Learned Behaviors by Jayce Ellis
Higher Education #1
LBGT Contemporary Romance
November 9, 2020 by Carina Press
I’m generally not a reader who gravitates to single father stories but this cover drew me in because it’s gorgeous. This story has so much going on, but all of it works together. Two single men, with families, both with heavy work loads, working together and fighting their growing attraction.
I really enjoyed the subplot there is with their two daughters also being in love with each other and how that one is not tidily resolved at the end, because young love isn’t so tidy. I loved the friend group Matt and JaQuan both bring to the table and my romance ears were perked up trying to figure out who we’d be seeing more of in the future. I especially loved the families of both men and how accepting and loving everyone is.
Just a really lovely queer Black romance that is also steamy with protagonists over 35.
Grade: A-
We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen
Science Fiction/Fantasy
January 26, 2021, by Mira Books
Review by Melinda
I listened to this book and just FYI, it’s a great audiobook because it’s narrated by Emily Woo Zeller who is one of my favorites. This is just such a great book which is NOT a romance but features one of the best platonic friendships I’ve seen in a while and that is refreshing in a novel where the protagonists are adults. Zoe and Jamie, separately, have woken up with no memories, and over time discovered they have superpowers.
What I loved is that neither of these characters are villains or heroes. They just are. They’ve dealt with their abilities in the best way they’ve figured out. It’s an interesting way to have nuanced, flawed superheroes and I enjoyed that part a lot. I also loved that one character did a crappy thing and feels guilty for it the whole time…but when the other finds out about it is like, okay I understand why you did it, let’s move on.
Just a smart, well-paced, fiction.
Grade: B+
Leave a Reply