Space Station Mir

It's been a busy month and a half or so, plus my laptop conked out, but here are the books I read in April. May is shaping up to be busy as well, as is June. Many good things, but lots of overwhelm. I'm doing a lot of escapist reading right now, but writing about it on the blog may have to wait. Books Read in April 2026 Shadows We Carry by Meryl Ain (Book club read)--Follows the lives of Holocaust survivors' children--appreciated the more uncommon topic but the writing/structure was not for me.  How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (Other book club read)--Quick read, a bit saccharine, but enjoyed the characters and the Maine setting. Revolves around a book club in a women's prison, and how a young former prisoner reestablishes her life when she gets out. Featuring African grey parrots--they are pretty cool! Working the Mound by K. Iwancio (eARC review): Read my review here The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses (The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti #3) by Malka Ann Older--...

Working the Mound (Philly Sillys #2) by K. Iwancio Release Date: March 25, 2026 Link to Buy: Kindle When this post (below) came across my Threads scroll, I couldn't say no. Fortunately, the author said yes to my review request, and my absurd descent into the world of entertainment baseball romance (yes, you read that right) began. K. Iwancio writes hilariously self-aware smutty romance. While the book absolutely showcases her and the characters' love for baseball, the Savannah Bananas , and Philadelphia, it is foremost a tribute and an exemplar of romantic smut. I was mostly tempted to read due to the amusing rarity of an entertainment baseball/romance mashup--a subgenre that may at this point in time be exclusive to this author. Although I was repeatedly warned about the spice level on Threads and in trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, I persisted in reading. I'm not-not glad I did just because it absolutely was so funny but the spice was too high for my taste, ...

Happy Passover to my fellow celebrants! My favorite read this month is not at all what I would have expected. I was really looking forward to Yerba Buena , by one of my favorite authors, Nina LaCour, and to reviewing The Magic Seeker  by another one of my favs, Jane Buehler. And while I absolutely enjoyed those, it was My Friends that still has me thinking. Maybe I like literary fiction again?! Books Read in March 2026 The Magic Seeker by Jane Buehler (eARC book review)-The 6th book in the delightful cozy fantasy romance Sylvania series. See my review here Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone-Picked up this literary romance for my birthday and so glad I finally read it. "Gold Coast" is misleading since it's set mostly in NYC but "Crazy Rich Ghanian-Americans" gives you a good idea and frankly it's the most realistic depiction of someone in the publishing business I've ever read since the protag, Ofos, is openly supported by her parents/trust fund and theref...

I'm trying to post but take it easy, so I'm including my reactions to some of the example buzzwords Jana used in the prompt, plus any more I think of. I had some very strong and immediate reactions, probably since these buzzwords are so common, especially in romance and the romantasy that's ultrapopular these days! Happy Top Ten Tuesday! My Reactions to Common Book Buzzwords or Phrases Phrase: "Morally grey characters" My Reaction: NO. Why?: I'm thoroughly sick of this trend, especially because it typically means "morally grey male love interest" which typically actually means "I fell in love with a serial killer BUT HE LOOOOVES ME." No. Don't get me wrong, I can and do enjoy genuinely nuanced characters and I do not expect anyone, much less a fictional character, to be perfect nor do I want them to be, but if I see that phrase, I think Rhysand, or, at best, Christian Grey, and I'm just not into that. (But if you are, you're ...

 I've got a few books to review lined up, and I'm also interested in some new releases and hoping to read something to get into the spring mood. It's been a long, dark, and cold winter and I'm reveling in the longer daylight hours. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Books On My Spring 2026 TBR Working the Mound by K. Iwancio--Reading this for review from the author. This is a smutty baseball romance novel with a team called the Philly Sillys, based on the Savannah Bananas but set in Philadelphia. As soon as I heard that description, I had to read it! This is the second in a series, but they're all standalone. Review coming soon! Steeped in Suspicion by Kirsten Mari--Received for review from LibraryThing. It's a cozy fantasy mystery. Enjoying the atmosphere in a small magical town replete with piskies, leprechauns, a talking cat, and a council of witches.  Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind by Annalee Newitz--I think I'm actually in a bit o...

The Magic Seeker: A Fairy Tale with Benefits (Sylvania Book #6) by Jane Buehler Release Date: March 17, 2026 *Added on March 17* Links to Buy:  The Magic Seeker a book by Jane Buehler - Bookshop.org US The Magic Seeker: A Fairy Tale with Benefits (Sylvania Book 6) eBook : Buehler, Jane: Kindle Store  I've read almost all of Jane Buehler's Sylvania series at this point, and I love them all. There's something so entirely healing in her quiet and simple fantasy world that's transitioning from monarchy to democracy in both the human and fairy worlds. This is the tough part that few series like to depict, and yet, this is one of the softest fantasy series I've ever read--and I mean that in an entirely positive context. Each book is centered around one or two characters and a central romance. Although understanding the context of the world makes each book richer, for most of them, I would say you can read them as a standalone. The Magic Seeker, book 6, is the first one wh...

 I've been busy at work and in my personal life so that's overshadowed the blog, but not my reading! Since I haven't posted in a while, I thought it might be fun to also share some of the books I'm currently reading, as well as the ones that I actually finished in February. The ice this month was really difficult for me here in the Mid-Atlantic and having to amuse two dogs inside and deal with their potty breaks in our tiny (and very icy) backyard was a lot. I'm very grateful though, for the dogs, and the backyard, and the ability to curl up in a warm house with a cup of tea and a book. I hope everyone still dealing with snow/ice (and everyone in general!) is doing well and staying warm! Books I Finished Reading in February 2026 A Bridesmaid's Guide to the Things People Hide: An Emelia Walsh Cozy Mystery by Abigail Scott--I read the first book in this series for LibraryThing review  and I enjoyed it so much, I read the second book and am looking forward to the t...