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!
Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle
Author: Penelope Peters
Released: November 13, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceThis Hanukkah, it’s love with a side of latkes.
Former ice hockey star Adam Bernard has spent the last ten years caring for his ailing father and coaching his pee-wee hockey team. He doesn’t have time to brood over what could-have-been since leaving the NHL draft – and he sure doesn’t have time for a love-life. When his team is invited to a prestigious tourney in Boston – and it’s during the week of Hanukkah – he can’t find it in his heart to tell them no. Adam hates the idea of leaving his dad alone during the holidays – but a promise is a promise.
Ben Daniels wasn’t running from his almost-Olympic past when he started up a kosher-style bakery three years ago. Deciding to stick to Hanukkah-themed treats, though, was probably running from the truth, which is that he’s one bad month away from bankruptcy. An infusion of donut-hungry preteens is exactly what his register needs – but their adorable and mysterious coach might be exactly what Ben’s heart has been yearning for.
Adam’s life is back in Montreal – but the more time Adam spends with Ben, the less he wants to leave Boston. Ben might have spent the last three years avoiding the ice – but Adam could be the key to melting his resolve.
When Adam gets an offer from the NHL, it’s a chance for them both to rewrite their histories. But Ben hasn’t been entirely truthful with Adam – and Adam’s got some prejudices that might just extinguish what’s burning between them.
With Adam’s future at a crossroads, and Ben’s past out in the open, will they find a way to prove that miracles aren’t only found on the ice?
Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle is a m/m romance with a HEA ending. It features two sexy and sincere Jewish guys, match-making 12-year-old hockey players, and lots of yummy kosher donuts.
Source: @DreamingReviews on Twitter
This m/m sounds delightful and if you aren’t following DreamingReviews on Twitter, change that! They’re a freelance editor at Carina, post great recommendations, and have tons of thoughtful Twitter threads.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Dance All Night
Author: Alexis Daria
Released: December 11, 2018 by NYLA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella, Romance
Series: Dance Off #2.5Broadway hotshot Nik Kovalenko is a confirmed bachelor.
Ballroom champion Jess Davenport is a bona fide Scrooge.
Last year, they shared a midnight kiss at a New Year’s Eve party that made both of them believe—briefly—in the magic of the holiday season. The magic was cut short when Nik went on tour the next day, but he never stopped thinking about that kiss—or Jess.
When the holidays roll back around, Nik runs into Jess again. He doesn’t want to spend another year pining for the Scrooge who got away, so he tells Jess he’ll stay if she’ll give him a shot at being her Christmas Present.
Jess thinks he’s full of it, but she agrees to three dates. If Nik can make her believe in holiday magic in a place as un-wintery as Los Angeles—and convince her that he’s ready to stick around—she’ll give him a chance. But he won’t know until New Year’s Eve. If she kisses him at midnight, he’ll have his answer…
Source: @AlexisDaria on Twitter
If you loved Daria’s Dance Off series, she put out a holiday novella with a Scrooge heroine!
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Just Physical
Author: Jae
Released: November 30, 2015 by Ylva Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: The Hollywood Series #3After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, twenty-five-year-old Jill Corrigan takes herself off the romantic market. Not wanting to become a burden to a potential partner, she focuses on her career as an actress instead.
On the set of a disaster movie, she meets stunt woman Kristine “Crash” Patterson, whose easy smile instantly makes Jill wish things were different. Meanwhile, Crash is trained to fall, but she didn’t count on falling in love.
Despite their growing feelings for each other, Jill resolves to let Crash into her bed, but not her heart.
As they start to play with fire on and off camera, will they really be able to keep things just physical?
Source: @Taramdscott on Twitter
Scott writes some great guest reviews for the site, focusing on lesbian romance. She tweeted this one has a rich girl/poor girl element between an actress and a stuntwoman.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Somewhere Only We Know
Author: Maurene Goo
Released: May 7, 2019 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Young Adult10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she’s just performed her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She’s about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She’s in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.
11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She’s very cute. He’s maybe curious.
12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same.
Source: @MaureneGoo on Twitter; Cover reveal on Bustle
It’s a Roman Holiday retelling with a K-pop star! My only gripe is that we have until May for it.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!
These all look great, but is whatcha reading next Saturday? I have my reading notebook prepped and ready to go 😉
Happy weekend, everyone!
I found several books through Black Nerd Problems via Amanda’s last hump day links post.
Nicky Drayden’s ESCAPING EXODUS, in particular, has a gorgeous cover with flowing purples and teals that makes me think “mermaid,” but it’s a space opera with habitable space beasts.
Thanks for adding to my TBR collection on my kindle!!
@JillQ: I think WAYR is usually the fourth Saturday of the month.
Wow! My library has the Just Physical book available.
@Jill – yes! Whatcha Reading is the last Saturday of the month. We are getting ready, too!
I have Maurene Goo’s I Believe in a Thing Called Love waiting in my library stack right now, and I’ve also gotten to this place in my brain where I’m like “give me all K-pop, all the time” so Somewhere Only We Know looks way up my alley.
Oh, man. My TBR … no words.