It’s the third night of Hanukkah, and I think you might need some books.
Books?! No one around here wants any of those!
Ha. Not.
First: my Hanukkah wishes for you tonight: may the books and stories that keep you company provide everything you’re looking for, and many hours of happiness.
For our third night of Hanukkah, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!
So perhaps your next reading time will resemble this picture?
Or this one?
You should definitely read by the glow of some string lights.
Oh, no, this is how the winner shall be reading:
I love stock images sometimes. They’re so intriguing!
To enter, please comment and tell us what author or creator you discovered this year?
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to read and pause all those pesky tasks on the to-do list. May cause increased feelings of mellowness!
Comments will close 10 December 2023 at or near 11:59pm ET, and winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck, Happy Hanukkah, and thank you for being part of Smart Bitches!
WINNER UPDATE: Congratulations to Drew!
Kate Clayborn was new to me this year! Have read a few and have been loving the romance.
Osa Atoe, Rebecca May Johnson, and Tomo Serizawa are some authors I discovered this year!
I discovered Chloe Angyal who wrote Pas de Don’t, great ballet romance that I read because of the art that looked like Diego Luna. Then really enjoyed it and discovered she also wrote a wonderful nonfiction book about ballet called Turning Pointe.
I’m a long time fan of the T. Kingfisher Paladin series. This year I found Sarah Wilson’s Poisoned Saints book Of Deeds most Valiant, and I really enjoyed her take on paladin orders. I can’t wait for more. I’m a sucker for anything paladin-y
I got hooked on B. Dylan Hollis. I’ve always had a thing for old recipes even if it’s fashionable to poke fun at mid-century cooking. I’m not a fan of gelatine, etc., but when I make my mother’s lemon cake, using the same pan she baked it in, or my mother-in-law’s meat pie, I am celebrating the memories of women who helped me to become what I am today. Baking Yesteryear is a bit snarky in spots, but fun. I can’t wait to share these memories with my new granddaughter.
I have gotten hooked on Louise Erdrich. Also, I’ve rediscovered Varghese!
Started reading Lee Child’s Reacher books because I enjoyed the show on Amazon.
In romantic fantasy, my favorite new-to-me author discovery this year was Casey Blair – I especially love her novella The Sorceress Transcendent!
In other genres, my favorite was Zohra Nabi – her book The Kingdom Over the Sea is *such* a warm and magical MG fantasy novel.
One of my favorite discoveries this year is Willow Dixon who writes m/m romances that are steamy but also address complicated personal issues (such as being ace, demi, aro, or being raised with dysfunctional family dynamics, etc.). She also manages to avoid the “big third-act mis”, which is something I really appreciate.
I have been on a Sci fi romance binge this year. I discovered Honey Phillips, Tasha Black, and Tamsin Ley.
Elly Griffiths (mystery with romantic overtones) is a new-to-me-author this year; and fortunately my library has the full Ruth Galloway series between the different branches.
I finally read Alexis Daria’s primas of power series which I really enjoyed! Also A.L. Graziadei’s Icebreaker was one of my faves of the year, I can’t wait to read their next book!
I found 2 in January that got me out of a very long reading slump: Kate Canterbary and Cate Wells. I got 3 months of KU last fall and couldn’t get into it for most of my trial. But I devoured most of their backlists quickly and their newsletters got me a few new authors, and the reading snowballed.
So many new-to-me authors! This year, I discovered Cate C. Wells, Heather Guerre, and Miranda Richardson.
Simone St. James – I read 3 of her older books which were page-turning historical paranormal romantic suspense, starting with Silence for the Dead, which takes place in a post-WWI haunted hospital. Her recent books are more contemporary, and it looks like the romance is de-emphasized or gone entirely.
Tamora Pierce was my new-to-me author find this year.
A recommendation from KJ Charles introduced me to Melissa Scott. I loved her Astreiant series (some co-written with her late partner Lisa Barnett). I don’t think they qualify as romantasy, but there is a central MM romance that develops over the series. I’ve just ordered two books of a more sci-fi duology (the second coming out this month), which feature a poly relationship and found family.
Alison Goodman – The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies. Awesome writer and book!
I found Sarah Blue. Her first book, Charming Your Dad, was definitely a welcome surprise of, ‘came for the smut, stayed for the plot.’ I also enjoyed Charming the Devil, though not as much. It was however the title in Probably Smut’s Trick-or-Treat Yourself box, so I asked for it for my birthday.
@Francesca Simard, I love Dylan’s videos! I’ve tried a few of the recipes that he’s liked and I’ve liked them too. I really gotta try the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup bread.
I discovered that one of my favorite authors of comfort rereads, Honor Raconteur, writes m/m as AJ Sherwood. Cue a happy, gluttonous glom! Same crack; just more explicit in the bedroom.
But as she wasn’t a new-to-me author—just a new-to-me pen name—I’mma bend the rules a tad and claim Freya Marske as the Best Dicovery of 2023. Oh, I’d heard the author name bandied about in positive circumstances, but I finally got around to reading A Marvellous Light…in January. It blew my mind so completely that I have yet to read book 2… because I’m waiting for The Perfect Circumstances to enjoy it. You know, no disruptions, no depressing funeral invitations (I’ve attended way too many this year and comfort reads are the way to survive), no horrible world news (yeah, that one’s a doozy). Maybe I’ll read it over Christmas, give myself a holiday treat?
Looks like I didn’t read many new authors this year.
Finally got around to trying T.J. Klune and really enjoyed his work.
Btw, I was looking to see if winners had been listed yet for the previous days and day one doesn’t seem to be linked to the main page anymore.
I’m usually more into historicals and/or fantasy, but Kate Clayborn broke through those habits with Georgie All Along, and then I had to go and read her whole backlog. No regrets!
Cait Nary and Ari Baran who both write excellent m/m hockey romance.
I think Drunk on All Your Strange New Words was new this year, but in terms of new to me authors with a backlist to glom I guess Melissa Scott or Richard Osman were the highlights? Was that really this year? None of these are romances though, and I do prefer romance as a genre to any other. Idk why but it’s been a minute since I have found a romance author… nope wait scratch that, I think Ari Baran might have been new to me this year!
Somehow, I hadn’t gotten to Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher until this year. How delightful!
My BFF made me read the Murderbot books by Martha Wells and I loved tnem!
I’ma bit late to the game but I discovered Elisa Braden this year and have loved her books!
T. Kingfisher! So glad she’s so prolific- I’ve been savoring everything she’s ever written.
This wasn’t a great year for brand new authors for me, but I rediscovered Alys Clare (glommed some of her mysteries and waiting for updates) and found a Kerry Winnfrey I liked after feeling like her first books were duds (for me, personally.)
Roslyn Sinclair, Jordan L Hawk, and LaVyrle Spencer were all new to me authors this year that I absolutely loved.
I discovered April Daniels who wrote Dreadnought. I have such a soft spot for heroes and villains, and Daniels delivered in spades!
T. Kingfisher, Katherine Center, and Kate Clayborn we’re all great new authors for me this year!
As a historical romance reader I am ashamed to say that it took me until last month to finally read my first Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades. I jumped right into The Grand Sophy next. I really love her writing and wit and see why she’s the master that so many authors have tried to follow.
Cate C Wells who writes genres I usually hate (shifters, MCs, mafia & bullies), but I fell in love with everything she wrote. I also finally jumped on the Sarah J Maas bandwagon.
Gabrielle Zezinho
Martha Wells and the Murderbot series
Correction: Gabrielle Zevin
Adriana Locke. I really enjoyed discovering her humor and heart.
Lucy Score who is a favorite of my romance book buddy and now one of mine.