I have a terrible memory for books. While it makes rereading a joy, things get tricky if I don’t write my review immediately after reading the book. But not in this case. With one thing after another, I’m only sitting down to write this review a good long while after I read the book, and the plot is crystal clear in my memory. This is a testament to two things: 1. The skill with which … Continue reading Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
One weekend, Alisha Rai got married. Then, two weeks later, her new book came out. So let’s talk about all the things! We cover her wedding, the parties, and how part of her wedding was at a celebrity’s mansion (but we had no idea until the end). And of course, we talk about her newest book, Partners in Crime. We discuss portraying mental health struggles and coping mechanisms, as well as sequel bait, and writing … Continue reading 533. Partners in Crime: The Book and the Wedding with Alisha Rai
RECOMMENDED: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker is $2.99! This is a fantasy historical and reader favorite. Carrie reviewed this book in June 2013 and really liked it. She says it doesn’t have romance as its primary plot, but it’s a beautiful read:
I loved this book, but not so much for the love story. I loved the mythologies, the settings, and the characters. I love books that let me see into another world, and this book gave me that feeling many times. The characters were all mesmerizing. I felt like I was in each setting, meeting these real people.
Battle Royal by Lucy Parker is $1.99! Oh, yeah! This is a perfect weekend treat of a book. I read it on vacation last year and loved it, and Catherine Heloise (we miss you, Catherine) wrote in her A- review that ”
Lucy Parker could probably hear my squeeing from across the Tasman Sea (look, it’s not that far from Melbourne to New Zealand, and I am a trained singer…).
I was not disappointed.”
This is a perfect reading confection if you like contemporary romance and food, and the price is *chef’s kiss.*
We don’t often do cover reveals at SBTB, but when we got a load of the cover for Alisha Rai’s October release, Partners in Crime , we knew we had to share. Before we get into the cover, here’s a description: Indian Matchmaking meets Date Night in this fun, romantic adventure by Alisha Rai — “One of the very brightest romance writers working right now.” (Entertainment Weekly) Mira Patel’s got a solid accounting career, good friends, … Continue reading Cover Reveal: Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
I was initially skeptical of the newest installment in Rai’s Modern Love series. The main character, Jia, is a social media influencer who creates videos about make-up. I tend to avoid novels about models, and wasn’t sure that I was millennial enough to appreciate this romance. But First Comes Like might be my perfect pandemic read. It has a more lighthearted, fluffier tone than Girl Gone Viral, with a heroine whose thirstiness made me smile, … Continue reading First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
Alisha Rai wrote a tweet about cake pops on Valentine’s Day that went holy heckin’ viral. It was on every social media platform. It was on tv. Morning shows spent 3+ minutes debating it. Then jackwagon men’s rights activists on YouTube ranted about it. The cake pops are a metaphor, but the outcome of online virality and that level of exposure is very real, and very difficult. So we talk about what happened, why it … Continue reading 402. Girl Indeed Gone Viral, with Alisha Rai
CW: The story includes discussion of past experiences of child abuse, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai is full up with tropes that I’m sure are a lot of people’s favs—there’s a romance between a bodyguard and the woman he’s hired to protect! Forced proximity! Cute stray dog! Former soldier struggling to manage his PTSD! A marriage of convenience! Friends to lovers! Small town! Millionaire former celebrity looking to live a … Continue reading Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
CW/TW: Abusive romantic and familial relationships. Rhi’s ex is seriously menacing in a few parts, so take care of yourselves! Alisha Rai is beloved here in the Pink Palace, so I approached The Right Swipe with some apprehension and excitement. What if I didn’t love it? Would my new friends kick me out of this very cool book club? I’m not always a fan of contemporaries, and am not particularly drawn to stories where the … Continue reading The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Did you know author Alisha Rai is starting a new series next summer with Avon? Well, now you do! On July 2, 2019, Rai begins her Modern Love series with The Right Swipe , a contemporary romance with a focus on technology and dating. Here’s the description: Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love … Continue reading Cover Reveal: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
RECOMMENDED: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin is $3.99! This is a Kindle Daily Deal and is being price matched. Elyse loved this book and gave it an A:
The Fifth Season is also a relatively quick read. It opens with a cataclysmic disaster and doesn’t slow down its pace. Its characters travel widely. My only word of warning is that the book ends on a massive cliffhanger. Fortunately the sequel, The Obelisk Gate, will be released in August. After finishing this book I’m making desperate grabby hands for the next one.
If you like immersive, action-driven fantasy and if you want a fantasy world that’s not Euro-centric–or if you just love a really, really good story–I cannot recommend The Fifth Season enough.
