I love candles. I probably buy more candles in a year than I do books. Browsing for new candle retailers and finding themed scents has quickly become one of my favorite past times, and candles and books seems like a good pairing. Just keep the flames away from the pages! Bookish candles also seem to be on the rise, most notably for YA, but let’s get romance into the mix.
For Lit Wicks, we’re pairing candles with an author’s body of work, using candles to tap into a book’s setting, characters, or overall feel. And our inaugural post is inspired by the work of Queen Bev, better known as bestselling author Beverly Jenkins!
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Slayer of Words: Last year, Beverly Jenkins delivered an emotional speech upon receiving the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award at RWA. Since then, the “Slayer of Words” title has inspired shirts and other swag, and more importantly motivated many of us to keep on writing and writing and writing. Whether you advance by five words, fifty, or five hundred, we all want you to keep writing.
Candle: Canterbury Road Co. Writer’s Bundle of three 8 oz. soy candles ($48)
This set of three comes in the following scents: Writing at the Cafe contains scents of “lemon cake, biscotti, and hot tea.” Currently Writing features notes of “pipe tobacco, merlot, and blank pages,” and Writing at my Desk is scented with “blood oranges, oak, and salt water.” All three sound delightful!
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Topaz: The heroine of Topaz, Kate Love is an intrepid newspaper reporter who is in the middle of a shocking exposé. She’s also none too happy about being married off to settle her father’s debts.
I know zilch about producing newspapers in a historical setting, but my imagination tells me the smell of ink and paper is probably very important.
Candle: Fireplace Candles – The Times 7.5 oz. ($12)
Fire Place Candles says this candle smells exactly like “the scent of a freshly unrolled newspaper.” I am very curious about this one, as it’s definitely a unique scent.
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The Old West series: As the series name suggest, the three books in The Old West series take place in the Old West, namely Arizona, California, Nevada, and Wyoming. Book three, Tempest, is out at the end of January, but that means you’ve got time to savor Forbidden ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and Breathless ( A | BN | K | AB ), and we very much recommend that you do!
There are ranches, horses, the hot sun, and even hotter campfires. Burning the following candles (maybe not at the same time) will be sure to transport you to small one-horse towns with mysterious men and strong-willed women.
Candle: Celtic Rose Candle Company – Saddle 4 oz. ($12)
Candle: Quartz & Pine – Cinnamon Leather 8 oz. ($12)
Candle: White Buffalo – Sunshine & Sand 7.75 oz. ($14)
Candle: Bow and Arrow Candle Co. – Woodsmoke 4oz. ($5)
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Destiny’s Captive: With a heroine descended from pirates and a hero who just wants to sail and not deal with anything else, we needed a candle that smelled like the stormy seas.
The following candle is supposed to smell similar to the air when “a storm is brewing.” It also doesn’t hurt that the hero and heroine of Destiny’s Captive have a rather tumultuous relationship. A storm is definitely brewing.
Candle: A to Z Candles – Thunderstorm 9 oz. ($21)
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Deadly Sexy: With a cover showing a pair of stocking-clad long legs, it’s clear that this book is all sorts of sexy. It also features a fearless heroine stranded on the side of the road, where she meets a handsome trucker who gives her more than just a lift.
If you haven’t heard, Deadly Sexy has a GoFundMe campaign to turn the book into a movie. The campaign is nearing the halfway mark to its goal, and we’d love to see Deadly Sexy get the red carpet treatment.
Candle: Fireplace Candles – Seven Deadly Sins 7.5 oz. ($12)
Candle: Maple and Wattle – Red Carpet Extravaganza ($12.40)
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What did you think of our first Lit Wicks post? What scents would you recommended to pair with some of Beverly Jenkins’ backlist?
I’m thinking it’s not too late to get myself a late birthday present. These look delightful!
Man, now I am really coveting that Writer’s Bundle set!
For a minute I thought it said “Wet Buffalo.”
Candles! Beverly Jenkins! All the squee!
To be perfectly honest, if this becomes a regular feature, it will be one I’ll regularly ignore. Not only am I not at all interested in candles, it also seems to be geared very strongly towards US readers what with all those presumably US sellers you link to.
But then different readers enjoy different things, in general and on this site! So it’s all good!
I loved it! What a super idea. Now you’ll have to let us know when there are flash sales like you do for books:)
This was a fun way to explore a few works by one author – a scent adventure! I always seem to have more candles than time to burn them, though I am admittedly kind of paranoid because we just had EPIC FIRES here in California…yeah…anything involving smoke was out, which is a bummer, because I do enjoy candles.
I’m always on the look out (nose out?) for candles that smell nice, but are not overpowering since I have a sensitive nose.
I am so honored! How wonderful.
I’m with @Katty – prolly skip a regular candle post.
Happy Friday!!
Super fun! I’d also love to hear about your personal faves in your collection. Candles are an essential part of a fully cozy reading experience for me.
Since I don’t drink i’m more likely to read this than the cocktail posts, but I have had the same scented candle in my house for about six years. It doesn’t get a lot of action. We have a small child who frankly isn’t to be trusted!
@Rhymeswithmaria: I’m so glad you asked! I will admit that I enjoy more masculine scents, rather than sweet or floral.
For indie candle makers, I’ve really been enjoying Wick and Fable. Also, their candle subscription boxes are worth the cost; you get a lot of stuff in it. The downside of buying candles online though is you don’t get to smell before you buy.
For candles from major retailers, I love Flannel from Bath & Bodyworks, Mountain Lodge from Yankee Candle, and Cashmere Woods by Glade (which can be found at most grocery or drugstores).
If you’re a candle lover on a budget, TJ Maxx usually has full-size candles for around $6! Unfortunately, you might not have much luck finding a particular scent again.
*whispers* The word is “pastime.” It’s like autocorrect really wants to irritate me. *is grumpy and nitpicky* *goes off in search of a mellowing beverage—camomile tea perhaps?*
I just love Ms. Bev’s Writing Style. DEADLY SEXY is a good book for your reading Pleasure. Sage and Citrus Candle is an all time Favorite, Calming and Mild Fragrance.
Because I need to covet more candles. I already have a problem.
Wow, thank you for featuring our candles! What a pleasant surprise! ❤
I recently bought a ceramic tart warmer as an safer alternative to burning candles (my pets cannot be trusted). Thanks to the SBTB gift guides I discovered the book themed candles and was thrilled to discover that many candle makers also make wax tarts. Since Christmas I’ve been enjoying a variety of tarts I bought from Frostbeard and would love it if you could include in these posts if the candle makers also carry was tarts. Thank you!
Awesome…
A fragrance full of adventure, I like that. I didn’t think that way when I decided to burn a cherry candle and drink cherry wine while reading deadly sexy, but you have given me something else to look forward to while reading or watching the “DEADLY SEXY MOVIE”. Beverly Jenkins gave us a story-line befitting for the big screen.
I don’t spend a ton of time thinking about candles, but this piece led me to purchase both Topaz and Deadly Sexy and both were awesome, so…yeah. Good feature. BJ’s writing always drags me in quick.
@Cristie: I love wax melts! I can definitely include a note in the future if a shop carries the scent in a melt as well.
My favorite romance writer. The candle choices are a unique idea and I appreciate being introduced to new companies and unique fragrances.