This Rec League request comes from Claire. Thanks, Claire! I’m looking for a GOOD magical academy/other paranormal school romance. Preferably, but not necessarily, poly. I enjoyed the Cimmerian Cage by Cate Corvin but I felt like it was kind of rushed and I wanted a little more Sarah J. Maas-style SUFFERING before she began to find her power. Also, Corvin set up a *delicious* dynamic with the professor of Discipline but then they only had … Continue reading The Rec League: Sexy, Magical Institutions →

This Rec League comes from Will. Thanks, Will! I’m looking for a recommendation of a queer romance novel (ideally f/f or m/m or trans) with great side characters. I’d love a book with the feeling that the side characters have their own lives and their own stories. Bonus points if they don’t ship the main couple, get bored when the main character talks about their love life or are so occupied with their own problems … Continue reading The Rec League: Queer Communities →

This Rec League comes from Nicole. Thanks, Nicole! I’ve been eyeing shifter romances after not reading them for a while, and I’m not quite sure where to begin! I’ve read the Kate Daniels series and both series by Patricia Briggs, and am looking for some non-wolf shifter romances that SBTB enjoyed? Sarah:  Dragon shifters? DRAGON SHIFTERS. If you want bloody, violent, burn it all down stories with dragon shifters, Dragon Actually by GA Aiken (aka … Continue reading The Rec League: Non-Wolf Shifters →

This timely request comes from Tara: A few years ago I gave my father Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh as a retirement gift, not mentioning that it’s considered a romance. He loved it and has read all of the Guild Hunter and Psy/Changeling series. I’ve also introduced him to Sarah J Maas, Thea Harrison, and he’s currently hooked on Shelly Laurenston. I’m looking to introduce him to another romance author this Father’s Day, any suggestions? … Continue reading The Rec League: A Father’s Day Request →

This Rec League comes from Maggie: I’m looking for recommendations for contemporary romances that have fitness training, especially running and especially with amateurs or beginners, as central to the plot or subplot. I read a few last year and found they really inspired me to take up running again after time off for physical therapy. Now at New Year’s I’m looking to hack my motivation for working out and I’d love to add some more … Continue reading The Rec League: Fitness & Running →

Ed. note: This is clearly a current, ongoing, and difficult topic, and your feelings on reading books that include the COVID pandemic may be different. We want to remind folks that it’s ok to like very different things. This Rec League was sent in by Anna: I recently read Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, which made me realize that reading a romance set during Covid, especially one that doesn’t sugarcoat lockdowns, could really help me … Continue reading The Rec League: Lockdown Romances →

This Rec League comes from Nancy. Thanks, Nancy! I just finished reading Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. Since I retired I’ve been doing extra work on tv shows that are filmed locally and I really enjoyed that the action of the book happens on a film set. Loved all the details that I’m now actually familiar with. I’d love to have some recommendations of other romances which take place on a … Continue reading The Rec League: On Set Romances →

This Rec League comes from Allison. Thanks, Allison! I am wondering if you can recommend any romance books featuring unions, labour organizing, or similar? Thanks! Tara: Hoosier Daddy by Ann McMan and Salem West has that! Amanda: Isn’t there a Milan with one? Sarah: Rose Lerner has one. I’m pretty sure Sweet Disorder is the one I’m thinking of, though that’s election organizing The Duchess War for sure. And of course North and South  Doesn’t … Continue reading The Rec League: Unions & Labor Organizing →

Thanks to Deborah for this Rec League request! I have a 4-year-old friend who loves to read, and as his pseudo-aunt I like to bring him books. And then I get to read them to him which is the best thing ever. But I’ve run out of books I know he’ll love – the Mog books, Wombat Stew, the Canadian monster books, and the Knight Owl which was a fantastic rec from here (and I’m … Continue reading The Rec League: Fun Picture Books →

This Rec League is from Kay. Thanks, Kay! My catnip: books with two plots, relevant to each other, taking place in different time periods. An example would be Sarah Maine’s The House Between Tides or Kate Morton’s The Forgotten Garden. There’s usually a romantic element but they’re not necessarily romances. Sarah: Does Susanna Kearsley fit, I wonder? It’s dual time line but sometimes the characters cross over or between the timelines. But if this person … Continue reading The Rec League: Dual Timelines →