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How many times have y’all heard Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” over the past three days? Because it’s been a surprising amount since the 21st. It really has. But it’s Monday, so let’s talk romancelandia.
News and Useful Links
Romance for RAICES wrapped up over the weekend and they raised almost 24,000 dollars! And the non-money numbers were pretty impressive, too. (And from what I’ve seen on Twitter, they might have raised more, as some people offered items to the second-highest bidder as well, with proof they’d sent money to RAICES. It was quite the thing to watch).
Have you seen the newest teaser for A Brother’s Honor, the newest romance adaptation from Passionflix? This is the first title by a black author (Brenda Jackson) that they’ve adapted, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of the series.
If you were planning to buy the paperback of TJ Klune’s Heartsong tomorrow, check and make sure it’s not the Dreamspinner Press version. Apparently DSP has been taking their time removing the listing from Amazon.
Romance Sparks Joy has a new regular feature called In the Loveseat and I’ve really enjoyed their first go. I look forward to catching future threads.
This is an adorable story to make us all smile.
Deals
Speaking of Brenda Jackson, Love in Catalina Cove, the first book in her most recent series, is 1.99. This contemporary small-town romance involves a woman who has come back to her hometown when she inherits her aunt’s bed and breakfast, but not before having a run-in with the sheriff. I haven’t read this one but it’s been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. I really need to pick up more backlist titles. Maybe next year, what with that whole hindsight thing.
Recs!
Last night was the Emmy Awards, and for the first time in years, I actually watched the whole thing. So now I’m thinking about books I love that give me the same vibes as some of the Emmy-nominated and winning shows.
American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera
I don’t watch a lot of television, but one of the shows that I am completely ride or die for is Pose. It took me a while to make the decision to sit down and watch it, but I was immediately hooked. What makes me think of the Dreamer books isn’t just the fact that Billy Porter is now the first openly gay black man to win best actor in a drama series, but the whole found family element of Pose is a great parallel to the same in Dreamers. And of course, the wildly warming cast mostly made up of people of color, also hearkens to the Dreamers.
What doesn’t, of course, is the amazing cast of gorgeous trans women of color, which is something I’d love to see in romance. I’ve read one or two romances with trans femme protagonists, but they’ve all been white. Got any recs for me?
Stripped by Zoey Castile
Hear me out: when you think about Fleabag, the first thought you have is “hot mess,” right? Stripped is the first title I think of when I think “hot mess”, just because Robyn and Fallon are both such adorable messes. Neither goes through quite the experience that Fleabag does, but boy do they have some adventures on their way to each other, huh?
Adorable messes are one of my favorite contemporary types. They don’t have to be cinnamon rolls, either. Give me a mess that really needs to work on herself. I’m talking about Something Blue level “Ten Steps to Build A Better Darcy” style mess, because they’re worthy of redemption for themselves and their futures. (It’s sort of how I feel about Elektra in Pose, to be honest; whatever gets you there, right?)
Captive Prince by CS Pacat
Yes, this is where my brain goes when I think of Game of Thrones. It’s in part because I’ve seen a grand total of three episodes, so when I just think of what I know, it’s that whole grimdark world that’s more second-world than fantasyland (give or take a few dragons and some zombie creatures). The relationship between the two warring princes builds across three books, which isn’t as long a slog as the whole first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and begins in that same kind of darkness that GOT invokes.
Don’t worry; I don’t have a readalike for Chernobyl. I did wander over to AO3 after the season ended, but apparently I have a tendency to over-ship and there hadn’t been anything to read featuring my preferred one.
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Did you watch the Emmys? What shows or performances stood out most to you?
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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!