Random (but not really)

Saturday, March 2, 2024

The Books of February (2024)

Mortal Follies

February was apparently a month for mysteries, something about puzzles perhaps distracting me from the doldrums.

Lots of rereads (unexpectedly) but there were some new stories in there, including the delightful Mortal Follies, which I’d held off reading. It is an Alexis Hall romp with banter and mystery and (in this case) magic, with an unreliable narrator.

I am that knavish sprite that frights the maidens of the villagery. I am Oberon’s jester—was Oberon’s jester, that’s rather the issue. I am called hobgoblin by some and, contrary to what certain people might have told you, it is not a name I like and you shall not have good luck if you repeat it in my hearing.

I am also your narrator.

Another book I’d had on my TBR for ages and finally got around to reading was Shady Hollow by Juneau Black. Although it is a fantasy, it is really a cozy mystery whose characters just happen to be animals. Suspend your disbelief and dive into this delightful story.

Shady Hollow

Traditionally, woodland creatures are not big readers, but things changed when Lenore opened the bookshop. “Nevermore,” she said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, “will the town have to do without quality entertainment.”

This month’s audio books were the Shadow Police series, which 1) blows me away every time I read it, 2) has all the trigger warnings for all kinds of terrible things, and 3) really deserved more books.

There are two new romances, one by Cathy Yardley and one by Chloe Liese. I’m discovering that I tend to love everything Chloe Liese writes, and although I want to love everything I read by Cathy Yardley, the stories are not quite as awesome as I want them to be. Likely because Cathy Yardley’s books have a fair amount of sex, which means I do a bit of skimming, which does throw me out of the flow of the story. (As always, this is a me thing, so take that into consideration.) Essentially, I think it’s that  I can skim the boinking bits in Chloe Liese’s stories without losing the flow of what I’m reading, but the same doesn’t hold true for other authors.

Fantasy

Mystery

The Last Drop of Hemlock

“He probably thinks the police actually help people.”

“They do,” Vivian said, an edge of bitter humor to her words. “Just not people like us.”

Romance

Ex Appeal

Audio

Written by Michelle at 5:57 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Thursday, February 1, 2024

The Books of January (2024?! How?)

Ridiculous. How is Jan 2024 OVER already?

The weather has been frequently crappy, and I’ve been unmotivated, so a fair amount of reading was done in January.

The Mistletoe Motive

Just over 50% rereads, which, not really a surprise. And only three and a half books had new-to-me authors, so in that sense I had an idea of what I was getting.

There were two books I actively disliked. Once because it focused on characters I disliked the other because it was all about the boinking and didn’t have enough story to keep my interest.

But I did discover a couple new series, by authors I already liked!

I’d only read Lish McBride’s YA fantasies. Uncanny Romance is a boinking series, but I was easily able to skim those bits and enjoy the story.

I discovered Katharine Schellman’s Lily Adler series last fall and very much enjoyed it, so I decided to try this series, even though it was set in the US–historicals set in the US tend to make me skittish. I don’t like historicals that pretend slavery and segregation didn’t exist, but I have a hard time with stories that go into too much detail about sexism and racism. (I know. It’s ridiculous.)

A Little Too Familiar

Last Call at the Nightingale didn’t gloss over the racism and sexism and poverty of the Roaring 20s, but it didn’t dwell on it, hitting a good balance for me. (I know the world has been and continues to be awful for many people. Reading about it in detail puts me into a tailspin I have trouble escaping.) So I’ve got the next book lined up.

I ended up reading three ace romances, two of which had characters with ASD. And I ended up reading them one after another. My favorite of the lot was The Mistletoe Motive, despite the fact I generally dislike “enemies to lovers” as a trope.

Fantasy

Last Call at the Nightingale

Mystery

Romance

Bingo Love

Graphic Novels

Audio Books

 

Apropos only of books, I’ve been putting together two spreadsheets: one for books with queer rep, and the other for those with mental and physical health rep. I’ve moved the to google docs, so I may make them publicly available to view.

We’ll see.

Written by Michelle at 7:52 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Monthly Round-Up  

Friday, December 1, 2023

Remember, Remember the Books of November (2023)

A Power UnboundNovember was a mix of reading new releases (FIVE! FIVE new releases!) and rereads (relistens, mostly) with almost no backlist first reads.

I (like everyone else) was impatiently awaiting the new Murderbot story by Martha Wells and it did not disappoint. It’s set immediately after Network Effect so lots of Murderbot and ART.

I was also very excited about the conclusion to Freya Marske‘s conclusion to the Last Binding trilogy. I knew it was going to be about Lord Hawthorn, and we knew Alston had tragedy in his history, with the death of his twin and the loss of his magic, but he was such an arrogant ass in previous books, I was worried about him being sympathetic. I needn’t have worried–it was marvelous.

I’m all caught up on the Lily Adler series, so sadly I must wait for a new entry, but I do have another entry in Morgan Stang’s Lamplight Murder Mystery, which is a silly gaslamp/steampunk series.

Murder at MidnightI was disappointed by the two new mysteries. I have been tepid about the  Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, and was glad I borrowed it from the library.

I had high hopes for the latest Caribbean Kitchen Mystery, but either I utterly failed to focus or the story needed tightened–particularly the ending, which felt as if part of the resolution was left hanging. I’ll read the next one (if there is one) but I probably won’t pre-order and might wait for a price drop.

After finishing my listen of Patricia Briggs’ Alpha & Omega series (I didn’t like Wild Sign any better the second time around) I started a relisten of Robert B. Parker‘s Spenser series, which is fun, especially since I’m skipping the books I don’t care much about. I love the look back at the 70s and 80s I’ve been getting, especially as Spenser pays attention to details. (Acid washed jeans!)

I can’t believe it’s December and the year is almost over. It’s been a long, rough several months, but I’m pushing through, and remain glad I have the escape of lovely stories.

Murder at Spindle Manor

Mystery
Fantasy
Romance

System Collapse

Science Fiction
Audio Books
Written by Michelle at 8:45 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

October Books, 2023

The Body in the Garden

I listened to a lot of audio books this month–they keep my brain busy while I do boring things like cleaning, or  exercising. And when it’s a good book, I’ll exercise just a little longer to finish a section.

Additionally, I read 5 (FIVE) new books! Two of which were published in October! Yes, they were novellas, but that makes it even better, because I adore well-written shorter fiction. (and by well written I don’t mean just out-takes from a series, but stories that stand on their own. So kudos to Ian Rankin writing and excellent stand-alone novella.

PLUS, I discovered a new series, Katharine Schellman’s Lily Adler Mysteries, which have all kinds of representation and are fun reads (plus good mysteries).

Unbeknownst to me, a new Rivers of London novella came out rencetly–thanks to Tania for both telling me about it AND getting it for me. Winter’s Gifts is about FBI agent Kimberly Reynolds, not Peter Grant, and I was wondering if I wanted to spent time with her.

Winter's Gifts

SPOILER: I did.

Couple of rereads, as I flailed around trying to figure out what I was in the mood for, but I didn’t much seem to be in the mood for those books either.

Ah well, can’t win ’em all.

Mystery

Role Playing

Romance

Fantasy

Audio Books

Written by Michelle at 7:22 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Remember Remember the Books of September (2023)

The Bullet That MissedThe only good thing about a cold is that I spend more time on the sofa, reading.

Despite my mental state, I managed to read a bunch of new-to-me books, as well as five books that had been published in 2022 or 2023.

First and best, I am continuing to enjoy Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, repeatedly forcing Michael to listen to passages that especially amuse me. I mean, how can you not take delight in this?

(Person), being a professional to his bones, has insisted on being buried naked. He knows that any self-respecting murderer would leave as few clues in the grave as possible.

I was also delighted by The Bookshop and the Barbarian by Morgan Stang, which had a similar feel to Legends and Lattes, despite being a different book, and in fact this book all but name-checks it.

The Bookshop and the BarbarianThe other book I want to mention is the first of Chloe Liese ‘s Bergman Brother’s series. I picked up and read the second book, Always Only You, because it had a female protagonist with ASD, and enjoyed it, but put off reading other books in the series, for no reason other than Michelle Brain. This book’s main male character has severe hearing loss, and I was done for after reading the opening notes.

This story also includes a main character who is late-deafened. As of this book’s revision, expansion, and republication on August 21, 2021, its portrayal has been informed by the consulted experience and critique of a late-deafened authenticity reader. I hope I have given these subjects the respect, care, and sensitivity they deserve.

She rewrote much of the book to make the Deaf representation better.

That is amazing and I will now set out to read everything she has written, because of it.

Only When It's UsThere were lots of rereads as well. I’m rereading Freya Marske‘s Last Binding series as I wait for the third book to come out (November! — I just realized THREE books I’m impatiently waiting for come out within a week of each other: A Power Unbound (The Last Binding), Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery), and System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) (MURDERBOT!))

So September was a decent reading month, although I could really have done without the cold.

Fantasy

Donut Fall in Love

Romance

Mystery

Gouda Friends

Audio Book


Written by Michelle at 9:04 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Books Books Books of September (2023)

Once a Rogue

Life is still ridiculous, but I did take a bit of time off to hike–and to read.

I’ve had trouble focusing–not a tremendous surprise–so I’ll need to go back and reread the new releases I’d been waiting for at some point when I’m a little less distracted. In other words, take those ratings of 7 with a grain of salt–I need a book to draw me in and not let go, and that these books didn’t do that is on me, not necessarily them.

There were some very good stories however. I finally got around to reading Richard Osman‘s Thursday Murder Club, which I loved.

Tania got me the Murderbot short story, Compulsory, which I didn’t even know was being published, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next story that comes out this fall. (MURDERBOT!)

Although it didn’t pull me in, I still enjoyed Anna Lee Huber‘s most recent Lady Darby book. It’s comforting to drop into familiar places with known characters.

To keep me moving, I’ve been listening to a lot of audio books.

A Fatal IllusionI just finished the last recorded SPI Files book, (She self-published the next two stories, so no audio version) and had to struggle to figure out what I wanted to listen to next.  (We merged my parent’s audible account with ours, so when I browsed today, I kept seeing books my parents listened to, which was weird.)

Other than that, lots of rereading. Favorites, to pull me out of my own head and allow me to escape.

Mystery

Against the Currant

Fantasy

Romance

Teacher of the Year

Science Fiction

Audio Books

Written by Michelle at 8:31 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Thursday, August 3, 2023

The Books of June & July

The past two months have been hellish.

To sum up: my mother died unexpectedly and my brother and I have been dealing with all the things.

A Newlywed's Guide to Fortune and Murder

So I read nothing by comfort reads for several weeks, and have been slowly reading some of the new releases I had been looking forward to.

Fantasy

A Matter of Magic (1988) Patricia C. Wrede (Mairelon the Magician) 9/10

Cecelia and Kate series by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (1988) 8/10, The Grand Tour: Or, The Purloined Coronation Regalia (2004) 8/10, The Mislaid Magician: or Ten Years After (2006) 8/10

Supernatural Fantasy

Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara
The Wolf at Bay (2019) 8.5/10, Thrown to the Wolves (2019) 9/10, Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing(2020) 10/10, Cry Wolf(2021) 10/10

Blitz

Mystery

Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries (2023) Nicole Kimberling 8.5/10
The Deadliest Fall (2023) Charlie Cochrane 7/10
A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder (2023) Dianne Freeman (Countess of Harleigh 7.5/10

Romance

Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper 10/10

Science Fiction

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
All Systems Red (2017) 9.5/10, Artificial Condition (2018) 9.5/10, Rogue Protocol (2018) 10/10, Exit Strategy(2018) 10/10, Network Effect (2020) 10/10, Fugitive Telemetry (2021) 9.5/10

The Deadliest Fall

Audio

Small Vices, Audio Book (1997) Robert B. Parker narrated by Burt Reynolds (Spenser) 10/10
Blitz, Audio Book(2022) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Moira Quirk (The Rook Files) 10/10
A Treacherous Curse, Audio Book (2018) Deanna Raybourn narrated by Angèle Masters (Veronica Speedwell) 8/10
Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka narrated by Gildart Jackson
Veiled, Audio Book (2015) 7/10, Burned, Audio Book (2016) 5/10


Written by Michelle at 9:05 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Friday, June 2, 2023

May Read Books

Hidden

A majority of rereads again this month, however, I did read some new books, finishing up Charlie Cochrane‘s Cambridge Fellows series, and the most recent Secrets and Scrabble book, which although just published, comes before the 7th book, which was published last fall.

I’ve also moved onto books in the Alex Verus series I hadn’t read before–although honestly I remember little of the books I had read.

Many of my rereads were Ace romances, including Loud and Clear, Blank SpacesThree Stupid WeddingsAn Island For Two, and The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter. Several of the others were romances with toxic families, including Family Man and Bee Cave Magic or romances with differently-abled or neurodivergent characters, like Loud and Clear, It Takes Two to Tumble, and The Lawrence Browne Affair, which all drew my back for different reasons.

Also, after reading several mysteries that were not what I was hoping them to be, I reread the Page & Sommers series and restarted the Big Bad Wolf series.

Mystery

Hither, Page

Fantasy

Romance

Audio Book

Written by Michelle at 6:11 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Monday, May 1, 2023

April Showers Bring April Rereads

Paper CutsNot that we had a lot of rain. But excluding the first two years of the pandemic, my April reading was about average for me.

April is a rough month for me, so it was almost all rereads. Which is fine, as I like dropping into stories and worlds where I’d been happy before.

Does not, however, do anything for my insanely large TBR.

Interestingly (to me), the books I gravitated towards this month weren’t (for the most parts) highly rated favorites, but instead were stories that hit a specific mood. Lots of cozy mysteries, but also romances that leaned heavily towards normal, every day people finding love and acceptance.

So don’t think that an average rating means those books aren’t worth reading–instead see them as stories that might have some flaws, but got the feelings of comfort and self-acceptance just right.

Mystery

Agents of Winter

Romance
Fantasy
Audio Books
Written by Michelle at 6:59 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Saturday, April 1, 2023

March Books Marching

Liar CityEvery fantasy book I read (excluding the audio book) was a new read.

Every other genre was  all rereads with the exception of Deanna Raybourn‘s A Sinister Revenge.

Just that kind of month apparently.

Although I gave it an average rating, I need to reread Allie Therin‘s  Liar City before I feel like I can give it a true rating, because I lot happened, and I am certain I missed lots of things as I tried to figure out what was going on. Because we were dropped right in and had to pick up the workd building as we read. I like books like that (Paul Cornell’s London Falling jumps immediately to mind) but I tend to miss a lot of details on my first read, as I’m focused on figuring out what is going on.

If you’ve been reading the Veronica Speedwell series, A Sinister Revenge leans heavily on some of the events from the previous book.

Which I had almost completely forgotten. So there was a bit of a mental scramble to remember what had happened.

The Eidolon

Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel about Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies. Serial killer PoV is hard for me to get into.

If you haven’t read K.D. Edwards Tarot Sequence, I don’t recommend starting with The Eidolon. It is a novella which gives us the events of The Hourglass Throne, only from the teens’ perspectives. I really like this series, but I don’t think this is necessarily a good jumping in spot, simply because you’re missing so much from Rune’s story. That said, I really want to know what happens with Quinn after this story.

Aside from that, lots of comfort rereads. I realized I have reread Michelle Diener‘s Regency London series almost every year since 2016 (skipping 2018 for some unknown reason). And I’ve reread Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut, Nearly a Lady, and Joy five or more times. So that may tell you something about those books.

~Fantasy~

The Eidolon (2023) K.D. Edwards (Magnus Academy) 8.5/10

Liar City (2023) Allie Therin (Sugar & Vice) 7/10

Magic, Lies, and Deadly PiesMagic, Lies, and Deadly Pies (2022) Misha Popp (Pies Before Guys) 7/10

Baking Up a Magical Midlife by Jessica Rosenberg
Bitter, Sweet, Magic (2022) 7/10, Sweet & Sour Spells (2023) 6/10

~Mystery~

Regency London by Michelle Diener
The Emperor’s Conspiracy (2012) 8.5/10, Banquet of Lies (2013) 9.5/10, A Dangerous Madness (2014) 8.5/10

Grasmere Cottage Mystery by Dahlia Donovan
Dead in the Shop (2018) 8/10, Dead in the Pond (2018) 8/10, Dead in the Garden (2018) 8/10

Lindenshaw Mysteries by Charlie Cochrane
The Best Corpse for the Job (2014) 7/10, Jury of One (2015) 7.5/10, Two Feet Under (2018) 7.5/10, Old Sins (2019) 8/10, A Carriage of Misjustice (2020) 7.5/10

A Sinister RevengeA Sinister Revenge (2023) Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell) 7/10

~Romance~

Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper 9.5/10

Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family) 9/10

Joy (2017) C.S. Poe (A Lancaster Story) 8.5/10

Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter (2016) R. Cooper 8.5/10

The Agency by Ada Maria Soto
His Quiet Agent (2017) 9.5/10, Merlin in the Library (2018) 8/10

~Audio Book~s

The Lies of Locke Lamora (2009) Scott Lynch narrated by Michael Page (Gentleman Bastards) 8/10

A Curious Beginning (2015) Deanna Raybourn narrated by Angèle Masters (Veronica Speedwell) 8/10

 

Written by Michelle at 5:23 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Books. February. 2023. I Read.

Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings

February was a relatively slow month for reading. How slow? 2011 was the last time I “only” read thirteen books in February.

And that’s ok.

I discovered two new series this month: Lydia Sherrer‘s Lily Singer Adventures, and Jessica Rosenberg‘s Baking Up a Magical Midlife series. Both are cozy and distracting, and although they have weaknesses, I still want to know more, so that’s really a win for the author.

Especially since the lead of one series is middle(ish) aged, and has a tween daughter.

I also read the second book in The Janet Watson Chronicle. I wanted to mention it because this was a case of me recognizing when a book is good, while also knowing it wasn’t something I especially enjoyed, yet I wanted to know what happened, so I devoured it, all the while not enjoying the dystopian elements.

In other words, that rating is heavily biased by my personal preferences.

The Gorgon AgendaI also stumbled upon the latest SPI files book, which was good, and might be a final book in the series. And I’m ok with that. Would I like other stories set in that world? Definitely. I’d love some short stories based on various cases SPI deals with, but I don’t think Lisa Shearin writes a lot of short stories, so I’ll have to be ok with what I have.

Oh, I finished my relisten to The Raven Boys series, and now I’m grumpy because I am again trying to figure out what I want to listen to that will draw me in and keep me exercising / cleaning / whatever thing I need done.

~Audio~
~Mystery~

The Hound of Justice

~Science Fiction~
~Fantasy~
Written by Michelle at 8:00 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Thursday, February 2, 2023

The Books of January

Legends & LattesI think I’m going to ignore the fact that the first month of 2023 is already over.

I’ve hardly done ANY hiking this month, and there has been little snow. So I’m not acknowledging winter passing.

On the bright side, I did have plenty of time to read, what with having a cold and ending up with vertigo.

All of which means it’s a good thing I read plenty of good books in January.

Fantasy

Unexpectedly, I read a bunch of new fantasy–including a new-to-me author! Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes was delightful. It’s what happens after the adventuring, when the hero wants to retire. Except the hero isn’t a he, and isn’t human, and wants to do something entirely new: open a cafe. It could have been written as a joke, but reminded me of Drew Hayes stories, which seem like they would be ridiculous while actually been thoughtful.

Soul Taken And I adore that cover–it’s a throw-back to so much 80s fantasy I read.

A Matter of Magic (1994) Patricia C. Wrede 9/10
Legends & Lattes (2022) Travis Baldree 8/10
There Will Be Phlogiston (2014) Alexis Hall (Prosperity) 8/10
A Bump In Boohail (2022) Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps) 7/10
Soul Taken (2022) Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson) 7/10

Mystery

I am still rereading Agatha Christie mysteries, but I’m going through the series I don’t remember (or might not necessarily have read), which is interesting, although I don’t like them anywhere near as much as the Miss Marple stories.

The new mysteries by Josh Lanyon and KJ Charles were good, and I think that I’ll end up rereading Hide and Seek, because it was interesting and I was suffering a bit with the cold when I read it.

Hide and Seek (2022) Josh Lanyon 8/10
Hide and Seek Masters in This Hall (2022) K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) 7/10
Agatha Christie
Superintendent Battle: Murder is Easy (1939) 7/10, Towards Zero (1944) 7/10
Tommy & Tuppence: The Secret Adversary (1922), Partners in Crime (1929) 7/10
Lessons for Survivors (2018) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) 6/10
Murder by the Book (2018) Lauren Elliott 5/10

Romance

I feel like The Holiday Trap is the first Roan Parrish story I’ve read with a FF romance. It was a cute trading places / holiday romance, but unlike her recent books for Harlequin, went a little bit more into the struggles of the characters instead of glossing past those problems. There is nothing wrong with glossing past struggles, it is just really weird for a Roan Parrish story to do so.

The Holiday Trap (2022) Roan Parrish 8/10
The Geek Who Saved Christmas (2021) Annabeth Albert 7/10
The First Snow of Winter (2021) Joanna Chambers (Winterbourne) 6.5/10The Holiday Trap

Comics

100% comfort reads.

Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu 8/10
Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones (2020) Ngozi Ukazu 9.5/10

Audio Books

I finally finished Murderbot and after a brief struggle started the Raven Boys series.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater narrated by Will Patton: The Raven Boys, Audio Edition (2012) 9/10, The Dream Thieves, Audio Edition (2013) 9.5/10
Network Effect, Audio Edition (2020) Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R. Free 9.5/10

 

Written by Michelle at 8:21 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Monday, January 2, 2023

The Books of December

BlitzSince several of these books ended up in my best of the year posts, and some others I don’t feel like commenting on right now, here we have the books of December.

Fantasy

Blitz (2022) Daniel O’Malley (The Checquy Files) 9/10

Paranormal Bromance (2014) Carrie Vaughn 8.5/10

Posthumous Education (2022) Drew Hayes (Fred, the Vampire Accountant) 8.5/10

Romance

Make a Scene (2020) Mimi Grace 7/10

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (2022) Ashley Herring Blake (Bright Falls)

Mystery

Posthumous EducationAgatha Christie
Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery (1964) 9/10
Superintendent Battle: The Secret of Chimneys (1925), The Seven Dials Mystery (1929) 7/10

All Lessons Learned (2018) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) 6/10

Wonton Terror (2019) Vivien Chien (A Noodle Shop Mystery) 5/10

Audio Books

Shadow Police series by Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch
The Severed Streets, Audio Edition (2015) 9/10, Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? Audio Edition (2016) 9/10

Murderbot series by Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R. Free
All Systems Red, Audio Edition (2017) 9.5/10, Artificial Condition, Audio Edition (2018) 9.5/10, Rogue Protocol, Audio Edition (2018) 9.5/10, Exit Strategy, Audio Edition (2018) 9.5/10

Non-Fiction

Paranormal Bromance Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism (2018) Autistic Self Advocacy Network 9/10

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation (2021) Eric Garcia 8.5/10

Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism (2018) edited by Barb Cook & Michelle Garnett 8/10

Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships. (2021) Russell A. Barkley and Christine M. Benton 7/10

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (2015) Barry M. Prizant


Written by Michelle at 7:20 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  

Thursday, December 1, 2022

The Books of November (NOVEMBER?!)

A Restless TruthI am considering refusing the ignore that November is over. It’s been another long year, and yet it somehow sped by without me accomplishing most of the things I wanted to.

Shockingly, more than half the books I read were new releases, and two of those were November releases.

And some of those were very good!

Going in I didn’t remember much about A Restless Truth by Freya Marske, but luckily it didn’t matter. One heroine is the sister of one of the main characters in the first book, but it wasn’t a problem, so you could read this book without having read the first–with the exception that you won’t get an in-depth explanation of magic here, which may or may not matter to you.

Although I had put off reading it, as it started a new series that’s a spin-off from her previous one, I very much enjoyed Allie Therin‘s Proper Scoundrels. I really like the world-building she’s done, and I very much like the characters–one of whom is badly damaged by his past (Michelle catnip).

There should be another book to follow this one, and I look forward to it.

Proper ScoundrelsI normally try to highlight only my favorite books in this roundups, however, I want to note Alexis Hall‘s newest romance, Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble. It is being touted as a rom com, but it really isn’t. That’s not to say there aren’t funny bits, because of course there are, but the main thrust of the story was watching the main character spiral out of control until he has a panic attack and passes out on the street. This book was extremely difficult for me to read, because I was not in a place where I could read about someone having a mental breakdown and not have it be deeply upsetting.

This is not to say it isn’t a good book, because it was well done. But… if you have issues with anxiety you might want to consider skipping this one.

After reading Paris, I ended up going deep into some comfort reads. Happy stories that feel like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold and rainy day. So of course I recommend all those as well.

Fantasy

Amongst Our Weapons

A Restless Truth (2022) Freya Marske (Last Binding) 8.5/10

Proper Scoundrels (2021) Allie Therin (Roaring Twenties Magic) 8/10

Good Enough to Eat (2015) Alison Grey & Jae (The Vampire Diet) 7/10

The Doctor (2022) C.S. Poe (Magic & Steam) 6/10

Romance

Loud and Clear (2016) Aidan Wayne 9/10

Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper 9/10

Garnet Run Roan Parrish : The Pride of Garnet Run (2022) 7.5/10, The Rivals of Casper Road (2022) 7.5/10

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble (2022) Alexis Hall (Winner Bakes All) NR

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble

Mystery

Miss Marple Agatha Christie: Murder Is Announced (1050) 8.5/10, They Do It With Mirrors (1952) 7/10, A Pocket Full of Rye (1953) 8/10, 4:50 from Paddington (1957) 9/10, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side (1962) 9/10, Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (1985) 8/10

Crown Court Killer (2022) Dahlia Donovan (London Podcast Mystery) 6/10

Miss Vee and the Lecherous Lawyer (2020) Delilah Knight 5/10

Audio Books

Stiletto, Audio Edition (2016) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Moira Quirk (Checquy Files) 9.5/10

London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police) 9/10

Crown Court Killer

Amongst Our Weapons, Audio Edition (2022) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) 8.5/10

I’m currently at 226 books for the year, so I won’t be breaking 300 this year, which is ok! I read plenty, and I have enjoyed most of what I’ve read, which is all I care about.

And I’ve already started drafting my yearly reading round-up, and as usual am enjoying getting in the weeds.


Written by Michelle at 8:00 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Books & Reading,Monthly Round-Up  
Next Page »

Powered by WordPress