It’s been a nice couple weeks for reading, lovers! Most of the regular season shows are over, and it’s pretty easy to just watch the summer shows when I’m eating or doing something else that doesn’t allow me to hold a book. It’s nice to break up every couple books with a new episode of The Bold Type or something else fun. But this is about books, so let’s get to it.
Sponsored by DREAM LOVER by Stacey Keith
Timid social worker April Roby believes in avoiding entanglements until she meets Brandon McBride, the muscle-bound, motorcycle-riding bad boy, older brother of one of her latest client. Neither one of them is looking for a fairy-tale ending; but in Cuervo, Texas, they just might get one anyway . . .
News and Useful Links
The New York Times made a good start in talking about issues with diversity in romance. They name quite a few awesome authors, but could have gone a little further with less-famous authors of color and other issues facing queer romance. I hope there will be a follow-up.
Do you buy books from Smashwords? They’re having a huge sale right now. Never checked it out? Wander around!
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COVER?!?!?! (Hint: Cat Sebastian’s got a new book called A Duke In Disguise coming out.)
This is a thing and I have questions. Like, if Harlequin was so interested in underrepresented groups, why did they discontinue their one line that only published books by authors from an underrepresented group? Why didn’t they retain all of those authors when they closed the imprint? Are they making them resubmit proposals? I’m glad that Harlequin/Mills & Boon is reaching out to even more underrepresented people, but I don’t like that it’s after they’d displaced others that already wrote for them.
In other news, is it next year yet?
What are your thoughts on mercenary librarians? You probably want to sign up for info about them, huh?
Deals!
Still Not Over You by Aarti V. Raman is 99 cents.
Several of Christi Caldwell’s Sinful Brides books, including The Rogue’s Wager, are 1.99 right now.
Jayne Ann Krentz’s Sharp Edges is 1.99, too.
Afterburn & Aftershock by Sylvia Day is 99 cents! (Have you seen the movie on Passionflix?)
Over on Book Riot
Ladies with babies, oh yeah.
Prime member? Free money!
Recs!
Are you familiar with the #readmyowndamnbooks reading challenge? It was one I started doing a couple years ago and have never succeeded at. Books I don’t own are such a draw, I can’t avoid or escape them. But sometimes I like to give it a brief try, and this month I wanted to pull a few books off my shelf that would be good to share with you all. They’re all series starters, each of which has at least a few books out. The series aren’t all complete, but they’re all worth starting.
Taking the Lead
Cecilia Tan
If you’re looking for a new series that will just…set everything on fire, you can’t go wrong with Cecilia Tan. A master of the erotic romance, Tan is the author you can always turn to if you’re looking for something where the sex is central to the plot. In this particular series starter, a Hollywood heiress and a rising rock star hit it off almost immediately, and then have a million problems when she can’t come to terms with her own sexual needs. If BDSM isn’t your thing, this series is very much not for you. But if it is…you’re going to have a lot of fun.
Heroine Complex
Sarah Kuhn
And speaking of fun, this series is the complete opposite of the angst-ridden world of Ricki and Axel. Set in a world where superheroes have assistants and live stream their demon attacks, Heroine Complex is almost over-the-top ridiculous but absolutely great at it. When Evie has to masquerade as her boss, San Francisco’s most popular (and most difficult) superheroine, she suddenly has even more problems than cupcake demons on her hands—including unneeded romantic ones.
Lady Bridget’s Diary
Maya Rodale
Yes, this is exactly what you think it is. In the late Regency period, Lady Bridget Cavendish is one of three sisters of a new Duke. But she and her siblings are American, and Lord Darcy is not amused by her callous manners. (You see where this is going.) If you like smart women and siblings who are great for comic relief, this is the book for you. (Also, I’m looking particularly forward to Lady Claire is All That, because apparently I’m all about ladies doing math after the magic that was Courtney Milan’s Talk Sweetly To Me.)
Up next, I’d love to start a few things on my digital shelves, including Farrah Rochon’s Deliver Me, Alyssa Cole’s Radio Silence, and Courtney Milan’s Unveiled. And a million more because I can’t stop acquiring books. But these are a good start, right?
New and Upcoming Releases
Mr. Hotshot CEO by Jackie Lau
Unfit to Print by KJ Charles
My Lord, Lady and Gentleman by Nicola Davidson
The Other Lane by Marla Holt
Pushing Thirty by Necole Ryse (July 17)
Competence by Gail Carriger (July 17)
As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback or just want to say hi!