If you’re looking for something new to watch on Netflix, check out this guest squee from Laura! Lara is a teacher, feminist, knitter and proud co-parent to the greatest three-legged black cat in the southern hemisphere. … Note: To set the scene, play Baccara’s “Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie” while you read this review. Oh, Bitches of the Bitchery, do I have a treat for you. Do you like drama? Do you demand a happy(ish) ending? … Continue reading Guest Squee: La Casa de las Flores →
This great guest squee is from Fairywine! Fairywine is a longtime SBTB devotee and lover of fantasy, romance, historical fiction, poetry and/or any permutations of those genres. Always ready for a cup of tea (black, with sugar and cream). Engage in discussions of European history at your own risk, because she will talk your ear off and possibly cry a bit about Elisabeth of Austria in the bargain. … “Somewhere lost in the clouded annals … Continue reading Guest Squee: Over the Garden Wall →
It frustrates me that I didn’t like Pride more than I did, because the concept is awesome. In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, teenager Zuri Benitez, who is Afro-Latino, lives in Bushwick, New York, with her family. They live next door to a run-down mansion that is purchased and remodeled by a Black family from Manhattan. Zuri can’t stand her new neighbors, especially Darius Darcy. With his rich ways, he doesn’t fit in … Continue reading Pride by Ibi Zoboi →
If I Loved You Less takes on a tricky Austen story (Emma) and fails to hit the right tone in retelling it. In Emma, the heroine is clueless but well-meaning as she tries (and fails) to play matchmaker. She makes mistakes, but with the help of the love interest (her older neighbor, Mr. Knightley) she learns from those mistakes and grows as a person. Unfortunately, the heroine in If I Loved You Less is annoying … Continue reading If I Loved You Less by Tamsen Parker →
The first book in the Debutante Diaries series felt underwhelming and, at times, aggravating. This Regency engagement-of-convenience story did have elements that could have made it stand out: the heroine proposes to the hero, the heroine is a talented artist, and the hero has a warm, close relationship to his grandmother and values her intelligence and wisdom. Unfortunately all of that is lost to some uneven plotting, a lack of internal conflict, and a dash … Continue reading First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett →
I really adored so many things about Duchess by Design. I loved the heroine. I loved that she had a circle of female friends who support and protect her. I love the idea of subverting the patriarchy through fashion. I love the fact that this was set among the Four Hundred in Gilded Age New York City. Where I struggled was the hero. And let me be clear, my struggle was likely reflective of my current … Continue reading Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale →
This guest review comes from Rhoda Baxter! If you’re looking to get cozy and into some holiday spirit, The Man Who Invented Christmas is a great movie suggestion. Rhoda writes contemporary romantic comedies about smart women and nice guy heroes. She also writes multicultural women’s fiction as Jeevani Charika. Her latest Christmas novella is Snowed In. Rhoda can be found on her website or on Twitter (@rhodabaxter). … It’s October, which means it’s time for … Continue reading Guest Review: The Man Who Invented Christmas →
I love We Sold Our Souls so much that returning it to the library is going to cause me physical pain. Many a shitty day has come and gone, but I have persisted fueled largely by the words, “She didn’t worry, she didn’t smile, she didn’t feel out of place. A girl with a guitar never has to apologize for anything.” Hell yeah. Our story begins with Kris Polaski, who was once the lead guitarist … Continue reading We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix →
The sinking of the RMS Lusitania might not sound like a great setting for a sweeping historical adventure and romance, but I cut my young romance-loving teeth on the Titanic movie, and I am here to challenge your shipwreck tragedy notions. As historical fiction The Glass Ocean works beautifully. It had espionage, intrigue, a love-triangle and a truly horrifying talent show. That said, my romance-reader heart wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the romance played out, and craved a … Continue reading The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White →
Perfect Day is a conemporary m/m romance billed as a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. As a romance, it’s very good. As an adaptation of Persuasion, it drops most of the thematic points. I found the book to be enjoyable and comforting even though it didn’t quite succeed for me in the “adaptation of Persuasion” sense. One glorious summer, Joshua and Finn fell madly in love. They intended to be together forever. At the end of … Continue reading Perfect Day by Sally Malcolm →
Halloween is just around the corner and it’s my favorite time of year. I love kids getting to dress up as adorable pumpkins or superheroes, my getting to buy bulk Reese Peanut Butter Cups and pretend like they’re for trick or treaters when the bag is totally going in my freezer, and my reading all of the spooky books and movies that get released. The Witch of Willow Hall immediately caught my eye with its … Continue reading The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox →
