RECOMMENDED: The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman by KJ Charles is $1.99 and a KDD! Carrie gave this one a B+:
The strengths of this book are in the balancing of conflict with humor and optimism, the rich characterizations, and the portrayal of life on the marsh, as well as a romance between two opposites. It’s entertaining, exciting, and immersive. While I wanted a little more from the ending, I enjoyed this book overall!
RECOMMENDED: The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham is $1.99! Carrie read this one and have it an A-:
The combination of personal catnip with descriptive language and complex characterization is spot on. I recommend this for fans of vocal feminism, found family, angst, and explicit sex in their historicals. I plan to read my copy many, many times!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is $1.99! This fantasy novel was everywhere when it came out and does seem to have romantic elements. While the setting captured readers’ attentions, some wished it had more emotional depth.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas is $4.99! We did two podcast episodes with Sarah over the pandemic, if you missed them. 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.
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+.
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?
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.
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey is $1.99! This is book one in the Big Shots series and features a golfer, which we don’t often see in sports romance. I think I remember Elyse reading and liking this one (Elyse, please correct me if I’m wrong!). Apologies if this is an expiring KDD.
Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar is $1.99! This was released earlier this year. Shana enjoyed Kumar’s debut and picked this for Hide Your Wallet.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is $1.99! This is first in a new series and came out in February. I loved the colors of this cover so much that I made it the palette for my home office.
A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley is $1.99! This is book two in the Glimmer Falls series, which didn’t work for me as I prefer my paranormal romances to be a little darker. The heroine is a gym rat witch and the hero is a snarky demon with amnesia.
