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After five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna returns home, hoping to reunite with her young daughter. But just about everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself. The only person in her corner is local bar owner Ledger Ward. But as their friendship blossoms into romance, the risk of losing the trust of everyone important to them grows too. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a heartbreaking yet hopeful novel.
Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the world of romance and the roller coaster ride that it can be. If it is your first time here, welcome and if you’re a regular reader welcome back.
I can’t believe we’re almost through the first month of 2022. But then again, I can. I don’t know about anyone else but this month has been both the tortoise and the hare. Maybe it’s just being inside for the most part that is finally catching up to me too. I’ll admit that I haven’t hunkered down and been as much of a hermit as I was originally in 2020. But I’m sure not as social as I was in 2019.
I finished Love & Other Disasters which I loved and can’t recommend enough. I realized though that I haven’t read a historical romance in a while so I started Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas.
Romance Reflection
I found this tweet the other day and there is a lot that can be unpacked here. One of the go-tos for romance haters is that women should read other genres because romances give them unrealistic expectations of how they should be treated.
And by that I mean, you know, like a human being.
It’s not just a matter of sex either, but just common basic decency. Yes, there are grandiose displays of affection in some romance novels. But ultimately it’s about someone realizing what they’re worth and not accepting less. Which, again, is just to be treated like an equal partner.
One of my near and dears is currently back in the dating world. She was telling me about one of the people she is dating and mentioned how when she went to visit him, he made her coffee every morning for two weeks and it practically moved her to tears. And, as happy as I am that he brought her joy and caffeine, I flat out told her, “Honey…coffee shouldn’t be where the bar is set.”
Meanwhile, the assault and murder of women runs rampant through the thriller genre. Hell, for some they’re considered staples of it. They are little more than stock characters in some fantasy novels or are the ones that need to be rescued. And it happens far more often in that genre than in romances. And yet, women aren’t deterred from reading those as often as they are with romance.
Everyone has their reason for liking the genre they do and that’s fine. Again, I’m not one to convert people to start reading something they don’t want. But let it be as simple as “I don’t like it”. There’s no need to bash it.
Book Riot Romance
Be sure to read over Rioter Sil’s recommendations for some of the best rom-com books.
And you can also read over Jessica’s take on why mass market paperback are still important.
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
Around the Web in Romance
Here are even more books that prove that bookstores and romances go hand in hand.
Be sure to submit your choices for the semi-finalist round for the Swoon Awards. I will warn you there will be times you will be sad you can only pick five.
Recommendations
With the current mood I’ve been in, I am feeling the need for books that never fail to make me smile. For me, re-reading books has always been a bit of a comfort thing; something I do when I just need a ‘pick me up’ and want to return to an old familiar favorite. That leads me to my recommendations for this week. These are some of my favorite romances that always put a smile on my face and I can always re-read. Hopefully they will bring you some joy as well.
Vivid by Beverly Jenkins
When Dr. Viveca (Vivid) sees an advertisement for a doctor in the small Black community of Grayson Grove, she is ecstatic to put her skills to use. When she gets there she is met with rebuffs from a majority of the town including Mayor Nate Grayson. Believing that women can’t be doctors, Nate is determined to send her right back home. However, she challenges him to give her a chance to see how she can help the community which he agrees to. As the weeks pass, the two find themselves drawn to each other and Nate begins to wonder if he was mistaken all around about the beautiful Vivid.
Marriage Most Scandalous by Johanna Lindsey
Years ago, Sebastian is banished from his home after the results of a tragic duel. Since then, he has made a name for himself as a mercenary known as The Raven. He is surprised when Margaret seeks him out, demanding he come back home to help solve the mystery of the accidents that have recently started happening to his father. In order to travel without suspicion, they must pose as husband and wife, which proves to be a bit too tempting for them. Will they be able to overcome the scandals of his past to find a happily ever after together?
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
When a video of security guard Zaf carrying Professor Dani out after a fire drill goes viral, the entire internet begins to ship them together. This ends up putting a spotlight on Zaf, who wants to use this sudden and possibly fleeting fame to help his sports charity for children. Dani agrees to this, thinking that she will use this as an opportunity to seduce him. As they spend more time with each other though, she finds out that he is a hidden romantic and that she may want more than an affair with him.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
And that’s it for today y’all. I hope that this upcoming weekend is restful for you and you get a lot of ‘you’ time in. If you’re not following me already, I can be fond on Twitter under @Pscribe801. See y’all Monday!