Category: Kissing Books

It’s Thursday again, and we’re back on schedule with new books!

Over on Book Riot

Holiday reads! Take this quiz to see which one you should pick up next.

Do you watch way too much HGTV? You definitely want to check out these renovation romances.

We’ve been talking about queer women in mixed-gender romances for a while. Casey’s got some more for us to check out, with links to older lists to really build out your TBR.

If you need someone to tell you that it’s okay not to read, Leah is here to do it. Very eloquently, too.

I’m still not sure how to define horror romance, but I know one when I see it. I really do wish we had more of these, because I hate being scared, but I love stressed out people falling in love.

And if you’re looking for queer women in historical romance, Casey’s got some of those for you, too. I’ve mentioned a few of them here, but it’s always nice to have them all in one place!

Deals

If you find yourself in need of a nice fake relationship, Pretending He’s Mine by Mia Sosa is 99 cents. The second book in her Love on Cue series, this one has those two delightful elements: friends to lovers and a fake relationship. Julian has a thing for his best friend’s younger sister (yes, it’s one of those), and Ashley has a pretty resonant crush on him. She doesn’t do relationships, but she wants Julian to want her. She gets one step closer when circumstances leave her moving in with him, but things really come to a head when she asks him to fake being in a relationship with her.

New Books!

I am apparently on a marriage of convenience kick, because I have to talk about this soapy mess of a book that I devoured this week.

Lush Money
Angelina M. Lopez

How soapy do you like your romances? If your answer is “not at all” then you probably want to stay away from this book. If your answer is “as a bubble bath” then you definitely want to try this book out.

Mateo is a prince. Literally. His father is the king of a principality and has been overspending to the point of the region’s near bankruptcy. So when Roxanne Medina offers him a contract for marriage and three nights a month, in order to produce them both an heir and restore the monetary flow to the Monte, he isn’t sure what to think. While balking at the idea at first, he can’t say no to the money. Or to any amount of sex with the gorgeous billionaire. There are all kinds of twists and turns in the story, as the two discover more about each other and their situations. And Mateo’s father’s spending is only part of the story.

Note: this book has continued conversation about getting pregnant, as well as discussion of child abuse and neglect.

I know it’s not brand new, but I am also looking forward to rounding out the marriage-of-convenience trifecta that began with Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience with Jodie Slaughter’s White Whiskey Bargain, which is a modern marriage of convenience set in Appalachia.

Other new books I’m looking forward to picking up soon:

Recipe for Chaos by Jaxon Knight
One Walk in Winter by Georgia Beers
The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission by Jaci Burton
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting
I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Beverly Jenkins (rerelease; first time as a standalone)
I Knead You Tonight by Teagan Hunter (I KNOOOOOOW)
Daddy by Jack Harbon
Christmas With the Billionaire & A Tiara For Christmas by Niobia Bryant and Carolyn Hector
Christmas Kisses by Farrah Rochon

What are you excited to read 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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

It’s Monday! I’m weirdly excited for it!

Whatever, let’s talk about what’s been going on.

News and Useful Links

While I was squeeing about Farrah Rochon’s cover last week, Kwana (KM) Jackson was revealing her own cover at Frolic. It is pretty effing cute.

Have you heard about Penny Reid’s new venture, Smartypants Romance? She commissioned authors to write stories in the extended universes of her Neanderthal and Winston series, and is publishing them in quick succession. The first one, Baking Me Crazy, came out last week, and the next one is only days away. Have you read one? What do you think?

If you like calendars (or even if you don’t), this is a gorgeous project to back.

Check out this super moving, super interesting look at neurodiversity in romance from three #ownvoices romance authors.

Have you ever wondered what your favorite writers’ writing space looks like? Beverly Jenkins wrote about hers, and it’s nice to know we can have something in common with these paragons of greatness.

How familiar are you with incorrect Twitter? There is probably an “incorrect [insert title here]” for most things that have a strong internet following, and the Incorrect Latinx Lit account totally hit my funny bone with this one.

Deals

With the introduction of the expansion of the Green Valley world, it might be time to dig around with Penny Reid’s Winstons. Good thing Dr. Strange Beard, featuring youngest bearded Winston brother Roscoe and his longtime crush Simone. This is one of my favorite couples, in part because they have such barriers—Roscoe has an eidetic memory, except of course, that doesn’t mean he knows other people’s points of view; Simone is a Fed working undercover, and can’t tell people why she’s in town. The misunderstandings abound, and the whole Winston family is there to witness it.

Recs!

The fall is all about many things, and October is heavily Halloween-based. But there are other holidays in the Fall, including Thanksgiving!

A Match Made for Thanksgiving
Jackie Lau

To be fair, Jackie Lau is Canadian, and her characters are, too, so this particular Thanksgiving is in October. But the sentiment is still there!

Nick is all about the single Toronto life. He picks up women in bars and lives for himself. (He also looks a touch like Henry Golding, but that’s neither here nor there.) After he overhears Lily muttering about picking up a one-night stand, they have the night of their lives, and even though both swear it’s only for a night, neither can stop thinking of the other. Which gets a little complicated when Lily shows up at his family home for Thanksgiving…as his brother’s blind date. (There are some serious Wong family shenanigans happening and they’re literally the best.) But that doesn’t erase the chemistry they still have.

This is the first book in Jackie’s new Holidays with the Wongs series, which promises more delightful shenanigans at Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day. So keep an eye out!

On the other hand, if you’re looking for another book that sits at the right edge between spooky and precious, there’s Love Spells for the End of the World by Alys Murray. This one comes with a similar amount of family shenanigans, but there is also a completely different kind of relationship between the protagonists.

Bel is a witch. She lives in a town full of supernatural beings, which only opens itself up to humans on one night of the year. Bel is…not a very good witch, which is perfect, because her human neighbor (on the other side of the town’s barrier) is an equally incompetent witch hunter. He’s been failing to kill her for the past ten years, but now, she needs him. Because a hellmouth just opened up in her house.

The key element of this kind of enemies-to-lovers story is the purpose of their enmity. Witches and witch-hunters are natural enemies, but primarily due to ill-conceived theories about each other. Bel and Elijah learn more about each other, and the worlds they inhabit, and that helps them with both their inner and outer conflict. I don’t know if I handle this kind of relationship better because of the supernatural setting, but it’s pretty cute.

What are you reading this week?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

 

 

I told you to look for something special today, didn’t I?

I’m so excited to share a first look at Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project! It’s still so far away (June 9, 2020; when even is that?) and I am sad for the wait but I will wait, because THAT COVER. Wait until you see it!

First, a bit about the book:

Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project is the first in a new series from Forever about three young women who become friends when the live Tweeting of a disastrous date leads them to discover they’ve all been duped by the same man.

Samiah Brooks never thought she would be “that” girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she’s been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah—along with his two other “girlfriends,” London and Taylor—have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men, no dating, and no worrying about their relationship status…

For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she’s always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy, honey-eyed Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? When it comes to love, there’s no such thing as a coincidence. But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?

If you aren’t screaming just yet, scroll on, because you will freak at this cover, designed by Elizabeth Stokes Turner. It’s so good, y’all.

Just. Just look at it:

I know, right?

It’s so perfect. I can’t.

Anyway, you probably want a taste of the book, don’t you, after all that? Well, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve got a whole chapter for you! Read ahead!

***

“Alexa, play Drake.”

Releasing an intentionally loud, dramatic sigh, Samiah Brooks lolled her head toward the opened bathroom door and called out, “Don’t just tell it to play a certain artist, Denise. Tell it what song you want it to play.”

Muffled footfalls shuffled across the bedroom’s alder hardwood floors. A moment later her sister appeared in the doorway.

“I don’t know any Drake songs. That’s why I asked the damn Alexa thingy.” Denise lumbered into the bathroom, plopped onto the toilet’s closed lid, and palmed her substantial belly. The opening bars of Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” began streaming through the HD speakers discreetly positioned throughout the condo. Denise pointed upward. “Is that him? Is that Drake?”

“Yes.” Samiah sighed again. She capped her Fenty Beauty 410 foundation and traded it for the liquid eyeliner. Tugging her lower lid downward, she muttered as she swiped the thin brush along the rim of her eye. “You know you can’t fake this kind of thing, right? Your students will see right through it.”

“Shows how much you know. I’ve been faking it for years. No one’s caught on yet.”

Samiah glanced over her shoulder and grinned. “Make sure you don’t say that around your husband.”

“Oh please.” Denise batted the air as she adjusted her position on the toilet seat cover. “He knows I sometimes have to fake it with him too.”

“Dammit!” Samiah nearly poked herself in the eye with the eyeliner brush. She swung around and glared at her sister. “You said that shit on purpose.”

“What?” Denise asked with wide, guileless eyes. Her knowing smirk nullified her weak attempt at innocence.

“If I gouge myself in the eye with this thing, I’m telling Mama it was your fault.”

“She’d never believe you.” Her sister gestured to the array of palettes scattered across the leathered granite vanity. “Why didn’t you get all dolled up before you went out with me? You wait until we get back to pull out the heavy artillery?”

“Jealous?”

“As if. I can barely remember to pack lip balm in my purse.”

Samiah tsked as she used the smudger brush to blend the shadow into the crease of her eye. “Master the smokey eye and you can conquer the world.”

…want to read more? Find the full chapter here! And don’t wait to preorder The Boyfriend Project now!

***

Are you ready? Because I’m ready! (For it to be June :sobs-forever:) The Boyfriend Project releases June 9, 2020 from Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

So hey, this week, I’m switching it up (for something super special on Thursday, so keep an eye out!) and doing New Books on a Monday, what? Read on, there’s some good stuff you gotta check out!

News and Useful Links

Check out the covers for Kennedy Ryan’s upcoming romance duet.

What do you know about the Bowling Green State University’s Pop Culture Library and its romance collection? They do some amazing work over there (and share some awesome gems on Twitter!) and have one of the most impressive collection of romances past and present.

Do you want a six-month romance box subscription? Enter to win here!

And I said I would talk about the conversation that was happening last week around Jasmine Guillory, so here it is: last week, in yet another profile, we got a similar framing to some that have already been called out (including on Book Riot): Jasmine Guillory is doing something new and different by writing about Black people in love, particularly featuring Black professional women. I love Jasmine and think she’s an amazing person. I enjoy her books. But the angle keeps getting used in profiles about her, and it’s continuously both harmful and hurtful to the Black authors who have come before her…for decades. I will never step on Jasmine’s success; she has done well for herself and will continue to do so. But lack of exposure on her part or a journalist’s part doesn’t mean someone can just write that she’s the Queen of Black Romance without doing some research.

If they want to talk reigning monarchs, though, maybe they should check out the adaptation of Brenda Jackson’s A Brother’s Honor, which is now available to watch on Passionflix. Did I mention she published her 100th romance this year?

Deals

If you like a good anonymous encounter, followed by an “oh no you’re my new boss” story, and you also like a good Victorian sex club, Eva Leigh’s Dare to Love a Duke is 1.99 right now! I mean, do I need to tell you anything else about this book?

New Books!

I don’t know if it’s a beginning of the month thing or if it’s just a people want to kill me thing, but damn do we have an amazing week’s worth of new releases. I’ve read one, and it’s just…so good. I can’t wait to check out the others!

Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience
Rebekah Weatherspoon

After a bit of a snafu in which Xeni showed up nearly 24 hours later than it was supposed to, the world was exposed to the glory that was Xeni and Mason on Saturday morning. Xeni is in a small town in Upstate New York in the wake of her aunt’s death. She’d had a good relationship with the woman, who had once been a famous singer. But when she arrives at the reading of her aunt’s will, along with an enormous man she’s never seen before, there’s a catch to receiving her unexpected inheritance: she and this Mason have to get married. But it turns out, that’s not really the worst thing that could happen. And it’s not like they have to stay married, right? They can just hang out, get their affairs in order, and see if this chemistry goes anywhere.

If you’ve read Sanctuary, you’ll be familiar with Mason and the McInroy Farm, and if you’ve read Rafe you know Xeni. Together? They’re so great. Their banter is perfect, their sap is gooey, and their love life is fire. Enjoy.

I am also this close to taking a day off this week to read American Love Story, the third book in Adriana Herrera’s Dreamers series. I can’t wait to dive back into that lovely world and hang out with Patrice and Easton. We’ve been getting glimpses of their story since the beginning, and I am very much looking forward to having them front and center in the story. Also, where Patrice goes, the rest of the guys do, and I’m looking forward to all of the conversations he’ll be uncomfortable having both over the phone and in person.

And then there are the other things that just came out or are coming out this week:

Down Too Deep by J. Daniels
Whispers of Shadow and Flame by L. Penelope
Master of Restless Shadows by Ginn Hale
Faker by Sarah Smith
Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen (the first of Penny Reid’s Smartypants books!)
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
The Mogul and the Muscle by Claire Kingsley
A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau (A THANKSGIVING ROMANCE!)

What are you excited for?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Well, folks, it’s Halloween. Get ready.

(Ironically, I don’t actually get that excited on October 31; I just really enjoy the energy of the people for whom Halloween is a Way Of Life.)

Let’s look at what’s new, shall we?

Over on Book Riot

It’s possible that you might have made it through subscribing to this newsletter without having picked up an Alyssa Cole book. I don’t talk about her that much. (Right?) If you are curious about where to start, Sil’s got a nice collection of tips for you.

Geek out with Jessica Avery about Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series! You won’t regret it; it’s a fascinating read.

You know what else starts in October (at least in romance)? Christmas! Take the quiz to see which Christmas romance is for you.

That question about fake romances? We gathered your answers!

Do you like surprises? There’s a giveaway for a blind date with a book on the site right now!

Deals

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

Speaking of Alyssa Cole, her near-future, post-apocalyptic-lite POC/interracial romance Radio Silence is currently 1.99! While this book does start with some violence and an attempted sexual assault, the rest is very centrally a relationship story as the family in question waits to find out what the heck has happened to the world.

And if you’re looking for something completely set in the real…ish world, Megan Frampton’s Never a Bride is 1.99. This was the first book I’d read by this author and it is freaking delightful. There’s a fake engagement, a woman who knows what’s what, and a man who would basically do anything for her, even though their relationship is all about scandal. I’m excited to read her next one!

New and Upcoming Releases

You know what else happens in October? Hockey! (Okay, I guess technically the season starts in September? I dunno, I don’t really follow it.)

Goalie Interference
Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn

I thought I loved Off the Ice, but that was just infatuation compared to the feelings I have for Goalie Interference, the second book in Gale and Vaughn’s newly-rehomed Hat Trick series. You wouldn’t think that a book that is probably 50 percent gameplay and practice would pack such an emotional punch, but even the game scenes will get you in your feelings.

Ryu and Emmitt are goalies for the Atlanta Venom. Usually, there’s a starter and a backup, but even though Ryu has been on the team for a while, Emmitt’s just…that good. So the coaches decide to play them in tandem—no true starter, but instead switching off to play. Neither is happy about this, of course, and they rub each other the wrong way immediately. Until they decide to rub each other the right way. (I’m so, so, so sorry. I just couldn’t resist.) Their chemistry is off the charts, and even though they hate each other, that doesn’t mean they can’t set some sheets on fire. But what’s that? Feelings? Whoops.

Y’all, this book is so good. Avon and Piper are basically not allowed to write with anyone else ever again.

There are some other books I’m looking forward to picking up super sooper soon.

Hearth and Home by Rebel Carter (a: THAT COVER and b: Mail Order GROOM, what?)
Heart 2 Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 3
Loving the Mountain Man by Adriana Anders
An Angel for Daddy by Lucy Eden
Suckerpunch by Elyse Springer
When Frankie Meets Johnny by Xio Axelrod
Ready for the Rancher by Zuri Day
Tempted at Midnight by Cheris Hodges
The Inn At Netherfield Green by Aurora Rey
The Write Escape by Charish Reid
Reunited by the Badge by Deborah Fletcher Mello
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory (yes, we’ll talk about That Thing next week)

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Shana Tova to my practicing readers (who are probably reading this on Tuesday)! Hope you had an exciting Rosh Hashanah and that you’re ready to take on the new year. Now, let’s talk Romancelandia!

News and Useful Links

Jen wrote a three-fire-emoji article for Kirkus about the need for good criticism by non-romance people. 

Have you seen the cover for Lucy Parker’s upcoming book, Headliners? It’s pretty gorgeous. 

What’s it really like at Gretna Green? Apparently, it’s still a thing!

Smart Bitches has a new feature on their website called the Smart Bitches Book Finder, and it’s hella cool. If you’re looking for something in particular, or just curious what books have certain archetypes or tropes, it’s a great place to start. 

Deals

Have you read Jessie Mihalik’s Polaris Rising? Now is a good time to check it out, since it’s currently 1.99! It’s also the perfect time because the sequel, Aurora Blazing is releasing this week. If you’re down for some kick-ass space princesses making deals with questionable figures in order to save themselves and potentially the universe, this is definitely the kind of thing you want to try. 

When was the last time you picked up a Westmoreland book? His To Claim, Brenda Jackson’s most recent book set amidst the lengthy universe of the Westmorelands and the people they love, is a marriage-in-trouble story! I know people love those, so grab this one for 3.99.

Recs

October is tomorrow, which means it’s officially Halloween! Beyond the start of my weekly watch of Nightmare Before Christmas between now and the new year, I’ve been thinking about what I want in a Halloween-themed story, or at least what kind of feeling I want to have while reading. And it’s a combination of fun and spooky, just like I like my Halloween to be. So this month I’m going to try reading a combination of creepy fun (with a happy ending, of course) and joyful spookiness. 

Here’s what’s on my docket:

Halloween Boo
Sarah Spade

Everyone on Twitter was talking about this book a couple weeks ago, and I had to seek it out for future reading. The way people talked about it, it sounds like a cross between Casper, Hocus Pocus, and The Spirit of Christmas, and I am always here for all of those things. There’s a girl, and there’s a ghost. She thinks her apartment is haunted, and it totally is. That’s sort of all I know, but honestly, what more do you need to know? 

All I Want for Halloween
Marie Harte

Antisocial Sadie has quite the encounter at a costume party (a month before Halloween, which, what?). When she meets him again, it turns out that he’s a washed up reality TV star—something full of motorcycles and testosterone. It sounds pretty fun, but I honestly don’t know what it’s about. 

I also use the spooky season to try out different kinds of paranormal romance! I love me some vampires and werewolves, but sometimes you just want something different, right?

A Demon in Waiting
Holley Trent

I have been sitting on this one for a while, and I really need to pick it up. Virgin hero John Tate gets kicked out of a cult(?) only to be accosted by his demon father and informed he is half-incubus. There’s some role he’s supposed to play in Hell, but I’m not completely sure what it is. But to get where he needs to go, he convinces a traveler to pick him on the road, and they fall hard and fast. That’s really all I need to know. 

The Widow of Rose House
Diana Biller

When the publicist for St. Martin Griffin posed the male protagonist of this book as “Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters but a tad smarter” I knew this was going to be something I wanted to check out. There are ghosts…maybe? But there are also other things going on as Alva, the titular widow, takes advantage of her new independence and works through some issues from her past. 

And while it’s not a romance (I repeat, not a romance) I want to check out Tess Gerritsen’s The Shape of Night. People have been talking about it being similar to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (which I love) but also a suspense thriller, so I wonder where it will toe the line. 

What do you like to read to get you in the mood for Halloween?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Do you know what kind of movie I absolutely love? Happy superhero movies. Obviously, there has to be some conflict, but a good superhero movie is a lot like a good romance. There are ups, downs, highs, lows, and eventually, an emotionally satisfying ending. Though there is the fact, of course, that they often don’t end with an HEA for the superhero and their love interest. But that’s why we have romances. Sometimes, they’re even about superheroes 😉

Sadly, I don’t have any new ones to talk about (I might, however, be writing this with my favorite Superman on in the background), but let’s all go into the weekend thinking about them…

Over on Book Riot

Trisha and I discussed The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics for The Great Big Romance Read, among other things, on the most recent episode of When In Romance.

I don’t know if you’re in the market for some shifters, but here are a few to get you started.

Tell us what your favorite stories are about fake dating turning to real romance!

Some of us might have a coronary about reading series out of order, but the truth is, you can pick these series up in any order you might want.

Deals

If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for the next Gilded Age Girls Club book (An Heiress to Remember, which sadly doesn’t come out until March), another clever Maya Rodale protagonist might be just the thing to help you through. Enter Lady Bridget’s Diary, which if you’re thinking “wait, is that…” then my answer is, Yes. It is. There’s even a Lord Darcy. You’re so very welcome for this gift. Best thing? It’s 1.99. The rest of the Cavendish series is five and six dollars, but if you’ve saved some money buying that one, might as well go for the rest, right?

New and Upcoming Releases

I have to tell you a secret: I haven’t gotten any reading done since the last time we spoke. (Well…technically I got a small amount in, but it might have been a Stucky fic in which they were fake-dating college professors…) (Moving on.) But I have a few new and upcoming releases I can’t wait to pick up, so I’ll tell you about those.

The Write Escape
Charish Reid

I did manage to start this one, and it’s gonna be so great. Toni is on her way: she’s got a great (most days) job as an editor, she’s getting married to the man she loves (though his Talented Tenth parents are something else entirely), and she’s even making headway on her own book. Sort of. But things are about to go awry, and she’s going to end up renting a cottage in Ireland. Right next door to a professor, with whom she’s about to let sparks turn into flames.

White Whiskey Bargain
Jodie Slaughter

I don’t know if you follow Jodie on Twitter, but doing so is lots of fun. You also get a countdown to something like this book, which I sadly might not have discovered on my own. There’s moonshine, marriage of convenience, and a depiction of Black Appalachia that I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen before, so I’m very much excited to read it, if for that alone. But there’s also a promise of some serious sexytimes, which Jodie has provided us glimpses into on the twittersphere. (Seriously, follow her. You won’t regret it. Well. Your wallet might.)

The Orchid Throne
Jeffe Kennedy

I’m trying to read more fantasy romance, and boy is this one I want to check out! Euthalia is a queen guided by a magical ring left to her by her father. She’s doing her best to keep her people free of tyranny, and working hard to make sure her kingdom is run in an ethical, meaningful way. When she meets Conrí, a prince seeking to ovethrow the same tyrant she’s defying, there’s already something between them. But the thing he needs most for his plans is the ring she wears on her finger and holds dear. How’s this going to work?

Goalie Interference
Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn

I don’t know if you’ve read Off the Ice, but if you haven’t, now is definitely the time to dive into a new hockey series. In Goalie Interference, we come back to our buddies on the Atlanta Venom, this time hanging out more with Ryu, one of the goalies. The other one, a brand new rookie looking to take the starting spot, is—of course—the guy he’ll end up falling for. But since this is an enemies-to-lovers romance, I’m expecting a lot of snark and scorn along the way.

And of course, this is just a drop in the bucket of what was released this week. And is coming next week. What are you excited to read?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

How many times have y’all heard Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” over the past three days? Because it’s been a surprising amount since the 21st. It really has. But it’s Monday, so let’s talk romancelandia.

News and Useful Links

Romance for RAICES wrapped up over the weekend and they raised almost 24,000 dollars! And the non-money numbers were pretty impressive, too. (And from what I’ve seen on Twitter, they might have raised more, as some people offered items to the second-highest bidder as well, with proof they’d sent money to RAICES. It was quite the thing to watch).

Have you seen the newest teaser for A Brother’s Honor, the newest romance adaptation from Passionflix? This is the first title by a black author (Brenda Jackson) that they’ve adapted, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of the series.

If you were planning to buy the paperback of TJ Klune’s Heartsong tomorrow, check and make sure it’s not the Dreamspinner Press version. Apparently DSP has been taking their time removing the listing from Amazon.

Romance Sparks Joy has a new regular feature called In the Loveseat and I’ve really enjoyed their first go. I look forward to catching future threads.

Did someone say a thriller?

This is an adorable story to make us all smile.

Deals

Speaking of Brenda Jackson, Love in Catalina Cove, the first book in her most recent series, is 1.99. This contemporary small-town romance involves a woman who has come back to her hometown when she inherits her aunt’s bed and breakfast, but not before having a run-in with the sheriff. I haven’t read this one but it’s been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. I really need to pick up more backlist titles. Maybe next year, what with that whole hindsight thing.

Recs!

Last night was the Emmy Awards, and for the first time in years, I actually watched the whole thing. So now I’m thinking about books I love that give me the same vibes as some of the Emmy-nominated and winning shows.

American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera

I don’t watch a lot of television, but one of the shows that I am completely ride or die for is Pose. It took me a while to make the decision to sit down and watch it, but I was immediately hooked. What makes me think of the Dreamer books isn’t just the fact that Billy Porter is now the first openly gay black man to win best actor in a drama series, but the whole found family element of Pose is a great parallel to the same in Dreamers. And of course, the wildly warming cast mostly made up of people of color, also hearkens to the Dreamers.

What doesn’t, of course, is the amazing cast of gorgeous trans women of color, which is something I’d love to see in romance. I’ve read one or two romances with trans femme protagonists, but they’ve all been white. Got any recs for me?

Stripped by Zoey Castile

Hear me out: when you think about Fleabag, the first thought you have is “hot mess,” right? Stripped is the first title I think of when I think “hot mess”, just because Robyn and Fallon are both such adorable messes. Neither goes through quite the experience that Fleabag does, but boy do they have some adventures on their way to each other, huh?

Adorable messes are one of my favorite contemporary types. They don’t have to be cinnamon rolls, either. Give me a mess that really needs to work on herself. I’m talking about Something Blue level “Ten Steps to Build A Better Darcy” style mess, because they’re worthy of redemption for themselves and their futures. (It’s sort of how I feel about Elektra in Pose, to be honest; whatever gets you there, right?)

Captive Prince by CS Pacat

Yes, this is where my brain goes when I think of Game of Thrones. It’s in part because I’ve seen a grand total of three episodes, so when I just think of what I know, it’s that whole grimdark world that’s more second-world than fantasyland (give or take a few dragons and some zombie creatures). The relationship between the two warring princes builds across three books, which isn’t as long a slog as the whole first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and begins in that same kind of darkness that GOT invokes.

Don’t worry; I don’t have a readalike for Chernobyl. I did wander over to AO3 after the season ended, but apparently I have a tendency to over-ship and there hadn’t been anything to read featuring my preferred one.

***

Did you watch the Emmys? What shows or performances stood out most to you?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

The human world, it’s a mess.

But we have romance novels, and those are almost as amazing as being waited upon hand and…fin…by crustacean servants.

Let’s talk new books, eh?

Over on Book Riot

I expanded upon my thoughts regarding illustrated covers (specifically, regarding Kelly’s piece about them and YA).

And while I’m sure you all are familiar with lots of these, you might still want to check out Liberty’s list of ways to keep up with new romance releases.

Sil pulled together a list of great books by Latinx authors for all ages, but there are definitely some that would be of interest to romance readers.

Deals

I know I’ve talked a lot about The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, but if you haven’t spent the 3.99 on the ebook or six dollars on the mass market, you’ve still got time before we talk about it on When in Romance on Monday for the Great Big Romance Read. (PS – have you reached out to tell us your thoughts or ask for a specific topic to be covered? There’s still time!)

New Releases!

The past week has been good to us. We’ve got plenty of choices to pick from, and some authors decided to pull a Beyoncé and drop a whole damn album with no notice.

Lowdown Dirty
Holley Trent

Yes, indeed. Holley Bey Trent decided to put a new book on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited without telling anybody, and just let us find it on our own (until she actually mentioned that she’d done it, of course). It’s a standalone, and you can read it even if you haven’t read any of her other series. And y’all.

Y’all.

Valerie is a project manager and architect overseeing a residential building project, and isn’t planning to stay in town very long. When a local friend surprises her by taking her to the community’s bimonthly kink party, Valerie balks—not because she’s disgusted by kink, but because she isn’t about that life anymore. But the friend’s car breaks down and they have to rely on someone at the party to get them way across the countryside to their respective homes.

Enter Tim Dowd, luxury boat designer looking to start afresh. His relationship with his ex-wife (who is a lesbian) and adult son (who isn’t quite an adult yet) has often driven potential partners away, but Valerie sparks something in him that he can’t let go. She’s also magnificently submissive, something he never thought he’d be able to have long term. But she has other plans and goals, and a long term relationship isn’t among them. So there’s that to get over. In the mean time, they can just play, right?

CW for D/s dynamics, rope play, general kink, past parental deaths, and gaslighting (not between the main couple).

Dine With Me
Layla Reyne

While I have a couple Layla Reyne books on my shelves, I hadn’t previously picked one of them up. But a foodie romance? I was down for it. I hadn’t actually remembered, when I decided to read it, that one of the protagonists’ cancer had a central role. So if you need to skip something like that, go ahead and skip it (and the rest of this section).

Miller is a chef. He lives and breathes food, even if he’s just closed his restaurant. When he advertises for a companion for the foodie vacation of a lifetime, he’s joined by Dr. Clancy Rhodes, recently out of his internship and gifted the trip by his parents before joining his father’s plastic surgery practice. Miller doesn’t share the reasoning for the two week trip to surprise locations to eat some of the best food in the continental United States: he is embarking on a tour of his favorite meals, one last time before he succumbs to throat cancer. Instead of getting treatment for it, he’s prepared to die; because treatment means loss of taste buds, something no chef wants. As the days progress, and Miller gets to know Clancy, his biggest regret is the timing. He’s set on skipping treatment, and not even the sweetest, most earnest man in creation is going to change his mind.

I’ve got to tell you. I was in tears for half of this book. Not sobbing tears, just tiny, my eyes can’t control themselves tears. The passion in this book ranges for everything from food to living, and there is a lot of feeling packed into every word. Also, the other relationships in this book (and in Lowdown Dirty, honestly) are some of the most grown-up, delightful ones I’ve read. Tim and Miller are both close to their ex-wives, and have a good relationship with them. Clancy is also the product of some awesome parenting.

CW for mention of cancer, cancer-related illness, cancer treatment side-effects, fatalistic reasoning, and excessive food consumption (they eat…a lot of food).

Other new releases I’m looking forward to picking up soon:

Need You Now by Molly O’Keefe

Promise Me a Dream by Wayne Jordan

Beard With Me by Penny Reid (ALERT this is not a romance, but sets up the story for Beard Necessities)

Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Hey there, folks. It’s another week, another weekly.

Wait, that’s the wrong email. Sorry. I apparently get so many of those (one a week, actually) that it’s ingrained itself. Anyway. Time to talk books that involve kissing.

News and Useful Links

First off: have you seen the cover or read the excerpt of The Heart Principle? Helen Hoang’s third book is probably the most anticipated book of 2020, and we have to wait almost half the year before it comes out. Whimper.

Jennifer Prokop said it again for the folks in the back.

There’s going to be more Reluctant Royals!

Romance Bookstore Day is moving forward, and they’re adding more to their docket. First up, a book club.

Romance for RAICES is still going on strong, and they’ve already passed their fundraising goal! Gawk at the bids they’ve already reached and see what’s still available to bid on.

Deals

Have you checked out Holley Trent’s Plot Twist books? The first, Writing Her In, is 3.99 right now. It’s the first in a new ongoing series (the second book, Three Part Harmony, is also out), and it centers a novelist and the cover model for her current series. And also his wife. Yeah, it’s lots of fun. All three characters have their own development and motivation, but the real draw is the relationship between writer Stacia and the quiet Dara.

Recs!

I picked up my first Reese Ryan book, and of all things it was the third book in a series. Savannah’s Secrets was one of those books that had been on my radar forever, but it wasn’t until I came across Engaging the Enemy that I actually decided to pick up a Bourbon Brothers book. (Borrowing it from the library helped; it was there, in front of me, and I had to read it in a limited amount of time.)

Engaging the Enemy
Reese Ryan

Parker and Kayleigh used to be best friends. But when he betrayed her in a fit of youthful misguidance, she vowed to never trust him again. Fast forward to adulthood, and Parker is an executive for the family business, a very large and profitable distillery. He comes to Kayleigh with an offer to buy the building where she lives and runs her business, but Kayleigh isn’t interested in selling. Until an old friend—and the sister of her successful ex-boyfriend—invites Kayleigh to her all-expenses-paid destination wedding. Kayleigh, seeing an opportunity, gives Parker a counter-offer: an exorbitant amount for her building and one week-long fake fiancé by the name of Parker Abbott. Parker, willing to do anything to settle the deal, agrees.

The agreement they make is one that is different from some other forms of the fake relationship trope. The pair realizes they don’t know each other well. So they’ll not only pretend to be affianced for the week of the wedding, but they’ll spend time together before they get there in order to pull this off as authentically as possible. Eventually, the relationship isn’t as fake as they’d like it to be…

Of course, now I have to go back to check out the others, and there’s more coming in the future.

I am usually that person who has to start at the beginning, even with romance series that don’t feature the same couple. But this has been happening to me more recently. For instance, I couldn’t stay away from How to Be a Movie Star by TJ Klune, which was a follow-up to How to Be A Normal Person. But I got to meet the characters from that book in their sequel, and now I have to go back and read them. Someday. Soon, I hope. (Note, TJ Klune is in the process of retaining rights for all of his Dreamspinner Press books after the royalties debacle I mentioned last week, so I haven’t linked them here.)

What series have you discovered by picking something up in the middle?

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, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!