Grab your TBRs and get ready for Summer Solstice on June 21!
RECOMMENDED: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant is $1.99! This book is often recommended in terms a sex-positive heroine. However, other readers found the heroine’s view of sex to be rather unromantic. I feel like this is one of the more divisive romances; people either seem to love it or hate it.
We are back in the early 90s, when the mullets were epic and the covers were sumptuous. Come on back to July 1992 with us as we explore the ads & features of the 100th issue of Romantic Times Magazine! This issue contains some FASCINATING retrospective looks at romance, cover art, and more, and I think it is one of the primary sources cited for some of the more common stories I’ve heard about romance. … Continue reading 733. RT Rewind: July 1992 Ads & Features – The 100th Issue Special!
I remember when George Harrison died, I thought about his song, “My Sweet Lord,” about how much he wanted to meet God. And I wondered if he did. I hope it made him happy. Likewise, when I heard Dolly Parton had died (that will be a “where were you when you heard” story for people, I think. So many of us were rocked) I immediately thought of two songs. Both might make you cry! I mean, … Continue reading Friday Videos are Really Sad This Week
RECOMMENDED: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin is $1.99! Carrie, who will read any and all Pride and Prejudice retellings, gave this one a B+:
Now THIS is how it’s done! Ayesha At Last is a lovely loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice, with a perfect mix of humor, heartbreak, misunderstandings, and humor. It’s a contemporary set in Canada and the characters are described with empathy and with plenty of surprises.
This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviewed at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at @thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next … Continue reading Only One Tour Bus by Suleena Bibra
Ravenous by Kresley Cole is $1.99! I’m honestly shocked this is on sale only a month after release. I bought a hard copy of this one from a Florida store, ERRA Books, because Cole’s website mentioned they may still have swag left. And now I’m going to rant. I placed an order on 8/3. No movement. Emailed them 8/16. Haven’t gotten a response yet. Got a notification that a shipping label was printed 8/19. No movement. The site mentions the store is moving, but their last day at their previous location was in April. So perhaps they don’t have a new storefront yet? I’ll be on vacay in 10 days and was hoping to have it by then. I may break down and buy it digitally.
Welcome back to Links! Have I talked about pizza beans before? It’s one of my favorite dishes to make and it’s so dang good. It’s also turned into a bit of a fridge clean out recipe when it comes to using up vegetables that are on their last legs. This time, we threw in some summer squash and cherry tomatoes. Highly recommend. If it gets a little too watery, you can serve over pasta or … Continue reading Links: Events, Kimonos, & More
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading After Dark at the Movies: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren is $6.99! This is a pretty new release; it came out in July. If you’re still stuck in a library hold queue, maybe consider snapping this up at a reduced price.
This HaBO comes from Sally, who is looking for this romance: I’m looking for a Mills and Boon modern book (blue cover, UK), I think it is from the 1990s or 2000s. Both hero and heroine are Spanish, both from rich families, set in Spain. The heroine for some reason is considered promiscuous by her family and they seem to not like her. They arrange a marriage with the hero for her (maybe it’s some … Continue reading HaBO: Mills & Boon with an Arranged Marriage in Spain
