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Good morning 2017, and here I am, all ready to hit post on my book list from last month. It's almost like I'm turning over a new leaf ;)
Books I read for the first time in December
Bad Behavior by KA Mitchell
This book comes with the following ~warning from the author: Warning: This book is kinky. I mean kinky. With lots of sex. It describes a fully consensual, intense D/s relationship which changes a character's life. It includes impact play and bondage along the way to a very happily ever after. every delicious word is true. This was my favorite one of the Bad in Baltimore series, but because of my kinks, not because it was the best written or anything. They all have a different vibe, which is nice, actually.
The Farther he Runs by Lynda Aicher
This series is less of a different vibe one, but it's all good, because I like the vibe of butch kinky dudes falling in love. I love this series—the books are well structured and written, and I enjoy the characters. This has lots of feelings and h/c and friends to lovers and is happily tropey.
Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey
This is the author's first m/m book, and I was not at all surprised to discover this when reading the author's words at the end. It was fine, but had no sense of queerness to it. It felt very heteronormative.
Better than Good by Lane Hayes
This also suffers an essential lack of queerness. The characters are all obsessed with gender roles but don't seem to know it. It's like that's just how the world IS. Kudos for the character who starts out thinking he's straight not going full-on GFY, and instead actually considering his sexuality, but largely I'm meh. He also cheats on his gf for a bit, which I don't really think was necessary.
To Love a Traitor by JL Merrow
I very much liked this one. I'm a fan of the author in any case, but had only read contemporary ones. This isn't a period I've read a lot of, possibly only Think of England, actually, so I can't speak to strict period accuracy, but I noticed no glaring issues on that front, and the characters are a delight. There is, perhaps, not quite as much gay angst as there might be, period-wise, but honestly, that is okay with me. Plus, as with most of Merrow's books, there is a wonderful supporting female bff character, and other women with individual personalities.
A&B by JC Lillis
This is actually the second book in the series, but I didn't know that, and I read it first. I'm glad I did, because the background characters in this are the mains from the first book, and it's set ten years later, and those ten years would have distressed me if I'd already been as invested in them as book one made me. I loved this. Girls! Falling in love! Lusting after each other! Having sex! Not on screen because it's a YA book, but it's very clear that they aren't just gals being pals. These books are hilarious, fandom-aware, sexy, clever, and fun. I'll definitely be re-reading.
How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by JC Lillis
The one I should have read first. Omg OMG. I literally had to stop reading a couple times to flail and squee into my fists. If RPS squicks you, this is not the book for you (and you can definitely read A&B without it if you need to), but if you have ever been in an rps fandom, or a tv fandom and rps is okay with you, this is AMAZING. A road trip from fan convention to fan convention with boys falling in love, a delightful female best friend, and I laughed so much. All the things I love about fandom.
Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle
I got this out of the library, and didn't notice until it came off holds that I'd got the audio book rather than the e-book. I'M SO GLAD I DID. It's read by the author, who is perfection, and I laughed so much. Nate, the narrator, is HILARIOUS, and the plot is one that goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, but has an undercurrent of seriousness that gives you lots of feels. I'm sure the text book is also great, but I definitely feel like I got a good deal getting the audiobook.
All in Fear by Steve Berman, KJ Charles, Roan Parrish, Kris Ripper, Avon Gale, and JA Rock
I have to admit, I didn't read the Steve Berman story, because I'm a fan of the other authors, and there is only so much horror I can stomach at a time. I used to be all about Stephen King but in my old age, I'm more of a fraidy cat. And these stories are VERY CREEPY. And in some cases murdery. Appropriate for a Halloween anthology, and well done. Very genre, and also queer, and I'm here to support that.
I also listened to A Fashionable Indulgence again, and it was again delightful :D
In the end, I read 231 new books this year (271 including re-reads). My goal for 2017 is to read fewer than 200. I know it's weird to lower your reading goal, but since I ~credit a lot of this year's reading to depression and crippling social anxiety, I'd like to make some changes in that direction. I'd also like to do some more writing. I'm starting 2017 in a new home in a new state with a new career plan, and I have lots of dreams.
Books I read for the first time in December
Bad Behavior by KA Mitchell
This book comes with the following ~warning from the author: Warning: This book is kinky. I mean kinky. With lots of sex. It describes a fully consensual, intense D/s relationship which changes a character's life. It includes impact play and bondage along the way to a very happily ever after. every delicious word is true. This was my favorite one of the Bad in Baltimore series, but because of my kinks, not because it was the best written or anything. They all have a different vibe, which is nice, actually.
The Farther he Runs by Lynda Aicher
This series is less of a different vibe one, but it's all good, because I like the vibe of butch kinky dudes falling in love. I love this series—the books are well structured and written, and I enjoy the characters. This has lots of feelings and h/c and friends to lovers and is happily tropey.
Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey
This is the author's first m/m book, and I was not at all surprised to discover this when reading the author's words at the end. It was fine, but had no sense of queerness to it. It felt very heteronormative.
Better than Good by Lane Hayes
This also suffers an essential lack of queerness. The characters are all obsessed with gender roles but don't seem to know it. It's like that's just how the world IS. Kudos for the character who starts out thinking he's straight not going full-on GFY, and instead actually considering his sexuality, but largely I'm meh. He also cheats on his gf for a bit, which I don't really think was necessary.
To Love a Traitor by JL Merrow
I very much liked this one. I'm a fan of the author in any case, but had only read contemporary ones. This isn't a period I've read a lot of, possibly only Think of England, actually, so I can't speak to strict period accuracy, but I noticed no glaring issues on that front, and the characters are a delight. There is, perhaps, not quite as much gay angst as there might be, period-wise, but honestly, that is okay with me. Plus, as with most of Merrow's books, there is a wonderful supporting female bff character, and other women with individual personalities.
A&B by JC Lillis
This is actually the second book in the series, but I didn't know that, and I read it first. I'm glad I did, because the background characters in this are the mains from the first book, and it's set ten years later, and those ten years would have distressed me if I'd already been as invested in them as book one made me. I loved this. Girls! Falling in love! Lusting after each other! Having sex! Not on screen because it's a YA book, but it's very clear that they aren't just gals being pals. These books are hilarious, fandom-aware, sexy, clever, and fun. I'll definitely be re-reading.
How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by JC Lillis
The one I should have read first. Omg OMG. I literally had to stop reading a couple times to flail and squee into my fists. If RPS squicks you, this is not the book for you (and you can definitely read A&B without it if you need to), but if you have ever been in an rps fandom, or a tv fandom and rps is okay with you, this is AMAZING. A road trip from fan convention to fan convention with boys falling in love, a delightful female best friend, and I laughed so much. All the things I love about fandom.
Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle
I got this out of the library, and didn't notice until it came off holds that I'd got the audio book rather than the e-book. I'M SO GLAD I DID. It's read by the author, who is perfection, and I laughed so much. Nate, the narrator, is HILARIOUS, and the plot is one that goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, but has an undercurrent of seriousness that gives you lots of feels. I'm sure the text book is also great, but I definitely feel like I got a good deal getting the audiobook.
All in Fear by Steve Berman, KJ Charles, Roan Parrish, Kris Ripper, Avon Gale, and JA Rock
I have to admit, I didn't read the Steve Berman story, because I'm a fan of the other authors, and there is only so much horror I can stomach at a time. I used to be all about Stephen King but in my old age, I'm more of a fraidy cat. And these stories are VERY CREEPY. And in some cases murdery. Appropriate for a Halloween anthology, and well done. Very genre, and also queer, and I'm here to support that.
I also listened to A Fashionable Indulgence again, and it was again delightful :D
In the end, I read 231 new books this year (271 including re-reads). My goal for 2017 is to read fewer than 200. I know it's weird to lower your reading goal, but since I ~credit a lot of this year's reading to depression and crippling social anxiety, I'd like to make some changes in that direction. I'd also like to do some more writing. I'm starting 2017 in a new home in a new state with a new career plan, and I have lots of dreams.
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