Salutations to you all! Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN and I’ll be your guide through the rollercoaster world of romance. Because believe me when I say that there’s rarely ever a dull moment here.
As mentioned last time, I’ve decided to embrace the season in an attempt to not be grumpy. I added my “get jolly” mix to my daily music rotation. I’ve started watching the movies and shows that are streaming everywhere. I ordered some white chocolate peppermint bark coffee that should be getting here soon. And I’m eagerly waiting for my copy of Kiss Her Once for Me to come in so I can get started on that one. Look at me in all my merriment!
In other reading news, I finished Calling the Shots and adored it. While I loved and recommend the entire series overall, this is undoubtedly my favorite out of the three. I felt such a kinship with Tierney that just made it resonate more with me. I also started reading The Rewind, a second chance romance that is perfect for this time of year since it starts on New Year’s Eve.
Bookish Goods
Festive Fox Book Sleeve by CPickeringCo
Okay, this is just flat out adorable. Look at this cute little holiday fox in his antlers and hat! I love everything about this book sleeve which, honestly, I would use any day of the year. The price for this sleeve ranges from $14 to $27, depending on size.
New Releases
A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
Prep chef Xavier is currently having a rough time at life. These challenges landed him back in Harper’s Cove and working at hip new restaurant, The Wharf. Logan, head chef and owner of the establishment, doesn’t appreciate Xavier’s acidic nature and attitude but also knows that when it comes to help, he can’t afford to be choosy. As the two men work closely together, more than just the kitchen heats up, leaving them to wonder what comes next for both of them.
Five Kisses at Midnight by Abby Crofton
Life in Hawaii seems like a dream come true for Bell. That is, until she gets stuck in a time loop and starts repeating New Year’s Eve over and over again. The only person who believes she is stuck in this loop is surfer Lola who is there over and over again, ready to help break this repeating day. As they learn more about each other, Bell becomes more determined than ever to break this curse and finally start the new year, hopefully with Lola by her side.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I’m not very far into The Rewind, so I don’t yet know the circumstances of how these ex-lovers got accidentally married. However, it did get me to thinking about that specific trope and how it kind of goes hand in hand with marriage of convenience.
Think about it; if you wake up accidentally married because you were under the influence of something, then you can get it purposefully annulled the next day, or at least get the process started for it. So, when the couple chooses to stay married, it is usually for one reason or another.
With that thought process running through my head, I decided to do another round of marriages of conveniences. The set up isn’t exactly like it is in the aforementioned book, but the unexpected marriage aspect is still present in both.
Waking Up Married by Reese Ryan
When lifelong friends Zora and Dallas wake up married after a night in Vegas, the initial plan is to quietly get the marriage annulled. However, they forgot that they were high profile people which means their nuptials go viral very quickly. Not wanting to admit to their family that it was all a mistake, they decide to stay married and end up realizing this was the best mistake of their lives.
Accidental Honeymoon by Miranda MacLeod
Monica and Ray have a chance to inherit a rural New England vineyard and a lot of cash, provided they get married. The only snag? They can’t stand one another. However, this is one of those “the ends will justify the means” situations so they try to make the best of it. As they work to plan a very real wedding for their very fake relationship, the tension builds between them and they wonder if this is actually the prefect opportunity for love.
And that’s all I have for you this fine Monday morning. I hope that the rest of the day treats you well. And if there are/were hiccups and challenges, I hope that they are easily surmountable. Make sure to take time for yourself in this busy season and do one thing that brings you joy each day. I’ll be back on Thursday with another edition and in the meantime I can be found over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay warm and hydrated.