On the Shelf: February 2024

Books are still operating as my cold weather haven. I tore through 22 in February, and it was the new-to-me authors who really stood out. Whether it was Anise Starre's snappy and sexy contemporaries, Alyson Chase's steamy historical kink, or a classic like The Prosposition by Judith Ivory. The latter is going on my list of Forever Faves because Mick and Winnie are #romancegoals and it's such a beautiful low-conflict read. 

I know, I know. Low conflict? Suleikha, who are you? Don't worry, almost everything else I read this month had plenty of conflict and drama—both internal and external. Like The Engagement Party, the latest taut thriller from Darby Kane (aka Romancelandia's own HelenKay Dimon!), and Liana De la Rosa's lush and sexy follow-up to last year's Ana Maria and the Fox. Isabel and her rogue, British spy Sirius, are actually in a bit of a love triangle—because of her fierce loyalty to Mexico. So how can they possibly have an HEA? Don't worry, De la Rosa gets them there. The journey is well worth it. In fact, you might want to save it for after Ann Liang's October release, A Song to Drown Rivers. It's a gorgeously drawn Chinese historical fantasy that will break your heart. A little healing via romance novel may be in order! They're always a balm for my soul. 

The Reading Rundown
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong (horror)
Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa (out 6/4/24, historical romance)
The Engagement Party by Darby Kane (suspense, thriller)
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang (out 10/1/24, fantasy, historical fantasy)
One Last Job by Anise Starre (contemporary romance)
One More Shot by Anise Starre (contemporary romance)
Nicky the Driver by Cate C. Wells (dark romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I kicked off the month finishing a reread of Kelley Armstrong's Thirteen. After that, it was pretty much back to historicals (shocker!). I had rereads of Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt and Grace Callaway's Glory and the Master of Shadows, The Duke Redemption, and The Duke Who Knew Too Much—as well as A Lady's Code of Misconduct and The Sins of Lord Lockwood by Meredith Duran. As for new-to-me titles, there was the very kinky and tightly plotted Disciplined By the Duke and Bound By the Earl by Alyson Chase. I zipped through To Kiss a Thief by Susanna Craig. And I finally tried books by oft-recced and beloved author Judith Ivory. I adored The Proposition but didn't enjoy Black Silk quite as much. I snuck in contemporary dark romance with a reread of Cate C. Wells' Run Posy Run. Then I closed up February with unread books from Lorraine Heath's Scoundrels of St. James series: Between the Devil and Desire and Surrender to the Devil.

Currently reading: Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and a reread of Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again.

On the TBR/wish list
'Til Heist Do Us Part by Sara Desai
Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams