DEATH AT BISHOP’S KEEP by Robin Paige is another historical mystery with a romantic undertone. I listened to this one as an audiobook and it was superbly narrated. Kate comes to England from America to be her (previously unknown) aunt’s secretary. Unlike many books, there was a realistic reason as to why Kate didn’t know of the existence of her aunt which I appreciated. When she arrives, she finds a lot of undercurrents in her new home. I really enjoyed this one.
ONE IN A MILLION by Jill Shalvis is the last book in the Lucky Harbor series. I loved everything about this one. Callie is in town to check on her grandmother (the irrepressible Lucille). She is a wedding planner who doesn’t believe in love due to her past. Tanner is navigating gaining joint custody of his 15 year old son, Troy. Needless to say there is a lot going on, but the author perfectly balanced the multiple storylines. I would have happily read another hundred pages about Callie and Tanner. Finishing was bittersweet as I ended my time in Lucky Harbor.
Not much reading for me this fortnight–I was knocked out by stomach flu for about a week. But I read the debut and follow-up novels by Laura Piper Lee, and I’m grateful to have met a set of memorable characters whose journeys are described in language that is both lyrical and funny.
HANNAH TATE, BEYOND REPAIR (Lee’s first book) and ZOE BRENNAN, FIRST CRUSH (second book) take place in the same setting–the Blue Ridge mountains of Georgia–and have many overlapping characters. I read the second book first and it was fine as a stand-alone, but after finishing HANNAH TATE, I immediately re-read most of ZOE BRENNAN and appreciated the interactions of the characters even more.
We meet Hannah Tate as the 31-year-old mom of a 3-month old, living in Atlanta with her boyfriend/baby daddy and thinking he’s about to propose. But his proposal is to live as “conscious co-parents,” not spouses, and that surprise arrives just after Hannah is fired (illegally) by a boss who insists that she work during her maternity leave. Hannah retreats to the Blue Ridge mountain home of her less-than-fully-supportive mother and mom’s most recent partner, and decides to launch a new career by turning a cabin her parents own into an enticing Airbnb location. Hannah meets Zoe Brennan–manager of a local winery, leader of a class for small business owners, and member of the “Queer Mountaineers” friend group that welcomes Hannah and supports her in many ways. Hannah also meets MMC River, the attractive carpenter who lives next door (in a treehouse!) and who agrees to assist with the cabin renovations. Many complications ensue, but Lee describes all of the business dilemmas and relationship twists and turns in compelling prose and with a lot of humor.
Zoe’s story (an F/F romance) also involves finding love and finding one’s way as an adult, in spite of pain carried from childhood (the death of Zoe’s mother and a grieving, sometimes emotionally-absent father). “First crush” in the title alludes to the wine business and Zoe’s efforts to attract attention for Bluebell Winery via selection as the site of an important wine festival. And “first crush” also refers to Laine Woods, the next-door neighbor who Zoe admired from afar all through high school. Laine had been working in California wineries, but has returned to Georgia to work as the interim vintner Zoe’s dad hired for Bluebell–a particularly awkward situation since Zoe learns about Laine’s place in the business after “meeting” Laine again during a blindfolded threesome. Most of the story is a warm and witty second-chance romance, with moments of angst and moments of professional and personal triumph for both Zoe and Laine.
A small sample of Lee’s writing style–here’s Zoe explaining what it feels like to visit the ancestral family home in Italy (her father’s birthplace): “I drink it in, this place where generations of my family lived, worked, loved, and died. It’s a strange feeling to be reunited with a place where your roots grow so deep, yet you know so little. Like the confusion you feel when a stranger calls your name, looking expectantly at you, asking with their eyes, ‘do you remember me’?
But you don’t. You really, really wish you did, but you don’t, and the embarrassed disappointment flows between you both.”
And here’s Zoe thinking about Laine after they face some challenges together: “A hope-starved heart hurts to the beat of its own blood. You get so used to the ache of not expecting that you see the world through a pain-colored hue. You don’t know the true color of happy or recognize all the shades of love. Until one day, you do.”
I can’t wait for Lee’s next novel–I hope it’s not too far away.
Finished two other books: LATE NIGHT LOVE is the debut novel by Chayla Wolfberg and I thought it was a promising start. FMC Emily Beckerman is an Emmy-winning writer on the Saturday night comedy show “Live from New York,” but she’d like a chance to write for the Weekend Update segment and the two men running that part of the show won’t even consider her jokes. So she sneaks one of her jokes onto a live show, which leads to her becoming co-head writer for the show, and an on-air Update anchor, along with her nemesis, MMC Chris Galloway. Emily is Jewish, plus-size, and has anxiety, whereas Chris is Irish Catholic and conventionally good-looking, but he has emotional dark places, too. This novel isn’t the same kind of detailed backstage look at SNL as Curtis Sittenfeld’s ROMANTIC COMEDY, but Wolfberg writes not-bad jokes for her comedy writer characters, and the antagonists-to-lovers story was absorbing until the third-act breakup, which seemed a bit contrived. However, I liked the resolution that led to the HEA. I also liked Chris’ younger sister (another Zoe) a lot–I’d be happy to see her get a novel of her own.
For reasons I won’t explain in detail, I read a recommended middle-grade (not romance) story, SELECT, by Christie Matheson. The MC is Alex, a talented 12-year-old soccer player who gets a chance to play on an elite girl’s team that wins all their games but has a toxic and misogynistic male coach. The resolution to the coach problem for Alex and her teammates seemed a little too simple–one player takes a stand, then the rest of the team joins in, and suddenly all of the parents of team members demand a coaching change, too. However, if the point of the story is to help young girls recognize and be able to respond to emotional and physical bullying from an adult authority figure, I think the novel is effective. The soccer sequences are well-described, as is Alex’s “caretaker” relationship with her little sister.
Gosh, is it really the second Saturday of the month already? Things are moving too fast now. I don’t really have a lot to report, but I am plugging away with the Sister Frevisse mysteries set in 12th century England (near Oxford, I believe). I don’t reread much, but when I find a mystery series with worldbuilding I like, I tend to glom and read until I’ve had my fill. Sister Frevisse is just the type of character I like, sensible and warmhearted but not so sweet that she’s sickening. She often privately thinks about her exasperation at the fellow nuns for their quirks of personality, but it always comes off as very real and not forced. There haven’t been very many romantic subplots so far (unlike Brother Cadfael) but the secondary characters are all really well drawn and compelling.
How is it only and already March?
Recent standouts:
RECKLESSLY ROGUE is the fourth in Erin Nicholas writing as Erin Nicolle’s stellar Royals Gone Rogue series, about the O’Grady royal family of Cara and their bodyguards. Bodyguard Henry Dean knows he’s been fortunate to not only like but love the guy he’s been protecting for years, Prince Cian O’Grady. And now that Cian has married the woman of his dreams, Henry is feeling some kind of way about things, especially when the woman of HIS dreams has made it perfectly clear that she isn’t about to compete for space in his list of priorities.
Ruby Gale knows all about how capable and considerate and generous Henry is. And now he’s in her guest room making a major annoyance of himself. If only he would be less hot… or interested…
Recklessly Rogue is overflowing with love and community and heart, and I appreciated seeing how everyone used their connections and strengths for good–nothing is as satisfying as seeing that not all superheroes wear capes! And Erin Nicolle is absolutely among that number, as this is another deeply satisfying read that underscores the power of love for positive change. A keeper, for sure.
THE SHOTS YOU TAKE by Rachel Reid is an excellent second-chance story set in Nova Scotia. Star defenseman and team captain Adam Sheppard and fellow defensive player Riley Tuck were best friends, and then more, before a panicked reaction blew everything up in the most painful possible way. More than a decade later, Adam heads to Riley’s hometown of Avery River to try to repair that friendship.
Rachel Reid’s story is beautifully written and I could not put it down. Riley and Adam have each worked hard over the years to reach a better understanding and peace with themselves, and it is deeply moving and heartening to see them then wrestle with their feelings with regard to each other. There isn’t one magical conversation or quick fix, and I loved seeing their friendships and families provide some real support as well.
Ms Reid has written another story for my keeper shelf.
And I finally took the opportunity to dive into Jackie Lau’s Weddings with the Moks series, and loved both of the first two books.
FOUR WEDDINGS TO FALL IN LOVE is about Max Mok, a slightly nerdy, by the books kind of guy, and one-night stands are not part of his repertoire. So when gorgeous bridesmaid Kimberly Sung approaches him, he can hardly believe it. And he’s embarrassed that he hardly does his best work that night. And even worse? It turns out that she’s a family friend of his cousins, all of whom will be getting married this summer…
Jackie Lau’s story is very real feeling and lovely. When Kim and Max are able to make the space to get to know each other a bit, they discover they’re better suited than they might have imagined. And that the other appreciates the person they are rather than either comparing them to their pasts or potential futures. Love how forthright Kim is and how that is clearly seen as a feature. Also love the Chinese and Canadian representation.
Book two is THREE REASONS TO RUN. Leo Mok has crushed on Yvonne Siu ever since laying eyes on her, but has kept that to himself for that time since she happened to be his cousin’s fiancée. When Yvonne finally determined to not marry that guy, Leo bit his tongue and helped her move and cared for her plants, not expecting that to lead to a growing friendship and some mutually agreed upon fiery benefits.
Jackie Lau does a good job revealing what’s in these two’s hearts and gives them the chance to discover what they are really seeking. Loved getting to know the Mok family better as well. Great read.
Looking forward to catching up with whatever all of you are reading!
Last month I got back into Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling world and that kicked off a reread of my favorites from that series. I started off with SHARDS OF HOPE (Aden/Zaira) which is still my absolute favorite of the entire series, moved into HEART OF OBSIDIAN (Kaleb/Sahara) and I’m just about to start SHIELD OF WINTER (Vasic/Ivy). After that, I’ll probably go visit the Stonewater bears in SILVER SILENCE. I’m normally not much for rereading – too many new books on my towering TBR mountain – but in these uncertain times, there’s a huge comfort in going back over familiar ground.
I also read and adored Cara Bastone’s newest release, PROMISE ME SUNSHINE. It’s an exploration of moving on from grief and a very slow burn romance, but although it’s heartfelt and induced a few tears, it’s also funny and uplifting. I’ve read most of Cara’s books and she can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned.
Finally, I’m still working my way through my latest Dramione fanfic, DRACO MALFOY AND THE MORTIFYING ORDEAL OF FALLING IN LOVE, by isthisselfcare and savoring every word of it. It’s so good, absolutely the perfect enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance (we are 75% in and they’ve FINALLY had their first kiss!) but I wouldn’t speed it up, or change a word of it and the only reason it’s taken me so long to read it is that I don’t ever want it to end.
Over much of the past two weeks my daughter has been visiting from South Korea, so I’ve done less reading than usual ~
— read Bane (The Ladyships Book 2) by Bex McLynn. This science fiction alien romance seemed a bit sillier than the first but was still an enjoyable read.
— quite enjoyed To See the Sun by Kelly Jensen, another science fiction romance. This featured a lonely man on an outer mining planet who hires a companion. The companion is from a different planet where he is one step up from a slave; he has never seen the sun. Their romance is slow to develop.
— also enjoyed Winging It (Hockey Ever After) by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James, a contemporary romance featuring two hockey players.
— enjoyed Wanted – Bad Boyfriend (Island Confidential Book 1) by TA Moore, a contemporary romance about two men who enter into a false relationship which becomes something more. One is a wedding coordinator and the other (who is the subject of considerable negative gossip) owns a mechanic shop while also doing rescue work.
— enjoyed Fledgling (Liaden Universe Book 11) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller which is a science fiction novel suitable for teens and adults. The focal character is a teen whose life undergoes changes when her mother leaves her partner. I believe that the book can be obtained FREE from Baen, the publisher.
— enjoyed the contemporary romance novella Ghostwriter of Christmas Past by TA Moore which features a man parenting his niece after her parents died. He decides to take her to visit the town where he and his brother were raised and encounters his old best friend/boyfriend.
— enjoyed a reread of The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. I highly recommend this fantasy; one of the things I like about it is that the main character is a genuinely good person.
Just finished FOREGED IN COMBAt, Celia Lake…and just starting WEAVING HOPE, also Celia Lake.
Hello! It’s been quite some time since I’ve been in a WAYR. I’m currently reading Reaper Man. I got the Discworld Humble Bundle over a year ago and I’m reading one per month so I don’t burn out on them but I’m making steady progress. I’m doing the same thing with Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles which will go much faster. The AMC adaptation inspired me to go back to the books. The showrunner of the television series made some interesting changes and I do recommend it if you can handle how dark it gets at times
Someone in an online community I’ve been part of for a long, long time published a book and I liked it! The Crash Course by Elvie Everly is a new adult romance that I thought was going to have more of a teach me trope but ultimately didn’t. From the blurb: When Dane offers Reese a favor for saving his life, he never expects the shy girl to ask him for dating advice. . . It’s not his fault if his suggestions are far from helpful. He’s a car enthusiast, not a love doctor. (Hence the title) We kind of get away from that advising setup pretty early but I didn’t mind. Overall it was enjoyable to read and I’d give it a solid B to B+. I wasn’t blown away, but I liked it a lot more than other books I’ve read so far this year.
In non-romance, I have started Sam Neill’s memoir DID I EVER TELL YOU THIS? Love it. I’m not big on celeb memoirs, but this is an amusing, intelligent and interesting read. The style is conversational, with side stories here and there, but it’s not hard to follow. The relatively short chapters are perfect for my reading it on my way to work, during lunch breaks etc. Neill is a favourite actor of mine and I love what he does on Insta, and he comes across in his book just the same way. Also, how he actually got to be a film actor is one interesting story – this is a career that almost didn’t happen. I had no idea…
In romance, I read LEAVE by L.A. Witt. Loved it, but definitely check the CW/TW first, mileages may vary here. This story follows roommates with benefits Riley who’s in the Navy and Marine Nolan. They’re both stationed on Okinawa. Riley is starting to catch feelings, though Nolan has mile-high walls up and rules for their hookups. They are both facing trips home for family events that are not looking to be easy, especially for Nolan. Riley proposes they help each other out by posing as each other’s fake boyfriends for these events. Which is what they do, though it soon doesn’t feel fake for either of them. There’s also a bit of a road trip between the two events that gradually lets them get closer to each other and sees Nolan take a few of his walls down. Despite the heavy stuff that happens, I loved this book. These two just have each other’s backs, there are no big misunderstandings or near-breakups. There are smaller misunderstandings, but they are both smart enough to talk them through. It’s very heavy stuff that happens, especially with Nolan and not everything is magically resolved at the end. Over all, this felt realistic and well-portrayed. The fake-boyfriend element isn’t strong because it feels real for both MCs pretty soon. What’s strong though are the feelings plus some great banter.
@JenM, I’m with you on Cara Bastone and DRACO MALFOY. Both so wonderful.
Like @C, I really enjoyed Abby Jimenez’s f/m contemporary romance story, “The Fall Risk.” The characterization was especially impressive for something so short. It had the punch of a much longer tale while feeling naturally paced.
I just finished Elsie Silver’s contemporary f/m small-town romance WILD SIDE, where when Tabitha’s troubled sister dies she leaves her son Milo’s guardianship to her landlord, Rhys. Tabitha is furious because the sister had told her that Rhys had evicted her. The sister had told Rhys that Tabitha was a controlling workaholic who didn’t care for Milo. These two are thrown together by their love of Milo in the midst of this tangle of lies. Then to keep Rhys in Canada so they can share care of Milo, they decide to marry. Complicated emotions, attraction, and found family. I truly enjoyed this.
Nnedi Okorafor’s DEATH OF THE AUTHOR has a story within a story. Zelu, an adjunct instructor who get abruptly fired and cannot sell her novel suddenly gets inspired to write RUSTED ROBOTS, a post-apocalyptic SF tale where humans are dying out and robots and AI have taken over the world, but they’re in conflict. The embodied intelligences call themselves Humes and collect human stories; they call the unembodied AIs “ghosts.” Two engrossing, tangled tales. The kind of smart, layered book you can think about for days. I’m not surprised this book is getting a lot of attention and I’m sure it’s going to quite rightly win awards.
Our own Stephanie Burgis’s f/m romantic fantasy WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN is set in a world caught up in political struggles where greedy politicians have sidelined the next generation of leaders to hold on to their power. The Witch Queen, however, has ousted her evil uncle and is currently holding her borders against her people’s enemies. Everyone outside her country view her as evil and those within it aren’t so sure either. However, the young Archduke of her neighbouring country has ben framed as the face of his country while the manipulative Count has tortured him since childhood, subduing him to keep his power. The Archduke manages to escape to the Witch Queen’s castle, where she mistakes him for the wizard she has hired to organize her library. Argh. This description doesn’t do the setup justice. This is a mix of cozy fantasy, charming romance, political machinations, and emotional recovery. First in a trilogy where each book has different lead characters
Lauren Rowe’s contemporary f/m romance FINDING HOME had a lot of resonances with WILD SIDE. Caleb (aka C Bomb) is the drummer for a famous band and has been living the rock star life. When a groupie he hooked up with has his baby, he’s shocked and buys her off. When he regrets cutting off contact, he tries to get in touch with her but she refuses then blocks him. When he’s in court-mandated rehab he discovers she has died and his daughter is in the care of her best friend. And the mother’s abusive father is trying to get custody to get the child support Caleb had been paying. I have a weakness for books about musicians and this was a worthy one if not my favourite Rowe novel.
Kerri Manscalco’s f/m romantic fantasy THRONE OF SECRETS was very like its predecessor in the series, THRONE OF THE FALLEN. This is the story of the Prince of Gluttony and the journalist who hates him though the prince doesn’t understand her grudge. His realm is in peril and he must hide it from her though she is already looking into what’s going on and imagining the worst of him while getting glimpses into the depth of the peril.
Katie Nayman’s m/f contemporary romance YOU BETWEEN THE LINES about students in a poetry MFA program was almost a DNF for me, but because I met my husband 40 years ago while we were in a poetry MFA program together I stuck with it and enjoyed the end. They’d had crushes on each other in high school and an almost hook-up on a weekend when she was visiting his college for an event. She feels rejected by that when they find themselves in the same small writing program. She writes about pop culture while he writes what she considers serious academic poetry. Under it all of course, they’re both wounded and still attracted to each other.
Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews
Of all the Innkeeper Chronicles, this fourth outing is closest to a straight up standalone romance. The tension between Arland and Maud is palpable, as is the affection. Five year old Helen is the serene bitch queen of plot moppets, and the blood thirsty inlaws are viciously entertaining. Sweep of the Blade was just the reread to shore up my wavering concentration. This sci-fi extravaganza is the perfect comfort when you want to tear an entire electorate from limb to limb.
In a Rush by Kate Canterbary
Canterbary is one of those authors who creates a map of overlapping fictional worlds to contain her work. Her territory is New England, especially Boston and its environs and, in the past several years, Rhode Island as well. Her latest work is a sports romance starring pro football player Ryan Ralston and his long time best friend Emme Ahlborg. Their fake engagement (for reasons) takes their relationship to a higher level. There is more pro sport “lifestyle” stuff than I usually like, but I did enjoy spotting characters familiar from Canterbary’s earlier series. Ryan is a particularly appealing in his ability to see who Emme truly is and care for her so tenderly. And Emme. . . is a fucking delight. Wholeheartedly recommend.
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
It’s been awhile since I’ve indulged in some Pratchett, and this first book in the Guards sequence kinda scared me as I dug into the first chapter. Those first meetings of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night were a textbook chapter on how petty discontents could be used to twist ordinary people into engines of unthinkable evil. But Pratchett has never been escapist, has never promised an HEA, yet, like the original Pandora, releases Hope into the world. Right now, my heart is crying out, “Moar!” and I am here for it.
Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle
This rom-com is not cute, despite the gender swapped grumpy-sunshine thing. The lurve-hating rom-com screenwriter paired with the hyper-optimistically romantic divorce lawyer was not particularly amusing. Molly and Seth were very well written, yet still bugged the hell out of me. These characters were so vulnerable, and life just kept booby trapping them. Even when they achieved their HEA, it felt like just a beat, as Molly would call it. Mentally, I couldn’t help but demote it to just another HFN. In a way, that’s all there ever is, but I didn’t enjoy the constant reminders.
Can’t Help Falling by Cara Bastone
Spoiler alert
I am not a fan of the big grovel, but this book suffered from its lack–at least for me. So many people these days are happy to explain all the nuances of a proper apology, I spent the latter half of this book being disappointed due to the absence of those words. Basically, one of the main characters says something entirely vicious to the other, causing actual harm in his life. As the two get to know each other, there are all sorts of explanations and adjusted expectations, but I can recall no simple, concrete “I’m sorry I did that to you.” Even in the last chapter when the issue is raised again and presumably resolved, still no apology. I wanted to like these main characters so much. They were really interesting, but I was unable to get past this. By the way, if anyone else has read this, and feels that I missed a proper apology by the FMC, please let me know. I don’t want to be unfair.
End spoiler.
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
I saw that Celia Lake recommended this first book in a new fantasy series–Queens of Villainy–and it is fulfilled all expectations. When fugitive Archduke Felix arrives in Kitvaria, kingdom of the evil Witch Queen, Saskia, he is mistaken for the dark wizard hired to organize the royal library. Both survivors of cruel childhoods, Felix and Saskia gradually discover that thar’s magic in them there stacks. Supported by an assortment of magical creatures as well as the two allied magical queens of Saskia’s neighboring nations, the pair eventually unite to defend Kitvaria’s sovereignty. I loved this charming fantasy for the romance and for the way it centers kindness and found family. Heartily recommend.
Shadow’s Heart by Kresley Cole
I was tickled to death when I saw a new entry in the Immortals After Dark series was in the works. Now that it’s arrived and been glommed, my feelings are decidedly mixed. Loved the drama, the recurring and improbable battles, the florid debauchery, and the continual snark. Pacing was uneven, with the most interesting plot twists stuffed in towards the end. The quality of the writing is not a big draw for IAD, but that’s mostly ok. While the protagonists are not my favorites and their arc seemed kind of insignificant, they were not nearly as interesting as the other Dacian books. Still, Lothaire played a major but enigmatic role there even a bit of Nix, so that made me happy cuz I love the cray-cray.
Like You Love Me by Adriana Locke
I’m currently reading this series starter, and it’s one of those books that is inoffensive but easily summed up by a list of tropes, most notably second chance, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience/fake relationship. There were a couple of passages where the extremely nice MCs reflected on the virtues of domestic life in their tiny southern town; these made me cringe at the utopian hallmarkian cliches. I’m almost finished with this one but I’m not going to continue in the series.
Forgive me, bitches. It’s been many months since my last confession. So I’ll keep this short and list only those books that made for Good Book Noise and Bad Decisions.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
LOVE ON THE BRAIN by Ali Hazelwood
PONY CONFIDENTIAL by Christina Lynch
KARLA’S CHOICE by Nick Harkaway
DESTINY OF THE DEAD (book 2) by Kel Kade
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by JD Kirk
COLD AS HELL by Kelley Armstrong
FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE by Ali Cosimano
SAVANNAH BLUES by Mary Kay Andrews
THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center
DEEP END by Ali Hazelwood (needs a higher rating than Squee!)
A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL by T. Kingfisher
So spys, crime, romance, scifi and fantasy. All highly recommended.
Two excellent but very different books, both of which gave me book hangover. I read Michael Harriot’s BLACK AF HISTORY (timed with Black History Month) and learned so much from it. Another stellar entry in my “Why didn’t I learn this in my history classes” list. Plus, the footnotes are hilarious and on-point, which you don’t usually get in history books. I added several books from his notes and citations to my library list, mainly books by or about Kick Ass Black Women.
I finished Martha Wells’ WHEEL OF THE INFINITE last night (the lightly revised edition published last year). I think it’s my new favorite, after the Raksura books. Maskelle the grumpy older heroine is brilliant, but I also loved Mali, a cranky old woman who refuses to be left behind.
I’m currently reading Katherine Addison’s THE ORB OF CARAIDO and looking forward to the 3rd Thara Celehar book coming out on Tuesday (and hoping my neighborhood indie gets my copy in good time).
I know it seemed like I fell off the face of the earth, but last year was a mess. After battling a recurring infection that required an infusion, finding out the new house we were about to move into was built in the wrong spot on our lot, selling our old house and moving into the new house (which worked out in the end, but the stress!!), an eye surgery for my son, and a trip to the emergency room for me – the year 2024 was rough.
It finally feels like things are starting to settle down a bit – I won’t recap my reading for the last year, but here is some of what I finished recently.
Excellent:
WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD by Alicia Thompson (M/F, LQBTQIA, Contemporary Romance): Rivals to lovers working at a B-List attraction in Orlando – tasked to find a way to increase revenue, the two rivals find they like each other a lot more than they thought. But do not be fooled by the cute cover – lots of CWs here.
Very Good:
A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell #2, Historical Mystery): With ulterior motives, Veronica agrees to take on a case of a promising artist murdered at a house party. The relationship between her and her investigative partner, Stoker is in turns grumpy, loving (although not romantic yet – fingers crossed) and deeply respectful.
Good:
LADY DERRING TAKES A LOVER by Julia Anne Long (M/F, Historical Romance, Palace of Rogues #1): It was clear why the hero fell for the heroine, but I felt we needed a little more of why she fell for him. The setting of a former brothel being turned into a boardinghouse by a penniless countess and her late husband’s mistress was a little too screwball/madcap for me (not that I don’t like that sometimes – just didn’t work for me here).
Meh:
THE FINE PRINT by Lauren Asher (M/F, Dreamland Billionaires #1, Contemporary Romance): As a Disney Parks super fan, I just could not get past the theme park setting of Dreamland which was very clearly Disnelyland (or maybe the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World). The premise was bonkers – the hero is a billionaire who founded and ran a streaming company, but never has to do any actual work for said company. And now, due to a will, he has to run this theme park, but spends most of his time secretly drawing artwork for the heroine and semi-stalking her. The dialogue and plot and really everything were so cliche and flat. I have no idea why this gets such good ratings?
Bad:
WICKED CAPTOR by Zoey Draven (M/F, Warrior of Rozun #1, Alien Romance): Look, I love Zoey Draven (the Brides of the Kylorr – those are re-reads for me and I loved the Horde Kings series and to a lesser extent the Warriors of Luxuria), but here we have a hero who is going to take the heroine to his quasi-employer to be one of the employer’s “pleasure slaves.” The hero is kind of an indentured servant and this is to be his last job, but it turns out the heroine is his fated mate. After some debate, he decides not to turn her over because she is his fated mate, but I get the very clear impression that he would have turned over and delivered anyone else. He dispatches pretty easily with his employer (the hero was a trained warrior in the past), so I was pretty disgusted by the hero’s role in sex trafficking. Major CW – the hero is from Luxuria (another of her series), but was exiled from the planet due to a false rape allegation (not from his sexual partner, but her brother).
@kkw Can you provide some links to how to find the content by Taylor Fitzpatrick/youcouldmakealife on AO3? When I search I can only find fan created items, nothing by the author herself!
Thank you!
In a Rush by Kate Canterbary. I am normally a HUGE fan, but I have a rantful spoilery of feels–
– Does Lauren Walsh (book, Underneath it All) not pay her teachers enough? Emme and another teacher were living in a 5th floor walk up apartment above a bodega that surely wouldn’t pass code.
– I understand why the ex must be horrible to prompt the “fake” marriage, but a little more nuance and layers would have been appreciated. And why would you be attracted to someone like that in the first place?
– I understand a fake engagement, but they really didn’t have to get married.
– Ryan (our hero) is a near billionaire and solves a lot of her problems with money (which I know that is how the world works, and would welcome it in my own life). Dammit, why must the private jet be in use! She had to fly first class! She solves few problems on her own.
– Ryan’s reasoning for the marriage seemed rather weak and her response seemed over the top (I also understand that how it sets up the finale)
– I wish they talked about her having therapy (maybe Lauren Walsh’s health insurance doesn’t cover it?) She has a ton of family issues.
– I know a lot of these tropes are not my thing (I really wanted to say “jam” but it sounds like I’m referring to her other books, which I really enjoyed!) but I do encourage you to read her other books.
On the positive front, I really have enjoyed mysteries by Colleen Cambridge. She has two series of famous adjacent people. One is a neighbor of Julia Child in Paris in the 1950’s, the other is the housekeeper to Agatha Christie in the late 1940’s (my favorite of the two series)
@knitting_babe: the way I’ve found Taylor Fitzpatrick on AO3 is to search for Youcouldmakealife under Uncharacterized Fandoms. Someone with more AO3 savvy than I have might know of a better way, but that has worked for me.
Welcome back, @Katie C and @Darlynne!