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Welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter y’all. I’m P.N. Hinton, your guide to the world of romance novels. I hope your spirit is doing well today. Whether it’s a backlist, new release, or an under the radar delight, I aim to help you find a book or two that you can get lost in. If you’re new to the Kissing Books newsletter, welcome and enjoy your stay. If you’re a long-time reader, welcome back; it’s good to see you again.
As I’m writing this, I’m relaxing after a day of being in the car for camp pick up. It was different this year, due to the understandable new practices being implemented for Covid. But it was still a little bittersweet not to have the Parent Celebration.. My kid had a great time and had a lot of fun. Plus, I got to see two people I haven’t seen since graduating college, since two of theirs happened to be at the same camp. It really is a small world after all.
In romance reading, I started The Heart Principle and am about three chapters in. I am also reading an eARC of The Lights on Knockbridge Lane (since with this heat reading about snow is nice).
Book Riot Romance
Be sure to listen to this week’s When in Romance where Trisha and Jess give their take on the RWA awards and the review on The Heart Principle.
Carolina did a round-up of some awesome romance novels by Indigenous authors.
Here is the cover reveal and excerpt from the eagerly anticipated Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters, edited by our own Jess Pryde!
A fun new trend that popped up over on Romance Twitter is the “If romance novels have taught me anything” one. Some of my favorites include Suleikha Snyder’s take on nipples and padded bras and @darlinginway’s take on friends and fake dating because, truth. I also really appreciated this one because safe sex is important. Fellow Rioter Mikkaka did a round-up of some of the best ones here.
Romance News
With everything going on in the world, both Romance related and non, we could also use a good laugh.
This also made me snort, quite loud because it’s the truth.
Speaking of laughing, try this fun quiz about how many rom-coms you’ve seen to see how awesome your taste is.
The Milwaukee Public Library is hosting an author panel celebrating happily ever afters on August 24th.
This was a very interesting read, regarding the new Janet Dailey book that came out in February 2021 and wondering who actually wrote it, since Janet died in 2013. I’m all for ghostwriters carrying on the legacy of an author, but at least be upfront about it instead of trying to make it see like the author is still alive, because that’s not a good take. And, in case you’re wondering why that name seems familiar even if you’ve never read her, yes, this is the same author who plagiarized from Nora Roberts.
Here are a few anticipated romance novels coming this month.
Recommendations
With the end of summer and having picked the kiddo up, camping is on my mind. Now, I’m not a fan of camping by any stretch of the imagination and the closest you’ll get me to doing it is ‘glamping’ But I know it’s a beloved pastime for many people. So, I decided I would highlight some books that are focused on camping or, at the very least, being out in the wild. I’m sure camping might be marginally more tolerable if I had a romantic partner to snuggle up while roasting marshmallows by the fire.
(Trust) Falling For You by Charish Reid
Charish is fast becoming a favorite author and I’m super sad that she currently only has three available. That’s okay though since I don’t mind re-reading and I keep up with her on Twitter. In this novella, Yolanda and Sam are professors who are complete opposites in everything in life. So, naturally, happenstance makes them cabin-mates for their university’s trust-building retreat. Close quarters make for a budding friendship that blooms into a romance when neither can ignore the sexual tension anymore. This is a short and hilarious read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The way nature kept coming for Yolanda though made me realize why I do not wander into it at all if I can help it.
Lighting the Flame by Sarah Wendell
Sarah may be more well known for the Smart Bitches ,Trashy Books website and podcast but she also has written a few books. This is her first romance novella though, involving life-long friends Genevieve and Jeremy and Camp Meira. While typically a summer camp, this year the owner decided to hold a Winter camp for a change of place and to celebrate Hanukkah as a camp family. During the week there, Genevieve and Jeremy rekindle their friendship that does eventually ignite into more. Super sweet story any time of the year. And if you’re like me and would like to read about the cold because the heat is oppressive outside, it is also a breath of cool air.
Splinter by E. Davies
Former astronaut turned park ranger Nicolas is enjoying his quiet new job surrounded by nature. Rockstar Deen needs a break after being caught in a less than ideal position by the ever present paparazzi and chooses the park where Nicolas works as the destination. The two men couldn’t be more opposite on the outside but as they begin to know each other, their initial impressions change. But will they be able to overcome the fact they come from drastically different worlds with no desire to leave them? I mean of course the answer is yes; otherwise it wouldn’t be a romance, would it?
That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back next week with the latest in the romance world. Give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!