Another Year!

Tags

5 stars, academia, Ahsley Poston, Blake Crouch, books, cartography, Contemporary Romance, fairies, genetic engineering, ghosts, Heather Fawcett, historical, historical romance, humor, India Holton, Madeline Martin, magical realism, maps, Mimi Matthews, paranormal romance, Patricia Briggs, Peng Shepherd, romance, scifi, series, urban fantasy, witches, WWII

7 years ago today, I shared my first book review on Whiskey With My Book.  To mark this occasion, I thought I’d recap last year by listing my 10 favorite 5-star books of 2022.  It is really hard to choose only 10, but for your sake and mine, I did.  It is even harder to rank them, but I managed.  Note: If I reviewed the book, I included the link. Clicking on the cover will take you to Amazon. Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated. I also recommended checking with your library (if you want to save some $$$)!

10 and 9 – The Bell of Belgrave Square and The Siren of Sussex.  These are the first two books in The Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews.  The historical romances are about women and men who find love outside society’s expected boundaries. 

8 – Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson, #13) by Patricia Briggs.  Between 2021 and 2022, I read (or listened to) the entire Mercy Thompson series.  Binging the urban fantasy series was a great way to soak it up. I reviewed 1-12 before I read #13.

7 – The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin.  Wartime in London is fraught with danger and heartbreak.  This was a moving story enriched by historical detail, complex characters, and books.

6 – The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd.  An absolutely fascinating bit of magical realism, secrets, maps, mapmakers, and intrigue. 

5 – Upgrade by Blake Crouch.  This was one of two Blake Crouch books I read last year.  Upgrade examines the ethics of scientific advancements.

4 and 3 – The League of Gentlewomen Witches and the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton.  The first two books in the Dangerous Damsels series are highly entertaining.  Crammed full with humor, romance and flying battlehouses, what’s not to love?

2 – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.  I was completely charmed by this tale of two academics whose study of faeries becomes an adventure you will never forget.

1 – The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston.  I don’t read a lot of fiction set in current times, so I was quite surprised that this contemporary romance turned out to appeal to me so much!  I even recommended it to my library’s book club.  I hope they love it as much as I did.  I plan to share a review of this book eventually.  I might save it for Valentine’s week.

Thank you for following my blog. I hope, if you are looking for a good book to read, you will find something great here! 

‘Tis the Season – Thursday

Tags

artic, Coreene Callahan, dragons, fairy tales, historical romance, ice, Kathleen O'Neal Gear, Lindsey Pogue, paranormal romance, post-apocalypse, romance, scifi, snow, Susanna Kearsley

Welcome to day 4 of recommendations of books with seasonal themes. Monday, I started with reviews of books with a Christmas theme. Tuesday was a list of Christmas-themed books I had not reviewed, but read and enjoyed (and therefore recommend). Yesterday’s post included reviews of books with a winter theme. Today, I will share some winter-themed books I have not reviewed (mostly) but I did enjoy. Maybe you will like them too!

So far, all the books in these posts are older books, released one or more years ago. Friday, I will have a review of a brand new book that will be released in January. In keeping with this week’s theme, a cold, icy place is the setting for at book. Come back tomorrow to see what I am talking about!

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I’ve included the Amazon link for each book here – click on the book cover. Note: Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated.

The Darkest Winter by Lindsey Pogue

A group of orphaned misfits.
The wild lands of the last frontier.
Superhuman abilities, harrowing adventures, and heartbreaking secrets.

This a post-apocalyptic story that takes place in an artic environment where the world has been shattered by a virus. Part of The Savage North Chronicles.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle in Scotland, Carrie McClelland creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.

But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth-the ultimate betrayal-that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her…

The story takes place over a long period of time, so it’s not always winter. But yes, there is a part that takes place in winter near the sea. This book was my introduction to Susanna Kearsley and I am very happy I found it!

Fury of Ice by Coreene Callahan

Homicide detective Angela Keen thrives on the city’s rough streets. But when she becomes the prize of all prizes in the dragon-shifter world due to her “high-energy” status, she gets more than she bargained for. Kidnapped by Lothair of the Razorback clan, Angela barely survives captivity before managing to escape. Hurt and alone with nowhere to hide, she faces certain death when Lothair uses the trace energy she leaves in her wake to hunt her down. But before he can reach her, a mystery dragon shifter intervenes and saves Angela’s life.

Now a guest of the Nightfury clan, Angela regains her strength as her rescuer, Rikar, the last living frost dragon, gradually breaks down her mistrust. Surrendering to her desire for Rikar, but still uncertain of her feelings, Angela goes against his wishes and agrees to be used as bait to lure Lothair into the open. As the battle commences, the true struggle comes from within: Will Angela return home to the life she loves, or forsake it all to be with Rikar?

Rewilding Reports by Kathleen O’Neal Gear

This cli-fi series from a notable archaeologist and anthropologist explores a frozen future where archaic species struggle to survive an apocalyptic Ice Age.

I read and reviewed the first two books, but have not yet read the last one. Book 3 is on my to-read list. Have you read it?

‘Tis the Season – Tuesday

Tags

Christmas, Erica Ridley, fairy tales, fantasy, historical romance, Jodi Taylor, Melanie Karsak, romance, scifi, Steampunk, time travel

This week I am featuring books that reflect the season. Christmas or winter (for those in the northern hemisphere) themes in books are easy to find. Yesterday’s post was about books I have reviewed. Today I will share a list of books I have read, but did not review. I enjoyed every one of them, so I guess that is my recommendation for you.  Are there any seasonal favorites you want so share? Let me know in the comments.

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I’ve included the Amazon link for each book here – click on the book cover. Note: Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated.

Peppermint and Pentacles by Melanie Karsak

Up on the housetop werewolves howl
Out jumps good old Agent Louvel
Down through the chimney chasing monsters quick
Feeling far less jolly than Old Saint Nick

Red Cape Society Agent Clemeny Louvel is used to chasing werewolves across London. But when she’s reassigned to a special case just days before Christmas, she learns that she’ll need more than a silver bullet to keep everyone on the nice list.

Peppermint and Pentacles is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale set in Melanie Karsak’s bestselling steampunk universe. This Christmas-themed tale can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed as book 3 in the Steampunk Red Riding Hood series. The story is also a part of Frostbitten Fairy Tales which is a great collection including several Melanie Karsak seasonal stories.

12 Dukes of Christmas by Erica Ridley

The 12 Dukes of Christmas is a series of heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke! I have read 3 of the books in the series and have a couple more on my Kindle to read at my first opportunity. Erica Ridley can always be counted on for a heartwarming story filled with charming characters, humor and romance.

The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley

Alternately titled The Viscount’s Tempting Minx. Another Christmas story from Erica Ridley that is just as charming as the 12 Dukes of Christmas.

Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn’t time for silly soirees. He doesn’t need time—he needs her!

When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family’s annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia’s guerrilla tactics, he’s up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s Christmas Shorts – by Jodi Taylor

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s is one of my all-time favorite series. In between the most of the annual additions to this series, the author has put out a short tale that typically takes place around Christmas. If you are a fan of this series, I’m sure you will love these shorter tales of the time travelling disaster magnet crew from St. Mary’s. What could possibly go wrong? If you have not read the series, one of these shorter (and less pricey) stories might be a great way to jump in. Hidden among these stories is the only St. Mary’s adventure that took place off-world.

This year the author is turning to her latest time travel series The Time Police to enhance with a Christmas story. Santa Grint will be released on Christmas day.