Lessons for Survivors (2018) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1919. Jonty and Orlando both survived the war–although not without scars. “It would prove to me that everything was back to normal. That the last five years hadn’t spoiled the world forever.” They walked on in silence, each with his thoughts. “Do you […]
The First Snow of Winter (2021) Joanna Chambers (Winterbourne) Set in England in 1814. Sam has returned to England missing both an arm and a direction for his life. And he doesn’t want the frivolity of the annual Christmas visit with his mother’s best friend. But his mother begs, so he remains. He does many […]
The Geek Who Saved Christmas (2021) Annabeth Albert Gideon Holiday loves Christmas. He loves all the holidays, but he especially loves Christmas. Paul Frost is the neighborhood grump. He doesn’t check the neighborhood Whatsapp group, and he doesn’t decorate for Christmas. But the neighborhood collections donations from people who drive through, so Gideon has a […]
Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones (2020) Ngozi Ukazu SQUEE! It’s makes me so happy! Publisher: First Second Rating: 9.5/10
Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu It’s like a hug! Only with hockey and bad language and drinking. Art from the comic blog. Publisher: First Second Rating: 8/10
The Holiday Trap (2022) Roan Parrish Greta has had it with her family. She may love them, but that doesn’t change things. “I know it’s Chanukah and I know your family, but I must introduce you to my friend Boundaries, and her best friend, Also Boundaries.” Truman needs to get away. “I left. Excuse me […]
Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? (2016) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) This series always blows me away. ‘I won’t tell you!’ she shouted. ‘I can!’ Kevin insisted, pointing at himself. The stormtrooper paused awkwardly again. He obviously had as little idea as she did what Kevin’s weird willingness to help was about. Lacey […]
We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation (2021) Eric Garcia This is book where I jumped from section to section, looking for bits that were pertinent to what I needed at the time I picked it up. It is one of many books I need to reread more thoroughly, now I’ve had time to process […]
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (2022) Ashley Herring Blake (Bright Falls) Delilah left Bright Falls and said she would never look back. But although her photography is slowly taking off, she can’t turn down a (well-paid) request to spend two weeks photographing her step-sister’s wedding. It was a reflex, this feeling, left over from a childhood […]
The Severed Streets (2015) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) Riots are breaking out across London. The police are voting on a walkout. And someone has just killed an important MP in a locked car in the middle of one of those riots. The DCI’s expression grew even more nonplussed. ‘Why are you […]
- December 12th, 2022
- Categories: 9/10, Audio Book, British, Fantasy, Mental Health Rep, Mystery, Police, Queer, Reread, Supernatural
All Lessons Learned (2018) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England and France in 1919. The war they said would end all conflicts. Only time would tell if that were true, that never again would Europe march into battle, but plenty of lives had been invested in trying to test the supposition, young men laid […]
A Restless Truth (2022) Freya Marske (Last Binding) Set in England prior to The Great War, around 1907 or 1908. Maud Blyth went to America to find Elizabeth Navenby and warn her she is in danger. Unfortunately, barely before the have left port, Mrs Navenby is killed, and Maud feels partially to blame. Luckily, her […]
- November 30th, 2022
- Categories: 8.5/10, Alternate History, British, eBook, Fantasy, Female, Good Cover, Historical, Mystery, Queer, Romance, Sexual Content
London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police) Pretty much all the trigger warnings for this book: child death, child harm, gore, violence, serial killer.. This series is so dark, and yet its darkness doesn’t bother me, possibly because it’s almost over the top. “You know what you get […]
- November 27th, 2022
- Categories: 9/10, Audio Book, British, Fantasy, Good Cover, Mental Health Rep, Mystery, Police, Queer, Reread, Urban
Good Enough to Eat (2015) Alison Grey & Jae (The Vampire Diet) After nearly killing someone on New Year’s Eve, Robin has decided to give up drinking for good. But for a vampire, drinking is what keeps her alive, so looking for support, she ends up at an AA meeting. Alana gave up everything for […]
Crown Court Killer (2022) Dahlia Donovan (London Podcast Mystery) Dannel and Osian are once again pulled into a murder mystery, when their friend (and defense soliciter) Wayne is accused of murder. “Barristers tend to specialise in certain areas of the law. They’re often brought in on complicated cases to handle matters in court.” Bradley spoke […]
Loud and Clear (2016) Aidan Wayne Another mental hug for me. Jaxon was getting the feeling that was his default way of coping with the world. Blanking himself out when things got tough. Jaxon used to do the same thing but with anger, till he’d gotten better ways to cope. If he wanted to do […]
Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper I just needed the mental hug. Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble was rough on my mental well-being. He and Jerry had argued once, in their way, about the difference between Lincoln working for his dream and doing what he loved, and why Jerry might be tired at […]
- November 23rd, 2022
- Categories: 9/10, Ace, Comfort Read, eBook, Food, Mental Health Rep, Novella, Queer, Reread, Romance, Sexual Content
Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble (2022) Alexis Hall (Winner Bakes All) I should not have read this book. Main character with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder (that does get diagnosed), on-page panic attack, hospital stay due to panic attack, treatment plan for anxiety disorder discussed, emotionally unavailable parents, very graphic swearing, cyberbullying, religious and racial […]
Amongst Our Weapons, Audio Edition (2022) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) This is the most recent Rivers of London / Peter Grant book, and now I’m all caught up and have to find something else to listen to. I sped through this when I read it in the spring, so I […]
Miss Vee and the Lecherous Lawyer (2020) Delilah Knight This has the bones of a good story. However, the editing was poor enough that paragraphs seemed out of order, and there were continuity errors. And I am pretty sure the police didn’t have grounds for arrests, which made that part of the story problematic. Additionally, […]
The Doctor (2022) C.S. Poe (Magic & Steam) Set in alternate US in 1882. Gillian Hamilton has been caught. He has been exposed as Simon Fitzgerald, the Butcher of Antietam. And he is now on Blackwell’s Island at the Asylum for the Magically Insane. “Why are you helping a criminal?” Barrie wiped his nose again. […]
Proper Scoundrels (2021) Allie Therin (Roaring Twenties Magic) Set in England in 1925. Me: I really liked this first series that this book is a spin-off of. Obviously I should not read it. (Repeat time and again for author after author) Sebastian de Leon spent the past three years enthralled, and forced to do terrible […]
- November 6th, 2022
- Categories: 8/10, British, eBook, Fantasy, Good Cover, Historical, Mental Health Rep, Queer, Romance, Sexual Content, Supernatural
The Pride of Garnet Run (2022) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) This is a Garnet Run story set between Best Laid Plans and The Lights on Knockbridge Lane that came out this fall. Cameron returned to Garnet Run after unable to work as a musician. He works as a barista because he never quite figured out […]
The Rivals of Casper Road (2022) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) This is the fourth book in the Garnet Run series (actually the fifth, because there is a novella in there as well) and the characters from those stories all make appearances here. Every year, the residents of Casper Road have a Halloween house decorating contest. […]
Witchmark (2018) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle) Set in a world somewhat like England after WW I, but not really. Miles Singer escaped his family and ended up in the war between Aeland and Laneer, his medical schooling put to terrible use. Now he works as a psychiatrist in a veteran’s hospital, and is trying […]
Deadbeat Druid (2022) David R. Slayton (Adam Binder) This is the third book in the Adam Binder series, and unlike book two, does not end on a cliff-hanger. I’ll be honest, I was reading with a eye on the percent done, worried I’d get another cliffhanger. Luckily, it ended cleanly. This might be the final […]
Waiting for the Flood, Audio Edition (2016) Alexis Hall narrated by Alexander Doddy (Spires) This is one of my favorite Alexis Hall stories. I primarily listen to Fantasy and Mystery, but thought I’d see how I felt about this. I still love the story, but I think romance isn’t a genre that is particularly going […]
Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Edition (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by: the author, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ben Elliot, Felix Grainger, Sam Peter Jackson, Alex Kingston, Shvorne Marks, and Penelope Rawlins PART ONE: THE PETER GRANT STORIES The Home Crowd Advantage: set between Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho […]
False Value, Audio Edition (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) This is the 8th Peter Grant book. After the events of Lies SLeeping, Peter was suspended while the incident (death in custody) was investigated. This book opens with Peter interviewing for a security position with the Serious Cybernetics Corporation (and yes, […]
Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists (2017) Angel Martinez Off kilter and knew this would work to distract me. Rating: 8.5/10
Lucky Yellow Shoes (2020) Jae This is a short story set after Wrong Number, Right Woman. Denny wants to propose, but cannot find a ring that both suits Eliza and that she can afford. It’s a sweet story about family and acceptance and love. Rating: 7/10
Coffee Boy (2016) Austin Chant Kiernan doesn’t like his food service job, but at least it pays the bills. (M)anagers have never exactly declared him their favorite employee, but they do praise his attitude, which is funny because no one else ever has. And it’s all because Kieran has never burst into tears over a […]
Agents of Winter (2022) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency) I was slightly worried I wasn’t going to enjoy this anywhere near as much as His Quiet Agent, which I adore. It is different from the first story, His Quiet Agent, and also from the short story Merlin in the Library. But it is definitely the […]
The Great Atlantean Battle Royalchemy (2022) K.D. Edwards This takes place between The Hanged Man and The Hourglass Throne. Rune has to judge an alchemy contest that is possibly going to harm the peace of Atlantis. As always, the dialog was wonderful. Did Layne tell Corinne that they left the estate?” I asked bluntly. “I […]
What Abigail Did That Summer (2021) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Shvorne Marks and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) First, this is Abigail’s story. Peter doesn’t make an appearance (although we see Nightingale and hear from Postmartin). Second, this story jumps back and forth in time, opening with Abigail at a police station, and then jumping […]
Lies Sleeping, Audio Edition (2018) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) I picked up a lot I missed the first time around. I remember it being late, and needing to go to bed, but I just need to know more…. So, I caught a lot this time. This is set in 2014, […]
Band Sinister (2018) K.J. Charles Why? Because I needed something I knew would take me out of my own head, and I do adore Guy. “Oh dear God,” Frisby whispered. “Please get better. Please. I can’t do without you and you’ve got so much more to do, and I know it’s been— not marvellous for […]
- September 29th, 2022
- Categories: 9/10, British, Comfort Read, eBook, Historical, Physical Health, Queer, Reread, Romance, Sexual Content
Glass Tidings (2018) Amy Jo Cousins Something caught at my memory and made me think of this story. Eddie witnesses a hit-and-run accident, and is asked to remain in town over night until the police can take his statement. A soft jacket dropped onto his shoulders. Eddie shrugged it off reflexively. The man caught it […]
The Furthest Station, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) This novella falls between Foxglove Summer and The Hanging Tree in the timeline. Although I highly recommend starting at the beginning, because it is outside of the primary story arc of the series, it should be accessible to those unfamiliar […]
The Hanging Tree, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Lady Ty has decided to call in her favor. “Peter,” said Lady Ty, “Nightingale is not to know about this— is that clear?” “Crystal,” I said. As soon as she hung up, I called the Folly. Not that he’ll let […]
Adorkable (2020) Shane K. Morton I had some major problems with this story. Let’s start with the biggest one first. Billy’s best friend shows up to the most important class of her freshman year and crushes on the TA. Then, But I did think about asking you out to my fraternity’s mixer this weekend, if […]
His Quiet Agent (2017) Ada Maria Soto Arthur Drams likes his job. But he doesn’t like that he is going nowhere with it. “Hi, Arthur Drams, level two analyst, trying, badly apparently, to make friends because I’m really tired of getting promoted sideways because my own supervisors forget I exist.” As he is already out […]
- September 19th, 2022
- Categories: 8.5/10, Ace, Comfort Read, eBook, Mental Health Rep, Neurodiversity, Novella, Physical Health, Queer, Reread, Romance
And Everything Nice (2020) Ada Maria Soto I needed something fun and happy to clean my brain out. I really do adore this story. He had drawn the short straw and now had to explain to the entire version 5.1 team how a kid they shouldn’t have hired who had already left was going to […]
Ravensong (2019) TJ Klune (Green Creek) I struggled with this book just as much the second time through as I did the first time around. It was long. I still think it needed edited down. And it still was dark and upsetting. I WAS eight, and my father took a needle and burned ink and […]
Human Enough (2019) ES Yu Noah Lau joined the Vampire Hunters–first as an Intelligence Analyst, but after issues with his supervisor, as a hunter. Although people assume he joined in revenge for the murder of his parents, he really just did not want another child to have to live through what he and his sister […]
Pack of Lies (2022) Charlie Adhara (Monster Hunt) Whine whine whine. I don’t wanna read about Eli, I wanna read more about Cooper and Oliver. (finally picks up book) (devours book) (immediately preorders sequel) Eli is managing the retreat while Cooper and Oliver are on their honeymoon. What could possibly go wrong? Multiple things, including […]
- September 15th, 2022
- Categories: 8.5/10, eBook, Fantasy, Good Cover, Mental Health Rep, Mystery, Queer, Romance, Sexual Content, Supernatural
Lucky Charm (2019) Chace Verity Set in Hollywood in 1928. Gilbert’s director and lover takes him out to dinner–and dumps him. “I need an actor who can go to the future with me. You can talk, but it doesn’t sound right.” I got tossed because there’s no longer any place in Hollywood for a deaf […]
Foxglove Summer, Audio Edition (2015) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) I love this series so much. This book is dedicated to Sir Terry Pratchett OBE, who has stood like a wossname upon the rocky shores of our imaginations— the better to guide us safely into harbor. There are so many subtle […]
Requiem for Mr. Busybody (2020) Josh Lanyon Aaaaand… I accidentally reread this as well. Michael spends a lot of time watching his neighbors. He has large windows, and since he doesn’t go out often, it gives him something to do. I usually woke up at about five-thirty and dealt with all the stuff that was […]
Sympathy (2009) Jordan Castillo Price I didn’t mean to reread this story. I was looking for books where a main character deals with a long term injury or disability, and I ended up reading the entire thing. I tried to brace my good leg and pull harder, get the lousy root ball up over the […]