The Pill Bugs of Time (2016) Angel Martinez This is the second half of Kyle and Vikash’s story, told from Vikash’s POV. Why are these two characters fun? Because they are ridiculously geeky–and proud of it. “Should get an Odo bucket,” Vikash murmured. “A what?” Kyle chuckled into his coffee. “Seriously, Carr? You never watched […]
Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (2016) Angel Martinez Kyle Monroe has been a cop at the 77th precinct for several months, when he is assigned a new partner: the extremely stoic and handsome Vikash Soren. He wants to dislike Vikash, but instead falls for him–which is a terrible idea, since they’re partners. This is a […]
In Other Words… Murder (2018) Josh Lanyon The fourth Holmes & Moriarity book finds the two settled into the new home and starting to talk about more serious matters–like a fancy vacation that might possibly be a honeymoon. Unfortunately, Christopher’s stalker from the previous book is causing trouble, and a body has been found in […]
The Boy with the Painful Tattoo (2014/2018) Josh Lanyon Christopher Holmes has decided to take the next bog step–he and JX are moving in together. JX found a house and Christopher has moved up to San Francisco. Unfortunately, JX has to immediately head off to a convention, and when Christopher starts to unpack he finds […]
All She Wrote (2010/2017) Josh Lanyon Christopher has canceled his weekend with X.J. to go help his mentor, who had a fall and needs help with her writing retreat–and discovering who is trying to kill her. I wouldn’t exactly pronounce the silence dead, as I shoved the stack of papers aside and pulled my laptop […]
Somebody Killed His Editor (2009/2016) Josh Lanyon Christopher Holmes has spent the past 16 years writing his beloved heroine, Miss Butterwith, but sales are flat, and his editor has strong-armed him into coming to a conference in an attempt to help his career (and see if he can stay with his current publishing house). “This […]
The Duke I Tempted (2018) Scarlett Peckham Set in England in 1753 To be honest, I’m still not quite sure how I feel about this story. It was compelling. I read it all in one go. But I don’t know quite what I think. Archie, The Duke of Westmead has worked hard to redeem not […]
Recipe For Treason (2014) Andrea Penrose Set in ~1814 The first two books in this series were fine. This one, however, irritated me. Let’s start with first thing to drive me to a snarky comment, 5% into the story. The coachman had been knocked unconscious by a rock during the initial attack. But with his […]
Murder Takes the High Road (2018) Josh Lanyon Two years ago, Librarian Carter Matheson bought tickets for himself and his boyfriend for the Tour to Die For, a bus trip through Scotland visiting many of the places that appeared in Dame Vanessa Rayburn’s books. But now Carter and Trevor are split, and Carter refused to […]
The Heretic’s Apprentice (1989) Ellis Peters Set in England in 1143. Elave has returned from the Holy Land with his Master’s body–the man died while on pilgrimage, not during the Crusades–and bearing a gift for his adopted daughter. Although the gift causes problems, the first problems stem from Elave thinking on his own about God […]
Another Place in Time (2014) by Tamara Allen, Joanna Chambers, K.J. Charles, Kaje Harper, Jordan L. Hawk, Aleksandr Voinov This is an anthology of historical M/M romances. “Office Romance” by Tamara Allen “Introducing Mr. Winterbourne” by Joanna Chambers “The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh” by K.J. Charles “Unfair in Love and War” by Kaje Harper “Carousel” […]
The Cocoa Conspiracy (2014) Andrea Penrose Set in England and Vienna in 1814. Lady Adrianna stopped at her husband’s favorite bookseller on the way home from the market, only to get into a scuffle with a strange man over a book on chocolate. Sandro, Lord Saybrook, is asked by his uncle, Lord Mellon, to attend […]
Sweet Revenge (2011) Andrea Penrose Set in London in 1813. Arianna Hadley is working in Lady Spenser’s kitchen as a chef, in the hopes to find information about the men who murdered her father. The Earl of Saybrook was invalided out of the Army, and seems to spend most of his days in misery, escaping […]
The Curse of Lord Stanstead (2015) Mia Marlowe Set in London in 1819. With his pretenatural ability to influence the thoughts of others, Garrett Sterling is sent to gather Cassandra for the Order of the M.U.SE. He’s entirely unprepared for his immediate attraction to the comely little firestarter. But it’s an attraction that he must […]
Hexbreaker (2016) Jordan L. Hawk Tom Halloran is a cop hiding a past that would get him thrown in jail–if not executed. Cicero is a familiar without a witch, and his time to remain in that state with the MWP is growing short, which means he may need to accept any witch or find his […]
Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas (2018) Joanna Chambers Set in England in 1823 Lysander Winterbourne has spent the last year and a half being Adam Freeman’s estate manager, and although both are happy with the situation, neither truly knows how the other feels, and thus fearing an inevitable end, is unable to let the other know how […]
Any Old Diamonds (2019) K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) Set in England in 1895. Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes–who goes by Alec Pyne–desperately wants revenge upon his father. So he hires the Lilywhite Boys to steal the diamond parvane his father is planning to give his second wife on their 20th anniversary. But Jerry Crozier knows far more […]
The Overnight Kidnapper (2015/2019) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The 23rd Inspector Montalbano book. The joy of these stories isn’t the mysteries, although they are never bad, but the time spent with Montalbano and all those around him. Like Catarella. “Fazio in?” “Nah, Chief, ’e’s atta scene o’ the kidnappin’ insomuch as the guy’s […]
Dark Angel (1994) Tracy Grant Set in Europe in 1813 Adam Durward was sent to England to live with his aunt when both of his parents were killed in India. Always an outsider, he still fell in love with the girl next door–Caroline. “You look like no Englishman,” he said. Adam stifled a groan. No, […]
A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener Set in England in 1812. Miss Phoebe Hillier was bethrothed to Sheldrake at the insistence of both their families. But when Sheldrake breaks their engagement, she feels relief more than anything else. She had all but accepted the anger and the frustration as constant companions, but Sheldrake cutting her […]
Banquet of Lies (2013) Michelle Diener Set in London in 1812. This is my favorite book in this series–and I like the other two books quite well. Giselle Barrington has seen her father murdered for the secrets her carries. She manages to escape back to London, but does not know who she can turn to, […]
The Emperor’s Conspiracy (2012) Michelle Diener Set in England in 1811. Lord Edward Durnham works for the crown in secret, and has been asked to look into gold being smuggled to France. Edward is also somewhat of an ass. (W)hy is she staying with Miss Raven and not you?” Edward laughed. “Apparently I’ll figure it […]
A Dangerous Deceit (2017) Alissa Johnson Miss Jane Ballenger is a spinster and a recluse. This is due to the fact she has difficulty hearing, and so avoids going out in public. At one point, he related a story involving three turnips and a brick. She was fairly certain she had misheard that bit, but […]
The Rook, Audio Edition (2012) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Susan Duerden I had no idea what I wanted to listen to, but needed something engaging, so I decided to go back to The Rook. “That’s experience talking,” said Shantay. “In these situations, the glass is always half empty.” “Always?” “Always,” confirmed the Bishop. “Right until […]
A Gift for Guile (2016) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1872 Esther Walker is the daughter of a famous thief and con artist. Although none of her family knows, she also helped her father, acting as his tiny thug, threatening people with the knives she was taught to throw. But the man everyone thinks […]