I went into Crashing the A-List by Summer Heacock expecting a celebrity romance with RPF (Real Person Fiction) overtones. I love celebrity romance and I could even overlook the fact that the hero’s name is Caspian Twiddleswich and that he looks a lot like a certain Sherlock star. This book is light on the romance, though, and reads a lot more like the novels I devoured in the early aughts that were frequently labeled “chick … Continue reading Crashing the A-List by Summer Heacock →
In Kill the Queen Jennifer Estep introduced readers to a fantasy world that was immersive and blissfully lacking in info-dump. It featured female gladiators, political machinations, and an underdog heroine. I really enjoyed Kill the Queen, so I was delighted to find that I loved the sequel Protect the Prince even more. It’s a blend of fantasy-adventure, romance and mystery, and I devoured it in a single day. You do need to read Kill the … Continue reading Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep →
I have to issue every warning ever for this book: suicidal ideation, abuse, death, suicide, toxic relationships, possible animal cruelty, sexual abuse, assault, addiction, animal death, extreme depression, the worst doctor in the history of ever. … I listened to the audiobook narration of My Year of Rest and Relaxation as part of some research I’m doing on storytelling techniques, and because Julia Whelan is a wonderful narrator, especially in first person perspectives. This story is … Continue reading Audiobook Review: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh →
If you want an unrepentant, badass assassin heroine, then Milady by Laura L Sullivan is the book for you. I loved it. I gave up precious sleep for it. I want to read it again. My introduction to The Three Musketeers and therefore the Countess de Winter (also known as Milady) was through the 1993 movie that starred Chris O’Donnell as D’Artagnan and Rebecca De Mornay as the Countess de Winter. It also starred Charlie … Continue reading Milady by Laura L. Sullivan →
Steampunk Darcy is a lot of fun and also kind of a mess. It never fully resolves the conflict between the two main characters. It has a weird ethical problem in terms of an automaton. It ends on a cliffhanger with no planned sequel. But it also has a poignant story about familial loss and responsibility, great sexual tension, clever use of Pride and Prejudice motifs, plausible conflicts, cool world building, and lots and lots … Continue reading Steampunk Darcy by Monica Fairview →
This guest review is from Lisa the Librarian: Yes, I’m a librarian, and yes, being surrounded by books all day long is great. But it’s not “I-can-just-read-all-day” great as many people seem to assume. Oh, how I wish that were a thing! I would spend my days reading Regencies, funny contemporaries, cowboy romances, and all the other beautiful books I see every day. My favorite authors include Loretta Chase, Tessa Dare, Kristan Higgins, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, … Continue reading Guest Review: Squee Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes →
If A Lady in Disguise is ever made into a movie, and it does not star Carole Lombard, I’ll be very disappointed. True, Lombard died in 1942, but why must we quibble over such small details? This book is a screwball comedy romance that revolves around a Big Misunderstanding. I’m not fond of Big Misunderstandings but I do believe in the maxim “Go big or go home,” and while I was not crazy about the … Continue reading A Lady in Disguise by Lynsay Sands →
Right now my brain is very, very tired. My brain doesn’t want puzzles to solve; it wants a nap, a cat to cuddle, and possibly a glass of wine. Rogue Most Wanted worked really well for my brain-fatigue; it’s a fake-engagement romance that features the heroine being welcomed into a warm and loving family. The black moment and resolution were pretty predictable, but predictable worked for me perfectly in this moment. I already guessed what … Continue reading Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor →
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is a luscious historical f/f romance. I adored this book, which includes science, art, and feminism. It may be too slow for some people’s taste – this is a book in which people spend a lot of time either thinking about their feelings or talking about their feelings. It’s very much a drawing room romance as opposed to an adventure romance. However, if you have the patience for this … Continue reading The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite →
I absolutely loved A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards. It’s a beautifully executed mystery with a lovely second-chance romance subplot. It also offers a depiction of what living with chronic pain can look like, and as someone who has Fibromyalgia, that was really meaningful to me. I do want to caution potential readers that this book does contain child abuse, specifically and some violence, so if that’s a trigger for you, you’ll want to … Continue reading Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards →
CW/TW: Self-harm and torture Kingdom of Exiles is the first book in a brand new fantasy romance series. The cool-as-heck, magical beast premise delivers and though there is definitely a romance, I will warn it’s a slow, slow burn. Leena Edenfrell is an exiled beast charmer, but she hopes to return home after taming a Myad. A Myad is a big ol’ winged cat that requires the blood of a murderer to be tamed. It … Continue reading Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau →
