Since the pandemic started, my reading habits (ability? attention span?) have been all over the place. I sometimes can't get into books at all or have trouble focusing on a particular format. It's incredibly frustrating for someone used to reading multiple books at a time and reading for escape and comfort. For the past month, audiobooks have been my savior again because I've had a hard time focusing on print books. I've had to put a few aside, but I know I'll get back to them once this spell passes. In the meantime, I did read some books I really enjoyed in May.

For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten: I so enjoyed this Beauty and the Beast-esque fantasy romance. For centuries, the tradition has been that the first daughter of the monarch is for the throne and the second is sent to the Wolf of the Wilderwood as a sacrifice to bring back the old gods (of course, we find out that none of this is as straightforward as is believed). Second daughter Red is resigned to her fate (mostly because she wants to protect her sister from her magic), though her sister Neve is not. When Red arrives in the Wood, she finds things are very different than she believed. The fantasy aspects are engrossing as are the themes of sisterhood and sacrifice. And the slow burn romance between Red and the Wolf is wonderful. I'm looking forward to the second book, which just came out this week.

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley: This was an absolutely delightful queer Regency romance—really charming and fun. We have a slow burn romance that's marketed as f/f (but Tommy—Thomasina—comes across from the way the character presents herself as more nonbinary, maybe, and the cover, though gorgeous, doesn't really show us Tommy as she's described) alongside a fun caper in which Tommy's family and Philippa and friends are trying to keep a friend's uncle from stealing her work and calling it his own. Meanwhile, bluestocking Philippa's parents are trying to marry her off to a titled man for family advancement. I loved Philippa especially and thought Philippa and Tommy together were charming. I don't feel like I know Tommy or the background on Tommy's family as well as I know Philippa, but that could be because this is the second book in the series. Overall, I felt like it could stand alone fine, but I'm going to go back and read the first.

A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark: I read one of these novellas in ebook and the other in audio and enjoyed both immensely. There's a novel in this series as well, which I'm grateful for because I want more of the world these shorts gave me a taste of. The world is an early 20th century Cairo filled with magic and supernatural creatures and some steampunk elements. The emergence of djinn into the world has made Egypt a major global power, and the main characters of both novellas are detectives with a supernatural police force solving problems and potentially saving the world.

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik: I won an ARC of this sci-fi romance, um, a while ago, and I definitely feel bad it's taken me so long to get to it. But it was so good! I got pulled right the story. Tavi is a bounty hunter who takes a job from her sworn enemy because she and her crew desperately need the money. Since the stakes are high (and we find out just how high as the story progresses), he and his team insist on joining the hunt with Tavi and her crew. Tavi and Torran are enemies because there was a massive war between the humans and Torran's alien people. The romance aspect is well done, as trust is slowly built and feelings develop. If you like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, competence porn, and found family, there's a lot to love here. The plot is also fabulously twisty. I can't wait for the second book.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik: A Deadly Education is set at the Scholomance, a somewhat sentient magical school filled with monsters (but no teachers) where magical kids are sent to learn and hopefully survive their adolescence. Relationships in the school are less about friendship and more about strategic alliances for survival inside and the hope for better after. The narrator is El, a prickly, snarky outcast who, when she was a child, was predicted to destroy everything with her massive dark power. She is incredibly powerful, but she doesn't want to bring destruction—even though the school keeps giving her spells for just that. Her voice (and the narrator's performance of it) were wonderfully sarcastic and amusing. It's also delightful to watch her utter confusion as she makes actual friends and builds bonds and ends up with a love interest. There's also an excellent thread about wealth and privilege running through the book. I'm going to be annoyed when I listen the second book in the series and then have to wait for the third!

The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl: I had heard good things about this YA mystery/fantasy, so I grabbed it from the library. It took me a while to get through, but I think that was more my lack of reading attention span than anything about the book. The book starts in the aftermath of the death of a girl at an elite boarding school. The police rule it a suicide, but her three best friends don't agree. They, along with their new roommate who has her own agenda, decide to find out what really happened. What they discover is something twisty and magical that has been happening at the school for years and that involves students being the subject of the worst outcomes of fairy tales. By the end of the book, they discover what happened to their friend, but they have a ways to go in what to do about the curse (the second book is out later this year, so I assume all will be resolved there). Picking out the different fairy tales for each character was interesting, and I loved all the queer rep in this book: just among the main characters, two are lesbians, one is biromantic demisexual, and the other is aromantic asexual.

​What have you read and loved lately?

April was a chilly month here that sometimes felt more like winter than spring, but it still seemed to go by really quickly. I did some more rereading, including listening to the audio of The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles. The book is delightful, and the audio is excellent. Here are some new to me reads I enjoyed:

Twisted Pretty Things by Ariana Nash: Twisted Pretty Things is the first book in the Shadows of London urban fantasy series. The world building is intriguing and the plot appropriately twisty with secrets, lies, betrayals. I wouldn't say there is a romance in this book, though it feels like maybe a love triangle is being set up...? I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, if that's where this is going, but I'm going to give the next book a try.

What We May Be by Layla Reyne: Ten years ago, Sean, Charlotte, and Trevor were in love and planning a future together, but it all fell apart when Sean left. Now with the FBI, he's back in town helping Charlotte find a killer. I enjoyed this second chance romance/mystery, and I'm excited to hear that my favorite secondary character will be getting his own story.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber: I grabbed Caraval in audio from the library because it seemed intriguing. It's YA fantasy romance and the first book in a trilogy. Scarlett has to navigate the world of Caraval, a game played over multiple nights with a fantastic prize at the end, in order to find her sister and try to keep them both safe from their abusive father—and decide if she can trust a budding romance with someone she meets along the way. The world is dreamy and dark and filled with lies and secrets, twists and turns. 

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Another YA audiobook I borrowed from the library last month. I heard comparisons to Knives Out about this book, and I can absolutely see it. In this first book of a trilogy, a teenage girl inherits the estate of a billionaire she's never met. To fulfill the terms of the will, she has to move into his house (filled with secret passages and riddles), where his mostly disinherited family still lives. They see her as a con woman, or a last puzzle left by their deceased grandfather, in the case of the four grandsons, and she decides to play his games to figure out why she's there and stay alive. Despite the absolute presence of a love triangle, I have the second book on hold at the library.

Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution by Elie Mystal: I've been meaning to read more nonfiction, and I started with this book, which was fantastic. Constitutional Law always interested me in law school (though you absolutely do not have to be a lawyer/former lawyer to read and understand this book), and with the current state of politics/jurisprudence/everything, this is a very timely book. It's an unflinching and honest look at the history and interpretation of the constitution, but it's also witty and engaging.

What have you read and loved lately?

Was it only me or did March seem to go by quite quickly this year? I'm not sure what happened to March (or what I accomplished, but that's something else entirely...), but it's now April and I get to tell you all about the reading I did last month. I did a couple of KJ Charles audiobook rereads in March and also read some knew to me books I enjoyed:

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia: In this mystery, Black girls are being kidnapped and murdered in 1920s Harlem. Louise, who survived a kidnapping attempt several years earlier, is pushed into helping to solve the crimes. The mystery is good, and the details of time period and setting are excellent. Louise's established relationship with another woman in her boarding house is mostly in the background, but it's lovely. I'm sure I'll keep reading this series.

Fluke and the Frontier Farce by Sam Burns: I'm enjoying this series so much. And I'm so sad that there's only one book left after this one—and eagerly looking forward to it at the same time. This installment was one of my favorites in the series. The time travel element was fun, and I loved the characters that we meet in the past. Fox familiar Fluke continues to be delightful, of course. There's lots of magic, mystery, suspense, romance, and family in this series, and I'd recommend it (but start with book one).

All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett: This is the second book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, in which Queen Elizabeth II is an amateur sleuth solving mysteries with the help of her assistant private secretary, Rozie. In this installment, there is a murder in the Buckingham Palace pool plus a lot of mysteriousness surrounding a painting. I found it utterly entertaining and delightful fun. 

A Walk in the Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon: This novella is an Audible Original, though I believe it will be released in ebook at some point. It's the adorable (and just a bit steamy) story of two people who are mistakenly promised the same dog (Zeus, also adorable) at the shelter and decide to coparent him rather than one of them having to give him up...and, of course, they fall in love along the way.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo: The Chosen and the Beautiful is a retelling of The Great Gatsby and it's loyal to the original, only with the addition of mysterious, intriguing magic and a change of narrator to Jordan Baker, a queer, Asian American immigrant adopted and raised in high society by a rich white family. There's still a contemplation of wealth and status and the American dream, but through Jordan's eyes and with exploration of her identity as a Vietnamese American woman in that world. The reimagining is fascinating, and the writing is lush and beautiful.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater: I have no idea who recommended this series to me, but I'm so glad I finally started it! This is a fairy tale-like take on the Regency period with a young woman missing half her soul due to a pact with a fairy her mother entered into before her death and an extremely grumpy sorcerer who tries to help. The characters are engaging, and there's a lot of depth to discussion of issues relating to treatment of the poor. I listened to it and enjoyed the audio. I'll definitely continue the series.

​What have you read and loved lately?

I'm a bit later than I meant to getting this post written...but that seems to be normal for me lately! But putting aside my scattered self, let's talk books. I didn't read many new-to-me books in February, both a combination of having trouble getting into things and spending more time trying to write for the JeRoWriMo challenge. I reread some favorite books in audiobook during the month and read a few books for the first time:

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall: This book was described to me as a fun romp in which the woman Valentine is supposed to marry runs away and he and her brother chase after her and end up falling in love. A lot of it is fun, and I adored Valentine, and not only because it's great to see another well-written demisexual character. I did spend a lot of time wondering why he didn't just let her go and go back home where he could live happily on his own or with the love interest, mostly because the woman he's meant to marry spent a lot of the book actively trying to get him killed and turning people against him and faces no consequences for that at all. (The second book in the series will be about her, but I'm not sure I'll read it.) So, some mixed feelings about this one. I loved Valentine and Alexis Hall's writing is always lovely, but Valentine spends the whole book apologizing for being his quiet self while Belle throws a tantrum and tries to get him killed and her brother mostly sides with her, even as he falls in love with Valentine.

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson: This is an incredibly honest, powerful memoir about growing up Black and queer and the intersection of those identities. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the author, something I think added to the impact.

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennet: In this cozy mystery, a body is found in a compromising position the morning after a dine and sleep at Windsor Castle. When the queen doesn't think the police and MI5 are looking in the right direction, she decides to investigate herself. This book was delightful and lots of fun, and the narration in the audiobook was excellent. I just grabbed the next in the series, which I hope will be just as amusing.

What have you read and loved lately?

The weather is dreary and nasty today—rain and ice and all sorts of unpleasantness—so it seems like a good day to talk about books (and curl up and read a book...). I read some wonderful books in January (and some that weren't so good or that just weren't the right book for me at that moment...I'll try those again some other time). I did some rereads of favorites in audio and read some new to me books I want to share:

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday: This contemporary royalty romance between a biracial American academic and a European baron was the first book I read this year and it was charming. I loved how their relationship became a solid and supportive friendship before it turned romantic. There were a few things at the end that I didn't care for, but overall, this was a delightful book.

The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian: I mostly just want to squee about this book—I loved it so much I'm not sure I can be coherent about it even weeks later. This is second (and long awaited, at least by me!) book in the Page & Sommers series of cozy, post-WWII mysteries with a romance between a semi-retired spy and a country doctor. I figured out bits of the mystery as I went along, but the part I loved so much was the relationship between Leo and James and how it continues to develop. The blend of mystery and romance in these books is wonderful—start with the first if you want to read the series, and let's all hope more are coming. 

A Marvellous Light by Freya Markse: This book was one of my Christmas presents, and I absolutely adored it. It's Edwardian fantasy romance—beautifully written with intriguing world building and a wonderful romance. Seriously, I love Robin and Edwin. I also loved the magic and the mystery, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until later this year.

The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite: This is the final book in the Feminine Pursuits trilogy (though the three books work as standalones), and I've enjoyed each of them. They are all F/F historical romances with an emphasis on craft (music, embroidery, weaving, etc) and a focus on improving the community in which the characters live in some way. I loved Sophie and  Maddie's romance and Sophie's family and the resolution of the external plot as much as the romance. Another Christmas gift I'm quite pleased with and a series I would recommend. 

​What have you read and loved lately?

Happy New Year, my darlings! I'm not entirely sure where the end of 2021 went, but that's beside the point because we're now in 2022, a new year with hopefully lots of good things for us all and lots of good books to read. I did a 2021 wrap-up post last week in which I talked about some of my favorite reads from last year (you can find that here), and today, it's time for my monthly reading report. I read mostly holiday stories last month, as I often do in December—there's something about holiday romances that give me an extra fuzzy feeling on top of the usual one that comes with a HEA. I had a little trouble getting into some of them this year; I think because I've been having trouble reading contemporaries during the pandemic—I really want the extra escapism of fantasy/paranormal/historical reads. That all said, here are some books I enjoyed in December:

Strawberry Moon by Sam Burns and WM Fawkes: The only thing I read (other than an audio reread I finished) that wasn't a holiday book! I believe this is the last book in the Wolf Moon Rising series, and though I liked some books in the series more than others, I enjoyed this shifter series. Probably best read in order, since, though there is a new couple in each book, there is an overarching plot.

Only One Bed by Keira Andrews: A tropey (only one bed! friends to lovers!) Christmas novella with sweet, likable characters. This novella isn't my favorite holiday story by Keira Andrews, but it was enjoyable and it set up another story between two supporting characters that I'll be waiting for.

Hold Me Closer, Tony Danzig by Laura Henry: I listened to this short audiobook through Audible Plus (it's an Audible Original) on a whim. It's a cute f/f romance that includes the one night stand turns out to be a colleague trope, if you enjoy that one. There is a very big toxic ex-girlfriend plot in this one and some conflict between sisters that felt unnecessary to me, but it was a cute, short holiday listen.

The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert: Probably my favorite new Christmas read of the month. An opposites attract romance between two neighbors, one grumpy and the other sunshiney, as they fall for each other while decorating the grumpy guy's house for his brother's unexpected holiday visit. Full of so much sweet, fluffy Christmasy romance.

The Best Gift by Eli Easton: A quiet, lovely, emotional Christmas romance between two men dealing with loss and grief and finding each other maybe through fate. It's also set on a Christmas tree farm in snowy New England for extra Christmas vibes.

Checking It Twice by Lucy Bexley: I've never read anything by Lucy Bexley, but I saw this on twitter and decided to give it a try. It turned out to be so cute! An opposites attract romance between the hyper-organized wedding planner and the something-of-a-disaster maid of honor set at a Christmas Eve wedding that was funny and sweet.

Mr. Jingle Bells by Leta Blake: This is the third book in the Home for the Holidays series, but I think can be read on its own. I loved the characters in this book and loved them together, but I almost put it aside to read later because I was in the mood for fluffy Christmas stories and this one has much more angst than I was looking for at the time (I could see the big fall out coming and was dreading it!). Mr. Jingle Bells was good, just maybe not the right book for me at that time.

On a Midnight Clear by Lily Morton: Such a lovely, magical Christmas story! Literally magical, as it involves a statue brought to life by the Holly King as one of our main characters. A wonderful romance full of Christmas cheer and fanciful magic based in English folklore and a really perfect happily ever after. Loved it.

​What have you read and loved lately?

Because time has lost all meaning, it is apparently December already—something that hasn't quite sunk in yet, despite the fact that all of my Christmas decorations are up and I've been listening to a ton of Christmas music. I suppose I'll catch up at some point. But today, I'm talking about November's reading. November was...a lot, and as a result, I didn't do a lot of reading, of new books at least. I read some fan fiction and listened to audiobooks often, all rereads. I did read a few new books, though:

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling: This witchy rom-com was fun and funny and the light, easy read I needed. It starts with a witch and her cousin drunkenly cursing her ex, never thinking they were doing real magic. Fast forward several years, the ex is back in town, and it turns out the curse was quite real. 

Wolves of Kismet series by Sam Burns: I've been reading a lot of Sam Burns's books lately and enjoying them. The three books in this series—in which three wolf shifters and found brothers come together to make a pack and family and find love along the way—were no different, though I would've loved a little more development and a little more wrap up.

​What have you been reading lately?

We're well into autumn here now, which I'm loving since fall is my favorite time of year. I've thrown myself into it completely, baking pumpkin treats and apple cider cinnamon rolls and cooking various soups. My reading was very fall appropriate in October as well. I did relistens of a few favorites, including A Little Familiar by R Cooper and Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox, and I've just started my annual autumn relisten of A Discovery of Witches. My other reading in October was a bit witchy too:

A Veiled and Hallowed Eve by Hailey Turner: This one isn't a witch book, but it is a paranormal and I've been looking forward to it, so I grabbed it as soon as it came out this month. This final book in the Soulbound series did not disappoint. It provided a satisfying wrap up of the plot lines in the series, appearances from characters introduced in earlier books, an epic final battle, and a happily ever after for Patrick and Jono. Start at the beginning and binge your way through this one—the books only get better as the series goes on.

Witch Please by Ann Aguirre: I'm a bit conflicted about the book, and I'm not sure how to explain what I didn't care for without lots of spoilers. I did like the set up—small town, a witch who uses her powers to fix electronics, a baker who makes amazing cinnamon rolls and believes he's cursed in love—and the writing and some of the supporting characters, like the baker's sister and stepsister and the coven. But the plot took some turns I'm not sure I care for, and I'll just say the grandmother's actions didn't work for me at all.

Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by AW Jantha: This came out a few years ago, and I always meant to read it because of my love for the movie Hocus Pocus (which, yes, I did watch multiple times in October, why do you ask?). The first half of the book is a novelization of the movies, and the second half is the sequel in which Max and Allison's teenage daughter (after not believing her parents' stories about the Sanderson sisters) goes to the Sanderson house on Halloween with her best friend and the girl she has a crush on and ends up bringing the witches back. It's not a fantastic book, but it's cute and fun for those who enjoy the movie.

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper: I grabbed this from the library in October and liked it so much I'm going to have to buy it for rereads. This witchy book has all sorts of things I was looking for last month—witches, autumn vibes, great characters, romance. Emmy Harlow isn't a powerful witch and left home years ago after a bad break up to try to make a life for herself outside of magic, but she has to go home now to arbitrate a magical competition between the other founding families. When she arrives, she finds out that the same guy also hurt her best friend and another witch, Talia. The three hatch a plan for vengeance...and Emmy begins to fall for Talia. I definitely recommend this one, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

​What have you read and loved lately?

Happy October, everyone! I'm currently diving back into my favorite fall reads (which I talked about last week) and hoping to find some new ones, but today, it's time to talk about last month's reading. In September, I read several new books that I really enjoyed.

Love Springs Eternal by SJ Himes: This is the fifth book in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, and Daniel and Rory's story. Daniel and Rory met a couple of books earlier in the series, and I've been waiting for their story. It definitely didn't disappoint—and it also set up an interesting situation for the next book in the series, which I will be waiting for eagerly! I don't think this book would standalone well, so start at the beginning of the series.

​All Fired Up by Jenn Burke: All Fired Up is the first book in the Ashes & Dust series, a spin-off of her Not Dead Yet series, which I loved. It's taken me far too long to get to this book (stupid pandemic brain not letting me read properly), but I've read it now and I loved the beginning of Evan's story. I can't wait to see what happens next for him. You probably could start with this book, but you'll understand more about the characters and their situations if you go back to Not Dead Yet (which is so good anyway).

Lords of the Underworld series by Sam Burns and WM Fawkes: I binged through the three books in this series (and then Wildfire, the first book out in the spin-off series) very quickly in September. I thoroughly enjoyed this take on Greek gods in the modern world with lots of intrigue, magic, and romance. I'll be impatiently waiting for the next book.

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall: This fantasy take on Sherlock Holmes was utterly delightful, just so fun and funny. The Holmes character is an eccentric sorceress and the Watson character a starchy, easily shocked but steadfastly loyal trans man, whose voice as narrator was wonderful. The world building was complex and interesting and the mystery sufficiently twisty. I really wish there were more books with these two characters. I listened to the audio and the narrator was fantastic.

The Wife in the Attic by Rose Lerner: I was intrigued as soon as I heard the premise of this book: an f/f Regency Gothic inspired by Jane Eyre. I listened the audiobook, but it took me a while to get through, and I think it's because I was expecting a romance, and this didn't feel like one, though there is romance in it. It is a very well-written Gothic with all the atmosphere you could expect from one, and I would absolutely recommend it for that.

​What have you read and loved lately?

Happy October, my dears! If you know me at all, you know this is my favorite time of year. And with the state of the world over the last year and a half, I'm very happy to wallow in the joy this season brings me (that fall wreath has been up on my door since just after Labor Day!). I'm ready for pumpkin treats and cozy cardigans, the glorious colors of fall and crackling leaves underfoot, crisp mornings and reading curled up with a blanket and a cup of cocoa. I'm ready to hang up the Halloween lights and paint a pumpkin. I'm also ready for my favorite autumn stories. I don't like horror, but I do love atmospheric reads and witchy books and a bit of spookiness and just the wonderful cozy feel of autumn. I'll be watching Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus and doing rereads of some favorite books that just feel right this time of year:

A Discover of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I listen to the audio of this book every autumn now (and usually end up rolling right into the books that follow in the series after). It's the story of a spellbound witch and a vampire and a mysterious manuscript and has a blend of romance, science, history, and magic that I loved. It's also set at this time of year.

A Little Familiar and Nothing More Certain by R Cooper: These two books are just lovely. All the yearning romance and witchiness and cozy fall feeling. I adore them.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: This short is the start to a wonderful series (which I have not read the latest couple of books in because my reading has been a mess lately) with a wonderful romance and a supernatural mystery out on the moor. But I love it this time of year because it's atmospheric and a bit melancholy and just spooky enough for me. 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: I read this for the first time last year, and it is an absolute delight. A trans boy trying to show his family he's a brujo like the other men summons the ghost of his cousin, but ends up with the wrong ghost. And then ends up falling in love with him as they try to find out what happened to both Yadriel's cousin and Julian. The narration in the audiobook is wonderful too.

Widdershins by Jordan L Hawk: I started listening to this on my walk this morning for the...I'm not sure what time. I love the whole Whyborne and Griffin series, a wonderful historical paranormal romance series with fantastic characters and world building. 

Hainted by Jordan L Hawk: Hainted is a standalone with lots of creepy supernatural stuff and a lovely romance between two men who know how to lay the restless dead and are in a fight for their lives against evil.

​Do you have any favorite autumn books?