Mary Balogh, KDDs, & More

Oct. 24th, 2025 03:30 pm
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Posted by Amanda

A Tale of Mirth and Magic

A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale is $1.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! This released in August and has a lot of catnip. What I liked is that this is still cozy and sexy.

A maker of magical jewelry finds her life turned upside down when she ends up on the run with a half-giant in this spicy and cozy fantasy romance—perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Spellshop.

Elikki may not have a family, but she has her fierce independence, boundless charm, and enough talent as a jewelry artisan to make a living on the road. Unfortunately for some, she also can’t yet manage to control her chaotic magic. . . and her temper. Sweet, soft Barra lives a quiet life with his mas and three sisters, managing the books for his family’s business. All he wants is to blend in and not make waves—a bit tricky, as a nearly eight-foot-tall purple half-giant.

When Elikki lands in hot water after dealing with a particularly rude customer, Barra finds himself helping her flee the constables. With a bounty on her back—and a severe crush forming on his end—they decide to travel together to the next town. So begins a journey filled with cozy inns, delicious meals, heaps of excellent sex, and a sprinkling of danger.  As their adventures bring them closer together and the threat of capture rises they find themselves changing in surprising ways. He’s given up on finding love. She’s always refused to try. But traveling together, they may discover unexpected, powerful romance and stronger self-identities—if the bounty hunters don’t get them first.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Killer Getaway

A Killer Getaway by Sienna Sharpe is $2.99 and another KDD! I believe Elyse mentioned this in a previous Hide Your Wallet. Were any of you interested?

Falling in love can be murder…

No one in Lily Lennox’s life can understand why, for each of the past five summers, she has shut her successful business and chosen instead to be paid minimum wage lifeguarding at the exclusive Riovan Wellness Resort on a sun-soaked Caribbean island. Fortunately for her, they also aren’t aware of the mysterious deaths that have occurred on the island every time she’s there.

Lily always does her best not to attract attention. She is determined to make toxic people pay for the damage they do – and when your mission is murder, it’s best not to draw suspicious eyes. But this year a very attractive journalist, Daniel Black, is asking a few too many inconvenient questions. Is he there to hunt her down? And if so, how will she manage her growing attraction towards him – at the same time as getting away with murder?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Last Wolf

RECOMMENDEDThe Last Wolf by Maria Vale is $1.99! I really enjoyed this book and its departure from the usual shifter mythology. Vale does a great job creating a sense of place. Be warned though, there is violence in the book and it is very descriptive

For three days out of thirty, when the moon is full and her law is iron, the Great North Pack must be wild.

If she returns to her Pack, the stranger will die.
But if she stays…

Silver Nilsdottir is at the bottom of her Pack’s social order, with little chance for a decent mate and a better life. Until the day a stranger stumbles into their territory, wounded and beaten, and Silver decides to risk everything on Tiberius Leveraux. But Tiberius isn’t all he seems, and in the fragile balance of the Pack and wild, he may tip the destiny of all wolves…

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Remember When

Remember When by Mary Balogh is $2.99! This is book four in the Ravenswood series and I believe this features an older couple. It came out earlier this year!

Discover the beauty of second chances at love and life in this heartfelt new novel from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

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Posted by Jen

You know how sometimes we like to zoom in to see all the wrecky details?

Well, it turns out sometimes we should zoom OUT.

Take this wedding cake, for example:

While I think you'll agree that finger-smeared "camouflage" is a true wonder to behold, there's no way for you to fully appreciate the entire artistic "tableau" - the one hinted at by that snippet of caution tape in the background - until you zoom out a ways:

I'll forgive the balloons, the little boot vases, and even the toy tractors - but two plywood boards balanced on a used tractor tire? That's time to take a stand, people. And burn it.

 

And, ok, since you insist:

Whoah, whoah, whoah. Where did those tiny deer come from?!

No, seriously, did you see any tiny plastic deer in those first two photos? 'Cuz I didn't.

Wait.

I just thought of something:

What if the deer were wearing camouflage?

{***}

That sound just then?

That was your mind being blown.

Many thanks to Anony M., who also provided a photo of the bridal party, but I've decided to protect the identities of the guilty. After all, any bridesmaid forced to wear a camo dress with a neon orange petticoat and cowboy boots has suffered enough, don't you think?

*****

P.S. I don't think I'll ever be OK with tires as cake stands, but they DO make pretty awesome travel mugs:

Stainless Steel Tire Travel Mug

The lid even has a hub cap! Ha! Great reviews, too.

******

And from my other blog, Epbot:

Ooops: No Podcast This Week

Oct. 24th, 2025 06:00 am
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Posted by SB Sarah

Smart Podcast, Trashy BooksI goofed! There won’t be an episode this week. I apologize!

I will return to my regular schedule on October 31st.

I swear, the reason is because the expression of time having to be in numbers is insulting to me personally. (I got dates mixed up. It’s so embarrassing).

I’m sorry about that!

 

 

 

Reality TV, a Mystery, & More

Oct. 23rd, 2025 03:30 pm
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Posted by Amanda

The Fake Mate

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson is $1.99! Lara reviewed this one and gave it a C:

If this book had maintained its giddy pace all the way through, it would have absolutely delighted me. As it is, it’s a distinctly meh situation that I’m left with. Would I recommend it? Probably not. The first just-over-half is really fun reading, but it falls apart so dramatically after that, I ended up very disappointed.

Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?

Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Prince of Broadway

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe is $1.99! I stalled on finishing this one, but these were my thoughts: great chemistry and I love the hero is pretty upfront about wanting revenge on the heroine’s dad. He tells her so. However, it takes place simultaneously with the events of The Rogue of Fifth Avenue, so the dad in question is still terrible to his daughters.

In the second novel in Joanna Shupe’s the Uptown Girl series, a ruthless casino owner bent on revenge finds his plans upended by a beautiful women who proves to be more determined than he is—and too irresistible to deny.

Powerful casino owner.
Ruthless mastermind.
Destroyer of men.

He lives in the shadows…

As the owner of the city’s most exclusive casino, Clayton Madden holds the fortunes of prominent families in the palms of his hands every night. There is one particular family he burns to ruin, however, one that has escaped his grasp… until now.

She is society’s darling…

Florence Greene is no one’s fool. She knows Clayton Madden is using her to ruin her prestigious family… and she’s using him right back. She plans to learn all she can from the mysterious casino owner—then open a casino of her own just for women.

With revenge on his mind, Clay agrees to mentor Florence. However, she soon proves more adept—and more alluring—than Clay bargained for. When his plans are threatened, Clay must decide if he is willing to gamble his empire on love.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Charm Offensive

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is $1.99! I mentioned this on a previous Get Rec’d! It’s a m/m romance set in a reality dating show. One main character is a producer and the other is the Bachelor-esque contestant.

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.

Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to open up to the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Detective Aunty

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin is $5.99! If your library hold is still waiting to come in since this was released in the spring, this is around half off right now.

When her grown daughter is suspected of murder, a charming and tenacious widow digs into the case to unmask the real killer in this twisty, page-turning whodunnit—the first book in a cozy new detective series from the acclaimed author of Ayesha at Last.

After her husband’s unexpected death eighteen months ago, Kausar Khan never thought she’d receive another phone call as heartbreaking—until her thirty-something daughter, Sana, phones to say that she’s been arrested for killing the unpopular landlord of her clothing boutique. Determined to help her child, Kausar heads to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years.

Returning to the Golden Crescent suburb where she raised her children and where her daughter still lives, Kausar finds that the thriving neighborhood she remembered has changed. The murder of Sana’s landlord is only the latest in a wave of local crimes which have gone unsolved.

And the facts of the case are Sana found the man dead in her shop at a suspiciously early hour, with a dagger from her windowfront display plunged in his chest. And Kausar—a woman with a keen sense of observation and deep wisdom honed by her years—senses there’s more to the story than her daughter is telling.

With the help of some old friends and her plucky teenage granddaughter, Kausar digs into the investigation to uncover the truth. Because who better to pry answers from unwilling suspects than a meddlesome aunty? But even Kausar can’t predict the secrets, lies, and betrayals she finds along the way…

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

SPAAACE!!!

Oct. 23rd, 2025 01:00 pm
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Posted by Jen

It happens to the best of us: Sometimes, you just run out of room.

The test of a true wreckerator, however, is how creatively you manage to soldier on in the face of seemingly insurmountable icing borders.

Ok, so maybe they're not all that insurmountable.

 

In fact, here are a few more tried and true tactics employed by wreckerators everywhere:

The Nose Dive:

(Cartoon bomb noises optional.)

 

The Double Stack:

Now with extra ellipses!

 

The "Round Abound:"

The color choice is what really sells it.

 

The Second Time's the Charm:

Also known as the "Maybe No One Will Notice."

 

The Cliff-Hanger:

"Y! Hold on, Y! I can't...you're...you're slipping! Y!! NOOOoooOOOOooOOO!!"

Ahem.

And finally, my personal favorite:

The "Stop, Walk (Away), and LOL."

 

Thanks to Leigh M., Brenda S., Holly H., Ariel F., Victoria M., Mike S., Jenny B., and Lauren L. for really exploring the studio space.  Before we're done here, you'll all be wearing gold-plated diapers.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

Soulgazer by Mary Rapier

Oct. 23rd, 2025 06:00 am
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Posted by Guest Reviewer

D+

Soulgazer

by Maggie Rapier
July 8, 2025 · Ace
Fantasy/Fairy Tale RomanceRomance

This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviews at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at @‌thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next good freelance job.


Florid, breathless, filled with stomach-churning effluvia and old skool as all get-out, but also self-aware enough to know what it’s done and where it’s going, Soulgazer is an extremely dramatic peek at the life of an utterly helpless waif cursed with Too Much Power, the witty pirate who is magnetically drawn to her, and the love that binds them together in spite of it all. It’s campy, but not campy enough to really make it a legendary hoot — a D+ read that mostly kept me entertained due to its ripeness.

Ever since she was a literal infant, Saoirse has been cursed with an extremely powerful, volatile and unpredictable magic that has resulted in her father imprisoning her in an isolated cabin with no human contact after she accidentally kills her brother. This was because of her touching a soulstone after being kidnapped by her grandmother, who thought Saoirse’s death would bring an end to her own curse. Most people who touch soulstones — which are formed when a person dies – go mad or die themselves. She violently suppresses the magic as hard as she can with the help of an amulet, but its protections aren’t perfect. The only way out of her isolation is marriage to the Stone King, who is notoriously rough and mean. This will provide a political alliance for her father, the king of their island, and thus make her useful to him and get him some heirs. If that means having the amulet’s runestone symbol tattooed on her back so her husband will never know she’s got such gifts, so be it.

She is too much of a marshmallow for marriage to such a guy, naturally. Fortunately for Saoirse, she’s heard legendary tales of the roguish pirate Wolf of the Wild since she was young – it is later established that they are only two years apart in age so I guess I can buy a teenager thinking a teenage pirate is cool?

Faolan, said Wolf of the Wild, is luckily in-port when she manages her daring escape. Saoirse seeks him out on the eve of her wedding, thinking he might give her passage to the Isle of Lost Souls, which is the only place in the world strong enough to absorb her magic, as it was created by the now-dead gods her people once worshipped. They instead strike a bargain. They enter into a handfasting of convenience and she promises to guide him to the invisible lost Isle of Lost Souls using her powers. Her father and former fiance are not happy. Let the chase begin.

Warning: you are entering nigh-on cartoonish territory with this one, and I admit I couldn’t stop giggling in the wrong places. The magical system kept me reading, as did the charming if stereotypical and egotistical Faolan, so I’m keeping this at a solid D+.

Poor Saoirse is the most put-upon heroine I’ve read about in centuries. Her magic is mighty but the suppression of it is painful. So is the tattoo her parents place upon her skin to force her into keeping her magic in tight. Until she meets Faolan, a lot of this reads like misery porn. She does have a core of strength and dignity, but watching her flail around and throw up and be victimized and hurt can be painful to see in a not-fun way, and it goes on for pages and pages. She desperately resists her magic, believing that she’s to blame for trauma and death, but even when it shows its positive side, she thinks her father’s lies about her powers are right instead of taking in what she sees before her. By the end of the book she finally starts to unleash herself, and that is a blessing to the narrative, which can finally stop focusing on her suffering.

Faolan, meanwhile, is your classic roguish pirate. Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time and Jack Sparrow are his clear role models. His shivers timber. But he’s fun and a sensual enough presence. He and Saiorsie bring out the best in one another even though he and his crew are pretty mean toward her at first and even though Saoirse has to keep reminding herself that oh no, this isn’t a real marriage! But he does get her to at least show some spirit and spunk and call him out on things, so that’s a relief.

The villains here – Saiorsie’s dad and the Stone King – are noncomplex: the personalities are broad, and the adventure kind of predictable. The language used here on occasion made me giggle. Every time a character exclaimed feck all I could think of was Father Ted – definitely not a comparison I wanted to think of for multiple reasons, especially during the love scenes.

It’s flawed, and it’s sometimes accidentally funny, but I have to admit I was never bored while reading Soulgazer. I’d definitely take the sequel out of the library instead of buying it, however – unless I were offered buried pirate’s treasure.

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Posted by Amanda

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.Welcome back to Links!

We’re about a month out from Thanksgiving and I’m slowly working on my share of the menu. For the past couple years, we’ve done an “all sides” Thanksgiving, because I don’t want to bother with a turkey. It’s just two of us and even a breast would probably be too much. I also think sides are the best part of the holiday anyway.

My partner is usually in charge of the carbs: mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. I usually do another veggie, dessert, and some other side that doesn’t require cooking.

Right now, I’ve got balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts, an autumn salad with fennel (love fennel!), and this apple cider donut cake from Smitten Kitchen (adjusted to be GF!).

Elizabeth let us know about this Kickstarter for a dark romance bookstore in Connecticut:

This seemed like something the SBTB community might be interested in. Ash is a wonderful human who has been doing pop up book sales of dark romance across New England (mostly Connecticut). They are now looking to open a brick and mortar store in Middletown CT, not far from Wesleyan University. It would definitely add some diversity and interest to the town – as well as bring some joy and stability to Ash’s life.

Humble Bundle has a deal on “momcore” games, which are cozy games designed to for short bursts of playtime. $10 for 12 games is a great deal.

Illumicrate is producing special editions of Murderbot. The sale goes live on November 20th. If you’re already a subscriber, presale starts a couple days before.

Previously I posted about the Hallmark birding romance movie. Well, birders are definitely displeased with all of the details they got wrong.

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!

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Posted by Amanda

The Geographer’s Map to Romance

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton is $1.99! Fingers crossed this deal lasts. This is book two in the Love’s Academic series and was released in April. Any thoughts on the series so far?

Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there’s no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Siren of Sussex

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews is $1.99! This is book one in Matthews’ new series, The Belles of London. The description definitely piques my interest, but I feel like Matthews books don’t get as sexy for me as I want them.

Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor.

Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart.

Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible.

But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Familiar

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is $2.99! We mentioned this one in Hide Your Wallet, and I believe this is a standalone. If there are any details about it being a series, let us know!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Gingerbread Bakery

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore is 99c! This is book five in the Dream Harbor series and released last month. All the books in this series are billed as cozy, small town romances.

From the international bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café and The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, comes the highly anticipated Dream Harbor romance for 2025!

A wedding in Dream Harbor can only mean one thing, everyone wants to get involved!

With Jeanie and Logan set to tie the knot, and Kira desperate to hire out her newly renovated barn at the Christmas tree farm, everything seems to be going well. Annie has agreed to bake the cake, and Mac is responsible for, well… just being Mac. And as the whole of Dream Harbor comes together to celebrate the wedding of the year with the snow falling around them, can Annie and Mac put aside their dislike for each just long enough for the ‘I Do’s’ or is that one request too far…

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Halloween Tips

Oct. 22nd, 2025 01:00 pm
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Posted by Jen

The big day is coming, people, so before you hit the streets to go trick-or-treating, here are some useful "guidelines" for having a safe and scream-worthy night:

Never accept rides from strangers.

Especially if you see fingers hanging out of the trunk.

 

 Wear reflective clothing:

Or just something so unbelievably hideous that people won't be able to NOT notice you. You know, like Crocs and a Speedo. (As a bonus: EVERYONE will want your picture!)

 

Watch out for roving gangs of lower-case Ms:

They're vicious this time of year. VICIOUS.

 

If you're trying to scare someone, don't yell "Boo!" It's not scary enough. 

Instead yell, "SCARY BOO!"

It also helps if you throw spiders at them.

 

Never assume you know what someone's costume is. 

 One person's Elvis is another's Dracula, and you really don't need that kind of awkwardness.

"I vant choo to stay off of my blue svade shoos! Muah! Ah! Ah!"

 

ALWAYS SAY "THANK YOU."

Even if they give you crap candy like generic lollipops and little bags of candy corn*:

*Actual candy we will be giving out on Halloween. Plus little boxes of Milk Duds. Y'all come by, y'hear?

 

And try to look grateful when you're saying "thank you," too -  not like this:

"This is my happy face."

 

Lastly, and mostly importantly...

BEWARE THE TOILET PAPER TERROR:

He also goes by "The Spirit of Gasses Past."

 

Thanks to Carly T.,  Leah K., Catherine S., Chryss A., Kris D., Chris B., Brianna M., Denil B., & Jennifer G. for really wiping the floor with these wrecks.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

advice/thoughts on local cycling

Oct. 22nd, 2025 08:53 am
gingicat: (oops - Agatha Heterodyne)
[personal profile] gingicat posting in [community profile] davis_square
I am seeking anecdotal advice about cycling in the Somerville-Medford-Malden area. Even the amazing Susan McLucas could not teach me to ride a bicycle (I can't keep myself from looking down on a turn) so I am considering investing in an adult tricycle with or without power assist. (I can fall down and bang myself up while walking with something in my hands that throws my balance off-center, too.)

My issue is that as a motorist, I have noticed that I often don't have room to pass a cyclist. I keep pace with the cyclist until I can safely pass with two or more feet between the side of the car and the cyclist. I very much appreciate the roads painted with the indication that cyclists are allowed to ride down the middle of the car lane!

How well is this honored? Am I a typical motorist when it comes to cyclist safety?
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Posted by Carrie S

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

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Posted by Carrie S

C-

A Lady Would Know Better

by Emma Theriault
January 28, 2025 · Entangled: Amara
Fantasy/Fairy Tale RomanceRomanceScience Fiction/Fantasy

I rather enjoyed the last third of A Lady Would Know Better. Granted, I read that last third of it at about 2AM while trapped in the bathroom (health problems) and while substantially hopped up on prescription painkillers (use only under care of a physician please; the opioid crisis is real). Is it a coincidence that this was the part I most enjoyed? I think not.

The rest of the story suffered due to heroic doltishness, a heroine who turns into a plot device, a romance plagued by insta-lust, two protagonists who are Too Stupid To Live, a plot that didn’t make much sense, and an inconsistency of tone that takes a sharp turn in the last third – which is when I started enjoying it.

Show Spoiler

Alexis from Schitt's Creek gleefully waves her hands in front of her laptop

So here’s the deal. Jasper, the Earl of Belhaven, is mourning his parents, his wife, and his brother-in-law, all of whom died within the last few years. One snowy day he finds a woman unconscious in the snow. He and his sisters nurse her back to health, but she has, wait for it…

AMNESIA!

Sorry, I have made a personal vow to type that word in that way whenever I find myself forced to use it.

The family calls the woman “Jane” and she befriends them all with her kind and charming ways. But Jasper wonders if maybe she’s trying to swindle him, or whether she’s in danger – after all, as she lay fainting gracefully in the snow, she said, “Don’t let them get me.”  Jasper chooses not to share this little phrase with Jane or anyone in his family because Jasper is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Jasper can’t stop smouldering in Jane’s direction and doing things like spending the night watching over her unchaperoned in her bedroom (!?!?!?!?!) and carrying her up stairs. But alas Jasper is mourning and has vowed never to love again. Oh no, what will come of this?

Jane is charming and, dare I use the word – feisty.

 

She instantly becomes friends with Jasper’s sisters who keep loaning her clothes that don’t require hemming even though they are all taller than her. They just magically fit. They are also perfectly flattering, because this is a romance novel, and I’ll be honest, I like a bit of fashion porn just as much as the next person.

Jane is supposed to be intelligent (after all, she reads Jane Austen) but she considers running off into Snow Storm II to be a mark of independence and self-respect and self-sacrifice when it’s actually just very stupid. She is wildly attracted to Jasper and they spend a lot of time lusting after one another while saying, “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly.”

Show Spoiler

Moira from Schitt's Creek shakes her head while holding a tea cup

This book falls into a specific kind of historical romance.

There are historicals that make some kind of effort to be precise representations of the time, with or without the trimmings of fashion and popular culture.

Then there are historical romances in which, although magic is not actually a thing, a unicorn could prance through a room and fit right in. I rather enjoy both kinds of historicals, but I always like to know which kind I’m getting into.

There’s no particular basis in reality in this book, aside from some specific timely references, which is fine as long as you know that going in. Everyone uses first names. The characters mention the need for a chaperone and proceed to ignore it. They defy common sense and caution at every opportunity. The Earl is very good to his tenants – see, feudalism is fine! Don’t worry about it!

Show Spoiler

Miss Piggy dressed up for Muppet Christmas Carol says "Whatever"

Astute readers will catch on to the subtle nods to Jane Austen. I’m kidding:  I’ve seen literal car crashes that had more subtlety than the references here.

Now I did start off saying that I rather enjoyed the novel, and here’s why. I loved Isobel, one of Jasper’s sisters, especially when she sparred verbally with her older Aunt.

But mostly, I got into the novel somewhere around the last third or so, when 2 things happened:

  1. The painkiller I took kicked in, giving everything under my purview a certain glowing charm (do not take without consulting a physician).
  2. The novel finally went full gothic.

In my not even remotely humble opinion, a book containing AMNESIA! is probably doomed if I am the reader, but it has some chance of success if it goes all-out unhinged gothic.  The book knows that AMNESIA! is ridiculous and must perforce match the AMNESIA! with the most messy plot imaginable. For most of the book, the tone is painfully earnest.

However, if you hang in there until the drugs take hold the last third, you will be treated to the kind of bonkers stuff that I should have had all along, like kidnapping and a gloomy old mansion and scheming relatives who plot.. The gothic over-the-topness of the final events allowed me to just let go and enjoy the ride. It’s ridiculous. It’s fine.

Show Spoiler

In a black and white scene, a woman dressed in a black gown faints very gracefully.

I can’t recommend this as a good book, but it might be a good comfort read for people wanting something lighter than air. Anything that can sustain me when feeling both slightly high and very miserable gets some points from me. All of the characters want so badly to be Good, and in a world full of cynicism that’s nice to see.

Stuff We Like: Household Staples

Oct. 22nd, 2025 05:01 am
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Posted by Amanda

It’s time for another edition of Stuff We Like!

This month: Amanda’s favorites from her first year of home ownership.

Take a look:

Want to see? Just click that image above or click right here, and come shop with us!

And if you’d like to browse some more, we have a complete Stuff We Like archive, including past Gift Guides and other posts of our favorite items.

Royally Wrecked

Oct. 21st, 2025 01:00 pm
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Posted by Jen

Remember that cake with a perfectly drawn Gerber Baby on it that was supposed to be a Gerber daisy?

Yeah, I love that one.

 

So needless to say, my day has just been made by this "Princess Crown":

So. Not. Kidding.

And according to Anthony N., his sister Gia is actually terrified of clowns, so this "did not go over well." Awww. Poor Gia! Doesn't she know that Mr. Demon McFangs there just wants to play?

With her entrails?

*****

I don't know about you guys, but when I get something unexpected in the mail, I can't WAIT to open it.

Well, unless it's a bill. Or junk mail. Or suspiciously soggy*.

Anyway, the point is, I think it's basic human nature to want to know what's inside a mystery container. To explore! To learn! To find potential new sources of money/fame/candy! C'mon, it's the basic premise of birthday parties, Christmas, and that whole Pandora-and-her-box thing.

Case in point: if someone handed you a large padded envelope and asked you to "please put this on my cake," and you were, you know, someone who makes cakes, would you...

A) Open the envelope to see what your customer wants printed on the cake

OR

B) Scan the OUTSIDE of the envelope and print that on the cake?

 

Survey says...

The answer is "Crystal Image Big Prints" clear!

Many thanks to Monica S., who reports she got this gem of a response when she complained:

"You never told me to look in the envelope."

Anyone else suspect this baker gets a lot of wrapping paper for Christmas?

*"Suspiciously Soggy" should totally be a band name. Make this happen, people.

*****

P.S. That reminds me: I don't know how often you mail stuff, but shouldn't it be in a prettier envelope?

Designer Poly Mailers, 10X13, 30PK

So cute! And they cost less than $9 for 30, dang.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

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Posted by Amanda

This HaBO comes from Rita, who wants to find this romance:

I’m hoping someone can help me identify this book I read about 10–11 years ago. I think it was originally published in the 1990s (can’t remember the exact date) and might have been a Harlequin or possibly a Silhouette title. Here’s what I recall:

– Male lead (ML) is a single dad with a young daughter.

– The child’s mother died in an accident, but she and the ML were never married.

– Since her mother’s passing, the daughter has been living with her maternal grandparents.

– The ML wants full custody and is told his chances will improve if he’s married and can show a stable home.

– He creates a list of eligible women in town and settles on the town librarian, Paige.

– After some convincing, Paige agrees to a marriage of convenience.

– Paige starts out as a “plain Jane” but is later seen as attractive/sexy.

– The story basically begins around the time they marry.

– I read it as part of a two-book box set.

I’d love to know the title and author if anyone recognizes it!

Does this sound familiar?

Hello, I am Testing Some Code

Oct. 21st, 2025 12:12 pm
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Posted by SB Sarah

Sometimes the only way for me to figure out if something is working or not is to do a post and test drive the code. So, uh. Hi!

I think the transcript and the spoiler code are malfunctioning and alas, I can’t blame it on AWS.

Any boodle, here’s a spoiler.

can you believe who shot JR?

That Kristin had great hair, too.

That was my first “grown up tv show” and wow, did I enjoy some big hair and shoulder pads. I really thought that when I was an adult my hair would look like romance cover models hair (big, bouncy, covers several acres) and I would dress like folks on Dynasty and Dallas (also big, bouncy, covers several acres). What a shame that adulthood arrived in the late 90s and fashions were a little different.

Oh, and also:

And speaking of Psycho...

My guy had some Issues with his Mother. Woodamn.

I totally ruined Adam’s day when I told him that…

the winner of this season of the Great British Bake Off is...

KIDDING! I don’t know that one!

Also I coded all of this on my phone so watch how much this is not going to work because of my thumbs!

So, sorry to have spoiled things. Got any secrets or spoilers you want to share?

If you want to test drive the code in the comments, it’s:

[**spoiler**]

Spoiler omg

[/*spoiler]

***Remove the  5 asterisks!***

 

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Posted by Amanda

Welcome back!

A short and sweet release week for us at SBTB HQ! We have a holiday romance making an appearance, horror, and a fae romance.

Which releases are you excited for this week? Let us know in the comments!

A Fae in Finance

A Fae in Finance by Juliet Brooks

Author: Juliet Brooks
Released: October 21, 2025 by Orbit
Genre: , , , ,
Series: How to Do Business in Fairie #1

She’s working for a fae in finance, business plan, 6’ 5”, big wings…

​In this hilarious contemporary fantasy, an exasperated low-level investment banker is trapped in a magical realm by a faerie prince, where she must survive in a strange new world with only her wits—and a solid Wi-Fi connection.

When investment banker Miri is purposely trapped in Faerie by her client, the Princeling of the Faerie realm, she does what any normal 20-something would cries, makes jokes in denial, and worries loudly about her cat, Doctor Kitten. Instead of rescuing her, her boss simply confirms she has solid internet access, leaving Miri stranded in a strange land with only a warning that the quality of her work should not decrease because of a change of address.

But Miri grew up reading fantasy, and she knows there are always ways to work around magic—she just needs to find them. In order to make her daring escape, Miri must navigate Faerie political drama, lies by omission, faerie seduction tactics, deteriorating mental health, and a mother who never hangs up the phone.

Amanda: “I’m looking for a fae in finance…6’5″, blue eyes.” This just seems so silly and fun.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Devil She Knows

The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur

Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
Released: October 21, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: , , ,

“A fantasy-tinged sapphic romance with perfect banter.”—People

A down-on-her-luck woman makes a deal with a crafty demon to win back her ex-girlfriend after a proposal gone awry, only to discover the girl of her dreams might be the devil she knows, from nationally bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

Samantha Cooper is having a day from hell.

In less than 24 hours, her life has unraveled, leaving her single and with nowhere to live. Adding insult to injury, she’s trapped in an elevator with a gorgeous woman claiming to be a demon.

Daphne is not at all what Samantha expected from someone claiming to be an evil supernatural entity. She’s pretty, witty, dressed in pink, and smells nice. And she’s here to offer Samantha a deal she can’t refuse. Six wishes in exchange for one tiny trade—Samantha’s soul. There’s a glaring loophole in their contract, one Samantha fully intends to exploit so she doesn’t fork over her soul. After all, she only needs one wish to win her ex back.

Hell-bent to gather the last of the one thousand souls she needs so that she can be free of her own devilish deal, Daphne grants each of Samantha’s wishes . . . with a twist, so that Samantha is forced to make another.

As Samantha’s wishes dwindle and Daphne offers her glimpses into the life she thought she wanted, the unlikely pair grows close. Perhaps the girl of Samantha’s dreams is actually the stuff of nightmares, but Samantha and Daphne will have to outsmart the Devil himself if they want a chance at happily ever after.

A new f/f romance from Bellefleur with a paranormal twist.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Girl Dinner

Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake

Author: Olivie Blake
Released: October 21, 2025 by Tor Books
Genre: ,

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six Girl Dinner is a darkly-fun novel about power, lust, and eating your fill, as wealthy moms and sorority girls practice a sinister new wellness trend . . .

Good girls deserve a treat.

Every member of The House, the most exclusive sorority on campus, and all its alumni, are beautiful, high-achieving, and universally respected.

After a freshman year she would rather forget, sophomore Nina Kaur knows being one of the chosen few accepted into The House is the first step in her path to the brightest possible future. Once she’s taken into their fold, the House will surely ease her fears of failure and protect her from those who see a young woman on her own as easy prey.

Meanwhile, adjunct professor Dr. Sloane Hartley is struggling to return to work after accepting a demotion to support her partner’s new position at the cutthroat University. After 18 months at home with her newborn daughter, Sloane’s clothes don’t fit right, her girl-dad husband isn’t as present as he thinks he is, and even the few hours a day she’s apart from her child fill her psyche with paralyzing ennui. When invited to be The House’s academic liaison, Sloane enviously drinks in the way the alumnae seem to have it all, achieving a level of collective perfection that Sloane so desperately craves.

As Nina and Sloane each get drawn deeper into the arcane rituals of the sisterhood, they learn that living well comes with bloody costs. And when they are finally invited to the table, they will have to decide just how much they can stomach in the name of solidarity and power.

Amanda: A+ title!

Elyse: I really enjoyed Olivie Blake’s other work and I’m intrigued by this turn toward horror.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Good Spirits

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

Author: B.K. Borison
Released: October 21, 2025 by Avon
Genre: ,
Series: Ghosted #1

The USA Today bestselling author of Business Casual, B.K. Borison is back with a whimsical new holiday romance—this time with a magical twist—that will have everyone falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past.

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison’s best yet!

B.K. Borison is starting a new paranormal series! I’m curious if the rest of the books in the series will be holiday-focused. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

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