Book 23: The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre

What a great book! This is a pop history book detailing how a KGB spy was flipped to be a double agent for the British during the Cold War from the 1960s-1980s, and how he was eventually sniffed out by the Soviets and yet still managed to make it out of Russia in the most over the top, unbelievable spy shit way imaginable. Oleg Gordievsky's work as a spy almost went terribly so many times, and yet he also managed to pass along information to the British (and, through intelligence sharing, the Americans) that was quite important. It's a real reminder that everything that happens in world history etc. depends so much on luck and on random circumstance, for better and for worse, always. A great time and I now have like ten other books by this author on my tbr list.

Grade: A

Book 22: Enlightened by Joanna Chambers

The final book in the Enlightenment trilogy following Beguiled, it's a very satisfying conclusion to both the relationship and the world we get to live in during the first two books. One of the great narrative demands of historical gay romance novels is creating a resolution that feels both happy enough for our gay protagonists and also doesn't feel like it breaks our understanding of how hard it was for most queer people, and I think this story does a neat job of it while also not relying solely on 'well they're rich enough that it doesn't matter for them.' Their life together feels well earned and they're both finally able to acknowledge what the other means to them. A delight! 

Grade: A

Book 21: Beguiled by Joanna Chambers

The sequel to Provoked, which I enjoyed very much, and hey I liked this one just as much! The two leads have come back together after years of separation, and David gets to be very brave and then suffer and Murdo gets to be the good person he actually is, and it just continues to be a wonderful regency era m/m series that's also interested in unpacking how queer lives could function in that society. A nice time! 

Grade: A