CW: Homophobia on the page and mentioned in the past Cat Sebastian is an auto-read for me. She never lets me down. And she certainly hasn’t with this book. Nick Russo is on the city desk at the Chronicle, a progressive newspaper in New York. (Progressive because they don’t toe the party line and they dare to criticise the police.) He’s worked hard to get there and he’s good at his job. He’s brusque, respected … Continue reading We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian →
There are a few reasons that this book and I were destined to meet. I love hockey romances, specifically m/m hockey romances. This book uses one of my favourite tropes: fake relationships. Catnip! I was specifically on the hunt for books similar to ones that I’ve loved as I was heading for surgery and needed the comfort of the familiar but the excitement of something new. Distracting yourself is a fine art. So that’s three … Continue reading Contract Season by Cait Nary →
I’m So Not Over You is a m/m contemporary romance about two men living in Boston who rekindle a relationship during a “fake dating’ weekend. I had a hard time connecting with the story, but Shana liked it a little bit better. Tropes include second chance romance, a wedding, fake dating, and ‘there’s only one bed’, and we know those are gold for a lot of readers! Unfortunately, it also has problems with the structure … Continue reading I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson →
Content warning: Ableism, torture, toxic masculinity, poison, suicide, indentured servitude/slavery, abuse. Shout out to Aube for luring me up the mountain!!! Word of Honor (山河令) is a BL/Dānměi Chinese historical fantasy series that was based on the webnovel Faraway Wanderers (天涯客) by Priest, who has had other webnovels adapted into series, too. This one centers around Zhōu Zǐshū and Wēn Kèxīng. Zhōu Zǐshū led the martial arts sect and intelligence organization “Window of Heaven” until … Continue reading Word of Honor →
Bitchery, I feel personally attacked by how good Winter’s Orbit was. I feel that this book could only be the result of someone, somewhere, telepathically spying on me and then tailoring a book directly to my personal interests. I mean, this is a bona fide queer science fiction slow-burn romance with an arranged political marriage, interplanetary political intrigues, a murder mystery, and a creepy and mystical intergalactic bureaucracy that must be placated. This book manages … Continue reading Winters Orbit by Everina Maxwell →
In a world of lockdowns and panic-buying, I want two things in a romance novel: suspense and sex. This book gave me both. Meet Carter Warren, a Special Agent with the FBI, who moves from one undercover assignment to the next with nary a home base in sight. He’s buff, smart, and a little cocky. Now, allow me to introduce you to Lincoln Monroe AKA Mr Homebody. He’s a professor at Quantico and a silver … Continue reading Variable Onset by Layla Reyne →
Reading Red, White & Royal Blue is an excellent reminder about why a couple’s chemistry isn’t the only thing that matters in a romance. This book has received positive buzz, and for good reason: the enemies-to-lovers romance is swoonworthy, the banter is witty and laugh-out-loud funny, and the epistolary aspect is a delightful surprise. Despite how much I enjoyed the relationship between Alex (the son of the American president) and Henry (a British prince), there … Continue reading Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston →
I picked up Witchmark for my SFF book club and read it without any prior knowledge (I didn’t even read the blurb!). I expected a run-of-the-mill fantasy with magical shenanigans, toppling of the elitist status quo, and interesting worldbuilding. I was right and wrong: Witchmark does have all those things, but it also has a delightful and unexpected romantic relationship at the heart of the story. Okay, you know that feeling when you pick up … Continue reading Witchmark by C.L. Polk →
I have mixed feelings about Ten Days in August. Set during a heat wave in New York in 1896, it’s a romance between a closeted gay policeman and a gay nightclub performer. I loved the idea of the 1896 setting, but in practice the setting made for depressing reading despite a happy ending for the lovers. The story begins when a male prostitute is found dead. Inspector Hank Brandt takes an interest in the case. … Continue reading Ten Days in August by Kate McMurray →
