Book Review: Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall is a romance that rather defies being set in a singular category. It is the year 1814, and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider, and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers. Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into high society hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at a high-profile ball, a scandal she narrowly manages to escape. However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore must seek out aid, even if that means mixing with undesirable company. And there are few less desirable than Lady Georgianna Landrake—a brooding, alluring young woman sardonically nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale”—who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune. If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress. Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs. With the Duke’s help, Miss Mitchelmore delves into a world of angry gods and vindictive magic, keen to unmask the perpetrator of these otherworldly attacks. But Miss Mitchelmore’s reputation is not the only thing at risk in spending time with her new ally. For the reputed witch has her own secrets that may prove dangerous to Miss Mitchelmore’s heart—not to mention her life.

Mortal Follies is a book that I have trouble categorizing. It is a historical romance, a fantasy, a LGBTQIA+ romance, an adventure, and has a Shakespearean feel with the narrator.  I liked the cast of characters and the diverse and quirky personalities for several of the secondary characters. I thought the story and worlds building was well done, and the characters were multidimensional and highly entertaining. I am a fan of the author, so my enjoyment is no big surprise here. I only had two little things that bothered me, one was that I figured out the person behind the curse way to quickly. Second was that I had some trouble with the pacing- although this might have been more on me trying to break a reading slump with a favorite author. It just felt like it took forever to get to the end, and even though I enjoyed the ride it just felt slow to me. Again, this might just be because of my mindset while reading and I do not hold it against the author at all. In fact, I have two more oft heir books in my reading queue and I can wait to get to them. 

Mortal Follies is a romance with many twists and turns. and much that fans of historical or fantasy romance will enjoy.

Book Review: Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee is a contemporary romance. Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend, but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a romance that made me very hungry. Before I get to the characters- the food descriptions and information has me craving a whole variety of authentic Chinese food. I loved the exploration of the food and culture of Dylan's family, and how it was made clear how (just like any other culture) personal experiences, regions, dialects, and more have huge impacts on everything involved. I was glad to get a better understanding of one (fictional) family's world and how that fits into the larger whole. I loved Dylan and his family, and would gladly read more about them all. I do have to say that I could not connect as much with Theo Part of it was the family and money, which I could never relate to even though readers do get to see how far from perfect it all is. I think it was more because we rarely got a good look at the real Theo, his actual thoughts and feelings aside from a could big, important moments. I would love to have gotten a chapter or two from his perspective. However, that being said, I really enjoyed the read and look forward to devouring whatever the author cooks up next. 

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is a wonderful romance and I look forward to more from the author. 

Early Book Review: The Only Purple House in Town (Fix-It Witches) by Ann Aguirre

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre is labeled as the forth book in the Fix-it Witches series, but it reads fin as a stand alone or the start of a second, related series. It is currently scheduled for release on July 11 2023. 

Iris Collins is the messy one in her family. The "chaos bunny." Her sisters are all wildly successful, while she can't balance her budget for a single month. It's no wonder she's in debt to her roommates. When she unexpectedly inherits a house from her great aunt, her plan to turn it into a B&B fails—as most of her plans do. She winds up renting rooms like a Victorian spinster, collecting other lost souls, and not all of them are "human."  Eli Reese grew up as the nerdy outcast in school, but he got rich designing apps. Now he's successful by any standards. But he's never had the same luck in finding a real community or people who understand him. Over the years, he's never forgotten his first crush, so when he spots her at a café, he takes it as a sign. Except then he gets sucked into the Iris-verse and somehow ends up renting one of her B&B rooms. As the days pass, Eli grows enchanted by the misfit boarders staying in the house...and even more so by Iris. Could Eli have finally found a person and a place to call "home"? 

The Only Purple House is a book with great characters and realistic emotional issues that meld very well with the magic aspects of the story. I thought that Iris and her money and family problems were very realistic and will be relatable to readers on several levels. Some of Eli's issues are similarly relatable, and I loved his earnestness and willingness to take responsibility for his choices. I really love the secondary characters and found family aspects of the story- that is what really grabbed me and kept me turning pages, even more than the character and relationship development between Eli and Iris. As usual with this author, it is that every character has depth and heart that really keeps me reading because I become highly invested in the entire community, not just the main players in each book. I cannot wait to see what happens next in St. Claire. 

The Only Purple House a fun and emotionally engaging read.

Book Review: Taco Bout Love by Lily Kate

Taco Bout Love by Lily Kate is a contemoprary romance. My name is Lucas Donovan, and I’m a sucker for a great taco. No, that’s not an innuendo, though I do like my women like I like my tacos: extra spicy. So when a brand new food truck rolls into our sleepy little town of Fantasie, Maine, I know I’m in trouble. I just don’t know how much trouble. Things go downhill fast when I meet Chloe Brown, the sizzling hot and super sassy owner of Taco Bout Love who is as extra as guac. Then out of the blue, Chloe plops her huge purple eyesore of a truck in my designated parking spot. I’m sorely tempted to have her truck towed, and her right along with it. Unfortunately, Chloe’s as fierce as a ghost pepper, and she’s not going down without a fight. Before I know it, the only thing I’m certain of is that this woman drives me crazy… in the best way possible. What’s more is that I’m beginning to think I just might miss her when she’s gone. Suddenly, I can’t seem to keep my hands off Chloe Brown, or her tacos.

Taco Bout Love is a solid romance with both the small town and grumpy/sunshine love vibes (both of which I love). I greatly enjoyed the introduction to the town of Fantasie and its cast of characters. I thought the secondary characters really added something to the story, more than just fodder for future books set in the town although that is certainly in play as well. I felt like Chloe was a well written character and is willing to work hard for what she needs, even if it is space. I have to admit that I wanted a little something more from Lucas. Yes, he has a couple issues that he needs to work on, but I was really expecting a little more back story or depth from him than what we got. He seemed almost too perfect, aside from his tendency to use 'baby' as a term of endearment and just take care of things without conversation or consent rubbing me the wrong way. However, overall I enjoyed the read and look forward to seeing more about the residents of Fantasie in the future. 

Taco Bout Love is a fun romance, and I think I will be reading more from the author.

Book Review: Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson is a contemporary Romance. From her bedroom in the Tower of London, twenty-six-year-old Maggie has always dreamed of her own fairy-tale ending. Yet this is twenty-first century London, so instead of knights, she has Tinder, and instead of white horses, she has catfish. And with her last relationship ending in spectacular fashion, she swears off men for good. And then a chance encounter with Royal Guard Freddie forces Maggie to admit that she isn’t ready to give up on love just yet. But how do you catch the attention of someone who is trained to ignore all distractions? Can she snare that true love’s first kiss, or is she royally screwed?

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard is a romance with a great premise, a setting I was thrilled to learn more about, and some great characters. I enjoyed Maggie as a character, and the secondary characters in the book are fantastic- in fact I would love a book just about the folk that live (or could live) in the Tower of London. I liked learning about the history, and the reality of what people there might deal with on any given day. I thought the people and the interactions were very well done, with plenty of realistic angst. I did think that Freddie could have gotten a bit deeper, and I would have liked the see some of the story through his eyes or from his perspective. However, my disappointment in the book was because for awhile I was not sure what direction the story was going to take. Was there going to be a mystery storyline, there were definitely moments when I thought there was going to be a theft or something that was going to need solving. There were also several moments when I thought the haunted history of the location was going to play a role in the larger plot line somehow. I just felt like there was a little too much going on, or a few too many pathways the story could take. Frankly, I think any of the paths could have been fantastic, but if none of that was as important as it seemed at the time I could have stood for a few less distractions and just getting a better look at Freddie's character instead. I did enjoy the read, but I thought the storytelling could have been a bit more streamlined. 

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard is a solid debut, and I will give the author another read. 

Book Review: Backpacking through Bedlam (InCryptid) by Seanan McGuire

Backpacking through Bedlam is the twelfth book in the InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire. It took me longer than planned to get to it, since after starting it I quickly  I realized I had missed the previous book. I needed to fix that before diving into this one. For audiobook fans, there are very well done versions of this series available. This is very much a series that needs to be read in order. 

Alice Price-Healy gave up her life for fifty years to focus completely on the search for her missing husband. The danger of focus like that is that it leaves little room for thinking about what happens after…and now that she’s finally managed to find Thomas, she has no idea what she’s supposed to do next. The fact that he comes with a surrogate daughter who may or may not have some connection to Alice’s recently adopted grandson is just icing on the complicated cake. So the three of them are heading for the most complicated place in the universe: they’re going home. But things on Earth have changed while Alice, Thomas, and Sally have been away. The Covenant of St. George, antagonized by Verity’s declaration of war and Sarah’s temporary relocation of an entire college campus, is trying to retake North America from the cryptids and cryptozoologists who’ve been keeping the peace for the past hundred years. And they’re starting in New York. Alice and company have barely been back for an hour before the Ocean Lady and the Queen of the Routewitches are sending them to New York to help, and they find themselves embroiled in the politics of dragons, kidnappings, and of course, the most dangerous people of all: family. Getting “back to normal” may be the hardest task Alice has undertaken yet.

Backpacking through Bedlam is a highly entertaining read, and I am so glad that I have followed this series through this far. Alice and Thomas have found each other and are trying to readjust to life- but nothing is ever easy. I really enjoyed getting to see so many of the storylines from this series, and the companion series, start to come together. I loved getting to know Alice, Thomas, and Sally better- and I enjoyed getting the reminders of past events through in the story as they work to get everyone caught up on what is going on in the world. I love the irreverent humor of Alice and her family, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here. 

Book Review: A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen

A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen is a the first book in a new historical mystery series. When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she isn’t the only one with a secret to hide.

1784 London. Miss Tiffany Woodall didn’t murder her half-brother, but she did bury him in the back garden so that she could keep her cottage. Now, the confirmed spinster has to pretend to be Uriah and fulfill his duties as the Duke of Beaufort’s librarian while searching Astwell Palace for Uriah’s missing diamond pin, the only thing of value they own. Her ruse is almost up when she is discovered by Mr. Samir Lathrop, the local bookseller, who tries to save her from drowning while she's actually just washing up in a lake after burying her brother. Her plan is going by the book, until the rector proposes marriage and she starts to develop feelings for Mr. Lathrop. But when her childhood friend, Tess, comes to visit, Tiffany quickly realizes her secret isn’t the only one hidden within these walls. The body of a servant is found, along with a collection of stolen items, and someone else grows mysteriously ill. Can Tiffany solve these mysteries without her own disguise being discovered? If not, she’ll lose her cottage and possibly her life.

A Novel Disguise is an engaging read with a well balanced mixture of historical, romance, and mystery elements. I really liked how the romance aspects did not take over the whole story, and instead the character development and mystery aspects were the highlights of the story. Tiffany is a pragmatic and intelligent character, well aware of the dangers and possible paths her life could take if things went wrong. I liked that few characters were all good or bad, they were realistically human with good and bad aspects of their personalities and the decisions to match. I also liked the mystery created here- and even when I guessed a connection before the point was made in the book, I enjoyed watching the characters get there as well. I also liked that the author did the research, and shared what they learned about the time and place that they wrote about with the readers that take the time to read the endmatter. I look forward to following this series.

A Novel Disguise is a charming start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here. 

Book Review: Devil on Her Shoulder by Cédric Mayen & Sandra Cardona

Devil on Her Shoulder by Cédric Mayen & Sandra Cardona is a graphic novel. The Bruja is missing! When the most powerful witch alive disappears without a trace, Norah, her 17-year-old niece, decides to investigate. But upon entering her aunt’s manor, she interrupts a summoning ritual and finds herself face to face with the devil… Or half of him, anyway, as he has been cut in two and is now stuck in a pentagram. Unable to return to Hell without Norah’s help, Lucifer agrees to assist her in finding the Bruja—a devilish task when you’re the most feared and hated being on the planet!

Devil on Her Shoulder is a graphic novel that I greatly enjoyed, and think would be suitable for a wide range of readers. I liked the set up and the execution of the story. While there were some aspects that I predicted, that only made the ride and reveal more interesting as I brought along for the ride. I enjoyed the personalities that were engrained in each of the major characters- and how well they traits of each character were portrayed in their facial expressions on the page. I greatly enjoyed the read and think readers from middle school on up will be able to enjoy and connect with aspects of the story. I will be looking for what else this creative team has worked on, and hopefully more of these characters in the future. 

Devil on Her Shoulder is an engaging story with artwork to match. 

Book Review: How to Grill Our Love, Volume 1 by Shiori Hanatsuka

How to Grill Our Love, Volume 1, by Shiori Hanatsuka is a manga style graphic novel. Dating can be tough when you nerd out over barbecue. Kenta, a practical pitmaster, looks for a grill-friend in Chihiro, an aloof and faultless business babe…or is she? Scared of being rejected for who they really are, the two of them find comfort in food and each other…and all is well until Kenta must transfer away. With their developing relationship at steak, Chihiro proposes they tie the knot and they marry for better or wurst. Winging a long-distance marriage is one thing, but here’s the rub—they barely know each other! It’s a rare marriage where all the awkwardness of dating meets a sizzling passion for grilling!

How to Grill Our Love is a fun and enjoyable read. I liked the story- and getting some recipes along the way. I liked the set up and I thought it was a very cute read. My only complaint is that at the end of the book I had a pretty good understanding of Kenta as a character and I really liked him. However, I have no more of an understanding of Chihiro than Kenta does. I understand doing a slow reveal, but I think her personality is completely left of the page, and while it might get explored in later volumes I am not sure that everyone will stick around to figure out who she is. I did enjoy the read, and I liked it overall, I just wish I knew more about Chihiro when the first volume ended. 

Book Review: Olympic Enemies by Rebecca J Caffery

Olympic Enemies by Rebecca J Caffery is a contemporary romance. Three weeks at the Olympic Village. Two Gymnasts who've been rivals for half a decade. Forced to share a room at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Oliver and Lucas are less than happy. After five years of fighting, the team needs them to learn to work together if they stand any chance of medalling. To make matters worse, Lucas, king of lone wolves, has absolutely no desire to become best friends with the three musketeers who make up the rest of the male British Gymnastics Team. So when the press becomes intrusive towards Lucas and Oliver finally steps in to defend him, things are looking up. Until that sliver of common ground truly demonstrates how thin the line between love and hate really can be. However, when their fighting turns to kissing which results in headlines in every newspaper and potential heartbreak for the pair, it isn’t just gold on the line -- it's their hearts.

Olympic Enemies is a un read with a nice balance of character and relationship development. I liked how well developed the main characters, and the most prevalent secondary character were. I thought the family and friendship ties, and the reasoning behind concerns and issues were all well built into the story. I liked the build up and resolution for the relationship between Oliver and Lucas. I thought the details about competitive gymnastics were well researched, and I loved getting a better understanding of what it can be like, and some of the stresses that the media and world in general can put towards those in the spotlight. I thought the team and coach dynamics were some of my favorite moments in the book, but I did find myself feeling like one secondary character was rather left out in the cold towards the end, and I would enjoy seeing them get some love in future books from the author. 

Olympic Enemies is an engaging and enjoyable read.

Book Review: Ukulele of Death by E. J. Copperman

Ukulele of Death by E. J. Copperman is a contemporary mystery. After losing their parents when they were just babies, private investigators Fran and Ken Stein now specialize in helping adoptees find their birth parents. So when a client asks them for help finding her father, with her only clue a rare ukulele, the case is a little weird, sure, but it's nothing they can't handle. But soon Fran and her brother are plunged into a world where nothing makes sense - and not just the fact that a very short (but very cute) NYPD detective keeps trying to take eternal singleton Fran out on dates. All Fran wants to do is find the ukulele and collect their fee, but it's hard to keep your focus when you're stumbling over corpses and receiving messages that suggest your (dead) parents are very much alive. Ukuleles aside, it's becoming clear that someone knows something they shouldn't - that Fran and Ken Stein weren't so much born, as built.

Ukulele of Death is a mystery that is full of surprises and twists. I loved the tongue in cheek commentary by Fran through the entire book, and that even that characters I thought I had a handle on surprised me more than once. I liked the set up and slow reveal about what makes Fran and Ken so special, and found their relationship with each other and those around them to be well done and engaging. There were some great clues, and some red herrings, that kept me guessing through out the read. There was also a sense of humor and fun to the read, so that even when I was worried about Fran and what twist might be on the next page I never dreaded the danger involved in the reveal. I really enjoyed the read and will be looking for more from the author. 

Ukulele of Death is an entertaining and well written mystery. I am hoping to read more about these characters. 

Book Review: Royal Blood by Aimée Carter

Royal Blood by Aimée Carter is the first book in a new series.  As the King of England’s illegitimate daughter, 17-year-old Evan Bright knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. But when she’s forced to spend the summer in London with her father and the royal family, who aren’t exactly thrilled she exists, her identity is mysteriously revealed, and suddenly the world is dying to know every juicy lie the press prints about her. After what was supposed to be a fun night turns deadly and Evan becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation. The escalating rumors and fallout threaten to tear her life apart. As she fights to uncover the truth about what happened, she discovers royal secrets that are even more scandalous than she imagined – secrets that could change the monarchy forever.

Royal Blood is a book that will speak to the young to new adult age range, as well as us 'slightly' older adults. There is a good balance between the teenage and royal angst and the mystery of who is behind which incidents and other secrets that might be revealed. I liked Evan, and thought her defense mechanisms were realistic personality wise, while her exploits were still over the top enough to be very entertaining. I thought the emotional drama of truths, forged connections, and opportunities to grow were very well done, and surprised me more than once. I thought the mystery aspects and the twists and turns the story took were nicely handled, and while some I expected, others took me completely by surprise. I also felt the book ended well, wrapping up some of the most pressing matters and leaving enough suspense to have me chomping at the bit for the next installment. 

Royal Blood is an engaging and well written series starter. I cannot wait to see what happens next. 

Book Review: Too Wrong to Be Right by Melonie Johnson

Too Wrong to Be Right by Melonie Johnson is a contemporary romance. While it is not labeled as in a series, fans of the author will see some familiar characters. 

After her latest jerk of a boyfriend dumps her (and ditches her with his pet hedgehog), florist Kat Kowalski is done chasing after Mr. Wrong. With her two best friends moving on to more serious relationships, she’s ready to stop repeating the same mistakes that are leaving her stuck in the single lane. Armed with a list of qualities for her perfect Mr. Right, Kat swears off dating until she finds him. Then in a meet-disaster involving a corpse and a salty cockatoo, she stumbles across Mick O’Sullivan at his family's funeral home. Their immediate chemistry warns Kat to keep things platonic; after all, following her heart never worked out in the past, and this time she’s determined to listen to her head. But can Kat and Mick be just friends? As she gets to know him better, the lines blur, and Kat starts to wonder if she’s gotten it wrong and Mick is exactly who she’s been looking for.

Too Wrong to Be Right is an engaging romance, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I liked Kat, even if she got stuck in her own head too often. Although, as someone who does the same I really should not judge. I thought her attempts to break the cycle and find a better relationship was realistic and something many readers might relate to. I really liked Mick, and adored his family. I thought the cast of characters, and the pets, were well written and in most cases fun to read about. I liked the interplay between Kat and Mick, and thought the family dynamics and self doubt were realistic and relatable obstacles that kept me turning pages and looking to see how everything would come together. 

Too Wrong to Be Right is a well written and entertaining romance.

Early Book Review: Heart and Brain: Onward to Good Things! by Nick Seluk

Heart and Brain: Onward to Good Things! by Nick Seluk is currently scheduled for release on May 2 2023. New York Times bestselling author Nick Seluk returns with a charming, hilarious, and inspirational book of comics in which his popular Heart and Brain characters fight through the world's gloom and uncertainty and march toward a brighter, more hopeful future. This book of comics directly addresses the mental health challenges we’ve been through collectively as a species, with specific illustrations and new content that help people feel understood, seen, and encouraged. Delivered with a humorous but sensitive touch, Onward to Good Things contains short graphic novel elements in three sections to tie together the themes and comics in one continuing short story that will help propel the author's millions of fans—and brand-new readers—toward a brighter and more laugh-filled future.

Onward to Good Things offers readers exactly what the blurbs promises, and fans of the characters will expect when picking up this title. While some of the panels seemed familiar to me, I think this format and larger collection on the artist's work will appeal to fans of the comic. I enjoyed the humor style and felt that it was consistent in style and quality. I liked the self awareness and honesty in the book, something that we could all use a little more of. I think everyone will find something to relate to in this book, but those that have recognized and embraced their own anxiety and self doubts will connect to it the most.

Book Review: What the Hex by Jessica Clare

What the Hex by Jessica Clare is the follow up to Go Hex Yourself. It can be read as part of the series, but stands up as a stand alone as well. Penny Roundtree wants nothing more than to be a familiar to a witch. She’s been a member of the Society of Familiars ever since she was old enough to join the Fam. There’s just a small problem—no one’s hiring. Witches and warlocks are so long-lived that there are far more familiars available than witches to train them. So when an unorthodox arrangement to apprentice under the table to a forbidden warlock presents itself, she takes it. Willem Sauer is banned from having a familiar due to past transgressions, thereby limiting his magic-casting abilities. Unfortunately for the surly, Prussian warlock, he has no choice but to work with enthusiastic Penny as a familiar. They immediately clash like dried roan horsehair and honeycomb gathered by moonlight (it’s a terrible spell combination, ask anyone). Casting spells has delightful perks Penny never could have dreamed of, but also greater dangers. Someone is targeting Penny. Willem and Penny must work together to catch their enemy, and if their ploy requires a little kissing on the side, who is to question the rules of magic?

What the Hex is a romance with a nice balance of mystery and magic in the mix. While readers that read the first book in the series will have a head start in knowing the characters and set up of the witch/familiar details in this world, I think new comers to the author will be able to catch on quickly, and be interested enough to go back and read what they already missed. I listened to the first book, so it took me a bit to get into the groove of the story after switching format, but I still really enjoyed the read. I thought the character development was well done, and I really got into the mystery and suspense elements. I thought the story did a good job of moving a larger plot line ahead along with the romance, and I look forward to seeing how the witch and familiar society changes and who finds their happy ever after next. 

What the Hex is a solid romance and a good continuation of the series. I look forward to the next installment.

Early Book Review: Best Men by Sidney Karger

Best Men by Sidney Karger is currently scheduled for release on May 2 2023. Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He’s trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago. She can light up any party. She finishes his sentences. She’s always a reliable splunch (they don’t like to use the word brunch) partner. But then Max’s whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she’s engaged and wants Max to be her man of honor. Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she’s ready to settle down. But it turns out there’s not just one new man in Paige’s life—there are two. There's the groom, Austin, who’s a perfectly nice guy. Then there's his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin's best man. As Paige’s wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they’re like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige’s life while not making her wedding festivities all about them. But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other’s lives?

Best Men was a surprisingly emotional read for me, mostly because of how I connected with Max. I have often felt like he seemed too- like an outsider or someone that do not matter as much to those around them as they matter to him. His feelings about being left out, replaced, He was going through a lot- and since there was so much happening all at once there was really no one for him to talk to to about it- and I feel like so many of us have had that moment where it feels like the world is collapsing around us and no one notices. Or is that just me? On a lighter note, I thought the characters and relationships were generally well developed and I really enjoyed some of the exchanges Max has with Paige, coworkers, and Chasten. I will say that I felt like a couple things that I wanted closure on  and did not get. I want more on how some of Max's coworkers fare, and something big for Max at work as well. There are hints and bits, but I really felt like there could have been one or two more moments on the subject to better resolve a couple things for me. I also would have loved to have had any of this book from Chasten or Paige's point of view. I think it would have just rounded the anxiety and heaviness that I got from Max through so much of this book. 

Best Men was a well written and engaging read. 

Early Book Review: Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname

Sunbeams in the Sky, Volume 1, by Monika Kaname is a manga style graphic novel that is currently scheduled for release on April 18 2023. Himari Akeno can’t wait to start high school! Even though she’s parting ways with her twin sister, Mio, Himari’s enthusiasm to start this new chapter of her life is palpable—that is, until a traumatic incident sends her home to hide in her room. Watching Himari’s dreams shatter is more than Mio can bear, especially when her sister still longs for an ordinary student life. Determined to see her twin get back out into the world, Mio “catches a cold” and convinces her sister to fill in until she “recovers.” As long as the shy, introverted Himari can pull off impersonating the bubbly, energetic Mio, nothing could go wrong…right?

The first volume of Sunbeams in the Sky did exactly what it was supposed to. It made me care about the characters and become heavily invested in them and their relationships. I liked the story, and thought the characters were well written and introduced. I would have liked to see more development with a couple of the characters, I fully suspect that will be coming as the story unfolds in later installments. While much of the story is fairly typical family and high school drama style there is certainly more going on here. I do have to admit that I keep thinking the characters are more than they appear, and am waiting for some of my suspicions to be proven wrong or right in future volumes. 

Book Review: The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan

The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan is the first book in a young adult fantasy trilogy. As the only hedgewitch in Blackthorn, Massachusetts—an uncommonly magical place—Aziza El-Amin has bargained with wood nymphs, rescued palm-sized fairies from house cats, banished flesh-eating shadows from the local park. But when a dark entity awakens in the forest outside of town, eroding the invisible boundary between the human world and fairyland, run-of-the-mill fae mischief turns into outright aggression, and the danger—to herself and others—becomes too great for her to handle alone. Leo Merritt is no stranger to magical catastrophes. On his sixteenth birthday, a dormant curse kicked in and ripped away all his memories of his true love. A miserable year has passed since then. He's road-tripped up and down the East Coast looking for a way to get his memories back and hit one dead end after another. He doesn't even know his true love's name, but he feels the absence in his life, and it's haunting. Desperate for answers, he makes a pact with Aziza: he’ll provide much-needed backup on her nightly patrols, and in exchange, she’ll help him break the curse. When the creature in the woods sets its sights on them, their survival depends on the aid of a mysterious young necromancer they’re not certain they can trust. But they’ll have to work together to eradicate the new threat and take back their hometown, even if it forces them to uncover deeply buried secrets and make devastating sacrifices.

The Buried and the Bound is complicated in all the best ways. The town and the laws of magic for this series are fed to readers through out the book, as some of the characters learn for themselves, or are taught. Every character has more to them than might first appear, and while some of the surprises I guessed early on, I thought the slow reveal and getting to know each other parts of the story were very well done. There was a nice balance between the 'normal' teen angst with the mafic and danger that flows through the entire book. The dynamics between Aziza and Leo, and then with the others and families led to an engaging and sometimes stressful read. I was very glad to see the resolution and thought some of the most important questions were answered, but I must admit that there is so much more I want to know. I look forward to a continuation of this story.  

The Buried and the Bound is a well written fantasy novel that left me looking forward to the next installment.

Early Book Review: Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg

Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg is currently scheduled for release on April 25 2023. The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her. Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired. But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.

Just as You Are is a novel that will be exactly what some readers need. I loved the honest look at gender identity and the struggles that every character had with in figuring out who they were, what the wanted, and how to be true to that. This is something everyone can relate to, and I think will definitely strike a chord with readers. I also like the character growth for everyone- in found family, friendship, and work not just through the romance lenses. I have to admit that I want to know more about some of the secondary characters, even those that only came up in very specific settings. I look forward to reading what ever Kellogg releases next. 

Just as You Are is a highly engaging and honest look at friendship, finding yourself, and the complications of all that and love. 

Early Book Review: Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America by Matika Wilbur

Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America by Matika Wilbur is currently scheduled for release on April 25 2023. In 2012, Matika Wilbur sold everything in her Seattle apartment and set out on a Kickstarter-funded pursuit to visit, engage, and photograph people from what were then the 562 federally recognized Native American Tribal Nations. Over the next decade, she traveled six hundred thousand miles across fifty states—from Seminole country (now known as the Everglades) to Inuit territory (now known as the Bering Sea)—to meet, interview, and photograph hundreds of Indigenous people. The body of work Wilbur created serves to counteract the one-dimensional and archaic stereotypes of Native people in mainstream media and offers justice to the richness, diversity, and lived experiences of Indian Country. The culmination of this decade-long art and storytelling endeavor, Project 562 is a peerless, sweeping, and moving love letter to Indigenous Americans, containing hundreds of stunning portraits and compelling personal narratives of contemporary Native people—all photographed in clothing, poses, and locations of their choosing. Their narratives touch on personal and cultural identity as well as issues of media representation, sovereignty, faith, family, the protection of sacred sites, subsistence living, traditional knowledge-keeping, land stewardship, language preservation, advocacy, education, the arts, and more.

Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America is a stunning and important book. The photography is absolutely wonderful, and I could page through this book for hours to appreciate each image. More important, the text and purpose of this book is incredibly significant and I found the book to be highly engaging, informational, and meaningful on multiple levels. I think letting each of the interviewed individuals choose how that wanted to be photographed, and how their words were shared untouched went a long way in sharing their real and authentic voices, experiences, and perspectives with readers. Reading this book was as close to meeting such a variety of individuals and communities from across the country as I am likely to ever have a chance to personally. I feel like I learned a great deal, and will continue to learn more as I explore more ownvoices works by indigenous individuals. I thought I had a much better grasp and understanding on how colonialism and bigotry had shaped this country and all of its people, but I feel like I have a much better understanding of how little I actually knew after reading this book. This book has inspired be to continue my learning and understanding, and I hope it will have the effect on a wide variety of readers.