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#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed The Art of Scandal by Regina Black, an older woman/young man romance about a Black woman who gave up her art and interests to help her white politician husband, and has to
\#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed The Art of Scandal by Regina Black, an older woman/young man romance about a Black woman who gave up her art and interests to help her white politician husband, and has to rediscover herself. The milieu is wealthy socialite families, but the characters are strong and relatable. Lovely writing, though it's a bit claustrophobic how every single character has history with everyone else; I'm surprised her next book isn't a sequel.
"men always supposed their feelings were much too complicated for any one to understand them."
"men always supposed their feelings were much too complicated for any one to understand them."
\#WhatchaReading ? I finished But Not For Me, an oldie by Mary Burchell. It seemed derivative at first, managing to evoke both Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre in the first 15%. And I thought the heroine fell in love without enough build up . But I liked that it had one of Burchell's emotional and volatile heroes; rather than a closed book.
#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy, a romance with middle-aged characters! (Though still in great shape.) FMC is trying to save her father's ski hill, which her evil
\#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy, a romance with middle-aged characters! (Though still in great shape.) FMC is trying to save her father's ski hill, which her evil corporate ex is trying to buy out (boo!); MMC is a former addict who runs a sober living home and wants his guys to work for her. I liked how hard they work on overcoming their fears and communicating.
Anyone managing to read? If so, #WhatchaReading ? After many a yawning DNF, I was so relieved to be engaged by New Adult romance A Guy Like Him by Amanda Gambill. (On KU.) Could've used some editing,
Anyone managing to read? If so, #WhatchaReading ? After many a yawning DNF, I was so relieved to be engaged by New Adult romance A Guy Like Him by Amanda Gambill. (On KU.) Could've used some editing, especially for authorial tics, but the opposites-attract relationship is well drawn, and its progress from a fling to forever feels right.
#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed the dated charm of Across the Counter by Mary Burchell, where the up-and-coming shopgirl gets promoted and gets to eat in the assistant buyers dining room! Which begs the
\#WhatchaReading ? I enjoyed the dated charm of Across the Counter by Mary Burchell, where the up-and-coming shopgirl gets promoted and gets to eat in the assistant buyers dining room! Which begs the question, how many separate dining rooms did they have?! No huge fireworks, just a nice, slightly angsty fake engagement romance.
Quickie Review: Lassiter by J.R. Ward https://whiskeyinthejarromance.blogspot.com/2024/06/review-lassiter.html?spref=tw via @WhiskeyintheJar #RomBkBlog a.gup.pe
Quickie Review: Lassiter by J.R. Ward https://whiskeyinthejarromance.blogspot.com/2024/06/review-lassiter.html?spref=tw via @WhiskeyintheJar #RomBkBlog @romancebooks a.gup.pe
#WhatchaReading ? I finished Bass-Ackwards by Eris Adderly, which would be an excellent choice for this month's "Bananapants" #TBRChallenge . (Alas, I already read a truly terrible Harlequin
\#WhatchaReading ? I finished Bass-Ackwards by Eris Adderly, which would be an excellent choice for this month's "Bananapants" #TBRChallenge . (Alas, I already read a truly terrible Harlequin Presents.) This is very fun smut if you can get past the premise (not everyone can.) The strong characters and sharp writing also make it work as romance.
Came across an odd sentence in the Harlequin Presents I'm reading for the #TBRChallenge . It says the heroine's dress makes her look "very feminine, but hid none of her curves."
Came across an odd sentence in the Harlequin Presents I'm reading for the #TBRChallenge . It says the heroine's dress makes her look "very feminine, but hid none of her curves."
Might just be a careless way of writing but it implies that the "femininity" of the dress comes from an air of modesty and that demonstrating you have curves is generally considered unfeminine. Unless you do it just right.
Weird.
#WhatchaReading ? I'm halfway through Behind These Doors, a queer historical (with some polyamory) involving class issues and women's suffrage. One main character is a "nob," the other a reporter who
\#WhatchaReading ? I'm halfway through Behind These Doors, a queer historical (with some polyamory) involving class issues and women's suffrage. One main character is a "nob," the other a reporter who was raised "above his station" and feels like neither fish nor fowl. It was edited by K.J. Charles so you know it's good. :-)
On KU, supposed to be part of a series but I think there's only the one so far.
If you ever wanted a version of Dionysus in Wisconsin that was short, set in 2010, and replaced most of the magic with discussions of philosophy, I've got a new short story out! It's free and full of
If you ever wanted a version of Dionysus in Wisconsin that was short, set in 2010, and replaced most of the magic with discussions of philosophy, I've got a new short story out! It's free and full of whimsy (and existentialism). It's a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, dealing with depression, café AU version of DIW. You can find it on my website in both epub and pdf formats: http://ehlupton.com/extras/
It's on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214203425-dous
#WhatchaReading ? I found Level Up by Cathy Yardley a bit of a slog. She's reworked some of the same themes (career vs love, introversion vs isolation) in later books more successfully, and the geeky
\#WhatchaReading ? I found Level Up by Cathy Yardley a bit of a slog. She's reworked some of the same themes (career vs love, introversion vs isolation) in later books more successfully, and the geeky elements feel more authentic in her later books too, IMO. (Though perhaps that's just because game design isn't my thing.) Also needed some editing. Not sure I'll continue this series.
#WhatchaReading ? I read The Wedding Dress by Mary Burchell, one of the follow-ups to Under the Stars of Paris and inevitably a bit meh in comparison. The great design house setting is fun but the
\#WhatchaReading ? I read The Wedding Dress by Mary Burchell, one of the follow-ups to Under the Stars of Paris and inevitably a bit meh in comparison. The great design house setting is fun but the romantic relationship seems largely based on Daddy Issues.
Ooo, I saw Alexis Hall's newsletter just in time to buy the new edition of Glitterland for $1.99. Sadly the sale expires in 50 minutes, so sorry I was not more on top of things.
Ooo, I saw Alexis Hall's newsletter just in time to buy the new edition of Glitterland for $1.99. Sadly the sale expires in 50 minutes, so sorry I was not more on top of things.
#WhatchaReading ? I liked Funny Story by Emily Henry enough to write a review, damn! 😂
\#WhatchaReading ? I liked Funny Story by Emily Henry enough to write a review, damn! 😂
https://willaful.wordpress.com/2024/05/22/funny-story-by-emily-henry/
Been reading Forever My Girl by Heidi McLauchlin but giving up and deleting it because the MMC can't have a single thought about a woman that isn't misogynistic as hell. They all want him, they're all
Been reading Forever My Girl by Heidi McLauchlin but giving up and deleting it because the MMC can't have a single thought about a woman that isn't misogynistic as hell. They all want him, they're all trying too hard, they all make him sick. He makes me sick.
#WhatchaReading ? I was up all night 🥱 finishing You Should Be So Lucky. Amazingly, it's somehow not a letdown after the gorgeousness of We Could Be So Good.
\#WhatchaReading ? I was up all night 🥱 finishing You Should Be So Lucky. Amazingly, it's somehow not a letdown after the gorgeousness of We Could Be So Good.
The themes are around living an authentic life in a highly closeted time, and it's complex and believable. There are tropes too but not obnoxiously or pointlessly. And really well drawn, relatable characters. And pretty swoony romance too. 😂
3 free months of #KindleUnlimited ! Seems to be international. Works for returning subscribers but not current. Link in the link.
3 free months of #KindleUnlimited ! Seems to be international. Works for returning subscribers but not current. Link in the link.
https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1cnzoii/free\_3\_months\_kindle\_unlimited/
#WhatchaReading ? Wow, the bleak moment in The Breakup Lists was even worse than I expected, though actually worked really well with the story arc. I found it overall a good read, though too
\#WhatchaReading ? Wow, the bleak moment in The Breakup Lists was even worse than I expected, though actually worked really well with the story arc. I found it overall a good read, though too repetitious and with a bit of a deus ex machina ending; I would've like to see the main character really pursue what he wanted.
Has what seems like very good #deaf representation, is very #queer , and very geeky about high school theater. And a sweet romance.
I finally finished a book, thank Maude! After almost DNF'ing Wildfire because it seemed too similar to Icebreaker, I gave it another shot and wound up liking it considerably more than the first book.
I finally finished a book, thank Maude! After almost DNF'ing Wildfire because it seemed too similar to Icebreaker, I gave it another shot and wound up liking it considerably more than the first book. The characters are sweet and relatable, and the summer camp setting is cozy. Even the inevitable references to the romance genre were less annoying here, because the heroine actually learned something from her reading. 😂
Friends, #WhatchaReading ? I finished The Other Side of Disappearing and think it'll be one of my top romances of the year. I loved the plotting, the richness of the themes and the really satisfying
Friends, #WhatchaReading ? I finished The Other Side of Disappearing and think it'll be one of my top romances of the year. I loved the plotting, the richness of the themes and the really satisfying way things came together in the end.
Also read The Brunellesci Baby because what's a vacation without a Harlequin Presents? It's a pretty good one, tropey but with some individuality.
@WhiskeyintheJar Nice! It goes on the list.
@willaful I just started a Buddy read of Bride by Ali Hazelwood, seems like enemies-to-lovers which I love but maybe fated mates, which can be meh if it leans too far into insta.
Finished up The Story Collector by Evie Woods (will write review for!) and thought it had loads of charm
@romancebooks
@willaful I started KJ Charles's _An Unnatural Vice_, second in the Sins of the City trilogy (which I've had in the TBR for seven years, as I hoard her backlist for hard times). And then I immediately started the third and last in the trilogy, because of course once that door was opened, there was no shutting it close again.
@willaful @romancebooks I'm still not reading new, but on a road trip I relistened to Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree, this time with my hubby. Still delightful.
@willaful Now that’s done I’m picking up Chanel Cleeton’s “Fly With Me” which I haven’t read enough of to talk about yet…@romancebooks
@willaful I just finished reading Serena Bell’s “Hott Take”, the second in her “Hott Springs Eternal” series; it’s a good fake engagement/marriage of convenience book, definitely not the expected resolution of the “faking it” part, but really sweet characters. Bell’s Rush Creek setting is a fun place to go back to, as well. @romancebooks
@willaful oh, I’ve got that on my “look out for” list. Actual characters of my age is a major selling point. I’m listening to Susan Lee’s “The Name Drop” which started delightfully but is reaching the hard part of the plot now. @romancebooks
@ScribblingSandy Oh, I have read at least one - Scorpio Summer. TV setting. Gonna try a few more I found at Open Library. @romancebooks
@willaful I love her books so much! Laura Vivanco got me hooked on her when she gifted me Poppy Girl in December 2009. I guess it must have been a present for finishing my PhD. I need to check the card; I still have it somewhere
@ScribblingSandy I don't think I've ever read her. Theatre book sound cool!
@willaful @romancebooks I'm still re-reading bits of my favorite Jacqueline Gilbert category romances. This time: Country Cousin, one of the few not set in the world of theatre
@willaful I finished _Murder in Belgravia_, by Lynn Brittney; very much a historical procedural, set in Edwardian London. Read it in one long gulp, and now I'm struggling to write the review. Positive: a lot of historical fact woven into the narrative in ways that make sense. Negative: setting up a love triangle for the series, and a slight tendency towards exposition..
@WhiskeyintheJar Oh dear. 😂@romancebooks
@willaful I'm reading Bedded by the Warrior by Denise Lynn and starting The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey tomorrow.
BBTW starting the forced marriage early (10%) which is nice, get that trope rolling but the MMC has me leery, he's peak 2009 right now
@willaful @romancebooks “How to be a Normal Person” by TJ Klune. I really enjoyed this one. The writing was hilarious. The main characters were adorkable. Even inanimate objects are practically characters. I read it after a friend sent me the attached quote. 😀
@wendypalmer Good to know, thanks!
@willaful @romancelandia @romancebooks “the good book hangover” - yes! That’s exactly what it is, I’ll have to remember that phrase 😊
I adored The Mars House but—assuming you’ve not read Natasha Pulley before—might be better to start with one of her earlier books. She’s previously written literary historicals with a mild fantastic element and understated gay pining, whereas the Mars House is science-fiction, also with the understated gay pining, but also all in on her tendency to zigzag all over moral grey areas. I love her, she’s my favourite author, but she’s not traditional romance genre as such 🤷♀️
@wendypalmer Ah, the good book hangover! A Marvellous Light is so satisfying! I don't know The Mars House, will have to put it on the TBR.
@willaful @romancelandia @romancebooks I was reading an historical m/f regency but then I paused for Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light and Natasha Pulley’s The Mars House in quick succession, and now I’m having trouble finding any other fiction good enough. I’ve had to switch to non-fiction for a bit 😊
@willaful @romancelandia @romancebooks Started listening to Flor's Fiasco by Ruby Dixon, I've been waiting for this on audio forever so I can finally finish Icehome series. Exactly what I was expecting so far, fun and steamy.