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Notes from Yale University’s Romance Conference

Yale University The Literature of Hope conference a green background with a line drawing of two hands holding a book it was held september 8 and 9 at the Humanities quad at yale university

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

The woman in yellow coat jeans and boots sitting under the maple tree with a red book and cup of coffee or tea in fall city park on a warm day. Autumn golden leaves. Reading concept. Close up.

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

Books On Sale

Fantasy, Gothic Novels, & More

Books on Sale: The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick & 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.

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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

Unlocking Library Coolness: Many, Many Awesome Things

Your local library might be doing some really, really cool things that you don’t know about. Here are a few incredibly awesome programs at libraries around the country, along with pictures of cats because why not? COVID Tests and Masks Recently we went to visit Freebird at college, and I brought a stack of COVID tests because…dorm, and because the only CVS within walking distance of campus was always sold out. But I can get … Continue reading Unlocking Library Coolness: Many, Many Awesome Things

Links: Cheese, Whitney Houston, & More

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Hey, everyone! It’s time to share some links! I’m definitely on the more fatigued side this week and am eager for Sunday, where I have absolutely zero plans and I can just loaf around to my heart’s content. I don’t have any established Halloween plans, but we’re getting off of a big event at work and we’re all exhausted. To perk the office up, I’ve decided to wear a hot dog costume to our department … Continue reading Links: Cheese, Whitney Houston, & More

Book Review

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey

The Dead Take the A Train

My Goodness, what have I become? There was a time when I was positively oozing the milk of human kindness. I was so full of empathy that I couldn’t bear to read about a character losing so much as a drop of blood. And yet, somehow, I’ve turned into a person who reacts to a scene of a character’s face being scoured off by tentacles with teeth by chirping, “Oooh! Carnage!” If this is relatable … Continue reading The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey

Books On Sale

Wardrobes, Anthologies, & More

Books on Sale: The Love Con by Seressia Glass & More

The Love Con by Seressia Glass is $1.99! This one has cosplay, friends to lovers, and all sorts of nerdery. I remember there were some comments that going into medicine and getting into cosplay were not mutually exclusive, but I wonder if its more that the heroine wants to do this as a career. I haven’t read the book though.

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