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Sugar Queen
RECOMMENDED: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen is $1.99! I’ve talked about my love for Sarah Addison Allen before. Her books are literary fiction with magical realism and they’re such perfect comfort reads. I like Garden Spells (her debut) better, but this was still a good read.
In this irresistible follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, author Sarah Addison Allen tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.
Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.
Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.
As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’ s fast-changing life.
Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.
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The Black Lyon
The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux is $1.99! This is one of the first romances Deveraux published. It came out in 1980 and has Old Skool qualities that may not be worth revisiting, but many readers say this is the book that turned them into Deveraux fans. I will also mention that if rape is a trigger for you, avoid this book or at least read cautiously. Any Bitchery members care to add their thoughts?
A Classic Love Story of a Fearless Lord and the Woman Who Tamed Him
Darkly handsome and rich beyond imagining, the bold English conqueror was called “the Black Lyon” for his lionlike ferocity. He had no match among enemies, or women…until he met Lyonene, the green-eyed beauty whose fiery spirit equaled his own.
Through a whirlwind romance and stormy marriage, she endured every peril to be by his side, until vicious lies and jealousy drove her into danger. Now only the fierce Black Lyon can save her—for he alone has the courage to destroy the ruthless plot threatening to shatter the bond of love the Lyon and his lady vowed would never be broken…
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Uncertain Magic
Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale is $1.99! This was originally published in the late 80s and has since gotten a cover update. Do you have a favorite Kinsale?
Roderica Delamore is an heiress and should be a prize catch—except for an embarrassing and magical secret. She has the ability to hear the thoughts of those around her and has never been able to trust anyone as a result. So she dedicates herself to raising her family’s prize Thoroughbreds and resigns herself to a life without romance—until she meets Faelan Savigar, the Earl of Iveragh, a mysterious, roguish Irishman whose thoughts are entirely closed to her unusual perceptions. She discovers that she has finally met the man she has been waiting her whole life to discover.
He is called “the Devil Earl” and is as enigmatic to everyone else as he turns out to be to Roderica. He is also impoverished, damned in society by dark rumor and innuendo, and, for all she knows, he could be a liar, a swindler, or worse, but his secrets stir her and Roderica is prepared to entrust her life—and her heart—to an enchanting stranger.
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Real Murders
Real Murders by Charlaine Harris is $1.99! This is book one in the Aurora Teagarden cozy mystery. I feel like this series has been mentioned a few times on the site.
Aurora Teagarden, small town librarian and true crime buff, is looking forward to the monthly meeting of the Real Murders Society, a group of fellow crime enthusiasts who share a unique interest in historical murders. The Society meetings are the highlight of Roe’s social life in sleepy Lawrenceville, Georgia, and she’s ready for a quiet night of discussion, coffee, and cookies. But after she finds the body of a Society member in a staged crime scene eerily similar to the one the group was supposed to discuss that very night, Roe finds herself at the center of a murderous story of her own.
As the killer strikes again, it’s obvious that members of the Real Murders Society have become targets of a knowledgeable copycat. With the help of handsome police detective Arthur Smith and the town’s dashing new resident, mystery novelist Robin Crusoe, it’s up to Roe to discover if the murderer is one of the group’s own and to piece the perplexing puzzle together before another body appears.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris, this first book in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series combines the excitement of solving the crime and the charm of Southern hospitality. Real Murders, A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse and the rest of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
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Garden Spells fascinated me with the way the author tied so many narrative threads together to reach the conclusion.
I enjoyed Laura Kinsale’s Seize the Fire tremendously, but holy cannoli, that book turned me inside out with emotion. I’m not sure that I’m tough enough to survive another.
Oh, Real Murders. Aurora Teagarden remains my all-time favorite mystery series-character. Millions of people were entertained when author Charlaine Harris turned to her Sookie Stackhouse series, but I am not one of them. I still miss Aurora. Which I understand is odd, considering that Aurora is not actually a person…
@LML: I liked Aurora a lot too, especially how she usually didn’t set out to solve the mystery, she just sort of got involved. Are you sure you’ve read all of them? She has a couple of new-ish out (within the last 10 years).
I am also more of a fan of Aurora Teagarden (and her even shorter Harper Connelly series) than Sookie Stackhouse. Charlaine Harris is not the only author where I prefer their secondary series to their primary. Does anyone else have this happen? For example, I like Marcia Muller’s Elena Oliverez more than her Sharon McCone books, even though there are only 3 of Elena’s books and 34 of Sharon’s books.
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers is on sale today! Passing on as I snatch up Harris’ book.
@MirandaB, I own them, but “saving” until I can re-read the series again from the beginning.
@Laurel K., have you read Harris’ Lily Bard series? it’s … darker than Aurora Teagarden. I enjoyed all of Marcia Muller’s books. I don’t think she gets enough credit for her modern female sleuth fiction. Reminded of authors Harris and Muller leads me to consider 2024 as a year of re-reads.
@Laurel K., still thinking on your comment about preferring character Elena Oliverez more than Sharon McCone brings to mind Elizabeth Peters’ character Vicky Bliss. Early books in Peters’ Amelia Peabody series were all pleasure to read, but her Vicky Bliss books are my favorites.
@LML & @Laurel K
I’ll call your Vicki Bliss and raise you one Jacqueline Kirby. Vicki Bliss has the best romance arc–no question–but Jacqueline Kirby is a badass librarian who takes no prisoners. Maybe it’s time to stage a double reread to welcome 2024.
Also a fan of Lily Bard, but can’t mention the series without a major content warning for gang rape and torture iirc. An excellent series nonetheless, but definitely not a cozy.
@PamG, no argument. The romance arc of Vicki Bliss took me by surprise and was such fun.
I love all the Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels books! Jacqueline Kirby is the best. Jodi Taylor writes great books with similar strong women characters- currently rereading the Elizabeth Cage series. But I still miss Elizabeth Peters!
I didn’t enjoy THE SUGAR QUEEN as much as GARDEN SPELLS, but the magical realism and solid characters, combined with the various story threads made for an interesting and enjoyable reads. I did like the narrator on this one better than the previous one.
I loved UNCERTAIN MAGIC and am a Kinsale fan. The fantasy element added interest to the romance. I liked that Roddie spoke and behaved like someone her age and experience (not like a 30-something) and that Faelen was an actual rake, and how their romance developed slowly. Lots of emotion.
Thanks, all, for your praise of the other Charlaine Harris series, I’ll have to give them a second look. Oh, and also an Elizabeth Peters/Amelia Peabody fan.
Totally unrelated but I just found out about Library Extension, added it to my browser, and have found several books from my wishlist that I can read on Libby. If your book budget is limited, I would suggest checking it out.
Loved the Vicki Bliss books!
On another note, @Vicki What is Library Extension?
SUGAR QUEEN was my first (of many) Allen reads, and it holds a special place in my heart. And it’s really a great winter read, although you wouldn’t know it from the cover.
Naked Once More with Jacqueline Kirby is one of my favorite Elizabeth Peters books (with its nod to Dorothy Dunnett). I’m glad to see other fans here. I always hoped for one story.
I am trying to wrap my head around character names Lyonene and Roderica.
@Susan Library Extension is a plug in for your browser. https://www.libraryextension.com/
If you are looking at a book on amazon, it will let you know if your library system has it, if hoopla has it, etc. I find it very helpful.
@Susan: The extension also checks your library for Audible books. It is the most useful add-on I’ve ever used.
I do love John Smythe….the best non-hero hero ever. I reread the Bliss books every couple of years.
UNCERTAIN MAGIC hooked me on Kinsale way back in the day and made her an auto buy author. I think the story holds up well after all these years and I’d recommend it. It was angsty and different.