Top Reads of 2021

I’ve been procrastinating on writing this post for days now as I truly hate picking favorites, especially when it comes to the books I read.

2021 was a great reading year and I truly read so many books that I adored. However, I do think one book stands out in my mind as being my top favorite this year. I accidentally added it twice to my list while I was pulling this together so I take that as a sign that it deserves special recognition.

With the exception of the first book on this list, the rest of the list is in no particular order. 

Most, if not all, of these books were 5-star reads, but not all of my 5 star reads made it onto my favorites. I was pulling this list together I was thinking of the books that stuck with me the most and that I tend to recommend frequently as must-reads. If you follow me on Instagram, I don’t think any of these will come as a major shock.

Okay, enough babbling! Here’s my top 10 reads of 2021:

Read More »

December 2021 TBR

How are we in the last month of 2021?? This year has been a rollercoaster of a ride, but I’m so grateful I’ve been able to get back into the book community! I’ve truly missed it and I feel like I’ve made so many great connections since I relaunched the blog and my Instagram in March.

I’m keeping my TBR pretty small for December as I want to leave room to find some fun holiday romances to read. I need to do some digging for some good holiday romances so if you have some recs, please drop them in the comments!

Here are the four books I hope to definitely get to this month:

Read More »

November 2021 TBR

October was a bit of a lackluster reading month for me, but I’m hoping I can make up for it in November, especially I’m not traveling for Thanksgiving. I’m also so close to hitting my reading goal for the year so let’s see if we can hit it in November!

I feel like I’ll continue to be a bit of a moody reader this month, but a lot of these books fit with the current reading mood. Here’s what’s on my to be read list:

Read More »

October 2021 Reading Recap

Happy Halloween! Hard to believe it, but we’re at the end of another month. This year is just flying by.

I’ll be honest, October was a tough month for me. Work was super busy and I felt like I was in a bit of a reading rut. However, I did manage to binge-watch about 6 seasons of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, so that’s something, right?

October 2021 Reads

As I was in a reading rut this month, I only finished 6 books, which is probably the fewest books I’ve read in one month this whole year. I had purposefully kept my October TBR small as I could tell I was feeling very moody. Despite the fact I only had 5 books on my October TBR, I only read 2 of them and am in the middle of a third one!

Let’s get into what I actually read this month:

Read More »

Review: From London, With Love by Bec McMaster

From London, With Love by Bec McMaster
From London, With Love
By Bec McMaster
Publisher: Lochaber Press
Publication Date: February 14, 2020
Series or Standalone: London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #5.5
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:4 Stars

MY REVIEW

I’m not a big novella person, but when I saw there was a final novella in the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy theory, I knew I had to read it. I really just wanted to spend more time with these characters.

The novella is a really fun, quick read that gives Alexandra, the Queen of England, the love story and ending she deserved. Alexandra has gone through so much over the course of the two series and it was so nice to have her get her own happily ever after.

Even for a novella, Bec McMaster has to bring in some drama and plots. Not only is Alexandra trying to find a new husband thanks to Malloryn’s suggestions that it will sure up the line of succession, the Rogues are fending off an assassin attempt against her from an unknown assailant. I loved seeing all the Rogues again in this as they work to uncover who the bad guy was. I will say, I did predict the bad person early on, but I still really liked the self-contained plot in this novel.

I was also so thrilled we got to see the romance develop between Alexandra and Sir Gideon. I definitely feel like we had gotten hints of a spark between them in some of the later books in the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series and I loved how this book filled in some of their history. It was so funny to me that everyone but them could see the match Malloryn was angling to make with his marriage scheme. While this was short, I feel like because we knew these characters and they had chemistry, the romance worked well and didn’t feel rushed. I love how Alexandra just wanted someone to see her for who she is as a person and Gideon was the perfect match for her. 

Overall, this was a fun little novel that gives a little peek into the lives of the Rogues after things return to relative normal. I feel likeI’m literally obsessed with this series and the world that McMaster created, so getting to spend a little extra time in it was perfect. If you love this series, you’ll likely want to give this novella a quick read through as it’s such a nice epilogue to the series. 

Review: Dukes Are Forever by Bec McMaster

Cover of Dukes Are Forever by Bec McMaster
Dukes Are Forever
By Bec McMaster
Publisher:Lochaber Press
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Series or Standalone:London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads

Rating: 4 Stars

MY REVIEW

It’s hard to believe it, but here we are at the end of the London Steampunk: Blue Blood Conspiracy series. Yes, I know there is a short novella afterwards, but Dukes Are Forever is the last full book in the series and I’m having a hard time saying goodbye. What a stunning conclusion!

Warning: there are a few spoilers ahead for the earlier books in this series!

Read More »
To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster

Review: To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster

Cover of To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster
To Catch a Rogue
By Bec McMaster
Publisher: Lochaber Press
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
Series or Standalone: London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #4
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 5 Stars


MY REVIEW

Ever since we met Lark and Charlie back in the original London Steampunk series, I have been DYING to get their story. Couple that with the ending of You Only Love Twice, and I knew I needed to dive into this one as SOON as possible. Honestly, I’m so glad I didn’t need to wait for this book to publish, as that wait would have been killer.

The plot for this book is spoiler for some parts of Of Silk and Steam and You Only Love Twice, so if you want to avoid knowing anything about the endings of those books, I’d stop reading now. 

Read More »
Feature image of You Only Love Twice

Review: You Only Love Twice by Bec McMaster

Cover of You Only Love Twice by Bec McMaster
You Only Love Twice
Bec McMaster
Publisher:Lochaber Press
Publication Date: August 14, 2018
Series or Standalone: London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #3
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 5 Stars


MY REVIEW

Ever since we met Gemma in Mission: Improper, I was dying to get to her book. She’s one of the few truly new characters introduced in this series and I loved her from the first time we met her. A former assassin, turned spy who can kick some serious butt? Sign me right up.

Read More »
The Mech Who Loved Me by Bec McMaster Cover

Review: The Mech Who Loved Me by Bec McMaster

Cover for The Mech Who Loved Me by Bec McMaster featuring a blonde woman in a pale pink dress holding a notebook and a man with dark hair and a metal arm in a vest and shirt. Big ben and a bridge is in the background
The Mech Who Loved Me
By Bec McMaster
Publisher: Lochaber Press
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Series or Standalone:London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #2
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 4 Stars

MY REVIEW

I am so addicted to this series! When I saw the library didn’t have this book available immediately after I finished Mission: Improper, I did what any sensible person would do. I bought the ebook box set for the whole series.

Read More »