I’ve had a real ‘head in a book’ month this August. Partly because it’s been the school holidays and quite frankly I’ve needed the distraction; and partly because I have found so many lovely things to read.
Mainly by Moonlight by Josh Lanyon
What do you do when you fall in love with someone who doesn’t know that you’re a magician? In Cosmo Saville’s case, you panic a bit and your friends do more harm than good trying to help you.
I have always been a huge Josh Lanyon fan and it’s great to see her on form again with this new series. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Sword Dance by A. J. Demas
I really love A. J. Demas’s not-quite-Classical-Europe world. Her protagonists are always beautifully drawn with a realistic complexity that makes them easy to like; and if you don’t like them, you understand why.
As usual, there is lots and lots of plot alongside the romance. First of a trilogy!
A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian
A lovely historical f/f novella that is part of Cat Sebastian’s Regency ‘Turner Series’.
Molly and Alice are both charming characters. We have met Molly before and although she’s a reformed from her career as a petty thief, she is still the same person we met previously. I am really pleased she gets a happy ending!
Why the Devil Stalks Death by L. J. Hayward
I really like this series. It’s full of wounded heroes and people who don’t communicate and sexual tension, which put it bang in the middle of my ballpark. I do like my romance with lots of plot!
One of the things that makes this a really engaging read is the timeline. We have alternating before/after chapters… and you aren’t quite sure what the before and the after are being built around when you start reading. I was irritated by this for about three chapters before getting completely sucked in and finishing it in one sitting. Hard recommend!
Quill Me Now by Jordan Castillo Price
I have only just discovered this series of novellas. It has a really interesting magic system based on writing your spells with special quill. This one was a freebie and I’ve now got the others on my TBR. It’s kind of paranormal cross with a cozy mystery, I guess?
I really liked it and I’m looking forward to finding out more about both how the magic works and the MCs adventures.
Stumptown Spirits by E. J. Russell
A contemporary paranormal romance, with wounded heroes (my favorite!) wrestling with both the supernatural and their own emotions.
I really like the folk-lore basis of this one, although I did get cross with Logan because honestly, wouldn’t it just be better to talk to your boyfriend instead of being all self-sacrificing and mysterious?
Nevertheless a five star read for me and I have just bought the sequel.
Spellbound by Allie Therin
Spellbound was on my TBR long before it came out, and it was certainly worth the wait. 1920’s New York is full of concealed magic. Our protagonists, Arthur and Rory, are both doing their best to keep their loved ones safe from it, initially without revealing what they know to each other.
I loved the historical setting- obviously the ’20s are my thing– and the love story weaves in and out of the paranormal mystery seamlessly. Another one that’s the first of a series to come!
And that’s it for this month. September kicks off to a start off with an interview with Kristen Noone next week!