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Books by Virginia Heath, Alexis Hall, & More
Jul. 25th, 2025 03:30 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
smartbitches_feedApples Dipped in Gold
Apples Dipped in Gold by Scarlett St. Clair is $1.99! This is book two in the Fairy Tale Retellings series, though I can’t quite place which fairy tale it’s based on or just an amalgamation of a few.
Orphaned at a young age, Samara is left under the care of her three, horrible brothers. Just when she thinks she cannot take another day of their abuse, a handsome prince offers for her hand in marriage.
Samara’s brothers agree in exchange for a large dowery but on her way to her new kingdom, her carriage is ambushed by Lore, the wicked Prince of Nightshade.
Samara believes that the fae has snatched away her chance at freedom to punish her for her crimes against his kind but punishment is only half of Lore’s plan.
The truth is that the Elven Prince has pined after Samara for seven long years. She is all he can think about—a toxin in his blood. Can the Prince of Nightshade, whose power over poisons rivals none in The Enchanted Forest, manage to find a remedy or will he succumb to her love?
The Scenic Route
The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle is $1.99! This is book one in a new series by Ruggle and features a forced proximity romance. Has this one been on your radar?
Why date a mountain man? Because climbing him will leave you breathless.
Felicity Pax loves her job. She craves excitement, and being a bounty hunter gives her that in spades. So when her estranged mother disappears with a small fortune in tow, Felicity chases her like she would any other skip. Too bad she didn’t barter on having increasingly infuriating (and infuriatingly hot) PI Bennett Green on her tail.
Bennett’s got a job to do, and if that means shadowing Felicity…well…he’s had worse assignments. Even if he’s 99% sure the increasingly intriguing bounty hunter is leading him on a wild goose chase through the Rockies.
If she has to drag her PI tail through endless quirky mountain towns in order to shake him, that’s what she’s determined to do…but it isn’t long before Felicity’s intended distraction turns up a mystery worth solving—and Bennett becomes the unexpected partner she never realized she needed. As things heat up, Felicity will have to decide what’s most important to staying one step ahead of the “enemy” or giving herself freedom to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new series packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.
The Viscount’s Unconventional Lady
The Viscount’s Unconventional Lady by Virginia Heath is $1.99! This was previously published in 2021, so make sure you don’t already have it. This is book one in The Talk of the Beau Monde series and I certainly don’t like that cover.
The notorious viscount
And the most gossiped-about lady…
After years as a diplomat in the Napoleonic Wars, Lord Eastwood is reluctant to return to London society. His scandalous divorce has made him infamous, not to mention cantankerous! To halt the rumor mill, he should marry a quiet noblewoman—instead it’s bold, vibrant artist Faith Brookes who’s caught his attention. They are the least suitable match, so why is he like a moth to a flame?
Something Extraordinary
RECOMMENDED: Something Extraordinary by Alexis Hall is $1.99! We had a squee guest review for this one:
Something Extraordinary is loaded with fun, with love, with passion and with devotion. Love comes in all shapes, sizes and flavors. This is the one that tastes like heaven.
From the author of Boyfriend Material comes the absurdist adventure of two friends determined to avoid marriage to unsuitable people as they race through Regency England to marry each other instead.
Sir Horley Comewithers isn’t particularly interested in getting married, especially when his match is a perfectly respectable young woman. Sir Horley is, after all, extravagantly gay. But he’s resigned to a fate there’s no point resisting—until a dear friend does it for him.
Arabella Tarleton has no interest in romance, but even she can see that Sir Horley’s nuptials are destined to end in a lifetime of misery. Well, not on her watch. And what are friends for, if not abducting you on your wedding night in an overdramatic attempt to save you from a terrible mistake?
Their journey to Gretna Green is a hodgepodge of colorful run-ins and near misses with questionable innkeepers, amateur highwaymen, overattentive writers, and scorned fiancées. Then again a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
But when it comes to marriage, Belle and Sir Horley are about to discover that it’s not what you do or how you do it but the people who you choose to do it with that matter most.
677. Everyone is Lying to You with Jo Piazza
Jul. 25th, 2025 06:00 amsmartbitches_feed Jo Piazza’s new book, Everyone is Lying to You, is a trad wife influencer murder mystery out this month. I loved this book. Jo has been covering trad wives and influencers for a long, long time – she has a podcast called “Under the Influence,” and has been writing about celebrity culture for most of her career.
We are talking about trad wives, celebrity influencers, and how celebrity has changed with social media. We also talk about how and why trad wife influencers are so, well, influential, and how so many parts of our society have let women down.
Want some fresh burning feminism and critique of predatory influencing? This is your episode.
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Inspired by other Patreon folks, including Chris DeRosa at Fixing Famous People, I’ve made some of the Patreon content free so you can sample what we’ve got.
- Do you want to do a crossword puzzle from the May 1995 issue of RT? The crossword puzzle is available for free on Patreon right now!
- Would you like to read an issue of RT Magazine? The December 1997 issue is now available for your perusal.
- Or would you like to try one of our bonus episodes? Join Amanda and me as we look back at our 2024 predictions about romance and publishing.
This collection of special previews is available now to all listeners, and there’s a link in the show notes to dive in. And if you like our free samples, join us in the Patreon community where there’s bonus content and more.
Listen to the podcast →Read the transcript →
Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:
You can find Jo Piazza – and her book tour! – at her website JoPiazza.com. Her podcast is Under the Influence.
We also mentioned:
- The Rest is History podcast
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome
- The SNL “American Girl Doll Cafe” skit with Travis Kelce
If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher, and Spotify, too. We also have a cool page for the podcast on iTunes.
More ways to sponsor:
Sponsor us through Patreon! (What is Patreon?)
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 sbjpodcast@gmail.com 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.
Thanks for listening!
Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.
F/F Romance, Historical Romance, & More
Jul. 24th, 2025 03:30 pmsmartbitches_feedGreenteeth
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill is $2.99! Carrie reviewed this one in April and gave it a C:
The descriptive aspects of this book are great. I just wish that the character development was stronger on the part of everyone not named Jenny, and that the plot had more focus.
From an outstanding new voice in cozy fantasy comes Greenteeth, a tale of fae, folklore, and found family, narrated by a charismatic lake-dwelling monster with a voice unlike any other, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.
Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce.
Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she’s worth saving. Temperance doesn’t know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor.
Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s family, as well as the very soul of Britain.
On Her Terms
On Her Terms by Amy Spalding is $3.99! This is book three in the Out in Hollywood series, which features f/f romances with one (or both) of the main characters working in Hollywood. Have you read any books in the series?
A fresh, funny contemporary romance about being true to yourself and your desires, even if it means plunging into uncharted territory . . .
Fresh off breaking up with her boyfriend and swerving away from the conventional, TikTok-ready married life she never wanted, Clementine is ready to explore the alternatives. Not that she wants to be single forever, much less die alone. But at thirty-six, it’s time for her to experience new things—including in her love life. And though an invitation to a fake relationship to appease family sounds like a recipe for disaster, Clem finds herself saying yes to smart, spirited dog groomer Chloe Lee anyway . . .
Chloe is long past her own baby gay era, but even before they’ve tackled Clem’s parents’ anniversary party and Chloe’s friend’s wedding, the two of them end up spending a lot of time together. As the attraction between them grows stronger, it all begins to feel pretty real to Clem. Chloe, however, is fine as just friends—plus she’s convinced Clem is just eager for “someone” to take her off the singles list. How to persuade her otherwise? After all, Clem is starting to realize her life is wonderfully full and being “alone” doesn’t scare her a bit. Still, being without the tiny powerhouse that is Chloe, specifically? That’s a whole other story . . .
Wise, witty, and full of heart, here is an uplifting love story with an ending worth waiting for.
Recipe for a Charmed Life
Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden is $1.99! I’d classify this as more chick lit/women’s fiction with a romantic subplot. Linden also writes books that typically have a ton of foodie elements. Maybe don’t read while hungry.
After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
American chef Georgia May Jackson has one goal—to run her own restaurant in Paris. After a grueling decade working in Parisian kitchens, she is on the cusp of success. But in one disastrous night, Georgia loses her sous-chef position, her French boyfriend, and her sense of taste! Renowned for her refined palate and daring use of bold flavors to create remarkable dishes, Georgia is devastated to discover her culinary gift has simply…vanished.
When she receives a surprising invitation from her estranged mother, Georgia flees to a small island near Seattle hoping the visit will help her regain her spark in the kitchen. There she tentatively reconnects with her mom, a free-spirited hippie eager to make up for her past mistakes. But there’s something about the enigmatic island Georgia just can’t piece together. Good luck charms keep appearing in the oddest places. Her neighbor is a puzzlingly antagonist (and annoyingly handsome) oyster farmer. And her mom keeps hinting at a mysterious family legacy.
With the clock ticking and time running out to win her dream job in Paris, Georgia begins to unravel some astonishing secrets that make her wonder if the true recipe for a charmed life might look—and taste—very different than she ever imagined.
Some Like It Scandalous
Some Like It Scandalous by Maya Rodale is $1.99! This is the second book in Rodale’s historical romance series set in Gilded Age New York. Aarya gave this one a C-, but notes your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about certain tropes.
They are sworn enemies…
Theodore Prescott the Third, one of Manhattan’s Rogues of Millionaire Row, has really done it this time. The only way to survive his most recent, unspeakably outrageous scandal is marry someone respectable. Someone sensible. Someone like Daisy Swan. Of all the girls in Gilded Age Manhattan, it had to be her.
Pretending to be lovers…
Daisy Swan has plans and they do not involve a loveless marriage with anyone. But when a devastating family secret threatens to destroy her standing in society, suddenly a fake engagement with Theo is just the thing to make all her dreams come true.
And now it’s time to kiss and make up…
Daisy Swan aspires to sell cosmetics that she has created, but this brainy scientist needs a smooth talking charmer’s flair for words and eye for beauty to make it a success. Before long, Daisy and Theo are trading kisses. And secrets. And discovering that despite appearances, they might be the perfect couple after all.
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 amsmartbitches_feed
Love is a War Song is a fun sunshine/grumpy/fish out of water romance with a New Adult feel. While the romance is fun, the cultural representation is what sets this novel apart from others.
Here’s the publisher’s plot description:
Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.
Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.
It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a deal. Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?
Carrie: This is told from Avery’s point of view, and she’s a funny, engaging heroine, if one who is almost shockingly naive given her profession. Avery is in her early 20s and has spent her life being ‘managed’ by her mother. Her mother has controlled Avery’s personal and professional life since Avery became a child actor, and signed her up with an agent and label that refuses to allow Avery to release her own music (she is a songwriter). A lot of this book is about Avery’s journey to find her own self and claim both responsibility for and agency over her own life.
Shana: Avery is marketed as a Native American pop star, but her mother refuses to tell her much about her culture. After Avery is forced to release the single “I Need a Warrior” instead of her own music she agrees to dress in offensive outfits for her music video and her Rolling Stone cover because she thinks she is doing something subversive – ironically reclaiming American Indian stereotypes by wearing a leather bikini and cultural artifacts. What made Avery likable is that when her mistakes are made clear, she quickly regrets them, even if some of the claims against her—like being a Pretendian—aren’t true.
Carrie: Unfortunately she lacks the common sense, the independence, or the knowledge required to see why her artistic choices were a problem. One thing that speaks in Avery’s favor immediately is that she is only defensive about this when confronted by a man she’s never met before who mocks her the second she gets off a miserable bus ride from Los Angeles to Oklahoma. The rest of the time, Avery is ready to learn, whether it’s about her culture, her family history, or how to clean a horse stall.
The man who makes fun of her is, of course, Lucas, and of course they fall in love over the course of the book. There’s a trend lately to have romances with only one point-of-view character, and it works fine if we think of the books as a novel about the POV character with a strong romantic element. Taken as a Romance Novel 
, I dislike this trend because I find that the non-POV character ends up being less well-developed leading to a less well-balanced romance. Lucas is an interesting person. He’s been through a lot and he has a generous and loyal heart and big but also realistic and well-thought out plans. But his character arc is from “I don’t like her” to “I love her”. I would have loved to have some time from his POV, and for him to have had a more developed story.
Shana: I usually grumble about single-POV romances, but I didn’t mind it so much here. Enemies to Lovers isn’t my favorite trope, and at first it felt like Lucas was negging Avery so I was happy not to be inside his head for that nonsense. I was overjoyed when Lucas and Avery’s animosity simmered down and the two of them started working together on the ranch.
I liked uncovering the mystery of Lucas’s backstory alongside Avery…and there were quite a few surprises to unpack along the way. One of my favorite moments was when Lucas, a seemingly solipsistic small town boy who has never left Oklahoma, admits that he’d love to visit Machu Picchu to see something built by Indigenous people that hasn’t been destroyed. My man had layers. And the more I learned about him, the more he seemed right for Avery.
Even though Lucas is also in his 20s, he seemed much older than Avery. He steps in to rescue her when she can’t cook, drive a truck, or fix a songwriting problem. I think readers who enjoy a slight age gap with a wiser hero and younger heroine might like Lucas and Avery’s dynamic. For me, Avery seemed emotionally immature at times.
Avery has a lot to learn about Muscogee culture and rural life. She makes hilarious mistakes and Lucas is a gentle teacher, even when he’s teasing her. Early on Lucas nearly convinces Avery that the tribe can tell time down to the minute based on the color of the sunrise. He quickly fesses up, and warns her not to be as naive around tribal elders who like to joke around. As someone who has repeatedly fallen for the tall tales of uncles, I can confirm this is sound advice. What keeps Avery from TSTL territory is that she’s a quick learner around the ranch and a fantastic musician. She’s a Fish out of Water but not totally incompetent. And that leads to plenty of fun banter between her and her new ranch family.
Carrie: I wanted to see a LOT more about the relationship between Avery’s mother and her grandmother, Lottie. There’s some discussion that maybe Lottie wasn’t such a great mom, and there’s discussion that her mother might go through some redemption once Avery stands up to her, but it’s barely touched upon.
Shana: Totally. I kept thinking the story would dig into generational trauma but there’s a lot that’s left unspoken between the lines. Avery learns to set boundaries, but the adults in her life don’t magically change into healed, excellent communicators. I ultimately enjoyed that the book doesn’t dwell on Bad Mom behavior and kept the tone lighthearted, but I would have liked a real showdown between Avery’s mom and grandma.
Carrie: This book works because it’s wonderful to see the Muscogee Cree people represented not as some sort of mythical figures but as fully modern day people with a strong sense of heritage and culture. It’s also lovely to see a story in which Native American communities have challenges, but are also depicted as places of strong community and joy.
It also works as a coming-of-age story: Avery is able to develop a strong sense of independence and integrity as well as a sense of being surrounded by a community that cares about her as a person, not her as a performer. While I thought she and Lucas were a great pairing and I very much enjoyed their scenes together, it doesn’t work fully as a Romance Novel for me because we never get Lucas’ POV. Overall, however, I found this book to be highly enjoyable.
Shana: I have a soft spot for untraditional cowboy romances, and this is the best one I’ve read in years. It has all the texture I love in a ranch setting, softly worn work shirts, a sweeping big sky, buttery biscuits, and a slow smile under a tipped hat. But my favorite part is how Avery isn’t forced to choose between her dreams and love. She doesn’t have to make herself small to appreciate small town life.
Readers who are fans of enemies to lovers stories, or books where celebrities learn to live like regular people might like this a lot, but it’s especially welcoming to readers who want more romances with Indigenous characters crafted by Indigenous writers. The tropes are familiar, but the characters and their community make this book very, very special.
The Rec League: Awkward Sex
Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 amsmartbitches_feed
This Rec League came from our staff reviewer Shana:
Have we done a Rec League on books where the couple’s first time having sex is awkward or bad and they had to learn how to give each other pleasure? I feel like I remember us talking about those romances but I’m not sure what we might have called the Rec League. I love historical married couple romances, and this trope feels somewhat adjacent.
Carrie: Jennifer Crusie does this a lot – a good example is in Trust Me On This ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) where the first sex is meh but as they start to trust each other the sex gets better and better.
Amanda: It’s been awhile since I’ve read it, but I believe the main couple in Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren had some awkwardness.
Sarah: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant fits this VERY well.
The Bromance Book Club but I’m not sure if specifics count as too much of a spoiler.
And Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
Amanda, what about The Bride Test?
Amanda: Hm…I honestly can’t remember? I don’t think so. There’s a lot of awkwardness in general about being around each other, but I don’t remember the sex scenes being awkward. (Commenters please chime in!)
Susan: One of Courtney Milan’s definitely fits this – The Duchess War?
Claudia: You are right, Susan — famously bad first sex.
What romances would you recommend? Drop them in the comments!
Links: Romance Kickstarters, Adaptation News, & More
Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 pmsmartbitches_feed
Welcome back!
(WingedNike, if you’re reading this, it’s officially Wednesday and you haven’t missed the post!)
Life is life-ing. However, I’m grateful for reconnecting with friends lately. Lots of social activities on my calendar, and though I may grumble and gripe about having to leave the house, I haven’t regretted it yet.
We did a Costco run last weekend, and I love finding new things to try. I get so excited to stock my fridge! Anyone else a Costco fangirl?
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From Georgina: A retirement/care center in New Zealand was renamed the Essie Summers Retirement Village in honor of Summers, who was the NZ queen of romance.
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If you love collecting pretty book editions, this Kickstarter for special Jane Austen editions has about a week left.
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Led by Adriana Herrera and Ali Hazelwood, a collection of dystopian romance novellas is set to launch soon on Kickstarter. The plots sound really interesting and the collection has a great group of authors.
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This article is from a year ago, but I don’t remember hearing about it or posting about it. In fairness, a lot has happened in a year. Not sure if there have been any updates since, but Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series has been picked up for a possible adaptation.
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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!
Olivia Dade, Historical Romance, & More
Jul. 23rd, 2025 03:30 pmsmartbitches_feedWooing the Witch Queen
RECOMMENDED: Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is $2.99! Thanks to everyone who let us know about this sale. Carrie gave this one a B+:
In these trying times, it’s incredibly comforting to read a book in which people have faith in other people and in which people are given the opportunity and tools they need to develop faith in themselves.
In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.
Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.
When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…
Little does Saskia know that the “wizard” she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he’s in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?
At First Spite
RECOMMENDED: At First Spite by Olivia Dade is $1.99! Lara gave this a B+:
If you’re looking for a book of sparkle and light, then this is not the book for you. It’s heavy going emotionally, but so well-written that I could not put it down. My normal routine went out the window because I NEEDED to know how things would unfold. The cast of supporting characters are sincerely charming and I do look forward to the next book in the series.
When Athena Greydon’s fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. Which is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex’s home is literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation. By, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with those windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he’s kind of…hot? Dammit.
Matthew may not regret ending his brother’s engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He’ll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?
Pipe Dreams
Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen is $1.99! This is book three in the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance series. It seems that illustration covers have claimed another series.
A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…
Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.
Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.
Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.
One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain is $1.99! This is a historical romance that came out last December. The heroine posses as a her cousin and I was pretty meh on this one.
When a young woman trades places with her noble cousin, their innocent ruse leads to true love in this sparkling new Regency-era romantic comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.
When Arabella Grant’s wicked aunt dies suddenly, both Arabella and her cousin Lady Isabelle cannot help but feel relieved. She’d made their lives miserable, and now Lady Issie is free to read to her heart’s content, and Bella is free from taunts about her ignoble birth.
Their newfound freedom is threatened, however, when Issie’s great-aunt commands her to travel to London for a come-out Issie has never wanted. Issie, who is in poor health, is convinced she’ll drop dead like her mother did if she drops into a curtsy before the queen. So when her great-aunt turns out to be nearsighted and can’t tell the noble Lady Isabelle from her commoner cousin Arabella, Issie convinces Bella to take her place. Bella can attend all the exclusive entertainments that her lower birth would typically exclude her from, and Issie can stay in bed, her nose in a book.
What’s Your Favorite Off the Wall Old Skool Cover?
Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 amsmartbitches_feedNext week I’m going to be recording a very fun podcast episode with royal commentator and art historian Amanda Matta. You might know her as @matta_of_fact from TT, or IG, or her podcast “Off with their Headlines,” or her OTHER podcast “Art of History.”
Inspired by her “Art of History” podcast, I wanted to talk with Amanda about what the old school covers communicate from an art history perspective.
For example: The Beloved One, a favorite of Candy’s.
Yes, the castle/tower/rock formation/gazebo is phallic, but what else is going on? Other than the incipient, uh, honking of the bobo.
So, here’s my request. Obviously I have a few on file already, but I’d love to know: what is YOUR favorite most bonkers, off the wall, truly bizarre old skool romance cover?
For example, the original art for The Lion and the Lark hangs in my office:
There’s a Very Erect Folly in the background, but that didn’t make the cover. What a shame.
Or then there’s The Raider, and the hair.
I’m pretty sure Rumor Has It by Cindi Myers was submitted for the AAR Cover Contest one year. And I STILL haven’t figured out what is happening on this cover.
I’ve never understood why these two were determined to visit Bhone Towne on jagged rocks:
There?! You’re doing the deed right there?
Or, the champion of covers:
She’s my avatar in a bunch of different places.
Truly incredible – but I KNOW there are even weirder ones. Which ones should I include?
I may not be able to feature all of them, but I’ll be querying Amanda about as many as I can (poor Amanda).
Please feel welcome to post the image in the comments, or just the title. I’m enabling images for a bit in the comments but only one image per comment (the spam otherwise is mindblowing).
M/M Romance, a Mystery, & More
Jul. 22nd, 2025 03:30 pmsmartbitches_feedThe Raven Scholar
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is $2.99! I mentioned this on Hide Your Wallet when it released earlier this year. I’ve heard nothing but good things from those who have read it. Did you pick this one up?
From an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy comes The Raven Scholar, a masterfully woven and playfully inventive tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar’s quest to uncover the truth.
Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, Bersun the Brusque must end his reign. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders compete to replace him. They are exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists—the best of the best.
Then one of them is murdered.
It falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer before the trials end. To do so, she must untangle a web of deadly secrets that stretches back generations, all while competing against six warriors with their own dark histories and fierce ambitions. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in.
If she succeeds, she will win the throne. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen.
We are the Raven, and we are magnificent.
Go Luck Yourself
Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch is $2.99! This is book two in the Royals and Romance series. We had a fabulous guest review from Lisa on book one and some thoughtful comments about the handwavy-ness of the religious and cultural nature of holidays.
It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!
Someone has been stealing Christmas’s joy, and there’s only one clue to the culprit—a single shamrock.
With Coal busy restructuring Christmas—and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean—Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick’s Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?
Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can’t get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch’s face in—he’s infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot—
Wait—hot?
Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas’s stolen magic isn’t as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that’s always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday’s resources—like his heart?
Wait for It
Wait for It by Mariana Zapata is 99c! There are a bunch of Zapata’s romances on sale this week, so definitely fill in any TBR gaps if you can. Though the heroine has ties to a character in one of Zapata’s previous books, it can be read as a standalone.
If anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn’t been one long enough.
Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing half the time. How she’s made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard.
With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for.
Except for a boyfriend.
Or a husband.
But who needs either one of those?
The Woman in the Library
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is $1.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! I mentioned this mystery on a previous Get Rec’d. A murder in a prominent library, especially if you live in the Boston area, ticks a lot of readers’ boxes.
In every person’s story, there is something to hide…
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman’s terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who’d happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.
Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all.
HaBO: Her Neighbor is an Adult Film Star
Jul. 22nd, 2025 02:00 pmsmartbitches_feedThis HaBO comes from Sarah, who wants to find this contemporary romance:
I am looking for a romance where a curvy heroine moves in to a new apartment complex. She meets her neighbor, who turns out to be a porn star, and he falls in love with her.
It was an e-book, but I cannot remember the title or author at all.
I’ve read a few contemporary romances with a sex worker hero (all were rather disappointing with lots of internalized misogyny on behalf of the heroine), but this one doesn’t sound familiar to me.
Hide Your Wallet: July 22nd Release Week
Jul. 22nd, 2025 07:00 amsmartbitches_feed
Happy Tuesday!
It’s a short and sweet release week for us. Only three books that are on our radar: one fantasy romance and two contemporaries. Next week is looking a bit more promising.
How’s your TBR pile doing this week? Let us know in the comments!
Arcana Academy
Author: Elise Kova
Released: July 22, 2025 by Del Rey
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Arcana Academy #1
Dark academia with some fake dating!
Heart Marks the Spot
Author: Libby Hubscher
Released: July 22, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches.
Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.
After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.
After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance.
Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.
Amanda: Treasure hunting is having a moment in romance.
Lara: I’ve had some good luck with second chance romances lately, so I’m keen to give this one a go.
Love is a War Song
Author: Danica Nava
Released: July 22, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, USA Today bestselling author of The Truth According to Ember.
Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.
Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.
It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?
Shana: Apparently this has a Only One Horse scene and I’m here for it.
The social life of bookmark tags
Jul. 22nd, 2025 03:22 amfanhackers_feedParatext (on the Internet) has historically been used, not only for folksonommy, but for social functions, too. This is true for websites that have a broader range of social media-like features, such as comments, likes and private messages and for those that lack one or more of these. However, Bourlai observes differences in how paratext is used and ties it to the above features of the site:
Since Tumblr does not have a separate comment section for posts, the tag section may also be used for tags with discourse functions such as expressing an opinion, a reaction, or including asides. (…) The results suggest that social tagging practices on Tumblr are influenced by both the technological specifications of the platform and the social structure of the website.
E. Bourlai: “Comments in Tags, Please!: Tagging practices on Tumblr”
Those interested in fandom might instantly think about the paratext and especially the tags of Archive of Our Own. The archive, will providing commenting options, the post themselves serve no social function in theory. It is all the more telling, what communicative functions the different elements of a post serve. While the post itself would need to contain the fanwork only, a space known as Author’s Notes is provided where the users can communicate additional information. However, users still relegate some of this information to the comments.
Comment tags play no role in enhancing the visibility and searchability of a post and would not be considered metadata labels like keyword tags. They are part of the content and would normally be included in the body section of a post. By placing part of the content in the tag section, users indicate a logical or structural division in the post.
E. Bourlai: “Comments in Tags, Please!: Tagging practices on Tumblr”
This logical separation is so embedded in fannish practices that folksonomical functions and social functions have become entangled where we see some messages becoming codified (i wrote this instead of sleeping), while some tags might start out with intending to categorize the post but end up in a conversation with the reader (Hua Tuo would regret featuring in this fic, Lin Chen regrets nothing). These suggest that a tracing of historical development of tags would be possible. It also suggests an awareness on the users’ part for what is more fitting as an Author’s Note and what is more fitting as a tag. Two further quote might highlight the significance of this awareness.
As can be seen from the examples shown above, particularly on Tumblr and AO3, these motivations can result in rich tagging practices, that evidence the fan community’s desire to share and engage widely with one another, as well as to accurately and usefully organise and classify their works.
Price, L. and Robinson, L.: “Tag analysis as a tool for investigating information behaviour: comparing fan-tagging on Tumblr, Archive of Our Own and Etsy”
While some of these activities are not necessarily „important” in themselves, they are the enabling conditions for fan cultural productions and for the construction of fandom as a social community.
Jenkins, H. Textual poachers: Television fans and participatory culture. Routledge.
Author: Szabó Dorottya
Podcast 676, Your Transcript is Ready!
Jul. 21st, 2025 08:30 pmsmartbitches_feed
The transcript for Podcast 676. Exploring Atonement Sky with Nalini Singh has been posted!
This podcast transcript was handcrafted with meticulous skill by Garlic Knitter. Many thanks.
❤ Click here to subscribe to The Podcast →
The transcript for my interview with Nalini Singh is ready and appended to the podcast entry- woo hoo!
F/F Romance, Kennedy Ryan, & More
Jul. 21st, 2025 03:30 pmsmartbitches_feedConsort of Fire
Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha is $1.99! This is book one in Bound to Fire and Steel fantasy romance series. Book two is also on sale. Have you read either book? What did you think?
From cult-favorite writing duo Kit Rocha comes a fiery novel set in a lush fantasy world brimming with ancient magic, dangerous secrets, and erotic connections.
For three thousand years, an ancient dragon god has protected the borders of the Sheltered Lands. In return, he makes only one demand: every one hundred years, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as his consort…for as long as they can survive.
Sachielle of House Roquebarre is the thirty-first consort to be sacrificed to the monster who guards the mountain passes. She is young, beautiful—and she has three secrets.
First: she’s a disposable orphan trained in seduction.
Second: her handmaid, Zanya, is an assassin and the only person she has ever loved.
Third—and most dangerous: she’s cursed. Sachi and Zanya have five weeks to murder the Dragon in his bed. If they fail, the mortal king’s curse will steal not just Sachi’s life, but her very soul.
The Dragon has only one secret: he is nothing like what they have been told. And he will do whatever it takes to possess them both.
Until I’m Yours
Until I’m Yours by Kennedy Ryan is $1.99! This is book four in the The Bennet series, which is has been re-released with new covers. Have you read any of the books in this series?
The world knows her face . . .
Mean girl. Goddess. Bitch. Supermodel Sofie Baston has earned those labels . . . yet they don’t scratch the surface of who she really is. Before she can follow her own dreams, Sophie must do her daughterly duty and reel in a “fish” for her father’s business-a tall, brown-eyed entrepreneur who immediately hooks her. He’s a big guy with an even bigger heart . . . but will that heart be open to Sofie once her darkest secret is revealed?
. . . but only one man knows her heart
To Trevor Bishop, Sofie is a beautiful mystery he would gladly spend his life solving. He figures her tough demeanor is armor against a world that’s hurt her too many times. Then Sofie’s deepest wounds are reopened by the powerful, ruthless man who made them. When she musters the courage to take him down, her world shatters. Now Trevor is determined to help Sofie pick up the pieces so they can build a future together. The challenge will be convincing his ice princess that it’s safe to melt in his arms . . .
Cover Story
Cover Story by Rachel Lacey is $2.49 at Amazon! Both Elyse and Dahlia were excited for this one when it was released in March. Lacey also has a few celebrity romances if that happens to be your catnip.
Natalie Keane is one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies, but she’s paid a steep price for her fame. After she was stalked eight years ago, the ensuing media frenzy almost broke her. So when a new threat arises, Natalie agrees to extra security, but she wants to keep it under wraps. The last thing she needs is another tabloid spectacle, especially during awards season.
Taylor Vaughn has made a career as a bodyguard to the stars, but an injury has kept her sidelined for the past three months, jeopardizing her future in the job she loves. When an opportunity arises to work for Natalie Keane, Taylor jumps at the chance—even before knowing the details of the assignment.
From the moment they meet, Natalie knows this could Taylor, the bodyguard, masquerading as her girlfriend. The perfect cover story. But as circumstances push the two women closer, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur.
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose is $2.99! This is a mix of mystery and romance with some class differences and forced proximity. It looks like a second Pomona Afton mystery will be coming out next April.
A spoiled heiress must investigate her grandmother’s death in order to gain back her trust fund, all while discovering how to be her own person and maybe even falling in love in this “enormously fun, witty, and warm” (Kristen Perrin, nationally bestselling author) rom-com meets murder mystery that is perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building.
When Pomona Afton, Upper East Side hotel heiress, stumbles out of a gala and upon the scene of her grandmother’s murder, her first thought is that the society queen won’t be missed for her kind, cookie-baking ways. In fact, she was mean, greedy, and paranoid—so paranoid that she secretly slipped a clause into her will mandating that, should she die an unnatural death, all the family assets get frozen. And if the “unnatural death” isn’t explained? Those accounts stay frozen.
Practically overnight, Pomona is locked out of her penthouse with no other option than to move in with a Gabe, the irritable (yet handsome) son of her former nanny. Not only is his apartment cramped, but it doesn’t even have a doorman. Or a chef! Pom needs someone to solve this murder, like, yesterday, so she can get her trust fund back.
And Gabe? He needs this murder solved because that’s the only way his mother, who toiled for the Afton family for years, will ever get the retirement money she deserves. As Pom’s family clams up, blocking the police at every turn, Pom quickly realizes that if she wants her glamorous life back, she’s going to have to put on her big-girl Manolos and do it herself…with the help of Gabe, who she’s falling for more and more by the day.
Can Pomona Afton (who previously couldn’t solve a crossword in the bath on a hungover Sunday) actually solve this murder? And if she does return to her former life of luxury, will it be worth the possibility of losing Gabe?
Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race
Jul. 21st, 2025 08:00 amsmartbitches_feed
Back in the early aughts I had a minor obsession with the Tudors. The Other Boleyn Girl was in theatres, The Tudors was on Showtime, and Phillippa Gregory and Alison Weir were having literary moments.
Six Wild Crowns pulled me right back into my fascination with that moment in time (in fact, I’m rewatching The Tudors). This is a high magic fantasy based loosely on Henry VIII and his six wives, but with a feminist twist. It is not, however, a romance.
First of all, this novel is the beginning of a series (or duology, I’m not sure) so if you don’t want to start a series that isn’t finished yet, be aware that this is the only book published so far.
Six Wild Crowns takes place in a fantasy version of England called Elben. Henry is king and he is married, simultaneously, to six queens. The magic system in this novel involves a magical force called the bordweal that forms an invisible barrier around the island Elben that potential invaders or enemies cannot cross. The king also has some magical abilities himself.
In order for Henry to access his magic and for the bordweal to be maintained, he must have six queens, each of whom occupies a coastal castle, and through a ritual during their wedding ceremony, strengthens Henry’s bond with his own magic.
This part was a little confusing. The average person in this book does not have magical abilities, and the queens do not have them until they marry Henry and take occupancy of his castle. Initially it’s pretty unclear where that magic comes from.
When the book opens Henry has just married Queen Boleyn. Boleyn is similar to her historical counterpart in her looks and intelligence, and she is in love with Henry and he with her. It’s tradition for each of the queens to gift a new queen a present on her wedding day, and rather than jewels or or a pet dragon (there are dragons in this book and they are cool), Queen Aragon gives her a servant–Seymour. Seymour is actually there as a spy (of course) and her assignment is to assassinate Boleyn on Aragon’s orders.
The book is told through Boleyn and Seymour’s alternating viewpoints. Boleyn is a strategist, determined to become the most powerful and favorite queen among Henry’s five other established wives. She’s also researching why, despite Henry now having his six queens, the bordweal has been consistently weakening.
Seymour is an unwilling spy and assassin. She comes from a noble family who groomed her to help her family’s fortunes rise, but she mostly just wants to be left alone. She cannot lie convincingly, she doesn’t want to kill anyone, and she doesn’t want to be involved in royal political games. So of course she does the most inconvenient thing possible and falls in love with Boleyn.
Boleyn meanwhile begins to see Henry’s true colors and her love for him changes to disgust. She meets Queen Howard, who she realizes was married to Henry at just thirteen and is still very much a child. She sees Henry’s selfishness and vanity.
Her research into ancient texts about the bordweal leads her to information that stuns her.
Realizing that Henry remaining in power will be disastrous not only to her personally, but also the kingdom, she tries to unite the other five queens against Henry.
While this is going on, Henry’s wife Queen Blount dies, and much to everyone’s surprise, he marries Seymour. She can’t stand Henry, is afraid of him, and loathes sexual encounters with him. Even though Boleyn doesn’t return Seymour’s romantic love, they form a close friendship and unifying force.
The main theme of this book is power being stolen from women, and women being pitted against each other for the benefit of the patriarchy. The six queens are supposed to be jealous and conniving against one another in order to be most beloved in Henry’s eyes. They are never meant to be friends or allies.
I always like the theme of women discovering their power, and women coming together to be stronger as a group. This is definitely a “fuck the patriarchy” fantasy. I also liked the courtly machinations and political plots. It’s a little bit House of the Dragon that way. The color of clothing, the type of gift given, all have important subtle but symbolic meanings and every gesture from a queen means something significant beneath its face value.
The only thing I thought Six Wild Crowns could have improved on was the relationship between Boleyn and Seymour.
Boleyn knows Seymour is in love with her, but doesn’t return the feeling (she’s not queer), so they just sort of become friends. Seymour’s romantic feelings for Boleyn aren’t really addressed again after that and I guess we’re just supposed to assume she’s just dealing with them? The tension of “I love her but she doesn’t love me” isn’t really addressed.
Aside from that, this book is a wonderful reading experience. The setting, clothes and manners are all from a familiar enough place in time that it didn’t require a ton of world building, but Elben was still unique as a fantasy world. The action and the conflict were paced very well so the book grows in momentum. There’s also the “Earl has to die” plotline that I always appreciate.
Six Wild Crowns is a fun, historical fantasy and I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 94
Jul. 20th, 2025 08:00 amsmartbitches_feedHappy Sunday!
We have two different non-fiction options, some fun sci-fi, and even a romance novel. I rarely pick romances for this feature, so it always feels like a big deal to me when I do.
Do you have any recommendations you’d like to share? Leave ’em in the comments!
Black in Blues
M from the podcast discord recommended this one (and it’s on sale!). Their recommendation was quickly followed up by a couple comments of agreement.
A surprising and beautiful meditation on the color blue—and its fascinating role in Black history and culture—from National Book Award winner Imani Perry
Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.
Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.
Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.
He’s to Die For
I’m really surprised this m/m sort of flew under the radar. This is an opposites attract romance with a hint of mystery. I think the comparison to The Charm Offensive is a fair one.
Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder mystery: it’s murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case.
At 29, Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD’s homicide squad, and his future looks bright. He may be a bit of an outsider in the department – an ivy-league educated gay Brit with a weakness for designer suits – but his meteoric rise and solve rate prove he belongs.
So when his CO assigns him lead on the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav is ready for action. He won’t be distracted by TV crews, tabloids, or what’s trending on social media, nor by the ridiculously hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi.
This is it, his shot, and he is not going to screw it up—certainly not by falling in love with his number one suspect…
I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom
Do you like quirky, weird, and funny sci-fi? Pargin has a lot of series. If that feels a little too overwhelming to start something that may require a bigger commitment, I believe this one is a standalone.
A standalone darkly humorous thriller set in modern America’s age of anxiety, by New York Times bestselling author Jason Pargin.
Outside Los Angeles, a driver pulls up to find a young woman sitting on a large black box. She offers him $200,000 cash to transport her and that box across the country, to Washington, DC.
But there are rules:
He cannot look inside the box.
He cannot ask questions.
He cannot tell anyone.
They must leave immediately.
He must leave all trackable devices behind.
As these eccentric misfits hit the road, rumors spread on social media that the box is part of a carefully orchestrated terror attack intended to plunge the USA into civil war.
The truth promises to be even stranger, and may change how you see the world.
Takeaway
This one popped onto my radar after seeing it recommended by an IG food account where a British woman makes recipes from other cultures from scratch. It looks like only used copies are the only kinds available. Fingers crossed your library has some!
An eye-opening memoir revealing the stories behind living in and running a Chinese takeaway.
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales, Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community. From attacks on the shopfront (in other words, their home), to verbal abuse from customers, and confrontations that ended with her dad wielding the meat cleaver; life growing up in a takeaway was far from peaceful.
But alongside the strife, there was also beauty and joy in the rhythm of life in the takeaway and in being surrounded by the food of her home culture. Family dinners before service, research trips to Hong Kong, preparing for the weekend rush with her brothers – the takeaway is a hive of activity before a customer even places their order of ‘egg-friend rice and chop suey’.
Bringing readers along on the journey from Angela’s earliest memories in the takeaway to her family closing the shop after 30 years in business, this is a brilliantly warm and immersive memoir from someone on the other side of the counter.