This is an ongoing project and will be updated periodically with current and past books read. Since I tend to sometimes include more than one book in a review, I will note review next to the books in question. This page includes 2021 Books Read, 2020 Books Read, and Reviews. This info is based off my Goodreads account. Find the complete list there while this project is ongoing.
- 2022 Books Read (Goodreads)
- 2021 Books Read (Goodreads)
- 2020 Books Read (Goodreads)
- 2019 Favorite Books
- 20 Bookish Questions
- Favorite Books First Half 2018
- Favorite Books (Goodreads)
All About Books and Reviews
Book Review: The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe
The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe (Amazon Link) Just after midnight on Tuesday last as I was finishing up Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up With the Duke and London’s Greatest Lovers series (review forthcoming), my Kindle synced and BOOM—a new…
Book Review: The Devil’s Delilah by Loretta Chase
Book Review: The Devil’s Delilah by Loretta Chase (Amazon Link) I would like to continue writing about the Chase regency books because I don’t feel that I gave them enough reverence in the previous review. In order to fully appreciate…
Book Review: The English Witch by Loretta Chase
The English Witch by Loretta Chase (Amazon Link) I haven’t loved a book so much and yet been more irritated with it. This is one of Chase’s first books and you can tell right off that she’s a brilliant, charismatic,…
Book Review: Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard
Amazon Kindle Book Review: Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard I’m on a roll so I’ll write another. The pandemic’s (among other historically relevant current events) impact on me has been anything but positive—what a shocker. My writing ceased;…
Book Review: A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid
Amazon Kindle Book Review: A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid I know! It’s been a while. I hopped onto Twitter this morning and the place was a mess, raging over someone drinking coffee with their husband, so, I backed…
Pandemic Diary—Shame (update)
ADDENDUM—Here (below) is my short review of Bridgerton Season two (longer review here): The Ezra Klein podcast has several great shows on Ukraine, Russia, and Putin that are a wealth of information—Fareed Zakaria, Fiona Hill, Masha Gessen, Timothy Snyder, Emma…
Misc Book Reviews
A repost in case you missed it ↓ Romance Authors that I’ve found and favorited over the last several months: Joanna Shupe, Leigh Bardugo, Tessa Dare, Jennifer Ashley, Courtney Milan, Amalie Howard, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, and Mary…
Pandemic Diary – Me No Pause, Some Book Reviews, Capitalism, Supplements, Please Buy Me a Computer
My last two posts are the result of a brain riddled with stress through the fog of menopause, and today’s life of pandemic, war, poverty, inequality, fascism, book banning; legislative cruelty, oppression, and bigotry; stupid politicians; greedy corporations price gouging…
Book Review: Uptown Girls by Joanna Shupe
Uptown Girls by Joanna ShupeThe Rogue of Fifth AvenueThe Prince of BroadwayThe Devil of Downtown Oh, Bravo, Madam, Bravo. This series crashed into my wild-girl world and center and sent tingles twisting into my gut wrapping around my heart like…
Pandemic Diary – Romantic Themes, War, Being Dumb
Someone needs to close that damn Hellmouth—who volunteers? Come on, don’t be shy or cowardly. Were all those superhero movies for naught? Putin is deranged, cunning, old & probably getting ready to shuffle off this mortal coil thus his psychopathic…
Pandemic Diary — Escapism
What makes a great romance novel? This is a personal preference, and everyone has one. My reading preferences are all over the place merely because, as I previously stated, I am purposely eclectic, unbiased, and permissive in art and literature;…
Intermission II – The Mirror of Me
It occurred to me the other day that it has been almost two years since I posted an update to this story. I am working on it. It’s taking a lot longer than what I anticipated or wanted, but, so…
Book Review: Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom
Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom. The first week this book came out, I drove to the nearest bookstore—a Barnes and Noble twenty minutes and fifteen miles away in Huntersville, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte—to purchase a copy. Normally I…
2021 Books Read
This list can be found on Goodreads here. The Duke is Mine by Eloisa JamesWhen Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa JamesA Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa JamesThe Mad Earl’s Bride by Loretta ChaseThe Last Hellion by Loretta ChaseLord of…
2020 Books Read
Ransom by Julie Garwood (Review)The Bride by Julie Garwood (Review)Heart of a Warrior by Johanna Lindsey The Heir by Johanna LindseyThe Dark Lady by Maire ClaremontGentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey (Review)Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It…
Book Review: The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter
Some of the best advice I ever received came in three parts—read the negative critical reviews first, on everything, but read this book (or any book) on critical thinking before anything else; the third, I’ll save for another time. This…
Book Review: Spindle Cove Series by Tessa Dare
Spindle Cove Series by Tessa Dare There is something so deliciously alluring and seductive about a writer that can narrate an intriguing plot with the right amount of snark and humor around such hot, passionate romance and sex scenes, including…
Book Review: The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan
The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan Courtney Milan’s The Brothers Sinister Series nourished my spirit and fed my revolutionary & anarchist romantic energy so completely and utterly, I was left ruminating for weeks over each story and character and the…
Book Review: Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh I did something I rarely do and read this series out of order. I read Slightly Married first. That book, and the series, are more subdued—stoic and British than what I anticipated, but…different. I looked…
Book Review: The Searcher by Tana French
The Searcher by Tana French Claire Messud said something once that resonated with me and still does. “If you’re reading to find friends, you’re in deep trouble. We read to find life, in all its possibilities. The relevant question isn’t…
Book Review: The Five Things We Cannot Change by David Richo
The Five Things We Cannot Change… by David Richo One of my absolute favorite shows is Fringe. There is a scene in the episode ‘Conentrate and Ask Again’ in which Dr. Walter Bishop comes face-to-face with one of his child…
Book Review: Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Wild by Cheryl Strayed I’m going to stay with the grieving theme since it still needs a somewhat broader brushstroke than what When He Was Wicked provided; and, while it is an entertaining romance that examines grief briefly, Ms. Strayed’s…
Book Review: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (Updated)
Bridgertons Series When He Was Wicked is my favorite Bridgerton novel of the eight in the series. Skeptical on whether or not I would like it after I realized in the first couple of paragraphs that it was a guy…
Book Review: A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine When I began devising A Mirror of Me, I wanted a character that reacted occasionally to the world around her with a rhymed poem. I did not want her to be that poetically…
Book-TV Tie-In Review: The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell Oof. My eyes glazed over at about 75% in and I had to speed read through the rest. There’s only so much ancient battle campaigns and strategies, shield walls, brutality, piety, Destiny is all…
Book Review: The Bride by Julie Garwood
The Bride by Julie Garwood I don’t think I’ve ever read Julie Garwood till this book. When I was younger, I usually stayed away from books where there was an attempt to write heavy dialect, especially Scottish, because many tries…
Book Review: Pale Rider The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World by Laura Spinney
Pale Rider The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World by Laura Spinney I’m one of those people that likes to be informed—on everything really or as much as I can fit into my small mediocre brain…
Book Review: A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold While I’m finishing other books and forcing myself back into my daily writing habits, I wanted to comment on one of my favorite books in the interim—a book I loved long before it…
Book Review: Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey
Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey I’ve read the first five of the Malory-Anderson Family series books. While I like Love Only Once, Tender Rebel and Say You Love Me, my favorites so far are Gentle Rogue and The Magic of…
Book Review: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Book Review: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson When I heard about Breonna Taylor’s murderers evading justice with a minor charge of endangering white people, I was reading about 23-year-old Claude Neal: “…perhaps the single worst act of…
Book Review: Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey
Book Review: Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey Oy, speaking of rape/non-con…I took one glance at the Goodreads reviews and decided to not even bother. I even unfollowed a celeb reviewer after reading their review of this book that…
Book Review: Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey
Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey If you’re squeamish about slavery and chains, you may as well take a pass on this entire Haardrad Family series. If you do though you’ll be missing out on some great characters. Set during the…
Book Review: Consider This-Moments in My Writing Life after Which Everything Was Different by Chuck Palahniuk
Consider This-Moments in My Writing Life after Which Everything Was Different by Chuck Palahniuk I read books about writing and creativity—all books about writing and creativity; one is never too old nor too good to learn, and I’m neither, fuckyouverymuch.…
Book Review: A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught This book includes knights and castles and jousts—so much fun. I most relate to Jennifer Merrick’s stubbornness. Although, I cannot relate to her continued family loyalty—that aggravates the hell out of me. Another…
Book Review: Miracles by Judith McNaught
Miracles by Judith McNaught I had no idea this book even existed. I was completely and utterly thrilled to find out one of my favorite characters was getting his own book and with such an interesting romantic equal. I purchased…
Book Review: Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught In honor of the forthcoming Bridgerton series on Netflix, I hereby submit the McNaught historical romance novels for a delicious and provocative Shondaland interpretative creative touch—especially this book; most especially this book. If anyone could…
Book Review: Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught
Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught Of all the McNaught historical romance novels, this is probably my favorite and Alexandra is my favorite protagonist. I love that she saves his life—as a Knight no less—and that she’s witty and independent and…
Book Review: Once and Always by Judith McNaught
Once and Always by Judith McNaught Rereading and reviewing these books critically now that I’m older and at this point in history has left me with some complicated emotions. The romantic in me continues to love them; the pragmatist recognizes…
Book Review: Until You by Judith McNaught
Book Review: Until You by Judith McNaught Book number three in the Westmoreland Saga focuses on the younger Westmoreland brother, Stephen—yet another aristocratic asshole, but one a tad less intense on that spectrum—and Sheridan, a feisty American governess stricken with…
Book Review: Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught From the onset of this review, I believe we can establish that a lot of men are assholes. We can argue about it, but after the past few years, that is a certainty very…
Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Prepare to feel discomfort and all manner of emotions reading this book, and it is for that reason I urge you to read it unaware of any of its many stunning attributes—stop reading this now…
Book Review: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh Categorized in many reviews as ‘unlikable’ and ‘unstable’ and all naysaying things ‘un’, Eileen is a vivid and compelling character study in contradictions, discomfort, and authenticity. I found her deeply raw and real, and endlessly fascinating—I…
Book Review: Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey
Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey I wanted to do a quick reread and review of this book since I brought it up here as an inspiration for writing science and speculative fiction. This book was first released in 1990 and…
Book Review: Salt by Nayyirah Waheed (Poetry)
Salt by Nayyirah Waheed Last month, I found some of my old poetry from the early 2000’s and started posting it here on this site. This poetry was written at an illusive indecisive moment for me. It was mostly an…
Intermission I – The Mirror of Me
I’m working on new chapters now slowly churning away in front of the screen and beyond doing all that thinking and scrambling around one does prior to writing another chapter—you know, the hard work. Those chapters are forthcoming—eventually. I’ll post…
Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller I’ll be completely upfront: I never read The Iliad or The Odyssey and had no clue about any of the ancient gods or Greek and Roman religions. I was completely and totally ignorant about it all…
Book Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward Jesmyn Ward is an artist of words. She wields her visions into searing stories of the Black contemporary south. Complex, heartbreaking and bleak narrations that seduce and sway you into the Black bodies born…
Book Review: The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North
The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North This novel appeared at a much-needed time in my life touching parts of me that rarely saw light. Having been a ‘train wreck’ myself, I can relate to the damage—not…
Book Review: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky The world-building in this book features a multi-generational spider and ant society evolutionized with a nanotech virus, created and delivered to them by a marooned and cocooned human scientist in a semi-sentient pod, suspended…
Book Review: The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale
I love historical romance novels. If you come at me with any type of literary or cultural snobbery whatsoever (music, movie, TV, etc.), I will laugh you off as a pedestrian rube. And if you are a man and not…
Book Review: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King I am the product of an abusive alcoholic father and family. This book and The Shining speak to me on an entirely other level. One with the puking, the violence, the rage, melancholy and moodiness,…
Audio Book Review: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Narrated by Joe Morton aka Papa Pope, this audiobook is probably one of my favorites if not the favorite. Joe Morton’s intensity and glorious acting skills succeed in making this a fantastic, riveting listen. Morton’s read is made all that…
Book Review: Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays by George Orwell
Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays by George Orwell. Most of the books I’ve reviewed so far I read months if not years ago. This one I recently finished. I did not realize that Orwell was such a superb essayist and…
Book Review: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. David Mitchell is a god of words. A brilliant, utterly divine artist that pushes creative boundaries beyond akin to Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf, Marcel Proust, Mary Shelley, and their more modern equivalents (to which I’ll go…
Book Review: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Thrilling. Philosophically and aesthetically deliberate—as is every Tartt novel. Privilege illustrated to an engrossing degree—glaringly elevating rich white entitlement and classism within the hallowed halls of even the most revered American educational institutions. How…
Book Review: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life: A Novel Kindle Edition by Hanya Yanagihara. I inhaled this book—it consumed me. This book left me raw, exposed, alive, shattered, and…human—so extraordinarily human. It lived and grew within me for weeks afterward and transformed me into…
Book Review: What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte
What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte. I made no secret that I didn’t care for J.D. Vance’s very narrow perspective and interpretation of Appalachian folks in Hillbilly Elegy. Not only was his judgment and words lacking…
Book Review: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey. Once again, we have an author lifting up the language and unspoken stories of the oppressed; examining the perspectives and circumstances of the alternate embellished—often compelling—history to the voices and…
Book Review: SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard is such an immense read that I’m still reading it. I didn’t wanna wait to write about it though while experiencing just how important a read her words are given how…
Book Review: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal is an alluring and infuriating must-read. From the sociopolitical themes to the catastrophic extinction-level event that requires immediate action—all currently, highly relevant and related—the plot focuses on the main character’s quest to become…
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