What I’m Reading

I already had this book in my library, but after enjoying the Hot Under the Mistletoe series so much, I decided to pick up this Cinnamon Roll Alphas series again, which meant re-reading the first book. (I forget books I read so fast… it’s kinda sad.) Although I’m not one for the swooning over “he’s so hot” vibe in a book, Erik is sufficiently complicated to keep me from gagging over it. Josie is adorable in that driven, anxious way. Add in plenty of bakery references, and this is a read that is scrumptious. Notable queer ally rep.

In progress. I’ve always liked DJs and of course I relate to accountants. In fact, the hero has exactly the sort of job I was afraid I would get with an accounting degree.

Next up.

Ok, so I have a bit of a thing for the fake boyfriend trope. I pretty much blame Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney in that movie The Wedding Date (2005). In this instance we have a woman who is tired of her ‘well meaning’ (but woof, toxic) family nagging her about when she’s going to settle down. They want her to bring a boyfriend home for the holidays? Fine. She will bring home a man that makes them never ask that again. The fake boyfriend is, of course, a much nicer guy than he’s making himself seem to her parents and sibling. Misunderstandings and hilarity ensue, of course.

An adorable take on the forced proximity story. The brother from the previous story is a commercial pilot and has an unexpected hookup (they don’t call it a layover for nothin’, if you know what I mean) that ends a little awkwardly. Of course, a major snow event grounds everyone, and because of the gods of romantic comedy, the two of them end up on a 16 hour car trip. Is there only one bed? Of course there is. Is there a grumpy/sunshine vibe? More of a Grinch/Elf vibe. Meanwhile, I came out of this book hoping to spend Christmas in Bermuda. (Once you read it you’ll understand.)

Not out yet. What? Gah. Pre-order for December 1.

What if you didn’t want to tell your family that you broke up with your fiance Alex in a truly spectacular way? What if your neighbor’s name is also Alex, and he will come to Thanksgiving so that your folks can finally meet your ‘fiance’ Alex? And what if… neighbor Alex is a demon? Talk about fake fiance with a twist! As a default paladin type I wasn’t interested in a demon story until I saw it was Wendy Sparrow, then I snapped it up. This book coddled every happy memory I have of my faves Good Omens, The Screwtape Letters, and Doctor Faustus. Be prepared to laugh out loud!

Let’s say you have a really successful company that you founded with your best friends from college. That’s not something you want to mess up, right? Of course not. So what if you’ve been hiding the fact that you are completely in love with one of them for years and years? If it didn’t work out it would be so messy, not to mention you’d lose one of your very best friends. Your annual Friendsgiving tradition is getting harder, though. Maybe this year it will be different? Liz Lincoln does it again, with a sweetly angsty friends to lovers story.

Talia is one of my top insta-buy authors, so it’s hard to believe it took me this long to get around to reading this book. Famous playboy Nik convinces Aria he needs her ‘protection’ from amorous fans. Aria, a reigning queen of taking no shit, accepts the assignment, which is basically fake girlfriend at a lavish party in a Spanish villa. I won’t say anything else so I don’t spoil the plot, but it is yet another fabulous entry in Talia’s oeuvre.