Hide Your Wallet

November’s New Releases, Part One

If you’re new to Hide Your Wallet, this is where we list new releases we’re pretty excited for in the coming month.

Each reviewer has a book maximum (five per person), but we’ve separated HYW into two parts. The first HYW of the month will cover books that release from the 1st to the 14th. The second HYW will cover books released from the 15th to the end of the month.

We also think this will help us feature books from smaller publishers who don’t have buy links up as quickly as the big five.

As always, if we missed any books that you’re particularly looking forward to, tell us all about them in the comments.

  • The Haunting of Brynn Wilder

    The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

    Author: Wendy Webb
    Released: November 1, 2020 by Lake Union Publishing
    Genre: ,

    After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.

    But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.

    In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

    Elyse: This mystery looks delightfully spooky.

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  • A Deal with the Elf King

    A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

    Author: Elise Kova
    Released: November 6, 2020 by Silver Wing Press
    Genre: , ,
    Series: Married to Magic #1

    Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Uprooted, this stand-alone, fantasy romance about a human girl and her marriage to the Elf King is impossible to put down!

    The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.

    Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen.

    To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town’s only healer.

    That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives… for her.

    Everything Luella had thought she’d known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.

    The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another… but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.

    A Deal with the Elf King is a complete, stand-alone novel, inspired by the tales of Hades and Persephone, as well as Beauty and the Beast, with a “happily ever after” ending. It’s perfect for fantasy romance fans looking for just the right amount of steam and their next slow-burn and swoon-worthy couple.

    Amanda: More fae-smooching please.

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  • A Duchess a Day

    A Duchess a Day by Charis Michaels

    Author: Charis Michaels
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Avon
    Genre: ,
    Series: Awakened by a Kiss #1

    Bestselling author Charis Michaels bursts onto the print scene with her Awakened by a Kiss series, taking our favorite fairy tales’ forgotten characters and making them the hero of their own story.

    An heiress with a plan…

    Lady Helena Lark has spent years trying to escape her wedding to the vain and boring Duke of Lusk. She’s evaded, refused, even run away. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle. But Helena has another idea: find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day.

    A bodyguard with a job to do…

    Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women. But the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancé, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.

    A most unexpected alliance…

    When their worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her. Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire.

    Amanda: Historical romance + fairy tales! Hello!

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  • A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

    A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

    Author: Manda Collins
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Forever
    Genre: ,
    Series: A Lady's Guide #1

    An intrepid female reporter matches wits with a serious, sexy detective in award-winning author Manda Collin’s fun and flirty historical rom-com, perfect for readers of Evie Dunmore, Julia Quinn, and Tessa Dare!

    England, 1865 : As one of England’s most notorious newspaper columnists, Lady Katherine Bascomb believes knowledge is power. And she’s determined to inform and educate the ladies of London on the nefarious-and deadly-criminals who are praying on the fairer sex. When her reporting leads to the arrest of a notorious killer, however, Katherine flees to a country house party to escape her newfound notoriety-only to witness a murder on her very first night. And when the lead detective accuses Katherine of inflaming-rather than informing-the public with her column, she vows to prove him wrong.

    Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his own career, and he blames Katherine. To avoid bad publicity, his superiors are pressuring him to solve cases quickly rather than correctly. When he discovers she’s the key witness in a new crime, he’s determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they’ll need to catch a killer.

    Elyse’s pick!

    Maya: Lady journalist investigating murders. Yes please, make it a double!

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  • Aurora

    Aurora by Emma McGeown

    Author: Emma McGeown
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
    Genre: , ,

    When 32-year-old Elena Ricci wakes up in the hospital, the last thing she recalls is walking home from work the night before. Except the night before turns out to be eight years ago and Elena has no memory of the time she’s lost. Family feuds, breakups, and sexual awakenings―all forgotten. For Keelin Jax, Elena’s wife, the long nightmare only continues upon Elena’s awakening when Keelin becomes a platonic roommate overnight. While Elena struggles to adjust to her new present and find the life she left behind, someone from Elena’s past finds a way to seize the opportunity after years of silence.

    Sneezy: Watching a few East Asian dramas as a kid generally turned me off from amnesia as a story trope (and no, I don’t think any of those dramas ever really showed how amnesia works) but the summary sounds thoughtful and lushly emotional. …And I’m hoping the lesbian goodness I’m promised here would mean there’s not cis het buffoonery clogging up a Soft Story that’s promising to serve up some hurt-comfort angst.

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  • Chasing Lucky

    Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

    Author: Jenn Bennett
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Simon Pulse
    Genre: ,

    In this coming-of-age romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen, a rule-abiding teen embraces her more rebellious side while falling for her ex-boyfriend’s arch-nemesis.

    Josie Saint-Martin is well-versed in the art of concealment. Bullied as a child, she’s spent most of her life with her single mother, moving from city to city, covering up what she doesn’t want others to see, comfortable behind the lens of her favorite vintage camera . . .until Josie’s grandmother dies and they return to her mother’s historical New England hometown to run the family bookstore. There, Josie pulls off the ultimate camouflage: dating Adrian, the Harvard-bound son of the most influential man in town.

    But her smokescreen is blown when Adrian breaks up with her during his high school graduation party, and Josie’s poorly executed act of revenge lands her big-time trouble—jail alongside the last person she’d want to share a mugshot with: the mysterious and brooding son of the boat mechanic next door, Lucky Karras.

    Forced to spend the summer together in mandatory community service, Josie and Lucky become the talk of their coastal town—shamed, trolled, and publicly disgraced. The weird thing is, Josie starts to not mind, because the pair have more in common than she once thought. A lot more. But during a summer of secrets, in a town built on gossip, everything rises to the surface. Can Josie and Lucky swim past these obstacles, or will they both go down together?

    Aarya: This isn’t my favorite Jenn Bennett, but she’s a great writer and I still think it’s enjoyable. Recommended for ex-friends-to-lovers and bad boy hero angsty feels.

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  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews

    Author: Mimi Matthews
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Perfectly Proper Press
    Genre: , ,

    From USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews comes a swashbuckling tale of Regency era romance and revenge.

    She couldn’t forget…

    Wealthy squire’s daughter Margaret Honeywell was always meant to marry her neighbor, Frederick Burton-Smythe, but it’s bastard-born Nicholas Seaton who has her heart. Raised alongside her on her father’s estate, Nicholas is the rumored son of notorious highwayman Gentleman Jim. When Fred frames him for theft, Nicholas escapes into the night, vowing to find his legendary sire. But Nicholas never returns. A decade later, he’s long been presumed dead.

    He wouldn’t forgive…

    After years spent on the continent, John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare has finally come home to England. Tall, blond, and dangerous, he’s on a mission to restore his family’s honor. If he can mete out a bit of revenge along the way, so much the better. But he hasn’t reckoned for Maggie Honeywell. She’s bold and beautiful—and entirely convinced he’s someone else.

    As danger closes in, St. Clare is torn between love and vengeance. Will he sacrifice one to gain the other? Or with a little luck—and a lot of daring—will he find a way to have them both?

    Claudia: This book had me squeeing for many happy hours!

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  • Her Lady to Love

    Her Lady to Love by Jane Walsh

    Author: Jane Walsh
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
    Genre: , ,

    Country mouse Lady Honora Banfield arrives in London with one mission: to catch a husband. A perpetual wallflower, she’s going to do whatever it takes to win a proposal from London’s most eligible bachelor, including teaming up with the most popular (and least proper) woman in London.

    Miss Jacqueline Lockhart is having too much fun in her sixth season to ever consider settling down, even though she’s been unsuccessful at mingling with the upper echelons of London society.

    When Lady Honora agrees to exchange invitations to the most exclusive events in return for Jacqueline’s introductions to eligible gentlemen, neither expects their friendship to ignite passion. Nora and Jacquie begin an affair with the strict understanding that it will end once Nora is married, but as a proposal becomes more imminent, choosing between a conventional life without love, or certain ruination if they stay together, isn’t as simple as it seems.

    Tara: *grabby hands*

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  • The Holiday Treatment

    The Holiday Treatment by Elle Spencer

    Author: Elle Spencer
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
    Genre: , ,

    By day, Holly Hudson’s a story editor for Wifetime Network. By night, she’s the writer for the network’s very cheesy, very straight holiday romance series―Christmas in Evermore. Holly took the job to accomplish exactly one thing: a gay Christmas movie. She’s been shot down before, but things start to look up when Meredith Drake unexpectedly moves into the network’s holiday division.

    On the heels of a brief (but totally hot) fling, Holly and Meredith agree to keep things professional now that they’ll be working together. Especially since the network has a strict policy about workplace relationships. Instead, they vow to channel their passion into a pitch for the network’s first Christmas movie to feature two female leads.

    In this contemporary romance, Holly and Meredith work to make the Yuletide gayer while discovering that happy endings aren’t only for the movies.

    Tara: I love this premise. Love, love, love it. I’m a sucker for romances behind the scenes of movies and TV shows and this just sounds perfect.

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  • How to Kill Yourself and Others in America

    How to Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon

    Author: Kiese Laymon
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Scribner
    Genre:

    A revised edition, with six new essays and seven original essays, by the “star in the American literary firmament, with a voice that is courageous, honest, loving, and singularly beautiful” (NPR).

    Brilliant and uncompromising, piercing and funny, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America is essential reading. This new edition of award-winning author Kiese Laymon’s first work of nonfiction looks inward, drawing heavily on the author and his family’s experiences, while simultaneously examining the world—Mississippi, the South, the United States—that has shaped their lives. With subjects that range from an interview with his mother to reflections on Ole Miss football, Outkast, and the labor of Black women, these thirteen insightful essays highlight Laymon’s profound love of language and his artful rendering of experience, trumpeting why he is “simply one of the most talented writers in America” (New York magazine).

    Praise for How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America:
    “I first encountered Kiese Laymon’s writing when I read How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. I was stunned into stillness.” —Roxane Gay, author of Bad Feminist

    Maya: Kiese Laymon used to contribute some truly beautiful work to Gawker back in the day, so I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with his work.

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  • Rebel Rose

    Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault

    Author: Emma Theriault
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Disney Hyperion
    Genre: , ,
    Series: The Queen's Council #1

    Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic.

    It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.

    Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power.

    When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength–and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her–to become the queen she is meant to be.

    Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen’s Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you’ve never seen before.

    Amanda: The first in a series of Disney princess re-imagings that sets them within their historical time period.

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  • Rent a Boyfriend

    Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

    Author: Gloria Chao
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
    Genre: , ,

    To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets The Farewell in this incisive romantic comedy about a college student who hires a fake boyfriend to appease her traditional Taiwanese parents, to disastrous results, from the acclaimed author of American Panda.

    Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn’t met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your ’Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

    Drew Chan’s passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your ’Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like “Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures” comes naturally to him.

    When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they’ll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.

    But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not ’rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything?

    Amanda: This sounds so effin’ cute!

    Maya: Such a cute cover!!

    Aarya: Chao’s American Panda is adorable and I’m so excited for this. It’s technically New Adult as the characters are in college (which feels like a rarity in traditionally published fiction these days!).

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  • Two to Tangle

    Two to Tangle by Melissa Brayden

    Author: Melissa Brayden
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Bold Strokes Books
    Genre: , ,
    Series: A Tangle Valley Romance #2

    Finding forever is simply too hard.

    As a renowned chef, Gabriella Russo knows how to season a good dish. It’s her personal life that’s been too spicy for her liking. Ready to take a break from the roller coaster of romance, Gabriella’s moved to Oregon to open Tangled, a restaurant on the grounds of Tangle Valley Vineyard. A good glass of wine and space to create is all she requires.

    Ryan Jacks brings all the girls to the yard, or so it should say on her business card. She’s a skilled carpenter who’s been told more than once that she’s good with her hands. When Ryan takes a job building a new restaurant, her world comes to a halt. The sassy chef is sexy, insightful, and comes with the kind of smart mouth that has Ryan rethinking just about everything. But with Gabriella off the menu, what’s Ryan supposed to do?

    Sneezy: There will be FOOD, a CARPENTER who is GOOD WITH HER HANDS. ANYONE WHO GETS BETWEEN ME AND THIS BOOK I WILL BITE.

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  • Written in the Stars

    Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

    Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
    Released: November 10, 2020 by Avon
    Genre: , ,

    With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict!

    After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass.

    Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy… a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle’s new business partner—expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because… awkward.

    When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family over the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship.

    But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?

    Tara: I’m reading this right now and whoa is it cute! I love the actuary + astrologer pairing, and their chemistry is off the charts.

    Aarya: This is adorable and I recommend it. Not a holiday romance, but it does take place in November/December (so it feels holiday-adjacent with Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas parties).

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Comments are Closed

  1. DiscoDollyDeb says:

    AURORA sounds a little bit like an f/f version of my favorite read of 2020 so far: N.R. Walker’s m/m MISSING PIECES Trilogy, about what happens to a long-time couple when one of them awakens from a terrible car accident with amnesia.

    As for me, today brings Caitlin Crews’s new HP, HIS SCANDALOUS CHRISTMAS PRINCESS. I’m eagerly anticipating this one because I very much enjoyed the first book in the duet, CHRISTMAS IN THE KING’S BED, and the hero & heroine of that book are the brother & sister, respectively, of the hero & heroine in HIS SCANDALOUS CHRISTMAS PRINCESS. In addition, the heroine is blind and I’m not sure I’ve read an HP with a blind heroine before. I’m interested in how Crews will present the heroine—the glimpse we had of her in the earlier book revealed her to be both sharp and tough. Today also brings Clare Connelly’s UNBREAK MY HART, the next in her Dare series about the Hart family. I don’t think these have been as successful as her Montebello series, but I’ve read all the other books in the Hart series, so I’ll finish this one.

    Lauren Blakely’s m/m romance, ONE TIME ONLY, drops November 18. It features the relationship between a rock star and his bodyguard. A prequel, MAYBE THIS TIME, was released on October 28, and it was hot, hot, hot—especially as there was no actual sex in it—but lots of delicious sexual tension! Blakely has said the story in the prequel—about how the bodyguard was hired and the beginning of the attraction between the two men—is not part ONE TIME ONLY which apparently starts somewhat later.

    Sybil Bartel releases HEARTLESS, the ninth of her Alpha Bodyguards series, on November 23. Bartel is one of my favorite writers, but I did not care for her last Alpha Bodyguards outing, SHAMELESS. I’m hoping HEARTLESS rights the ship.

    I’m also ooking forward to Juliana Stone’s next Crystal Lake book, SHAKE THE FROST (November 25). The story features one of my favorite tropes: a man falls for his late best friend’s widow.

  2. DiscoDollyDeb says:

    Where are the comments going? I comment, but when I click SUBMIT, while it appears the comment is being posted, it disappears into the ether (and no “Your comment is awaiting moderation” message either). ‍♀️

  3. DonnaMarie says:

    My budget was having a sigh of relief as all my new release must haves are coming out at the end of the month, but that’s blown now. Thanks?

  4. Lisa F says:

    Written in the stars is INCREDIBLY adorable, and Jenn Bennett got another A from me for Chasing Lucky.

    Intrigued by A Dutchess a Day and Ladies’ Guide. Two to Tangle, Rent a Boyfriend and Rebel Rose are in my list too! Her Lady to Love has be super excited.

    Sadly, I didn’t enjoy Gentleman Jim as much as I might have because of

    SPOILERS

    What read to me as the hero’s gaslighting of the heroine.

  5. DonnaMarie says:

    @Triple D, same thing happened to me, but now that I’ve come back to check other people’s comments, there it is.

  6. MaryK says:

    I have to say I really appreciate the “happily ever after” ending notification in the blurb for A Deal with the Elf King. You can’t always tell with fantasy books.

  7. MaryK says:

    Comments are weird for me too, and there were a lot of double comments in the Emergency Comfort Reads rec league.

  8. Kareni says:

    Egads! “…praying on the fairer sex…”

  9. Kareni says:

    I’m also having non-appearing comment issues.

  10. Kareni says:

    @DDD, I present to you (which is quite apropos in this case) The Ivory Cane, a 1978 Harlequin Presents by Janet Dailey.

    “”Shut up, Sabrina,” said Bay with barely controlled anger. “Maybe when I can think clearly I’ll be able to offer an apology. Right now all I want to do is wring your neck!”

    Sabrina would not consider the possibility that Bay had been prompted by desire for her. Her blindness had touched him – his emotion was based on pity.

    All at once she could no longer regard Bay as a friend. She had started thinking of him as a man…and for her that was dangerously foolish!”

  11. Eliza says:

    I love your recommendations, DiscoDollyDeb. I picked up Lauren Blakely’s prequel because cocky rockstar and deadpan bodyguard? Just what I need right now. But the writing style threw me, so many short sentences and one-line paragraphs. For tense action sequences, sure, but I don’t want to read a whole book like that. Are all her books written in the same style? Maybe I’ll wait for your review of the follow-up before I one-click.

  12. Lisa F says:

    @DiscoDollyDeb – you’re definitely not alone, I think it’s happening to all of us, what you’re describing happens to me every time I comment. I’m getting a lot of Cloudflare errors so I’m guessing there’s something going on with the backend at the moment.

  13. DiscoDollyDeb says:

    @Kareni: Thank you for unearthing that vintage HP. Obviously, there’s nothing new under the sun! Lol. I’m reading the Crews right now and she’s doing some interesting things with the narrative, which (like most HPs) is written in third-person in alternating POVs: the chapters from the heroine’s POV focus on what the heroine perceives through her senses of hearing, touch, taste, and smell. It isn’t until you read the chapters from the hero’s POV that you get any visually-descriptive passages; but because the heroine’s world is rich in what she does experience, there is no lack in her descriptive abilities.

    @Eliza: I’m relatively new to Blakely. I know that people who have been reading her for years have complained that her recent books seem designed more for listening to as audiobooks (lots of dialog and rather short sentences) rather than for reading. I have not had a problem with reading her books but I might feel differently had I been reading her for a long time and was familiar with her earlier work. I do know that part of the build-up to ONE TIME ONLY has been a bit of a Twitter “frenemy/bromance” between the two male narrators, so clearly at least part of the book’s appeal is in its audio potential.

  14. Jill Q. says:

    I’m very much here for Hallmark Christmas movie meta. I kept waiting for someone to tell that story.

  15. Carrie G says:

    @Eliza I’m not expert on Lauren Blakely, but the few I’ve read were fine, but not super memorable. I’ve only listened on audio and I have no idea if I’m listening to older or newer works. Her audiobooks are usually in the 4 to 7 hour range, so not long books. The ones I’ve read were not deep stories, and the conflicts felt a little forced. It’s not the writing so much as her story choices that I don’t always care for. Expect insta-lust and internal monologues about the other person’s hotness.

    I’d definitely be up for more of her books, I’m just a little overwhelmed by the number to chose from. I notice the book recommended by DiscoDollyDeb is m/m, and Blakelys other recently well-reviewed book, A GUY WALKS INTO MY BAR is also m/m, so maybe that’s a strength of hers. I’ll likely try one of those next.

  16. Emily says:

    I’m excited for Manda Collins’ A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, because it right up my alley, but also a little confused. I’ve been reading Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh mystery series (three books so far) and all the titles of that historical mystery series with a widowed lady detective also start with “A Ladies Guide to…”. The third, which was just released in July, is A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder. I’m surprised to see that two books published in the same year, with similar premises, would have almost identical titles.

  17. Amy E says:

    I am looking forward to Rebel Rose and A Deal with the Elf King. <3

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