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.
Today marks my first day back at the day job after a week off. And it’s a bit bittersweet to be honest. Like most people, I enjoy the time off when I make myself take some and think, “Oh I could do this forever.” But then reality sinks in and I realize that I’m someone who can’t not work. I’d like to think that I am but I am honest enough to know that I will always need to do something to keep my brain busy. Otherwise I would go insane.
That said, I am already thinking of when my next extended weekend or vacation will be. Likely when the kiddo is off, since that way I don’t have to worry about getting him up and moving for school.
In things currently bringing me joy, I have jumped on the Wordle and Quordle train and trying to solve the puzzle has been added to my morning routine along with coffee.
Romance Reflection:
There’s one thing I feel doesn’t get enough love in romance novels and that’s the secondary love story. And by that, I don’t mean second chance love; I mean the secondary one in the same book. That’s the one that isn’t the main coupling of the story but rather the one we get the snippets of in-between the MCs’. Or, better yet, it’s the one you can see the seeds being planted for but doesn’t come to fruition until they get their own book
I am here for it.
There are a few reasons for this but I think one of the main reasons is that it can teach perspective. It takes us past our own personal bubble to see what is happening with others. I could be stretching here, and I won’t be insulted if you feel I am, but it really does. We talk a lot about not fully knowing anyone else’s story as a reminder to be kind. But it’s also a good reminder that you’re only the main character in your life, not necessarily in someone else’s.
To put a rosy spin on it, there is always another love story that could be happening outside the main one and this helps us to not only recognize that but also appreciate it. And sometimes, although not in the case of the book mentioned here mind you, the secondary love story is better than the main one.
A good example of this was Verity and Monk from Reel. Don’t get me wrong, I adored the book and Canon and Neevah’s story. But the history between Verity and Monk and the references that were made by the characters who were in the know, even if the audience wasn’t the wiser, was a great and tactical move by Kennedy Ryan. I wanted to know more about their first time on the love train. I wanted to know what caused it to derail. And I definitely want to know what will make that choo-choo go, “I think I can” a second time.
So please, more secondary love stories in romance please. I’ll eat them up like candy.
Book Riot Romance:
This is a good read on how literary novels can be enhanced with the thread of a love story.
Around the Web in Romance:
Considering that two bits of writing advice that are constantly given are “Write what you know” and/or “Write what you want to see”, this is an interesting take indeed. Another option is to, you know, pick up a different book and skip that one but whatever. Please note that the OP does not agree with that assessment and were just referencing it.
The amount of jealousy I feel with this tweeted picture cannot be measured. So…pretty. To this day I still don’t know what happened to my OG copy of Indigo.
Here are some of the best unscripted moments from some of our favorite rom-coms. Numbers 3, 7, 8, and 14 were the ones I was more surprised about.
Here are three upcoming historical romances to add to your TBR.
I haven’t seen tick, tick…Boom! yet, but this deleted scene almost gave me the vapors. That head tilt he did when the dress was revealed…
And speaking of movies I was already excited for The Lost City, and this clip just ramped that up.
I really enjoyed reading this article that introduces us to the Bridgerton’s Sharma family. Seems like there will be a bit of a rivalry between Edwina and Kate which makes me a little nervous. However, I will wait and see how it all plays out before I pass judgment.
New Releases:
As always, please note that these were the dates that were showing as of the writing of this article.
Red Blossom in Snow by Jeannie Lin (3/21)
The Eos Key– by D.M. Lewry (3/22)
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Gouda Friends by Cathy Yardley (3/22)+
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy (3/22)
I’ll Come Back For You by Charish Reid (3/24)*
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert (3/24)
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Salty Cowboy by Elana Johnson (3/24)
Storm Chasers by ML Preston (3/25)
Uncovering Her Hunger by Rae Shawn (3/25)
Not Your Type by Elizabeth Jeannel (3/25)
+I’m super excited for this one.
*According to Amazon I pre-ordered this on November 28th of last year; so, to say I’m highly anticipating it would be an understatement. Be sure to check out the author’s unboxing here.
And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Thursday with more romance reflections, news, and recommendations. If you’re not already following me on Twitter, I can be found posting under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading!