#bookthread 2020!

1. Reverb by Anna Zabo ( trans m/f bi, contemporary with RS tinge, bodyguard/rock queen). Found family goodness, loner finds friends, community. One of my fave tropes and excellently done tour/band dynamics. (CWs: stalking, grief, loss). Excellent.

2. Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole Loyalties & identity is tested as Daniel & Janeta travel into the Deep South. I loved Janeta’s journey of realizing her blackness and rejecting the self-hating messages were tearing her apart (CW: war, threats of SA, racism)

3. Holiday Epilogues 2019 — Cat Sebastian (queer holiday frolicking). These were delightfully festive and filthy fun. Love them all!

4. Redressed by Cat Sebastian (f/f, PNR, HR) Sarah is bullies by her brothers to take a holiday by the seaside and meets her match in Selkie avenger. Sleuthing and threatening of bad men, super sweet romance. (CW: threats of dismemberment).

5. A Delicate Deception by Cat Sebastian ( bi m/f bi queer regency) Bursting with found family a reclusive author & awkward engineer fall in love while arguing and seductive picnicking. Amelia and Sydney are super squishy & perfect sunshine/gruff pairing.

6. Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri (m/f, Fantasy) Beutiful slowly developing fantasy romance. I love the rich Indian inspired cultures and mythology. The book has three parts, a painful coming of age, a transformational trial & a powerful resolution. (CW: violence, slavery).

7. Leonora, His Omega Mate by Chencia C. Higgins (bk 2, Wolves of West Texas) m/f, PNR, black romance. The sweetly seductive bearded Cassius who would be happy to keep Leonora if Adrian doesn’t figure things out stole the book even if didn’t get the girl https://amzn.to/2QZs0pd 

8. Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews (UF). Dina must reclaim her confidence as an innkeeper and is tested by 3 very demanding sets of guests. Solid but Adira stole the book.

9. The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (m/f, gilded age Am-HR).
A scandalous widow, a haunted house and a genius fascinated by ghosts (or is the widow?). This book was a warm hug. Sam’s love, Alva’s spirit (CW: past trauma DV, past trauma: abuse of Mentally ill, harassment)

10. House Rules by Ruby Lang (m/f, contemporary, 40ish MCs, 2nd Chance). Their marriage broke up 17 yes ago but an awesome apartment brings them back together & they realize they don’twant to be apart, no matter how over it they were, who they used to be & what they used to want

11. Lionheart by Thea Harrison (m/f, PNR, doctor/patient, sleeping beauty, fated mates, worst timing) Dr. Shaw is brought in as a last ditch effort to safe the sleeping Oberon from a deadly curse, before his dreams destroy what is left of his kingdom. Aaah, just what I needed.

12. A Shade Darker by Laura K Curtis ( Contemporary Gothic, rom elements m/f) A live-in tutor, a haunted child in an isolated house in Maine. (CW: bigotry/use of slurs against Romani MC & Native Am. character, past trauma: loss of parents (cancer, suicide, accident), violence).

13. Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri (fantasy rom elements m/f) from traumatized & sheltered young widow to avenging grief witch capable of cursing an Emperor, Arwa’s story was majestic as is her romance with Zahir her not-prince scholar love. (CWs: violence, murder, persecution).

14. Sensitivity Read. Looking forward to seeing others read it! (Contemporary Romance, m/f, Latinx)

15. Whiteout by Adriana Anders. (M/f, RS, forced proximity, danger love) Great intense, claustrophobic beginning but lost steam in the last 1/3, with an uneven ending setting up a new RS series. (CWs: Murder, intense violence, past trauma: deaths of family members, ableism).

16. Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan (m/f, RS, AOC, 2nd Chance) Heart-pumping with really good tension, supporting characters and stuck the landing on the romance. Black/biracial heroine, white hero. (CW: Murder, violence, kidnapping Past Trauma:miscarriage, abandonment). More!

17. Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan (m/f, neurodivergent MC, AoC, RS) Fast-paced Bourne-like on-the-run-romance. Found family nearly torn apart by false accusations & traitor. (CW: Violence, Murder, kidnapping, ableism, torture, cancer, past-trauma: abuse, neglect, abandonment).

18. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Charlie Adhara (ARC, m/m, PNR/RS bk4) Keeps getting better and better. A storm-isolated retreat, bodies piling up and tons of secrets and secret agendas to stumble over! (CWs: medical procedures, violence, guns, murder, past trauma: abuse)

19. The Westerby inheritance by Marion Chesny (HR, Georgian, narrated by Kate Reading). Omg so problematic & casually sexist, homophobic& Acephobic with copious slut-shaming & a cliffhanger! Yet it was expertly narrated, & was the right kind of engaging but not distracting.

20. Alpha Night by Nalini Singh (arc 6/9, m/f, PNR, mating at first sight) break in case of emergency good. Fabulous consent convos, the romance takes center stage. Some minor plots were dropped abruptly but I super loved it (CWs: gun violence, murder, past trauma: abuse).

21. Until the End by Juno Rushdan (RS, black hero, heroine with chronic heart condition, opposites attract). Intense twisty story where where it gets murky as to who the “good guys” really are in the already gray Black Ops world. Bioagents, master hackers and double crosses.

22. Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurenston (WF/PNR) Max falls for a Cat who doesn’t know he is one. (CWs: violence, abduction, ptsd, abandonment, guns).

23. Chaos Reigning by Jessie Mihalik (SFR, m/f, fake relationship/bodyguard, house party) Catarina sheds her party girl persona to uncover a plot against her house and bad asses her way to save Earth, with the support of her fake bf & her best friend. Lots of fun explosions!

24. Cupcakes, Trinkets and Deadly Magic. By Meghan Ciara Doidge (UF, m/f, white)Half-witch is suspected of a series of murders and discoverers her hidden talents. (CWs: Murder, blood, gore, violence).

25. How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper, Mystic Bayou #1, m/f, small town PNR with a murder mystery, a smitten dragon & a human anthropologist who has sworn off men. (CWs: Murder, violence, abduction, PT: emotional abuse, neglect, death of parents.) https://amzn.to/2YjAYBB 

26. Love and other Wild Things by Molly Harper (m/f, PNR, small town) A nomadic energy witch on a short-term contract meets a big cinnamon roll Bear and despite her relationship-phobia she can’t resist climbing him! (CWs: violence, past trauma: neglectful parents)

27. Even Tree Nymphs Get the Blues by Molly Harper Mystic Bayou #3 (m/f, PNR, kisses only). An entrepreneurial tree Nymphs with a painful past finds friendship and a careful respectful lover. (CWs: past trauma : violence, betrayal).

28. Selkies are a girl’s best friend (Mystic Bayou #4) by Molly Harper. (m/f, small town PNR)A Dr. reluctantly called back home to the Bayou & the master of operations that doesn’t know whether she wants to smack him or kiss him. (CWs past trauma: toxic parents)

29. My Kind of Town by Shelly Laurenston (m/f PNR novella, KU) A Long Island witch tries to make sense of a bizarre town on NC coast full of large growly beings. OTT but i like Kyle & Emma (cw: violence, transphobic comments)

30. Zola’s Pride by Moira Rogers (bw/wm, PNR, short story, 2nd Chance). Zola was driven from her pride by her mother, and 10 years later her lost mate comes to find her, bringing with him the remnants of the once mighty pride, seeking her help. CWs: violence, pt: abandonment

31. Savage Possession by Moira Rogers (m/f, PNR, priestess/warrior) she has loved him all her life but dares to demand that the king’s heir take the time to woo her. The world building is a lot. I have questions. Cws: sex work, mentions of war violence

32. Dream Maker (Dream Team 1) by Kristen Ashley (m/f, contemp with RS elements) promising start to a new series. Lots of Hot Bunch/Rock chicks cameos. Lost steam in last 1/4 after, evil ex encounter. Cws: Guns, abductions, violence, ptsd, toxic family.

33. Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews (PNR, m/f). Engrossing, emotional, angsty action. New roadblocks, traumatic conflicts and fantastic family moments. Cw: violence, gore, murder.

34. Indigo by Beverly Jenkins (HR, m/f, audio & e) Hester Wyatt’s life is turned upside down when she nurses the dashing but arrogant Galen Vachon. Fantastic history of the Underground Railroad & great small town suspense Cw: violence, guns, slavery, abduction, threats of SA

35. A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh ( thriller/murder mystery, m/f)

Intense interwoven double mysteries in a small town “with no secrets & far too many hidden things”.

(CW: grief, murder, infertility, threats of rape, fatphobia past trauma: DV, mentions of child SA)

36. Nice Girls don’t have Fangs (M/F UF/PNR/WF. Imminently readable but really the wrong thing to read: too many references to the confederacy & is appropriative: the white straight heroine feel like a minority while there are no black characters & is forcibly outed as a vampire

37. Bear’s Gold by Yvette Hines (m/f, PNR with black heroine) Rebekah Weatherspoon recently recommend this & it was just what I needed to read. Fun world building, diverse small town, a delightful play on Goldielocks with Hot widowed single dad Bear shifter. (CWs: stalker ex).

38. Red’s Bear by Yvette Hines (m/f, IR, PNR, mating fever) Rena is suffering & no one knows why & when she loses her job she goes to visit her grandmother under whose care she starts feeling incredibly better. (CWs: Parental lies about health, past trauma death of parent).

39. Hansel’s Bear by Yvette Hines (m/f, PNR, found family) Hansel and Greta shared & survived a traumatic experience as children & then find each other as adults & finally are able sort through their feelings & ties to each other. (CWs: past trauma: abduction, parental death).

40. Bear’s Snow by Yvette Hines (m/f, PNR, IR) A hardened soldier without home or family find herself drawn to a stranger who thought he recognized her. Full of Found Family/loner finds love feels. Editing is still spotty but I really don’t care.

41. Night Shift Dragons (DFZ #3). Y Rachel Aaron ( UF with dragons and living cities). I love how Opal and her father build a new relationship and how she grows into her power and claims what she wants for herself. Lovely HEA. (CW: abduction, fights, guns).

42. The Bear’s Chosen Mate by Vivian Arend. (m/f, straight, white, PNR) mating fever, bff to lovers. Enjoyable but it loss momentum in the middle. (CWs: past trauma: parental neglect).

43. Archangel’s Sun by Nalini Singh ( Uf/PNR, m/f, AMAZING) I loved this story, Sharine the Hummingbird waking after eons of grief, to find herself, claim her powers & work alongside a man she doesn’t fear and comes to love fiercely. Cw: gore, violence, traumatic birth (not Mc)

44. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (Audio, m/m contemporary,white MCs) Fake-not-so-fake relationship with great wacky friends, imperfect family and two fucked up people finally figuring out they can be loved. (CWs: parental abandonment, toxic parents, homophobia).

45. Daring and Duke by Sarah McLean ( HR, white, UK-set). Star-crossed lovers reunited decades after a violent goodbye. There were lots of moments I loved but on the whole it felt choppy & I skimmed to end (CW: sex work, fights , violence past trauma: abuse).

46. Wild Fire by Kristen Ashley (contp., white, bad first impressions) utterly ridiculous but hit my happy buttons and reminded me that I should read more novellas in this 2020. I need quick shots of drama and fun. Journalists and biker solve a cold case/help a grieving teen. >

CW: slurs, white savior, sexual harassment .