This week was off since I went into the office twice this week. That involves logistics with the kids and a ferry or bus ride into SF so my brain is all off.

I also went to Discoveree to learn more about camping out with my daughter who is a new girl scout. She’s new going in as a junior and I wasn’t one so a lot to learn. Though I tend to have my girls do most things by themselves after I’ve shown them at least once. Then I supervise while they do. I want them to be comfortable and independent. Also problem solving is a big one I try to work on when what they planned or designed isn’t working out. We adjust and see how we can move on. Which all seems to be the progression they use in girl scouts so they would be used to that. I hope we all do that.

My listening of books was good but I felt like the week went by so quick! I had wanted to listen to more but I didn’t have as much alone time. Also think I had too much people time and need to hibernate.

What was your favorite read this week?

Summary of read:

• 1. A Vision in Crimson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
• 2. Most Ardently ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
• 3. Scandalous Ladies – The Countess ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
• 4. Lily of Ludgate Hill – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
• 5. Immortal Longings ⭐⭐⭐.75
• 6. Hollow – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• 7. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

A Vision in Crimson
Frosbite, Book 1
by Kathryn Troy
Pub -1/23/24

A Vision in Crimson

Click the link to buy the book from the Ripped Bodice!
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A hunter without a purpose. A witch out of control.

Together, they will Burn.
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OMG this was soo up my alley!
I just flew through this book!
The banter, dialogue, world building, found family, the romance, the story line..
It had such great pacing and flowed smoothly.
Loved Kate’s magic and the abilities she has and just her in general. She’s pretty badass.
Also, Luca has had a pretty painful life and her acceptance of him is so healing. Though I am so interested to see where his storyline is going to go after that ending.
Btw they def burn together!
Also, that epilogue! 🔥

Also it has some of my favorite tropes! ✨Kick-ass, Witchy FMC
✨Rival Lovers
✨Touch Her and Die
✨Dual POV
This is half the list but I love these and dual pov always makes a huge difference when there’s romance or devious plots involved.

Thank you City Owl Press

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix
by Gabe Cole Novoa
Pub – 1/16/24

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix (Remixed Classics #9)

Click the link to buy the book from the Ripped Bodice!
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In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This bittersweet Pride & Prejudice remix follows a trans boy yearning for the freedom to live openly, centering queerness in a well-known story of longing and subverting society’s patriarchal and cisheteronormative expectations.
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Loved how this followed the story of PP but Lizzy was a trans boy trying to be himself in a world of corsets and ball gowns. Loved his meetings with Darcy. Darcy who wasn’t interested in girls. Loved this take on it. And as usual Collins and Wickhamn were the villains.
Another delightful queer retelling remix.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫


The Scandalous Ladies of London
The Countess
by Sophie Jordan

The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess

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New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan kicks off her amazing new high concept series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, which chronicles the lives of a group of affluent ladies reigning over glittering, Regency-era London, vying for position in the hierarchy of the ton. They are the young wives, widows, and daughters of London’s wealthiest families. The drama is big, the money runs deep, and the shade is real. Life is different in the ton.
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Once I realized this was a reverse age gap historical romance with a dilf. I had to pick it up. I mean she’s 37 and he’s 33 but her husband wanted him for their 18 year old daughter so big age gap for that time.
The husband was awful and philandering but she kisses one guy and she’s a wh0re.. riiigghhht? Property is all we are, to use.
Though Jasper the suitor is actually a gentleman and he’s a very good talker.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25



The Lily of Ludgate Hill
by Mimi Matthews
Pub – 1/16/24

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London #3)

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Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?

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Loved this addition to the series!
Anne and Hart were in love and going through so much and they lost that love with hurtful words.
Love how now he writes columns and sends her messages through his articles. Only she knows what it means.
Loved Hart who seemed like a careless rake, was taking care of so much and was quite successful in a business venture that was not acceptable in his set.
Anne has been grieving her father and reluctant to leave her mother. But with Hart helping her she’s reminded of what they had. And they never stopped loving each other. Love when they wait forever and no one can replace them feel you stories.
Can’t wait for Stella’s book that snippet

Thank you @berkleyromance for the #gifted copy.

Immortal Longings
By Chloe Gong

Immortal Longings (Flesh & False Gods #1)

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“The others thought you believed in rural superstitions, but I knew you were just strange.”
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Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, is a “smart, imaginative, and brutal” (Wesley Chu, New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga) collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.
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This was Antony and Cleopatra retelling but a little volunteer Hunger Games meets (I just looked for ten minutes and can’t find the equivalent for the sci Fi part oops).
This book was so fast paced and kill or be killed. But there were so many political moves and people playing the game that maybe shouldn’t have been. I got a little confused cause of the magic system and it’s capabilities and who could use it but that was probably just me. That ending I wasn’t expecting and I don’t know what’s going to happen next. It wasn’t as much a cliffhanger as I felt like a door was shut in my face and I want to find out what’s next.

This was my first #botm read this year!

🎃
Hollow: A Trick And A Treat For All Hallow’s Eve Sleepy Hollow Duology
By CM Nascosta

Available on Kindle Unlimited!
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This is an MMM pairing, a modern-set Sleepy Hollow, locker room erotica featuring the hapless schoolmaster and two brawny polo horsemen. Light degradation/humiliation, voyeurism, he’s just dying to be a free-use ragdoll, and lots of headless head.
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Katrina Van Tassel & the Headless Horseman is a canon-adjacent historical retelling, putting Katrina as the main character, caught between the town hero and a headless ghost. M/F pairing, light gore, undead pining, graveyard lovin’, Machiavellian scheming, and ALL the autumn vibes.
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Two short stories and definitely worth the read! Always loved the headless horseman story but I didn’t like the gore. This was more my speed lol. But it’s not for the faint of heart! The above is the zon description. 🔥🔥🔥
I added this to my list when I saw the fan art on her page from the mmm story, wow.
This is on KU!
🪻
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Book 2 of the Emily Wilde Series
by Heather Fawcett
Pub – 1/16/24

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

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When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
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This is the second book and I still heart Wendell. Not entirely sure what he is going out of book 1 and into book 2 but he’s definitely a character. Love the whimsy, the adventure and the post scripts that I’m not sure if they are made up or real, love scholarly types esp when they fight between each other very sassy and gloves off.
This one had some mystery to it and lots of bizarre happenings.
Enjoyed the ride!