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The Monsters We Defy
RECOMMENDED: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is $2.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! Sarah read this one and gave it a B:
I liked the painstaking and careful character development of the first half more than the zoomy-zoom plot of the second half, but the foundation of historical fiction and incredible detail coupled with folk magic, ghosts, and negotiating with spirits made this an exceptionally fun, absorbing, and thoughtful story.
A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
Washington D. C., 1925
Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need help from an unlikely team, from a jazz musician capable of hypnotizing with a melody to an aging vaudeville actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they encounter increasingly difficult obstacles, a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn. Conflict in the spirit world is leaking into the human one and along D.C’.s legendary Black Broadway, a mystery unfolds—one that not only has repercussions for Clara but all of the city’s residents.
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Any Rogue Will Do
Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett is $2.99 and another KDD! This is book one in the Misfits of Mayfair series and features a fake relationship. Bennett has a new historical romance series coming out soonish and it’s titled Bluestocking Booksellers, which is a lot of catnip.
He ruined her reputation―now he’s the only one who can save it.
For exactly one season, Lady Charlotte Wentworth played the biddable female the ton expected―and all it got her was society’s mockery and derision. Now she’s determined to be in charge of her own future. So when an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can’t claim to be her fiancé if she’s engaged to someone else. Even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry.
Ethan, Lord Amesbury, made a lot of mistakes, but the one he regrets the most is ruining Lady Charlotte’s reputation. He’s older and wiser now, but his attraction to Lottie never wavered. Going along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness. And, if he’s lucky, her love.
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Dukes Are Forever
Dukes Are Forever by Anna Harrington is $1.99! This is a historical romance with what seems to be an enemies to lovers plot. It’s the first book in the Secret Life of Scoundrels series. Some readers found the heroine a bit TSTL, but others really loved the hero and his quest for revenge.
ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE
Battlefields and barrooms hold much more interest for Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore, than a little girl’s fondness for dolls and lace. When he takes possession of his enemy’s estate, everything that villain held dear-including his daughter-belongs to Edward. Hire a governess, arrange a dowry, give a few reassurances, and be off on his way-that’s Edward’s plan. But he’s in for the shock of his life. For his new ward is a beautiful, impetuous, and utterly irresistible woman . . .. . . AND WAR
Kate Benton is stunned. Who is this arrogant, infuriating man who’s invited himself into her home and taken over her life? Her vow: to do everything in her power to convince him to leave her-and Brambly House-alone. Yet as chilly days melt into sultry nights, Kate sees glimpses of kindness underneath Edward’s cool façade . . . and a passionate nature that takes her breath away. There’s so much she doesn’t know about this man. But does she dare trust this devilish duke with her heart?Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
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Spellbound
Spellbound by Allie Therin is $1.99! This is a gay fantasy historical romance with a dash of mystery. Most readers loved the writing, while others wished the execution were better. Reviews also mention that this one has closed door/off the page sex scenes.
To save Manhattan, they’ll have to save each other first…
1925
New York
Arthur Kenzie’s life’s work is protecting the world from the supernatural relics that could destroy it. When an amulet with the power to control the tides is shipped to New York, he must intercept it before it can be used to devastating effects. This time, in order to succeed, he needs a powerful psychometric…and the only one available has sworn off his abilities altogether.
Rory Brodigan’s gift comes with great risk. To protect himself, he’s become a recluse, redirecting his magic to find counterfeit antiques. But with the city’s fate hanging in the balance, he can’t force himself to say no.
Being with Arthur is dangerous, but Rory’s ever-growing attraction to him begins to make him brave. And as Arthur coaxes him out of seclusion, a magical and emotional bond begins to form. One that proves impossible to break—even when Arthur sacrifices himself to keep Rory safe and Rory must risk everything to save him.
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Lissa Kasey’s Witchblood is on sale – it won’t show me the price (I have already own it and have some credits, so it is just showing me 0.00 after credits), but it was in the list of m/m countdown deals along with quite a few others. TW for Witchblood (you can see them in the sample), but it is a great start to a series.
And here is the absurdly long link I have for the m/m countdown deals, since I can never find it organically on amazon anymore and can only get there through my bookmark:
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&bbn=7078878011&rh=n%3A133140011%2Cn%3A7078878011%2Cn%3A154606011%2Cn%3A158566011%2Cn%3A10886541011%2Cn%3A6487829011&dc&pf_rd_i=7078878011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8cb7d5c2-5c79-4b68-b594-292ea4f2dfb8%2C8cb7d5c2-5c79-4b68-b594-292ea4f2dfb8&pf_rd_r=N8MB3JDS88S3PH0EEPMT%2CN8MB3JDS88S3PH0EEPMT&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-leftnav&pf_rd_t=101&qid=1646681969&redirectFromSmile=1&rnid=10886541011&ref=sr_pg_1
Courtney Milan’s new book, The Duke Who Didn’t, is 99p or 99 cents today and Friday (info from her newsletter).
Sorry, that’s not her new book. But it is a very good book!
Courtney Milan’s newest book is The Earl who Isn’t (Wedgeford Trials Book 3), https://www.amazon.com/Earl-Isnt-Wedgeford-Trials-Book-ebook/dp/B0D865NZTH
Per the author, “Reign and Ruin” by J.D. Evans will be on sale for $0.99 next week on kindle! It’s the first book in a series and one the self-published fantasy book award in 2021. This series is my new obsession — it’s a fantasy romance where I think (kind of unusually) both elements are very strong and well done. Like I’d read a book in this series that was just the fantasy part because it’s totally engrossing, but also I LOVE her characters and relationship plots.
I read “Spellbound” and I think I really wanted to like it more than I did. The idea was great, but it felt super-formulaic, and not in a comforting “I know it’s going to turn out okay so I can chill and enjoy the story” way, but “I already know how this is going to end and I have like 100 pages to go and I’m annoyed about it” way. Maybe I can best describe it as “trying too hard”? YMMV, of course. I know a lot of people love Allie Therin’s books, but this trilogy just didn’t work for me. I think I DNFed it at some point in the second book and am not feeling the need to pick it up again. I might try “Liar City” when the next book comes out, though.
Regarding the Bethany Bennett book, the first in the “Bluestocking Booksellers” series is “Good Duke Gone Wild” and it comes out August 20th. The cover is GORGEOUS and totally belongs in a cover awe entry (she totally hit the jackpot with all of her covers – they’re so beautiful and dreamy). Her dress is pink, the background are lovely blue-green bookshelves and curtains, and the duke looks a whole lot like Zachary Quinto. All of these things making a compelling case to read it.
https://bethanybennettauthor.com/
A number of queer titles on sale today here—
https://queeryourbookshelf.com/
And I’d added a couple comments to yesterday’s post late.
I very much enjoyed Bennett’s ANY ROGUE WILL DO. It had some lovely dialogue, as when Ethan swears the first time he sees Charlotte naked. She asks “Do breasts usually trigger blasphemy?”, to which Ethan responds ‘I’m having a wee bit of a religious experience.”
I really liked ANY ROGUE WILL DO— Lottie and Ethan are charming and funny and I enjoyed the secondary characters. I was a bit worried about how far the plot had progressed by the half way mark (it seemed to ripe for a Big Misunderstanding Because People Can’t Use Their Words), but fortunately! there is a villain who motivates the plot. Definitely recommend picking it up.
I got The Monsters We Defy because I read about it here, and I’m enjoying it very much. Thanks!