This is another story that I wanted to love, but was mostly just ok about. For more than half the book I struggled to tell Ned and Julian apart. I literally could not keep who was who straight in my head.

Again, it was disappointing because I thought the mystery was pretty good, and I appreciated that the boinking was closed door. But I got thrown out so many times trying to remember which was the magician and which was the detective.

Like the first book in this series, I wanted to love this story but I never quite believed in the feelings the main characters had for each other. Theo finds Sheldon annoying at the start, and I never quite believe it when he is supposed to have moved past that.

Which is too bad because I like both characters very much; I just never quite felt more than a superficial attraction between them.

My bedtime reading is still Ellis Peter's The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, which is so very comforting: historical mysteries but there is always a romance (not involving Cadfael, the monk).

Cadfael as a character is one of my all-time favorites, as he remains kind and generous despite his years at war.

I've been (re)listening to Patricia Brigg's Alpha & Omega series, narrated by Holter Graham. So far: Cry Wolf, Hunting Ground, Dead Heat, and Fair Game.

I think Dead Heat is my fav of the series, with Fair Game a close second. The background story arcs of politics and the supernatural are fascinating.

I'm willing to give most stories with an ace character a chance, so despite a bunch of other tropes I don't much like, I picked this up.

My favorite character was the grandmother, and I really want to read the mystery series Cedric wrote.

But I really don't much care of stories with super rich characters and I really disliked Cedric's brother and the way he treated Vince. so the whole thing was a bit of a wash for me.

Comfort read. Hot drinks, baked goods, and people becoming more than they once were.

* Viv sighed. “I‘ve lived a long time knowing I‘m a threat walking. I‘d rather that wasn‘t the shape of it for you.” *

Romance with middle-aged protagonists!

I enjoy these books, I just wish the boinking bits were a little easier to skip. (That is a *ME* thing, not an issue with the book. But given the option, I'll always prefer books without boinking.)

Last winter we got two Kat Holloway novellas, so I'd my fingers crossed for one this winter, and snatched up this when it came out.

This series hits the sweet spot of historical with food and a savvy and smart heroine, and the novellas are a lovely nibble to tide me over until the next book.

I love the snark in this series so very much.

“And whereas in the enlightened twenty-first century the marriage of a British aristocrat to a Person of Colour is a wholly unremarkable thing that results in no hostility whatsoever, in the bad old days of the 1800s it caused quite a scandal.“

There is so much I like and enjoy about this series: the characters, the mystery, the books.

But Nora does so many really stupid things, I just want to scream at her.

So: glad I borrowed it from the library.

For comfort, I recently reread the entire Murderbot series.

I finished the last book and wanted to immediately start the first one over.

“I closed the story by reflex, like that would make it not exist. After three seconds of shock, I made myself open it again.“

“Disinformation, which is the same as lying but for some reason has a different name, is the top tactic in corporate negotiation/warfare.“

Audiobook narrated by Patricia Santomasso

Because I haven't been able to bear to listen to the news since last spring, I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks (ie books I've already read) this was fun, and although I wondered a bit at some of the accents, the narration was enjoyable, and I was reminded just how good these stories are.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was a balm when it came out, a hug in a dark time, so I had pretty high expectations of Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
Sadly, it didn't meet those expectations.
Instead of Linus on a journey of growth & discovery, the bad guys here are flat & 1-dimensional, with no possibility of redemption.
It felt like wish fulfillment: the bad guys--standing in for 2024 bad guys--existing only to be smashed down.
I missed the growth.

I meant to grab this when it came out, but blanked. When I saw it recently I snatched it up & quickly read it as a antidote to my reading slump.
It was marvelous.
Gus was a delight; I liked seeing Nightingale young & carefree (even tho from more distance than usual), & queer 1920s NY was fantastic--I squeed with every every jazz musician name drop.
Even better, he's finally made it clear Nightingale is ace, which made me love him more.

The first version has been a favorite reread for me. I adore everything about Edwin. But Marius, and Chasing the Light were a bit of a struggle for me. Marius lashes out at people, which is a trait I don't like to be around, and casual sex never works for me (it's a me thing) but eventually I finished it, and was glad I did. It was good to learn about Marius, but I don't think I want to spend more time with him.

I

Ridiculous!
Small Vices by Robert B. Parker: 4 read/4 listen (since 2004)
Grilled Cheese & Goblins by Nicole Kimberling: 5
Joy by C.S. Poe: 7

Series
Banquet of Lies (Recency London) by Michelle Diener: 7
Murderbot by Martha Wells: 2 read/3 listen
An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities) KJ Charles: 5

Novella
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper: 6
And Everything Nice by Ada Maria Soto: 6
Loud & Clear by Aidan Wayne: 6

Third book in the series. Lady Helena is getting ready to come out of mourning, much happens to distract her: her nephew getting into trouble, her older sister being demanding, the death of her friend's father, the visit of a cousin, and much more.
It sounds like a lot, but most characters are familiar from previous books, as are some of the threads.

Now I must wait years for the next book.

audio book, narrated by Moira Quirk

Most of my audio listens are to books I've already read. This is a series that is perfect for an audio reread--action and adventure to keep me moving and amusement to keep me laughing.

Another reread. This is just a nice comforting cozy series. I like both main characters, the mysteries aren't bad, and I like the perspective Adam--a teacher--brings to the series.

You‘ve been gallivanting around, mixing yourself up with suicides and pox-ridden servants and adulterers and that French physician who turns out to be a duke. Your remarks about my dear boy show that this irregular life of yours is coarsening your fibers.

Two ladies came in, dressed very smart. They explained that the baby was not dead, that he was in the care of the government, and that there would be some more duties for me here at the hospital. If I took on those duties and kept it all secret, then I would receive a good deal of money and the gratitude of the nation. If I didn‘t—well, they never actually said what would happen. But I understood it wouldn‘t be nearly as nice.

“I want to leave on a high, not sneak away in shame like the Colts out of Baltimore.“

Several months ago I remembered most of this quote, but could not for the life of me remember the book. I was convinced it was an early Spenser.

I am weirdly thrilled I finally figured out what the book was.

(I enjoyed this series and wish there were more books.)

To make up for bizarre cover I just shared, here is the cover of a new book I absolutely love.

The covers in this series are all distinct, yet also clearly part of a series: black silhouette in front a washed out silhouette of a building, with a single color wash for everything & a floral border.

& I believe these are self-published, so she has made an effort.

I think it's lovely & eye-catching.

Artist: Rachel Lawston

Often when I glance at a cover thumbnail, I see something that isn't there. Sometimes I am not sure what I am supposed to be seeing.

I think the gentleman on this cover has knees that begin immediately below his chest.

“That's enough.“

This was the 2nd Talia Hibbert book I read &, and I read it prior to my own neurodiversity diagnoses.
So. Much. Highlighted. Text.
I mean
“Now she didn‘t know if she should laugh or gasp. She compromised by choking on her own spit.“
“Being around people who were supposedly ‘normal‘ made her feel abnormal.“
“She wasn‘t graceful. She was, in fact, the opposite of graceful.“

I was conflicted the first time I read this. I wanted to love it, but didn't.

The 1st issue is we didn't learn anything about the Wonder Engines, so the whole underlying plot was unfulfilling. The 2nd problem is I didn't believe all Galen & Piper's actions. Galen not telling Piper about his sleep issues? No. And the resolution to their relationship problems? I felt offended on Piper's behalf.

Which is too bad, because LIKE Piper & Galen

Check, Please! series by Ngozi Ukazu: Pie, Hockey, & allowing yourself to be who you are

The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stifevater
“Ronan Lynch—dreamer of dreams, fighter of men, skipper of classes.“
“This is what you get, Maura, for using your DNA to make a baby,”
“Adam was his son‘s friend, & so he had inherent worth.“

Frontier Magic series by Patricia C. Wrede: Eff learns her own magic & her own way & she is not cursed

I've been looking for quotations recently, & remembered one of my favorite passages that is really an ultra short story.

The page previous Carlos walked into a Mexican Bakery.

“At the only other table in the place, an ancient mustachioed man in a Yankees cap plays Uno against an eight-year-old girl with pigtails.“

I'm trying not to reread these one right after the other.

Unfortunately, I've already almost finished “Paladin's Hope“

“No real tradition of paladins up here. They have a lot of gods of the sea, but if one of them calls a paladin, you get a god-touched privateer.“

“So it‘s not authentic?”

“That‘s one of those loaded words,” said Boyd. “It implies there is an authentic and inauthentic Ojibwe culture that is historically fixed, rather than a living culture that is constantly evolving, just like every other culture.”

I think I've been reading this series since it came out.

It's a nice solid historical series with a main character who is a cook who actually has the worries & concerns of a Victorian cook (lack of free time, fear of being fired).

The slow burn romance is slowly solidifying, and I really loved how this book reconfirmed Kat's character so well, with her willingness to ask for help when it is for other people.

Narrated by Penelope Rawlins. I actually read this in early February, but forgot to add it to my logs.

This is a Kimberly Reynolds, not a Peter Grant story, so I'm always sad not to hear Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice.

Penelope Rawlins does a decent job of Kimberly's accent, but less of a good job on male--especially midwestern--voices. I had a hard time telling the male characters apart.

I also laughed at the describtions of midwest snow.

Again, it's a perfectly adequate series--nothing really stands out--but it works very well for me as an end-of-the day wind down book.

“What do they want in return?” I asked. No one in these gangs did things out of the kindness of their hearts.

“Money. Me.” Joanna‘s mouth twisted, then a fierce light entered her eyes. “My daughters. They considerately said they‘d wait until they were older.”

“If I took on those duties and kept it all secret, then I would receive a good deal of money and the gratitude of the nation. If I didn‘t—well, they never actually said what would happen. But I understood it wouldn‘t be nearly as nice.“

“So you agreed,” said Felicity, fascinated. “And you… never talked to the parents about it?”

“No, that would have led to the ingratitude of the nation,” said the nurse flatly.

Three great non-fiction books?

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe (of xkcd)

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage

“coffeehouses were hotbeds of gossip, rumor, political debate, & satirical discussion. They were also popular venues for chess & backgammon, which were regarded as morally dubious.“

No Man's Land by Wendy Moore

#tlt #ThreeListThursday

I am now forcing myself to step back from this series, both so I don't get burned out and so I have books to look forward to when life is too much and I need a cozy mystery to take my out of my own brain.
But really, this series is a delight.

This is another pretty much perfect cozy read.
And as much as talking animals living in a small town are fantasy, that bit remains incidental to the mystery.
And there are so many sly bits that made me giggle.

(T)he most effective psychics are the ones who never realize they‘re psychic and instead manage to live excellent lives by consistently making the right decisions. Their powers effectively guide them through the shoals of life without their knowing.

Audio narrated by Susan Duerden. Reread/listen.

I love this book so much. And the pace / action is perfect to keep me doing chores / exercising.

I can't read the first line without hearing Susan Duerden saying, “Dear you“ and it's just perfect.

I adored the Grasmere Cottage series, but haven't her more recent mysteries to be as good. The romance felt as if it were added because it was required, and (a problem for many first books in a cozy series) the characters involvement in the mystery seemed forced / unrealistic.
As much as I appreciate the rep she puts into her stories, her ASD characters are starting to feel all alike.

Reread. Queer cozy mystery.

As much as I give this book/series an average rating, it ends up being good for rereading when I need something cozy and reassuring.

Both characters are competent and kind, and neither gets in their own way as far as a developing relationship. Although the characters weren't all vibrant, the story--and mystery--held together, and the whole thing is a nice escape from reality.

I listen to non-fiction to put me to sleep (I used to read, this is nicer.) But 1) It takes months to finish a book 2) there are sections I miss, regardless of “rewinding“

I recognized names & places, but had never really put things together. Listening to this gave me context and the ability to tie it all together for the first time.

One note: he has a verbal tick of drawing out “aaaaaand“ which can get annoying. But not a huge deal.

It was strange to speak of ‘gaps‘ in one‘s memory, because surely one‘s memory was mostly gaps: one forgot almost everything one experienced, unless one made an effort to remember. That was why police officers kept records.

This finished my relisten of the Shadow Police series. I love Damian Lynch's narration (he's right up there with Kobna Holdbrook Smith) and the story was perfect to keep me cleaning and exercising.
The series is really dark, and tons of TW, but doesn't revel in the horrible things, (I can't read horror and glorified violence).
I just wish we'd gotten more books in the series,

I picked this up and then promptly lost it in my TBR. A recent comment about this being a perfect cozy reminded me I already owned it and I should pick it up.

It was precisely the comfort read I needed.

Although the main characters are talking animals, it isn't a kid's story (although I just order a copy for a friend for reading aloud with her daughter). It reminds me of Looney Tunes--amusing for kids but even funnier for adults.