Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If it is your first time here, welcome and if you’re a regular reader welcome back.
I am almost at the end of my week off and it has been glorious. It was just what I needed; a chance to recharge my batteries and spend time with my kiddo. Which is always a winning combination. In reading news, I finished I’m So (Not) Over You and started my re-read of The Viscount Who Loved Me to prepare for March 25th.
Romance Reflection
There is something that I feel doesn’t get discussed enough in Romancelandia and that is the dangers of listening to romance audiobooks while trying to multitask and do other adult duties.
First, I will say audiobooks are not my go-to for reading. I don’t judge those that do because of course it counts as reading. But I just prefer to read on my own. Occasionally though I will pick them up and read them and when I do, it’s always a pleasant experience. But there have also been some, shall we say, memorable experiences with them as well.
I actually haven’t listened to a lot of romance audiobooks and the two that readily come to mind were both by Talia Hibbert. The first was Get a Life, Chloe Brown narrated by the marvelous Adjoa Andoh otherwise known as Lady Danbury. I listened to it when I was still commuting to and from my office. I loved the banter between Red and Chloe but of course knew there would be sexy times ahead. And I tell you, the first time that Adjoa growled in Red’s voice, I almost swerved off the road.
Then I was listening to The Roommate Risk, back when it was still titled Wanna Bet?, narrated by Cornell Collins. That story is first told in different timelines and in the present, Rahul and Jasmine are just friends. So, when a flashback to the past sets up the scene where it made it seem like they would engage in sexy times. I was like “Naw, they’re just friends. They’ll stop.”
They didn’t stop.
So here I am in my break room, frantically trying to hit pause on my phone because I’m certain all my co-workers can hear the horny fun coming from my earbuds.
Then there was another scene later on that I listened to while trying to clean. And I got distracted by the narrator’s voice and breathed in a bit too much of the cleaning product and had to leave the bathroom for fresh air.
So just remember to listen to romance books with caution.
Of course again, this is all in jest. Both books were delightful and I highly recommend them.
Book Riot Romance
Speaking of Talia Hibbert, here is a list of a few authors who write in a similar fashion.
Check out this list of romances that take place in New York City.
Or some of these romance manga recommendations.
Around the Web in Romance
The answer to the question proposed in this article regarding Eloise Bridgerton: yes, we have.
If you’re looking for more romance fantasy novels, check out this list.
Here are some romances that were just what the doctor ordered.
If you’re looking for a fun quiz, check out this one where you write a letter to a loved one to see if they feel the same way.
Recommendations
Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, my recommendations for today are going to be books that feature Irish characters or take place in Ireland. A few even mark off both requirements.
The Write Escape by Charish Reid
After losing her job and her man, literary editor Antonia finds herself at the crossroads of, “What comes next?” To help decide this, she decides to embark on a trip to Ireland where she ends up being next door neighbors to a handsome Irishman. Aiden is a literary professor on what is intended to be a working holiday. But the new friendship between the two quickly develops into an attraction that neither can ignore. However they also can’t ignore that Antonia’s home is an ocean away and that this vacation romance may not have the strength to last once it ends.
Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan
Everyone knows who Irishman Stephen Shaughnessy is: infamous rake and advice columnist. He’s the complete opposite of his new neighbor Rose Sweetly, who prefers obscurity. After he moves in, the two begin to have a few interactions, which leads to Stephen becoming interested in Rose’s mathematical works as well as the woman behind them. She knows it will take every bit of strength she has to not succumb to his charms and walk down the road to ruination.
The Wife Trap by Tracy Anne Warren
After her behavior proves to be too scandalous to ignore, Jeanette is sent away from her family’s estate to live with elderly cousins in the Irish countryside. There she crosses paths with the handsome Darragh, a man she enters into a dalliance with, which leads to a marriage when their affair is uncovered—much to her chagrin since he’s a commoner. Looks are deceiving however since Darragh is actually an earl, a fact he hides from his wife until he can be sure she is willing to admit that she doesn’t need a high-style life or husband to be happily in love. Heads up, this is the second in a trilogy so if you’re a stickler for that, you might want to read The Husband Trap first.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
And that’s all I have for this Thursday. I’ll be back Monday with another wonderful newsletter full of romance goodness for y’all. In the meantime, give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading and have a wonderful weekend.