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.
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In an effort to make good on one of my bookish endeavors for this year, I’ve decided that, barring my BOTM subscription, I am going to be on a book-buying ban for the next two months. I can feel the wave of warranted disbelief headed my way right now, which is fair. But I am still a bit upset with myself for being so far behind on reading the books I’ve bought this year. So no more hauls until 2024. However, I also can’t say that this won’t be me when my partner and I go holiday shopping for other people.
Bookish Goods
Trope Bookmarks 4-Pack by awfullynerdyco
They’re so shiny! And they display some of the best loved romance tropes out there. Between those two factors, this seems like a great buy especially with multiple gift giving holidays around the corner. All four can be had for just $11.
New Releases
Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley
Cynthia’s life is that of repetitive drudgery cleaning up after her stepmother and stepsisters. That is until an invitation is sent to all unwed maidens in the kingdom, inviting them to be considered to wed a visiting prince. Unlike other maidens, Cynthia only has eyes for his sister and is determined to attend the ball to try to woo the princess, regardless of the obstacles that her stepfamily tries to throw in her way.
Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert
Witch Evelyn’s latest impulsive decision has led to her stealing from her vampiric ex and landing in another realm. There, she is ‘saved’ by the pirate crew of the Cŵn Annwn, who tells her she can join them or die. She agrees to the former, knowing full well that it is a promise she has no intention of keeping, no matter how much danger it could put her in or how attracted she and Captain Bowen are to one another.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
November is NaNoWriMo! Every year, I say I’m going to go for it again, and then before I know it, it’s December. I know there is still time to do it, even if I have to play catch up to it. I’ve also come to realize that writing is still writing even if you don’t finish a manuscript in the month’s time. And I’ve reconciled myself with the fact that the most I may write are a handful of scenes that have been playing in my head for a bit rather than a full-length novel, and am perfectly fine with it.
Now, with that said, today’s recommendations all feature a romance writer, which seemed fitting given the month. Enjoy!
The Billionaire’s Boyfriend by Robin Knight
Romance writer Matthew is dealing with the worst case of writer’s block ever. Inspiration unexpectedly comes when his side hustle as a flower delivery person ends up with him saving the life of billionaire banker, Calvin. However, while this type of pair-up works well in the pages of a book, reality is a different story, especially when secrets from Cal’s past come to light and threaten the budding romance between the two men.
A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andrés
Emilia has a secret; she writes a scintillating serial under a pen name. When she and her sister go to a boating party, she is surprised to discover that handsome literary critic Ruben will also be in attendance. She is even more shocked when he begins to disparage her work, not knowing that he is in the company of the author. Despite this rough start, the two are drawn together, but the fact that Ruben is determined to expose the writer of those stories to help his newspaper could threaten a great love match before it starts.
And that’s all I have for y’all this week. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday with another round-up of romance related goodness and in the meantime you can still find me over on the bird app under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated!