Tag: reading

  • Review: Their Nerd (Two Plus One #1) by Allyson Lindt

    While this book contains many of the typical elements of an MMF menage romance, it solidified my opinion that the menage stories I most enjoy are those in which each individual relationship evolves and has an arc as much as the overall trio does. In this instance, what starts as a sexy narrative to accompany…

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  • Review: Chadwick Series by C.P. Harris

    Surviving the Merge (Book 1) I’m all for atypical romance novels, now that I find myself with enough familiarity with the genre to recognize the usual plot beats. If you’re intrigued by a story that drops you immediately into the dark moment and doesn’t quite let up until the unexpected ending, look no further. However,…

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  • featured image of random book pages with the label November Wrap-Up and December Goals

    November Wrap-Up & December Goals

    I swung into November, literally, by attending an amazing sword technique workshop hosted by the Highlander himself, Adrian Paul, on Halloween. If the Sword Experience comes to your area, I can’t recommend it enough. I learned a lot, and what I was already familiar with was a lovely refresher. I look forward to incorporating those…

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  • Review: Heart of the Steal by Avon Gale & Roan Parrish

    This story is not quite an “enemies to lovers” story because the characters would never have been on opposing sides had Vaughn exercised a modicum of common sense. However, Vaughn does what Vaughn does best (bend the rest of the world to his whims) and ends up with a perturbed FBI agent rather than an…

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  • Review: He’s Come Undone

    “Appassionata” by Emma Barry As a person who also experiences anxiety (though of a different type than depicted here), Kristy’s journey spoke to me on multiple levels. I appreciated how she related to her life’s various elements, from her artistry to her agent to her old “friend” Brennan. I enjoyed even more how Brennan did…

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  • Review: Abstract Love by Sara Dobie Bauer

    Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook at full price. I’m generally not a fan of the “enemies to lovers” or “gay for you” tropes in romance novels, so this book did not initially appeal to my taste. Except Bauer has repeatedly proven what an excellent author she is, so…

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  • Review: The Game Series by Cara Dee

    Top Priority (Book 1) When I read the description, I immediately loved this book’s concept—talk about the endless possibility of conflict. Since it was short and I had some time to kill before an appointment, I figured it’d made a fun afternoon read. Instead, I fell head over heels in love with both Lucas and…

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  • Review: Bad Habits (Wages of Sin #1) by Onley James & Neve Wilder

    This book is another recent binge-read that I enjoyed every moment of. Everything about it should have been ridiculous, but all the characters wormed their way under my skin until I had to see what happens next. The plot is delightfully twisty, requiring both an assassin and hacker’s skills to solve, and even when things…

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  • Review: Three Player Co-op Series by Allyson Lindt

    Looking For It (Book 1) I’m a firm believer that romance novels are for everyone, not just (straight) women. That said, sometimes it’s obvious who the intended audience of a book is supposed to be, which is the case for this title. It is blatant wish-fulfillment, utterly indulgent, and honestly: There’s nothing wrong with that…

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  • Review: Enemies Like You by Annika Martin & Joanna Chambers

    I have so many books on my to-be-read pile at this point that when I’m tempted to buy another, I’ve started glancing at the top few reviews. And because I’m contrary, reviewers with complaints tend to make me even more interested in this book, which was definitely the case here. The first few chapters clarify…

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  • Review: Conventionally Yours (True Colors #1) by Annabeth Albert

    2020 has been a bit of a year, and one of the things I miss most is going to conventions to spend time with fellow readers and writers and gamers. Even though my gaming is mostly on the computer, the social aspect mixed with the competition is familiar enough to me that this book sucked…

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  • Review: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

    Snarkiness, terrible jokes, and a dose of anxiety are how I fit myself into this crazy world, so it should come as no surprise that I fell in love with the character of Luc at once. Even better, so much of Oliver’s personality is shown through the text, even in a story from Luc’s point…

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  • Review: Marquis of Secret Doors (Royal Powers #3) by Lynn Lorenz

    Read my review of Royal Powers #1, Duking It Out, by E.J. Russell Read my review of Royal Powers #2, The Hero and the Hidden Royal, by Renae Kaye For the third installment of this shared-world romance series, the author takes advantage of the fact that these countries are European-based and also dips back into…

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  • Review: Blood of the Sun (Path of Ra #3) by Dan Rabarts & Lee Murray

    Read my review of the Path of Ra #1, Hounds of the Underworld Read my review of the Path of Ra #2, Teeth of the Wolf Disclaimer: I am friends with the authors; I read this book during the publication process. This stunning conclusion to the Path of Ra trilogy takes place over an action-packed…

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  • Review: The Hero and the Hidden Royal (Royal Powers #2) by Renae Kaye

    Read my review of Royal Powers Book 1, Duking It Out, by E.J. Russell After the first installment of this shared-world series focused on the royals who have superpowers, I was excited to read something similar yet completely different. The fact that some “commoners” also have superpowers is unsurprising based on how the world works.…

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  • October Wrap-Up & November Goals

    Based on the dreary, rainy weather outside my office, I suppose fall has officially arrived. Cloudy days call for a second cup of coffee, especially since I have started getting up when the spouse leaves for work to spend some time with Ring Fit Adventure and on the elliptical before my workday begins. It’s brutal…

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  • Author Interview with L. Marie Wood

    We’re celebrating today’s release of L. Marie Wood’s new novel, The Realm, with an exclusive author interview below! ABOUT THE BOOK Patrick closes his eyes to the only life he’s ever known and opens them to a new and dangerous world.  In this Realm the newly dead from all over the universe are being hunted…

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  • Review: Duking It Out (Royal Powers #1) by E.J. Russell

    I picked up the first installment in this superpowers-themed, shared-world romance series because I’d read another book by the first author. The author note at the beginning helps with the world-building issues in such a short text, and even though I still have lots of questions about these countries, none of them prevented me from…

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  • Review: Rise of the Iliri Series by Auryn Hadley

    BloodLust (Book 1) This story that blends science-fiction and fantasy elements to create a world with unique characteristics immediately sucked me in. Though it’s advertised as a fantasy epic, all the “fantastical” tropes can be traced back to a very science-fiction origin, in which humans do what they do best: Sweep in and take over…

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  • Con Report: Capclave 2020

    The world we live in continues to be absolutely bonkers, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying a lovely Saturday of conversing with fellow authors about world-building and the fantasy genre as part of Capclave 2020. Alas, both panels were via Zoom from the comfort of my home office, so I’m still in hardcore withdrawal…

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