Kneading You (2016) C.S. Poe (A Lancaster Story) He opened to the front page, where there was an old-fashioned library card in the pocket glued to the cover, with handwritten names and dates going as far back as 1947. No one deserved to lose access to books simply because of where they lived. “Someone who […]
Joy (2017) C.S. Poe (A Lancaster Story) “It’s all the mountains,” said a booming voice ahead of me. I looked up quickly and found a huge guy grinning down at me. “S-sorry?” “You ain’t got no signal out here because of all the mountains. Folks got satellite for home Internet service.” “What happens if there’s […]
Child of a Rainless Year (2005) Jane Lindskold This is an odd story–the fantastic elements are initially subtle, and initially you aren’t even sure that what you are reading is a fantasy. It is, but not one of vampires and witches, but one of subtle powers, hidden from plain sight. “(A)nything that is liminal, that […]
Compulsory (2023) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) MURDERBOT SHORT STORY Thank you Tania! <3 Publisher: Subterranean Press
A Fatal Illusion (2023) Anna Lee Huber (Lady Darby) Set in England in 1832 This book picks up immediately after the events of the previous book. Kiera and Gage are rushing to Yorkshire after receiving a message that Lord Gage had been shot. Lord Gage isn’t dead, but he is also much unchanged despite having […]
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human (2023) Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps) This series is so silly and delightful. “She wants to know how you eat pasta!” the sword shouted. “Alexis!” “What? Oh, was that told in confidence?” She turned back to Dante and took on a chipper tone. “Disregard that! We have […]
The Deadliest Fall (2023) Charlie Cochrane Set in England in 1947. The war is over but things are still settling back down. When Leslie Cadmore runs into Marianne Sibley, he is reminded how much he misses his best friend and lover (and Marianne’s twin), but still is unsure whether Patrick was involved in the death […]
A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder (2023) Dianne Freeman (Countess of Harleigh) Set in England in 1900 Frances and George are more than ready for their Honeymoon, however, George has an assignment, and Frances has been asked to help present the niece of Lady Winstead to society. However, upon seeing the health of Lady […]
Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper That was too much to ask of anyone. Jerry should have used his words. Not stupidly thought that doing something for Lincoln was the same as talking to him. “You brought your toolbox,” Lincoln informed him, as though Jerry didn’t know that, and then mumbled, “Coffee, he says,” […]
Cry Wolf (2021) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental. Though if you do know of a criminal plot involving werewolves that has taken place at any of these locales, that is a coincidence I would love to know about. “Seriously, I wasn’t that new. And he wasn’t […]
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) “So, let me get this right, on a scale from one to ten you’re rating this place a natural disaster? Is that higher or lower than— what did you call the place across town?” Park tapped his chin theatrically. “Oh right, the first monstrosity you’d […]
Fugitive Telemetry (2021) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) The bag had lights but turning them on would just be stupid plus I didn’t really want to see what was happening. Targets Two and Four had been giving very convincing descriptions of their cargo route. Clearly they had taken some effort to get their stories straight. […]
Network Effect (2020) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) There is a protocol for meeting humans who are not clients but who are associated with clients, and that protocol will apply here. Before I can speak, Ratthi waves and says, “Hello, hello. Perihelion says you’ve disabled your governor module. I’m Ratthi, and this is Amena. Please […]
Exit Strategy (2018) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) In the shows, I saw humans comfort each other all the time at moments like this. I had never wanted that and I still didn’t. (Touching while rendering assistance, shielding humans from explosions, etc., is different.) But I was the only one here, so I braced myself […]
Rogue Protocol (2018) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) The core cutter had powered up and accessed my feed to deliver a canned warning and a handy set of directions. Why yes, I did want to disengage the safety protocols, thanks for asking. In another twenty seconds, they were all my new drone friends. I had […]
Artificial Condition (2018) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) Calm down, ART said, not helpfully. I closed the story by reflex, like that would make it not exist. After three seconds of shock, I made myself open it again. My human parts were experiencing a cold prickling that wasn’t comfortable. This place was creepy. I reminded […]
All Systems Red (2017) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) I was depressed this morning. I’d tried watching some new serials last night and even they couldn’t distract me; reality was too intrusive. Gurathin turned to me. “So you don’t have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you.” I looked at […]
Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) There are many ways to grieve— no one way less valid than the others “Being open isn’t easy for either of us. Shit, maybe not for anyone. But I work on it because, to me, you’re worth it. And you know what, Oliver? I’m worth […]
The Wolf at Bay (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) “You’ve been standing here staring at that flower shop for fifteen minutes. So is it for her birthday or anniversary, or are you making up for a fight? Because I’ve been married for thirty-two years, and believe me, there are different bouquets for different occasions.” […]
The Mislaid Magician: or Ten Years After (2006) Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer (Cecelia and Kate) (Cecelia and Kate) Set in England in 1828 Thomas has convinced himself that he is being clever. He (he and Ripley, the coachman, to be exact) will drive to London and back, enjoying himself thoroughly the while. In […]
The Grand Tour: Or, The Purloined Coronation Regalia (2004) Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer (Cecelia and Kate) Set in Europe in 1817. The weakness of this story is that I don’t believe the Cecy’s narrative as being “written testimony”. There was just too much personal stuff that seemed unlikely to have been put into […]
Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries (2023) Nicole Kimberling After rereading Grilled Cheese and Goblins I was wishing I had more mysteries by Nicole Kimberling when LO! I see she has a new mystery coming out! I can preorder it! DONE! As with her other books, this was a series of […]
Veiled, Audio Book (2015) Benedict Jacka narrated by Gildart Jackson (Alex Verus) My problem is that I was mostly listening to this while cleaning and organizing, and I got focused on my task, so I fear I missed some details. But didn’t care enough to go back and relisten to the bits I was foggy […]
A Matter of Magic (1988) Patricia C. Wrede (Mairelon the Magician) “(B)hey’re mixing magic at random, from the sound of it. Half of it’s Welsh, half of it’s Scottish, and half of it’s cribbed from someone’s classical education, with a few things that are entirely out of someone’s imagination thrown in for good measure. They’ll […]
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (1988) Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer (Cecelia and Kate) Set in England in 1817 (Horace Walpole is by no means Aunt Charlotte’s favorite author, but the opportunity to hire the genuine Mayfair town house he genuinely died in for the Season has given her a new […]
The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) TJ Klune “It’s just that…” She stood from her desk, arms still folded. “Don’t you wonder?” “Never,” Linus said promptly. Then, “About what?” “All children, no matter their … disposition or what they’re capable of, must be protected regardless of the cost.” Jowls coughed wetly. “Do you really […]
Blank Spaces (2016) Cass Lennox (Toronto Connections) Flirting? Good God. Calorie-conscious and delusional. Vaughn knew how to pick them. He set the spoon down. “I’m not flirting with you.” “Really.” Jonah’s voice dripped with disbelief. “You don’t call putting food in my mouth flirting?” “No, actually. I share food with my eating companions regularly.” Vaughn […]
The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1948 James is called to Cornwall for the reading of the will of an uncle he hasn’t seen for decades. When Leo returns from his latest mission, he doesn’t like this discovery at all. The more Leo thought about it, the less […]
Family Man (2013) Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton Vince is struggling with the fact that he still isn’t properly settled down. It was finding out kids born the year he graduated high school were now legal to drink. And he’s beginning to wonder if maybe it’s because he’s queer. Trey works two jobs while going […]
Lessons for Sleeping Dogs (2015) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1921 Jonty and Orlando are asked to look into what seems to have been a double suicide–a man who suffered debilitating paralysis and the doctor who treated him. The case touches on two things neither much wants to discuss: the war, and […]
The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter (2019) K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) Set in London in 1893 Another ace-ace romance! Set prior to the first Lilywhite Boys story, here we have Stan, Jerry and Templeton’s fence meeting his love, and arranging for her to be rescued from a wannabe crimelord. I’d forgotten for some reason why I enjoyed the […]
Three Stupid Weddings (2018) Ann Gallagher Ace-ace romance! I met my reflection’s eyes and sighed. All the “you need to gain weight” crowd had backed off. The “oh my God, you’ve lost so much weight and you look fabulous” bunch had too. Maybe that meant I’d landed somewhere in the middle and could stop obsessing […]
Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage (2016) C.S. Poe Utterly ridiculous. I was attending a singles’ convention for special people like me to find their forever penguin partner. But after I paid the attendance fee, got a hotel room, and booked my flight, I found out it was specifically for guys and gals. Utterly silly. […]
The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Werewolves, but not quite how most popular culture described them. The Trust had explained werewolves had always existed, living amongst humans, but due to persecution had slipped quite intentionally into hiding and mythology. I really like her take on werewolves, and the world building […]
Lament at Loon Landing (2023) Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble) This is the sixth book, and accidentally came out after the seventh. However, since it’s a cozy series, that wasn’t a serious issue. Now that summer is over, Ellery is starting to worry the bookstore isn’t going to remain in the black until the tourists […]
Play It Again (2019) Aidan Wayne Dovid followed along with his cane. But he kept bumping into chairs. The tables were very close together, and it was hard to navigate with a cane. And a wheelchair certainly would have an even harder time. Bernice was walking pretty fast too. Dovid found himself trying to hurry […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1946. Mrs Hoggett is dead, and although her death was certainly suspicious, there is nothing directory pointing to murder. None of the witnesses could suggest a possible motive, nor did any of them think Mrs. Hoggett had enemies. Leo had actually laughed out […]
Saying The Right Thing (2017) Aidan Wayne Baz is lovely,and a great father (and the kid was written like four-year-old–tantrums and all). Terry is kind and has plenty of reasons for not trusting those who want to date him. It wasn’t a bad story, but it didn’t hit any of the right notes for me, […]
Medium, Sweet, Extra Shot of Geek (2019) R. Cooper Tavio has been out of the army for a year, but still isn’t quite used to civilian life–and being able to be openly out. He’s also not sure about Tommy, a regular customer who seems to be interested in Tavio. I like Tommy, and how he […]
The Lawrence Browne Affair (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series) Set in England in 1816. Apparently I’m just picking books I want to read and ignoring the rest of any series they might be in. Georgie had taken matters into his own hands, and now Georgie was persona non grata in London, and probably everywhere […]
Lessons for Idle Tongues (2015) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1910. Jonty and Orlando are given another case to solve when Adriene’s cousin asks them to look into a matter for a friend. An unexpected and possibly suspicious death. When they go to investigate they find a lord shut away from society, […]
Bee Cave Magic (2020) Kelly Fox This is a fun story in the same way CS Poe‘s Marriage, Love and a Baby Carriage. It’s silly and outrageous, with all the ridiculous shifter tropes, but it adds in it’s own fun twists. Mrs. Hornblower, a pelican shifter transplant from Corpus. I love fantasy stories that give […]
Lessons for Suspicious Minds (2013) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1909. NOTE: This story goes back in time, probably set after Lessons in Trust (book 7) and is set before the war–and all the changes that caused to the characters and the world. Jonty and Orlando go with Jonty’s parents to visit […]
An Island For Two (2022) Ophelia Silk Dela is an elf influencer–living on the money inherited from her parents and hoping to share a bit of joy and fun with the world, which is why she wants to build an event center on the island she recently purchased. Unfortunately, that island is already inhabited. Dela […]
Loud and Clear (2016) Aidan Wayne He turned on the light in his car and squinted. Those were letters, all right. Probably there was even a sentence. Caleb had written something on the receipt. Huh. Curious, Jaxon bent over the words, trying to sound them out. Caleb’s handwriting wasn’t messy or anything, but Jaxon had […]
Team Phison (2017) Chace Verity It’s necessary to be good at hiding the truth when you work in sales and customer service. Operation: Win Tyson Over hasn’t been going well. Mostly because I haven’t actually done anything. Rating: 7/10
It Takes Two to Tumble (2017) Cat Sebastian (Seducing the Sedgwicks) Set in England in 1817 “You have no right—” “No, I don’t. I don’t care, though. I’m not leaving your children alone with a virtual stranger who doesn’t seem kindly disposed to them.” Phillip sucked in a breath. “I have no intention of harming […]
And Everything Nice (2016) Ada Maria Soto Angelo is a coder who has terrible luck with getting a date unless baked goods are involved. So when the company hires a new tech writer, Angelo tries to discover the way to Simon’s heart through his stomach. I love the tech related bits of the story that […]
Paper Cuts (2023) Ellery Adams (A Secret, Book, and Scone Society) A couple has opened a tea shop in town, and when Nora and her friends visit, she discovers one of the owners somehow seems to know her–and is distraught by the fact. There were a surprising number of editing and continuity errors in this […]
Not So Cookie Cutter (2019) Aidan Wayne He clasped his hands behind his back, at-ease stance so he wouldn’t cross his arms. He’d been told enough times that it made him look like a thug, so he tried to avoid doing it. He tended to hyper focus when it came to certain subjects, and to […]