RECOMMENDED: The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham is $1.99! Carrie read this one and have it an A-:
The combination of personal catnip with descriptive language and complex characterization is spot on. I recommend this for fans of vocal feminism, found family, angst, and explicit sex in their historicals. I plan to read my copy many, many times!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is $1.99! This fantasy novel was everywhere when it came out and does seem to have romantic elements. While the setting captured readers’ attentions, some wished it had more emotional depth.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas is $4.99! We did two podcast episodes with Sarah over the pandemic, if you missed them. Ellen wrote a fantastic review and gave it a B-:
When I started this book, I was expecting a jam-packed, over-the top fantasy with a lot of snark and heart. And House of Earth and Blood did deliver that, even if there were some missteps in execution. If you’ve enjoyed Maas’ other books, and if you can handle all the violence and slavery and slut-shaming, it’s worth it to push through the awkward beginning and the dragging bits in the middle for big payoff at the end.
RECOMMENDED: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday is $1.99! Fingers crossed this isn’t a leftover deal from the weekend. This is a standalone historical romance and was described as Ted Lasso meets Bridgerton for a 19th century spin on The Hangover. We ran a guest review of this one and it earned a B+.
It’s been a little over six months since we launched Smart Bitches After Dark, and I wanted to share some of what we’ve been doing and what’s coming up in 2025. First: we have over 225 subscribers! WOW. Thank you so much! I’d hoped to have 100 by December 2024, and you blew through that milepost, and crashed through the next one, too. Thank you. Your support is fundamental in keeping the site open for … Continue reading A Smart Bitches After Dark Recap
Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh is $2.99! This is book seven in the Westcott series. I don’t think it’s necessary to read them in order, but I know the characters are interconnected and it might make for a more enriching experience. Do you have a favorite in the series?
Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke is $2.99! This is book one in a series that started in Summer 2023. Book two in the series came out last summer. The heroine is a bookshop owner and this has some Pygmalion vibes.
This Rec League comes from Juhi. Thanks, Juhi! I have found my way to c-dramas, and I need some recommendations! I started with a Perfect Match which is good, then found Love Like A Galaxy which I LOVE (and still have to watch all of, except I already saw the ending becauseI had to!) and then followed Wu Lei to Amidst A Snowstorm of Love which is hitting ALL MY SWEET SPOTS. I thought I … Continue reading The Rec League: C-Dramas
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey is $1.99! This is book one in the Big Shots series and features a golfer, which we don’t often see in sports romance. I think I remember Elyse reading and liking this one (Elyse, please correct me if I’m wrong!). Apologies if this is an expiring KDD.
Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar is $1.99! This was released earlier this year. Shana enjoyed Kumar’s debut and picked this for Hide Your Wallet.
