I enjoyed our conversation last month so much, I wanted to check in again. I also wanted to show you some of the spring we’ve got going on around here!
It’s SPRING.
My neighbor’s lawn is half covered by lily of the valley, and I want to take the deepest breaths of my life when we walk by. It smells impossibly good.
And then there’s my other neighbor who grows poppies!
I honestly didn’t think they’d grow at my latitude but they’re really happy:
That’s the first one, and about two days after I took this photo, there were dozens. They’re so pretty!
And finally, the azalea I adore, the one I wait all year to see bloom again has indeed exploded, and the wait was worth it:
I have never seen a yellow-orange creamsicle colored azalea, and I love this one so much. It’s also a lot taller than me, which means it’s been showing off for a long time.
I’m still working on my spring sawtooth star quilt, and a flannel baby quilt as well. I’m also sitting outside and listening to a LOT of audiobooks. Not only did I give myself quilt projects, but I signed up for a dragon stitch a long cross stitch project, and I’m about two dragons behind.
LOL. “Two dragons behind.” That’s going to be my default answer when someone asks, “How are you?” I’m about two dragons behind, thanks!
While I play dragon catchup, I’ve listened to The Ward Witch by Sarah Painter, which was very good in audio, and I’m debating whether to start the next book, The Book Keeper,or try the other Painter series, Crow Investigations, which begins with The Night Raven.
Now that I’ve taken you on a tour of the flowers in my neighborhood (which should have been a Mr. Rogers song if it wasn’t) let me ask: what’s new with you? Hayadoin?
RECOMMENDED: Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist is $1.99! This is an American historical romance. Redheadedgirl read the book after hearing about it on a panel at a previous RT conference, and she gave it a B+:
I loved this and chewed through it like someone was going to take it away from me, and I’m totally going to check out more of Gist’s work. She writes specifically American historicals, which are kind of sparse on the ground lately, and are a refreshing change of pace from the English historicals.
As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.
But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the Art Students League of New York. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”
Tiffany Girl is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.
As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma is $1.99! It’s the second in the If Shakespeare Were an Auntie series. We recently recommend this one in a Rec League on Shakespearean Retellings. Did any of you pick this one up?
In the hilarious follow-up to the breakout rom-com Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma adds shakkar and mirch to Shakespeare’s iconic comedy Much Ado About Nothing for one sweet and spicy love story.
Bobbi Kaur is determined to plan a celebration to remember for her best friend’s wedding. But she has two problems that are getting in her way:
1. The egotistical, and irritatingly sexy, chef Benjamin “Bunty” Padda is supposed to help her with the menu since he’s the groom’s best friend, and
2. Someone is trying to sabotage the wedding.
With aspirations of taking over her family’s event planning business, Bobbi knows that one misstep in managing the Kareena Mann and Prem Verma (#Vermann) party, along with the other weddings on her plate, will only give her uncle another reason not to promote her. That means Kareena’s big day and Bobbi’s future career are on the line.
Bunty will do anything for his best friend, even though he has his hands full in finding a new location for his next restaurant while also playing mediator between his brother and father, the celebrated Naan King. When Prem asks Bunty to help with the wedding menu, he agrees, especially since it puts him in close proximity to the delicious Bobbi Kaur. When a mystery shaadi saboteur starts leaving threatening notes, and cancelling cake orders, Bunty and Bobbi have no choice but to call a truce and face the volatile attraction they have for each other.
Through masquerade fundraisers and a joint bachelor-bachelorette trip to Vegas, this chef and wedding planner explore their growing connection all while trying to plan a wedding at Messina Vineyards in a time crunch. But once the shaadi saboteur is caught and the wedding is over, will their love story have a happily ever after?
With the return of the meddling aunties (who are scary good at finding information) and a lot of hilarity and hijinks, Bobbi and Bunty’s romance is an event you don’t want to miss.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd is $1.99! We had a guest review of this one and Marion gave it a B:
It’s a gloriously geeky thriller, and would certainly appeal to readers who like characters who solve a mystery with extreme amounts of competence while revealing the details of a little-known field of work.
From the critically acclaimed author of The Book of M, a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure and to the truth about her family’s dark history.
What is the purpose of a map?
Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field, and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.
But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable, and also exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.
But why?
To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret, and discover the true power that lies in maps…
Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and V.E. Schwab, The Cartographers is an ode to art and science, history and magic—a spectacularly imaginative, modern story about an ancient craft and places still undiscovered.
The Duke Starts a Scandal by Sophie Jordan is $1.99! This is book four in The Duke Hunt. We mentioned this one on a previous Hide Your Wallet because of its eye-catching reverse clinch cover.
A duke with secrets.
Lucian, the newly minted Duke of Penning, has much to prove– to himself, his family and the ton. Craving spotless respectability, he must find an aristocratic wife. Unfortunately, he can’t keep his eyes–and thoughts–off his deliciously distracting housekeeper. Such a dalliance can only mar the facade he’s constructed to protect his sisters’ future from the demons of his past…but this fiery passion is a temptation he cannot resist. While Susanna may not the bride he needs, she is everything he desires.
A woman with a past.
As the housekeeper to one of the grandest estates in England, Susanna Lockhart has worked determinedly to become all that is proper and efficient, and she never steps over the line. Romance is an indulgence for the upper class, not for her–and most especially not with her employer. But every smoldering glance from the surly, handsome duke calls to the long-buried reckless wanton inside Susanna. A love between them can never be, but will Lucian and Susanna risk being together…
Bookshelves everywhere are getting ready for Pride Month, and these are just five of the glorious May Flowers that’ll get your spring blooming, if you know what I mean. (You know what I mean.)
Sparks fly between two women pitted against each other in this delectable new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Sorry, Bro.
Twenty-seven-year-old Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian enjoys the prestige of her tech marketing job but is sick of the condescending Patagonia-clad tech bros, her micromanaging boss, and her ex-boyfriend, who she’s forced to work with every day. When Ellie’s lovingly overbearing parents ask her to attend PakCon—a food packaging conference in Chicago—to help promote their company and vie to win an ad slot in the Superbowl (no big deal), she’s eager for a brief change and a delicious distraction.
At the conference, she meets witty, devil-may-care Vanya Simonian. Ellie can’t believe how easy it is to talk to Vanya and how much they have in common—both Armenian! From the Bay Area! Whose families are into food! Their meet-cute is cut short, however, when Ellie’s parents recognize Vanya as the daughter of the owners of their greatest rival, whose mission (according to Ellie’s mother) is to whitewash and package Armenian food for the American health-food crowd.
Sworn as enemies, Ellie and Vanya must compete against each other under their suspicious parents’ scrutiny, all while their feelings for each other heat to sizzling temps.
Voskuni won me over with her witty, chemistry-filled debut and its unique homage to Armenian culture, so I’ve been anxiously awaiting the follow-up, and am delighted to see it promising many of the same vibes.
An emotional, slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance about grief and found family, between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season—set in the same universe as We Could Be So Good.
The 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. He can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.
Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.
Isolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough.
Cat Sebastian, man. She is just so good at what she does. You cannot forget for a moment exactly what era you’re in when reading, to the extent I swear sometimes I feel like I’m on a movie set when I’m reading her work, it’s so immersive and consuming. This was a great followup to We Could Be So Good (with some lovely cameos!); I loved experiencing the ways both protagonists moved forward to forge a new future in the wake of unforeseen circumstances, wrapped up in a story of grief, journalism, and of course, baseball. Another home run from Sebastian, for sure.
One hook-up is about to become one seriously hilarious situationship in this vibrant and lively romantic comedy about taking chances . . . and breaking the rules.
Prima ballet dancer Lillian Jackson is all about control—on stage and in bed. Which is precisely why she keeps her hook-ups to one night, and one night only. No strings. No phone numbers. No scones in the morning. There’s no room for mistakes, especially now that her dance company’s survival depends entirely on winning a million-dollar cash prize in one of America’s biggest reality competitions. That is, until one night with a certain curvy, blue-haired siren changes everything . . .
As burlesque dancer “Blue Lenox,” Izzy Wells is the queen of on-stage seduction. Almost no one knows that she’s close to losing everything—her theater, her home, and her troupe—unless she wins this competition. Now she’s going toe-to-toe with a gorgeous ballerina in front of the world. The chemistry between them is hot, but even more distracting are the feelings they’re starting to develop. There’s no way Lillian can fit Izzy into her life, and Izzy knows better than to fall for someone who can’t put her first. But if they can make it through the show with their hearts and dreams intact, they just might win the biggest prize of all.
I have such a soft spot for real-life couples writing together, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt the actual love bleeding from the pages the way I did reading this first collaboration between the Stetz-Waters duo. The pairing of Lillian and Izzy is Opposites Attract to the max, but in the most “You complete me” way imaginable that has you knowing that when one of them has a bad day, she’s going to sink into the other’s arms and it’ll make it all better. Yes, this book made me sappy, and I am not ashamed.
An engaged couple’s compatibility is put to the test during their ill-fated early honeymoon in this smart, dazzling, and provocative summer comedy perfect for fans of People We Meet on Vacation.
5 Signs You and Your Fiancé Might Be Secretly Incompatible…and #3 Will Shock You!
Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes are horrible on paper. Ray is a chaotic millennial ex-clickbait-writer who’s been oversharing his every thought online since he was a teenager, and Kip is a pragmatic Gen X doctor who values privacy above all else.
But somehow it all manages to work…until Ray convinces Kip to join him for an early honeymoon at a famous lux resort in Ray’s coastal New England hometown, eschewing the tradition of bachelor parties and hoping to recharge before their end-of-August wedding. When a surprising encounter with another couple at the resort leads to a series of escalating mishaps and miscommunications, Ray and Kip are forced to look at their many differences in a stark new light, turning the trip into less of a vacation and more of a test: will they be able to work through their issues in time for the big day? Or is this marriage over before it begins?
You generally know a book by Nicolas DiDomizio is going to result in some literal LOLs (and this one definitely did), but I think this is also the first standalone romance I’ve ever read where the couple is committed to each other before the book begins. I’ll admit I went in a little skeptical; it’s hard to make readers care about a couple when you didn’t see them get together, and harder to have a plot that doesn’t revolve around wild, unbelievable miscommunications. But DiDomizio handles both with aplomb, centering communication issues on the characters themselves, and the way both their pasts and their respective generations’ (Millennial and Gen X, in this case) experiences of queerness have shaped them.
Music producer on the rise Cyn Tha Starr knows what she likes, from her sickening beats in the studio to the flirty femmes she fools around with. Her ever-rotating roster has never been a problem until her latest fling clashes with Jucee, her best friend and the most popular dancer at strip club Sanity.
It makes Cyn see Jucee in a different light. One with far fewer boundaries and a lot more kissing.
Juleesa Jones makes great money dancing the early shift and spends most evenings with her son, her Sanity family or at Cyn’s house. Relationships are not high on the priority list—until she’s forced to admit that maybe friendship isn’t the only thing she wants from her bestie.
But hooking up with your ride-or-die is risky. Jucee isn’t just Cyn’s best friend—Jucee is her muse. When Cyn lays down her beats, it’s Jucee she imagines in the club throwing it back to every note. If they aren’t careful, this could crash and burn…but isn’t real love worth it?
Higgins’ followup to the much-beloved D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding looks absolutely delightful. Best friends with benefits turned best friends to lovers between a music producer and a dancing single mom? The stakes are real, and so’s the potential for something serious. Something tells me this is gonna be the kind of romance novel that makes you do that little squeal with your legs kicking in the air.
We also mentioned Amanda’s review ofDreaming of You, and this incredible performance of “Fancy” by Kelly Clarkson at the Kennedy Center Honors concert for Reba McEntire.
What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at [email protected] or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.
And, most importantly, if you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, but you can click play and listen and read and absorb all the visual goodness:
Ok, let’s get started!
We’ll discuss the cover in the next episode, and there’s hardly anything to say about it.
Really, nothing going on with this cover, right? Yeah, sorry about that.
The rubric is VERY interesting especially regarding this book:
When 5 stars means “Classic,” and Dreaming of You gets 4 stars, it is indeed a strange time!
Amanda selected Prince of Thieves, and the greatest thing about discovering books in this issue is discovering the covers, which aren’t included in the magazine (we imagine because black and white would not be attractive, and full color for the whole magazine was not possible).
Y’all, there are very few images of this cover, but I found one:
Look at that shiny tight buttock!
I may have to haunt used book stores looking for some of these books.
Series
There were several 1-star reviews inside this section, which to recap means “Acceptable.” (Fabio’s historical romance got 2 stars in this issue.)
She’s a Regency ghost hunter with her dad, there’s a famous and troublesome ghost called the Cavalier, and the Earl of Merton is like, ‘This is bogus, but I’m humouring my mom.’
SUPERNATURAL MERRY ROMP! I am here for this subgenre. The cover gives very little away as to the ghost hunting romp-ness, but again, this sounds nifty.
I found a teeny tiny version of the original cover:
Creepy!
Amanda selectedSweet Fancy, which led us to a side trip into Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and this performance:
The book is not about the “Fancy” from the song:
Get a load of the cover! MOST PASTORAL:
That’s really beautiful, isn’t it?
Mainstream and New Reality
The codes for this section are a journey for us:
They aren’t explained until you read the reviews, but without the answers, what would you guess that they mean?
Amanda also noticed that there is an Over 45 category, but it doesn’t get a letter abbreviation.
Look at that glorious cover art. It’s so fuchsia. It’s so aquatic. There’s a FLOWER CROWN. Is he a merman? It’s perfect.
Not only that, that possibly naked ocean man time traveled through a computer!
In case that’s too small to read, this is A RIDE.
Time-Travel
A LOVE BEYOND TIME
Flora Speer
Leisure Love Spell
3 (Very Good)
Whisked into Hank Marshes’ computer while trying to retrieve some valuable disks and notebooks for India Brant, Michael Bailey finds himself following in
India’s footsteps back to 779 Francia.
When a strange, unusually dressed man falls from a tree at Lady Danise’s feet she is intrigued and bewildered by the wounded man and her reaction to him. Nursing him back to health with the assistance of Charlemange’s royal physician, Danise is inexplicably drawn to the stranger who has no memory of his past.
Michael finds himself at home in Charlemange’s time. He is
enchanted by the beautiful angel who saved his life and is determined win her love.
Confused by her feelings for Michael, Danise believes she is betraying her precious love Hugo. who has been dead but a year.
In a magical and startling ter with Michael in the midst of a storm she finds peace and the miraculous answer to a prayer. Alas, there are those plotting to overthrow Charlemange, and Danise becomes a pawn in their vicious game of
fox and hound. And to add to her heartache, Michael has mysteriously disappeared and Danise fears she may have lost him forever.
A LOVE BEYOND TIME is a warm, touching tale of a powerful love that transcends the boundaries of time to unite two souls destined to be together throughout eternity.
(May, 439 рр., $4.99)
Time traveled back to 779, hanging out with Charlemange. As you do.
But wow, WOW did that review bury the biggest lede, which is in the book description:
As Louie, aided by a telepathic Birman cat named Karma, follows the scent of the killer, Temple is delving into the past of Matt Devine, the handsome young hotline counselor who’s captured her heart.
A TELEPATHIC CAT. There’s a telepathic cat!
How do you not start every conversation without mentioning the telepathic cat? At the dry cleaners? Telepathic cat. Checking out at the grocery store? Telepathic cat! Honestly. I’d talk about that all day, and all night.
And now you know why I have managed a blog about romance for almost 20 years.
A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato is $1.99 on Amazon! This is the first book in a series and I feel like a food-based fantasy adventure would be right up the Bitchery’s alley.
A world on the brink of war and a mother and daughter on the run, in a thrilling novel of swashbuckling adventure, culinary magic, and just desserts.
Adamantine “Ada” Garland has an empathic connection to food and wine, a magical perception of aromas, flavors, and ingredients. Invaluable property of the royal court, Ada was in service to the Five Gods and to the Gods-ordained rulers of Verdania—until she had enough of injustice and bloodshed and deserted, seeking to chart her own destiny. When mysterious assassins ferret her out after sixteen years in hiding, Ada, now a rogue Chef, and her beloved Grand-mère run for their lives, only to find themselves on a path toward an unexpected ally.
A foreign princess in a strange court, Solenn unknowingly shares more with Ada than an epicurean gift. They share blood. With her newfound magical perception, she becomes aware of a plot to kill her fiancé, the prince. It’s part of a ploy by adversarial forces in the rival country of Albion to sow conflict, and Solenn is set up to take the blame.
As Ada’s and Solenn’s paths converge, a mother and her long-lost daughter reunite toward a common goal, and against a shadowy enemy from Ada’s past who is out for revenge. But what sacrifices must be made? What hope is there when powerful Gods pick sides in a war simmering to eruption?
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Turston is $3.99! This is a collection of short stories about, well…an elderly lady who is up to no good. I wouldn’t call this cozy, as I remember some descriptions being quite graphic.
Maude is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and . . . no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection by Helene Tursten, author of the Irene Huss investigations, features two-never-before translated stories that will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home.
Ever since her darling father’s untimely death when she was only eighteen, Maud has lived in the family’s spacious apartment in downtown Gothenburg rent-free, thanks to a minor clause in a hastily negotiated contract. That was how Maud learned that good things can come from tragedy. Now in her late eighties, Maud contents herself with traveling the world and surfing the net from the comfort of her father’s ancient armchair. It’s a solitary existence, but she likes it that way.
Over the course of her adventures–or misadventures—this little, bold lady will handle a crisis with a local celebrity who has her eyes on Maud’s apartment, foil the engagement of her long-ago lover, and dispose of some pesky neighbors. But when the local authorities are called to investigate a murder in her apartment complex, will Maud be able to avoid suspicion, or will Detective Inspector Irene Huss see through her charade?
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin is $2.99! I mentioned this on a previous Hide Your Wallet. It’s a spin-off from Mahurin’s previous series, and it might better to read that one first. This is a Kindle Daily Deal.
This dark and thrilling vampire romance—set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series—is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas!
Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in its wake, each one drained of blood.
Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.
The Kingmaker Chronicles Complete Set by Amanda Bouchet is $3.99 and a KDD! It collects the complete Kingmaker Chronicles series. I really loved this series; you can read my review of the first book here. However, there are other readers who didn’t enjoy it. Definitely check out the discussion in the comments to see if it’s your bag!
The complete USA Today bestselling trilogy The Kingmaker Chronicles!
KINGDOMS WILL RISE AND FALL FOR HER…BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT
A Promise of Fire
Catalia “Cat” Fisa lives disguised as a soothsayer in a traveling circus. She is perfectly content avoiding the danger and destiny the Gods—and her homicidal mother—have saddled her with. That is, until Griffin, an ambitious warlord from the magic-deprived south, fixes her with his steely gaze and upsets her illusion of safety forever. Griffin knows Cat is the Kingmaker, the woman who divines the truth through lies. He wants her as a powerful weapon for his newly conquered realm—until he realizes he wants her for much more than her magic.
Breath of Fire
The heart-racing Kingmaker Chronicles continues in this second book. The Gods are telling Cat that she’s the new Origin, which means it’s her job to give Thalyria a fresh start. Running from her fate isn’t going to work anymore; fate caught up. Griffin crowned her with the symbols of the three realms…and if she’s supposed to be not just a queen but the Queen, she’d better start acting like it.
Heart on Fire
The riveting conclusion, Cat needs to learn how to trust in the Gods, in Griffin, and mostly in herself if she’s going to unite the kingdoms and rule Thalyria like her destiny calls. That’s when true understanding thuds into place. Hope isn’t just an abstract concept; it’s her. She has the power of the Gods at her fingertips. The only thing ever stopping her has been Cat herself.
I have a weirdly specific rec request. I guess you could just call it mail order brides, but more specifically: Sarah Plain & Tall vibes?
I’ve been re-watching the Sarah Plain & Tall movies with my grandma lately. I’ve loved the book & movies all my life and they were VERY formative in becoming a romance addict, but being from the kids’ POV, we only see an outside view of the adults’ developing relationship.
I’ve always wished for a grown-up behind-the-scenes version of it, focusing more on the relationship building and feeling each other out, growing affection (and sexual tension), overcoming (emotional) obstacles, that you know must have been happening but don’t see.
So I’m looking for romances with similar vibes: mail-order brides, probably – precocious kids, trial period, and still-grieving widow(er) status optional – and more focused on the characters and emotional development than outside conflict. Don’t need too much action, danger, evil villains, etc – some is okay, but I mostly love character growth and gradual building of affection and intimacy, which is hard to find done well.
I’ve read and really liked several Beverly Jenkins books, but otherwise have NO idea where to start with westerns. Some are very action/adventure, older ones often don’t hold up well, and it seems half of the recent ones I look at turn out to also be in the Christian romance category, and it’s hard to tell if they just mean there’s no sex (not a dealbreaker) or overtly religious (not my thing).
I’d love some recs of books or authors that might satisfy my longtime itch for Sarah Plain & Tall vibes but more focused on the romance!
Sarah: Beverly Jenkins is a great choice, for sure. She does mail-order/marriage of convenience stories very well
With the caveat that it has been a long time since I’ve read some of these, so I’m not 100% sure if they fit the brief (please correct me if I’m wrong on any of these!)”
In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman
The Admiral’s Penniless Bride by Cara Kelly ( A | K | G | AB )
Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath
Duncan’s Bride by Linda Howard ( A | BN | K ) might work, but I recommend with caution because Howard’s books don’t usually work for me.
Julie Garwood has written a few arranged marriages, but her heroines are VERY plucky and usually not plain.
Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry ( A | BN | K )
Also, way back in 2017, we did a Rec League for mail order historicals that weren’t overtly religious, so this list should pair very well as an update to that one!
Claudia: LaVyrle Spencer also has a few, in Morning Glory ( A | BN | K ) the female main character places an ad for a husband (and helper, she’s a widow with kids during WWII)
Kiki: I really liked Julianne MacLean’s Prairie Bride—( A | BN ) mail order bride from the city meets farmer who has lost all his family and been spurned before, very focused on them learning to work together. Also it has one of the coolest settings I’ve ever come across in a romance. They live in a sod house that’s dug partially into the ground!!
I’m seconding LaVyrle Spencer, with the note that her books are 30ish years old so maybe read her Westerns with care!
Also kind of Western adjacent (similar vibes to a western but they take place in Fredonia, NY which is west of some places but is certainly not The West) is Wendy Lindstrom’s Grayson Family series. I think they did gradual emotional development suuuuper well, especially the second and fourth ones: Shades of Honor and Lips That Touch Mine. ( A ) And of course I always love some Upstate/Western NY representation.
[note: they also have closed door versions with different titles which is a weird and annoying concept to me but whatever]
Amanda: Maybe Rebel Carter? I think someone read these?
Kiki: Yes! Rebel Carter always as a Western recommendation. Not all of those books have worked as well for me, I think sometimes they don’t take the time needed for the emotional development, but absolutely worth trying out!
Are there any mail-order bride romances that give Sarah, Plain & Tall vibes? Tell us in the comments!
I can slowly start to feel the allergies. I’ve been good about taking Flonase recently, so I haven’t had my usual symptoms of sneezing and sinus pressure. I have had some severely dry eyes, which are new for me. I did buy some eyedrops; does anyone have a good hack to getting the drops in on the first try?
May is looking busy for my social calendar and ending with a trip back to South Korea for a traditional Korean wedding. I had to send in measurements for a hanbok! Admittedly, I’m already hope some of my plans get cancelled (Sorry, friends, if you’re reading this! I’m so tired!) I always feel like Amanda-in-the-moment is so ambitious and positive and does not take into account how Amanda-a-week-from-now is going to feel.
EC Spurlock sent this one in and it goes out to all the appreciators of knitwear out there! Go behind the scenes of the movie Coraline and some of its handknit costume pieces.
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Tax Day is over in the States, but in author Maya Rodale’s Substack, she included some great women in history who protested taxation. Thanks to Karin for sending in this link.
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If you need a good cry, my partner saw this on reddit and sent it to me. I cried on a beachfront balcony. It’s a bittersweet cry, not one of overwhelming sadness, just to be clear.
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
Overall I loved reading this book. I literally gasped and clapped my hands over my mouth periodically, like a silent movie star. It’s so gripping, so beautifully written, and such a powerful homage to women’s voices and the need to unify against a common enemy.
In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.
But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.
There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.
The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller is $2.99! This one was mentioned on a previous Hide Your Wallet. It has a mix of magic and historical fiction. Did any of you pick this one up or grab it from the library?
On Prospect Hill, you can get nearly anything you want from the Fae—if you know how to ask and if you can pay the price.
There is no magic on Prospect Hill—or anywhere else, for that matter. But just on the other side of the veil is the world of the Fae, and all their magic. Generations ago, the first farmers on Prospect Hill learned to bargain small trades to make their lives a little easier—a bit of glass to find something lost, a cup of milk for better layers in the chicken coop.
Much of that old wisdom has been lost as the riverboats gave way to the rail lines and the farmers took work at the copper works and the cotton mill. Alaine Fairborn’s family, however, was always superstitious, and she still hums the rhymes to find her lost shoe and ensure dry weather on her sister Delphine’s wedding day.
But when Delphine confides her new husband is not the man she thought he was, Alaine will stop at nothing to help her sister escape his abuse. Small bargains buy them time, but the progress of locomotives and factories hasn’t given way to equitable laws for women. A major bargain is needed, but the price for sweeping change may be more than they’re willing to pay.
Dead Space by Kali Wallace is $2.99! I mentioned this on a previous Hide Your Wallet. I loved one of Wallace’s other sci-fi horror novels and was excited for this one. I feel like sci-fi horror has been building in popularity over the last few years and I’m here for it.
An investigator must solve a brutal murder on a claustrophobic asteroid mine in this tense science fiction thriller from the author of Salvation Day.
Hester Marley used to have a plan for her life. But when a catastrophic attack left her injured, indebted, and stranded far from home, she was forced to take a dead-end security job with a powerful mining company in the asteroid belt. Now she spends her days investigating petty crimes to help her employer maximize its profits. She’s surprised to hear from an old friend and fellow victim of the terrorist attack that ruined her life–and that surprise quickly turns to suspicion when he claims to have discovered something shocking about their shared history and the tragedy that neither of them can leave behind.
Before Hester can learn more, her friend is violently murdered at a remote asteroid mine. Hester joins the investigation to find the truth, both about her friend’s death and the information he believed he had uncovered. But catching a killer is only the beginning of Hester’s worries, and she soon realizes that everything she learns about her friend, his fellow miners, and the outpost they call home brings her closer to revealing secrets that very powerful and very dangerous people would rather keep hidden in the depths of space.
The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson is 99c! Lara had mentioned this recently on Whatcha Reading, but jury was still out in regards to her thoughts. Have any of you read it?
Three rival actresses team up to solve a murder at the stately home of the author who made them famous – only to discover the solution lies in the stories themselves. A contemporary mystery with a Golden Age feel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Jessica Fellowes.
In attendance: the VIP fans, staying at Aldermere; the fan club president turned convention organizer; the team behind the newest movie adaptation of Davenport’s books; the Davenport family themselves – and the three actresses famous for portraying Lettice’s 1930s detective, Dahlia Lively.
National treasure Rosalind King, from the original movies. TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, Caro Hooper. And ex-child star Posy Starling, fresh out of the fame wilderness (and rehab) to take on the Dahlia mantle for the new movie.
Each actress has her own interpretation of the character – but this English summer weekend they will have to put aside their differences, as the crimes at Aldermere turns anything but cosy.
When fictional death turns into real bodies, can the three Dahlias find the answers to the murders among the fans, the film crew, the family – or even in Lettice’s books themselves?
Gretchen Acorn is a fake spirit medium. Raised by a conman and from a long line of con artists, Gretchen is in the family business because conning people is the only way that she knows how to make a living. Something happened in her past, though (you find out towards the end of the book what it is) and her nascent conscience kicked into life. So acting as her own moral bulwark, she has The Rule: Always leave people better than when you found them.
Gretchen uses this rule as her guide in setting up her spirit medium business. At the start of the book, the business in DC is thriving and one of her best clients (who has made so much progress in her grief that Gretchen plans to slowly wean her client off sessions with her) pays her a princely sum to help a friend of hers with a ghost problem.
The friend in question is Charlie Waybill, a goat farmer struggling to sell his farm about an hour outside of DC. Gretchen expects Charlie to be as old as her client. But he isn’t. He’s her age and he’s hot. Right, so that’s complication the first.
Complication the second has a delicious twist of irony: the ghost is real and Gretchen can see him and communicate with him. The ghost wastes no time in telling her that there is a curse on the Waybill family: they will die if they try to sell the farm and be doomed to haunt the farm forever. So Gretchen’s task is clear: convince Charlie to keep the farm. What follows is rather a lot of emotional growth for Gretchen as she navigates interactions with Charlie, the ghost, and the goat farm using an entirely novel and scary approach: being honest.
The ghost, Everett Waybill (a long dead ancestor of Charlie’s) plays a bigger role than a secondary character usually does in a romance. He has a kind of smarmy charm, but he’s mostly a likable character so I didn’t mind too much having him take such a central role.
What this book does very well is show the gentle softening of Gretchen’s heart and the strengthening of her conscience. This is a gradual process with Gretchen wanting to be genuinely known but terrified of the consequences. While sometimes the plot didn’t quite make sense to me (for example, I could think of a million ways for Gretchen to prove to Charlie that Everett is real, but she used hardly any of them) by the end of the book, things had fallen into place so beautifully that I could look back fondly on the ride to get there. The chemistry between Gretchen and Charlie is there almost from the beginning. Their first meeting is rather rocky, and while their conversations sizzle with their attraction, it is paired with this bone deep growing towards each other, too.
I really enjoyed my time with this book and recommend it for anyone who enjoys a contemporary with a touch of the paranormal and a big dose of growth.
Death in Spires by KJ Charles is 99c! Thank you to everyone who let us know about this sale. Fingers crossed it lasts through today!
The newspapers called us the Seven Wonders. We were a group of friends, that’s all, and then Toby died. Was killed. Murdered.
1905. A decade after the grisly murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham, the case remains hauntingly unsolved. For Jeremy Kite, the crime not only stole his best friend, it destroyed his whole life. When an anonymous letter lands on his desk, accusing him of having killed Toby, Jem becomes obsessed with finally uncovering the truth.
Jem begins to track down the people who were there the night Toby died – a close circle of friends once known as the ‘Seven Wonders’ for their charm and talent – only to find them as tormented and broken as himself. All of them knew and loved Toby at Oxford. Could one of them really be his killer?
As Jem grows closer to uncovering what happened that night, his pursuer grows bolder, making increasingly terrifying attempts to silence him for good. Will exposing Toby’s killer put to rest the shadows that have darkened Jem’s life for so long? Or will the gruesome truth only put him in more danger?
Some secrets are better left buried…
From the bestselling, acclaimed author of The Magpie Lord and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen comes a chilling historical mystery with a sting in the tail. You won’t be able to put this gripping story down!
Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev is $1.99 at Amazon! This is more women’s fiction than contemporary romance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some romantic elements in here.
From the bestselling author of The Vibrant Years comes an emotional story of three women navigating ugly truths and safe lies with only love to guide them on a journey of motherhood, friendship, and life.
Bestselling advice columnist Vandy Guru built her career teaching others how to live honestly and courageously, but after the loss of her beloved husband, Vandy’s public veneer can barely conceal her grief. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears and her estranged childhood best friend Rani returns, stirring up long-buried secrets, Vandy’s carefully crafted life feels at risk.
Aspiring choreographer Mallika Guru is tired of failure. When another audition ends in rejection, she signs up for a genetic study to find out why she’s so different from her accomplished family. But the results reveal her whole life to be a lie, and Rani seems to be the only one who knows the truth.
Rani Parekh sacrificed everything for Vandy once. But to hold on to the life she’s rebuilt, she must confront her troubled history and face Vandy and Mallika. Join these three extraordinary women as they journey from LA to Mumbai on an incredible path of discovery, hope, and love.
One for the Rogue by Charis Michaels is $1.99! This is book three in the Bachelor Lords of London historical romance series. The heroine has become a dowager duchess in her early twenties and the hero is in need of decorum lessons.
Beauregard “Beau” Courtland has no use for the whims of society and even less for aristocratic titles. As a younger son, he travels the world in search of adventure with no plans to settle down. Even when the title of Viscount Rainsleigh is suddenly forced upon him, he will not bend to duty or decorum. Not until an alluring young woman appears on the deck of his houseboat, determined to teach him propriety in all things and tempting him with every forbidden touch…
Lady Emmaline Crumbley has had a wretched year. Her elderly husband dropped dead without naming her in his will and she’s been relegated to the life of a dowager duchess at the age of 23. She has no wish to instruct a renegade viscount in respectability, but desperate to escape her greedy stepson, Beau’s family makes her an offer she cannot refuse: teach the new lord to behave like a gentleman, and they’ll help her earn the new, self-sufficient life of her dreams. Emmaline agrees, only to discover that instructing the viscount is one thing, but resisting him is quite another. How can she teach manners to the rakish nobleman if he is determined to show her the thrill of scandal instead?
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley is $1.99 on Amazon! Many of you were excited for this one and we had Yardley on the podcast to talk about it. Did any of you pick it up? What’d you think?
From Cathy Yardley, author of Love, Comment, Subscribe, comes an emotional rom-com about two middle-aged gamers who grow their online connection into an IRL love story.
Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a deal―he’ll be more social if she does the same―she can’t refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch.
Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée.
Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.
When they finally meet face to face―after a rocky, shocking start―the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own.
Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
This HaBO is from Colleen, who is hoping to find this romance:
Ack! I have been searching for this book and am beginning to think I made it up. Okay, so the heroine works for a financial risk/management company and has traveled to South Africa (I think) with her boss to pitch to the hero. They want him to use their company. He is a risk-taking surfer, so the boss learns surfing terms and it goes horribly.
However, the heroine catches his interest (of course). There’s a scene in a bar where and a spider is involved? He and another man complete a “dare” to secure a business deal of some kind?
Eventually, he chooses their business but only if she is in charge of the account.
Later, she and the hero spend time on an island together. She learns the hero used to date a swimsuit model.
It’s the last week of April! Can you believe it’s already over?
For us, it’s a quiet ending to the month. We only have four books to mention this time. Looking ahead to May, though, there are some big releases we can’t wait to talk about!
Which new releases are on your TBR pile? Or are you already looking forward to May books instead? Tell us in the comments!
A millennial turned magical girl must combat climate change and credit card debt in this delightful, witty, and wildly imaginative ode to magical girl manga.
Twenty-nine, depressed, and drowning in credit card debt after losing her job during the pandemic, a millennial woman decides to end her troubles by jumping off Seoul’s Mapo Bridge.
But her suicide attempt is interrupted by a girl dressed all in white—her guardian angel. Ah Roa is a clairvoyant magical girl on a mission to find the greatest magical girl of all time. And our protagonist just may be that special someone.
But the young woman’s initial excitement turns to frustration when she learns being a magical girl in real life is much different than how it’s portrayed in stories. It isn’t just destiny—it’s work. Magical girls go to job fairs, join trade unions, attend classes. And for this magical girl there are no special powers and no great perks, and despite being magical, she still battles with low self-esteem. Her magic wand . . . is a credit card—which she must use to defeat a terrifying threat that isn’t a monster or an intergalactic war. It’s global climate change. Because magical girls need to think about sustainability, too.
Park Seolyeon reimagines classic fantasy tropes in a novel that explores real-world challenges that are both deeply personal and universal: the search for meaning and the desire to do good in a world that feels like it’s ending. A fun, fast-paced, and enchanting narrative that sparkles thanks to award-nominated translator Anton Hur, A Magical Girl Retires reminds us that we are all magical girls—that fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight can be anyone’s game.
Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur
Amanda: As someone who grew up on magical girl anime, I love this concept!
“A sincere and sincerely funny romance.”—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House
A clever con woman must convince a skeptical, sexy farmer of his property’s resident real-life ghost if she’s to save them all from a fate worse than death, in this delightful new novel from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.
Fake spirit medium Gretchen Acorn is happy to help when her best (read: wealthiest) client hires her to investigate the unexplained phenomena preventing the sale of her bridge partner’s struggling goat farm. Gretchen may be a fraud, but she’d like to think she’s a beneficentone. So if “cleansing” the property will help a nice old man finally retire and put some much-needed cash in her pockets at the same time, who’s she to say no?
Of course, it turns out said bridge partner isn’t the kindly AARP member Gretchen imagined—Charlie Waybill is young, hot as hell, and extremely unconvinced that Gretchen can communicate with the dead. (Which, fair.) Except, to her surprise, Gretchen finds herself face-to-face with Everett: the very real, very chatty ghost that’s been wreaking havoc during every open house. And he wants her to help ensure Charlie avoids the same family curse that’s had Everett haunting Gilded Creek since the 1920s.
Now, Gretchen has one month to convince Charlie he can’t sell the property. Unfortunately, hard work and honesty seem to be the way to win over the stubborn farmer—not exactly Gretchen’s strengths. But trust isn’t the only thing growing between them, and the risk of losing Charlie to the spirit realm looms over Gretchen almost as annoyingly as Everett himself. To save the goat farm, its friendly phantom, and the man she’s beginning to love, Gretchen will need to pull off the greatest con of her life: being fully, genuinely herself.
Amanda: I’m a sucker for any type of con artist heroine.
Sarah: Speaking of ghosts! A fake medium sees real ghosts, and has to convince this dude not to sell a property so as to break curse over him. As you do.
Lara: This book’s denouement was a real keeper. Reader, I swooned.
He’d never wanted anyone enough to chase them…until he met her.
Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.
He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist.
Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants.
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Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane Kensington is a high-powered publicist who’s used to dealing with difficult clients.
However, none infuriate—or tempt—her more than a certain billionaire heir, with his stupid dimples and laid-back attitude.
She may be forced to work with him, but she’ll never fall for him…no matter how fast he makes her heart beat or how thoughtful he is beneath his party persona.
He’s her client, and that’s all he’ll ever be. Right?
The latest in Ana Huang’s popular series. Any fans in the Bitchery?
Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.
As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her… until she meets her cohost.
Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.
A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?
Amanda: Look…we all know that’s Steve from Stranger Things on the cover.
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake is $2.99! This is book two in the Bright Falls series; most of the books (if not all of them) have been mentioned in Hide Your Wallet. Do you have a favorite book in the series?
An interior designer learns to rebuild her love life from the ground up with zero blueprints in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care.
For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval.
However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants?
Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid is $2.99! I recently mentioned this one on an edition of Get Rec’d, after a friend staff picked it at the bookstore where I worked. I remember my mom and stepdad honeymooned in the Poconos and their resort had big martini glass bathtubs. That’s what this cover reminds me of.
Mickey Chambers is an expert at analyzing modern literature. But when it comes to figuring out her own story, she’s feeling a little lost. At thirty-three, she’s an adjunct instructor with a meager summer class schedule and too many medical bills, courtesy of her chronic illness. Picking up a bartending gig seems perfect. Sure, Mickey’s never done this before, but the gorgeous, grumpy bar owner, Diego Acosta, might be the perfect man to teach the teacher…if he wasn’t so stressed.
Diego is worried he’s running his late wife’s bar into the ground. Add the pressures of returning to college part-time at forty-two, and it’s no wonder he’s making rash decisions. Like hiring the sunny, sexy woman who looks more at home in a library than slinging beers to rowdy barflies, and who turns out to be teaching his online writing course, a complication neither was expecting…
It’s not long before Mickey starts reenergizing The Saloon with cocktails, karaoke and an optimism even Diego can’t ignore. They need to fight their feelings if they want to keep things professional, but all it takes is one sip, one kiss, to shake both their worlds forever…
Devil’s Gun by Cat Rambo is $2.99! This is book two in the Disco Space Opera series. Carrie enjoyed book one and I had no clue a sequel was even out. Did you?
No one escapes their past as the crew of the You Sexy Thing attempts to navigate the hazards of opening a pop-up restaurant and the dangers of a wrathful pirate-king seeking vengeance in Cat Rambo’s Devil’s Gun .
Life’s hard when you’re on the run from a vengeful pirate-king…
When Niko and her crew find that the intergalactic Gate they’re planning on escaping through is out of commission, they make the most of things, creating a pop-up restaurant to serve the dozens of other stranded ships.
But when an archaeologist shows up claiming to be able to fix the problem, Niko smells something suspicious cooking. Nonetheless, they allow Farren to take them to an ancient site where they may be able to find the weapon that could stop Tubal Last before he can take his revenge.
There, in one of the most dangerous places in the Known Universe, each of them will face ghosts from their past: Thorn attempts something desperate and highly illegal to regain his lost twin, Atlanta will have to cast aside her old role and find her new one, Dabry must confront memories of his lost daughter, and Niko is forced to find Petalia again, despite a promise not to seek them out.
Meanwhile, You Sexy Thing continues to figure out what it wants from life—which may not be the same desire as Niko and the rest of the crew.
It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark is 99c! Now I haven’t read this one, but it seems either like chick lit or contemporary romance that has some other ancillary romances going on. Would love to hear some thoughts from anyone who has read it! And do not be fooled by the description: this is not a Sapphic romance between the wife and girlfriend.
The author of the “emotional, hilarious, and thought-provoking” (People) novel The Bucket List returns with a witty and heartfelt romantic comedy featuring a wedding planner, her unexpected business partner, and their coworkers in a series of linked love stories—perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Casey McQuiston.
For the past twenty years, Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn have run In Love in New York, Brooklyn’s beloved wedding-planning business. When Eliot dies unexpectedly, he even more unexpectedly leaves half of the business to his younger, blonder girlfriend, Savannah. Liv and Savannah are not a match made in heaven, to say the least. But what starts as a personal and professional nightmare transforms into something even savvy, cynical Liv Goldenhorn couldn’t begin to imagine.
It Had to Be You cleverly unites Liv, Savannah, and couples as diverse and unique as New York City itself, in a joyous Love-Actually-style braided narrative. The result is a smart, modern love story that truly speaks to our times. Second chances, secret romance, and steamy soul mates are front and center in this sexy, tender, and utterly charming rom-com.
Sarah: I very very very dislike the faceless illustrated covers. Gives me the creepys. The DOG has a face, for crying out loud.
Elyse: Aside from missing faces, she looks like she’s missing a third of her lower body.
Sarah: The angle/proportion is very wrong agreed.
Amanda: I’m reminded of the Thumb guys from the Spy Kids movie.
Sarah: shudder
Sneezy: Nope. Fuck you. Yeet.
Shana: Maybe it’s just me but I am very distracted by her hairline. It looks like she left the manic panic on too long and it dyed her forehead.
Sarah: Oh gosh, that fuzzy line is very distracting in an otherwise solid cover! Looking at it makes me itchy!
Sneezy: I’m seeing this cover after several earthquakes chased me out of my room, and all the pinks and reds just look too much like lava and magma right now.
From Darlynne: I know real wolves run on the lean side, but this guy needs an exorcism, because something is hiding in there.
Sarah: He’s a snack. Literally. For that wolf. He’s dinner.
He looks so…tired, poor thing.
Sneezy: Yeah, he looks so done. If I had the night he looks like he had, I’d be done too. I make the same face when I know I’ll need to wash aaaaaall my linens if I get in bed right now but just can’t scrape together the spoons to turn on the shower.
I relate to the wolves too. I make the same face when I’ve realized I walked into a shit restaurant and will be stuck paying for a TERRIBLE soup I can make EXPONENTIALLY better myself.
Amanda: Real “we saw you from across the bar and like your vibe” vibes
Sarah: EXTREME levels of those vibes. And you know they’re both surrounded by competing clouds of cologne.
Sneezy: And that’s why book boyfriends are easier. I can happily fall into the safe world of monster porn instead of googling how to scrub out my nasal cavity.
I am a sucker for an interesting premise and this book certainly has one. In this series, the female leads write for a newspaper for women, by women. Specifically, young women. In this book, it is the reviewer who takes centre stage.
Julia Addison works as a companion to a sort-of related aunt-in-law. On the side, she secretly pens her reviews of plays put on in London under the nom de plume Miss On Scene. The subject of one of her reviews, Ransom Blackadder (the alias for Lord Graham Dunstane), takes offence at something she says in her review. Graham decides to retaliate by writing a play called ‘The Poison Pen’.
Right, but how do the two real people meet? Julia’s employer/aunt-in-law hires a box at the theatre for the season. Only when they arrive, it is occupied by Graham. The box manager, thinking to make a quick buck, hired out Graham’s box because it is so rarely occupied. Graham reluctantly accepts the aunt-in-law’s suggestion that they share for the evening. While their alter egos might be engaged in a war of sorts (although all the anger really comes from Ransom), their true selves are intrigued by each other.
While this is book two in the series, I had no trouble following the story despite not reading book one. I did have other troubles though. Several times, especially towards the end of the book, I found myself going huh? Some things aren’t explained fully (like Graham’s proposal) and other things seem to come out of nowhere. I couldn’t quite relax into the story because I kept being bounced out of it.
Julia is a difficult character to get a read on because she’s supposed to be this wide-eyed innocent, but she drops these saucy, worldly remarks. I suppose in real life that wouldn’t be so odd. People contain multitudes. But in the book world it meant that I felt I never quite got to know Julia all that well because I was often surprised by what she said. Graham is the grumpy, surly type which I usually enjoy reading, but in this instance it really brought home to me that if I had to interact with such a person in real life, I would cheerfully chuck him in the bin. At least for the first half of the book, the grumpiness came from a place of anger, which I don’t love. But also, the grumpiness seemed to be his sole defining characteristic for the first half of the book until he falls in love.
One final red flag for me. There are some transactional kisses in this. Graham agrees to let Julia watch the rehearsal if she kisses him. That she wanted to kiss him anyway is by the by. For me, I have no tolerance for transactional kisses no matter how teasing and sexy they’re supposed to be.
Based on this review, you’re probably surprised that I read the book in its entirety, but I did and I finished it in a couple days. Overall, it’s an okay read. If you’re needing an interesting premise inside a historical romance, I think this book might scratch that itch.
Hello and welcome back to Get Rec’d! This is where I impart some book recs, usually pulling from recommendations I’ve given or received.
We have a community recommendation this time, and if there are ever books you want to shout about or think would be of interest to the site, feel free to send an email. I also have some upcoming nonfiction, a horror anthology, and a sci-fi novella.
Have you received any great recommendations lately? Tell me about them in the comments!
The Black Girl Survives in This One
Horror-writing great Tananarive Due writes the introduction, which automatically put this one on my radar. I also love anthologies for tired brain reading. This one has a wonderful list of writers, many of whom I’ve enjoyed previously.
A YA anthology of horror stories centering Black girls who battle monsters, both human and supernatural, and who survive to the end
Be warned, dear reader: The Black girls survive in this one.
Celebrating a new generation of bestselling and acclaimed Black writers, The Black Girl Survives in This One makes space for Black girls in horror. Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.
The bestselling and acclaimed authors include Erin E. Adams, Monica Brashears, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Desiree S. Evans, Saraciea J. Fennell, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Daka Hermon, Justina Ireland, L.L. McKinney, Brittney Morris, Maika & Maritza Moulite, Eden Royce, and Vincent Tirado. The foreword is by Tananarive Due.
This recommendation was sent in by Arielle, who says:
I’m here to return the favor of this blog recommending me books that scrambled my brain. This book will make you hurt so much, but you’ll be happy about it. It’s simply one of the best romances I’ve read in ages, which is odd because it’s not being marketed as a romance novel. And it should be.
In Memoriam by Alice Winn is one of the best written and researched historical romances I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This is a book for fans of Atonement, Brideshead Revisited, Downton Abbey, KJ Charles, and generally queer historical romances that come for your sanity and well being. It’s set in WWI between two privileged teenagers, both in love (much catnip for those who love angst and mutual pining) before facing the horrors of WWI, together and apart. The world is beautifully, sometimes achingly researched, and the romantic scenes help the reader understand the miscommunications between these two as they grow up, try to survive in the horrors of war, and fight for their love amid shellshock. Trigger warnings for era-accurate homophobia, references to sexual assault in the public school system, anti semitism, and depictions of ptsd and war.
Admittedly, I’m wary of anything that combines the words romance and Atonement as that is not a romance novel. I tried looking at Goodreads reviews at whether there’s any sort of HEA, but couldn’t find anything. If you’ve read this, please comment below as historical fiction with romantic elements and a historical romance are two very different things when it comes to reader expectations.
GMA BUZZ PICK • INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER AND AWARD WINNER • A haunting, virtuosic debut novel about two young men who fall in love during World War I • “Will live in your mind long after you’ve closed the final pages.” —Maggie O’Farrell, best-selling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait
A Best Book of the Year: The New Yorker, The Washington Post, NPR
“In Memoriam is the story of a great tragedy, but it is also a moving portrait of young love, and there is often a lightness to the book.”—The New York Times
It’s 1914, and World War I is ceaselessly churning through thousands of young men on both sides of the fight. The violence of the front feels far away to Henry Gaunt, Sidney Ellwood and the rest of their classmates, safely ensconced in their idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. News of the heroic deaths of their friends only makes the war more exciting.
Gaunt, half German, is busy fighting his own private battle–an all-consuming infatuation with his best friend, the glamorous, charming Ellwood–without a clue that Ellwood is pining for him in return. When Gaunt’s family asks him to enlist to forestall the anti-German sentiment they face, Gaunt does so immediately, relieved to escape his overwhelming feelings for Ellwood. To Gaunt’s horror, Ellwood rushes to join him at the front, and the rest of their classmates soon follow. Now death surrounds them in all its grim reality, often inches away, and no one knows who will be next.
An epic tale of both the devastating tragedies of war and the forbidden romance that blooms in its grip, In Memoriam is a breathtaking debut.
Tor is great at releasing some topnotch novellas. This one reminded me of a mix of Neon Yang’s Tensorate series and Janelle Monáe’s The Memory Librarian anthology.
In the Watchful City explores borders, power, diaspora, and transformation in an Asian-inspired mosaic novella that melds the futurism of Lavie Tidhar’s Central Station with the magical wonder of Catherynne M. Valente’s Palimpsest.
The city of Ora uses a complex living network called the Gleaming to surveil its inhabitants and maintain harmony. Anima is one of the cloistered extrasensory humans tasked with watching over Ora’s citizens. Although ær world is restricted to what æ can see and experience through the Gleaming, Anima takes pride and comfort in keeping Ora safe from all harm.
All that changes when a mysterious visitor enters the city carrying a cabinet of curiosities from around the world, with a story attached to each item. As Anima’s world expands beyond the borders of Ora to places—and possibilities—æ never before imagined to exist, æ finds ærself asking a question that throws into doubt ær entire purpose: What good is a city if it can’t protect its people?
This one is out soon! This one takes into account more intersectionality in receiving healthcare, especially when it comes to reproductive health.
An inclusive and essential new resource for reproductive health—including period problems, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility, sexual health, vaginal and urinary conditions, and overall wellbeing—from leading expert and fierce advocate Dr. Karen Tang
Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues in their lifetime? Yet these conditions are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The root causes for these issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.
Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how we engage with our bodies and our healthcare. It’s Not Hysteria is a comprehensive guide to common conditions and potential treatment options, with practical tools such as symptom prompts and sample questions for your provider, to equip readers to take control of their gynecologic health.
Reproductive healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. The onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care they need. In the face of uncertainty and misinformation, It’s Not Hysteria is destined to become a new classic that educates and empowers women and those assigned female at birth.
Hello, everyone! I’m back and big thanks to Sarah for driving the Whatcha Reading party bus in my absence. I loaded up my ereader and my Libro.fm app for my long flights and of course, barely did any reading. Ain’t that just the way.
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Shana: I’ve been reading Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar ( A | BN | K ) on audiobook. I’m halfway in and loving it so far! It’s got two of my favorite tropes: a fake engagement and grumpy/sunshine. There’s a lot of kindness and I am completely in love with both the main characters.
Elyse: I’m reading A Letter to the Luminous Deep. ( A | BN | K ) It’s a slowly unfolding epistolary romance with mystery elements and it’s so lovely that I’m reading it slowly and just savoring the beauty of the writing.
Lara: I just read You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian ( A | BN | K ) and it wasn’t my favourite of hers which makes me a bit sad. It’s getting rave reviews elsewhere so this might be a me thing.
I’m currently reading The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic and so far it’s a really interesting mystery with the potential of a romantic subplot. But it’s early days yet.
Sarah: I am listening to The Ward Witch ( A | BN | K ) after so many people recommended it in the comments this week (thank you). And I’m reading Persephone in Bloom ( A | BN | K ) via KU, a recommended series from the podcast discord.
Whatcha reading, friends? Tell us about it in the comments!
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This request comes from Grace. Thanks, Grace!
Welcome back to Links!
Hello, everyone! I’m back and big thanks to Sarah for driving the Whatcha Reading party bus in my absence. I loaded up my ereader and my Libro.fm app for my long flights and of course, barely did any reading. Ain’t that just the way.
