Note: Reviews are listed alphabetically by author’s last name.
Juvenalia
Jennifer Burke (Valerius Mystery #2)
I was immediately swept into this book once again by Burke’s amazing talent at making the alien world of ancient Rome so incredibly relatable to a modern perspective. Valerius falls headfirst into another combination of mysteries, doing his “non” job at the side of Atreus, the competent commoner he nominally leads. As the bodies stack up and Nero’s eye falls more and more on him, Valerius is swept into a world of artists as political and backstabbing as actual politics. The twists and reveals are both shocking and heartbreaking, and Valerius comes close to examining the morals of slavery without ever making me feel like Burke is forcing twenty-first-century ideals on a historical setting. And though the mystery is very much the story’s focus, the subtle relationship hints between Valerius and Atreus are sweeter than honeycakes.
Trickle Down Theory
Will Forrest
I almost picked up a signed copy of this book at an event last year, and now I’m bummed that I didn’t. I selected this ebook one evening because I was just looking for some sexy fun. Though the book had plenty of that, I didn’t expect the immersive, immediate connection I had with the characters or the interrogation of values that each character undergoes on his journey toward a nontraditional version of a happily ever after. Forrest also tackles sociological and political elements with a lovely narrative voice that never felt preachy; while the story is clearly biased toward one side, even that side is approached with nuance and criticism where entirely appropriate. This HEA also didn’t follow every usual expectation from this particular combination of subtropes, but each subversion felt intentional and appropriate to the characters. I will definitely be checking out more works by this author.
A One-Time Thing
Kate Hawthorne & E.M. Denning
These two authors write hot enough stories on their own; together, they create pure fire. I don’t even mean the spice levels, though the chemistry between Gil and Rowan in this book is certainly off the charts. Instead, they build on each other’s strengths to create intense, well-developed characters who easily tap into reader emotions as they are forced to confront their own. They are also surrounded by secondary characters who are much more than two-dimensional figures only there to prop up the heroes. This makes all the interactions and relationships in this book realistic and messy in the best ways, leading to an emotional, satisfying ending. I didn’t expect the tears I shed along the way, nor for a particular character to be the cause of them. Apparently, dirty-talking black cat heroes undergoing significant character development–and falling in love along the way–is the perfect way to hit me right in the feels.
Touch in Excess
E.M. Lindsey (Carnal Tower #5)
I’m a little feral for this series, because Lindsey brings their excellent touch with characterization to a combination of elements that don’t make for a “typical” romance: sex work and disability. Most importantly, neither of these things is fetishized. Sex work is respected as a profession like any other, while the complicated issues that can set it apart are recognized. The characters are also not defined by their physical differences, and they are not involved in sex work because of them. In this book specifically, Skye and Rami may both be thematic representations of these facets in various ways, but their meet-cute is also straight out of the most generic, vanilla romance possible. From there, the way their relationship blooms is not straightforward, but it is both intense and engrossing. They didn’t have internal or external conflicts to overcome to be together; instead, they must determine the best ways to balance those conflicts within a life they want to build together. Every book in this unique series doesn’t get “better” so much as each story shines in a different way that pulls me in every time.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
The Bait
N.R. Walker (Milvus Files #2)
For me, half of the appeal of the first book in this series was the “enemies to lovers” journey that Harry and Asher undergo. Though that story ends on a solid happily ever after note, the nature of their former professions means that the past doesn’t always stay in the past. Walker launches them into a new adventure with some relevant but fun cameos from other titles set in the same world, then proceeds to drag our hearts through the shredder as Harry and Asher face a new conflict. They may be together, this time, but they never exactly got the chance to get used to working as partners before they retired to live as partners. Both men confront the traumas of their pasts while experiencing the present trauma of learning how important they are to each other…when they are faced with losing each other. Walker also uses this excellent romantic thriller to introduce us to future characters that I can’t wait to get to know better in later installments of this series.
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