Hello, my darlings! I hope the first month of 2023 was kind to you and brought you many excellent books to read. I started my year with some favorite rereads in audio and also read some wonderful new to me books:

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske: (F/F historical fantasy romance) A Restless Truth is the second book in the Last Binding Trilogy and definitely doesn't stand alone, so read A Marvelous Light first. I adored the first book—it was one of my favorite reads last year, and this book will probably be one of my favorites this year. This second book takes us out of Edwardian England and onto a ship making the journey from the US to England. Maude, sister of Robin from book one, is at the heart of this story, and she is a delight. The story itself is a romp aboard ship as Maude searches for a magical artifact with the allies she's drawn to her and tries to evade the people looking for it, who will do anything—including murder—to get their hands on it. The romance between Maude and Violet felt like a good beginning for them and I would classify it in an unresolved HFN place. My only disappointment is the lack of Robin and Edwin from the first book, though I did love the glimpses of them we got.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling: (M/F paranormal romance) I'm going to say right out that my favorite character was Sir Purrcival the talking cat. He was adorable and made me laugh, and I would like more scenes with him. That said, the rest of the book was great fun as well. This is the sequel to The Ex Hex (which was pitched as Hocus Pocus but they fuck and this continues in that vein), and probably should be read after that one. The Kiss Curse brings us back to Graves Glen for more witchy small town shenanigans. I loved the romance between Gwyn and Wells with their enemies to lovers vibe and excellent banter. The book is funny and sexy, and there's an intriguing, mysterious plot to draw you in as well. 

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper: (F/NB paranormal romance) Another witchy book in another series I've been loving. Back in a Spell is the third book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. I adore the setting of these books—this magical little town inhabited by witch families and a lot of regular people who have no idea. This book brings us Nina and Morty as main characters. It took me a little while to warm up to Nina, not necessarily because of her, but because her family has been set up as the antagonists since the beginning of the series. But I did warm up to Nina and even enjoyed seeing her older brother begin to redeem himself. Morty was a delight from the very beginning (actually from his brief scene in the first book). He and Nina match on a dating app, and Nina's friend convinces her to go out with him. Their first date does not go well, but Morty suddenly begins developing magic, something he never had or knew existed before. Their romance from there is lovely, and so is Nina's growth as she figures out the origins of all the weird magical stuff happening in town.

Perfectly Imperfect Pixie by MJ May: (M/M paranormal romance) This was a quick cute read. Phil is a home and hearth pixie, but while he has the colorful hair and fluttering wings of other pixies, he's also six feet tall, much larger than normally petite pixies. As such, no one will give him a chance and he hasn't found a home and family to bond to and care for. Until he's hired by a wolf shifter to care for his home and the two children he recently received guardianship of, mostly to make him seem a better bet in the custody battle with the children's horrible grandfather. What follows is a sweet slow burn romance between pixie Phil and shifter Sedrick and a lovely story of building a family. The book could've used a better edit and proofread, but it was still good read.

A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year by Jackie Lau: (M/F contemporary romance) This is the third novella in the Holidays with the Wongs series. After his parents and grandparents set up him and his siblings on blind dates at Thanksgiving (to mostly disastrous results), Zach has decided he needs to bring a fake girlfriend to Chinese New Year to make sure that doesn't happen again. He asks his friend Jo to fake date him leading up to the holiday and attend the family celebration with him. When she agrees, he has no idea that she's already fallen for him.  The novella is a cute, funny friends to lovers, fake dating to real love story. A quick, fun read for any time of year, but especially seasonal around Chinese New Year.

What have you read and loved lately?

I can't believe December is over already (and we're in 2023!)—time is still working in strange ways, at least in my brain. I already put out a list of some of my favorite reads of 2022, but I wanted to close out the year with some books I read for the first time in December. I didn't read as much—or all the books I wanted to—in December (I love holiday romances and I love to binge them at the end of the year), which was indicative of the year as a whole. I'm hoping to get back on track with reading (and writing!) in this new year. For now, here's December's reading:

Pack of Lies by Charlie Adhara: Pack of Lies starts a new series that spins off from Adhara's Big Bad Wolf paranormal romantic suspense series. We get more of the paranormal and more mystery suspense in this book, but with a new romantic pairing. Eli was a supporting character in the original series, and I will admit to having mixed feelings about him. After this book, I really do love him. I also enjoyed his love interest, and I'm interested to see how the relationship develops, as this wasn't much more than the barest beginnings for them, amid the mystery and murder and suspense of the plot. This book probably stands alone, but I would say to read the original series for more context—and also because it is really good.

Masters in the Hall by KJ Charles: I was so excited to hear this surprise new KJ Charles book! And it did not disappoint. It's a part of the Lilywhite Boys series, though sufficiently separate from the earlier books that you could probably read it on its own (again, though, you'd miss out on an excellent historical romance series if you did...). In this book, we have a disgraced hotel detective and the man who caused him to be disgraced at a Christmas house party during which the detective intends to expose this man as a criminal. What actually happens is a lovely second-chance romance and a ridiculously fun plot to expose the real villain.

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish: If you've seen the movie The Holiday, the premise of this novel (house swap!) will be familiar. Greta needs to escape her overbearing, boundary-ignoring family, and Truman has just had his heart broken by his awful boyfriend, so a mutual friend suggests they switch houses for the month of December. Greta heads to New Orleans where she falls in love with the city and Carys. Truman flies up to small-town Maine where he falls for florist Ash and finds that his favorite author—whose books he's been reading forever and got him through everything—may have lived in that very same house. Of the two romances, Truman and Ash's was my favorite. It was just so lovely. And I adored his quest to find more about his favorite author. While Greta's romance didn't resonate as much with me, I loved other parts of her journey to find out who she is outside her family and build the life she wanted.

A Little Blessing by R Cooper: A new Familiar Spirits book! Yay! I can just say that, right? Sigh, okay. This series is filled with lovely, cozy, witchy stories, and I adore them all. This one brings us back to town around Yule and introduces us to Robin Blessing, who was raised by older relatives and then spent years caring for them. Now alone, he's running the family business and not taking care of himself—and he collapses at the feet of Lucas, the teenage crush he never got over (though that's understating a complicated relationship). What develops between them as Lucas and his family move in to Robin's home and life to nurse him through both the flu and his grief is warm and cozy and beautiful and develops in the perfect organic way. The only problem is that I need more—there are some interesting things set up here and I want to know what happens next for the Coven. I immediately went back and reread Holly and Oak, the book in the series most related to this one, after I finished (and loved it again). I also need to learn how to knit.

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas: This is book one of a Young Adult fantasy duology—be warned that book two isn't out yet (I will be waiting impatiently!). I'd heard this described as Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games, and it definitely has elements of that. Every ten years, some of the half-human children of the gods are chosen to compete in a series of trials. The winner becomes the next Sunbearer; the loser is sacrificed to replenish the Sun's power and keep the evil Obsidian gods locked away. Teo is son of the Jade goddess of birds is only worried about the trials in relation to his best friend Niya, daughter of a Gold. Only Gods are ever chosen for the trials (and therefore both prepared for it and given far more privilege), until this year when Teo and another Jade are chosen. The world building, based on Mexican mythology, is fantastic, and so is the LGBTQ rep. I loved so many of the characters and their journeys. And the twist at the end! Definitely looking forward to what happens next. 

Hen Fever by Olivia Waite: This f/f Victorian Christmas novella was just delightful. A romance full of depth and feeling between Lydia, a spinster trying to always be on her best behavior (because she knows she is a disappointment to her parents), and Harriet, a soldier's widow trying to get over the absolute worst years of her life with her friends, who have inherited a manor house on the edge of Lydia's village. The lovely romance is contrasted with the approach of the village poultry show, a cutthroat competition that causes both hilarity and conflict. Short, but absolutely satisfying with beautiful writing...and a fantastic cover!

What have you read and loved lately?

Happy New Year, my darlings! I know a lot of authors are doing lists of their writing accomplishments to end the year, but, since I didn't hit my goals this year, I'm generally going to skip that. Mostly, I'm going to say thank you. Thank you for reading and reviewing and talking about my books. Thank you for looking forward to what's coming next (I promise I'm working on it!). Thank you to everyone there for making my first GRL in October so much fun. I was so thrilled to meet you all there.

The past few years have been...well, I don't think I actually need to say. As this year ends, I'm looking forward to the next and hoping for good things in 2023 (without actually trying to predict what will happen!). To Love the Dragon King finally out in the world. More reading, more writing. My second GRL. A little travel and adventure. I wish health and happiness and wonderful things for you in 2023! Lots of love to you.

Some of my favorite reads of the year (not all of them published in 2022, but all of them first read by me this year) mostly in the order in which I read them:

The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian (m/m historical cozy mystery)
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (m/m historical fantasy romance)
The Windsor Knot and All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett (cozy mystery)
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (historical fantasy)
For the Wolf and For the Throne by Hannah Whitten (m/f fantasy romance)
The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley (f/f Regency romance)
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P Djeli Clark (alt-historical fantasy novella) 
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (YA fantasy)
In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland (queer YA fantasy)
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (YA fantasy)
A Rake of His Own by AJ Lancaster (m/m fantasy romance)
A Little Blessing by R Cooper (m/m paranormal romance)
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas (queer YA fantasy)

What were some of your favorite reads of the year?

Hello, my darlings! November flew by, and it's time for a new reading recap post. I'm up and down with reading, sometimes unable to focus or get lost in a book, sometimes not in the mood for any book (even though I own a massive number of them!). I did a couple of audiobook rereads in November, and also read some new-to-me books:

A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau: This first book in the Holidays with the Wongs series is set around and at Canadian Thanksgiving. Nick and Lily meet at a bar and have a one night stand the weekend before Thanksgiving. When Nick arrives at his parents' house in his small hometown for the holiday, he finds out that his parents and grandparents have set him and his siblings up with blind dates for Thanksgiving. And Lily is his brother Greg's date. This situation—and the fact that Nick, who doesn't do relationships, hasn't been able to stop thinking about Lily—causes Nick to tell Lily he wants more than just the one night. It's a fun novella with a sweet romance, a wacky meddling family, and some spicy scenes too.

A Rake of His Own by AJ Lancaster: So, I adored this book. It follows after the Stariel Quartet, though as if has its own romance and contained plot, it could probably stand on its own. On the other hand, the Stariel Quartet is really good too, and it gives up the first meeting and interactions between the main characters here: Marcus, a botanist with developing telepathic powers, and Rakken, an arrogant, melodramatic fae prince with a bloody past. When I heard about this book, I was so happy—I wanted these two to have a resolution to their relationship so much. And the book didn't disappoint. Marcus and Rakken are forced to work together solve a mystery that includes murder and lots of intrigue. Their enemies to lovers romance absolutely did not disappoint.

A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles: A Thief in the Night is an Audible Original (ebook to follow in the spring, I believe). As such, it wasn't very long or complex, but it was still a delightful romp of a romance. Toby steals a watch from Miles and later finds himself at the home of an earl looking for work—only the earl turns out to be Miles, newly come into the title in not the best way. There's a search for missing jewels and a little highway robbery, a bit of angst and a lot of comfort and care. I also loved the connection to The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting (Toby is Robin and Marianne's long lost brother). 

Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian: This novella, set in the late 1950s, is a gorgeous second chance romance. Tommy is the youngest son of a prominent political family with a bright future ahead of him, until he comes out to his brothers and his family ostracizes him. Tommy runs into Everett—who had been his best friend and more than best friend when they were in boarding school over a decade earlier—when visiting his son at that same school, where Everett now teaches. Everett, in love with Tommy and unwilling to continue to have his hear broken, walked away from him and now has to decide whether to let him back in. Though short, this is heartfelt and warm and just lovely. (Also set in fall and at Thanksgiving, so a seasonally appropriate read!)

Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz: One more Thanksgiving read! Clover's family informs her suddenly that she will be hosting the whole family for Thanksgiving several days before the holiday, leaving her freaking out. I'm going to pause and say that Clover's family is horrible—judgmental, pretentious, passive-aggressive, and just awful to her. They do not care that she's built a successful business and owns a lovely home—they only care that she didn't finish college and is not married and having lots of babies. And they never miss an opportunity to tell her what they think. The extent of their awfulness affected how I felt about this book. The premise—Clover asks hot single dad she's had a crush on for a while to be her fake boyfriend for Thanksgiving (and he suggests they have lots of sex until then—like, a lot, be prepared)—sounded fun. And the romance was in a lot of ways. Light, fun, and turning from fake dating to real pretty fast. But the family—the reason for the fake boyfriend—just made me want to scream.

What have you read lately?

I don't think I've ever done a Thanksgiving book rec post, so I thought it might be fun to list some Thanksgiving romances I've enjoyed in case you're looking for some seasonally appropriate reading this weekend.

Vincent's Thanksgiving Date by R. Cooper: This short read is so sweet and lovely! In it, Vincent, who is so shy and socially anxious, is drawn out of his shell by his neighbor, Cory. Who Vincent has had crush on. In Vincent's point of view, we see how much he wants to connect and how the burden of his shyness and anxiety stops him. But the way Cory treats him is so gentle and wonderful. It makes for such a beautiful romance that will absolutely make you smile.

A Midnight Feast by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner: This book is part of the authors' Fly Me to the Moon series, focusing on the space race of the 1960s, but you can read it out of order. Mitch and Margie's twenty year marriage has been in trouble for a while. They're hosting Thanksgiving, and Margie plans to use the preparations and guests as a buffer. But, their guests cancel, leaving them to spend a whole weekend alone together. There are flashbacks to when they met and different points in their marriage. The story feels like an emotional second chance romance (despite their never having broken up).

Take Me Home by Lorelie Brown: This novella (again part of a series, but stands alone just fine) begins at Thanksgiving. Keighley loves her family—but she is very tired of her Christian Fundamentalist aunt giving everyone grief because Keighley is a lesbian. So she decides to bring a fake girlfriend to Thanksgiving. That Thanksgiving dinner—during which they save and kidnap a mistreated dog—sets the stage for the romance that follows.

A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau: This first book in the Holidays with the Wongs series is set at Canadian Thanksgiving, but I feel this counts for this post—it's Thanksgiving, even if the timing is a bit different. Nick and Lily meet at a bar and have a one night stand the weekend before Thanksgiving. When Nick arrives at his parents' house in his small hometown, he finds out that his parents and grandparents have set him and his siblings up with blind dates for Thanksgiving. Lily is his brother Greg's date. This situation—and the fact that Nick, who doesn't do relationships, hasn't been able to stop thinking about Lily—causes Nick to tell Lily he wants more. It's a fun novella with a sweet romance, a wacky meddling family, and some spicy scenes too.

Thankless in Death by JD Robb: Okay, so this is more futuristic mystery than romance (there absolutely is romance in this series, but by book 37, the couples are well established), but I'm adding it to the list anyway. I always love to revisit Eve and Roarke and their friends, who are a wonderful chosen family. In this one, even as they're solving a murder, they're also preparing for the holiday—something Eve isn't really used to.

Do you have any favorite Thanksgiving books? 

Hello, my darlings! October was a not great month for reading for me. I had high hopes—this is my favorite time of year, and all I wanted was to wallow in some cozy autumn witchy books. But I kept borrowing witchy romances from the library, starting them...and they just didn't work for me. Sigh. I finally did a few rereads of autumn favorites (I put together a list of my favorite books for this time of year over here), which was much better. And I did read a few new-to-me books this month that did work for me:

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu: Mooncakes is an adorable YA graphic novel about a witch who comes across a white wolf in the woods—who happens to be her childhood crush. The story takes a through a sweet romance between Nova and Tam while they also have to figure out and fight some evil magic and go on a journey of self-discovery about themselves and home and family. The story is heartwarming, and the art is lovely.

Spirited Situation and Vortex Conundrum by Louisa Masters: Witchy books might not have worked for me this month, but ghostly ones did. I binge read these first two books in the Ghostly Guardians series (and am waiting impatiently for book three!). Both books are set at a historic hotel that is haunted, but these aren't scary ghosts. In fact, they are absolutely part of the found family that has grown among some of the employees of the hotel and are pretty hilarious (there is some creepy stuff with another creature and the history of the hotel that our characters have to deal with, but it's not super scary). In the first book, a man who has been able to see/hear/speak to ghosts his whole life and has lost friends and family and jobs over it finds a job and a home (and love, of course!) at the hotel, where everyone believes in ghosts and loves their own exasperating group of them. The second book picks up with a new couple at the hotel and the continuing story of the supernatural situation there.

The Forgotten Dead by Jordan L Hawk: I've had this book on my Kindle for far too long, but maybe October was the right month to read it! The Forgotten Dead is a modern set paranormal romance, very heavy on the paranormal story and less on the romance. And the ghost story here is suuuuper creepy (I should not have read before bed!). The mix of creepy ghosts in haunted house and human evil created a very scary story. The romance itself was incredibly sweet with little angst (which seemed totally fine in such an otherwise creepy story). Medium Oscar and parapsychologist Nigel are adorable together, and I'm looking forward to how their relationship develops over the series. Also, Nigel is trans and Oscar's ghost-hunting team includes a nonbinary person and a queer woman, and everyone is absolutely accepting—there are no issues with any of it and no bigotry, just the way it should be. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

What have you read and loved lately? (And does anyone have any witchy romances to recommend to me?)

Happy Halloween, my darlings! I adore Halloween and Autumn, which you probably know if you've been around here for a while, but I'm not a fan of horror. This time of year, I love to read something a little spooky or creepy, something witchy or with all the cozy fall vibes. So, for Halloween, I thought I would share some of my favorite books for this time of year with you.

A Little Familiar and Nothing More Certain by R Cooper: Witchy m/m paranormal romances with all the fall feels and all the pining. A Little Familiar is out in audio as well—it's been keeping me company on my walks the last few days. It's set leading up to and at Halloween, so it always feels perfect for this time of year.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: A forbidden romance between a witch and a vampire in a story filled with an intriguing blend of magic, history, and science. This first book in the series takes place between Mabon and Samhain, so again it's perfect for this time of year. I also really love the audio.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: An incredibly atmospheric story with a mystery and some spooky elements and the beginning of a lovely romance between a village police officer and a psychic. It's short but an excellent read and a great beginning to the series.

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper: I read this in ebook last fall and reread it this year in audio. A witch reluctantly returns home at the start of the book, which continues with a vengeance pact between her and two other witches, a magical tournament, and a lovely f/f romance. And, again, all the fall vibes here. (The second book in the series is also fantastic, though without the fall vibes!)

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: A paranormal YA in which a trans brujo tries to bring back the ghost of his cousin to find out what happened to him and prove himself to his family—and ends up with a difference ghost entirely. Who he falls in love with while finding out what happened to him. The sweetest romance, magic, ghosts, and the traditions of Dia de los Muertos fill this book. The audio is fantastic too,

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling: This book was apparently pitched as "Hocus Pocus but they fuck" and it does have that vibe. A heartbroken witch fake-curses her ex—but when he returns to town years later, she realizes that the curse is real as bad things keep happening to him and magic goes haywire all over town. A second chance romance, a fall festival, an absolute romp as they try to put the magic right...and a delightful talking cat. I haven't read the second book in the series yet, but I'm very much looking forward to it.

Prince of Death by Sam Burns and WM Fawkes: This book might be a semi-odd choice for this list because it's centered around Greek gods in the modern world, but it's also set in fall in Washington, DC (which brings back memories of my college days there) and there's an actual Halloween costume party in the underworld. A professor of magic is lured to the underworld with the promise of being able to find his dead mother and meets the son of Hades instead. The two fall in love while also stumbling into a plot to end humanity.

Widdershins by Jordan L Hawk: I love this book (and the series it begins), but I'm not entirely certain why I associate it with this time of year. It's set in early winter, just before Christmas. But there's something about the magic and monsters, I guess. And, of course, I adore the beginning of the relationship between Whyborne and Griffin. There actually is a book in the series set around Halloween—Bloodline, which I love too and am probably due for a reread of, but the series is best read in order.

Hainted by Jordan L Hawk: Yes, another Jordan L Hawk (and I could absolutely add more to the list!). This one is a standalone, though I wish there were more books set in this world. A young man is trying to keep the family farm afloat while raising his siblings and haint-working—helping ghosts cross over. When another haint-worker comes to town looking for his help catching a necromancer, he doesn't want to get involved, with the search or the guy but I think we can guess what happens there? Romance, ghosts, graveyards, and some bleeding walls make for a just creepy enough but not too much for me Halloween read.

As for my own books, none are explicitly Halloween books. But, if you're looking for a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance, you should curl up with The Merchant's Love. Or if shenanigans at a masquerade ball intrigue you, give The Spymaster's Secret a read.

What are some of your favorite fall or Halloween reads? (And how badly will they scare me?)

Happy October, my darlings! I'm looking forward to diving into some seasonably appropriate autumnal books this month, if I can get out of the reading slump that plagued me through September (and before that, really). I did a little rereading in audiobook on my walks in September, but I mostly started and stopped reading books that I really do want to read and hope I can get back into at some future point. I only read a few new to me books:

The King of Faerie by AJ Lancaster: I've been meaning to read this last book in the Stariel quartet for ages! And it was so good, so I wish I'd done it sooner. This books wrapped both the romance and the quartet-long plot up in a very satisfying way (and there is another book coming about a supporting character, which I am very pleased about). I did see a plot reveal coming early on, but it didn't ruin anything for me. If you enjoy quasi-historical, slightly steampunkish fantasy romance with fae, give these books a try. Meanwhile, I will be waiting impatiently for Marcus's story in a A Rake of His Own.

This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber: I borrowed this first book in the Verity Kent mystery series in audiobook from my local library. These books are set just post World War I. While her husband went to war (and died there), Verity Kent spent the time working for the secret service, something she wasn't allowed to tell anyone. But now she is receiving anonymous notes from someone who knows about her war work and says her husband was a traitor. They lead her to a house party on an isolated island, where people begin to turn up dead. I enjoyed the story (though I'd had a twist accidentally spoiled for me before I started) and the narration. I'm sure I'll continue with the series.

Wicked Autumn by GM Malliet: This another first book in a mystery series that I borrowed in audio from the library. Wicked Autumn begins the Max Tudor series, in which an ex-MI5 agent turned village vicar gets sucked into solving crimes. I was intrigued by the premise and enjoyed the English village mystery vibe, though for some reason this book felt like it should be historical but it's contemporary. I do wish there had been a little more autumnal atmosphere in the book—I'm in that mood! From the title, I was expecting it, but other than the murder happening at the Harvest Fair and a little description, it was missing that fall atmosphere.

What have you read lately?

Time continues to fly by this year, and I continue to have weird and frustrating reading slumps, which have me starting books and putting them aside for later and started others and repeating the whole cycle again. *Sigh.* But despite that, I did read a few books I enjoyed in August:

From Bad the Cursed by Lana Harper: This second book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series was just as delightful as the first. I loved Isadora and Rowan and their enemies to lovers romance. This book is a great witchy read with some supernatural mystery/suspense and a wonderful romance. And I love the world too—I think I'd like to be a Thistle Grove witch. You could probably read this without reading the first in the series (though events in that book are mentioned and characters from it find their way into this one), but Payback's a Witch is delightful too, so you might as well start there anyway. I'm very excited for the next book in the series and not at all happy to have to wait for it!

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson: In this YA fantasy, Artemesia is training to be a sister in an order that cleanses the bodies of the dead and helps their souls pass on—so they don't rise again as evil spirits to come after the living. When her convent is attacked by an army of possessed soldiers, a dying sister passes a saint's relic to Artemesia for her to use to save the convent. Which she does, but is almost possessed by the powerful revenant it contains in the process. I'm going to say here that I kind of adore the revenant and the bond that grows between the revenant and Artemesia as they come to work together. Their banter is just fantastic. I also love the world building and the twisty evil plot and Artemesia discovering that all she's been taught about saints and revenants and spirits and old magic isn't necessarily true. I feel like there are some Joan of Arc parallels that I hope I'm imagining because they have me a bit nervous—this book ended well, but there's supposed to be another in the series.

Fluke and the Fantastic Finale by Sam Burns: The Fantastic Fluke series has been such fun from the very beginning. I've loved getting to know Sage and his familiar, the delightful fox Fluke, and Gideon and the whole family built throughout the series. The paranormal world building and mystery/suspense aspects were great too and wrapped up well in this last installment, but it's the characters I've become attached to. And while I'm so happy with the way the series ended, I'm so sad there won't be more stories about them. Definitely start from the beginning with this series, as the books don't stand alone. And you'll want to read Sage's story from being alone and believing he had no power to speak of to becoming a powerful arcane mage with a close found family all around him—and lots of danger along the way.

What have you read and loved lately? (Or are you stuck in a strange reading slump like me?)

July disappeared when I wasn't paying attention and somehow it's August already (which is my birthday month, so I won't complain—but, really, where did July go???). I have the round-up of some books I enjoyed in July for you today.

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik: This is the second book in the Starlight's Shadow space opera romance series. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the main characters made for a fun romance, which had been set up in the first book, and the high stakes plot moved quickly, resolving some issues and leaving others open for the third book, which is due next year (*sobs about the wait*). I also continue to adore in all ways the found family in these books. Start with the first book, though, because though there's a new romance in each, the overarching plot carries over.

For the Throne by Hannah F. Whitten: I listened to this conclusion to the Wilderwood duology almost as soon as it came out and enjoyed it as much as the first (this is definitely another series you need to start at the first book!). I found this story darker than the first, but also beautiful, and you won't be able to miss the Snow White inspiration. The point of view switches between a few characters, but primarily Neve and Red, the sisters we meet in the first book. Red, though happy and lovely to see in her relationship (which I loved seeing—and also loved having more time with their found family), is desperate to save her sister after the events at the end of the first book. Neve, however, has her own journey to embark on—and something of an enemies to lovers romance with a characters I wanted to strangle in the first book but came to love here.

So This is Ever After by FT Lukens: My hold on this audiobook from the library came in at just the right time! So This is Ever After has the premise that Arek, the chosen one of a prophecy, and his band of friends/found family overthrow the evil sorcerer on the throne and save the kingdom. Arek's best friend Matt convinces him to take the throne until they can free the rightful heir from the tower, but the rightful heir is dead. And now Arek is stuck being king and also must get married both to stay king and to stay alive. The only person Arek wants is Matt, but he's convinced Matt doesn't want him, so he tries wooing his other friends to amusing effect. There's lots of mutual pining here, and the narrative is witty and light. 

In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland: The last book I want to mention is another fantasy romance, this one on the darker side. There's blood magic and death magic and death and violence and a creepy underworld and other stuff, but there's also wonderful characters (including an asexual nonbinary side character who is fantastic and I want to be friends with) and a delightful found family and two lovely romances (polyamorous rep) and a very interesting fantasy world. Rovan is a blood mage who has hidden what she is for years, but when it's finally discovered, she's bound to a ghostly guardian to keep her in line. She ends up falling in love with her hated ghostly guardian and a princess, as she finds out what's really going on in the city and stokes a rebellion in both the living world and the underworld.

​What have you read and loved lately?