This guest post is from Ellen, who studied folklore and mythology and has Many Thoughts about the myriad intersections between romance fiction and fairy tales. This is a longer entry that covers a brief history of fairy tales and how they’ve evolved, and then moves on to a bounty of fairy tale retelling romances to recommend. Thanks, Ellen! Few phrases are more culturally loaded than “Once upon a time.” It’s the universal cue in … Continue reading Guest Post: Petticoats and Poison Apples – Romance and Fairy Tales →
The Edge of Mystery We open in New York City in 1946. Jarvis is on the phone giving Peggy instructions on how to disarm the bomb from last season’s premiere. Ana walks in, hears the last bit, and lets him know that she is home. He says, “Won’t be a moment, darling!” In the kitchen he, asks her how her life drawing class went and she says that next week they begin drawing nudes. “How … Continue reading Agent Carter: 2.08 “The Edge of Mystery” and 2.09 “A Little Song and Dance” →
Welcome to our new feature, Romance Wanderlust! In this column, we’ll talk about some real life locations that would fit quite nicely into a romance novel – some of which are open to paying guests, others of which are just super cool. We’ll visit mansions and treehouses and pirate ships and tropical islands and more! Please note that this column is not a review or an endorsement of the locales. Tragically our expense budget does … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Tintagel Castle →
Ready for more fun and gifting ideas? This round is all about useful things, fun and silly things, and ways to help people out. First, certificates! Each year we offer gift certificates for reading time, and this year is no different.(Please right-click and download, k? This is a PDF file.) Each certificate offers reading time in 30, 60, or 90 minute increments, and is backed by the full faith and incredulous malarkey of everyone at … Continue reading 2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Useful, Fun, and Silly Things →
Ready for more gift guide? One of the best parts of the catalog avalanche that hits the porch this time of year is that I get to shop for everyone who reads the site. It’s a lot more fun to manage the recycling that way! Let’s start with time – specifically watches, and time keeping. This year I’ve purchased a few different watches as gifts for friends on their birthdays or other important days, and … Continue reading 2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Ideas for Just About Everyone →
It’s Holiday Shopping Time, and there are so many options to help make your life, or the life of someone you know and love, a little easier, with a bit more battery power. We’ve covered items for Comfort and Joy, and this week, I have some gift ideas that help the people you care about keep going as they travel. I use a number of these tools and bring them with me when I travel, even … Continue reading 2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Technology and Useful Things →
It’s time once again for the Holiday Gift Guides, where I shop for all of you and have a grand time doing so. This first edition of the 2015 Gift Guides comes from Elyse, who has a whole collection of things that should bring comfort and possibly joy to you, or anyone else who might need soothing, warm, and lovely things. Ready? First, this is legitimately called The Huggable Hottie, but it’s not a dude. It’s a … Continue reading 2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Comfort and Joy →
One last day of fun and frivolity! Tomorrow is our official 10th anniversary, but today, we have more mayhem and merriment! We have two more giveaways, and you know the drill by now, right? Of course! Each giveaway will be open until 31 January 2015, and each prize pack is open to international residents where applicable by law. Must be over 18 and somewhat ready to read all the things to win. Void where prohibited. … Continue reading 10th Anniversary Giveaway Celebration: Part 5 →
Christmas is almost here, and Hanukkah has already begun, so it’s last-minute time for a lot of shoppers. No worries! I have a bunch of ideas to help. First, Knock Knock has a coupon for you! Knock Knock is fine purveyors of paper goods, including the shopping list I use every week. You can use code SMART20 for 20% off an order at knockknockstuff.com. It’s a one-time use coupon code. Better yet: it expires 1/15/15, so if you need … Continue reading 2014 Gift Guide, Part V →
Soul Screamers Volume One by Rachel Vincent is $3.99 at Amazon, and $4.20 at some vendors. This set includes the prequel novella in the Soul Screamers series, plus books 1 and 2, My Soul to Take and My Soul to Save.
This series is teen fiction about a young girl who learns she’s a banshee, and in moments much like panic attacks, she will scream to signal the imminent death of someone close. This boxed set has a 4+ star average on GoodReads, and might make a good gift for the paranormal-loving teen reader you know.
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Today, I’ve got some practical and useful gifts to recommend. Ready? First, back by request, here are the Smart Bitches Reading Time Gift Certificates. (Please right-click and download, k? This is a PDF file). Each one offers reading time in 30, 60, or 90 minute increments, and is backed by the full faith and general mayhem of everyone at Smart Bitches. Print them out, sign them, and hand them to everyone who should go read … Continue reading 2014 Gift Guide, Part IV →
