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Holiday Gift Guide 2025: White Elephant, Secret Santa, and Yankee Trader Gifts

You know those $10- or $20-or-less gift exchanges? We've got suggestions. So does Elvis.

Lightning Review

Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire

Sparrow Hill Road

Sparrow Hill Road was a 4 1/2 star Top Pick in the May 2014 RT Book Reviews magazine that Amanda and I recapped, and I was curious, in part because I didn’t recognize it. I know McGuire’s other series (Adam really likes the October Daye books) but this one had escaped my knowledge. I found the audiobook, narrated by Amy Landon, at my library, and I inhaled it. I got so much done because I … Continue reading Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire

Books On Sale

Some Kindle Daily Deals, a Contemporary Romance, & More

Books on Sale: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope & More

RECOMMENDED: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is $2.99! Sarah read this one and gave it a B:

I liked the painstaking and careful character development of the first half more than the zoomy-zoom plot of the second half, but the foundation of historical fiction and incredible detail coupled with folk magic, ghosts, and negotiating with spirits made this an exceptionally fun, absorbing, and thoughtful story.

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Hide Your Wallet

October 2023 Queer Romances

It may be getting chillier outside for many of us, but it’s been scientifically proven* that nothing keeps us cozier than a great queer romance novel. Which means that medically speaking**, you should really pick up one or two or all five of these books, right? That’s just the laws of physics*** right there. *Note that asterisked statements may not be entire factual, but they sure feel factual, and isn’t that what matters?

Podcast

583. Romantic Times Rewind: May 2014 with Amanda

It’s our first Romantic Times Rewind episode, starting with May 2014! We are looking at all 298 (!) book reviews in issue 363 of RT Book Reviews Magazine. Amanda and I are going to pick a book from each of the review collections by genre, from historical to urban fantasy to the Teen Scene. We also discuss the very narrow grading rubric, and the rarity of two- and one-star reviews. Journey back to May 2014 … Continue reading 583. Romantic Times Rewind: May 2014 with Amanda

Romantic Times Rewind: May 2014 Review Images

Smart Podcast Trashy Books Romantic Times Rewind

I’m honestly not sure what having all the images from the episode in the podcast entry would do to the feeds it serves, so I’ll be doing a separate entry with all the visual aids and linking it. You can also find all the RTRW content at our category page for Romantic Times Rewind.  And, most importantly, if you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, … Continue reading Romantic Times Rewind: May 2014 Review Images

The Rec League: Books without Consent Violations

The Rec League - heart shaped chocolate resting on the edge of a very old book

This Rec League request came from JoVE on our SBTB Patreon Discord: I’m staying with friends. Their daughter (17) would like to avoid all sexual violence in books, including consent violations. I figured people here would understand what that means (their experience is people define sexual violence too narrowly). I know she likes fantasy but possibly other stuff. Any suggestions? Elyse: Legends and Lattes. The sequel comes out next month I believe. If she’s looking … Continue reading The Rec League: Books without Consent Violations

Links: Coupons, Tea, & More

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

Welcome back to Wednesday Links! I feel like things have been a blur lately, but we’re starting our Dungeons and Dragons: Curse of Strahd campaign back up again this weekend. We took a few months off due to one of our players getting married and for other, less exciting conflicts. I’ve been doing a lot of cozy gaming on my Switch in the bathtub and I got my flu shot. My responsible thing evens out my reckless … Continue reading Links: Coupons, Tea, & More

Lightning Review

Wed by Proxy by Alice Coldbreath

Wed by Proxy

My friend recommended this book to me and I have to tell you I was hooked from the moment I read the blurb: ‘Thrice wedded, but never bedded’. I MEAN! YES PLEASE! This book scratched an itch that I thought I’d never be able to reach. I grew up on books by Jilly Cooper, specifically the series where the main character’s name was the title of the book. These were tempestuous novels with slammed doors … Continue reading Wed by Proxy by Alice Coldbreath

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