Role Playing (2023) Cathy Yardley Maggie Le thought being divorced was hard. But her son Kit living for college was worse. Now she had no reason to leave her house, except to get food. “Second: I have changed markedly since my twenties,” she said. “I don’t want to wear bandage dresses and club all night […]
Ever After Always (2021) Chloe Liese (Bergman Brothers) Aiden and Freya have been married for almost a decade, but the last six months have not been good. They have, in fact, been bad. But that’s when it all went downhill. That’s when it tripped something inside me that I haven’t been able to get under […]
Gouda Friends (2022) Cathy Yardley (Ponto Beach Reunion) Tam has had the day from hell. “I’m sorry, Tam. But he’s a vice president. What was I supposed to say?” Lydia had then pointedly glanced at her watch. “You can take tomorrow off, all right? Now, you’d better get going. The hotel people say the last […]
Donut Fall in Love (2021) Jackie Lau Ryan Kwok is worried that his latest movie is a flop. This movie could be a major setback. Movies about guys like him weren’t allowed to flop. People would point at this single movie as proof that no more like it should be made. He’s also dealing with […]
A Marvellous Light (2021) Freya Marske (The Last Binding) Set in England in 1908 Another time period I love–not yet modernity, but some of the trappings are starting to appear. A chauffeur was not needed. Robin referred vaguely to friends of his who owned motorcars and had taught him the knack of it in Hyde […]
The Pride of Garnet Run (2022) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) (H)is brain was very loud, and he needed to put thoughts into music to quiet them down. “This place was built in 1927. This all used to be bigger, but they turned it from one screen to three in the fifties.” Published by Monster Press […]
Once a Rogue (2023) Allie Therin (Roaring Twenties Magic) Set in New York in 1925 I wish I’d been better able to focus, because I love Allie Therin’s stories. In fact, I was hoping that the story would allow me to focus on something outside of myself. The failing is mine, not the story’s. I’ll […]
Come Unto These Yellow Sands (2011) Josh Lanyon It would be nice to believe in something like God. To believe some higher power with a greater purpose was concealed behind the violence and chaos. Max grunted. “Did you see any other possibilities?” “I didn’t let myself look for them.” He couldn’t afford this. Couldn’t afford […]
Best Laid Plans (2021) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) He looked at the situation and chose to acknowledge all the dimensions of it. Dimensions (as he thought of them) weren’t positive or negative. They were simply the truth of how he felt about things. He cut off his thought spiral and pictured windshield wipers clearing the […]
Better Than People (2020) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) Every day had dilated to a month, every night to a year, and Jack found himself wishing for anything— anything— to break the monotony of lying on the couch all day long and in bed all night. This part was always the hardest. The moment when he […]
Teacher of the Year (2023) M.A. Wardell (Teachers in Love) Marvin has ADHD and anxiety I keep nursing my drink, which is already three-quarters gone, and try to ignore her mounting energy. Sometimes Jill getting revved up triggers my anxiety, and right now, I’m about to tip. And is also up for Teacher of the […]
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human (2023) Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps) This series is so silly and delightful. “She wants to know how you eat pasta!” the sword shouted. “Alexis!” “What? Oh, was that told in confidence?” She turned back to Dante and took on a chipper tone. “Disregard that! We have […]
Cry Wolf (2021) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental. Though if you do know of a criminal plot involving werewolves that has taken place at any of these locales, that is a coincidence I would love to know about. “Seriously, I wasn’t that new. And he wasn’t […]
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) “So, let me get this right, on a scale from one to ten you’re rating this place a natural disaster? Is that higher or lower than— what did you call the place across town?” Park tapped his chin theatrically. “Oh right, the first monstrosity you’d […]
Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) There are many ways to grieve— no one way less valid than the others “Being open isn’t easy for either of us. Shit, maybe not for anyone. But I work on it because, to me, you’re worth it. And you know what, Oliver? I’m worth […]
The Wolf at Bay (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) “You’ve been standing here staring at that flower shop for fifteen minutes. So is it for her birthday or anniversary, or are you making up for a fight? Because I’ve been married for thirty-two years, and believe me, there are different bouquets for different occasions.” […]
Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries (2023) Nicole Kimberling After rereading Grilled Cheese and Goblins I was wishing I had more mysteries by Nicole Kimberling when LO! I see she has a new mystery coming out! I can preorder it! DONE! As with her other books, this was a series of […]
The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1948 James is called to Cornwall for the reading of the will of an uncle he hasn’t seen for decades. When Leo returns from his latest mission, he doesn’t like this discovery at all. The more Leo thought about it, the less […]
Family Man (2013) Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton Vince is struggling with the fact that he still isn’t properly settled down. It was finding out kids born the year he graduated high school were now legal to drink. And he’s beginning to wonder if maybe it’s because he’s queer. Trey works two jobs while going […]
Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage (2016) C.S. Poe Utterly ridiculous. I was attending a singles’ convention for special people like me to find their forever penguin partner. But after I paid the attendance fee, got a hotel room, and booked my flight, I found out it was specifically for guys and gals. Utterly silly. […]
The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf) Werewolves, but not quite how most popular culture described them. The Trust had explained werewolves had always existed, living amongst humans, but due to persecution had slipped quite intentionally into hiding and mythology. I really like her take on werewolves, and the world building […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1946. Mrs Hoggett is dead, and although her death was certainly suspicious, there is nothing directory pointing to murder. None of the witnesses could suggest a possible motive, nor did any of them think Mrs. Hoggett had enemies. Leo had actually laughed out […]
Saying The Right Thing (2017) Aidan Wayne Baz is lovely,and a great father (and the kid was written like four-year-old–tantrums and all). Terry is kind and has plenty of reasons for not trusting those who want to date him. It wasn’t a bad story, but it didn’t hit any of the right notes for me, […]
The Lawrence Browne Affair (2017) Cat Sebastian (The Turner Series) Set in England in 1816. Apparently I’m just picking books I want to read and ignoring the rest of any series they might be in. Georgie had taken matters into his own hands, and now Georgie was persona non grata in London, and probably everywhere […]
Bee Cave Magic (2020) Kelly Fox This is a fun story in the same way CS Poe‘s Marriage, Love and a Baby Carriage. It’s silly and outrageous, with all the ridiculous shifter tropes, but it adds in it’s own fun twists. Mrs. Hornblower, a pelican shifter transplant from Corpus. I love fantasy stories that give […]