Category: Kissing Books

Join the Romance Resistance

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date October 4, 2017

I don’t even know where to start today, y’all.

The world still sucks, and we still have romance. I had this whole section written about the NYT article that came out last week and some awesome people’s responses to it, but I’d rather just skip to the happy parts. You want my opinions on the other stuff, hit me up. Let’s look at the good stuff in romancelandia.

Romance Recs for Bi Visibility Week

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date September 20, 2017

Well folks, the world sucks. At least we have romance.

We have things like this bit of amazingness to look forward to. I mean, we have to wait until March, but in the meantime, we get to look at all that sexiness anytime we want.

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PageHabit offers a monthly ROMANCE book box curated and annotated by acclaimed authors for the most diehard bookworms. Each box comes with an exclusive, author-annotated new release, a written letter from the author, a bonus short story, fun bookish goods and instant membership into an active online book community of over 20,000 members. Take a peek at our past featured authors and titles; September’s featured book is perfect for those who like their romance novels with a side of crime.

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And we have romance bookstores! It’s never not the time to remind you that The Ripped Bodice exists, and they have a Patreon! (Also, if you ever have the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to Culver City, take it. They are so nice and the store is wonderful. And yes, you will be overwhelmed with choices and paralized by indecision. It’s a store almost completely comprised of romance. The hard choices will be made and you’ll be wandering back and forth for hours.)

Also, PassionFlix has officially launched! Not only can you watch some old favorites, but their first original, Hollywood Dirt, has launched! And if you’re like me, you might want to read the source material.

Have you seen Danielle Steel’s desk? Oh my wow.

It’s time for a new round of Avon Addicts! It’s a bit of a harrowing process, but you get some serious goodies if you’re selected.

Have you watched the Fifty Shades Freed trailer yet?

Dudes. Bluewater Bay is ending in December after over 20 books. Twenty. How did I look up fromBurnt Toast B&B and see that there were suddenly a score more books?

PS. What do you collect? I’ll bet it’s not these. (PS, Rebecca Romney is one of my all time crushes and now I need to start some kind of romance collection that will win me this award just so I can meet her.)

Tweet thread of the week: Olivia breaks it down.

Over on Book Riot

Get recommended by awesome authors: we just launched our newest podcast, Recommended! Listen to interesting people talk about books that matter to them. The first episode has authors Samantha Irby and Robin Sloan pitching two all-time favorites. Go find out what they are in Episode 1. Episode 2 is available too!

Google Search will show you ebooks available in your library now. Have you tried it out?

And don’t forget, you can always check out the Romance/Erotica tag on the Book Riot site to go back and read stuff you might have missed, all the way back to the start!

How about some book deals?

Stay Until Dawn by Jamie Pope is 1.99 right now!

Bella and the Beast by Olivia Drake is 2.99.

Loretta Chase’s Dukes Prefer Blondes is 1.99.

The second book in Rachel Van Dyken’s Curious Liaisons series, Cheater’s Regret, is 1.99.

Carla Burgess’s romantic comedy Stuck with You is 1.99 too!

And now, recs!

It’s Bi Visibility Week, but I have trouble making choices, so you get this instead of my regular two or three recs.

Santino Hassell: Illegal Contact, Sunset Park

Whether you’re into football players or foulmouthed potheads, Santino Hassell can write the bi hero of your dreams. I lean quite a bit further towards Raymond Rodriguez, but both heroes claim bisexuality and have some wonderful times falling in love.

Elyse Springer: Thaw and Heat Wave

These two books in the Seasons of Love series are fabulous stories of women in lust and in love, and Thaw gives us some bonus ace rep.

KJ Charles: A Fashionable Indulgence, An Unnatural Vice

KJ Charles does historical romance spectacularly, and takes us into a London world most Regency authors don’t go for. These two are books in different series, but are equally entertaining. An Unnatural Vice is the second in a series, but you can read it on its own; that said, An Unseen Attraction is also great and features an Indo-British hero.

Rebekah Weatherspoon: So Sweet

Take a fat, sex positive heroine, give her a sugar daddy, and watch the flames. It’s the first in a novella trilogy, so get ready for all the sweet sexy fun.

Cat Sebastian: The Lawrence Browne Affair

While also the second in a series (and you should definitely read The Soldier’s Scoundrel), you can definitely enjoy this on its own. Georgie and Radnor are just wonderful.

AM Arthur: Hot Licks

I know, you say. Jess keeps telling me to read books in the middle or at the end of a series. But thing is, this is one of my favorite same-sex OT3s, and features a demisexual hero and a pansexual hero.

Alisha Rai: A Gentleman in the Street

Goddamn, this book. Akira Mori is the shit. She’s confident, rich, talented, and open to pretty much anything in the bedroom. And Jacob Campbell is into all of that.

Megan Mulry: the whole Regency Reimagined series (starting with Bound to Be a Groom)

These books are cotton candy, hot chocolate, and good pho all wrapped in awesome, sexy stories.

New and upcoming releases!

Acting on Impulse by Mia Sosa

Sizzling Desire by Kayla Perrin

The Heat Between Us by Cheris Hodges

Covet by Yolande Kleinn

The Scoundrel and the Lady by Robin DeHart

The Love Song of Sawyer Bell by Avon Gale

His Perfect Partner by Priscilla Oliveras

In Her Court by Tamsen Parker

Kissing Books

#RWAstrong and Historical Fantasy

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date September 6, 2017

Happy September, lovers! Did you get any time off for reading over the long weekend (if you got a long weekend)?

Just a couple days after our last chat, Romance writers clapped back hard when one of their own spoke disparagingly about diversity and “social issues” in romance novels. As I am personally not a member of Romance Writers of America, I have not seen the remarks, but I got the jist from several authors I follow, primarily on Twitter. Ann Aguirre makes a clear statement, as does Olivia Waite, and the #RWAstrong tag will give you a little more. I haven’t read any books by the author, but this isn’t inspiring me to seek any out.

Sponsored by The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury has continued to seek justice, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. But now he is needs an heir – and a wife to produce one. When seamstress Emma Gladstone appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides immediately that she’ll do. His terms are simple: they will be husband and wife by night only, and once she’s pregnant with his heir, they never need share a bed again. But Emma is no pushover, and once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love.

In happier news, PassionFlix went live this past weekend! Have you tried it out? So far it doesn’t have a whole lot of movies, but looking at romance author Alessandra Torre’s favorites, I think she and I should be BFFs.

Speaking of romantic movies, though: have you watched The Incredible Jessica James on Netflix? No matter what your life looks like, it’s just what you read right now. I promise.

Do you read a lot of British-set historicals? What do you look for to determine whether it’s a Regency or a Victorian? Heroes & Heartbreakers has a nice little primer. Though I’d also add: trains.

Deals!

Close Enough to Touch is one of my favorite Victoria Dahl novels (though when you’re wandering through Jackson, how do you pick a favorite?) and it’s 1.99 right now!

Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend (which is apparently now also a Bollywood movie) is 1.99!

Twice the Growl by Milly Tayden is 99 cents! And if you come to the end of that wanting more, there are way more in the series (for not a bad price).

Sabrina Jeffries’ The Pirate Lord is 1.99 right now. It’s a classic!

Signs of Attraction by Laura Brown is 99 cents right now. It’s an #ownvoices contemporary featuring two characters with hearing loss.

Over on Book Riot…

It’s the week after Labor Day! For a lot of folks, it’s back-to-school time (though where I live out in the desert, they’ve already been back in school for a month. A MONTH). So how about some romances to get you in the school zone?

I didn’t mention it in news, but the New York Times books coverage desk is pulling even farther back on romance. Amanda Diehl had words.

But we know what we like, so how about some excellent self-published romance?

Dudes. Casey has come to realize that she just…doesn’t like erotica. Do you? (I don’t read much of it myself, actually; I tend to go for erotic romance. Which I read…a whole lot of.)

Santino Hassell tries to read an hour a day. What else did he have to tell us?

And don’t forget, you can always check out the Romance/Erotica tag on the Book Riot site to go back and read stuff you might have missed, all the way back to the start!

Finally, there’s book recs!

I was in a historical fantasy mood (and someone recommended a really interesting sounding one) so I started my weekend with Highland Dragon Warrior, the first in a very promising prequel series to Isabel Cooper’s Highland Dragon series. Instead of the 19th-century setting of the first series, Highland Dragon Warrior is set in the time of Braveheart, when Scotland is fighting for its own sovereignty. The titular dragon warrior, Cathal, is home from foreign wars, looking over the family keep, when Sophia, a Jewish scholar and alchemist (alchemist!) arrives with one request: a few of his scales. He offers to grant them, if she helps him out with a mystical problem he’s having. His friend is dissolving. Dissolving. Sophia takes up the challenge, and her awesomeness and fortitude are what will keep you turning pages until you reach the very end (at which point you will be grasping for Highland Dragon Rebel, which takes place twenty years later, features a badass dragon warrior, and unfortunately has none of Cathal or Sophia except in passing mention).

Snowspelled is a brief but jam-packed novella set in a very different kind of Alternate England. In Angland, humans and elves have created a pact that allows both worlds to reside in peace. Women control the nation—being the more prudent, level-headed ones—and men deal in all things magical. But Cassandra is a rare being, able to wield magic and one of the best in her class at the Library—but a bad choice made it so she could no longer practice. The pain of losing access to her magic led her to break things off with her fiance, but a snowed-in house party puts them into constant contact. Add to that a really bad agreement with an elf, and all kinds of fun can happen in a week! The compelling plot and the effortlessly diverse world kept me smiling and sighing in this single-sitting read. (Thanks, Stephanie, for sending me a copy!)

I haven’t come across any historical fantasy by an author of color (if you know any, send them my way) but I did recently finish this fabulous self-published historical romance set in the Spanish Caribbean in the 19th century, A Summer for Scandal. It’s got some awesome Pride and Prejudice vibes and features two author protagonists: one wrote a novel and is now publishing and writing for multiple journals—one in his own name, one a gossip rag very much not in his name. The other protagonist would love to publish a novel, but has settled for anonymously publishing a best-selling, scandalous serial. Throw them together and let the sparks ensue. And the scandal, of course. (I will warn you; there are some typos. I am a firm believer in copyediting, but whatever, I don’t care. It’s otherwise fantastic.)

How about some new and upcoming releases?

Sanctuary, Rebekah Weatherspoon

When the Scoundrel Sins, Anna Harrington

My Fair Lover, Nicole Jordan

The Betting Vow, KM Jackson

Her Hometown Girl, Lorelie Brown

Pitch Please, Lani Lynn Vale (9/8)

Kissing Books

Smash the Patriarchy, Read Romance

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date August 21, 2017

Well, the total eclipse of the heart has finally happened, and now we can move on with our lives (and hopefully, with our eyes intact as well).

Sponsored by The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Looking for ways to drop your well earned money? Here are a few things you can try:

The Ripped Bodice now has a Patreon! Support them from afar (and get a few perks) and keep the love alive whether you can get to the brick and mortar shop or not.
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has all kinds of new merch, including the awesome Slayer of Words t-shirt, mug, etc., proceeds for which will go to Doctors Without Borders, Beverly Jenkins’ charity of choice
They also have these excellent “Smash the Patriarchy, Read Romance” mugs.

In other news, there is apparently going to be a romance anthology based on Alexander Hamilton’s battalion coming soon. You will definitely hear from me when there is more to share.

In…less exciting news, there has been some discussion about a forthcoming book announced by Carina Press in which an educator starts a romantic relationship with a student. The publishing company has since announced that they will be reviewing the book for sensitivity, but a lot of people think it shouldn’t even have gotten past the pitch phase, what with the whole high school teacher/student thing, even if the student is not a minor. I’ve been known to pick up taboo, but I am personally not down for that particular one (probably in part because I have worked at a high school and that is not a level of trust I could see any of my teachers breaking). What do you think?

Bustle has been recognizing Romance Awareness Month, and has been posting some pretty awesome articles, including this one in romance authors’ own words.

Speaking of romance authors’ own words, the daily posts on the Read a Romance Month site are great for anyone, whether you’re a romance reader or not. They’re particularly great when you need something heartwarming and pick-me-up-y.

Over on Book Riot:

Erin recommended a few historical romances for people who get tripped up by the language and terminology in historicals.

Danika wrote about how Harry Potter helped guide her on her own queer journey, courtesy of Draco/Harry fanwork.

Rachel pulled together a fantabulous list of things (more things!) you can add to your collection in a special romance edition of Book Fetish. (PS–NSFW!)

And finally, while it’s not directed at romance readers, we could all do more to support our favorite authors. Here’s a quick list of things we can do!

And now, recs!

I’ve been in a sort of “real American heroes” mode, recently, so here are a few recs of books featuring military men across American history!

Be Not Afraid
Alyssa Cole

Named for the words allegedly said by Crispus Attucks, the man of African and Wampanoag descent who shed the first blood for the Revolution, Be Not Afraid tells the story of Elijah and Kate, two people on opposite sides of the American Revolution for very different reasons. Elijah fights for the Patriots, having made a deal with his owner to fight in his stead in exchange for land, livestock, and freedom. Kate, on the other hand, is one of many enslaved people who have taken the Brits up on their offer to manumit them if they join their side. The love story is brief but heartfelt, and my only issue with the story is just that—it’s TOO SHORT. It was written as part of a Revolutionary anthology, For Love & Liberty.

Through the Storm
Beverly Jenkins

When we first meet Raimond Le Veq and Sable Fontaine (if you’ve read Forbidden you might be familiar with the latter), the pair are on separate paths. Raimond is a high ranking officer in the Union Army (confusing white soldiers to no end) and Sable is ready to be free. Fate throws them into each other’s paths as they each serve the Union in their own ways, until they meet again after the war. Their situation in New Orleans is incredibly different from where they found themselves in battle, but Sable takes to the Gens du Colour society—and the Le Veq family in particular—like a pro. If only the pair could get over themselves enough to make their love work.

North To You
Tif Marcelo

This one goes a bit of a different route than the historicals. In San Francisco, Camille Merino runs a food truck that is a culmination of her dreams. While checking out a food-centered event, she literally runs into an old flame, and the heat is still there. Drew Bautista is in town on leave from the Army, ready to help his family rebrand their restaurant. He’s hoping that this month will help restore his relationship with his father, who has never accepted that he joined the Army instead of the family business. Every relationship in this book is magical, from siblings to parents to friends, and there are recipes for Filipino food in the back matter. Just so you know.

Dear Aaron
Mariana Zapata

Do you like the slowest of slow burns? This is the book for you. At nearly five hundred pages, it’s the longest of the book recs this week, though the first half is written correspondence—letters, emails, IMs, etc. Ruby has “adopted” a soldier for letters and care packages, having learned from a sibling that Army life is pretty lonely. Aaron is deployed somewhere—she isn’t sure where. After a rocky start, the pair easily outstrip the assigned one email a week and maybe a care package, and even without prose, their feelings for each other are apparent to the reader (even if they aren’t quite as apparent to Ruby). If you like hopeless characters who just need to talk to each other (and eventually do), this is your story. Zapata also doesn’t shy away from including talk of deployment, military life, and the necessary life decisions that might come up as a soldier.

Currently Reading:

The Unsung Hero
Suzanne Brockmann

Okay, so there are 20 Troubleshooters books, and I’ve had the first one for years. Being still in the mood, I decided to try it out. Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti is on leave after a head injury on the job, and there’s no better place to spend some of it than with his granduncle, Joe. Of course, time with Joe means time with his BFF Since The War (double-yew, double-yew, eye, eye), Charles, who has terminal cancer. Tom can’t help but hope that he might run into Charles’ daughter, Kelly. So far in my reading Brockmann is primarily setting the scene, with Tom having spotted an international terrorist while on recovery leave, but I hear there’s going to be some shenanigans, so here’s looking at you, kid.

Deals!

Are you ready for a new segment of Kissing Books? Here are a few choice books that are currently deal-priced on Amazon!

CD Reiss’s Bombshell is 1.99 right now! I don’t usually go for nanny/single father, but this one was so fricking sweet.

A Bollywood Affair, by Sonali Dev, is 2.99 right now. It’s the perfect blend of angst and “aww” and will set you upon the path of reading everything Sonali has out right now—which at last count is only at three, but there’s another coming out next year.

180 Seconds by Jessica Park is 1.99. (Okay, this is the last famous person/not famous person deal.)

And if Through the Storm wasn’t enough Civil War/awesome women doing awesome things for you, Alyssa Cole’s An Extraordinary Union is 2.99!

How often do you find Gilded Age romance? Joanna Shupe’s Magnate, the first in her Knickerbocker series, is 1.99.

Recent and Upcoming Releases:

And finally, some books that have recently come out or are coming out soon:

Heat Wave, Elyse Springer

Spectred Isle, KJ Charles

The Duchess Deal, Tessa Dare

Mr. Big, Delancey Stewart (8/29)

My Fair Lover, Nicole Jordan (8/29)

Breakfast in Bed, Rochelle Alers (8/29)

Deacon, Kit Rocha (8/29)

Sanctuary, Rebekah Weatherspoon (8/29)

Okay, so that’s a lot. I’ve got to get back to reading, and I’m sure you do, too.

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

Kissing Books

What You Missed at RWA, Romance Recs, and More

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date August 9, 2017

Happy August! How’s your reading life!

Happenings in Romancelandia

So much has happened since our last talk. The RWA conference concluded, the RITAs were announced, and Beverly Jenkins, Slayer of Words, made us all bawl on our computers if we were relegated to watching the live stream of her Lifetime Achievement acceptance speech from home.

Sponsored by Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman

After his father’s stroke, Max Holden isn’t himself. As his longtime friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help, but she doesn’t know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows she shouldn’t let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, and when they’re caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it’ll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea. . . . But not kissing Max is easier said than done.

Will Jill follow her heart, and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?

Also, Andrew Grey got the Centennial award for publishing one hundred novels. He’s the first m/m and also the first male author to have received it. How awesome is that! (Have you read his work? I’ll admit I haven’t yet, but man, I’ve got some reading to do!)

One thing we got as RWA-left-behinders was constant access to #notRWA. There were some awesome threads and conversations happening on twitter. These included:

Suleikhaaaaaa! Dayum girl. Tell it.
Corey Alexander on presentation of trans characters
How to write with a day job

For the complete list of #notRWA threads.conversations, check out this blog post by the fabulous Olivia Dade.

And for a little bit of the fun side of Twitter, this exchange leaves us…wanting. Wanting all the things.

Have you seen the cover reveal for Alyssa Cole’s A Princess in Theory? I can’t stop looking at it. Wanna know something else? You can buy that dress. AND IT HAS POCKETS.

Speaking of cover reveals…Sanctuary is coming, and man. Drool. Droooooooool.

Over on Book Riot

Kate included an “ugly cry-o-meter” in her list of favorite friends-to-lovers romance.

Read about Susan Mallery’s thoughts on small town settings and more.

Do you like Jane Austen retellings? Read about a new Persuasion retelling.

How about some book recs?

One True Pairing
Cathy Yardley

You know what kinds of books I love? Books featuring super dorky characters. Books where one of the protagonists is a famous person and the other is not. Books that take place around fan conventions. Books where the connection is fast and intense, but still believable. You know what One True Pairing is? ALL OF THESE. While it’s the second book in Yardley’s Fandom Hearts series, this can still be read as a standalone (and man, I still haven’t read Level Up). Hailey and Jake are one of my favorite couples of recent recollection. Jake is a sweetheart who just loves his stupid Supernatural-reminiscent cable fantasy show and wants to be a part of it, but he needs something to keep him interesting to the public and the producers. Good thing Hailey is there offering to be his pretend-girlfriend, and their chemistry is already off-the-charts hot. Hailey comes equipped with some of the greatest friends and family around, which makes this adorable read even better.

Beyond the Rules
Anna Del Mar
(August 14)

I finally stopped ignoring the call of Opal Carew’s ridiculously punny titles and read Drilled the other day, which was fun in its own way, even though occasionally it felt like it was originally written as a two-person relationship and then Carew decided to split her billionaire into two. After that few hours of fun, I was still in poly mode, and decided to try an author I hadn’t read before.

Enter three ex-Navy SEALs and a hacker. The three military men, Zar, Tanner, and Aiden, live in a gorgeous, secluded home in the wilds of Montana, and Nina has just crashed her plane trying to escape some baddies. She’s pretty banged up, and the three nurse her back to health, all the while agreeing that she might be the one they’ve been waiting for. They made a pact while still in the military, and sharing every aspect of their lives is the central part of that pact. And well, it looks like Nina might be the one they could all fall for. Her commitment issues might have something to say about that. This book is long, but characters are well developed, and relationships are as well. I tend not to connect as well with polyamorous relationships in which everyone involved isn’t one big puppy pile of love, but the three men have a different kind of relationship, and I could appreciate that (and they’re not brothers, if that’s one of your squicks).

(I’d also like to include the fact that as I started reading this, my husband and I started rewatching The Last Ship and the Zar in my head is a yummy combination of Eric Dane and Adam Baldwin. The others I had to create on my own.)

Currently reading:
Illegal Contact
Santino Hassell
(August 15)

I’m not very far into this one, but so far, it’s got pure Hassell quality going for it. So far, it’s got the same feel as the Five Boroughs books as far as set in real life. But gosh, I hope it’s not going to be as real. (Legit: I was sobbing in the middle of Interborough the other day. Sobbing.) Even a book that starts with a star athlete in an ankle bracelet can be fun, right? Or at least a little light?

We’ll see.

And for some recent and upcoming releases:

Within a Captain’s Soul, Lisa A. Olech

Heat Wave, Elyse Springer

The Scandal of it All, Sophie Jordan

Permanent Ink, Avon Gale

Two Dukes and a Lady, Lorna James (8/14)

Unexpected, Jenny Frame (8/15)

King of Code, CD Reiss (8/21)

The Duchess Deal, Tessa Dare (8/22)

Okay, that’s it for me! Happy reading! (I know I’ll be.) In the meantime, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback or just want to say hi!

Kissing Books

Werewolf Sex and New Releases

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date July 26, 2017

It’s Thursday, folks, and all the things are happening.

Before we go any further, I have a huge correction to make: in the last Kissing Books, I attributed the 8 Reasons People Mock Romance post to Sarah Davis. It was actually written by Sarah Nicolas. Sorry Sarah!

Sponsored by The Cameron Brothers, a binge-worthy series by Angelin Sydney.

The Cameron Brothers Box Set features four explosive, action-packed romances that are binge-worthy.

Return to Cameron Country, Cameron of the Skies and Cameron of the Seas and the series prequel, Lifesaver in a Bikini all share one central theme: “Love makes us throw caution to the wind.”

Okay, back to happenings:

The annual conference of the Romance Writers of America (aka RWA) is happening RIGHT NOW, and soon we’re gonna get to the RITAs. (And depending on what time of day you’re reading this, they might be happening! They might have happened already?)

Have you found yourself itching to read some werewolf sex?

Definitely read Kay’s twitter thread. There are many others, but Kay gets the essence of the issue.

On a more positive note, there’s more adaptation news!

The This Man series and The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas have been opted by PassionFlix, whose production crew is currently filming Aftershock/Afterburn.

Have you seen the trailer for the film adaptation of Heidi McLaughlin’s second-chance romance Forever My Girl? It’s been out for awhile, but I missed it the first time around. Have I missed any others?

Have you had the chance to check out #RomBkLove on Twitter? It’s a great hashtag to troll when you are in need of a TBR explosion.

Did you catch the Jane Austen Day celebration on Book Riot last week? There were a lot of good articles, including a great list of retellings by authors of color.

Also, Wallace’s video this week is about two more romances she picked up at The Ripped Bodice.

And now, book recs!

Speaking of werewolf sex, GL Carriger’s The Sumage Solution came out last week and I finally got around to reading it! This book, the first in Gail Carriger’s new m/m romance series (and potentially m/nb in the future?) is about Biff, a werewolf, and Max, a sumage. They live in a modern-day San Francisco Bay Area in which supernatural beings are a part of regular life, down to having to list their supernaturality in a rental application. Biff, the Beta of a newfangled pack who has moved to the North Bay to start afresh, is the one who is sent to the supernatural DMV to register their new pack. Max is the civic official who gives them the go-ahead. Max is wary of a werewolf pack invading the Bay Area, until Biff provides plenty evidence that they are not your stereotypical pack. By flirting with him. Things move on from there, complete with Big Misunderstandings and Daddy Issues galore.

It’s here, it’s here! Hate to Want You is FINALLY out! I have been holding off on reading and reccing this book, mostly because I knew it would be best for people to be able to buy it right away once they saw my exclamations on how good it is. And it’s. So. Good. Nicholas and Livvy were once childhood sweethearts, until a tragedy tore them apart, except for one day a year. Now, Livvy’s back in their hometown, and elements from without and within are set to destroy any relationship they might develop before it has a chance. Including neither of them having the ability to communicate with each other. Get ready to have your heart wrenched out and then lovingly put back together.

Looking for a new series? Start with Suleikha Snyder’s Spice and Smoke, the first in the Bollywood Confidential trilogy. Set in the sprawling, dramatic universe of Bollywood film, a motley crew of beautiful, talented people play bedroom games and mind games until everyone including the reader is a confused mess, in the best way. The first one gives you two stories for the price of one; each could have used a little more, but you won’t feel like you’ve lost anything, promise.

Finally, let’s call this segment…YMMV, or Your Mileage May Vary.

cover of The Professional I don’t usually talk about books that I’m not sure I want to recommend, but I need to talk about this trainwreck of a book. Kresley Cole’s The Professional is the first in the Game Makers series, and is about Natalie, a young woman from Nebraska who discovers her biological father is a member of the Russian Bratva. Sevastian, her hot but off-putting bodyguard, has some control issues, and can’t seem to keep himself together around Natalie, even as they fly in the dead of night to Russia under threat of one of her father’s enemies. It all gets wilder from there; when I say trainwreck, I mean it: there is a terrible, terrible thing happening that you cannot turn away from for fear of missing something even worse occurring. Rioter Amanda Diehl told me to “embrace the crazy” when I asked Book Riot folks about it several months ago. And really, that’s the only way to make it through any part of this book that isn’t boning. Which there is a great deal of, in varying levels of fire emoji. Have you read it? Email me or catch me on twitter with your thoughts.

Now, as usual, new and upcoming releases:

Heart of the Steal, Avon Gale and Roan Parrish

Rogue Desire (Anthology)

The Scandal of it All, Sophie Jordan

Wrecked, JB Salsbury

Cutie and the Beast EJ Russell

One True Pairing, Cathy Yardley

Drilled, Opal Carew

The Perfect Game, Elley Arden

Locked in Temptation, Brenda Jackson

By the time we meet again, the RITA awards will have been announced, and maybe Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Beverly Jenkins will have reached her fundraising goal for the Deadly Sexy movie.

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

Kissing Books

Romance Twitter Current Events, New Releases, and More!

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date July 11, 2017

How’s your summer going? It’s finally monsoon time in Arizona and the weather has cooled off, and all that rain means more time to hang out inside and read!

Romance has been busy busy this past couple weeks! I don’t even know where to start.

Let’s go with twitter.

Sponsored by Unraveling, book two in the Unblemished trilogy by Sara Ella

The entire universe is unraveling. Can a young heroine stop the fray? Through her mastery of world-building and mind-bending plots, Sara Ella takes fantasy to a new level in Unraveling, the anxiously awaited continuation of the Unblemished Trilogy. As Eliyana continues her journey towards the throne, she tries to figure out her relationship with Ky and how it might be connected to the Callings. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections—and keep herself from falling for him in the process?

We know that there’s really never a quiet time with Twitter, but somebody decided to upset the wrong people and we romance people know how to respond that: hella positive reinforcement. We got to talk about nuance. We got to talk about love. And joy. Some of the best responses to Ann Aguirre’s call for quote tweets about why we love romance are collected in Sarah Nicolas’s spectacular mic-drop-esque 8 Reasons People Mock Romance. Why? They’re jealous.

On Instagram, Alyssa Cole shared the hardcover of An Extraordinary Union. It’s frickin gorgeous!

https://instagram.com/p/BWQyq7vgF2K/

And now: movies, movies, movies.

Are you following Passionflix’s progress as they work their way towards a working streaming platform? Follow them on Facebook, or if you want to know what’s going on behind the scenes (and get some other perks, too), consider becoming a founding member.

They’ve been busy: last week, they dropped the trailer for their first original feature, Hollywood Dirt (based on Alessandra Torre’s novel of the same name). Almost immediately after, they announced the lead casting for their production of Afterburn/Aftershock, based on Sylvia Day’s novella duology. They’re working quickly, but the first trailer looks like the productions are good quality. They have to be, when you’re up against the other streaming networks.

In other adaptation news, Beverly Jenkins is running a GoFundMe campaign to independently produce a Deadly Sexy movie. The book, which was released in 2007, is a romantic suspense, a very different tone from her historicals and the Blessings series, but damn, do I want to see that brought to life. Also: yes, there are rewards. So hop on over to the page, read the description, watch the videos. And read the sidebar as you consider how much you want to give 😉

And speaking of people to support, are you following WOCinRomance on Twitter? Their site is great for keeping up with new reads, and they have a Patreon if you want to support people doing Good Work.

Want to see your faves in the flesh? If you’re going to be in or around Denver next July, you’re gonna want to check out Book Bonanza. My eyes crossed trying to read all the names of people appearing, but it’s gonna be huge. It looks like tickets will be available on July 31, and they are gonna go fast. (PS—RWA is going to be in Denver THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND so I might have to just…move there for a few weeks.)

If you want something a little smaller and a little sooner, DC area folks ought to check out this awesome panel on August 4. I’ll be here, getting rained on, feeling jealous.

Over on Book Riot:

Wallace went to The Ripped Bodice! Check out what she got!

And speaking of The Ripped Bodice, there’s a giveaway for a digital gift card and an awesome raglan “Smart Girls Read Romance” tee. You know you wanna (and you can enter even if you already subscribe to KB)!

We pulled together the best books of 2017. So far.

Do you like podcasts? Check out Annotated, our newest podcast about books, reading, and language.

Nikki collected 14 of the most swoonworthy smooches in movies based on books. What do you think?

Does your library have OverDrive (or some other ebook lending option)? Do you procrastinate when you read (or just borrow too many things at once)? If your answer to both of these is yes, then Alex has a potential solution for you.

And Trisha got to talk to Ana Coqui, the creator of #RomBkLove.

Okay, this is already hella long, so I will keep my book recs short 😉

Currently reading:

Get Off Easy by Sara Brookes

This book originally came out in 2015, but was revamped and republished by Carina Press (to be released July 17). Grae, a CGI artist, reconnects with her two best friends from college after seeing an incident during a scene at the kink club for which she has a virtual membership. Their fire reignites immediately, bringing memories of the one night the three shared in college, but with more intensity; Saint and Boyce are both switches with Dominant tendencies, and she would love to be their willing sub—if only she can get out of her own way and admit what she wants.

I got two words for you: fire emoji. All the fire emoji.

Next up:

The Sumage Solution by GL Carriger

If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s Gail Carriger. She is stepping into the M/M romance ring with a spin-off of her short story Marine Biology, the first book in her new San Andreas Shifters series. We get to start out with a mage in a bad mood and a Beta werewolf named Biff. Also, we’re promised sexytimes and horrible puns, and this is Carriger we’re talking about.

And of course, some recent and upcoming releases:

On the Plus Side, Alison Bliss

Primrose Lane, Debbie Mason

Pounding Skin, LA Witt

Some Kind of Hero, Suzanne Brockmann

Locked in Temptation, Brenda Jackson (July 25)

Hate to Want You, Alisha Rai (July 25)

Drilled, Opal Carew (July 25)

One True Pairing, Cathy Yardley (July 25)

Okay, that’s probably enough for now, eh? Until next time, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback or just want to say hi!

Kissing Books

The Big Sick and All The Historicals: Kissing Books for June 29

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date June 28, 2017

Hey hey, love lovers!

How has your Pride Month been going? I’m still recovering from last week’s Librarian Con (AKA the ALA Annual Conference), which didn’t help with the whole endless TBR thing.

Pride and Allergists: Kissing Books for June 15

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date June 13, 2017

Happy Thursday, lovers!

Brace yourselves, it’s going to be a long one.

Sponsored by The Assignment by Jade A. Waters.

What would you do if someone offered to fulfill your wildest fantasies?

Seductive.

Charming.

Dominant.

Dean Sova is everything Maya Clery craves. From the first touch, their connection is intense. After leaving her troubled past behind, Maya thought she was happy—she is happy—but meeting Dean forces her to acknowledge dark needs she longs to explore yet has never had the courage to face.

Riptide Publishing is having weekly Pride sales during the month of June, and this week is all about books featuring bisexuals. Dive in; there are ten pages of goodies to weave through.

And speaking of LGBTQ romance, the Lambda Literary Awards were announced this week! The Scorpion’s Empress by Yoshiyuki Ly won the award for best lesbian romance, and Pene Henson’s Into the Blue for best gay romance. And Rebekah Weatherspoon won the award for best LGBT erotica with her super sexy Soul to Keep, book three in her Vampire Sorority Sisters series.

Have you heard about this new Pride and Prejudice adaptation that takes place in rural Virginia? It’s called Before the Fall, and it’s available to rent or buy on Amazon. Pardon my squeeing as we not only get our first modern-day, Bridgetless adaptation since Pride and Prejudice: A Latter Day Comedy, but our leads are both men. It’s like something right out of an early 2000s fanfiction-reading dream.

Beverly Jenkins has announced her next Old West book, and y’all. Look at this cover.

Tempest

cover of tempest

PassionFlix has been making moves, and I am following like a hawk. (Remember way back when, when we talked about The Trouble with Mistletoe being adapted for film but we weren’t sure by what network? It was them, y’all!)

Not to mention, they just optioned Brenda Jackson’s entire Granger Brothers series, which starts with A Brother’s Honor. This is promising for the company’s future in regards to being diverse and inclusive. Next up, Cyclone! (A girl can dream.)

Did you read that great piece about The Ripped Bodice, the nation’s first (and still only) romance-dedicated bookshop? If you live in the greater Los Angeles area, it looks like a great place to hang out. And right now, they’ve got a Summer Bingo read-along for you! It looks like lots of fun.

Over on Book Riot:

Beth O’Brien, that lucky sonovagun, interviewed Colleen Hoover. They talked about Confess, music, writing, and Colleen even threw out a few book recommendations.

Jen Sherman wrote about having reading amnesia, which is probably pretty common for us romance readers, huh? So far, I have managed not to completely reread a book I’d read before. At least, not to my knowledge…

And comment on this week’s Riot Recommendation and tell us your favorite erotic romance!

And now, book recs!

I have a lot of feelings about Dirty Filthy Rich Men, and I’m not sure what they are. Before we go any further, I have to give out two warnings. First warning: this book has trigger warning written all over it (actually, it doesn’t, but it really really needs to). If you end up with the version that has the prequel, Dirty Filthy Rich Boys, you will encounter rape in the first fifteen pages, and rape fantasy is a large part of the story. Second warning: this book does not end in a HEA, because it is not clearly marked as a multi-parter. (Okay, if you go onto Goodreads it does, but I didn’t go on Goodreads before I blindly put this one on hold at the library.)

This was my first Laurelin Page book, and it will obviously not be my last. Even with the terrible, horrible, awful things going on and the terrible, horrible things that people are doing in all walks of life, I couldn’t stop reading. Both Sabrina and Donovan fascinate me, and I needed to slake my curiosity about their dynamic.

Okay, so that reminds me I need to give a third warning: if Sabrina is something you happen to hold dear, maybe skip this one. You’ll never look at Bogie (or Harrison Ford, my preferred Linus) the same way again.

If you’d rather have something not frustrating, aggravating, and that you have confusing and unclear thoughts about, here’s a series starter for you.

Acute Reactions is the first book in Ruby Lang’s Practice Perfect series. Petra Lale, MD, is an allergist struggling with her first practice. When Ian Zamora, a prospering restauranteur, comes to her practice, there are semi-immediate sparks. But there’s a problem: if there’s one thing Petra believes in, it’s maintaining an ethical code in her medical practices, and that very much includes not having the hots for your patients.

Ruby Lang’s books are medium-long reads, so they probably won’t be single-sitting, but won’t run too long. Her writing is snappy and compelling, so you won’t want to stop, but you will probably at least need a snack halfway through.

And as usual, a few new and upcoming books

An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles

The Masterpiece by Bonnie Dee

Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge

The Smell of Camellias by Remmy Duchene

Talk British To Me by Robin Bielman (6/19)

Captured Soul by Laydin Michaels (6/20)

Prince Ever After by AC Arthur (6/20)

Dreams Unspoken by RJ Layer (6/20)

The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean (6/27)

I’m gonna go pretend to catch up on both backlist and upcoming releases to squee about. In the meantime, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback or just want to say hi!

Until next time, m’loves!

Kissing Books

Kinkshaming and STEM

Post author By Jessica Pryde
Post date May 31, 2017

Hey, it’s June!

Well, lovers, it’s been a week.

There was a bit of stuff happening on Twitter about kink, and as usual our girls Alyssa Cole and Rebekah Weatherspoon stepped up with some threads of their own. Warning: there are book recs. I hope you weren’t planning to leave your TBR alone this week.