Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, your guide to all things romance-related. Thanks for taking the time from your day to give this a read! I hope that this newsletter helps to brighten up your day just a little bit more.
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Last weekend, I attended a discussion between Kelis Rowe and Farrah Rochon at a local bookstore where they talked about Farrah’s latest YA release, Fates Be Changed. This new Twisted Tale presents a world where Brave‘s Merida took the cake intended for her mother and the drastic changes this seemingly small change caused. I had a great time listening to these two wonderfully talented authors discuss their love of Disney, the writing process, and everything in between. In addition to Farrah’s book, I picked up Kelis’s YA debut Finding Jupiter. All in all, it was a good bookish weekend for me!
Bookish Goods
Book Lover Decal by SoPeachyDecals
Recently, I got a much-needed car wash. So, to reward myself, I finally put some decals that I got last Christmas on the back of my car. If you want a decal for a car, laptop, or anything else, this one is perfect to showcase your love of reading. The prices for this start at $6.50 and increase depending on the desired size.
New Releases
Jump Ball by Kasha Thompson
When Sariah is bequeathed the Las Vegas Ramblers following her father’s death, she has no clue how to be a basketball team owner. As such, she turns to Coach Justus for help, assistance that he is all too happy to give. When the pair work together to get the team to the championship, they also have to deal with an unexpected, if not completely unwelcomed, attraction.
Aubrey McFadden is Never Getting Married by Georgia Beers
Aubrey has five weddings to attend this year and is not looking forward to that particular gauntlet. One of the reasons for this is the knowledge that Monica, the woman who convinced Aubrey’s fiancé to call off their engagement, will also be in attendance. Still, she is determined to share in her five friends’ special days. So, she resolves to ignore Monica, and the heart flutters that she gives Aubrey, until the last wedding is done.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Tomorrow is Grilled Cheese Day! Believe it or not, growing up, I didn’t eat a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches. As an adult, I have a newfound appreciation for them, especially the “fancy” ones. I recently ate a green apple and Muenster sandwich that was beyond amazing.
That said, there aren’t a lot of romances dedicated to the awesomeness of grilled cheese. The only one I can think of offhand is The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, which was also the first book that Trisha and Jess picked this year for the When in Romance book club. However, regular readers know how much I love my foodie romances, which is what I decided to focus on for today’s recommendations. Bon appétit!!
A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos
Lumi is a chef who also has the power of knowing how a person feels by tasting their cooking. After her fusion restaurant fails, she takes the sous chef position at one of Julien’s establishments. The celebrity chef, known for his charismatic smile that houses a vicious tongue, ends up being Lumi’s complete foil in the kitchen. However, when Lumi samples one of Julien’s dishes, she is hit with a wave of emotions she hadn’t expected. This causes her to look at Julien with new eyes and open herself up to the possibility of love.
Chef’s Choice by TJ Alexander
Luna is a trans woman who has just lost her job. Jean-Pierre is a trans man who needs a fake girlfriend to inherit his family’s culinary business. When Jean-Pierre agrees to pay Luna to take on that role and help him cook their way through a gauntlet of family recipes, she happily accepts his offer. What neither expected was to have real feelings develop during their fake relationship.
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And that is all I have for y’all today! I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime you can always check out my adventures in books over on Instagram under @pns_bookish_world. Until then, happy reading, and stay hydrated!