It’s wrap-up time! I was in a bit of a reading slump at the beginning of the month. There are a lot of things going on in my private life, and this month has been a bit overwhelming, so I was unable to focus.

I did reread The Disassembled Life of Duncan Cole, which is a long read, but other than that, I’ve only read a few short ones toward the end of the month. I don’t mean only in the way that short stories don’t matter as much as longer stories, because they do, but the duration I need to stay focused to consume them isn’t as long.

The Disassembled Life of Duncan Cole by S. Hart

Let’s start with Duncan. You can read me rambling on about it over at Holly’s, but here I’ll just say that I love Duncan! This is a steampunk story, and it’s awesome with all its brass and copper.

In which we meet Duncan: professional nobody who presents himself to the public as a scowling, smoking pile of contempt. Against his will, he meets Sam: a less than professional coal miner who inspires the worst in men. Together they take on one malicious train and a most insidious re-animator, and along the way Duncan remembers a few things that he’d previously forgotten.

https://books2read.com/DuncanCole

Manikin by Jordan Castillo Price

This is the third story in the Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion series. I reread the first two some time ago and when I couldn’t find anything I wanted to read, I read this again. Wild Bill!!!

Marushka loves pretty things: lace and velvet, porcelain and pearls. She sews elaborate costumes for all of her dolls, and she spends hours arranging their hair just so. Her collection is growing; she’s added a very pretty trinket, and his name is Michael. She can’t wait to dress him up.

Michael always suspected mentally ill vampires grew worse and worse as the years went by. He’d never realized how unhinged they could get.

Now Michael is in way over his head. Will Wild Bill save him? Or was it only wishful thinking on Michael’s part that their connection ran deeper than sex… or blood?

https://books2read.com/Manikin

The Tinker’s Apprentice by Jordan Castillo Price

While we’re on the Jordan Castillo Price train, this is part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend giveaway, so I picked it up. It’s cute! It reminded me a little of Quill Me Now! It’s not the same, but something about the vibe reminded me of it.

Magical bonds can move mountains…or at least keep the magichanical appliances running.

Conrad has a special talent—one for overthinking even the simplest of decisions. As a tinker’s apprentice, he should have mastered at least some magichanics by now. Unfortunately, he hasn’t even picked out his starting tool. A glimpse of an intriguing young man at the auxiliar shop makes him wonder if maybe a magical mascot can help him level up—but how would he ever pick the right one? Can Conrad settle on a magical assistant, or should he just grab a random tool and hope for the best? Either way…it’s now or never.

Grab it here!

Pursued By A Bear by Allison Temple

I thought this was from the YBBB giveaway too, but it appears I was wrong. I have no idea when or where I grabbed this, but if I read more than the first sentence of the blurb (That’s usually how far I get. One sentence. Blurbs bore me to no end LOL) I’d forgotten it now. I thought I started reading a paranormal romance with a bear shifter finding his mate. This is a contemporary tale about a guy who is rescued by his ex when an actual bear stalks him. It was okay, but not what I thought I would be reading and was in the mood for. I take full blame for that 😆

I can’t find any links for this, so… I must have grabbed it in a giveaway or something. 

One night. One truck. Two very different bears. Xavier only wants one of them to eat him.
The last place Xavier wants to be is at funeral in his remote northern hometown. That is, until a literal bear chases him into Lane’s truck. Lane broke Xavier’s teenage heart fourteen years ago, so trapped in a truck on the side of the road, is well and truly the last place Xavier wants to be.
Being pursued by a bear shouldn’t be a recipe for romance, but as they wait for help, Xavier and Lane get a chance to air old hurts and find the pieces of themselves that still fit so well together. If they can escape the bear, a second chance at love may be waiting for them with the sunrise.

 

Twice Bitten Eliot Grayson

Since I was in the mood for paranormal, I then hopped on to Twice Bitten. This is my first Eliot Grayson story, and I liked it a lot! I have… ah… there is knotting here, and that’s NOT my thing. I have read very few knotting books, and when lines like ‘You’re going to take it,” he said matter-of-factly. “And my knot.” come up, I cringe and try to read through my closed eyes LOL. I really liked Angelo though. It made me want to write a prim and proper vamp 😁 Oh, and it’s also from the YBBB giveaway.

A werewolf walks into a vampire bar… ouch.

Vampire enforcer Angelo has enough problems already, and a tall, dark, and irritating alpha werewolf is the last thing he needs.

With his cheating, murderous mate on the run, Jack’s looking for help from the local authorities—who assign Angelo to solve the problem quickly.

They don’t have anything in common on paper, but sharing magical compatibility, a sense of humor, and a common goal can build a bond—whether mundane or otherwise. Even when another bond’s impossible…

Warning: Contains magical attack scorpions, knotting, and a vampire who’s desperate to avoid ruining his suit, falling in love, or other catastrophes. Spoiler alert: He falls in love. Does he ruin his suit, though? Read and find out! Happy ending guaranteed.

Grab it here!

I have this feeling of having forgotten some book, but I can’t remember having read any more this month…