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Archive for 'Romance'

Peter Cabot Gets Lost

Peter Cabot Gets Lost (2021) Cat Sebastian (The Cabots #2) Set across the US in 1960 I read Tommy Cabot Was Here in an anthology years ago, and enjoyed it, but for some reason kept putting off reading the other two books that followed. This is the second, set a couple years later, and following […]

Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots

Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots (2022) Cat Sebastian (The Cabots #3) Set in 1973 in New York City Daniel returned from the war a bit lost. His mother used her influence to make sure he spent his time sitting at a desk, as safe as it was possible to be. So he’s living in a […]

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf (2008) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #1) “Bran, the Marrok, is going to bring the werewolves out to the public?” Her voice was hushed as if she could never imagine such a thing. “He thinks that too many of the wrong people already know,” he told her. “Science and computers have made it […]

Think of England

Think of England (2014) KJ Charles Set in England in 1904 A foreigner and a dandy, because while his shirt was impeccable and the tailcoat and tapering trousers cut to perfection, he was wearing a huge green glass ring and, Curtis saw with dawning horror, a bright green flower in his buttonhole. “The supply lines […]

Proper English

Proper English (2019) KJ Charles Set in Shropshire England in 1902 “Er, are you thinking of moving to London?” “Absolutely not,” Pat assured him, and noted the tiny relaxation on his face. If she had been metropolis-minded, everyone would have expected her to set up household with her bachelor brother. They’d settled in Pat’s room, […]

Where Foxes Say Goodnight

Where Foxes Say Goodnight (2023) Sam Burns (Sleeping Foxes #1) Max has won awards and accolades for the semi-biographical story he wrote about his life with his grandmother, so it’s a bit of an unpleasant surprise to awakened the very next day by a lawyer on his doorstep with an NDA from the guy he […]

In My Dreams

In My Dreams (2020) Elin Annalise (Aces in Love #1) The problem with a lot of ace stories, is they spend a lot of time defining and explaining asexuality. If it’s not done well, it’s a lot of “well, Bob” and gets boring really quickly. Polly and her best friend Brooke work at a nature […]

Something Spectacular

Something Spectacular (2023) Alexis Hall (Something Fabulous #2) I was somewhat hesitant to read this book as I thought it was Arabella’s book, and I’m not sure I can handle an entire book with her as the main characters (Bonny was difficult enough and that book wasn’t from his point-of-view) but this is Peggy’s story […]

Something Fabulous

Something Fabulous (2022) Alexis Hall (Something Fabulous #1) I struggled the first time I read this, partially because I was having a difficult time reading anything, and partially because I went into it thinking “historical romance” instead of “fantasy rom com”. This time I went in thinking fantasy rom com and I enjoyed it much […]

Soulstar

Soulstar (2021) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #3) This is the conclusion to the Kingston Cycle, and there is a lot going on here: Severin Mountrose is now king, witches are free, there is a search to replace aether, and Solidarity has decided to hold an open election–even if it doesn’t officially count. “Why doesn’t […]

Blank Spaces

Blank Spaces (2016) Cass Lennox (Toronto Connections #1) “It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s more like I don’t know you.” “You’ve glared at me for most of lunch. That’s what I meant.” “Oh.” He went red again. “I thought you were being all pretentious and coming on to me or something, so I […]

Witchmark

Witchmark (2018) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #1) I reread this so I can finally finish the series. Mr. Elliot dragged in a tattered breath. “I got too close. They needed the souls. The war—” He gagged and rolled away from me, retching. I held him steady. “Don’t try to talk.” He dragged in ragged […]

The Missing Page

The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #2) Set in Cornwall, England in 1947 Not knowing how to respond to that, as he could hardly accept a compliment bestowed on a version of himself that was twenty years out of date, he pasted on a smile. “The letter from the solicitor said the […]

The Ruin of a Rake

The Ruin of a Rake (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series, #3) Set in London in 1817 “You ordered tea,” Courtenay said. “I like tea,” Julian responded. “You like sugary milk.” Courtenay, as if to demonstrate the point, poured about an inch of tea into Julian’s cup and then added a nearly equal amount of […]

Hither, Page

Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #1) Set in England in 1946. Do you know, James, this evening I thought to myself: I would like to put paper stars and glass balls on a tree.” “I see you’ve reached the heights of depravity.” “I’d suggest going easy on this fellow. He had a […]

The Mistletoe Motive

The Mistletoe Motive (2021) Chloe Liese There is a lot I love about this story: the ace rep, the female lead with ASD, the single point-of-view. Jonathan glances up and meets my eyes, his gaze speaking some cryptic language that I don’t. I hate that feeling. It’s old and familiar, and it never fails to […]

Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries

Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries (2023) Nicole Kimberling “This is Andrew,” Evelyn announced, waving her hand back as though I were some stray dog that had followed her home. “He’s the chef at the murder restaurant.” I pivoted and strode briskly into the walk-in refrigerator all the way to the […]

We Could Be So Good

We Could Be So Good (2023) Cat Sebastian (Midcentury NYC #1) Set in NYC in 1958 Nick is a reporter at the New York Chronicle, I job he worked hard to get, and loves doing. So he finds himself annoyed to be working with the boss’s kid, Andy Fleming, who is now on the city […]

Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue

Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue (2023) Cat Sebastian (The Cabots #3.5) Set in North Carolina in 1953 This is a story about being injured. Billy was no prince when he was hurting, either. He always felt, idiotically, that giving in to pain was some kind of character flaw. He knew it wasn’t, he […]

You Should Be So Lucky

You Should Be So Lucky (2024) Cat Sebastian (Midcentury NYC #2) Set in NYC in 1960 Eddie O’Leary made a mess of things when he reacted badly to being traded. Now his teammates hate him, the fans hate him, as far as he can tell everyone in NYC hates him. And now he can’t hit […]

The Wonder Engine

The Wonder Engine (2018) T. Kingfisher (Clocktaur War #2) “Politics,” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense. People do the stupidest shit and you want to scream that it’s against their own interests and you never know if they’re playing some deep game you don’t know about or if they’re really just that stupid.” “I […]

Clockwork Boys

Clockwork Boys (2017) T. Kingfisher (Clocktaur War, #1) This is a rare book: one that I listened to before I read. (Honestly, at the time I was desperate for distraction and wasn’t really able to concentrate on reading.) I still enjoyed it, and as it has been two years, managed to forget just enough that […]

The Soldier’s Dark Secret

The Soldier’s Dark Secret (2015) Marguerite Kaye (Comrades in Arms) Set in England in France in 1815 Jack struggles to deal with the things he saw during the way, not just the Battle of Waterloo, but before. Dammit! It had been two years. He should be over it by now. Or if not over it, […]

After Hours at Dooryard Books

After Hours at Dooryard Books (2025) Cat Sebastian Set in NYC in 1968 Patrick has worked for Dooryard Books since Mrs. Kaplan picked him up and gave him a place when he was seventeen. He may have reconnected with his brother and best friend, Susan, after being kicked out by their aunt and uncle, but […]

Legends & Lattes

Legends & Lattes (2022) Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #2) As a rule, folks with a fixed address avoided swindling an orc. Viv sighed. “I’ve lived a long time knowing I’m a threat walking. I’d rather that wasn’t the shape of it for you.” The hob pushed a handcart loaded with a big, brass-barreled mechanism, […]

Help Wanted

Help Wanted (2018) J. Emery (Ashveil Academy #1) Em wants to get her best friend the best gift this year for her birthday. Except that she’s broke, and her alchemy skills are terrible. So she decides to get a job, so she can buy Thaian the gift she wants to get her. Calpurnia West, sister […]

Upside Down

Upside Down (2019) N.R. Walker “There has to be a reason you picked Sisko.” He smiled at me and seemed to relax before launching into a spiel on consistency and compassion and how Sisko’s being a father in the show made him more relatable. She inhaled deeply, her eyes shooting daggers at me. “Siri, what’s […]

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf (2021) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #5) But loss was too complex a thing to always feel what you were supposed to feel. Fear is just your body protecting itself, Dr. Ripodi had said once. Just like pain exists to let you know something is wrong, fear is another message. Sometimes, though, the […]

Nearly a Lady

Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family #1) “He needs something to do. Something to accomplish.” Something, the marquess thought, that might lighten the shadows his brother attempted to hide behind a cheerful wit and careless smile. Being knocked unconscious by two small women was a degree better than being knocked unconscious by just […]

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #4) Park inclined his head slightly in that way of his that always made him look like some kind of benevolent god accepting a loving sacrifice. When Cooper tried the same he looked like he’d suddenly dropped food down his shirt. “It’s not you, it’s […]

Thrown to the Wolves

Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #3) “(T)he book said no one should hike alone. What if you run into an animal?” “Then there’s a 50/50 chance we’re related.” Cooper felt the discomfort that had been prickling at the base of his skull since the market bloom across his skin. You […]

The Wolf at Bay

The Wolf at Bay (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #2) I love the opening of this book so very much. But I have quoted it every review I’ve done, so I’ll skip this time. But really, it’s the best. Ever since (learning of Cooper’s injuries) Park had been hyper-vigilant that Cooper was getting enough […]

The Wolf at the Door

The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #1) Ava being Ava. He didn’t understand why she always sent a thousand little texts rather than put all the information in one long message. She didn’t understand why he used commas. “It’s a standing joke around the Trust that the real reason behind […]

Swordheart, Audio Book

Swordheart, Audio Book (2018) T. Kingfisher narrated by Jesse Vilinsky One of the grimmer realizations of Sarkis’s youth had been the discovery that knowing you were being an ass did not actually stop you from continuing to be an ass. “Well,” she admitted, looking at the pile of potatoes, “you’re good at that.” “I have […]

The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy

The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy (2025) Roan Parrish Edgar Lovejoy sees ghosts. This isn’t a gift to him, it’s a nightmare, and one he tries very hard to avoid and flees whenever he can. But seeing ghosts is in his family, and there’s nothing he can do about it…is there? Jamie Wendon-Dale loves […]

Family Matters

Family Matters (2018) Angel Martinez (Brandywine Investigations) What I’ve got is a headache as annoying as a cruise ship full of sugared-up four-year-olds. “So you’re saying I should’ve been more mature and ignored the fact that he hurt me?” He glanced from one face to the other, Auntie Hestia’s managing stern and sympathetic at once, […]

Open for Business

Open for Business (2016) Angel Martinez (Brandywine Investigations #1-3) “Epically bad.” Orpheus dropped the divorce papers on the table, shaking his fingers out as if the words had singed him. “She’s kicking him out, too. Keeping the palace and the dog.” Neither one of these dudes even smirked, like Tiberius was as normal a name […]

Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter

Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter (2016) R. Cooper (Montgomery Firefighters #1) He knew that kind of sweetie. She thought he was being dumb, but didn’t think he was smart enough to get that she was insulting him. “Caramel-stuffed snickerdoodles,” Cole remarked. “I’ll make a note that you liked them.” Scott couldn’t say how he knew […]

The House on Druid Lake

The House on Druid Lake (2021) Isabelle Adler Oliver has taken a job in Baltimore to make a new start, and perhaps a little bit of escaping his abusive ex. He believes he’s lucked out in finding a relatively inexpensive apartment to rent, in what looks to be an historical building, but things are not […]

Loud and Clear

Loud and Clear (2016) Aidan Wayne “Serves you right for being the smart one,” he said, shouldering his phone so he could clear away his dishes. “Shut up.” Tatyana always got touchy when Jaxon brought up that he was the stupid one in the family. He didn’t know why; it wasn’t like their parents hadn’t […]

Agents of Winter

Agents of Winter (2022) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #2) “I’m sorry, which one is B-837?” “Romantic or sexual involvement with another agency employee or contractor.” “I… um…” Arthur felt his cheeks flush and didn’t know what to say. It had never crossed his mind to fill out the “Fucking Form” as it was referred […]

Merlin in the Library

Merlin in the Library (2018) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #1.5) The previous day had been bad on the pain scale, leaving him with little appetite. Now, under the persistent ache, he found himself to be hungry. He would have to get up. Doctor’s orders, if he was hungry he needed to eat. He also […]

His Quiet Agent

His Quiet Agent (2017) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency Book 1) “Do you have anyone running a Super Bowl pool up here?” Arthur hated football but he couldn’t handle another sideways promotion, even if that meant sticking his head up. “Agent Sims used to do it, but he bashed a fax machine to death with […]

Joy

Joy (2017) C.S. Poe (Lancaster) I pulled my cell out and opened the Internet browser to find out, but my signal dropped down to one shaky bar and nothing would load. Fuck. Are you kidding me? I was maybe ten miles outside of Lancaster and the Internet ceased to exist? Two days ago I’d been […]

Play It Again

Play It Again (2019) Aidan Wayne Books were easier than people. talking on the phone gave him enough anxiety as it was. Never knowing whether a call might turn nasty made him dread it every time he was given a ring. People in general made Sam nervous, but he’d mentioned a few times how he […]

Shade Spells with Strangers

Shade Spells with Strangers (2025) Sarah Wallace & S. O. Callahan (Fae & Human Relations #3) Set in London in 1814 The sequel to Fire Spells Between Friends starts at the wedding between Emrys Wrenwhistle and Torquil Pimpernel-Smith, where Silas Rook-Worth and his family are creating the protection spells and area for the wedding. Silas’ […]

Family Man

Family Man (2017) Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton Trey eventually went on. “I hate that you know.” That one threw Vince. “Why? Did you think I was going to be a dick about it? Didn’t you think I’d want to help you?” Trey’s cheeks colored as his rage simmered up to boiling. “I don’t want […]

Better Than People

Better Than People (2020) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run #1) I do adore the cover for this book. “I worked at a c-company before.” He shuddered. “It was awful. Cubicles and p-people and no one would leave me alone.” “What’d they do?” Jack asked, preemptively furious on Simon’s behalf. Simon turned to him, eyes wide with […]

The Missing Page

The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #2) Set in Cornwall in 1947 “One spends so much effort not thinking about a thing that it becomes a sort of obsession.” James was struck by the sudden thought, both ghastly and somehow reassuring, that this was not the first time Leo had been called […]

Hither, Page

Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #1) Set in England in 1946 You can’t hold it against him. He had a bad war. He ought to have developed a callus over whatever part of his heart was meant for mourning, but instead, it was like a wound that never quite healed. “No, I […]