Featured
Stuff We Like: Household Staples
Amanda has discovered some hidden gems during her first year of home ownership.
Books On Sale
A Holiday Anthology, Scottish Romance, & More

RECOMMENDED: Strange Love by Ann Aguirre is $2.99! Elyse loved this one and gave it an A:
Strange Love by Ann Aguirre is a shining example of just how good a romance novel can be, even if the hero has mandibles, and I recommend everyone go read it now.
Cover Snark: A Feast for the Eyes
Welcome back to Cover Snark! From Jennifer: Nothing says vicious raider like pausing the fight for a barre routine… Sarah: Do you think the other Banished Alien Warriors get SO MAD when this guy is on the team with them? “OH HEY! Y’all, I have the perfect synchronized rescue routine for us! Places everyone. And 5 and 6 and 7 and 8!” Amanda: It looks like he’s lifting his leg to air something out. Maybe … Continue reading Cover Snark: A Feast for the Eyes
Book Review
A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
A Haunting on the Hill is a horror novel set in the same mansion as Shirley Jackson’s classic The Haunting of Hill House. There are brief references to the events in Jackson’s novel and a snippet of her dialogue, but those were the only things connecting the two books. For me, this was an excellent, creepy book that worked well as a standalone, but I think people especially nostalgic for The Haunting of Hill House … Continue reading A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 53
Welcome back! Are you read for another round of recommendations? This time around, most of these recommendations are ones I’ve found from other readers in my personal life or those I follow on social media (namely Goodreads and Instagram). There are a couple suggestions for romance readers, but also some nonfiction and horror. Do you have any books you’d like to recommend? Or have you received any spot-on recommendations lately?
Notes from Yale University’s Romance Conference
This guest post is from Elizabeth Held. Elizabeth is a reader and writer living in Washington, D.C. She co-moderates East City Bookshop’s Really Reading Romance book club and writes the book recommendation newsletter What To Read If. There’s a seven-year-old tweet from romance writer Alisha Rai that Jen Prokop, romance critic and co-host of Fated Mates, thinks about a lot. Prokop shared the anecdote at the recent Literature of Hope conference held at Yale University. … Continue reading Notes from Yale University’s Romance Conference
Whatcha Reading? October 2023, Part Two
Welcome back to Whatcha Reading! This is where we talk about…well, what we’ve been reading. Pretty self-explanatory! Claudia: I’ve started Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston. I heard good things about it so I’m excited. Lara: I read two books this weekend. A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley which I’ll need a whole review to unpack my feelings on because they’re so mixed. Then I absolutely devoured Katee Robert’s Hunt on … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? October 2023, Part Two
Transcript Announcement
Podcast 586, Say Yes to the Transcript
The transcript for Podcast 586. Saying Yes to the Dress with Valerie Bowman has been posted!
Books On Sale
Fantasy, Gothic Novels, & More

RECOMMENDED: The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick is $2.99 and a KDD! M.A. Carrick is the name for the writing duo of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms. Carrie wrote a Lightning Review of this one and gave it a B+:
Readers who like political scheming, fashion as a weapon and a tool, secrets, and swashbuckling will enjoy this, and as a special treat for Tarot fans the characters have their own form of cartomancy which is described in detail in the book.
Podcast
586. Saying Yes to the Dress with Valerie Bowman
In the May 2014 Ads and Features episode of our Romantic Times Rewind series, the cover feature was all about Valerie Bowman, her latest book – and inside was a mention of her appearance on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta in 2014! So Amanda and I connected with Valerie to hear all the details! We talk about weddings and dresses and reality tv, including a side trip discussion to the real housewives, Scandoval, and … Continue reading 586. Saying Yes to the Dress with Valerie Bowman
Books On Sale
Historical Romances, Contemporaries, & More

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory is $1.99! This is a contemporary romance that operates as a standalone. Grab this one if you’re looking to collect the entire Guillory collection.
