Welcome back and happy weekend! Here’s what we’re reading right now:
Lara: I am reading a book that I have tried to get my greedy little paws on for MONTHS and finally I HAVE IT! How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin. ( A | BN | K | G ) It’s possible the anticipation of this release has raised my expectations unreasonably high, but I am cautiously optimistic that it’ll be great. I’m only a chapter in so far!
Elyse: I’m on a new anti seizure medication for my fibro so I’ve got some couch/acclimation time.
I watched A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms which prompted me to do a Game of Thrones ( A | BN | K | AB ) re-read.
Shana: I just finished Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau. ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s always a good day to read a Jackie Lau book. Now I’m getting sucked into a non-romance, The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. ( A | BN | K | AB )
Tara: I just finished When She Flies by Lee Winter. ( A | BN | K | G ) It’s an interesting time to read a book where one of the leads is the CEO for a company that makes luxury goods for the uber wealthy, but I enjoyed it overall, including where she ends up.
Sarah: I’m deep in early-2000s paranormal romance. I gulped down Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs in a frantic re-read and dove straight into Cry Wolf. ( A | BN | K | AB ) I’ve never read past that book and maybe now I’ll try book 2.
So whatcha reading? Let us know in the comments!
After several tries (due to my attention span not listening to my big plans), I finally managed to get into Sarah J. Maas’ Crescent City series by making House of Earth and Blood my gym read. This meant borrowing the hardback from the library to eye-read while I listened to the audiobook at 2x speed. But it worked well on the stationary bike (the 15-20 minutes my butt could handle), the treadmill (give me an incline and a steady walking pace—I managed a whole hour one day and didn’t get blisters, woo hoo! …I guess I really shouldn’t try to jog because I always get blisters when I try to jog), and I even managed the hardback on the cross trainer that doesn’t have a shelf for a book! Nor was I bored and watching the clock on the cross trainer and treadmill; and I’m always watching the clock on the cross trainer and treadmill!
So, I successfully entertained myself while exercising longer than my minimum; yay! I plan on doing book 2 soon. (And no, my hands were not sweaty when handling the library book, I have a towel for wiping sweaty bits as necessary.)
As for the book itself… I loved the world building and characters and snark and everything… but I hated the bone-deep betrayal that Maas writes so well. But she’s a tricksy writer and fixed it in the end. But she killed characters that I liked, so my heart aches some. But I’ll read more.
Happy Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate! Hunkering down to keep warm during the last three weeks meant a lot of books got read. So, buckle up!
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile, and been a little afraid to read it. I picked a few duds last month, so I really wanted something well-written and productive of a little Good Book Noise(™). This story of a sketch comedy writer who becomes involved with a pop music star was deeply satisfying, and the quasi-SNL deep dive was just *chef’s kiss*. It was honestly a privilege to watch two genuine adults navigate a new relationship. If anything, Noah sometimes seemed a little too perfect, especially in the face of Sally’s missteps and insecurities. Even when he got mad (deservedly so), he did it like a grown-up. What made their relationship so cool was that it was rooted in an extensive ongoing conversation, and the sexy bits were a natural outgrowth of that conversation. This book took me in a lot of unexpected directions and I loved the journey. Recommended.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
So I’m reading this at long last, and it’s not doing anything for me, but I’m not sure why. Actually it’s my second attempt; the first was an early DNF. Do I normally like anything where there’s this much raw sex? No. Are Shane and Ilya well rounded, interesting characters? Not at the 25% mark. Am I enjoying the detailed hockey background? Details? What details? How about the writing? Nope, not my jam. Is my harsh response a reaction to the current hype? Sigh. Maybe? I don’t want to be that guy, but I don’t know how long I can hold out if they don’t start talking pretty soon. I may need to pause, though I really want to finish this and figure out my feelings.
Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor
(Bingo: I-1, noun of stuff & things)
This 2017 novella is adjacent to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, but works delightfully on its own. It is a feast in miniature devoted to a lovelorn scavenger hunt, vivid language, charmingly eerie illustrations, and kissing. I had a couple of candidates for this Bingo category, but none of the other titles fit the brief as well as this one. Plus the title makes me laugh.
Heated Rivalry (Take two)
I’m ba-a-a-ack! So, like the guy who was turned into a newt, it “got better.” Turns out the sex is the conversation, and watching two guys dog paddling around that river in Egypt (dah-nile) is surprisingly gripping. So, yes, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit once it got more romancey–particularly the big reveal to Shane’s parents. I love family shit. One of these days, I’d love to see the show.
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances (short stories) Not super spicy; read for the banter.
Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren
An amusing tale of complicated first encounters brings together coworkers Veronica and Jude. Epistolary elements.
Second Act Romance by Julie Soto
Set against a stage production of “Oklahoma!”, this very short romance captures the chaos of a performance beset with an epidemic of food poisoning. A surprise stand-in for the male lead reignites an old flame in time for Valentine’s Day. This one’s my favorite. Recommended for anyone enamored of the nitty gritty of theatrical production.
Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young
Family revelations and a time capsule bring the grandchildren of two former lovers together. More epistolary elements, which I really like.
Enemies With Benefits by Roxie Noir
Many thanks to @DonnaMarie for mentioning this in the last WAYR. This romance is the first in the Loveless Brothers series, and it was a lot of fun. Schoolyard enemies Violet and Eli find themselves reunited as coworkers at a destination wedding resort near their tiny Appalachian hometown. The fires of no-holds-barred competition still burn, until the couple gradually realize that the heat they feel is more than just their old rivalry setting them alight. This book was really well written with great characters and an intriguing subplot. I can’t wait to spend more time getting to know the Loveless family. Recommended.
Penalty Play by Julia Connors
DNF @52%
Maybe because this was the fifth in the otherwise unread Boston Rebels Hockey series, I had a hard time figuring out why these characters acted the way they did. After spending a year recovering from an injury and supporting a friend who’s mourning the loss of his wife, Aiden returns to the ice, only to be met with. . . reproaches and warnings? Morgan on the other hand spends her time smiling through crappy treatment and humiliation. She’s so crushed she has multiple lists of humiliating moments. The pair start their acquaintance with a bang–aka a hot one-nighter in Bermuda–then find out all the reasons they aren’t supposed to do that anymore. After flailing about going “We can’t! We can’t!” they bang a couple more times, return home, discover they’re co-workers, and struggle to keep all their secrets and lies straight. I quit when they decided to become “friends with benefits” in the face of major obstacles. This was not a terrible romcom, but the potential for future humiliation did me in. ymmv
Tears of the Wolf by Elizabeth Wheatley
(Bingo: O-3, internet made me buy it)
CW: murder of a child in the past, violence & abuse between adults, kidnapping, death in battle.
I first heard of this author from her Book Goblin(™) videos when I was still on fascbook. Then Ilona Andrews mentioned this book on their blog. It languished on my TBR for quite awhile, and I feel grateful to Unhinged Bingo for inspiring me to read it. This historical fantasy romance is grounded in quasi-Viking culture and seems well researched. FMC, Brynn, is seriously downtrodden by blood and marital family, but rebels when the unthinkable happens. Quickly shuffled into a second marriage for her own protection, she finds her new husband, Cenric, is honest, kind, and patient with her. Unfortunately, the past refuses to stay in the past, and its re-emergence puts Cenric and Brynn’s new-found bond to the test. Despite the violence and death mentioned above, something about the historical setting and the pace of this novel made it an excellent comfort read for me. Also, Cuteness alert: telepathic wolfdogs.
Valentine Nook by Lulu Moore
(Bingo; I-3, aggressively twee small town)
Some people hunt the unicorn; some, the handsome, wealthy, kindly, and down-to-earth wealthy British aristocrat. This contemporary romcom perpetuates the ducal myth, buti I’m actually enjoying this despite the major suspension of disbelief required and the overdose of twee. Though Lando and Holiday are a completely 21st century couple getting to know each other in Cupid’s birthplace(!), there is a faint but pervasive Wodehousian silliness to the environs of Valentine Nook. I found it totally smirk-worthy.
Beast Business by Ilona Andrews
This short novella came as a pleasant surprise from House Andrews to their devoted fans, the Book Devouring Hoard. It is Hidden Legacy adjacent and features Augustine Montgomery and Diana Harrison. While this would not make a good starting point in the world of Hidden Legacy, it’s a good time for those familiar with the series. I think the devotion of the BDH can be attributed to the generosity of the authors as well as their talent, but my personal pout droops to my knees whenever I contemplate the deeply desired and oft delayed sequel to Hugh D’Ambray’s book. Just sayin’.
A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath
(Bingo: G-1, Start mid-series, bk. 2/3)
I was surprised by how hard it was for me to find a series to start in the middle, so thanks to @Big K for talking up this Victorian historical. The relatively low drama relationship is similar to Coldbreath’s faux medieval romances as are the combat components of the story. The details of Victorian life on a fair circuit are unique however and had a distinct road trip vibe as well. I especially enjoyed watching Benedict and Lizzie grow into better versions of themselves. I found this read to be extremely enjoyable, and it entirely lived up to the praise on this site. Recommended.
Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
(Bingo: G-2, Con setting)
This book was basically New Adult with young, gay MCs who are initially antagonistic toward each other. Their attitudes shift during a road trip to Vegas for a major gaming convention. As Alden and Conrad maneuver through their adventure, they gradually replace misconceptions with understanding, rivalry with mutual respect and, eventually, more than respect. Overall, I enjoyed the evolution of the MC’s feelings, as well as this excursion into the unfamiliar world of tabletop fantasy gaming. Though the protagonists consummate their relationship on page, it’s pretty gauzy and inexplicit, which is fine with me. I did feel that the dual, first person narration had Alden and Conrad spending a lot of time in their own heads which tended toward a lot of woe-is-me lamentation. Otherwise, the story worked for me, and I would have been comfortable purchasing this book for a high school or teen library collection.
Best Fake Fiancé by Roxie Noir
(Bingo: I-5, AITA)
I enjoyed this second book in the Loveless Brothers series. Steadfast Daniel panics when his daughter Rusty’s feckless mother and her wealthy new husband attempt to gain full custody and then move the kid across country. In an effort to counter their material advantages, Daniel claims to be engaged to his long-time best friend Charlotte, aka, Charlie. I really love the depth of the characterization and the network of support around Daniel, Charlie, and Rusty. This family dynamic where people love you yet take no bull really works for me. The main couple have very different personalities, yet the evolution of their feelings is tender, passionate, and believable. Also believable are confrontations around parenting concerns. Hence the AITA energy around both MCs. As for Rusty, she is a delight–sharp, funny, and imperfect. My main issues with the book were some dangling McGuffins and major plot elements that fizzled like damp squibs at the end, but mostly, it’s a good, solid read. Recommended.
The Moon Raven by Grace Draven
This short novel is a welcome new fantasy romance by Grace Draven. The dual timeline lends complexity to a basically simple tale of two best friends whose close bond blossoms into more in young adulthood until war and subterfuge separate them. I found the dual timeline to be problematic–more confusing than enlightening. I also found descriptions of a bare bones yet happy childhood interspersed with a present burdened with war and religious fanaticism hard to take–especially knowing what becomes of the protagonists’ families. While I always appreciate Draven’s writing, this is not a favorite.
Break the Rules by Roxie Noir
I like the Loveless Brothers series, because I like reading about adults and I like the family dynamic. Both qualities were present in book three, but I spent way too much time thinking, “just tell him already.” June, the FMC. was keeping something from Levi, the MMC, and both were keeping their relationship from June’s big brother, aka Levi’s best friend. I almost wish I didn’t like the writing and characters so well, cuz then I would have just DNFed that tropey shit. On the plus side, there’s plenty of heat, lots of hiking, and a bit of a mystery.
Distilling Sunlight by Celia Lake
The seventh and final book in the Mysterious Arts series is set in 1920s Albion, the hidden magical version of Britain. Alchemist, Gemma Smythe-Clive, and brewer, Sam Farrell, first meet to address some brewing issues, but find they connect on a deeper level. Against a background that weaves between brewing beer, handling grief, and raising children, this book offers a gentle love story and bit of a puzzle. Recommended.
Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb
For me the In Death series runs the gamut from ewww to meh to grrreat! but you don’t know which till you read it. At 60+ books and counting, that’s kind of inevitable. This one hits high on the grrreat end of the scale, and it’s everything I like best about this series. I enjoyed this because it’s told as a straight-up murder mystery with limited violence and an interesting personal angle for Dallas and Roarke. In the universe of Robb tropes, it doesn’t get much more satisfying than this.
Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik
(paused @37%)
I picked this fairy tale re-imagining by the eenie-meenie-mo method from the newer books on my TBR and it’s just not doing it for me. I’m a tough sell on fairy tale based fiction, partly because my love for FTs pre-dates my exposure to Disney. I liked the darkness in this one, but I didn’t like the amorphous MCs and the whiff of chosen one curling around the FMC. Also I want more actual faerie (Etheri) background. Also also, it’s a bit slow for my current mood. So, as I like the author, maybe I’ll pick it up later.
What a Dragon Should Know by G. A. Aiken Third in the Dragonkin series.
Reread. Someone (not here) asked for dragon recs and I sent this along because it’s my very favorite dragon book. I called it funny, raunchy, violent with twisted yet authentic family dynamics. It also has a cast of thousands and rambles all over the place. I had a lot of fun with this, reading the dialogue aloud to myself and smirking till my cheeks ached. Gwenvael and Dagmar are the best sunshine/grumpy monarchs of deviousness in the multiverse.
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
In this substantial novella, Viola and Jesse are lead game developers for two rival companies who are competing for a choice project. Forced into a shared corporate retreat, workplace issues eventually fade, allowing the MCs to sort out their rather fraught acquaintance. The writing and characterization were solid, and the intricacies of the gaming project had a nice resonance with the evolving relationship between Viola and Jesse..
This month has been a wintery mix of re-reads, DNFs. potato chip books and a big stand out.
The big stand out was PEN PAL by JT Geissinger – this was recommended a few weeks ago. The simple and compelling blurb hides a whole complex story that wasn’t at all what I expected. I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated (and gave me a new fave male narrator – hello Troy Duran – I’m a sucker for a deep, gravelly voice). By the time the story is really unveiled, I was so emotionally invested, I had to put a pause on listening (which usually happens at work or while commuting) and set aside time to solely listen to the book till the end. Like those who recommended it, I can’t describe a lot or even trigger warn due to spoilers – there’s on page violence – not tons but it’s pivotal to the story, and there’s historical abuse. Sex scenes are spicy. I did have to stop listening at night – I can’t do suspense before bedtime. When I was done, I told my close friend about it cause I need someone to read it so I can talk about it.
My DNFs – I got a good way through the audiobook for MS RENFIELD AND THE INHERITANCE TRAP by Annika Martin. I had read her Billionaire books in the past and enjoyed them. I got bogged down in the investigation (the FMC believes someone in her town is purposefully sabotaging weddings – leading to injuries and deaths). And I didn’t feel like the MCs had any spark of attraction between them – for a book this long, I hoped for some true build of the relationship and/or the heat between them – it just wasn’t happening. So I bailed.
Molly Harper’s A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR lost me in the first few chapters. Here’s me bemoaning that Harper’s most recent books have all been duds for me. Her JANE JAMESON, NAKED WEREWOLF, SOUTHERN ECLECTIC and MYSTIC BAYOU series were all solid if not great!!! What happened?!?! PROPOSAL is a mystery, but the characters annoyed me in the first couple chapters and the first sighting of the MMC had an “I’d never felt so strangely drawn to someone” moment when the FMC has only seen the guy unloading a truck – it felt lazy and contrived. I didn’t have the patience.
THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR by Jennifer Ashley started out promising – a different plot for a historical but it lost me when describing the MMC’s daughter who is mixed ethnicity (white and Pacific Islander) as “exotic” with lots of descriptions of coffee inspired skin colors – and having a black man – a former slave – who is used as servant, cook and, most conveniently, a surgeon but has little to no dialogue and almost no personality. This was not a recent book – it was published in 2003, but it was too much to keep going.
I got halfway into SHE DOESN’t HAVE A CLUE by Jenny Elder Moke before I DNFed. The title says it all – the FMC did not have a clue – the setting and characters were all over the top – the FMC kept walking herself into stupid, avoidable situations. I think it was supposed to be charming, but I found it perplexing and incompetent.
Maybe I’m just not cut out for recent cozy mysteries – but those two had me missing THE NUMBER 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY and BROTHER CADFAEL series with their endearing and competent lead characters.
A smattering of books from various Mina Carter’s series have been my potato chip reads. Lots of fated mates for Wyverns, Aliens, Alien cyborgs and non-wolfs Alphas. And lots of covers with peen-gazing + flaming planets over guys’ junk. I’m sure some of these have made their way to cover snark.
Lots of rereads for the cold weather –
TEARS OF THE WOLF by Elisabeth Wheatley – I like the simple honesty and sweetness between the MCs as they grow to trust each other.
MIDNIGHT ARROW by Zoey Draven
BOOKS AND BROADSWORDS by Jessie Mihalik
The ALPHA AND OMEGA series by Patricia Briggs – I have to praise Briggs for fitting so much story, details, relationship and personal growth into approx 300 pages. I have been struck by how tight her writing is – especially in the time of sprawling romantasy books.
I’m currently listening to THE WRAITH KING by Juliette Cross (hello again Troy Duran – gravelly voiced narrator ;).
And about to start the WILD SIGN – the most recent ALPHA AND OMEGA. Looks like the next book in the series is due out this year!!
My TBR (which includes some actual paper books from the library and used book store):
THE CURSE OF PENRYTH HALL by Jess Armstrong
A HARVEST OF HEARTS by Andrea Eames
UNDER LOCKE by Mariana Zapata – a reread, part of my hunt for her books offline.
OATH OF THE WOLF by Elisabeth Wheatley – I don’t always love sequels following the same couple, so here’s hoping.
I’m reading A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA by Christine Dodd. I’m enjoying the mystery twist on Romeo and Juliet/Shakespeare.
After that, I’m hoping to start THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig, which I have seen so many folks raving about online.
Hope everyone has a good weekend! After lots of snow the last few weeks, I am getting ready for warmer temps/aka fake spring this weekend. LOL.
@ReadKnitSnark: I mostly read for fun on the treadmill, and I can always tell how much I am enjoying a book by how much I want to keep walking and how much the time flies by. LOL.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m nearing the end of the Unhinged Bingo card. I have two squares left, so I think I’m going to make it. 🙂
I’m currently reading Hot and Badgered by Shelley Laurenston since it was recommended in the “In Case of Emergency” Rec League, and I’m really enjoying it, but this book is a mood, and that mood is “I choose violence”. Books I’ve finished over the past few weeks include:
Ms. Renfield and the Inheritance Trap: A Vampire Cozy Mystery (Immortal Boss Book 1) by Annika Martin (KU)
Bingo: N/A (I think they are setting up a slow burn romance, but I wouldn’t call this paranormal mystery a romance.)
A woman learns that her father’s job working for a vampire is a family obligation that she’s just inherited. She manages to convince the vampire to hunt bad guys, but that means she’s got to figure out who is causing trouble in town so he can kill them instead. I’ll admit that this is a bit darker of a premise than I would have thought something subtitled “cozy” would be, but the author’s sense of humor is still evident.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (library)
Bingo: Title: A Noun of Stuff and Things (close enough), Social Media Made Me (SBTB Review)
I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastical story of two lonely people finding each other.
Rapture in Death (In Death Book 4) by J.D. Robb (library)
Bingo: Swiss Army Knife (Roarke), Start Mid-Series
Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke investigate another homicide with ties to Roarke’s business in this futuristic thriller. A few thoughts:
1. Roarke is a dangerous man to know. In the obvious way, yes, but also like Jessica Fletcher.
2. The author throws in a couple of references to Pepsi and Disney, and I can’t decide if it’s product placement or perfectly placed because these two brands really will likely still be in existence in the future.
3. The setting reminds me a bit of The Fifth Element, which makes sense considering that it was published at about the time the movie came out and likely builds on similar feelings about the future from that time.
Brooklyn Monroe Wants It All (Never Too Late Book 2) by Karen Booth (KU)
Bingo: Start Mid-Series, Title: First Name Last Name Does a Thing
A successful entrepreneur and single 40 year old woman realizes that if she’s going to have a child, she needs to get on that. A viral moment reconnects her with her attractive ex, and they spend the book trying to figure out if they can build a future that satisfies both of them at the same time. I thought it was OK, but I can’t really pinpoint what I’d change to make it better.
BEAST BUSINESS by Ilona Andrews
This was a fun novella. As @PamG says, you really need to know the Hidden Legacy series for this one to to make sense. Am I 100% ready to forgive Augustine? Honestly, not quite, even though this novella gives more context to his behavior toward Nevada. But I still enjoyed this outing into the Hidden Legacy world.
TWO CAN PLAY by Ali Hazelwood
This one was closer to meh than squee for me. I think the premise of this one, that two small software companies would have a retreat at such a fancy high end lodge when they are concerned about their financials, seemed unrealistic in ways that bothered me. I think that if the leads had really grabbed me, I wouldn’t have cared about the setting. But the leads didn’t really grab me for whatever reason. Still, I read it without stopping and there were no “that’s not how computers work” moments, which I appreciate.
LIAR CITY by Allie Therin
This is shaping into a probable DNF for me. It’s one of those books that feels claustrophobic at the beginning as the protagonist is manipulated ruthlessly into doing something he doesn’t want to do. Because it’s a romance, I know that things will improve, but I’m not sure I’m in the headspace to force myself to read far enough to get there.
JUST LAST NIGHT by Mhairi McFarlane
I enjoyed IF I NEVER MET YOU by McFarlane, so I decided to try JUST LAST NIGHT, but my brain is not cooperating. Eve is irritating me.
UNROMANCE by Erin Connor
The premise is that Sawyer will inoculate Mason against falling in love precipitously by subjecting him to every romantic trope she can think. This leads to absolutely delightful moments of lumberjack-ery, imperfect Christmas trees, the hell that is IKEA, and more. It could be a straight up comedy, but it isn’t. Sawyer and Mason are both sympathetic adults who are struggling for completely believable reasons.
Anyone who’s read my posts during the past several weeks undoubtedly noticed me turning into a hype-woman for KJ Micciche. I promise I don’t have any personal or professional connections to this author or her publishers; I’m just a reader who is exceedingly grateful for @Amanda’s recommendation that introduced a new-to-me writer whose books rocketed to the top of my favorites list. Micciche’s new novel, ONE WEEK LATER, is her best so far in my view. The story has a happy ending and many humorous passages, but it’s not a lighthearted rom-com. Although much of the novel takes place on the beaches of Aruba, for me it’s not a beach read (as some other reviewers have said), since this story deals with several weighty topics that promote thought and might even provoke tears.
FMC Melody and MMC Beckett meet as seatmates on a flight to Aruba. She’s a teacher and an author of several romances who is giving her mother, who isn’t in good health, a 7-day fun and relaxing “girl’s trip.” He’s also a teacher and a would-be author, who hopes a change of scene will help jump-start his creativity. They fall fast into a relationship, and expect to continue seeing each other after the vacation, but Melody misses the flight home and concludes she’s been ghosted. When Melody next hears about Beckett, two years later, his debut novel about a vacation romance is a popular phenomenon– and her new novel about a vacation romance is being accused of plagiarizing Beckett’s book. The novel is told in Melody’s POV, both in the present and with flashbacks to the Aruba trip, while Beckett’s voice is presented largely through passages from his book (so “book within a book” for those seeking bingo entries). The novel has a lot to say about grief, about parent/child relationships, and about the world of romance writing and publishing. I was fully invested in these emotionally complex characters (including Melody’s mom), I was deeply moved multiple times, and I anticipate re-reading this book while eagerly waiting for Micciche’s next novel.
Ashley Herring Blake’s second entry in her F/F “Clover Lake” series, GET OVER IT, APRIL EVANS, was excellent work from one of my favorite authors. I was a bit disappointed with the first Clover Lake novel, DREAM ON, RAMONA RILEY, but have no complaints about the story of April– who we met in the first book as Ramona’s best friend– and Daphne Love, who was mentioned in the first chapter of the previous book. Both April and Daphne are artists, both are struggling with self-identity/self-esteem issues, and both are ex-girlfriends of the same woman. April knows that her ex, Elena, cheated on her with Daphne, but Daphne, who was with Elena for three years before an unexpected breakup, didn’t know about April. Now, April and Daphne are co-workers and cabinmates at an upscale summer resort, and competitors for a spot in a prestigious show in a London art museum. I’m fond of Blake’s approach to developing characters who experience a lot of angst before they find joy and love (examples: April’s parents don’t understand her life choices and she’s feeling estranged from best friend Ramona; Daphne grew up in a conservative religious household and hid her queer identity, and she knows Elena behaved badly but still has a sense of security in that past relationship). I also like Blake’s detailed descriptions of the locations her characters inhabit. I think this book can work as a stand-alone, but the Clover Lake series is probably best appreciated if read in order (and I liked RAMONA RILEY more when I re-read it after completing APRIL EVANS). I’m looking forward to book 3, scheduled for September.
I bought DOM-COM, by Adriana Anders (a new-to-me author), because of @Lara’s review, and I’m glad I did. This was a lot more fun and had more fully developed characters than other BDSM-themed novels I’ve read. I think my grade is a B minus; the storytelling seemed a bit slow at times (which surprised me, given the vivid descriptions of BDSM scenes) and I agree with @Lara about the plot thread that didn’t make complete sense.
I finished the last two stories in the Valentine’s Day themed short stories in the new Amazon collection “The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances.” The stories by new-to-me authors Catherine Cowles and Navessa Allen combined some mystery/thriller elements with romance tropes, and these two entries had more explicit sex scenes than the other four parts of the series. However, I liked the earlier stories more than these two.
So on that note, happy whatever-tines day you may choose to celebrate.
I picked up “Battle of the Bookstores” by Ali Brady. New-to-me author(s), but I wanted something for my library’s Silent Book Club and it mentioned “You’ve Got Mail” on the cover blurb. I’ve found it very easy to get into – read 160+ pages at that club meeting! – with nice tweaks, such as the MMC being the one to manage the romance bookstore and the FMC managing the literary bookstore.
I’ve also been reading “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros because I decided it was time to get caught up on that. I like the dragons.
However, I have set both aside right now because there is no room for anything but “Heated Rivalry” in my brain. I watched “HR”, then reread the book, then reread “The Long Game”, then watched “HR” again, and am rereading “HR” again. I’m never leaving the cottage.
Something I’ve noticed about “HR”, both show and book, is that the steamy scenes are so integral to the plot and the characters’ development, both individually and as a couple (and I don’t usually find this to be true in most romances, imo). They don’t exist for the sake of adding a little “spice”, they are, as PamG pointed out, the conversation. Especially in the early parts, where the physical attraction is the basis of their relationship, but also later on when they move beyond just that and start to develop feelings for each other. I’m so very excited for “Unrivaled” this fall because I can’t wait to see where Shane and Ilya’s story goes next.
I read “The Shots You Take” by Rachel Reid. Can I count it as “was a fanfic” for Unhinged Bingo? I enjoyed it, but I definitely saw it as an alternate omega verse.
I saw Ryan’s life after retiring, Troy and Dallas if one of them hadn’t been terrible, Kip and his relationship with his dad. Shane if Rose wasn’t so savvy, a d Eric if he and his wife had kids. It
I was on vacation for most of the previous month, so read and eventually DNF’d a Kindle Unlimited series. I truly dislike unadvertised cliffhangers. That is the quickest way to lose me as a reader.
I’ve had a surprising number of paranormal/urban fantasy lately. Not a theme I planned, just how the books fell.
Left off with the third book in Nora Roberts’s Lost Brides. Which led to TALL TAILS & WITCHY FAILS the first book in a series by Lily Harper Hart. Down on her luck FMC is run over by very rich resort owner whose “handler” offers Hali Waverley a million and medical expenses to sweep the incident under the rug. She counters with all of the above plus setting her up with a tiki bar on the beach and a residence on the resort property. Oh, and did I mention Hali is a witch? Fast forward, her hip has been replaced, her business is banging and she has been assigned a drunk flamingo as a familiar. Then young women start disappearing from the beach. Enter a sirens, a dead body and a werewolf detective. And possibly the single most abrupt ending I’ve ever encountered.
Next was NIGHTSHIFTED also the first book in a series from Cassie Alexander. Down on her luck nurse accepts a job working on a secret hospital ward catering to the special needs of the supernatural. At first it seemed like this was going to a series of in the life vignettes, but then an overarching story starts to develop when she inadvertently causes the death of an elderly Daytimer (vampire servant) and gets obsessed with his last words “save her”. I imagine there will be some sort of romance as the series goes on as there are two potentials introduced. I’m sort of here for one of them, but the other one … Squicky.
Finally IF LOOKS COULD KILL by Julie Berry a Jack the Ripper/Medusa mash up which thankfully turned into a cohesive and fairly compelling narrative. Feeling the heat in London, especially after two of his victims turn out to be more than they seem, JTR heads home to America. In New York we meet Tabitha and her roommate Pearl earnestly working to improve lives in the Bowery district of NYC. They put themselves in danger trying to rescue a young girl they had unwittingly and horrifyingly directed to the arms of a notorious madam. And then a brushing contact with a man fresh off the boat from London turns Pearl into a Medusa. Yes, it’s A LOT. I wasn’t sure I was going to stick with it, but it turned into a compelling narrative. There some strong stuff in here: characters that are as evil as Jack, maybe more so as, while he kills women, they live off the despair and abuse of women. But also female bonding and empowerment and justice. If your female rage is bubbling, this may release a little steam.
Up next: a new translation of THE ODYSSEY from Emily Wilson. I read an interview and found myself intrigued with the idea of a translation stripped of Victorian white male interpretation.
I’ve just been reheating Heated Rivalry and re-reading HR/TLG and all the chapters that Ilya and Shane pop up in the other books… On repeat. I have no chill. and that’s okay.
I started reading L.B. Dunbar’s Sexy Silver Foxes series for a Goodreads challenge. Now I’m binging them.
Happy Valentine’s Day and (upcoming) Mardi Gras to all who celebrate!
Jesse H. Reign’s HEART is a book that has a “big twist” but one that I think most readers will twig fairly early in the story (in fact, I’m sure I’ve read at least a couple of other romances that include the same twist). Most of the book is told from the point-of-view of Lennon, a young man obviously adrift after a bad “break up” with his (platonic) best friend. Lennon spends most of his time “stalking” (his words) a college student named Connor. We don’t really know why Lennon is obsessively following Connor, but when the two meet and find a connection, it feels very underhanded for Lennon to not disclose what he already knows about Connor. Connor (whose POV is limited to a few chapters) has been very ill but is now recovering. He has a lot of golden retriever energy, is kind & thoughtful, and has some very close friends who are initially quite protective of Connor and suspicious of Lennon. It’s hard to discuss much of the rest of the book without giving away the twist. Reign is usually a go-to writer for me, but I must say I didn’t find HEART up to the level of some of her other books. I recommend it—but you’ll probably get to the “surprise” of the book long before the story does.
I was surprised to see that Garrett Leigh had released a new book, KISS ME AGAIN, so recently after her last book, December’s CHRISTMAS ON COSMIC AVENUE; but, when I looked at the copyright page, I saw KISS ME AGAIN was a re-release from 2019. I don’t remember reading it when it was first released, so it was like a new book for me. KISS ME AGAIN involves two people, one of whom has significant mental health challenges, the other of whom tends to self-isolate. Aiden is a tree surgeon who is taken to a hospital after bad accident on the job. Ludo (a software tester) is in the same hospital being treated for a bipolar episode. The two men meet (hospitals seems to be very different in England to allow so much mingling of patients) and have a connection, but it is months later before the two men meet again in a non-hospital setting and start a tentative relationship. A lot of KISS ME AGAIN focuses on Ludo’s bipolar condition and how he must constantly monitor himself to be sure he’s not entering a spiral. Ludo is sympathetically presented, and we get a good idea of how exhausting it is for him to have to continually screen his behavior and question his actions. Aiden was a bit more difficult to get a handle on: he’s grumpy and shuts off well-meaning friends, but his thought processes are so closed off, we don’t get too much insight into his personality. Aiden and Ludo together are a good match: Aiden isn’t overly protective toward Ludo, and Ludo feels he can trust Aiden with witnessing some of the more difficult aspects of his mental condition. Overall, I recommend KISS ME AGAIN for both mental health rep and for showing that love can blossom between the most unlikely of pairings. Recommended.
Jonah Yorke’s SWEAT is an m/m romance that is equal parts extremely angsty and extremely hot—but the two elements don’t always blend together seamlessly, and there were some real whiplash moments as the book ping-ponged between the two. In SWEAT, Tommy & Rowan are college students. Rowan is a soccer phenom while Tommy gave up soccer in high school because of his sister’s unplanned pregnancy and later cancer diagnosis. As difficult as Tommy’s life is, Rowan’s seems even more challenging: he grew up in foster homes and pins all his hopes on becoming a professional soccer player; his life seems to consist of nothing but working out and playing soccer. After a series of run-ins leads Tommy to joining the soccer team, Tommy & Rowan become closeted lovers—but Rowan (who we know has some major trauma in his past—although the full extent is not revealed until late in the book) has some significant internalized homophobia and cannot acknowledge his sexuality: “The only person I can’t accept is myself,” he says at one point. There’s lots of sex in SWEAT (I must admit, it became a bit repetitious after a time and I found myself skimming over some of the sexy-times), and then there are jarring cuts to scenes of Tommy helping his terminally ill sister or Rowan suffering from breakdowns. I liked SWEAT, but I think a closer edit could have produced a stronger book. I certainly recommend it—and will look for Yorke’s next book.
In December, I enjoyed Cate C. Wells’s SILENT FLAMES, which was part of a multi-author series called Dark & Silent Night (connected by each MMC being one of four brothers). I picked up another of the series, Eve Black’s VEILED SILENCE which, much like SILENT FLAMES, features the “marriage in trouble” trope. Although not as well-written as SILENT FLAMES, I enjoyed VEILED SILENCE, but I felt it resolved its initial conflict too early and spent the last fourth of the book just padding the word count. In VEILED SILENCE, children’s book author Kendra has been married to wealthy Gideon for several years. She has been hoping for a baby, but so far, she has not become pregnant (not for lack of trying on Gideon’s part!). But on the day that Kendra was preparing to share the good news with Gideon that she is finally having a baby, Gideon (before he hears the news) has a major meltdown and drives Kendra away. I always like a thoroughly angsty set-up, and the first part of VEILED SILENCE reminded me a lot of one of my all-time favorite angst fests, Natasha Anders’s THE UNWANTED WIFE. However, after Kendra flees and Gideon finally finds her, the couple reunite in what I felt was a very abbreviated time frame (although I give Kendra credit for standing strong against Gideon’s attempts for them to just go back to what they had before; she demands that things change if they are to have a life together and be good parents for their child). Many of Kendra’s & Gideon’s conflicts are the result of Gideon’s dysfunctional upbringing, so the story’s resolution includes addressing Gideon’s need to create a perfect family to prove that he can be better than his parents did. As I said before, I felt the ending of the book dragged out a bit (there’s a whole mafia subplot that could easily have been jettisoned without much impact). I give VEILED SILENCE a muted recommendation, but if you only read one book in the Dark & Silent Night series, read SILENT FLAMES instead.
Happy Day! Whichever day you choose to celebrate/honor 🙂
I’ll start with my DNFs, of which there were a few.
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross (KU): I’m not exactly sure why I ended up not finishing this book, but basically it came down to boredom/restlessness with the story. It seemed like it was taking forever to get anywhere. This book is very long, I think it is over 500 pages, and when what I thought was going to be the main conflict/war happens only halfway through the book – yeesh! I also wasn’t very attached to the characters, they didn’t seem real to me, but maybe also it was too angsty for me? This DNF was possibly a me problem rather than a book problem . . . I did skip to the last chapter or so to see what ended up happening, so apparently I was invested enough in the characters to do that, and read the epilogue that didn’t make a super lot of sense (probably because I skipped half the book). There was an HEA, though it seemed sort of anticlimactic, again, probably because I skipped half the book 😉
Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider (KU): This was probably more YA than I was expecting, and after an interesting start I kind of got bored. It seemed to be taking too long to get anywhere (at least that’s what I remember, I’m finding that I don’t really recall much of this book or why I DNF. So maybe this was a me problem rather than a book problem.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry (KU): I was very excited when I saw this was in KU (I received a gift subscription for Christmas), because I had read a sample of it previously but my library didn’t have it and I didn’t have KU at that time. Sadly, I got about halfway through and just didn’t care to finish it. I started this a couple of months ago, and am finding that I don’t remember anything about it 🙁 so I can’t really detail what went wrong for me. Though perhaps I should take to heart that when a blurb says “perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros” I should know it won’t be for me. . .
Now for the stuff I finished!
Snake-Eater by T Kingfisher: I really liked this one! I love her writing, all the funny side characters and the snappy dialogue. It did go a little differently than I thought it might, basically I was thinking that (and I hope this works)
. I enjoyed the representation of Southwest Native American culture and lore, and wish there had been more of it because it is so interesting. Though as a non-Native person I can’t attest to the accuracy of any of it.
For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn (physical book): CW/TW
I also really enjoyed this one! I think it may have been recommended on this site. I’m always searching for books with demons as love interests, and this one absolutely fits the bill. Bel, our MMC, is a demon in Hell, but he’s pretty much a cinnamon roll (inasmuch as a badass demon can be 😉 I loved that he and Lily, our FMC, started off as friends, and that they talked to each other about where they were and how they felt. There was pining, but they finally gathered up their courage and talked to each other! I love it when that happens!
I would describe this book as cozy, even though it mostly takes place in Hell. The Afterlife as imagined in this book is a place I would happily spend eternity!
I really hope my spoiler tags worked, and many apologies if they didn’t
Hi all! Happy Valentine’s Day! I am still loving having a Kobo ereader.
I discovered AL Heard’s hockey romances (all m/m), THE TRADE DEADLINE, DROP THE GLOVES, AND HOCKEY BOIS. They stood out to me because I was fairly able to follow the hockey action! The last one is set in a beer league of non-professional players, which I thought was a nice change of pace. They were all fun but not necessarily something I’ll reread.
I read A RARE FIND for a book club with my best friend, and enjoyed it. There were too many characters for me to keep track of them all, and maybe slightly too much treasure hunting/archaeology, but it was a fun read.
Currently reading two m/m romances (the heart wants what it wants I guess), TWO LEFT FEET and THE OAK AND THE ASH. I was excited to start the audiobook for Two Left Feet because the narrator is the same one who did BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, who reads with a great sense of humor. It’s set at a football club in Camden and seems to be somewhat enemies to lovers. THE OAK AND THE ASH is a historical featuring a surgeon and a valet, which is definitely interesting, but so far I’m more invested in the world of the novel than the romance.
Can’t believe we’re already halfway through February!!!
Happy Valentines Day! Hope all are getting some good reading in on the long weekend.
Just read Abigail Kelly’s new book, SPLINTERED VIGIL. Excellent! Highly recommend. Member of Fracture, Elvish elite team of killers, finds his consort. You know the drill. Nice addition to this series, which I have gobbled up over the last year. I like the world building, and the future world with all the different paranormal folks. Check it out!
Nothing else to report at this time. Looking forward to reading all your recommendations!
@PamG – so glad you liked the second book, A Substitute wife for the Prizefighter. Alice Coldbreath is fantastic.
How did I not know that Ilona Andrews fans are called the BOOK DEVOURING HORDE? We so are! I forgot that I read the new novella, too, and agree with Pam that it was very good, BUT I ALSO AWAIT HUGH AND ELARA’S BOOK WITH UNDISGUISED IMPATIENCE. I would never have thought the first book would be one of my favorites ever, but it really is.
Over the past few weeks ~
— enjoyed the contemporary romance Boy Banned by RJ Scott. This begins with a British musical talent show; five young men competing individually are offered an opportunity to continue on if they form a group. The main characters are two of those young men.
— enjoyed the novella Love Language by Jax Calder which is a contemporary romance featuring two men who work in the same office.
— enjoyed several short stories by Jax Calder which were on her website: Making it Personal, Secret Crush, Valentine’s Day, and Restarting Hearts.
— finished my reread of a favorite series with Confluence by S. K. Dunstall.
— read an entertaining science fiction/space opera trilogy consisting of Orphan Planet, Twin Landing, and Star Bound by Rex Burke. (There is also a one volume collection available, Odyssey Earth). A man is awakened after sixteen years of cryogenic sleep; he had left earth with a thousand other sleepers plus a live crew on a seventeen year journey to a distant earth like planet. He, a history tutor, is awakened to teach a group of teenagers who were conceived in the first months of the journey when the ship wide birth control system failed. There is a lot of humor in this series, and I will be looking with interest at the author’s other books.
— For my book group, I read North Woods by Daniel Mason. The book follows a house, its inhabitants, and the surrounding land in New England from Puritan times into the future. This book has murder (by poison, gun, and axe), ghosts, schizophrenia (is it madness if the ghosts really exist?), a slave catcher, apples, betrayal, beetles, an artist, panthers, adultery, a tabloid writer, and much more; it was definitely not boring! I found it an easy read, but it’s not a book I’d care to read again.
— I enjoyed browsing through 1,000 Steampunk Creations by Dr. Grymm which is a collection of a thousand photos. I’m planning to make some steampunk inspired bookmarks in the future and am looking for inspiration.
— enjoyed a reread of Paradox Lost by Libby Drew. This book is set in the future in an alternate earth in which time travel is possible. One lead is a historian who guides tour groups; during one such trip, an abused wife, leaves the group with the intention of staying in the past. The historian returns to find her as staying in the past results in death. He hires the second lead, a private detective, to help find the woman. The husband has also sent men to retrieve his wife.
— reread two old favorites/comfort reads namely Stray and Lab Rat One by Andrea K Höst. Stray is FREE for Kindle readers.
— finished my reread of the Touchstone series with Caszandra, Gratuitous Epilogue, In Arcadia, and Snow Day by Andrea K Höst. I enjoyed them all.
— decided to reread The Starfighter Invitation by Andrea K. Höst. It was not the book that I remembered reading. If it weren’t for the fact that my Kindle said the book was read and that I located a thread from 2023 in which I mentioned having just finished it, I’d have thought the book was new to me! That said, I found it an intriguing read with a surprising ending, but my other favorites by the author are in no danger of being replaced.
— enjoyed The Ghost in the Hall by KM Avery which is set in our world but where a different pandemic occurred some years ago. Many died but others became elves, orcs, vampires, etc., or developed psychic and other skills. One of the lead characters developed an ability to interact with ghosts and now leads seances. He visits an estate and encounters many trapped ghosts; he also meets the gardener, an orc, and they connect.
I had a couple of nice surprises this past month. I can’t remember where I saw a mention of Jo Goodman’s IN WANT OF A WIFE. An old fashioned mail-order bride Western seemed like it would be a good escapist read, but it was much better than I expected. I loved the heroine’s spunk. I’ll happily read the other 2 books in this series.
THE BOTANIST’S ASSISTANT by Peggy Townsend was a good mystery with poisonous plant lore.
MR. PICKWICK’S GUIDE TO MARRIAGEABLE YOUNG LADIES by Jill Beene. Never heard of the book or the author, the only reason I picked it up is because it was free on Kindle at the time. Again, much better than expected the plot involves a heroine who is totally broke, and writes this guide under the Mr. Pickwick pseudonym to make ends meet, which causes some uproar and consternation among the ton. She depends on being an unobtrusive wallflower, so she can pick up gossip, so it’s problematic when she attracts the attention of a Duke who is trying to unmask the author of the guide.
THE MARRIAGE METHOD by Mimi Matthews-maybe not better than, but as good as the first book in the series, which is quite good indeed.
AN ACT OF VILLAINY by Ashley Weaver. Since Weaver ended the wonderful Electra McDonald series, I went back to her previous series set in 1930’s England. It’s a high society married couple solving mysteries, big Nick & Nora vibes. I enjoy them although the Electra McDonald books have more action and derring-do.
FIRE MUST BURN by Allison Montclair. The latest Bainbridge & Sparks mystery, this one was not my favorite, but a decent read.
A throwback read for me: SHOCK GREEK HEIR by Lynne Graham. She’s been writing these HPs with millionaire European heroes(usually Greek, Spanish or Italian) for decades, so the formula is the same. But Graham threw an unusual twist into this one. The couple is stranded on a small island in the Pacific after a shipwreck. Also the first HP hero I’ve seen with earrings and a man bun.
I am probably forgetting a whole host of books, I am caught in a never ending loop of travel with the hellacious move that is still ongoing three years later. I don’t remember what I have posted about but there are a handful of things I absolutely have to mention even if it’s repeatedly.
Best thing I have (re)read lately is TEXTS FROM JANE EYRE by Danny Lavery which made me miss The-Toast even more than ordinarily, which is already a lot. This book is fabulous and hilarious and highly recommended. Not a romance novel, but I am in love with it, so that sorta counts.
Oh and speaking of being in love with a book @DonnaMaire Emily Wilson is a goddess and I adore her work, but it’s worth knowing she prefers The Illiad to the Odyssey. I found this incomprehensible until I read her translations. Both absolutely worth reading, really riveting and groundbreaking, but fwiw I enjoyed reading her Illiad more and I am dying to know what you think of them.
Best new thing I have read is MR COLLINS IN LOVE, which, I would have sworn there was absolutely no way that could work. No way. But then I realized it is by Lee Welch who has written a few things I thoroughly enjoyed, and it was recommended by KJ Charles to boot. It doesn’t (as I feared) redeem Mr. Collins by undermining Austen, and it’s mind blowing to me that Welch pulled that off at all, much less so well. It is indeed delightful.
Also noteworthy: AN ACADEMIC AFFAIR by Jodi McAllister – a het romance I didn’t despise! Contemporary enemies to lovers but not absolutely absurd! Main characters who are writers (academic not fiction but even so) yet it doesn’t come across as pure authorial laziness! If anyone typically likes these elements, definitely grab this one. Hell, even if you don’t – they’re usually dealbreakers for me – you’ll want to check it out. Would work for Meta Bingo, if anyone still needs that. I am actually searching out all the romance novels that get recommended within the book, because I had read and loved most of them already.
THE VILLAGE LIBRARY DEMON HUNTING SOCIETY by CM Waggoner is solidly good although a little uneven. It’s a parody of a cozy murder mystery while simultaneously actually being a cozy murder mystery, and it doesn’t quite manage that admittedly extremely difficult balance. Basically it doesn’t strike me as having really entirely sorted out its complicated feelings about its genre, but it’s still entertaining and fun if you can roll with it.
I feel compelled to put out a general warning that GEORGE FALLS THROUGH TIME by Ryan Collett is not a romance, though shelved as such at my library. It does have a time travel element and is in some ways quite interesting, but it sounded light, and it was not. The pov character is actively miserable and self loathing throughout, there is some straight up torture and imprisonment that’s not like, kinky for those who like it, but just …awful things that happen. And lots of them. There is a dragon -the book is sort of a St. George and the dragon scenario- but it’s not a fun one. Also, and this is not something I am proud of, but the set up is this guy is a dog walker who loses two of the six dogs he’s meant to be taking care of, and the reason I hung in there for the entire book is because I was worried about the dogs – the ones that he actively lost, the one who time travels, and the ones who are left behind on their own in the middle of modern day London when he disappears. For people who share my excessive concern for fictional animals, there is no closure or resolution. None. Not for a single one of the six (6) dogs. Speaking of no resolution, the romantic element ends in a way that is at best nebulous but I interpret as pretty definitely terrible and incredibly sad. Which doesn’t make this a bad book! It’s not (although I definitely skimmed a lot of the misery while looking for the dogs). But that cover for this book, and a romance label, is criminal misrepresentation.
And thus, predictably *telepathic wolfdogs* has got to be one of the easiest sales pitches I ever heard, thank you very much indeed @PamG that’s straight on the holds list.
Last random warning, not romances but I started an old KJ Parker series, THE FENCER TRILOGY, which is one I found ages ago on some list for people who want more GoT, and I finally got around to. And I just wanted to put it out there that this makes GoT look like a light romp full of wholesome characters. These people are despicable and I have no idea why I am still reading it.
There has been a surprisingly good amount of reading over the past couple of weeks. It started with Startup Hell by Caitlin Rozakis. I liked the characters and some of the humor, but the pacing could have used a bit of work. Then I read Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas. I continue to enjoy the relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Lord Ingram, especially when it comes to how they kind of challenge each other about who can send more shocking messages (incidentally, something my husband and I have been known to do with Valentine’s Day cards, happy to announce I won this year). Then I tore through Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. It was a challenging read, in that the narrator is deeply unreliable and hates literally everyone around her, including herself and her children, and that wasn’t a pleasant headspace to live in, but it’s also a very fast read. Now I’m reading Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune. This is my first Carley Fortune, and so far, her writing seems pretty engaging. So until next time, I hope there was chocolate for your Valentine’s Day.
Just finished FOR WHOM THE BELLE TOLLS by Jaysea Lynn and really enjoyed it. The story and characters felt fresh, emotional and honest. Yes, we’re talking about demons and Hell and several unexpected topics, but the relationship/personal growth was excellent. Also quite fun. The book is long and perhaps my attention is all over the place these days, still a minor quibble.
HOW TO KILL A GUY IN TEN DATES by Shailee Thompson – a fiercely entertaining horror/rom-com mashup that has nothing particularly fresh to say about the familiar tropes of slasher films and romantic comedies. The famous quotes from rom coms at the start of every chapter, altered to be 1000% more murdery, were particularly fun. Also, this book has set the bar for the use of the term “sister wife” in romance novels. Although the book is single POV, the audiobook uses duet narration and I really liked the man’s voice. So much so that I went searching his backlist on Hoopla for something else to listen to, which led me to…
THE MARRIAGE HEX by Sarah Blue – perhaps the definition of phone-it-in mediocrity when it comes to plotting and character development. I did love the contrast between the MMC’s human persona and his wolf, who was both arrogant and adorable. I did not enjoy the unexplored — and, honestly unjustified — resentment the MMC carried toward the FMC for disappearing from the orphanage/research facility where they were raised.
THE DARK LORD’S GUIDE TO DATING by Tiffany Hunt – 80% concept, 20% narrative. The humor and fantasy trope awareness are extremely broad at the start, but that gradually fades as the book progresses. I wouldn’t mind the shift in tone, but too many significant events happen off page and are presented in a tell-not-show way: the death of a faithful retainer, killing the surprise villain, learning there was a surprise villain. Letting the reader be present for major plot developments is all kinds of helpful.
SUNK IN LOVE by Heather McBreen – second chance romance where a divorcing couple pretend they’re still together for an annual family vacation with the wife’s grandparents and siblings. She’s grieving the death of her mother; he’s emotionally closed off due to his own parental trauma. All of the good stuff in the book (namely, the FMC learning to re-evaluate her relationships with her entire family, living and dead) was overshadowed by the MMC’s total failure when confronted with his wife’s grief and the FMC’s emotional self-absorption. As far as she’s concerned, only she is grieving her dead mother. Only she is devastated by the breakdown of the marriage. Apparently, no one else is being emotionally performative enough for her.
BACKSLIDE by Nora Dahlia – a second chance romance featuring protagonists who had a bad breakup as NYC teens in the late 90s, meeting again for the first time at the vow renewal celebration of their mutual best friends in California’s wine country. The flashbacks contained a lot of 90s’ nostalgia, which is not my thing but I think the vivid details would be appealing for anyone who shared that nostalgia. I struggle with second chance romances where the reason for the initial breakup is withheld until the last quarter of the book (so, this book). I’m not reading a mystery here. Dealing with past trauma seems like an important early step in rebuilding a relationship.
SOUL HATE and SOUL BOUND by Hannah Kingsley – although I don’t actually believe in soulmates and fated mates, I love romances that explore the concept rather than just leaning on it to expedite a relationship. In the world of Soul Hate, every human soul is bound to two others: a Soulmate (“a love so pure and a joy so rich, a gift sent from Fate to be thankful for”) and a Soulhate (“a vile archnemesis to fill their world with blistering fire and immeasurable agony, a person Fate demanded be killed to show duty and devotion”). It’s just Renza’s bad luck that her Soulhate turns out to be the son and heir of a fellow Electi (member of their city-state’s ruling council) whose political allegiance she — as the youngest Electi — needs to accomplish her goals. So…no killing. I’m assuming Renza and her Soulhate Idris are the romantic end game here, but that’s difficult for me to imagine when the negative reaction to the Soulhate’s presence is so visceral. Are they going to break Fate itself or just live a life of nausea and discomfort? I hope I find out in book 3.
ONE WEEK LATER by KJ Micciche – I found the premise interesting (please see @EditChief’s glowing review above for a summary) but the dialogue so dull that I only skimmed this until it started to enrage me with its mediocre white man success and assertion that romance readers “want different beats” (where “different beats” apparently = a wistfully unresolved ending to a male-authored novel that seems more memoir than compelling fiction…yes, I was getting strong Nicholas Sparks vibes). I appreciated that the FMC and the narrative didn’t demonize the pop star the MMC was engaged to, but the lack of drama there only served to emphasize that his professional success was due to her celebrity.
@Deborah, I’m glad to hear I persuaded someone to try a KJ Micciche offering, and I respect your assessment of the problems with the MMC (and his novel and his celebrity status). If you take a chance on another Micciche (like the one @Amanda recommended, THE END OF SUMMER), I’d be interested in hearing what you think of Micciche’s handling of dialogue in that book.
I just finished REEL by Kennedy Ryan, for book club. My verdict: this is a good book but was not a good fit for me. I liked reading about the film industry, the history woven in, and the representation of a character with lupus, but I couldn’t connect with the characters at all. They have what I’m starting to think of as horny attraction with nonstop thoughts about how much they want each other, and the things they notice about each other are not things that draw me to other people. Also it had a lot of ultra-rich-people settings that the characters comfortably slot into (versus being a fish out of water, which I can understand better).
Now reading FAN SERVICE by Rosie Danan and loving it—I watched a lot of CW shows back in the day, which it pays homage to. It has a nerdy heroine who takes care of her father and mentors queer kids at a community center in a conservative Florida town—it feels very timely.
@Big K
Over the past few years, I’ve dropped out of most social media, but I still like to keep up with some of my favorite authors. Hence, I subscribe to a number of email newsletters. I also unsubscribe PDQ if said newsletters are purely commercial PR.
The Ilona Andrews newsletter is perhaps my favorite, consisting of slice-of-life personal updates, writing & publishing updates, excerpts & serials, quizzes & surveys, informational Q &A, schedules, online & in person presentations & meet-ups. And it’s all written in that warm IA voice. It basically seems to be an email version of their blog, much like the SB-TB email.
Just for the record, I also particularly like Gail Carriger’s Chirrup, Courtney Milan’s Weekly Tea, Cela Lake’s newsletter, and Shelly Laurenston/ GA Aiken’s newsletter. I get a number of others as well, but the authorial voices aren’t quite as appealing. All are free, but a couple do offer the opportunity to voluntarily support the authors. If any of y’all reading this, get an author newsletter that you particularly like, I’d love to hear about them.
@PamG I love Alexis Hall’s newsletter, which sounds very much like his funnier books. Lately it mostly arrives when he has a new release, but it’s still fun to read.
@PamG, I also get a lot of newsletters, including Celia Lake’s and Courtney Milan’s. I also get and like Maggie Stiefvater’s, Cara Bastone’s, August Black’s (she talks about things like POV in romance), and more, except those are the ones I recall being happiest to see in my inbox. I also like Jessica Joyce’s but it’s very infrequent.
@Jane, it sounds like I should subscribe to Alexis Hall’s since I really do like his sense of humor!
Late, but here it goes for anyone still reading.
DAWN OF THE NORTH is a strong installment, the 3rd full-length [there is also a novella] in Demi Winters’ excellent, inventive, immersive f/m romantic epic Viking-based fantasy series. There are still I believe two more full-length (and these are long books) to come in the series. I will be gobbling these up.
After years of reading recommendations for Chloe Walsh’s f/m near-contemporary New Adult maybe) Boys of Tommen series, I finally read BINDING 13 + KEEPING 13, and yeah it’s good. I really liked it and understand why it’s a favourite for so many people. If I’d read it as a teenager I would be stuck to it like glue. I’m sure you all run across reactions to these books so I won’t repeat those, but if you can handle tough subject matter I do recommend them and I will be reading the rest.
I also finally read Tarah DeWitt’s LEFT OF FOREVER which I’ve owned since it came out months ago. Here again, lots has been written about this book about a divorced couple who end up on a road trip after dropping their son off at college. Tarah DeWitt continues to be one of my favourite authors. Maybe I waited because I knew I was going to like it and was saving it?
Really liked V.L. Bovalino’s f/m romantasy, THE SECOND DEATH OF LOCKE. Clever and deep. One of the better romantasies I’ve read.
I have also owned Lucy Score’s f/m romcom STORY OF MY LIFE for almost a year. It was good.
I also liked Liz Tomforde’s f/m sports contemporary, REWIND IT BACK. Also bought when it came out but not read until now.
Liked Stephanie Burgis’s paranormal novella, A HONEYMOON OF GRAVE CONSEQUENCE quite a lot. The second in a series. Bright and amusing.
And Rachel Runya Katz’s m/f (both bisexual POC) romance, ISN’T IT OBVIOUS? Meet-cute to end all meet-cutes: she’s buzzed on drugs to help her out of a manic episode, half-waking to find him climbing out of her bedroom window to make his getaway after a one-night stand with her gay roommate. Messy but also delightful.
Also liked Jaysea Lynn’s romantasy, FOR WHOM THE BELLE TOLLS–inventive worldbuilding!–and Elizabeth Lim’s A FORGERY OF FATE. Had heard Tessonja Odette’s THE LIES THAT SUMMON THE NIGHT was going to be the next big romantasy so it was probably my fault that it lost steam for me about halfway through.
I just finished the third book in the Alpha and Omega series and I love it! I’ve got a library hold on the fourth book and looking forward to reading the whole series again as soon as I finish them. The mix of exploring their relationship and solving mysteries/crimes makes these books a great time for me. I’m going to start the Mercy series from this author because I love these so much.
@Carrie Phillips ~ Enjoy your read through of the Alpha and Omega books. I like the Mercy books, too, but the Alpha and Omega stories are the ones I reread.