Before reading Julia Quinn’s latest release, First Comes Scandal, I hadn’t read anything in about two months. Strange, because like most romance readers I am ALWAYS reading something and because (like most romance readers) I always have books waiting for me. But as the time since my last read led into our current moment, the idea of picking up a book to read felt even further away. I didn’t have a lot of expectations coming … Continue reading First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn →
I’m a huge Grady Hendrix fan (see my reviews of Horrorstor, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and the amazingly excellent We Sold Our Souls). This book was so much more intense than I thought it would be, and there’s so much to unpack that it’s a tough one to grade. Truthfully, if I had known what I was getting into, I doubt I would have read this book. And yet I’m so glad I did, because … Continue reading The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix →
Desperate times call for feel-good romance novels. To Have and To Hoax is just what the doctor ordered: a gulp of serotonin disguised as a Regency romp. It isn’t a permanent escape from stress and fear, but hopefully it’ll help you forget your troubles for a few hours. It certainly did so for me. Lord and Lady James Audley began their first year of marriage as besotted lovers. They ended their first year of marriage … Continue reading To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters →
I’ll be honest, I probably wouldn’t have picked up An Heiress to Remember had I not liked the other books in the series (and Maya Rodale’s writing in general). It’s got that “dude seeks revenge on the woman who didn’t choose him” plotline, something I find tiresome and rarely resolved to my satisfaction. I’m so glad I gave it a chance though because this book, while not perfect, was absolutely a ton of fun to … Continue reading An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale →
CW: self-harm, threat of sexual violence, passing reference to possible actual sexual violence against a young girl Have you ever said to yourself “I want to read a Robin Hood story, but full of lesbians and other queer people?” Well, good news! Because that’s exactly what Nottingham is! I couldn’t have come up with a more joyfully queer interpretation of it if I’d tried. That said, it’s specifically the queer rep that’s joyful and not … Continue reading Nottingham by Anna Burke →
Trigger warning: Lots of violence, death of major characters Fire & Water is the third urban fantasy novel featuring Kate Kane, Paranormal Investigator. I have not read the previous books in this series, but I had no trouble finding my way into Kane’s world – she provides the necessary backstory in her laconic, humorous style, and it’s enough. Having said that, I’m not sure that it stands alone, precisely – the end, while not a … Continue reading Fire and Water by Alexis Hall →
Content warning: Lockdown situation at a high school, emotionally absent/neglectful parents. Also, the main characters are professional athletes and talk/think about food and nutrition in a way that might be triggering for people with eating disorders. The thing that happens when you follow certain romance authors on Twitter for a while is that you find yourself slowly becoming obsessed with figure skating. This is a rather disappointing obsession to have in Australia, where the ISU … Continue reading Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimara →
I’ve been salivating over A Cowboy to Remember for months. The actual story was quieter than I expected, but it also had feminist cowboys in Southern California, so I can’t be mad. As a regular fan of Weatherspoon, the tone of A Cowboy to Remember felt flatter than the cheeky dialogue of her recent books (Rafe, Xeni). I wanted more angst and laughs, but the book left me with the warm glow of having just … Continue reading A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon →
The single biggest thing you need to know about this book up front is that it is an unapologetic celebration of materialism and name brands. If you don’t want to read about someone’s Louboutins and how well they match said individual’s Stella McCarthy cocktail dress, then read something else. This book happened to catch me in peak escapist mode so I enjoyed it, and yet in a different frame of mind, I could just as … Continue reading Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne →
I’m familiar with Knight’s other No F*cks Given guides and have recommended a few to friends, particularly The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck. Based on the premise that boundaries are important, but setting them is half the battle and defending them with Honesty and Politeness (H&P) is the the other, each book in the series embraces the idea that you are in charge of your life, and you get to decide how it will … Continue reading F**k No! How to Stop Saying Yes, When You Can’t, You Shouldn’t, Or You Just Don’t Want To by Sarah Knight →
Shout out to Maya who shared her expertise on racialization and approved of Megxit Ranger! Thanks, Maya!!!! Headliners is the fifth book in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrity series, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I have been a squatting like a goblin in the corner, waiting to pounce on this book. I LOVE Parker’s style, and it’s absolutely worth picking this book up for her snark and wit alone. All the books … Continue reading Headliners by Lucy Parker →
