Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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The low-angst, cozy romance I needed last week

The Naked Cleaner by Sophia Soames

October 23, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“She works out naked?” Pontus asks, and gosh, there is a little color in his cheeks, which is kind of cute.  “Of course, although you will probably find this weird. She puts on a sports bra for the running machine because she says she hates having her boobs flap around.” ― Sophia Soames, The Naked Cleaner CBR15Passport: This book is set in Copenhagen, Denmark. Pontus is financially and professionally successful, but he is horrible at taking care of himself or allowing others past his excessively […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: CBR15Passport, Denmark, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, hurt/comfort, queer romance, Sophia Soames

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:59 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: CBR15Passport, Denmark, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, hurt/comfort, queer romance, Sophia Soames ·
Rating:
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“Should I be taking you dancing?” “Not in those clothes. I’ve standards.”

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles

October 23, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

And here he was now in his own bookshop, well fed, usefully busy, and enjoyably partnered. It made the violent assault and threat of torture seem quite worthwhile.” ― K.J. Charles, Slippery Creatures Will Darling has returned from serving in World War 1 and is starting to get back on his feet. After being unable to find employment upon returning to London, he is taken in by his estranged uncle, who runs a massive bookshop. When his uncle passes away from a stroke, Will takes […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Mystery, Romance Tagged With: early 20th Century, England, England between the Wars, gay romance, K.J. Charles, queer romance, spies, World War I

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:58 · Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Romance · Tags: early 20th Century, England, England between the Wars, gay romance, K.J. Charles, queer romance, spies, World War I ·
Rating:
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A Strong End to a Strong Series

Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher

October 10, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

CBR15Bingo: Adulthood (characters are adults and one of the themes is about having an adult romantic relationship when you’re scared about it and have to learn to communicate) This is the last of the Saint of Steel trilogy, which legitimately makes me sad. While I’ve also read Kingfisher/Vernon’s horror work, I really enjoy these fantasy-mystery-romance novels. This final one in the series wraps things up nicely and I did have a lovely time reading it, but I wish there was another follow-up trilogy (what can […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance Tagged With: #fantasy, cbr15bingo, gay romance, mystery, Romance, t kingfisher

GentleRain's CBR15 Review No:54 · Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance · Tags: #fantasy, cbr15bingo, gay romance, mystery, Romance, t kingfisher ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

A romance roundup with all of the best tropes

Snowed in with Benefits by Misha Horne

The 12 Hunks of Herculeia: A Monstrously Mythic Romance Part 1 by C. Rochelle

Pansies by Alexis Hall

October 10, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

If walking back out into the real world this morning had been sensory overload, this trippy detour into fantasy land was full on sensory system crash. Except there was no crash, there was no quit, there was just keep going until you hit a wall and then figure out how to walk up the wall to the ceiling. So that’s what I did, gritting my teeth and pushing through. ― Misha Horne, Snowed in with Benefits 3.5 stars Austin Ash is wild, uncontrollable, and an […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Alexis Hall, bdsm romance, bullying, C. Rochelle, childhood enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity, gay romance, greek mythology, Misha Horne, monster boyfriend, monster love, queer romance, small town romance, tentacle smut

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:55 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance · Tags: Alexis Hall, bdsm romance, bullying, C. Rochelle, childhood enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity, gay romance, greek mythology, Misha Horne, monster boyfriend, monster love, queer romance, small town romance, tentacle smut ·
Rating:
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How much of yourself you have to leave behind in order to look like everyone else

Lie With Me by Philippe Besson

October 5, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

I’m in this state of one-way desire. I feel this desire swarming in my belly and running up my spine. But I have to constantly contain and compress it so that it doesn’t betray me in front of others. Because I’ve already understood that desire is visible. ― Philippe Besson, Lie With Me I’m guessing that there was probably no bolt of lightning, just a warm night full of wine and fluttering moths and the feeling that nothing is really important and everything is possible. […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: 1980's, AIDS crisis, coming of age novel, first love, forbidden love, France, gay fiction, gay love, gay romance, Longing, Nineteen eighties, Philippe Besson, queer romance, teenage romance

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:51 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: 1980's, AIDS crisis, coming of age novel, first love, forbidden love, France, gay fiction, gay love, gay romance, Longing, Nineteen eighties, Philippe Besson, queer romance, teenage romance ·
Rating:
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As lovely as a book about imminent death can be

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

October 3, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

I cannot tell you how you will survive without me. I cannot tell you how to mourn me. I cannot convince you to not feel guilty if you forget the anniversary of my death, or if you realize days or weeks or months have gone by without thinking about me. I just want you to live. ― Adam Silvera, They Both Die at the End I guess I could call this energy freedom. No one will be around to judge me tomorrow. No one will […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: Adam Silvera, cbr15bingo, gay romance, last day on earth, New York City, queer love, queer romance, YA Romance

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:50 · Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: Adam Silvera, cbr15bingo, gay romance, last day on earth, New York City, queer love, queer romance, YA Romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

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