Vampires are still my first love in the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres, but I’m to the point of being so picky about how they’re portrayed that I was originally hesitant to volunteer to read an advanced copy of this book. However, Lister does an excellent job leaning into the vampire tropes that are … Continue reading Book Review: Bloodlines by A.E. Lister
June Wrap-Up & July Goals
I hit a great productivity groove this past month! It's amazing how much you can get done when your cats insist on waking you at 6 AM every morning. And your spouse is on another continent for 3 weeks. Okay, I guess I missed him. And I do love the cats, even when they are … Continue reading June Wrap-Up & July Goals
Book Review: Luck of the Devil (Reckless Damned #4) by Lark Taylor
Read my reviews of previous books in the Reckless Damned series: Devil’s Mark (#1) | Devil May Care (#2) | Deal With the Devil (#3) Though this review is being posted long after the book launched, that’s because I’m fighting a backlog of reviews, not because I didn’t immediately dive into this series finale the day it was … Continue reading Book Review: Luck of the Devil (Reckless Damned #4) by Lark Taylor
Book Review: Brick and Brass (Hammer and Fist: Lextalion #2) by Jennifer Cody
Read my review of the first book in the Hammer and Fist: Lextalion series, Sledge and Claw I optimistically decided on my own that this series was a duology. Of course, this meant I got to about 85% through the book and panicked because I could tell the major storylines were nowhere close to complete. … Continue reading Book Review: Brick and Brass (Hammer and Fist: Lextalion #2) by Jennifer Cody
Book Review: DragonRider (DragonKin #1) by S. Rodman
Rodman hooked me on this urban fantasy setting within the first pages of the book, using quick, subtle details to set up the broad scope of the secret fantasy elements without resorting to direct explanation. Once Kirby arrived at the castle and learned the true reason for his presence, I knew I was in for … Continue reading Book Review: DragonRider (DragonKin #1) by S. Rodman
Book Review: Take the Plunge by Colette Davison
Limited new ways exist to start a novel, regardless of genre, and contemporary fiction is even more constrained in options. “Waking up hungover and handcuffed to my best friend’s little brother while stranded in the middle of the woods” is pretty unique, especially when for the beginning of a contemporary romance instead of, say, a … Continue reading Book Review: Take the Plunge by Colette Davison
Con Report: StokerCon 2023
Funny story: I don't actually read horror. I can do hauntings and serial killers and a little bit of cosmic dread, but overall, being uncomfortable isn't relaxing for me. I also don't write horror (though this might eventually change since I actually come up with some pretty decent ideas). However, I do publish with a … Continue reading Con Report: StokerCon 2023
Book Review: A Gentle Way to Love (Ways to Love #1) by Abrianna Denae
I joke that I read polyamory romances because you get more relationships for the price of one, but the reality is that I truly enjoy the intricacies that can develop out of the traditional storyline arc when three (or more) people are involved. The general premise of this book was entirely novel to me, as … Continue reading Book Review: A Gentle Way to Love (Ways to Love #1) by Abrianna Denae
StokerCon 2023 Schedule
I was supposed to be at StokerCon in Denver in 2022, but unfortunately, it occurred less than 2 weeks after the only time I came down with a certain illness. Therefore, I'm thrilled to return this year for the first time since 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm incredibly excited to see a lot of … Continue reading StokerCon 2023 Schedule
Book Review: Rapture by E.M. Lindsey
I figured out pretty quickly that my reading tastes don’t necessarily run to the typical mafia romance conceits, in which the suave, capable mob guy swoops in to save (in whatever capacity) the other main character. However, I was more than willing to take a chance on this subgenre in the hands of one of … Continue reading Book Review: Rapture by E.M. Lindsey
Book Review: Savior Complex (Wild Heart Ranch #3) by Kelly Fox
Read my reviews of previous books in the Wild Heart Ranch series: Sworn Enemy (#1) | Good Behavior (#2) In a series that has multiple ties between the books but which the author also kind of wants to offer as a stand-alone, it can be difficult to set the scene for readers. Fox solves the problem here … Continue reading Book Review: Savior Complex (Wild Heart Ranch #3) by Kelly Fox
Book Review: Heaven’s River (Bobiverse #4) by Dennis E. Taylor
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Bobiverse series: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (#1) | For We Are Many (#2) | All These Worlds (#3) The previous three books in this series work as a complete trilogy, but life doesn’t stop when the curtain closes. The versions of Bob that we’re most familiar with … Continue reading Book Review: Heaven’s River (Bobiverse #4) by Dennis E. Taylor
Book Review: Conduit Crisis (Ghostly Guardians #3) by Louisa Masters
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Ghostly Guardians series: Spirited Situation (#1) | Vortex Conundrum (#2) Though each book in this series features a brand-new romantic connection, the overarching plot means that this is not a series of stand-alone novels set in the same world. For this installment, the external plot we’ve been following … Continue reading Book Review: Conduit Crisis (Ghostly Guardians #3) by Louisa Masters
Book Review: Pretty Wreck (Pretty Broken #3) by J.R. Gray
Read my reviews of previous books in the Pretty Broken series: Pretty Obsessed (#1) | Pretty Toxic (#2) This book features the, to this point, least-known member of the band to readers. Gray sets us up to immediately care about Alister as much as the others, however, since this book opens with him close to rock bottom. … Continue reading Book Review: Pretty Wreck (Pretty Broken #3) by J.R. Gray
Book Review: Liar’s Gambit (The Elite) by Kelly Fox
Fox writes her morally gray characters so well that I wasn’t surprised to learn she’d been invited to take part in this multi-author series. This novella was easy to read in a single sitting, featuring plenty of the author’s patented “murder swoon.” On the surface, Wilhelm and Nigel are stereotypical hitman types, even if they … Continue reading Book Review: Liar’s Gambit (The Elite) by Kelly Fox
Book Review: This Will Hurt I by Cara Dee
One of the review notes I left to myself while reading this book is “Yep, this will hurt.” From page 1, I was hooked on Jake, especially with how Dee brings him to life so well as a former servicemember. In fact, Dee’s usual excellent character work means that I didn’t even mind Jake as … Continue reading Book Review: This Will Hurt I by Cara Dee
Book Review: In Darkness and Dank (Monsters & Mayhem) by K.L. Hiers
Read my review of the previous book in the Monsters & Mayhem series, Lightning Born by Sam Burns. Though this book is advertised as a dark romance, horror-retelling, et cetera, it really isn’t. The book opens with classic jungle adventure vibes combined with a healthy dose of modern chemistry, and anyone who doesn’t enjoy science … Continue reading Book Review: In Darkness and Dank (Monsters & Mayhem) by K.L. Hiers
Book Review: Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas) by Leslie McAdam
Read my reviews of previous books in the In Vino Veritas series: Wildfire by Garrett Leigh | Counterpoint by J.E. Birk Read my reviews of the previous series set in the same world, Vino & Veritas. I was hesitant going into this book because even though I enjoy relationships with a power exchange dynamic, I’m not as … Continue reading Book Review: Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas) by Leslie McAdam
Book Review: Necessary Time (All in Good Time #2) by Kate Hawthorne
Read my review of the previous book in the All in Good Time series, Necessary Space. Being a long-time fan of an author means that it's easy to have faith in a book despite it including a trope that doesn’t typically appeal to me. In this case, it’s the age-gap element that includes a character … Continue reading Book Review: Necessary Time (All in Good Time #2) by Kate Hawthorne
Book Review: Scoreless Game (On the Board #2) by Anna Zabo & L.A. Witt
Read my review of the first book in the On the Board series, Rookie Mistake. I generally try to stay away from overt cliches in my book reviews, but sometimes I can’t resist a few when I’m taking notes to myself as I read. This book is far from cliché, but the emotional impact hits … Continue reading Book Review: Scoreless Game (On the Board #2) by Anna Zabo & L.A. Witt