When I was in London last fall, I had dinner at Rules Restaurant, in Covent Garden. Rules claims to the be the “Oldest Restaurant in London” (established in 1798) and that might be true, depending on how you’re defining terms like “oldest” and “restaurant” and probably “London.” The decor is very Edwardian, and several scenes from the later seasons of Downton Abbey were shot there. The food is focused on “classic game cookery.” I had pheasant, … Continue reading RedHeadedGirl’s Historical Kitchen: Golden Syrup Steamed Sponge →
Every now and again on Facebook, I learn that friends of mine from kindergarten are doing really, really cool stuff. Today I’m chatting with Vera Tobin, a professor of cognitive science at Case Western, and author of the upcoming book, The Elements of Surprise, which comes out on April 16, 2018. Her book is all about how the surprises, twists, and unexpected revelations we love in fiction actually work on our brains cognitively. In her … Continue reading 293: The Elements of Surprise: Untwisting the Twist with Vera Tobin, PhD →
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare is $2.99! This is the first book in the much loved Spindle Cove series. Sarah has really enjoyed this series (though she says this one was her least favorite of the books). She also says the setting is wonderful and the characters, especially the women, are fantastic. What’s your favorite book in the series?
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I am super impatient for the season three of The Expanse to start, with the wonder that is Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala, so when I saw this YA sci-fi romance with an amazing cover, I picked it up to help tide me over. Our Dark Stars is much more sci-fi action-adventure than it is romance, and it has more of a Happy for Now ending than I’d prefer, but I still enjoyed it. Talia Starchaser … Continue reading Our Dark Stars by Audrey Grey and Krystal Wade →
We’ve gotten a few requests for this one, but thanks to Emma for putting the bug in our ear about it: I’ve finally gotten around to listening to the podcast and in episode 272 one of you mentioned that heist books are great. I agree, could you recommend some please? RHG: Theresa Romain’s Lady Rogue (not out yet, I’m reading it now) is a reverse heist. Sarah: The one with the woman. In the gold dress. … Continue reading The Rec League: Heists →
Happy April! In New England, we’ve gotten a lot of rain and some snow. Great. It’s also my birthday month. What will I be doing to ring in twenty-nine, you ask? Well, right now the only thing on my calendar for my actual birthday is a 3pm therapy session. … Sarah wrote up a great summary and response to RWA’s statement on diversity. If you’re looking to read more books by authors of color this … Continue reading Links: Female-Authored Fantasy, Trivia, & Stacey Abrams →
The Devil’s Revolver by V.S. McGrath is $1.99! I added this book to my TBR pile after seeing author KJ Charles recommend it on Twitter. I’m also in love with the cover. Charles also wrote a review on Goodreads and mentioned that the book does deal with themes of racism and colonialism, if you’re worried about a whitewashed Western setting.
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The Beautiful Ones is a book that includes many genres, including fantasy, romance, manners, and just a little bit of Gothic. I enjoyed it more as a soap opera than a romance, but your mileage will vary depending on your interpretation of the characters. The setting is an alternate world in which some people have telekinetic powers. It takes place during the Belle Époque (anywhere between 1871-1914). Loisail is the Big City where the upper … Continue reading The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia →
This HaBO comes from Gillian B. and she’s trying to track down a book for a friend: Asking for a friend who says: I’m looking for a different take on the classic that I read some time back. Mr. Darcy is gay and Lizzie doesn’t understand why he wants to marry her. Her father explains what’s really going on and also explains that he himself married her mother solely to remain respectable and have an … Continue reading HaBO: Darcy is Gay →
The Romance Writers of America Board of Directors has addressed the lack of Black representation in the finalists for the RITA award in a recent statement (nb: emphasis herein is mine): The RWA Board spends a portion of every year reviewing, discussing and revising the RITA® contest to ensure that it meets its stated objectives and is reflective of the best books in the genre. Specifically, during the last few years, we’ve taken a hard look … Continue reading RWA Board Addresses Inclusivity in RITA Awards and Finalists →
