154. Cold Curses by Chloe Neill (UF, WM/WW,resolution). Pacing of this was installment was weird both slow and rushed at points. Some great moments and a lot of eh ( CWs: violence, murder, possession, secrets, abduction). 155. An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn ( WM/WW, mystery with Rom, Victorian era).... Continue reading

144. Death Below Stairs (WW/WM, London UK-Set, Victorian Era Mystery series with romantic elements)Mrs H is a very good cook but she might be an even better sleuth! She can’t help but get involved when her assistant is found dead in the pantry! CWs: imperialism, discrimination 145. Scandal Above Stairs... Continue reading

135. Murder in Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose (WW/WM, Uk-set Regency Mystery, Scientist Earl/Widowed satirical cartoonist) The chemistry! Love the banter, sparring & real emotion the MCs grapple with while untangling a dastardly murder. Cw: murder, betrayal, poverty 136. Murder at Half-Moon Gate by Andrea Penrose (WM/WW, Regency era... Continue reading

118. How to kiss an Undead Bride by Hailey Edwards ( UF, wedding epilogue) This was fun & I loved that we had POV chapters for Linus. Cw: murder, stalking, food weirdness, violence, betrayals. 119. How to Survive an Undead Honeymoon by Hailey Edwards (UF, Epi. 2) A haunted inn... Continue reading

99. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto (Mystery, AW). When a terrible man in found dead in her tea shop, Vera is determined to find the killer, unfortunately she grows quite attached to her suspects. CW: murder, emotional abuse, ref. to violence. 100. The Long Call... Continue reading

I’ve read 170 books this year! There were some re-reads, tons of mystery series, lots of Urban Fantasy & Romantic suspense binges but the books below were my faves of the year. The ones in bold are the books published this year or in one case next month! Special shout-out... Continue reading

So I am terrible about cooking in a systematic way. I cook by feel and taste most of the time. I love cookbooks, but I rarely make things as written more than once. I love them for the ideas, techniques and flavor combinations. The rest of the time I just... Continue reading

So I am terrible about cooking in a systematic way. I cook by feel and taste most of the time. I love cookbooks, but I rarely make things as written more than once. I love them for the ideas, techniques... Continue reading

92. Wild Life by Opal Wei (eArc: Jan 24, contemporary rom, rom com in the right way!, Taiwanese-Canadian MCs,MMC has anxiety/panic attacks) Mini-Synopsis: A cancer researcher bullies her way on to the private island of former C-pop star-aspiring wildlife rescuer after he accidently ends up with a slide crucial to... Continue reading

98. Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh (SFR/PNR WW/AM, Bear Changeling/ mentally scarred Psy) Mixed feelings…wasn’t enjoying the book…took a 3 week break & enjoyed the ending? Wrong mood? Hmmm. CWs: murder, child abuse, serial killer, non-conventual medical procedures, ableism Mini-Synopsis: The tortured and skittish sister of powerful Psy, Theo Marshall,... Continue reading

73. Twisted by Laura Griffin (RS, WM/WW, cop/FBI agent, co-workers, age difference, past trauma: parental loss, child abuse) Allison’s friends actually check on her! Cw: serial killer, assault, guns, knives, grief, workaholism, mentions of rape, pedophilia, stalking. 74. Scorched by Laura Griffin (RS, WM/WW, SEAL/Bone expert, on-the-run & 2nd chance).... Continue reading

56. The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman (Regency, Mystery,). Widowed Lady Adler has returned to town, and promptly discovers a body. CWs: murder, racism, sexual harassment, guns, grief. 57. Ana María and the Fox by Liana De La Rosa (1860’s UK Hrom, Mexican FMC/Black-Scottish MMC) Loved the sisterly... Continue reading

40. Wild Things by Chloe Neill (UF, 9, WM/WW) Magical threat to shifters and hidden magical peoples. Shifters are so messy emotionally. CWs: murder, violence, gore, magical coercion, kidnapping, prejudice 41. Blood Games by Chloe Neill (UF, 10, WM/WW) Oof, past allegiances & choices are tested as big political changes... Continue reading

Thank god for authors with rich backlists and lots and lots of audiobook offerings. In march I finished the Rockton/Casey Duncan series that I have previously reviewed and then moved on to catch up on the audios of Haley Edwards Black Hat Bureau series. I read a ton of Haley... Continue reading

Genre: Mystery/Thrillers with Romantic Elements. Tropes: found family, small town, new start. Main Characters: Casey Duncan, Chinese/Filipino/Scottish Canadian, former police detective with a killer secret. Eric Dalton, White, wilderness-born sheriff of secret small town in the Yukon. Series CWs: Guns, murder, mutilation, medical procedures, sex work, slut-shaming, kidnapping, rape, beatings,... Continue reading

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (CIAG 12, WM Québécois detective) . Up way too late but I needed to finish it and then cry myself out. Ooof (CWs: murder, manipulation, suicide, coercion, abuse, racism, sex work, drug use, police abuse). In this installment Gamache continues to reckon with his... Continue reading

The Heroic Hearts Anthology series reminded me of how engrossing it can be sink my teeth (heh) into a new urban fantasy universe. Based on the short story I read I wanted to read more. The short story: Silverspell by Chloe Neill. A Katana wielding Vampire princess & An Alpha... Continue reading

Last year when this came out I put it in my mental wish-list...but I just wasn't going to plunk down full price for a collection of short stories where I was only likely to read 2 of the stories. Thankfully one of the libraries I used finally bought the audio... Continue reading

12. The Nature of the Beast of Louise Penny (CIGM #11, WM Quebecois, CW: Child Death, Serial Killer, Child killer) I am going to let this book sit with me a bit. I don't feel ready to jump into the next because of what wringer the residents of Three Pines... Continue reading

Ivelisse Housman is the daughter of my childhood best-friend. It has been a joy watching her pitch this story on Twitter to holding her book in my hand. I loved noticing little way Housman included hints of her Puerto Rican that heritage in a fantasy setting like the way she... Continue reading

Oooooooooh ooooh. Wow. This books so many things so well. It upends some our most beloved characters once more and opens them and their hurts in deeper ways. Bad I knitted and speed listened to the last hours of this book I was riveted, tense, wounded and blown away. Just... Continue reading

After the way The Beautiful Mystery ended, I desperately needed the next book. However all my libraries had long waits for the ebooks and digital audio copies. Hoopla to the rescue! My local library only recently started offering Hoopla access, so I stuck my earbuds in, downloaded the book, and... Continue reading

8. The Hangman by Louise Penny (CIGM #6.5, WM Quebecois Detective, short story) One of the final episodes of the TV adaptation's season used this story for its plot and honestly there wasn't much to this beyond what they adapted. Just sort of flat. (CWs: Murder, suicide, grief) Continue reading

A murder in an isolated monastery, bring Gamache and Beouvoir to the cloistered community where glances, silences and the smallest of tremors are magnified into blaring communication. I was spoiled for a major character conflict in this book and it made it so hard to read as I saw it... Continue reading

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (CIAG #7, WM a Québécois detective). Oops belatedly realized I missed a short story. This story seemed crowded with suspects, left me feeling sad. Cw: addiction, murder, gaslighting, past trauma: emotional abuse Jean-Guy and Peter are both spiraling in this book but... Continue reading