Greetings and salutations! Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.
Last week I went to the SKULLastic Book Fair at a local brewery, and y’all I had a blast. Not only did I get to support one of my favorite local bookstores, a hometown brewery, and a BBQ food truck, but I got to spend some one-on-one time with one of my best gal pals. And I picked up three books that I was able to add to my TBR pile for this month; The Dark-Thirty, Spooksville, and Night of the Living Queers. I’m even more excited for October now!
It’s fall y’all and this season is the extra perfect time of the year to cozy up with an engaging book or two. Sometimes though it can be hard to pick what to read next and that is where TBR comes in. No matter what your preferred genre is, TBR’s Bibliologists, also known as Bibs, work to find the perfect ones for you to add to your book pile. Sign up here to pick your preferred plan and wait for the recommendations to roll in!
Bookish Goods
Ghost Reading Library T-shirt by BeforeGloryTees
Isn’t this little ghost adorable? I may or may not have squealed out loud when I saw this (I totally did). Plus I love the idea of being able to read unbothered even in the afterlife. $18.00
New Releases
Almost Paradise by Evelyn Sola
Nia is furious when Drake re-enters her world with a sudden desire to be present in the life of the son he abandoned four years earlier. Due to his power, money, and influence, she can’t fight him on this, but she doesn’t hesitate to let him know how she feels about it. Drake has many regrets in his life and new roles to adjust to, including that of a father. As the two begin to begrudgingly co-parent, they’re forced to deal with the past, present, and possible future when it looks like a happily ever after may still be an option.
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
MacKenzie and Noah are both wolf shifters who find themselves in need of a fake mate for their own personal reasons. For her, it’s to get her grandmother off her back, and for him, it’s to avoid losing his career due to outdated ideas about unmated alphas. While it starts off as a mutually beneficial business transaction, the fake dating soon turns into a friends-with-benefits situation. With the lines starting to blur, both question what exactly is preventing them from going from fake to real.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Today is Chic Spy Day, and I gotta be honest; the idea of a chic spy seems kind of counterproductive to me. I’m more likely to notice someone who is sharply dressed rather than someone who has a more casual look. However, I can also see how it can go hand in hand when one considers all the Bond movies as well as the poster for Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
No matter what side of that fence you may fall on, I think one thing that can be agreed on is that spy romances can be extremely fun since they typically combine adventure with romance. With that said, here are the recommendations for today.
The Spy in 3B by Nana Malone
Like many people, Lyra and Marcus aren’t 100% truthful on their dating app profiles. In their defense, it is because they are spies for rival companies. They are also both after the same double agent. Oh, and they’re neighbors. While the attraction between them simmers, so does the danger associated with their jobs, and when secrets get revealed, neither knows if they will make it out alive, let alone together.
Heads up; this does have a cliffhanger ending, but luckily, you can also pick up The Assassin in 5F right after finishing this one.
In the Shadow of the Past by J.E. Leak
In this historical Sapphic romance, we meet reporter Jenny and nightclub singer Kathryn. After Jenny’s father is murdered, she goes after the man behind it, whom Kathryn is mistress to. However, Kathryn has a secret she is hiding from everyone: she is actually an undercover agent who gets trapped in the U.S. while the war in Europe continues. The two can’t deny their attraction, but it is dangerous for more than one reason, and neither is sure if their love will be enough to save them.
I enjoyed this article about how romance authors in Atlanta are connecting to the younger audience.
And that is all I have for y’all today and this week. I’ll be back on Monday with a fresh newsletter for y’all and in the meantime you can still find me poking my head in on the site that will always bet Twitter to me. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.