Welcome to Book Beat! Think of Book Beat as Hide Your Wallet, Part Two!
In Hide Your Wallet, we talk about books coming out in a particular month that we really want to read. But there’s more to good books than just new releases!
Book Beat aims to highlight other books that we may hear about through friends, social media, or other sources. We could see a gorgeous ad! Or find a new-to-us author on a list of underrated romances! Think of Book Beat as Teen Beat or Tiger Beat, but for books. And no staples to open to get the fold-out poster.
We hope you find something new to read through Book Beat, and please let us know what books you’ve discovered recently!
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The Mere Wife
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Released: July 17, 2018 by MCD
Genre: Literary Fiction, Science Fiction/FantasyTwo mothers—a suburban housewife and a battle-hardened veteran—struggle to protect those they love in this modern retelling of Beowulf.
From the perspective of those who live in Herot Hall, the suburb is a paradise. Picket fences divide buildings—high and gabled—and the community is entirely self-sustaining. Each house has its own fireplace, each fireplace is fitted with a container of lighter fluid, and outside—in lawns and on playgrounds—wildflowers seed themselves in neat rows. But for those who live surreptitiously along Herot Hall’s periphery, the subdivision is a fortress guarded by an intense network of gates, surveillance cameras, and motion-activated lights.
For Willa, the wife of Roger Herot (heir of Herot Hall), life moves at a charmingly slow pace. She flits between mommy groups, playdates, cocktail hour, and dinner parties, always with her son, Dylan, in tow. Meanwhile, in a cave in the mountains just beyond the limits of Herot Hall lives Gren, short for Grendel, as well as his mother, Dana, a former soldier who gave birth as if by chance. Dana didn’t want Gren, didn’t plan Gren, and doesn’t know how she got Gren, but when she returned from war, there he was. When Gren, unaware of the borders erected to keep him at bay, ventures into Herot Hall and runs off with Dylan, Dana’s and Willa’s worlds collide.
A retelling of Beowulf set in the suburbs, Maria Dahvana Headley’s The Mere Wife turns the epic on its head, recasting the classic tale of monstrosity and loss from the perspective of those presumed to be on the attack.
Source: Twitter
Heidi Heilig on Twitter designed a gorgeous outfit and accessory set inspired by the book’s equally gorgeous cover. I just had to know more about the book.
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The Calculating Stars
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Released: July 3, 2018 by Tor Books
Genre: Historical: American, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: A Lady Astronaut Novel #1A meteor decimates the U.S. government and paves the way for a climate cataclysm that will eventually render the earth inhospitable to humanity. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated timeline in the earth’s efforts to colonize space, as well as an unprecedented opportunity for a much larger share of humanity to take part.
One of these new entrants in the space race is Elma York, whose experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too—aside from some pesky barriers like thousands of years of history and a host of expectations about the proper place of the fairer sex. And yet, Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions may not stand a chance.
Source: Twitter
Did you know Mary Robinette Kowal has a new series coming out? It’s all about women astronauts and alternate history! In the Twitter link above, she mentions her input on the cover costumes.
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Take a Knee
Author: Xlya Turner
Released: January 22, 2018 by AZINA MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceZora McCoy
I’m done with men, done with anything that looks like a man and just want to live my life.
I’m a woman’s basketball semi-pro coach with a dream to make it to the top. One offer from a team owner has me rethinking everything I thought I wanted for my career.
The problem is, we do not fundamentally agree on basic issues. I take a knee at every game and he defended those that deny my core belief.
He needs to leave me alone.
I want nothing to do with a man and especially him.
Harvey Black
They told me I couldn’t do it and I showed them. I showed them all. Why can’t I show her?
Zora McCoy, the woman who grates my nerves and makes me want to take her against a wall. She’s smart, loyal and wants NOTHING to do with me.
Yet, when she has my back, I know that she is what I need. When I lose her trust, I also know, it’s her that I must have.
By any means necessary.
Source: Twitter
I saw this retweeted by Rebekah Weatherspoon and I’m so insanely curious. The heroine is a basketball coach and frequently takes a knee at games to protest in favor of Black Lives Matter.
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Mister McHottie
Author: Pippa Grant
Released: October 30, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceChase
I’ve just bought the woman of my nightmares.Technically, I bought the company she works for. Point is, she cost me my two best friends ten years ago. It’s payback time, and I’m going to make her life hell.
When I’m not banging her silly and myself stupid.
I need to get my head back in business, because getting off is great, but “He was a man who had sex, and lots of it, and in the worst locations, with the woman of his nightmares” isn’t the inscription I want on my tombstone.
Even if it’s true.
Ambrosia
There are three things I hate: Bratwurst in any form, my neighbors boinking loudly like farm animals at 3 AM, and Chase Jett.Mostly I hate Chase Jett. It’s been ten years since he took my virginity—I’d make a bratwurst joke, but the unfortunate truth is that it would have to be a bratbest joke, and yes, it kills me to admit it—and now he’s not only a billionaire, he’s also my new boss.
Turns out our hate is mutual. And this kind of hate is horrifically twisted, filthy, and banging hot.
I just might have to hate him forever.
MISTER McHOTTIE is 45,000 gloriously hilarious, hot, sexy words that your mother warned you about, complete with an organic happy-ever-after (or seven), a Bratwurst Wagon, ill-advised office pranks, and no cheating or cliffhangers.
Source: Twitter
Fellow romance lover and blogger Elizabeth Jane was squeeing about this all over Twitter. Here’s what she said:
Enemies-to-lovers with running joke glitter, public sex, pineapple tater tot casserole, feminist rants, and the most adorable couple I’ve read in a dog’s age. I freaking LOVED Mister McHottie.
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Lady Rogue
Author: Theresa Romain
Released: April 24, 2018 by Zebra
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Roguish Runners Duo #1Her Secret Scandal
As far as London’s high society knows, Lady Isabel Morrow is above reproach. But the truth is rarely so simple. Though the young widow’s passionate fling with dashing Bow Street Runner Callum Jenks ended amicably months ago, she now needs his expertise. It seems Isabel’s late husband, a respected art dealer, was peddling forgeries. If those misdeeds are revealed, the marriage prospects of his younger cousin—now Isabel’s ward—will be ruined.
For the second time, Isabel has upended Callum’s well-ordered world. He’s resolved to help her secretly replace the forgeries with the real masterpieces, as a…friend. A proper sort of friend doesn’t burn with desire, of course, or steal kisses on twilight errands. Or draw a willing lady into one passionate encounter after another. Isabel’s scheme is testing Callum’s heart as well as his loyalties. But with pleasure so intoxicating, the real crime would be to resist.
Source: Twitter
To quote Theresa Romain: “If you like Bow Street Runners, beagles, cake, art heists, and HEAs, this might be the book for you.”
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FYI Mister McHottie is free as of my writing this at least. Also, the next book in the series is .99 and features a hot librarian hero.
I just read DEAR FAHRENHEIT 451: LOVE AND HEARTBREAK IN THE STACKS: A LIBRARIAN’S LOVE LETTERS AND BREAKUP NOTES TO THE BOOKS IN HER LIFE by Annie Spence and loved it. The title basically explains the book. It’s primarily made up of letters to books the librarian has read or dealt with in her job as a librarian. It’s about people’s relationships to books and how they sometimes change. It’s a witty, short, and semi-fast read. I say semi-fast because I had to keep putting down the book to add some of the books mentioned to my Goodreads TBR and check to see if my library has them.
I also cannot wait for the Romain book. I may actually have to buy that one the day it releases out of control TBR be damned!
I wish Take a Knee was about a female basketball coach supporting BLM, full stop. Let’s analyze that description.
Her: “Live my life. Career. Principles. Leave me alone.”
Him: “I want to fuck her against a wall.”
*flamethrower*
@RenBenton- this seems to so often be my problem with contemporary romance trying to tackle a timely and intriguing issue. The author has a strong point of view and a strong heroine to write, but because it’s a “romance novel” she shoehorns in “fuckabllity” and all that implies. Why? For fear that it won’t sell without that? Or the publisher’s fear that it won’t sell without that? Come on, give us more credit as readers. I haven’t read it so it may just be the blurb that makes this so frustrating. But, if that’s the case, then it’s the blurb that makes me NOT pick up these books.
Has WHAT ARE YOU READING been permanently moved to the last Saturday of the month? Perhaps that’s always where it’s been—and I’m just suffering from poor memory (wouldn’t be the first time).
@DiscoDollyDeb: Yep, it’s been shifted a week out!
My bad, DiscoDollyDeb. I should have announced the shift in the schedule and completely forgot. My apologies.
@Ren Benton and Emily C: I was just so pleased to see that she wasn’t also described as beautiful that I missed the other. Your point is a good one.
Pamela Clare has a new I-Team bought out this week, I CANNOT WAIT!
I love her, she’s an auto-buy for me…
Why do I love her? Her heroes are seriously alpha – fit, hot, very sexy – but without being asshats. There’s very little of that “omg, I’m in love, this is AWFUL” trope, the falling in love is welcomed not pushed away and while there are problems to overcome they’re neither stupidly superficial not absurdly impossible yet fixed in a trice.
I adore her stories!
I recently discovered Talia Hibbert through one of the book sale posts here and went down the rabbit hole. She’s a British author, writes interracial romance with compelling leads, steamy love scenes and witty dialogue. There was a lot of exposition and repetition in Undone by the Ex Con, BUT it has a rich, prim ballerina paired with a grumpy, rough bad boy. Class differences ahoy! It was clearly inspired by P&P and it was delicious.
AaaaAAAAAaaaahhh! New Theresa Romain!!
Double Aaaahhhh! Can’t believe you’re teasing us with a Romain that isn’t out until April!
Wow, The Mere Wife looks amazing! I love the play on meanings in the title, and the summary looks intriguing. My day job involves teaching Beowulf, so I’m really excited to add this parallel text to the TBR.
@RenBenton totally was as you feared ( gave it a whirl) The guy was basically a jerk and I started to wonder if he had foodie flavoured lip balm as EVERY time she said no! he sniffed her and she forgave him. He was totally a douche. Also, the author wrote the heroine so well, then spoilt it by saying a woman couldn’t want to be single unless she had been burnt before. Sometimes people don’t want to be in relationships, ‘cos they just, don’t !!!! Anyhoo, it was frustrating to read.
@RenBenton totally was as you feared ( gave it a whirl) The guy was basically a jerk and I started to wonder if he had foodie flavoured lip balm as EVERY time she said no! he kissed her and she forgave him. He was totally a bully. Also, the author wrote the heroine so well, then spoilt it by saying a woman couldn’t want to be single unless she had been burnt before. Sometimes people don’t want to be in relationships, ‘cos they just, don’t !!!! Anyhoo, it was frustrating to read.
In Maria Popova’s Brain Pickings this week, she describes the early love letters between Werner Heisenberg (of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle) and Elisabeth Schumacher, around the time of their whirlwind courtship and marriage before WWII.
Their daughter collected and edited these letters, published as My Dear Li: Correspondence, 1937-1946. The letters I’ve seen are very romantic, but the collection is rather pricey, almost £20 for the Kindle edition on Amazon UK.
I like this new feature – it’s like you’re on Twitter so I don’t have to be.
Every once in a while I feel a pang about a the great book discussions and recommendations I’m missing out on by not being on Twitter, and then I remember all the reasons I think that Twitter would be really bad for my mental health and decide not to risk it.
@cleo: I know what you mean. I generally enjoy Twitter, but lately I’ve been feeling a bit off from using it.
I know Cat Sebastian is mentioned here often, but a woman of a certain age mentioned the author at a club meeting where a conversation about new books turned towards romance novels ( and no one mentioned Shades of Gray). This piqued my interest a bit more, so I borrowed It Takes Two to Tumble from the library because of the vicar protagonist and vicars are on the catnip list. I have to say I love her writing style and how attached I’ve gotten to the characters less than half-way through the book.
Lady Rogue is pre-ordered and I will be renewing my membership is the Bad Decisions Book Club on or near April 24.
I can’t wait for the new Kowal and there is a book 2 scheduled to come out in the series (as well as a short story/novella available now). I am torn, though – I had hoped she would turn her WWI story into a series.