Historical Fiction

Big, burly, and terrified of being left—Patrick runs a Greenwich Village bookstore and keeps his heart carefully guarded. Then a mysterious drifter and a grieving friend show up, and everything changes. After Hours at Dooryard Books is a tender, beautifully observed story about finding people whose baggage fits with yours. Highly recommended.

Toby robs the wrong man and ends up working for him—what could go wrong? A Thief in the Night is a charming, tightly written novella that nails the romance but leaves the heist wanting more.

A charming, witty, beautifully rendered romance with two leads I'd follow anywhere. The mystery doesn't quite reach the heights of the character work, but I didn't mind. I was too busy being completely charmed.

A charming 1960s road trip romance with golden retriever Peter and prickly Caleb finding each other on the way to California. Strong character work and excellent vibes, but leans heavily on mood over momentum. A solid B.

Cat Sebastian's Page & Sommers series is cozy without being cloying—a smart blend of Christie-style mystery and heartfelt romance. Tightly written, emotionally satisfying, and anchored by two men with shared trauma learning to trust again.

Eddie's in a slump, Mark's drowning in grief, and neither of them is looking for love. But You Should Be So Lucky is a slow-burn romance that understands how life can surprise you when you've convinced yourself that part of your life is over. Warm, authentic, and worth the wait.

If you're looking for fun, magical, romantic historical fantasy with characters you'll want to spend time with and dialogue that'll make you smile, pick up The Magpie Lord. You'll be glad you did.

I'm a KJ Charles fan, so it pains me to say Unfit to Print feels underdeveloped. The romance lacks spark, the mystery fizzles, and the whole thing needed more time to breathe. A rare misfire from a usually reliable author.