We’re approaching the end of August! Here’s what we’re reading right now:
Lara: I’m reading an interesting one at the moment: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury. ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s set in 1951 and is a spy romance. Some of the characters are very “jolly hockey sticks” and “hooray Henry” but our central couple are very engaging and enjoyable to read. Definitely going to wrangle my thoughts on it into a review.
Carrie: I’m reading Dead Collections by Issaac Fellman, ( A | BN | K | AB ) about a vampire archivist who falls for a widow who is donating her late wife’s papers. Just started it it.
Claudia: I just finished Brown Eyed Earl by Jenny Holiday ( A | BN | K | AB ) and I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s the third installment of Earls Trip. I believe we reviewed the first book in the series.
Sarah: I am in an Amanda Quick rereadapalooza. I read Ravished, ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and am now reading Wicked Widow. ( A | BN | K | AB )
Any Quick recs are most welcome if anyone wants to share their favorite.
Carrie: Not a book, but I’m finally binging Hannibal and it certainly is a thing.
Elyse: I just started The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan. There’s a lot of Arthurian fantasy out this year.
Susan: I’m reading Another Typical Fantasy Romance by Wolhet, and god it is laser targeted at me specifically. The love interest is a huge scary guy who is absolutely smitten with his tiny scheming wife.
That is literally the title, which I hope gives you an idea of the tone.
Shana: I just started Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman ( A | BN ) which are two books several people in my life have begged me to read. So far I’m finding Yesteryear slightly more entertaining. But I’m only at the beginning.
Whatcha reading? Let us know in the comments!
Looking back at the last Whatcha Reading I realized I completely forgot reading THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren. That was the problem, it was forgettable. Two people who married in college for convenience reasons are (surprise!) still married. The rich hero begs/bribes the heroine to go w/him to a very fancy destination wedding on a private island and keep up the charade. This was. . . fine. There have been some Christina Lauren books I’ve really liked, but this one I had to push myself to finish. I didn’t like some of the choices the characters made and it felt a bit thin. I could picture this as an enjoyable two hour or less Netflix rom com you watch on a lazy afternoon while doing something else. It almost felt like it was written w/that end goal in mind. It also had some weirdly specific echoes to some earlier Jennifer Cruisie novels (Cinderella Deal and Bet Me). Not in a way that felt like plagiarism at all (just broad ideas/characters, not details or word choices), but it just kept reminding me of books I liked better and should go back and reread.
I’m almost done w/another Avery Ames mystery and they continue to be just the right level of mildly entertaining I’m looking for. Maybe that’s not fair to be more harsher on romance than mystery, but I look for emotional engagement w/romances and this last one just didn’t have it.
@Sarah
I’ve read and enjoyed quite a bit of Quick, but nothing stands out for me as a must-read book. However, I absolutely loathed Rendezvous. The hero is so condescending and nasty to the heroine. one minute he’s full of contempt, the next he’s just got to have her right now. And she. Just. Eats it up.
There’s an old comic strip called Krazy Kat that sums up the dynamic. Ignatz mouse hits her with a brick; K.K. clasps her hands, makes heart eyes, and sighs, “ohhh, Ignatz. . . ” cuz she looooves him. It’s so gross.
Wooow, it sure is the end of August isn’t it. I’ve picked up a new kitten who is running me & the big cat ragged and I feel like I’ve been in a reading slump (the baby is currently bouncing around the sofa as I write this while my big boy flops stubbornly in the hallway). But:
Started LONE WOMEN by Victor LaValle, a Black woman-centric Western/horror(?) novel. I don’t know if I’ll continue with it; I’m finding the writing style to be kind of cheesy for how dead-serious the story is meant to be. For reference, the first scene involves Adelaide burning down her family home with her parents’ murdered bodies inside.
I’m about 1/3 of the way through MERCURY PICTURES PRESENTS by Anthony Marra. Historical about a second-rate movie studio at the start of WWII who are trying to use their status as underdogs to sneak meaningful statements past the censors in Washington. Really, it’s more about the people at the studio–Art Feldman who started the company is a successful Jewish immigrant who hasn’t been able to contact his family in the Old Country (of Prussia–no, Poland–no, it’s Germany now) since Hitler invaded; Maria Lagana, his right-hand woman, escaped fascist Italy as a child after seeing her defense attorney father locked up for defying the regime; now their adopted country is shutting down the ‘UnAmerican’ values it views in the arts. The writing style is funny, sharp, poignant; I could copy and paste whole pages for quotes. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time.
In anticipation of spooky season I’m about 3/4 through A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER by Roger Zelazny, about a group of witches all working towards a mysterious ritual that will take place on All Hallows’ Eve, told through the eyes of one of their familiars. There’s enough blood and violence to warn about it, but most of it takes place off screen with dry humor. A bit like if Terry Pratchett wrote a horror novel.
Have bounced off several romances. Started OUTCROSSING by Celia Lake, a 1920’s fantasy romance, but again, I don’t care for the writing style. It might just be me at this point; we’ll try again some other month.
@Lara, I am also reading THE OXFORD GUIDE TO SCANDALS AND LIES by Kate Westbury. I love the setting and really like that our main characters still have to study and follow through on other commitments (like actually having to write a news story when someone infiltrates a newspaper), in addition to their spying activities.
Earlier this week I read EVERY VERSION OF YOU by Natalie Messier, and could not put it into my eyeballs fast enough. The main character has been in love with her best friend since college, but he’s married to someone else. She also isn’t happy in her job or generally. When she dies early in the book, she’s given the chance to go back to her college years and she’s determined to get the guy. But does she actually want him? Loved it.
I am also listening to the PARISIAN HEIST by Jo Piazza. Dual timeline with an art heist. I love a good heist! The audiobook narrators (Brittany Pressley and Allyson Ryan) are giving a great performance.
Hello, hello! Good morning, SBTB!
I have had a weird mishmash of vacation with family, moving college age children, and work over the last month. The resultant emotional exhaustion (granted, it’s all good stuff, just tiring) has made my reading erratic. I am going to try and chill out this weekend and treat Monday like “Back to School” and get into some better routines. This loop of too tired to read, not happy because I’m not reading needs to end.
That being said, there has been SOME good reading.
Books that I really enjoyed include
I COULD WRITE A BOOK (M/M contemporary featuring a writer) by Andie Eliot. Well written and very sweet.
HOW TO FAKE IT IN SOCIETY by K.J. Charles (historical M/M) KJC continues to deliver some of the best romances around — this one, as has already been reported here, is not to be missed. Tradesman comes into money and a conman guides him through the transition. Fun, sassy, good discussions of art and clothing, great primary and secondary characters and emotional development for all. If you haven’t read any KJC recently, rectify that immediately.
A TRADE OF BLOOD by Robert Jackson Bennett — murder mystery in a Lovecraftian world, solved once more by Ana and Din. Creepy as hell, but very human. I don’t think I could handle these as movies, but they really work for me as books. Classic Holmes/Watson dynamic, but the addition of the biological manipulation/worldbuilding mixes it all up to create something truly unique. I would read these books in order, but you don’t have to. Each mystery stands on its own.
Books that were interesting and that others might really love:
THE GIRL WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Sunyi Dean. I picked this up because I was fascinated by the settings (WWII and 1970’s Kowloon) and the main character’s job of ghost whisperer for the local triad (ghosts are real and cause lots of challenges in this world). I really liked those parts of the book. Unfortunately, a lot of the book was not about her life in Kowloon working with the triad and handling ghosts, but the backstory that got her there, which was slower and kind of a bummer. So, instead of a crime/ghost action book, it was more a surviving war book. It was interesting and well-written, but ultimately a slog for me. YMMV.
BOX OFFICE POISON: HOLLYWOOD’S STORY IN A CENTURY OF FLOPS by Tim Robey. This non-fiction book is a good one to fill in around your other reading. It is very segmented, yet it all holds together to map how movie making, especially of blockbusters, has evolved over the decades.
Have a great weekend and happy reading to all!
Woof. August came and WENT, didn’t it? And yet somehow still not soon enough.
Let’s see. I can’t really say I’m reading anything QUICKLY, between work and the fact that Moonlight Peaks has absolutely taken ownership of my brain. But I did read Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas. Very fun, very clever, adored the supporting cast of characters. Some characters from some of her Ravenels books found their way in here as well, and it’s always seeing some of those folks. We love interconnections. Then I was at the library printing something and idly wandered over to the New Book section and ended up leaving with Kiss Marry Kill by Cara Tanamachi. Again, clever and fun, although I allow that sometimes I just really wanted the main character to use some common sense and not go barreling hell or high water into the fangs of the serial killer. That said, she wasn’t written as stupid, but reckless and arguably on the immature side. Since I think that characterization was deliberate, I was able to live with it (if I didn’t think the author was actually writing her that way on purpose and allowing the other characters to comment on how reckless her behavior was, I think it would have driven me insane). I finished it at about 2 am this morning, and haven’t chosen me next book yet, but I’m looking lustfully at the new Michael Connelly that I got approved for literally yesterday. So until next time, may you not be reckless about serial killers.
After finishing Sarah Adler’s WILD GOOSE CHASE, which I enjoyed immensely (as noted in my early August WAYR), I was pleased to find an older Adler book, HAPPY MEDIUM, in my TBR stack. Once again, Adler’s character development was terrific. Although I’m not a huge fan of paranormal themes, the connection between FMC Gretchen, a con artist who claims to talk to ghosts, and Everett, the ghost who reveals himself to her, was credible and entertaining, and I greatly enjoyed the slow burn romance between Gretchen and MMC Charlie. I’m looking forward to Adler’s next book, which according to her website, won’t happen until 2028 (sob).
The TBR stack also provided FOUR WEEKENDS AND A FUNERAL, the debut book by Ellie Palmer, and another example of excellent character development for FMC Allison and MMC Adam, who meet at the funeral of their mutual friend Sam, as well as memorable friends and family members who populate this story. Although Allison and Sam had broken up before Sam’s death, Allison agrees (at the request of Sam’s sister) to let the rest of the mourners believe they were still a couple when Sam died. Playing the role of “Sam’s girlfriend,” Allison teams up with Adam, also known as the “North Shore Grump,” to clean out and renovate Sam’s apartment. Allison has had a preventative double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA mutation and she is dealing with continued risk of cancer while figuring out what she wants from her relationships, work, and other life experiences. Adam has some emotional burdens, too, related to the sudden end of his friendship with Sam. I thought Palmer did well at navigating the serious themes while also crafting a satisfying romance.
The rest of my recent reading involved new-to-me authors and the experiences varied. I picked up SUMMER FRIDAYS by Suzanne Rindell after reading several comments here at SBTB; I considered DNFing it a couple of times– and then found myself thinking about this book a lot after I finished it. The storytelling seemed slow to me (but sometimes lyrical), and the MCs were sometimes annoying (but also sometimes endearing). The book blurb compared it to “You’ve Got Mail,” but this story is not a lighthearted rom-com. It’s set in New York City, with most of the action taking place in the summer of 1999. FMC Sawyer is a low-level assistant at a publishing company (with a boss who seemed a lot like Miranda Priestly), and is living with her fiancé, a young attorney who spends the bulk of his time at work rather than helping to plan a scheduled October wedding. Sawyer begins to suspect her fiancé is having an affair with a co-worker, especially when the co-worker’s boyfriend, MMC Nick, confronts Sawyer with his suspicions. Sawyer and Nick begin an epistolary relationship via AOL Instant Messenger, which expands to spending numerous Friday afternoons exploring the city together while their respective partners are tied up with work. Both emotional and physical cheating become part of the story of Sawyer and Nick– followed by an extremely dramatic reason for what turns out to be a lengthy third act breakup, extended in part because of 9/11. There’s a happy ending, but I’m uncertain about calling this book a romance rather than an intriguing women’s fiction coming-of-age story.
I greatly enjoyed WEDDING DASHERS, the debut novel by Heather McBreen. It’s a road-trip combined with antagonists-to-lovers, as FMC/maid of honor Ada and MMC/best man Jack team up on a journey across England, Scotland, and Ireland to get to the wedding of Ada’s sister and Jack’s best friend. The early parts of the novel seemed to be one of those stories where the FMC’s life is falling apart and she needs the MMC to put her back together. However, it turned out to be the FMC’s well-written “I choose me” story, combined with a slow burn romance that ends in a satisfying HEA. Credible banter between the MCs and good communication between Ada and her sister also contributed to my good feelings about this book.
MY GIRLFRIEND IS NOT THE FATHER, by Dana Hawkins, is an F/F story that revolves around MC Lucy’s experiences as a surrogate for her gay male best friends, at the same time that Lucy is beginning a new relationship with MC Jade. The author’s note made it clear that Hawkins was channeling her own experiences as a surrogate into this story, and the details about preparation, IVF, pregnancy, and birth were vivid. But it took a long time for the MCs to communicate effectively with each other about their evolving relationship.
I just started THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach, and I’m not yet sure if I’ll stick with this one a while longer or turn to something lighter for continued early Fall reading.
I just finished Paul Gallico’s MRS HARRIS GOES TO NEW YORK, a sort of sequel to the Paris book. Bought it as a collection of them both for a dollar at a used book store. Different writing style and voice as you would expect, but she gets herself into many a problem so I had to find out how it ended. (Like i didn’t know.) Then I found out there are two more in the series and that Gallico wrote THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. Wow.
Now I’ve just started THEO OF GOLDEN.
Over the past two weeks ~
— enjoyed Love Galaxy: The Imperial Broadcasts, Book 1 by Sierra Branham which I’d describe as a romantic science fiction with a mystery element; it had a twist that surprised me. This is the author’s debut book, and I look forward to reading on. This is a new book though so book two is likely some time away. A woman from a backwards planet, a garbage collector with a prison past who is a self taught engineer, finds herself on a galactic dating show where twin heirs of the Empress (brother and sister) will each find a bride.
— reread Stray then continued on and happily reread Lab Rat One, Caszandra, Gratuitous Epilogue, and Snow Day all by Andrea K Höst. Stray is FREE for Kindle readers.
— enjoyed My Kind of Guy by Sarina Bowen which is a contemporary romance. It features a professional hockey player who was a rising star a couple of years ago but who has been in a slump. The other lead is a single parent, part owner of a gay sports bar, who was robbed/traumatized/lost most of his financial resources a year ago. They meet when the latter is tending bar.
— My next batch of bookmarks is going to be snail themed. I read Snails Are Just My Speed! by Kevin McCloskey which is a short non-fiction children’s book. It seems ironic to say that it was a quick read!
— For my book group, I read Little by Edward Carey which is a fictionalized story of the life of Marie Grosholtz who became Madame Tussaud of wax museum fame; much of her life through her thirties was spent in revolutionary era France. I was looking forward to our discussion of the book and then became sick… drats.
— found The Shop on Hidden Lane (Psychic Dogs Book 1) by Jayne Ann Krentz to be an enjoyable contemporary romance with paranormal elements. I don’t expect to reread it but could read the next book in the series which I’ve heard might have more of the psychic dogs of the series name.
— enjoyed Unrequited by Jesse H Reign. This is a romance that takes place primarily during the lead characters’ college years when they are roommates and then some eight or so years later in the present day. The focal character, who is gay, develops feelings for his roommate. There is a companion book that is told from the other lead character’s point of view. Evidently, the author has the characters make some different choices in that book.
— happily reread JFH: Justin F**king Halstead by GiGi DeGraham. It’s a contemporary romance featuring two college students who become friends and then more. Both are well known on campus — one is a talented football player; the other suffered a brutal attack the prior year. A lot of attention in the story is paid to dealing with trauma and recovery.
— If you are a fan of the J.D. Robb ..in Death series, you might enjoy this cookbook that I read, The In Death Cookbook: To-Die-For Recipes from the World of J. D. Robb by Theresa Carle-Sanders. Each recipe is preceded by an excerpt from one of the books that inspired said recipe.
— enjoyed Always Remember, a regency era historical romance by Mary Balogh. The male lead is a widow with a young child; he is illegitimate but was raised with his father’s legitimate children. The female lead is the sister of a Duke. As the result of a childhood illness, she spends the majority of her time in a wheeled chair.
— very much enjoyed my reread of His Road Home by Anna Richland which is a contemporary (~ 2014) romance novella. A medic in Afghanistan invents a fiancée (a woman who graduated from his small town highschool) and digitally creates a photo of them together in order to not offend a warlord who is offering his daughter in marriage. The medic is severely injured (double amputation) and is flown back to the US, and the photo is published nationwide. His ‘fiancée’ goes to visit him in the hospital and a friendship/relationship develops.
Quickly rereading The Clocktaur War duology and Swordheart by T Kingfisher in preparation for Daggerbound coming out on Tuesday. I am SEATED.
The best thing I have reread recently is T Kingfisher, I have been plowing through SWORDHEART and the SAINT OF STEEL books in anticipation of the new release. It’s not that I had forgotten how much I like them – I find her writing pretty unforgettable – it’s just hard to contain so much joy.
I also reread CL Clark’s THE UNBROKEN in anticipation of finally getting my hold in on the sequel. That one I had forgotten how much I liked, or more likely I simply enjoy a reread more than a first read, because I don’t handle stress or suspense or tension well, so it’s far more pleasant to read about a fantasy empire knowing that the politics are going to work for me, for a change. I love fantasy novels, but even as a child I didn’t understand why we were supposed to root for Aragorn, for example. No kings – and no empresses either. Fuck pray for rain – be the rain.
In newer book news, I recommend SOON BY YOU by Dahlia Adler, although it is contemporary, m/f, and religious which generally I find unenticing, unconvincing, and extremely off-putting, respectively. For anyone who likes those elements, go read it immediately. Even if you don’t ordinarily like those things, this book is fun and funny, smart, sexy, appealing, and deeply kind. It’s competently written and structured, which might sound like faint praise but I consider exceptional. I did think at one point that there was going to be some good asexual rep but alas that fell apart (and unconvincingly imo). Instead there was a lot of hot sex and yearning though so – something about swings and roundabouts.
No one needs my recommendation at this point to decide if they like Sierra Simone. DEVIL is very Sierra Simone, only more so. And it’s got all the same not for me elements (contemporary m/f & religious) which it overcomes imo less successfully than SOON BY YOU, but it still very much maintained my interest. I do actually think it’s part of a teacher’s job not to fuck their students, and the student being the aggressor doesn’t change that, so it drove me nuts the way it kept getting framed as her being punished/fired/etc for accepting the pomegranates he left her, like nope, that’s not where the boundary is lady, do you really not get that? The pomegranate isn’t some forbidden fruit it’s a red fucking herring. And there was so much whatabouting worse sexual misconduct, but again, just… don’t fuck around with your students. Don’t. Not even when they’re coercing you, not even if you think you might like it. It’s not complicated! And look, the hero is canonically a sociopath, I have zero respect for him either, but the heroine’s whole personality is victim. Her relentless abdication of agency is excruciating. Presumably reads differently if you have any personal context for religious expectations, or sexual shame, or any interest in sainthood. But I don’t, so it’s the typical baffled fascination I always feel to her blend of dubcon and angsty religiosity, only this one is ratcheted up a bunch. I had fun with it, but I expect mileage to vary even more wildly than usual with this one. I’m off to try to find @DDD’s take on it, which is bound to be on the site somewhere!
Finally, I enjoyed reading FAN SERVICE by Rosie Dana, speaking of implausible heroes who wouldn’t be for me even if they were convincing, and heroines who make incomprehensible choices. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the others I have mentioned, even though this one isn’t religious, because it’s all about RPF which is apparently even more off putting to me. It’s a good ride though, and if you actually enjoy a celebrity romance I feel like this is one of the better ones I have come across.
THE CAPTAIN’S MIDWINTER BRIDE by Liana De La Rosa was the only thing I read that I would attach a warning to, and that’s just about managing expectations. KJ Charles recommended it, and it’s a historical about an older couple, so I expected it to be good (although it’s m/f so at least I wasn’t expecting it to be thrilling, lol). I found it stiff, dull, standard at best. And listen, I love romance novels, a standard romance novel is still very worth reading imo, but if I am expecting something special or unusual and instead it’s vaguely tedious, my assessment of the book really suffers.
I’m still reading all Heated Rivalry fanfic all the time. August is being its usual intolerable 100+-degrees-every-day self here. Truly the “dog days” of summer.
I’m currently on book 4 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and recommend listening to the audiobook over reading this series. The interaction between Carl and Princess Donut is hysterical. I found Yesteryear intriguing until the end, which wasn’t satisfying for me somehow.
I can’t believe we are in the bottom half of August. School is back in session but summer weather is still going strong.
Heart’s Blood by Juliet Mariller (Library)
Bingo: From a Rec
catscatscats mentioned this fantasy with Beauty and the Beast vibes in the last WAYR. It’s good.
Earl on Fire by Felicty Niven (KU)
Bingo: Secret Identity, From a rec (podcast)
A historical romance with older leads. (Yay!) He’s an earl who would do anything to make his granddaughter happy, including hiring the author of her favorite books to write more and finding her a grandmother. She’s the author, though she hasn’t published anything in a long time. (The stories were written to entertain her younger brothers who have all long since grown up.) I liked this one quite a bit.
Convergence of Desire (The Lovelocks of London Book 1) by Felicity Niven (KU)
Bingo: Free Square
Since I’d enjoyed Earl on Fire, I went into the author’s back list and pulled this Regency historical about an earl in need of a rich wife and a neurodivergent young woman with a passion for advanced mathematics. She decides that a marriage of convenience to someone who won’t pester her is preferable to another Season. He needs the money, and since she doesn’t care if he continues to visit his favorite brothel, he’s willing to agree to her terms. Then he falls in love with his strange wife that he isn’t supposed to want. Not perfect, but solid.
Clandestine Passion (The Lovelocks of London Book 2) by Felicity Niven (KU)
Bingo: Secret Identity, Heist or Con
A young-ish (28) Marquess falls for an older woman (45), who is also the stepmother of the female lead in Convergence of Desire. In addition to the gold digging (but age appropriate) suitor who is in competition for the female lead’s affections, there’s some espionage plot going on. I didn’t like this one as well as the previous book in the series, probably because of all the time I spent muttering “just talk to each other”, but I think it’s objectively still decent.
Good at Being Alive: A Novel by Elizabeth O’Roark (Library)
Bingo: Vacation destination, Contemporary, Wrong Sibling
PamG previously said good things about this one, and I agree that it is worth a look. Recovery after loss is a major theme. The book starts with Rebecca (Bex) missing her flight. She’s supposed to meet up with her family to start a European vacation that will be filmed for a reality TV type show that will advertise the family’s failing travel agency business. Because she missed the flight, she isn’t with her family when the commuter train crashes, killing them all. She spends the book coming to terms with that loss. Theo is her dad’s business partner who has had his own major losses. And all the business reasons they needed to do that reality show are still there. So, they find themselves getting really married to do a mostly scripted reality show about newlyweds who are finding love after loss while honeymooning at wonderful vacation spots across Europe. It’s funny and sad. (There’s a bit of an age gap between Theo and Bex that I didn’t love in this book, but that’s more about wondering if they will make it past HFN to HEA.)
Seeking Persephone (The Lancaster Family Book 1) by Sarah M. Eden (Library)
Bingo: Person’s Name in Title
I found this one in the “Recent Acquisitions” section of the library website. It’s a Hades and Persephone (or Beauty and the Beast) flavored romance between a scarred Duke and the wife he (essentially) buys because he needs an heir. It’s clean to the point that I spent part of the book wondering if the male lead was supposed to be asexual or if no one ever explained to him how one goes about actually begetting an heir. (I don’t remember them quoting the Bible at each other, so clean but not overtly religious.) Good for the grumpy/sunshine fans.
Moonbright: A Standalone Werewolf Romance by Leah Ryan (KU)
Bingo: Animal on cover, Flowers on cover
Random KU find that I picked up based mostly on liking the cover art. The plot starts with a young white haired woman living alone in the woods and patching up strangely well-behaved wolves. Surprise! They are werewolves, and the local humans aren’t happy that she’s been helping them. She’s flees to their settlement where she becomes a force for improvement. Mostly notable for the female lead’s amusing stream of consciousness ADHD POV, but it also reads as written by someone rather young who believes that adults are dumb. (Don’t get me wrong, a character motivated by “I will make things better and then they will accept me” is fine, it’s more that I don’t believe a functioning adult would respect a virtual stranger telling them that they need to remember to sharpen their knives.)
Star Shipped: A Witty and Emotional Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Between Two Sci-Fi TV Show Costars by Cat Sebastian
Bingo: Contemporary, Tattoo, Artist or Performer, From a Rec
I think the SEO subtitle that my kindle gave it more or less covers the plot. Simon and Charlie have been costars on Sci-Fi TV show for the past 7 years, and have been bickering the whole time. Simon has anxiety, mild OCD, and migraines. Charlie has his own issues. The story is told from Simon’s POV, which, look, Simon is a lot. He doesn’t want to be, but he is. And his coming to accept that people like him anyway is lovely. But, it is a testament to the skill of the author that this came across as endearing instead of exhausting. To sum up: y’all were right and it was worth reading.
@kkw: I have DEVIL queued up on my kindle, but life keeps getting in the way. I will say this: I don’t think I’ve ever started a book that had SO MANY content & trigger warnings. I’m not deterred, but I would advise anyone not familiar with Sierra Simone’s work (especially the PRIEST/SINNER/SAINT series, of which DEVIL is the fourth book) not to begin with DEVIL. Hopefully, I’ll get to it before the next WAYR.
A couple of WAYRs ago, @VicSolo recommended Maya Alden’s FOX. She and I share a liking for ansty-but-not-melodramatic romances, and FOX (a “fake” amnesia story) seemed like it would be right up my alley—and it was. Lucy (a chef from a working-class background) and Fox (a businessman from a wealthy family) marry because Lucy is pregnant. Lucy miscarries the baby, but she and Fox continue to rub along. Lucy loves Fox, but Fox—mistaking a placid relationship for one that lacks love—is not sure. When Lucy inadvertently overhears Fox confessing to his best friend that he doesn’t love her, Lucy moves out and prepares for a divorce. But on her way to pack up her things from the house, Lucy is involved in a bad automobile accident—and presents as amnesiac in the hospital. By the time Lucy is able to explain that she does indeed still have her memory, Fox is already acting so differently toward her (kindness, consideration, love, guilt, you name it) that Lucy continues the ruse—knowing it’s wrong but getting more entangled in her lies, even as Fox begins to suss out that Lucy does remember him. I really enjoyed the book which reminded me of some of Noelle Adams romances where grounded, believable, mature characters make rather outlandish plot tropes feel plausible. Alden has a big back catalogue, which I shall certainly be dipping into. The biggest surprise to me was that I’d never read any Alden before…it only goes to show that one can spend 50-plus years reading romance and still encounter new writers! Recommended.
Alessandra Hazard’s JUST A BIT CRUSHED is the 16th (!) book in her Straight Guys series of m/m romances. By now, the set-up of these books is a given: two men (one of whom has always thought of himself as “straight”, the other of whom is usually gay or bi) maneuver around each other until they cannot deny their attraction. In CRUSHED, the straight guy is Cam, a Formula 1 driver; Scott is an openly gay man from an extremely wealthy family. As the story opens, Cam is unwillingly giving Scott a drive around the track (drivers often having to entertain wealthy guests); Scott enjoys ragebaiting the serious and focused Cam, but as time passes, the two begin spending more time together and “just scratching an itch” hook-ups take on a deeper meaning. CRUSHED not only features a “bi-awakening” for Cam but also a “bottom-awakening” for Scott, who has previously always been a top: I don’t think I’ve encountered that in an m/m romance before. CRUSHED also differs somewhat from earlier books in the series in that there’s a lot of social connective tissue in the story, plus quite a bit about Formula 1 (admittedly not an interest of mine, but you can tell Hazard did her homework). One of the most amusing elements of CRUSHED is cameo appearances from characters from earlier Straight Guys books and realizing that they have now been together and married for over a decade; I suppose such things are not surprising when a series is 16 books deep. Also, I don’t know if it’s because HEATED RIVALRY is everywhere in the zeitgeist these days, but I thought there were elements of the book that were definitely HR-coded, particularly–
While I recommend JUST A BIT CRUSHED, I would recommend going back and starting the Straight Guys series from the beginning. 16 books may seem like a big commitment, but the stories are all relatively quick reads, each one linked to both the one before it and the one after.
THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS by S.G. MacLean
Six years after Culloden, a bookseller needs to hunt down a book containing the names of traitors to the Jacobite cause. The mystery is not very exciting but the book shines in portraying Inverness and its inhabitants in the aftermath of Culloden.
BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS by June Hur was recommended to me by someone on another book blog, as being a sort of Pride & Prejudice set in late 18th century Korea. So that alone would have sold it, but once I started reading, I realized there was also a You’ve Got Mail plot element, with the MCs exchanging letters under pseudonyms while being antagonists in real life. This book was delightful. It took my a couple of chapters to get sucked in, but by the end I was totally enthralled.
I also read the newest Murderbot, PLATFORM DECAY, and of course it was great.
Aside from that, I read a bunch of throwaway romances on KU by Maya Alden. I say throwaway because they basically all have the same theme. Man screws up relationship and loses woman, then has to do a lot of groveling to win her back. The heroine usually has an interesting job/vocation that she’s passionate about, like winemaker, chef, social worker, whatever. There’s also lots of on-page sex. It’s not literature for the ages, but the prose is decent, and if you’re looking for something light to wind down at the end of the day, they might hit the spot.
I am very much struggling with all new books I start feeling very MEH and uninspired. I also went on a “Weird Girl Lit” side quest briefly, but so many books had very unlikable characters that I need a break. It was good-in-theory, but not in-reality 🙁 I like my romances more where the characters may have flaws but are usually worth rooting for.
SO I am back to comfort re-reads! Started off with a Deadly Education by Naomi Novik – El’s anger at the injustice of the world is just a balm to my soul, and the humor, especially about how her magic wants to destroy everything and how Orion keeps saving her in unfortunate ways, is so good. Anisha Dadia’s narration really highlights both of those elements and I love it.
I am also back on Volume 2 of the Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower – she just got an official publisher in the UK, and France, and NYT did a write-up on the books and their popularity, so I expect this series to just keep getting bigger, audience-wise. If you have not read them, it is like an Anne Shirley-type character, but in a wonderfully quirky neighborhood in London in the 1880s. The characters are mostly delightful, aside from Archibald Flat who has done our heroine wrong. Vol 1 can be a bit of a downer because you are getting the set-up from that which is infuriating, but if you can get through it to Vol. 2 that is where the fun really takes off. They are great, and I have my mom and her entire friend circle hooked on them, plus lots of co-workers at the library.
I’ve been re-reading the Texas Rodeo series by Kari Lyn Dell, an author we lost much too soon. I love her settings and descriptions, and how competent the FMC are. As a city girl who worked for years on livestock farms, I’m not interested at all in the dynamic of “city girl is appalled by conditions on a farm.” Where the man has to be competent one. I was at University where I learned and got up to speed very quickly, and women who were raised on farms and ranches knew as much or more than the men. So the first time a FMC steps out in her fancy shoes into some manure-I’m out!!Anyway I love this series and if you like women characters who know what they are doing, I highly recommend!
Sorry, it’s Kari Lynn Dell-not Lyn!
Missed a week. I work in academia and boy, the calendar turned to August and I’ve had so many things thrown at me. The semester starts Monday so let’s hope things calm down by at least 10%.
On my reading spreadsheet (courtesy of SBTB) I rate books on a scale of 1 to 5. All of my current reads are 4s. This is great in that I am enjoying what I am reading, no real stinkers. But I’m also not absolutely LOVING anything. I also wonder if I’m just throwing 4’s at everything and not being more intentional about my ratings. Who knows?
GAME OF ROGUES by Julie Anne Long—Like so many others, I adore this series. Although, oddly for me, I have not read it in order. In fact, I have not read the first book yet. Maybe someday. And while I love the series, I don’t love every book in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, especially Ginny. I am, however, a little tired of the JAL age-gap romances. This is at least the 4th in this series, I think. I’m over it.
THE UNDERCUTTING OF ROSIE AND ADAM by Megan Bannen—Another series I like, even though it’s not my usual genre. While I could see where this was going with the hero’s reveal, I still enjoyed this final return to Bannen’s world.
THE ROOMMATE RISK by Talia Hibbert—I’ve read a few Hibberts before and needed a roommate trope for a romance book club I belong to. I listened to the audio and may I just say, the male narrator can read to me anytime😊 This was a little uneven but still hot as heck. I can image that some people wouldn’t like the heroine (too much, don’t you know, and not perfect), but I was rooting for both of them.
THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP by Ashley Poston—My first book by Poston. I also read this one for the roommate trope, though that is used very lightly here. This was adorable while I was reading it, but I had to tell myself not to think too hard about it (magical realism) and to forget that the romantic couple probably spent less than 4 days total in each other’s company before the ending.
NO COMFORT FOR THE DEAD by R.P. O’Donnell—this is a mystery set in Ireland. While I wouldn’t call it cozy, it’s not a thriller or a psychological thriller. It’s a slow burn mystery that takes a deep dive into a small village community. I loved it. This is another audiobook, and the narrator was perfection. I believe this is a debut novel (from 2025). The main character Emma is a librarian in 1988 West Cork. I had a momentary freak out when she was SMOKING in the library. Girl, no. Spoiler: the library survives. Emma was tossed out of the Garda (police) and now she’s back home, wallowing. A murder happens and off we go. I am pleased to see it looks like there will be another book in the series.
KIN by Tayari Jones—I did not read An American Marriage, though I might now that I have read this one. I loved the writing and the characters (two best friends in the American South in the 60s). My only wish was that we had more time see the fallout at the end.
Jealous of @Chrystal’s read of QUEEN OF LOMBARD STREET and glad to hear you liked it!
F/M contemporaries
Currently very much enjoying Maggie North’s FOSSIL FEUD about two paleontologists, academic vs private collectors, academic prejudice and fraud, and an intriguing romance in the midst.
Also found Sarah Adler’s f/m contemporary WILD GOOSE CHASE to be quite a delight. Here an antique shop owner finds himself burdened by an illegal-to-have taxidermied goose and he and a visiting aspiring antique dealer have to track it down when it disappears. I really liked Adler’s first book, MRS. NASH’S ASHES and was glad to like this one almost as much. She seems to excel with these stories that involve journeys. (I wasn’t so fond of the second magical book.)
Lavanya Lakshmi’s LEAVE AND COME BACK is the story of a young woman who has left her family and fallen in love with a man from outside her Indian immigrant culture. She ends up returning to her family for a wedding week and has to deal with the repercussions of her previous departure, family drama, and her new non-Indian boyfriend ending up at the wedding through a misunderstanding..
I really liked the sex-columnist FMC and news reporter MMC in Joss Richard’s LET’S KISS AND TELL and the overall realistic feel of the story, but understand the objections some readers have had to character points
.
Mixed SF/contemporary with a romance
Jacyn Moriarty’s TIME TRAVEL FOR BEGINNERS is an unusual mix of contemporary and SF and family issues with an enjoyable romance. Though the twist becomes obvious fairly quickly, that is actually a strength of the novel as it reveals how characters are dealing with issues and tangles the story in a fascinating way. I really enjoyed how it evolved and how the characters did. The premise is that there’s a commercial time-travel business and the FMC ends up employed there. A single mother, she feels very relatable which grounds the initial whimsey of the time travel. A fascinatingly mixed tale, which deepens as the story goes on. I think this is Moriarty’s first adult novel–I have enjoyed her YA novels quite a bit. There’s a similar feel to this one.
Romantasies? Fantasies with romance?
I really enjoyed H.M. Wolfe’s dystopian m/f DAGGERMOUTH. Very violent and dark but I see why it’s getting so much buzz. It’s strong and addictive. Here a female assassin is sent after the son of the dictator but they end up being forced into marriage. Twisty.
Liv Zander’s CROWN ME YOURS is the second of a duology which began with CROWN ME DEAD. Hard to talk about without spoiling the first volume. I liked the romance and world but only recommend it to those who can cope with mass illness and body horror.
Kalie Cassidy’s IN THE WAKE OF THE RUINED is also the second in a duology, this about sirens. Again, hard to talk about without spoilers. I liked the romance in this one.
Dear bitches, please be aware that all of the links for Jenny Holiday’s “Brown Eyed Earl” are going to a different book, Anna Bennett’s “My Brown Eyed Earl” — also may be worth mentioning for those of us following the series that “Brown Eyed Earl” is available for pre-order, out in late October.
As far as what I’ve been reading: I recently did a read/re-read of the Palace of Rogues series by Julie Anne Long — I had previously read books 1, 2, and (I think) 7 and had then collected most of the rest during various sales while I was still buying ebooks on Amazon. Seeing that book 9 was out, I decided to catch up. Generally I like the series (obviously), and I think it’s a good series to read in order because there are lots of interconnections and some on-going subplots — but the uninterrupted binge read wasn’t ideal for me, since some of the books felt a bit same-same in terms of tone and the nature of the obstacle. YMMV.
I just finished the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and it’s fantastic! It’s not my type of thing at all but I loved it. Very fun, lots of action, sprinkled with moments that gut you with their emotional power. Just know that there’s a lot of violence. It’s the cartoon kind — everyone’s in a video game/reality show — but still. Also, some of the books are long. They go quickly, but make sure you have a bit of time as the series goes on, because I could NOT put them down. There are currently 8 books in the series with two more forthcoming.
If you have teens that are reluctant readers I think this series would really hook them. Unity, support, family, and kneecapping bitches!
Bit of a slump as my 99 yo mother had a stroke 10 days ago and died 2 days later. In her own bed surrounded by family so it was the best it could have been but still sad. And I do slump in my reading during grief.
However, nothing stops the reading completely. I expect I will be reading on into eternity.
I have wandered into the betrayed wife neighborhood, lots of angst. Sadly repetitive. And a lot of it seems like AI. Maggie Calloway seems as if she is human. But I have doubts about Raya Shore and Margaret Belrose. And, while some of them are romance, more of them are what I would consider women’s fairytales, where ex gets his comeuppance and she gets a new billionaire.
I have now moved on the Nalini Singh’s Rock Kiss series as a palate cleanser. Just finished ROCK HARD, boss and shy, traumatized office worker, TW for past DV. But I love this couple and her spunk, right from the start, despite her damage.
@VicSolo ~ my sympathies on the death of your mother. I hope that memories of past happy times will bring you comfort in this challenging time.
@VicSolo: so sorry to hear about your mother. No matter the age or circumstances, losing a parent always hurts. Take care.
@VicSolo, what @Kareni and @DiscoDollyDeb said. This is so hard. Thinking of you and your family.
Just finished SOMEONE TO TRUST by Mary Balough and enjoyed it quite a lot. It’s a reverse age gap, which we don’t see enough of, and the way she handled it was sardonically realistic: When the heroine is engaged to a man nine years her senior, everyone considers it perfectly sensible, but when she instead chooses a man nine years her junior, oh, the scandal! But the two are very good for each other; in particular the hero needs someone stable after life with his mother, who is Something Else. Also, I kept misreading the other suitor’s name as Lord Codeine, so there is that.
Moving on to BRIGANDS AND BREADKNIVES by Travis Baldree. A new Baldree is always a cause for celebration IMO.
I’m so sorry, VicSolo. May her memory be a blessing.
@JA – thank you for the heads up. Fixed!
I’ve been branching out into something very different for me, the Cozyverse series by Emilia Emerson and Eliana Lee. They are Why Choose omegaverse cozy small town romances. Is this sort of thing having a moment? I’ve seen several others.
It’s an odd choice for me because I’m Ace and not much into sex scenes (lots of skimming, these are spicy). I love the emphasis on mutual care, though, and also the fact that for these author’s alphas are not domineering.
A PACK FOR SUMMER by Eliana Lee is the 4th book (they can be read out of order), about FMC Summer, who has just opened a Vietnamese bakery in her hometown of Starlight Grove when a catastrophic water leak in her apartment above the shop leaves her without a home or shop space. She is forced to move in with 3 brothers who are “just there for the summer” fixing up their former family home to sell, and work from the fancy French bakery one of them just opened next door to her bakery. Attraction is immediate, and Summer is the one who suggests a friends with benefits arrangement with all of them. Summer’s best friend group is 3 other omegas who found their partners in the previous books. There is also a matchmaking cat. I liked this enough to check out books 1 & 2.
A PACK FOR AUTUMN by Emilia Emerson did not work quite as well for me, because I didn’t like the FMC as much. Olive arrives in Starlight Grove to serve as lighhouse keeper, hoping for solitude. She’s got health issues (anxiety and kinda a version of PCOS which also causes depression) and is grieving. In both of these books the characters have some real issues they need to resolve in themselves to make the relationship work, so it’s not all frothy, but the books also successfully avoid long bleak stretches. It’s the emotional part of the relationships, not just the “magic sex” that heals everyone.
DNFd DEARLY DEPARTED by Chip Pons. I should have been warned by how much I hated the cover. This book really did not work for me at all, but the bit that bugged me the most was having Hades, Poseidon and Zeus (all forcibly retired into the mortal world) all choosing to take on very Anglo names and live in small town America. It felt very– smugly American in the blandest, least diverse version of the word. Blech.
THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE by Jayleigh Johnson is a cozy fantasy about an earth witch trying to escape her corporate job by becoming caretaker of a sentient house in a village. There’s a bit of a romance, along with her relationship with her adopted daughter and their relationship with the house. The house is grieving it’s previous caregiver, needs major repairs, and seems to be keeping secrets. I’d read more by this author.
Only 1 good non-fiction this round, THE DEVIL’S GARDEN: THE WORLD’S MOST SINISTER PLANTS AND FUNGI by Peter Marren. He describes a range of plants and fungi which are dangerous or just look or smell creepy. Lots of interesting details, but it would have benefited from illustrations.
Thanks to previous recommendations here I’ve requested Dungeon Crawler Carl– as of this week I’ve advanced to #56 on the waitlist. So maybe by early next year.
I had my customary detailed list of books ready to go, was not able to post the comment, and lost the entire original. Here is an abbreviated version.
Brave Truth / Celia Lake; Bingo: Book by fave author, Out in last 3 months, Latest in series. I really liked this m/m historical fantasy romance. It was very focused on the love story, featured a Council challenge, & had lots of my favorite characters from the series. 5 stars
Halo / E. M. Lindsey; Bingo: Sex worker. Thanks, @Kareni in Wayr post. MMCs are wealthy guy with cerebral palsy & distant parents and grad student working as an escort. Simple plot and simplistic but likable MCs. Some stereotyping. 3 stars
Yes, Chef / Grace Reilly; Bingo: Food industry. Chef & influencer (m/f) both looking for fresh starts. Both have adhd which manifests differently for each of them which was interesting. Well written & atmospheric with great Floridian ambience. 4 stars
The Wedding / Edith Layton; Bingo: Oops! still married. Georgian historical not limited to aristocracy. Lots of background on abuse & corruption in the prison system. Older novel with more sex than I expected. Well written. 4 stars
The Highwayman / Kerrigan Byrne; Bingo: Historical not Regency. Cue the drama! Angsty and violent, including sexual assault and child abuse, though not exploitively. Writing is evocative, emotional & lush. Great main and side characters. 4 stars.
The Revenge Game (Revenge Club bk. 1) / Jax Calder; Bingo: Mistaken or secret identity, Place you’d like to vacation (London). Wealthy tech guy encounters his high school bully and resolves to get revenge. Lots of emotional growth in this one. I read 2nd book first and loved it. I liked book 1 a little less. 4 stars
Hired by the Enemy (Revenge Club novella)/ Jax Calder. Two guys who were childhood enemies engaged in continual prank warfare meet at a business conference where one has hired the other as a fake boyfriend. A short, entertaining read. 4 stars
Night in Eden / Candice Proctor
Bingo: Oops! Still married, From a rec. SB Lara mentioned this author’s historical romances and this is my third. This book gets down to the nitty-gritty of life in the harsh yet beautiful penal colony that is Australia in 1808. It is not for the faint of heart. Both physical and sexual violence are routine in this time and place. The MCs are a widower with an infant son and a prisoner who has just lost her baby. While the romance is convincing, I could never escape awareness of the FMC’s inability to have true consent in her situation. Well written and compelling, this book is the best of the 3 I’ve read by Proctor. 4 stars
The Pirate Next Door (Regency Pirates 1) / Jennifer Ashley; Bingo: Pirates. This book came out in 2002 and it shows. This seems barely history-adjacent with an alpha hero and a likable heroine who is pursued and/or mistreated by half the guys in this book, Most of the other women mentioned end up dead, so I guess the heroine did ok. Be ye warned. 3 stars
The Pirate Hunter (Regency Pirates 2)/ Jennifer Ashley; Bingo: Pirates. This book is a little more focused than book one. MCs are a revenge-driven, often irrational pirate hater and a hot headed, bread throwing widow with a young daughter. This book also did not age gracefully. 3 stars
Overruled / Emma Chase; Bingo: Contemporary. Cocky attorney in DC has a casual relationship with a colleague while his high school sweetheart raises his daughter in Mississippi. This was a weird book and problematic if one is a stickler about infidelity in a relationship or dislikes a triangle. I found it interesting, and I think the emotional growth experienced by these characters–especially the MMC–was convincing. 4 stars
Crash Course / Michelle Diener; Bingo: Dystopian or futuristic romance Latest in series. This is the 7th in the Class 5 series, and like its brethren, it is pretty standard space opera with sentient ships and kidnapped Earth girls. In this case, the MCs are a couple from an earlier book who spend their time chasing clues & conspiracies while tying up plot threads from the previous book. I don’t know if it could stand on its own. 3 stars
I’m a reading slump. I have re-read a couple of Terry Pratchetts, always so good, after listening to the episodes about them on the Pratchat podcast. Started and bounced off Meg Shaffer’s “The Lost Story”. Read but didn’t much like Holly Michelle’s “You’ll Be the Death of Me”, about a mistake in death administration that means a couple team up to try to undo an accidental death. Read the first two Cherry Ames books, but didn’t think them as good as the Sue Barton ones (what is with the character of Lex in the second book?). Currently halfway through a Phil Rickman mystery, “The Remains of an Altar” – I used to enjoy these and came across this one in a charity shop, so thought I’d give it a go. He writes well, just not sure I care enough about the plot.
Oh, just seeing the comment above – I also read “Brave Truth”. Thought it was overlong, and wish Lake’s editor (whom she always thanks) would do something about her overuse of particular phrases – it was “a hair” in this one. Didn’t entirely believe in the relationship. I do always like the depictions of what happens in Council challenges, though.
@catscatscats ~ how neat to see mention of Cherry Ames books here today. I used to read those (along with cereal boxes, The Godfather, and anything that stopped long enough) back in the day.