Hello and welcome (back) to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.
It’s the last Monday in March y’all. I am just in disbelief at how fast this year seems to be going. It’s like I look up and, boom, another month has passed. I suppose that, considering what this month is the anniversary of, I should be thankful that it is not going on for-ever like the years past. But it is still a bit hard to believe we’re almost done with the first quarter of 2023.
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Bookish Goods
Romantic Comedy Candle by BriarWick
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a bookish candle and it seemed time to rectify that. Whether or not you enjoy this particular sub-genre, you’re sure to love this candle that combines strawberries and raspberries with vanilla and cake. This comes in wax melts, a 4 ounce metal tin, or an 8 ounce glass jar and is priced respectively at $5.00, $9.50, and $18.00.
New Releases
The Build Up by Tati Richardson
Ari moves to a new artichect firm, determined to have a new start on her career. However, she ends up showing up looking rumpled and less than fresh, and then one of her new and hot co-workers, Porter, walks in on her as she is changing. To add insult to that injury, she finds out she’ll be working with Porter on a project that could revitalize both of their careers. They have to balance working together for success and fighting the attraction that is brewing between them.
Pirate’s Queen by Riley West
Even though Captain Alessandra is no fan of the monarchy, she is not pleased when her crew kidnaps Queen Lucia and is not interested in taking the flirtatious lady up on her offers of pleasure. When circumstances end up with them being stranded alone on an island, the temptation level cranks up and becomes impossible to ignore.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I just finished an ARC of Just As You Are and I adored it. I know I’ve mentioned before that, even if I can’t get through the source material, I love Pride and Prejudice retellings. So this was right up my alley.
Even if you don’t like the source material or are like me and have never actually read it all the way through, it cannot be argued that it gave us one of the essential blueprints for romance novels that is still used today. That leads me to today’s recommendations, which are all retellings of the love between Lizzie and Darcy.
That said, for the most part, the plots are the same: there is the initial meeting, followed by Lizzie overhearing some not kind words that Darcy says about her, and the not-really-dislike takes over from there.
Pride and Protest by Nicki Payne
In this retelling, Liza is a DJ who is working to stop her neighborhood from being taken over by gentrification and Dorsey is the CEO behind the property development firm. Of course, the sparks fly, even if the two are on opposite sides of that line.
The Story of Lizzy and Darcy by Grace Watson
Like Just As You Are, this spin on the classic tale is a F/F match up of the two lovers. What does make it stand out a bit more is that Lizzy and Darcy actually date in this one, so we get to see their relationship develop more in that regard.
Jonathan Majors looks paired with romance novel covers? Yes please!
Take this quiz to find out your Fictional Character Compatibility. Y’all, it told me I was compatible with Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, and I about lost my mind.
And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Thursday with a fresh edition and in the meantime, I can be found floating around Twitter under @PScribe801. Until our paths cross again, happy reading and stay hydrated.