I discovered G B Ralph through his delightful cozy mysteries, The Milverton Mysteries. Ralph’s stories are tend towards the same elements. Character driven stories with the people , all of them with their faults included, fully realized and completely layered with human frailties. These characters carry the fears, joys as well as inabilities to move forward that the reader might recognize from their realities . It certainly makes them relatable.
If not occasionally a tad frustrating.
In this sweet, short trilogy, Ralph gives us the journey of Arthur and Gabriel, from Arthur’s awkward coming out to their relationship happily ending.
Each novella a sweet quick tale of a section of passage through that journey.
Duck and Dive starts it off with Arthur, an awkward Duckling trying to come out to friends and well, anyone, that’s he’s gay. And it’s not going well.
This is sweet, funny, painful in its own way in that you feel for Arthur in his fears and yearning to be out at his age. And his friends don’t make it easy.
Read all three together for a delightful lighthearted romantic afternoon.
A gay romantic comedy novella about coming out and failing spectacularly.
Arthur knows it’s time he told his mates he’s gay. So what’s the holdup? He’s wound so tight he can’t get the words out – giving himself injuries, spilling his dinner, and all-round making a mess of it.
And that’s before the nosy neighbour gets involved with her spiced apple muffins. Or the elderly residents of the Sunset Villas retirement home start complicating matters. Not to mention the gorgeous straight guy from the driving range.
If only Arthur could get his act together…
Duck and Dive is a quick, light, and fun read – the first in the completed Rise and Shine series. It’s filled with buckets of banter, dashes of comic tragedy, and more food and booze than any story ought to have. Our boys are surrounded by a cast of chaotic characters and thrown into the most unlikely situations. Their story continues in Slip and Slide, and concludes in Over and Out.
‘I didn’t know what to expect, but I genuinely enjoyed it. I’m glad I did, otherwise that would’ve been a very awkward conversation.’ Author’s partner.
Second story into K. Sterling’s Princes Take New York series and I have a favorite already. Funny, heartwarming, beautifully written, full of characters that make you feel invested in their lives and the story. And even side appearances from delightful people who have just become star players in this universe! Muriel, I’m looking at you!
Sterling’s series is exploring the future of each von Hessen prince. There’s four brothers and a cousin, Max, living in Manhattan, who abdicated his duties and title to Leo, the oldest. Leo’s story and romance was the first one in the series.
Still single are Theobald (this book), Matteo, and finally younger, brilliant brother Elio aka Eli. And that’s the order that the author looks to be following for their stories.
As Truth or Spare opens, the setting is once again, The Olympia, an elegant well known apartment building on 72nd Ave in Manhattan on the Upper West side. It’s home to many characters and couples of both series but it’s Muriel Hornby’s apartment where Matteo and Theo are currently staying. Muriel is now family and ,hilariously, an intimidating sidekick when needed.
Theobald Anton Christoph Aelbehrt von Hessen is feeling restless. Sterling gives the reader an immediate impression of a man cut loose from his life’s purpose. That of raising his brothers who are now young men and capable of making their own decisions.
His interactions with Matteo show the brotherly dynamic and immense love that they feel for each other. And Theo’s loss of purpose for himself.
His personality and strength of character will only be further enhanced as he decides on a choice of actions that take him on a bus ride to tiny Oslo, New York and the old lanes of Brooks Family Bowling.
Never have I loved a fish out of water tale so much as I have watching an Austrian , albeit anonymous, prince wander into an American small town, multiple suitcases in hand, with a joyous, exuberant outlook. And lots of German words. With some very astonished people there to welcome him.
Dewey Brooks, owner and operator of Brooks Family Bowling has his own issues to deal with. Dewey also has a deep love of his fractured family, his tiny town, and the Brook’s legacy as represented by the family’s bowling alley, which he’s determined to keep alive whatever the cost to him personally. How much he’s struggling isn’t fully understood at first. Or exactly what are the issues he’s been battling. Those get revealed slowly, by others and as forced by events during the narrative.
Theo and Dewey’s relationship as employer/employee is hilarious. As something more? Sweet, sexy, utterly heartwarming and engaging. So well written it felt intimate to be a part of their lives and journey. And Walter? More please.
I could just continue on. About the customers, family members, town. Oslo, New York just has something special. And so does this amazing book.
It’s funny, it’s generous of spirit, it’s kind hearted, sexy and sweet.
I’m hoping we make a beeline back here soon in Matteo’s novel. Until then, pick up this fantastic romantic comedy. It’s one I’m highly recommending. The author too. She’s on my auto read list.
Nannies of New York (6 book series) and must read.
Princes Take New York (connected and sequel series):
Too cynical to pin his hopes on a miracle, Dewey “Doobie” Brooks has his doubts when a charming stranger arrives in Oslo, New York, looking for a job and a place to stay. Running the family bowling alley, raising his brother’s son, and hiding an autoimmune disorder have left him in need of help—but finding a capable, reliable adult in his small town has been hopeless.
Theo von Hessen is neither capable nor reliable. An Austrian prince and philanthropist with a reputation for being an unrepentant playboy, he has never held a real job and is clueless about manual labor. But the moment he sees a “help wanted” sign and Oslo’s tired town hero, Theo’s convinced fate sent him there to make a difference.
It isn’t all fun and games at Brooks Family Bowling. Dewey is at his wits’ end and doesn’t know what to make of his new employee. Is Theo on the run, or is this some reality-show stunt? Neither can deny their attraction and romance strikes, but will Theo wind up in the gutter when his true identity is revealed—or has he finally found his purpose and a chance to rewrite his own story?
It’s fantastic to be back in Fall Crosse, Wisconsin , the small town that’s the heart and home of K.M. Neuhold’s three interconnected contemporary romance series. Four Bears Construction Company launched them all and the author is keeping the series going and heartwarmingly fresh with the latest release, Handy.
It’s the eighth book and it’s wonderful. While I’ll always love Stone and Dare’s romance because it’s just hilarious, Neuhold had me at park ranger and bird nerd with Ledger. While there were other aspects of Ledger that had me sighing ( not in a good way, it’s the raccoon) , Neuhold represents his job (low pay, high knowledge, passionate) extremely well. Neuhold writes layered, believable characters.
Griff too was a great character. One easy to emphasize with, as he’s in stasis, the loss of his husband, his own grief and inability to understand how to let go and move forward keeping him emotionally and in a way, physically isolated. So well written. We can understand this man and why he’s allowed himself to get mired down.
Until Ledger, that human vibrating ball of fantastic positivity and bear crushing energy next door comes calling. Or maybe more accurately his DIY house does. And his pet raccoon, TP.
I will admit to the fact of someone, even a ‘Ranger’, having a raccoon as a pet is an issue for me because of past experiences that have not gone well for the animals. But the way Neuhold realistically describes the huge damage the raccoon does to the house (holes chewed constantly in the walls) and furniture as a fact of its every day life made this aspect of the storyline well documented. Thank you for relating that wildlife comes with wildlife instincts.
The relationship that develops between Griff and Ledger is one I adore. They flirt, or Ledger does and Griff slowly moves forward towards acceptance that he’s ready for a new relationship and love. They communicate, get sexy, Ledger imparts bird facts and together they become a couple who is engaging, realistic, and heartwarming.
Plus those are some truly special bird facts! I’d be won over.
Ledger has a best friend who is also a park ranger, Jericho, a single man in search of his HEA. I suspect his story is coming. Although it may be in the Ink Slingers series.
I love the series and Handy is among my favorites here. I’ve listed them all below as well as the two other connected series.
Be sure to check them out. Highly recommended.
Book and Cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
Four Bears Construction :
Caulky #1 (Ren and Cole)
Nailed #2 (Dare and Stone)
Hardwood #3 (Watson and Ev)
Screwed #4 (Ollie and Daniel)
Stud #5 (Sawyer and West)
Stripped #6 (Miller and Demetri)
Drilled #7 (Apollo and Ridge)
Handy #8 (Griff and Ledger)
Connecting sequel series, same town and crossover characters:
My new neighbor may be grumpy but he’s also hot, and very good with his hands…
I definitely overestimated my own handyman skills when I bought this fixer-upper. I have to say, the view from my new place is worth it though. Especially around seven o’clock every morning when my big, furry bear of a neighbor drinks his coffee shirtless on his back porch.
He’s dedicated to the bear thing too. Growly, grumpy, and as it turns out, he really likes belly rubs.
Am I a sucker for a touch starved grump? Yes. Am I sorry about it? Absolutely not.
Getting Griff into my house and into my bed is the easy part. Convincing him I’m actually interested in him is so much harder.
I didn’t mean to turn myself into his secret admirer, but if sending him anonymous presents and notes is the only way to wear down his gruff exterior, then that’s what I’m going to do.
Sooner or later he’ll realize he’s more than just my grumpy handyman, right?
Handy is a super low angst, high heat, romantic comedy featuring a grumpy “Bear” (not the shifter kind 😉 ), and his sunshiney neighbor who becomes his secret admirer. It can be read as a stand alone but the most enjoyment will be from reading it as part of the full Four Bears Construction Series.
I have looked forward every Christmas to N. R. Walker’s new Hartbridge Christmas story, and was delighted to see Deck the Fire Hall this year.
Hartbridge, Montana is that snowy, Hallmark like small town with a beautiful view and endless charming Christmas decorations . Plus something else. Where a visitor that arrives in town at Christmas will meet his true love in town and find forever happiness.
That’s happened through four magical, heartwarming stories, each building upon the other. So that couple by couple, Hartbridge is becoming a real place that anyone would love to live or at least visit.
Now it’s time for the Firefighter Captain Soren De Silva we’ve come to know to get his own HEA. Soren has come close but now a burned out doctor just moved in next to him.
Doctor Robinson O’Reilly is a lovely character. Walker really gives us the sense of a man who has been through some serious mental and physical stress. And has needed a severe change.
The relationship is sweet, adult and develops, as is the case with these stories, quickly. Doc Reilly and Soren De Silva were a wonderful couple and if Deck the Fire Halls ends the series, it’s a heartfelt way to see it go out.
Charming, funny, sweet and just a lovely read about a great town and wonderful people. What a pleasure!
Just some thoughts.
Some things struck me as odd. This is definitely part of a series. Yet, it’s been removed as one and you would struggle to find the other books if you didn’t know they existed or the order to read them in. Very strange.
Also, I was missing the lovely map of the town that’s been a part of the series and shows where all the shops and couples live. If you’re interested, look at Holiday Heart Strings where I saw it last, a great book too.
Doctor Robinson O’Reilly is burned out. Exhausted, jaded, and disillusioned with the bureaucracy of his profession, he’s ready to throw away his entire career. Convinced to take a part-time position in a small town instead, he packs his medical bag for Hartbridge, Montana.
Who knows, maybe the change of pace and mountain air will do him good.
Firefighter Captain Soren De Silva moved to Hartbridge two years ago. He loves the town, the people, his job. What he doesn’t like is the lack of queer men. Well, the lack of available queer men. There are a few queer couples in town whom Soren can only look at with envy.
He wants what they have.
There’s a new doctor in town; not Soren’s usual type, but there’s something about him that Soren can’t ignore. A friendship sparks between them and Soren can’t help but wonder if that Hartbridge Christmas magic the others joke about is real.
Because a spark leads to flames, and this is not a fire Soren wants to extinguish.
I honestly don’t know any authors who do this trope and type of character and dark psychotic romance as well as Onley James. Each one has its own unique take on the dark side of these characters , insights into their damaged psyches, horrifying backgrounds, and whatever maybe their stabilizing influences. Or who.
Having been through Jericho and Atticus’ aka Freckles fantastic romance (and don’t think this won’t be sending me back to reread their story, because it will), I have absolutely loved these novels about Jericho’s found family of lost boys.
Each story flows from the last, a narrative smooth transition as all the boys, now young adults, live together or in close proximity. They’ve also become part of the larger Mulvaney family when Jericho married Atticus.
The Mulvaney family, its many members make multiple appearances here, but Jericho’s boys remain the main story. Here it’s Nico Michaels, his years under mother’s negligence and abuse as child, which have left him scarred emotionally and physically for relationships. It’s also Malachi Mizrahi, gender fluid, neurodivergent, and psychotic. Older brother to Shiloh, and someone who has been a constant companion to Nico since they met.
These two are among my favorites. How they slowly redefine their relationship. One discovering that he’s not been aware of the reality of that relationship, the other letting the layers of the emotional connections they share adjust in their own recognizable patterns. It’s wonderful writing. It’s realistic, tough, funny, dark, and raw. Between two young men who have been through monstrous events and had heinous experiences.
The crimes and mystery is fascinating. It brings a whole new element and energy into this universe with the Chinese Triad community. As with the Mulvaney family, the Chinese Triad organization has as a diverse group of characters, just as intriguing. I hope they will continue to pop up in future stories.
There’s a kinky sexual aspect to their relationship, one that’s more developed towards the end. This element is slowly built up into their story and makes sense. And will continue forward as part of the next book as they grow and help another one of their own journey into their own relationship.
I adore this book and couple. The series has me wanting to reread the original books and start this over again.
If dark fiction and romantic love along these lines are your thing, then these books aren’t to be missed. Highly recommended.
The seven dark fantastic books of the Necessary Evils series are the foundation which then leads here to Jericho’s Boys. They aren’t to be missed.
Nico Michaels pretends to be carefree, avoiding anything serious, especially relationships; his chaotic past has taught him that love only complicates things. He’s content with one-night stands and his close-knit group of friends, including his roommate, Malachi Mizrahi.
Neurodivergent and gender-fluid, Malachi wakes up each morning with a whole new personality, but one thing remains constant: his love for Nico. They clicked perfectly from day one, sharing a love of everything from anime to nature documentaries. They even share a bed. Platonically, of course.
One night, the lines blur when they share a kiss, but before things can go further, a desperate call from one of Mal’s dance students throws them into a missing person’s case that leaves them with more questions than answers. To complicate matters, Mal reveals he’s been quietly orchestrating Nico’s whole life without him even noticing. Nico is shaken to his core, his perception of their relationship shattered.
As they navigate the perilous world of a vicious Chinese triad, their bond deepens, and Nico begins to see that Malachi is not only the perfect friend, but the perfect man to fulfill all his needs. Together, they must face their past and survive their present if they want any chance of a happy ending in their future.
Barbarian is a friends-to-lovers, dark romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a masochistic vigilante with ADHD and a video game addiction and his sadistic and controlling best friend who worships the ground he walks on. As with any Onley book, you’ll find dark humor, steamy sexy times, and gratuitous violence, but only against people who totally deserve it. This is book 3 in the Jericho’s Boys series. Each book follows a different couple.
Riptide: a Super Bowl Year (The Riptide) by Beth Bolden was written by Bolden for her fans of her series, as a final way to say goodbye and to show that all important Super Bowl game from the many perspectives of the characters we have come to understand and love.
We see Sam Crawford and Heath Harris, settled into their respective roles and relationship. As well as all the other teammates from the series who have come to mean so much. It’s the Super Bowl. But more importantly it’s seeing the characters and the impact on their lives one last time.
It’s a fitting tribute and a wonderful addition to the finale story.
For all the fans, it’s a must read.
Riptide series:
The Rivalry #1
Rough Contact #2
The Red Zone #3
Bolden’s connected Football series in order they are written:
Deliciously demented! Alice Winters has another great book and character with A Simple Mistake, the first novel in her new Deadly Mistakes series.
Dark humor and psychopathic main characters are my jam. That makes Winters’ A Simple Mistake and Homicide Det Liam Paige, the psychopath who’s one delicious side of this two POV narrative definitely my new favorite. The other voice being the , shakes head, engagingly normal, law abiding Detective Gabriel Hyde and his cat,Lucille Pawl aka Lucy Fur.
Clearly you see what side I fall on.
Liam’s POV and dialogue, clearly non empathetic as it should be unless it relates to Gabriel, often had me cackling. My enjoyment ran deep. And Winters, while laying down the traumatic scenes and background for Liam, doesn’t ask us or Liam for remorse or for him to change his behavior or actions. He simply is what he is. It’s only from Gabriel that he’s slightly willing to make alterations.
I’ll be so fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as the series and their relationship develops.
The murderer and the investigations are complex, wonderfully detailed and constructed. Winters built so much suspense, intelligent psychological drama and horror into a story with equal amounts of gleeful dialogue and great action that it’s a must read!
Alice Winters is an auto buy and this fantastic book is just one more reason why. Highly recommended!
Great characters, fantastic writing, excellent story. Win, win, win.
Weirdly, people don’t react overly well when you’re caught standing over the dead body of a murderer who’d walked free.
It’s not that I thought my fellow homicide detective would rejoice when he saw what I’d done, but is a pat on the back too much to ask for? Maybe a gold star at the very least?
The problem is that the person who caught me is Gabriel, the only person I care for and adore… and he’s prepared to look the other way if I leave homicide and promise to never kill again. Yet when Gabriel gets taken by a serial killer, there’s absolutely no way I can sit back while this parasite takes what is mine.
But what the killer doesn’t know is that I’m coming for him and that I would destroy the world to keep Gabriel safe. After all, who could hunt a serial killer better than another one?
Gabriel
Drawing Liam back into homicide is the last thing I thought I’d ever do, but the killer is picking off my fellow detectives, and the only way we’re going to make it out of this is with Liam heading the case (even if there’s one—or five—coworkers he’d rather not save).
Liam is smart, sarcastic, and the most dangerous man I’ve ever met, and yet I can’t look away—even if he calls my adorable cat Lucy Fur. No one has any idea just how far Liam will go for me, especially not the killer, who won’t realize until too late that the prey he hunts is actually a predator.
George Hunt started out as a minor character in the popular Marshals series as a bodyguard to Sam and Jory’s daughter, Hannah. But as written by Calmes, there was just something special about George. Something extraordinary. The readers just wanted more.
The character developed as did his roles throughout various crossover stories, each redefining his history, his character and his heroic actions. And it brought him into the shared world, because of many traumatic events, with Hannah’s doctor, Dr Kurt Butler.
These are all fantastic novels that should be read, not just for the foundation knowledge but for the terrific storytelling.
But all those narrative paths led to George’s Big Day. A hilarious, sometimes poignant, action packed novel in which George tries to get married. Accompanied by many of the characters from his missions (and crossover novels) as well as the friends and co-workers from the Marshals series, it’s a law enforcement thriller, matrimonial circus, where hijinks ensue, love is pledged, there’s blood and casts, and a HFN with rings in sight.
Plus dogs and and a very mean kitty.
Did I say how much I love George and his stories? I absolutely adore George, and all his books. Especially this one. And while I’m not sure if this is the last, it’s ok if it is. What a wild ride it is.
Love it and it’s a total joy.
Great covers by Reese Dante.
With George:
Just George #1
Wintering with George #2
George’s Big Day #3
Connected Series:
A Matter of Time – 6 books
Marshals – 6 books
Standalone:
Again
🔹See the author’s notes for the entire list of crossover characters and the books/series they came from.
George Hunt wants to get married. The fact that he does is utterly amazing and a huge leap of faith for a man who’s always been certain that happily ever afters only happen in fairy tales. The thing is, though, ever since Christmas, when Dr. Kurt Butler, the man he loves, gave him a ring, he’s changed his mind about what’s possible. But between deployments and venues that have to be booked years in advance, matrimonial bliss seems persistently out of reach. Fortunately, George’s friends come through, offering the perfect setting.
Of course, when your life is full of heroes, there are always villains looking to even the score. When the day of the nuptials conflicts with murderous agendas, the only thing that really matters is being married at the end of the day. If George can keep his eye on the prize and everyone does what they do best, it might just all work out.
Hayden Hall’s Mingle All The Way see out the second season of the heartwarming, wonderful Christmas Falls series. So of course, I mistakenly read it out of order and stumbled across the answer to this season’s biggest mystery, who is Christmas Falls Secret Santa?
The answer was absolutely perfect and in keeping with the heart and magic of this small Christmas town and community.
It’s the romantic journey of two childhood friends who were separated by a parent’s need to locate for a job and the revelations and romance that is sparked when they’re reunited years later when both are back in Christmas Falls.
Milo, the boy who left crushed and crying returned home first , years later to open his dream shop, Jingle Bites, selling his handmade chocolates. Now arrives Christian, returning home after his ventures outside in NYC, both romantically and professionally, failed.
Memories and their old friendship revives their relationship but something else turns it into a deep bond.
Milo has been a favorite throughout the series, with his quiet engaging hometown voice and handmade chocolates that appear in every story. Hall take a terrific secondary role and turns Milo into a great character, one who can make a reader feel connected to his life and struggles, whether it’s the charming shop he’s poured everything into or his long time feelings for Christian.
Christian is a very strong character but I have to admit there’s moments I was very frustrated with his character and or maybe the lack of momentum in his outlook and his poor treatment of Milo. Continued expectations of forgiveness for the same behavior grows old in fiction as well as real life. It becomes an issue when a writer’s character inability to move forward becomes a loop instead of a forward path once too often. That narrative stumble temporarily took me out of the story and from my connection to this character.
The ending is fantastic and more than made up for that section prior. It’s that Hallmark climax that’s heartwarming and full of seasonal surprises.
Milo, this town and yes, Christian, all have that wonderful Christmas Falls energy and finale that is the reason we read and love this series.
Christian and Milo and his Jingle Bites was a delight and a lovely way to close the season for this year. Highly recommended.
Cover art by Morningstar Ashley Designs
And check out all the books in the Christmas Falls series, both 1 and 2.
Christmas Falls, Season 2:
The Snuggle is Real by DJ Jamison Flake It til You Make It by Beth Bolden ❤️
12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn
Here Comes Santa Paws by Lee Blair
Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox
❤️Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin
❤️No Business Like Snow Business by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry
Frost Impressions by Kelly Fox
Promise Yule Be Mine by Rhys Everly ❤️Mingle All The Way by Hayden Hall
Christmas Falls, Season 1:
Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison Snowbody Loves You by Jacki James Get Frosted by Amy Aislin
When I go home for the holidays, Santa has a secret waiting for me…
I wandered far and wide in search of happiness, never finding what I sought. When I return to Christmas Falls to lick my wounds, the last thing I expect is for Santa to send me a golden-haired, blue-eyed man I once called my best friend—the friend who was taken away from me when we were kids.
Milo Montgomery is back in town, and he doesn’t wait for miracles to come to him. There’s a special sort of magic in the way he spreads joy throughout our town.
His chocolate shop might be struggling, but that can’t break his festive spirit. His optimism is contagious, and his cheerful mood makes me feel like I’m thirteen again, catching snowflakes on my tongue. As we walk down memory lane, recreating every Christmas Eve we spent together, our friendship becomes everything I’ve been missing.
Milo confesses I was his first and only love. But as a straight man, I can never love him the same way. Or can I? I’m beginning to question everything I thought I knew about myself. About the world.
Maybe happiness has nothing to do with a place. Maybe all it takes is the right person.
Christmas Falls: Season 2 revisits a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. It’s a multi-author M/M romance series.
Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. That’s such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
There’s so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year I’m adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. I’m including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. That’s The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. That’s the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These aren’t in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. That’s the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
🔷Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
🔹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( I’m still working on the larger collections)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they weren’t available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. I’d lost track because I read so many.
It’s a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and author’s voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
I’m so thankful for the authors and books I’ve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
🫶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 