My reading life right now is not what it should be for a devourer of romance. I’m reading R.S. Belcher’s The Brotherhood of the Wheel. I’m about a third of the way through and it’s fantastically written. Suspenseful, intriguing, horrifying. Engaging. As I writer, I’m reading this book thinking, “Wow. This guy can write! Must. Study.”

The Brotherhood of the Wheel is an urban fantasy. And in my opinion, it’s also horror, although I haven’t seen anyone categorize it like that. People should have asked me before they put this book on the shelf.

Romance readers, this book is on an entirely different continent from what we usually read. No, it’s on a different planet. This book—at least the first third of it--features men. Manly, macho men. Men who call women ol’ ladies and sweetbutts. Brotherhood is populated with truck drivers, motorcycle club members, mechanics whom you never ever want to tow your car, and also, serial killers, who aren’t all men but are mostly men.

So far, the only softness in this book is that Jimmie, the main character, truly loves and cherishes his wife. That tiny, minuscule aspect of the book is written in a way that’s worthy of a romance. Also, Jimmie is 110% pure hero. He’s on a mission to save innocent people from terrible fates.

If you’re a horror fan, this is a book for you.

I’m reading it for a book club.

I love book clubs! I haven’t belonged to one in at least six years. Seven? Eight? More? I’d been lurking in this club on Meetup for a while, and I finally showed up two months ago…having read the book, of course. I’m so grateful for the pandemic loneliness that finally pushed me to act.

One of the reasons I love book clubs is that I read books I never would have picked up. Like this one. Plus, a book club gives me external motivation to finish books outside my preferred genres.

(If you too need external motivation for things, rest easy. There’s nothing wrong with needing that. Do not feel ashamed. It’s normal. (I’ve learned this thanks to a class I’m taking on creative focus.))

One of the great things about this club is that all the members love fantasy and sci-fi, but they’re open to reading pretty much anything. Any genre. Even non-fiction. The only rule is that if the book is in a series, the series must be complete.

And now, a gentle public service message on behalf of authors of series:

You gotta buy books as they come out. This allows the author to get paid, which allows her to keep writing the books in the series. Otherwise, she gets no money as she’s writing. Which means she has to get a job. Then she has less time to write, and the series comes out even slower. Or it may never be completed because why publish a series that no one is buying?

So buy the book. Read the book. Review the book.

Sit with the anticipation of more to come. Savor it like the countdown to birthdays or ticking off the days until a vacation. Scientific studies have shown that anticipating a vacation is the most rewarding part. Maybe this pertains to books too?

Now let’s get back to the Brotherhood and Jimmie…

Fellow romance readers, after consuming 179 pages of this book, I am never going on a road trip again. I am certainly never traveling anywhere near Missouri or Kansas. I say this as a person who loves the Midwest. #Iheartcornfields. I have enjoyed all the time I have ever spent in Missouri. (Never been to Kansas.)

But no more. Never again.

I think this guy can help. And he looks like he might already be in Kansas.

Has anyone else had this problem while reading Brotherhood? Will I feel better by the time I get to the end?

Also, people who live in Four Houses, Kansas, do you need help? Should we send in a few of Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEAL heroes? They’re from the late 90s, early 2000s, but they’re probably still in pretty good shape. I’m not entirely sure Jimmie is up to the task of saving you, even with the help of the motorcycle club guy.

To ensure I finish Brotherhood of the Wheel on time, I’ve given myself weekly page goals. If the book wasn’t so scary and creepy, I’d binge it all day and to heck with the rest of the things I need to do. The writing and storytelling are that good. Instead, I read until I’m unsettled, discombobulated, never turning off the lights again, and booking flights to all my future cross-country destinations. (Not that I have any destinations.)

Then I treat my terrified brain to a gentler book. There, there, little brain. All is well. Just read this romance and it will be safe to turn out the light. Probably. Maybe. Fifty/fifty chance.

Maybe I’ll just keep the light on until hubs gets into bed, too ….

ANISE RAE

And now, a gentle public service message on behalf of authors of series: