Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst, narrated by Marcella Cox
A very powerful debut As is too often the case (why?), the synopsis gives too much away, so do yourself a favour and don’t read it. Or forget it. Because if you expect it to be only the start of the story, you’ll be disappointed, the main events are all there. On the surface, Mickey […]
Sizzle Reel by Carlyn Greenwald
Hilariously relatable Relationships aren’t easy. Realizing you’re not straight isn’t easy. Coming out isn’t easy, falling in love isn’t easy, distinguishing between lust and love and what’s exciting because it’s new and what’s exciting in itself isn’t easy. It’s all a mess and it can be scary and exhausting but damn is it worth it […]
Reflector by C.X. Myers
A breathtaking debut novel Reflector is everything I like in fantasy, more specifically in urban fantasy (my favourite kind of fantasy). Great worldbuilding, fantastic characters, magic, elves, demons and it all works so well that it never feels foreign. It’s plausible and relatable and that is so impressive to me. All the more so as […]
Sucker Punch (Wrestling Girls #1) by Kayla Faber
Found family at its best I don’t know why it took me so long to start this book. I enjoyed it a lot, it’s full of fantastic people and found family and exactly the kind of story I like. The author sets the mood brilliantly right from the start. Pam and her cousin Sean inherited […]
The Raven and the Banshee by Carolyn Elizabeth, narrated by Mary Sarah
A pirate story with twists and hurdles Fifteen years after being lost at sea, Branna Kelly is the captain of her own ship and intent on avenging her parents’ death at the hands of pirates. Her thirst for revenge grows tenfold when her crew boards a seemingly abandoned ship and finds numerous bodies and one […]
One Last Shot by Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden
A very cute and funny twin-swap romance Jokes and comedies are more likely to make me cringe than laugh. This book though brought me a lot of joy, not only because it did make me laugh several times but it made me do so with tenderness. Ava grew up thinking she couldn’t be more different […]
The Mimicking of Known Successes (Mossa & Pleiti #1) by Malka Older
An intriguing start to a new sci-fi series This was my first book by Malka Older and the cover and title brought me to it. I’m a sucker for that kind of title and this one has a really nice ring to it. I hadn’t heard of the author before though now her 2016 science-fiction […]
Consecrated Ground by Virginia Black
A stunning and beautifully dark debut We all have authors whose books we know we’ll enjoy reading whatever the story is. Bywater Books is the publisher equivalent of that. Whenever I open a book they release, I know I’m in for a treat. I don’t love them all but they’re all exciting and interesting and […]
Meeting Millie by Clare Ashton
A delightful rom-com This book started breaking my heart from the very beginning, even as it made me laugh. A quarter in, I knew it was touching something very intimate in me, about friendship and caring (or not caring) about people, about needing them (or not needing them) in one’s life. Charlotte Albright is back […]