Did you know that today (April 18) was the anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906? It was a terrible tragedy, but my connection to it lies in a vaguely happier experience: the movie San Francisco, starring the amazing Jeannette MacDonald and the handsome (if pretty terrible IRL) Clark Gable. I grew up watching that movie with my grandmother, and I still watch it on days when I’m feeling really down. Since I started reading romance, I have tried to find one set around that event that sparks the same kind of feelings in me as that movie, but have never succeeded. Someday.
Anyway, on to the rest!
Sponsored by The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey and Swoon Reads
A dark and twisty regency novel perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder. 1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of young Lord Ellerby. When she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from. As the mystery woman tries to solve the puzzle of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door, nothing can prepare her for the escalating dangers that await. What she can’t remember could be deadly.
Over on Book Riot
Aimee Miles had some thoughts on Seattle sports romances. What are your favorites?
Looking for that historical romance about the duke who falls in love with the martial arts practitioner who might be a courtesan…or maybe a baker? Don’t remember the title or the author, though. Kelly gave us all some tips on how to find a book by description.
Pack your noms, because these books will make you want a snack!
Deals
Lucy Parker’s The Austen Playbook comes out next week, and while it can stand alone, now is a great time to marathon the first three books in the series. If you don’t have them individually, the London Celebrities Collection is 1.99. That’s two dollars for three amazing books. And then you can grab the fourth and be all caught up!
Looking for a new Urban Fantasy series to try? Shadow Blade, the first in Seressia Glass’s Shadowchasers series, is 99 cents right now. Take an antiquities expert who also hunts bad things, and an ancient being who wants something she has, and you’ve got the start to some serious adventures. And danger and toil, but mostly adventures.
New Books!
There are a lot of new books out this week, but I haven’t managed to get my hands on a lot of them. But I’m excited to share a few with you—one I’ve read, the others are hanging out on my side-table, waiting for me.
Their Troublesome Crush
Xan West
This is an absolutely adorable book—which is not something I ever thought I’d say about a book featuring Daddy/Good Boy, D/s, and rope kinks. But Ernest, the protagonist of this novel, is a man I want to hug to death (but he’s touch averse, so only if he let me). His entire found family is kinky and polyamorous, and the majority of them fall under the trans/gender nonconforming umbrella. They’re also mostly Jewish and celebrate the Holy days together.
But back to the story. The novella starts with Ernest and his metamour Nora getting together to plan their Dom Gideon’s birthday party. Ernest is autistic and demiromantic, but something about Nora makes him feel weird. He’s never been romantically attracted to a cis person before, and he’s a little freaked out by the possibility. But he still wants to keep the metamour relationship they have going, and to do a good job at planning his Daddy’s party. (As I mentioned before, there is Daddy/Good Boy kink here; if that’s not your thing, this one isn’t for you.) But if Nora also has a crush on him, what could happen? Does she, or is he just reading into something he assumes is allistic confusingness?
Did I mention the protagonist of this book also loves show tunes, and is writing a(n even) queer(er) musical version of Yentl? Yeah. You want to read this.
Other books out this week:
A Lover’s Mercy by Fiona Zedde
The Rose by Tiffany Reisz
Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton
You, Me, U.S. by Brigitte Bautista
Recipe for Love by Aurora Rey
Under His Protection by LaQuette
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Lover’s Bid by AC Arthur (and the rest of the Distinguished Gentlemen series, which has been slowly releasing)
The Mister by EL James (if you hadn’t heard)
What are you reading this weekend?
As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, book recs, or just want to say hi!