On the Shelf: June 2026

It looks like my final count for June was 25 books—and what an amazing reading month it was! Kennedy Ryan's Score was worth the wait and worth the hype, gutting me quite neatly with Verity's journey. I'm not bipolar, I have other mental health issues, but I related so hard to her struggles. Every time I see someone with similar problems fall in love, it gives me hope. That's what a good romance does. It ends with hope, not just happiness. So, as if the smash-hit from Ryan wasn't enough, I also got knocked over by Kate Clayborn's The Paris Match and Shirlene Obuobi's paranormal romance Die For Me. Both books were so exquisitely written that my own abilities felt inadequate in comparison. And they're very different stories! Two clashing personalities trying to fix a destination wedding disaster vs. a driven cardiologist being swept away by a mysterious younger man. If you've been missing classic paranormals with vampire romance vibes, you need to meet Sean and Julian. They also kinda reminded me of Tia Williams's A Love Song For Ricki Wilde.

Before I dive into the lists, I also want to shout out An Ordinary Sort of Evil for delivering on the romance front. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and I've followed her around different genres and subgenres. Her historical mystery series is slow-burn and so fun. This latest book had confessions of feelings!!! I was kicking my feet and slapping my couch in glee.

The Reading Rundown
Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer (paranormal romance, historical romantasy-ish)
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
Wild, Wild Cowboy by Elizabeth Bright (contemporary romance)
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (contemporary romance)
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev (mainstream fiction, women's fiction)
Seduced By the Werewolf Highwaymen by Eva Leigh (out 7/7, paranormal romance, polyam/why choose romance, novella)
Die For Me by Shirlene Obuobi (out 7/16, paranormal romance)
Score by Kennedy Ryan (contemporary romance)
[Redacted] by TK (suspense, gothic-ish, for professional review purposes)

Backlist titles & rereads: A bunch of old Harlequin Intrigues were on sale in ebook form, so my first two reads of June were Heart of the Night and Echoes in the Dark by Gayle Wilson. I bought Wilson's Only a Whisper in paperback years ago, and it's definitely the strongest of the three—and still a fave—so, naturally, I had to reread it! (And, FWIW, it holds up. Except for the author's constant focus on the Colombian MMC's dark skin. Extra weird because the cover model is a white dude. lol.) Of course I had to get in my monthly dose of historicals, so I kicked off with a reread of The Ground She Walks Upon by Meagan McKinney and then the new-to-me I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm and A Good Rogue is Hard to Find by Kelly Bowen. The former was really good, featuring a pair who was a team from the jump and not automatically at odds—and had no duke actually involved (which I do not mind at ALL). Urban fantasy was my next stop, with rereads of Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong and Anne Bishop's Lake Silence and my first visit to Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. I read the first four books in a row and then the spin-off First Drop of Crimson. I closed out the month by settling back into familiar territory, revisiting Simply Insatiable by Kate Pearce, Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer, and Some Like it Wild by Teresa Medeiros.

Currently reading: Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell.

On the TBR/wish list
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
One For the Road by Eliot Fletcher
A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

On the Shelf: May 2026

I read a whopping 29 stories in May—or 25, if you count a bunch of novellas in a multiauthor anthology as one title. Most of that debatable number is made up of rereads of old favorites. Whether it was the intimate contemporary communities built by Molly O'Keefe and Alisha Rai, or the lush, richly-drawn Tang Dynasty China of Jeannie Lin's historical romances, or the dark and compelling alternate evolution of Earth in Anne Bishop's Others series, I found immense comfort in the journeys. It's like going to visit friends without ever leaving the house!

That's not to say I didn't enjoy meeting some new people this past month. Because Elizabeth May's dark romantasy The Wolf and the Crown of Blood was a great time. I am always here for a stabby female protagonist whose stabbiness is encouraged by her love interest. Plus, it was entirely possible that Evander would stab Bryony right back at any given opportunity. That was part of the tension of the book that I really appreciated. It was genuinely enemies-to-lovers with a believable emotional payoff. "Morally grey" as a descriptor has become almost a cliché, but May's god-kings actually embody it and take it a step further—in terms of their moral makeup being built different than that of humans. And so there's conflict inherent in how to reconcile different value systems as they fall in love. (This is something Anne Bishop does exquisitely in The Others books.) I can't wait for Theo and Bastien's book. They have a very different dynamic than Evander and Bryony's, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

The Reading Rundown
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (suspense)
[Redacted] by TK (suspense/crime, horror, for professional review purposes)
The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May (romantasy, dark fantasy)
Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura (suspense, noir, Marvel Comics tie-in)
The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I tore through rereads of Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid, The Truth About Him, Burn Down the Night, and Wait for It. Then it was on to Alisha Rai's Forbidden Hearts trilogy, Hate to Want You, Wrong to Need You, and Hurts to Love You. I kept going with the beloved backlists and immersed myself in The Lotus Palace and The Jade Temptress, by Jeannie Lin— two of my most favorite historical romances. Naturally, I had to read three more stories in the series after that. Somewhere in there, I also fit in return trips to The Obsession, by Lin writing as Liliana Lee, and Sarah Mayberry's Her Best Worst Mistake. During my Lotus Palace residency, I realized that The Liar's Dice was somehow the only story I'd read in the Gambled Away anthology—which also features novellas by Rose Lerner, Isabel Cooper, Molly O'Keefe, and Joanna Bourne. I promptly fixed that oversight. I ended the month with another series reread—the five books in Anne Bishop's Others series. I closed out the month with Cold as Ice by Anne Stuart and another go-round of My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long. Oh, how I love Keating and Kirke!

On the TBR/wish list
Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

On the Shelf: April 2026

April was very rough in a lot of ways, so I'm glad the reading part of the month went extremely well! (And not just because I knocked out 23 books.) All the frontlist titles I picked up were great, across genres. Navessa Allen's Caught Up really worked for me in a way that Lights Out didn't quite hit. What can I say? I enjoy when a guy engages in quality groveling and is desperate to make amends. It balances out the stalking very nicely. Alisha Rai's Enemies to Lovers is a fun follow-up to Partners in Crime, and it came through for me when I desperately needed some high-jinks and shenanigans to lift my mood. I'm probably not the only person wondering if a third book with Isha and Avi is in the works. Fingers crossed!

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, like last year's The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, is one of those books everyone's going to be talking about for months—if not years! Are we surprised that Ilona Andrews knocked it out of the park, through a portal, and into a different reality? No. Maggie the Undying's tumultuous journey through the world of her favorite book series had me riveted. I can't wait for more!

The Reading Rundown
Caught Up by Navessa Allen (dark romance, contemporary romance)
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (epic fantasy, portal fantasy)
Cinder House by Freya Marske (queer fantasy, Cinderella retelling)
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (historical noir)
Cabaret in Flames by Hache Pueyo (horror, cyberpunk-ish)
Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I reread all nine main books in Kit Rocha's Beyond series plus the three novellas—Beyond Temptation, Beyond Solitude, and Beyond Possession—and two of the Gideon's Riders spin-off titles, Ashwin and Ivan. Since I was engaging in a lot of screen time, I broke it up with a return to my paperback copy of Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt and a revisiting of Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas. I also took a break while reading the new Ilona Andrews and zipped through Ice Cold Saint by Cynthia Eden.

Currently reading: The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa and Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura.

On the TBR/wish list
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

On the Shelf: March 2026

March was a lackluster writing and book sales month for me, but an excellent reading month. A pitch-perfect rom-com that had me constantly laughing, The Re-Do List might be Denise Williams's best book yet. L.S. Stratton's first foray into young adult fiction, rooted in the history of sundown towns, reminds us that humans are always the real monsters. Simone St. James and Christopher Golden never disappoint and pretty much always creep me out (complimentary!). Kennedy Ryan's steamy novella has me primed for the May 19 release of Score. And a new Aydra Richards historical romance dropped this month too! (Grace Seymour steals a heart, but the cat definitely steals the show.)

The Reading Rundown
[redacted] by TK (out 7/7, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden (out 7/21, horror)
Grace Seymour Steals A Heart by Aydra Richards (historical romance)
The Close-Up by Kennedy Ryan (contemporary romance)
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James (horror, paranormal suspense)
Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton (young adult thriller, horror)
The Re-Do List by Denise Williams (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I started out by finishing up a reread of Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt and moved on to Lorraine Heath's The Duchess Hunt, When the Duke was Wicked, and Once More, My Darling Rogue. Does a month go by without me rereading at least one Lorraine Heath book? I don't think so. I broke from my comfort historicals for a dip into KU with Darkest at Dusk by Eve Silver and Little Deaths by Nenia Campbell. Then I dove into my Kindle library for an old ARC of Sins of a Virgin by Anna Randol. I stayed in backlist territory with Gentle Warrior, Julie Garwood's 1985 debut, and A Baby to Bind His Bride by Caitlin Crews. I've heard a lot over the years about the latter book and finally gave in to curiosity. How long can you possibly resist a European tycoon who is introduced as an amnesiac cult leader? That's a question for readers and the titular pregnant bride.

Currently reading: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Siliva Moreno-Garcia and a reread of The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary.

On the TBR/wish list
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

On the Shelf: February 2026

I read 17 books over the course of my birthday month, and one of the stand-outs was A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander. I should've gotten to it last year so it could be on my Best of 2025 list. Better late than never! What a charming slow-burn trans love story! Bonus? It had me walking around saying "valet" in an exaggerated British accent for days. I was also lucky enough to hit upon one of my first top-tier romances for this year—Sarah T. Dubb's Honey Bee Mine. Starring a beleaguered beekeeper, a reformed bad boy, and a great supporting cast of diverse characters, this contemporary romance did everything right. It was richly drawn, funny, and heartfelt enough to make me choke up several times. I've been sort of burned out on contemporaries lately, and Dubb's sophomore effort reminded me that authors are still doing plenty of fresh and fun things. Penny and Zander actually talked through their problems—with each other and with other people. Will wonders never cease? 

The Reading Rundown
This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara (romantasy, dark romance)
A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander (queer historical romance, trans m/m romance)
Beast Business by Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy, paranormal romance)
This Time, Next Year by Ruby Barrett (contemporary romance)
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway (historical romance)
Honey Bee Mine by Sarah T. Dubb (contemporary romance)
Hyacinth by S.M. LaViolette (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I kicked off February with Beverly Jenkins's Always and Forever and A Chance at Love. The latter was extra fun because heroine Loreli had to tell Jake that he was bad at sex and subsequently give him pointers. Then came a reread of the five components of the aptly named Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby. I finally finished Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory, which proved to be a bit of a slower journey for me. Then I reread of Elizabeth Hoyt's Duke of Sin and got Duke of Pleasure from the library. It's one of two Maiden Lane books I'd yet to get to...and I probably should've kept it that way. I was bummed out by the handling of gender identity and masculinity vs. femininity. Needing a reset, I switched over to Lorraine Heath and tied up her Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series with An Affair With a Notorious Heiress and Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses. Then I reread one of my faves, Waking Up With the Duke, because I haven't done so since 2024. My last blast from the past was Still Lake by Anne Stuart, originally pubbed in 2002.

Currently reading: Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden and Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton.

On the TBR/wish list
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai
Score by Kennedy Ryan
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite
The Re-Do List by Denise Williams

On the Shelf: January 2026

Welp, it's already February and here's my first reading round-up of the year! I'm starting right out of the gate with 16 books (17 if you count my eleventh hour bail-out). I don't have any sort of formal goal for how much I want to read going forward. But I do have a lot of 2026 releases that I'm anticipating—and that I expect to be clinging to as supplemental therapy.

So, yeah, there was a lot of Sierra Simone happening last month. I wanted to see if her kinky political books held up, especially given our real-life governmental trashfire. I have a lot of thoughts, but I'll be circumspect and say that Tristan & Isolde worked better for me than a return trip to Camelot. Speaking of trips, I went through 10,000 portals with my new obsession Alix E. Harrow and then was catapulted all the way back to ancient China for debut author Shen Tao's The Poet Empress. It is not a romantasy. There is no romance. I am more than okay with that. Because this book is such a twisted ride that I was worried about the titular poet empress, Wei Yin, catching feelings as she pursued her goals. It's pretty dark and will appeal to people who love historical C-dramas full of betrayal and skullduggery. On the other side of the spectrum is Olivia Waite's cozy-ish sci-fi mystery, Murder By Memory. Waite gives ship's detective Dorothy a wonderful, witty voice and it felt like a classic old-timey whodunit. The next book is out in March!

Editorial note: If I neglect to dash off a line or two about a particular title, it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it! It just means my brain ran out of batteries. 

The Reading Rundown
Soon By You by Dahlia Adler (out 5/19, contemporary romance)
TK by [Redacted] (out 4/7, domestic suspense, for professional review purposes)
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow (fantasy, short story)
One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker by Timothy Janovsky (contemporary m/m romance)
The Seduction of Mr. Alfred Saintsbury by Lydia Lloyd (historical romance)
The Right Story by Asha Mara (contemporary romance)
Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone (erotic romance, Tristan & Isolde retelling)
Honey Cut by Sierra Simone (erotic romance, Tristan & Isolde retelling)
Bitter Burn by Sierra Simone (erotic romance, Tristan & Isolde retelling)
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (historical fantasy)
Murder By Memory by Olivia Waite (sci-fi mystery, novella)

Backlist titles & rereads: I started 2026's backlist adventures with Judith McNaught's Once and Always. I reread American Queen and American Prince by Sierra Simone. I confess that I DNFed American King before the last few chapters (everyone loves Ash but me) and then jumped to her more recent Lyonesse series. Then I reread Kennedy Ryan's Reel in anticipation of Score coming out on May 19. I'm practically doing the Kermit flail as I await Monk and Verity's story. And of course I'm still enthralled with Alix E. Harrow, so I went through The Ten Thousand Doors of January. In January. Ha. Completely unintentionally, I assure you.

Currently reading: Always and Forever by Beverly Jenkins and Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory.

On the TBR/wish list
A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander
An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai
Score by Kennedy Ryan
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

On the Shelf: December 2025

I was a woman on an unintentional mission in December. I barely read any backlist titles and loaded up on new releases—and it took me up to 220 books read for 2025! There's been a lot of discourse about reading goals and numbers and how it's highly likely a person can't remember most of what they've read. Guess what? That's a problem whether you read six books or 26 or 260. So I'm not worried about failing a pop quiz on something from May. If I liked it enough, I probably remember enough to get at least a C+. (Which is an Asian F, but I digress...) 

I'm not even going to be coy about which book I liked the best this past month. It was The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow. Holy shit. Definitely one of the best I read all year—alongside Starling House, which I read for the first time in September and had to read again. Harrow's writing is exquisite and heartbreaking and immersive and so damn romantic. I loved Una and Owen so much. You know who else wrote a hella romantic book? KJ Charles. That All of Us Murderers is expertly done is no surprise. What made it extremely romantic for me was Gideon braving spiders for Zeb. A man who will go into a room full of spiders to get your stuff is a keeper. I'm not sure if the same can be said for a man who chases you through the woods for primal thrills, but Allie Oleander's Willing Prey has me thinking yes. I love books where characters explore and expand their kinks together. Honestly, my end-of-year reading slate was all kinds of great. T. Kingfisher? Silvia Moreno-Garcia? A bunch of high-heat romances? I went out with a bang—more like several bangs, actually. 

The Reading Rundown
Cold Truth by Toni Anderson (romantic suspense)
Goaltender Interference by Ari Baran (m/m romance, contemporary romance)
In a Second by Kate Canterbary (contemporary romance)
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles (gothic, historical m/m romance)
Faster by Andie J. Christopher (contemporary romance)
[Redacted] by TK (domestic suspense, for professional review purposes)
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (contemporary fantasy)
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (contemporary fantasy, gothic)

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher (contemporary fantasy, horror)
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (gothic horror, historical fantasy)
Willing Prey by Allie Oleander (erotic romance, contemporary romance)
The Last Man on Earth by Shae Sanders (contemporary romance)
Huntsman by Naima Simone (dark romance, mafia romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren and Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston.

Currently reading: a suspense book for review purposes and The Seduction of Mr. Alfred Saintsbury by Lydia Lloyd.

On the TBR/wish list
Soon By You by Dahlia Adler
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Score by Kennedy Ryan
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Suleikha's Top 20 Romance Books of 2025

It's time to put 2025 and a year's worth of reading behind me so I can start fresh! Narrowing down my 20 favorite romances out of 220 books total was so hard. I tried to stick to two rules: The book had to be released in 2025, and I could only pick one book by an author—even if I liked two of their current releases. Yes, there are a few titles here that aren't strictly genre romance—but the love stories in them had a big impact on me, were integral to the plot, and did end with an HEA/HFN! (For some of my non-romance favorites, check out my year-end newsletter.)

1. No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel

2. Goaltender Interference by Ari Baran

3. August Lane by Regina Black

4. Call Me Yours by Elizabeth Bright

5. Two Secrets to Surrender by Grace Callaway

6. In a Rush by Kate Canterbary

7. Copper Script by KJ Charles

8. Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De la Rosa

9. Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

10. There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev

11. Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

12. Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi

13. Scotch on the Rocks by Eliot Fletcher

14. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

15. Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer

16. The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh

17. Willing Prey by Allie Oleander

18. Read Me Slow by Charish Reid

19. Mercy Fletcher Meets Her Match by Aydra Richards

20. Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

Honorable mentions: Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister, Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone by Louisa Darling, and My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long, all of which came out in 2024. Much like The Everlasting, last year's Starling House by Alix E. Harrow doesn't fall under genre romance. But it ended up being one of the most romantic books I read in 2025. In fact, I read it twice! Another book I read twice this past year was Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale so I obviously want to name-check that as a favorite as well! I even got all thinky about it in my newsletter.

2026 titles to look out for: I snagged an ARC of The Duke by Anna Cowan and tore through it. It's fantastic and definitely going to end up on a lot of Best Of lists. I also have an ARC of Soon By You by Dahlia Adler. I'm only partway into the book and enjoying how falling for Arielle is making uptight MMC Judah totally unravel. Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh is primarily suspense and the FMC spends most of the book unconscious, but Tavish's love for Diya is the driving force of the story and it was such a satisfying read! Still on my TBR and additions you should make to yours? Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik and Dom-Com by Adriana Anders.

See my Top 20 romances of 2024.
See my Top 20 romances of 2023.

On the Shelf: November 2025

Was I an overachiever in November, or just particularly committed to not being present in my actual life? Because I hit 205 books for the year to date—pushing it past the milestone number with 21 titles this past month. Approximately half were by Kelley Armstrong. (I kid. It was really just five.) There's a reason she's one of my favorite authors and I follow her from genre to genre like a total creeper. I can't wait for the next Rip Through Time mystery and it's excruciatingly slow-burn romance arc between Mallory and Duncan. (And lest you think I'm complaining, I actually really enjoy a mystery series that drags out the love story. See also: Veronica and Stoker in Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell books.)

You know what didn't snail-pace all the feels? The three fantastic romantasy books I devoured! I've been wary of this new, trend-driven, iteration of what we used to call fantasy romance but these bangers (pun intended, of course) from Akwaeke Emezi, Bridgid Kemmerer, and Eva Leigh rank among some of the best romances I've read this year! Gali, Lucifer, and Leviathan from Son of the Morning are still living rent-free in my head weeks later. Given how awesome You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty was, this does not come as a surprise. Asher, Kemmerer's titular assassin, is a broken, messy, murderpuppy and I love him so. And The Sea Witch, Alys, could totally go kick ass in lady pirate adventures with Amina al-Sirafi were they living in the same time period. It tickled me how Ben sat out most of the action sequences, like a female character in a swashbuckler often does.

Suffice it to say, it wasn't exactly a hardship to get to 205. When you're devouring good works by talented people, the pages and the time both fly!

The Reading Rundown
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (folk horror, suspense)
A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (historical fantasy)
The Curse of White Oak Grove by Heather Crews (dark romance, gothic)
Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi (queer polyam romantasy, southern gothic)
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer (queer polyam romantasy)
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh (romantasy, paranormal historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: My first foray into the past was with Almost Heaven, a new-to-me Judith McNaught title. Then it was a return to Darkest London for Winterblaze and Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan. You know what I did after that? I read Evernight again, even though I reread it last December. Like I had to complete an arc before I could step away. I revisited Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk & Steele series via Within the Flames—and managed to not burn through more in that series. (Yay for restraint!) Despite giving hockey romance a wide berth for years now, I borrowed Heated Rivalry and The Long Game by Rachel Reid on Hoopla and caught up ahead of the show's premiere on Crave/HBOMax. The Captain's Midwinter Bride by Liana De la Rosa was a nice historical palate cleanser afterward. I wrapped my November reread slate with Sweet Filthy Boy, Dirty Rowdy Thing, and Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren—and SFB still holds up as an excellent erotic romance in single first-person POV.

Currently reading: Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher, Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren, a book for review, and Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (again). 

On the wish list/TBR
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: October 2025

With just two months to go until the end of the year, I'm inching ever closer to 200 books read. I actually think I'll be hitting that goal by the time my November wrap-up post rolls around. But,  for right now, let's commence with this past month's bounty!

One of the best books I read in October doesn't even come out until April of 2026. People should definitely keep an eye out for Anna Cowan's The Duke, a beautifully drawn romance set in a version of England where women can be titled peers. Kate and Celine are angsty and sexy and romantic—and well worth the wait! Fortunately, other books I devoured this past month are very much available right now. Like Charish Reid's Read Me Slow! This smoking-hot story of indie romance author Maya recording her steamy audiobook with a horror podcaster—who happens to be her little brother's best friend—was just what I needed to lift my spirits during a rough month. And Aydra Richards's latest historical romance continues her streak of excellence. The lengths to which Ian goes to make up for his past mistakes with Felicity...? It got me right in the feels.

The Reading Rundown
Breakout Year by KD Casey (contemporary romance, m/m romance)
The Duke by Anna Cowan (out 4/28/26, historical romance, f/f romance)
[Redacted] by TK (out 2/3/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
The Night and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow (short story, SFF, speculative fiction)
The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo (out 11/25, gothic horror)
Read Me Slow by Charish Reid (contemporary romance)
Felicity Cabot Sells Her Soul by Aydra Richards (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I returned to several favorites in October, like Any Old Diamonds and Gilded Cage by KJ Charles and Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong. I wrapped up a trip back to Illona Andrews's Hidden Legacy with Diamond Fire, Sapphire Flames, Emerald Blaze and Ruby Fever. Then I picked up Beast by Judith Ivory, which I really enjoyed. Especially after reading its spiritual successor, Sherry Thomas's Beguiling the Beauty in September. Edge of Nowhere by Felicia Davin was a fun, queer, sci-fi romance—a treat amidst my steady diet of historical rereads. And then I went back to Sherry Thomas for another pass through Ravishing the Heiress and my first time with Tempting the Bride. (Now that I've read all three Fitzhugh books, I can say with certainty that Fitz and Millie are still my favorite.)

Currently reading: Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught.

On the wish list/TBR
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: September 2025

When last we checked on my reading habits, I'd hit the milestone of 150 books. Now, as September falls behind us, I'm up to 166. Two hundred by the end of the year is looking pretty realistic. And I'm not trying to hit a particular number on purpose. It's just that, as our real world grows all the more nightmarish, books—especially good books—provide all the more solace and escape.    

It's not a genre romance, but Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is probably one of my favorite romances that I've read in recent years. Honestly, if you give me something with southern gothic vibes and a strong love story you're already halfway to winning. Harrow engaged me from start to finish and I may have shed a few tears at the end. Have you ever sniffled reading the acknowledgments and a "post-credits" scene? Sure, I could blame PMS. But I think it's the author's talent that did it. And speaking of talent, V.E. Schwab's Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil is a gorgeously dark and gothic vampire story spanning centuries—emphatically not a romance. It left me haunted and a little bit in awe, and will no doubt land on many a "Best of" list for 2025.   

The Reading Rundown
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (contemporary fantasy, gothic)
Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister (contemporary romance)
Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (horror, gothic)
Such Separate Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel (out 1/20/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh (out 1/27/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)

Backlist titles & rereads: I kicked off by finishing Sabaa Tahir's A Sky Beyond the Storm and giggling at Rear Admiral by Nathan Burgoine—which is probably the most wholesome novella involving sex toys I've ever encountered. Then I checked out The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, since I liked The Raven Prince so much. I had my expected dose of Lorraine Heath new reads and revisits with She Tempts the Duke, The Duke and the Lady in Red, The Viscount and the Vixen, and Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman. Though Ravishing the Heiress has been a favorite for years, this was my first time through Sherry Thomas's Beguiling the Beauty. At the end of the month, I holed up with some comfort reads—the first three books in Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy series. Because sometimes you need a ferret heist, Sgt. Teddy, Grandma Frida, and Connor Rogan to get through your week.

Currently reading: Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles.

On the TBR/wish list
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Felicity Cabot Sells Her Soul by Aydra Richards
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: August 2025

I always want to give myself a sticker or a pat on the back when I manage to read some brand-new romances instead of just hiding out in authors' backlists. And sometimes the books themselves end up being a prize! Such was the case this past month. I tore through Elliot Fletcher's excellent follow-up to Whisky Business and Liana De la Rosa's lush Luna Sisters series-closer, and I enjoyed Elizabeth Bright and Danica Nava's contemporary cowboy/ranch-set romances.

Fletcher's Callum is so gone for his brother's prickly ex-girlfriend that some readers may hate her for not snapping him up right away. Me? I related to how Juniper felt unlovable and abandoned and thus had a hard time opening up. (But speaking of total simps? Bright's MMC, Steven, literally crawls on broken glass to prove his devotion. He was apparently a total dick in the previous book.)

As for the count for the year so far? The 18 books finished in August brings me to 150. I'm not sure if that warrants a whole book of stickers or some extra therapy sessions.

The Reading Rundown
Call Me Yours by Elizabeth Bright (contemporary romance)
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De la Rosa (historical romance)
The Gallagher Place by Julie Doar (suspense, for professional review purposes)
Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher (contemporary romance)
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: Yeah, I read Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale again, just months after I read it the first time. I'm not sorry. Then I moved on to The Indiscretion by Judith Ivory—which I am a little sorry about. It was okay, but not on par with The Proposition. So I had to retreat to familiar and beloved territory. Like Personal Demon and No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong (yes, I reread them in reverse order, because I'm as chaotic as Hope). And of course, there's always some emotional support Lorraine Heath books to be had: Lord of Temptation, In Bed With the Devil, Surrender to the Devil, Once More, My Darling Rogue, and Between the Devil and Desire. Was I done marathoning one author? Nope. I went on to finish three out of four books in Sabaa Tahir's Ember in the Ashes series. A bunch of people dying as they combat an authoritarian regime and seemingly all-powerful beings? Yup, that hits a little too close to home. At least I didn't start this series reread right after revisiting the Hunger Games. For a palate cleanser I went back to Lorraine Heath for Lord of Wicked Intentions, after finishing book two, LoT, earlier in the month.

Currently reading: A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir and some books for review.

On the TBR/wish list
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: July 2025

Twenty-one books in July brings my total for the year so far to 132 titles consumed. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. However, I'd be more exhausted if I was constantly thinking about everything else going on in the world. As always, reading provides both comfort and escape. And, sure, normally escaping to Florida during hurricane season isn't the wisest idea, but it's a safe trip within the pages of Jen DeLuca's Ghost Business. I needed this return to Boneyard Key, the kitschy haunted town as full of romantic potential as it is ghosts. It's very much a story about finding home and community, and watching both Tristan and Sophie grow as they fell in love was so satisfying. But growth isn't just for first-time lovers. In Tarah DeWitt's Left of Forever, there's a gorgeous, second-chance romance with divorced pair Ellis and Wren slowly working their way back to each other. Folks on social media have been raving about this book, and justifiably so!

Before we get to the lists, I also want to shout out Darkwater Lane, Carrie Ryan's closer in Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series. It's great seeing Gwen and her family finally achieve some peace and happiness—but, of course, it wouldn't be a Stillhouse Lake book without a lot of white-knuckling along the way.

The Reading Rundown
Darkwater Lane by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan (suspense, thriller)
Two Secrets to Surrender by Grace Callaway (historical romance)
Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca (out 9/9, contemporary romance)
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt (contemporary romance)
Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade (erotic romance, contemporary romance)
Tips and Trysts by Rebecca Kinkade (erotic romance, contemporary romance)
Masks and Mishaps by Rebecca Kinkade (erotic romance, contemporary romance)
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter (contemporary f/f romance)
To Catch a Thief by Anne Stuart (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: Regarding the Duke, The Duke Redemption, Return of the Duke, and Olivia and the Masked Duke, Pippa and the Prince of Secrets, and Glory and the Master of Shadows by Grace Callaway. As much as I love reading Callaway and fell down this reread rabbit hole, I don't actually advise rereading this many books in a row, because certain tics become repetitive. Space out your Grace for maximum enjoyment! I also reread Falling Into Bed With a Duke by Lorraine Heath--which meant I had to reread the book that comes directly after, The Earl Takes All (aka "Gorilla Twins"). Them's the rules. lol. When it comes to reading, I don't make 'em and I don't break 'em. Naturally, I kept on with rereads, tackling Ruthless and Reckless by Anne Stuart to palate-cleanse after disappointment with her new release and going back to Scrap by Cate C. Wells. Then I wrapped up my backlist adventures with Skyla Dawn Cameron's chilling suspense novel, The Silent Places.

Currently reading: Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale. Again.

On the TBR/wish list
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: June 2025

June was't so great in other ways, but at least I had a pretty spectacular reading month! August Lane, Regina Black's follow-up to her stellar The Art of Scandal, is no sophomore slump. The characters are so richly drawn and the emotional punches land hard. You can never go wrong with KJ Charles,  so of course Copper Script is yet another one of her stand-out historical mysteries with poignant romance. A recent announcement called her a "rising star; she's been an entire constellation for more than a decade. 

Not quite as shiny? Sunrise on the Reaping. As I said on the socials, I completely understand why Haymitch became an alcoholic because reading this book made me want to start drinking. Suzanne Collins never holds back with her incisive and timely work. Stressful in a completely different way is Christopher Golden's latest, The Night Birds. He's a master of horror for a reason. I had to keep telling myself "Someone has to survive, because surely he won't leave a baby unattended?!" Pick up the book to find out if that's true.

The Reading Rundown
Lights Out by Navessa Allen (dark romance, contemporary romance)
August Lane by Regina Black (out 7/29, contemporary romance)
Copper Script by KJ Charles (historical m/m romance, historical mystery)
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (dystoptian YA fiction)
The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards (out 9/16, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
We Are Watching by Alison Gaylin (suspense, thriller)
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden (horror)
Charity Nightingale Heals Her Husband by Aydra Richards (historical romance)
Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone (suspense, thriller)

Backlist titles & rereads: I finished up a Kindle Unlimited trial with Angel in Chains and Avenging Angel by Cynthia Eden. Then it was off to my shelf of paperbacks for a reread of Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I came back to the Kindle for rereads of Plum and Heavy by Cate C. Wells and The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt and hit some backlists with Kylie Scott's Repeat, Lorraine Heath's Midnight Pleasures With a Scoundrel, and Mary Balogh's The Secret Pearl. Would you believe it was actually my first Balogh? I think I assumed that she was tame and borderline inspie. I'm so glad to be wrong, because this was just the angsty and messy book I needed. Then I wrapped up the month with some more comfort rereads—Jen Devon's Right Where We Left Us and The Duke Identity and Enter the Duke by Grace Callaway.

Currently reading: Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter and Regarding the Duke by Grace Callaway.

On the TBR/wish list
Darkwater Lane by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
To Catch a Thief by Anne Stuart

On the Shelf: May 2025

Eighteen books devoured in May! I was definitely back in my historical romance groove. In fact, I'd even venture to say that My Season of Scandal is one of Julie Anne Long's best books—certainly the best of hers that I've read, and I've traipsed all over Pennyroyal Green and the Palace of Rogues. The love story of Kirke and Catherine is just so richly crafted and layered. It has some really great, quote-worthy, lines and lots of deep-sigh moments. (She climbs up on her desk to try and hear him breathing through their shared ceiling/floor. My heart!) 

Of course, contemporary romance can't take a backseat in a month where one has read Kennedy Ryan. Can't Get Enough, the third in her Skyland series, has hit all the lists and rightfully so! The intense and intimate connection between Hendrix and Mav—and the background flirtation of their assistants, Bolt and Skipper—had me riveted.

The Reading Rundown
Who is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr (out 8/1, suspense, for professional review purposes)
Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (historical romance)
Losers: Part Two by Harley Laroux (dark polyam romance, BDSM)
My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long (historical romance)
The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers (gothic romance, mystery)
His Forgotten Wife by Tara Pammi (out 8/26, contemporary romance)
Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker (young adult horror, queer horror)
Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I started the month reading Irresistible and Shameless, books two and three in Karen Robards's bonkers Banning Sisters trilogy. I had a little foray into older romantic suspense with Call After Midnight by Tess Gerritsen and Night Whispers by Judith McNaught. I finished Beverly Jenkins's Wild Sweet Love, and I am wildly and sweetly in love with Teresa July! The Lady and the Lie by Kate Noble was on sale for Kindle, so I snagged that and breezed right through it. And then it was all rereads! I went from Rise by Claire Kent to the still-problematic and angst-ridden Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale and returned to some high-heat contemporary romances, Messy by Katie Porter and Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl.

Currently reading: Copper Script by KJ Charles.

On the TBR/wish list
August Lane by Regina Black
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

On the Shelf: April 2025

I read so much romantic suspense in April—a bajillion books from Anne Stuart's backlist and some rereads from the Keeper Shelf. I have a newsletter in-progress about secondary pairings I love that sprang from all of that reading so keep an eye out for it and subscribe if you haven't already! I also finally got in my library hold on Premee Mohamed's The Butcher of the Forest. It's an exquisitely written, and at times chilling, folklore-ish fantasy novella that has put me off ever going into the woods. I only read two historical romances, which is kind of amazeballs given that they're my go-to. I'm sure I'll make up for that throughout May. Last but not least, I want to shout out No Way Rosé—a super-cute (but not without conflict!) second-chance romance by Kate Davies. It's the perfect pick-me-up for a bad day and would go great with a glass of the titular wine. (Sadly, I did not have any wine on hand when I read it.) 

Assuming anyone actually reads these posts of mine, you might be wondering what's up with the "redacted" items. I've recently begun reviewing titles for a trade publication on a freelance basis and under my legal name. Since the reviews haven't published yet, I don't print the titles. I'll come back eventually to fill them in. I am not reviewing romance, as that is the genre I write in. I'm very aware of potential conflicts of interest and have only been reviewing books by people I don't know.

And now it's on to the book lists!

The Reading Rundown
No Way Rosé by Kate Davies (contemporary romance)
Hunger in the Blood by Zoey Draven (sci-fi romance, paranormal romance)
An Autumn Guest Checks In by Noor Juman (contemporary romance)
The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy (out 6/24, spy thriller, spoof/satire, for professional review purposes)
Losers: Part I by Harley Laroux (dark BDSM romance, queer polyam romance)
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (fantasy, horror)
A Mother Always Knows by Sarah Strohmeyer (out 7/1, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
It Takes a Thief by Anne Stuart (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I had a whole "can't eat just one potato chip" thing with Anne Stuart and tore through The Soldier, the Nun & the Baby, Night of the Phantom, One More Valentine, Blue Sage, Return to Mariposa, Moonrise, and Against the Wind. After that snack frenzy, I was still craving more romantic suspense, so I reread Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught and Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts. But I ended the month with Scandalous by Karen Robards, which was quite the scandal when it came out in 2001 because the male lead is pretending to be the heroine's half-brother and there's a whole incest vibe. That plot set-up would be downright tame now! Hell, he'd probably actually be her half-brother. Although, having said that, Catherine Coulter's The Wyndham Legacy...? Dude's her *cousin. Blood-related. I don't know how that one skated under the radar in 1994! (*I flipped through the book to confirm. I could've sworn he was her uncle—not that it makes it any better.)

Currently reading: Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan and Irresistible by Karen Robards.

On the TBR/wish list
August Lane by Regina Black
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

On the Shelf: March 2025

I thought March was going to be a tough month for reading, but I actually got through 18 books! Everything from Beverly Jenkins and Laura Kinsale classics to charming new voices like Myah Ariel—with some Keeper Shelf favorites from SEP and Jeannie Lin for good measure. I was thrilled to zip through Aydra Richards' latest, pretty much the minute it hit the Kindle store, and dove into the new Kate Canterbary. The former featured an FMC with ADHD and the latter had one with an often-ignored shellfish allergy, so I felt very seen. 

The Reading Rundown
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel (contemporary romance)
In a Rush by Kate Canterbary (contemporary romance)
The Midnight Arrow by Zoey Draven (sci-fi romance, paranormal romance)
A Cold Whisper by Casey Dunn (out 5/6, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle (dark romance, paranormal romance)
The Trouble With Inventing a Viscount by Vivienne Lorret (historical romance)
Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn (suspense, thriller)
Mercy Fletcher Meets Her Match by Aydra Richards (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I started out with Ain't She Sweet and Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, both of which I have in paperback. (I had to glue the covers back on. It was a whole thing!) Then it was back to my Kindle for some rereads of Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase and my very favorite The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin. I felt vaguely pirate-y after that, so I reread Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin. I was so compelled by Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale that I wrote a whole newsletter ramble about it. I followed that with some other new-to-me historical romances: Delicious by Sherry Thomas, Played By the Earl by Alyson Chase, and the much-loved classic that is Vivid by Beverly Jenkins. I guess I was feeling pretty masochistic by the end of the month, because my last reread was Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. You know, 'cause reality isn't dystopian enough.

Currently reading: Hunger in the Blood by Zoey Draven.

On the wish list/TBR
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

On the Shelf: February 2025

I thought I had a poor showing for February until I actually sat down and logged the second half of the month. Fifteen's not too shabby! Especially since one of the 15 was The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri, which is so intricately woven that I couldn't just tear through it. It's been a while since I read a book in increments over the course of a week, but Suri's prose held me rapt. It was immensely satisfying to see Malini, Priya, Bhumika, Rao, and the rest of her beautifully crafted cast of characters conclude the story that began in The Jasmine Throne. 

The Reading Rundown
Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone by Louisa Darling (historical romance)
It Will Only Hurt for a Moment by Delilah S. Dawson (horror)
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik (sci-fi romance)
Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik (sci-fi romance)
Jill is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda (out 6/10, domestic suspense, for professional review purposes)
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri (fantasy)
Her Beast by S.M. LaViolette (erotic historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I traveled back to Pennyroyal Green for How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long and then popped over to Darkest London for Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan. I've read other books in both series but didn't get to those two until this past month! Then there was Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and rereads of The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe and Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale. During the last week of February, I dug into my Kindle library for Taking the Heat, Looking For Trouble, and Flirting With Disaster by Victoria Dahl (I reread them in that order—which is out of order—because I love chaos).

Currently reading: Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. (My old paperback fell apart mid-reread. Woe. Sadness.)

On the TBR/wish list
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

On the Shelf: January 2025

The three frontlist books I read in January were all powerful in very different ways. I feel like Amazon's First Reads email tagged Sonali Dev's There's Something About Mira as a rom-com. Though it's funny at times, it's not a rom-com. It's very much a book about generational trauma and breaking cycles. I shed a few tears. Meanwhile, The Reformatory and All The Hearts You Eat made my breath catch and my heart pound—and inspired some shudders. Not just because of ghosts or vampires (and body horror), but because humans are worse than anything that goes in the bump in the night. Due and Piper's writing styles are very different, as are the stories themselves, but there's a devastating commonality at the core that feels even more relevant right now. Anti-Black racism and transphobia are evils that exist beyond the page. Those are the monsters we need to fight.

As for my backlist forays...whew. There are a lot of elements from older romance novels that just don't age well. Colonialism, casual racism, violence against women, underage heroines, etc. And yet I still reread a lot of those old problematic faves. I make allowances for elements in those books that I wouldn't accept in a book written today. I might have to unpack that in a longer blog post at some point. I also need to expound on Iris Johansen's utterly bonkers Wind Dancer series—after having a gummy and a glass of wine.

The Reading Rundown
There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev (women's fiction, romance)
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (horror)
All the Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper (horror)

Backlist titles & rereads: I tried to keep sticking to rereads from my Kindle library in January and for the most part I succeeded—starting off with The Perils of Pleasure and Beauty and the Spy by Julie Anne Long, Tarnished and Gilded by Karina Cooper, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James. A Woman Entangled by Cecilia Grant and Little Secrets by Megan Hart followed. But then my one-click finger slipped, thanks to Eileen Dreyer's hit-and-miss Drake's Rakes books: Barely a Lady, Never a Gentleman, Once a Rake, and Always a Temptress. I "punished" myself by rereading the trade paperback of my favorite Nora Roberts book: Honest Illusions. Then there was The Baron's Marriage Gamble by Theresa Romain, which was previously published as Season for Scandal, and another round with Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas. I pulled out the paperbacks again with The Wind Dancer and Storm Winds by Iris Johansen. Last, but not least, I checked out Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon via Libby and finally got around to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

Currently reading: The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri.

On the TBR
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn
Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter