Bickering as a Love Language

Sometimes people enjoy poking at each other until they start kissing.

[trade paperback books Restore Me and And Now, Back to You to left of a bookstack from top to bottom of Husband of the Year, Hearts on the Fly atop 5 books with only the bottom page edges showing; a white heart-shaped mug decorated with small red hearts next to a small pot of leafy green plants]

Restore Me (New Haven #1) by J.L. Seegars

contemporary romance

Bloom Books, January 2026

Sloane and Dominic have history and secrets that cause friction. Biting remarks and resentment eventually lead to confrontation and consequences.

It's a poignant don't-stop-until-the-end read rooted in family, friendship, and community.

And Now, Back to You (Heartstrings #2) by B.K. Borison

contemporary romance

Berkley, February 2026

Delilah and Jackson have a lot of issues. Annoying each other helps them work through some of them while they stumble into love. Their B'more and Maryland love fest story is a cozy weekend read.

Currently reading and enjoying Husband of the Year and Hearts on the Fly while completing another WIP, providing feedback on a very talented novice writer's WIP, consuming an excessive amount of Heated Rivalry content and Bridgerton season 5 commentary along with lots of family stuff.

[front cover of a hardback copy of And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips; colorful bursting fireworks at the corners and edges]

And the Crowd Went Wild (Chicago Stars #11) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

contemporary romance

Avon, February 2026

Dancy and Clint have history of the high school heartbreak variety. Revisiting it is painful and necessary. Moving forward from it is messy and rewarding.

Readers sensitive to recounting past trauma related to assault and fertility may want to skip or skim certain passages.

S.E.P.'s Chicago Stars stories are nostalgic reads for me because I'm pretty sure Fancy Pants was the very first sports romance I ever read and I've been hooked since.

No more books were borrowed or bought this week!!!

(A total fluke that I'm still counting as a sign of restraint.)

The Oscars inspired me to rewatch* Sinners. Thanks, public library!

[Sinners dvd atop 6 books with only the bottom page edges showing]

*Mostly re-hearing it because my eyes stayed closed the majority of the time after the main bad character approaches the juke joint. Seeing horror entertainment media gives me nightmares.

Do you have a library card?

Getting one and using the available resources are free ways to support democracy.

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day

Comments

Legacies of Octavia Butler & June BAC Issues

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When What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funny

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New Arrivals Giving BRBF Vibes + BAC Issues

Even as my friends and I enjoyed a fantastic community event yesterday in and around the Bowie Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, there was envy in my heart for all of the attendees and participants at the Black Romance Book Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. Reports of issues of crowding just made me happy for the event organizers' success while they posted apologies and corrective strategies for crowd control during the last day. In the meantime, the new arrivals shelves at the closest library in the neighboring county offered a variety of books by BRBF authors. "Where the Melanated Are Celebrated" indeed. [9 books, from left to right: Positive Obsession, Communion, Big Girl Blitz (atop a bookstack), The Started Ex, Fire Sword & Sea, Leave Your Mess at Home, Archangel's Eternity, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, First Sign of Danger] Currently reading Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Mo...

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