Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park are trying to buy a house. Well, Oliver is looking at houses and Cooper is horrified at how much money Oliver wants to spend. So what do you think of this place?” Park asked. Cooper bit his lip. “What do […]
And Everything Nice (2016) Ada Maria Soto The only way Angelo knows to tell a guy he’s interested is through food. Specifically, baked goods. He held out the plate. He’d gone for his chocolate-chip cookies, always a good icebreaker. They weren’t too large, making them harder to justify refusing. He used the vanilla paste instead […]
Mating the Huntress (2018) Talia Hibbert Luke Anthony is a werewolf. Chastity Adofo comes from a family of Huntresses, although she herself is forbidden to hunt. twenty-five years ago, on the day of Chastity’s birth, some batty old oracle had rocked up to the delivery room and told her parents— in typically dramatic fashion— that […]
Merlin in the Library (2018) Ada Maria Soto This is a short story that is a follow-up to His Quiet Agent. It’s a glimpse into Martin’s head, and kind of a reassurance that he is getting help for his trauma and issues. It won’t make much sense if you haven’t read the novella, but if […]
His Quiet Agent (2017) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency) It hasn’t been that long since I read this, but I really wanted to revisit it, and it was actually better than I had remembered, since I picked up more details the second time through. Arthur Drams is an analyst for The Agency. He may have […]
Dads with Benefits (2019) Jason Collins (Fairview Single Dads) Ellis is pleased to meet the newest member of the single dad’s group. He’s hot, he owns his own business, and he’s a great guy. What Ellis doesn’t expect is that when he needs a fake boyfriend to get his boss off his back, that straight […]
Save the Date (2017) Annabeth Albert & Wendy Qualls Randall Young is his sister’s Man of Honor, and although he’s sober for her bachelorette party, that doesn’t mean he isn’t looking. Hunter Mitchell is looking to relax while in town for his best friend’s wedding. What he doesn’t plan on is hooking up with Beau’s […]
Upside Down (2019) N.R. Walker This was precisely the story I needed to read. I have a ton of books on my TBR, but none of them were pulling me in. Jordan O’Neil is a librarian who is tired of his love life never ever working out. When his co-worker (and best friend) Merry encourages […]
All the Wrong Places (2016) Ann Gallagher (Bluewater Bay) Brennan Cross doesn’t know what’s wrong with him, only that there must be something, since all his girlfriends cheat on him and then dump him. Once was chance. Twice was coincidence. Three times was a goddamn pattern. Zafir Hamady works at a sex shop for the […]
Blank Spaces (2016) Cass Lennox (Toronto Connections) Vaughn Hargrave has friends, a place to live, and a job in an art gallery that allows him to paint. He’s perfectly fine without dating or casual sex–even if everyone around him thinks he requires it. “Mom. I’m fine. Singledom is great. Work is great. I’ll see you […]
Check, Please!: # Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu Eric Bittle was a junior figure skating champion, but now he’s a Freshman in college and on the Samwell University hockey team–but not quite sure he’s ready for checking. Also, he has a crush on one of his teammates–the star and captain, Jack Zimmerman. It’s a cute story, […]
Dine with Me (2019) Layla Reyne Miller Sykes rose in the food world until he had his own restaurant. But now the restaurant is closing, his best friend is getting married, and according to the doctor he has 6 months to live if he doesn’t get his cancer treated. But the treatment (if it works) […]
Three Stupid Weddings (2018) Ann Gallagher Victor Nelson is still struggling with his breakup–even if everyone (including Vic) knows he is so much better off without Max. So when he find out he has to attend three family weddings over the summer, he’s miserable at the thought of all of his relatives introducing him to […]
The Monuments Men Murders (2019) Josh Lanyon (The Art of Murder) Jason West is supposed to be in the same state as his lover (and BSU agent) Sam Kennedy. Jason is working on a case of art looted by American soldiers during WWII. “The van Eyck was originally stolen from a cathedral in Belgium. Most […]
Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Cooper has spent the past several months recuperating, and being taken care of by Oliver, who has been on suspension (both the result of Cooper’s visit home to see his father and brother). Every official communication was carefully uninterested about the private lives of their […]
The Wolf at Bay (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park and working things out as partners for the BSI, but Cooper isn’t quite sure how things are working out on the personal front. Neither seems capable of talking about how the feel, and both have a lot they need to […]
The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Agent Cooper Dayton discovered the existence of the supernatural in the worst possible way–by almost being killed by it. Werewolves were not just in books and movies, cartoons and games. They were real and they had “come out” five years ago to governments around […]
Candy Hearts (2020) Erin McLellan (So Over the Holidays) Benji Holiday is over Valentine’s day, and so has accepted his sister’s invitation to join her friends for a Valentine’s weekend, but when he shows up, he discovers that the party was delayed due to a power outage. William O’Dare is hosting the annual Valentine’s day […]
The Alpha and His Ace (2015) Ana J. Phoenix This is a cute little potato chip of a story. What it does a very good job of is explaining Ace and that different Aces have different wants and needs, and a general “don’t assume”. There was also some general silliness. ”What are the ups?” ”I […]
The Winter Companion (2020) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1860 This is the 4th book of The Parish Orphans of Devon series, and about the most complicated of the four men. Neville Cross has spent as much time as possible with animals, rather than people, after the accident that almost killed him, and permanently […]
The Magician Murders (2019) Josh Lanyon Jason West is in DC for a training session (and to spend time with his boyfriend Sam Kenendy) when a hit and run puts him in the hospital. Sam takes Jason out to Wyoming where his mother lives so Jason can recuperate and they two can have some time […]
Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists (2017) Angel Martinez Between writing up posts on some of my favorite books and just needing something light and happy to read, I decided I needed to re-read Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists. This is such an adorable story AND it’s an Ace romance, which is even more lovely. Taro has something to tell […]
Arctic Heat (2019) Annabeth Albert Owen Han is checking one more item off his bucket list–spending the winter in Alaska, and he’s doing it as a volunteer for the Alaska park service. Quill’s tone didn’t exactly encourage more talking, but Owen was nothing if not friendly. And persistent. His sister the therapist called it aggressively […]
Noble Hops (2019) Layla Reyne (Trouble Brewing) Nic and Cam are ready to settle down in their relationship but nothing can remain calm for the two of them. In this case, Nic’s estranged father has been found dead, and it’s good odds he was murdered by DUncan Vaughn, the gangster who has been threatening Nic […]
Craft Brew (2018) Layla Reyne (Trouble Brewing) Dominic Price and Cameron Byrne have been serious about each other for months, but Nic is so afraid that the gangster who holds his (estranged) father’s debts will go after anyone Nic cares for, so he and Cam have kept their relationship quiet. “Did Vaughn take out insurance […]
Imperial Stout (2018) Layla Reyne (Trouble Brewing) Dominic “Nic” Price has been a lot of things: SEAL, JAG, and now assistant US attorney. But he didn’t think he’d particularly been in love, until he meets Cameron Byrne, the FBI’s kidnap and rescue expert. Cameron Byrne has played the field for as long as he’s been […]
The Monet Murders (2017) Josh Lanyon Jason West and Sam Kennedy have been calling each other semi-regularly, but haven’t met up since the end of their last case, where Sam said he wanted to try things with Jason. When Jason is (unexpectedly) called out to a murder scene, Sam is there and pretty much tells […]
Status Update (2015) Annabeth Albert (#gaymers) Noah Walters is trying to finish his book, so he can complete his sabbatical as expected and then get tenure. Teaching jobs in geoarchaeologist are few and far between, so even if he isn’t especially comfortable at the conservative college where he teaches, it’s a good job and he […]
The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky (2019) Mackenzi Lee This is not a boinking book, although it is a book about boinking. Henry “Monty” Montague and Percy Newton are mostly over the events of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and are beginning their lives together, except that they haven’t yet done it yet, […]
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (2019) Talia Hibbert Chloe Brown has been all but a recluse because of her chronic illness. But a near-death experience convinces her she needs to change things up: so she makes a list. “Excuse me, universe,” she whispered to the kitchen floor. “When you almost murdered me today— which was […]
Dim Sum Asylum (2017) Rhys Ford Roku MacCormick is part of the Chinatown Arcane Crimes Division, and things are not going well for him. He lost his love and his daughters, and there is nothing in his life anymore but following in his mother’s footsteps and trying to be order to a deeply disordered place. […]
Joy (States of Love) (2017) C.S. Poe Gideon Joy is just plain unlucky. If it is possible for something in his life to go wrong, it does. Which is why he is depressed but unsurprising when he clips a moose driving through New Hampshire, wrecking his car AND the car of someone else. Since he’s […]
All the World’s an Undead Stage (2018) Angel Martinez The final book in the Offbeat Crimes series. This completes Carrington Loveless and Erasmus Graham’s story arc, as well as the overall story arc o just WHY is everything so weird in Philadelphia. We also get resolution for other characters, including Vance. “He has seemed more, […]
Jackalopes and Woofen-Poofs (2017) Angel Martinez This story splits between Jason and Alex’s point-of-view. Most of the 77th has to go to State Paranormal to face an inquiry as to the events of the previous book, where an arcane working was destroyed in the hopes it would stop the attacks by the feral dust bunnies […]
Feral Dust Bunnies (2017) Angel Martinez This is one of my favorite stories in the collection. Alex Wolf is a member of the 77th. His partner is a giant lizard of unknown origin, but his own origin might be odder. “Are you all right, sweetheart?” Mom stopped on her way past his room with a […]
Skim Blood and Savage Verse (2017) Angel Martinez Carrington Loveless is my least favorite character in this series, but on a second read-through, I have a little more compassion for him, since his parents are pretty awful. How could he have even thought about not celebrating his thirty-fifth birthday? Especially if it meant it gave […]
The Pill Bugs of Time (2016) Angel Martinez What do I love about this story? “Should get an Odo bucket,” Vikash murmured. “A what?” Kyle chuckled into his coffee. “Seriously, Carr? You never watched Deep Space Nine? My problem with this story is that I really hate time-travel stories. Time travel, dystopia, hard SF. REALLY […]
Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (2016) Angel Martinez I started several books and immediately dropped them, so since this series has been in the back of my mind, I decided to re-read, even though it’s been less than a year since I first read it. Kyle Monroe was a normal cop until a run in […]
Arctic Wild (2019) Annabeth Albert (Frozen Hearts) Tobias Kooly loves his job–even if he did have to drop out of university to help support his family to take it. He loves flying, and leading tours allows him to socialize and flirt AND fly. Reuben Graham was supposed to be taking this Alaska trip with his […]
Thaw (2017) Elyse Springer (Seasons of Love Book) Dedication: You are not broken. You are not alone. You are perfect exactly the way you are. And you are loved. The first thing to know about Abigail is that she loves her job as a librarian. The second is that she isn’t particularly social, but agrees […]
Merry Inkmas (2017) Talia Hibbert Bailey Cooper is working her way through school as a barrista, and the highlight of recent weeks has been the hot guy who comes in to order coffee and flirt with her. Cash Evans has been watching Bailey for months–wanting what he can’t have and doesn’t deserve. And now she […]
Arctic Sun (2019) Annabeth Albert (Frozen Hearts) River Vale, supermodel turned traveler and writer, is not what Griffin Barrett wants on this tour. He’d rather not be running the tour at all, but with his uncle hurt, there’s no one else to do it. …the customers. Oh, his mom called them guests, but really, it […]
Ramen Assassin (2019) Rhys Ford Trey Bishop’s life went up in flames, sprawled across all the tabloids. But he’s been sober for several years now–slowly putting himself back together. So stumbling across two men moving a dead body–men who then try to kill Trey–is not what he wanted or needed out of life. So long […]
Southernmost Murder (2018) C.S. Poe I’m beginning to think I should just go ahead and read everything CS Poe has written, because I’ve really liked everything I’ve read so far. Aubrey Grant runs an historical property in Key West–a job he does well, despite the regular inconveniences of his narcolepsy. He’s also looking forward to […]
RAFE: A Buff Male Nanny (2018) Rebekah Weatherspoon This… is not my jam. That doesn’t mean it’s not good, it’s just not for me. Dr. Sloan Copeland has been struggling to keep life together as she continues her work as a successful surgeon and as a single mother of two six-year-old twins. When her nanny […]
American Love Story (2019) Adriana Herrera This story is about three things: Patrice and Easton, boinking, and this sentence. A black man had to always think about the space he was in. Two of the three things about this book I really really liked. The third, as is well known, is not my thing. There […]
A Matter of Disagreement (2018) EE Ottoman I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. It’s historical fantasy, set in a France like land, with some of the trappings of historical France and England, but there is also magic. “The use of magic to animate. You see, it is commonly believed that only […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1946. I’ll be honest, although the premises of most of her books are my thing, I just haven’t loved most of Cat Sebastian’s books. They generally have a lot of sex, and the plot aren’t always enough of my thing to get past […]
Play It Again: A Slow Burn Romance (2019) Aidan Wayne Dovid Rosenstein and his sister Rachel run the popular YouTube channel Don’t Look Now, with Rachel behind the camera and Dovid starring in the videos–many of which focus on accessibility and anti-bullying, since Dovid has spent most of his life navigating a sighted world. Dontlooknowdovid: […]
The Bellingham Mystery Series Volume 2 (2015) Nicole Kimberling One Man’s Treasure Birds of a Feather Pentimento Blues When I read The Bellingham Mystery Series Volume 1 I noted that the first story was the weakest, and each successive story got better and better. This volume takes off where the first ended, both story-wise and […]