No Strings by Lucy Bexley
LGBTQ Contemporary Romance
Jan 11, 2022
Purchased
Review by Melinda
No Strings by Lucy Bexley is genuinely one of the most charming and surprising books I’ve read! The cover may be one of the worst I’ve ever seen so I would never have picked it up without a friend telling me it was 5 stars for her.
Elsie is a puppeteer on a kid’s TV show that she basically created…but gets next to no credit OR money for. And when the head of the company dies, his daughter Jones comes along and changes everything for Elsie. These two are just so freaking sweet and funny together. They’re really complete opposites but complement each other so well. I laughed out loud multiple times at Jones trying to figure out how normal people live, and at Elsie trying to figure out regular people communicate when they’re dating. There’s a scene with gummy bears that cracked me up.
No Strings deals with grief and how different people deal with death in different ways. But it also deals with standing up for your art and what you’re worth. Both of these themes are woven throughout. I just loved this book so much – and would say it’s a true romcom for once!
Grade: A
Roxane Weary series by Kristen Lepionka
Mystery/Thriller
Minotaur Books
Purchased
Review by Melinda
This series by Kristen Lepionka is one of my favorite discoveries this year. I found this author on a list of queer authors writing queer characters in thrillers. She actually lives in Ohio, and the books are set here too so I enjoy recognizing all of the settings – but I know that’s specific to me lol.
Roxane Weary is a private investigator, whose police officer father passed away right before the first book starts. She drinks a lot, is always trying to stop, and has complicated relationships with her family, her ex, and her father’s partner on the force she’s sleeping with. So…there’s a lot going on.
There are 4 books in the series and each of them revolves around one core mystery. It has the same basic concept of Roxane being hired, doing an investigation, the actual police working against her, her ex-girlfriend showing up to cause drama, and usually some issues with her family. But somehow each book feels fresh to me, Roxane is logical and goes through the facts of each case in a reasonable order. These books are well-plotted, tightly done, and well-paced. I’m definitely hoping for a 5th book.
Grade: A
That is indeed an unusual cover, Melinda! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.