This Rec League came from Rebecca in the SBTB Patreon Discord. The community there had some great suggestions but also wanted to open it up to y’all because I know you’ll have even more books to recommend and this might be someone’s mega-catnip: Can anyone rec books where the characters fall in love or at least bond on a journey ideally a historical fantasy type journey riding horses or similar. I’m noticing that some of … Continue reading The Rec League: Gentle Historical or Fantasy Road Trips →

This Rec League comes from Katie! Hi, I am requesting this for a coworker who was lamenting that there are no adult closed door queer romances, as everything closed door is either YA or adult but not actually a romance because it is full of pain and struggles (no HEA). I brainstormed for a while and could only come up with YA titles. Help! Tara: Heather Rose Jones writes queer historical fantasy that fit the … Continue reading The Rec League: Closed Door Queer Romances →

This Rec League request is from SBTB reviewer, Kiki! I’ve been stuck in a loop of reading a lot of historicals that can be summarized as “this deeply emotionally traumatized man is actively saying that he is unable to love me/is not nice to me, BUT I love who he used to be/who I imagine him to be SO I’m just going to heal him with my love and there are no consequences for his … Continue reading The Rec League: Emotionally Competent Historical Romances →

This Rec League is from Anna. Thanks, Anna! I read a little article here about floating house guests, being A Thing in grand houses, rather than just being around for the great parties. Here is a link. And I was thinking I would like some recommendations around this, where either the hero/heroine has some hangers on, or some come by for a time or where the hero/heroine is a travelling guest. Sarah: Do You Want … Continue reading The Rec League: House Guests →

This Rec League is from Christy! I’ve been in a reading slump of several “enemies to lovers” and I have DNF’ed the past 4 books in a row. I have found this trope can be weighed down by too much bickering, immaturity (especially in a professional context!), conflict that could be resolved with a conversation, or a main character lying or omitting the truth. I find all of these to be tedious, and I jump … Continue reading The Rec League: Rivals to Lovers →

This request comes from Grace. Thanks, Grace! I have a weirdly specific rec request. I guess you could just call it mail order brides, but more specifically: Sarah Plain & Tall vibes? I’ve been re-watching the Sarah Plain & Tall movies with my grandma lately. I’ve loved the book & movies all my life and they were VERY formative in becoming a romance addict, but being from the kids’ POV, we only see an outside … Continue reading The Rec League: Sarah, Plain & Tall →

This Rec League is from Elizabeth. Thanks so much! After reading this one and The Worst Guy (also reviewed on the site, also hilarious!), I discovered I have a thing for romance novels about villains, or at least jerks who find happiness with other jerks. I wonder if there is a whole genre of those. Amanda: We have a Villains Redeemed Rec League, but I definitely want to focus on the jerks 4 jerks part … Continue reading The Rec League: Jerks in Love →

This Rec League request is from Kir in our SBTB Patreon Discord: Can anyone recommend any books where the main characters solve a theft please? As opposed to solving a murder, or books that follow the thieves doing the heist. Can be mystery/romance/any genre, but bonus points if it’s in a secondary world. Lara: I haven’t finished it yet but The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson seems to focus on a theft only. Sarah: There … Continue reading The Rec Leagues: Thefts →

This Rec League comes from Anna. Thanks, Anna! This might be a long shot, but I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts the other day and enjoying the banter between one of the hosts and the producer, and it made me think of how many fun dynamics there are in that scene. Are there any romance novels set in the podcasting industry? The closest thing I can think of is The Ex Talk, … Continue reading The Rec League: Podcasting →

This Rec League comes from Cyndy. Thanks, Cyndy! I love suspense/thriller romances but have gotten pretty disillusioned with the military and police for all the reasons you’d might expect. I’ve gotten by with some books about ex military groups or non government entities and I can apparently suspend my disbelief enough in those circumstances to have a good time (think Adriana Anders’s Survival Instincts series, which I LOVE). I’d appreciate if there are recs along … Continue reading The Rec League: Romantic Suspense without Military or Law Enforcement →