WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN DECEMBER 2025?

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO READ IN DECEMBER?

🎄 - ★
CAROL'S DECEMBER READS
🎄- ★
47/47
M/M ROMANCE BOOKS
🎄Living Promises - Amy Lane - 5★ (California)
🎄Mr. Frosty Pants- Leta Blake - 5★ (Tennessee, New York)
🎄In Case of Emergency - Keir Andrews - 5★
🎄The Christmas Deal - Keira Andrews - 5★
🎄A Little Christmas; Travis's Secret - Aria Grace - 5★ (California)
🎄If This Gets Out - Romeo Alexander -5★ (Michigan)
🎄Trust Me, I Hate You - Romeo Alexander - 4.5★ (Colorado)
🎄Here We Go Again - Romeo Alexander - 5★ (Colorado)
🎄Hearts of Fairlake - Romeo Alexander - 5★ (Colorado)
🎄The Power of Love - Romeo Alexander - 5★ (Colorado)
🎄The Last Grift - Elle Keaton - 3.5★ (Washington, Piedras Island)
🎄Setting the Hook - Andrew Grey - 5★ (Florida)
🎄Fine Line - E.M. Lindsey - 5★ (Florida)
🎄Cover Up - E.M. Lindey - 5★ (Florida)
🎄Heavy Hand - E.M. Lindsey - 5★ (Florida)
🎄Fresh Ink - E.M. Lindsay - 4.5★ (Florida/Colorado)
🎄Love Potion - Mia Monroe - 5★ (New Onyx Universe)
🎄Snowstorms and Second Chances - Brigham Vaughn - 5★ (New York)
🎄The Cupcake Conundrum - Brigham Vaughn - 5★ (New York)
🎄Jingle My Bells - Romeo Alexander - 4.5★ (Michigan)
🎄At My General's Command - Romeo Alexander- 5★
🎄Snowflakes and Song Lyrics - Hank Edwards - 4.5★ (New York)
🎄Daddy Marc's Gem - Morticia Knight - 5★ (Massachusetts)
🎄A Little Christmas, Claus's Secret - Della Cain - 4.5★ (24)
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BOOKS - OTHER GENERA
🎄Ghost Soldier - Clive Cussler & Mike Maden - 4.5★ (Afghanistan, Kuala Lumpur) - (Group Read)
🎄Before I Go to sleep- S.J. Watson - 5★ (England) Friend #9
🎄The Ghost of Shapley Hall - Amy Cross -3★
🎄Somewhere in the Dark -R.J. Jacobs - 4.5★ (Tennessee)
🎄Victorian Psycho -Virginia Feito - 5★ (England)
🎄It Rides a Pale Horse - Andy Marino - 5★ (New York)
🎄Ashes Never Lie - Lee Goldberg - 5★ (California)
🎄Wait for What Will Come - Barbara Michaels - 5★ - (England)
🎄The Ghost Woods - C.J. Cooke - 4★ (Scotland)
🎄Santa's Little Yelpers - David Rosenfelt - 5★ (New Jersey)
🎄Cold Snap- Lindy Ryan - 3★ (Pennsylvania)
🎄The Trouble with Goats and Sheep - Joanna Cannon - 5★ (England)
🎄The Birthday Boys - Beryl Bainbridge - 5★ (Antarctica)
🎄All the White Spaces - Ally Wilkes - 5★ (Antarctica)
🎄Last Patient of the Night - Gary Gerlacher - 4.5★ (Texas)
🎄Stranded - Bracken MacLeod - 5★ (Massachusetts, Arctic)
🎄Winter in the Blood - James Welch - 4★ (Montana)
🎄A Darkness Absolute - Kelly Armstrong - 5★ (Canada)
🎄Under the Neon Lights - Arriel Vinson - 4★ (Indiana)
🎄The Flesh of the Gods - Lauren Haney - 3★ (Egypt)
🎄The Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston - 5★ (South Carolina)
🎄Silent Bite - David Rosenfelt - 5★ (New Jersey) (22)
🎄The Witch of Wild Things - Raquel Vasquez Gilliland 3.5 ★ (23)
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If This Gets Out - Romeo Alexander - (Michigan)
Part of Cresson Point series (4 books)
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
What if the love you never forgot found you again? This bisexual, second chances tale dredges up the past, both good and bad, for Kameron and Able. Of course, a second chance means nothing if you haven’t learned from the first one, so if you’re lucky enough to get a second chance, don’t screw it up, right? But have either of these troubled men learned the lessons of the past?
Romeo Alexander's work is usually very detailed and much of it is lighthearted and sometimes funny. In this one he gets really serious. In this book he gives us a plethora of reasons that he should be right at the top of anyone's list of must-read authors, especially if you are an M/M Romance enthusiast...which you all probably know by now that I am.

The main focus here can be found in the book's blurb. Read it and be prepared for a series of totally unexpected, sometimes off-the-wall, sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking scenes featuring three exceptionally well-developed characters: Kameron, Abel, and Abel's far too precocious seven-year-old son, Dean. I don't usually like children having as much a part in my M/M Romances, but little Dean has become the exception! I believe that this may an era where MM & FF Romance authors are sometimes still exploring the concept of including children as more major plot members, Romeo Alexander has managed to hit it right on the nose every step of the way. I could be a bit predigest since he is one of my "I'll buy anything he writes" authors:)

There are a lot of well-drawn and well-developed characters in this book. I loved Abel's PA, Peter and his secretary, Rachel, as well as Kameron's father's nurse, Sheila. They are critical to the story and its outcome, as well as filling in the blanks along the way. This is a completely engrossing, enchanting, explosively hot and loving story with very few blanks.

In a "nutshell", Abel and Kameron met and fell in love...or maybe luck was more like it, 10-years ago in college...then life came along and they lost contact. Neither expected to ever meet up again. Now they have accidently reconnected, both with different lives and different ambitions. The one thing they, and the reader knows is that they are going to have to do some deep soul searching to make a relationship work this time. Excelled read, Mr. Alexander!

Under the Neon Lights - Arriel Vinson - (Indiana)
Genera: YA novel
4★
A debut YA novel in verse about a young Black girl discovering first love, self-worth, and the power of a good skate. The story paints the picture of the skating rink as the "hub" for this community. It’s a space where people gather to celebrate music, relationships, and the simple joy of roller skating.
You can't help loving and/or relating to every one of these scenes. The story makes space to explore the ways that relationships change. Sometimes things break, and we don’t know how to fix them. Sometimes people let us down. And sometimes people change. Figuring out when to fight or confront versus when to let things go is not easy, and Jae faces several complex choices in her relationships.

Jae also lives in a town that’s facing increasing gentrification. It’s not the theme of the story. This isn’t a book about mobilizing the community to stop what’s happening. It’s about figuring out how to be who you are in an ever-changing world, and how to hold onto the things that matter to you even when the world keeps changing. There are some great moments in which Jae calls out gentrification and acknowledges the harm it’s causing. So, while it’s not a story that centers on saving the skating rink, it does address the impact the closure would have on the whole community.

It was an engaging read from cover to cover. It's not just a story; it’s a heartfelt symposium of love, friendship, and the inevitable changes that all help to shape us. I wholeheartedly believe this novel will resonate with readers looking for a poignant exploration of the Black experience, familial dynamics, and the joys and challenges of youth. If you’re searching for a story that does more than entertain—one that makes you pause and reflect—this book is for you.

Trust Me I Hate You - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Men of Ft. Dale Series
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
Love and hate are not opposites, but sometimes they’re born from the same fire.
In this one we find humor mixed in with the reality of military life. It's rare that I have read an "enemies-to-lovers" book done this well. Usually, the hate part of the equation is over way too soon. This book had it just right. The hate and angst were there, and it felt real, even if it was a case of the anger being taken out on the wrong person. What I found a bit frustrating was that it took the majority of the book to properly resolve.

You have to love both Aidan and Sean. The alternating "point of view" gave depth to the characters showing us what was going on inside their heads. I liked the team also... how they were all struggling with the loss of their team member and friend, and their way of coping with their grief manifesting differently for each of them. I also liked how Aiden helped bridge that gap and helped the team find their balance again.

I don't believe I have EVER given a Romeo Alexander book less than 5 stars...but after a long-drawn-out debate with myself, I just couldn't come up with that one extra half a star this time. It WAS NOT in any way, a bad story. It was only 170 pages long, and a lot of those pages was devoted to the guys getting to know one another and to say they didn't like each other would be an understatement, as well as doing away with the title of the book:). I felt that I had to wait way too long for the "I like you", which I knew was coming, and even longer for the "I love you", that I also knew was coming. Which part of "M/M romance" was I missing? The storyline was fun, and well-paced...but I still couldn't give it my usual 5 stars...so 4.5. I would never, ever hesitate to recommend this book, or ANY of Romeo Alexander's books to readers that like M/M Romances...just be prepared to wait for it a bit longer than usual.

In Case of Emergency - Keira Andrews
Part of the Love at the Holidays Series
Genera: M/M Romance - Friends to Lovers
5★
Will a boy from his past make the future bright? Daniel Diaz likes his life neat and orderly even if it means being lonely. Maybe he's a workaholic (definitely), but he loves his HR career. What he doesn't care for is getting a bizarre call from the ER telling him an injured grad student with a concussion put him down as his emergency contact. Daniel doesn't even recognize the name at first. Cole Smith? Cole told the hospital to call him? Their parents were married for five minutes! And it was ten years ago! But Cole has no one else to look after him. The doctor says he can't be left alone. What's Daniel supposed to do? He has a snowy mountain getaway booked, and he's not skipping his first vacation in years. Even if it means babysitting Cole. Little does he know, Cole had a secret crush on him when they were teenagers. And the kid has really grown up. He's sweet and funny and sexy. He just might thaw Daniel's grumpy heart in a romantic winter wonderland...It's a swoony and spicy gay Christmas story featuring forced proximity, hot-tub shenanigans, Christmas feels, and of course a happy ending.
It was a clever setup for Cole and Daniel to see one another again. Cole had put Daniel down as his emergency contact...but that was 10-years ago and there had never been any reason to change it. Cole had actually forgotten about it and Daniels never knew it had ever been done to start with. In the first pages we find out how that happened and that they were just stepbrothers, and only for just a few months while their parents were married. It took Daniel a while to even remember who Cole even was with only being told on the phone the first name...that was until he talked to his mom. The two guys are reunited and even though Daniel has some Christmas vacation plans to be with a hot hookup from work at a Chalet, Daniel sees that Cole is really hurt and in need and has no one to take care of him, Daniel adds Cole to the vacation plans, and we get this romance going.

I really liked watching Daniel come all "undone" and start to realize that Cole is more than just someone for him to take care of. His journey through who he is and having Cole be the one to help him discover it all just made good sense. Daniel was Demi, it seemed right that as he feels connected to Cole on a deeper level, before he became sexually attracted to him. Daniel thinks he is grumpy and cold, but it's just that it takes the right person for him to see who he is, and Daniel is anything BUT cold... believe me...he is FAR, FAR from cold.

This is a fun story that is so easy to become lost in. The end was cute, and the last line was utter perfection.

Before I Go to Sleep - S.J. Watson - (England)
Genera: Psychological Thiller
5★
Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love–all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story. Welcome to Christine's life. Every morning, she awakens beside a stranger in an unfamiliar bed. She sees a middle-aged face in the bathroom mirror that she does not recognize. And every morning, the man patiently explains that he is Ben, her husband, that she is forty-seven-years-old, and that an accident long ago damaged her ability to remember.
Can you imagine waking up every morning not knowing who you are, where you are, or who the person lying next to you is. This is Christine Lucas’s life. Every day, she wakes up with no memory of her past due to a traumatic accident that has left her with a rare form of amnesia. Her husband, Ben, patiently explains their life to her each day, showing her pictures and recounting stories. It’s a dark and intense story.

Christine’s world had been turned upside down when she started seeing Dr. Nash, a neuropsychologist. He encourages her to start to keep a journal. She hides it from Ben, and the journal becomes a lifeline as Christine starts piecing back together her fragmented memories. Each entry reveals more about her past and the disturbing reality of her present. Through her journal, Christine discovers she was involved in a, auto accident, but inconsistencies start to surface. The more she writes and reads, the more she realizes not everything is as it seems. People in her life, including her devoted husband, might not be who they say they are. As she delves deeper, she uncovers secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew. The tension ramps up as she tries to uncover the truth about her past and present before time runs out, and she loses her memory once again.

I don’t have enough good words to say about this book. When you think about your memories you have to define what is real…what is false… and how many are a little of both? We all will find that sometimes they fool us and lead us down the wrong paths…make us make unwise decisions. This is the heart and soul of this haunting and twisted story. We find out early in the book that Ben, her husband is not telling her everything…Dr. Nash isn’t either. Christine’s journal entries are misleading…where this story is going to take us is anyone’s guess. The ending is so worth the wait and I bet like me…you will change your mind about what is real and not real and still be wrong.

Overall, it's an excellent 5-star read that any reader that thrives on excitement, suspense and intrigue in their mysteries will get their money's worth with this one.

Santa's Little Yelpers - David Rosenfeldt - (New Jersey)
Andy Carpenter Series Book #26
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Christmas
★
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his humorous investigating team return. 'Tis the season in Paterson, New Jersey: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are surrounded by holiday cheer. It’s even spread to the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization, not used to having puppies, has their hands full with a recent litter. Eight puppies are a lot to handle, and Andy is relieved when his co-worker Chris Myers agrees to foster them. Myers, a newer employee at the Tara Foundation, did time for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. When Myers discovers a key witness against him lied on the stand, he goes to Andy to ask for representation in getting the conviction overturned. Myers thinks they can have this wrapped up by Christmas, no problem. But when the witness is murdered, and Myers is arrested for the crime, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly, it’s all elves on deck to make a list and check it twice, so they can prove Myers is innocent.
Even if you never open the book, the cover is worth every last dollar.!! Who, I ask you, could refuse to take those little cuties home? As a long-time reader, I also know that often times the cover doesn't have beans to do with the story...but Andy Carpenter stories always have something to do with his precious dog. David Rosenfeldt once commented that from that time on that if he had written the Manhattan Telephone Directory, and you could bet your life that it would have had a dog on the cover. Smart man!

The dogs also introduce the lead into the plot...and they have something to do with why Andy takes the case. In this story "the person of interest", Chris, is introduced by his volunteering to take care of a litter of puppies. Also each book features Tara the golden retriever. The "lady" is a miracle worker as she has been seven years old for the last fifteen years.

Andy is thinking about perhaps retiring, that is until a friend is accused of murder. Chris Myers was fostering a liter of golden retriever puppies that had been found on the Tara Foundation's doorstep. Chris is a new employee at the Foundation and has also done time in prison for a crime that he still swears he didn’t commit. He learns that the key witness against him lied on the witness stand, so he goes to Andy to ask for his representation in getting his wrongful conviction overturned. Chris thinks they can have this all neatly wrapped up by Christmas, no problem...right? Problem #1... one of the witnesses says he was lying that had agreed to come forward; changes his mind. Of course, Chris is furious, goes to the witness’ house to try and convince him to testify, and... problem #2... he finds him dead. Problem #3...Chris is arrested for the murder...but Andy has agreed to be his defense attorney to clear him. If the story gets too "bogged down" with problems for you, just keep looking at that "basket full of fur-covered cuteness" on the cover.

If you are a reader that enjoys wise-cracking heroes, you will enjoy this book. The main character, Andy, always makes many funny remarks, but he also usually gets them right back. Here you have cute puppies...an excellent story...cute puppies...lots of twists and turns.... cute puppies...a murder to solve...and did I mention cute puppies?

Here We Go Again - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Men of Fort Dale Series Book #3)
Genera: M/M Romance/Soldiers
5★
A second chance to make up for the mistakes of the past. A second chance at love.
Troy: I’ve settled in at Fort Dale with a great job at the clinic on base and I’ve even made a few friends. The nearby city offers all I need to enjoy myself on a night off, if you know what I mean. I was just starting to relax and think everything would work out when he walked into the clinic. Oscar Reyes, the man I fell in love with six years ago and who walked out on me because he couldn’t handle the thought of being out. I never thought I’d see him again, and now he’s here, tossing everything I thought I knew on its head.
I've read almost everything this author has ever written, and the guys stationed at Fort Dale have become wonderfully warm and familiar folks for me. Troy and Oscar are simply great, Troy is loving and carefree, but yet very "goal oriented". He's not afraid to go at it with Oscar. He's got a steel spine, but he knows how to bend when he should or has to. Oscar on the other hand is an opposite. He's damaged both physically and mentally, yet he's still strong and very determined. He's been in the proverbial "closet" his entire life, and it's cost him the most important thing he's ever known...Troy. This is Oscar's chance to fix things...that is IF he can let go of his fear.

I really liked this book. It's extremely honest when it relates dealing with the physical disabilities and the consequences of fear. The relationship between Troy and Oscar is rather like an open wound and far from perfect, but you can feel it in the words; it's so real. You'll be pulled head and heart into their story; I read the book in its entirety, 190 pages, in one afternoon. I couldn't put it down. There are also glimpses of characters from other books in the series, and we got to see them through different viewpoints.

Another great addition to an excellent series. I have the next one and can't wait to revisit with these men.

A Little Christmas: Travis's Secret - Aria Grace - (California)
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Play: Daddy/little
Part of A Little Christmas Series, Season 2 (A Multi Author series)
5★
Travis has always had to take care of himself. He was raised by nannies and lost his only parent when he was young. He was left with a lot of wealth and a caring uncle, but not the kind of affection and personal care he's been craving his whole life. He's there for anyone who needs him and has devoted his life to creating custom "stuffies" for people who need something special that was made just for them. But he has a secret that he can barely admit to himself. There is no way he'll ever be able to admit it to someone else...even if that means he'll never truly be happy. Then there is Jared, who has been the head of security at Primal, the local Kink Club, for years. He's never connected with anyone who was right for him. Also, he's coming to terms with the fact that he probably never will. By a stroke of fate, he meets Travis, a sweet "little" who looks out of place in every sense of word, but he can instantly tell what that boy truly needs. The trick is to get Travis to admit it to them both.
Travis, who is a "stuffie", (plush animals), maker, decides that he’s going to go to the BDSM Club, Primal. Primal is own by his uncles and he deliberately waited until they weren’t going to be there to go. He didn’t want his uncles to know that he was "little" for fear that they would reject him. When he shows up, he enters the "little’s" playroom where Jared, who is the club's head of security sees him. Jared notices that Travis was shy but that he wants to play but doesn’t know how to approach the other "littles".

He goes to Travis, and to his surprise he starts to talk with him and asks about his "stuffie". Travis tells him that he had made it. Jared asks him about maybe making one for his little niece. Travis gives him his business card, and the next day Jared sends him an order for a very, very special Zebra. Travis is inspired by Jared's interest and makes Jared's niece the most beautiful Zebra Jared he had ever seen. Finally, Jared gets up nerve enough to ask Travis to go on a dinner date, and Travis quickly accepts.

The chemistry is a little "iffy" with these two but nevertheless they do make a cute couple. To find out how it all turns out for them, you'll have to read the rest of the story yourself:) Its adorable! The only thing that I thought could have helped the story bit more, was if it had been a just a bit longer... but I loved it, so it gets 5 fuzzy stars.

Hollywood's Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A.
by Lili Anolik
3/5 stars
Interesting story of Eve Babitz and the secret history of L.A!

The Ghost of Shapley Hall - Amy Cross
Part of The Haunted House Collection
Genera: Paranormal/Haunted House
3★
Many years ago, Georgette Shapley died outside the house that bears her family name. According to legend, her ghost has spent more than a century trying to find a way back inside. Can she be reunited with her long-lost child, even in death, and how is the house connected to Rachel's own childhood?
There are not many characters to deal with in this one. There's our storyteller, James... there's Rachel, whose family owns the house...and then there's Lizzy who we only see twice but her role is pivotal. We'll start with Lizzy. Lizzy is Rachel's childhood friend and someone she has not seen for over 10-years. She appears to be really nice and happy to see her friend again. Then we have James. James seemed like a "good guy". He had only known Rachel for a couple of months but appears to be determined to "put up" with her. He wasn't one my favorites, I thought that he was rather "spineless", and when he did stand up to the girls, he wasn't all that impressive. Eventually he does do a fairly decent job of holding his own. A typical young man. He does everything that he can to help Rachel.

Then there is the character of Rachel. I, at first found her annoying, but then she became intolerable. She took advantage of James, lied to him multiple times, manipulated him, faked evidence and was uncooperative in that she was not willing to really tell him what was happening. We find out later that she has spent the past decade in a mental facility. I think perhaps that might be something that you might want to share with someone that you were in or were planning to be in a relationship with. I really didn't believe that she ever intended to be in any kind of serious relationship with him. She does find what she is looking for which proves that she is not crazy, just a selfish, and a pathological liar. In no way was she redeemable....and this is our main character in this story!

The story, in spite of the characters, was definitely interesting. It would have been nice to have had a bit more background on what happened with Edward and Georgette, and a little more about the child. The ending was rather tragic also. The story will keep you going back and forth between liking it and merely tolerating it. I have always liked this author, and will certainty continue to read her work, but this one was diffidently NOT my favorite.

Hearts of Fairlake - Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Men of Fairlake last of an 8-book series
Genera;" M/M Romance/individual updates of the men from the other 7 books
5★
Welcome back to Fairlake, the best little town in Colorado! Nothing better than catching up with old friends. The townsfolk have been sticking to their motto of always helping their own, but there are still secrets and surprises. The town’s 150th celebration is the perfect time to catch up with everyone, and, of course, Grant is baking cakes, Bennett is causing chaos, and Ayla finds herself in the middle of things. Find out who’s doing what and with whom. Bennett, Adam and Bri are being run ragged by three kids now, and a foster kid is planned for another couple. Only two couples remain unmarried, but which ones? One of them is working on a surprise proposal, but this is Fairlake, so it won’t go as planned. Someone is panicking over having to give a speech at the celebration, and there have been some life changes for others. Of course, it wouldn’t be Fairlake without a kidnapping and an explosion!
To say I was sad to finish this series would be a vast understatement...but WHAT A GREAT BOOK! All the characters are together, adding a little bit more to their stories that have already been told in their individual books. Usually when I read a series or even just a standalone, I tend to find a favorite character, but I really couldn't choose just a single one from this series, every character contributed something to love from their lives or from their relationships.

I loved the way all the men's stories were brought to a conclusion even if there was a scary moment in one. I was also happy to see that they all got their happy ever after ending in addition to happy ending they got in their individual books. I'm glad I bought the series so I can revisit the little town of Fairlake, Colorado. What a unique idea for this last book in the series! Well done, as always, Mr. Alexander.

Victorian Psycho -Virginia Feito - (England)
Genera: Gothic horror
5★
the riveting tale of a bloodthirsty governess who learns the true meaning of vengeance. Patience...Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special "gifts" planned for the dear souls of Ensor House.
It can best be described as unashamedly dark and oddly amusing. It's the story of a Victorian woman with a blood lust. Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House, to be the governess to two young children. She didn’t arrive there by accident, oh no... she diligently sought out the Pounds family.

Winifred is a young woman that comes completely without a filter of any kind. What goes in her head comes out of her mouth mostly without, or with very little thought. She does the most outrageous things, then quickly dismisses them, accompanied with a smile all the while. As Christmas draws closer, so does the darkness that's closing in, and Winifred can no longer deny the revenge she over-wheedlingly feels compelled to execute.

This WILL NOT be a book for everyone. It has some very dark themes, and there is some extremely serious weirdness at the end. It’s a real wild ride: I started out being amused by Winfred and her eccentricities, applauding her bluntness…and then things begin to quickly spiral out of control.

If you like a gothic read set in the 19th century, contains dark humor and a very high body count...and believe me there is zero, nada. nil, no happy after anywhere in this story, then GO FOR IT. I recommend Victorian Psycho for those that can do without that 'happy ending". When I stopped and thought about it... I have to admit that I did enjoy it…which might be nothing short of a bit..."worrying". Patience... Remember as it said in the very beginning..."Winifred must have patience. Christmas is coming, and she has very "special gifts" planned for all the "dear souls" of Ensor House". I have to give this one a 5...I can't imagine how the author managed to pull this one off so well.

The Last Grift - Elle Keaton - (Washington, Piedras Island)
Subtle Deceptions - (Karne and Lundin) Book 1
Genea: M/M Romance/Mystery
3.5★
Jaded confidence man Gabriel Karne is on the run. A literal snarling, slobbering guard dog nips at his heels. If he makes it over the chain-link fence, he vows to skip town for friendlier climes. Somewhere no one knows his name. It will be fine. Everything will be fine. Less than twenty-four hours on the island and Gabriel's had a nasty confrontation with two local "good ol' boys", earned a trespassing citation from an infuriating but compelling forest ranger, and offered to search for a missing person. So much for lying low. Being off his game only partially explains why Gabe would rather focus on a stranger's bad luck than his own. Fact is, he's always had a soft spot for losers and maybe, just maybe, he's tired of the game.
This is the first book in a new series that is based in the Pacific Northwest and semi loosely, connected to the "Veiled Intentions and the "West Coast Forensic series.
Gabriel Karne is the half-brother of Niall Hamarrsen and Shay Delacombe. Don't even try to keep the relationships strait in any of these series:) At the end of this book, there was a surprise appearance by Aunt Claribel Delacombe from one of the other series that all these characters also appear in. Gabe is a “reforming” con man who learned "his trade" from his deceased mother and is now running from another mistake from his past to an island on in the Pacific Northwest to hide out and to claim a dilapidated sailboat left to him by his mother. Mother of the Year she wasn't.

My one complaint about this book was.... we have murder, okay... we have intrigue, again, okay.... we have mystery, also okay...ALL okay, fine and dandy...EXCEPT... this is the first "romance" book of ANY genera, that has essentially ZERO, Zilch...NADA...NIL, romance. That was more than just a little disappointing. I’m hoping that there will be a little, some...okay...A LOT MORE romance in the next book. The mystery was well done...actually it was pretty great, so I'll go with 3.5 stars, but mostly because I have always liked this author and have read and own almost all of her books, including this one...and guess what? THEY ALL HAD ROMANCE! I don't care if it's between a man & a woman; two women; two men; two dogs and an ally cat...just some romance in my supposed to be, romance book!

The Birthday Boys - Beryl Bainbridge - (Antarctica, South Pole)
Genera: Historical Fiction, Doomed Expedition
5★
An imaginative, brilliantly realized evocation of the thoughts and voices of Captain Scott and the four men with him, who suffered extraordinary hardships before finally dying during their 1912 attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole.
This was a fictional account of the Antarctic expedition that actually occurred in 1910-1912, led by Captain Scott in a race to be the first to the South Pole. Scott and four companions made it to the South Pole, only to realize they were not the first; they were one day short of that victory. Tragically, they all died on their return journey.

Each chapter is written from the point of view of the men who died on that last push to the South Pole. While these men come from very stations in life, their underlying themes are very similar. Taff Evans, Dr. Wilson, Captain Scott, Lt. Bowers and Captain Oates each describe a different stage in the journey as part of the Terra Nova expedition in 1910-1913 and the often, horrific conditions that the entire team endured. The men come across as optimistic, confident, and courageous, and finally to the point of, misguided.

They were amateurs playing a dangerous game of life and death, where missteps could lead to life changing, and even tragic consequences....which it did.

This was an arrogant expedition composed of men, who despise their professional expertise, they believed in the romantic notion that heroes are those who overcome anything through sheer force of will. Throughout their story lies a tale of a man who for years was seen as a "tragic hero". Here he was portrayed more as a reckless adventurer in pursuit of the glory no matter and at all costs.

When disasters continue to occur one after another, rather than turn around and try to return later, he shifted the blame onto the others and continued in his dangerously rash pursuit of his goal. He didn't think, and brushed off the dangers he knew could occur, knowing these men who were accustomed to following the given commands, would follow him to their deaths, and they did. This wasn't his first expedition in dangerous deadly conditions. The author of this book is fairly scathing in its view of Scott, even if you have hold on to viewing Scott as a tragic hero who died in a moment of self-sacrifice. It wasn't just his sacrifice...it was the sacrifice of the men that he led to their deaths with very little thought.

By the end of this well researched and thought-out book, previous beliefs, as well as history may be reweighted, rethought and reassigned. The final chapter in Captain Oates’s words was by far the most poignant and so well worth a read.

Again, a warning: This book will appeal to readers who enjoy history as well as historical fiction, and novels with extremely dark subject matter. Keep in mind that there is NO happy ending and the struggles of all involved are not for the faint of heart.

The Flesh of the Gods - Lauren Haney - (Egypt)
Mystery of Ancient Egypt Book #7
Genera: Ancient History Mystery
3★
A young, untested policeman confronts deceit, treachery, and deadly peril in an ancient and magnificent world. Author Lauren Haney dazzles with a spellbinding "prequel" -- the first investigation of the brilliant Egyptian, Lieutenant Bak.
This really should have been Book #1 in the series since it's the beginning Lt Baks story and how he came to be sent to a dusty outpost to begin his work as a policeman. As such, it should really have been number one in the series, but for some unknown reason, it's #7 and listed as a prequel. Go figure that one out. Anyway...

Lt. Bak is sent to the city of Buhen to command Medjay police officers. There he meets with the commander and within 24 hours that commander, a respected and honorable man, is found dead...murdered and his beautiful young wife, who is found holding his body and covered in his blood; is suspect number one. Bak seemed at first to have been looking more at her than at the body of his very bloody and very dead commander. Several paragraphs are devoted to how beautiful and how attracted to her he was. He finds himself unable to believe that one so "fair and beautiful" could possibly be guilty of murder. I don't know what "beauty" or "fairness" has to do with being able to stab someone, but I'll take the author's word for it.

He soon learns that the commander was concerned about a plot he had uncovered to steal the "flesh of the god" Amon gold. He believes that the thief or thieves are responsible for the man's death. Very soon two more men are violently killed and as the saying goes..."the plot thickens". Several unsuccessful attempts are made on Bak's life, so he believes that he may be getting too close to the truth. He diligently follows every clue, seeking the truth and hoping that it will clear the name of the woman he has come to love. Believe me, that was quick.

It was, I guess an interesting tale even though it seemed the plot was a bit off kilter at times...and Bak was too busy "falling madly in love". It's not a bad story or a badly written book...it's just not my type of mystery; but if you know me well you know I probably read the book to fit a challenge category...so it well served its purpose, but I think I'll be leaving Bak to solve his murders all by himself....and still falling "madly in love":)

Living Promises - Amy Lane - (California)
Promises Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Six years ago, Jeff Beachum comforted a frightened teenager outside an HIV treatment clinic, and Collin Waters has remembered his kindness ever since. Now, after six years of crushing on the kind, brown-eyed sweetheart of his dreams, Collin is feeling adult and together enough to make his move. Too bad fate, which has never been kind to Jeff, has something else in mind.
Collin Waters has been running from safety ever since he was five years old and his dad had a massive heart attack in the car while they were driving. His mother is convinced that this is why Collin then spends an inordinate amount of time getting into trouble. Unfortunately for Collin, his flight into danger doesn't go his way which is how he ends up dumping all over the nice stranger outside the HIV clinic.

Jeff Beachum's had it a little rough, to say the least. A major malfunction with his in-the-closet Marine Corps boyfriend leads to him to being diagnosed HIV-positive after his first year in medical school. With a little help from his self-proclaimed benefactor, he gets an internship at the VA hospital making him eligible for health insurance benefits and he starts on the road to being a physician's assistant.

We move ahead five years. Jeff is still working at the VA hospital, he's found a new family with "The Pulpit", that's what the group of misfit friends call themselves...Crick, Deacon, Jon, Amy, Benny, Andrew, Shane, and Mikhail. Jeff spends his days happy to make others laugh while hiding his own pain. Collin owns his own garage but still fills in at his mother's diner next door, especially in the last year when he knows Jeff will be there, since Jeff's been his "hero" ever since their talk outside the clinic. Collin has worked very hard these years to not be so self-centered and to try to give back.

In some ways this book is almost more about "The Pulpit" and the whole family than it is about just Jeff and Collin. There are serious emergencies going on and the whole family pulls together even more than usual. One of the things that is so striking, and a bit unusual to me, is that the age range of these friends, is from 15 to 32. There's been a whole lot of things portrayed here, that is actually still happening to people this young.

Living Promises brings out all the hurt, pain, hope, joy, love, life, death, sorrow, laughter, and tears and puts it right up, in your face. You can't help falling in love with all these characters over again and again.

Amy Lane was one of the first M/M Romance authors that I had ever read, many, many years ago, but it's been quite some time since I had read one of her books...I own several and I don't know how I somehow had overlooked this series, but I am certainly glad that I found it.

It Rides A Pale Horse - Andy Marino
Genera: Horror
5★
"The Larkin siblings are known around the small town of Wofford Falls. Both are artists, but Peter Larkin, Lark to his friends, is the hometown hero. The one who went to the big city and got famous, then came back and settled down. He’s the kind of guy who becomes fast friends with almost anyone. His sister Betsy on the other hand is more… eccentric. She keeps to herself. When Lark goes to deliver one of his latest pieces to a fabulously rich buyer, it seems like a regular transaction. Even being met at the gate of the sprawling, secluded estate by an intimidating security guard seems normal. Until the guard plays him a live feed: Betsy being abducted in real time. Lark is informed that she’s safe for now, but her well‑being is entirely in his hands. He's given a book. Do what the book says, and Betsy will go free. It seems simple enough. But as Lark begins to read he realizes: the book might be demonic. Its writer may be unhinged. His sister's captors are almost certainly not what they seem. And his town and those within it are... changing.
This story is all over the place, but it does all tie together very well with for our characters of Peter Larkin..."Lark", and his sister, Betsy. We have to include their hometown of Wofford Falls as it's almost another "character" by itself. The story has a lot of different twists and turns, some that are shocking and dramatic, and others more stretched out in a very slow-burn manner.

The story is mostly told from Larkin's view, but we also get occasional points littered throughout, featuring a surprising and somewhat mysterious character. This author seems to have a "way with words" and can paint incredibly vivid and captivating images. Everything from the awe-inspiring to the really grotesque and disconcerting. Goose-bump material at its best.

I actually really enjoy horror novels that are slow-paced and take their time with things, but there were a few times where I just wanted this to move on a little faster. That being said, I really did appreciate the slower pace. Things also sometimes became really, really weird...or "weirder", and there were moments where I felt like I had maybe missed something important. Other than those little things, I really did enjoy reading this. Overall, I loved this authors style of writing and will certainly look for more of his offerings.

If you choose to read It Rides a Pale Horse, be prepared to be slowly led to the gradual deterioration of both the characters and the town...but I can promise you that it will be well worth the ride. This one has more than earned a 5-star rating.

Heavy Hand - E.M. Lindsey - (Florida)
Series: Irons and Works: Key Largo - Book 10 of 11
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Max falls for Jeremiah, his hookup-turned-neighbor who owns a restaurant next door. Despite Jeremiah's clear stance against relationships, Max decides this connection is worth fighting for.
Jeremiah and Max are a sweet couple....an excellent example of two people who really care for and are trying to take care of each other but are also unpacking their own "baggage", trauma and life.

Jeremiah is in the long process of losing his sight, and he’s struggling to come to grips with this new version of his life. Max is dealing with unpacking a life’s worth of having to hide his panic attacks and anxiety because he can’t trust the people around him. They’re both such lovable and absolutely "real" characters. Their lives feel familiar, even though we’ve basically only just met them.

One quote in particular that’s resonated and stayed with me since I finished the book is, “The universe doesn’t care, and it seems to hate us enough to take away the good things. Just like it didn’t care about us enough to stop all the bad from happening.” Everyone at some time has had that fear. who’s This felt like there was a lot of truth in that.

Getting to know the little community that the new "Irons and Works" guys are building in Florida is heartwarming. They all have flaws, but they have each other and they certainly have each other’s backs...absolutely and unconditionally. It gives you that "wrapped in a warm blanket" and "chosen family" feeling.

Overall, it's like the Iron & Works series before it...an excellent story, with real and wonderful people who will always be there when the main characters, and the readers, need them to be.

All the White Spaces - Ally Wilkes - (Antarctica)
Genera: Myster/Thriller/ Horror
5★
Something deadly and mysterious stalks the members of an isolated polar expedition.
This is an epic and horrifying story about an adventure on an Antarctic expedition. As if the horrors of sailing frozen waters in the 1900’s weren’t frightening enough, the story adds an additional level of fear with a paranormal element that lies in wait for the stranded sailors. I love horror and paranormal books, but even I have to say that there were times that I struggled a bit getting through this one.

The Jonathan character was unexpected and a bit of a surprise. They were a young woman, who identifies as a male. They decide to board and become a part of the all-male crew aboard a ship headed to a very remote and a very dangerous place. The frozen polar landscape had me wanting to tightly bundle up in a blanket.

The novel keeps a tense, suspenseful, and dark theme throughout. I will warn that there are some events that were very, very graphic as some of the crew members become sick and some are injured, and to make matters even worse, they have a limited number of medical supplies...as you can imagine.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys interesting but extremely flawed characters, or if your desired adventure spot might be an isolated and frozen terrain. It will also help if you really, really like being scared by things you can't see, but can certainly see you, or horror in general long with paranormal elements.

Cold Snap - Lindy Ryan - (Pennsylvania)
Genera: Novella, Christmas
3★
A grieving mother and son hope to survive Christmas in a remote mountain cabin in Pennsylvania. Two weeks ago, Christine Sinclaire’s husband slipped off the roof while hanging Christmas lights and fell to his death on the front lawn. Desperate to escape her guilt and her grief, Christine packs up her fifteen-year-old son and the family cat and flees to the cabin they’d reserved deep in the remote Pennsylvania Wilds to wait out the holidays.It isn’t long before Christine begins to hear strange noises coming from the forest. When she spots a horned figure watching from between frozen branches, Christine assumes it’s just a forest animal—a moose, maybe, since the property manager warned her about them, said they’d stomp a body so deep into the snow nobody’d find it ’til spring. But moose don’t walk upright like the shadowy figure does. They don’t call Christine’s name with her dead husband’s voice.
It's exactly what the book cover say it is..."a chilling, haunting, brilliant, and atmospheric novella about loss, guilt, and grief". I often question what I have read, and I often question why I kept reading?

Christine Sinclaire had not made one of her best decisions when she decided to bring her son and their cat, to a remote cabin in Pennsylvania which they have rented for the holidays. It has been two weeks since her husband fell off their roof while putting up Christmas lights and died. After arriving, Christine begins to see a figure who talks to her in her husband’s voice.

As I said above, this book is chilling. It simply oozes with grief and loss. I must give Lindy Ryan a round of applause for originality and for setting a gloomy, yet brilliant mood for this novella. She managed in just a few pages to leave me feeling unsettled and chilled. The 3-star rating is for several things....1. the shortness of the book. There was so much room to further expand on the "voice" that sounded like her husband and what that voice was attached to ...2. I knew going in that it was a novella, but there was room for more chilling events to occur. These two characters begged for it. 3. I should have stopped before, but of course I didn't, so I have only myself to blame, but I hated what happened to the cat. Animal lovers need to be aware that the cat DOES NOT have a Merry Christmas....or a "Merry" anything else.

The Power of Love -Romeo Alexander - (Colorado)
Opposites Attract Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
He’s been unable to face the horrible events from his past, but with a little help maybe he can learn to forgive himself and find romance along the way.
This was a wonderful story about a traumatic experience suffered by a soldier while on duty in the Middle East. The story was well written, and believable, and the two main characters, as expected, hit it off at the start. The soldier is sent to a trauma clinic, as he had important information that needed to be extracted from him, but due to what he had gone through, he had blocked everything out.

What a very moving encounter about these two men, with their own problems involving the death of someone who was close to them. Hunter used his sister's death to help others and Gavin needed that help to overcome his own. Through it they fall in love, and they both end up helping a horse learn to trust people again. There is a happy ending for all three of them.

Like all of Romeo Alexander's stories, it was a very enjoyable and pointed out that no matter what you have been through, no matter what your physical damage may be, you always deserve and can find love.

Cover Up - E.M. Lindsey - (Florida)
Series: Irons and Works: key Largo - Book #11 of 11
Genera: M/M Romance /Tattoo Parlor
5★
Felix has a major problem. He’s pining. Well, pining might not be the right word for how he feels about the absurdly hot, one-armed chef who works next door, but it’s close enough. Felix doesn’t have high hopes for romance, though. Not with the fact that his face blindness means every time he looks at Deimos, it’s like he’s seeing him for the first time. After all, who would want a relationship with a man who couldn’t pick him out of a crowd? But that’s not his actual problem. Felix learns he needs to see his terrible family for his grammy’s funeral, and Dei has offered to go along to act like his boyfriend. And God help him, but Felix can’t bring himself to say no. But hey, what’s a little emotional torture when he gets to pretend Dei is his for a little while? It seems that Dei has softer, kinder plans for Felix’s heart than to torture it, however—and Felix quickly learns there’s no way to cover up being in love. Dei’s words of affection are powerful, and Felix realizes the only thing in the world he wants is to let Dei in.
Felix and Dei are so sweet together. The disability representation is, as always, incredibly well written and sensitively handled, without shying away from the incredible difficulties (both physically and emotionally) that come with living with a disability. The story is about accepting and loving yourself no matter what. Felix struggled with that due to his mother always harassing him and that he has seizures. You can't help but feel all kinds of emotions for him.

Deimos was sweet and had all manner of confidences in himself. Theirs is a non-traditional relationship in some ways. Felix is a character that you learned so much from, I've never known anyone with his challenges. Dei was impressive with how he coped with his disabilities. Both of them need the "family" unit that they are building together. Of course, they have all the other wonderful characters from the other books in this series and some of the other related series.

These books have been fairly low-angst and but never "fluffy". The characters are all likeable and slowly grow on you, and before you realize it, you are as in love with them as they are with each other. The disability representation is always incredibly well written and very sensitively handled, but never shying away from the difficulties, both physically and emotionally, that comes with living with a particular disability.

You can't help but love Felix and Demi. They are two wonderful characters that fully deserve their happiness, and it was fantastic to watch them work at getting there.

Mr. Frosty Pants - Leta Blake (Tennessee, New York)
Home For the Holidays Series Book #1 - Part of Mr. Christmas Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers/ace/demisexual
5★
Who ever said that "you can’t go home again"? "Mr. Frosty Pants" is a friends, to ex-friends, to lovers, M/M romance that begins in childhood and is filled with heartwarming moments and second chances.
Casey Stevens and Joel Vreeland grew up on opposite sides of the proverbial tracks, but that didn’t matter to Casey. All he wanted was to just be Joel’s friend…even if it didn’t sometimes seem like Joel wanted that. Joel’s and Casey’s parents couldn’t have disapproved more of their friendship if they's tried. he had no use for Casey’s parents because they were wealthy, social climbing snobs; and Joel’s father because he was a mean and hateful, bitter man who had absolutely no use for his own son let much less a boy like Casey. Leta Blake establishes these as important factors in Casey’s return to Knoxville for the first time since he had come out to his parents and then left for college three and a half years earlier....and, thoroughly ghosted Joel in the process.

We can see the tenderness of Casey and Joel’s past that is firmly rooted in the fact that they were "head over heels" in love with each other, but neither knew the other was gay, but still, entirely smitten. Their reunion was anything but easy, Joel’s hurt and insecurities is a definitive factor in the pain he feels at Casey’s perceived abandonment, yet in many ways, Casey was still the same guy he was when he left for New York...tenacious and he's not letting Joel get away again, even if it is only a friendship he’s fighting for since Joel is straight...or so Casey thinks until a confession and a first kiss set that thought on the back burner and other things in motion.

There is a series of reveals that Leta Blake weaves seamlessly into the story which brings into focus not only where things went wrong when Casey left for school but why they went wrong and why Joel is so fearful they will go pear-shaped again if he opens himself up to the hope of a future that might include Casey loving him. Joel’s heart is tender and fragile, but his courage is based entirely in want...the deep and desperate want of the "perfect moments" with Casey. He even wants it knowing that it will end when Casey returns to NYU.

This story is just beautifully done, filled with longing and the burgeoning wonderment that Joel might get the one thing that he never dared to wish or ask out loud for, the only thing his heart wants...Casey. But being wrapped up in the magical sentiment of the holidays, wishes can and sometimes do come true.

Mr. Frosty Pants is a story of both letting go and holding on. Of growing up and learning what to let go of because it’s toxic and what to hold on to because it’s magical and transformative. The conflict isn’t imagined.... the sorrows are real, and there are no "Big Misunderstandings" to muddy up the genuine purity of Casey and Joel’s fragile but deep enduring love. The joy of their new beginning is the stuff holiday romances are made of...so give yourself the gift of a smile and a holiday joy and read this book.

Wait for What Will Come - Barbara Michaels - (England - Cornwall)
Genera: Mystery, Gothic
5★
When Carla Tregallas inherits a manor house on the stark cliffs of Cornwall, she also inherits a disturbing prophecy: on Midsummer's Eve she will become the bride-in-death of a demon lover from the sea.
Carla Tregellas is an American math teacher who travels to Cornwall, England to inherit an estate left for the last member with her family name. The moorland landscape surrounding the mansion adds charm and mystique to the ragged coastline taking both Carla and the reader back in time. With Celtic blood in her veins Carla feels close to her roots in this new surrounding and starts to wonder whether she really wants to sell the grand old house or not.

It's been occupied by few servants, a cook and local gardener and she is quickly met by locals who want to show her the area. She is impressed by the warm welcome and she makes a few friends, most of them are men and things start to get complicated.

An old legend surrounds a Lady Caroline who used to live in the house and who's portrait looks very familiar to Carla and Pendennis, a housekeeper stuck on the past, quickly begins trying to warn Carla about the upcoming midsummer eve anniversary of "madness and death" that had doomed the lady of the house, a tradition that is not going to stop and will continue this year. It seems the legend says that a demon from the sea is waiting for his new bride that night and Carla doesn't know whether to run or laugh. Things start to happen and near accidents change her mind but there is more than meets the eye.

The reader is quickly introduced to all the characters and that's when the real charade begins, I was wondering myself whether the tale of the man from the sea who seeks out his bride on the fatal night was real or whether Carla's new friends weren't so friendly after all. Were they after something in the house or really trying to warn her?

This is a fairly fast read and I guessed pretty much what was going to happen. It's Barbabra Michaels so there were many twists and surprises. I wouldn't have expected anything less from this author.

Overall, it's good fun and lots of intrigue especially from Carla's male suitors, that made for a exceptionally entertaining read.

The Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston - (South Carolina)
Genera: Paranormal Romance
5★
A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home.
We are given a ghost story...a little bit romance along with a little bit of fiction, that some reviewers referred to as "women's fiction". But hey, I have male friends that read this stuff, so I don't quite know how to feel about that:) Our "hero" just happens to be a ghost, and that causes lots of tension. But as someone who reads a fair amount of romance novels, although 99% of them are M/M, I wasn't taking exception to this.

Overall, it's a sweet and "swoony" love story that's wrapped up in the center of a somewhat heavy book with some heavy subject matter about grief and processing loss. Bleak moments are mixed in with hopeful ones; and this nicely weaves together many important themes in a very masterful way. Wait until you read the "ghost puns"! There are so many ghostly references written within the text...you'll love it.

It's Florence's story, a woman who ghostwrites for a famous romance author. She's tried her hand at writing a hopefully 'best seller' of a romance novel but it failed and poor Florence was worried that her career was over before it had even really started. However, she has found success by being the "woman behind the scenes". At least she had, until her own love life imploded a year ago. Now Florence is on a tight deadline to produce a "happily ever after", and she just doesn't have it in her. She's starting to think that love is dead, and the sudden death of her father certainly doesn't do anything to help or change that idea. Then when Florence's sexy and stern new editor, Ben, shows up on the funeral home's doorstep...oh, by the way; he's a ghost...she's not sure what to think.

Florence and Ben had only met briefly before he became a ghost, and neither one is sure whether Florence is supposed to be helping Ben find peace or whether he's supposed to help Florence wrap up her novel while still processing her father's death. Either way, as these two almost strangers spend time together, they begin to wish that they'd gotten closer before Ben crossed over.

Some readers may have some problem with some of the story as a lot of it is emotional and deals with a lot of grief; not only that Ben is grappling with the fact that he's dead, but also that Florence's father has just passed away. In spite of that it's got a funny side, it's hopeful, and a little bit what could be called "swoony". You'll love the "opposites attract" vibes between Ben and Florence, and how they definitely wouldn't have found their way together if Ben hadn't experienced this time with her. Our Florence is a chaotic mess of a woman who communicates with ghosts, so that's not something the controlled, workaholic Ben would've been able to handle before his accident. The author Poston does a great job of tying everything together. It had exactly the kind of ending I wanted...so 5 big bright shinny stars for a well done and entertaining tale.

The Mother-in-Law by Terence (Ancient Greece)
3 1/2 ***

Though there are other plays in this volume, the one I chose was "The Mother-in-Law." It was a play in which the families are neighbors, the son of one family is married to the daughter of the other family. While the son is absent on a trip to oversee some supplies on a ship, his new wife flees to her home and will not come out.

The son has confessed to his servant that he has never had marital relations with her, yet when the play opens she is in her own home giving birth 7 months after their wedding.

Though we never see her, we see each mother-in-law blaming herself for what has transpired. And their husbands heap more blame on their wives until the wives turn it back to the husbands.

The son returns, he hears from his mother that his wife has had a son, and more words and back-and-forths ensue between the fathers of both families. Finally, a ring that the son has worn for 9 months, since he came home late one night, is found to be the ring that the young wife and mother wore for many years. It was taken off of her finger during an assault (in this translation) in a back alley one night.

For this modern reader, I was appalled by the misogyny, the cover-up the young wife has to go through regarding her pregnancy, and of course her rape that resulted in a pregnancy. I salute the scholars who are able to read and translate these plays, and I hope that new compendiums and translations make it easier to absorb.

Fine Line - E.M. Lindsey - (Florida (Key Largo)
Series: Irons and Works: Key Largo; Book 9 of 11
Genera: M/M Romance/Iron & Works Tattoo Parlor
5★
Paris is pretty sure it doesn’t get worse than being forced to listen to his hot Deaf neighbor having a very good time with his FWB. All. Night. Long.
And to make matters worse, Ben is one of the nicest guys he’s has ever met. He makes Paris want things he’s never allowed himself to want. Paris moved across the country to start work at the new Irons and Works shop in Key Largo for a fresh start, but that wasn’t supposed to involve falling for the adorable, shy motel owner. It wasn’t supposed to involve allowing himself to be vulnerable for the first time in his life. But helpless against Ben’s charms, Paris wants to flay himself open and let himself be overwhelmed. There’s a fine line between hope and reality, and Paris will give anything for Ben to have the patience to wait as he learns how to cross it.
Obviously, the "shining stars" of the story were Paris and Ben. These two were a bit stumbly with each other but quickly became adorable as they started to connect. Paris tried so hard to not screw things up for Ben, especially since no one had ever put this level of effort in for him. Ben is so sweet, and grumpy Paris is just what he needs...and vice versa.

I would have liked a bit more relationship development for these two as the pace really sped up towards the end of the book... but this didn't detract from my absolute enjoyment. We also met some amazing and interesting side characters that I hope will get their own stories told at some point. Overall, this is a quick and adorable read that is definitely worth the time ...as this entire series has been.

A Darkness Absolute - Kelly Armstrong - (Canada)
Series: Casey Duncan, Book #2
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
When experienced homicide detective Casey Duncan first moved to the secret town of Rockton, she expected a safe haven for people like her, people running from their past misdeeds and past lives. She knew living in Rockton meant living off-the-grid completely: no cell phones, no Internet, no mail, very little electricity, and no way of getting in or out without the town council’s approval. What she didn’t expect is that Rockton comes with its own set of secrets and dangers.
Casey has been living in Rockton about four months. The longer she’s there, the more secrets come to light, including the dirty details about some of Rockton’s residents. Casey reports to Sheriff Eric Dalton, who she also has been having a romantic relationship with. Their dynamics are intense, but it...hey... it works.

Casey along with Will, the deputy, discover a woman that had been held hostage in a cave for a year. Everyone had assumed that she had left Rockton on her own, and this discovery opens up a whole new set of dangers and discoveries. Questions, of course, arise...Who took her? Why? How does this connect to the newly discovered bodies of the women who also disappeared years earlier?

The mystery is convoluted and tricky, with lots of clues, mis-directions, suspects, and timelines that conflict. Of course, that all presents several levels of danger also. The forest surrounding Rockton is filled with threats...both human, animal, and environmental. Every time Eric, Casey, or anyone else from the town ventures past Rockton’s borders, they’re at risk. No one comes out of this case unaffected, and we learn more disturbing secrets about the town, the town council, and the various residents when secrets are revealed.

Casey and Eric have a fascinating chemistry, both on and off the job. I liked how much their relationship had progressed...it must be serious since they even get a dog!! There’s danger everywhere. It appears that any interaction with any of Rockton's residents needs to be closely inspected for hidden agendas and threats. I'd hate to be the head of the Chamber of Commerce in this place:)

There's always tension and danger, and while the ultimate solutions usually work, it sometimes takes "mind-boggling" efforts to keep track of all the characters, the timelines, and the possible motives behind each of these folk's actions. No one is safe. Casey ends up in "grave peril" time and time again. A Darkness Absolute is a compelling page-turner. The characters are not always likeable...but their relationships and connections add emotional drama and a sense of deep danger, as the action unfolds.

I have always liked Kelly Armstrong's books, especially her really "ghosty" ones. This series isn't especially scary, but it contains enough "good mystery" to hold my interest...so, I will diffidently continue with this series. I believe there are five books still to go, plus a spin-off series, so there’s plenty of reading left. The Rockton series is just as good as I had expected it to be, and I really want to find out what's in store for Casey and Eric.

Fresh Ink - E.M. Lindsey - (Florida/Colorado)
Series: 15 Short Story Collection related to the Get Inked/Irons and Works, series
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
Visit old friends and a few side characters with over a hundred-thousand words of short stories from the original Irons and Works series. From weddings to vacations, from bad days to the best ones, from weeks later to years in the future, Fresh Ink tells what happens to the tattoo artists at "Irons and Works" as they lived past their happily ever-after's.
I own the entire "Get Inked" collection, and I was just wondering how long it would take me to reread it...but thanks to these 15 short story collections, I have reunited with my favorite characters from the Get Inked & Irons & Works series.

The 4.5-star rating instead of my usual 5 for this series was due to my having to "search" my bookshelves to see which original book the main character was featured in. It would have been nice if the stories had been printed in the order that the characters appeared in their original books...or at least had the title of their original book somewhere in the front... but hey...I'm not in anyway, complaining...after all I got to reunite for a couple of days...and I can reread as many times as I want, at my leisure...so it's all okay. It's not the author's fault that I have a short memory:)

Some of the things that were revisited I had completely forgotten about and others I really didn't remember happening...but I whole heartedly thank the author, E.M. Lindsey, for this trip back and finding out what has happened to one of my favorite group of guys. I wish other authors would do this for long running series...that we readers hate to see end.

Overall, they were 15 wonderful short stories...and you don't really need to have read their individual books to enjoy meeting these men and their chosen families...but you are missing out on a genuine treat if you don't.

The Guncle – Steven Rowley
Audible audiobook narrated by the author.
4****

Patrick loves his niece and nephew, who call him GUP (for Gay Uncle Patrick), and has always enjoyed their visits. But when his sister-in-law dies, and his brother has a serious health crisis, Patrick is tapped to take the children from their home in Connecticut back to Palm Springs and his decidedly NOT child-friendly environment. He is so NOT ready for this; his acting career is stalled, and he is still mourning the loss of his great love in a tragic accident. But Patrick will rise to the occasion, with a variety of Guncle rules to set parameters.

This was just delightful – in turns funny and tender, heart-wrenching and joyous. I loved how Patrick grew into fatherhood as he embraced the role of guardian to Maisie and Grant. As he helped the kids to embrace new experiences and to feel secure once again, he began to come to grips with his own loss and to recognize how much he still has to offer the world.

I can hardly wait to read the sequel!

Love Potion - Mia Monroe - (New Onyx Universe)
Series: - Last call Book #5
Genea: M/M Romance/Bar Owners
5★
I’ve been in love with my best friend for years. It’s about time I do something about it. Everyone knows I’m in love with my best friend...except him! Jerryn and I are like two peas in a pod, like peanut butter and jelly, like all things good that go together, but in spite of our bond, the romance has never sparked. At least not on his end. I’m not exactly sure when I fell so hard for him, but it’s been ages since anyone else has even caught my eye. He thinks I’m a "serial dater" with this packed calendar of casual flings, and I let him believe that because it’s safer than admitting the truth...the truth is there’s no one but him for me...never has been and never will be
We find out why Bane & Jerryn aren't a couple, even when everyone knows that they have been together for years. These two have been best friends now for over twenty years yet they never took that step to make it more, each thinking they could never meet the other's wants and needs.

Bane is truly the perfect man to help Jerryn realize that he is not in any way "broken"... his body just responds to different things in different ways. He shows Jerryn with his actions why now is really the right time and the right place for them to take that next step for their future. I wanted to offer them a shove!

It was a bit frustrating but still good to see Jerryn discovering and finally understanding his own special sexual identity....and that it was perfectly alright for it to be "different" than everyone else's. With the help of his other friends, he finally understands that everyone's "life journey" is different, and that that's 100% totally...okay in every way. I admit that I become a bit overly anxious for him to finally "get it"...but I liked and applauded the way he went about it.

Again, the Moby's crew shows their affection for, and how supportive they are of one another by allowing each of them to see why they are the way they are. This was a great addition to the Onyx Universe and the crew of friends. I hope there will be more. It's a series that could easily go on and on.

Ashes Never Lie - Lee Goldberg -(California)
Sharpe & Walker series Book #2
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
Vacant homes in a new housing development are erupting into flames in broad daylight with no apparent cause. It’s a perplexing mystery for dogged arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his restless new partner, Andrew Walker, an ex–US marshal who craves action.
Sharpe and Walker investigate two very different arson-related crimes in this one. Both cases have scary, off-beat but believable bad guys and both bring Ronin and Pavone together with them to solve them.

Both plots benefit from this author's attention to the technical details. Both rapidly escalate from well-grounded, and in one case quite gruesome, starting points to something dangerous, explosive and unexpected.

Teaming up Walker and Ronin in these scenarios is like throwing more flammable material on the fire. You know you need to stand well back and enjoy the show. Even then, you may not be prepared for the tense, cinematic finish which will keep you on the edge, sometimes grinning with amusement while still caught up in all the action.

If you like clever, complicated stories and well-developed characters, this series seems to be made for readers like you who enjoy shrewd investigators and fast-paced drama. This is the second book in the series, but it appears that this series is going to be able to be read out of order if the reader wishes.

Last Patient of the Night - Gary Gerlacher - (Texas)
A.J. Docker Medical Series Book #1
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4.5★
The death of a nameless young woman in his emergency room spurs physician AJ Docker to seek answers. Together with his policeman friend and a police dog, he sets out on a quest for justice for his lost patient, but he discovers more questions than answers as he delves into the criminal world. "Last Patient of the Night is M*A*S*H* meets Detective Harry Bosch.
The story is about Doc, who is an ER doctor...his friend, Tom Nocal, a police detective and his police dog, Banshee. While on a ski vacation, an inexperienced skier runs into a tree crushing his windpipe. Readers quickly understand that the author is an experience ER physician, because he describes the detailed procedure of a tracheostomy, in detail...interesting...but more info than most folks will want or need. Doc performs this procedure on the trail using a kit from his backpack. Do all physicians carry operating supplies while on vacation? "Open Heart, surgery...brain surgery...I have you covered!" Sorry, I regress:) At any rate...it’s an action-packed start, which doesn’t stop until the very last page.

The ER is filled with staff...all are good at their jobs, and they all have a great amount of respect for Doc, even if they constantly take bets on the next actions Doc will take. Doc has an adversary... the hospital administrator V.P. Lou, who es major concerned is that the ER isn’t profitable enough and they need to increase their admissions rates. Sarcasm among the staff is understandable and unavoidable. Doc has two best friends; police officer, Tom Nocal, and his K9, Banshee, a sixty-pound Belgian Malinois, who leaves wounds on criminals that Doc is used to stitching up.

One night a young woman comes to the Houston ER with a fractured wrist. Doc is pretty sure that she's a victim of abuse; but before he can talk to her, she leaves without saying a word and is later found dead in the ER parking lot. Doc attends the autopsy and takes a picture of her unusual tattoo, through which he tracks her and finds her real identity. She appears to have no family; and she's a dancer in a warehouse club owned by some Ukrainian mobsters. Tom and Doc go to the club. After Doc pays for a female worker at the club to get her alone, she tells him that they may as well all be slaves. Later, away from the club, she tells him of a "service the club provides; a call-girl services, which was another "duty" the victim had provided. Doc then traces a blackmailing scheme being paid to the Ukrainian mobsters through Bitcoin accounts, making them billions.

In the end, as you will probably guess without ever opening the book, Doc, Tom, and Banshee will get the "bad guys" and take care of V.P. in a very satisfying way.

This is the first of a six-book series. If you like fast, action-packed reads with interesting medical details, this series is for you. (Who knows when you may be called on to perform a tracheostomy or brain surgery:)

Winter in the Blood - James Welch - (Montana)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense (somewhat)
4★
The narrator of this beautiful, often disquieting novel is a young Native American man living on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. Sensitive and self-destructive, he searches for something that will bind him to the lands of his ancestors but is haunted by personal tragedy, the dissolution of his once proud heritage, and Montana's vast emptiness. Winter in the Blood is an evocative and unforgettable work of literature that will continue to move and inspire anyone who encounters it.
This is a short but a well-written story. There isn't much of a plot driving the novel forward...it's the journey of a 20-year-old American Indian man ostensibly searching for the woman who left him. I didn't understand his obsession to search for her since he didn't really care that much for her to start with. I felt that he was actually looking for some connection to his own world. It appeared that he was stuck in his past as well as the past of his people, and all that he could see lying ahead of him was a very uncertain future.

He lived on the reservation with his mother and his grandmother in an isolated house. His father had tragically died years before and there is a fleeting reference to a brother who had also died as the result of a tragic situation of some type. The main character is constantly pulled out of the present by flashbacks of these events as he travels around to various towns looking for his lost woman and meeting a variety of really "oddball" characters.

It's an interesting story, especially if you share any Native American ancestry, which I do not, but I still found the story to be interesting. The main problem I had with it was that there's just not a solid conclusion. We learned the stories of what happened in the past to his various family members, but the reader feels a bit "let down" at the end. Still interesting enough to be worthy of a 4-star rating.

Snowstorms and Second Chances - Brigham Vaughn - (New York)
Williamsville Inn Story Book #2
Genera: MM Romance
5★
A hotel room with a faulty heater. A holiday grump who's quite sure that he's straight. A single guy full of Christmas cheer. Erik Josef is a recently divorced businessman with one goal: to wrap up his last project of the year so he can spend the holidays in the warm tropics. While waiting at a New York airport bar, he encounters Seth Cobb, a chatty young travel writer. After a huge snowstorm grounded all flights, a mix-up at the Williamsville Inn leads to them sharing a room.
Seth is adorable and Erik . . . well I went between wanting to strangle him and smothering him a big hug. You have all kinds of "Christmasy" feelings to help put you in the proper Christmas spirit.

I have read, owned and loved almost everything that Brigham Vaughn has written, so no one should be surprised that Snowstorms and Second Chances has joined the fray. When we first meet Erik, I just kept wondering how in the world was I supposed to cheer for this guy? Then "the hand of fate" intervenes and he actually got "snippier", and I then really wanted to just smack him upside the head! Then fate comes along again and finally causes Erik to slow down for a minute and just breathe. We now begin to see his softer, nicer side, and you realize he actually is a fairly decent human being underneath all his "bah-humbug" gruffness. I don't think that I would have ever given him all the chances that Seth did, but I'm glad that he did. How else were they going to fall in love...or lust?

As a transplanted Floridian to Michigan, I can truly say that snowstorms are usually unwelcome and always unpredictable. The little "white devils" just sometimes pop up with very little and sometimes no warning. Author, Brigham Vaughn also is a Michigander, so he also knows all about snow. The weather was a perfect setup for getting these two main characters in the same place...but sometimes it can alter the best laid plans.... drastically. In this case, "Mother Nature" became a character in "herself". One of the things I really liked, and yes, I laughed and pointed and thought "You had it coming, Erik"! Seth was so perfectly prepared while Erik was completely lacking any resemblance of readiness what-so-ever, and nothing showed that more than his choice...or lack thereof...of "proper snow footwear". If you live where the white stuff falls, you know what this means! I had to wonder if Brigham Vaughn came up with this from personal experience. I learned my first snow fall in Michigan that "proper footwear 101", should have been a "required class" for those of us not born in the snowy states:)

If you believe in fate, the magic of the season, or just being in right place at the right time, the end result is the same...the snowstorm was the best thing that could have happened for Erik and Seth. The question was, will they let those feeling and emotions that they discovered continue once "Ole Mother Nature" lets up and the magical "white stuff" melts away? I think those that read M/M Romances on a regular basis will know what's coming...but do yourself a favor and just read it for yourself. Your room is ready...and believe me, you will love every minute you spend at the Williamsville Inn.

The Art of Mending – Elizabeth Berg
Book on CD read by Joyce Bean
3.5***

An annual family reunion at the Minnesota State Fair begins a journey of reckoning with the past for Laura and her siblings, Caroline and Steve, when her sister makes a shocking allegation.

I love how Berg writes about family dynamics. Her characters are adults and, for the most part, they act like it. They ponder, discuss, act, react, and find ways to cope with whatever life throughs at them. There are scenes of great tenderness and scenes that are difficult to witness. I sometimes felt as off-kilter as Laura when confronted with an unspeakable truth.

Ultimately the siblings will join together to confront their shared past and work to move forward, with reckoning, forgiveness and love.

Joyce Bean does a wonderful job of narrating the audiobook. She brings Berg’s words to life.

The Cupcake Conundrum - Brigham Vaughn - (New York)
Series: Williamsville Inn Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance, Former Lovers Reunited
5★
What could be worse than having to spend a week with the man you ghosted? When Adrian Cobb arrives in New York to help his brother move, he comes face to face with the biggest mistake of his past—a baking conference hookup he rudely ditched a year ago. Now, he’s sharing a guest room with Ajay Sunagar, who looks as tasty as the pastries he bakes, and Adrian desperately wants to prove he can handle the heat this time.
It all started out as just a hook-up during a conference, but by the end of that weekend both Jay and Adrian believed it was much more. But coming home, Adrian, who is co-parenting his two children with his ex-wife, gets cold feet and ghosts Jay.

Almost exactly one year later Adrian helps his brother move from NY to Philadelphia, and meets Jay again, who was his brother's roommate. Both help with the move and Adrian tries to repair the damage, but it takes a third run for them to get together.

It's a nice, heart warning story, with great characters all around. Entertaining and really enjoyable as I have found all of Brigham Vaughn's books to be.


Jingle My Bells - Romeo Alexander - (Michigan)
Series: Men of Fort Dale Series Book #7
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas story
4.5★
Two Army servicemen and best friends, turned lovers, navigate their first Christmas together as a couple. While one plans a secret surprise and the other wrestles with his relationship insecurities.
Sloane and Dean have been together as a couple for six months but have been best friends for years. Both are in the Army and have managed to take leave at the same time so they can visit with Sloane's family for an old-fashioned Christmas.

As the couple make their way through airport terminal and the drudgery of travel, they keep each other's spirits up with some light romance. However, Dean is starting to be more than merely a little worried. Sloane has been taking more and more mysterious phone calls and is making obvious attempts to keep him out of the hearing range. Dean is now suspicious AND worried. Has Sloane decided to go back to seeing and dating women? Has he already become tired of their fledgling romantic relationship? These questions continue to worry and upset Dean even after meeting Sloane's family who accepts him with open arms.

I became a bit upset with Dean. Why doesn't he just TALK to Sloan? At times this becomes slightly on the redundant side, and the main characters sometimes are not very likable at all. However, I have never read a "bad" story by Romeo Alexander, and this story does "glow" with lots of Christmas cheer.

This is not my usual rating for a Romeo Alexander offering. To start with it's a really short little book...almost too short and a bit too rushed. I don't think I have ever given a Romeo Alexander story less than 5 stars. The book just begged to be a little longer and it would have been nice to have been able to have been with and gotten to know the guys better BEFORE we were thrown in with the family situation. It was still a good addition to the Christmas season. If you have never read this author, you are missing out. Just read anything written by Romeo Alexander and see for yourself what a wonderful author he is. I guarantee that you will be hooked and won't be in any way, disappointed.

Both are fairly short little books.

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep - Joanna Cannon - (England)
Genea: Historical Fiction
5★
"Mrs. Creasy disappeared on a Monday" is the intriguing opening line of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, and Ten-year-old Grace and her best friend, Tilly, are on a mission.
The girls decide to spend their off of school holidays, in the heatwave of 1976, searching for God. After all, the Vicar tells them; every Sunday in some manner, that everything would be alright if "people would just find God". The mystery of their neighbor, Mrs. Creasy’s disappearance shows that it's not going to be solved anytime soon, and the adults on the street seem to have their own ideas about it, and some of those ideas are based on a ten-year-old mystery that the girls do not really understand, but they then decide that maybe they have some better ideas.

All the girls have to go on are the things that Grace understood from a Sunday sermon. Sheep are the follows of the rules, and goats go to Hell. well. more, or less, anyway. The girls are having very little luck in locating God, but those little secrets keep popping up. We begin to clearly see the strengths and weaknesses of the people in the neighborhood even if the two girls can't or don't recognize it. The strength of the neighborhood "sheep" is their ability to love, and "goats"...what seem to be their "weakness" is that they are all afraid and suspicious of their one neighbor...Walter Bishop. Walter lives at number Eleven, on "The Avenue".

This mistrust and suspicions go back to a vague event that happened ten years ago involving a missing baby and the death of Walter's mother in a house fire. At that point a miracle might have happened... Tilly finds Jesus in the community garage...Well of course, not the living breathing one...I'm not giving this one away:)

As you would expect, we learn that this entire street of people has, indeed, something to hide. Through a series of events one of them has become a pariah, and things have become a bit ugly. The events in 1976, is narrated mostly by 9-year-old Grace. There are flashbacks to the fire of 1967 in "Number 11", the home of Walter Bishop, in which someone died. What follows are chapters set in 1976 which tell all the backstories...and the secrets of each of the neighbors, alternating with more about the events of 1967. It’s well plotted, with each chapter letting the reader understand a little more of what happened and why. Oh...and Jesus does make an appearance on a drainpipe, causing an outbreak of calm and peace for a little while.

We have a bit of a tussle between two "good Christian ladies" who fight over who is more deserving of the deck chair that is closest to Jesus. I couldn't make that up:) Close to the end of the story a message comes referencing the text “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Grace’s friend Tilly says that she believes that Jesus was more like the "goats" during his life. The story is a lovely plea for compassion. This is a novel from which many useful life lessons can be learned. Umm...I guess we never know where, when or how, Jesus might appear:)

"NOTE"- I have my grandmother and my mother to thank for my love of reading. Every year since my mother passed away in 2008, just 2 days shy of her 96th birthday, I have tried to make it a point to read something in her birth month of December, that she either had, or would have, enjoyed. She was born December 7,1922 in Dungannon, Ireland, (County Tyronne). She came to the U.S. in 1924 and one of her greatest joys was visiting the library or any bookstore. I can't remember a time when she wasn't reading something. This book is my "2025 tribute" to my mother who not only gave me the gift of life, but also the gift for the enjoyment of the written, and printed word. I think she would have loved figuring out the "goats" and the "sheep":)

Ghost Soldier - Clive Cussler/Mike Maden (Afghanistan, Kuala Lumpur)
Oregon Files Series Book #18
Genera: Adventure/Thriller
4.5★
A deadly war game. An adversary as hard to find as he is to kill. Weapons so sophisticated, none have seen the like before. Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon have finally met their match
An American flyer is captured and sent to a notorious Japanese biological research facility. Decades later, a notorious gun merchant known only as "The Vendor" is busy facilitating arms sales from the Taliban using abandoned American weapons to wreak havoc around the world. The Vendor is not only a weapons dealer, but he is also a brilliant weapons designer. Using AI, he has created some of the deadliest weapons ever to exist.

An old friend from the CIA contacts Juan Cabrillo and asks him to find out who The Vendor is and how he is moving these weapons undetected. Cabrillo and the ship that he commands, The Oregon, agree to take on the mission. The chase leads him from Afghanistan to Kuala Lumpur, and beyond. Along the way, the matter becomes highly personal. Cabrillo is determined to find and stop The Vendor, who is equally determined to put an end to Cabrillo. The Oregon and all her crew will be tested to their limits. Thousands of lives and a shift in the balance of power in East Asia hang in the balance.

Ghost Soldier has a villain worthy of James Bond and a group of protagonists that are worthy of "Mission Impossible". Mike Maden is firmly in control of these characters. In the best tradition of Clive Cussler. You start with an event in the past whose shockwaves are felt right up into the future. There is a strong group of characters, led by Juan Cabrillo, who are determined in their pursuit of this villain and will do anything to prevent his devastating plans.

I was first, years ago, attracted to this series because of "The Oregon", The ship that Juan Cabrillo commands. It is a technological wonder. The stories take the reader around the world both in the air, land, and sea. The fight and combat scenes are thrill rides and there are lots of them. If you like thrillers with high stakes, colorful characters, and loads of action, this entire series is just waiting for you. The books don't necessarily need to be read in order.

The Christmas Deal -Kiera Andrews - (New York)
Festive Flakes Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas
5★
Will fake boyfriends become the real deal this holiday?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, except ex-Marine Logan is jobless and getting evicted. Worse, he’s a new single dad with a stepson who hates him. A kid needs stability, not to mention presents under the tree, and Logan is desperate. Then he meets lonely Seth and makes a deal.

This is Seth and Logan’s story which includes family loss, homophobia, financial hardship, and a major “bisexual awakening". Even though parts of the plot were a bit far-fetched, I had a lot of fun with the story and really loved Logan and Seth together in the end!

This story will pull at your heartstrings with all the emotions possible. After he was severally hurt on the job, Logan’s life mostly imploded. Now he's a widowed, unemployed, about to be evicted, single dad. Seth works with Logan’s sister, Jenna, at a company that has been recently acquired. Their new CEO is very family friendly, and Seth worries his lack of a family will hurt his chances at getting the promotion he so very deserves. A photograph and a small lie by Seth and Jenna results in a fake engagement between Logan and Seth as they fast track the journey to a happy ending.

The path to get to their happy ending is both painful, beautiful, and "adorkable". You will feel all these things as you go along. You can expect to laugh, to cry, to swoon, to grit your teeth, to roll your eyes, to gasp, and to cheer.

Connor, Logan’s stepson was a wonderful and integral addition to the story rather than just a flimsy prop. The story would not have been as rich and well-rounded without the full development and inclusion of Conner. It was well written and included a lot of funny dialogue, with three dimensional characters who grew on your heart. A totally engaging storyline that shows sweet moments, steamy sexy scenes, a few chuckles, supportive friends, messy families, painful pasts, good and bad choices, some awkwardness, and topped off with heart squeezing love. I love this little family, and I believe that you will too.

At My General's Command - Romeo Alexander
Series: Men of Fort Dale Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance/Soldiers
5★
You know what they say about wine, right? It gets better with age. Christian: Assistant to the General of Fort Dale isn’t the easiest job, but I love it. Making General Winter’s life easier is worth every bit of hassle. He’s a good man, and I respect him…a lot. Of course, I’m toeing the line because, God, he’s hot too. Sure, he’s a lot older than me, but I know how to behave, and our relationship is strictly professional…until I stumble across an email, with a video! Then suddenly, everything is different. David: I’ve seen everything in my time running Fort Dale. It comes with the territory, being the big man on top. After almost ten years I honestly believe the hardest thing in my life is being tempted by my extremely capable, good looking and very young assistant. No, not going there, that’s a really bad idea! Things get worse when a ghost from my past shows up with blackmail on his mind, and suddenly…Christian is by my side. That’s when everything changes. A relationship between them is taboo, forbidden. David is twenty years older and he’s Christian’s boss. Worse, he’s the General and it could ruin them both! Could they keep their feelings a secret? No one would find out…would they?
If you've read very many M/M Romance books or any other sex romance books, you know that secrets ALWAYS NEVER remain secrets, but the chaos that the revealed secrets usually cause is always quickly solved, and the characters get their happy ever after. This one was no different.

I loved both the characters of David and Christian. Their age differences were of course the main theme of the story, but it didn't feel like it was going to be the entire story with them being "off and on". It was presented as being more of the about the differences in their personalities, their different degrees of maturity and their ability to communication more than anything else. The fact that they had an age difference did not in any way detract from how well they were suited or how well they complimented one another.

I liked David's seriousness and steadfast approach to his job but also getting glimpses of his personality when he was out of uniform. I was impressed with Chrisitan's loyalty and his resourcefulness in handling every issue as well as his fun and playful side. They both had such great chemistry, and their comparability both personal and sexual was off the charts and believable.

The plot was great, and I did enjoy the blackmail storyline that led up to the disgusting character of Phillip. I knew early on what he was going to try but it still brought me a certain amount of enjoyment to be tight:) That blackmail plot weaved well into how David and Christian came together. It was also good that the attraction between David and Christian was slow and that the romance came later, and they truly worked to make it work for them.

This was a really great series, and I wish there was going to be more books featuring the men of Fort Dale. I will be revisiting this series many times to come in the future as well as other of Romero Alexander's books. He is one fantastic author.

Somewhere in the Dark -R.J. Jacobs - (Tennessee)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4.5★
A young woman who is trying to rebuild her life after a childhood of neglect, until she becomes a suspect in a famous singer’s murder. At a young age, Jessie Duval spent over a year of her life trapped in a pitch-black closet, with nothing for comfort but a single country CD by singer Shelly James.
Years later, she decides to follow Shelly James on her tour across America. But things go very wrong, and she’s arrested for stalking and endangerment during a concert.
I enjoy most of the thrillers that I read, but sometimes there’s an expectation to that. Sometimes the plot simply has to be the most interesting part of the whole story. Then when you come across a thriller whose characters are just as exciting as its plot, you know you have something special. That’s how I felt about this book.

Being inside Jessie’s head was like being in another world. I understood where her extreme anxiety was coming from, and I was rooting for her to be innocent, and to be able to prove it. Her interactions with some of the other characters were heartwarming also.

My only complaint...and it's just a small one; almost not worth mentioning, was that I wanted to know a bit more about the James family. We got an interesting peek behind the scenes, but I was hoping for more.

Overall, this is an engrossing psychological thriller with a fresh premise that touches briefly but interestingly on childhood trauma, some coping mechanisms, fame, and second chances. If you like family trauma and psychological issues in your mysteries, then you will more than likely like this one.

Snowflakes and Song Lyrics - Hank Edwards -(New York)
Series - Williamsville Inn (Part of the Various Author Series)
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
A hotel room with an overactive heater. A rising star struggling to write a Christmas song. Song lyrics written in secret. Will Johnson is shocked to discover his hotel room window overlooks the courtyard patio of one of his favorite gay singers, Rex Garland. Even more amazing, Rex seems interested in Will too. When Will overhears Rex struggling to write an original Christmas song, he is struck by a flash of inspiration and drafts an anonymous note with song lyrics. Will is sure nothing will come of it, but the Christmas magic swirling amidst all the snow in upstate New York is about to change both their lives forever.
This funny, sweet, and heart-warming love story about a boy-next-door and the celebrity of his dreams is set in the Williamsville Inn world.
This little gem could be described as a "gay Hallmark movie". There are some hijinks, but no drama, and it all ends with a kiss. It's a perfectly sweet, but too short little story, as are all the stories in this series written by different M/M Romance authors. Like all of this series that I have thus far read, I so wished there had been more to it. The 4.5 stars is simply for the length of the story, not any way about the story itself; and certainly NOT in any way, about this author's writing.

The two main characters didn’t have much time to really have a conversation until about halfway into it... and it made the ending seemed a bit rushed. There could have maybe been less time spent on the guy's individual insecurities and more on them getting to know one another.

Overall, I have read several things by this author before, so I wasn't at all surprised that the story was very well written, no real drama and that was more than okay. I really loved the last few pages. It would have been nice if we could have seen the famous singer appearing more in public.... but for what it was, it was a good little addition to the Williamsville Inn series. So far, I have found that all the stories in this series have a happy ending for the two main characters.

The Ghost Woods - C.J. Cooke
Genea: Horror/Witches
4★
A young woman sent to stay in a crumbling gothic manor will find haunting secrets creeping out of the surrounding dark woods. In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall. This place is shrouded in folklore—old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who is not quite a child. Now the woods are creeping closer, and something has been unleashed...
The majority of the characters in this novel are women, and in this isolated spot they fight amongst themselves. But they also help each other give birth, they console one another, they fall in love with each other and in many cases, they protect each other. Society has relegated them to this place of shame, but they have made it their own as best they can despite the outside forces against them.

C.J. Cooke expertly weaves together multiple elements of absolute creepiness into this story, without allowing the story to become cluttered or unbelievable. We have ghosts, witches, and eventually a murder all making an appearance. All aid in unnerving the characters, but also do a faily good job of also unnerving the reader.

The story keeps the girls six years apart, so sometimes it becomes difficult to piece together their experiences, which are mostly similar despite the different circumstances and personalities. As time passes and the stories begin to blend together and some questions are answered, but it seems that even more are raised, giving the book a feeling of suspense more than that of a thriller. Nearly the entire book takes place in an old house with very few other characters, but in spite of that the story is still a page-turner and considering its significant length and very limited cast. In another author’s hands, In spite of the possibilities of this becoming a jumbled mess, C.J. Cooke has managed to include a vast array of plots to create a successful storyline and a fairly good book that was 4 stars worthy.

If you like a story that is atmospheric character-driven horror with a blend of folklore, history, and social commentary, then this one is calling your name.

Daddy Marc's Gem - Morticia Knight - (Massachusetts)
Series: Club Sensation Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/"Daddy" dynamics
5★
Marc meets the perfect gem of a boy, except for one thing: Foster has no idea that Marc's a Daddy. Foster is a shy, twenty-six-year-old man who was dumped by his cheating ex after he moved halfway across the country. When "Daddy" Marc appears in his life, the forty-two-year-old therapist sees someone who struggles with insecurity and is at a crossroads in his life. Marc is delighted to discover that they both share a love of antiques. That might be a big common ground for them, but there's definitely something that isn’t. Foster is a hundred percent vanilla and has no clue that Marc is a "Daddy". Will Club Sensation play an unexpected role in bringing them together? Or will Marc show him that being taken care of by a loving Daddy is what he was made for...
This story of "Daddy" Marc and his boy, Foster is an interesting exploration of what is, even in the kink world, a fairly unconventional relationship.... but it does exist and who has any right to say if it's right or wrong as long as the participants engaging are adults? Marc is a seasoned participant of the kink world, but Foster was so new that he almost squeaked. The book is not just a romance story but a story of understanding and accepting who and what you are. It won't be for everyone, even those that read and love M/M Romance novels. That said...we meet "Daddy" Marc and his boy, Foster...but it wasn't an especially easy road to get there.

I have read so many offerings by Morticia Knight. From the very start, for better or worse, she draws the reader into whatever "kink world" she's writing about. There are many different levels of partnership to "Daddy/boy" relationships and Monica Knight has chosen well with Marc and Foster. She always chooses her characters carefully and always offers them the chance for that 'happy ever after" that romance readers of any genera want for their "people".

Marc was from the start portrayed as confident and caring. He knew what he wanted/needed and wasn't in the least afraid to pursue it. Marc wasn't "playing a part"; it was WHO and WHAT he was. He lived it every day in everything that he did. None of that was true when it came to Foster. He could only be described as a gem that was waiting to be discovered. His total innocence and lack of awareness is what added the most intrigue to the story. Morticia Knight skillfully maneuvered his transformation allowing us to witness the chemistry, the growing trust, and the attraction between the Daddy and his boy. The results was a beautiful story showing that the power of love can and does, transcend what is considered to be social norms, and can heal and transform.

No matter how you feel about the lifestyle, this story will be a worthwhile, rewarding read that will leave a lasting impression.

The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (Egypt)
3 1/2 ***

Taking us a little further in the life and adventures of Amelia Peabody, she is still happily married to Emerson, still loves the pyramids and longs for a dig, and see a good fit with keeping her son to be raised by close friends when she is traveling the globe.

Which are all refreshing takes for a woman living (fictionally, it's true) in the late Victorian era. She is also a good foil to Emerson who can be a real cad and I grew tired of his over-the-top scoldings of just about everyone. We learn about Amelia's adventures almost when this book starts and once again, she and her family are off to Egypt but not to the dig they thought they would have.

Sadly, though, the book became more about verbal exchanges between Amelia and Emerson, Amelia and their son Ramses, and just about everyone else whom their group encounters. The setting was informative, near a Coptic Christian burial ground that might have had a pyramid above it at one point. They are also near a village with two warring religious leaders, and a cast of characters introduced early on, the rich amateurs who play at archeology, almost never recur again. Instead, we hear about them as possible suspects of thefts while also keeping track of the villagers, the American leader of a small group of missionaries, and M. de Morgan who grabbed the coveted spot at the Black Pyramid for the digging season.

I will probably continue with this series off and on as reading challenges present themselves. I hope Emerson tones it down in later books and that I don't have to read too much of Ramses' childish speaking as he grows with the times.

Ghost Soldier by Mike Maden (Afghanistan, Indonesian Archipelago)
3 1/2 ***

Juan Cabrillo and his crew (corporation, really) in this book are fighting against a mysterious technological warlord called the Vendor. We meet the Vendor at the beginning of the book through early chapters about several countries (Niger, North Korea) whose fighters are completely wiped out in brutal attacks. In Niger, there is even mention of Blackhawk helicopters flying towards the group, making the leader think the Americans were coming to help out. They were Blackhawks, but their aim was not to help.

As these strange attacks continue, his "boss," Overton, calls him in to solve them. Juan dons a superb disguise and the persona of a Russian general and makes his way to a village leader in Afghanistan. This "general" wants to see more of the American arms, ammunition, and gear that was left behind in August of 2021 when the American forces pulled out. He finds not just huge warehouses full of this equipment, but also himself on board an aircraft with pallets of these armaments heading who knows where.

Juan is (of course) able to escape, the plane crashes into the sea, and the Vendor realizes someone is onto him. And the story keeps building and events occur, including a mole at the CIA who is pretty darn upset that no one is recognizing her talents and work expertise. The action takes place mainly at sea for the crew of the Oregon, while a Pacific island called the Island of Sorrows becomes the location of a cunning set-up from the Vendor. Seems the Vendor wants to sell armaments to the highest bidder, and he recruits a group of skilled mercenaries, presumably to play a relatively harmless war game that will make them all rich men. Instead, the Vendor has set them up as examples of what his technological firepower can do to the human body. While his buyers look on with interest.

I found this to be a not great read for the series. There was page after page of similes, describing everything from the crew of the Oregon, to the tech they used, to munitions, that it ceased to serve a purpose. Simple explanations still work. And the over-reliance on technological wizardry grew stale after a while. I get that tech is fascinating, but when tech puts itself as the point of the story, instead of Juan and Linda and Max and all the characters, then it's time to create a story.

A Little Christmas, Claus's Secret - Della Cain
Series: - Little Christmas Season 2 (Various Author series)
Genera: M/M Romance, "Daddy/little"
4.5★
I love being little but keep that side of me hidden away. It feels like too much of a risk to let it out there. But when the local club, Chained, announces their first annual Little Christmas Holiday Weekend, I decide to be brave. It’s not like anyone there will know me. Or so I thought. When I arrive at Chain’s Christmas Party, I walk almost face first into Nicholas, my boss and long-time crush. So much for keeping this side of myself secret.
Claus is a "little", but past experience with roommates had taught him to hide that vital part of himself. Nicholas is a "Daddy" but has ignored that part of his life since his last "boy" left him. When Nicholas' friend convinces him it's time to return, he gets a very nice surprise.

Claus and Nicolas work in the same department where Nicolas is higher up the chain, and both men have been secretly crushing on the other. Running into each other at an event is both a shock and a surprise but it leads to them getting together. They click immediately and begin their journey to love and happiness. You have to smile through most of this short and sweet "feel-good" Christmas story.

The book is short as is the majority of this little series... (no pun intended) ... but the writing is well done, and the characters are extremely likeable. They have a believable connection, some hot spicy encounters, and a genuinely loving relationship that gives each man exactly what he needed. I hope there is going to be a season 3 of this series.

Silent Bite - David Rosenfelt - (New Jersey)
Series: Andy Carpenter - Book #22
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Christmas
5★
Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he’s almost back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Andy can’t wait to get back to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that’s always been his true passion. But before the boat even docks, Andy gets several calls from his partner, Willie Miller. He needs to see Andy as soon as the Carpenters are back on solid ground. When Andy arrives home, he finds that all is not calm or bright, and Willie needs his help. Willie’s old cellmate, Tony Birch, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn’t necessarily believe in Tony, but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case.
It's another Christmas season, which Andy's wife Laurie, celebrates from Thanksgiving dinner to the end of February. Andy gets involved in his next case soon after he gives a homeless man who's living on the street a $20 bill and a PetSmart gift card for his dog. I loved the gift card for the dog. I'd have also given the dog the $20 dollar bill:) Andy soon learns that one of his friends who runs a shelter has the man's dog and the man is sleeping outside the dog's cage. It seems that when the man was attacked, his dog bit the assailant. (GOOD DOG!) The Christmas Spirit convinces Andy to take the man and the dog to his garage apartment.

This made me love Andy...but I loved him even more when we find out that Don Carrigan is an Iraq war veteran who has PTSD and claustrophobia. He lives on the street because he can't tolerate being inside or in any closed in spaces. He had only recently adopted the dog, Zoey, who is soon to become a "MOM". A "feel-good" story that has an unexpected consequence. Soon...Don is arrested and charged with murder.

He's being accused of the murder of Steven McMaster, a wealthy grocery distributor. The murder was based on Don, by how the murder was carried out...a hair that when matched by DNA was found to belong to Don...and a ring found in Don's locker at a local soup kitchen. Don says that he doesn't even know Steven McMaster and certainly had no reason whatsoever to kill him. Andy assembles his team and begins to look into this collection of what is clearly only circumstantial evidence.

Meanwhile, there are some other deaths that don't appear to be connected to McMaster's, but some ARE connected to Don. The man who attacked him and was identified by DNA that was never matched at the scene, is now a murder victim. Now we have a dead lawyer, an ex -wife, a former boyfriend and a judge that was connected to a messy divorce some time earlier.

Andy uses his wit, charm, and cleverness to work his way to the truth in this holiday mystery for dog lovers and other fans of this series. I did really enjoy the book, but I really wanted to know that the dog got to spend his gift card at PetSmart.

The Bride Price – Mai Neng Moua
3***

Subtitle: A Hmong Wedding Story

Moua was brought to the United States by her refugee mother when she was a young child. Her father had died in Laos, and her mother walked to a refugee camp in Thailand with Mai, her older brother Kai, their younger brother Yai, and some rice. The family ultimately settled in St Paul, Minnesota where Moua’s uncles lived, converted from the animist Hmong religion to Christianity (Baptist), and grew up more American that Hmong. After completing college and beginning a successful career, Mai fell in love with a Hmong man, Blong, an attorney. When they decided they wanted to marry, however, they ran up against an ancient tradition – the bride price.

Mai didn’t want to be “sold like a bunch of grapes,” and her husband agreed to abide by her wishes. But in the Hmong community they were not considered married without the traditional feast and the traditional bride price.

Their decision to go their own way caused a rift in the family, not just with Mai’s mother, but the extended family of uncles, cousins and even friends.

In this memoir, Moua tries to explain the cultural importance of these rituals, and her ultimate decision regarding these traditions. It’s a somewhat fraught memoir. I could totally understand her distress, anxiety, puzzlement, anger, and resignation. I also clearly understood the love she had for her family.

My only complaint about the book is the heavy use of Hmong language phrases. Yes, she explains what they mean … the first time a phrase is used. But there is no glossary, so pages (or chapters) later when the phrase came up again, I’d be lost for a moment until I could find the original reference to understand what was meant. I often could make an educated guess based on context, but still, a glossary would have been very helpful.

The Witch of Wild Things - Raquel Vasquez Gilliland - (Tennessee)
Genera: Paranormal, Witches
3.5★
Legend goes that long ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, and their family was cursed as a result. Now, every woman born to the family has a touch of magic. A woman with a touch of magic returns home to work with her former lover to find rare plants, all while dealing with her family's curse and her own growing feelings for him.
Sage has reluctantly returned home. she's lost her silver-working teacher job after an ill-considered affair. Now she's stuck back home with her emotionally aloof Aunt Nadia, her angry and resentful sister, Teal, and the ghost of her little sister, Sky.

Lucky for her, the plant-talking magic she possesses that got her youthful part time work before in a nursery with a handsome owner gets her another job seed-hunting with the same company...but in a romantic twist that is paired up with her high school crush...Tennessee Reyes. Seed hunting gives Sage the time to get herself unstuck from childhood resentments and issues with her sisters that she was required to "mother"... along with the heartbreak that Tennessee had caused her years ago.

That is basically the entire plot. There's a lot of pent-up unspoken emotions that Sage has to deal with...that truthfully seems mostly to be unwillingness, as well as a secret she's been keeping from Tennessee.

The plot stuff lessened entirely, the emotional impact that I believe the author was trying for...lessened, a lot. I have to respect the author's decision to not have a completely happy ending, but I have to say that the sister-related healing thing made absolutely NO SENSE!

I felt that the magical realism part of the story came too close to being "Fantasy Land" stuff. Still, the romance was fun and earned the book 3-stars.

Lily of the Tower by Elizabeth Hart
2 1/2 **º

Meh. This is Elizabeth Hart's first book and she didn't quite know how to tell her story. Unlike the back cover that mentions "Jane Eyre," this book is definitely not a re-telling of Rochester's wife in the tower. Not even close.

It tries very hard to deal with the British class structure, and LGBTQ issues, and the daughter of a rich family who has a passionate love affair with her maid servant and almost gets sent to a madhouse. Adventures ensue, and I always wondered "what happened to the maid servant?" That was the most cohesive passage and it was the introduction.

What disturbed me most about this volume was the ways in which the affairs, between Lily and her maid servant, Zona, and later Agnes and Lily, were more predatory affairs than true love affairs. Lily at the beginning could of course take advantage of Zona, because what was Zona to do? And then Agnes, when she decides she is in love with Lily, pushes herself onto Lily without hearing the word "no."

Having searched on other book sites to make certain that I was not the only one who was troubled by this book, I also learned about the trope "bury your gays." And this book has several disturbing instances of this trope. They may have been intended as a reality check on how members of the LGBTQ community were treated in the 1830's and 1840's, but those instances came across more as damaging to the theme than necessary to the plot.

The Burning Time by Virginia Rounding
5*****

This is a fascinating and well-written work, a surprising statement given the subject matter. Yet Rounding is able to take this time in England and provide a year-by-year detail of the hundreds of burnings at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral in London. This book begins with Henry VIII and the easy way he had with consigning people to death, and ends with the death of Mary Tudor that ends her queenship.

Part of what makes this book work is the clear, concise way that Rounding writes. She is just as deft at working in the historical context as Alison Weir while also crafting a story that is easy to read. Rounding takes the lives of the women and men who were burned at the stake and tells their stories. Yes, some people were left out; not everyone was documented in the 16th century. But she has still done her research, and having the number of victims she does name makes the act of reading much easier.

The irony she points out is the ambiguity of the times in which many of these martyrs lived. If one supported the changes in the church that Henry VIII instituted to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, then one could still be burned as a religious martyr if one fell out of grace with the same King. And then there was Mary Tudor, sweeping up all of the supporters of her father's religious changes in a horrible period of retribution.

Rounding also points out the reality that many of these women and men faced when they were brought to trial: if they recanted their confession, they could not live with their conscience nagging at them. It was a different time when one's death led to heaven, or eternal torture. For the victims whose stories are told here, they chose to go to the stake to be burned, knowing that they would see their Heavenly Father.

The book also contains a chronology with dates of what happened at Court, who was burned when (including Thomas Cromwell), the brief reign of Edward VI, and the also brief reign of Mary Tudor. I found myself referencing it, especially when I picked up and put down this book, reading it after a period of time.

Sometimes, during difficult times, it is important to read books about troubling and other difficult times. This is not a book I might have read 3 years ago, but just like with COVID and the lockdown, I found solace in reading about the Black Plague and the London Plague. We are in difficult times and this was one outcome.

The King in the North by Gordon Noble and Nicholas Evans, et. al.
5*****

A fantastic book of the archeology of the ancient kingdoms of Fortriu and Ce, complete with maps, more maps, typographical maps, and photos of items retrieved during the course of archeological digs.

And a quick note: I picked this book up solely because I am a huge fan of Juliet Marillier, and her book series "The Bridei Chronicles" takes place in these kingdoms. Bridei is mentioned by name in several of the chapters which made me very happy. Several of the sites that were excavated point to their use as maybe a royal residence or a fort, and then there is a deep underground pool that is mentioned in Marillier's "The Dark Mirror."

Reading this book was also fairly pain-free. The style is readable and aims to appeal to readers and scholars who are fascinated with this area or this period of history. The authors are blunt about what was and was not found, due to 19th century archeological practices, modern agricultural practices, or just generally age. Again, this is a close look at very tiny bits of bone, metal, and standing stones that are in a farmer's field with carvings that have rubbed off.

What the boar on the front cover stands for, whether the post-Roman Picts used symbols as a sort of Ogam alphabet, all these are things we just do not know. And none of the authors speculate into the realm of historical fantasy what these symbols and carvings might mean, which gives the research of this volume much more authenticity.