December Reads & 2013 Year-End Recap

My last monthly recap of 2013 and then I will be done with the year!

In December, I read a few new releases, but mostly I picked up books from my TBR, some of them from the beginning of the year, and others from 2012. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I was on vacation for two weeks and am still catching up with my December reviews. Nevertheless here is my list:

Total Books Read in December 2013: 24

Contemporary Romance: 6
Historical Romance: 1
Contemporary Women's Fiction: 1
Science Fiction: 2
Non-Fiction: 1
Mainstream Contemporary Fiction: 3
LGBT: 10



Favorite Book of the Month:

Tenth of December by George Saunders: A-

Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane: A-
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout: B+
The Birthday of the World: and Other Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin: B+
The One That Got Away by Kelly Hunter: B+
Sweet & Sour by Astrid Amara: B+
The Haunted Heart: Winter by Josh Lanyon: B+
Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon: B+
Love A Little Sideways (Kowalski #7) by Shannon Stacey: B
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris: B
The Sum of All Kisses (Smythe-Smith #3) by Julia Quinn: B
A Familiar Beast by Panio Gianopoulos: B
Fall Hard by J.L. Merrow: B
I Spy Something Bloody by Josh Lanyon: B
Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson: B-
I Spy Something Wicked: B-
The Kassa Gambit by M.C. Planck: C
I Spy Something Christmas: C
The House on Main Street by Shirlee McCoy: C
All She Wants for Christmas (Kent Brothers #1) Jaci Burton: C
A Rare Gift (Kent Brothers #2) Jaci Burton: C-
The Best Thing (Kent Brothers #3) Jaci Burton: C-
Try (Temptation #1) by Ella Frank: D
Secrets & Ink by Lou Harper: D
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2013 YEAR-END RECAP:

I read more in 2013 than I have in the past few years. I suspect the reason is that due to my crazy schedule and stressful family issues, my blogging took a hit during the second half of the year. I needed every single minute of my spare time to relax and I made a conscious decision to spend that time reading. Fortunately, that led me to read loads of great books!

Total Books Read: 222 (including rereads)
Total New Books Read: 212
   LGBT (all categories): 76
   Contemporary (includes romance & fiction: 53
   Historical (includes romance & fiction): 23
   Paranormal Romance: 6
   Urban Fantasy: 19
   Sci-Fi/Fantasy: 27
   Non-Fiction: 3
   Poetry: 5

Grades:
A= 27
B= 117
C= 56
D= 13

My numbers always surprise me at the end of the year. I'm not surprised that my LGBT numbers are the highest, but I read more contemporary romance and fiction than expected, and my science fiction/fantasy and urban fantasy numbers really went up in 2013. Unfortunately, my historical romance numbers are way down. That number up there is combined with historical fiction! When it comes to grades, I dished out more A's, C's and D's in 2013 than in previous years, however, not surprisingly, the B's have the highest number.

I'm not really setting specific goals for myself for the coming year. If possible, I would just like to get back to my regular blogging schedule of three or four times per week. As far as reading goes, I will continue to read where my mood takes me, I can't do anything else. :)

That's it for my 2013 yearly recap. On to 2014!

Thank you all for your continued support.

Hilcia

November 2013: Reads & Minis

November means rainy days, Thanksgiving, the end of Fall and my youngest niece Natalia's birthday! She is now one year old. That's her  picture, wearing her father's hat during our family's Thanksgiving get-together. She's a hoot!

November is also a cozy reading month with all the cold, rainy days, and early evenings. This is the time of year when I begin to crave holiday books, science fiction, and romance. This year, November turned out to be a mixed bag. Half of my reads were average or below average, but I also read some fantastic books. Following is a list with comments.

Total books read: 21
Contemporary: 10 (Fiction: 2, Romance: 4, Erotica: 4)
Historical Fiction: 3 (Romance: 1, Erotica: 1)
Historical Nonfiction: 1
Paranormal Romance: 1
Science Fiction: 1
LGBT: M/M Romance: 4
Literary Fiction (Reread): 1

Top November Reads:

Duke of Midnight (Maiden Lane #5) by Elizabeth Hoyt: A
With a strong heroine, a brooding hero, and a great plot, this book became one of my favorite in this already favorite historical romance series by Hoyt.

Now or Never (A Last Time Romance) by Logan Belle: A
Highly recommended by Wendy, Now or Never is the first in a new contemporary erotic romance series by Logan Belle, an author whose works I've enjoyed in the past. This is a fantastic story that became an instant favorite. I wrote a mini, or you can read the review that convinced me to pick up the book in the first place at The Misadventures of Super Librarian.

The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin: A
Ursula K. Le Guin is a new-to-me author within the science fiction genre and believe me, I am already a fan! Her prose is fantastic, and the core this story kept me riveted. This is not your typical forceful, action packed, science fiction, but a slowly built masterpiece. This book is from Le Guin's backlist, but definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion: B+
I picked up The Rosie Project after reading Leslie's review at Leslie's Psyche. I didn't know at the time that this was quite the popular read! I'm glad I picked it up because it turned out to be a great read for me. Don is one of those memorable characters that stayed with me.

Promise Me Texas (Whispering Mountain #7) by Jodi Thomas: B
A sweet western historical romance that is all about warmth, laughter, and love. This is a solid read that I just enjoyed from beginning to end.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt: B
Now, this was a long and interesting read. Tartt is a new-to-me author recommended to me by one of my brothers because her latest book, The Goldfinch, is making waves at the moment (I have it in my TBR). I want to review this book, so I won't say much about it, except that I found the format she used for this "whydunit," and the intense focus on the rather unlikable characters rather interesting.

How I Met Your Father by L.B. Gregg: B
This is definitely an L.B. Gregg novella. You can tell because her humor is all over it, as well as her knack for getting the reader to fall in love with her couple and involved in the story right off the bat. Fun, fun read.

Christmas in Snowflake Canyon by RaeAnne Thayne: B
I really like Thayne's contemporaries and this was among my favorite Christmas reads last weekend. I really liked the character growth, as well as the romance in this one.

Erica's Choice by Sammi Lee: B
This is an M/M/F erotic triad piece by Sammi Lee, and a highly enjoyable one. It's emotionally wrenching with highly charged erotic moments. Lee did a great job of making this triad work. Solid piece.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: C+
Fox is a favorite M/M romance writer for me, and this Halloween read set in Scotland turned out to be really spooky. It's well written, which is not a surprise, but it's rather short with a romance that was too quick to develop.

My Own Miraculous by Joshilyn Jackson: C+
Joshilyn Jackson is a favorite women's fiction writer, and My Own Miraculous is a short prequel novella that introduces the main character to her novel, Someone Else's Love story, a book I have in my TBR and want to read in December. This prequel works well as an introduction, but of course it needs more detail.

Dark Witch (The Cousins O'Dwyer #1) by Nora Roberts: C
The first book in Nora Roberts' latest contemporary paranormal romance series, Dark Witch is nothing more than an average read. It is predictable for those who know her works well. There is really nothing new here. I recommend it to new readers of this author.

What the Bride Didn't Know by Kelly Hunter: C
A contemporary romance read with likable characters, a great premise, and a wonderful setting, but with so many tropes used that it just fizzled and ended up being an average read for me.

The Night Before Christmas by Kelly Hunter: C
A nice Christmas novella that was too short and where the main focus of the romance is interrupted with... filler.

From the Ashes (Fire & Rain #1) by Daisy Harris: C-
The basis of this MM romance by Daisy Harris is very familiar. It reminded me of "By the Numbers" by Chris Owen, and that threw me off from the beginning, additionally neither main character really grabbed my attention. The fireman lives with his family and lets them rule his life and the young man he takes home after his apartment burns down is not independent of mind enough for my taste. Actually, neither of them struck me as independent adult males for some reason. The romance is okay, but the characters bugged me.

Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie: D+
This is a read that may be appreciated by some readers who are not keen on historical detail, but would enjoy snippets written in a chatty style. It's a beautiful looking book, but one that just did not work for me personally.

Second Chances (When Second Chances Count) by D.L. Roan: D
This is an M/F/M/M erotica piece with three brothers that find that one woman who will make them happy. It reminded me of the original August Brothers by Lora Leigh, although I believe it resembles Maya Banks' Coulters' Woman much more. This was way too similar and not as well done.

The Lord's Lover (Regency Triad #1) by Jenna Rose Ellis: D
This is a Regency historical and no, it is not a triad, but an M/M romance between a lord and his best friend who happens to be a servant. Somehow they bridge the gap between the master/servant AND homosexuality conflicts that arise. I had a tough time buying this story because of the historical time period and the way it all works out at the end with these men just living together as if all was well with the world.

The Reddington Scandal by Renee Rose: D
Historical M/F Erotica with a virginal bride and D/s flavor that just did not work for me, although it begins with a good premise. The woman's submissiveness and the male's aggressiveness with all the spanking because he needs to take his frustration out on her in the bedroom just bothered the heck out of me in this piece.

Stealing the Bride by Brynn Paulin: D-
SPOILER: This M/M/F erotic piece barely escaped an F or DNF from me. It's short and perhaps that's the reason I finished it. The "bride" goes on a camping trip right before her wedding and her two gay roommates show up to talk her into not going through with the wedding. After having shared an apartment for a few years, these two men confess they are really bisexual, not gay! Funny that nobody ever noticed!! Of course the boys want her and despite the fact that she's engaged, monkey sex ensues. The "groom" shows up to the wedding, but guess what? HE turns out to be gay! What? I can't recommend this one.

Reread:
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
I have a whole post written covering my reread of Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, but I'm thinking of just posting it at Quotes and Thoughts. This reread was a major success for me. It goes to show that sometimes rereads are worth the time.

October 2013 Reads: LGBT Month & More

October is usually one of my favorite months of the year. There's Halloween, of course, and then there are quite a few birthdays in my family to celebrate too. But this year I spent most of the month in bed with a flu that turned into bronchitis which turned into bronchial asthma. I'm just now getting over the whole sorry mess and am back to work.

I missed everyone, as I didn't get to blog much and frankly I was not in the right frame of mind to sit down to write, but I did read quite a lot while in bed and in between naps and such. I finished a few books from various genres, but if you look at my list the bulk of my reading was taken up by LGBT reads.

Anyway, I read some fabulous books, as well as some that were not so great, but then that's the chance a reader takes when reading so many books in one month, and that's fine with me. I read a few new releases that will probably make it to my "best of" list at the end of the year, some memorable B+ books, and one with such an interesting introduction that I actually wanted to write a post about it. And let's not forget about those amazing older releases that were lingering in my TBR that turned out to be fantastic.

Total Books Read in October: 35
Literary (Mainstream) Fiction: 2
Historical Fiction/Romance/Mystery: 3
Graphic Novella: 1
LGBT: 23
Rereads: 6

Top Reads:
In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa: A
Boystown 4: Time for Secrets by Marshall Thornton: A
Boystown 5: Murder Book by Marshall Thornton: A
Crack Shot by Dale Chase: A-
The Silent Hustler by Sean Meriwether: A-

Dear Life by Alice Munro: B+
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley: B+
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: B+
Light by 'Nathan Burgoine: B+
The Padisah's Son and the Fox by Alex Jeffers: B+
The Lavender Menace: Tales of Queer Villainy! ed. by Tom Cardamone: B+

Little Boy Dead: A Boystown Mystery by Marshall Thornton: B
Boystown: Three Nick Nowack Mysteries by Marshall Thornton: B
Boystown 2: Three Nick Nowack Mysteries by Marshall Thornton: B
Boystown 3: Two Nick Nowack Mysteries by Marshall Thornton: B
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly: B
If Angels Fight by Richard Bowes: B
Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan: B
Lonely as God by Dale Chase: B
Master of Dreams: Sleep of the Just (Sandman #1) by Neil Gaiman: B
Zombies: Shambling Through the Ages ed. by Steve Berman: B-
Desert Run by Marshall Thornton: C
The Christmas Visit by Marshall Thornton: C
Meet Me in the Middle by L.A. Witt: C
Long Tall Drink by L.C. Chase: C
Pickup Men by L.C. Chase: D+
No Going Home T.A. Chase: D+
Duncan's World by T.A. Chase: D
The Ranch Foreman by Rob Colton: D

Reading the Nick Nowack Mysteries led me to reread the Adrien English Mysteries and I went on one of those never ending loops of rereading the series for a few days. I loved every minute of it. I forgot how much I enjoyed each of the mysteries, the gorgeous retro atmosphere in this series and how much I really love Death of a Pirate King. What I found in the end of this cycle was that I kept looking for more from or for Jake and Adrien, than what is actually on the pages of those books. And because I needed some chicken soup (contemporary romance), I picked up My Best Worst Mistake by Mayberry and gobbled it up while sniffling and taking my temperature. It was as great a read this time as it was the first time around.

Rereads:
The Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon: Fatal Shadows #1, Dangerous Thing #2, The Hell You Say #3, Death of a Pirate King #4, Dark Tide #5
My Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry

September 2013 Recap: Books Read + Minis

I am in the middle of what I am calling an "Indescribably Severe Period of Blogger's Fatigue." I'm half-way through my fifth year of blogging, and it has been seven years (or is it eight) since I've been hanging around the blogosphere. Perhaps it's the seven year itch and I just need a little pick-me up. Someone prepare a strong and refreshing mint julep for me, please!

Anyway, here are my reads for September 2013:

Total Books Read: 18
Contemporary: 1 (YA Fiction)
Historical: 1 (Romance)
Urban Fantasy: 10
Fantasy: 4 (Historical Fantasy Fiction: 2)
LGBT: 2 (Gay Fiction: 1, M/M Romance: 1)

Top 3 Reads of the month:

Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker: A

I loved this book so much that I read it twice. You can read my review, but let me tell you... I had to retrain myself! This book is so gorgeous, I had enough notes and quotes to write a saga instead of a review. I can't believe I missed this collection in 2012.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: A-

This is a fantastic adult fairy tale. I can't recommend it enough to lovers of fantasy as a "must read."

Ashes of Honor (October Daye #6) by Seanan McGuire: A-

After reading the whole October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, this book was definitely my favorite. It is the one book of the series where everything came together and worked for me: Toby, the plot, the relationships, and the world-building.

One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) by Seanan McGuire: B+

I love the additional world-building in One Salt Sea. McGuire's inclusion of the Undersea Faerie Folk was fantastic. The revelations about the Luidaeg's history was a definite plus. And, this book has one of the funniest scenes as well as some of the saddest of the whole series. I was kind of relieved that some characters were finally disposed of and that decisions that needed to be made were faced by Toby.

The House of Impossible Loves by Cristina Lopez Barrio: B

This Latin American style magical realism yarn has teeth and challenges comfort zones with a few taboo subjects, love, angst, some truly hateful characters, and a gorgeous historical setting. Not for everyone.

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs: B

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of werewolves and witches. Briggs's world-building is quite attractive and I liked the characters much more in this book than in the introductory novella, On the Prowl. However, I feel that without reading that novella, this book would be incomplete as it really explains Anna's psychological state of mind and how Charles came into her life. A solid read!

The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley: B

The lovely romance between detective Chief Inspector Lloyd Fellows and Lady Louisa Scranton is a novella. It contains passion and a wonderful crime mystery. I enjoyed getting to know Fellows while he yearned for his Louisa, and wished that there had been more page time when it ended.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: B

This was our Internet Book Club choice for the month of September. The Fault in Our Stars is not a book I intended to read, but it was recommended by Mariana's young daughter and of course I had to give it a go. If this book were a movie, it would fall under the "tear jerker" category. I found it to be relentlessly sad with three dimensional characters that pulled me in and under until the end. So yes, this is a great read, but I could not help but be relieved when it finally ended. Augustus and Hazel Grace are memorable characters I won't soon forget. A really great book for young adults.

Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) by Seanan McGuire: B

Late Eclipses is the book that was needed to give this series a boost, in my humble opinion. It's filled with great revelations about Toby, her magic, and her mother Amandine that help make sense of what happened in the previous three books. Finally! A solid, solid installment.

Rosemary & Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire: B-

Rosemary and Rue begins with a bang, fizzles out, and then picks up with the kind of great world-building that I love and kept me reading this series.

Chimes at Midnight (October Daye #7) by Seanan McGuire: B-

The latest release in the Toby Daye series was a mixed bag for me. The plot felt disjointed and not quite up to snuff, particularly after reading Ashes of Honor #6 -- a much tighter installment. In the end, I found the central theme of the book, pureblood superiority/inferiority with its power or lack of it, disturbing.

Carniepunk Anthology: B-

A dark urban fantasy anthology that is packed with stories that are part of ongoing series, although a few are free standing. I enjoyed enough of them to recommend this as a good October, Halloween read.

An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) by Seanan McGuire: C+

Another book I'm not crazy about, but I liked better than book #2 because characters such as Raj, Tybalt's nephew, are introduced, Quentin's relationship with Toby is further developed as is her relationship with the Luidaeg, plus the excellent fantasy world-building continues.

My Cowboy Heart by Z. A. Maxfield: C+

This was a good M/M Western Romance by ZAM but nothing really unique. This story about a foreman in his 30's who becomes aware that he is gay when a new out and proud gay ranch hand is hired, has been done before. It's not a gay for you story. Anyway, ZAM writes a good contemporary western yarn, better than some others I've read with this same plot device. I'm actually interested in reading the follow-up story about two older ranch hands, one of them an alcoholic.

On the Prowl (Alpha & Omega 0.5) by Patricia Briggs: C

A short novella with great central characters, but one that felt incomplete. It has that insta-mine paranormal device that feels a bit tired and an overly abusive storyline toward the female protagonist that nearly turned me off from continuing to the first book of the series. The world-building seemed interesting and I wanted to give Briggs a shot, so I continued on to Cry Wolf.

La Rosa de Fuego (The Rose of Fire: The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #0.5) by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: C

I read the Spanish version of this fantasy-based prequel to Zafon's Cemetery series and enjoyed his prose and writing style. Set in 15th Century Barcelona during the time of the inquisition, Zafon incorporates religion, ignorance, and the prejudicial mores of the times, along with a rather heavy handed dose of fantasy. This prequel is a bit too short and lacks depth.

A Local Habitation (October Daye #2) by Seanan McGuire: C-

Unfortunately this book drove me insane! Why? The setting for the plot in this book is limited for the most part to one very uninviting, cold place, the characters introduced are not compelling or interesting, and Toby is not well prepared to investigate the crimes occurring in this place. Yet, the relationship and world-building continued and that kept me reading.

Rereads:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: A

This is ghoulish children's fairy tale, that is true, but at its core it is a family-oriented fairy tale that deals beautifully and warmly with the subject of adoption. This was a reread for me, and yes I fell in love with the characters and Gaiman's storytelling talent all over again.

I will remember September 2013 as the month I went nuts reading UF! I began a couple of books from other UF series, but in the end settled for McGuire and Briggs. Maybe by the end of the year I'll read a few more of those "first books in a series" that have been hanging out in my TBR for years.

How was your September? I fell in love with Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Did you fall in love with any books last month?

August 2013 Recap: Books Read & Minis

August was a bit of a crazy month for me. I ended up rereading a few favorite books, and if you look below at some point just went a bit nuts reading M/M Romance -- some new releases and many from my TBR pile -- during the time that I was injured and bedridden. But, I also read a few new releases by favorite authors. None of those were disappointments. So for me, that means a good reading month. Check it out.

From the new releases, my favorite books of the month were: Guardian Demon (Guardian Series #8) by Meljean Brook, Omens (Omens #1) by Kelley Armstrong, and Welcome Home, Captain Harding (Captain Harding #3) by Elliott Mackle.

Total Books Read, August 2013: 25
Contemporary Romance: 4
Paranormal Romance: 1
Urban Fantasy: 6
Literary Historical Fiction: 1
LGBT Total: 13 (Poetry: 1,  Historical Fiction/Suspense: 1, M/M Romance: 11)

Guardian Demon (Guardian Series #8) by Meljean Brook: B+
Omens (Cainsville #1) by Kelley Armstrong: (Review to come)
Welcome Home, Captain Harding (Captain Harding #3) by Elliott Mackle: B+
Mañana Means Heaven by Tim Z. Hernandez: (Review to come)
Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton: B+
Summer Lovin' JL Merrow, Chrissy Munder, Clare London, Josephine Myles, & Lou Harper: B
Aftermath by Cara Dee: B
Crow Blue, Crow Black by Chip Livingston: B-
Home on the Range (Caribou Crossings #2) by Susan Fox: B-
Left on St. Truth-be-Well by Amy Lane: B-
In A Cowboy's Bed with Cat Johnson, Vonna Harper, Lynn LaFleur: C+
Sharing Hailey by (Friends & Lovers #1) Samantha Ann King: C+
By the Numbers by Chris Owen: C
Cut & Run by Abigail Roux and Madeline Urban: C-
Waiting for Ty by (Friends & Lovers #2) Samantha Ann King: C-
Some Like It Hot by Susan Andersen: D+
Paris A to Z by Marie Sexton: D
A to Z by Marie Sexton: DNF

REREADS:
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, Book #1
Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews, Book #2
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews, Book #3
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews, Book #4
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews, Book #5
Promises by Marie Sexton
Caught Running by Abigail Roux and Madeline Urban
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MINIS:

KATE DANIELS SERIES (Books 1 to 5 Reread) by Ilona Andrews
General Comments: After reading that last fantastic Kate Daniels installment, Magic Rises, I decided to go back and reread the whole series. It was a wonderful experience to read the evolution of Kate and the rest of the characters that way. It also gave me a better perspective of the overall storyarc, which I believe is going to be ramped up in the next four books of the series. What hit me the hardest, however is Kate herself. She is so aggressive in the first book, and doesn't really give anyone much of a chance to prove themselves before she jumps on them. Her loner status, paranoia, the pain and rage come right through in Magic Bites. The change from that Kate to the one found in Magic Rises is astounding. But, rereading the whole series just reiterates why I love this series! I was pulled in this time just as quickly and deeply as I was the first time around. This is such a fabulous urban fantasy series that it gave me the impetus I needed to go searching for more of the same -- outstanding UF.

CODA SERIES by Marie Sexton
Promises by Marie Sexton (Reread) -- Grade: B
Promises is the first book of Marie Sexton's Coda series. This was a reread and was better the second time around. I enjoyed the characters and the relationship much more than the first time, and although my initial niggles were still there, they didn't bother me as much. Promises went from a B- to a B in the grade scale for me.

A to Z by Marie Sexton -- Grade: DNF
Because I enjoyed my reread of Promises more than expected, I decided to read the second book of Marie Sexton's Coda series. Unfortunately, I couldn't get through this book and did not finish it! I couldn't stand the characters, Zach in particular, and just gave up. This one is not for me.

Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton -- Grade B+
But, although I gave up on the second book of the Coda series by Sexton, I didn't give up on the series. I decided to read the third book instead, particularly since I'd heard so many good things about it and it was already in my TBR. Good move! Cole and Jon? A fantastic pairing and a great romance. The characters in this book are wonderful. Cole is a bit of a mystery throughout and even to the end. He's one of those controlling femme characters that are vulnerable but mask it so well everyone has trouble seeing the real person behind the mask. And Jon, also controlling, is so busy trying to conform to how he thinks a man, particularly a gay man, should behave that he can't see the forest for the trees. The conflict between these two men is fantastic and I think Sexton addressed it quite well. In this case, I believe that Strawberries for Dessert deserved the hype.

Paris A to Z by Marie Sexton -- Grade: D
After reading Strawberries for Dessert, Paris A to Z was a disappointment. This piece is a novella covering Jon and Cole's wedding in Paris, but the novella is narrated from Zach ( A to Z) and Max (Promises) points of view. I enjoyed Max's point of view but there wasn't enough of that, instead most of the novella is narrated by Zach and even with other favorite characters I previously enjoyed making an appearance, I couldn't stand his voice, rationalizations, or characterization.

July 2013 Recap & Minis: Spencer, Howard, Balogh

I don't know what it is about the summer and the heat, but it almost always makes me crave romance. That's what happened in July. I hit the books and ended up reading some romances that have been lingering in my shelves from early 2013, along with some oldies but goodies.

Here they are:

Total books read: 15
Contemporary Romance: 6
Historical Romance: 6
Paranormal Romance/Steampunk: 1
Urban Fantasy: 1
M/M Romance: 1

Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) by Ilona Andrews: (Review to come)
The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh: A-
Love Irresistibly (FBI/US Attorney #4) by Julie James: (Review to come)
To Die For (Blair Mallory #1) by Linda Howard: B

I read this book by Linda Howard as my August Internet Book Club read. This is rather surprising for a Linda Howard book. It's humorous and light with a heroine that comes off as petulant and somewhat superficial. She's a cheerleader who applies cheerleading rules to her life even as an adult. For me, Blair's thought process turns out to be both hilarious and frustrating, but overall, Blair is more than she appears to be on the surface. The romance is hot with amusing dialogue to help it along. If there is something I find tired in this romance it is Blair's tendency to sleep with Wyatt while telling him she doesn't want a relationship -- the old "body betrayal" plot device. The story is narrated from Blair's point of view in the first person, but it is very well done so that I did not miss Wyatt's point of view at all. I think that both his thoughts and feelings are well conveyed by Howard. I also like the mystery, probably because of all the craziness that goes on in Blair and Wyatt's relationship contribute to it. Overall, a solid, light, fun, and enjoyable romance suspense.

He's The One with Linda Lael Miller, Jill Shalvis, Lucy Monroe, Kate Angell, Cat Johnson: B-
Fire & Frost with Jessica Simms, Carolyn Crane & Meljean Brook: B-
True to the Law by Jo Goodman: C+
Twice Loved by Lavyrle Spencer: Grade C+

This is one of the three books I read for the TBR Challenge during the month of July, but decided against reviewing it. I've loved every single book I've read by Lavyrle Spencer so far. I still love her gorgeous writing style and how she develops characters and a story -- all are evident in Twice Loved. On the positive side, I absolutely love the setting and atmosphere in this novel. It is set in a small fishing village, and the place and people who inhabit it come alive in this novel.

Unfortunately for me, the romance is a triangle, and I mean one of those triangles where the woman who finds herself in the middle knows who she loves but doesn't have the gumption to make the right decision. She ends up hurting everyone, including herself and her child, so that by the time the happy ever after comes along I really did not want her to have it! I wanted the "hero" to walk away from her, and that's not the way a romance works, right? This romance is brimming with betrayal, yearning, love, angst, anger, and passion. I could not help but feel terrible for both men and the child caught up in the middle of it all. Just as I could not help resenting her for the lack of backbone that destroyed whatever connection I could have felt. In this case, it may be that it is a case of personal preference. If as a reader you don't mind triangles, you may want to read this book by the amazing Spencer. However, for me personally, this was a beautifully written, but painful read.

On the Clock by Chris Owen: C+
No Strings Attached (Barefoot Williams #2) by Kate Angell: C
Kentucky Home by Sarah Title: C
Beach Beginnings (Beach House No. 9 #.5) by Christie Ridgeway: C
The Counterfeit Betrothal by Mary Balogh: C

I really enjoyed the wit and humor found in the romance between Lady Sophia Bryant and Lord Francis Sutton. They fake a betrothal to reunite Sophie's estranged parents. Sophie and Francis grew up together and have a history of arguing and hostility. Sophie is funny and Francis teases her to death. I love the way they play each other and end up together. This is a light and fun pair. On the other hand the romance between Sophie's parents is seriously painful. It's the type of romance I usually love to read, but in this case the incredible lack of communication between these two adults, the resulting misunderstandings and lack of trust made me question that love would triumph or last. Thank goodness for Sophie and Francis whose romance made this book an average read for me. Otherwise, I think The Counterfeit Betrothal would have been my first DNF (did not finish) by Balogh.

The Suitor (The Survivor's Club #1.5) by Mary Balogh: C

Reread:
Years by Lavyrle Spencer : A

Years is one of my favorite Lavyrle Spencer books. I reread it for the TBR Challenge, but at the last minute decided that as a reread it did not qualify -- a shame because I really wanted to review this book in all its glory! I previously wrote a mini that doesn't do this book justice in my humble opinion. Anyway, if you haven't read it and would like to pick up a gorgeous May/December historical romance set in the Middle America during WWI, I highly recommend Years. The title refers to more than the age disparity between the main couple, and as in all Spencer books, there is depth to the plot, gorgeous characterization, and amazing detail that enhance both setting and atmosphere.

My favorite books of the month were: Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) by Ilona Andrews, my last read of the month, The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh, and Love Irresistibly (FBI/US Attorney #4) by Julie James.

June 2013 Recap: Books Read + Minis

June is over and we are already half-way through the year. The months are going by like sand through my fingers. June is a month I will remember for slow reading and slow blogging -- only 8 posts! That's the lowest ever for me. Yikes! Summer, work, family, and personal commitments. The eternal optimist, I'm hoping things will pick up in July. Following is my recap, plus minis for books not reviewed during the month.

Total books read: 11
Contemporary: 3 (Romance)
Historical: 0
SFFR/PNR: 2
Crime Mystery/Contemporary Western: 4
Poetry: 1 (LGBT)
Fantasy: 1 (LGBT)

Heart of Obsidian (Psy/Changeling #12) by Nalini Singh: A
The latest installment in Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series was my favorite read in June. I adore the Changelings, but the atmosphere that Singh creates with her Psy characters always grab me. Maybe it is because the science fiction/fantasy details of this series come to the forefront in those installments, and I love the way she integrates them with her hot romances. Or maybe it is because it is so tough to sell a romance between such cold characters and in the end Singh sells them so grandly to the reader. This one is a winner.

His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe: B+
This category romance came highly recommended by Wendy The Super Librarian with an A Grade. What? So, I had to read it. If you read my review, I have no complaints about this romance at all. It is the best straight forward contemporary romance (without erotic content) I have read in a while. Definitely recommended.

Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry: B+
In my very short impressions of this poetry volume I posted that I'd read it three times. Well, make that four times now. Waxwings is only 68 pages long, but the more I read it, the more I find. It is one of those books where the pain, passion and love need to be absorbed one poem at a time.

Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson: B+

When Mari Baroja is found poisoned at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Sheriff Longmire is drawn into an investigation that reaches fifty years into the mysterious woman’s dramatic Basque past. Aided by his friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and newcomer Santiago Saizarbitoria, Sheriff Longmire must connect the specter of the past to the present to find the killer among them.

The first book of the Longmire series hooked me! Death Without Company cemented the love as he continues the series with an excellent mystery, great humor, and three dimensional characters. In this second installment Johnson expands on the characterization of already beloved characters, introduces new ones, and builds a mystery that begins with one death in the present but takes Walt back into the history of Absaroka County introducing the well-established Basque community. Walt unearths old truths, opens old wounds, and ends up questioning his sense of justice.

Kindness Goes Unpunished (Walt Longmire #3) by Craig Johnson: C+

Walt and Henry visit the City of Brotherly Love, where no act of kindness goes unpunished. Walt's wit and charm have helped him solve many crimes. But that can't prepare him for the savage attack on his daughter, Cady, a Philadelphia lawyer who has unwittingly become embroiled in a political cover-up. As Walt and Henry Standing Bear scour the city for clues, he gets help from his deputy Victoria Moretti and her family on the Philly police. But Longmire wasn't born yesterday. He's willing to pull out all the stops to find Cady's attacker.

In this third installment Walt's feelings for his daughter Cady are upfront and at the center of the story. Victoria Moretti's history also emerges giving her character a stronger background. However, although Vic and Walt's relationship takes an unexpected turn, this is not a favorite book in this series. Walt and Henry's involvement in the crime mystery feel forced, probably because they are out of their environment, and Vic's dysfunctional family relationships are less than entertaining -- particularly her mother.

Another Man's Moccasins (Walt Longmire #4) by Craig Johnson: B

When the body of a young Vietnamese woman is found alongside the interstate in Absaroka County, Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire is determined to discover the identity of the victim and is forced to confront the horrible similarities of this murder to that of his first homicide investigation as a marine in Vietnam. Virgil White Buffalo, a homeless Crow Indian, is found living in a nearby culvert in possession of the young woman's purse. Two problems with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. One, Walt doesn't think Virgil White Buffalo, a Vietnam vet with a troubling past, is a murderer. And two, the photo found in the woman's purse looks hauntingly familiar to Walt.

I really enjoyed this solid installment in which Walt solves two crime mysteries separated by forty years. But, book 4 also serves to further give the reader an insight into Walt's and Henry's personal histories and background. Great wit and humor continue to make this series enjoyable as light moments are weaved in seamlessly with serious subjects. Additionally, Vic and Walt's relationship continues to change as Cady recovers at home.

A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) by Craig Johnson: B+

It’s homecoming in Absaroka County, but the football and festivities are interrupted when a homeless boy wanders into town. A Mormon “lost boy,” Cord Lynear is searching for his missing mother but clues are scarce. Longmire and his companions, feisty deputy Victoria Moretti and longtime friend Henry Standing Bear, embark on a high plains scavenger hunt in hopes of reuniting mother and son. The trail leads them to an interstate polygamy group that’s presiding over a stockpile of weapons and harboring a vicious vendetta.

I was blown away by the 9th or latest release of the Longmire series. Walt's budding romance takes a whole new direction ending in dire results. Of course we won't know the extent of those results until the next book. Ahhh! However, it is the complexity of the crime mystery and Walt's growing rage as the storyline develops that kept me glued to the pages. As a result of this case, the entire Sheriff's Department is affected... I can't say more, but I was floored. Definitely recommended to old and new fans!

Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews: B-
My TBR Challenge read for the month of June turned out to be a mixed bag. I thought this romance may have been better categorized as a romance suspense, as I found the romance to be rather weak. However, I found a secondary storyline between the "hero" and his niece brilliantly executed by Andrews. Thinking back, this book should have been a C+ grade read because of the amount of quibbles, but I do enjoy Andrews' writing... hmm.

Tethered (Iron Seas #2.5) by Meljean Brook: C
Tethered is a novella that serves as an epilogue to the already written romance between Captain Yasmeen Corsair and Archimedes Fox. I don't know that this novella was necessary, but okay. Personally, I wish that this adventure and the realizations the two characters come to about their love for each other had been included in the original romance. But, this is a favorite author writing a novella set in a favorite world and Brook can certainly weave an adventure. For that reason alone I enjoyed it. Enough said.

Stand In Wife by Karina Bliss: C-
I've enjoyed Karina Bliss' contemporaries in the past. Stand In Wife, however, turned out to be a less than memorable contemporary romance. I believe it was enjoyable at the time because I finished it, but frankly after I turned that last page I couldn't remember names of characters or much about the storyline, except that well. . . the couple fell in love and had a happily ever after, blah, blah, blah. I hate when that happens.

Dust Devil on a Quiet Street by Richard Bowes: Upcoming review.

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That is it for my June reads! Of the books graded, there were quite a few favorite reads on my list: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh was my top read, however,  His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe, Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry, Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson, and A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) also join my list of favorite reads for the month. That is one nice list of great reads! A satisfying month.

May 2013 Recap: Books Read + Mini & Updates

Is May over? It is! I'm afraid that time-wise, I paid a high price for my little vacation. I'm hoping that this next week I will be able to catch up with some reviews and posts.

Oh... first. I finally went through Feedly and realize that I missed out on lots of news including the results of the Lambda Awards. Although as always with these awards I suffered disappointments, -- Hello! Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corral in poetry or at least Looking for the Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco! And, what about A Horse Named Sorrow by Trebor Healy in Gay Fiction? What?! -- to be fair, I will have to read the books by the winners in these categories to compare and decide for myself. But, and this is a big but, I was quite happy to at least see one book that I loved in there. I am late, but better late than never:

Congratulations to Tom Cardamone! Winner of Lambda's LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror (in other words, Speculative Fiction) for his fantastic and creative, Green Thumb! This book was one of my favorite of 2012 and I pimped it to death last year for good reason. The recognition is well-deserved.

Second, due to my problematic schedule, I was unable to attend the Nalini Singh signing for Heart of Obsidian in NYC on June 6th. I rushed and read the book ahead of time to prepare too! Needless to say, I was upset and disappointed! Mariana went without me, had a great time, and was nice enough to sent me her notes and little tidbits of information. Thank you. :)

Now going back to the regularly scheduled program, here is my summary of books read for the month of May:

Total books read: 9
 Contemporary: 2
 Paranormal Romance: 2
 Mystery/Western: 1
 Classic Lit: 1
 Speculative Fiction: 1
 LGBT: 2 (1 Speculative Fiction; 1 Fiction)

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton: A-
Following is my short comment about Wallbanger from Goodreads:

Loved this book! What an insanely funny, sexy, contemporary romance... Such an unexpected and refreshing read! Lurved Sexy Simon, Crazy Caroline, and Conniving Clive. I will have to read this again. *g*

By the way, Clive is Caroline's cat. A few extras I would like to say about Wallbanger. First, the cover is deceiving, this is not an erotic romance per se, it is a sexy, comedic, contemporary romance. Why do I say that? Well, even though Caroline spends about half of the book bemoaning the loss of her "O"(and she bemoans it for a long time), the relationship that ensues is based on an established friendship and attraction. Second, this book is a blast, it's so funny. Sexual innuendos abound from beginning to end, and there is even a bit of slapstick that takes place -- just read the first over-the-top sex scene. And last, I found out after I read the book that this novel is a result of fanfic based on the Twilight novels. Since I never read Twilight, I did not, and would not, recognize the similarities unless (from what I've heard) there was a sparkly vampire stalking an underaged girl included, (there is not). If this matters to you as a reader, then take it into consideration before picking up the book. Regardless, I enjoyed the heck out of myself while reading this story and still say that Wallbanger is a fun contemporary with insane characters and even more insane circumstances. I needed that...

Wilde Stories 2013: The Best Gay Speculative Fiction ed. by Steve Berman: B+
With a combination of gay young adult and adult speculative fiction, this year's Wilde Stories volume is a wonderful addition to Berman's yearly collections. You will find adventure, camp, humor, horror, and stories that will make you think and wonder. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology.

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E. B. Hudspeth: B+
Talk about a unique book! This is a book that I loved because the illustrations are not only beautiful and give the book a great look, but once you stop admiring them and read the short biography-style story, they become a key element to the whole. A great debut for the multi-talented Hudspeth.

The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1) by Craig Johnson: B+
Have you read a western mystery by Craig Johnson? If you haven't you should try one. Actually if you don't want to get addicted, maybe you should not. I became addicted after reading this excellent first book in the 9 book series and ended up reading FIVE books in a row, including the latest release! (Upcoming Post)

Hearts of Shadow (Deadglass #2) by Kira Brady: B-
I follow few paranormal romance series these days, but I really enjoyed the first book of Brady's Deadglass Novel trilogy. As the second book, Hearts of Shadow is not as gripping as that first book, however, it turned out to be a very good follow-up read for me and I'm looking forward to reading the last book of the trilogy.

Unexpected Family by Molly O'Keefe: B-
This book was my pick for May's TBR Challenge read. It was my first Molly O'Keefe read and as it turned out a very good one. I like how the author approached and developed her characters, and most of all how I came to care about them all by the end of the story. I will definitely read more books by Ms. O'Keefe!

Hearts of Fire (Deadglass novella) by Kira Brady: C+
This novella was included at the end of Hearts of Shadow. I enjoyed the extra information and background that it provides about Brady's world-building, even if the romance is too quickly executed.

Best Gay Stories 2013 ed. by Steve Berman (Upcoming Review)
This anthology released on June 1, 2013 and is an absolute winner! I can tell you that much right now. It is gay fiction and includes some magnificent writing and stories. More to come.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Re-read)
Ahh, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald! I re-read this book for my Internet Book Club for June! It's so short that I finished it too soon (in May)... I may, or may not, write my thoughts on this book here later. I can tell you that I had some very strong feelings about it the first I read it long ago, and have some pretty strong feelings about it now.
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That is it for my May reads! Of the books already graded, four of them stand out as favorites: Wallbanger, the Wilde Stories 2013 anthology, The Resurrectionist, and The Cold Dish. I will remember May 2013 for quality vs. quantity. That's a pretty good reading month in my book!

April 2013 Recap: Books Read

Wow! April was a long month... wasn't it? So much happened that it feels as if the month lasted forever! I began the month going through a 'reading funk,' but somewhere along the line the gods took pity on me and I was able to concentrate on reading again. Of course finding books that caught and held my attention from beginning to end helped too!

Here are the books I ended up reading in April:

Total Books Read: 15
 Contemporary: 5
 Historical Romance: 3
 Science Fiction: 1
 Poetry: 2
 LGBT: 4

Death by Silver by Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold: A
Looking for The Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco: B+
Tales from the Sexual Underground by Rick R. Reed: B+
Here Comes the Bride by Pamela Morsi: B
My Dear Watson by L.A. Fields: B
Senegal Taxi by Juan Felipe Herrera: B
"The Fountain" Asimov SF Magazine G. David Nordley: B
Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts: C
Against the Odds (Novella) by Lisa Kleypas: C
A Family Affair by Mary Campisi: C-
Higgins, Kristan - The Best Man by Kristan Higgins: D+

Upcoming Reviews:
The Favor by Megan Hart
Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long
When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon

Re-read
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (Re-read): A-

My favorite book in April was Death by Silver by Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold. I read the book and loved it so much that I wrote my review immediately and had to post it early. I don't usually do that! The other book that really touched me was the small poetry volume by Richard Blanco, Looking for The Gulf Motel. I know that many readers don't go for poetry, but I can't see too many not enjoying Blanco's narrative, biographical style. 

Tales from the Sexual Underground by Rick R. Reed was a particularly memorable book. I read it while commuting back and forth from work and some stories were a hoot! "Sick Day" anyone? Reed combines non-fiction essays with some of his fiction stories. Both essays and fictional pieces explore extreme sexual subjects which Reed manages to imbue with raw humanity, dark humor, and straight forward candor. Excellent full-length review at Indie Reviews!

Of my C & D reads the most memorable are Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts because Roberts is a favorite writer whose latest release turned out to be an average read for me, and The Best Man by Kristan Higgins because, don't we always remember books that end up as major fails? I do.

That is it for my April recap. I look forward to May and more great reads!

March 2013 Recap: Books Read

I'm SO happy March is over! Personally, it has been one of the toughest months of the year for me so far. We had two shocking deaths in our family within ten days of each other, and I'm afraid that although I've been "here" sporadically, I've not really been "here," if you all know what I mean.

As far as reading goes, I picked up a couple of romances at the beginning of the month by Ruthie Knox that I enjoyed, and later on a novella by Courtney Milan that worked for me. However for the most part, romance just didn't hit the spot. With so much going on, I focused my reading and reviews on books I enjoyed. As a result, I'm afraid that during the month of March many books ended up going back to the old TBR pile, or were permanently discarded (DNF'd).

Here's my list:

Total Books Read: 11
Contemporary Romance: 2
Historical Romance: 2
Urban Fantasy: 2
Fantasy: 3
Speculative Fiction: 1
Poetry: 1

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox: A-
The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister #0.5) by Courtney Milan: A-
Bone and Jewel Creatures by Elizabeth Bear: B+
The Queen, The Cambion, and Seven Others by Richard Bowes: B+
Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox: B+
Midnight Blue-Light Special (InCryptids #2)by Seanan McGuire: B
Scandal Wears Satin (Dressmakers #2) by Loretta Chase: C+
Presence by Scott Wiggerman: C
Slashback (Cal & Niko)by Rob Thurman: (Upcoming Buddy Review)
Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop: (Upcoming Review)
Before and Afterlives by Christopher Barzack: (Upcoming Review)

Toward the end of March I also joined The Journey as part of the Once Upon a Time VII Challenge hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings. I needed to read one book to fulfill that challenge and I did so by reading and reviewing "The Queen, The Cambion, and Seven Others by Richard Bowes." It is always a pleasure to participate in one of Carl's challenges. I look forward to reading reviews by the other participants and still hope to contribute a few other posts to this challenge.

From the March releases I read and have yet to review, I recommend Written in Red by Anne Bishop. How about you? Did you find any titles you would like to share?

February 2013: Books Read Recap + Minis

February was a short, rather complicated month. Somehow, however, I managed to read quite a few excellent books. I do believe that because it was such an emotionally stressed sort of month, I indulged myself by reading books that fitted my mood. So if you look at my list you will notice that there is only one (ONE) mainstream romance in there.

The end of February also marked the end of my participation in the highly enjoyable 2013 Science Fiction Experience. Although I didn't get to half the books stacked on my coffee table, ALL those books I planned to read, with a total of 14 books read and 11 posts, it was a satisfying year. You can read my wrap-up post here.

Here are my total numbers for February.

Total Books Read: 20
--Historical Romance: 1
--Science Fiction: 3
--Poetry: 1
--Speculative Fiction: 1
--Non-Fiction: 1
--LGBT: 13 (Gay Fiction: 1, Gay Urban Fantasy/Romance: 7, Gay and/or Erotic Romance: 5)

Grades:
A = 4
B = 9
C = 7

Favorite Reads of the Month:
1.   The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster: A-
2.   In Search Of an Others by Will Ludwigsen: A-
3.   Criss Cross (PsyCop #2) by Jordan Castillo-Price: A-
4.   Secrets (PsyCop #3) by Jordan Castillo-Price: A-

Balance of Great February Reads:
5.   The Natural Takeover of Things by Tim Z. Hernandez: B+
6.   Among the Living (PsyCop #1) by Jordan Castillo-Price: B+
7.   Hermovore by Jordan Castillo-Price: B+

I loved the different take on vampires -- the virus -- and the details that JCP provides to make the world of vampires and non-infected humans come alive in Hermovore. Her characterization is also excellent and Mark's voice as the human narrator is fabulous. Jonathan as the secretive vampire love interest comes off as a sex bomb turned sensitive macho love bucket. I don't know who I liked best; Mark's snarky, biggest-queen-in-the-world attitude or Jonathan's sexy, secretive persona. The story's pacing is a bit inconsistent, with some too-slow portions and other action-packed spaces, but overall a very good read!

8.   Lord of Darkness (Maiden Lane #5) by Elizabeth Hoyt: B
9.   The Human Division #3: We Only Need the Heads by John Scalzi: B
10. The Human Division #4: A Voice in the Wilderness by John Scalzi: B
11. Body & Soul (PsyCop #4)by Jordan Castillo-Price: B
12. Camp Hell (PsyCop #5) by Jordan Castillo-Price: B-
13. GhosTV (PsyCop #6) by Castillo-Price: C+
14. On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington #1) by David Weber: C+
15. Trick of Time by J.L. Merrow: C+

I like J.L. Merrow's m/m romance stories. I've enjoyed them primarily because her characters never seem to fit the usual A&F mold. Instead her characters are, for the most part, unusual and/or unique. The two main characters in Trick of Time don't necessarily fit the mold either, so why didn't I enjoy this story more? This is a time travel story that shifts between contemporary and Victorian London and the execution of this particular storyline didn't quite work for me. I kept picking at the time travel aspect of it and finding too many holes, so that took me out of the story. Additionally, the time in which the two main characters develop a strong attachment to each other is very short! So, where did that leave me? After suspending disbelief, I enjoyed Merrow's turn of phrase, the unique characters she created and the emotion that she always seems to pour into those characters.

16. Striking Sparks (PsyCops #2.1) by Jordan Castillo-Price: C+
17. Many Happy Returns (PsyCops #2.2) by Jordan Castillo-Price: C+
18. In The Dark (PsyCops #6.1) by Jordan Castillo-Price: C+
19. The Stroke of Midnight (PsyCop #3.1) by Jordan Castillo-Price: C
20. Red-Inked Retablos by Rigoberto Gonzalez (Upcoming Review)

That's my recap for February and on to March! I already have a few new releases I've been looking forward to reading AND some old books that caught my eye too! Let's see if I can get through all of them.

January 2013: Recap + The Vintage Science Fiction Month

January is already over! I can't believe it... I guess it is true that "time flies when you are having fun." And I had lots of fun during this first month of the year reading and blogging about different types of science fiction reads, both the old and the new.

I would love to thank The Little Red Reviewer for hosting The Vintage Science Fiction Month. Not only did I read a few oldies but goodies, but I also added to my "to read" list by visiting other blogs and reading some excellent reviews posted by fellow participants. I am also participating in The 2013 Science Fiction Experience hosted by CarlV from Stainless Steel Droppings and enjoying it to the fullest, but I still have one more month of enjoyment left and planning to read quite a few books too.

Books read & Related Posts:
Andre Norton: Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen #1)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts I & II)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts III & IV)
Sci Fi Books Old and New: When the price is right
Andre Norton: Storm Over Warlock (Forerunners, Book #1)
Plague Ship (Solar Queen #1) by Andre Norton (Not reviewed but recommended)
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AND, here is my recap of all books read for the entire month of January:

Total books read: 19
 Contemporary: 5
 Historical: 3 (Fiction/Romance: 1, Historical Romance: 2)
 Science Fiction: 8
 LGBT: 3 (Gay Mystery/Romance)

Grades:
A=2
B=10
C=7

1)   The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley: A-
2)   Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry: A-
3)   Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey: B+
4)   Plague Ship (Solar Queen #1)by Andre Norton (Not reviewed but recommended): B
5)   Taking the Reins (Roped & Tangled #1) by Kat Murray: B
6)   Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen #1)by Andre Norton: B
7)   The Human Division #1: The B-Team by John Scalzi: B
8)   Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (Kowalski #1): B
9)   How to Misbehave (Camelot #1) by Ruthie Knox: B+
10) Deadly Wrong (Deadly Mystery #2) by Victor J. Banis: B
11) Deadly Nightshade (Deadly Mystery #1) by Victor J. Banis: B-
12) Deadly Dreams (Deadly Mystery #3) by Victor J. Banis: B-
13) Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey: C+
14) The Seduction of Elliot McBride (Highland Pleasures #5) by Jennifer Ashley: C+
15) Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers: C+
16) The Human Division #2: Walk the Plan by John Scalzi: C
17) Storm Over Warlock (Forerunners, Book #1) by Andre Norton: C
18) Seven Sexy Cowboy Robots by Sandra McDonald: C
19) Bound to You by Bethany Kane: C-

Favorite books of the month: Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry, The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (upcoming review for Read-along hosted by Christine from The happily ever after...), and the Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey.