Welcome to Book Beat!
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.
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End of Story
Author: Kylie Scott
Released: February 14, 2023 by Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: End of Story #1New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott’s sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what’s meant to be…
When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But, beggars can’t be choosers and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.
Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real…could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it’s even begun?
I feel like Kylie Scot has a decent following on SBTB. At first glance, this seems like a typical contemporary romance, but then the main characters find a divorce certificate date ten years in the future.
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Knitting for Radical Self-Care
Author: Brandi Cheyenne Harper
Released: January 4, 2022 by Abrams
Genre: Crafting, NonfictionFrom knitting expert Brandi Harper, a must-have pattern book for modern knitters, with essays on self-care and sourcing creativity
There is no such thing as being kind-of a knitter—the wobbly scarves and that oversized sweater you tried to shrink all count too. Each contribution that you make to the world through knitting is meaningful, but maybe you’ve slowed your commitment to this craft, or you can’t seem to find the time to be creative. There’s a lot to be distracted by, and the path forward isn’t always clear. Brandi Harper aims to bring those challenges to the forefront and help you unearth the immense benefits that knitting has to offer. In her debut book, Knitting for Radical Self-Care, Harper offers tips and suggestions for carving out time for creativity, alongside beautiful patterns to try yourself. The book includes ten original patterns inspired by revolutionary women of color, and Harper will speak to these women and their immense impact on her life and our world. The patterns include detailed instructions, alongside her original prose, all designed to inspire.
This one was mentioned by Elyse in our Slack and I know we have quite a bit of knitters in the Bitchery!
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The Love List
Author: Naima Simone
Released: March 1, 2022 by HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Rose Bend #2.5Being a little bit bad never felt so good…
A wedding planner who gets jilted at the altar—it’s not a good look. Even worse, Korrie Noel’s ex-fiancé has finally shown up to a wedding, but it’s one she’s coordinating. Taking refuge outside, she finds her hiding place already occupied by an insanely hot, young, tattooed Viking look-alike who makes straitlaced Korrie wonder if maybe it’s time to try breaking loose.
Rose Bend’s resident bad boy has no business lusting after the pastor’s daughter. But Israel Ford can’t help it, even if he’s still bruised from a bitter divorce and a two-year writer’s block. When Korrie asks him to teach her how to start having fun, he’s more than willing. From zip-lining to motorcycle rides, Korrie’s learning how to take risks…and Israel wonders if he can convince her to take the biggest risk of all…
A cute, sexy novella between a bartender and wedding planner. (Maybe wait for a sale price though!)
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Nevermore Bookstore
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Released: March 28, 2023 by Oliver Heber Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Townsend Harbor #1Cadence “Cady” Bloomquist knows two things for sure: First, shelving books at her shop, Nevermore Bookstore, totally counts as cardio. Second, staying late every Thursday night to take a certain mysterious customer’s order is not the same as waiting by the phone for some man.
Until.
Until the calls with the man who identifies himself only as “Fox” last for hours, and become the highlight of her week. Which leaves her to wonder, if his jagged velvet voice can kindle her fire over the phone, what sort of alchemy might it inspire if they met in person?
There’s nothing Roman Fawkes wants more than the brilliant, beautiful bookstore owner, but Roman Fawkes knows it can never happen. Secreted in his mountain hideaway high above sleepy little Townsend Harbor, his hermit’s existence shields him–and those around him–from the pain of his past.
Until.
Until one of their weekly calls is interrupted by a break-in, and Fawkes is powerless to protect the woman who has become his one link to the world. Orchestrating a trap for the fool who dared harm her, Fawkes finds himself not just ensnared, but beguiled by her. Now so close to Cady, he discovers she’s fallen for “Fox”, and yet he’s unable to reveal her heart’s desire is closer than she thinks.
Can Fawkes resist the temptation to get between Cady’s covers, knowing they’ll never have a happily ever after?
I’ve seen this one in the comments a few times and thought it would be worth mentioning. However, I definitely feel like (as someone who has read several Kerrigan Byrne’s romance) this could be an acquired taste, depending on how you like your main characters.
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Thank you for the recommendations! I began knitting as a way to help with my anxiety, so Knitting for Radical Self-Care looks like a good book for someone like me!
Knitting for Radical Self Care is a deeply nice book. It doesn’t have a lot of patterns, and most of them are cowls, so I didn’t find it directly inspiring in an omg I must make this kind of way, but more generally inspiring. It’s about the process, not how-to, more why-to, I guess? Like if you’re happily crafting away you don’t need to take time out for this book, but if you’re struggling with time management and motivation or imposter syndrome or something, this is very reassuring perspective.
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!
“I definitely feel like (as someone who has read several Kerrigan Byrne’s romance) this could be an acquired taste, depending on how you like your main characters.”
Can I have some more data here, since this book sounds delightful? What means “how”? Is the hero rapey? Is the heroine too stupid to live? Thank you!
@marjorie, hero definitely not rapey. Heroine is smart and resourceful. I haven’t read other books by Kerrigan Byrne, but I will after reading Nevermore Bookstore. Although I will mention that at 2% I was ready to ditch Nevermore because the set up confused me (a buyer of rare books who only calls on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.?) but once a bit more of what was going on revealed itself a couple of pages later, I was all in.
At first glance, this seems like a typical contemporary romance, but then the main characters find a divorce certificate date ten years in the future.
My problem with this book is that it’s the exact opposite. I read it because of the tantalizing future divorce decree found in the wall, but it devolved into a typical contemporary romance. If the brush with the future (and the concern of “if we got together, does this mean we would we be destined to separate?”) is what intrigues you, I would recommend giving END OF STORY a pass. If you want to read a book about a woman navigating the pitfalls of starting a relationship with the best friend of the man who jerkily dumped her, well here you go.
@marjorie: I haven’t read this Kerrigan Byrne book, but her Victorian romances are set in more in the underworld than the ton, and the characters reflect that – morally ambiguous (the ends justify the means) with dark backstories. For example, The Highlander starts with the FMC being rescued from an asylum where she was placed by her husband and was being tortured to “cure” her. But she’s an excellent writer, and her FMCs are strong, brave women who are more than a match for their dark, broody MMCs.
I agree with Deborah about END OF STORY. I liked it myself, but the divorce decree part of the plot kind of evaporates.
I also wanted to mention that the Naima Simone novella is included in the ebook and audiobook of the 3rd volume in the series, WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND. It’s a small town series that I’ve quite enjoyed.
@marjorie: Echoing Glen, as Byrne’s historicals are often darker. I’ve found many of them have SA as part of the heroine’s backstory and the hero’s can be pretty domineering.
@marjorie, the MMC is protective to the point of stalking the FMC. I thought it was handled all right, but your mileage may vary. I really enjoyed Nevermore Bookstore but can understand why someone would nope out.
I clicked on the link for Nevermore Bookstore, and saw that the second book in the series (due to be released in July 2023), is titled BREWBIES. I guess Brewbies is the name of the FMC’s “sex-positive, bikini-themed coffee shop”, whatever that means. It’s so juvenile, I cackled, then pre-ordered.
I enjoyed End of Story but, yes, the reader is left with a big question unanswered.
Thank you LML, Glen, Amanda, Space Cadet!
I don’t love reading about domineer-y alpha-y dudes, so I think this is maybe not for me.
HOWEVER, looking forward to hearing more about the forthcoming”sex-positive bikini-themed coffee shop” in the forthcoming BREWBIES. (Snort.)(But no, really.)
I posted about Nevermore Bookstore in WAYR pretty soon after it came out. I read it after someone had mentioned it here. For me, the hero definitely had too many apha vibes, plus I didn’t like his not telling the heroine the truth about being Fox for so long, plus the voyeuristic element as he “watches” over her… And at the same time, we never see him really doing the work of getting better etc., we’re just told about it. At least it felt like that to me. I liked other elements of the book a lot, and some of the side characters were an absolute hoot. But the hero in short is not my type of hero. I’m not sure if I will get the next book – maybe if it’s on sale, just because I want to know what happens to the sheriff…