The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Title: The Ministry of Time

Author: Kaliane Bradley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2024

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; 52 Book Club - Buddy Read

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.

Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.

I grabbed this one from Book of the Month and immediately some of the Nerdy Bookish Friends decided to do a buddy read this past week. Perfect timing! I dove in with a summary that I had heard on a book podcast. And I must say that the the first half of the book did not align with the summary I had heard. (And honestly I was glad of that because I wasn’t a fan of the summary.) For most of the book I was very interested in this time travel mystery. Who exactly are some of the more shadowy characters? What is the ultimate goal of the program? We know that the narrator is not currently in touch with the expats, but what exactly happened there? I had so many questions and really enjoyed the slow pace of the mystery. Unfortunately, the last few chapters took down my rating. The reveals were fast and furious without a lot of explanation. Some of my biggest questions were never answered. It felt like the author was trying to confuse us instead of explaining. And I really disliked the very last two pages. Thankfully we had a great buddy read in the group.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Horror Hotel by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren

Title: Horror Hotel (Horror Hotel #1)

Author: Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren

Publisher: Underlined 2022

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

When the YouTube-famous Ghost Gang—Chrissy, Chase, Emma, and Kiki—visit a haunted LA hotel notorious for tragedy to secretly film after dark, they expect it to be just like their previous paranormal huntings. Spooky enough to attract subscribers—and ultimately harmless.

But when they stumble upon something unexpected in the former room of a gruesome serial killer, they quickly realize that they’re in over their heads.

Sometimes, it’s the dead who need our help—and the living we should fear.

I spied this on a library featured shelf and immediately snatched it. I was hoping of a creepy fun ghost adventure. And that’s exactly what I got! We dive right into the adventure with a group of ghost hunters with a YouTube channel. Of course I had to keep in mind that this is a young adult novel. There were a few times when I got very annoyed by the character’s reactions to things, but then remembered that they are teenagers. This was much like the R.L. Stine novels of my early teen years. The plot was fast moving. The creepy scenes wee sufficiently creepy. I finished this one in two days and enjoyed the time. I am definitely going to read the sequel.

Horror Hotel

#1 Horror Hotel
#2 Cursed Cruise

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke

Title: Bookshop Cinderella (Scandal at the Savoy #1)

Author: Laura Lee Guhrke

Publisher: Forever 2023

Genre: Romance

Pages: 323

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: She Reads Romance - Chosen by Its Cover; Fairytales - Cinderella

Spice Rating: 4.5

Evie Harlow runs a quaint little bookshop in London, which is the biggest adventure an unmarried woman with no prospects could hope for. Until Maximillian Shaw, Duke of Westbourne, saunters into her shop with a proposition: to win a bet with his friends, he’ll turn her into the diamond of the season. The duke might be devilishly attractive, but Evie has no intention of accepting his ludicrous offer. When disaster strikes her shop, however, she’s left with little choice but to let herself be whisked into his high-society world.

Always happy to help a lady in distress, Max thinks he’s saving Evie from her dull spinster’s life. He’ll help her find a husband and congratulate himself on a job well done. But as shy Evie becomes the shining star he always knew she could be, she somehow steals his heart. And when her reputation is threatened, can Max convince her to choose a glittering, aristocratic life with him over the cozy comfort of her bookshop?

I needed a Cinderella retelling and just loved this cover so much (Check out that dress) that I had to check it out. Thankfully this was a good historical romance for the week. Evie is a great foil for the Duke and his high and mightyness. There's a lot of fun back and forth in this story with some great banter. The actual romance bits came a bit too late for my tastes, but were decent. I just wish we would have gotten more of Evie and Max after they start a relationship.

Scandal at the Savoy

#1 Bookshop Cinderella
#2 Lady Scandal

Next up on the TBR pile:

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

Title: Diavola

Author: Jennifer Thorne

Publisher: Tor Nightfire 2024

Genre: Horror

Pages: 293

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; 52 Book Club - Year of the Dragon

Anna has two rules for the annual Pace family destination vacations: Tread lightly and survive.

It isn’t easy when she’s the only one in the family who doesn’t quite fit in. Her twin brother, Benny, goes with the flow so much he’s practically dissolved, and her older sister, Nicole, is so used to everyone—including her blandly docile husband and two kids—falling in line that Anna often ends up in trouble for simply asking a question. Mom seizes every opportunity to question her life choices, and Dad, when not reminding everyone who paid for this vacation, just wants some peace and quiet.

The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness, until things start going off the rails—the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and the dark, violent past of the villa itself.

A Nerdy Bookish Friend suggested this book as a good horror selection for me. And she was so right! This was exactly the type of horror book I wanted! We get the lush setting, the absolutely creepy atmosphere, actual ghosts, and a scrappy heroine. I loved the slow descent into madness and horror that the entire Pace family experiences at the hands of the La Dama Bianca. Every description of creepy feeling or sighting was perfectly horrifying. I absolutely adored the mystery surrounding the haunting. And we get to see a very dysfunctional family at play throughout. So many times I really wanted Anna to just turn her entire family (well maybe not the nieces) over to the malevolent spirits. I was with this book to the very end!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

Title: The Phoenix Crown

Author: Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

Publisher: William Morrow 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Decades - 1900s-1910s

San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage. Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.

His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . . until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice.

One of our choices for book club discussion at the retreat. Kate Quinn is always a crowd-pleaser and I was hoping this new one would fit the group. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Right away we meet three women attempting to navigate life in early 1900s San Francisco. I loved Alice and was intrigued by Suling. Gemma was my least favorite of the women. Despite being “worldly,” I felt that she was the most naive of the women. I wanted to spend more time with Alice and her studies. And I wanted to see the city through Suling’s eyes even more than we get. The big earthquake is coming (they of course do not know) and there is a sense of dread in every chapter. More so than Quinn’s other books, this one has a suspense feel to it. I wasn’t opposed, but it was a different tone. Chang’s voice comes mainly through Suling and her discussions of Chinese Americans and Chinatown. I would have love more information about the Phoenix Crown itself and more discussions about the theft of artifacts. Alas, those sections fall a little short. I throughly enjoyed my reading time, but this one doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Alice Network.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Casanova by TL Swan

Title: The Casanova (Miles High Club #3)

Author: TL Swan

Publisher: Montlake 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 500

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - A Smelly Book; Library Love

Spice Rating: 5

My favorite hobby is infuriating Elliot Miles. Just the sight of my boss’s handsome face triggers my sarcasm. God knows how he earns his Casanova reputation—if a million women want him with his personality, what the heck am I doing wrong?

Disgusted with my love life, I join a dating app under a fake name. I start chatting to a man named Edgar. He’s not my type and lives on the other side of the world, but we hit off a friendship, laugh and confide in each other.

But lately things are getting weird at work. Elliot’s being…attentive. His eyes linger a little longer than they should, and there’s a heat behind them that I haven’t felt before. And then, in the shock of all shocks, he tells me that my vulnerability is appealing. But when was I vulnerable?

Ugh! This book was so incredibly frustrating! I absolutely detested Elliot throughout most of this book. He runs so hot and cold every chapter and I just couldn’t root for him at all. The way he treated Kathryn made me ragey. The way that Kathryn could call out his bad behavior and then sweep it under the rug really made me mad. I really dislike agro heroes and miscommunication. I barely got through this book and definitely did not like it. I could never fall for someone like Elliot. Unfortunately he never redeemed himself and I never really enjoyed this book. I will probably finish off this series, but did not enjoy this one.

Miles High Club

#1 The Stopover
#2 The Takeover
#3 The Casanova
#4 The Do-Over
#5 Miles Ever After

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn

Title: A Long Time Coming (Cane Brothers #3)

Author: Meghan Quinn

Publisher: Meghan Quinn 2023

Genre: Romance

Pages: 448

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: She Reads Romance - Friends to Lovers; Library Love

Spice Meter: 5

Have you ever heard of a man-in-waiting?
Yeah, neither has my best friend's soon-to-be monster-in-law. Ooo, sorry, I meant mother-in-law. Nor has she heard of the term, what the bride wants, the bride gets.
With wedding planning underway and a short timeline, my best friend, Lia, has recruited me to help her battle the snarly beast that is Mrs. Beaver. Not scared at all, I accept the challenge as her man-in-waiting--aka, man of honor--and take matters into my own hands.
The only problem is, with every second we draw closer to the wedding, I'm starting to see my best girl in a different light.
She's always been beautiful to me, but now . . . I find myself staring a touch too long. My hand lingering for one more minute. And when she's upset? Allowing her to sleep in my bed.
And before I know what's happening, it hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm in love with my best friend. Not just in love, but infatuated.
No one compares to her and nothing seems to distract me from that realization.
Not the girl I try to date while I help plan Lia's wedding.
Not her angry fiancé who thinks I'm growing too close.
And not the looming deadline of her nuptials.
Which means, there's only one thing left for me to do. Prove to Lia I'm the one she should be with instead. But with the pressure of her engagement, the stress from her soon-to-be mother-in-law, and the breath-stealing nerves running through me, I'm finding it a lot harder to claim the girl than I would like to admit.
Say a little prayer for me . . .

Thankfully a strong showing for the ending of this contemporary series. Breaker is a terrible name for our MMC, but I did love him. His friendship with Lia was delightful. I completely bought the idea of their friendship. And I completely bought their progression to a romantic relationship. I usually don’t like Friends to Lovers as usually there’s a big unrequited love aspect to the story. This one avoids most of that and focuses on their growing attraction. There were a few sections that dealt with Brian and Lia where I just really wanted to see Lia punch him. Thankfully this is a good contemporary romance with a Happily Ever After, so no worries. Light, fluffy, and with some great steamy scenes. I enjoyed this one.

Cane Brothers

Next up on the TBR pile:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)

Author: Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little, Brown Books 2011

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 418

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Everyone But Me; Library Love

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Oof that was not a book for me. I was expecting a great fantasy adventure story with world building and great characters. To be fair, the story started out great. I loved the setting in Prague. We get some great atmosphere throughout the first section of the book. I loved following Karou around on her errands and dealing with her everyday life. I was very intrigued by the mystery of Karous’ family and what was through the other door. I wanted to explore the mystery of the conflict between the angels and the others. But the book took a turn about 50% of the way through and become a whiny young adult romance. From there, every chapter was a bunch of angsty romance. When the big twist was revealed (seriously who didn’t see that coming?), I completely threw the book down. I will not be continuing with this story at all.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

#1 Daughter of Smoke and Bone
#1.5 Night of Cake and Puppets
#2 Days of Blood and Starlight
#3 Dreams of Gods and Monsters

Next up on the TBR pile:

The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders

Title: The City in the Middle of the Night

Author: Charlie Jane Anders

Publisher: Tor Books 2019

Genre: Scifi

Pages: 366

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; In Case You Missed It - 2019

"If you control our sleep, then you can own our dreams... And from there, it's easy to control our entire lives."

January is a dying planet—divided between a permanently frozen darkness on one side, and blazing endless sunshine on the other. Humanity clings to life, spread across two archaic cities built in the sliver of habitable dusk.

But life inside the cities is just as dangerous as the uninhabitable wastelands outside.

Sophie, a student and reluctant revolutionary, is supposed to be dead after being exiled into the night. Saved only by forming an unusual bond with the enigmatic beasts who roam the ice, Sophie vows to stay hidden from the world, hoping she can heal.

But fate has other plans—and Sophie's ensuing odyssey and the ragtag family she finds will change the entire world.

This was my choice for our Nerdy Bookish Friends selection. It’s been sitting on my library floor for years now and I thought it would be a good choice for us to discuss. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t completely land for me. I had a big problem getting into this story. It just didn’t hold me very well. I found it difficult to connect to any of the characters. It felt very young adult to me throughout. And Bianca’s obsession with Sophy really annoyed me. At times the story was confusing and hard to follow. I wanted to know more about the crocodiles, but the story just meandered away at times. I’m interested in our discussion on Sunday. I’m hoping that some of my fellow book clubbers have some interesting topics to discuss.

Next up on the TBR pile:

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

Title: What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2)

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Tor Nightmare 2024

Genre: Horror

Pages: 151

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Duology

After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.

Another creepy novel featuring some great folklore and major atmosphere. Right away we jump into the creepy and silent Galicia. I loved getting to see Alex return to their homeland only to find life a bit more complicated once again. I could see exactly where this story was going and yet I still loved every page of it. This is short and compact, and yet I found myself lost in the story. Kingfisher allows write with such tension and suspense, I always love it.

Sworn Soldier

#1 What Moves the Dead
#2 What Feasts at Night

Next up on the TBR pile:

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Title: Funny Story

Author: Emily Henry

Publisher: Berkley 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Set in a city (state) starting with “M”; She Reads Romance - Fake Dating

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

The newest romance from Emily Henry has jumped to my second favorite Emily Henry book. It didn’t beat Book Lovers to the top spot, but I absolutely loved this one. Right away we get a fake dating trope and a sunshine and grumpy (sorta) trope. I fell for Miles almost immediately although I had no idea who he and Daphne were going to work as a couple. Thankfully this book includes so much more than just the romance element. Henry always allows us to dive into her characters and learn their backstories. We get to see how their pasts have shaped their present. We get to see growth and change on the page. All while infusing the characters with so much romantic longing. I will say it again: Emily Henry is forever on my auto-read list. She just writes smart, grown-up, contemporary romances.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

Title: A Letter to the Luminous Deep (The Sunken Archive #1)

Author: Sylvie Cathrall

Publisher: Orbit 2024

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 432

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: COYER; 52 Book Club - Title “L”

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.'s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.'s sister Sophy, and Henerey's brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery, piecing together the letters, sketches and field notes left behind—and learn what their siblings’ disappearance might mean for life as they know it.

I absolutely loved and disliked this book… let me explain. I absolutely adored the lush atmospheric tone to this book. We get a lot of mentions of the environment. Hearing E and Henerey discuss their environments was amazing. I loved the slow burn of the mystery. We know something happened and they didn’t just die, but exactly what happened? I loved unraveling the mystery along with Sophy and Vyerin. The epistolary structure was a delight. Overall I really really enjoyed this book. And then we get to the ending and I was highly annoyed. This book ends very abruptly with a big cliffhanger. I was not expecting that at all and it really threw me off. Now I have to wait who knows how long until the author completes the next in the series. I am sad about that aspect. Otherwise this is definitely my kind of book.

The Sunken Archive

#1 A Letter to the Luminous Deep
#2 TBD

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert

Title: The Kraken’s Sacrifice (A Deal with a Demon #2)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Trinkets & Tales 2022

Genre: Romance

Pages: 175

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Begins with a “K”; She Reads Romance - Audiobook

Spice Rating: 6

Catalina only made her deal with the demon because she had nowhere else to go. The world has kicked her every chance it got, so she’s all too happy to leave the realm she knows behind. What’s the worst that could happen?

She doesn’t anticipate being auctioned away to a kraken.

Thane is cold and distant…but he’s not unkind. Isolated as they are, Catalina finds herself seeking his company again and again. And when she finally agrees to uphold her portion of the bargain?

That’s when things get really interesting.

But she only gave the demon seven years, and when the time is up, she’ll have no choice but to leave behind the kraken who’s stolen her heart and return to the world that doesn’t want her.

While I absolutely adore the Dark Olympus series, I find that this series it just not my favorite at all. I was intrigued by the set up and loved meeting Azaziel in The Court of the Vampire Queen. I wanted to see how these broken women found their place and happiness. And while I love the women, I have yet to actually enjoy the male characters. Even with chapters from their points of view, we don’t really get a good connection to them. Thane spent the entire time whining about losing his husband years ago. Dude, please stop. I imagine that I will keep reading the series, but I doubt that it will be a favorite of mine.

A Deal with a Demon

#1 The Dragon’s Bride
#2 The Kraken’s Sacrifice
#3 The Gargoyle’s Captive
#4 The Succubus’s Prize
#5 The Demon’s Bargain

Next up on the TBR pile:

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: To Desire a Devil (Legend of the Four Soldiers #4)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Vision 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 385

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; 52 Book Club - Published by Hachette (Vision is an imprint)

Spice Rating: 5

NOTHING IS MORE INTOXICATING
Reynaud St. Aubyn has spent the last seven years in hellish captivity. Now half mad with fever he bursts into his ancestral home and demands his due. Can this wild-looking man truly be the last earl's heir, thought murdered by Indians years ago?

OR DANGEROUS
Beatrice Corning, the niece of the present earl, is a proper English miss. But she has a secret: No real man has ever excited her more than the handsome youth in the portrait in her uncle's home. Suddenly, that very man is here, in the flesh-and luring her into his bed.

THAN SURRENDERING TO A DEVIL.
Only Beatrice can see past Reynaud's savagery to the noble man inside. For his part, Reynaud is drawn to this lovely lady, even as he is suspicious of her loyalty to her uncle. But can Beatrice's love tame a man who will stop at nothing to regain his title-even if it means sacrificing her innocence?

Finally we reach the conclusion of the Legend of the Four Soldiers. We get to see the return of Reynaud and his fight to regain his title. I was hoping for a beautiful romance. It falls a little short of that. I could never truly buy the romance between Reynaud and Beatrice. I never really got to see a meeting of two people in a partnership. I did really love all the appearances of the other characters and the conclusion of the mystery of the traitor. I loved seeing Beatrice find a place with the other wives. And seeing the men rekindle their friendships. Overall a really enjoyable historical romance.

Legend of the Four Soldiers

Next up on the TBR pile:

Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

Title: Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

Author: Devon Price

Publisher: Harmony 2022

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Reader

For every visibly Autistic person you meet, there are countless “masked” Autistic people who pass as neurotypical. Masking is a common coping mechanism in which Autistic people hide their identifiably Autistic traits in order to fit in with societal norms, adopting a superficial personality at the expense of their mental health. This can include suppressing harmless stims, papering over communication challenges by presenting as unassuming and mild-mannered, and forcing themselves into situations that cause severe anxiety, all so they aren’t seen as needy or “odd.”

In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression.

It’s time to honor the needs, diversity, and unique strengths of Autistic people so that they no longer have to mask—and it’s time for greater public acceptance and accommodation of difference. In embracing neurodiversity, we can all reap the rewards of nonconformity and learn to live authentically, Autistic and neurotypical people alike.

A recommendation from a friend who has been finding this book life changing. I was most intrigued to see how this book could help me understand my autistic friends. Right away, I was pulled into the many insights and learned so much in just the first chapters. I feel like this is one of those books that I should reread in a year or so. I feel like I will find many more insights and new information as I reread. While this book was written for autistic people, it was very illuminating to me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: To Beguile a Beast (Legend of the Four Soldiers #3)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Forever 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages:333

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project

Spice Rating: 5

CAN A WOUNDED BEAST . . .

Reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies, scarred inside and out. But when a mysterious beauty arrives at his door, the passions he's kept suppressed for years begin to awaken.

TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST . . .

Running from past mistakes has taken legendary beauty Helen Fitzwilliam from the luxury of the ton to a crumbling Scottish castle . . . and a job as a housekeeper. Yet Helen is determined to start a new life and she won't let dust-or a beast of a man-scare her away.

TO TAME HIS MOST SECRET DESIRES?

Beneath Helen's beautiful favßade, Alistair finds a courageous and sensual woman. A woman who doesn't back away from his surliness-or his scars. But just as he begins to believe in true love, Helen's secret past threatens to tear them apart. Now both Beast and Beauty must fight for the one thing neither believed they could ever find-a happy ever after.

Ever since the start of this series, I had wanted a book focused on Alistair. Thankfully this volume focused on his romance. I do love a dark and broody hero in my romances, and Alistair was just the ticket. We get to see a women out of options fall into a precarious position and find her strength. We get to see a man scarred (not just physically), and yet find his happiness. Hoyt really loves winding together a larger mystery with a swoon romance. I really do enjoy her series.

Legend of the Four Soldiers

#1 To Taste Temptation
#2 To Seduce a Sinner
#3 To Beguile a Beast
#4 To Desire a Devil

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman

Title: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #6)

Author: Matt Dinniman

Publisher: Dandy House 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 694

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

A pantheon of forgotten gods. An old grudge between a talk show host, an heiress, and the man they shattered along the way. A rapidly deteriorating AI system. An inconvenient tiara upon the head of a friend.

It is bedlam on the eighth floor.

As management reels from the unexpected conclusion of the seventh level, the surviving crawlers stumble onto the eighth and find themselves scattered. It’s a map based on Earth’s final days before the collapse, where ethereal, intangible ghosts of humanity go about their lives, oblivious of the impending doom. Living amongst these ghosts are monsters based in Earth lore. “Legendary” creatures tied to the geographical location they inhabit.

Each team of crawlers is given a task: find and capture six of these beasts. The captured monsters will be turned into cards. Cards that can be summoned into battle again and again. The stronger, the deadlier, the better.

At the end of the floor, the bad guys will also have decks, and they will have some of the most powerful cards available. So it’s crucial to assemble the toughest squad possible.

But, like always, there is a catch. There’s always a catch.

As Carl and Donut know all too well, just because someone is captured, it doesn’t mean they have been tamed.

Her name is Shi Maria. She’s easily the most powerful monster in their area. If they want to survive, they must capture her. But she is no ordinary beast. She’s intelligent. She was once married to a god, a god who is now missing. Her special attack is known to drive one insane. They call her the Bedlam Bride.

“Beware, beware. Beware the Eye of the Bedlam Bride”

Holy cow! I knew this one was going to knock me back and it certainly did. We see Carl, Donut, and all our favorite crawlers navigate the very puzzle laden 8th floor. After the events at the end of the last floor, I was hoping for a bit of a quiet moment. No such luck. We jump into this floor and don’t stop until the end. My favorite part is always the crazy plans that Carl comes up with. This book highlighted some of his crazier plans. Loved it so much! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Next up on the TBR pile:

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: To Seduce a Sinner (Legend of the Four Soldiers #2)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Forever 2008

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 359

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project

Spice Rating: 5

THE ONE THING HE CANNOT REVEAL

For years, Melisande Fleming has loved Lord Vale from afar . . . watching him seduce a succession of lovers, and once catching a glimpse of heartbreaking depths beneath his roguish veneer. When he's jilted on his wedding day, she boldly offers to be his.

TO THE ONE WOMAN HE MOST DESIRES

Vale gladly weds Melisande, if only to produce an heir. But he's pleasantly surprised: A shy and proper Lady by day, she's a wanton at night, giving him her body-though not her heart.

IS HIS DEEPEST NEED . . .

Determined to learn her secrets, this sinner starts to woo his seductive new wife-while hiding the nightmares from his soldiering days in the Colonies that still haunt him. Yet when a deadly betrayal from the past threatens to tear them apart, Lord Vale must bare his soul to the woman he married . . . or risk losing her forever.

I actually enjoyed this volume much more than the first one in the series. I think I really latched onto Melisandre and her entire plan for life. While being hesitant in many areas of her life, she makes a plan and started to initiate it. We see her pursue her dreams and her husband in equal fashion. I loved seeing a much more confident heroine to balance out our rake hero. While I wasn’t very excited about Jasper in the first book, he really shines here. While not every action is laudable, by the end of the book we really understand him and his actions. There’s a great romance at the heart of this book. But we also get more pieces to the mystery of what happened at Spinner’s Falls. I’m still very into this series and wanting to learn more. I’m extra excited to read Helen and Allistair’s story in the next book.

Legend of the Four Soldiers

#1 To Taste Temptation
#2 To Seduce a Sinner
#3 To Beguile a Beast
#4 To Desire a Devil

Next up on the TBR pile:

Witnerset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham

Title: Winterset Hollow

Author: Jonathan Edward Durham

Publisher: Credo House 2021

Genre: Horror

Pages: 274

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: In Case You Missed It - 2021; Library Love

Everyone has wanted their favorite book to be real, if only for a moment. Everyone has wished to meet their favorite characters, if only for a day. But be careful in that wish, for even a history laid in ink can be repaid in flesh and blood, and reality is far deadlier than fiction . . . especially on Addington Isle.

Winterset Hollow follows a group of friends to the place that inspired their favorite book—a timeless tale about a tribe of animals preparing for their yearly end-of-summer festival. But after a series of shocking discoveries, they find that much of what the world believes to be fiction is actually fact, and that the truth behind their beloved story is darker and more dangerous than they ever imagined. It’s Barley Day . . . and you’re invited to the hunt.

Winterset Hollow is as thrilling as it is terrifying and as smart as it is surprising. A uniquely original story filled with properly unexpected twists and turns, Winterset Hollow delivers complex, indelible characters and pulse- pounding action as it storms toward an unforgettable climax that will leave you reeling. How do you celebrate Barley Day? You run, friend. You run.

Someone (I truly cannot remember who now) said that this was one of the scariest books that they have ever read. Of course, I had to pick this one up and read it immediately. While the book doesn’t live up to the hype, I still enjoyed this horror novel. I got a lot of reminders of The Magicians and Narnia with a splash of The Wind in the Willows and Watership Down. Once the second part started, I knew exactly what was going to happen in the storyline, but I was still interested in reading the rest of the novel. We follow our main trio as they explore a childhood inspiration from a favorite book. Of course, things are not all that they seem. We know that things are much more dire and dangerous than should be. Once the story truly gets going, it doesn’t let up until the end. Fascinating look at the nature of humanity and conquest. A solid horror book to pick up.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Takeover by TL Swan

Title: The Takeover (Miles High Club #2)

Author: TL Swan

Publisher: Montlake 2020

Genre: Romance

Pages: 450

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: She Reads Romance - Cute Nicknames; Lifetime - Characters in Their 30s

Spice Rating: 5

I first met Tristan Miles at a meeting where he was trying to take over my late husband’s company. He was powerful, arrogant, and infuriatingly gorgeous, and I hated him with every cell in my body. In the shock of the century, he called me three days later and asked me on a date. I would rather die than date a man like him—though I do have to admit it was good for the ego. Turning him down was the highlight of my year. Six months later, he was the guest speaker at a conference I attended in France. Still arrogant and infuriating—but this time, surprisingly charming and witty. When he looked at me, I got butterflies. But I can’t go there. He’s just a player in a hot suit, and I’m just a widow with three unruly sons. I just need this conference to be over. Because everybody knows that Tristan Miles always gets what he wants…and what he wants is me.

Somehow I keep falling back into the contemporary romance genre as my comfort reads. I get pulled into the drama and the intrigue but end up being able to just put it to the side when I’m done. For this one, I wasn’t a fan of the first book in the series, but this one was much better. I really really loved Tristan. He’s so incredibly great. And while I know that Claire had her issues, I couldn’t understand most of her life. I did want her to gain a bit more confidence when it came to tackling her children. Thankfully Tristan was the perfect compliment to her brand of chaos. I think that I’m back into this series.

Miles High Club

#1 The Stopover
#2 The Takeover
#3 The Casanova
#4 The Do-Over
#5 Miles Ever After

Next up on the TBR pile: