Author: P.N. Hinton

Time for All the Holiday Romances

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date December 1, 2021

Romance Reflection

Since we’ve officially reached December, I feel it’s appropriate for this reflection. I’ve always found the fascination with winter holidays and romances interesting. It’s not even just a Christmas thing since other romances which feature holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali are coming out. And, as I’ve said before, I love it even if I don’t get the correlation. Hear me out.

I’ll be honest; nowadays, the holidays are stressful for me. They haven’t always been and I honestly can’t pinpoint the moment where they changed from exciting to the feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s a lot to juggle and it’s a lot to worry about and a lot of pressure. In the last few years I’ve had to take the mindset that I am not going to go broke buying a gift for anyone, even my teenager, because at the end of it all, it’s just stuff. You can’t take it with you. And the movies and books seem to gloss over that or have it thrown in for comedic value.

Then again, maybe that’s the draw. Yes, we all know it’s tragically stressful, but for those few hours you can just fall in love with the magic of the holidays—which I get since I freely admit I use these to help my heart grow three sizes throughout the month. While it doesn’t make me one of those people who have the Hallmark holiday movie on 24/7, it does help me from muttering “Bah, humbug” on the regular. So, mixed bag.

Book Riot Romance

Speaking of holiday romances, take this quiz to find out the one you should pick up next. I ended up getting The Holiday Swap which also happened to be my BOTM pick this month.

Rioter Namera came up with this list of dystopian romances for us.

Click here to start listening to Part 2 of When in Romance’s recommendation episode.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance

First, let me just state the obvious. Romancelandia rocks. The Romance for Chencia auction reached 128.5% of its overall goal. That just warmed my heart so much to see that.

There’s still a little bit of time to sign up for this event featuring Hallmark writer Tracy Andreen about her debut YA romance novel So, This is Christmas.

There’s also still a small window of time for Kisscon’s One Night Stand.

I haven’t seen True Story yet but damn, this isn’t a lie. To be fair I’ve always thought Billy Zane was attractive from the first time I saw him in Demon Knight. Yes, I know there’s probably a lot to unpack there, but this isn’t the time so moving on…

Charish Reid revealed the cover of her upcoming paranormal romance, I’ll Come Back for You and yes I already ordered it .You’re welcome Future Me.

I invite you to be attacked with me.

Recommendations

Harkening back to what I said above, I’m going to start off the month with some holiday romances that I think would be good for getting you in the holiday spirit. That way I, and anyone else in my position, can start the month off strong by trying to embrace it. My goal this month is to focus each week’s recommendation on a different winter holiday. I’m not sure how successful I’ll be, but I’m going to try.

That said, since Hanukkah was being observed this last week, I’m going to start off with romances that celebrate that holiday.

cover of lighting the flames by Sarah wendell

Lighting the Flame by Sarah Wendell

Genevieve and Jeremy have been camp friends since their first summer at Camp Meira with indications that it may bloom into something more. All that changes when Jeremy suddenly leaves camp early with no explanation and Genevieve goes off to a graduate fellowship. When the two reunite for a special Winter Camp during the week of Hanukkah, they wonder if they will be able to get another chance at the romance that was left behind.

Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West

Recently divorced Jordan moves into friend Leah’s spare room to start over only to realize it’s harder than she thought. Leah is coming to terms with being a gray ace which has had a substantial effect on her relationships. Leah offers a deal to help them both out by offering Jordan kink lessons so she can become more confident in her dom role and Leah can learn to adjust her submissive role with her new sexual identity. However, throughout the week, both women realize that it’s more than just an arrangement and that there may be something more there.

cover of ben's bakery and the hanukkah miracle

Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle by Penelope Peters

Former NHL hopeful Adam has adjusted to his life as caretaker for his father and coach of a pee-wee hockey time quite well. When a tournament takes him and his team to Boston for the week of Hanukkah, he meets kosher bakery owner Ben and the sparks fly. But, with Adam’s home and obligations elsewhere, and a secret from Ben’s past which may turn Adam away, will the two men be able to come together for a romantic Hanukkah miracle?

And that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Monday with another edition and, if you’re not already following me on Twitter you can under @PScribe801. Have a wonderful weekend!

Kissing Books

Romance Lover’s Gift Recommendations

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 26, 2021

It’s the “Best of” Time of the Year…

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 19, 2021

Sponsored by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

In the next installment of the Prison Camp series, things get steamy when Lucan, a wolven forced into bartering drug deals for the infamous Prison Colony, meets Rio, the second in command for the shadowy Caldwell supplier. After a deal goes awry, Lucan swoops in to save Rio from certain death. As shocking truths unfurl, Rio is uncertain of who to trust and what to believe—but with her life on the line, true love rears its head and growls in the face of danger.

Welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. Hope your spirit is doing well. I’m P.N. Hinton, your companion through the world of romance. Whether or not this is your first time or you’re a regular I’m glad to have y’all here.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already Thanksgiving this week. The end of 2021 is really close which means 2022 is just around the corner. I’m sure I’ll have more of an introspective closer to the end of the year but as I was writing this newsletter it hit me that soon I’ll have to remember to write 2022 on things. There’s nothing much planned for the holiday this year for me apart from not having to work, which in and of itself may be worth its weight in gold because everything is busy this time of the year. Absolutely everything.

As we go into the holiday week I also wanted to share something that brings me lots of joy, and that is the song Pretty Much You by Rockapella. Yes, that Rockapella. The one that sang the Carmen Sandiego theme song. Listen to it and try to not at least shimmy. I dare you.

Romance Reflection

Goodreads opened up voting for Best Books of 2021 and, like many others in the community, I was surprised to not hate the nominations in the Romance category. There is also a fair amount of representation there. If anything, it’s going to be tough picking which one I want to vote for since there are more than a handful that I want to win. With the exception of a few, I would be happy with anyone that won.

That said, I would be remiss in not calling out the lack of mass market paperback books or historical romances. All of them are contemporary which is fine. And I wouldn’t want it to go the other way and only have historical romances, because then we might run the risk of having little to no actual representation.

This isn’t to say that I’m unhappy with what was chosen but I know that there were a lot of historical romances that got boosted a lot this year. You would think looking at that list that there were none released in 2021. And there seem to be almost no indie romances. So, it’s one of those mixed blessing things, at least for me.

I’m going to be optimistic for once and say that I feel the nominations this year are a step in the right direction. We still have a way to go for sure. And I still feel that books that aren’t published yet by the time the nominations are open should be in the running as it is highly unlikely anyone actually read them. But, there’s hope.

However, I’m not going to overlook the fact that the Swoon Awards are currently taking nominations. And you can submit as many books as you’d like. So if one of your favorites got overlooked, you can always throw your name in that ring.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Book Riot Romance

Rioter Sil has some romance read-alikes for fans of Ted Lasso.

If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the first two episodes of Adaptation Nation and are traveling for the holiday, now is the perfect time to do it. The first one is on Dune and the second on Casino Royale.

Not romance related but it’s still in the Book Riot vein: we’re hiring an Advertising Sales Manager! Do you like books and comics? Does helping advertisers reach an enthusiastic community of book and comics lovers intrigue you? If so, then this might be the perfect fit for you!! Apply here by December 5, 2021.

Around the Web in Romance

This gave me all the feels. The first time I remember seeing a romance novel was in the hands of my dear Aunt Judy at one of our many family gatherings. She always had a Harlequin in hand and whenever we visited her she would have them stacked on her coffee table. Romance is something that brings, and sometimes keeps family together. And I will die on that hill every time.

And, speaking of romances keeping us together, I loved seeing this tweet from Christi Caldwell about Jodi Picoult. It is possible to promote authors in genres other than your own and I love that getting recognition and call outs.

The way my jaw hit the floor when I saw this cover reveal from Jayci Lee.

Here is a list of Bookpage’s Best Romances of 2021.

New Releases

Whether or not you’re out in the thick of it shopping for deals or purchasing from the comfort of your couch, consider treating yourself with some of these new releases.

Cover of Bobsledding with the Billionaire

Ignite by Melanie Harlowe (11/22)

Daddy’s Little Christmas by Della Cain (11/22)

Fury of Destruction by Coreene Callahan (11/23)

Mr. Dale and the Divorcee by Sophie Barnes (11/23)

All the Pastor Wants by Rhonda McKnight (11/24)

Kourt-ing by Tracy Gray (11/24)

Bobsledding with the Billionaire by Rose M. Cooper (11/26)

Meant to Be by Chloe Peterson (11/26)

Silver Bells by Carole Wyatt (11/27)

Small reminder that this weekend is Small Business Saturday. While I understand the convenience of chain stores and sites, remember that $50 has more of an impact on a small business than a corporation. So, if you can shop locally please try to. I know I will likely be purchasing a few things from one of my local indie bookstores for some gift ideas.

And that’s all for this week. I’ll be back next Monday with a fresh edition. In the meantime you can follow me over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Have a wonderful rest of your week.

Kissing Books

Thanksgiving Romances

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 17, 2021

Sponsored by M. Lee Prescott, author of the 11 book “Morgan’s Run” Series.

A woman is the last thing on Ben Morgan’s mind as he comes home to Morgan’s Run, then he runs into Maggie Williams on Main Street, prompting vivid memories of a magical night. Father of her beloved five-year-old daughter, he is the last person Maggie expects to have crash into her car and back into her life. She has struggled to forget him and to make a life for herself and her daughter, Emma, the mirror image of her father, who is unaware of her existence. Maggie swears Ben Morgan will never break her heart again.

As a quick reminder, there will not be a newsletter next Thursday, as that is Thanksgiving for America. So you’ll only hear from me once that week. I hope that, if you’re celebrating, that next week is full of fun relaxing downtime for you.

Romance Reflection

This thoughtful tweet from Olivia Dade tugged at all my heart strings. Jayne Ann Krentz’s Trust Me was probably the first outwardly contemporary romance novel I read as a young book dragon. And I remember this because I got this book from a student teacher in middle school who had observed me reading in class one day. She left it with a note that basically came down to, “I love seeing young readers, so keep at it. But also pay attention in class and read later.” Which is fair because I was and still am terrible at math.

But being a fan of JAK and her historical counterpart Amanda Quick isn’t the only reason this struck all those chords. It’s because the underlying thought, for me, is that kindness goes a long way. Something that in the grand scheme may have just a few hours on a random day to that author stayed with Dade for years.

This is one thing I love about the romance genre: the willingness to really listen and give back to your fans. Now, that isn’t to say that all romance authors are like that because we know that’s not the case. Nor is it to say that no other genres do this, so please don’t come for me with pitchforks. But I very rarely hear about it happening as often it does here.

Not only did JAK retain a lifelong fan that day, but she also got a reader who would forever sing her praises and recommend her to others. And that is a gift that keeps on giving. Kindness goes a long way and this recollection helped to show that.

Book Riot Romance:

The latest episode of When in Romance with the first round of reader recommendations.

Jess also wrote this round up of cozy romances.

Rioter Isabelle has a wish list for romance novels destinations.

Don’t forget to give a listen to Adaptation Nation, Book Riot’s latest podcast!

Around the Web in Romance

There is currently an auction going on to help romance writer Chencia C.Higgins, who is currently in a tough spot in her life. If you’re an author who wants to donate you can at this link. And if you want to see what is up for auction you can click here.

Entertainment Weekly came out with their choices for the best romances of 2021.

Here’s more from Olivia Dade on why fat representation is important in romance

How much do you love romance novels? Take this fun quiz and find out. I’m a Swooner!

Here’s a list of romance books that one editor wishes was getting more attention. While I believe that the second and last one is doing just fine, I agree with the rest.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Recommendations

Next week is Thanksgiving for us here in America and I am looking forward to it. I’m hoping to see my blood family for the day since it has been almost two years since we’ve all gathered. But, if not, I still plan on a relaxing day watching TV and spending time with my small immediate family.

The older I get, I really do enjoy Thanksgiving possibly over other holidays. The act of cooking and eating with loved ones is always a welcome respite from the rest of the year as is taking a nap after eating and then waking up for round two or more desserts. There’s nothing that is tradition in our family, like waking up early to watch the Macy’s Day Parade, or turning it to Hallmark to start watching Christmas movies while decorating the tree. But still, being with loved ones, for me anyways, is a tradition in and of itself.

Which leads me to the recommendations for this week, which are romances that take place around Thanksgiving. While Christmas still gets more than the lion’s share for romance settings, there are quite a few Thanksgiving ones out there, a trend I hope keeps increasing in the next few years. Because it’s nice to be thankful for what we have before moving on to what we want.

A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau

Nick is loving his single life in Toronto so much that he always reluctantly returns home to Mosquito Bay for the holidays. This year though, a surprise is waiting for him and his siblings since they all have blind dates waiting for them. As Fate would have it, his brother’s date is Lily, Nick’s most recent one night stand, and the one he can’t seem to forget about no matter what.

Take Me Home by Lorelie Brown

Keighley is tired of her aunt giving her mom flack about Keighley’s sexual orientation. So she decides to hire Brooke as her fake girlfriend for Thanksgiving dinner. However, between fake dating, real kissing, and dog napping, both women wonder if this could be the start of something more.

A McClendon Thanksgiving by Sean D. Young

Faith returns home to Chicago, determined to make her fashion designing dreams come true. There she runs into childhood friend, Michael, who has always been sweet on Faith. Still hurting from a nasty divorce, Faith isn’t looking for love at all. Will Michael be able to prove to her that their second chance romance may be a risk worth taking?

And that’s it for today. I’ll be back Monday with another edition of the newsletter. Until then, you can follow me on Twitter under @PScribe801. I hope that you have a wonderful relaxing weekend. Happy reading!

Kissing Books

Respect Romance Roots

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 12, 2021

Romance Reflection

Last week, our dear Mrs. Bev got reported over on Twitter after getting into a back and forth with another writer after re-tweeting something about rejection. And I remember seeing that tweet and feeling a warm fuzzy inside. Because we all know rejection hurts. And sometimes hearing about someone else’s experience, especially an author you admire, can help you get through it. And that was the whole point of the tweet.

The issue arose when the other party tried to tell Mrs. Bev that it was bad form to acknowledge that she had seen it or something of that nature. That is just what I could surmise. I couldn’t find the specific response, as the other party has since made their tweets private. Which is completely her prerogative. I’m not judging her for that at all. This time of the year especially, I’m a big proponent of doing what you have to do for your mental well being.

That said, I do have feedback regarding a few things that were said. One is the accusation that Mrs. Bev sent her followers after her. Let’s be clear; Mrs. Bev has reached a level where she doesn’t have to ask her fans to do anything. They will defend her if they think she’s being attacked. That is one of the privileges (and sometimes pitfalls) that come from a long and successful career.

The other is that it sounds like she was telling Mrs. Bev how publishing works, which is laughable. She’s been in the game for a while so she has an idea of how it’s played. Most people who have been in any field for a set period of time will get defensive when a newer person comes in and tries to tell them how it works. That’s just human nature.

But Mrs. Bev still stayed courteous throughout this exchange; her fans were the ones that, some would argue rightfully so, told the other person how mistaken she was in all her assumptions about the type of person she was and how she should have reacted to the original tweet.

Yes, it’s important to have young fresh faces and voices in any field. But, it’s equally as important to acknowledge that you’re not entering uncharted territory and there are many other pioneers that came before you.

Book Riot Romance

Rioter Alison put together this handy-dandy Jackie Lau reading pathway.

And if you enjoyed The Heart Principle, Rioter Julia has some read-a-like recs for you.

Don’t forget to check out Adaptation Nation, Book Riot’s latest podcast.

Around the Web in Romance

Fated Mates came out with their Best Books of 2021.

Here’s some more excitement for The Hating Game adaptation.

Cartel has acquired 25 Brenda Jackson books for adaptation.

After seeing this trailer, I can’t not share it because it looks adorable.

Tomorrow you can tune in to The Ripped Bodice’s Facebook Live event where Sonali Dev and Sara Desai will be discussing Desai’s latest release, The Singles Table.

Paul Rudd was named Sexiest Man Alive for 2021 and all I can say is, “Yes.”

So much truth here.

Check out this interview that Goodreads did with Talia Hibbert about her favorite romances of 2021.

New Releases

Here are some of the new releases that are hitting the shelves this week. Due to the supply chain issues, some of these may not be available in physical form or may sell out quickly. But these were the dates that I found as of the writing of this newsletter.

The Chef’s Choice by Susan D. Peters (11/15)

The Singles Table by Sara Desai (11/16)

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire by Manda Collins (11/16)

House on Fire by Jenn Burke (11/16)

Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins (11/16)

Rosie’s Curl and Weave by Rocheller Alers, Donna Hill, Felicia Mason, and Francis Ray (11/16)

All the Feels by Olivia Dade (11/16)

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley by Lucy Lennox (11/16)

An Alaskan Wedding by Nance Sparks (11/16)

The Professor’s Dragon by Louisa Masters (11/18)

And that’s all I have for you today. In case you’re wondering, yes, it was weird to not include deals but I’m confident we’ll all adjust to this! I’ll be back Thursday with some Thanksgiving romance recommendations to get you through the holiday next week. As always, give me a follow over on Twitter @PScribe801. Until then.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Kissing Books

No Shame in the Romance Game

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 10, 2021

Sponsored by The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan.

A trip to Lapland was supposed to be best friends Christy and Alix’s perfect Christmas getaway. But with Christy facing a make-or-break marriage crisis, and Alix trying to ignore the sizzle she’s developing for a fellow guest, will their Christmas escape give them the courage to fight for the relationships they really want, and save the precious gift of each other’s friendship?

DST really messed me up this year. I fell asleep to YouTube and woke up right when the clocks rolled back, which ended up really discombobulating me Sunday. But I made it through and that’s the important part, right?

I’m still reading The Ex Hex and Love, Comment, Subscribe and am loving both.

Romance Reflection

I saw this little clip right here and almost wish I hadn’t. In the back of my mind, I feel I’ve heard from this lady before, but I probably blocked it out. And this video will soon follow because it’s a pretty naïve and condescending take. Tessa Dare goes into a really good in-depth take down on why this mentality is bad in her re-tweet, so I recommend giving that a read.

One thing that really stuck out to me about this entire exchange was the unnatural language that she used. The inflection was too ‘after-school special’ and not one one would use when talking about something that they really feel is a serious issue. Frankly, it sounded like a script, fed to her from a third party.

This was really noticeable when she said she read began to read books that weren’t aligned with her values. I call shenanigans on that since all readers, no matter what the genre, have deal breakers that they will not bend on. That part was very much like someone was telling her she should feel wrong for enjoying erotica because she’s an [insert various descriptive noun here].

Now, I could be wrong. She could really feel that way about romance novels now. The dangerous thing about that is that it plays into the patriarchal misconception about romance novels, with an added dash of “romance readers will forget other responsibilities or sleep.” Which, frankly, is dumb. A good book will keep you up, regardless of the genre it is in.

Book Riot Romance

Rioter Nikki wrote this thoughtful piece on consent in romance novels.

Around the Web in Romance

Here is an article that embraces the wonderfulness that is romance novels.

While I wasn’t a huge fan of The Hating Game, this trailer gave me hope for the movie. And who knows? It may be covered in a future episode of Adaptation Nation, Book Riot’s newest podcast.

I have to say the ones I’ve read don’t seem to have this scene (thank goodness) but yes this is a thing that needs to be stopped immediately.

Looking for a way to alleviate the stress of the holidays? Try picking up some of these M/M romances.

Speaking of holidays, find out which holiday rom-com couple you are. I got Sally and Jack, which I am a-okay with.

The Swoon Awards are returning! *Kermit flail*

This is a gentle reminder that men like rom-coms too.

KissCon is hosting the One Night Stand via Crowdcast on December 4th. By just purchasing two books from one of the participating bookstores, you can attend. Sounds like a winner all around to me.

Recommendations

One thing I’m really enjoying about The Ex Hex is Sir Purrcival, the cat. I have a soft spot for black cats and really should get my cat own one day. Don’t get me wrong I love dogs and cats. But, since I currently live in an apartment, I feel a cat would be a somewhat easier pet.

Until then, though I figure I can live vicariously through the cats that my book club buddies have since I’m the only one without one. That and the fictional ones of course. I know that most people may think that cats are mainly for cozy mysteries but they have a good presence in romance novels as well. Which leads to this weeks’ recommendations: romances with cats in them.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

After almost getting hit by a runaway vehicle, Chloe decides that she needs to start living her life to the fullest and makes a bucket list. The first step is moving out to her own apartment, which leads her to having Red as her property manager. These two butt heads from the start but even then there is an undeniable attraction between them that gets kicked into overdrive when he helps rescue Chole and the cat Smudge from a tree. Now I know I’ve recommended this before but in the spirit of being transparent, I will never not recommend a Talia.

Best in Show by Kelly Jensen

Julian is a mystery writer who, at his sister’s persuasion, ends up adopting a ginger tabby. Imagine his surprise when he finds out that the cat is in fact shifter Macavity who is cursed to be a cat by day and a man by night. When this is revealed, the two men must join together to break the curse as well as stop Macavity’s elderly relative who doesn’t enjoy the sharing of family secrets. This is a short but sweet novella sure to delight.

Special Offers by M.L. Ryan

Hailey decides to treat herself with a brand new Kindle which, unbeknownst to her, comes equipped with an alien already downloaded. As she adjusts to this new voice in her head, she also is introduced to Alex, another alien who is looking to save the one that came in her ereader. It’s a banana pants crazy plot but an enjoyable romantic sci-fi read that comes also includes a rare male Calico cat.

And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back Monday with more news and updates for you. In the meantime give me a follow on Twitter under @Pscribe801. Have a great weekend and get some good rest and reading done!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Kissing Books

Those Who Can’t May Still Wanna Try

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 5, 2021

Romance Reflection

Despite my best attempt at getting my Nancy Drew on, I couldn’t find out what author or book this was in reference to. However, from the tone of that tweet, I’m guessing it was yet another dismissal of everything in the genre, except of course their own book. Because I don’t think an innocent comment would have caused this level of snark and clapback.

I want to state upfront that it’s perfectly okay to want a break from your job, which is one way to look at this type of statement. I don’t imagine that professional chefs want to go home after long hours during the holidays and be expected to also cook the holiday familial meals. That’s their job and it makes sense to want a break. When I was at the daycare, it used to annoy me to the highest of heavens that my family and friends would think I was okay watching their kids (for free, no less) on my off time. Because that was a hard pass.

But, given the mood this evokes, it seems to be a swing in the other direction. One of the consistent misconceptions out there is that it’s easy to write romance. And, it’s really not. Truthfully, it’s not easy to write in any genre; it’s just that romance is the one that people seem to think that any Tom, Dick, and Harriet can do. It’s still a craft that you have to practice and hone because if you don’t and you’re terrible then your books won’t sell.

And it wouldn’t hurt to read at least one or two before you put your own pen to paper to write on. I mean it’s not like you’re going to develop a lifelong addiction or anything like that.

Book Riot Romance

Here is an awesomely robust list of some of the best genre-blending romances out there, courtesy of Rioter Silvana.

Around the Web in Romance

Speaking of Ice Planet Barbarians, there’s still time to pre-order a signed copy of the new print edition.

Okay, so I promise that I really do respect the Turkey. But this J.Crew ad with Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson is giving me strong “I need this holiday movie” vibes. I’m also digging the silver fox that Jackson is becoming. *fans self*

But if you’re one who chooses to start winter holiday celebration earlier, then here’s a nice well-rounded list of romances to help further set the mood.

Sarah Ferguson, aka Fergie, aka The Duchess of York is launching a historical romance book club.

There is also The Unusual Historical Romance Book Club if you’re looking for romances that may be a bit more outside of the box.

The Last Date Night with Alyssa Cole is scheduled for Friday, November 12th. So there’s still time to sign up.

There’s apparently going to be a Reese Ryan Bourbon Brothers Experience book box and I’m here for it.

New Releases & Deals

Here are some of the new releases hitting the shelves this week. Again, with the way supplies have been working I’m unsure if any of these got pushed back or not; but the dates specified were the ones reflected when I was writing today’s edition.

A Winter’s Earl by Annabelle Greene (11/9)

The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert (11/9)

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath (11/9)

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens (11/9)

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu (11/9)

The Alien’s Veterinarian by Skye MacKinnon and Arizona Tape (11/10)

Kiss Me, if You Dare by Alyssa Clarke (11/10)

Unforgettable Nights by Tiye Love (11/12)

And these are some of the deals that I found this week. The prices listed here were the ones that were displayed as of the writing of this newsletter.

Lord of the Last Heartbeat by May Peterson ($1.99)

The Marriage Code by Brooke Burroughs ($1.99)

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole ($2.99)

One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros ($1.99)

Just Like This by Cole McCade ($1.99)

The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn ($1.99)

Just Say the Word by Tiffany Patteson ($0.99)

Love by Chance by Blake Allwood ($0.99)

That’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back on Thursday with more updates and recommendations. If you’re not already, give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then stay warm, hydrated, and well-read.

Kissing Books

Indigenous Romances

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 3, 2021

Sponsored by Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne.

All Annie McCade and Tate Sheridan needed was a little Christmas magic—and they have a week on the ranch he’s determined to unload, and she will always treasure, along with her little niece and nephew, to create a holiday to remember….

While I did miss trick-or-treating on some level, another part of me was glad to avoid the big crowds especially because the last few years I was going solo with the kiddo. Friends we’d previously trick-or-treated with in the past always had other plans; so, we were kind of left out. Not to sound maudlin; it is what it is. Still, it was nice to not be out there with no other adult friends to speak with and watch the kids get their candy.

Things making me happy this week is my new haircut and style. I got bangs which I’ve never had before. So, this is an exciting experience for me.

Romance Reflection

Even if you just lurk over on Twitter, you likely saw this tweet floating around. Seems like this man has hurt feelings because his book won in the Bad Sex Reward. He says it’s because he’s a man and women are overly sensitive.

Based on that snippet alone, this book didn’t win that award because a man wrote it. It won because it is, in fact, a terrible sex scene. What gets me is that he seems to blame it all on women readers. While it could be argued that most readers are women, we’re still only half of the world’s population. Which means some men read this and agreed it was terrible.

So, don’t blame it on the fact that you’re a man as the reason your book tanked and got this award. There are plenty of men out there writing novels, romance or otherwise, with sex scenes in them that aren’t getting this award. Get over yourself. You just can’t write sex well.

Book Riot Romance

This last Monday, Book Riot’s latest podcast, Adaptation Nation, went live. If you haven’t already be sure to give it a listen.

Speaking of podcasts, check out the latest When in Romance where Trisha and Jess discuss the future of romance conventions among other things. There’s still time to submit requests for romance recommendations!

I am in love with this list of some of the best Indian Romances out there.

There’s also this Rioter’s recap of her romance scavenger hunt at a local book fair.

Around the Web in Romance

Here’s a round-up of some of the romance novels coming out this month.

If you prefer some suspense with your romance, there are a few for your consideration.

Even more romance covers as rocks!

Be sure to sign up Love’s Sweet Arrow Sapphic Romance virtual event! With this impressive line-up, you know that it’s going to be a great time.

I think most of us can agree that this fanart, is probably where a lot of romance readers got their first dose of a monster romance.

The gif on this tweet combined with Olivia Waite‘s quote calling out romance scorn as formulaic is *chef’s kiss*.

Which leads into the monthly appearance of someone saying that romance novels don’t need to have an HEA. This meme sums it all up here all around.

Recommendations

As mentioned last week, November is Indigenous People Month, an observation that was established in 2019 here in America. Historically, romance novels haven’t been kind to Native Americans. And there has been a call as of late to stop publishing those older books and focus on positive ones.

There are Indigenous Romances out there to be found, even if they don’t get the spotlight shone on them like others do. This week I’m going to highlight a few romances by Indigenous authors. One thing I will call out is that there isn’t an LGBTQ rec this week. I couldn’t find one I was certain was written by an Indigenous author. And I wanted to be mindful and avoid any type of fetishization since that has been the issue in the past. So, the books listed here are M/F romances.

Lovesick Braves by Pamela Sanderson

Ester manages to juggle all the tasks she has in her life seamlessly including holding down two jobs and being responsible for an irresponsible roommate. Theo is a man who chose to leave the rez life and is okay with that choice. Seeing Ester everywhere, including both of his jobs, is making him rethink that decision. This is the second book in the Crooked Rock Urban Indian series but can be read as a standalone. The first one is Heartbeat Braves.

Seducing His Secret Wife by Robin Covington

As often happens in Vegas, Justin wakes up married to Sarina, his best friend’s little sister. When they return home, they agree to keep this change in relationship from her family. However, their steamy affair continues to bloom, leading them both to wonder why they are keeping their love a secret from the world? You can also read the first book, Taking on the Billionaire.

Last Chance Rodeo by Kari Lynn Dell

One moment may have cost David his chance at a dream of rodeo fame. When his lost horse is found at the Blackfeet Reservation, he figures it is a step in the right direction of getting back on that path. There he meets Mary who has temporary custody of her nephew, who has taken a shine to his horse Muddy. Mary doesn’t want her troubled nephew to lose all the positive progress he’s made and fights to make sure that doesn’t happen with the horse going away. As David finds himself drawn to the two, he is faced with the choice of giving up on his lifelong dream or embracing a new one.

And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back Monday with another newsletter and in the meantime you can catch me on Twitter under @PScribe801. Have a wonderful weekend.

Kissing Books

Welcome November

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date October 29, 2021

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We’ve officially entered what I think of as the busy season of the year. There are two major holidays back to back and this year, they’re also exactly one month apart. It can be kind of hectic, even in a non-pandemic world . And I feel the pandemic only served to increase this. As you move along in the hustle and bustle of the next two months, remember to give yourself grace and time to breathe. You’re only human after all and you need air to stay alive. If you can put something off until tomorrow, do it. Whether it’s laundry, dishes, or other things, most times it will keep. So just breathe.

I recently started Love, Comment, Subscribe and so far, I am loving this frenemy to lovers romance.

We have some podcast news! Be sure to check out Book Riot’s newest podcast, Adaptation Nation and listen to discussions about the adaptations of your favorite books. Whether it is the big or small screen, there is always room for discussion about these. Up first is Dune, which is currently on everybody’s lips.

Romance Reflection

November is Indigenous People month, an observation that was established back in 2019. I’ve talked before about the problematic history of romance novels and how they portrayed Indigenous people in the past. But it’s still something that we need to be conscious of, all year but especially this month. And a lot of this has to do with the false narrative we’re given about the first Thanksgiving.

It may feel odd celebrating this holiday now because of those troublesome roots, which is fair. As I’ve gotten older, the holiday hasn’t been about this fairy tale; it’s been about spending time with family. It’s also been about being thankful, something we sometimes forget to be. It doesn’t help that Black Friday is the day after and now even seeps into the evening hours of Thanksgiving, which is a whole other discussion.

But I love Thanksgiving. I really do. I love spending time with my family and eating good food and just relaxing. Even if it’s back to the grindstone the next day, that one day off to reflect and relax is always good for me. That said, I have noticed that there is not a lot of love paid to that holiday even in the romance genre. While there are Thanksgiving romances out there, there’s not nearly as much as there is for Halloween, Christmas, New Years, or Valentine’s Day. Stores start putting up both Halloween and Christmas decorations in September, completely ignoring the holiday that comes in between.

Maybe if we start having more romances surrounding Thanksgiving, then it will help it to be given its proper respect. And then we can really reshape and form it for our own, rather than what we were raised with. Either way, I’d be interested to see these types of romance novels displayed between ones that showcase the holidays that surround it. We’re romance readers after all; there’s room for all the holiday love in our hearts.

Oh and as an aside, there will be recommendations this month for both Indigenous and Thanksgiving romances. So keep an eye out!

Around the Web in Romance

You may have seen this news floating around and the division that it has caused. I don’t want to expand too much on this because it’s all been said. What’s really upsetting here is that there are other books that romance readers have actively been asking to be adapted. Beverly Jenkin is always a front runner there as is Brenda Jackson. But you also have Alyssa Cole, Talia Hibbert, KJ Charles, Cat Sebastian…the list could literally go on. You could practically go into any book store and blindly throw a dart in the romance section and hit a book that most of Romancelandia would prefer to see adapted. So, this is quite the bitter pill to choke down.

Here are some of the best M/M romances that you may have missed last month.

In the latest edition of “Romance Covers as [Blank]” we have them as libraries!

Check out this throwback photo with some of the pioneering Black women of romance. speaking of authors who deserve adaptations.

What would your end result be in this ‘can only keep one trope’ game? For me, it would be enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, fake dating, next-door neighbor, and fated mates.

Curl up with some second-chance romances.

Build a bakery, get a rom-com that mirrors your own potential romance. Because I had options for a few questions I took it twice and ended up with Notting Hill and then Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

New Releases & Deals:

Here are some of the new releases that you can snag this week. Quick call-out! I jumped the gun last week as Tasha L. Harrison’s With Her Own Two Hands comes out this week. Apologies for any disappointment I caused!

Unexpected Goals by Kelly Farmer

Mr. Jingle Bells by Leta Blake

Fall Into You by Georgina Kiersten

New Year’s Kiss by B.K. Wiggins

Off Limits by Riley Hart

How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

And here are some of the deals that you can pick up. Remember, these were the prices that were reflected as of the writing of this newsletter.

All Dressed in White by Charis Michaels ($1.99)

High Country Bride by Linda Lael Miller ($1.99)

Awaken the Dragon by A.C. Arthur ($1.99)

Cold Hearted Bastard by Jennifer Dawson ($0.99)

Savannah’s Secrets by Reese Ryan ($1.99)

Dirty Little Midlife Mess by Lilian Monroe ($1.99)

And that’s all I have for you this Monday. I’ll be back Thursday with another edition. Give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then.

Kissing Books

Careful Translations and Halloween Romances

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date October 27, 2021

Romance Reflection

I came across this remembrance which was connected to this longer thread and there’s a lot of food for thought here. Most of the problems people have with romance are the ‘unrealistic’ expectation it portrays of relationships and, frankly, how women experience sex.

However, very little is ever said about the unrealistic expectations that a large part of sci-fi gave to its fans. No one had problem with the rampant and, some would argue, weird sex that was displayed there. In reality, it all boils down to the differences in the male and female gaze on sex. It’s very telling how the die-hard fans have no problem with the unhealthy depiction of women and sex in old-school sci-fi, while sneering at the healthy depiction in romance novels. And it’s not a good take to have.

Again, it’s okay to like older media; just be willing to turn that mirror around to it and admit that it has a lot of red flags and problematic tendencies that wouldn’t hold up today.

Book Riot Romance

Here are some interracial romances where both characters are people of color for your reading consideration, courtesy of Neha.

If you love love and murder, well Anne Mai has just the list for you.

If you’re looking for more WLW romances in the vein of One Last Stop, Rachel has you covered.

And Sil’s got some spooky romances just in time for Halloween.

Also, there’s still a little bit of time to get your swag celebrating our 10th anniversary!

Around the Web in Romance

Tessa Dare put out this long post about some of the concerning language selected for the Portuguese translation of Romancing the Duke and it was a bit heart-breaking for multiple reasons. This situation shines a much needed light on the consideration that has to be given to translations in general. While I understand the desire to get as close to the phrasing as possible, either way, sometimes direct translations can lead to more problems in the long run.

In the spirit of Halloween, check out this thread to Build Your own Monster Romance. Apparently, mine involves the Kraken which would be… an interesting pair up.

Romance for Roe went live on October 25th! A group of 36 romance authors got together for a collection of short stories that you can download for a donation to either Planned Parenthood and/or Naral. Because I have always been and will always be ‘Team Their Body, Their Choice’.

Hot Teacher Jason Sudekis is a whole mood….

Speaking of school, a high school romance club would have been the bee’s knees for a young me. I mean, I kind of had an impromptu one with one of my friends since we both loved them but still something like this would have been amazing.

Recommendations

Typically, I am a seasonal reader. I try to focus on specific books at certain times of the year. And while that doesn’t stop me from reading a fall or scary story in Spring, it feels extra special to me when I read books in the season that they’re set in. In honor of Halloween, this week’s recommendations either take place around the holiday or have a strong supernatural spin to them.

Pumpkin Patch by Edie Bryant

Pia loves October and Halloween, largely due to the fact that her family owns a pumpkin patch. What she’s less fond of is children, which is why she almost brushes off her initial attraction to Lila. The child with Lila is her nephew though that she is helping take care of while her brother recovers from an accident. With the added responsibilities of being a caretaker for both people, she doesn’t feel she has time for romance and almost lets Pia get away as well. Will both women be able to ignore the initial misgivings they had of one another to find a Halloween happily ever after?

The Tenant by Katrina Jackson

When he gets a call from his Great-Aunt Sophie’s lawyer telling him she left him a house, down on his luck Noel doesn’t ask any questions. When he gets there though he finds that the house is in serious need of repair. It also comes with Ruby, the ghost of the woman that his family stole the house from and who is determined to get her revenge on the family line, no matter how attractive she may find Noel. This one is heavy on the ghost and light on the romance but since it is a Jackson, you know the sex scenes will absolutely sizzle off the page.

Halloween Dragon by Liv Rider

Cameron loves Halloween and, by extension, Halloween Fest. When the annual celebration is threatened by an ‘evil’ investor, he will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t happen. Parker is a dragon shifter who finds his fated mate in horror fan Cameron which is why he allies himself with Cameron’s plan to save Halloween and the festival. However, when the truth comes about, will Cameron be able to look past both those factors and still work together to save not just the farm but their romance?

When I next see you, it will the first of November. We’re almost through the year y’all! I hope that your weekend goes well and I’ll be back Monday. Until then, give me a follow under @PScribe801 on Twitter for more of my bookish ponderings.