When I started this book, I was expecting a jam-packed, over-the top fantasy with a lot of snark and heart. And House of Earth and Blood did deliver that, even if there were some missteps in execution. If you’ve enjoyed Maas’ other books, and if you can handle all the violence and slavery and slut-shaming, it’s worth it to push through the awkward beginning and the dragging bits in the middle for big payoff at the end.
This HaBO is from Sandra, who is looking for this contemporary romance: I’m looking for a book. I can’t remember if it was Harlequin Presents, but it is a category romance. The hero used to be in military and owns some land. The heroine goes there, but I don’t remember why. Fast forward: they are in a relationship and she takes him to a ritzy party where her father puts him down. Hero finds out … Continue reading HaBO: Class Difference Romance with a Peach Farm→
Happy Tuesday! June is looking up to a pretty beefy month. Lots of sci-fi on our radar this month, plus a contemporary retelling, historical romance, and some mysteries. Which releases are on your radar this week? Let us know in the comments!
RECOMMENDED: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday is $1.99! Fingers crossed this isn’t a leftover deal from the weekend. This is a standalone historical romance and was described as Ted Lasso meets Bridgerton for a 19th century spin on The Hangover. We ran a guest review of this one and it earned a B+.
Welcome back to Cover Awe, where we discuss book covers we like! Cover designed by Cassandra Garruzzo Mueller Amanda: I support butts on covers. I think the softness of the painting with the blocky neon green text is a very good pairing! Elyse: Butts, butts, butts. Sarah: The first thing I heard about this book was book folks talking about the luscious and erotic cover. Boy, were they right. Lara: Oh, I love this pairing … Continue reading Cover Awe: Butts→
by Amanda · Jun 1, 2025 at 4:00 am · Comments Off on Sunday Sale Digest!
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Sunday Sale Digest!→
It’s been a little over six months since we launched Smart Bitches After Dark, and I wanted to share some of what we’ve been doing and what’s coming up in 2025. First: we have over 225 subscribers! WOW. Thank you so much! I’d hoped to have 100 by December 2024, and you blew through that milepost, and crashed through the next one, too. Thank you. Your support is fundamental in keeping the site open for … Continue reading A Smart Bitches After Dark Recap→
Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh is $2.99! This is book seven in the Westcott series. I don’t think it’s necessary to read them in order, but I know the characters are interconnected and it might make for a more enriching experience. Do you have a favorite in the series?
At the suggestion of some listeners, I split the Ads & Features into two parts, in part because it was very long, and also because there are 5 Fridays in May. Woot! You can find Part I here (or in your favorite podcast app). Part II of the Ads & Features from February 2015 features HelenKay Dimon just dropping all sorts of information left and right. We talk about: How many romantic suspense covers look … Continue reading 669. RT Rewind – February 2015 Ads & Features Part II→
Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke is $2.99! This is book one in a series that started in Summer 2023. Book two in the series came out last summer. The heroine is a bookshop owner and this has some Pygmalion vibes.
