Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, your guide to all things romance-related. Thanks for taking time from your day to give this a read! I hope this newsletter helps to brighten up your day just a little bit more.
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Since it’s my birthday month, I’m currently in a “can’t buy things for myself” period. The exception to this rule is my BOTM subscription. And since it’s my birthday month, I get a bonus credit for an extra book. All this lead-up was to let y’all know that I recently acquired One-Star Romance and Leather & Lark, and can’t wait to get started on them.
That is, once I finish the half dozen books I’m already currently reading.
Bookish Goods
Regency Romance Pin by AwfullySentimental
With the second half of Bridgerton‘s third season just days away, this type of romance is likely on everyone’s minds. So, it only seemed fitting to share this pin. $10.00
New Releases
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
When Aaliyah’s family insinuates that her body and personality are the reason for her single status, the plus-sized beauty quickly retorts that her man loves everything about her. The problem is she doesn’t have a boyfriend. When she tells local bartender Ahmad about her predicament, he suggests a dating app as the solution to her problem. However, the more time she spends with the handsome man, the more she wonders if her perfect match has been right in front of her all this time.
The Curse of the Goddess by C.C. González
When the Skylian Princess Valda loses her vision before her 25th birthday, she misses the opportunity to find her soulmate. After the destruction of her home in the Sea Kingdom, Maris has lived her life as quietly as she could since, as a Sealian, she is unwelcome in the Sky Kingdom. When she’s assigned to be Valda’s new assistant, she finds herself working around the man she believes is responsible for the death of her family. Further complicating the situation is that it appears she is Valda’s mate and neither can resist the pull between them. Are they destined to be together, or will Fate be even crueler to them by keeping them apart?
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Today’s recommendation theme was inspired by Book Riot Managing Editor Vanessa Diaz’s recent guest post in the In Reading Color newsletter. There is apparently a lot of hatred for books that include playlists which, frankly, boggles my mind.
I love music as much as I do reading. When the two are brought together, in any capacity, it’s always chef’s kiss for me. Not only do I like playlists, but I also like it when chapters are song titles and when song lyrics are the titles for books. The last one there is what I’m going with today for my recommendations for you.
Also, if you’re interested in signing up for the In Reading Color newsletter, you can do so with this link. You can either choose “Basic” for the free content or set up a subscription for the bonus.
Now onto the recs!
Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
After dating apps lead to more than a few dead-end dates, romance book lover Tara decides to revisit her exes in the hope of finding love with the second-chance trope. She enlists the help of Trevor, her new roommate, to help get these reconnections set up. But the more time they spend together, the more she wonders if she’s been searching in the wrong trope.
Originally, when I picked this book, I was thinking of the Trisha Yearwood song, but you can also pair it with the Elle King song as well.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
After ER doctor Alexis has a one-night stand with carpenter Daniel, she’s unable to forget the encounter. Soon, she is dividing her time between her job in the city and Daniel’s farm, where there’s an endless supply of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, baby goat snuggles, and incredible sex. But the more time she spends with Daniel, the more she questions if she’s fulfilled with her current life or if a change is necessary for her to find true happiness.
This song has been in my head ever since I saw a burlesque performance to it last week. And yes, it was as interesting as you are imagining it would be.
Who doesn’t like their romances with a little dash of magic?
Here is Marie Claire’s round-up of some of the best 2024 romances (so far).
While I don’t mind the third act break-up, I know there are others who detest it. If you’re in that camp, then this list is for you.
And that’s all she wrote for today. Remember, you can always keep up with my adventures in book-land over on Instagram under @pns_bookish_world. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.