In her review for A Slip of the Keyboard, Carrie talks about how she reads Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather every December. I know a few people on Twitter have talked about books they re-read every year, and I know there’s folks who watch movies like Love, Actually every year. I have a few yearly ritual repeats, too. By ritual repeats, I mean the things we read or watch, or re-experience, because of a specific event or … Continue reading Ritual Repeats
Time for The Most Expensive Monthly Thread where I ask what you're reading, and you tell us, and then we all buy books until both the T-Bird and the credit card are taken away! Sounds like fun, right? Currently, I'm reading a nonfiction about focus and efficiency called The One Thing by Gary Keller ( A | BN | K ). It's a very quick and easy read (and is only 133 pages for over … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? October Edition
I received this email from Pammie, who is looking for urban fantasy romances that are character driven with fewer leather-pants asskicking episodes. Have a look: Long time lurker, etc. Listen, there’s been a little thing nagging at me for awhile and I was wondering if I could dump it on your laps. It’s 4 in the morning, I have the flu and can’t sleep – for some reason all I can think about is Urban … Continue reading The Rec League: Character Driven Urban Fantasy
I received this email from Ilona, who comes from what may be the coolest family I've read about, and I totally want to listen to all of them talk books someday. I need help finding a new series or several really. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but it's not just for me I swap with my family as we all love romance novels and every new girl in the family is promptly introduced to … Continue reading The Rec League: A Family of Strong-Heroine-Loving Series Readers
Reader Amanda sent us this call for help! She's in search of some more gothic romances to feed her appetite: I've been devouring Eve Silver's Dark Gothic series ( A | BN | K ) and am loving it!! I'd like to continue exploring these types of stories, but don't know much about the genre. So I thought I'd ask the Smart Bitches community – are there any “gothic” type romances you would recommend? Thanks so much!! … Continue reading The Rec League: Gothic Romances to Darken Your Doorstep
I received an email from Lela, who is looking for a specific type of romance: In a nutshell: can you recommend, or solicit recommendations of, some awesome sci fi romances? Longer version: I was trolling the Amazon daily deals and came across a 99cent novella billing itself as “science fiction romance” (it was “Kidnapping Keela“, in case you're wondering). Hold the phone! Is that a real thing? I'm the nerdiest sci fi nerd you could … Continue reading The Rec League: Sci Fi Romances When Aliens Are Your Jam
I received an email from Cordy, who is looking for some recommendations: Hello there! Once upon a time, I read your review of Laura Kinsale's Midsummer Moon and I am finally getting around to actually buying and reading the book. And it turns out that I have a never-before suspected intense love for books about weird creative-genius ladies and the suave-but-befuddled dudes who can't help themselves around them. Okay, this book veers, sometimes, toward The Twee … Continue reading The Rec League: Brilliant Science Heroines Rule! More Please?
I received an email from Milly, who is looking for some books to read: I was just enjoying my lunch hour reading the latest O magazine – the summer reading one and I realized very few books in it were HAPPY. Now I wouldn't expect otherwise from “serious” readers but come on… their beach reads section was quite depressing. So I got to thinking: what is the bitchery's best beach reads that some of us … Continue reading The Rec League: Beaches and Beach Reading
And now, the most expensive and tempting thread, wherein I ask what you're reading, and you all share and then we all buy more books because everything sounds awesome. You ready? Credit cards in the freezer? Yeah? OK, let's do this! Currently I'm reading Zoe Archer's last Nemesis book, Wicked Temptation ( A | BN | K ), which I'm enjoying immensely, though I'm still in the first third of the story. It took me a few … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? June Edition
In a recent discussion, StarOpal asked if we could help her compile a list of books similar to The Scarlet Pimpernel. We can definitely do that, right? The Scarlet Pimpernel, if you're not familiar with it, is an adventure series written by Baroness Orczy about a dashing dude full of derring-do who rescues French aristocracy from the guillotine. He disguises himself and hides in plain sight in society as a clueless dingbat, while pulling off all sorts of … Continue reading The Rec League: Looking for Pimpernel-y Books
