The Boxing Baroness

     

The Boxing Baroness
By  Minerva Spencer

ISBN: 9781496738097
384 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audio CD, Audible Audiobook, and on Kindle
Trigger Warning: Semi-Graphic Death, One brief attempted Suicide mention

Synopsis:

Of questionable birth, but made for greatness, the Regency-era heroines in Minerva Spencer’s thrilling new historical romance series possess both clever minds and unusual skills that enable them to go head-to-head—and heart to heart—with the best of men, including those of the ton . . .

Magnetic and educated, Marianne Simpson has the manner of a lady and the looks of a lover, not a fighter. Neither of which explains her occupation as a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre. Nonetheless, when St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton, begins turning up at her shows, she finds herself dangerously distracted by the powerful peer’s mysterious presence. With her safety at stake, Marianne’s days in the ring are numbered. But how long can she fight her attraction to the man the ton calls Lord Flawless?

St. John Powell doesn’t just want Marianne Simpson, he needs her … to rescue his brother, who is being held for ransom by a treasonous English baron—the man all of Britain knows as the Rake of Rakes. No matter how little Marianne wants to see her duplicitous ex-lover, the man responsible for the humiliating nickname the Boxing Baroness, St. John must convince her. Even if it means climbing into the ring with the beautiful boxer and taking everything she’s got . . .

My Thoughts:

The Boxing Baroness is mainly the story about a young woman, Marianne Simpson, who lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her uncle at his circus. As she neared adulthood, she was trained as a boxer and became one of the circus' acts. She is known by the moniker the "Boxing Baroness" due to an ugly incident in the past that severely tarnished her reputation, where she had been tricked into marrying her lover Baron Strickland, believing the marriage to be legitimate until it was discovered that he had already secretly married another a year before her nuptials. She returned to the circus and went on with her life. Then one day after her fight, she was introduced to the Duke of Staunton, who had recently been coming to see her act. The duke sought her out because he had received a letter from Baron Strickland, who had been reported deceased in a fire a year prior. The letter offered information on his own missing brother, who had been assumed killed during a military operation. The apparently undead (but not in the supernatural way) baron demanded that Staunton bring Marianne to him in France if the duke wanted to save his brother. After much coercion and a bit of manipulation, Staunton convinces Marianne to accompany him to France to meet with the baron.

What follows is a story of romance, mystery, and suspense - with several parts well etched into history. Shortly after the protagonists arrive on the continent, Napoleon escapes his exile from Elba and marches on Paris. So mixed in with the unfolding series of storylines about the resurrected baron, Marianne's complex background, and her growing relationship with the Duke of Staunton, is a peek at what life was like for the French during that chaotic 100 days of war. This was very interesting to me, as a former study of both French and History. I don't often see historical fiction books set in this time period, and never have I read one that delved so much into Napoleon's legacy and his relationships.

The Boxing Baroness has plenty of twists and turns and isn't too predictable to be engaging, unlike many "mystery" books that I read. Yes, I was able to figure out some of the big reveals long before they happened, but other parts did surprise me a bit. Within the narration the author's scenic descriptions paint a detailed picture of several different settings, such as the circus, a dreary castle, and many different views of the French country. At its core, this book is a romance novel, and there are many "steamy" bits that are definitely NSFW,  but there is so much else going on in the pages that it doesn't feel cliché.

Marianne and Staunton are both well crafted characters, with interesting backgrounds and moments of growth. In addition to the lead roles, The Boxing Baroness features a colorful selection of side characters that are equally appealing. The friends present on their trek to the continent are funny and likable. I particularly liked Cecile, who it turns out is the protagonist in The Dueling Duchess, the second book in this series - so brb while I add that to my reading list. Even the "villain-type" characters are depicted well, in such a way to have reasonable motivations yet still be appropriately bad. According to the author, some of the characters are based on actual historical figures - though other than for Napoleon and the other members of the royalty mentioned, I would call the connections tenuous at best. For example, there was a woman known as the "Boxing Baroness" around this time period, however her actual name was different, she had no known connection to anything having to do with either boxing or a barony (though she was mistress of an Earl for a bit), and her story ended quite differently.

I opted to read The Boxing Baroness in both a physical (e-book) and audiobook formats. Which meant reading the e-book quietly at night, listening to the audio while driving in the car, and at some points following along in the book WHILE listening to the audio. I have read a lot more books via audio recently and I have to say this - the audio narration done by Clare Staniforth is superb. Her voice is clear, the accents used are well placed, and the pacing is perfect. For many audiobooks, I have to speed up the timing a little to make them easier to listen to, but that was not needed with this one.

In conclusion, if you like reading steamy romance with a good mystery included, I would absolutely recommend The Boxing Baroness. If I'm being honest, I can't remember what put this book on my radar. I think it might have been one of the suggestions on the NYPL summer reading list, or a "related title" suggestion on another book I read. But, whatever it was, I am glad that it was suggested to me, because this was a very enjoyable read.

Parent's Guide:

This is not a book for kids. There is quite a bit of violence and sexual content.

Fly with Me

 

Fly with Me
By  Andie Burke

ISBN: 9781250886378
384 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle
Trigger Warning: On Page Death of a Loved One, Lots of 0Sexism

Synopsis:

A one-way ticket to love or a bumpy ride ahead?

Flying-phobic ER nurse Olive Murphy is still gripping the armrest from her first-ever take-off when the pilot announces an in-flight medical emergency. Olive leaps into action and saves a life, but ends up getting stuck in the airport hours away from the marathon she's running in honor of her brother. Luckily for her, Stella Soriano, the stunning type A copilot, offers to give her a ride.

After the two spend a magical day together, Stella makes a surprising request: Will Olive be her fake girlfriend?

A video of Olive saving a life has gone viral and started generating big sales for Stella's airline. Stella sees their union as the perfect opportunity to get to the boys' club executives at her company who keep overlooking her for a long-deserved promotion. Realizing this arrangement could help her too, Olive dives into memorizing Stella’s comically comprehensive three-ring-binder guide to fake dating. As the two grow closer, what’s supposed to be a ruse feels more and more real. Could this be the romantic ride of their lives, or an epic crash and burn?

My Thoughts:

Fly With Me has been on my to-read list for quite a while. I actually qualified for an ARC from NetGalley before the book was published, but I had a lot going on at the time and never got a chance to download it before it was archived in their system, making it unavailable. So I had to wait for it to be published and become available at my local library, and then sit through months of library (well, Libby really) waitlist. But I feel like it was worth the wait and I am glad that I did not give up on it.

The main character in Fly with Me is Olive, a nurse who is dealing with some serious family drama. Her brother is hospitalized in a coma after an accident and she has found herself at odds with the rest of her family about how his care is being handled. The story opens with her traveling on a plane - which she is absolutely terrified of - to attend a marathon and fulfill a promise she made with her brother before his accident. Mid-flight, another passenger suffers a medical crisis, and Olive uses her nurse training to save the man. Unfortunately, the emergency causes the flight to be diverted, and the inability to secure another flight puts her at risk of missing out on the marathon. Stella, the copilot of the redirected flight, steps in to save the day by offering to drive Olive the rest of the way to the marathon. Olive is initially hesitant, but acquiesces when she realizes that she really has no other options.

The pair hit it off and become friendly, and then return to their normal lives. Soon after, Stella reaches out to Olive with an insane proposal - to be her fake girlfriend. There had been a giant amount of media coverage over the nurse's heroic rescue on the flight, and the airline was getting a lot of media. Stella, who had been repeatedly skipped over for pilot promotions due to the industry sexism, believed that aligning herself with the moment of celebrity could play out in her benefit. Olive considers and decides that the fake relationship could benefit her as well and accepts. This is the plotline that drew me in and made me want to read the book. Fake Dating, or "fauxmance" if you will, is my absolute favorite romance trope. 

Both Olive and Stella are decently likeable characters, though I could definitely relate to Olive more. Most of the narration is from her point of view, and Stella feels a little more distant and detached at times. They both have some variant of trauma; Stella from dealing with rampant career sexism, and Olive from family drama and a loads of anxiety and self-deprecation. Olive's mental hang-ups unquestionably cause their relationship to be slower to develop, but this helps it to evolve naturally in a way that it is believable.

The secondary characters are a mixed bag. Olive's co-workers are super and help her evolve as a person. Derek is a champ. The depiction of Stella's dad is such a refreshing take on a parental role in a contemporary novel like this one, and is a bittersweet yet realistic disability representation. Those characters are all a hit. And then there are the misses. Olive's family are pretty awful. Stella's coworker is a PoS and her boss, while he has a few "maybe he is redeemable" moments, is ultimately garbage. But the worst offender has to be Olive's ex Lindsay. Not just in the "she's supposed to be the villain" way, but the character was just so extra, to an unnecessary degree. And to believe that she could do all the insane stuff that she did and face absolutely no repercussions or comeuppance? It's infuriating.

While the main focus of Fly with Me is clearly to tell a romance story, the book does not forget the non-romance side plots, and even completely throws away the romance for a brief point. There is a lot of additional drama, both family and job related. I would like to say that these side plots are adequately wrapped up at the end of the story, but honestly, some of the outcomes felt underwhelming or less than satisfactory. I don't think this diminished the story overall, but I had a higher expectation at that point.

Overall, I think that Fly with Me was a pleasant read and a nice offering for sapphic romance fans. There are maybe some points that were a little more... meh? But for an introductory book, this was a great showing.

Parent's Guide:

While there isn't anything too graphic in this book, it is a lot of adult situations and sexual banter. There are also some traumatic family situations that would probably be uncomfortable to a younger audience. I would consider this one solidly 16+ at best.

Tangle of Time

  

Tangle of Time
By  Gin Westcott

ISBN: 9781952435003
447 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle
Trigger Warning: Gore, Death, SA

Synopsis:

When four college kids are buried alive and there’s only one way out, don’t ask questions. Just survive.

After barely escaping a torturous series of undiscovered tunnels far beneath the Sierra foothills, Mae and her friends emerge, dehydrated and nearly dead from starvation. But everything Mae knows and loves is now gone. Through some bizarre tangle in time, they’ve been reeled back into the past. To a time that, according to Mae—“is constipated with antiquated gender inequality.” With danger lurking behind every tree and no easy way home, they must begin adapting to their new surroundings before it’s too late. So, when struck with an unexpected opportunity, Mae is faced with the difficult choice of returning to her own time or living out the greatest adventure of her life and carving her own path in history. Gin Westcott’s debut novel is BOOK ONE in the unique Tangle of Time series that will take you through an exciting, historical, and romantic adventure that you won’t be able to put down.

My Thoughts:

When I read the synopsis for Tangle of Time, I was intrigued. I typically enjoy time travel and "character out of time" style books, so the premise sounded interesting enough for me to give it a shot. Unfortunately, the reality was not what one would hope. The story is a tangle alright - it felt like the author wasn't quite sure what genre or audience they were writing for. The book is a jumble of trashy romance novel with slice of life elements and action adventure that do not flow together to make one cohesive story, making it feel fractured, and this book clocks in at a completely unnecessary 100 chapters. What do I mean by unnecessary? Let me break it down. 

The first four chapters are all, I suppose, character establishing backstory. Except none of what is revealed in them really plays much into the story later. It focuses too much on each of the four lead characters' parents/families that we will never hear about ever again, making the point to make each one of them unnecessarily quirky in some way. Apparently in their world there is no such thing as a normal family. It also establishes the not very likable leads themselves, using a plethora of clichés and what could be seen as blatant cultural stereotypes. These first chapters are also rife with out of place sexual commentary, with the men constantly objectifying women (and sometimes judging other men), a romance obsessed mother lying on dating profiles to snag a man, and multiple sexual conversations and acts between two of the leads. The next three chapters are somewhat setting up the story that is to come, by sending them to the job that is the catalyst for the time travel. This is the core "trashy romance novel with slice of life elements" part of the book.

Finally, on chapter eight, the story shifts towards the action adventure part and it reads like a completely different book. This is where you learn about the circumstance which leads into the story the synopsis is actually selling you. Almost. They still haven't experienced the time travel by the end of the chapter. In fact, the next twelve chapters are just about them traveling through the tunnels mentioned in the synopsis. What took two lines for the preview to explain took TWENTY chapters to reach in the book itself. 

Once out of the caverns, injured and greatly malnourished, the leads finally encounter other people who hopefully can help them. When they should be grateful, what they choose instead is to be arrogant, demanding, and to mock the people they encounter, further diminishing any little likability they may have had. No real person is going to go two weeks without actual food then get a bowl of stew set in front of them and go "no thanks, I'm vegetarian." I mean, really? But that's how holier-than-thou the one character was written.  At one point she scolded another character for littering - for dropping one cigarette butt in the cavern miles under the ground. 

Not only are they arrogant and demanding, but they are over the top obtuse. The next seven chapters cover their experience with the first family they encounter, who lives in a log cabin with no modern amenities, and the whole time the protagonists' commentary is about their "costumes" and "rustic living lifestyle." They get brought to a local native tribe and determine that these people are "quite diligent in embracing their Native American roots,” instead of going "yeah, maybe this is an actual native tribe." Any sane person would have by now realized that THEY were the ones out of place.

Okay, lets add one more paragraph here on the rest of the story (only 73 more chapters) or this review will end up miles long. Actually, I think I'm good for now. I just can't.

If I sat here and nitpicked everything that bothered me about Tangle of Time, I would probably be here all day. But there is one more thing I really want to address. This entire story is hyper focused on sex and steeped in flagrant sexism, to a degree that made me outright uncomfortable. The synopsis mentioned "antiquated gender inequality" so I had expectation of some reference to it, but not to the degree that it is, and in a way that is so distasteful. As previously mentioned, the early chapters are heavy with it. The book establishes its ideal of gender roles and perpetuated stereotypes right from the start, with lead guy Greg fixing his car with the patronizingly insignificant assistance of his girlfriend who is notably wearing her four inch heels, and then he calls her babe and squeezes her butt. In the following chapter another male lead both mocks a man for being out of shape (despite being unfit himself) and then ogles and objectifies his female teacher. Everything just goes downhill from there. I thought at this point that the book HAD to have been written by a man, so when I checked and saw that not only was the writer a woman, but one whose profile claims that she is "passionate about gender equality," I was absolutely floored. This book reads like something written by a hormonally charged teenage boy, all sex and swear words. This book was sold to readers as "look how bad things were in the past" but the inequality doesn't start when the characters are in the past, rather it is solidly present throughout the entire book, just masked in the modern times as being "quirky" parental behaviors or "romantic" actions (that are not at all romantic). This book is a master class on how to not portray gender equality, and fails the Bechdel-Wallace test in the most disturbing way possible.

The main (synopsis) concept of Tangle of Time had such potential, and with the help of another writer or a good editor, maybe it would have been glorious. However with the insufferable characters, unnecessarily drawn out story, and all the other questionable content mentioned above, it was such a massive letdown and I'm sad that I kept it in my reading queue for as long as I did, just to be disappointed in such a manner. All of the promotional materials designate this book as book one in a series, but in the four years since it's release, I have seen no mention of book two. The author could still be writing it, though I am more inclined to believe that the series was abandoned after the poor reception of this introductory volume. 

I won a complimentary copy of Tangle of Time from the Library Thing Early Reviewers program, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my honest thoughts.

Parent's Guide:

I definitely wouldn't recommend this book for kids. It is filled from front to back with references to sex and drugs, as well as abuse and other questionable topics. An older teen may find something enjoyable - in the way that "edgy cartoons" are, but they would probably lose interest before the actual story anyways.

Cat+Gamer Vol 1-6

  

 

Cat_Gamer Vol 1-6 (Following stats on Vol 1 only)
By  Wataru Nadatani

ISBN: 9781506727417
192 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: soft Mental Health mentions, cartoon violence

Synopsis:

Riko, a twenty-nine-year-old office worker with an obsession for video games, finds her quiet life upended when she takes in a stray cat in this adorable manga series!

Her coworkers can’t quite figure her out—she never talks about her personal life, she never works overtime, and she never joins them for happy hour. Is she antisocial? Nope, she’s rushing home to play video games! One day, a stray cat is found in the office parking lot, and before Riko knows it, the cat has moved in with her! Having no experience with pets, Riko uses lessons drawn from video games to guide her in cat care, while her cute companion tries to understand her behavior through a cat's worldview.

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first three volumes of Cat+Gamer at one of the county libraries affiliated with mine while I was wasting time waiting for my car to be repaired. I had never heard of it, but it had a cute cat on the cover and that's usually enough to sell me. Well, let me tell you - it did not disappoint. The story is about Riko, a 29-year-old socially reclusive office worker who lives on a daily schedule that is optimized to efficiently play and clear her adored video games. Riko has no outside of work friends and passes on social gatherings so that she can go straight home and game until bedtime.

Her life changes abruptly when a cat is found in the parking lot at work. The office asks for a volunteer to take it home and nobody else volunteers, so Riko impulsively agrees. She then panics when she realizes that she knows absolutely nothing about caring for a living creature and, in doing what she does best, she starts looking at the situation as though it was one of her video games.

Nothing could go wrong here, right?

 

What follows is a hilarious mix of adorable cat stories and assorted video game comparisons. Every time the cat - now named Musubi - does something new, it is compared to a behavior that Riko recognizes from her gaming experiences. At one point she inadvertently makes a friend, in the form of the shopkeeper at the local pet supply store, whom Riko sees as a great and knowledgeable master. Around volume four, the shopkeeper comes over for a pet play date and suggests that Riko get a second cat to give Musubi a companion. So in comes Soboro, and with her a whole new set of pet experiences.

The art work in these graphic novels is cute and elements of story are relatable to cat owners. Like when Riko shares a photo of Musubi online, which goes somewhat viral, and inspires her to start a social media account for her pet - something many a pet owner is familiar with. This actually leads to funny moments, where coworkers follow the account without realizing that the cats belong to Riko. Other references may be lost on those who aren't familiar with particular games, but the writer did an awesome job of breaking down those references so they would be understood my most readers. Overall, it's a very reader friendly series of books.

I loved all six of the currently available volumes of Cat+Gamer. There are two more volumes out in Japanese, but they have yet to be released in English. Volume seven of the manga is due to be released soon. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 25, 2025. The final volume recently got an English release date of August 26, 2025, and is now available for preorder as well. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 11+ but is appealing to younger kids due to the fun and relatable content. Cat+Gamer was the category winner of Excelsior Award Blue 2023. The books on the Blue shortlist have been designated as suitable for children aged 11+ (or Key Stage 3 in schools). Cat+Gamer was also the Overall winner of the 2023 Award. Learn more about the Excelsior Awards here.

The Dish Dog

     

The Dish Dog

By  Peter Davidson

ISBN: 9798351893662
324 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Someone is operating the largest stock market insider trading scheme in the history of the United States, that is making millions of dollars in illegal profits. Whoever it is has access to secret information about numerous major corporations before the information is made available to the general public. Perhaps it is a nationally-known radio or TV host of a financial program, a financial journalist, or maybe even a Pulitzer Prize winner.

The perpetrator of the insider trading scheme has hidden their identity and covered their tracks through layers of elusive actions that all seem to lead nowhere. But, the perpetrator may not have planned on a brilliant FBI forensic accountant, Dr. Kimberly King, doggedly leading the investigation to uncover their identity and to put them out of business.

My Thoughts:

The Dish Dog is a whirlwind tale told from a few different perspectives. It opens with a thirty-something busboy, Harley Ross, receiving a letter from the mysterious "Emerald Investment Strategies" with a hot tip on a stock to buy to make loads of money. These missives come sporadically and nobody knows who is behind the elusive investment newsletter, but they always pay out. Another narrator is the secretive stock tip sender. However the highlight character of this book is Dr. Kimberly King, known as K.K. to her peers. K.K. is a forensic accountant for the FBI, and has been tasked with investigating this case of potential insider trading and market manipulation. 

And so we get to follow K.K. on her first major investigation, as she follows leads to try to suss out who exactly is behind Emerald Investment Strategies. She has to struggle to get information from participants like Harley, who are reminded with every newsletter that "loose lips sink ships." At the same time, we get to learn more about the EIS prodigy, including how they have operated for so long without being caught, and why they are doing what they do. The adversaries travel around the country (sometimes further) trying to stay ahead of each other and intrigue abounds. Will K.K. crack the case and become a successful forensic accountant? Will EIS get their happily every after? Will Harley be stuck as a busboy forever?

When I started reading The Dish Dog, I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to feel about it. First of all, the setting and topic was something that I am mostly unfamiliar with. I've traded penny/partial stocks here and there, but pretty much everything I learned about the stock market was from playing Wall Street Kid on the Nintendo as a youth.  That's actually the first video game I ever beat, which probably says a lot about how boring I was as a child. But I digress. As expected of a book focused on the stock market and financial crime, there were a lot of numbers. And I mean a LOT. At some points, my dyslexic brain had to take a pause, or re-read a portion multiple times.

Another reason I was unsure about this book is that while I have read other books that I would consider light thrillers and enjoyed them, mystery and thriller are not my go-to genres. Mostly because I always figure out the twist or surprise reveal before it happens. (And indeed I did.) So the non-favored genre choice combined with the unfamiliar setting - not to mention the abundance of numbers - could have been a recipe for disaster. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised. It did not take too long for the story to pull me in and it kept me invested - pun intended. ^.^

Overall, The Dish Dog was an enjoyable read. Despite figuring out the reveal before it happened, the story that gets you to that point was entertaining, and the characters were mostly likable. (I'm still on the fence about the dentist...)

The Dish Dog was released on January 30, 2023 and is available at Amazon. I received a complimentary copy from the author Peter Davidson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Parent's Guide:

This book is complex, but the story is interesting. There isn't any real questionable violence, or any adult themes that would be seen as controversial - other than in the crime sense - but it is a mature topic. The setting could be seen as real world relatable for much older kids, especially those interested in finance or criminal investigation. I would consider this book as upper teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

Kiss and Spell

Kiss and Spell (Enchanted, Inc. #7)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986978866
202 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Book 7 in the Enchanted, Inc. Series. With great power comes great danger… When a freak accident leaves Katie Chandler with magical powers, it seems like a wish come true for the former magical immune. But it also means she’s vulnerable to magic, just when the dangerous Elf Lord is cooking up another scheme in his bid for power. Anyone who gets in his way disappears—including Katie and her wizard boyfriend, Owen Palmer. Now Katie’s under a spell that obscures her true identity, living a life right out of a romantic comedy movie in a Hollywood set version of New York. Will she be able to find her true Mr. Right in time to break the spell with a kiss and warn everyone, or will she be trapped forever, unaware of the doom facing her world?

My Thoughts:

Kiss and Spell opens with Katie exploring her newfound magical abilities and how they will affect her role at MSI. But before she even has a chance to take everything in and find a new routine, the whole world is turned upside down in many ways, and so much is happening. You don't get much time with this volume to get your bearings before everything goes off the rails, but it is in the best way.

Despite how much I have enjoyed the previous books, there has been a noticeable repetition. There are only so many times and so many ways to spin when powers bounce around, evil wizards interfere, and dates are disastrous. I was looking for and hoping for something fresh. Kiss and Spell absolutely delivered. Putting Katie and Owen in a new setting was genius. It was great seeing them interacting in a different way. I would read an entire book about AU coffeeshop bookstore Katie and Owen. No, seriously.

The stage set in this book allows for some great moments of humor, including plenty of spot on criticisms of romance movies. Which you wouldn't necessarily expect in a borderline romance novel. But it worked brilliantly. It also gives you an opportunity to better get to know some of the characters introduced in the last book - though, sadly you also don't get as much time with some favorites from previous books. 

While it was possibly the most out of this world (do you see what I did there?) storyline yet, it was also a most endearing one. Of  all of the Enchanted, Inc. books that I have read so far, Kiss and Spell is possibly my favorite. 

Parent's Guide:

This book is pretty easy to read and the story is fun. There is fighting, but it is almost all of the magical variety. This book is definitely teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

One! It was a subtle one about 80% of the way into the book, but Katie herself identified it for the reference it was. 

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Two Rogues Make a Right

Two Rogues Make a Right (Seducing the Sedgwicks #3)

By  Cat Sebastian

ISBN: 9780062821584

320 Pages

Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on KindleKindle

Synopsis:

Will Sedgwick can’t believe that after months of searching for his oldest friend, Martin Easterbrook is found hiding in an attic like a gothic nightmare. Intent on nursing Martin back to health, Will kindly kidnaps him and takes him to the countryside to recover, well away from the world.

Martin doesn’t much care where he is or even how he got there. He’s much more concerned that the man he’s loved his entire life is currently waiting on him hand and foot, feeding him soup and making him tea. Martin knows he’s a lost cause, one he doesn’t want Will to waste his life on.

As a lifetime of love transforms into a tender passion both men always desired but neither expected, can they envision a life free from the restrictions of the past, a life with each other?

My Thoughts:

Two Rogues Make a Right is the third installment in Seducing the Sedgwicks, Cat Sebastian's second M/M historical romance series. This book has a markedly different feel from the previous two volumes, and many other regency era romance novels. In this friends to lovers story, the two lead characters already have an existing history, including a couple of brief past romantic encounters, but have never truly explored or admitted those feeling to each other.

Will Sedgwick, the youngest of the series' titular Sedgwick brothers, has just returned from naval service and is is concerned at his inability to locate his best friend Martin, whom he greatly cares about and whom is suffering from an incurable affliction. Martin Easterbrook cares equally about Will, but does not want the young Sedgwick beholden by his malady, doomed to always be his caretaker. Unfortunately, he is not that great at taking care of himself either, and at the beginning of the book he is quite ill. Which forces Will's hand, as he essentially kidnaps Martin and takes him to a cottage in the country where he can be cared for. 

This sojourn to the countryside gives the men a chance to reconnect and learn more about themselves, as well as each other. It gives them an opportunity to explore the feelings that have always been there, under the surface, as they live together peacefully in their little one room cottage. It also gives the reader a chance to enjoy a different setting and lifestyle, in contrast to how most regency era books focus on the ton and the bustling London life with. One of the things that I love about Cat Sebastian's regency era books is how they spend a lot of time outside of London social circles and all that comes with that.

The side characters in Two Rogues Make a Right are delightful. Especially Daisy, whose youthful exuberance is a breath of fresh air, and her mother, who is rational and supportive and protects the men when she deduces that they are more than just an ailing man and his indifferent caretaker. The pair provide a bit of humor to a book that is otherwise pretty serious in tone. One of my favorite bits is when Daisy innocently asks one of the men to pretend to be her beau for very teenage reasons.

Two Rogues Make a Right has much less action and side plot that the previous volumes. But this doesn't detract from the story at all. This volume is much sweeter and focuses more on the pair and their slow burn romance. But this doesn't mean that there is no drama included. A few people start to get ideas about their relationship and try to tear them apart, including Martin's aunt, who tries to control him for her own benefit. Most notably, Martin learns some very interesting information about his father that changes his world and his whole family dynamic.

There is also family drama on the other side. Will's older brother Hartley (from A Gentleman Never Keeps Score) supports his brother, but does not understand or agree with his choice to care so much for Martin. He is distrustful of the man thanks to some bad family history between the Easterbrooks and the Sedgwicks. But then Martin gets an opportunity to show how much he truly cares for Will, which results in Hartley having a change of heart and making peace with Martin, and Martin in turn making reparations for his father's misdeeds.

After reading six other Cat Sebastian books (the entire Turner's series and the first two Seducing the Sedgwicks volumes) back to back, I was pleased that this one had just enough of a difference to keep me interested without feeling old or played out. I really enjoyed Two Rogues Make a Right. With it's friends to lovers storyline, it had almost a completely different vibe than the previous books in the series.

Parent's Guide:

Same as with the rest of the series - 100% not for the kids! This book is adult in nature, with graphic sexual situations. Absolutely 18+

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan

 

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Vol 1 & 2
By  Gaku Kuze

ISBN: 9781646511143 & 9781646511402
272 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide, Mental Health Topics 

Synopsis:

How did the cynical Uramichi end up hosting a TV show for small children? And how long is the studio going to let him keep teaching the kids the sorrow and exhaustion of life instead of, say, the ABCs? This dark comedy manga started as a webcomic and became a bestseller across Japan -- with an anime coming soon!

Uramichi is a 31-year-old host on a kids' show who leads exercise routines and teaches life lessons colored by one main theme: Adulthood sucks. Alongside mascots played by a couple of bushy-tailed twentysomethings and a singing duo whose music embodies the notion of being kicked while you're down, Uramichi wades through the misery of working life, one sardonic comment at a time...

V2 - While grappling with unexpected overtime, unreasonable working conditions, and unflattering costumes, URAMICHI makes the acquaintance of other jaded professionals working deep behind the scenes. Digital strategist SAITO and merchandising whiz HANBEI almost seem like kindred spirits, but their respective bad attitude and worse temper keep the doors to URAMICHI's fragile heart firmly shut. There must be someone out there who understands... right?

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first two volumes of Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan at my local library and didn't know what to expect. I had seen a friend mention the impending anime series on social media a few days beforehand, so I decided to give the manga a shot. The best description for what I found contained within the pages was "twisted." The story is about Uramichi, a 31-year-old retired gymnast who passes his days as the host of a children's show. Uramichi is the quintessential pessimist, and clearly has a lot of mental and emotional baggage, which is seen in his interactions with the kids and his peers.

His peers being four other performers who work on stage with Uramichi, and who round out the cast of main characters. These coworkers each have their own share of quirks and traumas as well. Because of this, the characters all mesh well together and tell an interesting and funny set of stories.

Funny and dark. The Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan series is definitely what would be considered dark humor. The characters clearly care about the kids that they are working with, but at are frequently sarcastic and go on about pain, depression, and job burnout. If you are sensitive to mental health issues, this may not be the series for you. However, if you are one of those people who likes to laugh through the pain then you will enjoy it.

The art work in these graphic novels is really clean and the story is not too complicated to follow. At some points there is a bit much going on within the pages, but it's all a part of the glorious chaos that makes the story work. One thing that I did like about this series is that there is a glossary in each volume where they cover Japanese terms used in the book that readers may not be familiar with.

As twisted as the story was, I loved Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan. There are currently only two volumes available and, as previously mentioned, an anime which aired during the summer of 2021 (available on Funimation). Volume three of the manga has been announced and has cover art. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 1, 2022. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 16+ due to content that is somewhat dark. It covers some deep topics like depression, and is probably not for kids. Mature older teens may enjoy it, depending on how twisted their sense of humor is.

No Quest for the Wicked

No Quest for the Wicked (Enchanted, Inc. #6)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986981125
317 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

A Questing We Will Go

Now that the Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. team has defeated the nefarious Spellworks, the only “competition” in town, Katie Chandler doesn’t have much to do as director of marketing, and she’s starting to question her role at MSI. Her boyfriend Owen Palmer, on the other hand, is in hog heaven, translating an ancient and powerful magical manuscript.

But then he finds that the cryptic text describing the location of an enchanted gem known as the Eye of the Moon has radically changed. This deadly stone gives its holder enhanced power over others and a craving for more power. It once caused a terrible war before it was safely hidden and then lost – and now it seems to be in New York and set in an elven brooch that renders its wearer invulnerable. Whoever has this brooch could take over the world.

Katie and Owen must find it before anyone else does, and they’re not the only ones searching. They’ll need all the help they can get, including Katie’s visiting grandmother. But who can they trust when their allies fall under its spell? Not to mention the new enemies who are deadlier than anything they’ve faced before.

My Thoughts:

No Quest for the Wicked, the 6th entry in the Enchanted, Inc. series, opens with Katie and Owen settling into their new roles at MSI. Spellworks has finally been defeated and things appear to be calming down a bit. Owen is without his powers and finds himself facing great scrutiny from the magical community after the reveal of his lineage. He is keeping himself occupied with something that, to him, is a dream assignment - translating the Ephemera, an ancient text so powerful that nobody with magic is allowed near it. Katie, on the other hand, is restless, not feeling sure of her current position in the company as marketing director. 

You get to see a lot of fun character interaction in this volume. Katie's beloved grandmother comes into town from Texas and brings along her own brand of chaos. I absolutely love the exchanges between the Granny and Merlin! Readers also get to learn more about the more feral nature sprites that Granny introduced us all to in Don't Hex With Texas. This book also brings back Mimi, Katie's erstwhile boss from the firm she was at before she came to work at MSI. Mimi lands a major role in No Quest for the Wicked, as she finds herself newly engaged and in possession of the Eye of the Moon, a "One Ring" style powerful magical artifact that everyone wants to get their hands on .

Most notably, No Quest for the Wicked gives us an opportunity to see into the world of the Elves, who have really only been mentioned in passing up to this point. We get to learn more about Elven culture and politics, and how they fit in to the magical world that has been created. And their role is somewhat surprising.

The plot in this book is a bit all over the place. There is a LOT going on - Owen is walking on eggshells trying to convince everyone that he is not out for world domination, everyone is hunting for the Eye of the Moon, and nobody can quite trust anyone else. It is quite exhausting at times. That's not to say it is bad, just that it is complicated. Yet somehow, despite everything that is going on, I find this to be the least memorable storyline of the entire series. It's like the magical world's Eclipse. (Seriously, does anyone remember what happened in that book? Because I don't.)

On the relationship front, Katie and Owen's seems to have all but stalled out. There is still the obligatory amount of blushing, but now they are together and things have mellowed some, yet there is nothing happening. After how much the first books in the series focused on Katie's relationships and desires, it kinda feels like a betrayal. I wasn't expecting anything hot and heavy. Just something to show that they actually still care about one another. Because at this point I'm really not sure. The words may be there but the chemistry is fleeting.

Overall, No Quest for the Wicked is an okay story, but it doesn't hold up to previous volumes in the series. It wasn't bad enough to keep me from reading the next book in the series, but it was somewhat of a let down when compared to it's predecessors.

Parent's Guide:

This book is very easy to read and the story is fun. It has the standard bits of fantasy violence, but nothing too extreme. The setting is real world relatable for older kids. This book is definitely teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

And still none. :*(

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (Seducing the Sedgwicks #2)

By  Cat Sebastian

ISBN: 9780062821584

320 Pages

Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on KindleKindle

Synopsis:

Once beloved by London's fashionable elite, Hartley Sedgwick has become a recluse after a spate of salacious gossip exposed his most-private secrets. Rarely venturing from the house whose inheritance is a daily reminder of his downfall, he’s captivated by the exceedingly handsome man who seeks to rob him.

Since retiring from the boxing ring, Sam Fox has made his pub, The Bell, into a haven for those in his Free Black community. But when his best friend Kate implores him to find and destroy a scandalously revealing painting of her, he agrees. Sam would do anything to protect those he loves, even if it means stealing from a wealthy gentleman. But when he encounters Hartley, he soon finds himself wanting to steal more than just a painting from the lovely, lonely man—he wants to steal his heart.

My Thoughts:

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score is the second installment in Seducing the Sedgwicks, Cat Sebastian's second M/M historical romance series. Hartley Sedgwick, the second of the series' titular Sedgwick brothers, is laying low in his London home after having been outed as having earned his status and possessions on his back, so to speak. From the time he was a teen, Hartley was coerced into a physical relationship with his wealthy godfather. He took it upon himself to get his siblings out of their bad upbringing situation by exchanging sexual favors for placements, obtaining the vicarage for the elder Benedict (as explored in It Takes Two to Tumble), a naval rank for his younger brother Will, and the London home and an allowance for himself.

Hartley sees what he did as a necessity and a controlled situation, but Sam Fox sees it for what it was - an innocent young boy was manipulated by a corrupt man. Sam Fox is a retired boxer and the proprietor of the pub The Bell. He works there alongside his brother Nick and Kate, his childhood friend and Nick's fiancée. Kate once allowed a scandalous painting of herself to be made in exchange for money that she dearly needed at the time. The artist? The very same corrupt godfather who exploited Hartley. Kate wants the painting reclaimed and destroyed before she is married, so she turns to Sam to help. Sam attempts to break into Hartley's house, believing it to still belong to his late godfather.

I particularly enjoyed how A Gentleman Never Keeps Score gives a glimpse of the lifestyle within the black community. Not a lot of regency era books cover this, and it is a significantly different experience than that you see reading books that focus on the ton and their bustling social calendars. None of the pivotal characters in this book are titled or have elevated social status and most of the action takes place in back alleys and more lively parts of town.

Aside from the core storylines about retrieving the painting and the scandal, A Gentleman Never Keeps Score had some interesting side themes. There was the mystery surrounding the location of the (multiple!) scandalous paintings, Kate's relationship with Nick, Sam's disputes with the racist local law enforcement, and pub related drama. Most significantly, you get a bit more insight into the drama with Will Sedgwick, which was alluded to in It takes Two to Tumble and will be more fully explored in the next book.

Another big part of the story was the interactions with Alfie, the only servant that did not leave Hartley after the scandal broke, and Sadie, a young girl in a difficult situation who comes to work at Hartley's house mid book. These characters are loyal, honest, and jovial despite what life has thrown at them. As far as side characters go, they are absolutely delightful. I would love to be able to read more about them and what happens to them after this tale ends.

After binging through five other Cat Sebastian books, with this one being read number six, I was afraid that I would get burnt out on the genre and the setting. But that's not what happened. I really liked reading A Gentleman Never Keeps Score. It brings different things to the table than the previous reads. But at the same time, it does have a similar feel to A Soldier's Scoundrel. If you liked Sebastian's introductory novel, you will equally enjoy this one, as I did.

Parent's Guide:

100% not for the kids! This book is adult in nature, with graphic sexual situations. Absolutely 18+

Much Ado About Magic

Much Ado About Magic (Enchanted, Inc. #5)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986979122
292 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

To Do: Manage Magical Mayhem, Save the Company, Save the World

Katie Chandler is back in New York and at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. – and just in time. The city’s in the grip of a magical crime wave from spells that wizarding whiz Owen Palmer thinks look awfully familiar, and the rogue firm Spellworks is raising its profile in the magical world by selling protective amulets. It’s Katie’s job as the new director of marketing for MSI to fight this battle of public perception while Owen and the other wizards try to uncover what’s really going on.

What Katie doesn’t realize is that her idea to stage a showcase for MSI’s magical achievements is playing right into a devious plot more than three decades in the making. Now Katie has to do damage control that has nothing to do with marketing. To save the magical world, she’ll have to prove who the real enemy is, and doing that will require digging deeper into Owen’s mysterious past than he wants anyone to go. If she fails, she not only stands to lose a magical war, but she could also lose the man she loves.

My Thoughts:

Much Ado About Magic, the 5th entry in the Enchanted, Inc. series, finds Katie and Owen back in New York City at MSI and once again facing off against Spellworks, the rogue spell company that is selling curses and dark charms all over the region. The competition has upped their game and is now selling both the curses and charms to protect against the curses, in an effort to make it appear as though they have the answers to everyone's problems. Katie gets assigned as MSI's new marketing director and is planning a big event to improve the company's image and win back their customers.

There are a lot of new characters in this book, including a whole marketing department of personalities. I particularly enjoyed the character of Perdita, Katie's new elf assistant. Not only because she is funny AF, but also because I think this is the first actual named and backstoried elf in the series. We knew elves existed - they have been mentioned in passing - but we had not actually met one yet. Now we have and she is hilarious and a nutcase. So far departed from the usual image of elves in fantasy works. 

Much Ado About Magic finally wraps up the core plotline that has been around since Enchanted, Inc., resolving the mess started by Phelan Idris. This volume is a bit tamer than it's predecessors, but is still interesting. Katie gets a much bigger set of responsibilities. Sure, she is always the focus anyways, due to being the main character and the unicorn magical immune, but this time she gets to use actual learned abilities and prove that she is useful beyond her immunity. There are plenty of jokes the whole scene with the honeymoon suite was a complete riot! , but also plenty of emotions. Poor Owen gets put through the ringer and I felt so bad for him - especially when his parentage is revealed and used as a weapon to create distrust and the company suffers for it. And then, to top it all off he loses his powers .

There are some nice romantic moments between Katie and Owen in Much Ado About Magic. Their relationship is still progressing slower than molasses in winter, but there are some touching moments. The ending is particularly sweet. Owen seems to be taking his loss in stride and Katie still makes a point to say that she wouldn't have him any other way. And of course there is still plenty of blushing along the way...

Parent's Guide:

Like the rest of the series so far, Much Ado About Magic is a cheery read with plenty of laughs. It has the expected amount of childish name calling and fantasy violence, but nothing too severe. Older kids who like magical settings and sarcasm will enjoy it. This book is teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

Still none. :(

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

 

It Takes Two to Tumble

It Takes Two to Tumble (Seducing the Sedgwicks #1)

By  Cat Sebastian

ISBN: 9780062821577

304 Pages

Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Some of Ben Sedgwick’s favorite things:

• Helping his poor parishioners
• Baby animals
• Shamelessly flirting with the handsome Captain Phillip Dacre

After an unconventional upbringing, Ben is perfectly content with the quiet, predictable life of a country vicar, free of strife or turmoil. When he’s asked to look after an absent naval captain’s three wild children, he reluctantly agrees, but instantly falls for the hellions. And when their stern but gloriously handsome father arrives, Ben is tempted in ways that make him doubt everything.

Some of Phillip Dacre’s favorite things:

• His ship
• People doing precisely as they're told
• Touching the irresistible vicar at every opportunity

Phillip can’t wait to leave England’s shores and be back on his ship, away from the grief that haunts him. But his children have driven off a succession of governesses and tutors and he must set things right. The unexpected presence of the cheerful, adorable vicar sets his world on its head and now he can’t seem to live without Ben’s winning smiles or devastating kisses.

In the midst of runaway children, a plot to blackmail Ben’s family, and torturous nights of pleasure, Ben and Phillip must decide if a safe life is worth losing the one thing that makes them come alive.  

My Thoughts:

It Takes Two to Tumble is the first installment in Cat Sebastian's second M/M historical romance series, Seducing the Sedgwicks. It tells a sweet love story between a stern ship captain and a reserved yet not-so-naïve vicar - it's all very Maria von Trapp. Maria in this case being the lead character Benedict Sedgwick, eldest of the series' titular Sedgwick brothers, who had a very unique upbringing for that time, having been raised in a household with their father, his wife, and his mistress - as well as various other interlopers and stragglers. After he is granted the vicarship of the parish of St. Aelred's, Benedict is happy to have a chance at normalcy in his life and looks forward to a most mundane future, including a marriage with his best friend Alice Crawford. That is, until the arrival of Captain Philip Dacre, the absent master of Barton Hall, a large estate within his parish. 

Captain Dacre is distant and abrasive, tormented by his own difficult childhood, but also by several recent losses: that of his wife, who he didn't so much love as appreciate for her capability at raising their children and keeping order of the household, and more importantly that of a fellow sailor on his ship. who he DID love despite not being willing to admit as much. When he arrives home from sea, his children are completely out of control, having not had a firm hand to guide them in the four years since their mother passed. He finds them in the temporary care of Benedict Sedgwick, who has been roped in to keep them out of serious trouble until a more permanent situation can be managed. He has no idea how to interact with the children, as he had almost always been at sea and had rarely seen them.

Of all the Cat Sebastian books I have read up to this point, the pair in It Takes Two to Tumble undeniably have the best chemistry. The relationship develops slowly at first, with innocent glances and touches, but by the book's halfway point they have moved beyond thoughts and to actions. To some, it may seem as though they moved too fast, but I feel like this just emphasizes the loneliness that the two have been suffering. Philip has been at sea for a year grieving the loss of a loved one that he could share with no other person and Benedict, in trying to keep his feelings in alignment with the teachings of the church, has been denying his true self for much longer than that. They are both burdened with a deep seated need for true companionship and understanding, and as soon as the realization hits that the other person may be the one to fulfill that, the door opens. The turning point in their relationship, when Phillip confessed his preferences by drunkenly telling Benedict about his feelings for his lieutenant, was a straightforward, calculated act of a man who is always in control - who was at that point desperate for a clear answer. He chose to reveal something in a manner that would be received compassionately yet could be explained away if it was not accepted as he hoped it would be.

As I have mentioned previously, I am usually hesitant about romance books that involve children. But of course, for the whole Sound of Music theme to work, children have to be present. I did appreciate the way they were handled in this book. The children were pivotal to the story, in that they initially brought Benedict to the home, and also in how they helped Philip open up and accept his own flaws - some in return gave him the ability to better bond with the children. But the children were somewhat independent and not so heavily present as to make the development of the romance awkward.

It Takes Two to Tumble did have a lot going on in the sidelines. Aside from the parent child relationships, there was plenty of Sedgwick family drama and landowner drama, plus the whole thing where Benedict had Alice the fiancée and that had to be resolved. The writer did manage to wrap that up quite conveniently in a way that may be seen as a little contrived, though no more so than a million other drama tales out there. I liked the Alice character quite a bit - she was well developed and had a strong background. I appreciated the way her storyline was resolved and would consider reading a novella about her were it not for the fact that I believe most of what could be told has been summed up in these pages already.

Overall, I quite enjoyed reading It Takes Two to Tumble. I think that of all the Cat Sebastian books I have read so far, The Lawrence Brown Affair is still my favorite, but this one comes as a close second.

Parent's Guide:

100% not for the kids! This book is adult in nature, with graphic sexual situations. Absolutely 18+