Welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. If you’re a regular reader, I’m glad to see you again. Or, if this is your first time here, I’m glad that you joined us. I’m PN Hinton, and I’ll be your guide through all things romance-related.
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
I just finished an advanced copy of The Kiss Countdown and just adored it. Amerie and Vincent’s love story sent me over the moon (heh, pun). I can’t wait for this to be out in the world so y’all can share in the joy of it as well. It’s not scheduled to be released until April, but no worries; I’ll be sure to remind y’all when it is available.
Bookish Goods
Tropes of Romancelandia Mug by TheBookAndDagger
I just adore this mug that showcases some of Romancelandia’s favorite tropes in beautifully bound books. That, plus the extra tiara and plant, make this a perfect addition for any book dragon’s mug collection, or to be displayed on the shelf along with their books. $30.00
New Releases
The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest
After experiencing a very public and embarrassing breakup six months ago, celebrity stylist Violet has decided to focus solely on her career. When she runs into her high school sweetheart, Xavier, on a trip to Vegas, the two decide to hang out for the duration of the trip. When they wake up with rings on their fingers, they realize that they may have taken the celebration a bit too far. Then they realize that this accidental marriage could help their careers, and they decide to go along with the illusion, not expecting feelings that had been dormant for years to suddenly come back to life.
House of Crimson Hearts by Ruby Roe
When the trials to find the next heir of the city begin, hunter Red is teamed up with Octavia, the vampire who turned her sister. Even though they have every reason to hate and distrust one another, they must work through their differences in order to win. And when love comes into play, the two women realize they must overcome their distrust of one another as well as come to terms with a secret from their past that could change everything.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Nowadays, people don’t really know their neighbors all that well. While this is especially and understandably true in apartment settings, since those are designed to have a high turnover rate for renters, I think it’s even true for some people who live in houses.
I mean, sure, there are instances where that community vibe is still there, and people know and look out for one another. But, for the most part, people keep to themselves, and whether it’s good or bad is irrelevant; it’s just one of the truths that is apparent in our society.
That is why I feel the “person next door” romances are still fairly popular. Not only do you get a lovely romance with varying levels of spice, but it reminds us of that time when you could conceivably grow up next to the person or people you’re destined to spend the rest of your life with. And there’s just something about that which warms my heart, hence the theme for today’s recommendations.
The Heartbreaker Next Door by Rachel A. Smith
For years, Eric has pined for the girl next door, Emily. These feelings are reciprocated; however, having had a front-row seat to all the hearts that Eric has broken over the years, Emily has no desire to join them and has kept him at arm’s length. When a series of events leads to them being roommates in an apartment that, of course, has just one bed, Eric sees this as a chance to prove his feelings for her are real, while Emily is wondering if she should take the leap of fate to possibly find love.
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
When social media influencer Vanessa finds herself in custody of her half-sister’s daughter, the trajectory of her life changes drastically, and suddenly, she goes from a carefree globetrotter to an instant mom. Help comes in the unexpected form of Adrian, her next-door neighbor. And, after seeing how Adrian helps with her niece in addition to the care he shows his elderly Chihuahua, she finds herself also having to avoid falling in love with him.
The RWA recently announced they were going to be offering a workshop with one of their authors regarding how they use AI to write books. Which is a choice for sure. The information is still available on their site, but the original tweet has since been taken down. But we all know that screenshots are forever.
I’ve previously written about how Johanna Lindsey was one of my entry authors into romance, which is why I was so affected by her passing in late 2019. If you’ve never read her or are looking to jump in, this list is a good place to start.
And that’s all I have for you today! I’ll be back in your inboxes on Thursday with a fresh newsletter. If you’re so inclined, you can also give me a follow over on Instagram under @pns_bookish_world. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.