I forgot where I heard about Yakuza Fiancé initially, but that cover was a strong motivator. Yoshino, the granddaughter of a crime boss in Osaka, and Kirishima, the grandson of a Yakuza boss in Tokyo are instructed to date (and possibly marry) to strengthen an alliance between the two families. Yoshino is a bit of a fish out of water, leaving Osaka to live in Tokyo with the Miyama family. She transfers to Kirishima’s school … Continue reading Yakuza Fiancé, Vol 1. by Asuka Konishi →
Please check the content warnings before continuing as several of them are unavoidable when discussing the setup! This manga is originally based on a series of Japanese light novels. They’ve been translated to English and even just reading the sample, it seems that the beginning of the manga follows the text closely. Maomao was kidnapped from her job as an herbalist/apothecary in a red light district and is now forced to work as a maid … Continue reading The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 by Natsu Hyuuga and Nekokurage →

This month I’m doing something a little different. Instead of a long post about one person, I’m sharing a set of links about two different people. We don’t know how they would have identified themselves if they lived today. They might, if alive today, have thought of themselves as Kickass Women, or Kickass Men, or Kickass Nonbinary People, or, in Thomas(ine’s) case), a Kickass Intersex Person, or something different. What we do know is that … Continue reading Kickass People in History: Thomas(ine) Hall and Mary Jones →
This post is sponsored by LUV, a new social app for romance authors and fans where you can connect with authors, actors, publishers, and industry insiders to celebrate all things romance – in your books, and on your screens! … I connected with Beth Stevenson, Founder and CEO of Brain Power Studios, the production company behind many of the romance novel adaptations you might have seen on Netflix, Lifetime, and Hallmark. Brain Power adapted Shannon … Continue reading Introducing LUV, an App Connecting Romance Authors, Producers, and Readers →

To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins is $1.99! This was mentioned in a previous Hide Your Wallet and I believe is the latest book in the Women Who Dare series. Do you have a favorite book in the series?
Continue reading →

‘Tis the month for Romance, nothing makes a better Valentine to yourself or a loved one than a brand-new book of guaranteed swoons!

It’s our 600th episode!! Emily Nagoski is back to talk about her new book Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections. We talk about the genesis for this book, which is in part that writing a book is stressful and hard, and while writing Come As You Are, Emily noticed that her own interest in sex was missing. By diving headlong into all the research, she realized that people who sustain … Continue reading 600. Life is Too Short to Have Sex You Don’t Like, with Emily Nagoski →

RECOMMENDED: Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron is $2.99! Kiki reviewed this one and gave it an A-:
I cannot emphasize enough how hungry this book will make you.
Accidentally Engaged might be my top pick for “don’t read while hungry.” Between our heroine Reena’s bread baking (there’s rye, there’s challah, there’s an ongoing battle with a sourdough starter) and her Indian and East African cooking, I was craving a feast pretty much the whole time I was reading this book.
Continue reading →
It’s D for Dick, I’m afraid. Specifically, it was a close up of Beau’s (Joe Davidson) penis which gave me my first genuine (albeit startled) laugh of the movie. Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) have a meet cute in a coffee shop and spend a lovely night together. The next day, Bea overhears Ben disparaging her to a friend and so the enemy part of the trope is set. Time passes until it … Continue reading Movie Review: Anyone but You →
Welcome welcome! How are we this week? My partner went on a week-long work trip and has come back with a nasty sickness. The sounds they make in the middle of the night as they’re hacking up something in their body is truly the stuff of nightmares. And, considering that all the menthol cough drops have been sold out everywhere, I’m going to assume it’s going around. Be well out there everyone! I made them … Continue reading Links: Hunger Games, More Awards, & More →