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.
Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky is $1.99! This is a m/m romance with an age gap. There are also some off limits elements, as one of the heroes is the ex-husband of the other hero’s boss.
I’m commandeering Friday Videos this week! On the podcast, I told Sarah that I listen to music that you start fights to. I love heavy drums and lots of screaming. For this Friday, Sarah asked me to share some of my favorite heavy metal songs. Be warned, some of these may contain explicit lyrics and are certainly an assault on the senses. One of my favorite collabs is “RATATATA” from BABYMETAL (from Japan) and Electric … Continue reading Friday Videos for Fighting→
By listener request! My guest today is author and professor Jodi McAlister. You might remember Jodi from her appearance in episode 626 when we talked about her Marry Me Juliet trilogy, set within a fictional version of The Bachelor. Now she’s in the middle of a new trilogy she’s calling Love Notes, and we’re going to discuss the latest book, A Study in Sparkling. We’re going to discuss learning a TON about wine, and about … Continue reading 740. A Study in Sparkling with Jodi McAlister→
Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee is $1.99! This was mentioned in a previous Hide Your Wallet. It’s a childhood friends to lovers contemporary romance. Have you read this one?
This request is from Lara: I’m reading Jane Austen’s Bookshelf and it’s making me really curious about the classics. Something I haven’t felt in at least a decade. So it’s a really broad rec request. Which classics (especially women writers who aren’t necessarily ‘canon’) would the bitchery recommend? I have only one other requirement – that the book have a happy ending. Oh and preferably available as an ebook as my budget and location don’t … Continue reading The Rec League: Classics with Happy Endings→
Welcome to my reading journal! So many of us love the Sebastian St Cyr series by CS Harris that it seemed silly to review each of the books. Instead, I humbly offer you excerpts from my reading journal: things that stood out, shocked, cheered, etc. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. When Gods Die– Book 2 The cover copy: Brighton, England— 1811. The young wife of an aging marquis is found murdered … Continue reading St Cyr Reading Journal: Entry One→
RECOMMENDED: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn is $2.99! This book and series has been mentioned quite a bit on the site. Elyse recommended it if you like historical mysteries. Reader StacieH4 mentioned it for those who prefer their romance light on sex, and Reader Tina Chaney said on a podcast that the book has one of her favorite opening lines. Have you read it?
Welcome back! Thank you all for the batch cooking suggestions from last week. We plan to do a freezer clean-out soon to take inventory and free up some space. Things are also cooling off in New England, so it’s getting ready to be soup season anyway. I always anticipate my first batch of slow cooker chili of the season. Sorry, Texans, my recipe includes beans. … The 2026 finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards … Continue reading Links: Nature, Beverly Jenkins, & 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 Tarot After Dark: A Message from the Ancestors→
A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath is $2.99! This released December 2024 and we’ve heard good things about the crazysauce plot. Did any of you pick this one up?