Casee
I still haven’t started Tin Queen (Tin Gypsy #6) by Devney Perry. My plan was to read it over the holiday weekend. Have you ever just not wanted to read a book because you don’t want the series to be over? That’s where I’m at with DP. I’m currently reading Stand (Bleeding Stars #6) by A.L. Jackson. This author packs such an emotional punch that I have to take a break every few chapters. It’s a really good book, but pretty heartbreaking.
I’m listening to White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2) by Ilona Andrews. I adore Nevada and Rogan. I just LOVE them!
Holly
I’ve spent the week reading the Dark Planet Warriors series by Anna Carven. I had previously DNF’d the first book, Dark Planet Warriors, but I pushed through the first half and ended up really enjoying the second half. I then read books 2-6, Dark Planet Falling, Into the Light, Out of Darkness, Forged in Shadow and Infinity’s Embrace. I’m really enjoying the world and overall series storyarc.
I’m taking a break from the series to read Whiteout by Adriana Anders for my book club. I haven’t decided if I’ll go back and finish the last two books in the series after that, or if I’ll pick up something new.
My favorite read this week (possibly my favorite book of 2021 so far) was SAINT by Sierra Simone. It’s the next book (after PRIEST, MIDNIGHT MASS, and SINNER) in her series about the Bell brothers and their complicated, conflicted relationship with the Catholic Church. SAINT is a second-chance m/m between a monk and his former lover. It’s very critical of the Catholic Church’s “fundamentally broken” doctrine toward gay sexuality and it won’t be for all readers, but I thought it was a brilliant and beautifully-written book.
Since last time ~
— Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris for my distant book group. I have somewhat mixed feelings about this book — early in the book, the narrator says something to the effect that ‘you are probably wishing I would just get to the point’ and I could identify with that thought. It’s the second book I read recently that centered to a large extent on a child, in this case a nine year old in world war two era France.
— I’m participating in a challenge on another site where I need to read a book by a new to me author; I read four.
Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick
Featured a romance between Carter, an American assistant event planner and Edgar, crown prince of England. It was entertaining and made me chuckle several times; however, I also considered putting it aside after 100 pages. It takes place in the US and the UK. I’d describe it as an almost closed door romance.
**
Sunshine & Shadows by K.C. Wells
Two men, best friends until age thirteen, meet by chance a dozen years later. Jamie works from home in web design and is a talented artist; when he was 18, a drunk driver caused a spinal injury that has him in a wheel chair. Jamie is the Sunshine in the title. Stephen works as an accountant in a business his father is starting; he has had some bad relationships and carries a lot of Shadows. Jamie offers his guest room while Stephen house hunts and the men reconnect as friends and then more. There is frank discussion of the daily life of someone who deals with paralysis (physically and emotionally) and also of the challenges and rewards associated with intimacy. I enjoyed this book, but I don’t expect to reread it.
**
Heart of Gold: A Summer Olympics Romance by Anna Martin
This book takes place at the (fictional) 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 in a non pandemic world. That was a little jarring. This was a romance between two men (one Canadian, one American) who were just starting a relationship at the 2012 Olympics when one was in an accident that resulted in a spinal injury. They reconnect at the 2020 Olympics where one is competing and the other is a commentator. I liked the emotional connection between the two leads and could imagine rereading this.
**
A Rational Arrangement by L. Rowyn
This lengthy fantasy featuring a polyamorous relationship takes place in a world similar to the regency era (arranged marriages, the season, homosexuality punishable by death), but with differences such as the Blessed (who can heal or build) and sentient talking Greatcats. Our three leads are Lord Nikola (Blessed in mind healing, poor-ish), Lord Justin (wealthy, charming), and Wisteria (intelligent, neurodiverse). When the story begins, the two men have been secretly intimate for years, and Lord Nikola’s family is pressing him to marry a wealthy woman. Throughout the book each character develops a relationship with the others. I REALLY enjoyed this book and plan to read more by the author. (Caution: one violent scene)