Shai

I am behind on Stuff but here are some books I read recently that I liked

Lavender House 1950′s queer noir. Gay cop gets fired for being gay and ends up a hard boiled PI solving one of those Rich Household Murders when the head of a soapmaking fortune falls to her death. Has TW’s but a happy ending for the MC, who sounds like Batman in the audiobook.

Legends and Lattes Orc retires from adventuring and opens a coffeehouse in a city that’s never heard of coffee (which is its own kind of funny.) She accidentally found-families herself because of course she does, and it’s got f/f in it. 

A Gentleman in Moscow Smartass elegant aristocrat is sentenced to permanent house arrest in a hotel when the communists take over in Russia 100ish years ago. Book describes the next several decades of his life and all the adventures you can get up to in a small space, which are: plenty. Surprise, like the previous one this also has restaurant stuff in it so I felt very Seen by the person who recommended it to me. Has m/f in it.

A Lady for a Duke Regency m/f romance. Heroine was thought dead on the battlefield in Waterloo but instead, she’s nursed back to health in a cottage and takes the opportunity to quietly transition and return home to become the “poor companion” to her brother’s wife. Problem: her old best friend, who has a lot of Waterloo trauma himself, is at the end of his rope. He does lash out when he figures out his new love is his old lost friend, but it’s 100% selfishness not transphobia (”how could you let me think you were dead”) and there is more than enough space in the story for him to redeem himself. Just wanted to make sure y’all knew that was in there.

Scarecrow who just walked in: "That's seriously why we're here? I thought you needed my help. You said it was urgent."

Harley holding up a tote bag: "It is urgent! I made t-shirts and I need to know if they fit!"

Bruce who honestly just wanted a nap: "Let's just see the shirts Quinzel."

Scarecrow: You're actually going along with this!?"

Bruce raising a brow and looking down at the ropes that are binding him to a chair: "I don't have much of a choice..."

Scarecrow: "...Fair point. Okay Harley show us the shirts."

Harley pulls out a crop top shirt proudly, it's half red, half black that has 'OFFICIAL FUCK FREUD CLUB' on the chest: "I got em personalized! Bruce gets a black turtleneck because he was the soft goth boy in med school and he's still a little goth baby. John you get a flannel that has the sayin' on the back! Aren't they cute?"

Bruce remembering how much he hated Freud and having to listen to his methods and ideas in school, and how he, Harley, and John would shit talk him in their study group: "Okay I actually love this idea and the shirts."

Fabian: What?

The Hangman:Quick rev the engine!

Fabian: I’m not going to-