karenmarie reading and occasional nonsense in 2026 - Part IV

Welcome to my fourth thread. I’m up for nonsense and reading to help dull the pain of where our country is this May of 2026.

Eight ways to describe me and books: bibliolater, bibliomaniac, bibliophile, lectiophiliac, bookworm, Book Dragon, biblioflâneuse, and librocubicularist.


Book Worm, Book Dragon, Book Angel

If you cut me open, you will find volume after volume, page after page, the contents of every one I have ever read, somehow transmuted and transformed into me. Alice in Wonderland. the Magic Faraway Tree. The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Book of Job. Bleak House. Wuthering Heights. The Complete Poems of W H Auden. The Tale of Mr Tod. Howard''s End. What a strange person I must be. But if the books I have read have helped to form me, then probably nobody else who ever lived has read exactly the same books, all the same books and only the same books as me. So just as my genes and the soul within me make me uniquely me, so I am the unique sum of the books I have read. I am my literary DNA.

Howard's End on the Landing by Susan Hill

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, and soccer in constantly-rotating order. Arsenal won the Premier League and play in the final of the Champions League tomorrow against Paris Saint-Germain. Smut, of course, and book sort team and sales/Friends of the Library. Oh, and the HBOMax series Heated Rivalry, which I’ve now watched … well, in the interests of honesty… 8 times.

The Bad: The chaos of illiterate people, illiterate people in power, the world allowing the threat of fascism again, and most religions and their pursuit of a world with only their religion in it.

The Shadenfreude: The only downside to my joy in Trump’s horrible ratings is that it’s my country he’s bring down.



From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock. This information was published on January 27, 2026, when the clock was set to 85 seconds before midnight, apocalypse. 85 seconds is the shortest time to apocalypse since the clock was created in 1945. Rather than try to quote parts or even the whole thing, I’m going to provide the link for those with the stomach to read it: Doomsday Clock 2026

The ugly: Everything political in the US at the national level and quite a bit at the local level in almost every state. ICE.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. This is the schedule for our 2025-2026 Book Club Year.

Jul – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro **abandoned at 56%**
Aug – The Awakening by Kate Chopin – read in my 20s, remembered the ending, and just no.
Sep – Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie – read the intro and first chapter and no again
Oct – The Future by Naomi Alderman – loved it. Gave it 4.5 stars.
Nov – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – abandoned.
Dec – Yellowface by RF Kuang – appreciated the writing, loved how the MC was portrayed, although I disliked her.
Jan – How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith – loved his method of 7 different places, lots of good info 4.5*
Feb – Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope - OMG. Word vomit. I bailed after 10 pages.
Mar – The Women by Kristin Hannah Sigh. WWII. Abandoned after 5 pages. Yes, 5.
April – bookclub at my house for How to Read a Book by Monica Wood – cancelled because of some pain issues. The group graciously and happily agreed to move my book to May and move book selection to June.
May – How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. I finished 4 books this year. This was my choice. I was going to say that this is my favorite for the year, but all 4 are stunning in their own right.
Jun – book selection for 2026-2027. At this point, I’m planning on Devil is Fine by John Vercher.

I have been married to Bill for 35 years. I am mother to Jenna, who turned 32 last August and is married to Hwan, who turned 30 last June. Bio daughter and bonus daughter have moved to Washington State. I’m happy for them. I’m unhappy that they are 3 time zones away from me.

I took this photo of a frog on the Sunroom Door, 8-27-21.



Lazy kitties, April 2026. Wash on the left, Zoe Rose on the right.



My goal is still conservative, 250 books, but more than last year’s goal of 200. I still really, really enjoy reading MM romance – aka smut – and will continue until it no longer interests me. It’s getting more challenging to find books as I’ve refined my targeted trope(s), but I’ve become a great detective. I’ve read 191 books and abandoned 52, total pages read 51,468.





News avoidance is still about 85-90% of the time.

And, finally, I always, always need to remember to express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every single day.

Currently Reading:
The Correspondent by Patricia Evans 7/2/26 mine
The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher The Teaching Company 2000 24 hours mine
Self-Help From the Middle Ages by Peter James Random House Audio 2026 8.25 hours Audible Mine
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

read

001. 3.50* An Omega for Christmas by Sam Abbot 12/31/25 1/1/26 87 pages 2017 ebook KU Matthew and Grey Alpha and Omega Stories 5
002. 3.80* Ruined by the Bodyguard by Jenny Pineapple 1/1/26 1/1/26 167 pages 2025 ebook KU Grayson and Wyatt
003. 4.20* Unhinged by Onley James 12/30/25 1/1/26 306 pages Kindle Adam and Noah Necessary Evils 1 2021 *reread* mine
004. 3.40* Pascal and the Forger by Avril Ashton 1/2/26 1/3/26 274 pages Kindle Mathieu and Win 2023
005. 4.00* Psycho by Onley James 1/1/26 2/3/36 283 pages Kindle August and Lucas Necessary Evils 1 2021 *reread* mine
006. 2.80* Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer 1/3/26 1/4/26 233 pages Kindle Evan and Sable Bangers & Mash 7 2023
007. 3.20* The Wrong Omega by MM Farmer 1/4/26 1/5/26 232 pages Kindle Ty and Winslow Bangers & Mash 2 2022
008. 4.00* Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy 1/5/26 1/7/26 272 pages Kindle LobsterShorts and Sinner 2023
009. 4.00* Ruthless Titan by EV Olsen 1/7/26 1/8/26 406 pages Kindle Ryan and Connor North Shore Titans Hockey 6 2025
010. 3.70* Masked Marionette by EV Olsen 1/9/26 1/9/26 88 pages Kindle Jasper and Adrian 2024
011. 2.50* Apple Pie by West Greene 1/9/26 1/9/26 27 pages Kindle Noah and Lincoln Slice of Forever 1 2022
**abandoned Alpha Unleashed: Two Werewolves for Sebastian by DJ Heart ** 283 pages
**abandoned Christmas Heat by MM Farmer ** 148 pages
012. 4.60* How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith 12/30/25 1/11/26 hardcover 293 pages and Kindle 2021
013. 4.30* Saddle to Sunup by Emmy Sanders 1/10/26 1/11/26 315 pages Kindle Oakley and Lawson The Darling Brothers 3 2025
**abandoned Alpha's Claim by Oliver Kingsley ** 121 pages
**abandoned The Holiday Exchange by Christina Lee ** 52 pages
**abandoned Salad on the Side by Karenna Colcroft ** 88 pages
014. 4.80* Finance Bros by August Jones 1/12/26 1/13/26 448 pages Kindle Ryan and Malcolm Bay Area Bros 1 2025
015. 4.85* The Liar's Reckoning by August Jones 1/13/26 1/15/26 605 pages Kindle Unlimited Silas and Graham Doormen of the Upper East Side 4 2025
016. 3.80* Money Shot by Eden Finley and Saxon James 1/15/26 1/15/26 314 pages Kindle Unlimited Finn and Curtis 2025
017. 4.10* Game Changer by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/16/25 378 pages Kindle mine Scott and Kip Game Changers 1 2018
018. 4.90* Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/17/26 342 pages Kindle mine Shane and Ilya Game Changers 2 2019
019. 4.00* Tough Guy by Rachel Reid 1/17/26 1/18/26 288 pages Kindle mine Ryan and Fabian Game Changers 3 2020
020. 4.40* Heartbreak Hockey by S Legend 1/18/26 1/19/26 438 pages Kindle Unlimited Jack and Mercy Heartbreak Hockey 1 2023
021. 4.00* Common Goal by Rachel Reid 1/19/26 1/20/26 320 pages Kindle mine Kyle and Eric Game Changers 4 2024
022. 4.20* Ice Dance Hockey by S Legend 1/21/26 1/23/26 463 pages Kindle Unlimited Rhett and Logan Heartbreak Hockey 2 2024
**abandoned A Cowboy Holiday by Lane Hayes ** 87 pages Sickeningly sweet.
**abandoned The Curse Before Christmas by Eli Easton ** 97 pages Ugh. Krampus doll
023. 4.00* Breakneck Hockey by S Legend 1/23/26 1/25/26 427 pages Kindle Unlimited Casey and Sutter Heartbreak Hockey 3 2024
024. 3.70* Hidden Scars by Andi Jaxon 1/26/26 1/26/26 456 pages Kindle Unlimited Preston and Jeremy Darby U Hockey Boys 1 2022
025. 3.60* Textual Confusion by Fifer Rose 1/27/26 1/27/26 Kindle Unlimited Asher and Marcus 2024 **reread**
**abandoned Iced Out by CE Ricci ** 142 pages
026. 4.70* Bean by Nora Phoenix and EM Lindsey 1/27/26 1/27/26 322 pages Kindle Unlimited Bean and Jarek Honorably Discharged 2 2024
**abandoned Omega for Rent by Liam Kingsley ** 108 pages
027. 3.20* The Quirky Vet by Casey Cox 1/27/26 1/28/26 214 pages Kindle Unlimited Muir and Fitz Vet Shop Boys Down Under 2 2024
**abandoned Iced Out by CE Ricci ** 142 pages
**Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope ** 10 pages
028. 4.90* Heart by Jesse H Reign 1/29/26 1/30/26 344 pages Kindle Connor and Lennon 2026
**abandoned His Pretty Omega by Raven Matthews ** 189 pages Emotions too strong too early. A bit twee.
**abandoned The Billionaire Bear's Feisty Fox by Asher Wylde ** 132 pages
**abandoned Hawk by Jacki James ** 51 pages
**abandoned Too Hot to Handle by JD Light ** 27 pages
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029. 4.20* EWB (Enemies with Benefits) by NR Walker 1/31/26 2/1/26 353 pages Kindle Unlimited Marshall and Valentine reread 2023
030. 4.40* Switched by NR Walker 2/1/26 2/2/26 277 pages Kindle Unlimited Israel and Sam 2016
**abandoned Puck Hard by Brooklyn Cate** 117 pages
031. 4.30* Darling by Scarlett Drake 2/2/26 2/3/26 366 pages Kindle Unlimited Christian and Asher Famous Young Things 3 2025
032. 3.90* Pretty Mess by Lily Morton 2/3/26 2/4/26 418 pages Kindle Unlimited Wes and Cormac 2025
033. 2.50* Omega's Forever Home by Lacey Daize 2/4/26 2/5/26 108 pages Kindle Unlimited Kent and Beau Harris Cove Billionaires 1 2021
034. 3.80* Omega's Flaw by Sasha Silsbury 2/5/26 2/6/26 234 pages Kindle Unlimited Jamie and Carter Prime Match 5 2026
035. 4.30* Role Model by Rachel Reid 2/5/26 2/7/26 341 pages Kindle mine Troy and Harris Game Changers 5 2021
036. 2.40* Hunted and Claimed by Morgan Vale 2/8/26 2/10/26 475 pages mine Damien and Rowan 2026
**abandoned Breathe by Sophia Soames ** 202 pages Unpredictable behaviors in a way I didn't like. Stupid, actually. Luke and Ryan
037. 3.00* Rothko: The Color Field Paintings by Janet Bishop 2/10/26 2/10/26 68 pages Kindle Unlimited 2017
038. 4.80* Hamartia by Scarlett Drake 2/9/26 2/12/26 396 pages Kindle Unlimited Raphael and Jaehyun Famous Young Things 1 2023
039. 3.00* Claimed by the Quarterback by Margot Hart 12/12/26 12/12/26 65 pages Kindle Unlimited Eli and Rowan (Ro) Hale University Omegas 1 2025
**abandoned Pah! by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey ** 62 pages Dex and Rome, who's actions aren't those of even a remotely sane person
**abandoned A Present for Parker by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga ** 90 pages No spark, nothing beyond the predictable
**abandoned The Punk by Kelly Fox ** 19 pages
040. 3.20* Accidentally Mated by Phoenix Cross 2/12/26 2/13/26 123 pages Kindle Unlimited Greyson and Miles ROAR Dating Agency 1 2025 too many reverents
**abandoned A New Year's Pandemonium by Jennifer Carter** 57 pages
**abandoned More than KPOP by Dante Blackwood** 75 pages
041. 4.00* The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton 2/14/26 2/14/26 115 pages Kindle mine **reread** Joshua and Ritter Collins Avenue Confidential 1 2015
042. 2.00* The Billionaire Alpha's Surprise Omega by Bonnar King 2/15/26 2/15/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited Jamie and Nicholas 2026 the word detail? too many reverents weird timeline re Jamie being 12 weeks pregnant to waddling, several scenes appear twice in different words
043. 3.30* The Christmas Switch by Briar Prescott 2/15/26 2/16/26 236 pages Kindle Unlimited Gabriel and Josh 2024
044. 2.80* Kissing the Grump by Baylin Crow 2/16/26 2/16/26 47 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliot and Forrest 47 2024
045. 4.20* A Suitable Consort by R Cooper 2/16/26 2/17/26 147 pages Kindle mine Mattin, Arden, and Mill The Suitable 'Verse 1 2021
046. 4.60* Fishy Riot by Lindsey Black 2/18/26 18/26 223 pages Kindle Unlimited Taylor and Sietta 2017 4.6
047. 2.30* My Ex's New Boyfriend is a Murderer by Gaia Tate 2/19/26 2/20/26 128 pages Kindle Unlimited Miles and Kieran Miles & Kieran 1 2023
048. 2.90* Bedroom Lessons by Milana Spencer 2/21/26 2/21/26 240 pages Kindle Unlimited Hayden and Nick Love Letters 2 2025
049. 2.60* One Wild Heat by Kelex 2/21/26 2/21/26 219 pages Kindle Unlimited Bellamy and Quinn Alphas of the Western Provinces 1 2019
**abandoned Enemies with Benefits by Romeo Alexander ** 171 pages
**abandoned The Best Man's Secret by Ana Ashley ** 41 pages
050. 4.95* The Long Game by Rachel Reid 2/7/26 2/22/26 437 pages Kindle Mine Shane and Ilya Game Changers 6 2022
051. 3.00* The Alpha Wolf Rancher's Runaway Omega by Ashler Wylde 2/23/26 2/23/26 220 pages Kindle Unlimited Wesley and Zack 2025
052. 2.20* Bitter Sweetheart by Jenny Pineapple 2/23/26 2/23/26 78 pages Kindle Unlimited Caspian and Nate My Last Valentine 4 2025
053. 3.90* His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/24/26 2/24/26 190 pages Kindle Unlimited Thorn and Baal Beguiled Omegas 2 2025
054. 4.95* The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher narrated by Professor Gary W Gallagher 11/20/25 2/25/26 The Teaching Company 2000 24 hours CDs mine
**abandoned Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 28 pages
**abandoned Daddy From Flames by Ashe Moon ** 108 pages
**abandoned Mated to the Wrong Alpha by EJ Waugh ** 25 pages
**abandoned Love and Moonlight by Killian Ford ** 45 pages
055. 3.60* His Marked Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/25/26 2/26/26 319 pages Kindle Unlimited Fenrir and Oberon Beguiled Omegas 4 2026 trans alpha -> omega
056. 4.70* Quiet by Zile Elliven 2/26/26 2/27/26 316 pages Kindle Unlimited Isa and Briar Enchanted University 2 2021
057. 2.50* The Lion's Sunshine by Caitlin Ricci 2/27/26 2/27/26 189 pages Kindle Unlimited Toby and Knox Golden Pride 1 2026
058. 4.00* Bedside Manner by CG Macington 2/27/26 2/28/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited Jax and Max The St. Judes Medical Series 1 2026
059. 4.00* Conflict of Interest by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 195 pages Kindle Unlimited Preston and Lucas The St. Judes Medical Series 2 2026
060. 3.20* Client Privilege: When Protection Becomes Forbidden Passion by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 311 pages Kindle Unlimited Alex and Damian 2025
061. 4.30* Broken Obsession by Chani Lynn Feener 3/1/26 3/1/26 341 pages Kindle Unlimited Eden and Ares Vicious Vices 1 2025
062. 4.40* X Marks the Spot by Willow Dixon 3/3/26 3/4/26 417 pages Kindle Unlimited Xave and Damon Silvercrest U 4 2026
063. 3.80* His Prize by MM Farmer 3/4/26 3/6/26 77 pages Kindle Unlimited Darby and Kieran Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction 1 2025
064. 4.70* Moderating Love by Jax Calder 3/6/26 3/6/26 89 pages Kindle Unlimited Travis and Devin Queer Ways to Fall in Love 1 2026
**Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 71 pages
**The Shots You Take ** by Rachel Reid ** 200 pages
065. 4.20* Chance Match by Wendy Rathbone 3/6/26 3/6/26 147 pages Kindle Unlimited Jace and Storm Perfect Match Agency 2 2023
066. 4.10* Owning Jett by Lucy Lennox 3/6/26 3/7/26 337 pages Kindle Unlimited Jett and Locke Made Marian Legacy 3 2026
067. 4.30* HEA: Happily Ever After by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox 3/7/26 3/8/26 272 pages Kindle Unlimited Hugh and Locke After Oscar 5 2024
068. 4.00* Good Stepbrother Bad Stepbrother by Jenny Pineapple 68 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucian and Austin The Red Corner 1 2026
069. 3.20* One Winter Night by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 54 pages Kindle Unlimited Dominic and Julian Dominic & Julian 1 2024
070. 2.50* Dark Desire by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 53 pages Kindle Unlimited Jack and Tristan My Last Valentine 3 2024
071. 4.40* Mr. Important by Lucy Lennox and 3/8/26 3/9/26 390 pages Kindle Unlimited Reagan and Thatcher Honeybridge 2 2024
**abandoned Only the Small Bones by CP Harris ** 113 pages
**abandoned the Misfits of Copper County by Lucy Lennox and May Archer ** 171 pages
072. 4.10* Villain by Chani Lynn Feener 3/10/26 3/11/26 310 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 1 2024
073. 4.00* Martyr by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/11/26 298 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 2 2024
074. 4.10* Saint by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/12/26 266 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 3 2024
075. 4.00* Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 3/12/26 3/13/26 285 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 4 2024
076. 4.00* Claimed by Design by EA Adams 3/14/26 3/14/26 109 pages Kindle Unlimited Curt and Leonid The Chase 2 2026
077. 2.50* Knot Club by Ansley Ellis 3/14/26 3/15/26 56 pages Kindle Unlimited Wren and Sully Knot Club 1 2026
078. 3.30* My Rival Mate by Lexie Slater 3/15/26 3/15/26 99 pages Kindle Unlimited Sam and Devan Westbridge Mates 3 2025
079. 4.75* Echo by Chani Lynn Feener 3/15/26 3/16/26 437 pages Kindle Unlimited Rabbit and Baikal Devils of Vitality 1 2023
080. 3.00* A Bestiary by Toulouse-Lautrec, introduction by Philip Hofer 3/17/26 3/17/26 47 pages
081. 3.40* His Dark Paradox by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn 3/17/26 3/19/26 260 pages Kindle Unlimited Nuri and Silver 2022
082. 2.80* Bone to Pick by May Archer 3/19/26 3/20/26 129 pages Kindle Unlimited Theo and Porter Sunday Brothers 5 2023
083. 4.70* Devil May Lie by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/26 3/20/26 450 pages Kindle Unlimited Madden and Berga Devils of Vitality 6 2024
084. 4.40* You Will Never Know by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/26 3/21/26 278 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 1 2022
085. 4.40* Don't Breathe a Word by Chani Lynn Feener 3/22/26 3/23/26 179 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 2 2023
086. 4.40* Don't Let Me Go by Chani Lynn Feener 3/23/26 3/24/26 250 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 3 2023
087. 4.00* Going Up by Amy Lane 3/24/26 3/24/26 74 pages Mine Zach and Sean 2013
088. 3.70* Dominant Blood by MJ Kim 3/24/26 3/24/26 258 pages Kindle Unlimited Yujeong and Suha 2026
089. 4.90* Stormy by Wren Wilds 3/24/26 3/26/26 522 pages Kindle Unlimited Tex and Stormy 2026
090. 4.20* Double Dared by Raquel Riley 3/26/26 3/27/26 504 pages Kindle Unlimited Tru and Dare 2026
091. 4.60* It Started With a Text by Jax Calder 3/27/26 3/27/26 125 pages Kindle Unlimited Anthony and Nick Queer Ways to Fall in Love 2 2026
092. 4.00* Claimed by Fate by EA Adams 3/27/26 3/28/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited Remy and Darryl The Chase Book 1 2026
093. 3.10* Claimed by Fear by EA Adams 3/28/26 3/29/26 114 pages Kindle Unlimited Dalvin Min-Ho The Chase Book 3 2026
094. 4.20* Omega's Flush by Sasha Silsbury 3/29/26 3/29/26 193 pages Kindle Unlimited Theo and Dom Prime Match 6 2026
095. 3.40* The Omega's Song by EA Adams 3/29/26 3/30/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited Colm and Rafael The Valenti Family 4 2026
096. 4.20* Claimed by Blood by EA Adams 3/30/26 3/30/26 120 pages Kindle Unlimited Dae-hyun and Deveon The Chase Book 5 2026
097. 4.40* Feral Vow by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 91 pages Kindle Unlimited David and Evander Feral Hearts 1 2025
098. 4.10* Alpha's Demand by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 87 pages Kindle Unlimited Brody and Emmett Feral Hearts 2 2025
**abandoned Cinders by Harper B Cole, Trisha Linde, Colbie Dunbar ** 91 pages
099. 4.20* Howl of Possession by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/31/26 92 pages Kindle Unlimited Callen and Dre Feral Hearts 3 2026
100. 4.30* Snowed in With the Alpha by Ash Wilder 3/31/26 3/31/26 90 pages Kindle Unlimited Rax and Ray Feral Hearts 4 2026
**abandoned In His Defense by River Frost ** 228 pages

...
101. 4.40* Swipe My Alpha by Lexie Slater 3/31/26 4/1/26 93 pages Kindle Unlimited Jude and Rhys 2026
102. 2.00* My Alpha's Secret by Rosa Swann 4/1/26 4/1/26 62 pages mine Wilder and Sterling Second Chance Mates 2017
103. 4.50* Emberbound by Ash Wilder 4/1/26 4/1/26 131 pages Kindle Unlimited Neil and Tylor Feral Hearts 5 2026
104. 3.50* Gone Wild by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/1/26 305 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucien and Branson Wild Hearts 1 2026
105. 4.70* Romeo Falling by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/2/26 342 pages Kindle Unlimited Jude and Romeo 2024
**abandoned Claimed by Wrath by EA Adams** 77 pages
106. 4.50* Saint Laurent's Sins by Lola Malone 4/2/26 4/4/26 376 pages mine Louis and Noah 2025
107. 4.00* The Arab Billionaire's Reluctant Husband by Dominick Cummings 4/4/26 4/4/26 142 pages Kindle Unlimited Evan and Khalid Forbidden Bonds 25 2026
108. 3.30* My Marriage Contract With My Straight Boss by Dominick Cummings 4/4/26 4/5/26 138 pages Kindle Unlimited Henry and Javier With heart...MM Romance to Make You Swoon 11 2026
109. 3.40* Seduced by the Straight Sheikh by Dominick Cummings 4/5/26 4/5/26 36 pages Kindle Unlimited TJ and Omar Forbidden Bonds 18 2025
110. 3.50* Getting Owned by the Alpha Business Executive by Dominick Cummings 4/6/26 4/6/26 56 pages Kindle Unlimited Seung-woo and Evan Forbidden Bonds 17 2025
111. 2.90* Wrong Text Right Guy by Alessia Imogen 4/6/26 4/26/26 41 pages Kindle Unlimited Trevor and Lorenzo Wrong and Right 1 2022
112. 3.70* Suddenly His Alpha by Kelex 4/6/26 4/6/26 76 pages Kindle Unlimited Tulla and Beckett related to Omega Quadrant 2019
113. 3.20* Pack Law and Sin by Roman Blacke 4/6/26 4/7/26 247 pages Kindle Unlimited Dmitri and Elian 2026
**abandoned Beneath the Indigo Sky by Rayne Hawthorne ** 258 pages
**abandoned Wicked Stepbrother by Delilah Drew ** 183 pages
**abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 71 pages
**abandoned Perfect Prey by Vasha Crow ** 129 pages
114. 4.30* Blinding Light by Lola Malone 4/7/26 4/9/26 373 pages Kindle Unlimited Cyprian and Moargan Claimed by Kings 1 2025
115. 4.20* Burning Ice by Lola Malone 4/7/26 4/11/26 373 pages Kindle Unlimited Kylix and Mirel Claimed by Kings 2 2025
116. 4.70* His Surrogate Omega by Kelex 4/11/26 4/11/26 445 pages Kindle Unlimited Gray and Rohan Omega Quadrant 1 2018
117. 4.10* The Early Middle Ages by Professsor Philip Daileader narrated by Professor Philip Daileader 2/26/26 4/12/26 The Teaching Company 2004 12 hours CDs mine
118. 4.30* Fake It 'Til You Make It by Louisa Masters 4/12/26 4/12/26 39 pages Mine Michael and James 2018
119. 4.40* I've Got This by Louisa Masters 4/12/26 4/12/26 184 pages Kindle Unlimited Derek and Trav Joy Universe 1 2020
120. 3.30* Silent Howl by Ash Wilder 4/12/26 4/13/26 218 pages Kindle Unlimited Kyle and Darren Wolves in Winter 3 2025
121. 4.10* Collared by Lola Malone 4/13/26 4/13/26 116 pages Kindle Unlimited Thurel & Maël The Wicked Chase 1 2024 * reread
122. 4.10* Trapped by Lola Malone 4/13/26 4/14/26 125 pages Kindle Unlimited Arsene and Robin The Wicked Chase 2 2024 reread
123. 4.10* Hunted by Lola Malone 4/14/26 4/14/26 124 pages Kindle Unlimited Alexandre and Olivier The Wicked Chase 3 2024 reread
124. 4.10* Marked by Lola Malone 4/14/23 4/15/23 128 pages Kindle Unlimited Romain and Edouard The Wicked Chase 4 2024 reread
125. 4.30* Vile Heart by Lola Malone 4/14/26 4/15/26 Kindle Unlimited Camren and Davian Vicious Valentine 1 2025
126. 4.40* Distant Heart by Chani Lynn Feener 4/15/26 4/16/26 Kindle Unlimited Illya and Rex Vicious Valentine 2 2025
127. 4.30* Carnal Heart by Emmy LaRoux 4/16/26 4/16/26 84 pages Kindle Unlimited Zaiah and Devin Vicious Valentine 3 2025
128. 4.40* The Button Man by Davidson King 4/15/26 4/16/26 258 pages Kindle Unlimited Kelly and Duke Button Man 1 2022
** abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 77 pages
** abandoned Wicked Stepbrothers by Delilah Drew ** 166 pages
**abandoned Beneath the Indigo Sky by Rayne Hawthorne ** 150 pages Jace and Jace amnesia last 10 years
129. 4.20* Long Winter by Rachel Ember 4/17/26 4/18/26 284 pages mine Robbie and Lance Wild Ones 1 2021
130. 3.80* Feral by Alessandra Hazard 4/18/26 4/18/26 247 pages Kindle Unlimited Jules and Devlin The Wrong Alpha book 2 2021
131. 4.50* The Incredible Ordinary by Briar Prescott 4/18/26 4/19/26 381 pages Kindle Unlimited Milàn and Jordan 2026
132. 4.20* Forbidden by Alessandra Hazard 4/19/26 4/19/26 210 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucien and Askel Wrong Alpha 5 2024 210 pages
133. 4.60* The Hazard and the Hitman by Cambria Hebert 4/20/26 4/10/26 386 pages Kindle Unlimited Kieran and Haz The Protectors 1 2026
135. 4.50* Prince by Cambria Hebert 4/20/26 4/21/26 522 pages Fletcher and Ethan Kindle Unlimited Misfits 2 2021
135. 3.20* Expert by Alessandra Hazard 4/21/26 4/21/26 213 pages Kindle Unlimited Eric and Hugh Wrong Alpha 4 2022
136. 4.80* Undone by Alessandra Hazard 4/21/26 4/21/26 228 pages Kindle Unlimited Michael and Anthony Wrong Alpha 6 2026
**abandoned Red by Cambria Hebert ** 182 pages
137. 3.80* Accidental Omega by MJ Kim 4/22/26 4/23/26 174 pages Kindle Unlimited Eojin and Jaeheon 2026
138. 4.10* His Wicked Alpha by Ansley Ellis 4/23/26 4/23/26 203 pages Kindle Unlimited Miles and Ray Messy Ever After 3 2026
139. 4.60* Knot Club: Revival by Ansley Ellis 4/23/26 4/23/26 52 pages Kindle Unlimited Perry and Beckham Knot Club 2 2026
140. 4.70* Scent of Ruin by Lucian Grey 4/23/26 4/23/26 374 pages Kindle Unlimited Caius and Emory 2026
**abandoned Blood and Bond by Julia Todd ** 112 pages
**abandoned Illicit by Alessandra Hazard ** 80 pages
**abandoned Remember My Name by Wren Wilds ** 261 pages Sooo angsty, so depressing. There will be an HEA...
141. 4.40* His Ruthless Acquisition by Blake Ashford 4/25/26 4/25/26 227 pages Kindle Unlimited Callum and Eli 2026
142. 4.90* Galaxies and Oceans by NR Walker 4/25/26 4/26/26 301 pages Kindle Unlimited Aubrey and Patrick 2019 reread
143. 3.90* Becoming Bennet by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes 4/26/27 4/26/26 237 pages Kindle Unlimited Bennet and Jasper Behind the Camera 2 2023
144. 4.40* Maybe Tomorrow by Sophie O'Dare 4/26/26 4/27/26 136 pages Kindle Unlimited Harold and Peter Marked by His Alpha 2 2024
145. 3.80* Tasting Silver by Cody Ryder and Victoria Light 4/27/26 4/27/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited Alan and James SoCal Boys 4 2020
146. 3.20 *My Math Professor by Maya Collins 4/27/26 4/27/26 601 pages Kindle Unlimited Con and Theo Forbidden Lectures 2 2026
147. 3.50* Got Me Hoping by Casey Cox 4/27/26 4/28/26 231 pages Kindle Unlimited Haze and Noah Vet Shop Boys 1 2021
148. 3.50* Kingmaker by Marian Black 4/28/26 4/29/26 315 pages Kindle Unlimited Sandro and Emilio The Inferno 1 2025
149. 3.10* The Debt by Marian Black 4/30/26 4/30/26 193 pages Kindle Unlimited Luca and Dante 2025
150. 3.10* Vital Signs by Marian Black 4/30/26 4/30/26 183 pages Kindle Unlimited Ethan and Marco 2025
**abandoned Bloodline Omega by DS Mark ** 301 pages
151. 4.90* How to Read a Book by Monica Wood performed by Eileen Stevens 4/6/26 5/3/26 10.25 hours mine
152. 4.60* Slow Heat by Leta Blake 5/2/26 5/3/26 388 pages Mine, a reread. Vale and Jason Heat of Love 1, 2017
153. 4.10* Hammer & Gavel by CT Whistle 5/3/26 5/5/26 442 pages Kindle Unlimited Oliver and Lucas The Omegaverse Case Files 1 2024
154. 4.20* The Scent of Sin by Halle Dawson 5/5/26 5/5/26 340 pages mine Max, Atlas, Bane, and Zero Blood & Omega 1 2026
155. 4.30* The Bond of Blood by Halle Dawson 5/5/26 5/5/26 368 pages Kindle Unlimited Max, Atlas, Bane, and Zero Blood & Omega 2 2026
156. 3.70* Scentless Secret by Em Prague 5/5/26 5/6/26 268 pages Kindle Unlimited Malachi and Joshua The Gilded Nest 1 2026
157. 3.40* White Out by Roman Valk 5/6/26 5/7/26 366 pages Kindle Unlimited Elias and Konrad 2026
158. 3.60* The Terms of It by Marilyn Blake 5/7/26 5/7/26 31 pages Kindle Unlimited Thomas and Eli 2026
159. 2.50* The Omega Contract by Wolf Specter 5/7/26 5/8/26 138 pages Kindle Unlimited Harris and Cameron 2015
160. 4.40* Avalanche by Jillian D. Wray 5/8/26 5/9/26 300 pages Kindle Unlimited Hanlon and Stone Ricochet Ridge 3 2026
161. 3.90* Sweat & Honey by Ivo Slade 5/9/26 5/9/26 120 pages Kindle Unlimited Jude and Pace 2026
162. 4.00* Blood and Heat by Bea Bellafonte 5/9/26 5/10/26 129 pages Luca and Enzo 2026
163. 4.00* A Gift for the Devil by Holly Myers 5/10/26 5/11/26 222 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucian and Elias Gods of Montcove 6 2026
164. 4.30* Den of Paradise by Eryn Hawk 5/11/26 5/12/26 539 pages Kindle Unlimited Dylan and Caine 2026
165. 4.30* Wicked Games by Willow Dixon 5/12/26 5/14/26 372 pages Kindle Unlimited Killian and Felix Silvercrest U 1 2025 **reread**
166. 4.30* Hide and Seek by Willow Dixon 5/12/26 5/14/26 381 pages Kindle Unlimited Jax and Myles Silvercrest U 2 2025 **reread**
167. 3.80* Comforting the Grump by Nora Phoenix 5/15/26 5/15/26 289 pages Kindle Unlimited Ennio and Marnen Forestville Silver Foxes 1 2025
**abandoned Vile Saint by Vesper Vane ** 252 pages
**abandoned Bound to Two Bears by Kelex ** 113 pages
**abandoned Master of Pain by Holly Myers ** 143 pages
**abandoned Baby for My Omega by Dex Bass ** 89 pages
**abandoned Bitter Amber by Rowan Valk ** 167 pages
168. 4.00* Unbonded for You by Amy Bellows 5/15/26 5/16/26 170 pages Kindle Unlimited Sebastian and Thomas Nerds Who Knot 5 2023
169. 3.70* The Omega's Hesitant Hero by Kelex 5/16/26 5/16/26 100 pages Kindle Unlimited McCoy and Jackson Bishop's Bay Omegaverse 1 2021
170. 4.40* The Heat Professor by Amy Bellows 5/16/26 5/17/26 184 pages Kindle Unlimited Tatum and Damien Nerds Who Knot 4 2019
171. 4.10* Match My Alpha by Lexie Slater 5/17/26 5/17/26 151 pages Kindle Unlimited Milo and Callum KnotMe 2 2026
172. 4.40* I Could Write a Book by Andie Elliott 5/17/26 5/17/26 296 pages Kindle Unlimited George and Owen 2025
173. 3.00* Carrying the Alpha's Heir by Jerry L O'Neill 5/17/26 5/17/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited Noah and Ezra Gay Guys Romance 6 2026
174. 4.20* The Forgery Mate by Sophie O'Date 5/17/26 5/18/26 329 pages Kindle Unlimited Ren and Ezra Taken by His Alpha 6 2025
**abandoned Muse by N. Slater ** 160 pages
175. 4.00* The Lodger by Tom North 5/20/26 5/20/26 59 pages Kindle Unlimited Tom and Nick 2026
176. 4.30* Knot Club: Obsession by Ansley Ellis 5/20/26 5/20/26 52 pages Kindle Unlimited Kieran and Everett Knot Club 3 2026
177. 4.30* Omega's Fold by Sasha Silsbury 5/20/26 5/20/26 194 pages Kindle Unlimited Wyatt and Julian Prime Match 7 2026
178. 4.00* The Boss by Tom North 5/20/26 5/21/26 50 pages Kindle Unlimited Eliot and Marcus 2026
179. 4.85* The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder 5/21/26 5/21/26 402 pages Kindle Unlimited Leo and Archie The Revenge Club 2 2026
180. 3.90* The Arrangement by River Thorne 5/21/26 5/22/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited Sebastian and Finn The Arrangement and the Heir 1 2026
** abandoned equivalent Mated to the Alpha Judge by Mason Blake ** 19 pages
181. 4.10* Claimed by Choice by River Thorne 5/22/26 5/22/26 213 pages Kindle Unlimited Jonah and Eli Knot My Alpha 4 2026
182. 3.40* The Lion's Haven by Caitlin Ricci 5/23/26 5/23/26 284 pages Kindle Unlimited Devlin and Silas Golden Pride 5 2026
**abandoned Empire of Tides by Emily Moka ** 37 pages
183. 4.10* A Christmas Less Lonely by Scarlet Blackwell 5/24/26 5/24/26 233 pages Kindle Unlimited Alex and Lucas 2024 *reread*
184. 3.30* Cinderella in the Sheets by Reece Pine 5/23/26 5/24/26 131 pages mine Presley and Louis 2018 *reread*
185. 1.50* First Class Protection by Sage Foxley 5/24/26 5/24/26 77 pages Kindle Unlimited Felix and Thomas Billionaire Bosses 3 2026
186. 3.60* Grabbed by Suzi Hawke and Crista Crown 5/24/26 5/25/26 157 pages Kindle Unlimited Preston and Noah Team A.L.P.H.A. 1 2019 *reread*
187. 4.00* Taming His Alpha by Sophie O'Dare 5/25/26 5/25/26 183 pages Kindle Unlimited Joshua and Austen Marked by His Alpha 9 2024
188. 3.40* Taking Two by Sophie O'Dare 5/25/26 5/25/26 5/25/26 5/25/26 142 pages Kindle Unlimited Gael and Heath Marked by His Alpha 7 2024
189. 3.80* His Secret Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 5/26/26 5/27/26 342 pages Kindle Unlimited Sky and Kian Beguiled Omegas 1 2025
190. 3.10* Violent Devotion by L Norell 5/27/26 5/28/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited Kelly and Alexei Empire of Sins 1 2026
191. 4.00* The Fighter by Viv Allen 5/28/26 5/28/26 370 pages Kindle Unlimited Tav and Con Built to Break 1 2026
192. 3.90* Born Wild by Jesse H Reign 5/28/26 5/29/26 343 pages Kindle Unlimited Jensen and Alphie Wild Hearts 2 2026
193. 4.30* That One Moment by CS Autumn 5/29/26 5/30/26 401 pages Kindle Unlimited Jamie and Caiden Altered Paths 1 2025
194. 3.50* The Debt by Kiya Voss 5/30/26 5/31/26 221 pages Kindle Unlimited Jonah and Luca 2026
195. 3.20* Venting Heat by Lance Roddick 5/31/26 5/31/26 72 pages Kindle Unlimited Greyson and Lucas Fur Real Love 10 2026

...
196. 4.30* Cowboy Haven by BA Tortuga 6/1/26 6/1/26 253 pages Kindle mine Heath and Kolt BA's Cozy Cowboys 9 2022 - reread
197. 4.20* His Captor by MM Farmer 6/1/26 6/2/26 250 pages Kindle Unlimited Hayden and Mace Omegas After Dark 2 2024
198. 3.00* Feral Omega by Quinn Michaels 6/3/26 6/4/26 92 pages Kindle Unlimited Oren and Rue Omega Refuge 3 2026
199. 3.50* Owned in Writing by SL Marlowe 6/4/26 6/5/26 96 pages Daniel and Victor Kindle Unlimited Dark MM Romance - Victor's Empire 1 2026
200. 4.20* His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 6/5/26 6/6/26 189 pages Kindle Unlimited Thorn and Baal Beguiled Omegas 2 2025 – reread
**abandoned Fake Dating the Hired Alpha by Bonnar King ** 139 pages
**abandoned The Omega’s Mask by EA Adams ** 80 pages
**abandoned All I Want for Christmas is Revenge by KA Merikan ** 196 pages
**abandoned The Math Teacher and His Professor by Shaw Montgomery ** 108 pages
201. 2.50* The Alpha's Virgin Omega by Austin Bates 6/6/26 6/7/26 286 pages Kindle Unlimited Alec and JT 2018
202. 3.50* The Breeding Contract by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane 6/7/26 6/7/26 103 pages Kindle Unlimited Aidan and Jude Alphas of Chicago (Hennessy Syndicate) 1 2026
203. 3.30* Owned by the Underboss by Evan Blackthorne 6/7/26 6/8/26 124 pages Kindle Unlimited Eli and Dante 2026
204. 3.70* Sold to the Wrong Alpha by Anna Ward 6/8/26 6/8/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited Ren and Brody Omega Underground 1 2026
205. 4.70* This Guy by Lane Hayes 6/8/26 6/9/26 294 pages Kindle Unlimited Silas and Cooper Wood Hollow Stories 1 2026
206. 3.70* Forbidden Little Game by Raleigh Ruebins 6/9/26 6/10/26 278 pages Kindle Unlimited Torin and Noah Crimson College 4 2026
207. 4.00* The Room I Paid For by Crea Reitan 6/6/10/26 6/10/26 82 pages Kindle Unlimited Gabe and Edries 2025 reread
208. 2.50* Corporate Heat by Shea Moran 6/10/26 6/11/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited Julian and Damien 2026
209. 4.60* Primal Urges: Moccachoo series #3.5 by Felton Kingsley 6/11/26 6/11/26 99 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Winks 2026
210. 3.00* Human Omega Claimed by a Ruthless Alpha by Dorian Vale 6/11/26 6/11/26 192 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliot and Dominic 2026
211. 3.50* Runaway Pregnant Omega by MT Calder 6/11/26 6/12/26 166 pages Kindle Unlimited Avren and Rovan MM Mafia mpreg romance standalones 5 2026
212. 4.40* The Mark of Mine by Halle Dawson 6/5/26 6/13/26 231 of 400 pages Kindle Unlimited Max, Alex Bane, Zero Blood & Omega 3 2026
213. 4.30* Where There's a Will by Anna Sparrows 6/12/26 6/13/26 279 pages Kindle Unlimited Connor and Will Dads & Adages 1 2023
214. 4.20* Silver (Fox) Linings by Anna Sparrows 6/13/26 6/14/26 103 pages Kindle Unlimited Kenneth and Cody 2025
215. 4.40* What He Doesn't Know by Jason Pound 6/13/26 6/14/26 72 pages Kindle Unlimited Greg and Keith MM Older Men Behaving Badly 11 2025
216. 4.80* Best of Both Worlds by NR Walker 6/14/26 6/15/26 101 pages mine reread Sebastian and Ryland 2017
217. 4.10* Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by Andie Elliott 6/14/26 6/15/26 45 pages Kindle Unlimited Robert and Jamie 2024
218. 1.50* Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell 6/15/26 6/15/26 106 pages mine Nathan and Sasha 2023
219. 4.40* Worst.Christmas.Ever.LOCKED by Casey Cox 6/15/26 6/16/26 83 pages Kindle Unlimited Darby and Kip 2025
**abandoned Knocked Up By the Groomsman by Bella Bennet ** 56 pages
**abandoned The Omega's Mask by EA Adams ** 80 pages
**abandoned The Leak Between Us by Maya Collins ** 74 pages
**abandoned A Match Made in Evan by Anna Sparrows ** 48 pages
**abandoned Under Broken Stars by Atreus Rosewood ** 124 pages
**abandoned Booked Solid by Jace Wilder ** 317 pages
220. 4.40* Heartsmashed by Brooke Blaine 6/17/26 6/18/26 289 pages Kindle Unlimited Sawyer and Beckett Hate to Love You 2 2026
221. 3.60* My Cursed Valentine by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 80 pages Kindle Unlimited Min and Logan My Valentine Disaster 1 2026
222. 3.50* Airplane Crush by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 69 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliott and Alex 2024
223. 3.40* Not Here for the Romance by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 73 pages Kindle Unlimited Cameron and Kyle 2025
224. 4.30* My Billionaire One Night Stand by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 90 pages Kindle Unlimited Nico and Matteo 2025
225. 3.20* Step Games by Jenny Pineapple 6/18/26 6/19/26 86 pages Kindle Unlimited Oliver and Duarte 2025
226. 3.20* Protected by the Mafia Prince by Tyler M Belcher 6/19/6/19 107 pages Kindle Unlimited Cassian and Theo 2026
227. 4.40* Only for the Camera by Jenny Pineapple 6/19/26 6/19/26 155 pages Kindle Unlimited Bobby and Eddie Station Thirteen 4 2026
228. 4.30* Rebound My Alpha by Lexie Slater 6/19/26 6/20/26 122 pages Kindle Unlimited Benji and Knox KnotMe 3 2026
229. 4.00* My Father's Enemy by Jenny Pineapple 6/20/26 6/20/26 66 pages Kindle Unlimited Mason and Vittorio 2025
230. 2.50* My Fake Billionaire by Ana Ashley and Rhys Everly 6/20/26 6/20/26 70 pages mine Denver and Will 2021
231. 3.00* His First Alpha by Madeleine Grey 6/20/26 6/20/26 29 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliott and Noah His First Alpha 1 2024
232. 3.50* Little Red by Queenie Wise 6/20/26 6/21/26 413 pages Kindle Unlimited Peter and Damon Big Bad Wolves 1 2019
233. 3.80* The Wolf's Claim by Willy Stroker 6/21/26 6/21/26 40 pages Kindle Unlimited Evan and Cal Monster Boyfriends 1 2025
234. 4.20* Alpha's Scent by Jerry Nicholas 6/21/26 6/21/26 126 pages Kindle Unlimited Ethan and Kenneth/Joss Unexpected Heir 1 2025
**abandoned The Accidental Donor by Kay Marie ** 72 pages
235. 4.00* Rescuing the Writer by Nora Phoenix 6/21/26 6/22/26 73 pages Kindle Unlimited Waylon and Melbourne Forestville Silver Foxes Novellas 2 2024
236. 2.00* Brutal Harvest by CJ Wilder 6/22/26 6/22/26 89 pages Kindle Unlimited Finn and Colt MM Hight Heat Romance 1 2026
237. 3.60* Claimed by Accident by River Thorne 6/22/26 6/22/26 161 pages Kindle Unlimited Owen and Felix Knot My Alpha 2 2025
238. 4.40* Seven Year Secret by River Thorne 6/22/26 6/23/26 292 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliot and AJ 2026
239. 4.60* His to Protect by River Thorne 6/23/26 6/23/26 259 pages Kindle Unlimited Alec and Camden 2026
240. 3.70* Knot and Order by Jamie Kassel 6/23/26 6/24/26 151 pages Kindle Unlimited David and Michael 2019
241. 4.00* Omega's Heat by River Ryan 6/24/26 6/24/26 63 pages Kindle Unlimited Benji and Mercer 2020
242. 1.30* Trapped by the Alpha by Lyndon Land 6/24/26 6/24/26 158 pages Kindle Unlimited Toby and Mason Moonbond Run 4 2025
243. 4.30* Killer Love by Onley James 6/24/26 6/24/26 123 pages Kindle Unlimited Walker and Dakota Kiss. Kill. Repeat 2 2026
244. 4.50* Blocked by KC Lawson 6/24/26 6/25/26 163 pages Kindle Unlimited Jonah and Duncan Blockers 1 2026
245. 2.70* Buckled and Barefoot by Bella Bennet 6/25/26 6/26/26 163 pages Kindle Unlimited Finn and Colt Baby Makes Three 9 2026
246. 3.90* Bloodline Mandate by FR Locke 6/26/26 6/27/26 363 pages Kindle Unlimited Evren and Thayer 2026
247. 3.20* Unclaimed by River Thorne 6/27/26 6/27/26 238 pages Kieran and Damon 238 pages Kindle Unlimited Knot My Alpha 1 2025
248. 4.80* The Don's Omega by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/28/26 227 pages Kindle Unlimited Elia and Lorenzo 2026
249. 2.80* An Heir for the Don by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/28/26 199 pages Kindle Unlimited Marco and Vincenzo 2025
250. 3.70* Forged in Bad Faith by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/29/26 105 pages Kindle Unlimited Luca and Damiano 2026
251. 4.95* Culpability by Bruce Holsinger 6/27/26 6/30/26 354 pages Kindle mine 2025
252. 3.40* Defiantly Claimed by River Thorne 6/30/26 6/30/26 205 pages Kindle Unlimited Micah and Sully Knot My Alpha 3 2025
**abandoned His Forbidden Obsession by Silvia Violet ** 169 pages
**abandoned The Bratva's Omega by Bella Vasquez ** 209 pages

253. Slash & Strangle by Adara Wolf and R Phoenix 472 pages Kindle Unlimited Vincent and Luka Serial Killers in Love 1 2026
254. 4.20* Your Devoted Monster by Leo Rivers 7/3/26 7/3/26 73 pages Kindle Unlimited Ezra and Gabriel 2025

read 2

adds - 361 in 2025

1. Kindle - Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself
2. Audible - A Coin for the Ferryman by Megan Edwards, narrated by Mark Ashby
3. FoCCL - Wilmington's Lie by David Zucchino
4. FoCCL - The Worst Case Scenario: Expert Advise for Extreme Situations by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
5. FoCCL - Animal Farm: The Rest of the Story by Forrest C. Greenslade, PHD
6. FoCCL - O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker
7. FoCCL - Haggadah for the Liberated Lamb by Roberta Kalechofsky
8. FoCCL - Captain's Dinner by Adam Cohen
9. FoCCL - The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly
10. Kindle - Apple Pie by West Greene
11. Kindle - Game Changer by Rachel Reid
12. Kindle - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
13. Kindle - Tough Guy by Rachel Reid
14. Kindle - Common Goal by Rachel Reid
15. FoCCL - Arcane Carolinas: Folklore, Urban Legends, and Tales of Modern Weird from the Carolinas Volume 1 by Charlie Mewshaw
16. Audible - Up the Down Staircase by Bell Kaufman narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
17. Audible - The First Salute: A View of the American Revolution by Barbara Tuchman, narrated by Wanda McFaddon
18. Audible - The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island by Mike Pitts
19. Kindle - Role Model by Rachel Reid
20. Kindle - The Long Game by Rachel Reid
21. FoCCL - Islam by Karen Armstrong
22. FoCCL - Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen
23. - 26. Peggy - First Four in the Clara Vine series by Jane Thynne
27. Kindle - Hunted and Claimed by Morgan Vale
28. Kindle - A Suitable Consort by R Cooper
29. FoCCL - California 2.0 by Thom Bryant
30. FoCCL - Once in Golconda: A True Drama of Wall Street 1920-1938 by John Brooks
31. FoCCL - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
32. Kindle - Don Juan by George Gordon, Lord Byron
33. Audible - The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher
34. FoCCL - Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years by Paula Fredriksen
35. FoCCL - 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South by John Shelton Reed an Dale Volberg Reed
36. Kindle - The Room I Paid for by Crea Reitan
37. FoCCL - Myrtle Beach Cookin' by United Methodist Women United Methodist Church Myrtle Beach SC
38. FoCCL - Inglis Fletcher of Bandon Plantation by Richard Walser
39. FoCCL - Looking for Alaska by John Green
40. FoCCL - Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
41. Audible - Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
42. FoCCL - The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
43. FoCCL - Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels
44. FoCCL - Agatha Christie by Laura Thompson
45. FoCCL - Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
46. FoCCL - The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church by The Protestant Episcopal Church
47. FoCCL - Coyote Cafe by Mark Miller
48. FoCCL - The Catch by Mick Herron
49. FoCCL - Chinese Poetry Translations From the Chinese By Arthur Waley Hardcover Illustrated Chinese Poems. by Arthur Waley
50. FoCCL - World War I, the "Great War" by Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
51. FoCCL - The Jews in the Twentieth Century: An Illustrated History by Martin Gilbert
52. FoCCL - So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
53. FoCCL - Hiroshima by John Hersey
54. FoCCL - Code Breaking: A History and Exploration by Rudolph Kippenhahn
55. FoCCL - Lincoln's Smile and Other Enigmas by Alan Trachtenberg
56. FoCCL - Suspect Identities: A History of Fingerprinting and Criminal Identification by Simon A Cole
57. FoCCL - Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell
58. FoCCL - Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles
59. FoCCL - The Carolina Table: North Carolina Writers on Food by Randall Kenan
60. FoCCL - Native Carolinians: The Indians of North Carolina by Theda Perdue
61. FoCCL - An Arab Philosophy of History: Selections from the Prolegomena of Ibn Khaldun of Tunis (1332 - 1406) by Charles Issawi
62. FoCCL - A History of the Borgias by Frederick Baron Corvo
63. FoCCL - American Heritage History Of The 1920s & 1930s by American Heritage
64. FoCCL - Eyewitness: 150 Years of Photojournalism by Richard Lacayo and George Russell
65. FoCCL - Stanley Spencer by Elizabeth Rothenstein
66. Kindle - Saint Laurent's Sins by Lola Malone
67. Mark - A Far-Flung Life by ML Stedman
68. Kindle - How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
69. Audible - How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
70. FoCCL - The Lost Bible by JR Porter
71. Amazon - The Carmina Burana: Songs from Benediktbeuern translated by Tariq Marshall
72. Kindle - The Scent of Sin by Halle Dawson
73. Kindle - Baby for My Omega by Dex Bass
74. Kindle - Bound to Two Bears by Kelex
75. Kindle - Mating Season by Apollo Surge
76. Jenna - Trucks by Byron Barton
77. Jenna - Fire Engine illus by Norman Gorbaty
78. Jenna - School Bus illus by Norman Gorbaty
79. Kindle - The Omega's Mask by EA Adam
80. Kindle - Fake it 'til You Make Out by Isla Olsen
81. Kindle - Trapped in Silk by Santi Merino
82. Kindle - The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf
83. Kindle - The Complete Novels of Jane Austen
84. Kindle - I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
85. Audible - Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
86. FoCCL - A Little History of Canada by HV Nelles
87. FoCCL - A Short History of Time by Leofranc Holford-Strevens
88. Kindle - Human Omega Claimed by a Ruthless Alpha by Dorian Vale
...
July
89. Kindle - The Correspondent by Patricia Evans
90. Audible - No Ordinary Bird: Drug Smuggling, Plane Crash, and a Daughter's Quest for the Truth by Artis Henderson

culls - 193 in 2025

1. If You Exist by Lillian Moats
2. The Jumblies by Edward Lear Drawings by Edward Gorey
3. Chasing Shakespeares by Sarah Smith
4. Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
5. Dear Committee Members by Julia Schumacker
6. Wet Pussies: Hilarious Snaps of Damp Cats by Charlie Ellis
7. Big Cocks: Hilarious Snaps of Prominent Poultry by Charlie Ellis
8. Calico by Lee Goldberg
9. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
10. Healthy Aging by Andrew Weil, MD
11. Eve In Hollywood by Amor Towles
12. The Women by Kristin Hannah
13. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
14. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
15. The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins
16. Girl Reading by Katie Ward
17. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - not in catalog but on shelves
18. In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

YTD Statistics through April

150 books read
146.5 ebooks, 2 audio books, 1.5 paper books
34972 pages in completed books
36.5 hours in completed audio books
44 books abandoned, 5128 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

40100 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 446
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 267

Book(s) of the Month: Undone by Alessandra Hazard
Galaxies and Oceans by NR Walker

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books
Feb - 31 e-books, 1 audio books
Mar - 40 e-books
Apr - 49 e-books, 1 audio book

Author
Male 15%
Female 65%
Undeclared * 20%
Non-Binary 0%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 99%
Dead 1%

US Born 24%
Foreign Born 20%
Undeclared * 56%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 1%
e-Book 98%
Paper Book 1%

Source
My Library 13%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 87%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 9%
Series 76%

Fiction 98%
NonFiction 2%

Author Birth Country
Australia 6%
Canada 9%
England 1%
France 1%
Grenada 1%
Netherlands 1%
New Zealand 1%
UK 52%
Undeclared* 2%
US 26%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
1950s 1%
2000s 1%
2010s 9%
2020s 89%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 0%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 3%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 96%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 0
1.6-2: Bad 2
2.1-2.5: Average 8
2.6-3: Good 11
3.1-3.5: Very Good 23
3.6-4: Excellent 33
4.1-4.99: Stunning 73
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.88
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 71
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 18

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

April Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers or scenarios that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

4.40* Swipe My Alpha by Lexie Slater 3/31/26 4/1/26 93 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jude, an omega, and Rhys, an alpha, meet up on a hookup app and have a wonderful, one-time-only, night. They are shocked to find that Rhys is Jude’s TA. Things get a little bit messy for a while as they flirt with impropriety. Rhys arranges things so Jude is assigned another TA and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.00* My Alpha's Secret by Rosa Swann 4/1/26 4/1/26 62 pages mine

Wilder was in a romantic relationship with Logan, another alpha. Logan left Wilder and bonded with an omega, Sterling, and had a child with him. Wilder finds out that Logan is killed in an accident and goes to the funeral. He simply wants that dreaded word, closure. He sees, however, that Sterling is being abandoned by Logan’s family and friends, so stays to help take care of him and Sterling’s child. Eventually they start caring for one another, Wilder falls in love with him and his child, and Sterling falls in love with Wilder. A very sweet yet sexy book. No sex, HFN. I don’t exactly remember why I gave it 2*. I hope that I wasn’t so shallow that I needed sex in the book for it to be star-worthy.

4.50* Emberbound by Ash Wilder 4/1/26 4/1/26 131 pages Kindle Unlimited

Neil is a packless omega by choice, a weather ranger hiding out in an unforgiving environment. Tylor Robinson is massive, bleeding, and running from a death sentence. He’s a rogue Alpha with a bounty on his head and a bullet in his side. He should be dead. Instead, he’s trapped in a ten-by-ten cabin with a Ranger who smells like fear and secrets. Tylor goes into rut, Neil goes into heat. Neil protects Tylor from Enforcers, accepts Tylor’s collar. Caveat emptor very steamy sex.

3.50* Gone Wild by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/1/26 305 pages Kindle Unlimited

Omega Lucien and alpha Branson are stuck in Branson’s cabin during a blizzard. Branson is Lucien’s ex’s brother. There’s attraction and sexual tension. Lucien goes into heat and we know how that goes… Branson takes care of him sexually. When they’re able to get out, we know the relationship will continue. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* Romeo Falling by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/2/26 342 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jude and Romeo were best friends, ride or die. A kiss broke the bond. Jude came back to town, Romeo had married a woman. Messy situation, hurt feelings all around, well written emotions and emotional scenes. Romeo, of course, doesn’t love his wife as much as he loves Jude and when it all falls out they end up with each other. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Claimed by Wrath by EA Adams** 77 pages

The trope is an omega hunt, where desperate omegas are given rewards to allow themselves to be hunted. Dusty is the omega, Ahaan is the alpha. Ahaan discovers that another alpha is hunting Dusty, which makes this a tad more interesting, but not enough for me to not abandon it.

4.50* Saint Laurent's Sins by Lola Malone 4/2/26 4/4/26 376 pages mine

A standalone version of Crown of Thorns, which I read in July of 2025. Almost identical, I didn’t realize it when I purchased this book. It sounded familiar, but I was in a pain-induced haze, and didn’t try to figure it out. I gave both books 4.5, so at least I’m consistent. Here’s what I wrote about Crown of Thorns:

Third in The Initiation Series, has Noah returning to Saint Laurent, the home town he fled when he was 16. He’s now a professor. Before he takes on his duties, he goes to a gay nightclub and while just wanting to get a private view of an erotic dancer, gets Louis Devereaux instead. Louis has hijacked the viewing, dances for Noah, and they have a sexual encounter. Once school starts, Louis blackmails Noah into a sexual relationship with him so that he won’t tell the college that he’s having a relationship with a student. This is one of those high tension, morally gray protagonist series. Noah keeps having sex with Louis, Louis keeps pushing Noah. We already know Louis’ backstory from the first two books, but Noah’s backstory comes out piece by piece. In addition, Louis introduces Noah to the secret society at the college and Noah flees. He is repulsed and writes a document that he keeps hidden. He’s trying to understand his grandfather’s role at the college. Both Noah and Louis are set up by Z, a member of the society, whose grudge goes back well before Noah and Louis. He almost destroys both of them. They get their HEA, though, hard won as it is. Caveat emptor re violence and sex.

I stand by what I wrote then.

4.00* The Arab Billionaire's Reluctant Husband by Dominick Cummings 4/4/26 4/4/26 142 pages Kindle Unlimited

Evan is offered a way to cancel his brother’s debt by being married to Khalid for one year. Khalid doesn’t want games, casual affairs, or men chasing his wealth. What he wants is loyalty… and a partner willing to belong only to him. Kahlid is domineering and controlling, which Evan seems to want and need. Lots of dominance and submission. The relationship evolves, holds, and they do not dissolve the marriage. Caveat emptor re sex and D/s.

3.30* My Marriage Contract with My Straight Boss by Dominick Cummings 4/4/26 4/5/26 138 pages Kindle Unlimited

The deal is simple—Henry gets financial security, and Javier Morales secures the inheritance he needs to save his company. No romance. No complications. No feelings. But the lines blur, Javier is attracted to Henry, and slow burn turns incendiary (sorry for this – some of the hyperbole is becoming part of me). The marriage stands, they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* Seduced by the Straight Sheikh by Dominick Cummings 4/5/26 4/5/26 36 pages Kindle Unlimited

TJ is assigned as temporary PA to a visiting Sheikh and makes one mistake. After that, he works tirelessly to prove himself. They meet in the company’s gym one night, Omar takes him upstairs and they have sex. He tells TJ that he’s married to a woman, has children with her, and not to expect more. However, Omar goes home and comes back divorced, wanting TJ and getting him. Vivid and extremely well written for a mere 36 pages. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Getting Owned by the Alpha Business Executive by Dominick Cummings 4/6/26 4/6/26 56 pages Kindle Unlimited

Evan’s new boss, Korean VP Seung-woo is demanding and dominant. He’s also very straight. However, he wants Evan, demands monogamy, and wants to marry Evan. Improbable? Yes. Romantic? Yes. Sexy? Yes. Evan has been looking all his life for someone to dominate and own him. Caveat emptor re sex and D/s.

2.90* Wrong Text Right Guy by Alessia Imogen 4/6/26 4/26/26 41 pages Kindle Unlimited

Stupider than the 2.90* I gave it. Trevor, at work, thinks he sends an intimate photo of himself to a hook up, but accidentally sends it to his mafia boss, Lorenzo. Lorenzo simply texts back a ?. Sweet, sexy, HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Suddenly His Alpha by Kelex 4/6/26 4/6/26 76 pages Kindle Unlimited

Tulla is forced to attend yet another Omega Ball, as always with the intention of remaining unmated. He runs into Beckett, an Alpha who was as interested as he was at a previous ball. Beckett was drunk and made some rude comments overheard by Tulla, who fled. At this ball Beckett is remorseful and when they are together, they are immediately attracted to one another and realize they are probably fated mates. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* Pack Law and Sin by Roman Blacke 4/6/26 4/7/26 247 pages Kindle Unlimited

Mob boss Dmitri is at a warehouse where a deal goes wrong. Elian is an omega runner on scent blockers, but as Dmitri grabs him, his wolf recognizes an omega and he takes him back to his home. They realize they’re fated mates and Elian helps Dmitri retain control of his territory. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Beneath the Indigo Sky by Rayne Hawthorne ** 258 pages

Namid does not remember anything of his life before the last 10 years but has been cared for in the town although kept at a distance by most. Jayce feels like half of his soul is missing. I got impatient and although I could intellectually realize where it would go could not get emotionally involved enough to continue reading.

**abandoned Wicked Stepbrother by Delilah Drew ** 183 pages

Straight bully turned lover, too sweet and too sudden. I just didn’t buy it. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 71 pages

Poor writing, and the word chuckle overused. I usually like Lola Malone, and it surprised me how actively I disliked this one. Mafia rivals, forced proximity. I honestly can’t remember, but 71 pages is probably not enough to have to say caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Perfect Prey by Vasha Crow ** 129 pages

Four killers obsessed with Kit. He doesn’t understand it, I don’t understand it. He stumbles into a crime scene, they become obsessed. Probably sex by 129 pages, but I honestly don’t remember at this point.

4.30* Blinding Light by Lola Malone 4/7/26 4/9/26 373 pages Kindle Unlimited

A reread. I gave it 4.5 stars last year. Here’s what I wrote then:

Fostered as a child, Cyprian feels compelled to leave his planet in search of his parents. He has information about who they might be, and his planet of choice is Helion. On the space ship taking him to Helion, under an assumed name, Moargan, an Imperial Prince, sees Cyprian and is immediately attracted to him and feels a strong bond. Cyprian moves into an apartment he's arranged for ahead of time, but Moargan arrogantly steps in, buys the apartment building, and takes Cyprian to his home, to live there. Cyprian attends art college, but is troubled by dreams and feels a growing bond with Moargan. Turns out they’re fated mates. Cyprian has a hard time accepting this, but after a serial killer is found and brought to justice and Cyprian understands who his parents were, he and Moargan get their HEA. There’s magic and special powers, and all sorts of fun fantasy. Helion is believable within the scope of fantasy, as are Moargan and Cyprian’s powers. My only real quibble is how to pronounce Moargan – Mor’gan or Mo’Ar’Gan. I chose Morgan, but had to look at it every single time. Caveat emptor re sex and violence.

I stand by it.

4.20* Burning Ice by Lola Malone 4/7/26 4/11/26 373 pages Kindle Unlimited

Here’s the blurb:

Mirel Fandi is a ghost.
Forgotten by the Empire, he survives among the graves, half-frozen and half-awake, until a single act of mercy exposes the power in his blood. The frost obeys him. The fire hunts him. When an Imperial prince catches him instead of killing him, Mirel learns that survival may be the cruelest mercy of all.

Kylix Zephyranth is flame contained.
Imperial prince, forged for obedience and violence, he knows how to command fear. But the silent prisoner who refuses to speak does something no enemy ever has. He stills Kylix’s fire, draws him in, and turns control into hunger.

Two forces that should destroy each other.
A bond older than the Empire itself.
Ice that burns. Fire that freezes. Love that kills to protect.
* This book is set in Chani Lynn Feener's universe with permission from the author.

I’m fascinated that Feener has given other authors permission to write about her universe. It definitely works, and this book fits beautifully with her style and the universe she’s built. The plot is convoluted with many betrayals and twists. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* His Surrogate Omega by Kelex 4/11/26 4/11/26 445 pages Kindle Unlimited

Gray lives in the Omega Quadrant. All he ever wanted was to be mated and have a family, but he’s in his 30s now and it’s just not going to happen. His alpha brother and partner die, and his omega nephews must live with him. His small income and some monies from his brother’s estate will last for a while, but not forever, so he signs up to be a surrogate. Another omega, Jamie, comes to see Gray, and proposes that Gray mate with Jamie’s Alpha, Rohan, because Jamie is a cancer survivor but does not feel sexually attracted to Rohan any more. Gray meets with Rohan, and against Rohan’s desires, Jamie persuades him to be with Gray at his next heat. This happens and there is a pregnancy. Gray and his nephews move in with Rohan and Jamie. Gray feels guilt, Rohan feels guilt, and Jamie knows that he’s providing for Rohan’s future happiness. He also loves Gray as a brother. This one was quite moving. The emotions were beautifully written, the plot mostly predictable but there a few unexpected twists. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.10* The Early Middle Ages by Professsor Philip Daileader narrated by Professor Philip Daileader 2/26/26 4/12/26 The Teaching Company 2004 12 hours CDs mine

I was going to write a full review of this book, but alas. April got away from me. I found it fascinating. However, I was expecting a more generalized view of the period, 300 -1000 AD. What I got was mostly military and religious history. It was thorough, brilliantly present and thought out, and ended up being exactly right. The cultural influences and situations were subtly presented but there.

4.30* Fake It 'Til You Make It by Louisa Masters 4/12/26 4/12/26 39 pages Mine

Tech billionaire geek Mike has had a crush on his best friend’s brother James from the first time they met. James does not realize this until they meet at a conference. Sparks fly, they realize they’re made for each other, sex is had. Caveat emptor re this sex. A well-done short story.

4.40* I've Got This by Louisa Masters 4/12/26 4/12/26 184 pages Kindle Unlimited

Derek is the manager for one of the big parks within a huge entertainment corporation. Think Disney. He’s happy. He’s productive, he’s a loner. He manages people, budgets, and crises. Discreet one night stands work for him. Trav is an actor who has a negative reaction to Derek when they first meet. Derek has hardly ever experienced this before, and becomes intrigued. He gets Trav to explain his negative reaction, and they become attracted to one another and start spending discreet time together. They start a serious relationship. There’s a murder in the park which threatens everything, so crisis in addition to love. A new opportunity presents itself at the park which is perfect for Trav. This solves the potential breakup since Trav is an actor and is usually on Broadway. It’s a very sweet HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.30* Silent Howl by Ash Wilder 4/12/26 4/13/26 218 pages Kindle Unlimited

Kyle is deaf and uses hearing aids. He’s part of a wolf pack and part of the rescue unit run by the pack leader Darren. The relationship has started before the book starts, with Kyle wearing a collar and being dominated sexually by Darren. It’s consensual. There’s a blizzard condition, and Kyle nearly dies. The relationship comes out, but things are reorganized so that they can both keep working in the unit yet still have their relationship. There are a lot of powerful emotions written very well, although I honestly had a bit of a time figuring out their relationship early on in the book. Caveat emptor re D/s and sex.

The Wicked Chase, 4 Novellas by Lola Malone that take place at the Saint-Laurent Boarding College and Alpha Fraternarii of previous books. This is a series reread. The novellas follow the same plot as the books in The Initiation Series. A rich member of the Alpha Fraternarii brotherhood is obsessed with someone not from his class or wealth. The brotherhood holds chases, where potential brothers agree to let themselves be hunted, captured, and, as these books puts it, let themselves be “… subjected to physical violence – with no lasting injuries – as well as being drugged, tied up or even used for a brother’s sexual pleasure. You agreed to this.” which eliminates accusations of non-con. Convenient, but these novellas are so much fun, in a very dark way. The four members of the brotherhood wear gold, silver, bronze, and copper masks. It turns out that each has chosen his obsession and has paid dearly for the right to win the chase. Only one potential brother can ‘win’, not knowing it’s rigged. When the potential brother is captured and spends time alone in the woods with his captor, he’s either acquiesced or enthusiastically agreed to being bound romantically and legally to the brother who caught him. The new brother is initiated and then taken to his lover’s rooms. All’s well that ends well. Caveat emptor re violence and sex. All four potential brothers’ backstories are given with enough detail to explain their motivations in agreeing to participate, all four brothers’ backstories are given with enough detail to explain their obsessions.

4.10* Collared 4/13/26 4/13/26 116 pages Kindle Unlimited

This is Thurel and Maël’s story. Suffice to say that as with all four, Thurel has agreed to be hunted and when Maël catches him, he collars him with a leather and diamonds collar. He takes him back to the initiation collared.

4.10* Trapped 4/13/26 4/14/26 125 pages Kindle Unlimited

This is Robin and Arsène’s story. Suffice to say that as with all four, Robin has agreed to be hunted and when Arsène catches him from horseback with a bola, Arsène’s brothers help take him back to the initiation bound in the leathers of the bola.

4.10* Hunted 4/14/26 4/14/26 124 pages Kindle Unlimited

This is Olivier and Alexandre’s story. Suffice to say that as with all four, Olivier has agreed to be hunted and when Alexandre catches him after he agrees to be drugged and becomes disoriented enough to fall into a huge metal spider web after Alexandre’s bodyguards have helped herd him there, he takes him back to the initiation. Alexandre offers him another drug, letting him choose between two. Alexandre takes the other. This one got pretty bizarre, what with spiders and all.

4.10* Marked by Lola Malone 4/14/26 4/15/26 128 pages Kindle Unlimited

The last of the series is a bit more complicated in that Edouard is the scion of a drug/crime overlord, not one of the rich elite of the world. Romain is a poor village boy and Edouard’s father ‘buys’ him in exchange for Romain’s mother’s drug debt. Edouard and Romain have a dominant/submissive and romantic relationship until Edouard’s father sends Romain away, not telling Edouard where he is. Both suffer. There’s quite a bit of backstory on both, including implied murder by Edouard for Romain being humiliated in church. Edouard’s father eventually tells him where Romain is. Edouard plays a long game, only getting Romain invited to be a brother in Alpha Fraternarii. The chase, a different initiation, and Edouard and Romain end up in a private part of the college and they get their admittedly unusual HEA. Caveat emptor sex for all four novellas, in the forest, in the castle, in some of their backstories.

Three novella series, Vicious Valentine. This is a reread.

4.30* Vile Heart by Lola Malone 4/14/26 4/15/26 Kindle Unlimited

First of the series. Camren participates in a college tradition of chasing someone down, figuratively speaking, and having their way with them before dawn. Camren knows his best friend Davian, who fled from him two years previously, will be there and he entices him and they get the HEA they want. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Distant Heart by Chani Lynn Feener 4/15/26 4/16/26 Kindle Unlimited

Illya participates in a college tradition of chasing someone down, figuratively speaking, and having their way with them before dawn. Rexton has shown up, and there’s a nice plot twist at the end. In the meantime, Illya chases Rexton down, takes him to his upstairs apartment and they go from there. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Carnal Heart by Emmy LaRoux 4/16/26 4/16/26 84 pages Kindle Unlimited

Devyn, a Black Hart, is being forced by his father to pursue one man while he’s fascinated and obsessed with another. Zaiah had stayed at the school but changed departments 2 years previously, and Devyn is stunned to see him at the Cor Night, the night of debauchery and exploration of Black Hart vices. The man Devyn’s supposed to pursue turns out to be the man Zaiah changed departments for. He was controlled and abused by this man, and once Devyn figures this out, he ‘rescues’ Zaiah and they get a HEA. Cavet emptor re sex.

4.40* The Button Man by Davidson King 4/15/26 4/16/26 258 pages Kindle Unlimited

Duke is known as the Button Man, a third-generation assassin. One day his best friend lies dying in his arms and tells Duke that he has a baby daughter. She must be protected from the men who ambushed them. Duke does this. He and his father take her away, hide her, and raise her. Duke still takes assassin jobs, almost always from his handler. Unusually, he takes a job and he realizes, during the attempt, that the target is his handler, Kelly. He takes Kelly back to the family compound where they try to unravel what is really going on. Kelly works tech, Duke works his resources, as does his father. There is romance. There is the sweet daughter, there is a HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 77 pages

Surprisingly from this author, poor writing. The word chuckle may or may not be part of the reason I abandoned it.

** abandoned Wicked Stepbrothers by Delilah Drew ** 166 pages

I can’t even remember why I abandoned it. Two sweet too fast. I am realizing that I need some kind of tension between the protagonists. In this case, more than the fact that they are stepbrothers.

4.20* Long Winter by Rachel Ember 4/17/26 4/18/26 284 pages mine

Robbie, one of three siblings, stays on the family ranch in order to keep to the terms of his grandfather’s will and prevent the ranch from going to his uncle. It is a hardship. He’s sacrificed college, among other things. He loves the ranch, but still. Lance is a next door neighbor. Abused as a child by his father after his mother dies, he latches onto Robbie’s family and they take him in. When he's 16, he flees from his father, tells Robbie he loves him. Robbie can’t reciprocate, so Lance flees to Chicago and his aunt. Six years later, he’s a successful photographer and model. He breaks up with his boyfriend in Chicago, taking the car gifted to him by the boyfriend. He returns to town, but he gets arrested for car theft. He calls Robbie’s brother Danny, who calls Robbie, who makes bail for him and takes him home. By the end of two days, they are in a sexual and emotional relationship. The story is well written, if a bit repetitive. The ranch, land, how the ranch is run, the dangers, and animals are all vividly portrayed. Nial comes to town to fetch Lance back, is not successful. Robbie and Lance get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* Feral by Alessandra Hazard 4/18/26 4/18/26 247 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jules is one of 4 omega sons of the house, not the most attractive, but the most curious. He’s warned away from the basement and so finds a way in. He discovers a Zeus alpha chained and being experimented on. He and his brother Liam rescue him, but only after the alpha mates with Jules while in his most feral form. He takes him to the forest, and the mating bond is broken. Devlin is rescued and resumes his position as a Prince of the Kingdom and starts wooing the most gorgeous omega of the year – Liam. However, Jules and Devlin are attracted to one another and eventually figure out that Jules rescued Devlin. It’s sweet and sexy.

4.50* The Incredible Ordinary by Briar Prescott 4/18/26 4/19/26 381 pages Kindle Unlimited

The dialog is funny and sad and caring. The love that Milàn and Jordan find is beautifully portrayed. They meet because their kids had a fight at school. It’s instant attraction and eventual caring and love. Life is made meaningful for both of them by the incredible and ordinary and domestic nature of their relationship, although caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Forbidden by Alessandra Hazard 4/19/26 4/19/26 210 pages Kindle Unlimited

Lucien is abandoned by his pack after he’s gang raped as a 14-year old. Aksel’s father Gerard takes him into their household and marries him to keep him safe and provided for. It’s platonic. Aksel is a Zeus Alpha, an alpha alpha, if you will. Lucien is 10 years older than Aksel, but Aksel bonds with Lucien. Lucien deliberately rejects Aksel to keep him safe and protect his reputation. Aksel serves in the military and then comes home. At this point Aksel wants Lucien, Lucien wants Aksel, but societal taboos prevent Lucien from acting on it. They eventually get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.60* The Hazard and the Hitman by Cambria Hebert 4/20/26 4/10/26 386 pages Kindle Unlimited

Haz was in foster care, has a few documents from when he ages out. He works 4 jobs and has a shabby apartment and a shabby car. He has an accident and ends up in the hospital. He’s broke, won’t be able to pay the bills. He loves his Neon Fish job but none of the others. He panics and tries to find a ‘boyfriend’ on a dating app. He’s rudely rejected, but Kieran, the guy who rejects him comes to the hospital and pretends to be his boyfriend. Kieran is an assassin but tells Haz he’s a real estate agent. He is very protective of Haz and it is instant lust and actually love between them. Kieran pays his hospital bills and takes Haz home to feed him soup and take care of his injuries. Kieran is fascinated with Haz’s heterochromia and Haz only being 5’5”. Kieran has a hard time keeping Haz alive because it turns out the mob is after him. There’s a very specific reason for this. Kieran keeps Haz alive, removes the threat, and they get their very odd HEA. Caveat emptor re steamy sex.

4.50* Prince by Cambria Hebert 4/20/26 4/21/26 522 pages Kindle Unlimited

Fletcher has a found family of 3 men he shares an apartment with and his friend Ivory who is a successful fashion designer. Fletcher plays violin, busking in the subway and etc. Ivory used to date another upper East Side millionaire named Ethan. Ethan and Fletcher meet and it’s a meeting of spirits and souls. Ethan wants to take care of Fletcher. Fletcher keeps things hidden, including his mother, who is abusive and hateful towards him. Separately, Ethan has dear friends whose son was kidnapped 22 years earlier and no trace was ever found. Every year they celebrate his life with fireworks a private party where the husband plays a violin solo he composed for his son, never publicly performed. Eventually there’s a party where Fletcher is persuaded to perform his violin. At the end, he plays a piece that he’s known from childhood but never performed before. Ethan’s friends are stunned to discover that Fletcher is their long-lost son. The supposed mother gets her comeuppance, Ethan and Fletcher get their HEA. This author writes complex, funny, emotional books with vivid characters. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* Expert by Alessandra Hazard 4/21/26 4/21/26 213 pages Kindle Unlimited

Eric goes to a doctor on another planet to help with his reproductive problems. Hugh, the doctor, suggests an unorthodox process in trials and Eric agrees. Eric imprints on Hugh and Hugh is more than attracted to Eric. Misunderstandings, rejection, and ultimately a HEA for both of them, with a strong caveat emptor re sex.

4.80* Undone by Alessandra Hazard 4/21/26 4/21/26 228 pages Kindle Unlimited

Here’s the blurb:

Alphas don't submit. They can't. It's a fundamental fact of life.

But when Anthony Blake's rut turns deadly, Michael Terlaine has an impossible choice: Do the unthinkable and submit, or watch his best friend die.

The act should have been degrading. Instead, it awakens a part of Michael that shouldn't exist. Desire. Craving. Obsession.

Anthony remembers nothing, but he knows Michael is different—a bewildering, intoxicating mix of subservience and aggression. One touch could ignite a fire they can't control... and reveal the secret that would ruin them both.

Michael doesn’t tell Anthony what he does to save his life. He’s ashamed, but discovers that his body is changing from alpha to omega. Anthony is attracted to Michael when he thinks he shouldn’t, Michael wants Anthony but is an alpha, right? After they start an affair and recognize what’s happening, they make a choice and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Red by Cambria Hebert ** 182 pages

Red, nominally a criminal, is the last one left of the found family living in the apartment we first see in Prince. The brother of one of his former roommates, Daeshim, is a cop and comes to live there. Wildly improbable in a way that makes me grit my teeth, and weird sexual tension that is rather poorly written. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* Accidental Omega by MJ Kim 4/22/26 4/23/26 174 pages Kindle Unlimited

Eojin, a beta, works at a high-end hotel/luxury villas complex that caters to alphas in rut. Malicious employees lock him in with Jaeheon, who is in a feral rut. Jaeheon claims and bonds him. Eojin leaves the next morning, leaves the job. Jaeheon searches for him but never finds him. Several months later, It turns out that Eojin is a suppressed omega, became pregnant during Jaeheon’s rut and has a different job, trying to hide his pregnancy. Jaeheon is there on business. He unintentionally knocks Eojin down, recognizes him and realizes he’s pregnant. He carries him off and sets him up in his penthouse. He accepts the bond, accepts the pregnancy, and is completely happy taking care of Eojin and loving him. Eojin hates this, hates that his life isn’t just his anymore and is ‘owned’ by his alpha. He finally comes to accept and love Jaeheon and his new life. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.10* His Wicked Alpha by Ansley Ellis 4/23/26 4/23/26 203 pages Kindle Unlimited

Miles is a barren omega and decides that since he cannot have a family, he will become the best lawyer possible. He’s on the fast track to a partnership. Ray is his assistant they’re at a conference. Miles goes into an unexpected heat. They stay several days and form a pre-bond. Sex occurs. They return to the law firm. Miles gets his partnership but it’s meaningless without Ray. They change their lives and are together. I had tears in my eyes by the end. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.60* Knot Club: Revival by Ansley Ellis 4/23/26 4/23/26 52 pages Kindle Unlimited

Perry, masked, goes into a sex club, where he plans on meeting up with an alpha he’s been with before to alleviate his mild heat. He has just gotten a drink with the unnamed and masked alpha when he catches the scent of an alpha that drives him crazy. An alpha in a black mask scents Perry and comes towards him, their sexual compatibility off the charts. On one of the stages, they have sex twice and end up in a private room together. They’re supposed to remain anonymous and leave their masks on, but they don’t. They exchange names, Perry writes his number on Beckham’s arm, and that’s the end. They are bonded compatibility mates and that’s the end of the story. However, this is one of those books where we can see that in the future they meet up, start a real relationship, and end up with their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* Scent of Ruin by Lucian Grey 4/23/26 4/23/26 374 pages Kindle Unlimited

This a strange mix of Emory and Caius. This is a strange mix of profound understanding and love caught within the cogs of a gray government situation. Emory is caught tampering with the electrical grid and arrested. Caius has been manipulated into being the Enforcer on the case. He takes Emory to his personal quarters, where their attraction triggers an official 30-day period they must spend together. Things could go wrong but they didn’t. There’s a fine balance between the attraction and what Emory’s done. Caius starts figuring out that what Emory has done is totally justified and it exposes a secret despicable government project. Emory is positive they will come out right because of his emotional empathy with people, Caius because of his power and eventual discovery that Emory’s justified. Several kisses, resting on the bed together. No real sex, and it adds strength to the story that I wasn’t expecting.

**abandoned Blood and Bond by Julia Todd ** 112 pages

Mafia son Luca, an omega, has been targeted and his father assigns Dante, an alpha, to protect him. They are attracted, have sex, and Luca becomes pregnant. Ho hum. This has been done better. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Illicit by Alessandra Hazard ** 80 pages

Anthony goes away when Liam is 5, returns years later with all the correct documents but Liam just doesn’t believe this man is Anthony. I really didn’t care enough to continue.

4.40* His Ruthless Acquisition by Blake Ashford 4/25/26 4/25/26 227 pages Kindle Unlimited

So many of the situations and phrases and emotions are the same as The Scent of Ruin, that if I did not know it wasn’t the same author, I’d assume it. Methodology, the repetitive use of the phrase performative vs. real behaviors. Implied sex.

**abandoned Remember My Name by Wren Wilds ** 261 pages

Two boys in an abusive foster care system, the elder protecting the younger. They’re violently and viciously separated, each vowing to finding the other. Years pass, and the one who ends up in a good situation finds the other barely surviving and mentally broken. It’s really well written, but sooo angsty, so depressing. There will be an HEA of course, but just couldn’t deal with it right now.

4.90* Galaxies and Oceans by NR Walker 4/25/26 4/26/26 301 pages Kindle Unlimited

I first read this book in November of 2023. NR Walker is an Australian writer whose books are wonderful, and when I was at loose ends, I decided to re-read this one. It didn’t disappoint, and my 4.5 rating then became 4.9 now. Here’s what I wrote then:

This novel is pure heartbreak and romance, written in an straightforward and vivid way. Ethan escapes his abusive relationship by literally walking away from a raging forest fire, leaving his ID behind so he’d be presumed dead. When asked for his name at a motel, he gives his name as his grandfather’s, Aubrey, and becomes Aubrey Hobbs. Six months later he turns up on Kangaroo Island, hiding, terrified, poverty stricken, living in an old van rented to him in exchange for doing repairs and painting. He meets Patrick, still devastated after the death of his lover Scott. Slowly Patrick befriends Aubrey, teaching him to trust him, both falling in love slowly and surely. It’s a small world but the outside world eventually intrudes, and only when the truth comes out can Aubrey and Patrick realize their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* Becoming Bennet by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes 4/26/27 4/26/26 237 pages Kindle Unlimited

Bennet and Jasper are gay camboys, who’ve performed together once. Jasper does not like Bennet, Bennet likes Jasper too much, perhaps. When Bennet’s mother has a stroke, the only person available to go with him to Kansas is Jasper, pretty much against his will, but a good person at heart who can see that Bennet is suffering. While there, they stay together in a single-wide trailer on the farm. There are funny conversations about cows and roosters and pigs. Jasper becomes impressed with how tight the town is, especially over Bennet’s mother. They have fabulous sex together and develop feelings. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Maybe Tomorrow by Sophie O'Dare 4/26/26 4/27/26 136 pages Kindle Unlimited

Harold is very young omega, forced by his father into attracting a rich and powerful alpha in order to help his father shore up his business. When several of these attempts fail, Harold refuses the most recent one, then his father pimps him out to an old alpha. He e escapes and remembers getting a card from Peter at a previous event. Peter works in an omega rescue center and takes Harold to his apartment to keep him from having to return home. It’s platonic until it isn’t. Harold starts working at the center. It is very sweet. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* Tasting Silver by Cody Ryder and Victoria Light 4/27/26 4/27/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited

Alan tries to open his room but the card key doesn’t work. He’s trying to open James’ room by mistake. James is in NYC to participate in a movie con for a movie he made 20 years previously. He’s there to earn money to support his wife in the lifestyle she expects. Their marriage is really over, but James hasn’t wanted to rock the boat; he’s straight but experimented a bit in college. Alan has quit his job and put all his belongings in storage, comes to NYC to start his life of travel adventures. They see each other casually at the hotel, then when a photo shoot with James is cancelled, he invites Alan to a party hosted by some friends he hasn’t seen in a long time. They end up in Alan’s room, where Alan, who’s gay, has a sexual experience with James, who likes it and likes Alan a lot. Alan goes to London reluctantly, James asks his agent for the name of a divorce lawyer, and asks her to sign him up for the movie con in London. There’s a lot packed into 140 pages, including sex and future happiness.

3.20 *My Math Professor by Maya Collins 4/27/26 4/27/26 601 pages Kindle Unlimited

Not much more to say besides the blurb:

He’s my professor.
He’s twice my age.
And he’s the one equation I can’t solve.
Dr. Connor “Con” Steele is a tenured Mathematics professor at Hawthorne University — ex-Marine, brutally disciplined, emotionally guarded, and dangerously controlled.
I’m Theo Lang — scholarship student, accelerated Master’s candidate, and barely surviving his impossible Differential Equations seminar.
When I fail a proof at the board, he offers “private remediation” to save my scholarship.
What starts at his kitchen table — textbooks open, his voice low, his hand guiding mine — turns into something neither of us can afford.
Because he doesn’t just demand precision.
He demands surrender.
Late-night tutoring sessions blur into forbidden tension.
Campus whispers grow louder.
A jealous TA starts asking questions.
And when someone installs a hidden camera in his home office, our secret isn’t just risky — it’s explosive.
He tries to end it.
I refuse to walk away.
Now he has to decide:
Protect his career…
Or publicly claim the man he can’t let go.

Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Got Me Hoping by Casey Cox 4/27/26 4/28/26 231 pages Kindle Unlimited

Should have probably been a novella. It was okay. Predictable, with shallowly written emotions. Good to while away a few hours with. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Kingmaker by Marian Black 4/28/26 4/29/26 315 pages Kindle Unlimited

Emilio works for a prominent law firm and he’s assigned the case of a mobster, Sandro charged with manipulation and protection and control. Emilio works on is defence, and they start seeing each other, which is a huge breach of lawyer/client privilege. Sandro manipulates, entices, controls, and seduces him. Emilio knows this was intentional, but they both end up with feelings. Emilio is forced to leave the law firm, but Sandro recommends him to a small law firm that takes his case, with Emilio helping in the background. Emilio becomes morally compromised but doesn’t care. Sandro is cleared of the charges, but there are RICO charges coming up. Caveat emptor re sex, with some of the scenes repetitive and therefore boring after a while.

3.10* The Debt by Marian Black 4/30/26 4/30/26 193 pages Kindle Unlimited

Luca’s father dies, the will transfers his father’s debt to Dante. Dante offers to let him work for 10 years as a prostitute in one of his clubs or have a one-year personal contract with him. Luca takes the one year, is moved into his penthouse. He works on his PhD in art forgery. It turns out that Dante first saw him two years previously at an art exhibition and became obsessed with him. He manipulated his father and events to force Luca to be with him. Luca resists until he doesn’t. Luca’s abducted, Dante is shot. All sorts of excitement, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.10* Vital Signs by Marian Black 4/30/26 4/30/26 Kindle Unlimited

Last bit of the Amazon blurb: A standalone MM mafia romance featuring second-chance love, morally complex characters, high-stakes danger, and a hard-won HEA. Content warnings for violence, trauma, and mature themes.. Ethan is a trauma room surgeon. Marco, a former lover, is brought in dying of gunshot wounds. Ethan saves his life. Marco had abandoned Ethan in college and Ethan never knew why. As Marco recovers, he and Ethan reconnect. There are surprising decisions taken by them both. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Bloodline Omega by DS Mark ** 301 pages

My abandoning this at 301 pages and not remembering any detail about it says that either I was too involved with other books or this one was predictable and not memorable.

419 books read


1 Masterpiece
41 Stunning
189 Excellent
112 Very Good
40 Good
23 Average
10 Bad
3 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema


Best Fiction
James by Percival Everett Review
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millett Review
The Future by Naomi Alderman Review
Tilt by Emma Pattee Review
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith Review

Best MM/MMM/MMMM Romance
Omegaverse - Matehub: Legend by Marie Reynard - February Lightning Round
Romance - To Catch A Firefly by Emmy Sanders - June Lightning Round
Stepbrothers - Chokehold by Leigh Rivers and Harleigh Beck - September Lightning Round
Hockey - Last Guy on Earth by Sarina Bowen - October Lightning Round
Western - Red Dirt Heart by NR Walker - December Lightning Round

Best Nonfiction
Back With the Tide: Memoirs of Ellen Douglas Bellamy Review
Honor, the Duel, and Indiscretion: The Life of Elizabeth "Betsey" Pollock Devereaux Jones (1818-1879) by W. Davenport Robertson - March Lightning Round
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Review

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2025 List
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millett Review
Tilt by Emma Pattee Review
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith Review
To Catch A Firefly by Emmy Sanders June Lightning Round
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Review

…...

Wordle 1,805 4/6* trope, blind, clank, clang

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Welp, as Jenna would say, well as I would say. I went through a basket of mail and etc. that had spilled onto the floor in the Sunroom, not thinking that it would be too much. My rib disagreed, and although it's not terribly painful, it's a tad painful. Drat.

Chatted with Karen. Jenna finally got her Kia Forte registered in WA. It took two forms that I had to fill out, get scanned, one notarized, and sent to the licensing dept of Kent County, WA. It's only taken 9 months.

We watched the last episode of the last available season of The Gilded Age. We've loved the season and can't wait for the next one. In the meantime we also watched the next two available episodes of The Other Bennet Sister. I also just discovered that The Other Bennet Sister is on Kindle Unlimited and have downloaded it.

...
Restville w/o bending. Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning round. I've misplaced the tube of DoTerra Deep Blue, the best thing I've found as a topical ointment for my back and rib. As Bill would say, "It's where you left it.", which is absolutely true, darn it.

Bill and I have to figure out something else to watch tonight.

Welcome!

Happy Friday, Karen. Happy New Thread. Leaving shortly to hang with Jack...😎

Look at you moving on!!! And LOOK at those lists and the Lightning Round! I'd find keeping up with myself a full-time job if I were you, (((((Karen))))). Meanwhile, I appreciate your doing it and look forward to it every month.

I hope that the Deep Blue turns up soonest just because. I also looked at Hwan's current favorite scifi princess Neon ?? and am withstanding an available one at PBS at the moment. I think, in fact, that it's the one Hwan read without the promised sequel going on 4 years. If you think of it, ask whether she's read Rivers Solomon, especially An Unkindness of Ghosts. I really enjoyed that one and meant to get back to the woman, but I haven't. Hwan is way ahead of me.

Speaking of 4, I see that we are 4 Sisters with the same notions at the last two tries.

Continue to give yourself rest time!!!!

Happy new thread, Karen. xx

Happy new thread, Karen!

I do hope the rib trouble will cease and desist forthwith!

Hello Karen! Happy new thread x

Happy new thread, Karen!

Karen O

>10 karenmarie: I'm feeling rather Celeste-y today after a nasty foot-rock removal. *ow*

Maybe I'll give myself a rest break from growing these crystals. A stern talking-to is in order for these silly feet.

*smooch*

Happy new thread, Karen! I hope your Deep Blue turns up ASAP.

A little bit back on your last thread, you mentioned making "Beau Monde Chicken without the Beau Monde." That sounded good, so I tried making basically the same thing you described yesterday, and it turned out really well. I might have tried making it with the Beau Monde, but I couldn't find it at the store, so I just used salt, pepper, and basil, as you described. Thanks for the recipe!

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I had a grand time with Jack yesterday. A pickleball buddy is turning 70 and he is throwing a pickleball party this afternoon. He rented some courts in an indoor facility and will also offer food and drink. It should be a blast.

I am heading to northern Michigan tomorrow with some birding friends. It is a beautiful and birdy location. We will be back on Wednesday. Have a great weekend.

Oh yeah- go Arsenal! Looks like a big game today.

>12 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and thank you. I hope you had a great time with Jack.

>13 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. The smut and 2026 books read spreadsheets are up to date, but I’m rather behind on the May Lightning Round. I also spend quite a bit of time finding new books to read or figuring out if there’s one that I want to reread. Still all worth it. I still blame Richard for recommending Love, Hate, and Clickbait in June of 2022.

Here’s the text stream I had with Hwan yesterday:

Hiya, my sweet. A friend of mine, Peggy, asked me to recommend An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon to you. Jenna had told me of your sadness about the sequel to The Genesis of Misery not being out after 4 years, I mentioned it to Peggy. We agree that authors can be cruel to entice us with sequels that take TOO LONG! KP😎❤❤

Unkindness of ghosts has been placed on hold through the king county library system 🧡 please pass on my gratitude for the recommendation! It looks excellent

The Deep Blue is still MIA. Neon Yang, The Genesis of Misery. She devoured it in 3 days, which, with a wife and a full-time professorship, spoiled kitty Tsunami, AND the new hobby of quilting, is impressive.

At one point during the text, I wrote “Too many books, too little time.” She replied “Yes!!! I wish I could read while sleeping” and I opened up a whole new way to read: “Reading instead of dreaming. Got it.” That got a ❤

The only potential for exertion is if I go crazy watching Arsenal play Paris-Saint Germaine in the final of the Champion’s League at noon. Wish my boys luck!

Yay for being Wordle 4 Sisters again. Today was another 4 for me.

>14 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, and thank you. I wanted to tell you that I’m so glad Leeds has stayed in the Premier League in 2025-2026.

>15 quondame: Hello Susan! Thank you twice. I’ve never had a bruised or cracked or broken rib before, and anybody who does anything except stay home and whinge is amazing.

>16 Jackie_K: Hello, dearest Jackie! Thank you.

>17 klobrien2: Thank you, other Karen.

>18 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I’ve had less than a cup of coffee and haven’t grokked Celeste-y. I’m sorry another rock decided to cause you pain. Stop growing them, immediately and forthwith! You may talk sternly and even perhaps throw a swear word or two at them to cower them into submission. *smooch*

>19 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. I’m very happy to hear that you made "Beau Monde Chicken without the Beau Monde.” I’ve researched Beau Monde: Not at Food Lion, Lowe’s, or Harris Teeter, but it’s at Walmart’s and Wegman’s. Perhaps not at your local ones, but still. It’s also available on Amazon, $3 or more expensive per bottle. Baked chicken without covering then with added vegetables, more spices/herbs, and liquid and covered makes for seriously tender chicken. I don’t like white meat at all, but when I made it with a combination of white and dark, according to both Jenna and Bill, the white was tender and moist.

>20 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. PB party time today, have fun. Are there any particular birds you’re hoping to see, or just BIRDS in general? Thanks re Arsenal. Huge game.

Wordle 1,806 4/6* trope, algae, melee, smile. Smile was used on September 27, 2023.

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As mentioned above, Arsenal play Paris Saint-Germaine in the final of the Champions League. They've already won the Premier League title, first time in 22 years.

Bill and I will be on a mission to find something else to watch tonight.

So the PSG match is A Big Deal it seems. I'm seeing some nastygrams from English folk who don't like Arsenal, and wow do they ever not like 'em! It's up there with my, um, warmth regarding the Yank-mes!

Anyone would think soccer wasn't just a kids' game. Such a kerfuffle! It's only a game! Not like baseball which is existentially important to the universe's proper functioning.

Saturday orisons, Horrible.

'Morning, RDear! Happy Saturday.

Arsenal had a chance to win 4 titles this season. They got eliminated in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but won the Premier League title and have a chance today to win the Champions League title.

What the rest of the world calls football has seriously depraved fans. Of course, one could say the same about American football fans, too.

Yes, yes, baseball. We'll have to ATD on this one. I bleed red for Arsenal (convenient, that) and my sister bleeds Dodger blue.

They're all billion-dollar kids' games, after all. *smooch*

...
I forgot to post this earlier:

Yesterday was special, though, I snapped a photo of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers on one of the suet feeders. Bill enhanced it, and here it is:

OOOO!! What handsome birds!!!! Occasionally, we'll see one but not often. I really, really miss red-headed woodpeckers. The time for wood thrush song has also come and gone silently this year. What a sad thing!

GO ARSENAL!!!! Be calm, (((((Karen)))))!

I hope that Hwan enjoys *Unkindness* as much as I did. I'm still thinking about the *Misery*. PBS has a couple of copies available, and I have the credit for one. I also keep meaning to look up *Clickbait* and forgetting to.

Off to practice! I will be glad when this service is done.

>20 msf59: A pickleball party -- what a fun idea!! Enjoy!

>21 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Publix doesn't have Beau Monde either. I did see that Walmart is supposed to have Beau Monde, but neither store is really close. They're not super far either, but I didn't want to go that far for one item. I'll check there one of these days when it's convenient. Wegman's, unfortunately, is a hike from here. I wish they were closer because they're the only ones who still carry frozen OJ with pulp. (Or they were. It's been a few years now since I got over there. I can't assume they still have it.)

I'm sorry about Arsenal. I saw that they lost. You should have done the Connections Sports edition puzzle today. Arsenal was featured. I did not catch that group when I worked the puzzle.

Nice picture of the downies. >24 LizzieD: We see downy woodpeckers all the time if we have our suet out. But I miss the red heads too.

>24 LizzieD: By the way, Peggy, what is PBS? I've seen you mention it several times and I can't figure out what it is. The only PBS I know is Public Broadcasting.

So sad to witness the cruelest of defeats yesterday in Budapest. Rice was magnificent and didn't deserve to lose and Gabriel has been a rock so how tough that it was his penalty miss that decided things. I think if it had been the other way round PSG get the penalty award which wasn't given to Madueke.

Happy new thread, Karen!! Love the Woodpecker picture!! : )

So why were there riots all over France when PSG won? I hate being treed in the US-fascism enforced media bubble. Enjoy your Sunday as best you can, sweetiedarling, in the wake of Budapest.

>26 atozgrl: Hi Irene. You’re welcome. Oh – I used to buy frozen oj with pulp. And now, if I'm in the mood, I buy prepared oj with pulp. Neither Bill nor Jenna like the pulp. To me, it's not orange juice if it doesn't have pulp. And, when oranges are on sale AND I'm in the mood, I'll squeeze it fresh.

The loss was awful because it was two of our guys who completely missed the goal on the penalty shootout. Eze and Gabriel. At least the PSG guy’s attempt would have gone into the goal had Raya not stopped it. And, before, that, PSG was awarded a penalty when Mosquera fouled him in the 18-yard box. Sigh. They did win the Premier League Championship, however, so it’s actually a wildly-successful campaign.

Thanks re the Downies. I get Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, but have never seen a Red-Headed one here at the house.

PBS – Paperback Books - PBS Books

>27 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, yes, sooooo sad. Bill and I are convinced that the ref was inclined towards PSG, and that potential penalty was not properly called.

>28 Berly: Hi Kim, and thank you.

>29 richardderus: Hi RD. There's been coverage in the US, and here’s Search Assist's succinct summary:

Overview of the PSG Riots
Following Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) victory in the Champions League final against Arsenal, significant unrest erupted in Paris. The celebrations quickly turned violent, leading to numerous arrests and injuries.
Key Facts
Attribute Details
Event PSG Champions League Final Victory
Date May 30, 2026
Opposing Team Arsenal
Final Score PSG won 4-3 on penalties
Arrests Over 400 people detained nationwide
Injuries 219 injuries reported, including 57 police
Police Deployment Approximately 22,000 officers nationwide
Location of Unrest Champs-Élysées and other areas in Paris
Nature of the Violence
• Fans set off fireworks and flares.
• Vandalism occurred, including damage to shops and vehicles.
• Clashes between fans and police were reported, with some fans attempting to storm a police station.
• Police responded with tear gas to disperse crowds.

Wordle 1,807 4/6* trope, stave, utile, etude

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Nothing except The Match, reading, napping, doom scrolling, and watching S4 of Bridgerton.

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Restville. I really need to start catching up on my Lightning Round so that I don't post it on June 5th. I've got 24 mini-reviews and 13 abandoned book blurbs to go. I'll also be reading and watching Bridgerton tonight with Bil,. I'm still on the hunt for my missing tube of doTERRA Deep Blue. Of course, if I buy another tube, the first one will show up and it's $51.33 + tax for 4 ounces.

I'd like to putter, but my rib is feeling Not Terrible right now, so I won't tempt fate.

>30 karenmarie: ...maybe having two tubes of...that stuff will mean having it on hand as the awful world gets awful-er. *smooch*

Happy new thread!

>23 karenmarie: What a great picture!

Hope your day was good, Karen. Mine was, and now it's gone and I'm off to some DVD or another.

>26 atozgrl: >30 karenmarie: For you and Irene: for me PBS= Paperback Swap. I've gotten some wonderful books there!

Happy New Thread!

>31 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear. I just checked another place it might be, but alas. *smooch*

>32 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, and thank you. Thanks, too, re the pic.

>33 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. Yesterday was good, glad yours was, too. Yay for the DVD mission. Ah, thanks re Paperback Book Swap.

>34 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

Wordle 1,808 4/6* trope, dying, chick, chili

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All the usual - avoided anything that could aggravate my back or rib, read, updated spreadsheets and May Lightning Round. We watched Bridgerton.

...
More of the usual. I broke down and ordered another tube of doTERRA Deep Blue. Now I know for sure I'll find it.

That's a handsome green pattern, Karen, and in 4! to my 5. I'm lucky to have gotten it at all.

I have nothing happening today, I hope. I wish you the same. I'm glad that you went ahead and bought the second Deep Blue. I hope that you and Bill won't need 2 tubes, but at least you will have ONE.

Baby yourself and read and watch on! (My used Ian Carmichael Wimseys are due to arrive today. "Is them all your own teeth????" That's my favorite line from the whole IC oeuvre. DLS didn't write it, but if she had seen IC, she might have!)

Happy new thread!

Love the woodpeckers!

Happy new thread!

>30 karenmarie: That's it! OJ isn't OJ without the pulp. It's just orange flavored water. Kroger had the frozen OJ, but they closed the Kroger stores. I thought I could still get it at Harris Teeter, although it was more expensive, but they stopped making their brand at the same time the Kroger stores closed. And that was also at the same time the health folks were saying that regular orange juice was actually not healthy for you, but OJ with pulp was, because of the fiber. Sheesh!

I don't like buying the prepared OJ with the pulp because it's more expensive and it's basically buying concentrated OJ that someone else has reconstituted for you. The expense includes the added water, the weight of that water, and the cost for shipping the larger containers with the added weight. If people are trying to be more environmentally friendly, why have they quit buying frozen OJ? (I heard recently that one of the brands has quit making frozen OJ because people aren't buying it.)

We saw red-headed woodpeckers on our feeders several springs, but it's been quite a few years since we've had one. I'm sure they were living on a tree somewhere in the neighborhood, though not in our yard. They are such striking birds. Given the exotic birds you get that we don't see here, I'm a little surprised you haven't ever seen any there.

>33 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy. I had not heard of Paperback Swap before now. I will check them out.

>35 karenmarie: I hope your tube of Deep Blue shows up ASAP! And the missing one too.

>36 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Wordle continues to be fun, doesn’t it?

Nothing is good – yesterday for both of us. Sigh re the Deep Blue. It’s due today.

I have the Ian Carmichaels too. I watched them once, I think. They’re still here, as are the Edward Petherbridges.

>37 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, and thank you twice.

>38 drneutron: Hello Jim, and thank you.

>39 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Food Lion has fresh oj with pulp, which is what I eventually started buying for me. If Jenna or Bill wanted oj, I bought no pulp oj. I pretty much stopped drinking juice because it seemed like I could spend the calories other ways. Cranberry and oj used to have regular homes in the refrigerator.

There are Red-Headed Woodpeckers living 5 properties down, but I’ve never asked to try to look for them. Pat is a complex and prickly person, and I’m not willing to get snubbed.

Wordle 1,809 3/6* trope, ficus, basis

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I updated my YTD stats through May and will publish with my Lightning Round. I worked on it a bit. Chatted with both Karen and Jenna. I read and napped, too. We watched 1/2 of an episode of Bridgerton, but I had a bit of an Intestinal Challenge. I'm fully recovered today.

...
I'll be heading off to Virlie's in a few minutes. I'll pick up prescriptions after. Reading, Lightning Round. Last of S4 of Bridgerton tonight.

Happy Virlie's!!! Congrats on your Wordle 3!!!! Best wishes for your day!!!!!

I started *Murder Must Advertise* last night and am enjoying it a lot. It helps me to think of IC as somebody other than Lord Peter but with his same family and friends. *MMA* is probably my favorite non-Harriet book, and I like it better than Have His Carcase if truth were told.

Off to do stuff!

>41 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! I did have a happy Virlie's, thank you. I'm channeling the Wordle gods today too, as you can see.

Oh my, selecting a favorite non-Harriet book. The only one I actively dislike is The Five Red Herrings. I adore Murder Must Advertise, The Nine Tailors, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, and the only non-Wimsey novel The Documents in the Case.

I hope Stuff got done.

Wordle 1,810 2/6* trope, notch

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I got the call and met 4 members of the book sort team at Virlie's. I was self-indulgent and had 2 chicken tenders and onion rings. We chatted about this and that. After, I picked up 2 prescriptions and got gas for my SUV. Most places in town were $4.29/gallon, I noticed one for $3.97 and saved 31 cents a gallon on 13 gallons. It's more than the money saved - it's winning a very small and petty game. Home, Lightning Round, reading, napping, chatting with Jenna.

Bill and I watched the last 2 episodes of S4 of Bridgerton. I have refused to watch S3 with Collin and Penelope. My favorite season is S2 with Anthony and Kate, next is S1 with Daphne and Simon. I liked S3 with Benedict and Sophie least. She had quite a few opportunities to stand up for herself and didn't, even though both Benedict and Lady Bridgerton gave her opportunities. The little mouse irritated me.

I got 6 straight hours of sleep.

...
Two things on the agenda: continue and/or finish my May Lightning Round and chat with my Aunt Joyce at 4 p.m. our time today. She lives near Santa Cruz, CA and is 3 time zones away, as are Jenna and Hwan.

Good afternoon, (((((Karen)))). I slept well too last night and was reluctant to put an end to it this morning. Walking and cat lunch coming up too soon!

I was even more self-indulgent than you for lunch yesterday. I also had red-hot onion rings but with the CookOut cheddar cheese burger. They left the bacon off but better that than the grilled onions. I need to remember to check the burger before I leave them in July or August or whenever I have another one.

(Check your post above again for a couple of repetitions from hurry or not enough coffee, I'd guess.) I think you mean that you like Unnatural Death? I really wish that Acorn had adapted that one instead of *Herrings* for the BBC. I prefer even Whose Body? to *Herrings*. I also love *9Ts* and think it's probably her best mystery as mystery. I believe that *Unpleasantness* ranks 2nd in my non-Harriet novels. I love LP and Bunter at home.

Enjoy what's left of your day. I must get on with mine!

Well, today turned worse. I got immediate crap handled so am now in a holding pattern until some further paperwork gets processed.

It feels like their gawd is using me for target practice. Do not follow behind me or chunks of falling sky will strike you.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I like that downy pic up there. We saw very few, if any downy woodpeckers up in MI but did get a hairy and a couple of pileated.

We are gearing up for a camping trip this weekend, so there is that. Off to play PB soon. I hope all is well with you.

>43 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Sometimes we just need the sleep, amiright? I hope walking and cat feeding times all went well.

I love CookOut. I wonder if I might indulge when I’m in Sanford on the 19th for my cortisone shots? You can have all my grilled onions if we’re on a desert island together. *smile*

Ah, fixed. It’s The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club primarily because of how George and his brother Robert are affected by the war.

>44 richardderus: RD, I cannot believe how the incompetencies are keeping you from getting what’s yours. 🤞 that it gets resolved today. I shall not follow you into the falling sky or abyss of medical snafus. *smooch*

>45 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. Sweet Thursday and welcome back. Ooh, I haven’t seen a Hairy or Pileated here in forever. Wow, back on the road. Enjoy PB.

I’m coming along. It’s hard to keep being in Restville every day, but every day I avoid strenuous anything is a day that I get closer to no rib pain and less back pain.

Wordle 1,811 4/6* trope, comic, salvo, alloy

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

...
I worked diligently on my May Lightning Round. I only have 17 reviews and 6 abandoned books to go. Bill and I started watching Queen Charlotte, the prequel to Bridgerton. It's very good. I'm already anticipating the awfulness of George's madness although I don't know how much of it and the treatments they'll show.

Otherwise chatting with Jenna and Karen. Hwan volunteered to help on a baby shower for the Science Department. Not being American, she's clueless although she asked Jenna about baby shower games. Jenna then asked me about baby shower games, so we had a good time discussing that.

I slept 6 hours straight. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

...
Another day in Restville. I'll work on the lightning round, water some indoor plants, read, and etc.

That's 2 nights in a row, Karen!!!! Tonight I hope you can go for 6½!!!!!

I'll finish *Murder/Advertise* tonight. I was going to take a break from these IC LPs, but now I think I have to go for *Unpleasantness*. I love having books to hand. I love having favored DVDs to hand for the same reason.

Patience with Restville. It is my homeland. I'll see Brownie and shop a little this afternoon. Eye shots tomorrow.

>46 karenmarie: I hope you see how very well Queen Charlotte explains what a formidable character she became in Bridgerton. The casting was amazing. I cavil at George's actor because...mmm...that part was *extremely* hard to make a universally satisfying choice for, and he would not have been mine. xo

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384773

Trevor got a job? That's rough, Karen, but great that he still wants to fix things for you. Best of luck to Kwan on the baby shower front. At least there are others working on it too and they will be more familiar with what goes on.

>47 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Ah, well, not 6 hours. Perhaps 3?

Books, DVDs, and, for us, streaming services are all infrastructure.

Restville occurred yesterday. Dare I say that my rib rarely hurts now? I hope your errands/doctor visit went well. Yay for shopping. Ugh to the eye shots today.

>48 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! We’ve watched 2 of the 4 episodes of Queen Charlotte. I completely agree about Charlotte’s development. Hmmm. Your cavil is my eye candy. *smooch*

>49 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>50 Familyhistorian: Hello Meg! Yes, Trevor got a job as a maintenance supervisor for an apartment complex. Unfortunately, it’s 30 hours a week, which here in the US allows employers to avoid paying benefits. He told me last time he was here that if they did not make him full time (32 or more hours per week), he’d find a different, full time job. He'll be over tomorrow.

Hwan is vibrant and cute. She loves to volunteer, loves her job, loves my daughter, not in that order, and is wicked smart.

Wordle 1,812 3/6* trope, downy, nobly

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

...
I lollygagged, napped, read, worked on my May Lightning Round. I've whittled it down to 9 books read and 5 books abandoned. I also chatted with Jenna for a bit. Bill and I watched two episodes of Queen Charlotte last night. More reading, doom scrolling.

...
Unless she cancels, I'm having lunch with Rita the Librarian today. I'd like to finalize and publish the May Lightning Round and my already-completed YTD through May stats. Yay! Done.

Queen Charlotte tonight, the last two episodes.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. We are gearing up for our first camping trip. I will pick up the travel trailer after playing PB and then bring it back here and clean and load it. We leave tomorrow afternoon. There is rain the forecast for the next few days so Sue is deciding if she will go because we will have to deal with Juno and it is not easy if it is wet.

I tended to all the feeders yesterday but have not seen anything special...

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. Enjoy PB and the errands and activities in anticipation of your camping trip.

My feeders are still empty, the birds still boycotting.

YTD Statistics through May

195 books read
190.5 ebooks, 3 audio books, 1.5 paper books
46580 pages in completed books
46.75 hours in completed audio books
52 books abandoned, 6108 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

52688 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 349
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 270

Book(s) of the Month: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books
Feb - 31 e-books, 1 audio books
Mar - 40 e-books
Apr - 49 e-books, 1 audio book
May - 44 e-books, 1 audiobook

Author
Male 15%
Female 64%
Undeclared * 21%
Non-Binary 0%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 99%
Dead 1%

US Born 25%
Foreign Born 19%
Undeclared * 56%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 2%
e-Book 97%
Paper Book 1%

Source
My Library 12%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 88%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 10%
Series 75%

Fiction 98%
NonFiction 2%

Author Birth Country
Australia 5%
Canada 9%
England 1%
France 1%
Grenada 1%
Netherlands 1%
New Zealand 2%
Scotland 1%
South Africa 1%
UK 2%
Undeclared* 52%
US 25%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
1950s 1%
2000s 1%
2010s 10%
2020s 88%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 1%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 2%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 96%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 1
1.6-2: Bad 2
2.1-2.5: Average 9
2.6-3: Good 13
3.1-3.5: Very Good 30
3.6-4: Excellent 48
4.1-4.99: Stunning 92
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.88
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 78
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 18

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

May Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

4.60* Slow Heat by Leta Blake 5/2/26 5/3/26 388 pages mine

Mine, a reread. Here’s what I wrote last May:

Older, settled, unmated Omega Vale works at a college for omegas. Jason is a freshman alpha and while walking with friends immediately imprints with and determines that Vale is his fated mate. Vale resists contracting with Jason although he also realizes they’re fated mates. His friends, Jason’s friends, and Jason’s parents counsel both to resist and do not initially accept that they are mates. They must overcome their own resistance to this shocking age-gap and unexpected situation, too. They talk, they secretly sext, they overcome the resistance from everybody else. Each has sacrifices to make. I found this romance poignant. Vale has given up on finding his fated mate, Jason is shocked to find his at the age of 18. Most romances I read are with the alpha being older or them being about the same age. Age-gap romances are typically with the alpha or dominant male the elder of the two, but this one has the emotional writing to make you believe Jason’s unswerving devotion to Vale and Vale’s acquiescing to finally finding what he’s desired all his life. Caveat emptor re sex.

I stand by it.

4.10* Hammer & Gavel by CT Whistle 5/3/26 5/5/26 442 pages Kindle Unlimited

Oliver works as a DC in child protection services. Oliver comes down for a case from the Met. Instant attraction mates. Oliver’s reluctant because a previous relationship did not work out, so he’s gun shy. He’s also something I’ve never heard of before, in any book I’ve read – a beta, omega, and an alpha. A little boy Alfie’s an omega, has been hurt by his former boyfriend Patrick. As the case progresses, Oliver goes into heat, and Lucas is with him. They have unprotected sex. Oliver doesn’t think he can get pregnant. Meanwhile Alfie’s case turns into a country-wide child trafficking case. There are very well-written emotions, and lots of humor. The relationship between Oliver and his brother and the twins is particularly sweet and fun. Oh, and they’re shifters, so when Oliver, Lucas, and Oliver’s brother/brother-in-law shift to their wolf forms, and become a pack is moving. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* The Scent of Sin by Halle Dawson 5/5/26 5/5/26 340 pages mine

Max is 20 years old. His mother Margot marries Richard after a whirlwind courtship and Max only finds out just before they move into Richard’s mansion. Max is an omega, takes suppressants, but not even his mother knows. He gets them illegally. He has 3 stepbrothers - Atlas, Bane, and Zero. They, of course, are all alphas and all tell Max he’s unwelcome. There is so much sexual tension and so many stupid moves that it’s rather entrancing. It definitely drew me in quickly. Zero goes into Max’s bedroom, finds his suppressants, and flushes them down the toilet, leaving the bottle out to taunt him. He goes into preheat and the stepbrothers sense the tension. Max starts hiding in his room, refusing to come out to eat. His mother is worried, but doesn’t demand entry to his bedroom. By now he’s lost weight and looks gaunt with dark circles under his eyes. Richard is all bluster but doesn’t work on trying to make his blended family work. Atlas claims Max, Zero has noncon sex with him in the basement, and Bane is aloof but wants him desperately. Stay tuned for part 2 of 3. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* The Bond of Blood by Halle Dawson 5/5/26 5/5/26 368 pages Kindle Unlimited

Part two of three. Max has been taken and held hostage. He’s in a small room being groomed to be sold. Stepbrothers have to rescue him or he’ll be lost forever. The brothers see him in a two-way-mirror room bound on a St. Andrew’s cross and whipped. Bane stays with him, wrecking Atlas’s plan to rescue him. Territories are conceded to get both of them back. At this point Max’s wishes and agency are respected to make up for never having control of his life. What he wants is all three brothers. The final book of the trilogy, The Mark of Mine came out today and I just borrowed it.

3.70* Scentless Secret by Em Prague 5/5/26 5/6/26 268 pages Kindle Unlimited

Malachi is hired to be an assistant to CEO Joshua. He’s hiding his omega status. On an airplane to a conference Malachi runs out of suppressants, Joshua figures out that he’s an omega. Malachi goes into heat, Joshua goes into rut. Malachi turns up pregnant. The airplane attendant reports his omega status and his parents turn up because he ran away 10 years ago. There are so many situations and things to get fixed, but they are bonded and the bond holds. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* White Out by Roman Valk 5/6/26 5/7/26 366 pages Kindle Unlimited

A love story without a single kiss between Elias and Konrad. Amazingly interesting, very scientific, but it appealed to me. They are in a very harsh environment and Konrad shows his love for Elias by caring for him and keeping their environment safe. Rather frustrating for all good writing and situations. I kept waiting for a kiss, for anything sexual, and didn’t get it.

3.60* The Terms of It by Marilyn Blake 5/7/26 5/7/26 31 pages Kindle Unlimited

Thomas is an alpha and makes a contract with Eli to stay with him during Eli’s heat. They establish a routine, go out together, and separate from a heat Eli asks to be bonded. A few kisses, no sex.

2.50* The Omega Contract by Wolf Specter 5/7/26 5/8/26 138 pages Kindle Unlimited

Harris is a billionaire alpha, head of his pack. He needs an heir. In this version of the omegaverse, female omegas are sterile and he therefore needs to get an heir with a male omega. Cameron need the $200 for applying to be the carrier of Harris’s baby, is chosen. They are attracted, there are threats, there is sex, there is pregnancy. They get their HEA, of course. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Avalanche by Jillian D. Wray 5/8/26 5/9/26 300 pages Kindle Unlimited

Stone has left home at 18 because his stepbrother, Hanlon, has cerebral palsy, gets all the attention, Stone is responsible for him and gets blamed for anything that happens. He leaves at age 18 and becomes a search and rescue team member at a resort. Four years later, Hanlon also wants to be a search and rescue team member. Neither realizes that their father has pulled strings to get Hanlon an internship with Stone. Ill will, hurt feelings, and anger follow. They eventually get romantically involved. Hanlon lives at Stone’s house, although he’s supposed to be living in the guest bedroom. Their parents come out unexpectedly, stay with them, and they are trying to keep things under wraps. Stone is called out on a dangerous rescue which goes sideways. The skiers are okay and Stone’s team is okay, but Stone is buried under an avalanche. Hanlon insists on going to rescue his lover and because of his knowledge of snow and where Stone had to be, rescues him. Both are in bad shape but alive. They get their HEA after their parents finally realize it’s real and they overcome their prejudices. I particularly appreciated how Hanlon’s disability is handled. How both he and Stone have accepted that this is Hanlon’s reality. Stone picks up where he left off, taking care of Hanlon but not smothering him. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* Sweat & Honey by Ivo Slade 5/9/26 5/9/26 120 pages Kindle Unlimited

Amazon blurb: On the run from his cruel and powerful father, omega Jude escapes into the city streets, only to find himself cornered and on the verge of his heat.
Pace is a force of nature. A powerful alpha who sees Jude and knows, instantly, that he belongs to him.
Their mating is a frantic, heat-fueled event that bonds them for life, but Jude’s past isn’t so easily left behind.
When his father tracks him down, Jude is terrified his new life will be shattered before it’s even begun. But Pace isn't just any alpha. He’s a hunter in the dark, an alpha who protects what’s his with a ruthless efficiency that Jude never could have imagined.
As their bond deepens and their new life begins to grow, Pace sets out to ensure their future is permanent. He'll do whatever it takes to dismantle the threats of the past so his omega can finally feel safe, loved, and completely his.

Pace is an assassin, so you can see where this going. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Blood and Heat by Bea Bellafonte 5/9/26 5/10/26 129 pages

Luca’s brother Marco sees something he shouldn’t on the docks and is killed by Victor. Luca is beside himself with grief and vows to kill Victor’s boss Enzo. He plans for 1 ½ years and infiltrates Enzo’s organization under a false name. Somehow Enzo knows the entire time. Luca has a catastrophic heat, he and Enzo bond. Victor gets his comeuppance, of course. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* A Gift for the Devil by Holly Myers 5/10/26 5/11/26 222 pages Kindle Unlimited

Lucian is an alpha mob boss. Elias is the omega son of another mob boss. After Lucian’s father dies, as tribute and part of mob politics, Lucian demands Elias be given to him, wrapped up in a red bow. This happens. Elias is a prisoner. Things change, they become attracted to one another, start caring. Elias is framed with an email that Lucian initially believes Hartford, his underboss. He imprisons Elias under his offices in a basement cell for 3 days. He learns that Hartford has framed Elias, things don’t go well for Hartford, and Lucian and Elias work hard to rebuild trust on both sides. They get their HEA. It's predictable but well done. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Den of Paradise by Eryn Hawk 5/11/26 5/12/26 539 pages Kindle Unlimited

Dylan is an omega and goes to the Den of Paradise to rent a room and an alpha to help him contain his first ever heat. Caine is the Alpha of the top pack and has come to the Den in order to check up on something. Dylan has been going crazy, rejecting every alpha. Caine goes to see what’s going on and, it’s immediate lust. He stays for the 3 days of the heat. He leaves. 2 years later, Dylan tracks him down and tells him that he has a daughter and she’s been kidnapped. Caine goes into overdrive, bringing Dylan into his guarded home/business to protect him. Dylan hates this but does it in order for Caine to try to find their daughter, which he does. Now they’re both in Caine’s home, living in their own wing. Caine starts spending time with Minnie. And with Dylan. As the book progresses, we learn that Caine has an affliction – the scent of every omega except Dylan is repulsive to him and Dylan’s NOT repulsing him amazes him. Both Minne and Dylan become precious to Caine. Meanwhile, Caine has been trying to figure out who kidnapped Minnie and why. He’s stymied at every turn. Eventually the villain has Dylan lured out of the home with a forged note. Caine goes ballistic and finds him. The villain is a surprise, at least to me. They get their HEA. The most interesting part of this book to me, after the sex of course, 😊 is how both Dylan and Caine have to work hard to overcome their prejudices and learn to accept the other and eventually fall in love with that person. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Vile Saint by Vesper Vane ** 252 pages

Calder runs a vast organization, some legal, some illegal. Emeric is a journalist who’s sniffing too close. Calder kidnaps him. Forced proximity, and etc. I discovered that I didn’t care about the characters or how it ended.

**abandoned Bound to Two Bears by Kelex ** 113 pages

Carson retreats to a cabin to be alone. Two bears realize he’s their mate, bring him back to the cabin. How can their be 60% more book? Don’t know, don’t care. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Master of Pain by Holly Myers ** 143 pages

College boy spills coffee on a powerful underworld figure who obsesses and claims him. Nope.

**abandoned Baby for My Omega by Dex Bass ** 89 pages

Oscar is an omega desperate for a baby. He goes to a clinic, supposedly only staffed by omegas, but surprise! The doctor is an unmated alpha. I do not mind morally gray characters, I do not mind dub con. However, this grated on my nerves for some reason. I did not like either character.

**abandoned Bitter Amber by Rowan Valk ** 167 pages

If a book is written well, I don’t mind the tags “explicit content, kidnapping, auction, captivity, suppressed heat, power imbalance, mafia violence.” However, this one was infuriatingly repetitive and just plain weird.

4.30* Wicked Games by Willow Dixon 5/12/26 5/14/26 381 pages Kindle Unlimited

A re-read. This is what I wrote last June:

Felix is forced to move into his step brother’s fancy dorm room at Silvercrest U because of a school rule requiring siblings – in this case step siblings – to room together after a family tragedy. Killian wants to kill Felix but it turns out that somebody really does want Felix dead. Killian and his friends start trying to figure out who would want to kill Felix and why. Killian’s protective instincts come to the fore, too, and they fall into lust. Eventually we learn who’s trying to kill Felix and why, their relationship becomes serious. Alpha male kryptonite. Caveat emptor re sex.

I stand by this review. Killian and his cousins Jax and Jace are powerful alphas, each with almost supernatural strengths and skills. Kryptonite indeed.

4.30* Hide and Seek by Willow Dixon 5/12/26 5/14/26 381 pages Kindle Unlimited

First read in August of last year when I gave it 4*. Here’s what I wrote then:

Second in the Silvercrest U series. Myles is a computer nerd college student from a wealthy family. He comes to the attention of Jax and his cousins, powerful frat members at Silvercrest U. Jax is immediately attracted to Myles, and after setting up cameras in his room to figure out if he’s still trying to kill one of their cousins, becomes obsessed. Eventually Myles figures out he’s being observed, they start playing primal play games in real life and Jax realizes that Myles had valid reasons for trying to kill the cousin and is under attack himself. Jax is a very powerful alpha male – my kryptonite, of course – and he protects Myles, figures out who’s trying to kill him, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex and dubcon.

I stand by it.

3.80* Comforting the Grump by Nora Phoenix 5/15/26 5/15/26 289 pages Kindle Unlimited

Marnin is a grump silver fox, whose best friend’s younger brother Ennio becomes Marnin’s friend with benefits. This morphs to caring then love. Sweet and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Unbonded for You by Amy Bellows 5/15/26 5/16/26 170 pages Kindle Unlimited

A bonded omega becomes a surrogate to afford bond-removal surgery, facing complications from medication while developing feelings for a kind, nerdy alpha. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* The Omega's Hesitant Hero by Kelex 5/16/26 5/16/26 100 pages Kindle Unlimited

McCoy is a veteran, studying to be a trauma surgeon after being a medic in the service. One night on the way home in bad weather he comes across an elderly couple who’ve crashed. He saves the husband’s life, takes them to the hospital and drops them off. He isn’t allowed to park there, and the elderly couple do not know who their rescuer is. Jackson is their grandson who lives with them. They meet but don’t know of the connection. McCoy is blue collar and doesn’t think Jackson’s family will accept him. Jackson’s cousin Hayden sabotages everything but isn’t successful with McCoy and Jackson. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* The Heat Professor by Amy Bellows 5/16/26 5/17/26 184 pages Kindle Unlimited

Tatum is a student of Damien’s and totally fascinated by him. Tatum is a camboy and has a mother who has dementia. Damien’s been fascinated by Tatum too, and starts watching Tatum’s sessions as a user named Professor. They quickly figure out who’s watching and they start a relationship. They get in trouble for crossing student/teacher bounds, but they work things out by giving Damien’s classes to another professor. Damien doesn’t really want to teach, Tatum just needs to graduate, then they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.10* Match My Alpha by Lexie Slater 5/17/26 5/17/26 151 pages Kindle Unlimited

Milo has a crush since the first day he met him, Callum also has a crush on Milo. Callum has an old account on an app called KnotMe. Milo’s friends persuade him to make a a profile and he immediately starts getting hits, all of a sexual and, to him, off-putting nature. However, there is one he likes from a user named Anonymous (eye roll). They text for about a week. Friday night comes and Milo is going to meet Anonymous. However, he cuts himself and Callum, who’s at the same party, renders first aid. While in the bathroom they realize there is sparkage and they realize they are fated mates. Milo doesn’t go to meet Anonymous but he Callum admits that he’s Anonymous. Each character is a person I’d love to meet and know. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* I Could Write a Book by Andie Elliott 5/17/26 5/17/26 296 pages Kindle Unlimited

George is a successful author of thrillers and lives in New York. Owen is a modestly successful introvert wood worker in Vermont. They have a common friend, Zoe, who arranges for them to do a house swap over Christmas. George starts texting with a question about the woodstove, they continue texting, then talking. They start sharing information. It’s a sweet book with clever dialog and several amusing scenes. Caveat emptor re almost sex.

3.00* Carrying the Alpha's Heir by Jerry L O'Neill 5/17/26 5/17/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited

Ezra works for an event company that works a rooftop event for a company owned by Noah. Attraction, but nothing acted upon. Another night they get together, Ezra isn’t on suppressants, and he turns up pregnant. He wants to be in control of his life because he fled that situation with another alpha. Compromise by both. The book felt distant and removed, no emotional involvement by the author. Implied sex only.

4.20* The Forgery Mate by Sophie O'Date 5/17/26 5/18/26 329 pages Kindle Unlimited

Ren hides behind disguises. He’s rich, a forger, an artist, an omega. Ezra is a Rockford and part of the large family, living in the family complex. As Professor Knox, Ren spends 31 days with Ezra but leaves when he’s offered $50K by a cousin. He’s trying to protect Ezra. He returns a year later as himself but Ezra recognizes him. It’s a power and emotional dance. Ren thinks he’s not good enough for Ezra, Ezra says he is. Ren goes into heat, there’s a kidnap attempt because Ren is valuable as a male omega, but he is rescued. When Ezra collars him, he goes crazy. After destroying everything in the room, he calms down and they talk. The collar’s okay, their relationship is good. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Muse by N. Slater ** 160 pages

Sai, a submissive alpha from a prominent family, cannot make decisions and his whole life is set up to help him avoid them. Mavi is a dominant omega from next door, a camboy. They start meeting up and he realizes that Sai needs structure. Believe it or not, I got tired of the sex. There’s a story in there, but I was not willing to get there. Caveat emptor re too much sex.

4.00* The Lodger by Tom North 5/20/26 5/20/26 59 pages Kindle Unlimited

Tom needs a room, finds a room being rented by Nick. Nick rents it to Tom and they get along phenomenally. One day they kiss. A week later Tom asks Nick for what he needs. They go to Nick’s room, have a sweet and sexy time together. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Knot Club: Obsession by Ansley Ellis 5/20/26 5/20/26 52 pages Kindle Unlimited

Kieran’s a junior lawyer who loses a case against Everett, also a junior lawyer. He cannot stand it, makes a revenge plan. He goes off his suppressants, plans to goes to the sex club that Everett is a member of. They’re masked. They meet. There’s more to the story off the page than there is on. It’s a well-written short story. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Omega's Fold by Sasha Silsbury 5/20/26 5/20/26 194 pages Kindle Unlimited

Books by this author are always well written and complex. This is the seventh in the Prime Match series. Here’s the blurb:

Wyatt Briggs has barely left his family's cattle ranch in three years. After his mother's death left him sole caretaker of his younger siblings and 800 acres of failing land, he doesn't have time for the Bureau, relationships, or anything that isn't keeping the lights on. When a county blood drive at the local feed store triggers his registration, Wyatt assumes nothing will come of it.

Julian Duffield designs skyscrapers. He lives in a glass apartment forty floors above the city and has never touched dirt that wasn't in a planter. When the Bureau matches him with a broke rancher from a town that doesn't appear on most maps, Julian assumes it's a system error.

When the Bureau mandates their cohabitation trial and Julian arrives to find no cell service, no espresso, and an omega who looks at him like he's from another planet, resistance becomes impossible...
But Julian's firm has just been hired to develop the land surrounding Wyatt's ranch and if the project goes ahead, it'll destroy the water table that keeps Wyatt's family alive. Their worlds shouldn't overlap, their lives don't fit, and the growing heat between them is a complication neither can afford.

OMEGA'S FOLD is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers omegaverse romance featuring a stubborn rancher omega, a city alpha completely out of his depth, a clash of worlds, and a hard-won HEA.

Hurt feelings, romance, and etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* The Boss by Tom North 5/20/26 5/21/26 50 pages Kindle Unlimited

Marcus owns his own company, is straight and has the newest batch of six interns for the summer. Out of the six only Eliot gains his attention. Eliot makes a couple of intelligent observations in meetings he’s supposed to be quiet in, and Marcus starts officially including him. Marcus is attracted to him, Eliot is attracted to Marcus. Marcus wants Eliot and gets him. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. This short story was vibrant and complete. Spare, lush, and well written.

4.85* The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder 5/21/26 5/21/26 402 pages Kindle Unlimited

Leo sees a man who he thinks is his former co-worker Vaughn. Vaughn took professional advantage of him, however this is his twin Archie. He plans on pouring syrup all over him in revenge, however there’s a mishap and Archie breaks his ankle. Leo is full of remorse and puts up Archie in a high-end penthouse because, of course Leo is rich. He stays with Archie to help him. It’s sweet and emotionally true, clever, clever laugh-out-loud conversations and situations. Archie guilts Leo into being his Captain Giggles children’s party assistant, wearing Dinosaur and Unicorn onesies and otherwise playing the fool while helping Archie. He also walks all the dogs in Archie’s dog walking service. They are attracted to one another, naturally. The book is full of emotional truths and love and acceptance and the need for communication. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* The Arrangement by 5/21/26 5/22/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited Sebastian and Finn

Finn is barely surviving on a part-time librarian’s salary. His brother Theo has always taken care of him but has slacked off recently. Finn sees an ad by a billionaire alpha wanting an omega to have a baby with him and walk away when the baby is born, with no rights. He’ll be taken care of the entire time and given $5 million. Finn thinks this would be enough to cover his brother’s debts. He applies and against all odds is chosen by Sebastian. They make a baby and things progress in the pregnancy. However, it’s not enough and Theo betrays Finn to the men he owes money to. Finn is kidnapped. Sebastian rescues him, Finn renounces Theo. Sebastian and Finn fall in love, have a fine baby, and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re lots of sex.

** abandoned equivalent Mated to the Alpha Judge by Mason Blake ** 19 pages

Short, short story. I read it, needed to bleach my mind after.

182. Claimed by Choice by River Thorne 5/22/26 5/22/26 213 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jonah is interested in shy omega Eli, who works in the mailroom of the company Jonah works for. Eli has a crush on Jonah. Eli’s mother always puts him down, and Eli doesn’t pick up on the fact that Jonah is interested in him – how could he be when Eli is unlovable? Jonah is assigned to another office for 6 months, but when he returns, he woos Eli. This book is sweet, romantic, and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* The Lion's Haven by Caitlin Ricci 5/23/26 5/23/26 284 pages Kindle Unlimited

Devin’s been a foster kid all his life. He currently lives in a shelter, works as a barista in the town’s library. Silas is a shifter, comes into the Library. Devin slips him a note with a book recommendation, and they start spending time together. Silas knows Devin’s the one, Devin lies to keep Silas interested. They have to work this out, among other things. Devin finds a home with Silas’s lion shifter pack. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Empire of Tides by Emily Moka ** 37 pages

Oh, my god. Poorly written, shallow, predictable.

4.10* A Christmas Less Lonely by Scarlet Blackwell 5/24/26 5/24/26 233 pages Kindle Unlimited

I originally read this in December of 2024 and gave it 4* then. Here’s what I wrote:

Seriously sweet and sexy. Lucas arranges a hookup at the restaurant Alex works at on Christmas Eve. The guy doesn’t show, and Lucas is humiliated until Alex gets him coffee and after dinner drinks and is empathetic. Each is attracted to the other, although Alex realizes that Lucas is a silver fox and therefore much older than him. Lucas realizes, too, that Alex is much younger than him. The hookup finally shows and is obnoxious and hurtful to both Alex and Lucas. Lucas asks Alex if he wants to go for a drink after his shift ends, Alex says yes, drinks are had, and they go to Lucas’s house. A hookup turns into overnight, and Alex invites Lucas to his parents for Christmas. It goes on from there in a predictable yet refreshing way. Great HEA. Cavet emptor re sex.

3.30* Cinderella in the Sheets by Reese Pine 5/23/26 5/24/26 mine

This is my third time reading. Here’s what I wrote last March:

A re-read, this has Presley, the stepson of the President of the United States, secretly having hookups because his stepfather is super conservative. Presley works for his stepdad but isn’t particularly happy about it. Privately he uses his fortune to fund projects close to his heart. One night, eyes covered with a silk scarf as always, Presley meets his hookup, a gentle man with a marvelous Southern accent. He admits that he’s won a prestigious award yet has a hard time telling his family. He’s brought food, he and Presley hit off in every way, but he's gone in the morning. Presley wants to discover who he is, and on the slim clues he’s been given, has his security team try to track him down. Hilarity and false leads ensue, eventually Presley’s team tracks him down and they meet up at Louis’s family’s home. I found this one particularly sweet in addition to being spicy, with the HEA well deserved and nicely attained. We see that Presley will leave his stepfather’s orbit and start working on the projects he really wants to pursue, and Louis gets his day in the sun receiving a very prestigious award indeed. Cavet emptor re sex.

1.50* First Class Protection by Sage Foxley 5/24/26 5/24/26 77 pages Kindle Unlimited

Felix is a receptionist at a high-end pet spa. One night as he’s taking out the trash, he overhears a plot to kidnap the spa’s boyfriend. Thomas is the owner’s bodyguard and rescues Felix. He takes him back to Felix’s apartment, where he feeds and takes care of him. Unfortunately, the bad guys find them via a take out order. Thomas kills one and incapitates two. They retreat to the owner’s vacation house. Wild sex ensues, but Thomas considers himself too dark and damaged to deserve Felix. Felix only wants Thomas, of course. Thomas comes ‘round. It’s pretty hokey, and the best part, frankly, is Felix’s pink hair. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.60* Grabbed by Suzi Hawke and Crista Crown 5/24/26 5/25/26 157 pages Kindle Unlimited

First read last April. I gave it 3.5*. Here’s what I wrote then:

Preston is the omega son of a US Senator. He’s kidnapped from a wild party and put in a cage, where he’s photographed and videotaped so that it’s clear that he’s a shifter. His dad pays a ransom, the FBI gets involved, but he also hires A.L.P.H.A.to extract Preston and get the pics/video so that the kidnappers don’t expose the Senator as a shifter. Noah is team leader of the extraction team. Another fated mates situation. Preston and Noah are moved to a summer rental cabin overnight, and of course they seal the fated mates deal with sex. Preston immediately becomes pregnant. However, Noah is clueless about reassuring his mate, too focused on the mission to take care of him when they return him home to his father, where he feels betrayed by Noah. Regardless of what Noah intends, the Senator puts Preston into a high security shifter facility, where Noah and his team rescue him again. Short and sweet at 157 pages, there are Noah’s dads, who immediately adopt Preston, and Noah and his team find Preston’s mother, who he thought abandoned him. However, the Senator kept her away. It’s all hearts and roses and there’s a baby shifter at the end. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* Taking Two by Sophie O'Dare and Lyn Forester 5/25/26 5/25/26 142 pages Kindle Unlimited

Gael, an omega, works at the Omega Youth Center. He is barely scraping by, having been rejected by his family after turning up pregnant. His boyfriend had disappeared. Heath, an alpha, comes to the center as a fill in for his mother, to see the facility and write a check. They are shocked to see each other. Gael doesn’t know that Heath was spirited away by his family so that he wouldn’t make a bad match, and Gael never saw Heath after he learned he was pregnant. 8 years later and a son between them, Heath and Gael rekindle their romance and learn of the duplicity of Heath’s family. They get their HEA, Heath’s family gets his comeuppance, and after Gael’s family learns he’s going to marry a rich alpha comes around. They’re properly turned away. It was fun to see how much their son looks like Heath and how much alike they are. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Taming His Alpha by Sophie O'Dare 5/25/26 5/25/26 183 pages Kindle Unlimited

Joshua lives with his found family, originally a foster child. He is a brilliant website designer and works for a friend of his. A new client, Austen, is a powerful alpha photographer, known for his cruelty and brilliance. Austen’s PA sent him wrong files and then went offline on a vacation. With no time left he has to confront Austen. It doesn’t go well, but Joshua gets things done in time for the launch. Austen feeds Joshua on the set, then takes him up to his apartment. They’re attracted to one another and Joshua stays. Eventually the attraction becomes love, and they get their HEA. Lots of witty conversation and vivid descriptions of Joshua, lots of sexy vibes about Austen. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* His Secret Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 5/26/26 5/27/26 342 pages Kindle Unlimited Sky and Kian

Feener’s books are about strong alphas and strong omegas; however, their biology overcomes them and makes their attraction to one another obsessive and inevitable. Prime alpha Kian and omega Sky are attracted to one another but Sky has not presented as an omega yet. Masked Kian forces the issue at a party and it traumatizes Sky. Kian leaves for 3 years and returns as a powerful Dominus. Eventually he and Sky get together, with Kian taking care of him and protecting him. Sky softens Kian’s rough alpha edges. Kian bonds Sky. Kian is a psychopath but can tell Sky he loves him. There’s quite a bit of preaching and conversations about feelings and a rehash of past events. There’s dubious consent, power play, D/s and much sex. Caveat emptor re the sex.

3.10* Violent Devotion by L Norell 5/27/26 5/28/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited

Kelly is a vet, working a night shift when a man breaks in. He’s covered in blood, threatens Kelly with a gun. Kelly extracts the bullet and patches him up and takes him to his apartment because he won’t leave him alone in case there’s infection. Alexei is a member of the oldest Russian mob family in the US, secretly gay. Kelly had been watching an abandoned bunny, so they also take the bunny. They name the bunny Clover. As Alexei starts recovering, he gets food for Kelly, gets all the things a bunny needs. They become enamored of each other and Alexei kills Kelly’s ex when he attacks Kelly. Alexei’s 4 brothers and parents are over the top. As Kelly is threatened, Alexei moves him into his house in the family compound. His father doesn’t come around, but the 4 brothers and his mother are actually find with him being gay and make Kelly a member of the family. Clover gets a buddy named Bullet, Kelly finds a wonderful job. Caveat emptor re over-the-top sex and violence.

4.00* The Fighter by Viv Allen 5/28/26 5/28/26 370 pages Kindle Unlimited

Tav is sitting at a bar one night after winning an underground fight. Con comes into the bar, sees Tav, and asks him to join him for the night, giving him 10 minutes to join him in his car. Tav does, although he’s fearful of going off the grid for even one night since he’s ‘owned’ by a man named Devlin. After the one night Tav leaves but Con cannot forget him yet can’t find him. Tav shows up a month later, unable to stay away. Eventually he stays with Con, and Con sets up a cover for Tav. Eventually the cover breaks. We find out why Tav is owned by Devlin, find out Con’s connection to Devlin, and get an excellent resolution to the problem. Tav is freed, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* Born Wild by Jesse H Reign 5/28/26 5/29/26 343 pages Kindle Unlimited

Omega Jensen heartbroken after his boyfriend leaves him for his brother. He leaves the US and is hired to curate the private library of a wealthy alpha, Lord Augustus, known as Alfie. There’s a secret around Alfie, and his not having a scent except for a chemical background puzzles Jensen. They eat meals together but Alfie is distant. He goes to social events but hates them, and Jensen is persuaded to start going to them with him. Jensen recognizes that Alfie is a Catch and they have him act as his boyfriend to keep the hopeful omegas at bay. Jensen eventually learns that Alphie is a Casanova Alpha, carrying a gene that attracts every omega, even married ones, and they can’t help their attraction. They show up at night and Alphie has to use his Alpha Command voice (not unique to this book or author) to have them leave and drop their attraction to him. Alfie has been taking suppressants to keep omegas from being attracted, but it dulls his senses and makes him lethargic. Jensen is agitated one afternoon when a storm is brewing, and goes for a walk. As the night goes on, he doesn’t return. Casanova Alphas have a heightened sense of smell so Alfie takes an antidote to the suppressants, finds Jensen and brings him back. Jensen then goes into heat, Alfie and he are bonded. I found the idea of the Casanova gene interesting and like the way it played out. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* That One Moment by CS Autumn 5/29/26 5/30/26 401 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jamie’s mother marries twins Cooper and Caiden’s father and it’s instant animosity. Jamie and Cooper fall in love, Caiden feels like an outsider, although he has the twin bond with his brother. He maintains a relationship with his mother although she lets him down time and time again. The only way he’s ever been able to feel in control of his life is to cut himself, drink, and take drugs. One night Caiden wants to go out to a party. Cooper asks Jamie to go with so that they can watch over him. As Cooper drives the three of them home, he takes his eye off the road in That One Moment when a truck driver falls asleep. Jamie is thrown clear, Caiden crawls over the back seat and is with Cooper as he is dying. The prologue is the story of Cooper’s last moments, his love for his brother and Jamie. The family is devastated, and Jamie unleashes on Caiden at the funeral. Caiden moves away and nobody hears from him until Jamie, who for some strange reason is listed as his emergency contact, learns that he’s in the hospital from a suicide attempt. This is the story of Jamie and Cooper’s love and Jamie and Caiden’s love, two completely different loves. The author writes about Jamie’s conflicts and guilty attraction to Caiden with conviction. The book is relatively long, and this length allows for the development of the characters of the stepbrothers, Jamie’s mother, and Cooper/Caiden’s father. Caveat emptor re sex. Oh, and get the tissue out.

3.50* The Debt by Kiya Voss 5/30/26 5/31/26 221 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jonah has sacrificed everything for his father an his gambling problem, quitting college, and moving into smaller and smaller apartments. He works at a bar. One day a man comes and tells him that it would be in his best interests to go to an appointment at this address on this date/time. The appointment is with Luca, who owns the $200K debt his father has racked up. Luca took one look at a photo of Jonah and decided to offer Jonah the opportunity to work off the debt by living in Luca’s house for 6 months, doing anything he asks, including anything sexual. Jonah agrees so that Luca won’t harm his father. The book follows Jonah’s transformation into a willing D/s partner. They are both completely closed off. After 4 months the arrangement has dramatically changed to love, although neither ever admits to it directly. The debt is cancelled, and Jonah is given the opportunity to leave. This book is a very dense read. There is quite a bit of repetition about the city and the streets and the sounds of the penthouse apartment. Jonah slowly asks for more and more of Luca, and Luca opens himself up to a real relationship. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* Venting Heat by Lance Roddick 5/31/26 5/31/26 72 pages Kindle Unlimited

Lucas is called to the penthouse of billionaire Greyson because the AC isn’t working. Lucas is told to under no circumstances go into the room at the end of the hall and sstarts working on it. There are quite a few problems, and then the security system locks them in. Greyson reveals that he’s a werewolf and Lucas is completely accepting of this. Greyson’s in rut, Lucas and he go through the rut. They are attracted and then bonded and get this short story’s HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

>53 karenmarie: Weird idea: a birdcott. Something very duMaurier about that. Interesting idea for some horror writer to riff on: what would happen if birds birdcotted humans after their first attempt to warn us of their power in the Bids proved their advances in environmental progress ephemeral?

I'm less pain-riiden, less swollen, and generally trending upwards ATM. I'll take it happily and gratefully! *smooch*

Hope you're getting to enjoy lunch with Rita the Librarian! Congrats on getting through that huge lightning round, Karen!

I've been wondering for some time but never thought to ask while I was here .... Why are most MM romances written by women? Publishers figure that only women are interested in romance???????

Yes! Best wishes to Hwan and the baby shower. My bet is that she makes it memorable.

>56 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear. The silence is deafening - nary a bird. Birds are much smarter than we think they are, of course. I'm glad you're less pain-ridden, less swollen, and generally trending upwards. Take the money and run!! *smooch*

>57 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Alas, Rita cancelled. I think I'll finish this post, go upstairs, and take a nap and read.

Perhaps most readers of MM romance are women and women write what women want to read? Don't know, actually. There's MM romance, smut, erotica, and porn. *smile*

Here's the breakdown of authors in my YTD stats.

Author
Male 15%
Female 64%
Undeclared * 21%
Non-Binary 0%
* - can't find info anywhere

195 books through the end of May, 6 are not MM/MMM/MMMM Romance.

>58 karenmarie:, >57 LizzieD: You would not BELIEVE the ink/pixels/blood spilled over cishet ladies writing gay smut since ~2007 or so. So much noise, so much argybargy, such a kerfuffle! Accusations of gaybaiting because lotsa the ladies use initials not obvious lady-names, some valid critiques about anatomical facts not obvious to those lacking said anatomy, etc etc. Men hollering at each other over buying these stories from cishet ladies instead of, I dunno, insisting on dick pics before each purchase is completed...?

Pointless drama to entertain bored people, I guess.

>51 karenmarie: Hurray to the rib rarely hurting! I hope that continues, and the pain disappears completely. Also yay to finishing the May Lightning Round. But I'm sorry Rita cancelled for lunch. I hope the rest of the day was good.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. The camper is on the driveway and plugged in. Sadly, it doesn't look like Sue will be joining me. She just doesn't want to deal with the projected rain. It is a bummer. I will be flying solo until the rest of the group arrives tomorrow afternoon. Birding and reading- I will live.

>59 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Perhaps gay men are more sensitive than women are over books written supposedly about women by men? Nothing comes to mind right now, but over the years I’ve read books by men that jar me when the woman’s POV gets something abso-f***ing-lutely wrong.
,
There are several men who write the smut I enjoy – a pivot table of my smut spreadsheet authors and a quick scan has these male smut authors for sure:
Alexander, Romeo
Banner, Darryl
Bauer, Tal
Cummings, Dominick
Elliven, Zile
Kelex
McCormack, Devon
Northcote, Jay
Salvatore, Steven
Sherman, Scott
Specter, Wolf

And, a new-to-me author, Ian Finn. I've just downloaded Because You Came Back.

Hmmm. Dic pics on Amazon probably wouldn’t cut it. *smooch*

>60 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thanks re my rib. I was inordinately miffed at Rita cancelling lunch. I think she figured it out after I replied to “I have to cancel” text with the one word “Ok.” after half an hour. She sent two Apologies texts and then I gave her a bone with a longer message. I’m not always nice.

Once again, I didn’t publish my lightning round ‘til the 5th. I hope to do better next month. Well, this month’s books. The rest of the day was fine. I hope you had a good day, too!

>61 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I’m sorry Sue won’t be joining you, but I completely understand not wanting to camp in the rain. I hope you have a good time on your own and see many birds!

Trevor and his son Braxton are in the process of filling the feeders so the birds are skittish.

Wordle 1,813 2/6* trope, morph

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Bill and I watched the last two episodes of Queen Charlotte. It was well done and and I had a tear in my at the end. I think we have at least one episode of The Other Bennet Sister available.

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As mentioned, Trevor and his 10-year old son Braxton are here. Quite a few things on the list, so they'll be here 'til 12:30 or so.

I need to go into town to get the grocery order for them to help put up. Then reading, possibly starting my June Lightning Round, napping, and etc.

>62 karenmarie: Great Wordling! Your first word was really helpful.

There IS another “The Other Bennett Sister” and I thought it was especially great.

Happy weekend!

Karen O

>62 karenmarie: I got to thinking about how very different a world we'd live in where an author's nudes were part of their marketing, umm, push and how that would be gamed by different malicious actors, and how many miles of pearls would be clutched by how many legions of church ladies of All genders....

You do this to me often. What the hell goes on in that head of yours?!

Enjoy Trevor/Braxton being guys in your home. *smooch*

GREAT WORDLING AGAIN, (((((Karen)))))!

I see that Trevor and Braxton should be gone by now, and I should be feeding cats. Thanks to you and Richard both for commenting on my female author question.

I'm interested in *Other Bennett Sis* but not enough to buy into it yet.

Happy afternoon!!!! (Starting your JUNE Lightning Round on the 6th - you are a go-getter!)

>62 karenmarie: The Other Bennet Sister episodes seem to drop on Thursday..at least that's when I first found the latest one (and I checked almost every day)

>63 klobrien2: Hi Karen! Thank you. I always use the same word. I used to use a different first word – adieu – until I read a NYT article on 1-10-24 that suggested my first word in hard mode should be TROPE. The article says TRACE should be used if you’re not in hard mode, which is “Any revealed hints must be used in subsequent guesses.” I actually consider that easier, but oh well. I use hard mode.

Last night’s The Other Bennet Sister was wonderful. Mary and Elizabeth have a meaningful conversation, and Mary and Mr. Collins – of all people – have a meaningful conversation.

I hope your weekend is happy. Mine is so far. 😲

>64 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. A world where an author’s nudes were part of their marketing push and there was a way to make sure they were authentic and current, might just possibly be a world in which there is no body dysphoria. Tall, short, slender, husky, new definition of facial attractiveness, and endowed or not endowed (m/f/t/etc.), is an interesting concept.

You’re lucky I only let out some of the things floating around in this head of mine.

Trevor and Braxton were a joy and helpful and productive. I paid for the privilege, but they met and exceeded all the day’s expectations.

*smooch*

>65 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy! They had left by 12:40 p.m. yesterday. They had a end-of-year Cub Scouts event. Trevor was less than thrilled that his ex-wife/mother of Braxton was planning on showing up – “She’s my ex for a reason.” Braxton is so sweet. Trevor got all the feeders down and Braxton filled them all. Trevor cleaned the interior and washed the exterior of Bill’s SUV. They got all the house trash out to the garage and put in Bill’s clean SUV. By then Braxton was whupped, so he was allowed to sit in Trevor’s SUV and play games on his dad’s cell phone. I'm sure Trevor has it controlled to keep Braxton safe. Trevor took away the accidentally-ordered UPS and will take it/paperwork to the UPS store. Trevor also removed some of the black walnut volunteers from the north shade garden.

The Other Bennet Sister is very well done, IMO. Here’s the IMDB page with the trailer: The Other Bennet Sister.

Ah, well, yes. About my June Lightning Round. I didn’t start it yesterday. So far, here are the books I need to write about:
Cowboy Haven by BA Tortuga – reread
Fake Dating the Hired Alpha by Bonnar King – abandoned after 139 pages
His Captor by MM Farmer
The Omega’s Mask by EA Adams – abandoned after 80 pages
All I Want for Christmas is Revenge by KA Merikan – abandoned after 196 pages – reread
Feral Omega by Quinn Michaels
The Math Teacher and His Professor by Shaw Montgomery abandoned after 108 pages
Owned in Writing by SL Marlowe
His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener – reread

>66 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! The next one’s due on June 10th, so this coming Wednesday.

Wordle 1,814 4/6* trope, tying, tubal, thumb. Already used on 10-12-21.

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Groceries picked up so Trevor could help put them up for us. Trevor and son Braxton. Reading, napping. The 7th episode of The Other Bennet Sister. I had also found a biography of George III, so Bill and I watched it. It is based on the intimate letters, household bills and even menus relating to the Georgian period that became available online in 2017 as part of a project aimed at opening up the Royal Archive to the public. The online archives contains 350,000 entries. Absolutely fascinating. George III: The Genius of the Mad King is streaming on Prime Video.

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Nothing planned except reading and lollygagging and perhaps starting on my June Lightning Round. And, if I'm in the mood, I want to make Dirty Cabbage, served over Basmati Rice. I might just do some of the prep work today, though - lots of cutting up of vegetables and crisping 1/2 pound of bacon. Yes. Bacon. In the house. I'm not sure Bill noticed when he handed me the bag of meats/cheeses.

My aunt and 3 of her first cousins were at a family party yesterday in northern California. There are 8 first cousins. Two have passed away, two couldn't come. My Aunt Joyce, Pele Rouge, Lenita, and Tom.

That's a great group of cousins, Karen. I'd fit right in! I'm one of 9 still living on Mama's side and the oldest of 8 on Daddy's side. There used to be more of us.

Hmmm. I don't know Dirty Cabbage. I'm happy with my current quick fix today served over brown rice: shreded chicken breast (I know, but I don't like dark meat - find it greasy) and mushrooms in the butter/chicken drippings that I freeze with enough roux (also with the drippings) to thicken it and lemon juice + a light sprinkle of celery seeds and garlic powder. I look forward to having it again.

*Jay Northcote* ----- didn't he play Dennis the Menace? (That was supposed to be a joke.)

Of course, I know why you need to start your June Lightning Round now, but that list of 9 books in 6 or 7 days is still formidable, Karen.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

>68 LizzieD: Sounds somewhat like my family. I was one of 26 on my mother's side and 1 of 8 on my Dad's. My mother was a twin and she and her twin brother were number 8 & 9 of 10 so I'm one of the younger cousins (several of whom have passed away now). That side holds a family reunion each August and there used to be always over 100 people there --- down to 60+ now but still...we don't all fit in a tidy photo lol.

>68 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy!

My Aunt Joyce is the oldest of the 8. Left to right ages, 90, 85, 88, 79. My mother was 84 when she died, Tom’s brother Ron died this year at age 85, Lenita and Darla’s brother George Warren is 83, and my Uncle Doug is 88.

You have so many cousins!

Ah I found a recipe on YouTube that I’m going to modify since I don’t like cooked peppers.

Filthier Cabbage

3 lbs ground beef (80/20)
½ pk bacon
1 large head green cabbage 2¾ to 3lbs Thick cut
1 large white onion, chunky – or not – medium dice
1 red bell pepper, chunky – 4 carrots, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, chunky – 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
4 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, minced – oops – forgot to buy one
3 cups Beef broth Low Sodium
1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp Salt-Free Tony’s (or any other SF Creole Seasoning) – gotta get creative here
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1.5 tsp salt (add more if desired)
2 tbsp fresh parsley – oops – forgot to buy some
Optional: 1 tsp black pepper
Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions
1. Chop and crisp the bacon and remove ( I kept ½ of the bacon fat) then Crust the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Do NOT drain the fat.
2. Push the beef to the sides of the pot. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then add the onions and peppers and cook for another 3 minutes.
3. Add the flour, Salt-Free Tony’s, paprika, salt, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Then add the garlic and jalapenos then simmer for 5 minutes. “Perfect time to taste and adjust seasoning”
4. Add the chopped cabbage in batches depending on pan size. Stir until fully coated in the gravy. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer.
5. Simmer covered for 10-15 minutes, or until the cabbage reaches your preferred texture.
"Taste Again."
6. If the sauce is too runny, cook uncovered for a few minutes. Serve hot with jasmine rice, or just smash it by itself. Enjoy.
WHY SALT FREE TONYS? The regular is too salty for me. Therefore, I get more seasoning and adjust the salt ratio.
- “BigYellowGuy”

Ha ha. Jay Northcote.

>69 RebaRelishesReading: Huge family, Reba! I’ve got one first cousin who has 10 kids which bumps it up, but I haven’t seen him since I was 8 and he was 5. We’re scattered physically, politically, and religiously.

Wordle 1,815 4/6* trope, winch, slimy, mafia

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The less I do the better my rib and back do, so I did a whole bunch of nothing yesterday. We watched 2 of 3 episodes of Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius which is informative. I know a lot about Ms. Austen, but even I learned new things.

...
I need to go into town today to get cash and pick up prescriptions. Otherwise, Restville, reading, Lightning Round and spreadsheets.

I do so much know The less I do the better my rib and back do.... Since I'm inclined to do little anyway, I'm about at the point of doing nothing at all. It's very unsettling. Happy Monday to you anyway!!!!!

Reba, that's some family!!!!! I think that my cousins added up to 26 in all, both sides. I figured I'd be right at home among your Aunt Joyce and her cousin, Karens. My oldest 2 would be 91 this year if they were still living. I miss them. Mama was the 5th daughter of a 5th daughter. Since I'm an only, I'll be content to be the 5th granddaughter in her family.

Thank you for that cabbage recipe! I'll have to trim it down and make it less spicy. I don't know whether the DH will even try it. He won't try my cabbage soup, which I haven't made since Mama died. I think it's lovely.

>71 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! This morning when I got out of bed I honestly didn't notice either my back or rib... of course my back grumbled when I came downstairs.

You're welcome re the recipe. Bill's funny about cabbage. It must be in my Vegetable Beef Soup, but as coleslaw he won't eat it.

Cabbage Soup recipe? I don't think you've shared it.

Wordle 1,816 4/6* trope, cairn, swarm, wharf

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I didn't get into town yesterday. My sister called, then Jenna called. I also chatted with Karen last night. By the time it made sense to go out, it was later than I wanted to go out.

Reading. Spreadsheets. Lollygagging and napping. The last of 3 episodes of Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius. So good. Bill is interested in watching movies of her books. I've started research - some books have multiple versions, some books have versions we'll have to pay for. I honestly don't think I can watch the Keira Knightly 2005 version of P&P, but perhaps the 1980 version - Peggy's fav. My fav's the 1995 Colin Firth version.

...
Possibly Virlie's. Running the errands I didn't run yesterday - bank, prescriptions, Covid booster. Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round, etc.

>72 karenmarie: I hope Virlie's happens today!

I'm doing my thing, waiting for insurance to decide I've suffered enough and approve my tooth appt. Luckily it's not bad today. I hope that's an omen....

*smooch*

Hi RD!

I'm so glad the tooth pain isn't so bad today. Fingers crossed on getting approval for insurance soon. A good omen...

I didn't make Virlie's today - waiting for my cleaning ladies (who were supposed to get here 11-11:30 but were late) and Ruth hadn't called by 10:50 when they were already there... gads. I got my Covid booster, picked up prescriptions for Bill, and got cash.

Ladies are gone, time to get back in jammies.

Hi Karen my dear, a belated Happy New Thread, dear friend.

Good for you, (((((Karen))))), although I'm sorry you missed Virlie's.

The Colin Firth is certainly my next-favorite *P&P*. You're right that Kiera Knightly is a dreadful nose-wrinkling Elizabeth, but Rosamund Pike is a truly beautiful Jane and Judi Dench is a perfect Lady Catherine.

I'll try to hunt up the cabbage soup recipe for you. I got it online, but I've changed it so that I more or less dump. As well as I remember, I cook the cabbage down in a mixture of butter and evoo, remove that and slowly brown a half pound of ground beef, return the cabbage, and simmer with a can of diced tomatoes, one of tom. sauce, a tsp. or so of tom. paste, a can of red kidney beans well-drained, and enough chicken broth to make a decent bit of soup of it. If I want to toss in a bay leaf or something else, I do that too. It's very flexible, yes? Lucy makes it without tomatoes - I don't know what else she does to it. The key is to let the cabbage get smooth and buttery.
Hmm. I may have to do that this week. My chicken is gone to lemon stuff and salad.

Enjoy your day!

ETA: I have at least one CD of the other completed JA novels.

>74 karenmarie: Sad you weren't able to get together with the other fondlers, but yay for jammies-time being that much longer. I'm having another okay tooth day. I think because I'm babying it, it's taking pity on me...?

*smooch*

>75 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thank you and glad to see you.

>76 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy.

In order, the actresses I liked playing Lady Catherine de Bourgh
1995 Barbara Leigh-Hunt
2005 Judi Dench
190 Judy Parfitt

Elizabeth
1980 Elizabeth Garvie
1995 Jennifer Ehle
2005 Keira Knightly

…
Fun. I need to ‘vote’ on other characters, too.

I’m glad I’ve inspired you to make your cabbage soup. I just found a good substitute for the Salt-Free Tony’s seasoning by looking up 'substitute for creole seasoning' – “… 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. “ pepperscale.com

>77 richardderus: Yes, I missed the fondlers and Virlie’s. *smile*

An okay tooth day because you’re babying it sounds like my okay rib day because I babied it. *smooch*

Wordle 1,817 4/6* trope, bushy, vigil, align

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The only problem from getting the Covid booster was that my upper left arm was sore if I rubbed over the shot site or raised my arm. Bill and I decided to watch the 2020 version of Emma. We both liked it a lot.

...
Cooking prep and possibly even cooking today - Filthier Cabbage. Reading, Lightning Round.

We will probably watch the 1997 version of Emma tonight to make for an easy comparison, although I told Bill that I'd rather hold "oooh, different from last night's" until the end.

>78 karenmarie: Knowing now what you mean by "filthier," it sounds like a really good dinner upcoming.

I had stuffed shells and green beans for lunch, and only a few winces of the most fleeting character. Not as successful was the mango sorbet experiment, that hurt so back into the freezer it went. *smooch*

Hi, Karen, and thank you for the Tony's substitute seasoning recipe. I'll do it, and so, that's another post favorited!

I have only one version of *Emma*, the Kate Beckinsale is the one I have, and I love it. I'll take the 2020 one under advisement when you've watched this one.

Meanwhile, I have 2 versions of *S&S* and love them both for different reasons. The more mature actors in the Emma Thompson remain my favorites even though they're too mature. Harriet Walters is amazing as Fanny Dashwood and Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer, ditto. The younger actors, including Dan Stevens's yumminess, in the 2015(?) version are truer to the book, and Hattie Monahan and Charity Wakefield as the sisters are very good. I'm glad to have both versions.
Happy Watching and Reporting!!!!!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I am back home and of course I am heading out soon to go play. Later on I will go out and pick up Jack from camp and hang out with him for a few hours. Glad you are enjoying those Austen adaptations.

>79 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear. Upcoming tonight maybe... yesterday got away from me. Yum for stuffed shells and green beans. Ah, sorbet. Cold hurt? *smooch*

>80 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! You're welcome re the seasoning.

We watched two episodes of the 2009 series last night and oh my! A series makes all the difference.

We've only watched the 1995 version of S&S. I'm pretty sure the 'Dan Stevens' series is 2008.

>81 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Welcome back. Yay for PB and a Jackson Day!

Wordle 1,818 3/6* trope, theta, testy

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Yesterday really got away from me, plus my sleep schedule seems to be either 5.5 hours or 7.5 hours, depending on if I go back to sleep after taking pain meds at 7:30 (I have an alarm set for all 7 days).

Reading, watching Emma. Doom scrolling.

...
Nothing on the schedule except reading, spreadsheets/Lightning Round, possibly Filthier Cabbage - at a bare minimum creating the seasoning mix and chopping the vegetables.

I recently found pics of our forsythia. It started out as 3 1-gallon plants and is now probably 8' x 10'.

>82 karenmarie: Yup, cold-sensitive tooth, though not swollen and awful so I can easily work with this. Just don't eat/drink too-cold things! Easy peasy lemon squeezie.

I'm glad you're contemplating the cabbage for tonight. Sending hugs.

Hi Karen! 5.5 hours nightly would exhaust me. I can do it occasionally, but I then need to get a couple nights at 8-9 to make up for it. Too bad!

Oh, the forsythia!!!! How lovely for it to have claimed its space!!!!!

More Austen talk on my thread.... It's now been several years since I read even one book. That's not good. Maybe this summer???

Enjoy your day and stay cool!

Hi Karen, I've just returned home from vacation so taking a page from your book, it's "line in the sand" time. Hope all is well in your world!

Forsythia is one of my favorite signs of spring -- yours is spectacular!!!

Dylan's all-beef cookbook vid had me howlgagging:
https://youtu.be/prMyDcVleBo?si=EdCEquuQv1_cpnra

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384866

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. More storms blowing through here. They seem endless. It looks like a dry one today. I had a good time with Jack yesterday and Sue will take over today. I just had a pair of downy woodpeckers at the suet feeder. I don't see that very often.

>83 richardderus: ‘Morning, RD! Sorry for the continuing cold-sensitive tooth and awful bureaucracy. Hugs back, and, of course, a *smooch*

>84 The_Hibernator: Hello Rachel. When Jenna was little I panicked if I didn’t get 8 hours of sleep and would feel cranky and actually ache with it. I’m retired, child’s married and living in WA, and I can nap in the afternoon or even between ~8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. I make sure I keep Tylenol and tramadol in my system, so last tramadol is 1:30 a.m. and first tramadol and Tylenol are 7:30 a.m. sometimes I can get back to sleep after the morning meds/alarm, sometimes not, like today. I don’t know how you do it with a husband, 3 kids, and your dad, and furbabies. I admire you.

>85 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. When I first moved to NC in 1991, I had no idea what the pretty little yellow harbingers of spring were. I asked a woman I worked with in Sanford and she called them yellow bells, and I learned that they were officially forsythia. I wanted some, Bill obliged. It/they are very happy there.

I haven’t read Austen since 2022, when I read Lady Susan. 2020 for Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, and backwards in time etc.

I just paid $.53 for The Complete Novels of Jane Austen on Kindle. Dare I admit that I’ve never finished Emma? We’ve now watched the 2020 movie and the 1997 series. We infinitely prefer the series.

Staying cool is important – the forecast is for 101F with 106F heat index and a chance of severe thunderstorms late afternoon.

>86 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Isn’t ‘a line in the sand’ freeing and a relief! Thank you for visiting. I hope you had a wonderful vacation. Some things are wonderful, some things are tolerable, some things are less-than-tolerable. In other words, Life.

>87 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, and thank you.

>88 richardderus: Oh my. What a hoot. I admit that after seeing the recipe, I went to the actual tasting. 2 horrible, 1 okay, and he loved the Sugar Plums! Thanks.

>89 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>90 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Ugh to storms. Yay for Jack time yesterday, and I’m happy that you had a pair of Downys.

I’ve got a single male Cardinal. Apparently it’s after first breakfast and before second breakfast.

Wordle 1,819 4/6* trope, cried, arena, break. First used Dec. 8, 2021.

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Laziness overcame my plan to at least start Filthy Cabbage. I read, worked on spreadsheets/June Lightning Round, finished the 1997 series Emma. Doomscrolled, chatted with Karen, chatted with daughter. I got my now-usual 5.5 hours of sleep.

...
I've got a prescription to pick up and a birthday card/check to prepare so I can mail it to my great-nephew. He turns 11 today. Gads.

The US plays Paraguay tonight, 9 p.m. our time (gads) in Group D, World Cup.

Other than that, all the usual things. We’ll probably decide tonight what is next in our Austen-thon, but depending on my tolerance for TV, we may just watch the match.

>91 karenmarie: Skip the cabbage...go straight to making the ground-beef sugarplums! *num*

quiet appalled *shudder*

*smooch*

>92 richardderus: RD! If I wanted an expensive sweet, I'd do that and use some of the ground beef needed for Filthy Cabbage, but I have already actually started the prep and need that ground beef. I got all the spices and herbs out. I had to refill three small jars that stay in the kitchen from larger bottles that stay in the pantry, decided between coarse-ground or fine-ground black pepper, and measure everything out and put it in a small container. It will be more than I need, but I think I can use the seasoning another time on something different - or even Filthy Cabbage if we really like it.

I like that each recipe got a dramatic facial expression. The first two made me think he was going to toss his cookies (as it were), but the 3rd was tolerable and the last, the Sugar Plums, pleased him.

I prepared and put Oliver's birthday card/check in our mailbox. It will go out today. I decided to not go into town, the prescription(s) can wait.

It's now 99.1F here at the house, 36% humidity.

*smooch*

>93 karenmarie: 99°! Well, it got almost 90° here yesterday, and will again today. Overly warm, but to be expected as the heat island of NYC is not to be trifled with...and no lovely ocean breezes to moderate things.

The entire episode that Dylan made with those truly weird recipes for ground beef was...peculiar. I see why the internet still loves him most of a decade into this odd career. "simmanim" "egggggees" and such odd little noise ejaculations as he mixes/pours/bakes...! Perfect noise-cutting shtiks. I loved his callback to Fanny Craddock, too, Since so few people here have ever heard of her.

Saturday orisons, sweetiedarling.

Morning, Karen. Looks like a beautiful weekend ahead. Sue brought Jack back over here yesterday afternoon, so we got to hang out some more. Sean picked him up in the evening and they headed up north to the boat. Bree has a horseshow weekend. She is excited.

I wish I was more of a soccer fan. FIFA is all the buzz. Go USA!!

>94 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! So much heat. 90F for you again today and tomorrow. 97F here, with a heat advisory.

I love his shorts (*smirk*) but not his videos, especially the ones where he's being interviewed.

Floof powder too. And, his dislike of gelatin, jello, Spam, and etc.

*smooch*

>95 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Yay for a Jack visit yesterday afternoon/evening. Good luck to Bree in the horseshow.

I cannot figure out what kind of bird was visiting this morning. There had to be 3 dozen or so. Black, medium size, some with yellow eyes, some with yellow beaks, some medium/medium dark brown. They were decimating my feeders and birdbath, but that's okay. I saw them through the kitchen window AND the Sunroom door window. When I got into the Sunroom, they spooked.

Wordle 1,820 4/6* trope, cagey, welsh, quell

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I actually did what I said I was going to do re Filthy Cabbage - made the Creole seasoning and chopped onion, carrot, celery, and a whole head of cabbage. Oh, and I pressed 3 T of garlic. All waiting in the 'fridge.

We watched the first two episodes of the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. I haven't watched it in quite a while and was pleased. Bill is liking it too. We watched it in the summer of 2002 together as he was recovering from heart surgery.

And the match!!!! The US was up 3-0 at the half and it ended up 4-1. Pulisic got two assists, Balogun got two goals. We were very excited.

Earlier in the day I worked on my spreadsheets/Lightning Round, and read.

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Another scorcher today, although the high should only be 97F. it's already 90F.

All the usual - reading, spreadsheets/Lightning Round, and I plan on making Filthy Cabbage and Basmati Rise for dinner. Notice the word plan.

>96 karenmarie: The jello distaste makes perfect sense. I share it. Dinner's dessert was "bavarian jello" which is the crud mixed with cool whip, another slimy effluent I don't want. I was offered it, and rejected it by saying "sooner I would die thank you please." Got a reasonable laugh.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Hooray for the USA! Raining here but it will end soon and be much cooler today. 70F high. Sean will drop off Jack here early afternoon and he will stay until tomorrow. We have not had a sleepover in awhile. I hope the starlings have moved on.

>97 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! I don't mind Jello. I do mind Cool Whip and if there is a recipe I feel I must make that calls for Cool Whip, I substitute real whipped cream. There are actually recipes out there for Bavarian Jello that use whipped cream, but I wouldn't waste real whipped cream on it.

The food service at your home sounds pretty good, as a rule, but ugh to their version of Bavarian Jello.

*smooch*

>97 richardderus: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. 70F sounds good to me, as does a sleepover with Jack. The Starlings have moved on. I've got a male Cardinal and a Carolina Chickadee visiting.

Wordle 1,821 3/6* trope, spied, sepia

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I got quite a bit done on my June Lightning Round. I cooked the bacon and the ground beef. Read, puttered, and we watched episodes 3 and 4 of the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. I somehow unintentionally turned off the 7:30 meds alarm and woke up at 8:43, so I got a little bit more sleep than usual.

...
Reading, probably making Filthy Cabbage. I say probably because it would have to be made early then put up and reheated. My book club is meeting today from 3:30 - 5:30 to select books for our coming book club year. There are ten of us, so we'll pick books for July - April.

***I finally got caught up on my June Lightning Round.

Congrats on cooking and June LR catch-up.

I'll look forward to seeing what your club chooses to read next year. Have fun!

(No Cool-Whip! NO!!! I have been known to use Kool-Wip __even worse?__ on my dessert coffee, but not lately.)

My June Lightning Round is up to date. The Filthy Cabbage is made and it came out well. We'll have some for dinner tonight after I get home from book club.

>101 karenmarie: Nice job and Happy Sunday!! I'm starting Culpability today... : )

Morning, Karen. Having a grand time with Jack. We really enjoy having him over but he can be exhausting too. LOL. Hey, it is still worth every minute. Nice cool start to the day- 54F and sunny. Heading out soon for PB.

>102 Berly: No promises, Kim, but I'll try to start it very soon.

>103 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Sweet AND exhausting boy, for sure. Wow. We're already 79.9F here. Enjoy PB.

I've got a lone male Cardinal.

Wordle 1,822 3/6* trope, crony, broil

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Boy, yesterday was busy. I made the Filthy Cabbage and was extremely pleased with the result. After I got home from Book Club, I made Basmati Rice. I actually remembered to bring out the bacon I cooked to start the recipe. We both loved it.

Book Club was wildly successful although there were only 5 of us there. Here is the schedule for the coming year:



Bill and I finished Pride and Prejudice. Bill actually wants to watch the 1980 version, so we'll start that tonight.

I got about 6.5 hours of sleep - yay me.

...
I'll probably go out to pick up prescriptions, finalize the book club spreadsheet, and publish to the group.

Glad you got a decent night's sleep!

Yay for you and sleep, Karen! I'm delighted that the cabbage is so good and really happy that you'll be watching P&P '80!

That's a really interesting list! I probably wouldn't read I, Robot, but I'd be glad to reread the Eng. I'd look forward to the Shackleton book and some of the others. I'm off in a second to investigate your choice.
Speaking of books, you gave me Butter for Christmas, and I heard Yuzuki interviewed on NPR this morning. (Thank You!) Now I'm again hot to read it, so way up Mt. Bookpile it climbs.

3 Sisters! Hee hee hee. Enjoy your day!

>104 karenmarie: My book group is also reading The Correspondent, I think in August. And I have The Emperor of Gladness scheduled for July, so we can talk about these, too!! House of Doors was very interesting. Now I'll have to check out your other ones...! : )

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. Thank you. Every night’s different. Last night was 4 hours.

>106 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Sleep is always a crap shoot. I’m glad Butter has climbed up Mt. Bookpile. My day was quite enjoyable, as a matter of fact. I hope yours was, too.

>107 Berly: Hello Kim. Book lists are always fun for our group, aren’t they?

Wordle 1,823 5/6* trope, hedge, salve, anime, amaze

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I did all the usual things plus going into town to pick up prescriptions. We watched the first two episodes of Pride and Prejudice, ’80. We’re both really enjoying it. I figured out how to watch the World Cup on my cell phone. Bill subscribed to FoxOne within Amazon Prime, so I watched a bit of the Spain Cabo Verde match. I can always watch matches downstairs on the TV with Bill, too.

...
I will most likely go to Virlie's. My sister sent me a couple of pre-birthday gifts. One of them is a wickless candle, which requires an electric warmer. Even just the candle not on the warmer smells good - White Tea and Jasmine. I've got everything out of the packaging and just need to plug it in later today.

Reading, spreadsheets and Lightning Round's newest additions, and 2 episodes of Pride and Prejudice tonight.

Morning, Karen. There is some rain coming in, so I am waiting to see where I will play PB. I also need to cut our grass. We leave for our next camping adventure on Thursday. This time to IA with the entire camping crew. Sue will be coming along this time and Matt will watch Juno.

>108 karenmarie: I can't help smiling a little about plugging in a candle. A lot about CV gettin' that draw, however!

Enjoy Virlie's!

I hope that you're already with the gang at Virlie's, Karen. I hate for you to miss the company two weeks in a row.
I need to get out at some point this week, and today would be best except that we haven't walked yet. LOVE these low temps!

Plugging in a candle ----- O.K.

I started my favorite *P&P* last night again. I guess I might tire of it if I watched it back-to-back-to-back, but a couple of times a year? - it doesn't pall! I tend to watch it half an episode a night, more or less.

>109 msf59: ‘Morning the next day, Mark! I hope the rain held off or passed you by, although it looks like you’re in moderate drought; rain would actually be good. We’re still in extreme drought. Starting the camping prep, right? Yay for Iowa and the whole crew. I’ve got a Tufted Titmouse on one of the suet feeders. Yesterday I had a small murmuration of Starlings.

>110 richardderus: Hiya, RD. Draw for sure, even more impressive that it was 0-0. Here’s the wickless candle warmer:



*smooch*

>111 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I was with the gang at Virlie’s at 11:40 yesterday. I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s low temp. We’re in the 90s today through Sunday at least. Amazingly, still, you’re a tad cooler each of those days.

Yay for P&P!

Wordle 1,824 2/6* trope, token

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There were 8 of us at Virlie's, and we had a great time, as always. I congratulated Marilyn on the Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup - she's a rabid fan. After lunch, I tried to pick up a prescription, but their drive-through was closed and I wasn't in the mood to go inside. We finished the 1980 version of Pride and Prejudice. I slept 6.5 hours.

...
The kitty door is closed because Wash has a 4:30 vet appointment. All the usual otherwise - reading, puttering, possibly filling a bird feeder or two. I'd like to watch England - Croatia, but it's at 4 so I'll miss most of it. There are four Arsenal players on the team: Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.

If Wash has a good report, it's happy all around!

We are 2 Sisters!!! I think that may have happened once before. Anyway, I hope that Irene joins us. We're totally awesome!

>112 karenmarie: I managed to indoctrinate my daughter with my preference for the 1980 P&P. Rintoul's rare smiles sold it though.

>112 karenmarie: Chocolate.

Beef.

Cookies.

*gag*

I like the diffuser! xo

>113 LizzieD: Nope, not today. It was back to Wordle in 4 for me.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday! Hooray for 6.5 hours & the lovely murmuration. Sue has been busting butt getting things ready for the trip. We just have to load up and we will be shoving off around noon. Hold down the fort, my friend and tend to those feeders. LOL.

>113 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Yes, we are awesome. The Wash Report is below – it’s all good.

>114 quondame: Hi Susan. I’m glad there’s P&P harmony in Los Angeles.

>115 richardderus: Urp. Thanks re the diffuser, RD. *smooch*

>116 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Peggy’s 2, your 4, and my 3 for today. It’s all good.

>117 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. 6.5 two nights ago was 4 last night. Save trip and have a wonderful time. Fort holding, aye aye, and I’ll work on the feeders over the next 3 or 4 days since Trevor can’t come out ‘til Saturday the 27th.

Wordle 1,825 3/6* trope, reset, entry

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All the usual things plus Wash's visit to the vet. Dr. Cindy is pleased with his weight. He was not overweight last time, but she suggested cutting his treats back. Since Bill reduced his treats regimen by 50% he's lost 11 ounces, so 11.7 from 12.2 lbs. She cleaned his ears and noticed a bit of gingivitis but not enough to do anything about at this time. He yowled there and back, but was a perfect ginger angel during the visit.

Bill and I watched Persuasion last night - the 2022 version, which has the lowest imdb rating of the four. I slept poorly and didn't get up 'til 9:30.

...
We switched generator maintenance companies since we've had a few failures this year and when he came out this morning he discovered a loose transfer switch wire. Needless to say, the other company was never able to properly fix it. I eventually came unglued after the last failure and asked Bill to find another company. Mike seemed much more knowledgeable than Mark.

Reading, puttering, spreadsheets and Lightning Round.

We'll probably watch the 1995 version of Persuasion tonight.

>118 karenmarie: Annoying days don't get a lot more annoying than I found this one but...unless y'all's gawd decides to make it worse again...my last bureaucratic idiocy seems to be dealt with. Please cross your crossable parts.

Brighter news: Cynthia Gómez, author of Muñeca, quote-posted my review with thanks. It made me a lot more cheerful! It's always a good thing when writers read my reviews and feel good enough about them to quote the words themselves. *smooch*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385027

>119 richardderus: All crossable parts are crossed, RD, and let's hope the last bureaucratic idiocy is the last one eve. Congrats on author Gómez's quote-posted your review. *smooch*

>120 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

Wordle 5-for-5 Challenge Complete 🎊
Wordle 1,826 5/6* trope, aeons, gooey, ebony, emoji. Shouldn't have used ebony, since N had been excluded. Oh, and emoji is not one of the original 2,309 words.

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I read, puttered, napped a lot, and we watched the 1995 version of Persuasion. We were glad we did. I ended up getting 7 hours of sleep last night.

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Cortisone shots at noon. I need to pick up 2 prescriptions and actually go into the pharmacy to get a bit of candy for Bill for Father's Day. I've got cards, but didn't want to get candy on Amazon because of the heat - chocolate doesn't do well in 90+ days.

Reading, puttering, spreadsheets, and Lightning Round. We got 1.57" of rain last yesterday and overnight from the remnants of Hurricane Arthur. It was much needed.

>121 karenmarie: I'm glad the rain arrived to ease the drought. It's been raining off and on here, mostly off, but enough tom make the parks verdant. Did I send you the link to my album of the neighborhood already?

*smooch* for a pleasant Juneteenth weekend.

I hope the shots are done, were not terribly painful, and that you're on your way home with prescrips, Bill's candy, and maybe a treat for lunch before you join me in a lazy, RAINY afternoon!!!

I've ordered chocolates in hot weather and gotten them, as requested, in cold packs and completely melted. It's a toss-up.

Hooray for 7 hours of sleep! Hope you can put another one beside it tonight! And hooray for our Wordle badges!!!

I did post about my eye on my thread if you want to read about it. It is what I expected but not what I feared, so I'm feeling basically positive.

>122 richardderus: You did not send me the link – I’d love to see it. *smooch*

>123 LizzieD: Shots went well and I’m already noticing a huge reduction in pain. Got a few things at the grocery store, including candy for Bill for tomorrow. I did not stop for a treat.

I also did not realize yesterday was Juneteenth, so the bank AND my pharmacy were closed. ☹

I’ll visit your thread soon…

Wordle 1,827 3/6* trope, crude, drake

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Shots. Went well, and when I talked with the doctor, he said as long as I don't get them any sooner than 4x a year, I'll be okay.

We watched 2 of 3 episodes of Sense and Sensibility, the 2008 version with Dan Stevens. Good choice. I got perhaps 4 hours of sleep. Ugh.

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Today is a grocery pickup from 1-2 p.m. I should be able to stop by first to get the prescriptions before they go on their lunch break.

We'll watch the last episode of the 2008 Sense and Sensibility. Otherwise reading, spreadsheet and Lightning Round update - I read four novellas early this morning plus a few others from a couple of days ago. It's neverending but gratifying.

>124 karenmarie: "It's neverending but gratifying." Thou hast never spake a truer sentence, sweetiedarling. The treadmill of "keeping up" with my story addiction doesn't ever feel like work, even though I get overwhelmed at times.

*smooch*

It's neverending but gratifying. Amen to that! Since I'm still reading OK and have decided that I can also still drive around town (I haven't visited my own thread yet to see whether I posted the fact that when I could see well enough to read my left eye vision, it turned out to be 20/100 as opposed to 20/50 two weeks ago, My right eye remains 20/20, DG), I'll continue to add books and revel in the richness.

I have such a terrible time with the dates for the initial release of older DVDs. I hope that the *Persuasion* you watched was the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds one. I do prefer it to the later one with Sally Hawkins, not that the later one is bad. I'm sure I'll watch it again with pleasure. Meanwhile, I'll finish my 1980 *P&P* tonight.
You are watching a really good *S&S*, but if you haven't seen Emma Thompson's adaptation, I strongly encourage you to: Great actors in the main roles. I think I've said both of those things!

I spent yesterday in misery from a strained neck or shoulder muscle - can't tell which. I don't think I've ever hurt that badly. Brownie cleared me for Ibuprofen 3x3X3, and after I let all the Tylenol out of my system, I did that for a good night and am relatively comfortable with 2 this morning. AGING!!!!!!!

I wish you a normal Saturday, dear Karen, and one for the rest of us too!

>124 karenmarie: Hurray for the shots and the reduction in pain! I hope that lasts for a good long time. It would never have occurred to me that the pharmacy would be closed for Juneteenth.

I'm not familiar with that version of "Sense and Sensibility." I wonder if it's available anywhere that I could see it. I agree with Peggy about Emma Thompson's version.

Happy father's day to Bill!

>125 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Yes, we both expend quite a bit of energy on book follow-up, one way or another. I’m overwhelmed again – 3 more to add to the spreadsheets and 13 to add to my Lightning Round. *smooch*

>126 LizzieD: Add away, dearest Peggy! Read away! Drive!

We did watch the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds version. It was stunning. Yay for the 1980 P&P. In an ideal world, for me, we’d have Elizabeth Garvie and Colin Firth.

We’d never seen the 2008 version of S&S and thought it marvelous. Bill had watched the 1995 version with Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, etc. but didn’t remember much from 2002. I’ve watched it perhaps 5 or 6 times. I honestly think I prefer the 2008 version. Until I think about it again, of course…

I’m so sorry you were in misery yesterday and hope the ibuprophen regimen has worked or is working.

Normal is not a bad thing, is it?

>127 atozgrl: Hello Irene, and yes. It can take up to 7 days or so for the shots to become effective, but it always works faster for me. Yesterday’s bringing-in-of-groceries twinged a bit, but this morning I’m back to how I felt yesterday morning.

It’s a guessing and detective game with movie/series availability, isn’t it, these days? I usually look on IMDB for where whatever can be watched, but it’s not always up to date.

And, our streaming services occasionally change. I’m almost embarrassed to write that we have these services, although there may be more I’m not thinking of. We’ll subscribe to Apple TV when the newest season of Ted Lasso is available, but drop it after we’ve watched it.

Acorn
Amazon Prime – ad free
Audible
BritBox
FoxOne – for World Cup, we’ll drop it when it’s over
Kindle Unlimited
Netflix
Pandora
Peacock
Spectrum Platinum – required for our high speed wifi

Free with our Spectrum account:
Paramount+
Disney+
HBOMax

Thanks – I’ll tell Bill.

Wordle 1,828 4/6* trope, gaily, axial, alibi

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I cleaned the wall oven with the handy-dandy oven feature and wiped it down after it had cooled to get rid of the residue. I may or may not clean the racks - probably a quick 10 minutes on each should get most of the baked-on stuff. If not, then back in they go!

Grocery pick up, prescription pickup. Groceries up, reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round, napping. We finished Persuasion and started Mansfield Park. Bill's really interested in watching one version or another or even more than one for every book.

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Cards and candy given. The plan for tonight is steak and mashed potatoes/jar gravy for Bill, mashed potatoes/butter for me. They will be cheating mashed potatoes.

I plan on baking a Marie Calendar Dutch Apple Pie. If that doesn't work out, we'll have just ice cream.

Good Sunday to you, Karen! I think you must have access to everything video that English speakers have produced. Fun and Games!!!

Happy Father's Day to Bill. Sounds like fun. I know he'll enjoy his special meal.
I have only one Mansfield Park, which I've watched only once but enjoyed. I have both it and Northanger Abbey in the Masterpiece version. I liked *NA* better although *MP* is the better book for me. As Fanny, Billie Piper lifted her skirts and ran through house and gardens all the time; it was the main thing I remember about her other than her short hair (which was a thing at the time in recognition of the French losing their heads.... I looked it up, and that's all I remember) and her overbite. If y'all find a better adaptation, please let me know! I haven't watched either *Sanditon* or *Lady Susan*. I expect I will!

Enjoy your Sunday!

>128 karenmarie: It sounds like a good Father's Day! I hope it turned out that way.

Spectrum here also includes Peacock and FoxOne. FoxOne might be a new addition; they've been pushing it lately and I haven't signed up yet. You might want to check to see if those are available through Spectrum for you.

Apple and Netflix (and maybe BritBox) seem to have a lot of the series I would really like to see, but it's hard to justify subscribing to them when I'm already paying so much for Spectrum.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We decided to come home a day early, (it rained all day yesterday) but we had a good time hanging with our camping friends. I tweaked my knee on a hike so I will taking it easy for a couple of days. I hope it subsides. I also hope it is all good there.

>129 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! We have way more services than we really need, except that the services like chaos and having one series or movie on one doesn’t guarantee that it will be there the next time you try to find it there. It matters more to Bill, frankly.

Ah, the 2007 movie of Mansfield Park. I most recently read the book in August of 2020, just when we were seriously being panicked with Covid 19, so can’t remember much of it, frankly. Being a BBC production in the 1980s makes me think that the 1983 series would be very accurate.

One day you’ll get a bee in your bonnet and want to watch as much of Austen as you can. Again. *smile*

>130 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Last night, when I was upstairs after dinner and Mansfield Park and pie with ice cream, Bill texted me to thank me for his day. This was after thanking me in person when I was still downstairs. We’re lazy – we rarely do full dinner dishes/pans the night of the event. I told Bill to leave it all and I’d get to it today, but he got all the dishes and the pan I cooked the steaks in clean. That just leaves 2 pans and 2 lids for me today.

We pay $19.99+tax through Amazon, but I’m not going to worry too much about it – We’ve already paid for one month and one more won’t break the bank. We’ll get rid of it after the World Cup is over.

We have a wonderful deal on Spectrum because we’re part of a neighborhood of 51 houses. The contract is for 10 years. They ran the high speed stuff and our only requirement was how the account was paid and that each customer had to get and keep Spectrum Platinum. After 10 years we’ll go into panic mode when they raise the prices, but we’ve still got 4 years to go before that happens.

‘Morning, Mark! I’m so sorry you tweaked your knee. No PB for a few days… Things are fine here, thank you.

No food for the birds, so every time one comes to a feeder she/he leaves disappointed. I may try to do at least one black oil sunflower seed and one wild bird seed feeder today.

Wordle 1,829 2/6* trope, ovate

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Cards, candy, dinner, dessert. It all went well, and Bill was happy. Jenna called and they chatted for 1.5 hours. We watched 2 episodes of Mansfield Park. I watered 5 aloe vera plants and one Christmas Cactus because they were sooooo dry.

I think I got about 6 hours or so of sleep, but that includes dozing before I finally turned off the light at 2 a.m.

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Two pans and the cook top to clean. LT, spreadsheets, Lightning Round. I need to do a bit to get the Sunroom back under control since it's been a frenzy in the last two weeks. Much stuff is out. It makes me twitch.

>132 karenmarie: It was a lovely day, that's excellent! Worth celebrating a day for a dad like Bill was.

I hope something great leaps put of your Kindle to make sit up and holler. *smooch*

I forgot to congratulate you on WORDLE 2!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

I thought I had been on a Jane Austen binge for some time now ....... I am taking a break to watch *Meatballs* as I promised myself. (I am ready for the summer - ready for the good times!!!) Then I'll go back.
I may need to watch *Lost in Austen* again. Sometimes I think it's hilarious; other times, OK.

Good, cool day to you!

>132 karenmarie: Very impressive that Bill did so much of the cleanup last night, on his day. That certainly made things easier for you today.

Hurray for 6 hours of sleep! And hurray for your Spectrum deal! Our Spectrum costs just keep going up and up. I feel like I own the equipment now, after how much I've paid, and they should stop charging for it. But they raise the charge for the equipment every year. Unfortunately, cable is more convenient than all the streaming services, and I don't have to worry about buffering with the cable.

>133 richardderus: Hey, RDear. It’s been tough going on the MM romance front, frankly, although I did just find a book (and finished it this morning) called Seven Year Secret. Touchestone doesn't work. It's by River Thorne. *smooch*

>134 LizzieD: Thanks re my Wordle in 2, Peggy. Today wasn’t quite as good. Meatballs, eh? Never heard of it. Is it the Bill Murray movie that I can see on Amazon?

Yesterday was hot, wasn’t it?

>135 atozgrl: 'Morning, Irene. Ah, TV services. When we first moved here, Bill had his big dish moved from our other house, after it had been moved there from his first house. He had it placed in the front yard near the tree line facing west, with wiring run underground to get to the house. The wiring's still there, although I don't know where they cut it after we stopped using it.


 
After the powers that be caught on and realized baby dishes could control everybody and not cost much to install, we got Dish Network and a baby dish facing northwest.

It’s a constantly changing environment, that’s for sure – cable and streaming services.

Wordle 1,830 5/6* trope, risky, curvy, curly, curry

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Lots of laziness. Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round. We watched more of Persuasion. Bill watched World Cup. I didn't watch, but was in the kitchen when Messi scored his record-breaking goal, most World Cup goals.

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Probably Virlie's this morning. Cleaning ladies, and etc. Spreadsheets and Lightning Round.

Morning, Karen. "Lots of laziness." Hey, nothing wrong with that. I am lying somewhat low again today - letting this sore knew recover. My DIL asked me to pick her up from the airport, early afternoon. She was visiting a friend in Denver and of course Matt is working. At least I am getting lots of reading in.

Happy Day, Karen! I'd love to say that I could get a lot of reading in too. Unfortunately, I guess I'll go out. I should be on my way, but it's Cat Lunch.

Good day to you!

>136 karenmarie: I hope Virlie's was fun and tasty! I still feel annoyed that authoritarianism is ascendant thanks to All those Aynholes in tech. Maybe "They" are also behind your smut-slump....

Messi really is The GOAT, no? Poor Ronaldo. *smooch*

I have been suffering from a bit of laziness myself and only open the laptop when I absolutely have to. I have been reading and mostly came online to write reviews.

I am glad you are getting good sleep. I miss my younger days when I shut my eyes and some many hours later opened them.

>137 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. I hope that your knee benefited by not going to PB and not doing other strenuous things. Nothing wrong with lots of reading, is there?

I filled one sunflower seed feeder, one wild bird seed feeder, one suet feeder, and put out a fresh hummingbird feeder Sunday. Today's report includes a hummingbird, Starlings, a Carolina Chickadee, and a male Cardinal. I've also seen three squirrels this morning. One flew off the squirrel-proof feeder, which was entertaining and gratifying, the others foraging on the ground.

>138 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. If out includes anything fun and not just dreary errands, then I hope you did something or got something fun. Bill’s still mostly feeding the kitties wet food twice a day, which I’ll continue to ‘let’ him do.

>139 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. Happy Wednesday to you. Virlie’s was fun and tasty, see below.

I’m not going to accuse those Aynholes in tech of making it difficult for me to find good smut. Yet. I have finished 1,603 books that are MM, MMM, MMMM, or MMF since I started in June of 2022.

I have to get creative in how I look for good books. The search words and/or tropes are critical.

The all-time Messi, Mbappé, and Ronaldo World Cup Goals is fascinating to watch this World Cup. Lots more soccer to go, and age is a huge factor too - Ronaldo is 41, Messi is 39 today, and Mbappé is 27. Records are made to be broken.

>140 witchyrichy: Hello Karen. Laziness and reading are two important goals.

I used to panic if I didn’t get 8 hours – would actually ache with tiredness. Now, 8 hours would be a miracle.

Wordle 1,831 4/6* trope, femur, bluer, queer

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I got the call to go to Virlie's and met 6 teammates there about 11:15. We had a great time. Lots of great discussions, and, surprisingly, Dav and I talked soccer. He was sharing his and his wife Eliza's quest to watch World Cup in the hinterlands of Tennessee over the weekend. Her family's old farmhouse does not have ANY access to wifi, so they had to find a bar that was actually showing World Cup. They were successful and had a beer while watching. I got a takeout order for Bill and came home. The ladies were here before I left and were still here when I got back, but were ready to leave. It rained like a fiend on the way home, and so we now have 1.55" for the week. Clean house and Virlie's - good start to the day. Otherwise I read, updated spreadsheets and the June Lightning Round. Bill and I watched a very weird version of Northanger Abbey. I understand why they did what they did with the Romantic music and loosening of what was a rigid class structure, but it didn't really appeal to me.

Jenna sent me a pic of their portable AC unit. It's installed in the Living Room. She simply cannot handle the heat, although Hwan revels in it. It's a can't-be-mounted-outside window unit, and Hwan had to get help from somebody at the college to cut the plastic inserts to the proper dimensions. Native Wadshington-ers laugh at bewildered incomers when they ask why they don't have AC in their apartments.
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Today is a 'free' day. No obligations outside the house. So, all the usual things. There might be a bit of soccer I would watch with Bill - Switzerland/Canada and/or Scotland/Brazil.

>141 karenmarie: Scotland v Brazil...it's really a WORLD Cup. Not like baseball's "World" Series.

I'm replete with stuffed shells AND apple turnovers for dessert. I'm having a really good day, he quavered nervously watching the sky for one of gawd's ugly little tricks. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. The leg is doing better so I am shooting for PB tomorrow but I won't push it. I am going out to pick Jack up from summer camp around noon and then hanging with him for awhile. I miss the little boy. It sounds like all is well there. 😊

>142 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! Alas, Scotland lost and probably won't get out of the group stage.

Yum to stuffed shells and apple turnovers. I hope you didn't jinx your good day. *smooch*

>143 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. I hope tomorrows PB plan works out. Yay for Jack time. Things are tolerable here...

Wordle 1,832 3/6* trope, shaft, unity

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I watched the first half of the Scotland Brasil match and got disheartened with Scotland's mistakes and Vini Jr's brilliance.

I updated my spreadsheets and made inroads into my Lightning Round. I actually took a gallon of water outside, assuming the bird bath needed filling, but forgot that we've gotten a lot of rain since Sunday.

I stayed up too late, getting about 4 hours of sleep.

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I am irritated with myself that I don't have enough sugar to make German Chocolate Cake. One of us will pick up a grocery order between 10 and 11, most likely Bill. He's going to make a 'dump run'.

The US plays Türkiye tonight at 10 p.m. Ugh to the time.

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My Dad was born on this day in 1921. However, either something's wrong with the Pictures feature of LT or my browser and Pictures aren't working properly together. I have a very nice collage that I've used previous years. I'll have to come back later or even tomorrow and see if it works then.

Happy day as you remember your dad, Karen! I had remembered that he and my mama were the same age.

Enjoy your GC cake. Oh YUM!!!!! I know why too. *grin*

I hope you can catch a good nap before you hit the game tonight. (((((Karen)))))

(We're 3 Wordle Sisters today. When you visited my thread, you saw my yesterday's trial.)

>144 karenmarie: I hope Türkiye wins.

Mama's 106th was May 30th. Unlike you, I don't miss her. It actually makes me really sad that I don't. Poor woman...died without a single kid who was unhappy at her passing.

German chocolate cake's fine...as long as someone else eats the cake, I can enjoy the frosting. *smooch*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385137

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I enjoyed my time with Jack yesterday. Sue took her turn after work and stayed the night there, so she got some quality Grandma time in. Off to play PB soon- wish me luck. I have been neglecting the feeders. I will get to them today.

So Türkiye won. ::smug::

I hope you're doing All the *good* things this morning. *smooch*

Happy Happy Friday, Karen! AND HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Enjoy everything including the German Chocolate Cake with the correct icing on your side when you get around to baking it! (That would not be how I'd choose to spend my special day.)

>150 LizzieD: ^^^what she said, sweetiedarling. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Birthday, my friend. I hope you had a fine day yesterday.

What I didn't actually post yesterday:

>145 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Thanks re my dad. I did catch a brief nap, but decided to not go back downstairs and watch. I followed it – sort of – upstairs on FoxOne and by listening to Bill’s exclamations and texts.

The cake is made, I just need to make two frostings and frost it. I’ve gotten to the age and/or point where I need to do some things in stages. This is one of them. However, the cake came out beautifully and is wrapped in the refrigerator.

Yay for Wordle in 3 yesterday.

>146 richardderus: But… but… RD. Okay. I can understand it intellectually. The US is going through regardless, and it’s a sop to Türkiye’s pride. And so they won … 3-2. Still won't make it out of group stage, but they beat the Mighty USA.

There will definitely be left-over frosting since I do not make layers and I frost 1/3 of the 9” x 13” cake with chocolate frosting for Bill. There will be leftover chocolate frosting, too.

>147 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you!!

>148 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Yay for Jack time for both of you. I hope you have a great time. Good luck. Yay for the feeders. I have 2 I’m going to try to get to today – the sunflower seed and suet feeders on the porch. They’re woefully neglected right now.

>149 richardderus: Okay, be smug, RD. It made them happy and proud and although it humbles the US team a bit, they’re still going to the knockout rounds. Yes, I did all the good things. I had a very nice day.

>150 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy! I baked the cake on the 25th, frosted and ate some of it yesterday. I don’t use cake mixes or tubs of frosting, and I don’t like cakes from a bakery or grocery store. Soooo, if I want German Chocolate Cake the way I want it, I make it myself. It made me happy.

>151 richardderus: Thanks, RDear. *smooch*

>152 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Thank you for the birthday birds.

Wordle 1,833 3/6* trope, haute, acute. Second time for acute - first time was December 26, 2021.

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Here's the photo I meant to upload yesterday:



I was excessively lazy with a short burst of energy when I made the cake portion of German Chocolate Cake. It's waiting in the refrigerator for when I make frostings and frost it later.

I read, and remembered Dad, and worked on my spreadsheets and Lightning Round. Bill and I watched the last episode of The Other Bennet Sister and were very pleased with the ending.

We also watched The Dry, the movie of the first Aaron Falk book by Jane Harper. We'd watched it before but I didn't remember the details 'til about halfway through.

...

Wordle 1,834 2/6* trope, scoop

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Bill got me a card, the kitties got me a card. My first present was a 1' high 7 gemstone chakra tree of life. It's gorgeous. He also got me a wonderful framed pic of Arsenal, commemorating winning the championship 2025-2026 and listing all league and other wins over time. It's in the Sunroom adjacent, where I can look over my left shoulder and see it.

I made frostings and frosted my birthday cake.

Jenna and Hwan called, my sister called, Louise called, and Karen called. I watched a bit of soccer, made dinner, we watched the Kate Bekinsale version of Emma. We had cake too, of course.

I was wired and got a total of about 5 hours of sleep.

...
I'm going to go into town to mail the card for Hwan's birthday, which is tomorrow. I put in our mailbox with the red flag up on Monday, but I don't know what kind of drugs the carriers are taking - when Bill got the mail Thursday, it came back home with him. That's also what happened with my Great Nephew Ollie's card. in early June, too. He eventually got it. Looks like I may have to take mail to the PO drive through to mail letters and cards.

I'll also stop at the Library to see if there are any donations I can snag to pay for at the sale.

I may or may not fill 2 bird feeders, may or may not update spreadsheets and my Lightning Round.

We will probably watch Love and Friendship tonight. I think I watched it once a long time ago...

More cake after dinner, of course.

Big breath.

Happy Birthday!

>153 karenmarie: Honestly I stopped paying attention after the cake report...if you're in a good enough mood to eat your birthday cake, that's more than enough good news for a Saturday without felonious yam gettin' planted in it. *smooch*

Belated happy birthday, Karen! The cake sounds wonderful, as does the rest of your day. I hope you found something good at the library.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Looks like you got plenty of well-deserved birthday wishes. I will be doing a couple of chores today, along with cutting the grass. Our first real heat wave arrives tomorrow. Ugh. We had such a lovely June.

>154 quondame: Thank you Susan!

>155 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear. Ugh to the disgusting and evil thing in the desecrated White House.

>156 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. Making German Chocolate Cake is always my present to myself for my birthday. I got lazy and didn't go to the Library. It's not open today, so I'll have to go tomorrow.

>157 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. Yes, people have been kind about my birthday. I hope you get all your chores done, sorry about the heat wave arriving tomorrow. Ugh to bad summer temps coming.

I saw a female hummingbird yesterday and have a female Cardinal this morning, otherwise all's quiet.

Wordle 1,835 3/6* trope, anime, emcee

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Laziness prevailed. Reading and a bit of soccer mostly. We watched Love & Friendship.

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Laziness will prevail. Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round. There's one soccer match. Bill will probably watch it.

>158 karenmarie: It's so close to EOM that lightning round's getting pressing! I'm mid-freakout with three round-ups to do, like I didn't do it to my damn self but still...gathering and verifying stats, thinkin' through what they mean, then what to do with 'em...none of it does itself, does it?

You two are almost entire aliens as far as managing stats concerns me. I look forward and appreciate your work in the same way that I appreciate the visual arts or a ripe tomato!

>160 LizzieD: I'll second what Peggy said. I don't know if I will ever attempt to keep stats that detailed for my reading.

Morning, Karen. Nearly 80F at 7am here. Our inside rec center is closed for PB today so we are going to try to play outside early. Not sure how long I will last. Nothing much happening at my feeders.

It's on the way up to 90° here today. *ugh*

Stay cool, sweetiedarling.

>159 richardderus: You’re right, RD. Two more days of reading. However, I’m in much better shape this month than the last two. At this time, I’ve only got 11 Lightning Round entries to get caught up on. I might not have any more before this month end, because I am reading Culpability because Kim’s reading it or has already finished it and I said I’d join along. I may start twitching and sneak in an MM short story or novella…

No freak outs allowed. I’m sure you’ll get them done. *smooch*

>160 LizzieD: But we’re YOUR entire aliens, aren’t we, Peggy? 💖

>161 atozgrl: I’ll just have to take the hit for the team, Irene. 😊 Jim got me interested in keeping stats because he kept stats, and Mark got me interested in Lightning Rounds because that is something he’s done.

>163 richardderus: 90F today. About the same tomorrow, then triple digits for you. Stay inside and cool! *smooch*

Triple digits here Thursday – Saturday.

Wordle 1,836 2/6* trope, crude

⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

...
Let's see. All the usual things - reading, stats, Lightning Round. I zipped out to our mailbox, .491 miles away at the entry to our cul-de-sac 'subdivision' and brought back a present from Peggy - a Moleskine journal. I've never had one before, and I love it! Thank you via text, handwritten note (going out today), and here, dear friend!

Bill and I watched Force of Nature last night. It's the second in the Aaron Falk series and right up there with the first movie, The Dry.

Reading, dozing, doom scrolling. I got about 8 hours of sleep. I know, unusual. I'll take it.

...
Early this morning we lost commercial power for an hour, but the generator was our friend. Power switched seamlessly and switched back when commercial power was restored.

I'm going into town today to mail 2 cards, stop at the grocery store for a couple of things, go to the Library to see if there are any exciting donations that want to come home with me, and take a return to the UPS store in the hardware store. Ambitious what with recent back issues, but I'll see how it goes.

2 of 4 errands accomplished. I stopped at the PO and went into the Library to see what donations were available. I found two I'm going to keep:

A Short History of Time by Leofranc Holford-Strevens. Folio Society, slipcased
A Little History of Canada by HV Nelles

>165 karenmarie: Cool mini-haul!

>166 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear. It was so nice to see, touch, and smell books. I didn't stay long but enjoyed myself. I also got a book for Karen - Bad Girls of the Bible. She said she'd like to have it if just for the title.

Wordle 1,837 4/6* trope, lymph, sappy, puppy

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

...
I finished a book that wasn't smut!!! I started it on the 27th and was compelled to keep reading it 'til the early hours of this morning. Kim - I'm glad I decided to read along with you. Culpability is as close as I'll come to 5* that isn't 5*. I'll head over to your thread to see if you've finished it yet.

Post Office, Library. I watched quite a bit of the Germany/Paraguay match. Germany lost in the penalty shoot out, choking completely. Germany gets to go home and Paraguay gets to continue on. Netherlands got upset by Morocco - Bill watched all of it, I watched the last 10 minutes of extra time and then that penalty shoot out. They choked as badly as Germany choked. They get to go home, too.

...
I'll probably get a call to meet the book sort team at Virlie's. After that, the other two errands from yesterday.

I'll be watching the France/Sweden match at 5 p.m. I'm conflicted - I'd like Sweden to win because striker Gyökeres plays for Arsenal. However, Mbappé is a joy to watch, and he's chasing the record for all-time goals scored at World Cups.

Stats, Lightning Round, and a review for Culpability are on tap for today. We'll see how far I get on any of them.

I'm back to reading smut. 😂

Hi Karen, checking in after a while. Happy belated birthday!

I'm glad Morocco are through, and will be cheering on France later. They are the two teams I got in our work sweepstake.

Morning, Karen. Happy July, my friend. We are broiling here and that will continue for the next few days. Ugh. I am taking a mini-break from PB, so I can go hang out with Jack today. Nothing happening at the feeders.

>168 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie, and thank you. That was a pretty bizarre shoot out. Netherlands choked. Morocco choked, too, but less so. Work sweepstakes sound like fun, and France is a really good stroke of luck.

>169 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy July to you, too. Ugh - 94F and 104F heat index for you. Stay cool and safe. Enjoy your time with Jack. A Tufted Titmouse is hiding in the Crepe Myrtle.

Wordle 1,838 3/6* trope, harem, demur

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...
There were ten of us at Virlie's yesterday, and it was happily crowded. John and I talked about AI and drones because I'd just finished Culpability. I shared a pic of Jenna and Hwan celebrating Hwan's 30th birthday. And various and sundry.

I got a few things at the grocery store - I'm so happy I can actually go into the store.

I was upstairs when I was watching the Netherlands choke - I can get FoxOne on my cell phone. I feel particularly bad for Virgil Van Dyke. He plays for Liverpool, but when they're not playing for Arsenal I like watching him.

I managed to squeak one more MM romance out after finishing Culpability, so completed 252 books so far in 2026.

...
Finalizing stats and finishing my June Lightning Round. I have 4 books read and two books abandoned to complete for the Lightning Round.

My RL book club's first book of the book club year is The Correspondent. Discussion is in August. I just splurged and 'bought' the Kindle version. The Library had 0 of 28 copies available and 0 of 19 audio book copies available.

Several of the bird feeders and the bird bath need attention.

I don't know how much of it I'll watch, but the 3 matches all interest me.

England vs Congo DR at noon - Arsenal's Rice, Eze, Saka, and Madueke are on the squad
Belgium vs Senegal at 4 p.m. - Arsenal's Trossard is on the squad
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at 8 p.m.

>170 karenmarie: Oh myyy, as Takei would say, you are definitely going All out when you hand over money for a Kindlebook. Virginia Evans should be made aware of how powerful a draw she is. People do seem to be discovering the book in ever increasing numbers.

*smooch*

Real money for 0s and 1s. I amaze myself.

*smooch*

YTD Statistics through June

252 books read
247.5 ebooks, 3 audio books, 1.5 paper books
55970 pages in completed books
46.75 hours in completed audio books
63 books abandoned, 7626 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

63596 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 351
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 252

Book(s) of the Month: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
The Don's Omega by Marian Black

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books
Feb - 31 e-books, 1 audio books
Mar - 40 e-books
Apr - 49 e-books, 1 audio book
May - 44 e-books, 1 audiobook
Jun - 57 e-books

Author
Male 14%
Female 58%
Undeclared * 27%
Non-Binary 1%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 22%
Foreign Born 17%
Undeclared * 61%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 1%
e-Book 98%
Paper Book 1%

Source
My Library 11%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 89%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 10%
Series 74%

Fiction 99%
NonFiction 1%

Author Birth Country
Australia 5%
Canada 7%
England 1%
France 1%
Greece 1%
Grenada 1%
Netherlands 1%
New Zealand 1%
Scotland 1%
South Africa 1%
UK 2%
Undeclared* 55%
US 23%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
1950s 1%
2000s 1%
2010s 10%
2020s 88%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 1%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 2%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 96%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 2
1.6-2: Bad 3
2.1-2.5: Average 12
2.6-3: Good 17
3.1-3.5: Very Good 41
3.6-4: Excellent 62
4.1-4.99: Stunning 115
5: Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.85
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 87
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 18

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

Jun Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

4.30 * Cowboy Haven by BA Tortuga 6/1/26 6/1/26 256 pages Kindle – mine

Reread, first read in November of last year. This is what I wrote then:

Heath is hoodwinked into giving up his savings in order to rent a fancy ranch in New Mexico so that he and his 3-month old triplets can start a new life away from his ex. The ranch turns out to be a rundown and abandoned farmhouse. Winter has arrived, Heath is at the end of his rope. Kolt is a semi-retired bull rider, still recovering from a recent major injury in the ring. He has earned enough to have a gorgeous house on a large ranch. He has family nearby and thinks his life is fine as it is. He sees smoke coming out of what he knows to be an abandoned farmhouse, and rides over to see who is squatting. He is shocked at how Heath and his babies are barely surviving, and takes them home. He calls on his family to help. They arrive with all the baby supplies needed to help the babies. They help Heath and Kolt and start loving the babies and Heath. So does Kolt. However, there’s stalker after Heath, and they think it’s Heath’s ex. The stalking escalates from dead animals on Heath’s SUV to photos of Heath and Kolt and them in town with the babies. They turn to friends and family to find out who the stalker is, and after a particularly harrowing incident, the stalker is captured. Kolt knows that Heath and his babies are it for him, and Heath is more than in love with Kolt, too. This one was sweet and made me envious of Kolt’s large, noisy, and in-your-face family. Caveat emptor re sex.

Nothing to add. I’m so glad I reread it.

4.20* His Captor by MM Farmer 6/1/26 6/2/26 250 pages Kindle Unlimited

Omega Hayden is on a business trip where he hooks up. He returns to work. The alpha continues with his life. The alpha, Mace, is in the midst of illegal maneuvers by his business partner and sets up an independent company in another town and one of the new hires is Hayden, who is now 7 months pregnant. Imagine their surprise when they meet. Normal protective alpha stuff, normal omega independence stuff, highly readable, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.00* Feral Omega by Quinn Michaels 6/3/26 6/4/26 92 pages Kindle Unlimited

Omega Rue escaped his pack 5 years previously and has been living in hiding ever since. Oren is his pack’s enforcer and is patrolling the borders when he comes across a sprung trap with blood leading away from it. He follows the blood and comes across an almost-dead wolf, a feral wolf. He carries the wolf to outside his cabin and leaves the door open. He puts food and water out, and after several days of doing this, Rue comes inside. It takes quite a while to get Rue to trust Oren. In the meantime, Oren’s pack is alarmed and bounty hunters are on the trail of Rue. Lots of fighting and protection and bonding. Oren’s patience in earning Rue’s trust as Rue goes back and forth being a feral wolf and a feral human is well written. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Owned in Writing by SL Marlowe 6/4/26 6/5/26 96 pages Kindle Unlimited

Daniel’s father’s architectural business is heavily in debt and his father has health issues. Daniel has taken over as much as he can, but is at the end of his rope. Enter Victor, who has bought up the debt specifically so that he can own Daniel for a year. Daniel moves into his apartment, dresses as Victor likes, eats what and when Victor wants, and is completely owned by him in all aspects. Daniel rebels at first but eventually discovers that he likes and needs to relinquish control to someone in order to quiet his mind. Daniel’s father eventually finds out. Daniel and Victor get their HEA, although the control and dominance continue. This is a book where it was like reading through cotton balls. Muted, story rather than description. Some books are like that. The style is noted. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 6/5/26 6/6/26 189 pages Kindle Unlimited

I read this in February of this year and gave it 3.9*. Here’s what I wrote:

One in the Beguiled series. Feener’s books feature strong alphas who coerce and control their omegas. However, their omegas want this by the end of the book, without Stockholm Syndrome. Thorn is an omega faced with inherited debt and a seriously ill younger brother. He signs up for the White Hunt. If he successfully makes it to the sanctuary or he’s captured by an alpha, his debts are paid off. He’s at the end of his rope and when he receives the invitation he cannot refuse. He doesn’t know that Baal has been stalking him for years and sees the White Hunt as a way of getting him. He does get him, they have a bit of power balance struggle. Thorn capitulates, but they both get a HEA, both surprised that there’s love and a fated mate bond. Caveat emptor re sex and dubcon.

Nothing to add or change. Sometimes I just need something predictable.

**abandoned Fake Dating the Hired Alpha by Bonnar King ** 139 pages

Oh my god. I don’t mind shortcuts in writing, but when there’s terrible writing with inconsistent dates and times it sticks in my craw. As soon as Declan realizes Finn’s pregnant he abandons him, saying he needs time and writes a letter that I had been the recipient, I would have shot him on the spot. Somehow, they end up happy, but I don’t know why because I did something I rarely do – I skipped to the last chapter. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Omega’s Mask by EA Adams ** 80 pages

Nathan is the heir apparent of a mafia family. Andrea was supposed to be his contracted omega. Andrea ran. Ten years pass. Andrea hs become an assassin for another family and is hired to kill Nathan. It doesn’t work out that way. They overcome Nathan’s father’s nature. A little bit of sex, a little bit of ho-hum.

**abandoned All I Want for Christmas is Revenge by KA Merikan ** 196 pages

I tried for a reread because I remembered this book fondly from December of 2023. I don’t know if my tastes have gotten refined or this one was truly stupid, but I just couldn’t continue. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Math Teacher and His Werewolf by Shaw Montgomery ** 108 pages

Omegaverse stuff is always remarkably unbelievable, but this book, with the math professor, a human, immediately accepting a werewolf, is major silliness. It wasn’t really going anywhere.

2.50* The Alpha's Virgin Omega by Austin Bates 6/6/26 6/7/26 286 pages Kindle Unlimited

Alec has two half -brothers and at the reading of their father’s will, they each get property but the bulk of the fortune, $200 million, goes to the first son who has a legitimate heir within marriage. Both half-brothers are married. One has two daughters, one is married to a man and had no intention of having children. Alec wants the money and gets involved with a former lover, JT. They get married. They fight. One or the other leaves. Alec turns up pregnant, they have a baby, Alec’s mother provides a formal wedding in a park for them. I’m pretty unhappy with this one, can’t believe I read all 286 pages. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* The Breeding Contract by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane 6/7/26 6/7/26 103 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jude is a mafia don’s son and he somehow forces Aidan, an omega, whose mother just died, to sign a breeding contract. Doesn’t force him but when Aiden goes into heat they have sex. They get closer and plan on being bonded. However, there are people who don’t want them to be together. At their wedding, there’s a shoot’em up and Jude bites Aidan, bonding with him. Everybody also realizes Aidan’s pregnant. Shallow but doable at only 103 pages. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.30* Owned by the Underboss by Evan Blackthorne 6/7/26 6/8/26 124 pages Kindle Unlimited

Eli is caught copying files by Dante and is taken to Dante’s home. He agrees to stay a ‘prisoner’ to pay off his sister’s embezzling debt and help Dante root out financial discrepancies within his organization. There’s drama with Dante’s father, the solution to who killed Dante’s brother 3 years earlier, pregnancy and a baby. Yet for all that, it was like reading through cotton balls. Muted, story rather than description. Some books are like that. The style is noted. I don’t read too many books like that, abandoning them with glee. There was implied sex and a lot of negotiation between
Eli and Dante.

3.70* Sold to the Wrong Alpha by Anna Ward 6/8/26 6/8/26 355 pages Kindle Unlimited

Ren is an omega, prostituted out by his father and brother to cover his father’s gambling debts. One night he’s auctioned off for $700K for a year’s worth of being owned by Resnikov, an alpha who is abusive and scares and disgusts him. As things progress, he’s slipped a piece of paper and told to run when the lights go off. He does, gets to a place of safety, and sees that the paper has an address. He avoids the pursuers and gets to the address, which is owned by an alpha named Brody. I’ll just say here that there is way too much discussion of their scents, especially Brody’s raisins and walnuts. There is instalust and love and Ren turns up pregnant. He’s still being pursued, so they go out of town to an ob/gyn. However, they’re attacked on the way there. Ren’s kidnapped, taken to Resnikov’s penthouse suite, and thinks Brody’s dead. For 4 days a guard named Sergei takes him food and water yet doesn’t engage. When Ren’s rescued, Sergei deliberately leaves the door open. Ren’s rescued and tells Brody that Sergei helped him escape, so Sergei becomes part of their retinue. They get their HEA. Two things: we do not find out what happens to/with Ren’s father and brother and there’s a serious ‘printing’ error, where chapters 14 is repeated as chapter 15. Sheesh. Anyway, caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* This Guy by Lane Hayes 6/8/26 6/9/26 294 pages Kindle Unlimited

Cooper lives in a small town in Vermont, sharing parenting duties with his ex-wife. He loves his life and his two kids, Ivy and Chase. Silas has just retired from the NFL, is at loose ends, and borrows a friend’s house in the same town. The house is next door to Cooper’s. Silas doesn’t have the right winter gear and thinks he can walk to town in his inadequate gear to get groceries. He’s already met Cooper and they’ve exchanged numbers. A snowfall turns into a blizzard. Silas calls the taxi service, not knowing that the owner is out sick. He calls Cooper, almost unconscious. Cooper takes him home to his house, knowing that he needs to get Cooper warm and hydrated and out of his wet clothes. Cooper insists he stay there. Silas is in the closet, but definitely bi, and they spend several days with each other. They have to be circumspect in town but are spending lots of time together, even when Silas goes back to his friend’s house. People in the town know. They dance around commitment. Silas is offered a last season in the NFL in Boston. They make it work long distance. There are dogs, there are barbeques, Silas coaches a flag football team, there’s sex. Silas never thought he’d get a family because he’d never be able to be out. Cooper and his kids are at a game, and after it’s over, still on the ice, the kids run up to Silas, Cooper comes to Silas. Silas tells Cooper he loves him, Cooper says the same, and they kiss. Remind you of something? Like, Heated Rivalry’s Scott and Kip? I really loved this book. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Forbidden Little Game by Raleigh Ruebins 6/9/26 6/10/26 278 pages Kindle Unlimited

Stepbrothers, Noah is finally cleaning up his partying life and discovers that he wants to settle down. Torin is much more responsible, but is a nomad, moving around project by project. They end up on the same campus over the summer. They dance around each other, nominally enemies. There’s a threat against Noah which Torin protects him from. They get their HFN, which will eventually be a HEA. They’ll be bound together and be together when Torin comes home. The only thing that really irritated me is Torin’s repetitive mentioning of Noah’s scent. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.30* The Room I Paid For by Crea Reitan 6/6/10/26 6/10/26 82 pages Kindle Unlimited

I originally read this book in December of 2025 and gave it 3.5 stars. Here’s what I wrote then:

Gay for you short story has a luxury cabin double booked with Edries, who is straight, and Gabe, who is not. They can’t get another cabin because everything’s booked up, can’t get a room for one of them because the lodge is booked up. They irritate one another then captivate one another and by the time the snowplows make it to their cabin they are well on the way to falling in love. The title becomes a running joke between them. Edries’ children meet Gabe and they become one family. The ending is cute, when a year later the teenagers give them two onesies – one for Baby Brother and one for Baby Sister. They want a sibling, and it seems like that will happen before the next Christmas. Caveat emptor re sex.

I laughed and wiped tears out of my eyes. Sweet, strong, vivid writing. Two men who are so sad and make a happy life together. All this in only 82 pages.

2.50* Corporate Heat by Shea Moran 6/10/26 6/11/26 140 pages Kindle Unlimited

Amazon’s blurb:

JULIAN MERCER built a billion-dollar tech empire by hiding the one secret that could destroy everything.
He's an Omega.
In a world ruled by powerful Alphas, Julian has spent years suppressing his instincts, burying his biology, and proving that intelligence—not pheromones—belongs in the boardroom.
Then Damien Wolfe launches a hostile takeover.
Billionaire. Prime Alpha. Corporate predator.
Damien doesn't just want Julian's company.
He wants Julian.
When Damien uncovers the truth behind the Ice King CEO's carefully guarded identity, a ruthless business war becomes something far more dangerous. Trapped between shareholder battles, corporate sabotage, and an undeniable biological attraction, Julian finds himself facing the one opponent he cannot outmaneuver.
As suppressants begin to fail and tensions rise, Damien offers a deal that could save Julian's company—but accepting it may cost him the independence he's fought his entire life to protect.
Can the hidden Omega CEO resist the possessive Alpha determined to claim him?
Or will the wolf finally bring the Ice King to his knees?

When they first meet, Damien thinks mate, Julian doesn’t go that far, but is attracted. I finished it, but honestly, I actively dislike the words reverent or reverence and – you may not believe this – but there was actually too much sex. I know! They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re absolutely too much sex.

4.60* Primal Urges: Moccachoo series #3.5 by Felton Kingsley 6/11/26 6/11/26 99 pages Kindle Unlimited

There’s a lot to unpack in this novella. Hunter loves being a barista at a van he owns, which is near a football field. Two nights a week, a young man nicknamed Winks comes over to his van after practice. He tries to engage with Hunter, but Hunter refuses because Winks is a ‘cutie-twink’, nicknamed Vanilla Boy by the other rugby players. Hunter is a primal play … well… hunter. His van is located near a very large forested area, where he arranges primal play hookups. Winks ends up getting Hunter to chat with him and they share bits of themselves. Hunter looks forward to the after-practice visits. Winks wants more. He ends up following Hunter one night and realizes what his kink is and arranges an anonymous hookup with him. They play, Hunter eventually figures out who Winks is, and they get their HEA. It’s sweet and kinky. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.00* Human Omega Claimed by a Ruthless Alpha by Dorian Vale 6/11/26 6/11/26 192 pages mine

Dominic is a powerful alpha who has written a devastatingly honest and accusatory memoir about the death of his brother. He wants different art work than the publisher has offered and has a meeting with Elliot, an omega, a graphic designer. They meet at Dominic’s office and from the minute he meets Eliot, Dominic is attracted and lets Elliot know it. Elliot has been traumatized and is skittish and defensive and hiding from the world. After two public meetings, Dominic approves the artwork. In the meantime, Elliot is stalked and for some reason calls Dominic, probably because he knows deep down that Dominic can protect him without putting demands on him. Stalker activities escalate to outright attacks. Dominic moves Elliot into his penthouse. Elliot has a heat, they refrain although Dominic provides water and food and whatever else Elliot needs. Elliot moves in, they’re still searching for whoever is attacking Elliot. Elliot is also writing a graphic novel about his experience coming out and the issues an omega faces in an alpha-dominated world. It gets published and Elliot’s parents, who kicked him out when he presented as a gay omega, reach out. Elliot also turns up pregnant, both books are wildly successful, they get a baby, and a very sappy HEA. But, that’s the second reason I read smut – first, obviously, to read about (mostly female) versions of gay sex, and secondarily to always get the HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Runaway Pregnant Omega by MT Calder 6/11/26 6/12/26 166 pages Kindle Unlimited

Avren has hidden himself from being controlled by his family. He’s 20 weeks pregnant. Rovan, the father of the baby, finds Avren when there’s a crisis of succession. He does not know Avren is pregnant. Avren is extremely defensive about anybody trying to touch him, control his body or information about him or the baby. We keep hearing about keys and locks and circuits, and routes. There’s political finessing done to keep Avren happy, which includes keeping Avren’s family away from him and having Rovan give up several of his routes and sources of income. He does this. Eventually things settle down and the baby is born. This is another of those books that I read through a fog – no real descriptions of the people or the type of governments, fighting mafia houses. Avren is completely in control of everything, including every single touch that Rovan is allowed. Eventually that becomes a bond and the restrictions lift. Rovan will keep Avren and the baby safe. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* The Mark of Mine by Halle Dawson 6/5/26 6/13/26 231 of 400 pages Kindle Unlimited

Third in the Omegaverse series with Max, an omega, and his stepbrothers, all alphas, Alex, Bane, and Zero. By now they’ve all bonded with each other and are somehow, miraculously, keeping it from Max’s adoptive mother and ABZ’s father Richard, although they all live in the same house. It comes to a head one night when Max’s adoptive mother sees Max and Zero kissing on the front porch. She comes unglued and calls Richard downstairs. Richard tries to punch his son but Max gets in the way and gets clobbered. She takes Max with her to a hotel. Max does not want to leave but leaving with her now will, he hopes, calm the situation down. It doesn’t, and she plans on taking Max to her sister in another state. Max calls a friend, leaves the hotel, and nobody knows where he is. The brothers are going crazy trying to find him and discover that their stepmother has bought two tickets to Wisconsin. They are on their way to intercept them when they see Max sitting by the fountain in front of the house. He tells them that he's gone to the police to give all the information about the omega trafficking ring that took him (in book 2). He wants to be with them. His stepmother continues to Wisconsin, ABZ’s father is made to relinquish the business and shunned by them. All 4 live in another house together, happy as clams as Max returns to school and ABZ each do the work they love to support their definitely unorthodox family. I admit to skipping some of the middle, but I don’t feel that it caused me to miss any essentials. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Where There's a Will by Anna Sparrows 6/12/26 6/13/26 279 pages Kindle Unlimited

Connor and Will live in the same apartment complex. Connor is an event coordinator, Will, 49, is a firefighter. Connor, 32, has a sister Daisy who is pregnant. The father out of the picture. At seven months, she’s in an accident and Will’s called out. Connor is driving home from work and sees a car that can only be Daisy’s. He pulls over and comes unglued when he realizes that is Daisy. She’s taken to the hospital and Will offers to drive Connor. Daisy doesn’t survive the accident but her baby does, and per Daisy’s will and desires, Connor becomes her dad. He’s in way over his head, of course. One day of baby Victoria’s screaming brings Will downstairs. Will’s got twin sons aged 30 and baby stuff comes back to him quickly. Between them, they set up Victoria’s room and get a routine going (when Will’s not working) for feedings, sleeping, doctor’s appointments, etc. They’re both in love with the baby and are starting to fall in love with each other. The baby daddy shows up and contests guardianship and gets every other week visitation, which devastates both Connor and Will. They start coming to grips with it and the rest of the book is wonderful and I won’t spoil it any more than I already have. They fall in love, of course. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Silver (Fox) Linings by Anna Sparrows 6/13/26 6/13/26 103 pages Kindle Unlimited

Cody is meeting a hookup but it starts going wrong. He’s had a bit too much to drink and has barricaded himself in a bathroom stall. He tries to call his friend Silvia, but unintentionally text ‘Silver Fox’, his best friend’s dad. Kenneth goes out to rescue this unnamed and unidentified young man and is shocked when he gets there and has gotten rid of the Grindr guy to see that it’s his son’s best friend Cody. He takes Cody to his house, where he lets him sleep it off. In the morning, over coffee and breakfast, they discover that they both are avid fans of a fantasy series and start watching it every Friday night. Proximity turns into lust, and they start having a relationship. Kenneth is disturbed at the 19-year age gap, Cody less so, and they resolve that, and fall in love. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* What He Doesn't Know by Jason Pound 6/13/26 6/14/26 72 pages Kindle Unlimited

Greg is 21 and is on a hookup app as Jake. Keith is 52, nominally straight, but also on the same app as D. They start a chat and decide to meet up at a hotel 30 miles out of town. They really hit it off and end up meeting seven times before Christmas. Greg’s best friend Nate invites him to his dad’s house for Christmas. You can see where this is going… Greg is shocked and devastated but Keith doesn’t appear gobsmacked. The meal ends, Greg stays off the app for several weeks but agrees to meet Keith at a diner for coffee. Keith knew who Greg was the minute the door opened the first time, apologizes but doesn’t excuse not stopping things right there and identifying himself. Several more weeks down the road they realize that they can’t stop seeing each other. However, Greg needs for Nate to know and Keith insists it’s his job as Nate’s dad to do this. All sorts of angst, upset, and yelling, and Nate doesn’t talk to either for months. Eventually they recognize that it’s love not just sex, Nate agrees to meet with them, and it's easy to see how things will be painful yet ultimately grow into a new relationship between Nate, his dad, and Greg. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.80* Best of Both Worlds by NR Walker 6/14/26 6/15/26 101 pages mine reread

This is a reread. Here’s what I wrote in 2023:

This one has writing from the heart and I actually shed a few tears while reading it. Ryland has left his hometown after his parents reject him for being gay and he’s beaten to within an inch of his life. He is closeted, working in construction. Sebastian is local, out to his family but closeted elsewhere, and they meet at a club every Friday night. Eventually they meet on the job, and although Ryland is gun-shy, comes home with Sebastian. Sebastian’s family takes Ryland in. The brother who didn’t say anything when his parents rejected him reaches out, an comes to visit with his wife. They reconcile, but the parents are still out of Ryland’s life until he gets a devastating call. Funerals, car accidents, and healing are all part of this very special novella. Caveat emptor re sex.

All I want to add is that I would love to part of Sebastian’s family.

4.10* Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by Andie Elliott 6/14/26 6/15/26 45 pages Kindle Unlimited

Robert is an unwilling participant in his colleague/nemesis’s wedding and has hired a fake boyfriend for the event. They’re in the elevator together when it stops abruptly. Jamie’s chaotic and has ripped his pants – Robert has a sewing kit on him. They’re kissing when the elevator starts back up and opens to photographers and the flash of bulbs. There’s implication of a future romance. It was sweet and the characters were developed for a short story. I particularly liked that Jamie knew how to sew, being as he’s a theater major.

1.50* Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell 6/15/26 6/15/26 106 pages mine

Hot mess, more like. Nathan’s having a drink at a bar when a hot guy comes up to him and they hook up in the bathroom. Next day, Nathan is horrified to discover that Sasha is his new boss. This is not a bad premise, but they both act irrationally, they both act stupidly, and they both act unprofessionally. They’re off in Sasha’s cabin when Sasha gets the new that his company has burned to the ground. Another gay employee, jealous of Nathan, has done the deed. Sasha relocates, they announce their relationship. Ugh. Just, ugh. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Worst.Christmas.Ever.LOCKED by Casey Cox 6/15/26 6/16/26 83 pages Kindle Unlimited

This is really sweet and cute. Darby is given unlimited credit at a fancy Rodeo Drive boutique. He swans in about 20 minutes before closing, picks a few pair of pants and a shirt or two, and goes into the very fancy dressing room. Kip, the owner, noticed Darby when he went into the dressing room. When he tries to come out, the door won’t open. It’s a fancy electronic door, and the mechanism has failed. Darby panics. Kip assures Darby that he has the override key in his office, and sings all the way there and back so Darby can focus on something. The key does not work. Kip calls Mitch, the maintenance supervisor, to bring the master key over, but Mitch is doing crowd control for Taylor Swift. Kip stays to keep Darby from spiraling, and they talk about all sorts of things. In the meantime, a joke gift/sex toy rolls out from underneath the door. Kip asks if Darby will use it, Darby does. Kip is a Dom, Darby is a sub… Mitch finally shows up, Darby is rescued, and they realize they want to start a relationship. On MLK Day they move in together, Valentine’s Day Kip proposes. What I really liked is that Kip is a former famous model. He has given up the body sculpting, the fillers, the makeup, coloring his hair, and is just an incredibly sexy and real silver fox. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Knocked Up By the Groomsman by Bella Bennet ** 56 pages

Caleb is a wedding planner, Declan is a groomsman at one of the events Caleb is working. Caleb breaks his own rule and has a hookup with Declan at the reception. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Leak Between Us by Maya Collins ** 74 pages

Liam is housesitting at his jet-setting parents’ house. There is a leak, things get damaged. Enter Mason, a plumber, who fixes the leak but also sees that there is more water damage than initially thought. Does Liam get in touch with his parents? No. Does Mason seem to need money right away? No. I didn’t care to finish it.

**abandoned A Match Made in Evan by Anna Sparrows ** 48 pages

James asks his friend Evan to pretend to be his boyfriend so as to present a stable family life so James’s daughter can get into a performing arts high school. Lying, and etc. I do not mind lying, but this one just seemed ridiculous.

**abandoned Under Broken Stars by Atreus Rosewood ** 124 pages

Nick is the son of a rancher and his wife. They owe the Mafia 4 million dollars. They can either pay, lose the farm, or give Dante their daughter in marriage. Really squirrely. It gets more squirrely when Dante, gay, insists that he marry Nick instead. Nick agrees. He is supremely pissed off about this and does the bare minimum to help Dante learn the running of the ranch. They do spend time fixing fences and managing the herd. One cow, part of the new herd Dante’s bought, tries to go for Nick when he’s been thrown from his horse. The cow starts charging again, and Dante stands in front of Nick, gets trampled, and nearly dies. He protected Nick because Nick is his. Okay. Where I stopped reading was after Dante comes home from the hospital and is on bedrest for 6 weeks for broken ribs and etc. Nick has to work the ranch and leaves Dante to take care of himself although he can hardly walk. The pain killers are in the kitchen. Why? Dante can hardly walk. Why don’t the parents or the sister help with Dante? Here’s where I bailed. Caveat emptor re sex, although how Dante can participate with his injuries is another piece of the puzzle that I couldn’t fit into the whole.

**abandoned Booked Solid by Jace Wilder ** 317 pages

Buttoned-down Librarian Miles discovers that tattoed, loud, and insecure bartender Jax is trying to study for his GED using the Library’s outdated GED study guides. He helps him, guides him, builds special programs to help him, and along the way they start off hooking up then dating. There’s a conflict of interest with them, things get dicey, but we can see that they are going to get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. Oh, and Jax has a serious praise kink. Fun to read about.

4.40* Heartsmashed by Brooke Blaine 6/17/26 6/18/26 289 pages Kindle Unlimited

Sawyer’s boyfriend walks out one morning, gets rid of his phone. Three months later Sawyer’s mom’s are having a 35-year recommitment/wedding weekend, and Sawyer learns that his schmuck ex will be there on the arm of the moms’ friend. Sawyer ‘buys’ a weekend date and is supposed to meet him at a downtown lounge. The ‘date’ will be wearing a blue tie. Beckett is at the lounge to meet a hookup, who is coming on to a man who’s wearing a blue tie. Sawyer sees a single man wearing a blue tie at a table. He assumes the man is his ‘bought’ date and Beckett decides that Sawyer should take him instead of the sleaze who Sawyer’s actually hired. The weekend goes well, they start having feelings, the ex is aggressive, Sawyer finds out the Beckett is not the man he hired. It’s sweet and angsty and sexy. Good dialog, too. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.60* My Cursed Valentine by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 80 pages Kindle Unlimited

Min owns a flower shop in the same building as business partners Carter and Logan. Min has a crush on Logan, Logan has a crush on Min. Logan is a hookup kind of guy, Min has gotten dumped just before or on Valentine’s Day and is cursed. There’s a blizzard, and Min comes next door because his power’s out and he has no resources. Logan lets him in, and they talk and etc. One year later, Logan proposes – on Valentine’s Day. It’s sweet and Min and Logan are very appealing characters who deserve a bit of luck. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Airplane Crush by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 69 pages Kindle Unlimited

Elliott has been summoned home to meet the company’s new PR manager, Xander. His father owns a media company that is homophobic. Elliott is gay. On the plane, both his and another man’s seats are upgraded – we don’t officially know why but by the end of the novella we can figure it out. Elliott’s seatmate is Alex, and they are wildly attracted to one another and join the mile-high-adjacent club, planning on meeting the day after Elliott’s dinner with his mom, dad, and the new PR guy. We can see where this going, but it’s a pleasant ride getting there. Turns out Xander is Elliott’s Alex. Elliott spills wine on Xander’s shirt so he can take him upstairs for an explanation. When they come back down it makes more sense. Sweet and fun to read. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* Not Here for the Romance by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 73 pages Kindle Unlimited

Cameron overhears coworker Kyle make a comment that he thinks is disparaging and it’s instant enmity on his part. They’re both sent to woo a customer, and of course the hotel gives them a room with only one bed. The comment is explained, the hurt feelings gotten over, the attraction acted upon. Sweet and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* My Billionaire One Night Stand by Gaia Tate 6/18/26 6/18/26 90 pages Kindle Unlimited

Nico is in Tuscany to be in his sister’s wedding. The night before the rehearsal, he hooks up and things are fine. Nico spends the rest of the night. In the morning he discovers a gun under the pillow, freaks out, and leaves. It’s a comedy of errors, while he tries to figure out if Matteo is Mafia or not. Matteo convinces Nico that he’s ‘just’ a billionaire businessman. There’s a wedding, there’s attraction and a decision to date, but then Nico discovers a message on Matteo’s cell phone – he isn’t prying, just sees it lying face up when he’s looking for his clothes – and the message talks about ambushes and men dead. That’s the end. I like the novellas where there’s more that goes on after the story ends, and in this case, I can see more misunderstandings, Matteo probably being Mafia, and Nico having to figure out of that’s okay or not. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* Step Games by Jenny Pineapple 6/18/26 6/19/26 86 pages Kindle Unlimited

Oliver’s father marries Duarte’s mother and it’s instant war and vicious pranks between the stepbrothers. They are going to different colleges, but the clueless parents rent an apartment between the campuses so that they can live together, save money, and bond. They’re both livid. The parents’ housewarming gift to them? An air fryer. Duarte’s gift to Oliver? A sex toy. They both continue the pranks. One day Oliver sets it up so that Duarte is able to watch him use the sex toy in the shower, and things definitely change. The attraction overcomes the enemies’ bits. They eventually are together and eventually the parents find out when they show up unexpectedly and Duarte comes out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist, saying “Babe, do I smell coffee?” After the initial shock, the parents are okay with it. Caveat emptor re sex. I have to say that Jenny Pineapple’s novellas are always good, always vibrant, with strong emotions, and sexy sex scenes.

3.20* Protected by the Mafia Prince by Tyler M Belcher 6/19/6/19 107 pages Kindle Unlimited

Not vibrant, collapsed. Gray, if you will. Two dimensional, Cassian is the Mafia Prince, Theo is a forensic accountant kept in Cassian’s house as he researches internal embezzlement. Of course they get together, of course there’s danger. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Only for the Camera by Jenny Pineapple 6/19/26 6/19/26 155 pages Kindle Unlimited

Bobby is a successful cam boy. Eddie is a fireman. Bobby’s at a bar, Eddie sees that he has Labubu keychains on his backpack. I did not know what Labubu was, now I do. Bobby gets Eddie’s number and asks him if he’d collaborate. Firemen are hot, and he’s only asking for kiss. Eddie really needs the money because his sister always needs money for rent or the twins or a date or whatever. Eddie agrees, the kiss is hot, and Eddie earns almost $1000. Bobby wants to collaborate again, Eddie agrees. More money, all a secret because Eddie’s nominally straight. Things keep escalating on camera, feelings get involved, and after quite a bit of angst, Eddie comes out unintentionally over the firetruck’s comms system with his team. Nobody cares, he and Bobby get together, Eddie stands up to his sister, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Rebound My Alpha by Lexie Slater 6/19/26 6/20/26 122 pages Kindle Unlimited

Benji hooks up with Knox on a dating app and they spend the night. Knox leaves before Benji wakes up, doesn’t leave a note or anything, deletes his KnotMe profile, and ghosts Benji. Benji is traumatized by this, and 6 months later he creates a new profile and finds Knox’s new profile. He swipes right, Knox shows up and the attraction is still there and they realize they are fated mates. Benji is on again off again, eviscerating Knox verbally, other times in perfect harmony. Knox bonds Benji without his permission, there are fireworks from that, but soon Benji starts nesting – using clothes that smell like Knox’s scent in his bedroom. It takes time and compromise, but they eventually get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* My Father's Enemy by Jenny Pineapple 6/20/26 6/20/26 66 pages Kindle Unlimited

Mason is the only son of a mob boss but is a major disappointment because he’s gay. He’s sent to negotiate a contract with Vittorio’s mob to use the hotels for high-class escort services. Mason’s father has sent him with an insulting offer of only 10% of the profits. Vittorio is fascinated with Mason, and they go at it hammer and tongs until Mason gets a good contract. When the contract is agreed upon, they sit and drink wine and Vittorio offends Mason by implying he’s an escort, Mason clocks him on the jaw, then after the shock wears off, goes to Vittorio and kisses him. Things escalate and Mason spends the night and next day. Vittorio has never been with a man before, but is strongly attracted to Mason. Months later Vittorio meets Mason’s father and he approves of the relationship. As if he could force the issue, but still. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* My Fake Billionaire by Ana Ashley and Rhys Everly 6/20/26 6/20/26 70 pages mine

Denver has just come of a bad relationship and landed a job as the Barefoot Librarian, a vlog content creator on an island in the Seychelles. Will has been sent by his parents to start looking the island over to see if it can be part of their hotel chain. Over the course of several days, they bond over sunrises and have a strong attraction to one another. Denver’s horrible ex-boyfriend is on the island as the companion to a very rich old man and berates Denver as often as he can. Will steps in and says that he’s Denver’s boyfriend. Will’s horrible parents arrive, too, and abuse Denver to his face because he's not from their class. By the end Will’s bought the island so it can’t be destroyed by his family’s vision and he and Will are very happy. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.00* His First Alpha by Madeleine Grey 6/20/26 6/20/26 29 pages Kindle Unlimited

Elliott hasn’t presented as alpha or omega by the time he’s 23, so he assumes he’s a beta. He goes into heat and asks his best friend Noah, an alpha, to take care of during this time. So it’s basically 29 pages of sex and emotions, and amazement that two nominally straight men are the loves of each other’s lives. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.50* Little Red by Queenie Wise 6/20/26 6/21/26 413 pages Kindle Unlimited

Peter is a human high school senior, who lives in Climax, MI. I’d say this is ridiculous, but I live 32 miles from Climax, NC. Peter is bullied for being skinny and not an athlete, pressured by his father to be a football star. He has several good friends and lives a reasonable angsty teenage life. One night while he and his friends go to the local ‘haunted house’ on a dare, Peter’s grabbed and bitten on his ankle. One shoe is gone. He doesn’t think too much of it until his hearing and sense of smell become acute, and he is stronger. Most foods now repulse him, and he only wants to eat rare meat. You can see where this is going. He notices that his eyes glow gold several times but amazingly doesn’t think much of it. He comes home one evening. The house is trashed, his father is dying, his mother missing. Werewolf hunters are there to kill Peter and his family. Peter escapes but is tracked down by a wolf shifter and his pack of other shifters. He doesn’t know this yet, however. He fights it all the way and tries to escape yet Damon and his pack take Peter back to his pack house and the town they live in. Peter’s angry and confused. He goes to shifter HS, fights bullies there, too. By the end, he’s reconciled to his new life and the attraction between him and Damon has become strong enough that I’m sure that it will get addressed pretty quickly in the next book. I thought it well done because the teenage feelings and actions rang true. There are three books. Sigh. Caveat emptor an almost rape and implied almost sex.

3.80* The Wolf's Claim by Willy Stroker 6/21/26 6/21/26 40 pages Kindle Unlimited

Evan works dead end jobs, has a car on its last legs, and lives in a terrible apartment. He’s heard about something killing animals in the neighborhood. He goes out to sleep in his car one night so that he doesn’t have to listen to his female roommate and her hookup. He sees yellow eyes in the woods, is scared, but they disappear and a neighbor is walking home. He refuses to let Evan sleep in his car and offers his couch in the same apartment building. Evan accepts. Cal locks himself in his bedroom and Evan wakes up to growls and chains. Even jimmies the door open and there’s a werewolf in chains. They have very odd and rather impractical sex, given that Cal’s currently in his wolf state. I don’t understand how he doesn’t shred Evan’s skin because his claws are frequently mentioned. Turns out they are fated mates. Even seems easily reconciled to his new reality. Caveat emptor re the first time I remember reading about a shifter and human having sex while the shifter is in his animal form. A very vivid and well-written short story that works for me. Caveat emptor re werewolf/human sex.

4.20* Alpha's Scent by Jerry Nicholas 6/21/26 6/21/26 126 pages Kindle Unlimited

Ethan has fled his powerful and demanding family in order to be an omega not confined to being bonded and popping out pups. He is now the successful owner of a Starbucks-type coffeehouse. The town he lives in is a combination of shifters and humans, although the humans are ignorant of the paranormal in their midst, and he’s developed a brew that works with shifters, who need extra boosts of caffeine. One day Kenneth and his Army buddy Wyatt come into the coffeehouse and Kenneth immediately recognizes his fated mate, who he was blackmailed into leaving by Ethan’s father many years previously. Kenneth and Ethan have sex. Kenneth breaks off a friends-with-benefits relationship with Wyatt, who sacrifices himself because he loves Kenneth and Kenneth’s happiness with his fated mate overrides Wyatt’s love for a man who doesn’t love him. They are both kicked out of the Army. Wyatt tells Kenneth that Ethan’s pregnant with Kenneth’s baby. They start a life together. Kenneth works in the shop, Ethan grows with his baby, and one night Ethan’s parents, who he hasn’t seen and who have shunned him call to say they are at the airport and are coming to take him home to help raise the baby. Kenneth and Ethan go to the airport, bring them home, explain that that’s just not going to happen. The parents come around. Interestingly, the last 3 chapters are about Ethan’s father George’s illicit alpha-alpha relationship with what turns out to be Kenneth’s father/wife. It was interesting but not necessary. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Rescuing the Writer by Nora Phoenix 6/21/26 6/22/26 73 pages Kindle Unlimited Waylon and Melbourne

Waylon is a deputy sheriff in a small town. He’s out but has no experience. Melbourne is a successful writer whose RV’s engine’s caught fire. Waylon gets there first, puts it out, gets it towed, and since all the hotels are booked up for miles around, offers to let Melbourne stay at his house. Over the next several days they are attracted to each other. Melbourne offers sex to give virgin Waylon experience, no strings attached. Well, strings develop (*smirk*) and they eventually fall in love and get their HEA. This is one of those books where a virgin miraculously has the expert bedroom skills of a man 20 years his senior. Yeah, right. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Accidental Donor by Kay Marie ** 72 pages

OMG. Theo, an alpha billionaire, had testicular cancer and insured that he’d be able to have heirs via surrogate or IVF later in his life. Oliver, an omega, isn’t in a relationship and doesn’t see himself getting into a relationship. He’s 27 and wants a child, so he buys a donor’s sperm from a highly rated service. He gets pregnant with twins. Theo learns that instead of being identified to be saved, his sperm has been classified as available. Oliver, of course, choose this package out of many hundreds. They find out, they meet, and it goes from there. It’s an absolute butchering of syntax spelling, and punctuation. Words are missing from sentences and words used are incorrectly.

”So he’s beautiful?” My mom laughed.
I was confused until I looked at nearby mirror and saw that I had been blushing (no period)
“Don’t make fun of the poor boy. It’s been like 5 years since the whole Lewis fiasco”, Dad choked in.
“Hey, don’t mention that devil in my house. How dare that man leave our son in his time of need because he didn’t want to be with a poor man? Ugh. I feel like the air is contaminated. I’ll have my shaman come over later to do a cleanse of the house” Mom half yelled while being very serious.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. I’m amazed I stuck it out for 72 pages.

2.00* Brutal Harvest by CJ Wilder 6/22/26 6/22/26 89 pages Kindle Unlimited

Finn is living on the ranch his stepfather owns, although his stepfather has just died. His stepbrother Colt is called home for the reading of the will. Colt is mean and mad at the world. I don’t know why I finished this. 89 pages of threats and longing and vulgarity and inconsistencies, no context for why they hated each, no context for why the father/stepfather required them to both live on the ranch so everything won’t go to charity. By the end it’s all lovey dovey. Not to mention that there were repeat paragraphs, and repeat half pages. There were the same scene done a bit differently, like the author didn’t know what he/she wanted but forgot to take out the one not wanted. Just sloppy. Caveat emptor re rough sex.

3.60* Claimed by Accident by River Thorne 6/22/26 6/22/26 161 pages Kindle Unlimited

Owen is hanging out at the end of the bar in a club. Felix has come to the club because home is too quiet. They hook up in the bathroom and Felix makes the huge, unforgivable mistake of biting/claiming Owen. Owen is flipped out and angry for a long time. Relatively shallow, but it turns out that the marketing company that Felix co-owns with his brother is working on an ad campaign for Owen’s company. Felix helps Owen through a heat by simply caring for him, nothing more. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Seven Year Secret by River Thorne 6/22/26 6/23/26 292 pages Kindle Unlimited

Elliot is an event planner, owns his own company. He plans the 65th birthday party for a prominent member of society. The owner’s son AJ and Elliot are wildly attracted to each other and hook up in a coat closet during the event. *eye roll* Elliot turns up pregnant, fears that AJ and his billionaire family are going to take the baby. He literally shuts his business down and goes into hiding. Seven years later he’s returned with his six-year old daughter, who is the spitting image of her father. Elliot is hired by AJ’s sister to plan her wedding after her planner quits at the last minute and Elliot has to take his daughter to the estate when school’s closed and his babysitter can’t take her. He parks her in a quiet room to draw and color. AJ’s there to support his sister, not realizing Elliot is the planner. He sees a door cracked, goes in, sees a little girl who has his eyes and names Elliot as her father. He sees Elliot and has finally found him after looking for him for years. They become a little family at Elliot’s small apartment. He refuses to let AJ change her schools or even let his family know about her until he can give Elliot assurances that the family will not take her. Of course, once his mother sees her she tries to, immediately mentioning lawyers. AJ says no. AJ says no to Mandarin lessons, horseback riding lessons, a fancy new school, moving her into the family home. He sticks with Elliot and they become a family. AJ’s mother comes around and Elliot and AJ get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

239. 4.60* His to Protect by River Thorne 6/23/26 6/23/26 259 pages Kindle Unlimited

Alec is an artist who paints whimsical and eccentric pictures. Think seven-foot iguanas eating chocolate cake. He has a successful business with many collectors who commission his works. He’s hired Camden through a heat services company to take care of him during these times. Camden services many omegas to help them through their heats. He’s an ex-cop and has feelings for Alec. Alec has feelings for Camden but they keep their feelings private. Alec’s ex, Garrett, has a sex tape that he has used to extort $80K from Alec. Alec tells Camden, who is there the next time the ex comes a’calling. There’s a legal case to be made, Camden’s a large and intimidating alpha, too. The ex is thwarted and eventually prosecuted. Alec’s fear about how his clients will reject him is unfounded. Feelings come out, Camden moves in. He’s encouraged by Alec and others to get his PI license. Happiness, humor, and belly-laugh conversations. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Knot and Order by Jamie Kassel 6/23/26 6/24/26 151 pages Kindle Unlimited

David is an omega, pretending to be a beta. His family did not respect him, the only omega son, and he fled when he was young. His anger at the world, at the entitlement of alphas and abuse of omegas has him lashing out irrationally at Michael. Michael is an alpha, of course, but a very low-key caring alpha. However, David does not see Michael as he really is and feels threatened by him. They’re assigned to work together on a case, and one will be offered a partnership afterward. They head off to Kentucky to talk to witnesses. Things get heated between them, and after they fly back home they go to David’s house and have sex. They’re told the case went well and each is to write up what he brought to the case so that the partners can make a decision. Michael’s feelings for David cause him to find another job, quitting so that David will make partner. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Omega's Heat by River Ryan 6/24/26 6/24/26 63 pages Kindle Unlimited

Benji is a dishwasher, Mercer works for a security company and lives upstairs from Benji. There’s a blizzard. The power goes out, the water goes out. Benji hadn’t charged his cell phone, AND he’s going into heat. Mercer has come downstairs to give Benji some food. He recognizes Benji’s in heat, he helps him through it. He goes out of town for what is supposed to be a short business trip but extends to a month. Benji thinks Mercer has abandoned him. He’s pregnant. When Mercer comes home, Benji tells him he’s pregnant. Mercer’s all in. They have a daughter named Poppy – one of my favorite names ever. They buy a bookstore. Mercer wanted to call it I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie, but Benji overrides him and it’s called The Book Nook. Benji’s sweet, Mercer’s a strong alpha, and they are in love and have a wonderful relationship. Caveat emptor re sex.

1.30* Trapped by the Alpha by Lyndon Land 6/24/26 6/24/26 158 pages Kindle Unlimited

Toby is a college student, a human being tormented by a shifter named Liam. Liam is the son of the pack Alpha Mason. Mason sees Toby being bullied and decides that he has to have Toby in his life in his bed and Toby everywhere. Toby is also being pursued by a group of shifters for how he can be leveraged into spying on one of his professors. Toby is forced to live at Mason’s house to keep him safe. Serious dubcon. All’s well that ends well. I had abandoned this one but decided to finish it. I don’t exactly regret finishing it, but 1.3* means that it barely passed the threshold. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Killer Love by Onley James 6/24/26 6/24/26 123 pages Kindle Unlimited

Kota’s having a bad day. He’s hitched a ride with a long-haul trucker at a rest stop. Unfortunately, before they can get on the road, the trucker tries to kill him and a man comes up to the cab and kills the trucker. The man, Walker, hauls Kota out while he decides where and how to kill him. First of all, he has to clean the cab, dispose of the body, and etc. He takes Kota with him although he doesn’t know what to do with him. However, as a day or two goes by and he sees how sweet and vulnerable and needy Kota is, he decides that Kota is his. He lets Kota meet other contract killers, and the partner of one of them becomes Kota’s friend. Laugh out loud conversation, two wounded men who find each other. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.50* Blocked by KC Lawson 6/24/26 6/25/26 163 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jonah is an omega masking as a beta. Duncan is an alpha managing the company bearing his name. He gives Jonah the plum assignment of the largest project for the company to date. Jonah’s to work directly with Duncan. He starts working killer hours and the timing is bad. After 6 years, his suppressants start failing. He gets a higher dosage from his doctor. In the meantime, Duncan has smelled an omega in the building but doesn’t know who it is. He starts playing detective. In the project site’s trailer he confirms that Jonah is the omega. Jonah has a breakthrough heat and Duncan has a breakthrough rut. They’re fated mates, get married, and Jonah is pregnant. Even before Duncan realizes that Jonah is the omega, he has started working with his HR department to change their DEI policies to stop excluding omegas from positions of authority and power. The architectural planning, load bearing, concrete requirements, cantilevering, terracing, and extra expense offset by allowing increased purchase prices and etc. fascinated me. It's left with them moving in together waiting for the birth of their child and the acknowledgement that Jonah’s an omega and Duncan’s mate. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.70* Buckled and Barefoot by Bella Bennet 6/25/26 6/26/26 163 pages Kindle Unlimited

Finn has legally broken the bond with his alpha and flees to a small town in Montana. Colt has a mare in distress. Finn’s the closest vet and saves the mare and her foal. Finn and Colt are immediately attracted to one another. Finn fights it because it’s too soon, he doesn’t trust it, doesn’t want another alpha’s control issues, and he’s afraid of his ex finding him. Finn’s ex finds him because of his vet’s license and starts harassing him with phone calls and texts. Finn’s pregnant with Colt’s twins, the ex escalates his harassment, and the town rallies around them and the ex is arrested. They get their HEA and a boy and a girl. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* Bloodline Mandate by FR Locke 6/26/26 6/27/26 363 pages Kindle Unlimited

Evern is the highly controlled pawn/son/omega of a mob boss. The Don of Chicago, Thayer, and Evern’s father are irrevocable enemies, and they’ve been at war for the last ten years. The council that controls the families in their area decrees that Evern and Thayer get married. Big church, made men from each organization, the vows are said and rings exchanged. There’s immediately gunfire. Thayer covers Evern’s body with his and gets him safely out of the church back to his compound. There have been betrayals all around, Evern and Thayer are attracted to one another, and they’re both under attack. It eventually comes to a head. The organizations are merged, bad influences neutralized, and they are bonded physically, emotionally, and as ne organization. Without a doubt both of them are morally gray characters. The weirdest thing I noticed was the inconsistency of Thayer’s wedding band. Evern always wore a heavy signet with Thayer’s family’s crest, but Thayer’s ring kept bouncing between a platinum band or gold band. However, the book was good. Lots of violence, sex, political machinations. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* Unclaimed by River Thorne 6/27/26 6/27/26 238 pages Kindle Unlimited

Kieran rejected his fated mate Damon when he was 25 and Damon was 17. Damon is still traumatized and bitter. Kieran and Felix own a marketing company and hire Damon. Felix does this to get them together, but it’s not immediately obvious. Damon can hardly bear to be around Kieran. He’s been on suppressants for 5 years and it’s beginning to take a physical toll on him. He goes into heat and retires to his room at his parents’ house. His parents are worried, get in touch with Keiran, and Kieran comes over and takes care of Damon without sex or bonding. He’s his alpha and provides soothing pheromones. He does this amother time, and Damon mostly forgives him. It’s not easy for them, but they do get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.80* The Don's Omega by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/28/26 227 pages Kindle Unlimited

Elia has been searching for his brother Luca for 6 months, needing money to continue the search. He has gone to a service that provides relief to alphas in rut. He is given a 4-day assignment with Don Lorenzo, head of the Castellani family in Naples, a Mafia family. He’s there for the 4 days and it profoundly affects him and Lorenzo. Lorenzo gives him his private phone number in case Elia ever needs it. One night Elia has tracked down a warehouse that is staging stolen omega and betas to be trafficked. He is convinced that his brother, Luca, is there. Unfortunately, he’s seen, chased, and escapes, but only after he stabs one of the men and gets a deep cut on his shin. He calls Lorenzo, who goes to him. Lorenzo mounts an operation to rescue all the taken ones. He and his men go in and kill all the guards, and then Elia comes in and finds his brother. All are taken to Lorenzo’s compound where they’re fed, treated, and eventually returned to family or placed. Luca is given one of the cottages on the estate. Elia is told that Lorenzo’s younger brother Mattia was stolen 17 years previously. Lorenzo and Elia bond, and Lorenzo funds a foundation, the Mattia Foundation, to help omegas and betas who need free services. One day a 30-year-old man walks in and gives his name as Mattia. As soon as Elia sees him he sees Lorenzo’s face. Mattia had escaped from Paris, slowly worked his way home, but feared that his brother would be disgusted with him and refuse to acknowledge him. Not true, and the book ends with Mattia and Lorenzo holding on to one another in the portico while Elia and the driver, Aldo, go into the house. Oh my. Kleenex time. This is a love story, a trafficking story, and a story of brothers. It’s almost painful to write about because the emotions between Elia and Lorenzo are scent compatible from the first, and they quickly come to an agreement after they start trying to free Luca. They bond, they marry, and it’s a pleasure to see two men who never conflict, never fight, are in almost complete harmony over everything. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.80* An Heir for the Don by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/28/26 199 pages Kindle Unlimited

Marco is the son of a discredited and deceased Mafia Don, whose holdings have been distributed among other families. Marco’s college fund evaporates, but he’s given scholarships and finishes. He becomes a forensic accountant, barely scraping by, happy to not be involved in mob activities. Vincenzo is being pressured by his family to marry and get an heir. He’s refused all the women and men he’s met and asks after Marco. They meet, there is chemistry, there’s a heat, there’s a pregnancy. They’re both happy, although Marco is insecure about being good enough for Vincenzo. Lots of repetitive insecurities, some family snobbery and calling Marco a gold digger. Alls well that ends well, pregnancy, marriage, child, Marco fitting into the organization as a forensic accountant. A touch twee. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70 Forged in Bad Faith by Marian Black 6/28/26 6/29/26 105 pages Kindle Unlimited

Luca is the omega son of a Mafia Don. He is an expert in forgeries and spends most of his days in this pursuit. Damiano, an alpha, is the son of another Mafia Don. The two fathers agree that their sons should marry. Neither expects any different from life – marry as the family requires you to. They meet, nothing special happens. However, at another event, where Luca is the only omega surrounded by 40 alphas, he is given a spiked drink which induces heat. He's in danger on all sides, but Damiano gets to him first, asks him if he can walk. He takes him upstairs, and he barricades them in a bedroom. Heat + an alpha means that they anticipate the marriage vows. Luca goes home, Damiano goes to his home. However, Luca is moved into Damiano’s home soon after. Damiano provides a perfect environment for Luca’s forgery workshop – lighting, ventilation, tables, and etc. Luca is charmed. They meet for meals occasionally. The wedding hasn’t been set. Luca turns up pregnant, of course, and they grow closer as they live together and with a baby on the way. Luca figures out who spiked his drink, there’s retribution, and there’s marriage and parental joy for them. Cavet emptor re sex.

3.40* Defiantly Claimed by River Thorne 6/30/26 6/30/26 205 pages Kindle Unlimited

I gave it .4* more than it would have otherwise deserved because I loved Sully’s personality and how he was so patient and careful of Micah’s insecurities and family history. Micah is Kieran and Felix’s cousin – their stories are in Unclaimed and Claimed by Accident. He has sacrificed everything to pursue his goal of double major and working for a large corporation doing biological research. He’s an omega and ultimately is not surprised that he’s rejected. He’s devastated by it, though. His single mother has sacrificed for him too. His barista job is not covering the bills on his and his mother’s apartment. His mother gets in

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
6/27/26 6/30/26
4.95*



From Amazon:

Oprah’s Book Club Pick * A New Yorker Best Book of 2025 * 2026 Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist * A Kirkus Best Book of 2025 * A Real Simple Best Book of 2025 * Washington Post Notable Fiction 2025 * NPR’s 2025 “Books We Love”
“I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!”—Oprah Winfrey
“The most of-the-moment novel I’ve read all year, and it’s the book of the summer.”—Real Simple
“If you want an engaging novel sure to spark great discussion about that thorny AI future, this is it.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post
“A gripping, impossibly timely thriller.”—NPR, “Books We Love”

A suspenseful family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.

When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.

During a weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Noah tries to hold the family together as a seemingly routine police investigation jeopardizes Charlie’s future. Alice and Izzy turn strangely furtive. And Lorelei’s odd behavior tugs at Noah’s suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident—suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. When Charlie falls for Monet’s teenaged daughter, the stakes are raised even higher in this propulsive family drama that is also a fascinating exploration of the moral responsibility and ethical consequences of AI.

Culpability explores a world newly shaped by chatbots, autonomous cars, drones, and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging, and unimaginably provocative.

Why I wanted to read it: Kim mentioned that she was going to read it for her RL book club in June. I remembered that I bought it for my Kindle last September, and decided to give it a go. One false start, but oh my. Once I started it on Saturday, that’s all she wrote. Well. All he wrote, actually.

Told from the viewpoint of Noah, this book describes a family already falling apart, already at the end of an era with Charlie going off to college in the fall.

The book is divided into 5 sections: Glitch, Interface, Cipher, Entanglement, Containment, each with a quote from a paper or book written by the mother, Lorelei Shaw. There is an Epilogue.

Noah is the glue, the structure, that holds the family together although he does not realize this. He is a mass of insecurities and inferiorities, even though he has a very respectable job. He’s not as smart as his wife or her siblings and is made to feel it whenever they’re together.

His wife, Lorelei, is brilliant and is a world leader in AI philosophy and implementation. She relies on Noah to make her life run smoothly to free her up for the stratosphere of philosophy and technology that she operates in. Shoes lined up, things sorted in pantries and on shelves. The children have always been brought up this way since Noah and Lorelei are college sweethearts. They’ve always been it for each other.

Noah watches as the police circle around Charlie in order to assign blame for how the accident happened. He begins to realize that Lorelei’s professional life is broader than he knows. The family comes under the thrall of a tech/AI billionaire. Things happen on the family vacation. Mobile phones and the computers from the family’s AI minivan are pulled and threaten various family members.

Vivid and believable characters, the type of convoluted plot that reminds me of The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, where one wrong turn by the protagonist, Sherman McCoy, unleashes unimaginable repercussions.

Six word summary: AI the impetus, family in crisis.

Whew! You did an almighty job getting that lightning round up on the first, Karen!!! Congrats! Hope you get to read something!!!!!

I forgot to put my Wordle up, so I'd better go back to do that. 4 for me; congrats on your 3!!! (I seem to be loving semi-colons today. ?????)

>175 karenmarie: Hmmm... I wasn't sure about that one, but your review is compelling. I wonder if I should suggest it for our book club next year. They're soliciting suggestions right now.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Great Lightning Round and great review of Culpability. I also loved the book and made me an instant fan of the author. My daughter listened to the audiobook and felt the same way. I have an early chiropractic visit and then I think I will play indoors today. The Heat Dome continues...

>'Morning, Peggy! Given that I read 57 and abandoned 11, I'm proud that I made it on the first. I continued reading a book about a bipolar man and the man who loves him and keeps persevering, and started a book about two immoral men, both serial killers, ...a dark, codependent M/M romance featuring a bratty, submissive twink and the dark, dangerous man he wants to attract. Check your morals at the door, because neither of these men have any. HEA. No cliffhanger. Standalone. I seem to be in a rather dark mood...

>177 atozgrl: Hi Irene. I don't know how you vet books to recommend to your book club, but Amazon has 19540 ratings, avg 4.4 and Goodreads has 83954 ratings, avg 4.0. Plus, of course, 3.92 avg on LT.

>178 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Thanks re my Lightning Round and review. I envy you the chiropractic appointment. My last 3 experiences of chiropractic with two different chiropractors left me worse off had I not gone. That's never happened since I started chiropractic in 1971 and I'm a combination of bereft and not inclined to find another chiropractor. I hope indoor PB goes well. Ugh to the heat dome. It will get to 99F here today, and the next four days will be triple digits.

I saw a Downy, a Red-Bellied, and a Carolina Chickadee on the suet feeder and have a male Indigo Bunting on the wild bird seed feeder.

Wordle 1,839 5/6* trope, eking, unwed, hymen, maven Not one of the original 2,309.

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Homework finished. Stats, Lightning Round, AND my review of Culpability published.

We watched
England pull out a last-minute win against Congo DR
Belgium pull out a last minute win against Senegal - I watched the last 30 minutes or so
USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-9, the last 26 minutes with only 10 men

I continued reading smut, talked with Karen, and doomscrolled. I got about 6.5 hours of sleep.

...
Reading, replenishing the bird feeders and bird bath.

I might watch Spain v Austria at 3 p.m., and/or Portugal v Croatia at 7 p.m. I will not stay up for Switzerland v Algeria at 11 p.m.

It's already 85.3F, humidity 66%, going to a high of 99F, heat index 104F.

>179 karenmarie: It's already over 90° here and I'm honestly afraid to check the humidity! I poked a toenail out the entry doors, hit the wall of heat, turned around to come right back in before the automatic doors had even closed. Marquese and Clarissa from Security laughed at me, but when my body says "nuh-uh" I listen. I only get into trouble when I don't so lesson learned!

My plan for the day is to STAY STILL and drink plenty of water. (Hmmmm. Those two are a bit incompatible, aren't they?)

>179 karenmarie: You posted ratings of the same book for Irene, and LT's was the lowest. I've found that to be consistently true although I never check GoodReads. That's another thing I like about this place: more discriminating readers! Of course, I like a lot of junk that nobody ranks highly, but that's another subject.

Enjoy your day, (((((Karen)))))!

Here's the Fourth of July readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385250

>180 richardderus: Smart, RD! When faced with a wall of heat, retreat. *smooch*

>181 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! Ha. Minimize effort and drink plenty of water.

The only reason I post Goodreads ratings is because they are on the Amazon page, and I'm always stunned at how many more there are, usually by orders of magnitude.

Wordle 1,840 4/6* trope, outgo, motif, baton. Used on Dec 19, 2021.

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I replenished bird feeders, cleaned and refilled the bird bath, did a load of laundry and put ALL the clean laundry up.

I also read and watched some, but not much, soccer. Stayed up way too late, got up way too early.

...
Nothing planned for today except to stay in. The weather report is 101F with a heat index of 107F. Tomorrow? 104F with a heat index of 110F.

I got about 4 hours of sleep, so napping will be part of my day. Reading, of course. I was going to put a small order in at the grocery store, but don't want to be out in this nastiness and don't want anybody to go out into it on my behalf.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Wow! You are dealing with some nasty weather too. Keep cool, my friend. We are planning to go the Cubs game this afternoon, but there is more stormy weather arriving so we will see. Sue is up in MI for the holiday weekend so me and Juno are holding down the fort.

>183 karenmarie: I've got my a/c cranked, my blinds shut, and my feet elevated. Apart from collecting my grocery order at 5.30, I'll go down for lunch, then dinner, and to hell with the rest. Federal holiday = no mail, no offices open, nothing happening except dangerous heat.

I'll listen to some Attenborough compilations on BBC's YouTube channel when I need to doze later. *aaah* This is the life.

I hope the heat that is punishing the eastern US finally gets finished and moves on (preferable not westward though).

Hope you sleep A LOT BETTER tonight, Karen. I'm worn out from not getting my new phone activated after working on it all day long. May tomorrow be a better day!