Author: P.N. Hinton

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

Monday was a challenging day for me. I lost power mid-morning and didn’t get it back until mid-afternoon, which meant I couldn’t do anything at all but sweat in the darkness. The perk of the day was the installation of my new dishwasher, even with the lack of light.

In things bringing me joy, since ‘lort’ knows I could use the boost, I recently discovered the game Spiritfarer and am thoroughly enjoying it. On Saturday night, I spent at least four hours just playing it and only stopped when I got the low battery warning.

Romance Reflection

Today’s reflection is brought to you by this tweet that I saw the other day. While I will agree that unrealistic expectations are put on women and their personalities, even in romances (more on that later), I have to disagree with the first sentence.

Real talk; a man can be too much of an arsehole for me to root for their HEA. I have DNFed romance books because I couldn’t stand the hero and their arsehole tendencies. I avoid entire sub-genres since that is exactly what the heroes are like. Hell, I will even skip books in a series if the hero is someone who previously was a jerk. I tried this with one series and it was a grudge read at best. I shan’t make that mistake again. 

There is also a huge difference between being grumpy and being an arsehole. Typically, with grumpy people, there is a reason for it. And, while your baggage shouldn’t be anyone else’s problem, it makes sense if someone is closed off because of it. When someone in a romance novel is an arsehole, they typically tend to be one just because they can.

Give me a grump or a cinnamon roll but an arsehole is always a pass for me.

Book Riot Romance

Jessica is out there paving the way for would-be Resident Romance Librarians everywhere!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance

Here is the cover reveal for Priscila Oliveras’ November release.

Small towns, big romances!

Take this quiz to see if you can match the wedding dress with the rom-com.

Recommendations

Following up on the previous expectation, it really does bother me that a lot of readers out there feel a woman who has to Pollyanna in order to be ‘worthy’ of love. It’s really fracking annoying to say the least. This is even further compounded when you factor in that a lot of readers who feel this way are the same people who cry that romance is for women only. So one would think that there wouldn’t be unrealistic expectations about how a woman should act in those novels. 

Make it make sense. 

I feel that women have the deck stacked more against them, by far. And no one can change my mind on that. So, it logically follows for them to be grumpy every now and then. Between the expectations that our world, work, family, and friends have of us all at the same time? Hell, sometimes I wonder why we’re not all more grumpy to be honest with you. 

All of this is to say that if arseholes can get an HEA, then prickly females can too. Fair is fair after all. So, with that in mind, I’m going to highlight romances where the heroine would be considered the grumpy one or prickly. 

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And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Monday, where I’ll hopefully keep power all day, with a fresh new edition. In the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under @PScribe801 random, and usually bookish related, things. Have a great weekend, full of reading and relaxation.

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

I don’t know about y’all but my allergies have been beating me up over the last week. It has not been a fun experience overall. I mean, on the positive side I don’t have to suffer in an office around people since I’m WFH. But on the other hand, I still have to deal with it. 

One thing currently bringing me joy is Lady Grey tea. In the past, I haven’t been a regular tea drinker but I’ve since discovered this and it brings me joy. On days where my stomach can’t handle coffee for one reason or another, this is my go to beverage to still start my day off with a dose of caffeine.

Romance Reflection:

So there was quite a scuffle over in the Romance wing of Instagram and Twitter late last week over the comparison of two similar covers and well…it was wild y’all. Here is a tweet from Nick where you can see the two different covers in question.

Are they similar? Yes. Are they carbon copies? Not even. Should any artist be able to claim they created the clinch cover? *laughs in over 50 years of romance novel covers* 

I won’t lie. It’s giving off very “I’m going to copyright the word ‘cocky’ vibes.”  And trust, that is a camp that one does not want to find themselves in.

Now, I’m not here to debate which cover is superior or prettier. As with any form of art, it comes down to a preference. The issue here is that people really need to stop trying to copyright and claim something that is part of an entire genre as solely theirs. I know I was being snide above but we all know what ‘cocky-gate’ was. Recently, there was another issue with someone trying to claim they created the three act structure. When it has been part of storytelling for, like, EVER. And now this. It’s exhausting. 

This tale of two covers is not anywhere close to being copyright infringement. They are artists using what has been an available clinch pose and part of the genre literally for years. There’s bound to be overlap in some areas but it’s just that. It’s one thing if you were to write a book about a family called the Archertons who consist of eight siblings named in an backwards alphabetical order starting from Z whose comings and goings are written about by Madame Sirenup. Yeah, that’s copyright infringement and you’re gonna be held accountable for that. 

But artists using various poses of clinch covers that have practically been around since the inception of romance novels? Absolutely not.

Pick a different struggle, cause this ain’t it. 

And in a move that surprised absolutely no one, the cover will now be changed. Now, maybe the next one will be more accurate to the character within because the tone used for the male character caused more than a few eyebrows to be raised as well. 

Book Riot Romance:

Another ode to the single person POV in romance. I’m not sure why this is such a hot button topic since it comes down to preference, but here we are.

Around the Web in Romance:

I’m almost ashamed about how many times I listened to this brief audio clip. Almost.

Take this quiz to see how old you are based on the rom-coms you’ve seen. They overshot my age by a few years, I won’t lie, it stung more than a little a bit.

Here’s an article on the 10-year anniversary of Fifty Shades of Grey, and its impact on publishing as a whole. Because, regardless of which side of the line you end up on in that debate, you can’t deny its lasting effects.

In infuriating news, apparently a library in Enid, Oklahoma is canceling the ‘bodice ripper book club’. As sucky as this is, I am one who feels that maybe now that it is hitting home for some people when it wasn’t before, there will be more pushback on censorship as a whole.

Bookstore Romance Day is scheduled for August 20th of this year. In anticipation of this celebration, check out this shirt that displays that “Love is queer.” I’m probably going to snag one myself.

This purse is awesome!

Check out the cover reveal for this delightful looking holiday Sapphic romance!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

New Releases:

Here are some of the new releases that, as of the writing of this newsletter, were showing a release date for the upcoming week. As per the new norm, this could be subject to change, depending on the supply and demand. 

The Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper(4/26) 

The Long Game by Rachel Reid (4/26) 

Partner Track by Cat Wynn (4/26) 

Summoning Up Love by Synithia Williams (4/26)  

The Bookshop Rescue by Rochelle Alers (4/26)

Hidden With You by J. Kenner (4/26) 

A Fortune in the Family by Kathy Douglass (4/26)

Love, Hate, & Clickbait by Liz Bowery (4/26) 

The Beguiling Earl by Hildie McQueen (4/26)

To Love Again by Serenity King (4/29)

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And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime, though, you can always give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801 to see what I’m up to in between the editions. Until then!

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

Romance Reflection

I know I tend to be quiet about the types of romances I shy away from because, for the most part, I genuinely do not like yucking someone’s yum. But, after seeing multiple authors mention their childhood buddies had found them on social media, it inspired me to write this week’s reflection.

I don’t like bully romances, especially since most aren’t a redemptive arc and the bullying is part of the romance and/or plot. I just can’t get behind that at all.

Now, I know that I’ve said I’m a fan of enemies/rivals to lovers and I stand by that statement. And that’s because there is a huge difference between someone you don’t get along with and someone who actively goes out of their way to make your life a living hell.

I had a lot of bullies in middle school. I am friends with exactly one now. The reason we’re friends is because he extended the olive branch shortly after this incident. And he he told me that he was genuinely sorry once we started talking as acquaintances and eventual friends.

Yes, bullying is an unfortunate part of life but guess what former bullies? No one owes you their forgiveness in any way, shape, or form. Saying sorry just means you recognize you were a jerk and want to make it right. However, forgiveness is contingent on the person you’re asking it of and not a guarantee.

Also, let’s just not be jerks. Seems like a good idea all around.

Book Riot Romance

Don’t forget to listen to the latest episode of When in Romance where Trisha and Jess discuss reader recommendations for monster romances, as well as announce the next book club pick, Katee Robert’s The Beast.

Here are some more fantasy romance novels.

A strong case for single POV romances.

Check out some of these sweet middle grade romance books for young book dragons in your life.

If you’re a fan of the one-bed trope, some of these books may strike your interest.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance

Here is the cover for Denise Williams’s September release.

If you’re eagerly looking forward to the Heartstopper series, check out this interview with the author.

Bring on the grumpy/sunshine romances!

It’s the smash or pass game, rom-com leading man edition!

If you still have Bridgerton on the brain and you’re an Anthony fan like yours truly, here is a round-up of some of his most swoon-worthy quotes from the page and screen.

This is a pretty boss bag. Feeling the tinges of jealousy over here.

Recommendations

Taking the smash or pass quiz above really made me want to watch some of those rom-coms, especially the ones where I would definitely smash the hero. I know these types of movies typically get a bad rep, much like romance novels, by snooty film types. Let’s be honest though; rom-coms aren’t going anywhere and I’m okay with it. I love them because they are, at their core, fun and sweet. They are the ocular versions of chocolate in that they release serotonin to make you happy. And we could all use a little happiness every now and then. 

With that said, here are my recommendations for y’all this week. 

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And that’s all I have for you today. I hope that your weekend is a wonderful relaxing one, full of whatever hobby you decide to embrace. I’ll be back on Monday with more romance news, reflections, and new releases. If you’re not already, give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading!

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

It’s April 18th, which this year is also Tax Day. If you haven’t done yours yet, you have until midnight to get it done or extended. We did ours last week and ended up owing, which was not fun. Now granted, it isn’t as much as others I’m sure based on some of the tweets I’ve seen, such as Ms. Bev here. So, that is something to be grateful for but man…it still stings. 

I finished Dating Dr. Dil and overall thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m still currently reading Queerly Beloved and am almost done with Out on the Ice. 

Romance Reflection:

I know there is a lot of division on whether or not sex is necessary for a romance novel. I know I’ve said my piece on this, which is I don’t think it is since sex is not necessary for a romantic relationship. It can be an enhancer for sure, but it doesn’t make a relationship. 

That said, I’ve discovered one thing about me recently which is that I don’t care whether or not sex is in a romance novel. I just want to know going in what the sex scene status is. That way, I can prepare for it. Because if I’m going in and preparing for sizzling times and it’s off the pages, then I’m left feeling a tiny bit bereft. 

An example of this is Out on the Ice. Before I go further I would like to say that this surprise was of my own design, since it is stated very clearly on the author’s page that it is an off the pages romance much like the follow up, Unexpected Goals. So I could have prepared myself for it but didn’t. So, it was a lesson to me. When in doubt, always check the author’s web page because most do have those specific call-outs there. Still, I was slightly disappointed to turn the page to the morning after. 

That said, it hasn’t taken away from my enjoyment of the book, since I’m still loving it. It’s a great story and I love how Caro and Amy are learning how to be with each other at the point I’m at. And their communication is *chef’s kiss* even when they’re fighting.

Alternatively, there were a few scenes in Dating Dr. Dil that had me feeling like Regine did here. I was not expecting that level of spice in the book, and again, it was probably my own mistake since I was like “Oh it’s an illustrated cover, it will be tame.” How wrong I was. Again, enjoyed it! But it was a surprise.

All of this is to say that you never know the spice level of a book until you get into it. So, always expect to be caught off guard (unless you check authors’ web pages/authors’ notes). It’s a fun experience and something I’m sure will happen again. I’m simultaneously nervous and excited.

Book Riot Romance:

Isabelle has this round up of F/F romance fantasies with an enemies to lovers trope. I know that’s got to be a catnip combination KO for some people out there!

And here is a think piece from Tirzah on the polyamory representation in YA.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance:

Katee Robert’s Court of the Vampire Queen is getting a B&N exclusive cover. And I have to say, it is gorgeous.

A scratch off poster for romance novels? Sign me up. I’ll even take authors as long as the creators of this hypothetical poster remember that all representation matters. 

While not specifically romance related, as a staunch advocate of the library, I couldn’t not share this article that discussed people tweeting the various ways libraries had saved them over the years.

Take this poll to see how you match up with others on whether or not these popular couples from rom-coms would still be together.

Not sure how I missed this but it’s the second season of Bridgerton on rocks!

See if this build your own rom-com quiz can guess your zodiac sign accurately.

New Releases:

Here are some of the books slated for release this week. However, please bear in mind that these were the dates that were showing as of the writing of this newsletter, and may change due to supply issues and other unforeseen circumstances.

Paint by Numbers by Sheila Fowler (4/18)

Tell Me What You Want by Johana Gavez (4/18)

Her Reluctant Wife by Alexa Woods (4/18)

Something Bright by R. Cooper (4/19) 

Crowned by a Mafia King by Kimani Lauren (4/20)

It’s Not the Hookup, It’s the Chase by Elle Wright (4/21)

Honor: The Billonaire Bae by Amber Ghe (4/21)

A New Mantra by Sapna Srinivasan  (4/21)

Martinez Brothers Box Set by Mayra Stratham (4/21)

Looking by Katrina Jackson (4/22)

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And that’s all I have for you this Monday morning. I hope that your week started off on the right foot but, if it didn’t, then I hope that today was your most challenging day. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter, and in the meantime you can see me posting over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

Last Saturday, I went to watch my nephew’s baseball game in the nice spring weather. When I got home that night, I found a tan line from where my bracelet was. Y’all…the sun was that present and it’s just the beginning of April. If this is an indicator of how the summer heat will be, I will likely be staying indoors for most of it. 

I finished I’ll Come Back for You, which I highly recommend for a ‘horro-romance’ fix. I’m still reading Dating Dr. Dil and started an arc of Queerly Beloved by Book Riot’s own Susie Dumond. 

Quick note before we proceed. It was brought to my attention that while Marie Kondo stated that owning a max of 30 books was her preference, it was not intended to be a hard-set rule for others. Apologies for my misunderstanding on that!

Romance Reflection

Today I want to talk about how important music is when it comes to romances, especially the love scenes. True, this is mainly for movies, but I’ve noticed books in the last few years include playlists. Usually it is what the author was listening to when writing a particular scene in that chapter or illustrates the feeling the characters were going through at that point in the plot. 

And I dig it. Writing is a not an easy task, despite what people may think. Sometimes, you need inspiration to get into the mindset for the scene that is currently being written; so, it helps to have something extra to get the creative juices flowing. Music has always been, very integral to any kind of storytelling, even romances.

Take for instance the movie oft forgotten Boys & Girls, which was essentially When Harry Met Sally for a younger audience. When the two main characters finally hook up, Tyrese’s Lately is playing in the background. And that is for sure one of my go-to songs I think of when I think of slow dancing in all its various forms. 

I myself have a go-to song I will use for inspiration if I ever get back to writing romances: Billy Ocean’s Love Zone. It is a song that embedded itself in my brain as a young’un and I can’t remove it now, even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. 

Book Riot Romance

If you’re a huge fan of sports in your romances, here is a list of some books to check out.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance

Looking for some new beginnings romances? Check out some of the ones listed here.

I agree with those who have felt conflicted at seeing this type of display. On the one hand, yay for displaying romances. On the other one, the sign is a bit dismissive. A lot of the books featured there deal with heavy topics so to call them cheesy is more than a bit disingenuous.

Another Bridgerton quiz to find out which character you’re the most and least likely compatible with. I got Will and Edwina respectively, which honestly, tracks.

Recommendations

One thing I really liked about I’ll Come Back for You is the strong sibling relationship that was present throughout the book. It was clear that Whitney and Helen cared deeply about one another to the point they were willing to open up a business again. And they way they looked out for each other when the ghosting got real was amazing.

Between that and the fact that National Sibling Day was this past week, I decided to focus on book series that were about siblings. Please note that I’m going to be recommending the whole series as opposed to individual books and just give a general overview of them and the titles in the series. 

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And that is all I have for you today. I hope that your weekend is restful and relaxing since I hope to be doing that myself. I’ll be back Monday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under the handle @PScribe801. Happy reading!

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well today. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the roller coaster of a ride that the world of romance can be. If this is your first time reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you. 

I have a happiness challenge for you this Monday morning! I want you to think back to the song that was your song as a kid. By that I mean, the song that no matter where you were in the house, when you heard the first few notes you would come running to dance and sing your lungs out. When you remember that song, play it during a challenging time of the day and see if that doesn’t increase your serotonin levels. 

In case you were curious, mine was Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” 

Romance Reflection:

I saw this tweet the other day and it really stuck with me because I can’t even imagine doing something like returning something that was for charity. That’s a new level of low and there is a super special apartment reserved in whatever their version of the Bad Place is for people who do that. 

As I read the rest of the thread though, I found that people do this a lot, which again boggles my mind. I knew that returning digital books was an option because I have seen the option before on a book’s info page. But I never even attempted to do it because, unless it’s a highly anticipated release, it’s rare that I read books right after I buy them. And that is usually reserved for pre-orders, which is also a rare purchase for me.

Here’s the thing; I’m not a big fan of keeping books, digital or physical, that I didn’t enjoy after I finished them. Heck, I’m not even a fan of keeping the ones I enjoyed that I won’t ever re-read again for various reasons. Life’s too short and space is too limited to hold on like that and, while I don’t adhere to the Kondo way of thinking of only having thirty books, the occasional purge is nice, digital or physical.

Let me be clear though; buying books with the sole intent to return them when you’re done is shady. 

It’s one thing if you start it and find a deal breaker within the first fifty pages. In those cases, yes, I understand returning it for a refund. You didn’t finish it for whatever reason. But it’s not okay to buy an entire series of books, breeze through them all, then return them for a full refund. This is especially true if the authors themselves have to pay an additional fee when that is done. That’s nonsense and more than a little unkind overall.

If you’re that type of reader, then either just use your library or get Kindle Unlimited. Since it’s a monthly fee and you can gorge on books to your heart’s content, even with the borrowing cap it has. Honestly, the only reason I don’t do that is because I don’t read fast enough to justify the costs. 

No one likes every book they read. That’s just a fact of life. But, if you purchase and read a digital book in its entirety and don’t like it, take the L and learn to click with more caution in the future. That’s happened to me in the past, which is why I’m more mindful of my digital purchases. But returning books that you’ve fully read for a full refund is just wrong.

Book Riot Romance:

Here are some romances from the 1950’s for your consideration.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Around the Web in Romance:

Here are some of the M/M romances coming our way in April.

Check out this unboxing Ruby Barrett had for The Romance Recipe.

And if you’re a fan of sports romances, check out some of the recommendations here.

If you’re itching for more Bridgerton quizzes, here are twelve you may have missed. Yes I know the title says thirteen but I also know that I’ve shared one recently, so hopefully that is one you’ve already tried.

Yet another request for more diverse romance adaptations. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Bridgertons but I would also love to see the LeVeq or Westmorelands up on screen as well, especially since they’ve been around longer than the former family.

Frolic’s Monthly Book Crush is none other than Prem from Dating Dr. Dil, which happens to be on my currently reading pile.

New Releases:

Here are the new releases that were slated to be released this week. Please note that, as usual, these were the dates that were reflected as of the writing of this newsletter. 

Secrets from the Heart by Sean D. Young (4/11)

Influenced by Love by J. Nichole (4/12)

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann (4/12)

With a Twist by Georgia Beers (4/12) 

No Rings Attached by Rachel Lacey (4/12)

Show Queen by Renee Dahlia (4/12) 

Show Me Forever by Layla Hagen (4/12) 

What a Match by Mimi Grace (4/13)

His Royal Highness by Stephanie Nicole Norris (4/15)  

The Forgotten Dead by Jordan L. Hawk (4/15) 

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I won’t lie; I’m super excited for No Rings Attached and it’s already pre-ordered.

Well, that’s it for this Monday morning. I hope that it, and your song of choice, helped to start your day and week off on the right foot. I’ll be back Thursday with a fresh newsletter and in the meantime, I can be found posting over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading!

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 reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you.

Romance Reflection

Some people have become unnecessarily nasty with the cast of Bridgerton on a personal level, which I take issue with. First, let’s start with the backlash against Jonathan Bailey as it recently became public knowledge he’s gay. This caused a huge backlash from fans, with the most hottest garbage take being that the chemistry between him and Simone was now nonexistent.

For anyone with that mentality, let me just say that you’re acting saltier than the Dead Sea for no reason. The chances of him falling in love with a random fan even before this was revealed is still the same as it was before. Which is zero. 

The idea of a handsome movie star sweeping us off our feet, a popular theme in contemporary romance, is the grown version of the ‘becoming a princess’ fairy tale. Does it happen? Yes, but not that often. Also, Jonathan being gay doesn’t negate him being a good actor as well as an an attractive man. The chemistry was still believable and that’s all there is to it.

Then there’s the backlash against Charithra, such as fans cutting her out of promotional poster. Why? Because of the love triangle that was written in for the story, which was out of her hands. Did I love this change? No. Am I going to take that out on the actress? Absolutely not. She played the role that was written for her and she did it well.

She also had a ‘friend’ tell her she only got the role because of the ‘diversity quota’ which boiled my blood. No one needs that negativity from anyone, let alone a ‘friend’. I sincerely hope that Charithra gave them their walking papers.

Please just remember that at the end of the day these are people doing the job they were hired to do. Both did it very well, as did the other members of the cast. 

Stop. Being. Hateful. It’s not a good look on anyone. 

Book Riot Romance

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s When in Romance with special guest Liberty Hardy where, among other things, they talk about monster romances and give recommendations for it.

Here is a round-up of some of the exciting romance novels coming out this month. 

Around the Web in Romance

Here are some more recommendations for enemies-to-lovers romances.

Check out this clip of the cast of Bridgerton reading from The Viscount Who Loved Me and understand why I almost crashed when I listened to Adjoa Andoh narrate Get a Life, Chloe Brown.

I’m all for guy-liner cause you do you boo, but I will admit I snorted when I saw the eyes on the Ken doll in this romance novel cover recreation.

According to this quiz, I’m almost romantic and, after reading the description, I really can’t argue.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Recommendations

I mentioned earlier that celebrity romance novels are a modern day spin on the “becoming a princess” trope. And yes, I know that royal romances are still very much a thing, especially in Ye Old Kingdom of Hallmark around the holidays. But I don’t think it happens nearly as often in contemporary fiction because there is a modern counterpart for it. And I don’t want to make it seem like I do not appreciate it or begrudge those who like them. That’s why my recommendations today all are ones that involve a celebrity in some way.

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And that’s all I have for y’all today. I hope that this week is restful and relaxing for you and, as always, has a dash of reading in it. I’ll be back Monday with another fresh newsletter ready for your enjoyment and, should you want to hear more from me in the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under @Pscribe801.

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 reading this newsletter, I’m glad that you’re here. If you’re a regular reader, welcome back; it’s always good to see you.

This last week was challenging for me because I actually had to deal with someone mansplaining to me, as in he said a basic word and then proceeded to give me the definition of it. Y’all…I’m an English Major. I probably know more $50 words than he ever will. I know it happens and I’ve seen and heard of it happening to others, but it was my first time. What was even worse was that it happened in a place where I had to reign in my response instead of lighting into him like I wanted. But wow…the rage I felt caused me to actually almost see red. 

In things currently bringing me joy, I got a Paramount+ subscription and am revisiting childhood favorites, primarily Are You Afraid of the Dark? I also finished Meet Cute Club and found it delightful. I was also able to start I’ll Come Back For You and the level of excitement I have for this cannot be measured. 

Romance Reflection

You know one thing I love? The Romancelandia Twitter trends. You know the ones I mean. Most recently it has been the “Anyone who thinks romance novels have unrealistic plots should know that…”. Before that it was the one about “if romance novels taught me anything.” 

I like these for many reasons. First, it’s genuinely an interesting way to find out a little more about someone. I’m one that believes that when it comes to social media, you only know what the person allows you to know. And that’s okay. Everyone has the right to a bit of privacy. So I appreciate the little glimpse into their lives. 

It’s also a great way to cleanse my timeline from all the other negative things that are there when I scroll through. I know a lot of people like to say Twitter is the most toxic platform of all but let’s be honest here; they’re all equally toxic. It’s not a contest and even if it were, one social media platform being less toxic than another one is akin to coming in second at a contest for making a garbage sandwich. At the end of the day, it’s still a garbage sandwich. 

Plus, it’s just fun. Sometimes you do things just because they’re fun. As adults we get caught up in the constant need to always be busy so we don’t always take the time to just have fun. And there’s nothing wrong with that no matter what age you are. So bring them on! Who knows maybe I will actually chime in on one soon when I feel I have something relevant to bring to that table. 

Book Riot Romance

If you’re looking for more queer rom-coms (and honestly, who isn’t?) here are ten swoon-worthy options.

Here is a roundup of recommendations that play on the best friends to lovers trope.

Around the Web in Romance

Here are a few more romances for adaptation consideration. What I do like about this list is that there are notable authors of color here, which is something that is desperately needed since the only adaptations we have now are by white authors.

Here is an absolutely stunning thread of Oscar outfits as romance novel covers!

Check out this gorgeously stunning Rebel Carter cover reveal.

This is an amazing piece about how LGBTQ romances are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.

There is a Queen Charlotte spin-off/prequel in the works and they’ve cast India Amarteifio as young Charlotte and Arsema Thomas as young Lady Danbury. Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh are set to reprise their roles as well, along with Ruth Gemmell.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

New Releases

Here are some of the new releases I found for this week. As always, remember that these dates may change for various reasons, but that these were the dates showing up at the time that this newsletter was being written.

Love Me Now by Isabel Hansen (4/4) 

Blood Thinners by Heather Novak (4/4) 

Indigo: Blues by Adrian J. Smith

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa (4/5)

Cold Cases and Bitter Enemies by J.M. Dabney (4/5) 

Business Not as Usual by Sharon C. Cooper (4/5)

Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh (4/5)

Know You by Heart by Tif Marcelo (4/5)

A Southern Street King Earned Her Love 2 by Porscha Sterling (4/7)

Famous in a Small Town by Kylie Scott (4/7)

Boulder Bear by Stephanie Stern (4/8)

Love on Replay by Monica Walters (4/8)

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And that’s all I have for y’all today. I hope that your week has started off on the right foot to help set the stage of the rest of the week. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter and, until then, you can always follow me over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading!

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. 

Fair warning that a good portion of this newsletter is Bridgerton related or adjacent.

Romance Reflection

There will be slight spoilers for the recent season of Bridgerton in this reflection. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, you may want to skip the reflection for today and come back later when you’re done.

I marathoned the entirety of Season 2 over the last weekend because I was impatient to know how it would all turn out. And, overall, I enjoyed it. That said, I also understand why people didn’t. The plot was completely changed, too much for it to be called an actual adaptation. At best it’s an ‘as inspired by’ situation.

While there were differences from the first season and the first book, such as it not being Daphne’s debut season, for the most part, it was still close to the source material. That wasn’t the case this season so for the purist out there, I get your annoyance. Here is a rundown of my personal take on the changes that were made.

My biggest complaint about the season was how they played up the love triangle and completely fabricated the sister’s animosity. While it all got resolved by the end, at one point, Edwina lashed at Kate and emphasized that they were half-sisters. This was never an issue in the book so I hated it was mentioned at all by any of the Sharmas. However, I appreciated that Edwina was more than just a plot device because that is basically what she amounted to in the book.

I liked the bee scene. Was it different? Yes, but it still established a connection between Kate and Anthony. And I understand why it wasn’t used as the catalyst for them getting married. The show has brought a lot of new people to historical romances. While those who have read them for years understand the importance and sometimes necessity of the ‘compromise’ scene, newbies may not. I do feel that if they had kept it, there would have been cries of “That is exactly what happened last season!!” 

Now I know that people were upset about the desk scene not being there but let’s be honest about it. Anthony steps on Kate’s foot and kicks her. Hard. Yes it served as a conduit and prompted the first kiss; but, I do not think it would have transferred well to the screen. Even with as much as I love the book, I do have issues with that interaction. 

We did get the Pall Mall scene and while it was different, it still helped to establish a turning point in their relationship, while giving insight to how their rivalry would always remain even if it was playful.

I didn’t mind the lack of sex scenes since I felt that the longing and the pinging and the “almost” everything was well done.

Ultimately, I feel the book and the season need to be judged on their own standing. And of course regardless of how you feel about it, remember everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 

Book Riot Romance

Second chance romance, YA edition!

Around the Web in Romance

Here are other ways that the second season differed from the source material.

Another season, another round of book recs for Bridgerton fans. I love it!

More Edwina? If it’s the show version, I’m all for it.

If you’re a fan of the “Smash or Pass” trend that’s been going around, here’s another round to play.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial! 

Recommendations

Since the majority of the content today was in reference to a historical romance, all my recommendations today will be contemporary picks. That said, I’m still going to focus on enemies-to-lovers though since that is my catnip and what the relationship between Kate and Anthony is in the book.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

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And that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Monday with another round-up of romance reflections, updates, and new releases. Remember to give me a follow, if you’re not already, over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading! 

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. 

It’s the last Monday in March y’all. This time next week, we’ll be in April and at the beginning of the second quarter of 2022. It’s hard to believe, especially when I remember that in roughly nine weeks it will be summer again. I know the Teenager will be happy at that but it will be an adjustment for me to get use to having someone around during my work day. No worries though, I’ll manage. I always do. 

I also saw Turning Red last week and loved everything about it. I know there has been a lot of criticism for it, to which I saw *raspberry*. In the 80’s and 90’s we were overwhelmed with all the teenage, horny boy movies and all the content that would not fly today. So we can deal with a movie about a girl who is going through puberty and all the ups and downs it entails. Because everyone who went through it knows that it’s more than just boobies and getting your period.

Romance Reflection:

I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion on The Smolder in Romancelandia as of late. I think part of that is due to the release of the second season of Bridgerton and seeing all the smoldering looks between Anthony and Kate. And I totally get it. Because boy howdy some of those ocular exchanges…. *fans self*

Smolders abound in romance novels and movies. And it’s so glorious to read about and see in a romantic movie. It’s been said that the eyes are the window to the soul and typically are easy ways to decipher how someone is feeling. Unless one has perfected the art of a poker face or RBF, which is something I wear proudly most days. It took me a lot of years to perfect mine and gosh darn it, I’m going to show it off. 

Getting back on track, sometimes you just can’t help looking at someone with such stark emotion on your face. And that is where the smolder comes in. Especially if it happens before either one or both of the main characters are willing to admit that they have feelings for one another. Or they let the mask slip because they think no one is watching and then someone, hopefully a friend, tells them in not so many words, “I totally saw you eye-banging them, just so we’re clear.”, much like the gif here illustrates. 

And when the object of the observer catches the smolder and is caught off guard not knowing what to do or how to feel? Especially if they were previously combative with one another?!?! YES!! All the yes and swooning there. 

So, bring on more of the smolder. Bring on the eyes that promise all the dirty and decadent things that will be done behind closed doors. Give me more of the longing gazes across crowded ballrooms or bars. I will always be here for it.

Book Riot Romance:

If you like manga, webtoons, and romance, this list has some recommendations for you.

Around the Web in Romance:

Here is this delightful round-up of 2022 romance novel covers as cocktails.

I had fun taking this Smash or Pass quiz that feature older Hollywood celebrities. And I won’t lie; I almost broke my mouse button on more than a handful for them.

I don’t know who this person was but I know they need to go kick rocks. Naysayers will need to stop saying romance writers aren’t intelligent when they’re some of the most intelligent people out there.

Kacen Callender is writing an adult romance novel!!

Love’s Sweet Arrow started a Trope Tuesday series on their TikTok and I’m excited to see what all they recommend in the coming weeks. I also strongly co-sign on the recommended book.

You mean you will pay me to say that I rejected you? I’m here for it. I agree someone needs to write this book because, whoo, is there potential there. I would definitely buy it.

Read this interview with Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran about their experiences joining the Bridgerton cast.

And this piece about how the friendship between Eloise and Penelope parallels in the books and show. This is one of the endearing constants in the series, so happy to see that.

New Releases:

Here are the books showing as being scheduled for release this week, although some of them may be subject to change. There’s a lot of exciting ones coming out so prepare your wallets and bank account accordingly.

Chet Lee by Monica J Charles – (3/27)

Malum Discordiae by Ashlyn Drewek (3/28) 

Going Public by Hudson Lin (3/29)

What Happens on Vacation by Brenda Jackson (3/29)

Her Favorite Rebound by Jackie Lau (3/29)

The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert (3/29)

A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie by Vanessa Riley (3/29)

A Small-Town Girl by Diana Anyango (3/30)

The Water’s Edge by Jerica Taylor (3/31)

You and Me Together by Kitty Jones (3/30)

Big Duke Energy* (3/30)

Last Resort by K. Bromberg (3/30) 

*Anthology

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And that’s all I have for y’all on this lovely Monday morning. I hope that your week has started off on the right foot and, if it was challenging, that this newsletter helped with a boost of serotonin. I’ll be back Thursday with another one and some recommendations. If you’re not already following me on Twitter, I can be found posting under @PScribe801. Happy reading!