What Are you Reading? Showing 15,101-15,150 of 16,523

[WMD]

Amazon still says Jan 22...I had just checked over my "incoming" lst this a.m. to make sure I hadn't missed anything

[Alison]

Author says it will most likely be changed due to it taking longer to write and also the publisher was bought out just recently. He says delays are imminent, but we shall see. :)

[Josh]

Jordan wrote: "If you like Ginn Hale, give this a try: The Last Sun. I'm currently reading it and seriously enjoying it. I love all aspects of it, from the characters, to the action, to the magic...."

That sounds wonderful!

[Jordan]

Oh bummer... but it’s probably for the best. Too many other things to read at the moment. And there are three hundred plus people waiting for another book I’m also currently reading so... better hop to it!

[Johanna]

Jordan wrote: "So I had my outreach today for work where I deliver library books to an LGBTQ organization, mostly for people of color, and age range 14-24. I usually see the 20+ folks though. Anyway, last month I..."

That's so cool, Jordan!

[Johanna]

KC wrote: "And read Neil Gaiman's A Study in Emerald, which was so so. Lately I've been trying to find good graphic novels (mystery or fantasy). Still searching... The problem is that the illustrator is as important as the storyteller... In this particular one, the illustrations were good, but the story was not as strong as what I'd expect from Neil Gaiman. Anyway, I haven't yet tried other graphic novels of his, so there's hope!"

Hubby wanted me to post that he really likes this graphic version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

[Johanna]

Alison wrote: "New Ginn Hale today! Her story is in the cool-sounding pirate anthology Scourge of the Seas of Time.

It's a newer small publisher and they seem to have some cool things, and now t..."

Oh yay!

[Johanna]

Jordan wrote: "If you like Ginn Hale, give this a try: The Last Sun. I'm currently reading it and seriously enjoying it. I love all aspects of it, from the characters, to the action, to the magic...."

Adding this into my to-read list. Thank you!

[Jordan]

Johanna wrote: "Jordan wrote: "If you like Ginn Hale, give this a try: The Last Sun. I'm currently reading it and seriously enjoying it. I love all aspects of it, from the characters, to the action..."

You're welcome!

[Alison]

Jordan wrote: "If you like Ginn Hale, give this a try: The Last Sun. I'm currently reading it and seriously enjoying it. I love all aspects of it, from the characters, to the action, to the magic...."

Release date for The Hanged Man (sequel to The Last Sun) is now confirmed for September 17. Bummer.

[Josh]

Alison wrote: "Jordan wrote: "If you like Ginn Hale, give this a try: The Last Sun. I'm currently reading it and seriously enjoying it. I love all aspects of it, from the characters, to the action..."

At least it's not cancelled!

[Jordan]

What Josh said. That is a bummer, but it’s not cancelled! Yay for that!

[KC]

Read two wonderful short stories by a new-to-me author - Lloyd A. Meeker - Stone and Shell and A Cape of Good Hope Christmas.

Also, Al Stewart and Claire Davis' Up! - loved it.

And Eli Easton's Christmas Angel, which was lovely.

[Antonella]

KC wrote: "Read two wonderful short stories by a new-to-me author - Lloyd A. Meeker - Stone and Shell and A Cape of Good Hope Christmas.

Also, Al Stewart and Claire Davis' Up! - loved it."

Thank you for the recs.

And Al Stewart and Claire Davis' Up! is for free!

[Alison]

It's the very end of the year, which means it's a good time to ask you all about your favourite books you read this year. Anybody want to share books they loved in 2018?

[KC]

Alison wrote: "It's the very end of the year, which means it's a good time to ask you all about your favourite books you read this year. Anybody want to share books they loved in 2018?"

I discovered several new-to-me authors I really enjoyed in the mystery genre:
- Gregory Ashe - the Hazard and Somerset series
- Cordelia Kingsbridge - the Seven of Spades series, but everything really
- Caimh McDonnell - everything! (this is mainstream, friendly, and simply super awesome)

Also promising in m/m/gay mystery:
- Grant Atherton: The Slow Road to Hell
- Charlie Adhara (this has a bit of paranormal): The Wolf at the Door and The Wolf at Bay (I enjoyed the second one even more)

M/M:
- Hackett Chase Taylor: Where Do I Start? and And the next Thing You Know . . . - I adore these!
- Milan Courtney: The Pursuit Of...

LGBTQ+/mainstream:
- Bart Yates: The Brothers Bishop - this was...amazing; heartbreaking too, but just so very good.

[Candice]

Just finished EARLY CHECKOUT. That was so cool. I enjoyed this pairing as much this time as the first. Thank you, Josh!

[Alison]

KC wrote: "- Milan Courtney: The Pursuit Of..."

One of my favourites. I adore this novella. :)

[KC]

Alison wrote: "KC wrote: "- Milan Courtney: The Pursuit Of..."

One of my favourites. I adore this novella. :)"

Lately, it seems it's not easy to find a m/m story that has it all - good writing, well-developed characters, a solid, fun plot, and moving too and with a sense of humor. And this one had it all.

[KC]

I'm adding another book to my 2018 favorites list:
C.M. Valencourt's From the Ashes. New author, and they have only two books out. The first I read was a Christmas novella, which should've been great, what with the snowed-in trope, but was a definite miss for me. So I wasn't expecting much when I started their other novel From the Ashes, but which turned out to have it all. I enjoyed every word. It's a very moving story, so have some tissues ready, but it's also so heartwarming and hopeful and just wonderful. I pretty much fell in love with it.

[Jordan]

Object of Desire

The Last Sun

The Lawrence Browne Affair

Let's Talk About Love (YA/Ace MC)

Jonny Appleseed

The Prince and the Dressmaker

The Cybernetic Tea Shop

The One Hundred Nights of Hero

The Dime

These were some of my top lgbtq/mm picks for the year.

The Philip Marlowe series was great!

The Alienist

The Book of Unknown Americans

Around the Writer's Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer's Resistance (Thanks to Josh!)

Latitude Zero

Listening Woman

These were my top random books. There's been a lot of mysteries... lol.

[Johanna]

Alison wrote: "It's the very end of the year, which means it's a good time to ask you all about your favourite books you read this year. Anybody want to share books they loved in 2018?"

Oh yes, good thinking, Alison! These are lists I will be coming back to many times in the future, I know it!

Thank you in advance.

[Johanna]

Candice wrote: "Just finished EARLY CHECKOUT. That was so cool. I enjoyed this pairing as much this time as the first. Thank you, Josh!"

Can't wait to discuss it as our January BOM!!!

[Jordan]

So many books to read, and because they have long wait lists at the library, I’m really stuck reading them asap. Lol.

Becoming Now that I’ve finished the Marlowe Challenge, I’ll get back into this today!

The Best Bad Things I’ve not started this yet, but I recall the MC might be bisexual, and maybe gender fluid or transgender.

I also need to read the book I was gifted by one of my students before the next writing class starts up on the 10th, since she registered for the class! This one is not on GR though, and isn’t available commercially, so I can’t list it either. It’s called One Korean Woman, and is the story of her mother’s life.

But I soooo can’t wait to get to Ghost!!! And our discussion next month!

[Alison]

My favourite books of 2018

Queer books:

Band Sinister by KJ Charles (standalone historical romance)

The Last Sun by KD Edwards (first book in urban fantasy series)

The Pursuit Of... by Courtney Milan (standalone historical romance)

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (standalone graphic novel)

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian (standalone historical romance)

Imperfect Match by Jordan Castillo Price (standalone futuristic spec fic)

Day of Wrath by Anna Butler (final book in the Taking Shield sci-fi series)

The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater (mainstream five-book contemporary-set YA fantasy)
First book: The Raven Boys

Shades of Magic series by Victoria Schwab (mainstream fantasy trilogy)
First book: A Darker Shade of Magic


Surprise favourite:
Ground of Insurrection by Mell Eight (first book in fantasy series)


Favourite non-queer book:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (standalone time-travel spec fic)

[KC]

Read Lily Morton's Oz, which was sweet and funny throughout. Now i'm looking forward to reading her Mixed Messages series.

[Ame]

I always find it so hard to do these best of lists, it's like loving one of my children more than the others. So I think I'll just mention few authors and books and series and I'm not putting them in any order.

I loved discovering few new authors who had written book series and gave me plenty to read. Those authors would be:
Chase Taylor Hackett with his Why you? series, he's got a knack for writing intolerable characters that you can't help but love.
Where Do I Start?

Cordelia Kingsbridge and her Seven of Spades series. Not sure what I can add that hasn't been already said but my favorite thing about her isn't her character writing even if she's good at that but the fact she's very good at writing crime plot. Not everyone can do that.
Kill Game

Gregory Ashe and his Hazard and Sommerset series. Sometimes good and sometimes not as good but somehow I can not stop reading. He's very good at writing flawed characters in a believable, sometimes heartwrenching light.
Pretty Pretty Boys

Marshall Thorntons's Pinx Video Mysteries. As always solid quality writing, excellent character and plot writing. And so interesting for a history nerd like me to read about the live of a guy HIV man in the 90's. Perhaps I like the history aspect most of all.
Night Drop

Alessandra Hazard Calluvia Royalty series. Definitely the find and the surprise of the year. I had read some of her previous straight guys series and was therefore in no hurry to read this one. Boy oh boy did she surprise me. Excellent writing, sweet lovely characters on one side and then not so sweet but still very lovable characters on the other side. Up there with the best books I read this year.
That Alien Feeling

Other series I started reading and will definitely continue with even though they didn't quite make the best of list are Harper Fox's The Tyack and Frayne mysteries, Charlie Adhara's Big Bad Wolf and Cole McCade's Criminal Intentions.

As for the good books I read this year, these are my top favorites ones:
In Other Words...Murder, it was quite lovely to see a happy yet funny though not quite as snarky Kit. I love his evolvement from the depressed unhappy Kit from the first book to his happiness now. And even having him admitting to it! That's some feat. Anyway it came to me while listening to the excellent Kevin R. Free that Kit is actually the male version of Miss Marple. The same cutting edge tongue, sharp tongue and clever observer of human nature. No wonder he writes old ladies detective stories. :-)

P.S. I Spook You is another book I had on my Kindle for a long time before reading it. Loved it. Loved the character writing and the plot. Little sad, little real but very good.

Object of Desire Dal sure did not disappoint me with this book. I applaud her for managing to come back with such a strong story after what was a really excellent debut book, the pressure much have been immense. I don't think there was one thing I didn't like about this book, the very human characters and their messes, the great plot. I'm already waiting for her next story.

Robby Riverton: Mail Order Bride was definitely one of the best books of the year for me. Excellent reading, hilariously funny and huge props to Eli for that because it is much much harder to write an actually funny book than books full of angst. She is such a talented writer. This is one of those books you never want to end yet you stop reading with a smile on your face.

The Other Half I came across this one this December. It was lovely, just lovely. Sweet and real and just so lovely.

Team Phison this was an unexpected find. I think someone posted this one in the free, special deal thread and I bought it, either it was free or it was 0,99. It's worth so much more. Really good writing, excellent plot, middle aged man trying to find love in the times of "perfect" social media bodies and dating apps. Maybe it's my age but I could really put myself in his shoes and all his self doubts. Sometimes it reminded me of Bridget Jones Diary, how we see the person we fancy or love in a perfect light and find them so physically appealing yet see all our own faults and at the same time do not realise the same can said about the people that are interested in us. They see us as this attractive interesting people and do not see the physical faults we focus endlessly on in our self doubt. Perhaps even until we sabotage everything. Anyway, it's such a good book and I know it's not been talked about so much but it deserves all good praise.

And finally it was so lovely to end the year with The Ghost Had an Early Check-Out. For once I did not figure out the plot until I read it. I was on the same page as Perry. Perry and Nick. Perhaps it's because it's Christmas and this has been a hard year but all that love and stars in their eyes over each other just melted me on Christmas night. I'm a mush.

Happy New Year.

[Ame]

I forgot I was gonna add audiobooks to my list.

I'm sorry but nothing compares to Kevin R. Free reading Kit Holmes, it's like a match made in heaven. In Other Words...Murder

However Joel Leslie has come on strong this year, I loved him in The Prescott College series Mark Cooper versus America and in Red Dirt series Red Dirt Heart and in Femme. Such a good narrator and has very good knack for humor in his narrations.

However I can not leave without mentioning BBC dramatisations of several Poirot and Miss Marple stories. So well done, so nice to listen to, just so good. If you love Agatha Christie these dramatisations are available on Audible.

[Alison]

Here's an article from USA Today about "must-read" queer romance books coming out in 2019, which is nice...however, tucked in there halfway down is *Lord of the White Hell 3*!! I know many of us here are raging Ginn Hale fans, so I thought I'd share the news that just made my day. It is to be released in October. What an excellent surprise. Squee!

https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2...

[Antonella]

Alison wrote: "Here's an article from USA Today about "must-read" queer romance books coming out in 2019, which is nice...however, tucked in there halfway down is *Lord of the White Hell 3*!!"

Thank you very much, dear Alison! I join enthusiastically the squee! ;-)

And another book by K.J. Charles coming soon, here you can read the blurb: Any Old Diamonds
That is I'm behind of almost three K.J. Charles' books!

[Jordan]

Ooohh, thanks for the list, Alison! There’s some really good things on it! And now I’ll have to reread LOTWH 1&2. I was hoping to get to the series that follows that one, which I still haven’t read yet... lol.

[Haldis]

Jordan wrote: "Ooohh, thanks for the list, Alison! There’s some really good things on it! And now I’ll have to reread LOTWH 1&2. I was hoping to get to the series that follows that one, which I still haven’t read..."

Me too!

[Antonella]

I bought The Last Sun on paper after the general praise here. I meant to keep it for later (the sequel isn't out till September I think), but then I couldn't resist. Really great, and gripping.

The only drawback: I found out that Edwards plans nine (!) books:

«I have 9 books planned, grouped into three distinct arcs. The first three slowly reveal the secrets that Rune is keeping from the reader; the second three books focus on the secrets that have been kept from Rune; and the final three is Endgame.»
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

[Alison]

Antonella wrote: "I bought The Last Sun on paper after the general praise here. I meant to keep it for later (the sequel isn't out till September I think), but then I couldn't resist. Really great, a..."

Oh, but is it really a drawback? I'm excited for eight more books. :)

[Antonella]

Alison wrote: "Oh, but is it really a drawback? I'm excited for eight more books. :)."

I know, but I've already too many books to read...

[Alison]

Don't we all, don't we all... :)

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "Alison wrote: "Oh, but is it really a drawback? I'm excited for eight more books. :)."

I know, but I've already too many books to read..."

Me too! So, YAY for 8 more books, and oh, 8 more books. lol. I thought it was going to be a trilogy, for some reason. I don't know why I thought that though.

[Karen]

I’m another one who hopped on The Last Sun train due to recommendations here. As Antonella notes, it’s going to be a long (9 book) ride. :) I finished the ebook a few days ago and picked up the audiobook as well. I’m saving that for a refresher before book 2 comes out. If you check out https://www.tggeeks.com/blog/2018/05/... there’s a podcast interview where K.D. talks about about his writing process, outlining, and other details. I only listened to part of it, but thought the outlining info was interesting.

[Susinok]

Ame wrote: "I forgot I was gonna add audiobooks to my list.

I'm sorry but nothing compares to Kevin R. Free reading Kit Holmes, it's like a match made in heaven. In Other Words...Murder

Howev..."

I agree with all of those, Ame! I have listened to many of the Poirot audiobooks. Same with Joel Leslie.

[Alison]

My "favourite books of 2018" list gets another addition, because I finished a book on New Year's Eve day that ended up being one of my favourites--Amy Rose Capetta's The Brilliant Death. It's a queer fantasy romance that's super queer and has neat characters and neat magic. I loved it.

[KC]

Alison wrote: "My "favourite books of 2018" list gets another addition, because I finished a book on New Year's Eve day that ended up being one of my favourites--Amy Rose Capetta's [book:The Brilliant Death|34198..."

Sounds good!

[Alison]

KC wrote: "Alison wrote: "My "favourite books of 2018" list gets another addition, because I finished a book on New Year's Eve day that ended up being one of my favourites--Amy Rose Capetta's [book:The Brilli..."

I zipped right through it. Really engaging.

[Josh]

Alison wrote: "It's the very end of the year, which means it's a good time to ask you all about your favourite books you read this year. Anybody want to share books they loved in 2018?"

What I love about my reading last year was that I actually did a lot more of it! :-D Or at least more reading (and listening) in this genre (and contemporary fiction general).

I can't think of a particular book or author that stands out, but that's more because I don't keep notes for anything but the long-delayed Mr. and Mrs. Murder book.

I'm hoping to do a lot more reading this year--both in prep for Mr&MrsM and just keeping abreast of what's happening in genre fiction.

[Josh]

Alison wrote: "Don't we all, don't we all... :)"

Yes. :-D In fact, one of my resolutions for the New Year is I am not spending anything on non-essentials. UNTIL I have used up what I already have (or at least tried it out!).

This--GULP--includes books because we are now out of shelf space in the library and on the downstairs shelves and in the bedrooms. My book budget is now ZERO--with the exception of vintage paperbacks (you've got to leap when you've got the chance on those) and research books.

I don't know how long I'll stick to this given the recs in this thread alone. :-D

[Josh]

Currently reading Three Prize Murders. This is a collection of novels that were the Honorable Mentions in the (1941) 2nd Mary Roberts Rinehart Mystery Novel Prize Contest.

The first novel is Murder for Tea by Edith Howie. I've read one other novel by her: Murder for Christmas.

Her career seems very brief (1941 - 1946) though she lived to be nearly 79. I always find it interesting when someone with a successful career gives up writing.

https://www.argusleader.com/story/opi...

[Johanna]

A book that I really love (and which I finished reading a couple of days ago) is Josh's Seance on a Summer's Night. Oooooh! That was gripping and fun! :-)

Otherwise I haven't been able to do much reading lately, but I did manage to finish listening to a non-m/m book during the Holidays. It's called Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and it's probably sort of chic lit or something similar, but surprise, surprise!—I liked it. :-)

Now I've started listening to Michelle Obama's Becoming which I find truly inspirational.

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "A book that I really love (and which I finished reading a couple of days ago) is Josh's Seance on a Summer's Night. Oooooh! That was gripping and fun! :-)

Otherwise I haven't been ..."

So glad you enjoyed it! :-)

[Jordan]

My reading pace has dropped down to that of a snail... or maybe a sloth. I’m still reading Becoming, though it is very good!

[Antonella]

Mymymble wrote: "My favourite book of 2018 was Call Me By Your Name. Thanks to BOM and Jordan for that and also Antonella for nominating it since like her I was too wussy to read it without peer support."

You are welcome, as you stated, I needed as well a push ;-).

[Anne]

I won’t list favourite books because there are so many, but I did discover some authors new to me that has given me great reading experiences; NK Jemisin with The Fifth Season trilogy, Ann Leckie with Ancillary Justice series, anything by Alyssa Cole, the Taking Shield series by Anna Butlerto mention some. One very different, but lovely book is Lincoln in the Bardo.

There are more, many I find due to recommendations from you guys, which is good for my heart and bad for my wallet. I look forward to many more of those recommendations, though :), never mind the wallet.