Waiting for the Snow (Again) = Reading Stockpile

An assortment of options

Declaring Allegiance: Dangerous, Romantic Journeys & Intrigue

Blood and Ember (Stormbringer #3) by Isabel Cooper
Fantasy with romantic elements
Sourcebooks Casablanca, July 2021

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (Outlander #9) by Diana Gabaldon
Historical-Contemporary-Speculative Romance
Dell, November 2021

Serving Sin (Filthy Rich #3) by Angelina M. Lopez
Contemporary Romance
Carina Press, May 2021
[content warning: sexual assault references]

Princess of Shadows, The Girl Who Would Be King by Colin Alexander
Fantasy
Afictionado, November 2021

Aeryn Stonebreaker’s saga winds up and outward like a rollercoaster ride for readers who enjoy Arthurian lore,biblical scope, nuanced personal quandaries, and organically inclusive casts of characters. Briskly paced narrative, evocative details of place, time, and circumstances plus crises of conscience and faith are only a few of the features that make Princess of Shadows epic. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer Estep, Rena Barrow and similar authors should devour this compelling tale and hunger for more.

Literary Legacies

Read Until You Understand, The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature by Farah Jasmine Griffin

Non-fiction

W.W. Norton & Company, September 2021

As stated in the introduction, “...the book is designed as a seminar where readers, together, seek a deeper understanding of the works and the principles they explore.” With the introduction, ten chapters organized according to different contemplative themes, acknowledgments, notes, bibliography, discography, and index, Read Until You Understand achieves its intention. It’s the kind of book that inspires deep thoughts and multiple reads.

The fight for equality continues.

Controlling Women, What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom by Kathryn Kolbert & Julie F. Kay
Non-fiction
Hachette Books, July 2021

The Kapernick Effect, Taking a Knee, Changing the World by Dave Zirin
Non-fiction
The New Press, September 2021

Comments

Hot Love in the Kitchen & Travelling Through Time

Redemption of the Heart by Moni Boyce contemporary romance Love Snacks Publishing 8 January 2019 Despite addressing heavy themes of domestic violence, incarceration, and grief, Redemption of the Heart is a charming and sweet spicy read in the tradition of a 21st-century interracial homage to Janet Dailey’s monthly romance era. Gemma’s open-hearted ingénue contrasts starkly with Alex’s jaded workaholic. They struggle with a variety of challenges, but ethnicity isn’t one of them—a spin that feels particularly modern. Once readers commit to their suspension of disbelief regarding the cascading impact of lacks in due diligence by several characters, it’s easy to settle in to enjoy this love story. The recent public debate about the pros and cons of Gillette’s “We believe the best man can be” campaign ties in with the contradictory messages in the story threads about toxic masculinity. There’s a scene in which Alex apologizes to someone who was openly bragging among cowork...

123123! Goodbye 2023! Hello 2024!

A Marquis to Protect the Governess by Parker J. Cole historical romance fiction Harlequin Historical, December 26, 2023 Sometimes scrolling through new releases available on Libby (even though there's a stack of physical books within arm's reach), leads to unexpected reading pleasure. That's what happened with me upon starting this gem of a tale. Like opening my first books by Ms. Bev(erly Jenkins), Gay G. Gunn, Vanessa Riley, Alyssa Cole, and Lisa Rayne, Isadora and Andre's rocky love story hooked me from the first page. Using a seamless integration of historical context, character evolution, and high stakes combined with emotional nuances, this author has crafted an engaging tale that organically includes people and places too often erased from historical romance fiction. Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray & Sylvie Stewart, authors & publisher contemporary romance fiction October 2023 Who knew that normalizing op...

21st Authorversary & 20th IPPY Awardiversary + Thanks!

[front cover of Seducing the Burks: Five Erotic Tales by Cardyn Brooks with the image of an open hand making a beckoning gesture, a "2004 Independent Publisher IP Award Finalist" medallion sticker; back cover with blurb, "authorHOUSE" logo - formerly 1st Books, barcodes] Self-publishing 21 years ago was still often considered "vanity publishing" as in ego-driven by writers not talented enough to merit a contract with a traditional publisher. My decision to self-publish came after years of feedback praising the compelling nature and professional quality of my submission as prefaces to rejections that included phrases like, "Will your target audience of readers relate to the level of privilege your main characters have?" WT... It took me awhile to understand that since my Black characters are educated and middle class, agents and editors assumed that most readers wouldn't identify with them since (they also assumed) most Black people wer...

Search This Blog