Sarah: Reading During a Pandemic

Reading During a Pandemic

While reading is my comfort zone, who can focus while the world burns?  I teach at the university level, so reading above and beyond my normal, for-class material, at times, felt impossible since March.  I had to teach, support students, keep up with my own writing and professional development, and administer a program for first- and second-year students with COVID rampaging in our community and an unhinged president raging on twitter (until it was taken away, thank goodness).

One way I wind down is writing reviews for TBQ.  Reflecting on my reading helps me to enjoy reading on a deeper level.  Stories are an important way to understand the world and stories that center women, queer notions of heteronormative love, and have pleasure and a HEA at their center, help me to know the world I want to live in better.  But I didn’t have the bandwidth to do any reviews.  It weighed heavy on my mind. I crafted them as I tried to fall asleep, but actually writing them was impossible.

As I look over my 2020 spreadsheet, I read more than I thought I did and want to highlight the bright spots of my romance reading this year.

Jackie Lau is the author who I read the most from this year. I am grateful to be on her ARC list and received:

• Pregnant by the Playboy
• Her Big City Neighbor
• His Grumpy Childhood Friend
• Her Pretend Christmas Date

I purchased:

• Mr. Hotshot CEO

I love Lau’s writing.  Beyond the couple the books revolve around, she is a master at writing about food and friendships in ways that make you salivate for both.  I love that her books all exist in the same universe and characters are part of other stories as minor characters.  I found all of these books to be great, comforting reads.  I fell for each couple, and the angst was low enough that I was invested but not worried about the characters.  I know that Lau has her reader in mind as she writes and it shines in her stories.  If I had to pick a favorite I would probably choose Pregnant by the Playboy for its opening scene alone...HOT!  Usually unplanned pregnancies are not my forte, so writing one that makes me root for the couple involved was a fun read for me.  You should read her entire backlist, they are worth it!

I read two of Rebekah Weatherspoon’s books last year.  Harbor, which I got as an ARC, and If the Boot Fits, the second of her fairy tale retellings.

Harbor is scorching. Vaughn, Chris, and Brooklyn are on fire together. Weathersoon’s writing is evocative and fun.  Her characters explore themselves and their relationships in ways that make them grow and evolve.  She uses the space of her stories to explore grief, trauma, and being human.  While her story RAFE, holds the #1 spot in my heart, Harbor is a fitting ending to the Beards and Bondage trilogy

I saw If the Boot Fits in Target and bought it as fast as I could! It is the second in Weatherspoon’s Cowboys of California series. This was a low angst, fast read for me!  Sam and Amanda’s chemistry was there right from the start.  Sam’s family ranch was the perfect place for them to get to know one another and Amanda's boss name Dru (after one of Cinderella's stepsisters) is the kind of detail that I just eat up.  This was a solid entry for the Pleasant bothers, but I, like many, are not-so-patiently waiting for Jesse’s story.  I am a sucker for quiet giants who think they can’t find connection.  

I read Kate Clayborn’s Love Lettering.  As someone who sets aside time every month to write letters filled with fancy handlettering, I loved how central her work as a lettering artist was to the book.  This was also a love letter to NYC, a place I love to travel, but know it will be at least 2022 before I think about returning.  I liked, but didn’t love this book. It was sweet and wonderfully written. I even have a note to myself that I think it would translate well to TV or movies. This book was definitely a slow burn, but I think it was too slow for me.  I was left wanting to know more from Reid’s POV (the book was entirely from Meg’s perspective).  And while that can work, it left me feeling flat about their relationship.  I was more interested in how the letters and art would translate to the screen than a true investment in Meg and Reid and that is a shame.  I also want to balance this with a reminder that I was reading in a pandemic, and maybe some of my loss of NYC travel and other ways I was grieving a changing world could color my perspective.

As someone whose southern family history includes stories of running moonshine, I one clicked Jodie Slaughter’s White Whiskey Bargain as fast as I could! The Meza and the Hawkins families are rival moonshiners and a marriage of convenience between Javier and Hannah will strengthen both their families as they work against a new threat to their respective businesses.  Every part of this book was like catnip: marriage of convenience with a husband who wants to make it work, a strong-willed woman who knows her mind and what she’s worth, a story about Appalachia that is not white-washed...yes, yes, yes PLEASE!  While not as low angst as the rest of my highlight readings, this one was just so good!  Hannah and Javier need one another, but their alliance is shaky at best.  He’s all in and she has to be convinced, but in the end they are better together.  I loved it!

I learned about author Denise Williams on twitter and followed her in a flash.  She, like me, has a day job in academia, and How to Fail at Flirting is her debut novel. Nya Turner is almost through the tenure wringer just as her university is looking at restructuring and the possible elimination of departments like hers.  She hasn’t been in a relationship since her disastrous ex dumped her and left for a prestigious new job, but not before leaving her confidence in his wake.  Her friends challenge her to try something new and Jake seems like just the challenge.  This story was a lesson in watching Nya get her strength and confidence back.  As someone who works at a university, the politics in the background felt oh so real, a little too real for someone who is not on the tenure track.  I liked Williams’ voice and think this was a great debut book!  I was rooting for Nya and Jake even when their relationship seems really hard, they kept fighting, for each other, for the career they wanted, and the chance at forever.  I loved it!

I am reading in 2021, I think it feels easier, but my semester starts next week so we’ll see!  Here’s to hoping for an uneventful 2021 so I can fall deeply back into my reading world.

~ Sarah

Thanks for this post, Sarah! I know many of us have also been struggling with reading during all of *gestures wildly* this.

What books have been keeping you company lately?

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

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Melinda's Mini Reviews for September

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 4 to 4 1/2 Stars!

Just a Heartbeat Away by Cara Bastone

Publisher: June 30th, 2020

Series: Forever Yours, 1

Genre: Contemporary Romance (M/F)

Some people change your life

Others change your heart

Newly widowed dad Sebastian Dorner was unraveling at the edges—until his son’s teacher, Via DeRosa, threw him a lifeline. Now, two years later, they reconnect at Matty’s new school, and an inconvenient but unmistakable jolt of attraction crackles between them. But why does the first person to spark with Sebastian in years have to be a millennial? Is twentysomething Via really too young for him or does fortysomething Sebastian just feel too damn old?

A former foster kid, Via’s finally forged the stable life she’s always dreamed of—new job, steady income, no drama. The last thing she needs are rumors about her and a single dad at school. But why does she keep being drawn into his capable, worn-flannel orbit? And why does being around Sebastian, Matty and even their dog, Crabby, seem to spark so much want?

They’re trying to ignore the tension threatening their friendship. But sometimes what’ll heal you is just a touch—and a heartbeat—away.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site 

Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Melinda's Mini Reviews for August

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 3 to 4 Stars!

Things Hoped For by Chencia Higgins

Publisher: EKOL Media (July 28, 2020)

Series: The Vow Series, 4

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Queer, F/F)

Can two women who only want to be loved, find a home in each other when the world around them is moving too fast for them to settle down?

Growing up in an intolerant town, Latrisha Martin was used to shrinking the most important parts of herself. She hid her loneliness within a busy life and kept the yearning in her heart tucked away from those closest to her. Just as the façade became too heavy to maintain, Trisha received wise words from a strange woman that helped redirect her life's journey. On a whim, she relocates to Houston, and while adjusting to a new normal, she finds that those desires she'd once hidden begin to manifest in ways she never imagined.

With her star attached to a rocket ship, Xenobia Cooper was quickly transforming from a locally known talent into a name known in households across the nation. Viewed as an overnight success to many, the only thing that the veteran of the Houston underground music scene hadn't prepared for was living a life without someone to come home to at the end of the day. A reckless tweet sent out in the middle of the night brings an influx of women with stars in their eyes, but they all lack the key component that Xeno is looking for. A chance encounter after her largest show to date and she's convinced that those things she'd hoped for are just within her grasp.

The Vow Series

To Buy a Vow - Book 1

To Build a Vow - Book 2

To Break a Vow - Book 3

Things Hoped For - Book 4

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site 

Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Review: Daring and the Duke

Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon (June 30, 2020)
Series: Bareknuckle Bastards, 3
Genre: Historical Romance (M/F)

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Reviews for MacLean's books:

• How the Dukes Stole Christmas
• Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
• One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
• The Day of the Duchess

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for May

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from DNF to 4 Stars.

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Montlake (March 31, 2020)
Genre: Contemporary Romance (M/F)

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a smart, emotional contemporary romance about finding love with the most unlikely of people.

As kids, they hated each other. Macon Saint was beautiful, but despite his name, Delilah knew he was the devil. That he dated her slightly evil sister, Samantha, was no picnic either. When they broke up, it was a dream come true: Delilah never had to see him again.

Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text.

Delilah’s sister has stolen a valuable heirloom from Macon, now a rising Hollywood star, and he intends to collect his due. One problem: Sam has skipped town.

Sparks still sizzle between Macon and Delilah, only this heat feels alarmingly like unwanted attraction. But Delilah is desperate to keep her weak-hearted mother from learning of her sister’s theft. So she proposes a deal: she’ll pay off the debt by being Macon’s personal chef and assistant.

It’s a recipe for disaster, but Macon can’t stop himself from accepting. Even though Delilah clearly hates him, there’s something about her that feels like home. Besides, they’re no longer kids, and what once was a bitter rivalry has the potential to be something sweeter. Something like forever.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for January (Part 2)

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 Stars.

American Love Story by Adriana Herrera
Publisher: Carina Press (October 7, 2019)
Series: Dreams, 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Queer, M/M)

No one should have to choose between love and justice.

Haitian-born professor and activist Patrice Denis is not here for anything that will veer him off the path he’s worked so hard for. One particularly dangerous distraction: Easton Archer, the assistant district attorney who last summer gave Patrice some of the most intense nights of his life, and still makes him all but forget they’re from two completely different worlds.

All-around golden boy Easton forged his own path to success, choosing public service over the comforts of his family’s wealth. With local law enforcement unfairly targeting young men of color, and his career—and conscience—on the line, now is hardly the time to be thirsting after Patrice again. Even if their nights together have turned into so much more.

For the first time, Patrice is tempted to open up and embrace the happiness he’s always denied himself. But as tensions between the community and the sheriff’s office grow by the day, Easton’s personal and professional lives collide. And when the issue at hand hits closer to home than either could imagine, they’ll have to work to forge a path forward…together.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for January (Part 1)

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 3 to 5 Stars.

Open House by Ruby Lang
Publisher: Carina Press (November 11, 2019)
Series: Uptown Series, 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance (M/F)

Love can take root where you least expect it.


Tyson Yang never imagined that one day he’d be the de facto spokesperson for an illegal community garden. But when the once-rat-infested-but-now-thriving Harlem lot goes up for sale, Ty can’t just let all their hard work get plowed under.

Even if he is irresistibly drawn to the lovely but infuriatingly stubborn real estate associate.

Magda Ferrer’s family is already convinced this new job will be yet another flop in her small but growing list of career path failures. But her student debt isn’t going anywhere, and selling her uncle’s historic town house and the lot nearby means a chance to get some breathing room.

Ty is her charming rival, her incorrigible nemesis, the handsome roadblock to her success.

Until one hot Harlem night blurs the hard line drawn between them, and the seeds of possibility in this rocky garden blossom into love…

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Melinda's Review:

Sarah's Beach Vacation Binge

Today Sarah is sharing some quick thoughts on 5 romances she read while on vacation. Originally she had planned on ranking these books but in the end they were all too amazing and she just couldn't do it! Is that a fail or a win? IDK, I'd call it "Story of My Life", as I can never pick favorites or rank them.

Every year, my mom and I go to the beach for a few days, just the two of us, around our birthdays. I was born 6 days after her birthday, during the hottest part of the July. This trip is not a luxury, by this part of the summer it is a necessity. We get a barebones oceanfront hotel room, have our umbrella planted on the beach by 9am each day, walk, swim, and read until about 5pm, eat dinner, and repeat. Between the time spent on the beach and the window between dinner and bed, I have a lot of time to read! This year, right before our trip I stumbled across Book Riot’s “50 MUST-READ ROMANCES PUBLISHED IN THE 2010s” and decided to curate my vacation reading list from their recommendations. Some of the stories I had read like Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, and Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon so I knew this was a well reasoned and potential gold mine of a list.



I read on my kindle and keep my NC Digital Library check outs at the max (5 at a time) so I cleared out my loans list and decided the first 5 books I could check out from the library would be my reading list for the trip. There were a few books I had to place a hold for, some that my library didn’t have (though I requested the missing ones until I had reached my digital request limit for the NCDL- 12 if anyone is interested), and ended up with:

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

Can’t Escape Love by Alyssa Cole

Stroke of Midnight by Andie J. Christopher

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Melinda's Mini Reviews for August

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from DNF to 4 1/2 Stars.

Under Currents by Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 9, 2019)
Genre: Romantic Suspense

For both Zane and Darby, their small town roots hold a terrible secret. Now, decades later, they've come together to build a new life. But will the past set them free or pull them under?

Zane Bigelow grew up in a beautiful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Strangers―and even Zane’s own aunt across the lake―see his parents as a successful surgeon and his stylish wife, making appearances at their children’s ballet recitals and baseball games. Only Zane and his sister know the truth, until one brutal night finally reveals cracks in the facade, and Zane escapes for college without a thought of looking back...

Years later, Zane returns to his hometown determined to reconnect with the place and people that mean so much to him, despite the painful memories. As he resumes life in the colorful town, he meets a gifted landscape artist named Darby, who is on the run from ghosts of her own.

Together they will have to teach each other what it means to face the past, and stand up for the ones they love.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for July

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 4 to 4 1/2 Stars.

Kitten by Jack Harbon
Publisher: Jack Harbon (May 20th, 2019)
Genre: Contemporary Romance -- Queer, M/M

Fresh out of college and back on his older sister's couch, Kit expected his days to return to the way they'd always been. He anticipated spending his days perusing Netflix with one hand on the remote and the other in a box of pizza, but when he's given the opportunity for a job at one of New York City's newest advertising agencies, there's no way he can turn the offer down. Unfortunately for Kit, this job might be more than he bargained for.

Not only does Roman - his handsome yet ruthless new boss - let his wandering eye linger just a little too long, Kit can't seem to shake the feeling that the glitzy personal assistant gig he just landed might be a bit shadier than he imagined. Before he's even able to make a reservation for Roman's dinner at Le Bernardin, Kit's professional and personal life become one, and he finds himself forced to somehow separate business from pleasure.

Easier said than done, especially when it’s his job to take care of Roman’s every need.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for June

Melinda has a few mini reviews for you today, from 3 to 4 Stars.

The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo
Publisher: Gallery Books (May 14, 2019)
Genre: Contemporary / WF

A charming romantic comedy about three sisters who are struggling to keep the family wedding planning business afloat—all the while trying to write their own happily-ever-afters in the process. 

All’s fair in love and business.

The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. But when their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves.

But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other.

Perfect for fans of the witty and engaging novels of Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, The Key to Happily Ever After is a fresh romantic comedy that celebrates the crucial and profound power of sisterhood.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Melinda's Review:

Melinda's Mini Reviews for May

Melinda has a few mini review for you today, from DNF to 4 Stars.

Fumbled by Alexa Martin
Publisher: Berkley (April 23, 2019)
Series: Playbook, 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance

A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted.

Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.

TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.

When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship. 

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Melinda's Review:

Pat's Review: Back to You

Back to You by Kimberly Kincaid
Publisher: Kimberly Kincaid Romance, LLC (February 12, 2019)
Series: Remington Medical, 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

His second chance is his only chance

Parker Drake wants exactly one thing—to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. Between his reputation as a rule-breaker and the six years that have passed since his first internship ended in disaster, he knows he’s only getting one shot at a second chance. He’ll do anything to put the past behind him and reach his goal…including work with the gorgeous ex-wife he’s never gotten over losing.

All work and no play make surgeon Charleston Becker a very happy woman. But when she’s tasked with mentoring her ex-husband through his second chance as an intern, her signature calm is put to the test. She’s not interested in re-hashing the heartbreaking circumstances that ended their marriage, and the six years that have passed haven’t made Parker less reckless. The last thing she’s willing to do is trust him—even if she does find him sexier than ever.

But familiarity breeds forgiveness, which then becomes a passion that threatens the careers Parker and Charlie have worked for. Can they turn their second chance into a happy ending? Or is history bound to repeat itself?

This steamy contemporary medical romance can be read as a standalone.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Reviews for Kincaid's books:

• All Wrapped Up
• Crossing Hearts
• Crossing Hope
• Crossing Promises
• Crossing the Line
• Deep Burn
• Down Deep
• Fire Me Up
• Forever Deep
• Gimme Some Sugar
• In Too Deep
• Outside the Lines
• Pushing the Line
• Reckless
• Skin Deep
• Stirring Up Trouble

CW: Miscarriage

Pat's Review:

Pat's Quickie Review: All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy

All Want For Christmas is a Cowboy by Jessica Clare
Publisher: Berkley (November 6, 2018)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Christmas arrives early when a fateful encounter leads two strangers to unexpected love in this holiday romance from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare.

Christmas may be coming, but it's just another day at the ranch as far as Eli Pickett is concerned. Someone has to take care of the herd and that means no holiday vacation for him. But that's just the way he likes it--it’s not like he has a woman to spend time with anyways. Most women don't want the ranch life, or the surly, silent cowboy that comes with it. Fine with him. He'd rather have the quiet of a roaring fire and the company of his dogs.

Cassandra Horn is trying to make it to her parents' winter cabin in Wyoming before the blizzard hits. She desperately needs a vacation from the chaos of Manhattan...and her boss’s boyfriend, who is making her life miserable. But Cass never makes it to the cabin.

A raging snowstorm causes her car to crash, where she's found unconscious by Eli. When Cass wakes, she has no memories of who she is. Eli takes one look at Cass's big blue eyes and dark curls, and like a Christmas miracle, falls head over heels in love. But while the attraction is mutual, can she give her heart to this cowboy if she’s not sure it’s hers to give?

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Reviews for Clare's books:

• Once Upon a Billionaire
• One Night with a Billionaire

Pat's Review:

Pat's Quickie Review: Deep Cover

Remember, since this is a Royal Pick, come back on August 30th for a chance to win an ecopy of your own!

Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (July 31, 2018)
Series: Love Over Duty, 3
Genre: Romantic Suspense

ARE THEY IN TOO DEEP?

Ex-Navy SEAL Cabe Moss always comes when called to duty―at all costs. Even though the death of his fiancée nearly destroyed him, Cabe won’t let his past interfere with any work that has to get done. When his latest task pushes him to team up with FBI Agent Amy Murray, a fierce beauty with the undercover skills to match, Cabe must admit that, for the first time in years, he wants to do more than just complete their mission together…

Amy was born ready for this assignment, but working side-by-side with the the strong, silent, and frustratingly professional Cabe seems to be the biggest challenge of all. But when the sparks begin to fly―and the stakes rise to dangerous heights―the only thing Amy is left worrying about is how she can resist him. Their lives may be in danger, but their hearts hold the biggest risk of all… 

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Reviews for Cole's books:

• Elliott Redeemed
• Final Siege
• Jordan Reclaimed 
• Lennox Reborn
• Nikan Rebuilt
• The Darkest Link
• The Fractured Heart
• The Purest Hook
• The Strongest Steel
• Under Fire

Pat's Review:

Whatcha Reading? (July 7th)

Somehow Jen and I, and about 15 others, got caught up in a giant never-ending thread on Twitter. I think it started with comfort reads -- or was it favorite male virgins? I can't even recall at this point. But it moved into a Kleypas-fan-thread then historical butt stuff and then ideas for a erotica story and . . . I just don't even know. I mean, you'd have to be there to understand how it went from A to D and back to B again. But it was super fun an it's one thing I love about Romance Twitter. :)

Want to quickly see what I read in June? Check out this thread! 

As to my reading week: I finished 3 books and enjoyed them all.

Whatcha Reading? (June 30th)

I'm still mostly MIA and trying to catch up on blog work. I could say I'm fine and hanging in there, but it would be a lie. The pain is still so powerful, it's hard to breathe most days. But I'm working through it, I suppose. One day at a time.

In exciting news, I've got a few new contributors joining the blog's review team! You'll see Melinda's first review next Friday (6th), Chelsea's the following Friday (13th) and Sarah's in the coming weeks as well. Welcome to the blog, ladies! ;)

As to my reading week: it wasn't too bad, all things considered. 3 books, two that were great and one that was just okay.

Whatcha Reading? (June 9th)

Bookstuffers, KU cheaters, and horrible authors, oh my! There was quiet a bit going on in the bookish world this week -- some of it going beyond romance, or at the very least including non-romance areas as well. To be quite honest, I didn't even try to keep up with it at all. A lot of it is not news. For example, we've known that some KU authors game the system in order to make the most money from the KU pot, including by stuffing their books with extra content (more pages "read" = more money for them). Amazon finally stepped up and said no more bookstuffing . . . BUT said books could be published that way if it says "compilation" in the title. So guess what many of those KU authors are doing now, which allows them to 'legally' stuff their books and again, get more money from the KU pot. Yeah, it's a mess.

Curious to see a quick recap of my May reads? Check out this thread. 

As to this week: it wasn't the greatest because of one WTF fail [which lead to a funny thread] and one that hit the dreaded "eh . . . it was okay I guess?" mark. But I did enjoy my other two reads, one of which was a poetry book I randomly picked up.