Just for the record, I’m well aware that our festering shitpile of a federal government has started another war in the Middle East and continues its attempts to eradicate LGBTQ+ identities and rights in the US. Believe me, I have thoughts about all that. Those are mostly recorded on FB these days, but there may be some more substantive posts here in the near future.
In the meantime, I am doing Day Job, some writing, and reading. Author links provided - buy direct if you can! And please, whatever you read, if you like it SAY SO.
The Duke’s Cowboy by Andrew Grey, which unfortunately I didn’t care for. An appealing premise, but a lot of repetition – I speed-read, skimmed, then skipped to the last quarter, mostly to confirm my prediction for the HEA.
[re-read] my own short stories ‘Empty Shelves, Full Hearts’ and ‘Ember Cast.’
The View From the Bridge by Nicholas Meyer, memoir, unevenly edited but great content, especially if you are a fan of his work with Star Trek and his Sherlock Holmes novels, like me. Author site HERE.
Lessons in Timing and Lessons in Balance by Maya Dworsky-Rocha & Anna Catalano writing as Sylvia Barry. At first glance, ‘Timing’ looks like an MM version of ‘The Flatshare’ but it’s actually *a lot* more than that. Not a cliffhanger ending, but you’d want to read the follow-up to get the whole story. I loved both of them. Book 1 has 4 POVs. All necessary characters, though only two are the lovers whose story resolves in Book 2. 5 stars the pair. “Author” site HERE.
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers and [re-read] Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass. The first is MM YA rom-com that is also deeply about identity and learning the difference between wants, needs, and dreams. The second, MM NA, picks up with the boy Micah falls for, then breaks up with. This MC lives with depression, but the book is about reconciliation and hope. It is at times funny and always unflinching. 5 stars the pair. Author site HERE.
Full of Heart memoir by J.R. Martinez with Alexandra Rockey Fleming. My employer brought Martinez in for a presentation and he’s a very engaging speaker. Fleming seems to have been more of a typist than a guiding writing hand. A workmanlike book about making the best of a terrible situation.
+ a new short story from K.L. Noone, Primrose Magic; MM in her “kitten & witch” world, basically one scene featuring a magical injury, healing, and saying big words. Recommended for those who like hurt/comfort, this one is not a sex scene. Author site HERE.