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You Can Gift a Smart Bitches After Dark Membership!

Share the mayhem of vintage Bitches with your Valentines and Galentines and Y'allintines!

Books On Sale

Contemporary Romance, Historical Mystery, & More

Books on Sale: Not the Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt & More

Not the Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt is $2.99! We ran a guest review from Ellen before they became a regular reviewer. Ellen gave it a B-:

Overall, I think if you are sufficiently intrigued by the premise of a secret order of Wise Women, you’ll enjoy the book. And if you don’t typically crave a lot of angst and emotional torment in your romance you might enjoy it more than I did!

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Hanging Off a Horse on Old Skool Vintage Romance Covers

Passion for Glory a man in a white ruffly and puffy shirt and a blue vest is hanging off the side of a black horse in what looks like a gallop, and in one arm he is supporting a blonde lady in pink with long hair and there is NO way they aren't about to fall off

So remember when I was trying to identify the color of the year for contemporary romance? That began because I was constantly noticing the repeated color schemes on book covers in NetGalley. My brain loves a pattern, and it loves to collect things. I’ve got another collection for you. It’s from my folder named Hanging Off a Horse. Have you noticed how many old skool romance covers there are with one or more people just hanging … Continue reading Hanging Off a Horse on Old Skool Vintage Romance Covers

Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 108

Hello, everyone! I was recently blessed to get an hour of KJ Charles time for an interview. Throughout our discussion, she dropped several book recommendations, especially titles that she’s loving right now. I am now imparting those onto you! Get any good book recommendations lately? Let us know in the comments!

Sunday Sale Digest!

Smart Bitches in a blue typewriter font, and After Dark lit up like hot pink neon

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 Sunday Sale Digest!

Steam’s Valentine’s Day Game Fest!

Featured image for Steam’s Valentine’s Day Game Fest!

Now through February 20th, Steam is showcasing games “about romance, heartbreak, or even a desire to remain single.” They also mention it’s their first Valentine’s Day themed game festival, and I hope it’s successful because I’d love to see it replicated in the future. Some of these games may be available on other platforms, but I did not check to see if the sale prices were valid elsewhere. Here are games on sale that I … Continue reading Steam’s Valentine’s Day Game Fest!

What Matters in Wuthering Heights

The new 2026 WH with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. He is holding her face beneath his, and she is looking almost straight up at him.

Before we begin our rant: Unless you live under a rock, and if you do, for the love of God, please invite me to live there with you, you know all about Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights”  which is referred to in the trailer as “The Greatest Love Story of All Time.” I haven’t seen the movie yet so I’m not going to comment on it. What I do want to do is give you a … Continue reading What Matters in Wuthering Heights

Whatcha Reading? February 2026, Part One

Cozy winter still life: cup of hot coffee and book with warm plaid on windowsill against snow landscape from outside.

Welcome back and happy weekend! Here’s what we’re reading right now: Lara: I am reading a book that I have tried to get my greedy little paws on for MONTHS and finally I HAVE IT! How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin. It’s possible the anticipation of this release has raised my expectations unreasonably high, but I am cautiously optimistic that it’ll be great. I’m only a chapter in so far! Elyse: … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? February 2026, Part One

Folks are Dropping Getting Witchy With It After Organizer Posts Video about Minneapolis

A yellow diamond road sign says WTF?

Last year I started a list of book conventions and fan gatherings that went completely sideways or didn’t happen because they fell apart during the planning. The title: WTF Cons? I realized in about mid-May that keeping track would be a full time job and I couldn’t keep up with it. There were that many. Sometimes it’s lack of organization. Sometimes the follow through is so bad the City of Baltimore files civil contract claims against … Continue reading Folks are Dropping Getting Witchy With It After Organizer Posts Video about Minneapolis

Friday Videos Clean the Windows

Featured image for Friday Videos Clean the Windows

I really, really love spelunking in the depths of vintage YouTube, and this clip dates back to somewhere between 1999 and 2003, from a sketch comedy show called Smack the Pony.  You can tell because it says “Smack the Pony” at the top, but mostly because of the exceptionally good resolution on screen here. Woof. It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and I hope your pink Halloween candy is delicious, and that you are treating yourselves and the … Continue reading Friday Videos Clean the Windows

Podcast

705. RT Rewind: June 1997 Reviews

Amanda and I are back, deep diving into romance and pop culture history with issue 1997 of Romantic Times Magazine. The cover reads Love, Lust, Laugh, and we’ve got some vintage books to talk about. Then we talk about what books we’re most looking forward to right now, and what we’re currently reading. In two weeks we will be back with the ads & features, and you know a magazine from the 90s has the … Continue reading 705. RT Rewind: June 1997 Reviews

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