REVIEWS - 2021 Book Recommendations Summary

 

Wow! What a year!! 

Whilst 2021 sucked donkey balls in almost every other way, my reading material was fantastic. Who says you can't find a silver lining, eh? 

I only review books on this blog that I would genuinely recommend to a friend, so you know these are all gems.

So, let's group these by genre and give you links to my reviews and therefore the books:

Fantasy/Paranormal

Hell's Teeth by James Fahy (GM Fantasy)

Buried Magic by TJ Green (Witchy)

Realm by Jessica Cantwell (YA)

The Alpha Awakens by Anna Fury (Dystopian Shifter)

Immortal Matchmakers Inc by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (Deity Romance)

Rise of the Sparrows by Sarina Langer (YA)

Hades by Carly Spade (Greek God)

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon (Gothic Monster Porn)

Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow (NA)

Christmas

Spine of Winter by Angeline Trevena (Dystopian)

Toot Hansell Christmas by Kim Watt (Dragon Mayhem)

Christmas at Snowdrop Cottage by Helen J Rolfe (Quaint)

The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor (Saucy Santa)

Santa Daddy by Keira Andrews (m/m Lumberjack Mall Santa)

Christmas on Dragonback Mountain by Kimberly Forrest (Dragon Shifter)

Lumber Snack by Mae Harden (m/f Lumberjack)

Enthralled by AH Lee (m/m Yule Magick)

M/M (male/male) Romance

Watch And Learn by KC Wells (Erotic)

Incubus Seduction by Emma Jaye (Parnormal Erotica)

All The Cuts And Scars We Hide by Garry Michael (Healing)

Red, White And Royal Blue by Casey McQuistion (Royal)

Him by Sarina Bowen (Sweet Sports)

Ghost Hunted by BL Blackwell (Spooky)

Polyamorous

Looking For It by Allyson Lindt (m/m/f Friends to Lovers)

Inevitable by Briar Prescott (m/m/m incl. ACE)

Mystery

Crime Scenes, Cats and Killer Heels by Violet Schofield (Kitty)

Death at The Frost Fair by Karen Charlton (Regency)

The Dragon Sleeps by Ellen Read (Flapper)

Trafficked by Wendy Hewlett (Sex Crimes)

Random

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert (Royal)

This Changes Everything by Helen McGinn (Wistful)

Diary of a Shy Backpacker by Bruce Spydar

Morning Glory Milk Farm by CM Nacosta (err...Minotaur Romance?)

Prizes

If you push me, I'd say Him by Sarina Bowen was my favourite read of this year. I just think about it and this book gives me 'the feels'. Just so sweet!! Enough angst to keep it exciting. And masses of aww! I even loved the sequel too.

Morning Glory Milking Farm wins my award for weirdest read of the year! I'm almost lost for words still. You just gotta read it to understand why. I think every reader has been surprised by the sweet romance that lies within this erotic story.

So, there we have it, all my book recs of 2021. I really hope you find something to read from this list, and you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - ENTHRALLED - riveting!

Enthralled by AH Lee

Date read: 23rd December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Yule Magickal Medievalish Romance Short m/m

Buy link: Amazon 

Oh, this book is a delight. I've not read the rest of the series, but I will now!

A knacker, merek, is friends with a necromancer (who's a very nice chap). 

Merek is tower-sitting for said necromancer on the eve of Winter Solstice. And plenty of things go bump in the night!!

Mysterious, magickal, angsty goodness - with all the feels!

And I love his dog, Pumpernickel. A fab sidekick for the poor, lonely Merek.

There's a distinct medieval vibe to this charming tale, which is totally my thing.

Something different for a quick, Christmassy read. Just lovely!

4.5* from me.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - LUMBER SNACK - delicious!

Lumber Snack by Mae Harden

Date read: 20th December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Romance Short m/f

Buy link: Amazon 

Part of The 12 Days of Kissmas - an assortment of single short stories by varying authors. 

This is not an anthology - each story stands as it's own book, which is fab - you can pick & choose which ones to buy. 

I loved this book from the start - Millie is maid of honour to a bridezilla. 

And she ends up as a partridge in a pear tree; I kid you not! It's hilarious.

This may be a short story, but it's packed with angst and slow-burn. Oh, and a gorgeous dog. And the obligatory snow for a Christmas romance. 

Fun, witty, sexy and sweet - like a candy cane ;) 

If you want a romantic Christmas short, look no further!

4.5* from me. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - CHRISTMAS ON DRAGONBACK MOUNTAIN - scorching!

Christmas on Dragonback Mountain by Kimberly Forrest

Date read: 12th December 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Shifter Short m/f

Buy link: Amazon 

This is a lovely short story. But you know what? It'd be even better as a novel.

This has angst and heat, and is good. But I'd love to explore that angst more, to have more effort to overcome challenges and to see what else happens during the pregnancy. 

I like how it starts after a break up. And Kayla is fabulously feisty. 

But as a short story with a dragon shifter, it's fun anyway. 

And there's a couple of saucy scenes to set Christmas sizzling.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - SANTA DADDY - He's a lumberjack and that's OK

Santa Daddy by Keira Andrews

Date read: 7th December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Saucy Christmas Short m/m

Buy link: Amazon 

It's that time of year, so I'm reading some Christmas books. And I challenged myself with this one. I don't usually gel with daddy books, but this one is really gentle. 

Enter Nick, a sexy mall Santa who's really a lumberjack - ho ho hoooo! But he's also a widower - aww. 

And Hunter, an awkward guy who's been to uni and worked some unsatisfactory jobs. 

There's an age gap, which comes as no surprise given the title. 

Hunter helps Nick creep back out of his hermit shell. And Nick helps Hunter gain confidence, with an amazing scene reflecting this near the end. I love this dynamic.

This relationship gave me all the feels; just super sweet and supportive. 

I maybe wanted another adult scene near the end to continue the hot hot hot action. I wanted to explore that power play in their bed a little bit more. 

But, really lovely characters. Fun plot. Lots of snow. And a Santa I won't soon forget. 

Definitely on my 'recommend to a friend' nice list!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - THE NAUGHTY LIST - Naughty but oh so nice!

The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor

Date read: 5th December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Saucy Christmas Short

Buy link: Amazon 

Ho ho hoooh so naughty! 

This is a super quick read, and is effectively one long saucy scene.

Nikolai is the new Santa. He appears in Ellie's room and soon realises she's very very naughty! And this yummy Santa is so ready to dish out some punishment!! 

That's pretty much all you need to know. 

Want a short story with magical shenanigans? This is the book you're looking for!

4.5* 

Always in love and light,

TL