March was another busy month of editing, which also began with rereleasing all of my backlist books, so I didn't read a ton, but I did read a few books that I enjoyed—and most of them were books I've been meaning to read for a while!
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith by Rebecca Ide (M/M historical fantasy romance): Nic, who is the only heir to a dukedom in decline, has to marry the woman his father chose for him—Leaf, the daughter of his father's rival—in order to save the family, even though he has no desire to do so. He didn't think it could get any worse until his future wife and her party arrives to be locked into the ducal manor for the marriage negotiations and bring with them as a vowsmith, Dashiell sa Vare, Nic's first love. And then the murders begin. I loved so much in this book—the romance between Nic and Dashiell, the friendship that grew between Nic and Leaf as they try to solve the murders, the twisty mystery plot, and the interesting world.
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite (Cozy SF/mystery): This is the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman series, and you should probably read the first book first just for background (and because it's very good!). On an interstellar passenger liner, fertility has been put on pause for the passengers during the lifetimes it will take to reach their destination, so when a baby is left on her nephew's doorstep, Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective, has to find out where the baby came from and keep him from being classified as a stowaway as her nephew and his partner become more attached. It's another excellent mystery and the themes around parenthood and responsibility and care are handled in interesting ways. Dorothy is a great character, and the beginning hints of a relationship with Violet, owner of a yarn store and suspect from the previous book, are delightful as well.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Gothic horror/fantasy): This is the first book in the Sworn Soldier series and a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying and sets out immediately to see her and support her brother Roderick. They find the manor house in a shocking state of disrepair and the surrounding area odd. I very much enjoyed this retelling, even though horror is not my usual, and going along with Alex as they solved the mystery of what was happening along with a British mycologist and an American doctor. A creepy atmosphere and excellent characters.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (Cis m/trans f historical romance): When Viola was presumed dead at Waterloo, she took that opportunity to finally begin living life as herself, though it meant giving up her title and letting her closest friend, the Duke of Gracewood, believe her to be dead like everyone else. It's only years later that she learns how much that loss has affected him, leaving him still deeply grieving and also traumatized from the war. The book doesn't center any conflict about the heroine's transness but does give us heroine and hero having to get past his anger at being made to believe his friend was dead for so long. Wonderful to read a historical romance in which a trans woman gets to live a happy life and a happy ever after.
What have you read and loved lately?
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite (Cozy SF/mystery): This is the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman series, and you should probably read the first book first just for background (and because it's very good!). On an interstellar passenger liner, fertility has been put on pause for the passengers during the lifetimes it will take to reach their destination, so when a baby is left on her nephew's doorstep, Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective, has to find out where the baby came from and keep him from being classified as a stowaway as her nephew and his partner become more attached. It's another excellent mystery and the themes around parenthood and responsibility and care are handled in interesting ways. Dorothy is a great character, and the beginning hints of a relationship with Violet, owner of a yarn store and suspect from the previous book, are delightful as well.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Gothic horror/fantasy): This is the first book in the Sworn Soldier series and a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying and sets out immediately to see her and support her brother Roderick. They find the manor house in a shocking state of disrepair and the surrounding area odd. I very much enjoyed this retelling, even though horror is not my usual, and going along with Alex as they solved the mystery of what was happening along with a British mycologist and an American doctor. A creepy atmosphere and excellent characters.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (Cis m/trans f historical romance): When Viola was presumed dead at Waterloo, she took that opportunity to finally begin living life as herself, though it meant giving up her title and letting her closest friend, the Duke of Gracewood, believe her to be dead like everyone else. It's only years later that she learns how much that loss has affected him, leaving him still deeply grieving and also traumatized from the war. The book doesn't center any conflict about the heroine's transness but does give us heroine and hero having to get past his anger at being made to believe his friend was dead for so long. Wonderful to read a historical romance in which a trans woman gets to live a happy life and a happy ever after.
What have you read and loved lately?
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