Ooops! Usually, to prepare for the Whatcha Reading? posts, I have an automation tied to my site calendar (the site has its own calendar) (I love calendars) that will post a message to our internal Slack asking, well, the obvious question.
As for me, I just started The Ex Hex, by Erin Sterling, which was featured on our Bitches Love Witches compilation of allll the witch fiction coming out this month and next (there is so much, and I’m so happy about it).
I also love this thread and love how much you enjoy it, so, please tell me: whatcha reading?
@Emma L: have you read Natasha Anders’s THE UNWANTED WIFE? It’s super-duper angsty and I love it! It reads like a Harlequin Presents with more sex. I also enjoyed her three-book Alpha Men series about three sisters and the different men they fall in love with. Anders can be a bit OTT with the emotions, but some of her books totally hit my catnip center.
@JenM
Thank you so much for recommending I MARRIED A NAGA. I devoured it yesterday, along with the first book in the series, I MARRIED A LIZARDMAN. They were sweet and low angst and everything I didn’t realize I needed this week.
After those, I found HIDDEN MAGIC by Ashley Meira, which involves a slow burn across multiple books (or so I assume, since I’m only on book two). The heroine is a mercenery with amnesia about the first 16 years of her life. She woke in a prison at that age, and she and her sister have been surviving ever since – a job made more difficult by Sophia’s inherent magic. She doesn’t know much about it, but knows that mages with magic like hers are hunted and destroyed.
September and October combined are Halloween Season (I decided last year to start early because the LEAST 2020 owed me was extra Halloween, and 2021 has so far not merited it any less) so I am leaning in to either autumnal coziness or spookiness by turns. I’m not much of a horror person usually, but at this time of year I make the effort to expand my horizons, with scary movies, games, and books. Currently trying to finally finish THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson. I have borrowed the ebook, audiobook, and physical book from the library all at once, and have been switching back and forth whenever I find myself struggling.
Update on snakemen sci fi: I do not recommend viper by Naomi Lucas, unless you like total alpha jerks that think like incels. In short, plenty of consent problems, including the old chestnut of the woman saying no loud and clear but the hero ploughing on anyway because she’s physically aroused, yuck.
Also alternates between the MC’s points of view for extra creepiness and referring to women as females?incredibly irritating. DNF for me!
I’m holding out hope for the other snakeman novel!
My brain is a struggle, so I’ve been rereading– especially Lisa Kleypas. Hello Stranger is a SERIOUSLY underrated book. It’s about the only woman doctor in England and a secret agent. The adorableness is off the charts. It’s emotional and suspenseful. I’m absolutely in love with the hero. Also reading Romancing The Beat, a romance craft book by Gwen Hayes (aka Brill Harper). Great short, focused, and easily understandable craft book for romances.