Isn't It Bromantic?, by Lyssa Kay Adams
This is the fourth book in the Bromance Book Club series and follows the best background character in the previous three books. Loved it. Vlad, the Russian hockey player, married his childhood best friend, Elena, so she could get a US visa. He had been in love with her for years, but their marriage of convenience seemed to make a real marriage unattainable. When Vlad’s leg is broken during a playoff game, Elena comes back to help nurse him to health. But now that they are thrown together again, Vlad find maybe he does have a chance. Vlad is a delight.
A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poison, by Kate Khavari
I listened to the second book in June, and loved the story, so I looped back to the first one. Both are great. Saffron is a wonderful character—strong, centered, but also warm and caring. In this first tale, she gets involved in a murder investigation to prove that her mentor didn’t do it. With the help of a new friend, and love interest, Alexander, she uncovers a plot far more devious than just murder.
Thistlefoot, by GennaRose Nethercott
I read this one for book club, and I’m always happy to read Baba Yaga-related tales. This book is overall really good. The first half or so, I found that I didn’t really like either of the main characters. But the story was tied up so well—a story of generational trauma—that I really liked it overall. Estranged siblings, Bellatine and Isaac, are brought back together when they inherit their great great grandmother’s chicken legged cottage. But that is not the only thing they inherited, the house comes with a persistent enemy, the Longshadow Man, who leaves a wake of dead people behind and he is transfixed on erasing the siblings and their house from existence.
Mortal Follies, by Alexis Hall
A very fun, romantic, and funny romp. This is Regency England where fairies, deities, and sorcery is real. And Miss Maelys Mitchelmore has been cursed to have social faux pa mishaps one after the other. That is until she is sacrificed to the goddess of Bath. Somehow the mysterious Miss Landrake is always close-by to rescue her. Miss Landrake also seems to be spelling her heart. The best friend character is wonderful. The narrator, one hobgoblin named Puck, is hilarious. Can’t go wrong with this one.
The Heart is a Hollow Organ, by David Alec Knight
Poetry. It wasn’t my favorite book. The subjects were mundane about everyday life, and that can be quite interesting for poetry, but I didn’t feel like the poet brought anything new. He had some nice turns of phrase, but overall didn’t do much for me.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, by Rebecca Throne
Who could resist a cozy romance about a warrior and a sorceress who decide to settle down and open a tea café/bookshop. Reyna and Kianthe are delightful together, the threats they face are real, but never too taxing. Excellent book when you just want a nice story.
A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets, by Kate Khavari
In this third book in the series (I think I may like this one!), Saffron comes back from a trip abroad to find that Alexander’s brother has been arrested for a strange murder. Even though she and Alexander are on the outs, she agrees to help, but soon finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy to sell government secrets. Again, these books are good mysteries with great characters.
Mammoths at the Gate, by Nghi Vo
Another wonderful entry in The Singing Hills Cycle. This time cleric Chih has returned to the abbey after their years long journey. But when they arrive, the find the abbey is being threatened by mammoths of the Coh clan to reclaim the body of an elderly cleric, who was Chih’s mentor. Reunited with Almost Brilliant, Chih acts as mediator between their best friend, the acting bishop, and the princesses of the Coh clan to keep the abbey from being torn apart. Lovely as always. I think I need to start collecting these in hardcover because I already want to reread them.
This is the fourth book in the Bromance Book Club series and follows the best background character in the previous three books. Loved it. Vlad, the Russian hockey player, married his childhood best friend, Elena, so she could get a US visa. He had been in love with her for years, but their marriage of convenience seemed to make a real marriage unattainable. When Vlad’s leg is broken during a playoff game, Elena comes back to help nurse him to health. But now that they are thrown together again, Vlad find maybe he does have a chance. Vlad is a delight.
A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poison, by Kate Khavari
I listened to the second book in June, and loved the story, so I looped back to the first one. Both are great. Saffron is a wonderful character—strong, centered, but also warm and caring. In this first tale, she gets involved in a murder investigation to prove that her mentor didn’t do it. With the help of a new friend, and love interest, Alexander, she uncovers a plot far more devious than just murder.
Thistlefoot, by GennaRose Nethercott
I read this one for book club, and I’m always happy to read Baba Yaga-related tales. This book is overall really good. The first half or so, I found that I didn’t really like either of the main characters. But the story was tied up so well—a story of generational trauma—that I really liked it overall. Estranged siblings, Bellatine and Isaac, are brought back together when they inherit their great great grandmother’s chicken legged cottage. But that is not the only thing they inherited, the house comes with a persistent enemy, the Longshadow Man, who leaves a wake of dead people behind and he is transfixed on erasing the siblings and their house from existence.
Mortal Follies, by Alexis Hall
A very fun, romantic, and funny romp. This is Regency England where fairies, deities, and sorcery is real. And Miss Maelys Mitchelmore has been cursed to have social faux pa mishaps one after the other. That is until she is sacrificed to the goddess of Bath. Somehow the mysterious Miss Landrake is always close-by to rescue her. Miss Landrake also seems to be spelling her heart. The best friend character is wonderful. The narrator, one hobgoblin named Puck, is hilarious. Can’t go wrong with this one.
The Heart is a Hollow Organ, by David Alec Knight
Poetry. It wasn’t my favorite book. The subjects were mundane about everyday life, and that can be quite interesting for poetry, but I didn’t feel like the poet brought anything new. He had some nice turns of phrase, but overall didn’t do much for me.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, by Rebecca Throne
Who could resist a cozy romance about a warrior and a sorceress who decide to settle down and open a tea café/bookshop. Reyna and Kianthe are delightful together, the threats they face are real, but never too taxing. Excellent book when you just want a nice story.
A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets, by Kate Khavari
In this third book in the series (I think I may like this one!), Saffron comes back from a trip abroad to find that Alexander’s brother has been arrested for a strange murder. Even though she and Alexander are on the outs, she agrees to help, but soon finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy to sell government secrets. Again, these books are good mysteries with great characters.
Mammoths at the Gate, by Nghi Vo
Another wonderful entry in The Singing Hills Cycle. This time cleric Chih has returned to the abbey after their years long journey. But when they arrive, the find the abbey is being threatened by mammoths of the Coh clan to reclaim the body of an elderly cleric, who was Chih’s mentor. Reunited with Almost Brilliant, Chih acts as mediator between their best friend, the acting bishop, and the princesses of the Coh clan to keep the abbey from being torn apart. Lovely as always. I think I need to start collecting these in hardcover because I already want to reread them.
