Categories
True Story

Woodward, Bourdain, and the National Book Awards

It’s been an exciting couple of weeks of nonfiction news, including the publication of Bob Woodward’s book on the Trump White House, welcome recognition for Anthony Bourdain, and the announcement of the longlists for the National Book Award. Add in even more great September new releases, and we’ve got a full newsletter this week!

Sponsored by In Vino Duplicitas: The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire by Peter Hellman

Now in paperback: the intoxicating story of the biggest con in wine history In 2002, Rudy Kurniawan, an unknown twentysomething, burst into the world of ultrafine wines. Blessed with a virtuoso palate, and a seemingly limitless supply of bottles, Kurniawan became the leading purveyor of rare wines. But in April 2008, dozens of Kurniawan’s trophy bottles were abruptly pulled from auction. Journalist Peter Hellman was there, and he began to investigate: Were the bottles fake? Were there others? Was Kurniawan a dupe . . . or had he ensnared the world’s top winemakers, sellers, and drinkers in a web of deceit?

Fear breaks sales records all over the place

This week, publisher Simon & Schuster announced that Bob Woodward’s Fear: Trump in the White House broke the company’s first week sales record, selling more than 1.1 million copies. The book is now in it’s 10th printing, bringing the total number of hardcover copies printed to more than 1.2 million.

This is the second sales record for the book – the sale of 750,000 copies on the first day of release was also a milestone for the publisher. Barnes & Noble also announced the the book was the fastest-selling adult title since Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee went on sale in 2015.

My favorite detail, reported in the Washington Post, was this one about independent books stores:

This being Washington, some buyers bought multiple copies. “The largest bulk purchases went to foreign embassies,” (Politics & Prose co-owner Bradley) Graham said. “One embassy paid for 13. Another bought four.”

Anthony Bourdain wins six posthumous Emmys

At last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, author, chef, and television host Anthony Bourdain was awarded six posthumous awards for his CNN travel series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. According to Variety, the series took home awards for “best informational series or special, writing for non-fiction program, picture editing for a non-fiction program, sound editing for a non-fiction program and sound mixing for a non-fiction program.”

Bourdain earned an additional Emmy for “best short-form non-fiction or reality” for the series Anthony Bourdain: Explore Parts Unknown. The article linked above has some lovely quotes from the acceptance speeches from his co-workers that I urge you to go read.

National Book Award longlists announced

The National Book Award is coming! This award, given by the National Book Foundation, is always an interesting one to watch. Last year I complained that the nonfiction list was too serious, a critique I think one could level at this year’s list too – it’s clear that politics is still on everyone’s mind.

Still, there are a lot great titles that absolutely deserve to be recognized – One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson, Brothers of the Gun by Marwan Hisham and Molly Crabapple, and The Tangled Tree by David Quammen, just to name a few. The finalists will be announced on October 10, with the winners unveiled on November 14. More to come!

New books, ahoy!

And finally, three new books to keep your eyes open for this week:

American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera – In this book, actress and activist America Ferrera invites 31 friends, peers, and heroes to “share their stories about life between cultures.” The powerhouse contributor list for this book includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Kwan, Kal Penn, Roxane Gay, and more. So good.

My Own Devices: True Stories from the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love by Dessa – I’m a little biased about this one because Dessa, a rapper, songwriter, and all around cool person, had some ties to Minnesota where I’m from too. This debut essay collection fuses science, music, literature and more. I can’t wait to start my copy.

Heartland by Sarah Smarsh – Sarah Smarsh grew up in Kansas in the 1980s and 1990s in a family categorized as the working poor. In the book, Smarsh shares her story, explores class divides, and examines “the myths about people thought to be less because they earn less.” This one is on the National Book Award longlist, so you know it’s gotta be good.

Happy reading, fellow true story fiends. You can find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot with questions and comments!

Categories
What's Up in YA

YA/Adult Crossover Reads

Hi! I’m Amanda Nelson, Book Riot’s Executive Editor, covering for Kelly in this edition of the YA newsletter. We in the “talking about books for a living” industry generally use the term YA in reference to a book where the central protagonist is a teenager, but it’s also a marketing term used or not used by publishers in different countries depending on how they want to play a book to their readers (see: the difference in the UK marketing plan for The Book Thief–not YA– vs. the plan for that book in the USA–definitely YA).

Sponsored by The Good Demon by Jimmy Cajoleas from Amulet Books and PiqueBeyond

It wasn’t technically an exorcism, what they did to Clare. When the reverend and his son ripped her demon from her, they called it a “deliverance.” But they didn’t understand that Clare and her demon—known simply as Her—were like sisters. She comforted Clare, made her feel brave, helped to ease her loneliness. Now, Clare will do anything to get her demon back, even if it means teaming up with the reverend’s son and scouring every inch of her small, Southern town for answers. But if she sacrifices everything to bring back her demon, what will be left of Clare?

Then there are the ??? books, the ones that are about teenagers…mostly…and have a coming of age story? Sort of? But are hard to classify. These are books that are great for YA skeptics, die-hard readers of YA lit, and of course, teens. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

forest of a thousand lanternsForest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Xifeng is 18 when this story begins, and she is one hard-hearted young adult. She’s been told by her Aunt her whole life that she’s destined to become Empress, and she sets out to do so, making some increasingly ethically questionable decisions to get there. A re-telling of the Evil Queen/Snow White legend that is not for the easily squicked out.

and I darkenAnd I Darken by Kiersten White

TW: torture

A historical fiction re-imagining of the story of Vlad the Impaler, except Vlad is Lada, a girl. The first book follows Lada from her childhood in Wallachia to her imprisonment in the Ottoman empire as collateral to keep her father in line. This one is classified as fantasy in a lot of places, but there are no fantastical elements. Lada is a cruel and desperate child who becomes a cruel and desperate young adult–her relationship with her brother, who is imprisoned with her, is fascinating here.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

I spent a lot of time wondering if this was a YA novel as I was reading it–it comes from a kidlit publisher and was nominated for a Newbery, but Gen, the main character, reads as in at least his early 20s to me. YMMV! A classic on-the-road-with-the-gang-who-mostly-hates-each-other-LOTR-style fantasy story with a heist for a twist, and then more twists on THOSE twists, and you’ll love Gen with your whole heart.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Like The Labyrinth, if it took place in 18th century Europe and if Jennifer Connelly were a little older and a talented musical composer. This one is about dark and possessive love, and sacrifice, and mania. Lovers of fantasy romance of all ages will be into this one (and its sequel!).

Categories
The Stack

092018-CheckPlease#Hockey-The-Stack

Today’s The Stack is sponsored by Check, Please! #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu and published by First Second Books.

Eric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman Samwell University hockey player is a whole new challenge. First of all? There’s checking (ranging from a stick check all the way to a physical sweep). And then, there’s Jack—his very attractive but moody captain.

A collection of the megapopular webcomic series, this is a hilarious and stirring coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life – including updated art and a curated selection of Bitty’s beloved tweets.

Categories
Riot Rundown TestRiotRundown

092018-EvelynHardcastle-Riot-Rundown

Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.

The most inventive debut of 2018, this clever, mind-bending murder mystery will leave readers guessing until the very last page.
One of Stylist Magazine’s 20 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Harper’s Bazaar’s 10 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Marie Claire, Australia’s 10 Books You Absolutely Have to Read in 2018
At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed. Again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder. However nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

Categories
Today In Books

FEAR Is the Fastest-Selling Book in Simon & Schuster History: Today in Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Epic Reads, bringing you Pride by Ibi Zoboi.

Watch THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE Trailer

The excitement over Netflix’s adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House just got turned way up, because there’s a terrifying trailer for the ten-episode series. Strictly speaking, it’s not a proper adaptation, but it will be set in the same world as her book. Look for the premiere in October!

Hotcakes Can Only Dream of Selling Like FEAR

Bob Woodward, the journalist who famously broke open the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, is the latest to pen a book about the Trump administration. And after Fear‘s first week on shelves, it’s already on its tenth printing. The 1.1 million copies sold so far make it Simon & Schuster’s fastest selling book ever.

James Corden Will Never Be Good Enough for Her Family

If you haven’t seen the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians yet, well, you should. But this behind-the-scenes sketch from “The Late Late Show” is basically a mini-remake, with James Corden trying to win the approval of Henry Golding’s onscreen mother, Michelle Yeoh.

Categories
Giveaways

Win a Copy of THE 7 1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton!

 

We have 10 copies of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton to give away to 10 Riot readers!

Here’s what it’s all about:

The most inventive debut of 2018, this clever, mind-bending murder mystery will leave readers guessing until the very last page.

One of Stylist Magazine’s 20 Must-Read Books of 2018.
One of Harper’s Bazaar’s 10 Must-Read Books of 2018.
One of Marie Claire, Australia’s 10 Books You Absolutely Have to Read in 2018.

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed. Again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder. However nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click the cover image below!

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

10 Terrific Children’s Nonfiction Books about Animals

Hello, Kid Lit friends!

It’s no secret that I love animals. As I write this, I have a dog at my side, two cats at my feet, and a rabbit underneath the chair I’m sitting on. There have been some fantastic nonfiction books with animal themes lately, so I thought I would share them! These are all interesting, informative, and gorgeously illustrated books. Please note that all descriptions are from Goodreads.

Sponsored by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic

Sunny Lewin has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. At first she thought Florida might be fun — it is the home of Disney World, after all. But the place where Gramps lives is no amusement park. It’s full of . . . old people. Really old people. Luckily, Sunny isn’t the only kid around. She meets Buzz, a boy who is completely obsessed with comic books, and soon they’re having adventures of their own. But the question remains — why is Sunny down in Florida in the first place? The answer lies in a family secret that won’t be a secret to Sunny much longer. . .

Picture Books

Coral Reefs: A Journey Through an Aquatic World Full of Wonder by Jason Chin

During an ordinary visit to the library, a girl pulls a not-so-ordinary book from the shelves. As she turns the pages in this book about coral reefs, the city around her slips away and she finds herself surrounded by the coral cities of the sea and the mysterious plants and animals that live, hunt, and hide there. Coral Reefs by Jason Chin plunges readers into the ocean with incredible facts about fish, coral reefs and marine life. Readers will experience the ocean like they never have before in this stunning picture book full of breathtaking illustrations.

Cuddly Critters for Little Geniuses by Susan and James Patterson, illustrated by Hsinping Pan

From sloths to spoonbills and panda ants to pangolins, little geniuses will love learning about all of the unusual, adorable animals that live on this planet. More than 50 little-known flyers, swimmers, and crawlers are included in this book, whimsically illustrated by artist Hsinping Pan. Cuddly Critters for Little Geniuses will remind you that nature contains many wonders–and these cute and curious creatures are no exception!

Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

In the Middle Ages, people believed that insects were evil, born from mud in a process called spontaneous generation. Maria Merian was only a child, but she disagreed. She watched carefully as caterpillars spun themselves cocoons, which opened to reveal summer birds, or butterflies and moths. Maria studied the whole life cycle of the summer birds, and documented what she learned in vibrant paintings. This is the story of one young girl who took the time to observe and learn, and in so doing disproved a theory that went all the way back to ancient Greece.

Cute an an Axolotl: Discovering the World’s Most Adorable Animals by Jess Keating

The Internet pretty much runs on cute animal photos, but “cute” is so much more than clickbait kittens and insta-pups. Cute is for feathery-gilled axolotls (pronounced: ax-uh-LOT-ulz), shy pygmy hippos, poisonous blue dragons, and armored pangolins. All of these animals are cute, but they’ve also adapted remarkable ways to survive in their unique environments.

Animalium by Jenny Broom

Welcome to the Museum is a series of books set on the “walls” of the printed page, showcasing the world’s finest collections of objects — from natural history to art. Open 365 days a year and unrestricted by the constraints of physical space, each title in this series is organized into galleries that display more than 200 full-color specimens accompanied by lively, informative text. Offering hours of learning, this first title within the series — Animalium — presents the animal kingdom in glorious detail with illustrations from Katie Scott, an unparalleled new talent.

Middle Grade Books

Whales: An Illustrated Celebration by Kelsey Oseid

Some of the world’s most fascinating and beloved animals, cetaceans have captivated the human imagination for centuries. Whales: An Illustrated Celebration explores the most interesting and illuminating facts about these marine mammals, from the enormous blue whale (which has a heart the size of a car!) to the Amazon river dolphin (which is pink!). Gorgeously illustrated with full-color art on every page, this giftable guide delves into cetaceans’ mysterious evolution (from land to water mammals), their place in mythology, and their ecology, habitats, and behaviors (such as singing, fluking, beaching, bubble feeding, and more).

The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. In this visual nonfiction biography, richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman paints her own picture of one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg

Fossils show we’ve shared our work and homes with dogs for tens of thousands of years. Now there’s growing evidence that we influenced dogs’ evolution—and they, in turn, changed ours. Even more than our closest relatives, the apes, dogs are the species with whom we communicate best. Combining history, paleontology, biology, and cutting-edge medical science, Kay Frydenborg paints a picture of how two different species became deeply entwined—and how we coevolved into the species we are today.

Back from the Brink: Saving Animals from Extinction by Nancy Castaldo

How could capturing the last wild California condors help save them? Why are some states planning to cull populations of the gray wolf, despite this species only recently making it off the endangered list? How did a decision made during the Civil War to use alligator skin for cheap boots nearly drive the animal to extinction? Back from the Brink answers these questions and more as it delves into the threats to seven species, and the scientific and political efforts to coax them back from the brink of extinction.

The much anticipated Amulet #8: Supernova is coming out this Tuesday! Check out a terrific interview with Kazu Kibuishi on The Yarn podcast here.

Carl Hiaasen is back again with another hilarious middle grade read. Like his other books, Squirm has an environmental theme in addition to lots of laughs, hijinks, and super smart kids. When I got married thirteen years ago, my husband and I gave out copies of Hoot by Carl Hiaasen as wedding favors. ❤

Spirit Hunters #2: The Island of Monsters by Ellen Oh is the second book in the Spirit Hunters series, and it is seriously creepy. Perfect for middle grade readers who love being scared!

 

Around the web…

Noteworthy Middle Grade and YA Sequels for Fall 2018, via Publisher’s Weekly

Mary Poppins Returns with New Editions, Tie-Ins, via Publisher’s Weekly

Quiz: What Would Be Your Best Class at Hogwarts?, via Book Riot

9 Ways to Get Free or Cheap Kids’ Books, via Book Riot

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Categories
Check Your Shelf

Why We Need Libraries, NOS4A2 Casting, and Stormy Daniels’ Tell-All Memoir

Welcome to Check Your Shelf! This is your guide to all things book talk worth knowing to help librarians like you up your game when it comes to doing your job (& rocking it).

Check Your Shelf is sponsored by Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson.

Forced to become a child soldier, a sixteen-year-old Somali refugee must confront his painful past in this haunting, thrilling tale of loss and redemption for fans of A Long Way Gone and What is the What.

Libraries & Librarians

Book Adaptations in the News

Books in the News

By the Numbers

Award News

All Things Comics

Audiophilia

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

First the serious pieces:

And now for some lighter news!

Level Up (Library Reads)

Do you take part in LibraryReads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? Whether or not you read and nominate titles, we’ll end every newsletter with a few upcoming titles worth reading and sharing (and nominating for LibraryReads, if you so choose!).

We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

And to make it even easier, I’ve picked a few specific titles that are being released in January 2019. Links direct you to Edelweiss, where you can request a digital advance copy, and nominations are due by November 20th.

  • The Far Field – Madhuri Vijay. (January 15, 2019). “An elegant, epic debut nove from an exciting new talent and Pushcart Prize-winner that follows one young woman’s search for a lost figure from her childhood, a journey that takes her from Southern India to Kashmir and to the brink of a devastating political and personal reckoning.”
  • The Kingdom of Copper – S.A. Chakraborty (January 22, 2019). “S. A. Chakraborty continues the sweeping adventure begun in The City of Brass, conjuring a world where djinn summon flames with the snap of a finger and waters run deep with old magic; where blood can be dangerous as any spell, and a clever con artist from Cairo will alter the fate of a kingdom.”
  • The World According to Fannie Davis – Bridgett M. Davis (January 29, 2019). “Set against the dramatic backdrop of 1960s and 70s Detroit, novelist Bridgett M. Davis’s stirring memoir tells how her ingenious mother used Detroit’s illegal lottery to support her family.”

 

Thanks for hanging out and we’ll see you again in two weeks!

–Katie McLain, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Swords and Spaceships Sept 21

Happy Friday, time travelers and Titans! Today I’m reviewing The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede and talking about African SFF, the All Souls trilogy, technology-induced terror, and more.

This newsletter is sponsored by Lion Forge.

For their 45th anniversary, Hank and Molly Nonnar decide to undergo an experimental rejuvenation procedure, but their hopes for youth are dashed when the couple is faced with the results. In Upgrade Soul, McDuffie Award–winning creator Ezra Claytan Daniels asks probing questions about what shapes our identity—Is it the capability of our minds or the physicality of our bodies? Is a newer, better version of yourself still you? Upgrade Soul is in stores now from Lion Forge!

Couldn’t make it to the All Souls Convention? Vulture has a recap that makes me wish Deborah Harkness was my best friend. (I still remember the declensions and conjugation tables from high-school Latin! HMU Deborah.)

Tade Thompson has a request regarding African SFF — and a reading list —  for us, which ends with these killer lines: “African science fiction is not rising. It is here.” I reviewed Thompson’s Rosewater on Tuesday (short version: it’s great), and this piece has a side bonus of beautifully situating his work within that of the broader African SFF scene.

Nervous about technology? Unbound Worlds has a list of eight novels for the techno-skeptic, and I strongly cosign Wildcard by Marie Lu (although you should definitely read Warcross first) and Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson.

As today’s review shows, I’m a fan of middle-grade SF/F, and this list of Percy Jackson read-alikes is very much in my wheelhouse.

This list of fantasy series is a thing of great beauty; I especially love how Silvana organized it into new, on-going, and completed series!

Want to get really philosophical about world-building? This excellent Twitter thread goes there, and talks about the importance of reading diversely in the process. (H/T to Barbara in Insiders for that link!)

Love to color, don’t feel like shelling out for a full coloring book, and have access to a printer? We’ve got free Harry Potter coloring book pages for you!

Today in reviews, we take a walk down Nostalgia Lane.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

an illustration of a coy-looking green and tan dragon against a black backdropWhen I was packing for my two-week vacation, I went back and forth on which books to bring (as you do). I ended up deciding to only pack my iPad, which doubles as my ereader, and loaded it up with work-reading — because even when you’re on vacation, review deadlines loom! But in the name of vacation, I also bought myself the ebook collection of The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, which I’ve been meaning to reread for ages and which were absolute favorites of mine as a kid. I am happy to tell you that they stand up, and how.

For those who were not indoctrinated in their tender years, I’ll give you the briefest of synopses: these middle-grade books follow a bevy of characters including a runaway princess, the king of a magical forest, and a very tidy witch. In Wrede’s gently wry fairytale universe, dragons need princesses to make them cherries jubilee and tidy their treasure hoards, wizards can be banished with soapy water, flying carpets come in designs including pink teddy bears, and the best way to go on an adventure is to know as little as possible about why you’re going. Also, politeness is key.

Revisiting these was exactly the kind of “waiting on a plane or a train” reading I wanted — light, funny, and beautifully imaginative. Even more interesting as an adult reader, though, were Wrede’s introductions to each book. I came to them via Cimorene in Dealing with Dragons, which — while technically the first book in the quartet — was written second, after Talking to Dragons had already come out as a stand-alone. Wrede’s thoughts on working with Jane Yolen and the process of creating a series out of a one-off book were fascinating both as a fan (I do love to see a little behind-the-scenes process) and as a reviewer. Looking for the little touches of continuity in each book was like a delightful scavenger hunt. (Just me? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .)

Like many, I find it nerve-racking to reread old favorites. Will they be as good? Will they contain horrible stereotypes or outright racism or misogyny that my younger brain missed? I’m happy to say that while the series could certainly use a diversity update, I found it as engaging as I’d remembered. Wrede laughs with her characters in their foibles and gives them amazing moments to shine, whether they’re a young fire-witch with a temper or a dragon with a cold.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn

Categories
Kissing Books

The (Good) Kochs are Going Into The Movie Business

How’s your September going? I’ve been making my way through the first season of Timeless, which really could use just a touch more kissing but is otherwise pretty fun. And it’s a fun way to learn about things like the Murder Castle.

Sponsored by Kensington Publishing Corp.

National Bestselling author Nicole Helm returns with the fourth installment in her down-to-earth, warm-hearted and compelling Mile High Romance series – this time with a cowboy twist! Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, rugged Gracely, Colorado is famous for big-sky beauty and small-town community. It’s a perfect place to take a deep breath, start again—and even plunge into the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. When Cora took a job as a wedding planner, she certainly did think she’d be the one getting hitched!

News and Useful Links

Have you heard? Bea and Leah Koch, the ladies at The Ripped Bodice, have signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures. There hasn’t been any lengthy information on what they’ll be doing, but from what I’ve read, they’ll be using their knowledge to help Sony produce some awesome romance content.

Do you have Amazon Prime? They recently introduced Prime Reading, which is basically KU Lite. There’s a select grouping of titles available to Prime account holders, and you can borrow up to 10 titles a month. I’ve had a look at the romance offerings, and they’re not too bad. Have you tried it out? Let me know what you think!

And speaking of Kindle Unlimited, Talia Hibbert reviewed a few worthwhile KU titles on Frolic.

Vice did something dumb. Seriously, you’d think someone would do some research before publishing something like that.

This looks like the cutest thing ever and we should make sure it gets made.

Deals

cover of undue influence by jenny holidayInterested in a queer retelling of Persuasion? Jenny Holiday’s Undue Influence is 3.99.

If you’re looking to start a new Rachel Van Dyken series, Dirty Exes is 1.99.

It’s Hard Out Here for a Duke by Maya Rodale is 1.99. With a title like that, how can you resist?

Holley Trent’s newest fae romance, Prince in Leather is 1.99 right now, too.

Over on Book Riot

Vampire romance giveaway, you say?

What are your bookish habits, weird or otherwise?

Here’s a rundown of the big differences between KU and Prime Reading.

Recs!

The fall brings certain sounds to my living room, and I can’t help but joining up with them in my own way. While watching football isn’t my personal delight, I don’t despair its existence, and I still want to spend those three…or nine…hours with my gentleman. So while he’s paying close attention to every play, I spend the time between the moments when he hits my leg and tells me to watch a replay enjoying a novel or two. But what’s football without sports romance?

cover of on the line by liz lincolnOn the Line
Liz Lincoln

When Carrie finds herself without her wallet at the grocery store, the hot, Thor-like giant buying bananas and tampons behind her pays for her groceries. When she discovers the feminine products are for his twelve-year-old daughter, she immediately steps in to correct him, and a relationship is born. Too bad their flirty texting is interrupted by Carrie’s need for a job and Thor Sean’s need for a nanny. Carrie is obviously the best candidate for the job, sharing passions and interests with young Maddie. But that means no more flirting with her new boss. But she can’t help the feelings she develops for the man she’s getting to know, and the girl she’s growing to love.

Precious, right?

I don’t know what it is, but I really do love football romances. The first one I ever read was Blitzing Emily by Julie Brannagh, which involves a fake relationship and an opera star—so you know I was all over it. The rest of the series is similarly entertaining, and also relatively diverse, considering.

Another fun series is the New York Leopards trilogy by Allison Parr, starting with Rush Me. The heroine is an academic and it’s delightful.

cover of his convenient husband by robin covingtonRobin Covington’s His Convenient Husband provides us with one of the few m/m stories starring a football player. There’s also a Russian dancer and a precious genderqueer teenager.

And of course, the newly released Intercepted (which is going to be our second When in Romance Book Club read in about a month!) looks pretty great.

(Not to mention Swagger the next Milwaukee Dragons series, which features the delightful Marcus James, whose brief appearances in On the Line left me wanting more.)

New and Upcoming Releases

cover of the breakup plan by tia kellyThe Breakup Plan by Tia Kelly

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh

Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven

More than Crave You by Shayla Black

Mostly Sunny by Jamie Pope (Sept 25)

Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau (Sept 25)

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 or just want to say hi!