Loud and Clear (2016) Aidan Wayne So Caleb was set for a designated driver for every Tuesday night until this stupid drink-night thing got canceled. … Which was another reason why he actually had to attend. For all the drinking, until people got too shit-faced, they actually talked about work. Missing this was the equivalent […]

Dead in the Frame by Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost and Parker #5) Set in NYC in 1947 This book picks up right where the previous left off–with Lillian Pentecost being arrested for murder. The bylines changed and the adjectives got shuffled, but the tone across the board was: She probably did it. It was almost as […]

Pack of Lies (2022) Charlie Adhara (Monster Hunt #1) Not everything had to be about hope and love and trust to be worth doing. Sometimes it was just the desire to not feel so terribly alone. I don’t think anyone could ever see you as inept. Not at anything. You positively ooze…ept. It was something […]

Cry Wolf (2021) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #5) “Did you know the cat is being more cordial than either of you right now? And I know for a fact she was raised in an alley.” “Also, he said to tell you you’ve been demoted to fourth rank.” “We don’t do ranks,” Park protested. “We’re […]

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #4) I couldn’t justify throwing out sixty years of data. It wasn’t the science that was bad. It was the way he used it. The reasons he used it. “I think I’m going to give therapy another try. You know, real therapy and not informal […]

Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #3) Just like any power-hungry man, deep down he was a coward. In her lap Boogie was curled up and purring so loudly the sound practically echoed through the barn. Helena couldn’t have looked more like an evil mastermind if she tried. He comforted himself […]

The Wolf at Bay (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #2) This book opens with possibly my favorite scene ever. “Birthday, anniversary, or apology?” … “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 […]

The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf, #1) The old-fashioned investigative work Cooper had dreamed of doing when he got recruited to the FBI wasn’t really applicable these days. … After cases like Bethesda he felt like a glorified bounty hunter, and that wasn’t why he’d wanted to get into law […]

Murder Crossed Her Mind (2023) Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost and Parker #4) Set in NYC in 1947 Defense attorney (and ower of apologies to Lillian Pentecost) Forest Whitsun has come asking for help. His friend–the retired secretary for the law firm he used to work for–is missing, and he is certain something bad has happened to […]

Secrets Typed in Blood, Audio Book (2022) Stephen Spotswood narrated by Kirsten Potter (Pentecost & Parker #3) Set in NYC in 1947 “I’ll say this, though—she refused to meet my eyes. That screams someone with something to hide.” My boss shook her head. “I don’t think that was intentional,” she said. “I believe she is […]

The Prince and the Dressmaker (2018) Jen Wang Prince Sebastian’s parents are searching the country for his bride. They want him to have a say in who he marries (something they didn’t have) but Sebastian has a secret: Lady Crystallia. After following her client’s wishes and getting fired, Frances is saved when a royal courtier […]

Lady Mechanika Volume 6 Sangre (2020) Joe Benítez, Marcia Chen, Brian Ching (Lady Mechanika #6) Well damnit. This is a rerelease, not the newest volume. Weirdly, I remembered the historical Mesoamerican parts rather than the current timeline. Publisher: Image Comics Rating: 8/10

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones (2018) Ngozi Ukazu (Check, Please! #2) Publisher: First Second Rating: 10/10

The Unmatchmakers (2022) Jackie Lau Leora may find her mother frustrating, but she’s looking forward to a week at the vacation house her mother bought with her two best friends–even if she hasn’t seen the kids she nearly grew up with in years. It’s a bit weird, us all hanging out as adults. Different than […]

Husband Material (2022) Alexis Hall (London Calling, #2) Oliver had been seeing a trained professional for nearly two years because of his parents so I did my best to be sensitive and not poke anything that might be the emotional equivalent of a bear or a mine—or a bear-mine, which would be a bear that […]

Boyfriend Material (2020) Alexis Hall (London Calling, #1) “I’m conscious this could be rather burdensome to hear, but you remain the thing I have most chosen for myself. The thing that’s most exclusively mine. The one that brings me the deepest joy.” if we let happy things make us unhappy when they stopped, there would […]

All the World’s an Undead Stage (2018) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes Book 6) “What is it you can’t bring up in front of the squad, Loveless? Tell me you haven’t screwed up again.” “No, ma’am. It’s nothing to do with investigations.” He hesitated, fighting against foot scuffing. “My mother called this morning…” “Gods preserve us,” […]

Murder Under Her Skin, Audio Book Stephen Spotswood narrated by Kirsten Potter (Pentecost & Parker #2) Set in Stoppard VA in 1947 I had some preconceived notions of what to expect from the Pig’s Hole, and it did not disappoint. It had clearly started life as a cheaply made shotgun shack and had only gone […]

Jackalopes and Woofen-Poofs (2017) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes, #5) Unless Wolf’s squad had interesting specimens to send, State usually acted like the 77th wasn’t worth the attention a mosquito would rate. “Audacity, you should keep your head down. I don’t think wolf cubs are allowed here normally.” Miw. Her answer was little more than a […]

Feral Dust Bunnies (2017) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes, #4) Vikash pulled a glove from his pocket, which made Wolf wonder if he always came to parties prepared for a crime scene. Probably. This was Vikash, after all. “It’s all right to be anxious about things sometimes. And you know it’s okay to ask for help. […]

Skim Blood and Savage Verse (2017) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes, #3) How could he have even thought about not celebrating his thirty-fifth birthday? Especially if it meant it gave her an excuse to invite all the old money and local officials to the affair. And outside? Of course it had to be outside. The weather […]

The Pill Bugs of Time (2015) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes, #2) It was the first time Vikash had experienced Greg’s particular talent being useful. He heard emotions, but only negative ones and only avian ones, and not just any birds, but only waterfowl. It was one of the most absurdly specific paranormal talents Vikash had […]

Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (2015) Angel Martinez (Offbeat Crimes, #1) (T)he pink and neon-blue raven folded his wings and waddled over to snap at Carrington’s pen. “Stop it, Edgar.” “You couldn’t get laid at a clusterfuck!” “I don’t really do anything,” Soren answered as he hefted the empty coffeepot. “Guess I’ll make fresh since […]

Death and Dinuguan (2025) Mia P. Manansala (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #6) This is the sixth and final book in the series, and oddly, the one I liked best. A series of break-ins have hit the small businesses of Shady Palms, made all the more upsetting as all the victims were women. Adeena said, “I […]

Only Murders in the Abbey (2025) Beth Cowan-Erskine (Loch Down Abbey #2) Set in Scotland in 1937 War is coming, and unexpected guests from Shanghai have shown up in Loch Down expecting to be put up in the estate turned hotel. ‘You will pay for their stays, Bella.’ ‘That’s hardly fair!’ she retorted. ‘That is […]

Next to You (2022) Hannah Bonam-Young (Next #2) Lane doesn’t really know what to do with herself. She’s not unhappy, but she’s not happy either. So after her birthday she decides to purchase and renovate a bus–a far cry from her twin who got respectably engaged to a respectable guy. A guy who seems to […]

Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu (Check, Please! #1) Publisher: First Second Rating: 8.5/10

Blackwater (2022) Jeannette Arroyo, Ren Graham Tony is a track star and popular. His best friend is an asshole. His dad doesn’t know–or seem to care–what’s happening in Tony’s life. Eli is the weird kid, who often misses school. And who sees ghosts. Despite being warned, Tony goes into the woods, and ends up bitten […]

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping (2025) Sangu Mandanna Sera was fifteen when she lost most of her magic. Choosing her love for Jasmine over her loyalty to the British Guild of Sorcery wasn’t exactly difficult for Sera. The Guild was strict, stuffy, and entirely too fond of looking down their noses at almost everybody. […]

A Shore Thing (2024) Joanna Lowell Set in Cornwall in 1888 Mrs. Muriel Pendrake has come to St Ives with her best friend James both to vacation and to find a painter for her botanical images for her upcoming presentation in New York. “You have enough people to worry about in London. This is a […]

Washington’s Gay General: The Legends and Loves of Baron von Steuben (2023) Josh Trujillo, Levi Hastings This is a graphic novel biography of Baron von Steuben, the Prussian who became Inspector General for the Continental/American Army and wrote the “Blue Book” that changed the army into a force that was able to defeat the British. […]

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich (2023) Deya Muniz The Count of Camembert has provided many suitors for his daughter to consider, but she has rejected them all because she has no interest in marrying a man. But daughters can’t inherit, so if she isn’t to be left alone and with nothing, she’ll have […]

A Little Light Mischief (2019) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series #3.5) Set in England in 1818 Molly had spent many an hour wondering what good it was for Miss Stapleton to call herself a lady, when as far as Molly could tell, all it meant was that she was unfit to work for wages. Justice […]

Love Language (2024) Jax Calder Dominic and Ashton have shared an office for three-and-a-half years. Despite the fact that much of their conversation consists of insults and griping, all of Ash’s friends insist he has a crush on Dominic. “You must be the most annoying person on the planet,” Dominic says. I ignore him. Because […]

Death at the Manor (2022) Katharine Schellman (Lily Adler Mystery #3) Set in England in 1815 “My aunt and Miss Clarke were at school together as girls. When neither of them had married after a few years, they began to talk of setting up their own household together, rather than remaining with their families in […]

Platform Decay (2026) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries #8) Why yes, I did read this in its entirety on the day it came out. The story opens with Murderbot and Three infiltrating a Torus where Barish-Estranza (from Network Effect and System Collapse) has a large presence. This is a rescue mission, but you’re a good […]

Band Sinister (2018) KJ Charles Set in England in the 1810s I do love this story. First and foremost because of Guy. Philip’s candle had only been a stub. It guttered now, and went out in a soft sigh, and he stood in the darkness, listening to a sick woman moaning, while her brother wept […]

The Soldier’s Scoundrel (2016) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series #1) Set in England in ~1815 It was always an unexpected pleasure when the truth aligned with what he wanted to say. This was anarchy. He had witnessed firsthand what happened when people felt entitled to deliver their own justice, and he absolutely wouldn’t stand for […]

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel (2023) KJ Charles (The Doomsday Books #2) Set in Kent in 1823 To the surprise of everyone, Rufus d’Aumesty is the Earl of Oxney. After a seven month battle, he was affirmed as the heir, yet his uncle Conrad is still fighting to try and regain the title […]

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (2023) KJ Charles (The Doomsday Books #1) Set in Kent in 1810 Gareth Inglis was raised by his uncle who made it clear to Gareth that he wasn’t wanted. When his father dies he learns just how awful his father was. “Your father decided that. He thought it was […]

The Duke at Hazard (2024) KJ Charles (The Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2) Set in England in ~1810s The Duke of Severn inherited at age six, and since that day has never been allowed to be anything except the Duke. The Duke had been Harmsford since his birth. He had become Severn at the age […]

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting (2021) KJ Charles (Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #1) Set in London in the Regency(?) Era The siblings had agreed that Alice needed a little town-bronze, which was to say a little knowledge of humanity’s infinite capacity to disappoint, before it became common talk that the plain girl came with […]

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 […]

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal (2015) KJ Charles Set in England in 1894- “I inherited it from my uncle three months ago. The house has stood empty for many years because of its evil reputation. I felt that was an absurd superstition, and I need to sell the place, so I thought I could […]

Flight of Magpies (2014) KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies #3) Stephen stuffed his hands in the pockets of the topcoat that Crane had insisted on buying him for this chilly winter. It had been a great deal more expensive than Stephen, who accepted gifts with startling gracelessness, had wanted; a great deal cheaper than […]

A Case of Possession (2014) KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies #2) “And we must act in a civilised fashion in this country, you know.” … “Come with me to the office today, I want you in Limehouse. I’m going to call in some obligations and do a bit more work on Rackham’s affairs. Buy […]

The Magpie Lord (2013) KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies #1) Merrick frowned. “Got to fight it, my lord.” “Fight what? Give me something to fight, and I’ll fight it—but how the hell do I fight my own mind?” Crane looked at the naked hostility in the other man’s face and posture, and strolled to […]

Unfit to Print (2018) KJ Charles Set in London in the late Victorian Prostitution and exploitation were words Vikram thought should be shouted aloud, along with poverty. Gil had spent his childhood here under his father’s carelessly affectionate eye. The old man might have played the fool, or the knave, with his housemaid, but he […]

Rag and Bone (2016) KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World) He gave it a cautious shake, heard the faintest rattle. A sealed jug, full of something. He could break the seal, prise off the wax, and have a look inside. Or he could find a rusty hatpin and jam it into his eyeball, because […]

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (2022) Cat Sebastian (London Highwaymen #2) Set in London in 1751 The second book in the London Highwaymen series takes place concurrently with The Queer Principles of Kit Webb but from Marian and Rob’s points of view. We learn why Marian hates the duke (her husband) so much, why […]