Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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My spellcheck changed “orc” to “orca” and now I want to read that book.

A Vow to Heal (Vows of Unity #1) by Lionel Hart

April 16, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Korik does not fit in. With the recent alliance between elves and orcs, he is the only healer in his town. Shy and withdrawn, he focuses on doing a good job and helping the town’s residents. He is tall and gangly, and is more fit to work one-on-one as a healer than as a soldier or tradesman. After successfully delivering the elf prince’s child, Korik gains the trust of the local nobility. They ask him to accompany two elves south, captain Varen and his pregnant […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Romance Tagged With: elves, epic journeys, forced proximity, friends with benefits, gay romance, he's a lover not a fighter, LGBTQ romance, Lionel Hart, low angst, omegaverse, opposites attract, orcs, queer romance, road trip romance, Slow Burn Romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:20 · Genres: Fantasy, Romance · Tags: elves, epic journeys, forced proximity, friends with benefits, gay romance, he's a lover not a fighter, LGBTQ romance, Lionel Hart, low angst, omegaverse, opposites attract, orcs, queer romance, road trip romance, Slow Burn Romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

I was in a terrible confusion. Sometimes I thought, but this is your life. Stop fighting it.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

March 30, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so; for that moment I really loved Giovanni, who had never seemed more beautiful than he was that afternoon. And, watching his face, I realized that it meant much to me that I could make his face so bright. I saw that I might be willing to give a great deal not to lose that power. And I felt myself flow toward him, as […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: gay awakening, James Baldwin, LGBTQIA, paris, queer romance, sexual awakening, tragic romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:18 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: gay awakening, James Baldwin, LGBTQIA, paris, queer romance, sexual awakening, tragic romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Come for the tea, stay for the kisses.

The Raven Door by Amy Crook

March 20, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Greyson is a student in his final year of university. He’s shy and has a bit of a complex as he has never been in a relationship, and he has never been in love. Before he graduates and goes out into the world, he wants to know what love feels like. He saves up his money for a love potion, hoping that the experiment will grant him the insight he desires. Greyson goes to Aedan, a local Earth witch and a specialist in love spells […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Amy Crook, cozy romance, gay romance, Love potions, novella, queer romance, slow burn, witch

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:14 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance · Tags: Amy Crook, cozy romance, gay romance, Love potions, novella, queer romance, slow burn, witch ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

We’re two worlds apart.

Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates

March 9, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Jed is happy. He has his ranch, his horses, and his sister, and his niece. His good-for-nothing father Buddy only contacts Jed when he needs something. After leaving the ranch in Jed’s care, Buddy reinvented himself as entertainment royalty. One of the stars he manages, Remy Sean, needs someplace to lie low and recuperate after an attack during his last concert. Jed doesn’t want anything to do with Buddy, but instead of saying no, he sees an opportunity to negotiate. If Buddy agrees to escort […]

Filed Under: Romance Tagged With: child performers, city vs. country, fish out of water, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, LGBTQIA+ characters, opposites attract, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), queer romance, rockstar romance, Skylar M. Cates, Slow Burn Romance, stage fright

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:11 · Genres: Romance · Tags: child performers, city vs. country, fish out of water, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, LGBTQIA+ characters, opposites attract, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), queer romance, rockstar romance, Skylar M. Cates, Slow Burn Romance, stage fright ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Elastic tension lashed their cars together across space, alone on the road, nothing in his head but grief and freedom.

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

February 26, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Andrew held the clutch and eased onto the gas, pushing revs while the digital readout reminded him to hold it, wait for the right moment to explode. Sam’s fingers touched the rim of the moon hanging in the sky. A shudder ripped across the bones of Andrew’s forearms, terror and delight and the promise of risk bringing him to life. ― Lee Mandelo, Summer Sons For fuck’s sake Andrew. Is there anything in this scenario that feels heterosexual or well-adjusted to you? ― Lee Mandelo, […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:9 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

There’s no one on this goddamn planet I’d rather be a disaster with than you.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky (Montague Siblings 1.5) by Mackenzi Lee

February 1, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

I would teach my body to regrow my heart each time I gave it to him, over and over and over again. Heart after heart after heart—every one of them his. ― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky I had kissed my fair share of lads who had only used me as a counterpoint to their own virtue. My primary contribution to our circles back home had been making everyone else feel grounded and well-behaved in comparison. ― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman’s Guide […]

Filed Under: Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: 1700s, gay romance, Greece, greek islands, idiots to lovers, mackenzi lee, queer romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:8 · Genres: Romance, Young Adult · Tags: 1700s, gay romance, Greece, greek islands, idiots to lovers, mackenzi lee, queer romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Tracy
    on Early Fantasy: Long Stories in Which Not Much Happens
    That almost sounds "so bad it's good," and I might need to check it out.
  • louise
    on High expectations led to disappointment
    I totally agree with what you wrote. I already read this book and found it extremely complicated to understand the...
  • Ashlea
    on This standalone fantasy goes incredibly hard.
    Just finished this amazing story. Eyes are still damp. I had it queued on my Libby app for several weeks...
  • finnyfinfinn
    on Les Amis Des Chats
    It did seem to come a little bit out of nowhere fast but I enjoyed everything else so much I...
  • finnyfinfinn
    on Les Amis Des Chats
    It's very sweet!
See More Recent Comments »

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