Reading By MCD, Autumn Edition

Hello, my lovely readers! If you read my August newsletter, you know I’ve stepped back from doing too many ‘extras’ for the last month, which means I’ve done a lot of reading and a lot of knitting. Plus daily walks (and Sunday hikes), plus binging fav TV series.

Below are some of the books that I’ve been reading, my next anticipated reads, and the new releases I can’t wait to dig into!

[I’ve used Amazon USA affiliate links (yes, out of laziness, sorry!) but remember you can change the .com to .ca or .co.uk (etc) to find your preferred store].

Recent Reads

I’ve picked up more romance-centric books in the last month than normal (for me), tearing through a bunch of authors’ backlists. The standouts were:

Titan: My Anti Hero (Football), Pine River (MMA), Anti Stepbrother (College/Frat), Rich Prick (High School Senior), and Hockey with Benefits (College).

Penelope Douglas: all 18+ and/or ‘taboo’: Five Brothers, Bully (Fall Away Series), Credence, and Punk 57.

Roxy Collins: Omegaverse: Billionaires in Heat (currently 4 books) and Pack’s Companion (currently 2 books).

Ari Wright: Omegaverse: MVP: Most Valuable Pack (currently 3 books, book 4 on preorder)

Callie Hart: Romantasy (romantic fantasy): Quicksilver

New releases I can’t wait to read

E.P. Bali: Her Psycho Beasts (start with the prequel Her Vicious Beasts). Why choose, shifters, and an academy setting.

Isla Davon: The Blackened Bond (start with The Blackened Blade). Why choose, shifters and other magic users, and an academy setting.

Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti: Never Keep (Sins of the Zodiac Book 1). Same world as Zodiac Academy.

Hailey Edwards: Fair Market Value (yes, I’m a book behind!). Urban fantasy.

Emily Rath: Pucking Sweet (start with Pucking Around). Why choose hockey romance.

What are some of your favourite recent reads? And what are you looking forward to reading next?

Delving into the ‘why choose’ genre

I meant to put this list (below) in my new release newsletter, but then I felt like I was cramming too many things into it last week so I didn’t. Jade, over in the reader-run Facebook fan group, was looking for a list of why choose books after reading Mirth, Part 1, which reminded me I already had this list put together. So! Here is my (incomplete) list of books and some brief thoughts on ‘delving further into the why choose genre’.

As it is rapidly becoming apparent – yes, I’m already making notes on another duology. I wish I could write faster – my Conduit World books are going to feature Why Choose romances.

The reason for this is made clear(er?) at the end of Mirth, Part One. And, while I don’t want to spoil the discovery about how the Conduit World works for the powerful awry and intersection points, specifically, it’s not just about sexy times with multiple partners (though that is hopefully fun as well). And while the Mirth duology leans heavily toward the romance – the plot is centered around a matchmaking event, and the book, now duology, was meant to be a fun, palette-cleanser sort of book for me – that won’t necessarily be the case for all the Conduit World books (see Awry, for example).

Here is an interesting article over on Book Riot: What is a Why Choose Romance

And over on Goodreads: Why Choose Book Lists

I’ve cobbled together my own (completely incomplete) list of why choose books. Most of these books are in Kindle Unlimited (sorry in advance to my wide readers!) but you might be able to grab the audiobook/paperback, etc. I’m seriously (overwhelmingly) pressed for time right now so I’ve only used my Amazon USA affiliate links below, but as always, simply change the .com to .ca or .co.uk (etc) to redirect to your country store.

Urban Fantasy/Romantsy

Her Vicious Beasts (prequel) by EP Bali – ongoing

The Bonds That Tie (Broken Bonds) by J Bree – complete series

The Blackened Blade by Isla Davon – ongoing

Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac (Dark Fae) by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti – complete

Omegaverse

Sweetverse (Baby and the Late Night Howlers) and (Lola and the Millionaires) by Kathryn Moon – interconnected standalones

Pack Darling by Lola Rock – duology in an interconnected universe

Ruined Records (Left in Ruins) by Lillian West – duology, interconnected universe

Romance: rock star, crime, thriller/stalker, hockey, etc

Hannaford Prep (Just Drop Out) by J Bree – complete series. Content Warning: sexual content involves ages 14+

Jacksonville Rays (Pucking Around) by Emily Rath – ongoing, interconnect standalones

Lilac by B.B. Reid – standalone

WITSEC (Find Me) by Ashley N. Rostek – complete series

Do we have any favourites in common? I downloaded a few more while making this list, but what am I missing?

MCD’s Book Club Update, Part Two

Hello, my lovely readers!

MCD’s Fav Things: Book Club: August

August: Dark Wizard (Bonds of Magic 1) by Jeffe Kennedy.

Genre: Fantasy Romance (Romantasy). Series (3 books, the POV shifts).

Available on all retailers (I’m sorry I’m so pushed for time I’ve only grabbed the Amazon links):

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3LLxvDy
USA: https://amzn.to/3WJyVVj
UK:https://amzn.to/4d6jJY4

A Conversation and a Hot Chocolate with Jeffe Kennedy: August 31, 2024 at 2 pm PT. Join the guest list for the live zoom: https://forms.gle/qJ6zBJR1jb9AG4GFA (instructions and link will be emailed three days ahead)(also these lists don’t roll over, you must sign up every month, pretty please).

Join the discussion in MCD’s Adepts Discord.

Giveaway (see paperback above): drop a question in the discord (there will be a thread under August) or in the chat during the live zoom event to enter to win the autographed paperback and bookmark.

A Conversation and a Hot Chocolate with Maria Vale – video now available!

Follow me on YouTube if you don’t want to miss any other videos (though I will try to post here as well).

July Giveaway: Deb won the autographed paperback of The Last Wolf!

Also, since this is time-sensitive, I’ve been invited to be an attending author at RARE London 2025. Tickets go on sale on August 3 at 9 am UK time. And sell out very quickly.

Venue: ExCel London

Date: July 5, 2025

Tickets on sale: August 3 @ 9 am UK time

Eventbrite ticket link (will go live about a day ahead of the event): https://rare25london.eventbrite.com

Facebook Attendee Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rare25londonattendees

Reading by MCD: Why Choose Edition

So I’ve recently sunk (gleefully) elbow deep into the Why Choose (also known as Reverse Harem) genre/trope. The reason for my deep dive ‘research’ will become exceedingly clear later in the year (or perhaps in early 2024) when I (finally) release the second book in my upcoming Space Opera/Sci-Fi Romance series. But also, because I specifically discovered The Bonds that Tie series and really enjoyed it!

Since I’ve been really, really slacking in sharing my current reads, I thought I offer up this list of recent favs (and otherwise enjoyable reads) all at once!

These are all multiple partner (some polyamorous) reads and (in general) come with a list of trigger warnings. Please double-check those and read the sample pages before digging all the way in!

This is in no way a sponsored post, but to make it easier on myself, the links below lead to book one of the series on Amazon.com (simply replace the .com with .ca or .co.uk to find the book in your region) and are affiliate links. FYI, I reinvest any $$ I make into paperback (etc) giveaways.

The Bonds That Tie (Broken Bonds) by J Bree. This (complete) series totally sucks you in and keeps you guessing, full of sexy times (Why Choose?), magic, enemies to lovers, and traumatic histories. Great depth of character and interesting world-building.

I also enjoyed J Bree’s mafia-inspired, Hannaford Prep (complete) series (Just Drop Out) but I admittedly really tuned out the actual age of the characters and just went with my own interpretation:

Another read ‘outside my typical genre’ was the WITSEC (ongoing) series (Find Me) by Ashley N. Rostek (Instagram link). Trigger warnings abound! And holy cliffhangers (like ACTUAL cliffhangers). I’ve got the last book in the series preordered (August 2023).

So the ‘Twisted Sisters’, aka Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti, are rather well-known for their bully romances, and Zodiac Academy specifically, (which I honestly tapped out of midway through book 6 because all the ongoing strife and despair was just personally too much for me) but I really enjoyed their (complete) Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series (Dark Fae).

So Lola Rock has to be a pseudonym for another well-established writer, right? Because the Pack Darling duology (complete) does not read like an indie debut in the least! This is a Why Choose (Omegaverse), rife with trigger warnings (!!), which I really, really enjoyed.

Lola and the Millionaires is book two in the Sweetverse Series by Kathryn Moon but technically it and part two can be read as a complete duology. I’ve already purchased book 1, and will likely gobble up the rest of the series. Another Omegaverse-type series, lots of trigger warnings (all listed on Kathryn’s site). Very enjoyable!

If you are interested in a list of a wider range of books that I recommend, click here for my ongoing list of fav reads!

What are your favourite Why Choose novels/series?? Let me know in the comments!

Adept Universe Booklist

ETA: UPDATED JUNE 2023

I had Naomi Lane (who I discovered via Carrie Ann Ryan – thank you, Carrie Ann!) do up some pretty graphics for you (and me, of course) to share on social media or just for yourself (in the case of the PDF version of the booklist). I’m posting them here on my blog for easier download! I really also need to add them to my mailing list automated welcome sequence but we all know that won’t happen any time soon. 😂

You can find the full reading order (also downloadable) under Novels (and Reading Order) (see the top menu or click the previous link).

If you fill out and share either, or both, of these graphics on your social media, please tag me! I’m @MeghanCianaDoidge on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and @mcdoidge on Twitter.

Fun! Fun!

Thanks for the pretties, Naomi!!

MCD NOTE: updated as of June 2023

MCD’s preorders through December 2021

Being the greedy soul that I am, I took a moment during my afternoon coffee break (with a dark vanilla ice cream bar in hand, of course) and perused my upcoming preorders to see what series I should be rereading in anticipation. While my list stretches deep into 2022, I was excited to see so many favourites coming my way in the next few months.

A screenshot of MCD’s preorders for the rest of 2021

Note: links are to Amazon just to cut down my work load, and they SHOULD forward to the store in your country. But, if they don’t, as always, simply change the .com to .ca or .co.uk, etc. Also, all these books are available on all retailers, except the Honey and Ice Series.

August: The Devil You Know (Mercenary Librarians Book 2) by the writing duo, Kit Rocha. I enjoyed book one (sexy, fast paced, ‘enhanced’ characters, found family), and immediately preordered book two. I’m very excited about the next romantic pairing!!

September brings three highly anticipated titles!!

True Dead by Faith Hunter. Book 14 in the Jane Yellowrock (Skinwalker) series. I adore both of Ms. Hunter’s ongoing series.

A Throne of Feathers and Bone (The Honey and Ice Series) by Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare. The first book was lightning speed paced with an interesting mix of contemporary setting and the fae.

The Last Graduate (The Scholomance 2). The follow up to A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Which I loved so much I’ve already reread it once, and bought it in audio. It’s CRAZY good!

November: Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle Book 3). Final book of the trilogy from the twisty and delightful minds of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (also known for their EXCELLENT Illuminae Files trilogy).

And in December, last but certainly not least, Grey Magic (Bonds of Magic 3) by Jeffe Kennedy. Hot, hot, hot dark fantasy (great world building).

Want to know some of my all time fav books? Here is my completely incomplete list, updated to include early 2021.

What books are you looking forward to reading in the next few months?

MCD’s Most Anticipated Releases of 2020 (so far)

Because I like to include pretty pictures and a ton of links, I’m posting an expanded version of my February newsletter content – which will include the two giveaways I also just posted – on my blog. So for those of you who follow my blog and subscribe to my newsletter you’re getting some doubled content today, my apologies.

The links below lead to books on Amazon.com (simply replace the .com with .ca or .co.uk to find the book in your region). Also, most if not all of these books are available on all retailers, but linking to every store would take me hours, sorry!

MCD’s Most Anticipated Releases of 2020

(so far)

First, I need to mention a couple of books that just released because if I’d gotten this post written last week they would have still been on my preorder list!

Age of Deception (Firebird Chronicles 2) by T.A. White.

Intriguing world-building and driving plot! The first book in this space opera series (aka urban fantasy in space) is Rules of Redemption.

I also really enjoyed the first three books in T.A. White’s Broken Lands series (Pathfinder’s Way) (I haven’t read book four yet as it’s the beginning of a new story arc).

Alone in the Wild (City of the Lost 5) by Kelley Armstrong.

The next chapter in the City of the Lost series doesn’t release in Canada until February 11, so I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet but it’s available everywhere else. I’m a big, big fan of Kelley Armstrong’s work and absolutely adore the romance in this thrilling series.

MCD’S CURRENT PREORDERS

Releasing March 17. Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson 12) by Patricia Briggs.

I’ve just gotten all caught up on this urban fantasy series (Moon Called) via audiobook (likely my third full re-read) and pretty much love every single book!! I just need to re-read the Alpha and Omega series before March 17!

Releasing April 28. Starbreaker (Nightchaser 2) by Amanda Bouchet.

I really enjoyed the first book in this space opera series (Nightchaser) and am looking forward to the next. I also loved the author’s sexy, action-and magic-infused fantasy series, Kingmaker Chronicles (Promise of Fire).

Releasing May 5. Aurora Burning (Aurora Cycle 2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the world-building in this YA space opera (Aurora Rising). Bonus: the book covers are outrageously gorgeous.

The authors’ The Illuminae Files (Illuminae) made my favorites list in 2019.

Releasing May 19. Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion 3) by Jessie Mihalik.

Each book in this sexy, sexy, intriguing space opera series (Polaris Rising) is written from the POV of one of three exceedingly accomplished but very different sisters. Book 1 and 2 made my Best of 2019 list and I can’t wait to read book 3!!

Releasing July 28. Spells for the Dead (Soulwood 5) by Faith Hunter.

I’m a massive fan of everything Ms. Hunter writes. This is an offshoot of her Jane Yellowrock series (Skinwalker) and I thought it was going to take me a while to fall in love with the characters (I was never a fan of Rick’s) but I fell for Nell pretty quickly in book one, Blood of the Earth.

Releasing August 25. Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy 5) by Ilona Andrews.

ALL THE ANTICIPATION!! August is far too far away. I adore everything these authors write!! The first book in this action-filled, dreadfully sexy urban fantasy is Burn for Me.

What are your most anticipated releases of 2020? Comment below and let me know. I will most definitely be adding to my preorders steadily throughout the year!

Click here for A Completely Incomplete List of MCD’s Favourite Books.

Book club: Al-Kabar by Lee French

The first book in the Kick-Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Club is Al-Kabar by Lee French! [Click the link for more information about the book club]. I will start a discussion thread in my reader run fan group as well, but feel free to comment on this post if you aren’t on Facebook.

FYI – Al-Kabar by Lee French can currently be found in the 2019 SFWA Fantasy Storybundle but only util Feb 14, 2019.

Short synopsis: A young woman is chosen by powerful supernatural forces to bring justice to a desert land of oasis kingdoms.

About the Author: Lee French lives in Olympia, WA with two kids, two bicycles, and too much stuff. She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community, where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom. In addition to spending too much time there, she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with one dragon and absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don’t get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.

You can find Lee on her web site: https://authorleefrench.com or on Twitter: @AuthorLeeFrench

MCD’s thoughts/notes (as of Jan 23): I’m only about a third of the way through Al-Kabar, but quite enjoying the world Lee French has created. It’s a different read for me (I tend to read only straight up urban fantasy these day), full of spices and sand and fire layered between tiny intimate moments that really breath life into the otherwise foreign setting (for me at least).

Let me know your favourite parts in the comments below or over in the fan group discussion. We have two weeks to read and chat. Also please feel free to chat amongst yourselves!!

Kick-Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Club

I mentioned the idea of a book club connected to the SFWA Fantasy Storybundle that I posted about last week in my reader run fan group, and a bunch of readers seemed interested. So we discussed the idea, I suggested a schedule, and the ‘club’ officially starts tomorrow.

How it will work: I’ll introduce a book every two weeks (see the schedule below) here on my blog and in Facebook group, along with links and some extra info about the author, etc. If it is a trilogy, we’ll read the first book for the club. The main discussion will take place in my fan group, but if you aren’t on Facebook please feel free to start a discussion on the specific blog posts as well.

A few of the authors might be participating as well. Fun! Fun! But I’ll confirm who and how as we move forward.

The schedule:

Wednesday, January 30 – Al-Kabar by Lee French
Wednesday, February 13 – Amaskan’s Blood by Raven Oak
Wednesday, February 27 – Ashwin by Kit Rocha
Wednesday, March 13 – Blade and Rose by Miranda Honfleur
Wednesday, March 27 – Catching Echoes by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Wednesday, April 10 – Dragon Blood Omnibus by Lindsay Buroker
Wednesday, April 24 – Genrenauts by Michael R. Underwood
Wednesday, May 8 – Radiance by Grace Draven
Wednesday, May 22 – The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy
Wednesday, June 5 – The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas
Wednesday, June 19 – The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Wednesday, July 3 – The Twenty-Sided Sorceress by Annie Bellet

Some of you might own some of these books already, or prefer to get them from the library, but if you’re interested in purchasing the book bundle you can find more information about it here: https://storybundle.com/fantasy or in my previous blog post.

Also I understand that sticking to a two week schedule might be difficult (for me as well) so if you need to skip books, or pick and choose what you have the time to read, no worries. Please participate as you are able. This is all just for fun.

Let me me know if you have any questions. The book club officially launches tomorrow with Al-Kabar by Lee French! I’m about a third of the way through my read so far and quite enjoying the world Lee has created.

I hope you can join me. It should be fun.

MCD fan group and a paperback giveaway

Cheryl approached me a few weeks ago about starting up a fan group.

Yes, for me.

After I finished being more than a little blown away that anyone would possibly want to devote their time to something like that … yes, again, for me … I said I would be honoured. Then I warned her that it would just be her and I chatting away. She seemed to think that other readers would be interested in joining the group as well, so she created one here.

The first bit of business to take care of? Apparently, we need a name. Cheryl has posted a poll on the group page, please feel free to vote and/or submit your own suggestion. The name with the most votes wins an autographed paperback – winner’s choice of any of my books. 😀

And – because I like adding photos to my blog posts – guess what I scored for Christmas?