What I'm Reading: It's Not Me, It's You (Jo Lovett)

So, I love books that involve characters having to deal with being part of a reality TV show--mostly because my own reality TV book series (Inked in OakTown) has been stalled for some time. This story also features a heroine who writes romance and a hero who despises the genre--at least at the beginning. 

It was surprisingly intriguing, although I must admit the rules of the challenge confused the hell out of me. It was also very When Harry Met Sally meets the Great British Bake Off. IYKYK.

It's Not Me, It's You

Jo Lovett 

https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Me-You-rom-com-ebook/dp/B0F42JYHTK/ref=sr_1_2

One hopeless romantic 💕

One hardened cynic ❤️‍🩹

One bet they’ll never forget... 🔥

Freya writes bestselling romance novels for a living, but off the page, she doesn’t believe in happy endings.

Jake is a divorced divorce lawyer who does believe in romance ­– despite every day seeing the results of failed relationships.

When a TV news segment captures their very public disagreement about modern love, the clip goes viral, and to settle the debate, they strike a deal: Jake will find Freya her perfect match, and Freya will convince Jake that romance is a fairy tale best left in fiction.

The rules are simple. The stakes are high. And the chemistry? Undeniable.

Mug Shot: Cat Mug

This mug is very apropos because it's currently kitten season in my neck of the woods. Which means that the wild cat population of my town is larger than it was a few weeks ago.  Personally, I love cats. I consider myself a cat person even though I haven't actually had a cat as a pet in quite a few years. The last three dogs I cared for were NOT cat friendly, sad to say, which is why so many people who haven't known me that long assume I'm a dog person. However, since my "not having cats" has coincided with my living in places where there's been a robust "neighborhood cat" population, it's not like I haven't interacted with cats. It just means they don't live in my house. 

I found out recently that these cats are known collectively as the Kyle Curse. Apparently they live in (and travel through) the sewers. I don't think they're entirely feral since a surprising number of them are eager to be petted, and of course they're always happy to be fed, but they don't seem to want anything more than that out of our relationship. Which allows me to continue to deny any sort of ownership. 

Up until the point where I decide to move, of course. When that day comes, all bets are off.  

But anyway, the mug. I've found myself liking blue now more than I ever did before, so that's a plus. It's a good (albeit generic) size and shape. And the cat faces are really cute. 5/5  Would recommend. 

What I'm Reading: Blood and Sand (Jordan L Hawk)

So I think this is the end of this series, which is sad, although everything was wrapped up in a very satisfactory manner. The Pride seems to be an off-shoot of Hawk's earlier series, Hexworld, which I think is my favorite of all her series. So...it feels sort of like I'm saying good-bye all over again.

Anyway, they're both really similar in feel to Allie Therin's Magic in Manhattan series (which also has a spin-off or two)

So if you like prohibition-era, paranormal, m/m romantic suspense with shape-shifters, bootleggers, flappers and the like--these are the series for you!

Blood and Sand

Jordan L Hawk

https://jordanlhawk.com/products/blood-and-sand-the-pride-3-ebook

War has come to the streets of Chicago…

Sam Cunningham didn’t set out to work for a gangster, but his job as Mickey Sullivan’s hexmaster seems safe enough…until a gang war puts a target on both of their backs.

Cheetah-shifter Alistair Gatti is desperate to keep his family’s speakeasy up and running. But with a brutal assassin killing off the city’s bootleggers, his options are growing slimmer with every passing day.

Their one chance to remain safe and keep The Pride afloat lies in the form of an ancient hex looted from an Egyptian tomb. If Sam wants to escape Sullivan’s grasp, he needs to recreate the hex and get it to work.

But in a gang war fought by magic as well as guns, the odds are in no one’s favor, and the streets of Chicago will soon run red with blood.

Mug Shot: Mustang Island

This is another of the mugs I picked up during my Port Aransas trip last year. As I've mentioned previously, I'm a sucker for ceramic mugs that are made in the image of enamel camp mugs. Mustang Island is GORGEOUS and this mug is a cheerful reminder of it, even if it is a tad heavy for everyday use.

What I'm Reading: A "Trapped in the Elevator" Compilation

So, I noticed a strange pattern developing in my reading lately. I've encountered three books in which the H/H meet each other when they trapped together in an elevator. I've never written a 'trapped in the elevator' scene. I don't think I will--although I never say never when it comes to what my muse might come up with. She's a real "hold my beer" kinda sprite. But it's never happened to me, so I think I'm safe.

The first book--Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, by Andie Elliott--takes place during her book, I Could Write a Book, which I talked about earlier this year. The elevator in question gets stuck during a wedding with two of the wedding party inside. 

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

Andie Elliott

 

https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Call-Whole-Thing-Off-ebook/dp/B0D87L24QN/

Serious-as-a-heart-attack reporter Robert Ryan is here, as promised, because frankly he couldn’t think of a way to get out of being in his rival—er, colleague’s—wedding.

 

Sunshiny actor turned groomsman-for-hire Jamie Daley is here because the guy who was supposed to walk down the aisle with Robert decided he had better things to do.

 

And now they are both stuck in an elevator because the Park Palace clearly needs to do more frequent inspections of their equipment.

 

What could possibly go right?

 

You Rock My World opens with two people trapped overnight in an elevator, which sounds amazingly uncomfortable. It's insta-love with a rock star hero, which normally isn't my favorite, but I like the way the author spun it into more of a right time, right place kind of thing.

You Rock My World
Camilla Isley

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4WPZDBZ

When Josie gets trapped overnight in an elevator with Rian Phoenix—global rock legend—she figures it’ll be a funny story to tell, not a plot twist with heartache written all over it. Only, the real Rian isn’t the bad boy the headlines describe. He is witty, kind, and unexpectedly swoon-worthy. By morning, they’ve shared snacks, secrets, and sparked a dangerously real connection. Then the elevator doors open. Reality crashes in, and Josie becomes a stranger he’s not supposed to remember. She walks away with a bruised heart and a vow to steer clear of rockstars forever.

A year later, Josie’s steady again—until she’s reassigned as Rian’s PR manager. Back in his orbit, she must keep things professional to protect her job—and avoid falling for him all over again. But Rian hasn’t forgotten her. Too bad picking up where they left off could cost her everything. With the world watching, Josie has to decide whether to guard her heart and her career… or press play on a love story that finally hits all the right notes.

I almost didn't include A Lot to Unpack in this list because I'm not actually finished with it yet. And also because while the H/H do get trapped in the elevator, it's only for a couple of minutes and then they immediately go their separate ways for AGES. Like...the next 25% of the book, as far as I can tell. But they DID meet in the elevator, and that seemed weirdly coincidental, so here you go...

A Lot to Unpack

Portia MacIntosh

https://www.amazon.com/Lot-Unpack-proximity-rivals-lovers-ebook/dp/B0F4WB3F1J/

Liberty’s just landed her dream job. The catch? It’s at Matcher, the dating app that ruined her life. After catching her boyfriend sending intimate pictures to everyone in a twenty mile radius, Liberty is struggling to get back into the dating game. Every man gives her the ick sooner or later.

Still, she’s having a great time travelling the world for work, until she’s assigned a secret mission: Travel to New York with her handsome and charming boss Jordan and swap out a contract from under his nose. It should be easy, but the more time Liberty spends with Jordan, the more she realises he might not be the bad boy she thought he was. But it turns out they’ve both got a lot to unpack, and Liberty still needs to complete her mission if she wants to keep her job - which means not breaking the one golden rule: do not fall for the boss!

Mug Shot: Texas-sized Mug

Here's another Texas mug. This one is really big! It's also a pretty shade of blue--bluebonnet blue, in fact. And the bluebonnet's are just coming into bloom at the moment. So this seemed like a good time to post it. 

I purchased this mug from a Travel-center gift shop (as you do!) somewhere in East Texas on a road trip to Nashville and Florida. I think it's the most classically Texan mug I own. It's also almost too big to hold, which...is possibly the point? 

What I'm Reading: Vampire in a Pear Tree (Katie MacAlister)

So this was a fun one. Although I'll admit I'd probably have enjoyed it even more if I'd read any of the earlier books in the (apparently two?) previous series in which most of the characters are found. I didn't know anyone's backstories and I don't think that was ideal. But there's vampires and demi-gods and mythology and magic, so that's right up my alley. 

Vampire in a Pear Tree
Katie MacAlister

https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Pear-Tree-Ravenfall-Dark-ebook/dp/B0G2PJCF8B

On the twelth day of Christmas, Katie MacAlister brings to you:

12 shadow ravens
11 times someone wanted to brain a Greek god
10 cookies eaten by a starving knocker
9 chapters of pre-Christmas madness
8 sets of foam holiday gnomes ready for battle
7 cups of mulled Dragon's Blood wine
6 Dark Ones and dragons ready to rumble
5 diamond protection runes
4 exhausted dragon mates
3 Beloveds not suffering fools
2 broken legs
1 demon in Newfoundland form made very happy

This festive Ravenfall novella continues from where Axegate Walk and The Dragon With a Girl Tattoo ended, and is filled with a cranky raven who isn't what she appears, twenty-seven deranged druids, ancient Irish mythology in the flesh, and Owain the thane, feared by all...except the thief taker who's willing to risk everything to save him from those who want him destroyed.

A VAMPIRE IN A PEAR TREE features familiar Dark Ones and dragons, and brings holiday happiness to the Otherworld...in the face of what may well be imminent doom. 

Mug Shot: New Beginnings

This is such a cute mug. I love mugs with inspirational messages and this is so perfect for Spring. I also love the little tulip at the bottom. My parents planted tulips in the front yard flower beds when they first built the house I grew up in. But they planted the bulbs too deep so it took several years before they started to bloom. 

Shape wise, this seems more like a cup than a mug, except that it didn't come with a saucer...so mug it is. I like the design which is whimsical and childlike. 

What I'm Reading: Hearts and Glowers (K.M. Gillis)

This is a cute little Valentine's Day story, very low angst. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. 

Hearts and Glowers
K.M. Gillis

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Glowers-Grumpy-Sunshine-Office-ebook/dp/B0CNMX54FP/

Meet Noel: a workaholic on track to become the youngest partner in his accounting firm’s history. He sees the world in black and white, but when a doe-eyed new hire at the firm starts wasting company time, he’s suddenly seeing red.

Enter Candy: She’s determined to prove to herself and her family that she can thrive in a new city on her terms. A hopeless romantic, her eternal optimism is put to the test by her gorgeous yet grumpy coworker.

She’s sweet, he’s sour. But these two opposites definitely attract. Tempers and passions will flare, but can they fight the fire between them without getting burned?

Hearts And Glowers is a spicy office romance romp. 

Mug Shot: Port Aransas Mug

Yes, it's another ocean-themed mug, brought to you by Pisces-R-Us. I got this on my last trip to Port A, as it's called. This is where some of the closest beaches to me are located. It's an amazingly relaxing place with a surprising amount of wildlife. 

I like the look of this mug. I like the colors, the design, the textures, the glaze choices. It's a good size, though not huge. It's a good addition to our two-toned, sea-colored, beach-themed mug collection. 

What I'm Reading: The Wickeds (Gayle Forman)

The So, this is a story about several fairy tale villains--told from their perspectives. I was particularly intrigued because I've signed on to write a story for an anthology that's centered around the descendants of fairy tale villains. 

Anyway, it's cute. I liked it. Now, I guess I'll have to pick up the rest of the series. I think they're all available via Prime. 

Hilariously, my initial cover for my story was very similar to this one. But I've gone in another direction with it. 

The Wickeds (Faraway Collection)
Gayle Forman

https://www.amazon.com/Wickeds-Faraway-collection-Gayle-Forman-ebook/dp/B08L61SCT2/

The reviled villainesses of Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel team up to set the record straight in a subversively funny short story by the number one New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay.

Envious queen? Evil stepmother? Kidnapping hag? Elsinora, Gwendolyn, and Marguerite are through with warts-and-all tabloids, ugly lies, and the three ungrateful brats who pitted them against each other and the world. But maybe there’s more to the stories than even the Wickeds know. Is it time to finally get revenge? After all, they’re due for a happily-enough-ever-after. Even if they have to write it themselves.

The Wickeds is part of Faraway, a collection of retold fairy tales that take the happily-ever-after in daring new directions. Whether read or listened to in one sitting, prepare to be charmed, moved, enlightened, and frightened all over again. 

Mug Shot: Rumi Quote Mug

I love Rumi. I love watercolor-esque paintings, and anything to do with oceans or fish--yes, it's the Pisces thing, again. So, of course I had to buy this mug. It's a decent size, not huge. Not particularly special, just a nice, serviceable mug. I definitely bought it because it's pretty and has a great quote. 

What I'm Reading: The Love Equation (Meg Benjamin)

So this is the latest book in Meg Benjamin's Konigsburg series. Only a few scenes are set in Konigsburg itself, and only a handful of characters show up, but it's still nice to visit with some old friends, and to speculate on whether any of the new characters will stick around and make appearances in future books.

Also, not to brag, but I did this cover. I created it before I read the book, and I liked it a lot. But now having read the book, I have to say that I think it REALLy catches the mood of the story. So yay, me! lol And obviously, yay, Meg, too!

The Love Equation
Meg Benjamin

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Equation-Konigsburg-Texas-ebook/dp/B0GJQXXZCG/

They’re both unlucky in love. Can they find the equation for the perfect mate?

Celine Murphy has had it. Her current boyfriend has broken up with her by text. That makes three boyfriends who’ve turned out to be losers, including one who left for Antarctica. She’s decided to go for an online matchmaking service, but as a mathematician, she wants to minimize her own faulty choices and let an algorithm make the selection.

At the same time, musician Delaney Boone has come to Austin to mentor “the kid,” a popular actor turned musician. He’s also escaping a broken heart from a failed relationship, and he’s hoping Austin will provide some new possibilities. With those new possibilities in mind, he goes for an online dating service.

Fate—or math—matches these two unlikely lovers. But can they overcome their own doubts to accept another chance at romance? Maybe with the help of an unlikely cupid in the form of Celine’s grandfather, The Judge, and the matchmaking skills of some familiar faces in Konigsburg. And an unexpected dose of cedar fever. It’s Texas y’all. 

Mug Shot: Rainbow Mug

I love this mug because it reminds me of my grandmother. As you can see from the pic, the rainbow on the mug is very similar to the keychain I've had since the very early '80s. I've kept it all this time because it, too, reminds me of my grandmother. Here's the story...

The night after my grandmother suffered the stroke that would end up killing her, I dreamed that she and I were standing atop a cliff in Ireland. She pointed at a rainbow in the sky and told me that when I saw the rainbow, I'd know that she was all right. Now, I had never seen a rainbow in real life, at that point, but she had often told me that, growing up in Ireland, she used to see them all the time.

So, all in all, this was not a surprising dream for me to have had, at that point. HOWEVER, when I arrived at the hospital the next morning, the first thing I saw, once I walked through the front door, was the big neon rainbow over the hospital gift shop. Thanks to the dream, I found myself comforted by that. 

Anyway...tomorrow would have been her birthday. 

What I'm Reading: On Thin Ice (Kelly Jamieson)

The characters in this book are layered and nuanced and perfectly imperfect. Neither of them believe in love at first sight. They both agree that they don't/can't/never-want-to do relationships. And yet...

On Thin Ice
Kelly Jamieson

https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/book/on-thin-ice/

Marek’s world is on the ice, Nicki’s is on the stage. But their worlds collide in one steamy night in Vegas… ️

Marek

Playing for the New Jersey Storm I know how to handle the heat – on and off the ice. But nothing compares to Nicki Sullivan. We collided in Vegas: One wild night, no strings and a spark I couldn’t shake. We went our separate ways, but I never stopped thinking about her. When I see she’s involved in an accident that nearly takes her life, I drop everything and drive to New York. She’s broken, shaken… but still the woman who set my world alight. So I bring her home with me — to recover, to breathe… and maybe, to see if that spark between us still burns.

Nicki

After the accident, I can’t face the music — or the world. The last person I expect to show up is Marek — sinfully hot, too good to be real, and suddenly my rescuer. I should push him away. Instead, I let him take me to his apartment, where everything feels dangerously safe. But it’s not just comfort — it’s him. The heat between us is impossible to ignore and being with him feels right. But I can’t hide away forever. Falling for him is a risk because this time the ice beneath us may just crack.

Mug Shot: Vintage Fish Mug

So, last week I posted about a vintage looking mug. Here's an actually vintage mug. I purchased a version of this mug back in the 1970s. I'm a Pisces, so I liked the fish. And the taupe and dark brown color scheme is one I particularly favored back in my earth toned era. In fact, this was the first mug I ever bought for myself--following in my mother's and my grandmother's and my great aunt, and my...first cousin twice removed (I think?) footsteps. We all are (or were) dishware obsessed. 

I actually gave that mug away in 1994. I was moving and leaving behind several good friends and decided to gift them each with mugs that I treasured and which reminded me of them. 

I won't say I regretted that decision, but I did miss this one more than I thought I would. And when I stumbled across THIS ONE online, I had to buy it. 

It makes me insanely happy. 

What I'm Reading: I Could Write a Book ( Andie Elliott)

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. And I admit I was pulled in by the cover. Sooo cute! So this is a story about a house swap--very much a la The Holiday...for those of you old enough to remember 20 yr old movies. I had some issues with the movie--it was fun but parts of the plot never made sense to me. This book, however, deals with it all brilliantly. I love the ideas of two people trading lives with each other. Having then have them fall in love with each other's lives--and each other!--it was like the whole Country Mouse/City Mouse done RIGHT. Also, having lived in NYC and vacationed extensively in Vermont (MANY years ago, but still) I was very excited for the locations, as well. 

And I think those were handled well enough. I find it hard to imagine anyone routinely walking a mile into small town Vermont in December without encountering a daunting amount of snow. And I think that if you drive your truck into Manhattan--for a stay of several weeks, mind you--then a large portion of your day (EVERY day) will be taken up with moving said truck from one parking spot to another. 

But these are small matters and this book was very enjoyable. 

I Could Write a Book
Andie Elliott

https://www.amazon.com/Could-Write-Book-MM-Romance-ebook/dp/B0G7XPJ8G

It's hard to stop thinking about someone when you're sleeping in his bed.

Bestselling spy novelist George Knight has an ex-boyfriend's wedding he'd rather avoid, a deadline closing in, and a blank page that's starting to feel personal.

Owen Wilde has a quiet life he loves in small-town Vermont, crafting handmade wooden pieces in his workshop. It would be perfect if his ex's parting words didn't still sting.

Enter Owen's cousin and George's best friend, Zoe, who comes up with the perfect solution to both their problems: a housing swap for the holidays! George gets a quiet cabin. Owen gets a New York apartment and a vacation he didn’t ask for. (It's very, very hard to say no to Zoe.)

Except George and Owen can't seem to leave each other alone. One email turns into many. Texts pile up. And somewhere between late-night conversations and living in each other's spaces, they each start to feel more seen than they have in a long time, even though they've never actually met.

I Could Write a Book is a slow burn MM romance with witty banter, cozy winter vibes, surprise connection, and a slightly meddling found family. A queer Christmas rom com for fans of feel-good, low angst romance.

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! Free Gift!

Happy Lunar New Year 2026! 

May this Fire Horse year ignite your dreams and fuel your passions. 

https://jlcards.com/so7Rw9

I'd like to offer a small gift on this holiday. And yes, it's the wrong year, but what can you do?

It was the year of the rabbit, and someone had the brilliant idea to get a bunch of authors together and have them write rabbit-themed short stories in celebration of  the event. Everyone who signed up to participate received a randomly generated set of three characters; three adjectives with which to describe said characters; a setting; an opening line; and a line of dialogue that had to be worked into the story somewhere. 

​My characters were Doc, a drunk veterinarian; Jim, an anxious bounty hunter; and Candy, a picky stripper. My setting was a Hollywood Premier party. And my line of dialogue was, “Why don’t you take off your shirt?”

This was the result…

https://tinyurl.com/Yr-of-the-Rabbit

Mug Shot: Good Human

This mug is new, but it's giving 1960s/1970s peace and love idealism. And I think we need a resurgence of that. I don't really have a lot more to say about that. We're living through interesting times and I really don't like it. 

What I'm Reading: Second Act Romance (Julie Soto)

So you know I had to read something Valentine's Day related--although it took me awhile to find something that didn't bore me. But this was such a cute story! It's set in a theater during a performance of Oklahoma! I love theater stories, and Oklahoma! is one of my favorite classical musicals. AND it's a low angst, second chance romance. Where's the bad? 

Second Act Romance
Julie Soto

https://www.amazon.com/Second-Act-Romance-Improbable-Meet-Cute-ebook/dp/B0FVY6J9Y6

Two musical theater costars, separated by fate, reunite for a showmance to remember in a sizzling and banter-filled short story about second chances by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Soto.

When food poisoning takes out the lead in their Valentine’s Day production of Oklahoma!, TV sensation Colby J. Turner swoops in to save the show. But for leading lady Bex Hardgrave, this last-minute casting is more drama than she bargained for. Eight years ago, their onstage chemistry sparked real-life fireworks—until a misunderstanding brought down the curtain on their budding romance. Now they’re sharing the spotlight again, and their old connection is threatening to steal the show. As showtime approaches, Bex and Colby will have to decide if their second-chance romance deserves its own standing ovation.

Julie Soto’s Second Act Romance is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.

Mug Shot: Pink Depression Glass

 

So. Also not a mug. But I guess it's obvious that I'm not THAT particular. I actually have an entire set of these cups (along with saucers, dessert plates, and footed ice cream dishes. I love pink depression glass. It reminds me of my grandmother. 

She lived with us when I was growing up and I think I mentioned that I have the fondest memories of having afternoon tea with her. I even gave Allegra a version of my memories in Que Será, Syrah. 

Anyway, I bought this set probably a decade ago with the idea that I would someday host pink tea parties for the grandchildren I didn't yet have. Now I have a grandson, and a grand nephew and it's very possible that that's all the grands I'll ever have and only one of them lives near me or is old enough for tea parties, so an entire set of dishes seems like overkill. 

But I can dream.  And I can create menus. And I can definitely write a pink tea party into a book--which I fully intend to do in the very near future! 

What I'm Reading: Cards on the Table (Josh Lanyon)

Okay, first thing I want to comment on is this cover--which I absolutely LOVE. I'd buy a print. And I rarely buy or display art that's not by someone I know. This is another NOT NEW book. Although not as old as last week's Heyer, obvs. It's a not-so-cozy, quasi-noir detective story. Sort of. Think Gregory Dunne's True Confessions only gay. And with less gore and more sex. Which is absolutely NOT a criticism. It's a well-crafted mystery. Even upon re-reading it, it took me awhile to remember who the murderer was because all the suspects were so plausible. 

Once again, if you're looking for something to take your mind off of current events (and you happen to love not-so-cozy, quasi-noir, gay detective stories) I'd recommend it.

Pro tip: One of the protagonists originally had the last name "North". I know this to be so because when the "find and replace all" feature was (obviously) used to change it, it changed ALL the norths--even the ones pertaining to direction and orientation. I think there were three (?) instances where sections were rendered incomprehensible unless that fact was kept in mind. It's like finding unintentional Easter eggs. Alternately, you could make it a drinking game. 

CARD ON THE TABLE
Josh Lanyon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0071FNXWY


Your future lies in the Cards...

Fifty years ago, a glamorous Hollywood party ended in murder—the only clue a bloody Tarot card. Timothy McShay is not the first journalist to dig into the details of what really happened that long-ago summer's night, and he's not deterred by the grim fate of his predecessor. Tim has a book to write.

But when a Tarot card turns up pinned to his front door, Tim recognizes the warning for what it is. He needs help—and the only person he can turn to is his ex-lover, Detective Jack Brady.