aztecladyApr 4

1.- I read "Kirkyards & Kindness", by Kelley Armstrong; it's part of her A Rip Through Time series (and it's wonderful)

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/kirkyards-kindness-by-kelley-armstrong/

“Kirkyards & Kindness” by Kelley Armstrong

I hope everyone knows by now that I’m very much a fan of this series, and therefore is not surprised I had preordered this story–or by the fact that between the reading slump and ::gest…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

2.- I read Rachel Reid's _Heated Rivalry_, the second in her Game Changers series (yes, that one)

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/heated-rivalry-by-rachel-reid/

Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid

It’s been a month since I posted my review of the first book, so let us get on with the Game Changers book series reviews; please note: if you have already watched the Crave adaptation of the…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

3.- I read Cat Sebastian's _Star Shipped_, her first contemporary romance (yes, despite the cover's 60's vibes)

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/03/14/star-shipped-by-cat-sebastian/

Star Shipped, by Cat Sebastian

I’m not crying, you are crying–and also, I just inhaled a book. After literal months of not being able to read. Beware: third person, present tense, single point of view (this may not b…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

4.- I read T.E. Kinsey's _A Fire at the Exhibition_, part of the wonderful Lady Hardcastle series of cozy historical mysteries.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #LadyHardcastle @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/03/18/a-fire-at-the-exhibition-by-t-e-kinsey/

A Fire at the Exhibition, by T.E. Kinsey

Because I’m nothing if not stubborn, I’m determined to complete SuperWendy’s TBR Challenge this year–even if I have to bend the rules (read: cheat) more than a little in ord…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

5.- I read Olivia Waite's "Murder by Memory", the first in her new Dorothy Gentleman series of cozy mysteries--in space.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/03/26/murder-by-memory-by-olivia-waite/

Murder by Memory, by Olivia Waite

I have been meaning to read this book since it was released; alas, life happens, and it took me a full year to get on with it. My humble apologies! (in the interest of full disclosure: the author a…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

6.- I read 'Nathan Burgoine's "Village Fool", part of his wonderful Little Village series of contemporary romances.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/04/village-fool-by-nathan-burgoine/

“Village Fool” by ‘Nathan Burgoine

I had managed to forget that have had this novella in my digital TBR for about three years, when a Bluesky post by the author reminded me that the story is set on April Fools’ Day; what bette…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 6

7.- I read J.D. Robb's _Faithless in Death_; this is the 52nd novel in this futuristic police procedural series. Not the strongest entry in the series, I must say.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #InDeath @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/06/faithless-in-death-by-j-d-robb/

Faithless in Death, by J.D. Robb

Are you ever surprised by something past-you did? I ask because this week NetGalley ‘reminded’ me that I had been approved for this ARC back in late 2020–a good four years after I…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 8

8.- I read Rachel Reid's _Tough Guy_, third in the Game Changers series of contemporary hockey romance.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #GameChangers @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/tough-guy-by-rachel-reid/

Tough Guy, by Rachel Reid

I first tore through this series back in early-December 2025; by the time I finally got to watch the first season of “Heated Rivalry”, my brain had already been wreaking havoc, for mont…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 11

9.- I read Dana Stabenow's _A Cold Day for Murder_, the first in her Kate Shugak series of contemporary murder mysteries.

#3036Reading #RomBkBlog #TBRChallenge #KateShugak
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/11/a-cold-day-for-murder-by-dana-stabenow/

Show threadaztecladyApr 15

10.- I read J.D. Robb's _Stolen in Death_; it's the 62nd book in her long ongoing futuristic police procedurals series.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #InDeath
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/stolen-in-death-by-j-d-robb/

Stolen in Death, by J.D. Robb

Unlike what happened with the ARC for Faithless in Death, I actually remember grabbing this ARC, even though I am not sure why I did; most likely, I was thinking that I generally can get through th…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 17

11.- I read Frederick Smith's _One and Done_, a standalone contemporary romance. I wish I had liked it more.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #TBRChallenge @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/17/one-and-done-by-frederick-smith/

One and Done, by Frederick Smith

March’s TBR Challenge theme was ‘tropestastic!’, and in genre romance, there’s a long and storied tradition for the one night stand. (Never mind that that’s not quite …

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Show threadaztecladyApr 24

12.- I read Camille Pagán's _Dog Person_, a standalone contemporary romance (set in 2003). I have thoughts and feelings.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/24/dog-person-by-camille-pagan/

Dog Person, by Camille Pagán

I am only human: books and an aging dog; what was I supposed to do? Reader beware: grief over the loss of a spouse; depression; parental abandonment; bullying (implied); elderly dog’s death. …

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Show threadaztecladyApr 27

13.- I read Kellye Garrett's _Hollywood Homicide_, the first in her Detective by Day trilogy of cozy mysteries.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #TBRChallenge #NetGalleyARC #KellyeGarrett @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/27/hollywood-homicide-by-kellye-garrett/

Hollywood Homicide, by Kellye Garrett

Despite a terrible start, April is the month I’m finally catching up with the TBR Challenge–and I’m even managing to post this review just shy of a couple of weeks late. The chall…

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Show threadaztecladyApr 28

14.- I read K.J. Charles' _How to Fake It in Society_, a lovely Historical Romance.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #KJCharles @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/04/28/how-to-fake-it-in-society-by-k-j-charles/

How to Fake It in Society, by K.J. Charles

Look, I have literally no idea by what stroke of luck I was approved for this ARC, but (and) also, there was no way on this reality or any other, I would not request it. Beware: emotional abuse and…

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Show threadaztecladyMay 2

15.- I read Robert Thorogood's _Murder on the Marlow Belle_, the fourth book in the Marlow Murder Club Contemporary Cozy Mystery series, which just keeps getting better and better.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #RobertThorogood @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/02/murder-on-the-marlow-belle-by-robert-thorogood/

Murder on the Marlow Belle, by Robert Thorogood

Because the past, oh, 16 months, have been hell (see footnote 1), I am several months late with this review; with the next book in the series to be released in July, I better get caught up! Beware:…

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Show threadaztecladyMay 4

16.- I read Rachel Reid's _Common Goal_, the forth in her Game Changers series of contemporary hockey romance.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #RachelReid #GameChangers @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/common-goal-by-rachel-reid/

Common Goal, by Rachel Reid

Another month, another Game Changers review! To recap: I tore through all six books in the series back in early December 2025, and decided on the spot that I would review them all. Life and things …

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Show threadaztecladyMay 9

17.- I read Allison Montclair's _Fire Must Burn_, eight in the Sparks and Bainbridge series of historical cozy mysteries; it's excellent, mind the bewares.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #AllisonMontclair #SparksAndBainbridge @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/09/fire-must-burn-by-allison-montclair/

Fire Must Burn, by Allison Montclair

What with one thing and another, I missed the release of this book–and I had so been looking forward to it! So in the spirit of ‘better late than never’, here are my thoughts. Bew…

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Show threadaztecladyMay 15

18.- I read Mike Ripley's _Buried Above Ground_, a standalone contemporary cozy murder mystery set in the world of publishig.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #MikeRipley @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/15/buried-above-ground-by-mike-ripley/

Buried Above Ground, by Mike Ripley

I was taken in by the cover–come on, look at it, how could I not? The blurb clinched it, even though it didn’t register on me at the time that the book is narrated in first person. Ah w…

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Show threadaztecladyMay 18

19.- I read Kelley Armstrong's _An Ordinary Sort of Evil_, the fifth book in the A Rip in Time series of historical mysteries set in 1870 Edinburgh. Love this book; for my money, the series just keeps getting better.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #KelleyArmstrong @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/18/an-ordinary-sort-of-evil-by-kelley-armstrong/

An Ordinary Sort of Evil, by Kelley Armstrong

I have been waiting for this book for what seems *ages*, and I’m delighted to have gotten an ARC. Sleep, who needs sleep. Beware: suicide, classism, sexism; fairly detailed descriptions of a …

Her Hands, My Hands
Show threadaztecladyMay 22

20.- I read Tara Kingston's _A Rogue to Watch Over Me_, the first in a historical romance trilogy set in Victorian London.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #TBRChallenge #NetGalleyARC #TaraKingston @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/05/22/a-rogue-to-watch-over-me-by-tara-kingston/

A Rogue to Watch Over Me, by Tara Kingston

I am a weak, weak person: dangle a librarian protagonist, and a would-be protagonist in a historical romance who is not a duke/marquis/earl/viscount somewhere near me, and I’ll jump on that b…

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Show threadaztecladyJun 1

21.- I read T. E. Kinsey's _An Assassination on the Agenda_, the 11th book in the Lady Hardcastle series of historical cozy mysteries.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #LadyHardcastle
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/01/an-assassination-on-the-agenda-by-t-e-kinsey/

An Assassination on the Agenda, by T.E. Kinsey

As regular readers of this blog know, I’ve been trying to catch up with this series for a few years; I was hoping to be ready for this year’s release, but what with one thing and anothe…

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Show threadaztecladyJun 2

22.- I read April Hattori's _10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/10-minute-chair-yoga-exercises-for-seniors-by-april-hattori/

10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors, by April Hattori

Not my usual fare, by far, but this is what happens when you turn 60 and realize just how little you actually move on a daily basis: the lure of an easy and gentle routine that will help you keep m…

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Show threadaztecladyJun 4

23.- I read Rachel Reid's _Role Model_, the fifth in her Game Changers series of contemporary ice hockey m/m romances.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #RachelReid #GameChangers
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/04/role-model-by-rachel-reid/

Role Model, by Rachel Reid

Another month, another Game Changers review; with this, we’re almost done, and what a ride has it been! Beware: rape culture in ice hockey and sports generally; widespread misogyny in sports,…

Her Hands, My Hands
Show threadaztecladyJun 8

24.- I read Collen Gleason's _Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer_, first in the Lady Darling series of historical cozy mysteries, set in late Victorian London.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NetGalleyARC #ColleenGleason #LadyDarling
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/08/lady-darling-inquires-after-a-killer-by-colleen-gleason/

Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer, by Colleen Gleason

The cover caught my eye, then the blurb–for all that it’s concise almost to the point of being off-putting–clinched the deal when it mentioned our lady sleuth’s age, so of c…

Her Hands, My Hands
Show threadaztecladyJun 10

25.- I read 'Nathan Burgoine's "Faux Ho Ho", a queer story, part of his larger Little Village stories, and it's lovely.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #NathanBurgoine #LittleVillage
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/10/faux-ho-ho-by-nathan-burgoine/

Faux Ho Ho, by ‘Nathan Burgoine

When I reviewed “Village Fool” earlier this year, I had planned on saving this novella for a reading mojo emergency, but you know what? It’s June, and June is Pride–fuck the…

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Show threadazteclady

26.- I read Olivia Waite's "Hen Fever", a lovely sapphic Victorian romance.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #OliviaWaite @bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/15/hen-fever-by-olivia-waite/

“Hen Fever” by Olivia Waite

So, it being Pride, here’s another queer story. Fuck the bigots. Beware: death; loss; grief; the horrors of war; death of an infant; PTSD; explicit sex between consenting adults.

Her Hands, My Hands
Jun 15 at 1:12pmWeb
Show threadaztecladyJun 17

27.- I read Courtney Milan's "Mrs Martin's Incomparable Adventure", a Sapphic Victorian genre romance novella. Technically part of the Worth Saga, stands alone quite well.

#2026Reading #RomBkBlog #TBRChallenge #CourtneyMilan
@bookstodon

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2026/06/17/mrs-martins-incomparable-adventure-by-courtney-milan/

“Mrs Martin’s Incomparable Adventure” by Courtney Milan

It’s been more than a minute since I’ve read anything by Courtney Milan; it’s not that I don’t have several of her books in ye old TBR, but that I save her stuff for cases o…

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