A Dangerous Deceit (2017) Alissa Johnson (The Thief-Takers) Set in England in the mid 1870s. Miss Jane Ballenger is a recluse. She’s tried going out in society, but it went very badly, so she remains at home, hiding her problems from the world. Sir Gabriel Arkwright is a famous thief-taker who now works as a […]

Best of Both Worlds (2017) N.R. Walker I had no idea what I was in he mood to read, so I thought I’d go with a novella. I read a few pages and thought this wasn’t the book I was in the mood for (it opened with trigger warnings for homophobia and violence) but I […]

Better Than People (2020) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) I’ll be honest–I’ve been wanting nothing but comfort and fluffy reading right now, and Roan Parrish is generally the last author I’d turn to for that. Her other books–while excellent–have been extremely angsty. But reviews said this was NOT full of angst, and one of the characters […]

The Sugared Game (2020) K.J. Charles (The Will Darling Adventures) Set in London in 1924. Will Darling has settled in as proprietor of the bookstore he inherited from his uncle. He’s cleaned out the upstairs so he has room to sleep, and is slowly organizing the books. Unfortunately, all that is not keeping his mind […]

A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson (The Thief Takers) Set in England in 1872 This series is just SO delightful. As soon as the door shut on the last giggle, she darted out from behind the screen and pulled the lid off one of the platters. Oh, asparagus. She adored asparagus. Samuel gestured for […]

Think of England (2015) KJ Charles Set in England in 1904. Comfort read. Which for me generally means murder. This story doesn’t start with murder, but there is death, and blackmail, and treason. Archie Curtis lost friends, his career, and several of his fingers when a shipment of guns exploded upon use. When Archie learns […]

A Talent for Trickery (2015) Alissa Johnson (The Thief-Takers) Set in England in 1872. It’s still the time for falling back on old favorites. This book was my introduction to Alissa Johnson, and I immediately snatched up everything by her I could find. Charlotte Walker (now Bales) was the daughter of an infamous confidence man–and […]

A Gentleman’s Position (2016) K.J. Charles (Society of Gentlemen) Set in London in 1820 It’s not that this is a bad story, it’s just that I really don’t care that much for Richard, so it’s difficult for me to care about him having a HEA. David Cyprian I do like, but I really don’t understand […]

Starstruck (2014) L.A. Witt (Bluewater Bay) Levi Pritchard retired from Hollywood, tired of being typecast. (H)e was pretty sure some of them were still furious about the piece of Eastwick fanfic he’d anonymously penned a while back. It was still floating around out there somewhere, along with all the angry— and some alarmingly supportive— comments […]

Taxes and TARDIS (2012) N.R. Walker Brent Kelly and his shoe-box of receipts are about to meet his new accountant. But Logan Willis isn’t old, but is instead Brent’s age, and wearing a startlingly blue shirt. Logan is nothing like the kind of guy Brent usually likes, but then Brent generally doesn’t see the same […]

The Engineer (2020) C.S. Poe (Magic & Steam) Set in the American West in 1881. Gillian Hamilton is a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam–and a powerful magic user. He is sent out west to catch a renegade magic user, but runs into a completely different wanted man while on the […]

Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut (2018) R. Cooper Jericho Candelario has spent his adult life helping to raise his siblings and his niece. His father is now sober, but between his past alcoholism, his PTSD, and his health, he wasn’t much help to the family after their mother left them. For five years, Jerry has enjoyed […]

Practically Wicked (2012) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family) Set in England in the 1800s Miss Anna Rees is the illegitimate daughter of the notorious Mrs. Wrayburn, and has had a reputation since she was a child. The fact that this reputation has nothing to do what any action Anna has every taken has nothing to do […]

A Very Henry Christmas (2017) N.R. Walker (The Weight of It All) This is a novella / short story set a year or so after the end of The Weight of It All. It’s just a cute story of Henry throwing an elaborate Christmas Eve party for their friends. Unlike the original story, we do […]

Take a Hint, Dani Brown (2020) Talia Hibbert (The Brown Sisters) Two books in a row that were very much Not My Thing. This is the second story about the Brown sisters, and we do briefly see Chloe, but mostly it’s Dani and Zaf. Dani is focused on getting her doctorate, and isn’t interested in […]

Daring and the Duke (2020) Sarah MacLean (The Bareknuckle Bastards) Set in London in 1837 & 1838 I liked so much about this book, but the boinking parts were so not my thing the whole story ended up failing for me. Let me clarify before you start angry typing at me. Hate sex is something […]

The Weight of It All (2016) N.R. Walker After eight years, Henry Beckett’s left him, because he was too old (35!) and too fat. At first Harry things that he wants to get into shape to get Graham back, but he quickly realizes he wants to make the changes for himself. “Who’s Graham?” “What?” He […]

Teach Me (2019) Olivia Dade (There’s Something About Marysburg) Rose Owens has been teaching for twenty years, but the head of secondary social studies for their school system decided to take a shot at her through a new teacher joining their school–and giving some of her favorite courses to the incoming teacher. Rose is very […]

Color of You (2017) C.S. Poe (A Lancaster Story) Bowen Merlin has moved to Lancaster in the middle of the school year to become the band director for the high and middle schools, after the previous teacher was fired. On of the first things he does, however, is dump apple cider all over the cutest […]

Kneading You (2019) C.S. Poe (A Lancaster Story) I needed some happy fluffy with outside conflict (not internal angst). Christopher Hughes is is applying for what he hopes will be his dream job–librarian in the small town to which he has moved. But a local businessman wants to tear down the building and put up […]

Knit Tight (2016) Annabeth Albert (Portland Heat) This is the fourth book in the Portland Heat series. Brady works as a barista at People’s Cup, and one of the busiest nights he works is Wednesday, when the local knitting group meets. It’s good for tips, which he needs, because he and his eighteen year-old sister […]

An Unexpected Gentleman (2011) Alissa Johnson (The Haverston Family Trilogy) Set in Scotland in the early 1800s. Adelaide Ward is her family’s only hope. Her brother is in debtor’s prison and Adelaide is in charge of her younger sister and her even younger nephew. Connor Brice has one over-arching goal–revenge against his half-brother, and he’ll […]

Nearly a Lady (2011) Alissa Johnson (Haverston Family) Set during the early 1800s. Winnefred Blythe became the ward of The Marquess of Engsly after her father died unexpectedly. She was then shunted of to an estate in Scotland with a governess little older than she was, where she has lived in poverty since. Lord Gideon […]

Destined To Last (2010) Alissa Johnson (The Providence Series) Set in England ~1815. Lady Kate Cole was, by most accounts, a young woman of exceptional beauty, extraordinary talent, and notable charm. She was also, by all accounts, a woman so remarkably prone to accidents that it was generally considered wise to back away if she […]

McAlistair’s Fortune (2009) Alissa Johnson (Providence) Set in England in 1814. After the death of her father and the subsequent neglect by her mother, Evie Cole was taken in my her aunt and it was there she truly healed from the carriage accident that left her with scars and a limp. Gritting her teeth, she […]

Tempting Fate (2009) Alissa Johnson (Providence) Set in England in 1813. Miss Mirabelle Browning has spent most of her time since her parents died with the Coles, the neighbor of her uncle where she was sent to live. The Coles have been a refuge for her, even if she spends much of her time bickering […]

As Luck Would Have It (2008) Alissa Johnson (Providence) Set in London in 1811. Sophie Everton is headed to London for her Season. Since the death of her mother and her sister, she and her father have traveled around the world, but she’ll experience one Season and then go back to her father overseas. Alec, […]

Blank Spaces (2016) Cass Lennox (Toronto Connections) Vaughn Hargrave is tired of dating. He doesn’t want what every other guy wants, so he’s decided he’ll just stop trying. Devon took a hefty gulp, then pressed his mouth to Toned’s. Vaughn saw liquid dribble from one corner as the gulp passed from mouth to mouth. His […]

A Seditious Affair (2015) KJ Charles (Society of Gentlemen) Set in London in 1819. This book dovetails and overlaps with the previous, A Fashionable Indulgence. Dominic Frey is a Tory who works for the Home Office. He also has want and needs that embarrass him, because he has been told that what he wants is […]

A Fashionable Indulgence (2015) KJ Charles (Society of Gentlemen) Set in London in 1819. Harry Vane has spent his life on the run. His parents were both radicals and they had to flee England after a riot broke out during one of his father’s speeches. After his parents died of cholera, he sneaked back into […]

The Ruin of a Rake (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series) Set in England in 1817 Lord Courtenay has a reputation of the worst sort–as a rake, libertine, and wastrel. Courtenay was effectively stranded in London, a city populated by people who thought him a monster. He had spent the last of his money getting […]

The Lawrence Browne Affair (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series) Set in England in 1816 Georgie Turner needs to leave London ASAP. He has run afoul of the crime lord with whom he had worked for several years, because he couldn’t go through with a confidence game. So his brother sends him out to Cornwall […]

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (2018) Cat Sebastian (Seducing the Sedgwicks) Set in London in 1817. Hartley Sedgwick has been hiding in the house left to him by his godfather–a house he earned, that is now almost a prison as rumors have swirled about just what Hartley did to earn that house, and the livings […]

It Takes Two to Tumble (2017) Cat Sebastian (Seducing the Sedgwicks) Set in England in 1817. Imagine the sound of music, except with three kids, Maria is a local vicar, and the sea captain is hiding his reading disability. The children of Barton Hall have been running wild since their mother died. Their father is […]

Behind These Doors (2018) Jude Lucens (Radical Proposals) St in England in 1906. Aubrey Fanshawe spends much of his free time with his best friends,Lord and Lady Hernedale. When an accidental meeting with Lucien Saxby turns into something more, Aubrey fears his trust will be betrayed. But when Saxby turns to him for him, things […]

An Unsuitable Heir (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities) Set in London, 29 November 1873 – January 1874 This book ends the Sins of the City series, and we finally learn who has been behind the murders, as well as why (although that had been pretty obvious). Mark Braglewicz is looking for the heir […]

An Unnatural Vice (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities) Set in London, 15 November – 25 December 1873 The second Sins of the City book overlaps the first, but shows those events from Nathaniel Roy’s point of view. The other character is Justin Lazarus, who is spiritualist Nathaniel is determined to expose as a […]

An Unseen Attraction (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities) Set in London 28 October, 1873 Clem Talleyfer is quite happy running a lodging house. There is quiet and order and it’s in a neighborhood where he doesn’t stand out. As a plus, he currently has Rowley Green as a lodger. As a minus, he […]

Five Dates (2015) Amy Jo Cousins Devin has been too busy for more than random hook-ups since he and his little sister were thrown out of their parents’ house: her for being a pregnant and him for being gay. Anger had mellowed into a general apathy and coldness after ten years, but little things could […]

Starcrossed (2020) Allie Therin (Magic in Manhattan) Set in New York in 1925. This is set immediately after the events of the first book. Rory and Arthur are in Hyde Park where Rory is helping to authenticate some of Arthur’s brother’s supposedly antique compasses, and Arthur is visiting his family. “Speaking of children,” Arthur said […]

Spellbound (2019) Allie Therin (Magic in Manhattan) Set in New York in 1924. Rory Brodigan works for a woman he calls his aunt, helping assess the authenticity of antiques. But there is no science–only magic–behind his abilities. Arthur Kenzie needs someone who can read the history of objects, and he thinks Mrs Brodigan is the […]

Meet Cute Club (2020) Jack Harbon (Sweet Rose) Jordan Collins wants more than almost anything to keep his book club–the Meet Cute Club–going. His grandmother’s book club was his inspiration, and he wants to share his love of romance with his community. Unlike anyone normal, Jordan had opted to reread the entire eight-book series again, […]

Master Wolf (2020) Joanna Chambers (Capital Wolves Duet) Set in Europe in 1820 with flashbacks. Gentleman Wolf ended with Lindsay all but being sent away from Drew. Master Wolf picks up thirty years later, as Lindsay has tried to stay away from Drew, and Drew has tried to come to terms with his wolf, and […]

Gentleman Wolf (2019) Joanna Chambers (Capital Wolves Duet) Set in Scotland & Europe in 1682 and 1788. Lindsay Somerville spent years as the prisoner of a man who turned and then tortured him solely because Lindsay looked like the man who turned him–a man he cannot disobey any more than Lindsay can disobey him. The […]

Throwing Hearts (2020) N.R. Walker Leo Secombe is happy with his job, his roommate (who is his honorary sister) and he’s weekly trips with Clyde–an elder he met at the local LGBTQIA+ Center. When I first met him, he reminded me of Sam the Eagle, the angry blue Muppet bird, and the more I got […]

Slippery Creatures (2020) K.J. Charles (The Will Darling Adventures) Will Darling returned from the Great War at a bit of a loss. Will had gone to the War at eighteen, and come back five years later to find himself useless and unwanted. In Flanders he’d been a grizzled veteran, a fount of professional expertise who […]

He’s Come Undone: A Romance Anthology (2020) Emma Barry, Olivia Dade, Adriana Herrera, Ruby Lang, and Cat Sebastian Appassionata by Emma Barry Unraveled by Olivia Dade Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera Yes, And… by Ruby Lang Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian This is five romance novellas by five authors, three M/F and two […]

His Grandfather’s Watch (2015) N.R. Walker This is a very sweet story, told in two parts. The first part is Alex–a young man who works in his family’s antique store working with clocks and watches, falling for Callum Winters, who comes into the shop to try and learn more about a watch he inherited. The […]

Principles of Spookology (2020) S.E. Harmon (The Spectral Files) Rain Christiansen is back home, working with his partner Daniel McKenna in the newly created PTU, an offshoot of the cold crimes unit, except that they get their leads through the cold cases through Rain’s talking with ghosts. Unfortunately, the ghosts won’t leave Rain alone, and […]

P.S. I Spook You (2019) S.E. Harmon (The Spectral Files) Couple of things to note, start with the fact this is self published, so parts of it are a little rough. Not typos or anything, but there story could have been tightened up in a few places where I got confused or felt like I […]