Category: Kissing Books

It’s Thursday again! The last one in May, if you can believe it. I hope everyone had a…whatever the appropriate adjective is for Memorial Day. Poignant? Uneventful? Properly Enjoyable? Food-filled? Whatever yours, I hope it was right.

Since we skipped the holiday, let’s talk about what’s been going on in the world.

News and Useful Links

The Romance Writers of America’s Board of Directors announced a big change: The RITAs are out and the Vivians, named for the organization’s Black founder, are in.

#RomanceClass has a new awesome project!

KJ Charles wrote an amazing post on consent in romance.

This is a cool thing.

Adriana Herrera’s new department store romance has a lovely cover.

Check out this cover and excerpt of Written in the Stars. 

You don’t have to be in DC to join East City Books’ Really Reading Romance Book Club in virtual discussion with Alexa Martin tomorrow night.

And there’s still time to RSVP to tomorrow’s Date Night w/ Alyssa Cole!

Over on Book Riot

Do you like the trope where someone has to keep a secret? It’s one of Casey’s Tropetonites.

Have you entered yet for that Robyn Carr Prize Pack?

Or $50 to your favorite independent bookstore?

Or a year of Kindle Unlimited?

Deals

When was the last time you read a romance retelling of Robin Hood? For me, it was probably Lady of The Forest by Jennifer Roberson, which looking back was HELLA problematic. But I am super excited to get my hands on Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood, which is 2.99. I think the end of the blurb says it best: “Nottingham is a delightful romp rife with bois bearing bows, transmen wielding quarterstaffs, noble ladies loving ladies bawdy bisexual musicians, naughty nonbinary outlaws, and saucy sapphic nuns—in other words, Robyn Hood like you’ve never seen her before.” (Thanks, Amazon!)

New Books!

I was scrolling through Twitter the other day and someone (Love in Panels, maybe?) tweeted “every book came out today” and boy does it feel like this was a hell of a week for new releases. I mean, so did last week, and so will next week, probably. But boy, do we have a bounty of romance.

Pregnant By the Playboy
Jackie Lau

This is the first book in the Fong Brothers series, which is a spinoff of the Kwan Sisters series (Julian Fong is the protagonist of Mr. Hotshot CEO). Here, we meet Marissa and Vince, who are both just looking for a hot night with a stranger at a party and end up signed up for a lot more. While Marissa considers the alternative, she is now the age of the phrase “geriatric pregnancy” and is having this baby—perfectly happy to enjoy billionaire Vince being the fun dad who comes to visit every once in a while. But Vince, who has been drifting since he burned out and sold his company, sees this as the perfect opportunity: a starter family, right there. Now the two just need to see eye to eye on how it will all play out.

CW: Pregnancy, obviously. The main character has had an abortion in the past. There is discussion of a family member who died in an accident and the main character has a panic attack about someone possibly having been in one.

Something to Talk About
Meryl Wilsner

Besides giving me an earworm for the longest time (haha, there’s another earworm), this was definitely a warm fuzzies kind of book. Once it wasn’t a hair-pulling, yelling at the characters to get out of their heads and talk for goodness’ sake kind of book. Jo and Emma have an interesting relationship. Emma is Jo’s assistant, and she goes far above and beyond her job description. When one of those beyond moments leaves her attending the SAG awards with Jo, who is the showrunner and head writer for a hot TV show, a photo of them leads to…people having something to talk about. But Emma is Jo’s assistant, and neither of them feels that way about each other. Right?

CW: there is a sexual harassment on the page with a secondary #Metoo plot that kind of just disappears. Also a bad family interaction.

And of course there’s also:

Until the End by Juno Rushdan
The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy
The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover
Ghosting by Tash Skilton
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan
Like a Wolf With a Bone by Shelly Laurenston
Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley
The Seaside Cafe by Rochelle Alers
Nothing Compares to the Duke by Christy Carlisle
The Uptown Collection by Ruby Lang (at least all together in a nice bundled package)

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Howdy, folks. How’s your week going? I ordered some swim pieces about a month ago (because now it’s hot enough to read on a floatie in the pool…) and finally got notice that they were on their way and they just…keep not coming. So here’s hoping the weekend is looking up. Let’s talk books.

Over on Book Riot

Casey pulled together a list of 2020 romances starring queer women and darnit like I didn’t already have enough books on my list. (Who am I kidding a lot of those were already on it, staring me down.)

Trisha and I both had a lot of thoughts about an adaptation of Danielle Steel’s Safe Harbour.

Thinking about a Kindle Oasis? Here’s a good rundown.

How many of these places do you find yourself reading?

Romance novels (and other books, of course) come in a lot of sizes. Have you wondered why they all exist?

Deals

Looking for some wolves in your life? In anticipation of Season of the Wolf coming out later this summer, all of Maria Vale’s Legend of All Wolves books are on sale! You obviously want to start out with The Last Wolf, the first one, which is FREE for the next few weeks. The second book, A Wolf Apart, is 1.99; and the third, Forever Wolf, is 2.99. So you can get all three for about five bucks plus tax. Not bad for a werewolf saga, right? (Also, if you have any affinity for old languages that include the letter thorn, the first book should definitely be of interest.)

New Books!

This is another week for new books, folks. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s probably something for you.

Real Men Knit
Kwana Jackson

When the matriarchal owner of a beloved Harlem yarn shop dies, her sons are left to figure out what the next steps are. When the youngest, Jesse, wants to keep the shop open when his three older brothers don’t, he enlists the help of Kerry. Kerry, who is mourning alongside the brothers for the woman who was like a mother to the neighborhood. Kerry, who had a massive crush on Jesse when they were younger. Kerry, who worked in the shop when Mama Joy was alive. This’ll be interesting.

And there are a bunch more waiting for readers and their grabby hands:

Leather and Lace by Rebel Carter (The Gold Sky books are FIRE if you haven’t read them, and this is the fifth, and the first one featuring two women.)
Beach Read by Emily Henry (Everyone—literally everyone—is talking about it!)
Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
Beautiful & Dirty by Katrina Jackson (There aren’t many authors whose books I preorder immediately when I see them announced, but Kat is one of those authors.)
Dirty Charmer by Emma Chase
Stranger Ranger by Daisy Prescott (More Smartypants goodness!)
A Royal Kiss and Tell by Julia London
Chaos Reigning by Jessie Mihalik (These space opera romances, y’all. Her heroines are just the best.)
The Cowboy’s Claim by Nina Crespo

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

It’s another Monday, folks. I hope everyone’s still doing what they can to stay safe, healthy, and happy, even as things happen around us that probably shouldn’t be. I have been getting better at reading, and I also had my first Zoom voice lesson! Things are looking up, I guess.

Let’s talk romancelandia.

News and Useful Links

The RWA annual conference has officially been cancelled. Finally.  .

Do you like Sherryl Woods’s books? You might not have heard that Sweet Magnolias is coming out on Netflix, and there’s going to be a watch party on Facebook tomorrow, May 19. I’ve never read Sherryl Woods, and am sort of tired of Netflix adapting romance series set in straight, white small towns and tossing in a few actors of color in when the original has none (especially considering the original content they’ve been producing), but Heather Headley is in it, so count me in.

The creators of Frolic have signed a first look deal with CBS. I’m both looking forward to seeing what progress they make but also annoyed that whatever does will probably only be available to watch on CBS All Access because that’s usually how it works.

Did you know this??? Because I sure didn’t.

Alicia Cox Thompson asks “why are romance novels so white?”

And Maya Rodale highlights three new romances she’s enjoyed for NPR.

Therese Beharrie is giving us some magical fairy tale romances!

And Jackie Lau’s got some food pun titles coming our way, too.

Have you read When Dimple Met Rishi and the rest of that series? Sandhya Menon is releasing an adult romance this Fall, and EW showed us the cover.

There’s a new romance bookstore in Laguna Beach.

Do you support authors who have Patreon? Jack Harbon has already revealed a cover for an upcoming book for patrons.

Deals

Tasha L. Harrison’s A Taste of Her Own Medicine, which I mentioned in this week’s When In Romance, is free right now! This book is so good, with a recently-divorced mother of teenagers who wants to make something of herself by taking an entrepreneurship class taught by a brilliant younger man with Winston Duke’s thighs. There’s also a touch of magic, with some witchiness in the family practices of Sonja and her family. Set aside a couple of hours, because you won’t want to stop. Make sure to get it in the next couple days (though the regular price isn’t bad either).

Recs!

I know that, in truth, they never actually left, but I feel comfortable saying that vampires are back! Vampires were my first paranormal fandom—I quickly made the move in high school and college from Anne Rice to Amelia Atwater Rhodes to Laurell K. Hamilton to Sherrilyn Kenyon to Twilight to Black Dagger Brotherhood to Sookie to…well, a lot of other stuff. There are series like the Argeneaus and Immortals After Dark that stayed under my radar until only a couple years ago, and others yet that I haven’t explored. But unless you were a reader focused on paranormals, you might not come across them on your own.

But now, we might be getting a resurgence. Obviously, the new YA novel Crave and Stephenie Meyer’s announcement that she would finally be releasing Midnight Sun have been in the public eye. And there’s an amazing anthology called Vampires Never Get Old coming out in the fall. But there are also a couple other adult vampire romances coming from unexpected places, and unexpected authors—who will bring their readers with them.

Reborn Yesterday
Tessa Bailey

I haven’t read a lot of Tessa Bailey. I have a couple of her books and read the funny but forgettable Fix Her Up last year. But I was so fascinated by the premise, I wanted to see what was going to come from a contemporary author.

Ginny is called “Death Girl” by the ladies in her sewing group, because she is a mortician. She has inherited the Coney Island institution from her father, who died suddenly and left the place 50/50 to Ginny and her stepmother. While Ginny is admiring the beautiful man she is sad to have to embalm, the man sits up, which doesn’t scare her as much as it should. The pair have an immediate connection, but Jonas has to wipe her memories at the end of their time together, because Vampire Rules. But she tells him she’s in danger, and instead of taking her memories, he puts a delightful Russian assassin/vampire hunter on Ginny during the day when he can’t be there to protect her. Because he can’t help but to protect her, and Ginny will milk that need for all it’s worth.

This is definitely an interesting read, but overall it was…good. People who enjoy Tessa Bailey’s writing will enjoy it; people who are regular paranormal readers and have expectations of worldbuilding might find it lacking. It was still enjoyable, if not very fast-paced.

Okay, I lied. I can’t actually think of another new vampire romance by an author who hasn’t written one before. Have you seen any in the wild?

What’s your favorite vampire romance?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Howdy, Folks. It’s Thursday, and the first full Kissing Books of the week. What did you think of that cover on Monday? The design corps at Harlequin is just. Chef’s kiss. Let’s talk about stuff!

News and Useful Links

There was a conversation that started from a comment that wasn’t meant with malice, but still made a harmful impact on people who saw it. There is a bigger conversation that romancelandia needs to have regarding the use of genitalia to denote gender, when they are not the same. I don’t even know where to start, so just go read the entire Twitter of May Peterson. Respectfully, please.

And then, just when I was about to wrap up this section, I saw that we were talking about illustrated covers again. I’m not going to link to anything, but let’s just remember that whether or not you like illustrated covers, or whether or not you think they are overly prolific and not good indicators of what type of book you’re about to read, they are wildly important in producing imagery for romance protagonists that might not appear in stock footage. I mean, I would love to see every romance have its own photo shoot like they are apparently doing at Harlequin, but that’s not always the case.

With the conclusion of her Bareknuckle Bastards series coming this summer, it’s no surprise that Sarah MacLean has a new series lined up to start next year. Victorian-era girl gang? Sign. Me. The. Eff. Up.

Sourcebooks Casablanca hosted a virtual chat called “So you want to write a romcom,” and you can watch it on YouTube.

I’ll tell you, I love newsletters. If you want one that tells you what’s happening in the world of  #romanceclass, you can subscribe!

I might have dropped a little too much at this shop, including this read black romance notebook.

And don’t forget about #rombklove.

Over on Book Riot

While the obvious answer to “where do I start with Cat Sebastian?” is to just read all of them, Laura broke down a reading pathway for anyone looking for it.

And we all want some feel-good romances right now. What’s your go-to?

I might have decided to go on a break, Ross-style, with Kindle Unlimited, but you should definitely enter to win a free, yearlong subscription!

Or, maybe you’d rather get an e-gift card to your favorite indie bookstore! (Why not both.)

Deals

If you haven’t yet read Intercepted by Alexa Martin, now is the time! It was a When In Romance book club pick a while ago and has been picked up by Starz to someday, eventually, grace our television screens (or whatever you currently use to watch Outlander), so you know it’s worth checking out. And at 1.99, you might as well, right?

New Books

Oh man, what a week. Such books. So reading. (I have done none; I’m sorry.)

He’s Come Undone: A Romance Anthology
Adriana Herrera, Emma Barry, Olivia Dade, Ruby Lang, and Cat Sebastian

I know very little about the individual novellas in this anthology, but I know about all of the authors, and twitter has been talking about it for weeks. I would have liked to read it before the release date, but alas, alack, that wasn’t in the cards for me. If you haven’t read it in the two days since its release, you should definitely make weekend plans (or if you’re like me, the rest of May, since we’re apparently all either going to latch on and read a million books through quarantine or hardly read at all). Each author has brought their A-game, and I can’t wait until I’m in the mindset to enjoy it again.

And then of course:

The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles

By the Book by Amanda Sellet

Embracing Ever After by Sheryl Lister

The Duchess and the Dreamer by Jenny Frame

Scandalous Passions by Nicola Davidson

Beyond Ever After by Elle Wright

Prince of Shadow and Ash by Selina R. Gonzalez

Love on the Night Shift by Radclyffe

The Cupid Guild by L. Penelope

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Happy Monday, folks! We’ve got something special to enjoy together today. You all know every once in awhile Kissing Books gets to be the place to show you exciting new covers and good new words. This time, we’ve got a cover for you to ogle and some words to whet your appetite.

About Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee…

She’s done waiting for what she really wants. Aspiring fashion designer Adelaide Song wants to prove she’s more than just a pampered heiress. All she needs is a little courage—and the help of deliciously sexy Michael Reynolds, her childhood crush and her brother’s best friend. But when her secret crush turns into an illicit liaison, Adelaide realizes mixing business with pleasure spells trouble for all her plans…

Jayci Lee writes poignant, funny, and sexy romance. She lives in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys with boundless energy, and a fluffy rescue whose cuteness is a major distraction. She is semi-retired from her 15-year career as a defense litigator, and writes full-time now. She loves food, wine, and travelling, just like her characters. Books have always helped her grow, dream, and heal. She hopes her books will do the same for you.

 

So are you ready for the cover?

Here it is!!!

Oh gosh, I’m ready for this book already. If you need something to slake your thirst, here’s a short excerpt…

***

Adelaide’s annoyance with Michael cooled off as she drove home, her thoughts meandering down way-back-when lane. She’d fallen in love with Michael Reynolds when she still pronounced her r’s as w’s. He was her brother Garrett’s best friend and she’d worshipped the two of them. After an especially spectacular day of playing pirates, she’d asked her big brother to marry her. He’d gently reminded her they couldn’t get married since they were brother and sister. Naturally, she had to marry Michael instead. At the tender age of four, she’d been too shy to ask him, but she’d vowed to propose to him when she grew up.

It was a good thing she got over her infatuation with him. Otherwise, she would’ve grown ancient waiting for him to realize she was a grown woman when he could think of her only as a “kiddo.” Besides, he had broken her heart when he married someone else during her senior year in high school. 

After his divorce, Michael reclaimed his role as the Song family’s only blond member, but things hadn’t been the same between them. When she came home from college, she tried to talk to him and draw him out. But all that got her was a wall of indifference and ever-growing distance.

She understood what she’d felt for him was a childhood crush. A long-term infatuation. The past didn’t matter anymore. All she wanted was her friend and confidant back, but Michael had shut her out so completely they were no better than casual acquaintances. The loss of their friendship hurt more than watching him marry someone who wasn’t her.

Adelaide growled in frustration and leaned hard on the gas, passing a car with less than a foot to spare. The blaring horn brought some sense back into her. The moral of the day was to prove to the world that she wasn’t juvenile. She was off to a bleak start.

If she wanted to be taken seriously, she had to prove to her grandmother that she was born to lead Hansol just like her brother. Garrett was the business mastermind, but Adelaide had the creativity Hansol needed to reach the next level through innovative apparel.

Michael had made a good point tonight before frustrating her out of her mind with the kiddo bullcrap. With her background in fashion design and sociology, and a mint-condition MBA, she could produce a charity event that would have the guests rushing the stage crying, Please, take my money!

Adelaide wanted to dream sparkly dreams, but the ambitious, practical side of her brain refused to shut up. The big picture for the event was there, but it would be useless without the proper execution. She had to create the hype, connect with the big-name donors. She needed someone with a solid reputation and the right connections to help make the night a success.

Her palms grew damp with sweat and she gnawed on her bottom lip. She knew the perfect person for the job. But he was no different from her family and treated her like an overgrown child.

Besides, he didn’t want to be near her. When they spent time together at family gatherings or social functions, he barely acknowledged her. More often than not, he went out of his way to avoid her altogether. No matter what nice brotherly things he’d said earlier tonight, he still thought of her as a lost cause.

A flash of hurt cut a bright red line across her heart. What was so wrong with her? She bit down hard on her lip and tasted blood, hoping the pain would shock her insecurities out of her. 

Michael wouldn’t want to be personally involved in her project. But that only meant Adelaide shouldn’t give him a chance to refuse. He was going to help her pull off this event, and she would convince him, her grandmother and the world that she wasn’t a spoiled, good-for-nothing heiress once and for all.

Look for Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee, out September 1, 2020 from Harlequin.

***

So what do you think? As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

And we’ll have an extra-long Kissing Books on Thursday, so keep an eye out!

It’s Thursday! It’s May! I’ve had a new chance to try reading, and I’ve been a little more successful this week! (I guess it helps that Never Have I Ever and Hollywood are both completely behind me, so fewer distractions this time around…)

Let’s talk books!

Over on Book Riot

Trisha and I talked about Can You Keep a Secret and books we can’t stop talking about.

What do your masks look like? Since we’re going to be wearing them for a while, might as well make them bookish.

And it’s never the wrong time for care packages.

I’d never thought of making a book sleeve before, but hey, why not?

Deals

The temperatures are rising (at least here in Arizona) and I don’t know about you but I am dreaming of snow. If you are, too, now would be a great time to check out Edge of Glory (the edge the edge the edge the edge… Sorry.) by Rachel Spangler, which is 2.99! Here, an Olympic snowboarder and skier meet at an elite training facility and clash in all the best ways. So while a Michael Jordan documentary is the sporting event of the year, you can go back to the winter and get into a different sport.

New Books

There are some good things out this week! I’ve started one, literally started, but there are so many to choose from, I anticipate the time to read them…someday. Let’s talk about a couple of… workplace… romances.

Defy or Defend
Gail Carriger

Gail Carriger is one of my favorite authors, and I’m excited that she’s given us another one of her Delightfully Deadly series, in which familiar characters from the Finishing School series are now grown and doing what they’ve been taught to do so well: spy. Dimity, darling Dimity, is now the best fixer in the realm, and Crispin is basically her keeper. He’s in charge of keeping her alive when she ventures into a vampire hive to Get Shit Done, and they are both very good at their jobs.

Love’s Recipe
Mila Nicks

When Rosalie returns to her hometown, broke and divorced, she gets a job at Ady’s Creole Cafe. Nicholas, who has been running the restaurant since his mother died, is aghast when—in an effort to save the failing eatery—she enters them in a food competition. But as they work together to perfect their presentations of the restaurant’s past-perfect recipes, sparks fly in all kinds of ways.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this week:

Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon
Variable Onset by Layla Reyne
Office Hours by Katrina Jackson (this came out last Thursday, but I neglected to mention it!)
Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
Shadow Flight by Christine Feehan
Close Up by Amanda Quick
Claimed by a Steele by Brenda Jackson
Secrets of a Fake Fiancee by Yahrah St. John
Upsy Daisy by Chelsie Edwards
Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone

Did I miss any you’re looking forward to?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Happy Star Wars Day, y’all! I’m gonna celebrate by working and then watching one of the Frakensteins with some friends on Zoom (somehow, this is only my second social Zoom since this whole thing started!).

News and Useful Links

Did you hear? The Bromance is going to the Broflix.

This is a fantastic article.

Also, May is a #rombklove month on Twitter (and Instagram and other places). Are you doing the challenge? I seem to move in and out of it as the days go, but I love getting a million new recommendations to read because I don’t have any books to read at all.

Harlequin (and Kensington!) are introducing a new size for Mass Market Paperbacks. What do you think? I sort of get the margin and text spacing thing, but also, they could just do that on the same size paperbacks and just make them…longer? I dunno.

Check out the trailer for PassionFlix’s adaptation of Gabriel’s Inferno. I think the stars I gave that one when I read it were more about effort justification than anything else, but it looks like the film is going to be all the things you’d expect it to be.

Oh, have you seen the title and cover for Rebekah Weatherspoon’s next Charming book?

And Adriana Herrera’s going to be talking about writing survivors in Romance on her Facebook page on May 7th.

Talk about a deep cut!

Do you listen to books on Libby? Guess what, you can now listen through your Sonos speakers.

Deals

It’s a new month, which means new deals!

Have you been thinking about reading Alyssa Cole but haven’t been sure where to start? A Princess in Theory is currently 2.99! Her Reluctant Royals contemporaries are always a good introduction to her as an author, and you’ve also got five whole romantic stories to check out, just in this series. You have time to catch up on Ledi and Thabiso and their friends and family members before the spin-off Runaway Royals series, starting with How to Catch A Queen, releases later this year. (And if you’re more interested in checking out a historical, An Extraordinary Union is also 2.99, and if you’d rather read a post-apocalyptic novel, Radio Silence is 1.99.)

Book Recs

Apparently the only things I can finish right now are very short novellas and full length romances that are just completely off the wall. And the one I just finished was definitely the first I’ve read of its kind (probably not the first, but definitely the first I recall reading).

Strange Love
Ann Aguirre

I have been holding onto this book for a rainy day, and it was definitely called for.

In the first book in a new series, Ann Aguirre introduces us to a whole new universe. When Zylar accidentally kidnaps Beryl and her dog Snaps from Earth (literally accidental—he thinks she’s a survivor of a terrible attack and that her home planet is a wasteland), he provides her the with the opportunity to take part in his planet’s Choosing, in which mated pairs are selected. He’s already gone through it four times, and if he fails a fifth attempt, he’ll essentially become an involuntary monk servant.

Zylar and Beryl (and Snaps–who is given a translator and thus the BEST PART OF THIS WHOLE THING) have some cultural things to get over, but are taken with each other pretty quickly. As Beryl adapts to her new home (because the AI that found her on Earth is zapped to hell and can’t reproduce the coordinates for her primitive primate planet), she and Zylar learn more about each other and help each other become their best selves. And there are secrets and intrigue and nonbinary tree people. So you really can’t go wrong with this one if nothing else is working.

I also want to mention The Babysitter by Jack Harbon, which was a delightful morning read. It is a very brief, very sexy, introduction to a new relationship featuring a mutual crush so obvious even the kid gets it. There is a relationship between a fully consenting adult and the person paying him for his service, but there isn’t any issue with power imbalance…at least not that they both aren’t already into. Since it’s so short, it’s very much a HFN, but it’s just…so delightful.

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Well, it’s the end of April. Can you believe it? Yesterday it was March. Seriously.

What have you been doing this month? I just started a project where I read one essay from The Book of Delights every day, because that way at least I can read a couple pages a day. I’d love to make it all the way through all the romances I have, but right now…that’s not happening.

Over on Book Riot

Tropetonites! I love tropetonites! (And I am especially in love with this one.)

I have gravity issues, but I love these.

Do you have Kindle Unlimited? Here are some romances to check out.

And don’t forget you can always scour backlist romance content for other things to read.

Deals

In the wake of Starcrossed coming out in May, Allie Therin’s Spellbound is 1.99. I’m not sure how long it will be, so I’d get it ASAP. This is the first in the Magic in Manhattan series, which is set in a magical version of our world…in the 1920s. That’s right, 1920s magical lover men. Who have to fight other magical people trying to control a magical object that can change the world. Okay, so there’s way more to it than that, but that’s the basic gist. Sale or not, you should be reading it, so get it while it’s hot.

New Books

It’s a good week for books, y’all. I’ve heard a lot about some releases and am smack in the middle of one. I need to get back to it.

Island Affair
Priscilla Oliveras

When Luis is put on mandatory leave as a firefighter, he suddenly has a week free. That comes in handy when he comes across Sarah, who is having a rough day. Her family is coming to the Keys for a much-needed vacation, and she might have told them her relationship was more advanced than it actually was… and now he’s not coming. Luis, still recovering from an incident that put him in a bad place, is totally down to help her out. Cue a week-long fake relationship for the ages.

Also, I really want to go to Key West now.

There are a bunch of other books out this week, too!

Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles (in paperback; the ebook is out May 13)
The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan
Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert
Three To Love by Rebel Carter
The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham
ImPerfectly Happy by Sharina Harris
Designed by Fate by Jenny Bloom
Carter’s Undoing by Sherelle Green
Whiskey Kisses by Lena Hampton
Piece of Tail by Milly Taiden
A Family Affair by Rob Loveless

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Hey, guess what? It’s Monday again! Those of you who might be working at essential jobs, or working from home, or not working but helping your students work might be keeping track of the days, but I have some friends whose only indicator is what’s showing up on their Hulu feeds. How are you holding up?

News and Useful Links

Loyalty Bookstores in DC has started up a new virtual series with Alyssa Cole called Date Night, and the first one is this Friday! And they’re really hitting the ground running with the first one: she’ll be chatting with Rebekah Weatherspoon, Beverly Jenkins, and Mia Sosa. It’ll be 3PM here when it starts, but you can bet your golden eggs that I’ll be taking a half-day.

If you missed the Social Distance Book Festival on Saturday, you can see the whole thing here! There’s a delightful number of romance panels for such a small virtual event, including panels on historical romance, consent and toxic masculinity, and diversifying romance.

If you follow @Mx_M_Reads on Twitter, you might know that they are working on a new podcast project called Reading Romance as a Survivor.

There was a brief moment last week in which Barnes & Noble weren’t paying royalties to self-pubbed authors…and then they found money to do so. So if you buy your ebooks from B&N and don’t see a few favored indie authors, they might have pulled their books.

I know this is only vaguely romance-adjacent (though Catherine was a serious badass) but have you seen the ads for The Great on Hulu? I will be watching it religiously.

Deals

Have you read any of Sherry Thomas’s historical romances? If you’re curious about her writing style and all that good stuff, you can check out Claiming the Duchess, a prequel novella to her Fitzhugh series. It’s currently free to read, and is a nice, concise way to dive into her world. And the plot, as usual, is super intriguing and intricate, even in the confines of so few pages. Just be prepared: you’re gonna want to read a lot more of her stuff when you’re done.

Recs!

I participated in the Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon over the weekend… well…”participated”…and read a few fun books that have been staring at me for a while. Two in particular stood out, and I’m glad I finally sat down to read them.

Wicked Sweet
Chelsea M. Cameron

Chelsea M. Cameron is an author who has been on my radar for a while, and whose books I often see described and immediately buy or add to my to-read list on Goodreads. But I hadn’t actually sat down to read one, and this one felt right at the moment.

Dove is a college Junior with a plan. She has already established her brand as a pastel delight and is a regular influencer of sorts. When Seven, her high school rival, shows up in her entrepreneurship classes, Dove feels the old sentiment coming back. But Seven, having transferred to get a fresh start, wants to put the past behind them, especially when they’ve been assigned to a project together. Dove isn’t sure she can, but she’ll do her best…especially because Seven is so nice…and attractive…and keeps bringing her baked goods.

CW for off-page unsupportive family members, ADHD-related hyperfocus, anxiety and panic attacks

The Restart
Nicole Falls

What happens when a couple enjoying a weekend fling take a page out of My Best Friend’s Wedding?

High school teacher and soccer coach Blair has just lost a friend and mentor, and is looking to make big changes in her life. So when she makes a random social media reconnection with a fling from years ago, she jumps in with both feet—”jumping in” being to meet Leighton in Las Vegas as part of a marriage pact from a lightly drunken night watching Blair’s favorite movies. The joke is that they’d get married, but the reality is all in rekindling the chemistry that flowed between them all those years ago. And deciding what to do next.

CW for grief, unprotected sex, long distance relationships, and minor survivors’ guilt

What are you reading this week?

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Hey there, folks. It’s Thursday, which means we get to talk about new books! I hope everyone’s finding good ways to deal, even if it’s not books. Also, if you observe, I hope your Ramadan kicks off well this evening.

Over on Book Riot

When this was published, all of these books were free. (I’m guessing they still are but no promises.) We all like free books, right? (Pay no attention to my screaming TBR behind me.)

How’s your reading nook looking?

Have you read these medieval romance and romantic historical fiction novels?

How’s your reading going? Sometimes, I have to give my spouse my phone. Needless to say I haven’t been able to focus on a single damn thing, but these are good tips.

Trisha and I talked a lot about Beverly Jenkins.

Deals

Have you read Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities books? Act Like It, the first of the five, is 1.99 right now. It features a pair of actors who don’t get along at all being forced to pretend to be in a relationship to make both of them look better, and be in a better standing with the theater and the theater world. That’s right: enemies-to-lovers/fake-relationship/stars-together romance. And that’s just the first in the series!

New Books

Girl Gone Viral
Alisha Rai

In this sequel to The Right Swipe, Rhiannon’s intriguing friend Katrina is the center of attention—a place she doesn’t ever want to be. Essentially a recluse, Katrina only willingly associates with a small number of people, but ends up hitting the socials as one half of the newest viral sensation. In order to wait out the buzz and keep from being sought out, she ends up retreating to a remote location with Jas, her friend and bodyguard. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve heard it has the slowest of slow burn, want to slap them relationship developments. So if crock pots aren’t your thing, you might want to check out…

Guarding Temptation
Talia Hibbert

When political campaigner Nina writes an article that could lead to Danger Will Robinson, she finds herself in the hands of her brother’s best friend, the ever protective James. (Yes, it’s an “off-limits younger sibling of best friend” story. Sorry.) She’s now staying with him, and their chemistry is off the charts. So maybe somebody can get over the superiority complex and just let somebody else into his bed. Because there’s apparently only one. Note: while this story originally appeared in Rogue Nights, it’s been revised and expanded to nearly twice its original length.

Others that are out this week:

Don’t Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind
Field Guide: Love and other Natural Disasters by Six de los Reyes
The War Priest by Ann Aguirre
Starting Over in Wickham Falls by Rochelle Alers
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn
The Portrait by BD Anderson (I don’t know the last time I encountered a romance with an enchanted portrait but I am curious)
Batter of Wits by Karla Sorensen
Big Ben by Nana Malone
Fighting for His Lady by Christi Caldwell
A Second Glance by Debbie Macomber
Close Contact by Christina C. Jones (HOW many books will she put out during self-isolation? Only time will tell!)

As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!