Merlin in the Library (2018) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #1.5) Martin wanted to reassure Arthur that he was fine and send him back to bed, except his therapist reminded him every session that there was nothing wrong in asking for help and he should do so whenever he felt the need. This advice was […]

Shifting Shadows (2014) Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega) Silver Fairy Gifts (previously published in Naked City) Gray (previously published in Home Improvement: Undead Edition) Seeing Eye (previously published in Strange Brew) Alpha and Omega (previously published in On the Prowl) The Star of David (previously published in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) Roses in Winter In […]

Burn Bright (2018) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #5) Knowing Asil, he probably had C-4 stashed in sealed containers along with detonators somewhere in the car. But no one but Asil would be able to find it. “Really,” said Anna, amused despite herself. “That’s your defense? ‘If it had been me, I’d have done it […]

Dead Heat (2015) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #4) The Arabians might not suit you; they don’t suit everyone. They are like cats: vain, beautiful, and intelligent. But you deal well enough with Asil, who is also vain, beautiful, and intelligent. “Shut your piehole, punk kid,” Max said, thumping her on the head with the […]

Fair Game (2012) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #3) Leslie learned two valuable things about the fae that day. They were powerful and charming—and they ate children and puppies. Asil bowed his head to Bran’s anger. “That’s why you are the Alpha and I will do anything I can to never be Alpha again.” His […]

Hunting Ground (2009) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #2) His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them. So often people got it wrong, treating their elders like children, people to be coddled and ignored. He knew better, and so did the […]

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 […]

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 […]

And Everything Nice (2016) Ada Maria Soto I adore this short story. “He might not be gay, and he’s probably already got a boyfriend.” “Prescouted. Single, new in town, currently into Elder Scrolls online, and has a pride flag bumper sticker, so out and proud.” “Why are you helping me?” Mark had suffered through the […]

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (1985) Agatha Christie The Thirteen Problems (1932) 1. The Tuesday Night Club (1927) 2. The Idol House of Astarte (1928) 3. Ingots of Gold (1928) 4. The Bloodstained Pavement (1928) 5. Motive v. Opportunity (1928) 6. The Thumbmark of St. Peter (1928) 7. The Blue Geranium (1929) 8. The […]

Burn Bright, Audiobook (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega #5) Brother Wolf didn’t like Leah, either, but he respected her more than Charles did. Hester in wolf form was, like Anna, pitch-black, though Anna’s eyes were ice blue. In build, Anna’s wolf was lithe and graceful. Hester was made for war. […]

Dead Heat, Audiobook (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega #4) Good-bye tears your heart out and leaves it a feast for carrion birds who happen by. “Heaven forbid that we should get what we deserve,” “that is the dual gift of love, isn’t it? The joy of greeting and the sorrow […]

Fair Game, Audiobook (2012) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega #3) Leslie learned two valuable things about the fae that day. They were powerful and charming—and they ate children and puppies. They were passed by a woman with a Pekingese coming the other way. Her little dog hit the end of his […]

Hunting Ground, Audiobook (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega #2) To make great art, you had to expose your soul, and some things should be left safely in the dark. So often people got it wrong, treating their elders like children, people to be coddled and ignored. He knew better, and […]

Cry Wolf, Audiobook (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega #1) Sarai had often thumped him soundly on the head for looking at other women, though she’d known he’d never stray. Now that she was gone, he seldom even looked. Flirting didn’t make him feel disloyal to his dead mate, but he’d […]

Wild Sign, Audio Book (2021) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham I was conflicted about this story the first time I read it, and so gave it plenty of time and decided to see if a second reading (and as an audio book) would change anything. It did, in a way, but I’m still conflicted. […]

Burn Bright (2018) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega) Asil had vowed his loyalty to the Marrok and Bran (as if they were two different people) as soon as he had read the note through. “It is all right to mourn Hester. She is worth the weight of your sorrow.” “The oldest […]

Dead Heat, Audio Book (2015) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega) This is my second favorite book in this series (the first being the previous book). Max laughed. “That’s right, pipsqueak. Maybe if I didn’t like horses so much, Mom wouldn’t have married Kage. And then you wouldn’t even be around.” “Yes, […]

Fair Game, Audio Book (2012) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega) He didn’t say whom he’d sworn his oath to, though Charles rather thought it didn’t matter. For one such as this fae, an oath sworn to a child was as valid as an oath sworn to a king or the pope. […]

Hunting Ground, Audio Book (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega) His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them. My people are cursed with the love of beautiful things and no ability to create them. This is the […]

Cry Wolf, Audio Book (2009) Patricia Briggs narrated by Holter Graham (Alpha & Omega) Anna was forcibly Changed, and then terrorized by her pack, as the alpha’s last ditch effort to keep from having to kill his mate. Now she has come with Charles–her mate, according to her wolf (and his)–to Aspen Creek. Unfortunately, there […]

Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson, Audio Book (2014) Patricia Briggs narrated by Lorelei King and Alexander Cendese Silver Fairy Gifts (previously published in Naked City) Gray (previously published in Home Improvement: Undead Edition) Seeing Eye (previously published in Strange Brew) Alpha and Omega (previously published in On the Prowl) The Star […]

Compulsory (2023) Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries) MURDERBOT SHORT STORY Thank you Tania! <3 Publisher: Subterranean Press

Sweet & Sour Spells (2023) Jessica Rosenberg (Baking Up a Magical Midlife) The previous books in the series were fine. I kept reading because I was curious about the characters, and the stories were a nice escape. It’s not that this one was bad, but I ran into more copy editing errors that threw me […]

Merlin in the Library (2018) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency) A very brief story from Martin’s POV, set a couple of weeks after his return. 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 […]

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

A Rare Book of Cunning Device, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Just because this is such a fun story. ‘Tell me that wasn’t a spider?’ said Ms Winstanley in a deceptively calm tone. ‘Can’t have been,’ I said. ‘Thank god for that,’ she said. ‘Can’t stand spiders.’ ‘It […]

Liberty & Other Stories (2018) Alexis Hall (Prosperity) Shackles Squamous with a Chance of Rain From the Journal of Mrs. Miranda Lovelace Cloudy Climes and Starless Skies Liberty This is collection of stories about the characters from the Prosperity. The first story, Shackles, was my least favorite. Because I don’t much like Milord, and I […]

Jane Yellowrock Short Stories Faith Hunter “The Devil’s Left Boot” (2013) Kicking It Liz & Cia Everheart take on a case to find a former classmate’s mother. “Eighteen Sixty” (2015) The Weird Wild West Set in 1860. Ayatas Firewind “Anzu, Duba, Beast” (2016) Were- Jane and the Mercy Blade go hunting. “Death and the Fashionista” […]

Celtic Myths series (2021) A. L. Lester These are stories based upon various Celtic myths, shifted, twisted, and retold. Surfacing Again (2021) Lin (Malinda) is now spending her Christmas alone, after a blow-up with the friend with whom she was supposed to be vacationing with. The subtext was that she’d turned up on Lin’s doorstep […]

Fearless (2016) Shira Glassman Lana Novak is okay being divorced, as she and her ex-husband were finally able to admit who they were to each other–and the world. Although neither of their parents are enthused, their kids are fine with it, so when Lana develops a crush on one of the high school conductors / […]

Life Saving Dal (2017) Ada Maria Soto It’s been one year since his divorce was finalized, but Nathan still fantisizes things aren’t truly over. “Waiting for the other half of that?” He nodded to Nathan’s ring on the bar top. Nathan shrugged again. “My ex-husband loved movies, the kind with big romantic gestures at the […]

The Boy Next Door (2017) Josh Lanyon Encyclopedia Brown grows up and wants to be a private detective for real. But his former sidekick is now the town sheriff who refuses to grant him his PI license. And the detective, his former sidekick, and his nemesis all went to school together. And I wasn’t crazy […]

The Beat Goes On: The Complete Rebus Stories (2015) Ian Rankin ‘Dead and Buried’ © 2013 ‘Playback,’ ‘The Dean Curse,’ ‘Being Frank,’ ‘Concrete Evidence,’ ‘Seeing Things,’ ‘A Good Hanging,’ ‘Tit for Tat,’ ‘Not Provan,’ ‘Sunday,’ ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ ‘The Gentleman’s Club,’ ‘Monstrous Trumpet’ from A Good Hanging (And Other Short Stories, Featuring Inspector Rebus) © […]

An Irregular Arrangement A. L. Lester (Border Magic) Set in England in 1920. This is a short story set in the Border Magic world. Tim and Flora are best friends who chose to get married to make things safer for Tim and his lover, Rupert. Val is finally twenty one and ready to leave their […]

If the Fates Allow (2021) Rainbow Rowell This is surprisingly complicated for just 38 pages. That is, of course, because it’s about Christmas, but it’s also about the pandemic. “Hey there!” a man called. Reagan looked up, and her foot hit a patch of ice. She went down quick, landing on one knee— and then […]

“Asil and the Not-date” (2020) Patricia Briggs Ages and ages ago, I got the anthology A Fantastic Holiday Season: The Gift of Stories mostly so I could read the Asil story. Which I loved. The anthology for the second Asil story has been sitting on my wish list forever, but after realizing it was available […]

Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage (2016) CS Poe I love this story. I mean, it’s like someone dared her to put every single trope she could think of into less than 40 pages, and she made it perfect. I was attending a singles’ convention for special people like me to find their forever penguin […]

Not Even a Mouse (2015) Dahlia Donovan Kat is a shifter. (T)he feathertail glider shifter— not a mouse, thank you very much. She has also been in love with her older brother’s best friend for years. Not that she’d ever tell him. Declan has spent his adult life studying genetics, trying to determine the genetics […]

The Day Pass (2021) Slade James (Bear Camp) Although he has to work that night, Kevin is going to enjoy himself and spend the day at Bear Camp. He doesn’t expect anything except a day in he sun and maybe a quick hookup, but his new-to-him truck came with a dragonfly sticker, and maybe that’s […]

Short Stories: Annabeth Albert Annabeth Albert “New Status Needed” (2016) Noah & Adrian, #gaymers 1.5 (16 pages) “Tease Me” (2019) #gaymers Ryan & Josiah 3.5 (26 pages) “Love Connection” (2017) Ryan & Josiah #gaymers 3.7 (24 pages) “Off Leash” (2018) Pike & Zach, Out of Uniform 1.5 (26 pages) “Homebodies” (2018) Wes & Dustin, Out […]

And Everything Nice (2016) Ada Maria Soto “He might not be gay, and he’s probably already got a boyfriend.” “Prescouted. Single, new in town, currently into Elder Scrolls online, and has a pride flag bumper sticker, so out and proud.” “Why are you helping me?” “Because I’m your bro, and bros help bros get laid.” […]

Heart of the Forrest (2021) Morgan Mason When he was a teenager, Forrest found a wooden heart with the letters A+F carved in it. He didn’t know who it was for, but it made him feel better. So now he’s heading back to where he found the lost heart. Even though he never spoke to […]

Interlude: Snow & Winter Collection Volume One (2021) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter) This is what it says on the tin: A collection of Snow and Winter short stories. Dopamine: Take Only as Directed Lunch Date Credit Scores and Cohabitation The Ghost of Durango Interpersonal Relationship Studies on the Way to the Coffee House Someone’s […]

Wild Sign (2021) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega) The FBI has come calling on Charles & Anna. A group of people have disappeared, and the land they were living on in the northern California mountains belongs to Leah–Bran’s wife. I read this in two sittings, so it’s (as expected) fast paced and drew me in […]

Tarot Sequence novellas & stories (2020) K. D. Edwards (The Tarot Sequence) I was informed that there were Tarot Sequence short stories and novellas online. After finishing The Hanged Man I immediately sought them out. Most of them can be found in the twitter thread I linked to above. There may be other stories, but […]

The Weddings (2019) Alexander Chee (Inheritance collection) Let me be clear: this is not a romance. Jack Cho never quite expected gay marriage to become legal, so he’s not quite sure how to navigate them–especially with a relatively new boyfriend. Now that he was going to weddings, he had become aware there was an etiquette […]

Right after New Year I stumbled across Prolific Works Winter Giveaway and picked up a bunch of free ebooks. Since many were short stories, I decided to only do individual reviews if the ebook was a novel or novella and if I really liked it. I haven’t read all the stories yet, but I have […]

Tales: Short Stories Featuring Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford (2015) Charles Todd This collection is four short stories with Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge. “The Kidnapping” “The Girl on the Beach” “Cold Comfort” “The Maharani’s Pearls” “The Kidnapping” – Ian Rutledge, London 1920 I actually have a copy of this short story, but it had […]

Sergeant Delicious (2020) Annabeth Albert I shouldn’t have started off today with a Josh Lanyon short story. No other short story was going to measure up (unless it was another Josh Lanyon short story, which I don’t seem to have on my TBR pile.) Xavier is going to be discharged in just a few weeks. […]