SBTB is more independent, and probably 48% more silly
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas is $2.99! This historical romance has a Cyrano de Bergerac feel to it and can be read on its own. Some readers found this one forgettable when compared to other Kleypas romances, while others said this one has their favorite hero or heroine of all time.
She’s Too Pretty to Burn is an intriguing, but uneven read. It opens like a teen romance, and ends like a thriller, but the transition between the two is jarring and disruptive to the reading experience. It’s also supposed to be inspired by The Portrait of Dorian Grey which I didn’t get at all from the text. The novel centers around three people: Mick, a high school swim star with a troubled home life; Veronica, … Continue reading She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
It’s summer! Which usually means a lot of lists that include the word “reading.” And, if we’re fortunate, it might also mean more time for that reading! If you or someone you know has a new book, a boxed set, a discounted title, or some re-releases to promote, hello! And if you’re building up your Etsy store or expanding your business offerings and want to tell people about it, we have advertisement options for you! … Continue reading Friendly Reminder: Advertisement Opportunities!
We are closing in on July, which might be my least favorite month. That or August. Depending on your part of the world, I hope you’re staying cool or warm! It’s a sweat fest here. My brother will be back on base after his deployment ends next month, and I’m ready to travel! He’s stationed in Europe and is excited for me to visit. Can’t wait! Anyway, let’s get into some links, shall we? … … Continue reading Links: That’s a Moray & the Bachelor
Bridgerton Collection: Volume 1 by Julia Quinn is $6.99! It’s a little pricier than what we’d normally feature but you get three full-length historical romances and these collections, when not on sale, are priced at $19.99. Not a bad deal!
CW/TW for discussion of assault, consent, and trauma. Be gentle with yourself, k? It’s time for The Bachelorette. I’ve got a strawberry White Claw (or six) to help me cope. Ok, maybe more. OR MAYBE NOT. I’m embracing the chaos here. Last week Karl acted as an agent of chaos, inexplicably rubbing a cardboard cutout of Katie with a banana, and telling her that multiple guys in the house (resort?) were there for the wrong reasons. … Continue reading Elyse Watches The Bachelorette–S17 E3: Strawberry White Claw
RECOMMENDED: A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn is $2.99! The latest book out now and it’s a good time to start this series., especially since many of the books are also on sale. This is a historical mystery and Sarah really enjoyed it. Here’s what she said:
I read A Curious Beginning with an I-cannot-put-this-down enthusiasm and devoured it very quickly. I relished both the characters and the mystery. The Veronica Speedwell series is excellent and intelligent fun, and while the second isn’t quite as satisfying as the first, I heartily recommend them both.
This HaBO is from Yaya, who wants to find this historical romance: Ok, so the first time is always memorable, right? Well I’ve kinda sorta forgotten the first historical romance I’ve read eons ago. The hero and our BLACK/RAVEN haired heroine gets married – marriage of convenience? I think so – not sure…but he hates her. Probably because he’s in love with someone else, she’s keeping him from his “one true love” by offering him … Continue reading HaBO: Beautiful Island Woman is Actually His Wife
TW: PTSD, recollections of a school shooting, gaslighting Questland is pure geek-bait, and a fun book for all of those who dream of going to Hogwarts and Middle Earth. My husband and I gave our kid a name in Sindarin (Elvish), so basically the book is Carrie-bait. It revels in a quickly moving plot, a gorgeous setting, and a plethora of fantasy references, but suffers from a lack of developed characters. Dr. Addie Cox is … Continue reading Questland by Carrie Vaughn
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas is $2.99! We did two podcast episodes with Sarah over the pandemic and honestly, those episodes were so much fun to record. Ellen wrote a fantastic review and gave it a B-:
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.
I came to Eclipse via these two tweets shared on Twitter. It was the second one which really got me. I love a good magical school story, but the Harry Potter books never quite worked for me. Eclipse, which promised a view from the staff room of a magical school in the 1920s, sounded like my catnip. (Also, the author’s page has a content warning that includes a warning for ‘academic politics including an unpleasant … Continue reading Eclipse by Celia Lake
