In a way, thinking and feeling through Ferrante make me wonder if the whole project of literary criticism, for some of us, might be one of un-pleasure reading. To me, the joy of writing about a text is the twisting, rupturing, pleasurable unpleasure of unforming and being unformed as I work to shape an argument. To read a book to its core, to get under its skin and let it get under yours, is to engage with it in a mutual process of transformation and sometimes-ecstatic contortion. In my life as a critic, as in Ferrante, this is an impossible yet irresistible desire: the little stories I’ve told you along the way here, my shape-making narrative impulses, are the legible coverings that skim over the roiling blurriness of ongoing forming-unforming beneath, the frantumaglia—that dialect word that Ferrante uses to mean “bits and pieces,” magma, a jumbled tangle that refuses reduction—of reading and being read. This is the last thing I’d call pleasure—and yet…
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Like the stories of most notorious women, Alma Mahler’s is one of sex and power. She had a liking and a talent for both. Trailing a legacy of innuendo, anecdotes, and off-color jokes, she steers any biographer, however serious, to the enjoyable, lascivious path of the gossipy celebrity biography—but with better gossip and much better celebrities.
The post It Had to Be Her appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/36nCunt For a long time, European and North American historians paid little attention to the extraordinary series of events that now goes by the name of the Haitian Revolution. In their view, revolutions in this period involved Western, middle-class revolutionaries overthrowing aristocratic elites and establishing democratic institutions while paving the way for industrial capitalism. Haiti clearly did not fit this model, and it did not help that stories of “savage” Haitian blacks slaughtering innocent white colonists remained distressingly influential many decades into the twentieth century. Over the past generation, however, the old model of revolution has lost its appeal, while historians have become better attuned both to currents of global history and to “subaltern” voices.
The post The Contagious Revolution appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2FtBO4t Welcome to a joint review of The Expanse Season Four. HeatherT is the person who first got me hooked on the show. Over the last few seasons we’ve had many differences over how we interpret characters and plots and which are our favorites but we remain united in our love of Amos and of Chrisjen Avarasala’s fashion choices. If you are new to the Expanse, we suggest starting at the beginning. While we both found Season 1 to be a weak beginning, it sets so much in motion that if you don’t start there you’ll spend all your time saying “What’s Eros?” and wondering who the guy in the hat is. Newcomers will discover that the show has good science, interesting worldbuilding, great characters, a diverse cast (needs more queer characters though), and a mix of humor, action, space horror, hard sci-fi, and politics. If “found family” is your thing then look no further. The Expanse is not about romance, but it is about relationships, and watching those relationships develop over the course of four seasons is unbelievably rewarding. It’s a tribute to the show’s complexity that we pick up new things every time we watch it. Also, subtitles are your friend, especially since many of the characters speak a patois. To set the stage – The Expanse is set in a future where Earth is governed by the UN, Mars has been colonized, and the asteroid belt is populated by Belters — miners who are oppressed by both Earth and Mars. The story follows a series of different characters – First, the crew of the Rocinante – Jim Holden, Naomi Nagata, Alex Kamal and Amos Burton as they fly around the solar system causing trouble (and trying to fix it) wherever they go. Second, Chrisjen Avasarala, a foul-mouthed UN politician. Third, Bobbie Draper, a dedicated Martian marine. And finally, Drummer and Ashford, two Belter captains. Here’s a spoiler-free look at Season 4! Let’s cut to the chase: all the fans love Amos, and apparently the showrunners know it, because he gets quite an arc this season that should make all the Amos watchers happy. He doesn’t wear a shirt for several scenes (yay!), he interacts in a protective and kind manner with some characters but he also gets to be both passive aggressive and aggressive-aggressive; he gets some great lines; he reveals more about his backstory, and he has scenes in which he is emotionally vulnerable. The fan fic practically writes itself, but don’t worry – he hasn’t gone soft. He’s still a dangerous killer who will stop at nothing to protect his found family of Holden, Naomi and Alex. Also of great import – we look into Avarasala’s closet. This is part of a sequence in which we see her get up and get dressed for the day. It’s a great sequence that, in addition to the thrill of looking in her closet, reveals much about her character and exactly why she wears those clothes without using any words. Well done. Amazon has upped the budget and it shows. For the first time we have scenes on an alien planet and inside the living and working quarters on Mars. CS: On a more disappointing note, while The Expanse continues its tendency to feature many diverse women with a variety of skill sets, this is the season of bad decisions and an awful lot of them are made by female characters. Despite now having better female representation than pretty much any other show I can think of, this show has always struggled with the fact that men make most of the driving decisions behind the plot. In this season, everyone makes terrible choices ranging from “they don’t have good options so ok” to pure WTF. I found it infuriating to watch women I know and respect do stupid things even when stupid choices were driven by character-consistent motives. HT: While I agree with the poor choices comment, what bugged me more was that I didn’t follow the motivations behind the main villain’s actions, and more importantly, I didn’t get (and still don’t get) why someone didn’t just kill him by the end of Episode 3. He was unrelentingly evil – yes, he was aggrieved, but the way he dealt with it was so over the top – I found it distracting and off-putting especially when there was so much nuance and complexity from the other characters and stories. We both enjoy the fact that The Expanse is always tackling what TV Tropes calls The Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism. The show usually comes out on the side of idealism, but without glossing over the complexity of hard choices and complicated characters. Sometimes idealists, most notably Holden, Naomi and Bobbie, cause terrible harm from a well-intentioned place. Sometimes cynical characters accomplish great good more or less by accident. Idealistic characters can be pushed into temporary cynicism and cynical characters can be pushed into temporary idealism. Very few characters are all one thing or another. That really came to the forefront this season as almost every character – even the most idealistic – had to compromise or take positions that they seemed almost surprised to find themselves taking. Despite the quibbles we both had, this season was complex and exciting, with our beloved characters getting plenty of time to shine. And we want to wear all of Avarasala’s clothes.
The post Stuff You Should Be Watching: The Expanse, Season Four appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2QiCSyf We have our first Rec League of 2020. I discovered this request buried in the archives of my inbox and put it on the calendar. However, I forget to note the sender. If this is your request, my apologies! But I hope you get some great reading suggestions. I feel the request is pretty self explanatory: the requester is looking for erotic romances without BDSM elements or relationships. Tara: Meghan O’Brien writes a lot of f/f erotic romance like that. Off the top of my head, I can recommend The Sex Therapist Next Door, Camp Rewind ( A | BN ) and Her Best Friend’s Sister. Sneezy: Oooo – tricky tricky!!!! A lot of Kit Rocha’s backlist under their other pen name, Moira Rogers, probably fits. Their Bloodhound series and Down and Dirty trilogy in particular, and I remember their Southern Arcana series being really hot, too. Frozen by Meljean Brook is another one. Grace Draven also wrote some hella hot novellas. I know Wyvern is still sold, but I’m not sure I’d Draconus still is. Catherine: I have no suggestions but I can see already that this is going to be bad for my wallet. Oh wait, what about Emma Holly’s early work? Beyond Innocence and Beyond Seduction ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) might fit the bill. Tara: I had a look at my Goodreads and found a couple more f/f ones that I forgot. Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker takes place at the not-Olympics and has excellent bi and poly rep. Harper Bliss has an ongoing series going called French Kissing ( A | BN | K | AB ) that focuses on a few couples who are all connected by an ad agency. It’s sort of episodic, like a soap opera, so the different “series” have to be read in order. Elyse: Looking Inside by Beth Kery. Charlotte: The challenge I have with this request is figuring out what I classify as erotic romance. I usually think of ER as a book in which the sexual relationship (not just the romantic relationship) plays a key role in a character’s, or the couple’s journey AND the sex scenes fall on the more explicit end. I can think of lots of romances that faller on the hotter end but that I don’t mentally classify as ER based on my own definition. Karina Halle’s Nordic Royals ( A ) would be a good example – very hot, but I don’t think of them as ER. Meljean Brook’s Frozen, on the other hand, I definitely consider ER (and strongly recommend), as well as her The Beast of Blackmoor novella (written as Milla Vane). What books do you think would qualify? And how would you define erotic romance? The post The Rec League: Erotic Romances without BDSM Elements appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/37ruL88 Happy New Year! We have reached 2020. I’m not big on new year resolutions, but I’m adopting them in the most general way possible.
Feel free to drop some of your own goals for the year in the comments! … Did you know there’s such a thing as a “penis fish”? I did not and I felt very uncomfortable reading this article on public transportation. … As a cat lover and owner, there’s always a good chance Links will contain something cat-related. I am obsessed with this spectrum of cat personalities and my own cat, Linus, is deep in the “aristocratic bastard” quadrant.
… I enjoyed this list of Boston wildlife sightings, from a hawk hanging out in a subway station to a squirrel eating a slice of pizza to raccoons emerging from the sewers. … Before the new year, there was a popular meme going around to examine how your life has changed in improved in the last decade. Well here’s a piece from McSweeney’s on what popular literary characters have achieved:
… And let’s end this Links with something that is incredibly beautiful:
… Don’t forget to share what super cool 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! The post Links: Nature is Weird and a Wedding for the Ages appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2SKYJzP Laila Lalami, a Moroccan American novelist who grew up in Rabat, has praised Chraïbi as “the first writer I read as a child who created Moroccan characters that were believable.” But they were perhaps all too believable, and certainly too troubling, when The Simple Past (Le Passé simple) was published in 1954. Some Moroccan readers claimed that Chraïbi’s portrait of Moroccan traditional society was consumed by self-hatred, even a betrayal of the independence struggle. The novel was banned in Morocco until 1977.
The post Driss Chraïbi & the Novel Morocco Had to Ban appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2QFM7qZ I know last Hide Your Wallet we instituted some changes. Well now we have more, thanks to the comment left by Katie C. A lot of you expressed wanting to keep the wide breadth of new releases and Katie’s suggestion was pretty great. We’re still keeping our book maximums (five per person), but have added an extra HYW post per month, allowing another five books per person. The first HYW of the month will cover books that release from the 1st to the 14th. The second HYW will cover books released from the 15th to the end of the month. We also think this will help us feature books from smaller publishers who don’t have buy links up as quickly as the big five. Hope you like the new, new changes! And thanks again to this community for the feedback! A Private AffairAuthor: A.C. Arthur Rivals for the runways. Enemies in the industry. And for a single sinfully hot night, they’re about to indulge in the one thing they’re not allowed…each other. Fashion executive Riley Gold knows that appearances are everything. And New Year’s Eve in Milan is no exception. If Riley’s going to have a reputation for being an “ice princess,” then she’s going to be flawless, glacier-cold perfection. Especially when Chaz Warren is here, looking too damn good, too damn sexy…and every inch the enemy. Not only are their families fashion archrivals, but social media mogul Chaz Warren is a player—and the world knows it. But for one X-rated night, Riley will give in to the electric lust that’s always been crackling between them. All it takes is a searing kiss to turn the heat from simmering to full-on passion… Riley thought one night with Chaz would be enough. But it’s not enough, not nearly. Now Riley and Chaz are having a private—and completely naughty—affair, and hiding the scandalizing truth from both the tabloids and their feuding families. But keeping her deliciously hot enemy close won’t just melt the ice around Riley’s heart…he could incinerate it completely. Aarya: I always like books that turn from one-night stands into something more, especially when they think that a little more sex will work it out of their system. Yeah, right. A Year of Chasing LoveAuthor: Rosie Chambers One moment can change a lifetime… The last thing top divorce lawyer Olivia Hamilton ever expected was to be served her own divorce papers! To escape her marriage troubles, she agrees to go on a year-long trip to find the ultimate guide to love. Travelling the world, surrounded by stories of love and happiness, it’s not long before her thoughts turn to Nathan, her soon-to-be ex-husband, and she starts to take note of her own lessons in love… But with Nathan over a thousand miles away, will it be too late? Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Philippa Ashley and Caroline Roberts. Sneezy: A divorce lawyer’s second chance romance, traipsing around the world as you try to sort your shit out, and fighting for your love!!!! I’m banking on this being as cute as it sounds! JeremiahAuthor: Jayce Ellis Jeremiah Stewart’s sexuality is no one’s business. Not that he’s hiding it. When—if—he finds the right one, he’ll absolutely introduce him to Mom. But a late-night brush with a sexy stranger in too much lip gloss has him rethinking nearly everything… To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks. When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom. Aarya: I’ve seen a lot of positive buzz for this debut and I hope it lives up to expectations. A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New YearAuthor: Jackie Lau After his family’s matchmaking extravaganza at Thanksgiving, high school teacher Zach Wong is terrified of what his parents might do for Chinese New Year. Surely they’ll try to set him up yet again, especially now that his older brothers are in relationships. Zach, however, has no interest in dating, not since his fiancée left him. The solution? Find a fake girlfriend to avoid his parents’ matchmaking. Jo MacGregor, the town dentist, is the obvious choice. They both live in Mosquito Bay and have been friends for years, ever since they bonded over broken engagements. A few kisses and dates around town, and everyone will believe they’re in a relationship. No problem. Except their fake relationship is starting to feel more and more real… Aarya: Charming and low-angst. I liked the meddling grandparents and the holiday traditions. Sneezy: I loved this story so much, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! Loveboat, TaipeiAuthor: Abigail Hing Wen Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen, and praised as “an intense rush of rebellion and romance” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Garber, this romantic and layered Own Voices debut from Abigail Hing Wen is a dazzling, fun-filled romp. “Our cousins have done this program,” Sophie whispers. “Best kept secret. Zero supervision.” And just like that, Ever Wong’s summer takes an unexpected turn. Gone is Chien Tan, the strict educational program in Taiwan that Ever was expecting. In its place, she finds Loveboat: a summer-long free-for-all where hookups abound, adults turn a blind eye, snake-blood sake flows abundantly, and the nightlife runs nonstop. But not every student is quite what they seem: Ever is working toward becoming a doctor but nurses a secret passion for dance. Rick Woo is the Yale-bound child prodigy bane of Ever’s existence whose perfection hides a secret. Boy-crazy, fashion-obsessed Sophie Ha turns out to have more to her than meets the eye. And under sexy Xavier Yeh’s shell is buried a shameful truth he’ll never admit. When these students’ lives collide, it’s guaranteed to be a summer Ever will never forget. Amanda: Crazy Rich Asians meets a Jane Austen comedy of manners! Overground RailroadAuthor: Candacy Taylor The first book to explore the historical role and residual impact of the Green Book, a travel guide for black motorists Published from 1936 to 1966, the Green Book was hailed as the “black travel guide to America.” At that time, it was very dangerous and di cult for African-Americans to travel because black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or buy gas at most white-owned businesses. The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses that were safe for black travelers. It was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem. It took courage to be listed in the Green Book, and Overground Railroad celebrates the stories of those who put their names in the book and stood up against segregation. It shows the history of the Green Book, how we arrived at our present historical moment, and how far we still have to go when it comes to race relations in America. Shana: As someone who loves a road trip, I’m looking forward to learning about the history of this guide to traveling while Black. The Secret ChapterAuthor: Genevieve Cogman In the latest novel in Genevieve Cogman’s historical fantasy series, Irene and Kai have to team up with an unlikely band of misfits to pull off an amazing art heist—or risk the wrath of the dangerous villain with a secret island lair. A Librarian’s work is never done, and once Irene has a quick rest after their latest adventure, she is summoned to the Library. The world where she grew up is in danger of veering deep into chaos, and she needs to obtain a particular book to stop this from happening. No copies of the book are available in the Library, so her only choice is to contact a mysterious Fae information broker and trader of rare objects: Mr. Nemo. Irene and Kai make their way to Mr. Nemo’s remote Caribbean island and are invited to dinner, which includes unlikely company. Mr. Nemo has an offer for everyone there: he wants them to steal a specific painting from a specific world. He swears that he will give each of them an item from his collection if they bring him the painting within the week. Everyone takes the deal. But to get their reward, they will have to form a team, including a dragon techie, a Fae thief, a gambler, a driver, and the muscle. Their goal? The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, in a early twenty-first century world, where their toughest challenge might be each other. Catherine: I adore this series – it has high adventure, romance, magic, and a deep and abiding love of books. This particular episode appears to be a heist story, and I am so there for it. A Longer FallAuthor: Charlaine Harris #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the second of the Gunnie Rose series, in which Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful, that forces from across three territories want to possess it. In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time. #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power. Lara: I was DEEPLY invested in True Blood, but drifted away from Charlaine Harris…but maybe I should wander back into the Harris fold. Burn the DarkAuthor: S.A. Hunt Supernatural meets Stranger Things in award-winning author S. A. Hunt’s Burn the Dark, first in the Malus Domestica horror action-adventure series about a punk YouTuber on a mission to bring down witches, one vid at a time. Robin is a YouTube celebrity gone-viral with her intensely-realistic witch hunter series. But even her millions of followers don’t know the truth: her series isn’t fiction. Her ultimate goal is to seek revenge against the coven of witches who wronged her mother long ago. Returning home to the rural town of Blackfield, Robin meets friends new and old on her quest for justice. But then, a mysterious threat known as the Red Lord interferes with her plans…. Amanda: I think this was originally self-pubbed, but it sounds all sorts of creepy and trippy. Dark and Deepest RedAuthor: Anna-Marie McLemore Summer, 1518. A strange sickness sweeps through Strasbourg: women dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. As rumors of witchcraft spread, suspicion turns toward Lavinia and her family, and Lavinia may have to do the unimaginable to save herself and everyone she loves. Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward a boy who knows the dancing fever’s history better than anyone: Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever five hundred years ago. But there’s more to what happened in 1518 than even Emil knows, and discovering the truth may decide whether Rosella survives the red shoes. With McLemore’s signature lush prose, Dark and Deepest Red pairs the forbidding magic of a fairy tale with a modern story of passion and betrayal. Aarya: I adore fairytale-inspired fantasy and this looks wonderful. Ellen: The Red Shoes is a WILD fairytale that I haven’t seen a novel-length retelling of before so I’m quite interested to check this out! Flight to the HorizonAuthor: Julie Tizard Airline Captain Kerri Sullivan has a perfect life. Only one thing is missing—a woman to share it with. She’s had plenty of women on the road to success, but she’s never met “the one.” Flight attendant Janine Case is beautiful beyond measure, but comes across as aloof and untouchable. When Kerri and Janine are crewmembers on a flight to Hawaii, an unexpected kiss leads to smoldering attraction. After Kerri is forced to make an emergency water landing mid-flight and the two women survive a harrowing rescue mission, all Kerri wants to do is follow her heart into Janine’s arms. But Jeanine is hiding a dark secret from her past, one that makes falling in love impossible. She’s on the run from her abusive ex-husband, and she’ll stop at nothing to protect her daughter, even if the cost is her own happiness. Shana: A captain and a flight attendant? This f/f sounds soapy and angsty! Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked StickAuthor: Zora Neale Hurston From “one of the greatest writers of our time” (Toni Morrison)—the author of Barracoon and Their Eyes Were Watching God—a collection of remarkable stories, including eight “lost” Harlem Renaissance tales now available to a wide audience for the first time. In 1925, Barnard student Zora Neale Hurston—the sole black student at the college—was living in New York, “desperately striving for a toe-hold on the world.” During this period, she began writing short works that captured the zeitgeist of African American life and transformed her into one of the central figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Nearly a century later, this singular talent is recognized as one of the most influential and revered American artists of the modern period. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick is an outstanding collection of stories about love and migration, gender and class, racism and sexism that proudly reflect African American folk culture. Brought together for the first time in one volume, they include eight of Hurston’s “lost” Harlem stories, which were found in forgotten periodicals and archives. These stories challenge conceptions of Hurston as an author of rural fiction and include gems that flash with her biting, satiric humor, as well as more serious tales reflective of the cultural currents of Hurston’s world. All are timeless classics that enrich our understanding and appreciation of this exceptional writer’s voice and her contributions to America’s literary traditions. Sneezy: Eight short stories by a writer from the Harlem Renaissance! Want want want want! Jamis Bachman, Ghost HunterAuthor: Jen Jensen Jamis Bachman never stays in one place for too long. Retired from the reality TV show Ghastly Incidents, she’s now a social media sensation, chasing ghosts, demons, and inter-dimensional aliens—in an effort to avoid her own. When a desperate young couple sends Jamis a video of a poltergeist disturbance, she jumps on a plane to Sage Creek, Utah, not knowing her world is about to change forever. Ghost stories she can handle, but a violent poltergeist, a brutal unsolved twenty-five-year-old murder, and meeting the love of her life? She’s in way over her head. Jamis thought she was the one chasing ghosts, but it seems as though something is chasing her… Susan: A washed-up ghost-hunter solving a cold murder case sounds EXACTLY up my street! The Last SisterAuthor: Kendra Elliot Three sisters’ secrets collide in a shocking novel of suspense by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Mercy Kilpatrick series. Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed. Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past. When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her. Elyse: I really love Elliot’s romantic suspense novels, but beware, they lean really heavily into the suspense side. Moon ShadowAuthor: Suzie Clarke Justice might be satisfying, but revenge is far sweeter. Computer programmer Rachel Portola’s got a target on her back. She’s developed a top-secret program and her boss, Justin McKinney wants it and the millions it will bring on the open market. Even if it means murder. When Rachel’s plane crashes and she and her friends are forced to hike through the Alaskan wilderness to survive, she thinks the worst is over. Rachel can finally focus on her attraction to her best friend Claire and the unexpected love they share. But Justin’s not giving up. Armed with only her instincts and a sharp knife, Rachel’s in for the fight of her life to protect what’s hers. The odds are impossible, the future looks bleak, and with everything that matters on the line, Rachel’s not letting anything get in her way. Susan: Part of the appeal of this is the very nineties-sounding plot, but I’m mainly looking forward to horribly-timed revelations about feelings! Sweep with MeAuthor: Ilona Andrews From #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ilona Andrews… There’s no place like home for the holidays…especially at Innkeeper Dina DeMille’s bed and breakfast, which welcomes guests who are literally out of this world! Aarya: Ilona Andrews could release a book with no cover/blurb/title and I would still one-click up to an unmentionable amount of money. This is currently being serialized for free on their website. Catherine: I’ve only discovered Ilona Andrews recently, but they are a delight. TemptationAuthor: Kris Bryant Cassie Miller is broke. Her parents cut off all funding when she dropped out of medical school, and graduate school is expensive. A full-time nanny job at the Wellington estate is the answer to her problems, except working for beautiful, successful Brook Wellington wasn’t in the job description. Brook has always had a head for business. Born into a global shipping empire, she sits at the helm running it with skill and savvy. But success comes at a cost. Her priority is her six-year-old son, but she can’t be in two places at once. Hiring a nanny isn’t the perfect solution, but it would certainly help, and Cassie came highly recommended. If only she wasn’t so damn attractive. Can Cassie and Brook deny their growing attraction and keep things professional? Or will they sidestep propriety and give in to temptation? Tara: I love Kris Bryant’s books, so I would have read this one regardless, but there are so few “falling for the nanny” f/f romances that I knew I had to read this one when I heard about it. Wolf Gone WildAuthor: Juliette Cross What’s the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf? Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he’s cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane. Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven–no werewolves. They’re known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls into the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she’s ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules. What Evie doesn’t know is that Mateo’s wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she’s in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her. Ellen: Witch + werewolf romance, adorable cover, looks really fun! The post January’s New Releases, Part One appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2Fa5aVl This HaBO request is from Melissa, who wants to find this contemporary romance with suspense elements: Not sure how long ago I read this, but it was a contemporary romance (possibly romantic suspense) with a heroine who owned her own clothing/accessories store and had a poodle who (not joking) was offended by badly dressed people. At one point, the poodle growls at the hero for putting on a jacket that does not go with the pants/shirt he’s wearing. The hero was a cop (or possibly a PI) who comes to investigate when her store is broken into. He then becomes her bodyguard when it’s clear she is being targeted. It turns out someone is using her store to smuggle jewels (possibly stolen but I’m not sure) into the country as part of what is supposed to be costume jewelry that she sells in the store. I really hope this rings bells for someone! Who knows this one? The post HaBO: Poodle Offended by Bad Fashion appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2ZEkpiH Phoenix UnboundPhoenix Unbound by Grace Draven is $1.99! I gave this one a C-, but I’d still recommend it with large caveats. 1) All of the trigger warnings. 2) It’s dense and the slow burn is quite slow. 3) There’s a magical infertility cure. Draven’s writing is always top notch and I’m curious about the next book, which follows a different couple. A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Todaybestselling author of Radiance. Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan. To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more. Too Hot to HandleToo Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey is $2.99! I enjoy Bailey’s writing! Her dialogue feels very real and her dirty talk between characters is top notch. I loved the setup of an estranged family’s cross-country road trip. But I will admit the chemistry between the hero and heroine wavered at times. The first book in a brand new contemporary romance series from New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey! When Rita Clarkson’s Suburban takes its last breath on a New Mexico roadside, rescue roars up on a Harley in the form of smooth-talking honkey tonk owner, Jasper Ellis, a man as mysterious as he is charming. Rita’s cross-country journey to New York City–with her three estranged siblings in tow–is only beginning, but now that Jasper has found Rita, his plans do not include her leaving. The Lady Traveler’s Guide to Scoundrels and Other GentlemenThe Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander is $1.99! This is the first book in the Lady Travelers Society series and it has, you guessed it, lady travelers. Readers say the plot takes a while to pick up, but others say this historical romance is both sweet and funny. Embark on the breathtaking romantic adventures of The Lady Travelers Society in the brand-new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander Really, it’s too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders’s favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what’s a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he’s escorting the world’s most maddening woman to the world’s most romantic city to find her missing relative. While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she’s certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart. The FiveThe Five by Hallie Rubenhold is $2.99! This is part of today’s Kindle Daily Deals, which has some other great options! Elyse was incredibly excited about this one and mentioned is a few times on the site podcast. I swore she wrote a review, but I think I’m confusing this one with another book about Jack the Ripper Miscast in the media for nearly 130 years, the victims of Jack the Ripper finally get their full stories told in this eye-opening and chilling reminder that life for middle-class women in Victorian London could be full of social pitfalls and peril. The “canonical five” women murdered by Jack the Ripper have always been dismissed as society’s waste, their stories passed down to us wrapped in a package of Victorian assumptions and prejudice. But social historian Hallie Rubenhold sets the record straight in The Five. In reality, only two of the victims were prostitutes, and Rubenhold has uncovered entirely new research about them all–in some cases, material no one has ever seen before. The Five tells for the first time the true stories of these fascinating women. It delves into the Victorian experience of poverty, homelessness, and alcoholism, but also motherhood, childbirth, sexuality, child-rearing, work, and marriage, all against the fascinating, dark, and quickly changing backdrop of nineteenth-century London. From rural Sweden to the wedding of Queen Victoria, from the London of Charles Dickens to the factories of the Industrial Revolution and the high-class brothels of the West End, these women were not just victims but witnesses to the vagaries and vicissitudes of the Victorian age. The post Nonfiction, Contemporary Romance, & More appeared first on NeedaBook. via Need a Book – NeedaBook https://ift.tt/2QfQSsz |