A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess EverleeHistorical Romance/LGBTQ+July 11 by Carina Adores Review by Kate H. Jess Everlee follows up her debut novel The Gentleman's Book of Vices with the second in the Lucky Lovers of London series, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues. It takes up two of the more interesting side-characters in the first book, David Forester, the manager of the queer club “The Curious Fox,” and his schoolboy compatriot, Noah Clarke, who frequently appears Continue Reading
Review: Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane
Big Gay Wedding by Byron LaneLGBTQ+May 30, 2023 by Henry Holt and Co. Review by Kate H. Big Gay Wedding is like a romance novel that starts at the epilogue. Instead of the meet cute, the inciting action, turning point, and so on, we jump to right after the proposal. The focus of the story moves around almost the entire wedding party: the grooms, the moms, the grandfather and the sheep. Yes, the sheep. And when I say it moves around, I really Continue Reading
Review: Best Men by Sidney Karger
Best Men by Sidney KargerLGBTQ+ Contemporary RomanceMay 2, 2023 by Berkley Review by Kate H. Max Moody is missing a gay gene or two. He’s not interested in fashion; he doesn’t know where the nearest “drag karaoke bingo barbecue” is being held in NYC; and he is hopeless at wedding planning. But his best friend, Paige, has asked him to be her Best Man, and Chasten, her future brother-in-law, and the other Best Man is helping plan the wedding. Only guess Continue Reading
Review: Love Thy Brother by Garrett Leigh
Love Thy Brother by Garrett LeighRebel Kings MC #4LGBTQ+ Contemporary RomanceMarch 29, 2023 by Fox Love Press Reviewed by Kate H. Garrett Leigh’s Rebel Kings MC series is unrelenting in the best of ways, and the fourth and latest installment, Love Thy Brother, is no exception. The recommendation to read it as part of the series and not a standalone is a wise one. For one, Leigh doesn’t do a lot of background at the beginning of the novel to catch Continue Reading
Review: Liar City by Allie Therin
Liar City by Allie TherinLGBTQ+ Fantasy/Mystery/ThrillerFebruary 28, 2023Carina Press Review by Kate H. Do you ever read a book with a certain expectation based on the way it is marketed, only to be disappointed, and yet … still love the book anyway? That is what happened to me with Liar City by Allie Therin. Liar City is the first novel in her latest paranormal series and is set firmly in contemporary times. What expectations did I Continue Reading
Review: Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell
Artfully Yours by Joanna LowellHistorical RomanceFebruary 21, 2022Berkley PublishingReview by Kate H. Who are more diametrically opposed than an art forger and an art critic? Artfully Yours begins in the late 19th century, with Alan, aka Lord De’ath, the formidable art critic, declaring that the painting in his brother’s drawing room is not a Rembrandt, but rather a fake. Little does he know in that moment that the forger, one Nina Finch, is standing the room with him, posing as the Continue Reading
Kate H’s Favorite Books of 2022
I didn't plan this, but I think 90% of the books I read in 2022 were m/m romances. Season's Change by Cait Nary is probably what kicked it off. There's a lot of variation within m/m, just like in romance in general and I have hundreds of books yet to read. My "own voices" list for m/m romances all by itself could keep me busy for months and months. I also discovered this year that I have a few romance pet peeves. I only became a romance zealot two years ago, so I guess my honeymoon period is Continue Reading
Review: A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko JacksonLGBTQ+ Romance12/6/2022 by Berkley Publishing Review by Kate H. A Dash of Salt & Pepper by Kosoko Jackson is a funny yet serious novel about a young gay black man who must return to his small fishing town in Maine after losing both his dream job at a start-up and his boyfriend. Xavier is planning a quick turnaround – the last thing he wants to do is stay in his hometown. He will parlay his NYU and University of Continue Reading
Review: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess EverleeLGBTQ/Historical RomancePublished November 29, 2022 by Carina Press Review by Kate H. This debut novel by Jess Everlee is about a young man who has trapped himself into marriage by living a profligate but not degenerate life. He needs to pay off his debt, and his father has arranged this if he marries Alma, a sweet young woman. Charlie is an amiable guy, loyal, and though there may not be anything super-remarkable about him, I really grew Continue Reading
Review: His Christmas Guardian by Cindy Dees
His Christmas Guardian by Cindy DeesRunaway Ranch #4Thriller/LGBTQ+ RomanceOct 25, 2022 by Harlequin Review by Kate H. There is a lot to like in His Christmas Guardian. For one thing, it starts us right in the middle of things, with Nicholas Kane scoping out an art auction in search of his treacherous spymaster boss, Gray. We begin with intrigue, action, and a near death experience. We learn that Nick, an operative in the US intelligence services, was left out of a deadly and Continue Reading