Pride 2023 - Books and Authors Day 1 - Welcome

Hello and Happy Pride!  

For Pride Month 2023, I’d like to share some of the fabulous books and authors I’ve discovered since I started reading novels featuring LGBTQ or LGBTQ-friendly characters or written by LGBTQ or LGBTQ-friendly authors back during my 8 furlough weeks during lockdown in 2020. It all started with romance novels. 

Swoon. 

In the first year, 2020-2021, I read a whopping three gay romance novels before I read an article highlighting LGBTQ authors and stories in anticipation of Pride 2021. 

By that time, I’d become addicted to romance novels - both MF and MM romances - and had no problem diving way down the romance rabbit hole that led me to discover my favorite romance tropes are enemies to lovers, fake dating, a.k.a. my favorite, and sports romances - especially hockey. 

Yeah - I’m looking at you, L.A. Witt, Eden Finley, Saxon James, Joshua Harwood & Ryan Taylor. Yes - there are more of you, and you’re all evil, but give me time. *shakes fist*  I’ll read all your books if it’s the last thing I do! (I may or may not have started a Romance-Hockey shelf on Goodreads. Sigh.)

Ahem. In the meantime, here are those first three books that got me going. You may or may not have heard of these. I've discovered a real love of reading books by indie authors. And don't worry - I still read those that are traditionally published, and yes, you'll see some this month.

While I don't review EVERY single book I read, I do review a lot of them - especially since I'm learning that a review, even something so simple as a few words stating you loved a book or kept you up because you had to read one - more - chapter, is the best thing you can give an indie author. 

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? What books do you recommend? 

As always, my reviews can be found on Goodreads and other retail sites. 

Take care, and happy reading!

- Heather 

As always, my reviews can be found on Goodreads and other retail sites. 

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I like to read. A lot. Working from home and not having kids helps me out with that so I thought I'd share what I've read so far this year. 

Have you read any of these?

Told you it was a lot! 

I'm still in my romance phase but am easing my way back into more mysteries and thrillers. And fantasy. Although, I find I really enjoy contemporary romances, so I'm definitely not going to leave those behind. 

At the end of last year / beginning of this year, I definitely went through a cowboy romance phase. Don't judge and don't think I haven't already bought Maisey Yates' new cowboy romance novel. It's set at Christmas. It'll be awesome, but don't be surprised if you hear that I'm moving to Oregon to start working on a ranch. Again. Don't judge me. I already have a cat for that. 

Starting just before Pride Month, when everyone was recommending LGBTQIA+ books to read, I fell hard for LGBTQIA+ romance novels including my favorite book of the year, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Seriously - romance and politics. Not since All's Fair with Love, War, and Running for President* have I been this happy! I have even reread it AND listened to it. 

Right now I'm starting a new mystery by one of my absolute favorite authors, Julie Anne Lindsey, called Seven Deadly Sequins - it's Book 2 of her Bonnie & Clyde mysteries. Book 1 was Burden of Poof! She's an Ohio author, but fear not. All the murders in her books take place out of state, such as Kentucky Crime Ring which I finished this morning. That means you're in good shape here in the Buckeye state! (Don't mind the obnoxious football fans, God love 'em!)

I've also had the pleasure of reading a debut series by a brand new author and friend, Krissyann Granger. Last weekend, I finished Book 4 of that series, Maggie Finds Clarity, and gave it a 5-star review. 

I listen to books as well - great for when I'm actually driving to work each day. Right now, we're 50/50 with working home vs. in the office. I finished Words of Radiance, book 2 in the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson (OMG - it was so incredibly good) and am currently on book 3: Oathbringer. I read Book 1, the Way of Kings. Book 2 was 48 hours and Book 3 is a mere 55 hours. I'm about 20 hours in. Only 35 to go! 

I don't give a lot of 5-star ratings, but Red, White and Royal Blue, Burden of Poof, Maggie Finds Clarity, and Words of Radiance each got one. I'll highlight my 5-stars here later this year so be sure to watch for those. 

So tell me, what are you reading? 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather

* All's Fair with Love, War, and Running for President is not actually a romance. It's a very well-written political book written by Mary Matelin (Campaign advisor to President George H.W. Bush) and her husband, James Carville (Campaign advisor to then-governor Bill Clinton). It's an excellent read!

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Review - Red, White & Royal Blue

 A couple of weeks ago I read what has got to be my absolutely favorite book of the year so far: Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston. 

It's the story of a fake friendship turned real romance between the First Son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry of Wales. 

The story was fabulous and incredibly well-written. It drew me in until I had fallen in love with both these characters the more I read. The writing portrayed a lot of very dynamic, intelligent people all navigating the world of politics and royal life while at the same time helping two young men navigate their own sexuality as they developed and deepened their friendship. 

I wrote the following review in Goodreads: 

No idea why I waited as long as I did to read this book, so please don’t ask. I fell in love with both Alex and Henry - such amazing, rich - as in a lot of depth rich, intelligent, funny, vulnerable, complex, wonderful characters.

This story was incredible. I devoured it and read it through to well past midnight so I could finish it all in one sitting. Yeah - I was tired at work on the 14th, but it was oh so worth it!

I loved this book so much that a couple days after I read it on my nook, I used an audible credit and listened to it all over again. I’m pretty sure I want to listen to it again! Ramon de Ocampo did a fantastic job portraying all the different characters. I was even more afraid of Zahra after listening to him (him = de Ocampo) tell the story.

Read this book. It’s a beautifully woven love story between two young men who, though some self-discovery and a blossoming friendship are discovering it really is ok to be true to themselves.

Pretty sure this is my absolute favorite book that I’ve read so far this year and with the pandemic, working from home, and no kids? I’ve read a lot so far. This book was magnificent!

And it's completely true. It was magnificent. I also listened to it on Audible shortly after I read the actual book! On Audible, the book was narrated by Ramon de Ocampo who did an excellent job of portraying all the various characters and languages in the book. (Book was in English with parts of the dialogue in Spanish. 

Shortly after reading this book, I found a Facebook group devoted to fans of this novel which I recommend you find. The best part is some of the fan art of Alex and Henry which is a spectacular rendition of the two men together, drawn out from various scenes throughout. 

In the Facebook group, I received a recommendation to try Boyfriend Material as well, which shows the fake boyfriend, budding romance between Luc and Oliver. I read and enjoyed that book as well.

Both books told wonderful love stories that included emotional moments combined with humor and snark at times - something to which I can definitely relate! 

Casey McQuiston - Red, White & Royal Blue (Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon)

Alexis Hall - Boyfriend Material (Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon)

Happy reading! 

 - Heather

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