Category: Kissing Books

Shana Tova to my practicing readers (who are probably reading this on Tuesday)! Hope you had an exciting Rosh Hashanah and that you’re ready to take on the new year. Now, let’s talk Romancelandia!

News and Useful Links

Jen wrote a three-fire-emoji article for Kirkus about the need for good criticism by non-romance people. 

Have you seen the cover for Lucy Parker’s upcoming book, Headliners? It’s pretty gorgeous. 

What’s it really like at Gretna Green? Apparently, it’s still a thing!

Smart Bitches has a new feature on their website called the Smart Bitches Book Finder, and it’s hella cool. If you’re looking for something in particular, or just curious what books have certain archetypes or tropes, it’s a great place to start. 

Deals

Have you read Jessie Mihalik’s Polaris Rising? Now is a good time to check it out, since it’s currently 1.99! It’s also the perfect time because the sequel, Aurora Blazing is releasing this week. If you’re down for some kick-ass space princesses making deals with questionable figures in order to save themselves and potentially the universe, this is definitely the kind of thing you want to try. 

When was the last time you picked up a Westmoreland book? His To Claim, Brenda Jackson’s most recent book set amidst the lengthy universe of the Westmorelands and the people they love, is a marriage-in-trouble story! I know people love those, so grab this one for 3.99.

Recs

October is tomorrow, which means it’s officially Halloween! Beyond the start of my weekly watch of Nightmare Before Christmas between now and the new year, I’ve been thinking about what I want in a Halloween-themed story, or at least what kind of feeling I want to have while reading. And it’s a combination of fun and spooky, just like I like my Halloween to be. So this month I’m going to try reading a combination of creepy fun (with a happy ending, of course) and joyful spookiness. 

Here’s what’s on my docket:

Halloween Boo
Sarah Spade

Everyone on Twitter was talking about this book a couple weeks ago, and I had to seek it out for future reading. The way people talked about it, it sounds like a cross between Casper, Hocus Pocus, and The Spirit of Christmas, and I am always here for all of those things. There’s a girl, and there’s a ghost. She thinks her apartment is haunted, and it totally is. That’s sort of all I know, but honestly, what more do you need to know? 

All I Want for Halloween
Marie Harte

Antisocial Sadie has quite the encounter at a costume party (a month before Halloween, which, what?). When she meets him again, it turns out that he’s a washed up reality TV star—something full of motorcycles and testosterone. It sounds pretty fun, but I honestly don’t know what it’s about. 

I also use the spooky season to try out different kinds of paranormal romance! I love me some vampires and werewolves, but sometimes you just want something different, right?

A Demon in Waiting
Holley Trent

I have been sitting on this one for a while, and I really need to pick it up. Virgin hero John Tate gets kicked out of a cult(?) only to be accosted by his demon father and informed he is half-incubus. There’s some role he’s supposed to play in Hell, but I’m not completely sure what it is. But to get where he needs to go, he convinces a traveler to pick him on the road, and they fall hard and fast. That’s really all I need to know. 

The Widow of Rose House
Diana Biller

When the publicist for St. Martin Griffin posed the male protagonist of this book as “Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters but a tad smarter” I knew this was going to be something I wanted to check out. There are ghosts…maybe? But there are also other things going on as Alva, the titular widow, takes advantage of her new independence and works through some issues from her past. 

And while it’s not a romance (I repeat, not a romance) I want to check out Tess Gerritsen’s The Shape of Night. People have been talking about it being similar to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (which I love) but also a suspense thriller, so I wonder where it will toe the line. 

What do you like to read to get you in the mood for Halloween?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Do you know what kind of movie I absolutely love? Happy superhero movies. Obviously, there has to be some conflict, but a good superhero movie is a lot like a good romance. There are ups, downs, highs, lows, and eventually, an emotionally satisfying ending. Though there is the fact, of course, that they often don’t end with an HEA for the superhero and their love interest. But that’s why we have romances. Sometimes, they’re even about superheroes 😉

Sadly, I don’t have any new ones to talk about (I might, however, be writing this with my favorite Superman on in the background), but let’s all go into the weekend thinking about them…

Over on Book Riot

Trisha and I discussed The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics for The Great Big Romance Read, among other things, on the most recent episode of When In Romance.

I don’t know if you’re in the market for some shifters, but here are a few to get you started.

Tell us what your favorite stories are about fake dating turning to real romance!

Some of us might have a coronary about reading series out of order, but the truth is, you can pick these series up in any order you might want.

Deals

If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for the next Gilded Age Girls Club book (An Heiress to Remember, which sadly doesn’t come out until March), another clever Maya Rodale protagonist might be just the thing to help you through. Enter Lady Bridget’s Diary, which if you’re thinking “wait, is that…” then my answer is, Yes. It is. There’s even a Lord Darcy. You’re so very welcome for this gift. Best thing? It’s 1.99. The rest of the Cavendish series is five and six dollars, but if you’ve saved some money buying that one, might as well go for the rest, right?

New and Upcoming Releases

I have to tell you a secret: I haven’t gotten any reading done since the last time we spoke. (Well…technically I got a small amount in, but it might have been a Stucky fic in which they were fake-dating college professors…) (Moving on.) But I have a few new and upcoming releases I can’t wait to pick up, so I’ll tell you about those.

The Write Escape
Charish Reid

I did manage to start this one, and it’s gonna be so great. Toni is on her way: she’s got a great (most days) job as an editor, she’s getting married to the man she loves (though his Talented Tenth parents are something else entirely), and she’s even making headway on her own book. Sort of. But things are about to go awry, and she’s going to end up renting a cottage in Ireland. Right next door to a professor, with whom she’s about to let sparks turn into flames.

White Whiskey Bargain
Jodie Slaughter

I don’t know if you follow Jodie on Twitter, but doing so is lots of fun. You also get a countdown to something like this book, which I sadly might not have discovered on my own. There’s moonshine, marriage of convenience, and a depiction of Black Appalachia that I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen before, so I’m very much excited to read it, if for that alone. But there’s also a promise of some serious sexytimes, which Jodie has provided us glimpses into on the twittersphere. (Seriously, follow her. You won’t regret it. Well. Your wallet might.)

The Orchid Throne
Jeffe Kennedy

I’m trying to read more fantasy romance, and boy is this one I want to check out! Euthalia is a queen guided by a magical ring left to her by her father. She’s doing her best to keep her people free of tyranny, and working hard to make sure her kingdom is run in an ethical, meaningful way. When she meets Conrí, a prince seeking to ovethrow the same tyrant she’s defying, there’s already something between them. But the thing he needs most for his plans is the ring she wears on her finger and holds dear. How’s this going to work?

Goalie Interference
Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn

I don’t know if you’ve read Off the Ice, but if you haven’t, now is definitely the time to dive into a new hockey series. In Goalie Interference, we come back to our buddies on the Atlanta Venom, this time hanging out more with Ryu, one of the goalies. The other one, a brand new rookie looking to take the starting spot, is—of course—the guy he’ll end up falling for. But since this is an enemies-to-lovers romance, I’m expecting a lot of snark and scorn along the way.

And of course, this is just a drop in the bucket of what was released this week. And is coming next week. What are you excited to read?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

How many times have y’all heard Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” over the past three days? Because it’s been a surprising amount since the 21st. It really has. But it’s Monday, so let’s talk romancelandia.

News and Useful Links

Romance for RAICES wrapped up over the weekend and they raised almost 24,000 dollars! And the non-money numbers were pretty impressive, too. (And from what I’ve seen on Twitter, they might have raised more, as some people offered items to the second-highest bidder as well, with proof they’d sent money to RAICES. It was quite the thing to watch).

Have you seen the newest teaser for A Brother’s Honor, the newest romance adaptation from Passionflix? This is the first title by a black author (Brenda Jackson) that they’ve adapted, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of the series.

If you were planning to buy the paperback of TJ Klune’s Heartsong tomorrow, check and make sure it’s not the Dreamspinner Press version. Apparently DSP has been taking their time removing the listing from Amazon.

Romance Sparks Joy has a new regular feature called In the Loveseat and I’ve really enjoyed their first go. I look forward to catching future threads.

Did someone say a thriller?

This is an adorable story to make us all smile.

Deals

Speaking of Brenda Jackson, Love in Catalina Cove, the first book in her most recent series, is 1.99. This contemporary small-town romance involves a woman who has come back to her hometown when she inherits her aunt’s bed and breakfast, but not before having a run-in with the sheriff. I haven’t read this one but it’s been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. I really need to pick up more backlist titles. Maybe next year, what with that whole hindsight thing.

Recs!

Last night was the Emmy Awards, and for the first time in years, I actually watched the whole thing. So now I’m thinking about books I love that give me the same vibes as some of the Emmy-nominated and winning shows.

American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera

I don’t watch a lot of television, but one of the shows that I am completely ride or die for is Pose. It took me a while to make the decision to sit down and watch it, but I was immediately hooked. What makes me think of the Dreamer books isn’t just the fact that Billy Porter is now the first openly gay black man to win best actor in a drama series, but the whole found family element of Pose is a great parallel to the same in Dreamers. And of course, the wildly warming cast mostly made up of people of color, also hearkens to the Dreamers.

What doesn’t, of course, is the amazing cast of gorgeous trans women of color, which is something I’d love to see in romance. I’ve read one or two romances with trans femme protagonists, but they’ve all been white. Got any recs for me?

Stripped by Zoey Castile

Hear me out: when you think about Fleabag, the first thought you have is “hot mess,” right? Stripped is the first title I think of when I think “hot mess”, just because Robyn and Fallon are both such adorable messes. Neither goes through quite the experience that Fleabag does, but boy do they have some adventures on their way to each other, huh?

Adorable messes are one of my favorite contemporary types. They don’t have to be cinnamon rolls, either. Give me a mess that really needs to work on herself. I’m talking about Something Blue level “Ten Steps to Build A Better Darcy” style mess, because they’re worthy of redemption for themselves and their futures. (It’s sort of how I feel about Elektra in Pose, to be honest; whatever gets you there, right?)

Captive Prince by CS Pacat

Yes, this is where my brain goes when I think of Game of Thrones. It’s in part because I’ve seen a grand total of three episodes, so when I just think of what I know, it’s that whole grimdark world that’s more second-world than fantasyland (give or take a few dragons and some zombie creatures). The relationship between the two warring princes builds across three books, which isn’t as long a slog as the whole first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and begins in that same kind of darkness that GOT invokes.

Don’t worry; I don’t have a readalike for Chernobyl. I did wander over to AO3 after the season ended, but apparently I have a tendency to over-ship and there hadn’t been anything to read featuring my preferred one.

***

Did you watch the Emmys? What shows or performances stood out most to you?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

The human world, it’s a mess.

But we have romance novels, and those are almost as amazing as being waited upon hand and…fin…by crustacean servants.

Let’s talk new books, eh?

Over on Book Riot

I expanded upon my thoughts regarding illustrated covers (specifically, regarding Kelly’s piece about them and YA).

And while I’m sure you all are familiar with lots of these, you might still want to check out Liberty’s list of ways to keep up with new romance releases.

Sil pulled together a list of great books by Latinx authors for all ages, but there are definitely some that would be of interest to romance readers.

Deals

I know I’ve talked a lot about The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, but if you haven’t spent the 3.99 on the ebook or six dollars on the mass market, you’ve still got time before we talk about it on When in Romance on Monday for the Great Big Romance Read. (PS – have you reached out to tell us your thoughts or ask for a specific topic to be covered? There’s still time!)

New Releases!

The past week has been good to us. We’ve got plenty of choices to pick from, and some authors decided to pull a Beyoncé and drop a whole damn album with no notice.

Lowdown Dirty
Holley Trent

Yes, indeed. Holley Bey Trent decided to put a new book on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited without telling anybody, and just let us find it on our own (until she actually mentioned that she’d done it, of course). It’s a standalone, and you can read it even if you haven’t read any of her other series. And y’all.

Y’all.

Valerie is a project manager and architect overseeing a residential building project, and isn’t planning to stay in town very long. When a local friend surprises her by taking her to the community’s bimonthly kink party, Valerie balks—not because she’s disgusted by kink, but because she isn’t about that life anymore. But the friend’s car breaks down and they have to rely on someone at the party to get them way across the countryside to their respective homes.

Enter Tim Dowd, luxury boat designer looking to start afresh. His relationship with his ex-wife (who is a lesbian) and adult son (who isn’t quite an adult yet) has often driven potential partners away, but Valerie sparks something in him that he can’t let go. She’s also magnificently submissive, something he never thought he’d be able to have long term. But she has other plans and goals, and a long term relationship isn’t among them. So there’s that to get over. In the mean time, they can just play, right?

CW for D/s dynamics, rope play, general kink, past parental deaths, and gaslighting (not between the main couple).

Dine With Me
Layla Reyne

While I have a couple Layla Reyne books on my shelves, I hadn’t previously picked one of them up. But a foodie romance? I was down for it. I hadn’t actually remembered, when I decided to read it, that one of the protagonists’ cancer had a central role. So if you need to skip something like that, go ahead and skip it (and the rest of this section).

Miller is a chef. He lives and breathes food, even if he’s just closed his restaurant. When he advertises for a companion for the foodie vacation of a lifetime, he’s joined by Dr. Clancy Rhodes, recently out of his internship and gifted the trip by his parents before joining his father’s plastic surgery practice. Miller doesn’t share the reasoning for the two week trip to surprise locations to eat some of the best food in the continental United States: he is embarking on a tour of his favorite meals, one last time before he succumbs to throat cancer. Instead of getting treatment for it, he’s prepared to die; because treatment means loss of taste buds, something no chef wants. As the days progress, and Miller gets to know Clancy, his biggest regret is the timing. He’s set on skipping treatment, and not even the sweetest, most earnest man in creation is going to change his mind.

I’ve got to tell you. I was in tears for half of this book. Not sobbing tears, just tiny, my eyes can’t control themselves tears. The passion in this book ranges for everything from food to living, and there is a lot of feeling packed into every word. Also, the other relationships in this book (and in Lowdown Dirty, honestly) are some of the most grown-up, delightful ones I’ve read. Tim and Miller are both close to their ex-wives, and have a good relationship with them. Clancy is also the product of some awesome parenting.

CW for mention of cancer, cancer-related illness, cancer treatment side-effects, fatalistic reasoning, and excessive food consumption (they eat…a lot of food).

Other new releases I’m looking forward to picking up soon:

Need You Now by Molly O’Keefe

Promise Me a Dream by Wayne Jordan

Beard With Me by Penny Reid (ALERT this is not a romance, but sets up the story for Beard Necessities)

Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Hey there, folks. It’s another week, another weekly.

Wait, that’s the wrong email. Sorry. I apparently get so many of those (one a week, actually) that it’s ingrained itself. Anyway. Time to talk books that involve kissing.

News and Useful Links

First off: have you seen the cover or read the excerpt of The Heart Principle? Helen Hoang’s third book is probably the most anticipated book of 2020, and we have to wait almost half the year before it comes out. Whimper.

Jennifer Prokop said it again for the folks in the back.

There’s going to be more Reluctant Royals!

Romance Bookstore Day is moving forward, and they’re adding more to their docket. First up, a book club.

Romance for RAICES is still going on strong, and they’ve already passed their fundraising goal! Gawk at the bids they’ve already reached and see what’s still available to bid on.

Deals

Have you checked out Holley Trent’s Plot Twist books? The first, Writing Her In, is 3.99 right now. It’s the first in a new ongoing series (the second book, Three Part Harmony, is also out), and it centers a novelist and the cover model for her current series. And also his wife. Yeah, it’s lots of fun. All three characters have their own development and motivation, but the real draw is the relationship between writer Stacia and the quiet Dara.

Recs!

I picked up my first Reese Ryan book, and of all things it was the third book in a series. Savannah’s Secrets was one of those books that had been on my radar forever, but it wasn’t until I came across Engaging the Enemy that I actually decided to pick up a Bourbon Brothers book. (Borrowing it from the library helped; it was there, in front of me, and I had to read it in a limited amount of time.)

Engaging the Enemy
Reese Ryan

Parker and Kayleigh used to be best friends. But when he betrayed her in a fit of youthful misguidance, she vowed to never trust him again. Fast forward to adulthood, and Parker is an executive for the family business, a very large and profitable distillery. He comes to Kayleigh with an offer to buy the building where she lives and runs her business, but Kayleigh isn’t interested in selling. Until an old friend—and the sister of her successful ex-boyfriend—invites Kayleigh to her all-expenses-paid destination wedding. Kayleigh, seeing an opportunity, gives Parker a counter-offer: an exorbitant amount for her building and one week-long fake fiancé by the name of Parker Abbott. Parker, willing to do anything to settle the deal, agrees.

The agreement they make is one that is different from some other forms of the fake relationship trope. The pair realizes they don’t know each other well. So they’ll not only pretend to be affianced for the week of the wedding, but they’ll spend time together before they get there in order to pull this off as authentically as possible. Eventually, the relationship isn’t as fake as they’d like it to be…

Of course, now I have to go back to check out the others, and there’s more coming in the future.

I am usually that person who has to start at the beginning, even with romance series that don’t feature the same couple. But this has been happening to me more recently. For instance, I couldn’t stay away from How to Be a Movie Star by TJ Klune, which was a follow-up to How to Be A Normal Person. But I got to meet the characters from that book in their sequel, and now I have to go back and read them. Someday. Soon, I hope. (Note, TJ Klune is in the process of retaining rights for all of his Dreamspinner Press books after the royalties debacle I mentioned last week, so I haven’t linked them here.)

What series have you discovered by picking something up in the middle?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

How’s your Thursday going? I finally made it through a couple more books and am very excited! Reading slumps are the worst.

Over on Book Riot

I’ve never really enjoyed Heyer, but if you have, Namera compiled the 25 best one-liners for you to enjoy. (Or if you haven’t tried her, see which of her books pulls you in.)

What are your favorite co-written books? I feel like this is a good category for romance readers to really shout out some good ones!

Is now the time to finally pick the right ereader for you?

And if you like YA romcoms, here’s an exclusive look at an upcoming one!

Deals

If you’ve been feeling a Sierra Simone craving or just want to dive back into the world of New Camelot, American Squire is 99 cents. It’s a short piece, but looks pretty intense. Sierra Simone always delivers when it comes to it, no matter how long it is. I mean, Midnight Mass, anyone?

When was the last time you picked up a basketball book? If it’s been a minute, you definitely want to check out Shots Not Taken by Nicole Falls. Not only does it have…quite the cover in its simplicity, but it also features something that could only cross paths in Nashville: b-ball and country music.

New Releases

Since last week, I’ve read two books that I’m excited to share with everyone. The first was a bit slow-going, but still marvelous. The other was the kind where I literally had to say “stop” aloud to myself to put the damn thing down to go to work. An hour late.

Lord of the Last Heartbeat
May Peterson

Somewhere, I heard the words “magical opera” and came running. I’d already been interested enough in the broader blurb to download it, but I really decided to push it up my list based on a lot of people’s initial reactions to it before release. I was also curious about the intersex representation, which someone mentioned just days before I started reading it. May Peterson’s Twitter identifies her as nonbinary transfem, and she throws some of that identity into Mio, the intersex protagonist whose song is magic. The breadth of his power is unknown when we meet him, as he does dirty work for his mother, one of the biggest mafiosas in Vermagna. Her power lies in using people’s secrets, and Mio can uncover them with his voice. But he doesn’t want to do that anymore, and reaches out to Rhodry, a moon-soul who has died and now shares the spirit of the bear, on a whim. Rhodry, himself, has some issues in his home dealing with curses and ghosts, and secrets, but is fascinated by Mio the singer and curious about his need to escape his mother. Lots of things happen and it’s as much a mystery as it is a romance as it is a fantasy, with some nice gothic elements to it.

I don’t read a lot of fantasy, which might be why this one was a slow starter for me. I was very involved when I was in it, but could only read small bits at a time. Except the second half. I got to about 55 percent and just zoomed through it. It’s wildly compelling, and you just love both protagonists to bits. I am looking forward to seeing what else May is going to toss our way…especially because there are a few characters I’m just going to need more of, whether they’re leads in a future romance or not.

Island Fling With The Tycoon
Therese Beharrie

I don’t often pick up category romances with one of those “everything you need to know is in the title” titles (not because I don’t like them, but can go just a touch banner-blind to them—I’m trying to get better at that, too), but a: it was Therese Beharrie and b: it was Therese Beharrie. Her stories are super addictive, and this one was no different. Piper has arrived on Mykonos for her brother’s wedding, only to not have a ride from the airport. After some confusion, she finds her ride: the bride’s brother, who has essentially funded the whole destination wedding. When the groom literally runs off during the first of four nights’ worth of wedding celebrations, Piper and Caleb are the ones who have to go find him. Along the way, they make a lot of discoveries about themselves and each other, and only getting over those discoveries will make it so the thing that’s between them will actually work. They just have to get out of their own way.

I have had an ARC of this book for…a very very long time. Longer than I had one for One Day To Fall, which came out last month. I finally sat down to read it, and was upset with myself for taking this long. Piper and Caleb are such complex and wonderful characters, and watching their interaction is so addictive, I literally could not stop. If not for that whole pesky having to work thing, I might have just kept going until it was over. (It’s more than likely that by the time you read this, I will have just eaten what was left.)

Other new books I’m excited to pick up:

Sweet Perfection by Kat Cole
Everlasting Desire by Stephanie Nicole Norris
Love & The Laws of Motion by Amanda Weaver
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (regardless of its categorization in Amazon, reports are actually that it is a love story but not a romance, but come on, look at that cover; and it’s about lesbian necromancers in space—you know I’m going to at least try)
Beautiful Accidents by Erin Zak
Healing Hannah’s Heart by Preslaysa Williams
On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

It’s Monday (again) and we’ve got some stuff to talk about. But most of it is good! Let’s take advantage of it!

News and Useful Links

Have you checked out Love In Panels’ Romance for RAICES auction? It. Is. Amaze. It’s also already really expensive, but there are definitely things for everyone to bid on, whether you’re a romance writer or stick to reading. There’s a set of signed hardcovers with a bonus item that might lead to actual blows.

If you’re in the market for a new podcast, and love #rombklove on Twitter, definitely check out RomBkPod.

This is a fascinating look at how Holley Trent approaches writing her polyamorous romances.

It’s not yet available online, but if you’re in range of The Ripped Bodice you should check out their new Trope Tea.

Things move quickly in romance, and it seems like it was ages ago that we discovered that a woman had taken advantage of Nalini Singh. She accepted a scholarship for attendance to the New Zealand Romance Writers’ Association, having not been a writer nor having plans to be a writer. If she had just been interested in discovery of romance, it would be one thing. But she wrote an article—which I’m not going to link because I don’t want to give her clicks—that was…well, what you’d expect from someone with no respect for the romance genre. But Nalini herself was gracious in the storm, so let’s read about her instead.

I hadn’t actually seen a number, so it was a bit of a shock to discover that Dreamspinner Press owes TJ Klune, one of their best-selling authors, well over 25,000 dollars in royalties. He is just one of countless authors the publisher hasn’t paid their royalties, and we don’t know what the final total might be.

Andie J. Christopher interviewed Beverly Jenkins and it was as great as expected.

This looks pretty great.

And so does this one.

Deals!

Now that the trilogy is complete, it’s a good time to read An Extraordinary Union—if you enjoy historical spy romances featuring amazing women doing awesome things. It’s 2.99 right now, which is significantly lower than the others. If you’re a person who Doesn’t Read Civil War Romances, download a sample. You might decide to keep going.

Have you been curious about Sylvia Day’s new book, Butterfly in Frost? You can get it for 3.99 right now! This new novella, which is part of the Crossfire universe but not really, is her first venture into fiction in several years, and has all of the elements you’re used to seeing in a Sylvia Day romance.

Recs

A friend posted recently about people’s go-to comfort reads, and it made me think about what that means to me. As I might have mentioned, I tend not to reread books, so I have a different standard for what a comfort read is. I’ve decided it’s a book I know will be like reading a warm hug, and often by an author I know will treat me well. There are authors for whom I have deliberately left part of their backlist unread, so I can still have something available to read when I need them. They help me out of slumps, make me feel better on sick days, and get me through rough times.

Here are a few of mine.

Roan Parrish (In the Middle of Somewhere)

I had been putting Roan Parrish’s books on my to-read list for years before I finally picked one up. It was a day I was feeling poorly and needed something that would not only get me through the day, but distract me from my ailment. And Riven was that book. Needless to say I started picking up more of her books, but have been reading them very slowly. The one that has been on my list the longest is In the Middle of Somewhere, which just sounds magnificent and which I am holding on reserve for a really bad one.

Jackie Lau (He’s Not My Boyfriend)

Jackie Lau’s books are high-fun and low-angst, and they’re a perfect few-hour pick me up. Her characters are fun, her conflicts are meaningful, and her books are relatively short. I have trouble not gobbling up every book of hers that comes out, but I still have a few on the back burner, waiting to grab when the time is right. The one that has been hanging out longest is He’s Not My Boyfriend, which is the second Lau book I acquired. It’s the second book in the Chin-Williams series, and honestly I just like having the cover to look at. How cute, huh?

Talia Hibbert (Bad for the Boss)

It’s easy to leave a few of Talia Hibbert’s books hanging out, because every time you turn around there’s another one, and you just can’t keep up. I didn’t come into the gospel of TH until after the Just for Him series has been well underway, and it’s the one I have yet to come back to. Now that I’ve devoured Work For It, though, I might have to let that rainy day go ahead and come, because I want to see what Olu was like in his old world, before he figured out what his life should really look like. And of course, I can’t stay away from her books, no matter how hard I try.

This is just a snapshot of my rainy day collection; other authors include Olivia Dade, TJ Klune, and Alyssa Cole (yes, it’s true. I still have books of hers to read). But the list is ever growing, and I like knowing I won’t run out of that specific kind of book anytime soon.

What are your go-to comfort reads?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

The past week has been…something…on both sides of the Atlantic (and in the Pacific) and goodness knows we need romance novels right now. We’ll talk news on Monday; let’s just hold onto the happy.

Over on Book Riot

Annika has a lot of questions about illustrated covers and their connection to romcoms.

It was anchored in the bottom of last Thursday’s newsletter, but in case you go banner blind, I neglected to mention that When in Romance aired last week, so if you rely on me to remind you it exists…well, don’t because I’m terrible at it.

Have you read these romantic suspense novels? Some of them are a little more on the suspense end than romance, but they have both thrills and kissing, so we’ll let that slide.

Deals

If you’ve been feeling bereft of kickass space princesses, Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik is 1.99. Fighting in the dark, snark up the wazoo, and developing trust regardless of terrible circumstances are just the highlights of this first book in a cool space opera series.

Speaking of romantic suspense, have you checked out anything by Piper J. Drake yet? If you want to check out something I can guarantee is worthwhile—equal explosions and *explosions*—try Hidden Impact, which is also 1.99 right now.

New Releases

This week has been a veritable smorgasbord when it comes to new releases, and I’ve gotten my hands on a couple or three.

Well Met
Jen DeLuca

What could possibly send me running faster than hearing the words “Renaissance faire romance”? Lots of GIFs featuring everyone’s favorite Captain Guyliner, Colin O’Donoghue. Obviously, I was curious enough to dig in.

And man, so many Faire feels.

Some of us grew up going to renfaires. In my case, it was one of the ones mentioned in Well Met, the Maryland Renaissance Festival (though the one they put on also reminded me of the New York Renaissance Festival, which I’ve only been to once but from which I have basically the only photographic evidence of my ever having gone to one). But we’re getting way off track. Basically, if you love participating in Renaissance festivals in any role, you’re going to enjoy the hell out of this book.

Another thing you’re probably going to love, as a romance reader, is living in Emily’s head. She can be a touch annoying, but it’s great to watch her grow over the course of the summer, to see how she connects the dots and figures out her own life, even as she’s dealing with a terrible past betrayal and the psychological and general life-related repercussions of said betrayal. But it’s not all sad, because she’s got a delightful sister and niece, some rambunctious new friends, and of course, Simon, the Faire coordinator who…might also be a pirate…

So yeah. Have at it.

(I will note that while Jen DeLuca’s universe is delightful, there was a significant lack of POC and queer characters. One might argue that it’s a small town…but it’s a small town outside of Baltimore, so I’d expect a little less homogeneity.)

Work for It
Talia Hibbert

This was almost a surprise release; Talia announced it about a month ago, as we all thought we’d have to wait for Get a Life, Chloe Brown in October before we’d get a new Talia Hibbert book, and I’m glad to have gotten my hands on an eARC. Which I devoured.

I have a confession to make: I haven’t read Bad for the Boss or the other Just for Him books. I have been saving them for a rainy day, because too much time without a TH book is just a travesty. (How did we survive before?) But luckily, we don’t need to have met Olu in those books to dive deep into his soul in this one. Having reached a point in his life where he needs to reset, be alone with his thoughts and his journals, Olu decides to go out into the country and join an elderberry harvest. Which is where he meets Griff, the farm manager and town weirdo (according to the town, anyway). They don’t start off on the right foot, but eventually they sort of figure each other out. But not themselves—so there’s a lot of grief that each has to deal with before they’re in the right place to be together.

Don’t worry though; if you’ve read anything else by her, you know she treats her readers well. Just prepared for an exhausted, feelings-heavy nap when you’re done.

I also started Lord of the Last Heartbeat by May Peterson, and I didn’t want to stop to write this. I haven’t felt pulled in by worldbuilding like this in a while, and I want to know everything about everyone. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’m all in for the magical opera and the moon children.

Other books I’m looking forward to picking up:

Black Tie Billionaire by Naima Simone
Island Fling with the Tycoon by Therese Beharrie
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (I started but got distracted by this guy with humongous eyes climbing El Capitan with no ropes or anything…)
The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden
Guarding the Countess by Jess Michaels (apparently, the swords cross—it’s a requirement in MMF, you know)
How to Belong With a Billionaire by Alexis Hall
To Break a Vow by Chencia C. Higgins
Return to Me by Farrah Rochon
Netherfield Must Go! By Nikki Payne (Pride and Prejudice retelling with black protagonists, what?!)

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

We’re heading into what for some of us will be a three-day weekend, and I can’t wait to get somewhere near caught up. I mean, that’s never actually going to happen, but I like to feel like I’m trying. Or something.

Over on Book Riot

Natalya got to chat with Kennedy Ryan about her RITA win and all kinds of things.

I waited as long as possible to open Sil’s list of 19 great romance series to start, because I just cannot right now. But if you’re looking for a good read to dip into, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

Want a free copy of an intriguing Brenda Novak book?

Katherine wrote a rundown of what’s happening at Barnes and Noble, if you still do that kind of thing. My main thought: if their goal is now to better meet customer demand instead of selling what the publishers want them to, are we going to see a broader, larger range of romance? My local store isn’t terrible when it comes to stocking romance, but they could definitely be more aware of what people are buying from other venues.

I used to be a page folder, but some random shift happened in my brain and now I hoard bookmarks. And I want all of these.

Deals

Have you read Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Fit trilogy? All three books (Fit being the first, then Tamed and Sated) are 99 cents each right now. If your only trek into Rebekah Weatherspoon’s universe has been Rafe, you’re in for quite a treat with these. The first features a television producer who decides to try a new fitness routine and the trainer that she ends up with. There’s also a lovely D/s element (is lovely the right word? Probably not.) that just makes everything a touch more…sweltering hot.

And if that wasn’t enough, That Could Be Enough, Alyssa Cole’s historical novella that first appeared in Hamilton’s Battalion, is also 99 cents! This is an amazing bit of f/f set in Antebellum New York with two women that you just can’t help loving even when they bug you to death. If you haven’t yet tried it out, now is definitely the time.

New Releases!

So many books came out this week (and I missed a couple last week being distracted by the shinies) and it is good.

Man vs. Durian
Jackie Lau

I told you last time you’d hear more about this one, and I can tell you it did not disappoint. Jackie Lau is the queen of what some would call “low stakes” romance. Here, Valerie, who we met in The Ultimate Pi Day Party, pretends that she has a boyfriend named Peter during a bad conversation with her mother. So when she accidentally dumps durian ice cream on a guy who turns out to be named Peter, she asks him to be her fake boyfriend. And he agrees…because he’s already interested. Valerie, on the other hand, needs time to trust before intimacy blooms—I don’t think she says she’s demisexual but I wouldn’t say she’s not demisexual—and would rather this thing with Peter just be…what it is. For now.

CW for mentions of sexual harassment

There are a few other books I’m looking forward to checking out, of course:

Training My Heart to Love You by Monica Walters (I’ll admit: I judged this book by its cover)
Butterfly in Frost by Sylva Day (I KNOW)
Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman
Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan
Flashed by Zoey Castile
Tiny House, Big Love by Olivia Dade
How to Love A Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne
Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar
Handle With Care by Helena Hunting
On The Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci
Bootie and the Beast by Falguni Kothari

That’s…plenty. Right?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

It’s a new dawn, a new day, a new life, folks, and I’m feeling good. I finally sat down to read another author I’ve been following on Twitter forever, and now I just want to read all the erotic fairy tales.

I mean, uh.

Let’s talk about what’s been happening, eh?

News and Useful Links

The name Sue Grimshaw might have been coming across your feed if you’re on twitter, but if you’re not sure what has been going on for the past couple weeks, here is a good place to start. It’s an annotated transcript of the (twelve minute!) video that Suzan Tisdale posted, defending her actions in retaining Sue as an acquiring editor at her press.

With all of this stuff that’s happening, let’s celebrate why black romance matters.

Have you been keeping an eye on the lineup for KissCon? I mean…I had plans for my vacation funds lined up for 2020 but…that might change.

Authors don’t often change titles months after they’ve announced said title, but sometimes it’s necessary. For instance, Cat Sebastian apparently “revised the duchess right out of” what was formerly called The Duchess Deception and there’s a new title in its place!

What do you know about Naima Simone? Read this interview and try to keep yourself from buying too many things.

Ooh look what OprahMag thinks is worth checking out this year!

Deals

The Ultimate Pi Day Party is 99 cents right now! This is the first in Jackie Lau’s Baldwin Village series, and if you couldn’t tell from the title, is about the ultimate party and all the math jokes. You’ve got a few days to read Pi Day and the follow-up, Ice Cream Lover, before Man vs. Durian comes out later this week. But we’ll talk about that one next time. I have a lot of feelings about Vivian and Peter.

Recs

I thought Dithered Hearts was going to be my only sexy fairytale this summer, and then I went and read all the things. And want more.

Flashed by Zoey Castile

Y’all. I think this is my favorite of the Happy Endings series. And not even just because it’s basically a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It’s got messy people figuring out their shit and overcoming their obstacles, and sometimes it’s tied in a nice bow, and sometimes they have to work for it. Pat was the worst kind of Hollywood bad boy possible and now he’s a recluse, having been in a major accident that leaves him still physically able bodied but scarred across half of his body and with some major fears when it comes to people. He doesn’t know how to ask for help, and only takes it because it’s foisted upon him. And boy, is Lena thrust upon him. Hired to cook and clean—and in need of the money thanks to the worst stepmother ever—she manages not to quit on the first day (though it’s a near thing) and they form a sort of truce. Which becomes something else. There might be phones involved but I’ll let you find out.

(Also, that cover bothers me because Pat’s scars are important. And so is his hair!)

Ariana by Ash Dylan

Set in a post-Apocalyptic America, this is the first in a series of erotic fairytales, and I’m excited to read the rest. Ash promises “an HEA and a lot of happy endings” and honestly, dude delivers. If you follow Ash on twitter, you see his ponderings of new stories to tell, and just want them all now. But luckily, we have a few to gnaw on while we wait, and oh man, are they delicious.

In Ariana, King Devin is the next in a line of suitors who will potentially allow Princess Ariana to live up to her potential and rule her land forever. Because her father was an asshole, he left a codicil in his will that she would only become ruler if she could be convinced to cut her hair and marry. Instead, she’s just been killing the dudes that show up at her door. Tan, Devin’s lover and bodyguard, is afraid that Devin will be the next in an ongoing, endless line of dead rulers, and takes matters into his own hands. But what if the three of them can work something else out?

I’m looking forward to checking out the next book in this series. Meanwhile, I’m off to find more sexy fairytales.

What are you reading this week?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!