This book involves two queer heroes who eventually develop an intimate relationship with each other, but this story is far from a romance. Eveland excellently balances that line between telling an epic fantasy story that happens to involve queer characters and having their queerness be essential to the story without tipping the storyline toward overt … Continue reading Book Review: The Silent Prince (Sun and Moon #1) by L. Eveland
Book Review: All I Survive (All’s Fair #3) by Abrianna Denae
Read my reviews of previous books in the All's Fair series: All I Want (#1) | All I Fear (#2) Love is not necessarily a stagnant thing, and I have so much respect for storytellers who don’t freeze their characters in amber at the moment of a previous “happily ever after.” Denae has crafted such complicated and … Continue reading Book Review: All I Survive (All’s Fair #3) by Abrianna Denae
Five-Star Reads for April 2024
Devil's Own K.M. Neuhold (Palm Island #6) Neuhold has teased a potential relationship between Raven and married couple Devil and Angel for multiple books in this series, and the full story measures up to all of my expectations. Raven feels much more at the center of this story than the other two men regarding individual … Continue reading Five-Star Reads for April 2024
Book Review: The Steady (Lost Boys #4) by Kelly Fox
Read my reviews of previous books in the Lost Boys series: The Thief (#0.5) | The Skeptic (Lost Boys #1) | The Crush (#2) | The Punk (#3) I often joke that it’s not a Kelly Fox book unless it makes me laugh so hard that I scare a cat at least once. While this story definitely includes moments … Continue reading Book Review: The Steady (Lost Boys #4) by Kelly Fox
Book Review: Cohesion (Chain Reaction #3) by Aurora Crane
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Chain Reaction series: Catalyst (#1) | Reactant (#2) This book fulfilled all my expectations, and then some, for the long-awaited finale of this trilogy. The story does not work as a stand-alone; both the relationship arc(s) and external plot build on what has come before. The author has … Continue reading Book Review: Cohesion (Chain Reaction #3) by Aurora Crane
Book Review: A Ruse to Unchain Us (Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro
Read my reviews of previous books in the Magi Accounts series: Our Hearts That Tie Us (#0.5) | The Scars That Bind Us (#1) | A Kiss to Revive Me (#1.5) | The Shackles That Hold Us (#2) | A Date to Impress Him (#2.5) | A Purpose That Restores Us (#3) | A Holiday to Sustain Us (#3.4) | An Embrace … Continue reading Book Review: A Ruse to Unchain Us (Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro
Book Review: Saving Rafe (Lords of Discord #2) by Jocelynn Drake
Read my review of the first book in the Lords of Discord series, Claiming Marcus. This book opens with the Varik clan at a moment of fragile peace, trying to solidify their place in the greater vampire community after the events of the first installment of this series. Even as we get an immediate reminder … Continue reading Book Review: Saving Rafe (Lords of Discord #2) by Jocelynn Drake
Book Review: Conquest (Four Horsemen #1) by Sienna Moreau
Moreau’s interpretation of the Four Horsemen myth accounts for contemporary ideas of religion while simultaneously putting an intriguing spin on the concept. That Conquest and his brothers are in the mortal dimension to initiate a deadly purge is never in question. This being a recurring event initiated by either good or evil when one side … Continue reading Book Review: Conquest (Four Horsemen #1) by Sienna Moreau
Book Review: A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents (Sorcerer’s Grimoire #1) by A.J. Sherwood
One of the reasons I got burned out on mainstream speculative fiction was the lack of diversity. Luckily, I’ve since found amazing indie authors who fill that niche whenever I get the craving for a certain genre. This particular open-world urban fantasy may be set in the stereotypical setting of historic England, but Sherwood makes … Continue reading Book Review: A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents (Sorcerer’s Grimoire #1) by A.J. Sherwood
Five-Star Reads for March 2024
My Skin Begs You Please Leta Blake (90s Universe) This was not an easy story to read, and I encourage all potential readers to mind the content warnings because this also isn't a story for everybody. However, even though I knew I was in for an emotional wringer, I adore Blake's writing and decided to … Continue reading Five-Star Reads for March 2024
Book Review: Eternally Blessed (Rebel Kings MC #7) by Garrett Leigh
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Rebel Kings MC series: Devil’s Dance (#1) | Saint’s Song (#2) | Forgive Me Father (#3) | Love Thy Brother (#4) | Reluctant Renegade (#5) | Unholy Trinity (#6) This book is the direct follow-up to the previous installment in this series, continuing the love story between Nash, Orla, and Locke. Unlike … Continue reading Book Review: Eternally Blessed (Rebel Kings MC #7) by Garrett Leigh
Book Review: Parts of Us (The Game #14) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of previous books in The Game series: Top Priority (#1) | Their Boy (#2) | Breathless (#3) | Doll Parts (#4) | Out of the Ashes (#5) | The Shepherd (#6) | Adrift in the Embers (#7) | Hostile Takeover (#8) | Senseless (#9) | The Secret Plan (#10) | Apex Predator (#11) | Prowl (#12) | Hide With Me (#13) I enjoyed Doll Parts, … Continue reading Book Review: Parts of Us (The Game #14) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Shared (Trophy Doms Social Club #5) by Kate Hawthorne
Read my reviews of previous books in the Trophy Doms Social Club series: Humbled (#1) | Edged (#2) | Praised (#3) | Bound (#4) Barclay may be the final member of the Trophy Doms Social Club to fall, but Hawthorne brings this series full circle with yet another unique twist on the relationship and eventual romance between him and … Continue reading Book Review: Shared (Trophy Doms Social Club #5) by Kate Hawthorne
Book Review: The Ashes of Ackonir by Jennifer Cody
Cody is one of the most imaginative authors I know, so I already knew I was in for a wild ride when I learned she was working on a romance set in a steampunk/fantasy world. The notes at the front of the text are useful, but Cody also includes enough useful details in the first … Continue reading Book Review: The Ashes of Ackonir by Jennifer Cody
Book Review: Beyond Fate (Beyond #1.5) by Lee McCormick
Read my review of the previous book in the Beyond series, Beyond Time. Even though the author didn’t give me quite the ending I might have wanted for the previous book in this series (but an excellent one nonetheless), they almost did something even better—they gave me a second book. I immediately jumped into this … Continue reading Book Review: Beyond Fate (Beyond #1.5) by Lee McCormick
Book Review: Beyond Time (Beyond #1) by Lee McCormick
I’ve seen this book recommended multiple times since it first came out, and last night I was finally in the mood for something dark and angsty. Surprisingly, the book was neither as dark nor as angsty as I expected, though it included plenty of violence and more than one moment that made my chest do … Continue reading Book Review: Beyond Time (Beyond #1) by Lee McCormick
Book Review: London Fog (BrewBiz #2) by E.M. Lindsey
Read my review of the previous book in the BrewBiz series, Affogato. This book begins on the heels of the ending of the previous in the series, though can mostly stand alone. Wren and Percy have one of the most awkward meet-cutes ever, stemming from Percy’s good but misguided intentions and heightened by immediate chemistry … Continue reading Book Review: London Fog (BrewBiz #2) by E.M. Lindsey
Book Review: Rogue (Jericho’s Boys #2) by Onley James
Read my review of the first book in the Jericho's Boys series, Paladin. Often, when the hurt/comfort trope is applied in romance novels, the character doing the comforting comes from a much “better” place (in terms of emotional well-being or general life status) than the hurt character. Darker romances, on the other hand, tend to … Continue reading Book Review: Rogue (Jericho’s Boys #2) by Onley James
Book Review: A Glint of Steel and Roses (Flame & Shadow #2) by L. Eveland
Read my review of the first book in the Flame & Shadow series, A Dream of Flame and Shadow. This book launches right in the middle of the action, catching us up with what we missed with Cian and Hellion already off to war at the end of the previous book. Our three heroes aren’t … Continue reading Book Review: A Glint of Steel and Roses (Flame & Shadow #2) by L. Eveland
Five-Star Reads for February 2024
The Trouble With Cowboys Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga (Sin Deep #2) Sam and Thomas are two of my favorite romance characters pretty much ever, so returning to their world is always like getting a warm hug. Kacey is nothing like Sam, however, and his reasons for arriving in New York City are just as … Continue reading Five-Star Reads for February 2024