#her and laurens friendship is so iconic. if any of my friends ever end up writing a book i want a cameo as some actor's beard too

[darcyolsson]

i forgot alice oseman appears in an unauthorised fan treatise as some actor's fake gf 😭😭😭 iconic

[bisluthq]

I see people often say that tinhats in kaylor/larry use these stars as an escape and a projection for what they want for themselves and to some degree I get that, I’m not going to ever be able to come out to my family so I can understand living through celebs. What I have an issue with is that is usually entirely self serving and selfish towards the people they’re actually talking about, especially in the context of the real queer people who are going through shit themselves and have to deal with people trying to out them or Find The Klues about their sexuality constantly online. They can’t even express their sexuality and explore what that means to them without it being tied to the ship. And in the cases where there are queer people in the ship like Lauren from 5H or Harry in 1D, they have to navigate sexuality and identity in a way that doesn’t set off the conspiracy theorists on them while trying to participate in the community they belong in. You then end up with a situation like Lauren saying she felt predatory in her friendship with Camila as a queer person or Harry saying he had to wrestle and come to terms with a lot of things about himself and ‘he knows who he is now’ over the years which is what Lights Up is about. Like you have to be a really shitty and self centered person to believe you’re doing these people any kind of service by trying to out them on main.

Agreed.

To me it links to people not seeing them as… people. Like we’ve discussed Cara who is a fucking sapphic icon and has shared a lot of really intimate stuff on main about it. Cara - an actual gay woman - has said “please don’t ship me with my friends it makes me feel like I shouldn’t have friends.” And what do people do? Disregard that and continue to live their fantasy. That’s why it’s 100% disrespectful imo. Not because it’s shitty to say someone is gay, but because it’s shitty to make someone feel broken for being gay.

I’ve said before most gay people have had the “oh fuck did I just friendship wrong???” moment. Imagine having that in front of millions of people. That’s what Harry, Lauren and Cara have had. If you can’t see how it’s fucked up, idk that’s a unique level of self-absorption and lack of empathy that I can’t relate to personally.

We all have fantasies about celebs, whether that’s wanting to fuck them, be them or be their friends. That’s normal. But our fantasy shouldn’t come at the expense of making them feel like shit.

[jacnaylor]

romance book recs!!

romance is my feel good genre, and it’s also usually somewhat easier to read during stressful times, so here’s a list of some books that are either romance or have a romance element i feel like mentioning.

(EDIT: I STAYED UP TILL 2 AM DOING THIS HELP. this is why some of the comments. don’t make any fucking sense.)

romance books and authors:

CONTEMPORARY:

1. The Bromance bookclub series by Lyssa Kay Adams (A group of men form a bookclub dedicated to romance books in order to understand women, improve their relationships and become better men. It’s funny, cute, and all about dismantling toxic masculinity one romance book at a time)

2. Mariana Zapata books (The queen of slowburn romance. The only book I’ve read by her is ‘Under Locke’, but ‘From Lukov with love’ and ‘Kulti’ have rave reviews. There is so much build up and SO much sexual tension with a great pay off)

3. Milly Johnson books (A uk author whose books are primarily set in the north, these are total feel good books. Not so much graphic and more romantic, but her characters are great and her plot lines really hook you in.)

4. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (Super cute, quick enemies-to-lovers story about a bridesmaid who has to go on a honeymoon with the best man when the bride and groom get food poisoning. Obviously this means the holy of holies: fake relationship!)

5. Well met by Jen De Luca (Oh my gosh! Super fun, the characters are just wonderful especially our heroine. A hate-to-love romance set at a renaissance fair! All about overcoming the limits you set on yourself and rethinking your first impressions.)

6. Katherine Center books (My personal favourites are ‘How to walk away’ about a woman who falls for her PT after a near fatal plane crash. And ‘Happiness for beginners’ about a woman taking part in a wilderness trail with her brothers annoying best friend. She writes such great plots and you really feel all the emotions!)

7. Mhairi Mcfarlane books (my personal favourites are ‘Here’s looking at you’ about a woman who comes face to face with her high school bully years later - only he doesn’t recognize her. And he’s not awful? Don’t worry. I know how that synopsis sounds. He’s not excused his actions, but you also understand how he’s grown and changed. It definitely gets you in the feels though. As does ‘You had me at hello’ Which is about a couple from university meeting again years later. God this woman can write angst and yearning!!)

8. A part of me by Anouska Knight (On the same day she and her husband have been accepted into the adoption process, their marriage implodes. This has such a cute romance which follows hate-to friends- to love and it’s v funny)

9. Southern Eclectic series by Molly harper (Just as it sounds. Southern small town romance with a great, quirky cast of characters)

10. Maggie’s man by Lisa Gardner (writing as Alicia Scott) (An escaped convict kidnaps a woman from the courthouse to act as his hostage whilst he tries to prove his innocence. Surprisingly funny and warm. Maggie as a heroine is an absolute joy. They’re sort of chaotic together and it’s a wild ride.)

11. The Mister by E.L James (LISTEN OK - SIT BACK DOWN - It’s not winning awards but it’s actually decent! I was skeptical, but I will admit I was won over. I mean parts are cheesy but it’s so addictive. Basically a rich man falls for his cleaning lady - but it’s also about the yearning. It’s also quite action packed as there’s danger, drama and a chase across europe to get the girl.)

12. RECENT Colleen Hoover (Now, you may enjoy older CH books. Personally I find them very problematic. Now I’ve really enjoyed her recent books though. Especially ‘Without Merit’ and ‘It ends with us’ and ‘Regretting you’. High angst, high drama, dark topics for all of her books. But you can tell she’s matured with her writing. She isn’t for everyone but they’re addictive, fast paced reads.

13. The Austenland duology by Shannon Hale (You might have seen the Austenland movie - The cutest, cheesiest, sweetest, campiest movie ever. Well there’s a book! It’s about women who go on a holiday and live their own Jane Austen story with actors. The first book leans towards Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield park. The second book is more Northanger abbey and Emma.

14. Brigid Kemmerer contemporaries (She is an auto-buy author for me, especially her contemporaries. She writes the best teenage characters, the best teenage boys I’ve ever read about. Her characters are real, she writes about kids trying their best, struggling, and being good, and kind, and the world not being kind to them. Usually the books have a pov from both the female and male love interest. I would rec any of them tbh. ‘Letters to the lost’ comes before it’s companion novel ‘More than we can tell’. I loved ‘Call it what you want’ with has modern Robin Hood elements!!!! seriously she is my favourite YA contemporary author.

15. Sophie Kinsella books (If you haven’t picked up her stand alone novels then what are you doing???? she is the queen!!!! Personal favourites are ‘Can you keep a secret’ and ‘I’ve got your number)

16. A quiet kind of thunder by Sara Barnard (I love her ok. Her books are short and sweet but she packs a punch. TBH these aren’t primarily romance, they’re more just about teenage girls but this one has a good romance element so I’m putting it on here. It’s about Steffi, a selective mute who sometimes communicates with basic sign language who is assigned to look after the new boy at school Rhys, who is deaf.)

17. Meet me at the museum by Anne Youngson (GORGEOUS! moving, tender. A lonely housewifes strikes up a correspondence with a widowed museum curator in Denmark. Oh gosh. I just love this one. It’s about friendship, love, grief, second chances, the choices we make. Seriously love this one and it’s not that long.)

FANTASY:

1. Sorcery of thorns by Margaret Rogerson (Elisabeth has grown up in the great library, protecting grimoires with powers and fearing sorcerers. When a dangerous grimoire is released, she’s forced to team up with an enigmatic sorcerer and his demonic servant in order to save the world.)

2. Sky in the deep duology by Adrienne Young (A viking inspired story about a warrior who is captured by the tribe she is at war with. Such good tension and it’s also got a lot of action. Battle couple romance! Mutual respect! Hate to love!)

3. The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley (I’ve reread this book once but will end up reading it again. It’s a time travel romance about a woman staying in cornwall dealing with the death of her sister who is transported back and forth to the 17th century. It’s a favourite. The romance is wonderful but the stakes are really high too. I also love ‘Belleweather’ by the same author)

4. An ember in the ashes series by Sabaa Tahir (Oh god, the romance. THE ROMANCE! it’s so much. The angst, the pining, the longing. The first book follows Laia, part of a slave class in a roman inspired world. She begins spying in the top military academy and meets Elias, a reluctant soldier. This is a proper fantasy series with only the first three books out, but it’s so great.)

5. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen (Let me just copy the blurb ok: “Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan's rules.” I MEAN COME ON. a gorgeous adult fairytale with love and redemption at the center.

6. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot (Obviously Meg Cabot is the most iconic and we stan. But this series is my absolute favourite by her. About Suze Simon, a kickass, no nonsense mediator - Someone who helps ghosts move on to the other side. Sometimes by force. She has to move house and ends up sharing her room with a 100 year old hot ghost named Jesse. The tension. The angst. THE BANTER!!!!)

7. House of Earth and Blood by Sara J Maas (a half fae half mortal girl tries to solve a murder with the help of a fallen angel. It’s a LONG book, but for me personally it flew by. It’s a big new fantasy world but the romance has a great build. Overcoming grief! Being normal together! Being in danger together! THE UST! the characters are so good. I ahven’t been this impressed by a new series for a while)

8. Cursebreakers series by Brigid Kemmerer (yep, she gets another mention. This one is a beauty and the best retelling about a man forced to relive the same season over and over, becoming a literal beat, until a girl from our world can break the curse. The second book, following secondary characters, is my fave so far. But both feature kickass ladies and those small romantic moments BK is so good at)

9. A court of thorns and roses series by Sara J Maas (a fae inspired beauty and the beast retelling. The only time you support a ship switch. Also the secondary ships are getting their own books and oh my god. I’m so excited.)

HISTORICAL/CLASSICS/MILLS AND BOON

1. Jane Austen (The original rom com queen, obviously. Pride and prejudice and Emma are faves. Also I have a major soft spot for the alwayc chaotic and underrated Northanger Abbey)

2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (Actually might be my favourite classic ever. Often described at an industrial p&p. Margaret, from the south, comes face to face with the harsh reality of the world when she moves up north and comes face to face with a brooding millowner. There’s obviously a lot more nuance than that but. THE PINING!!!!!! THE MISCOMMUNICATION! THE DRAMA!)

3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (You might have seen the film. Please also read the book. Told entirely in letters. The sharp witted author Juliet Ashton falls in love with Guernsey and it’s characters whilst researching what happened there during the war. Funny, moving and romantic.)

4. The Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn (A butterfly hunter foils her own kidnap and is paired together with a reclusive natural historian. They solve mysteries together. They can’t admit they wanna sleep together. The tension.......unbearable. See also the Julia Grey mysteries by the same author)

5. The warrior knight and the widow by Ella Matthews (So last year I discovered Mills and Boon and I have no shame about it whatsoever. This is a medieval beauty and the beast retelling about a woman being escorted to her fathers estate by an enigmatic and scarred knight. She’s hoping to convince her father to let her steward her own lands, and of course trying not to fall for her escort.)

6. The bareknuckle bastards series by Sarah Maclean (A badass, brooding trio of siblings who rule the underbelly of Covent Garden fall for smart, beautiful women. Opposites attract, Good girl/bad boy, strong women, banter. Super fun historical romance)

7. Redeeming the reclusive earl by Virginia Heath (I just read this and it was seriously cute!!!! And book where the hero blushes even once is a good book in my opinion. Basically aspiring antiquarian named Effie barrels into the life of a new earl - who really just wants to be left alone to be grumpy and sad and disfigured. ALONE. But Effie wants to dig on his land. And she won’t take no for an answer. She also talks A LOT.

8. A family for the widowed governess by Ann Lethbridge (Technically this is part of a series but you don’t need to read them in order and this is the best one. A widow who is being blackmailed accepts a governess post. She can’t tell her employer about the blackmail especially when she starts falling for him.)

9. The bedlam stacks by Natasha Pulley (I read watchmaker and didn’t like it but you might like it. This one also FEAUTRES A M/M ROMANCE. I know this list was super straight im sorry. Anyway this is about a botanist falling in love with a priest in the jungle.

10. The wilderness series by Sara Donati (Think outlander without the time travel and also not set in scotland. Basically Last of the Mohicans fanfiction about Hawkeye’s grown up son. An english woman moves to america when her father promises she can be a school teacher there. Little does she know he actually has plans to marry her off. Things get more complicated when she falls for Nathaniel Bonner, a white man raised native american and who’s daughter and extended family is Native American. Like outlander there’s romance, adventure, history. But unlike the outlander books the love interest is a decent guy (i say as if i don’t love the tv show)

STUFF THAT REALLY ISN’T ROMANCE AT ALL. BUT I SHIP A SHIP.

1. The Lacey Flint series by Sharon Bolton (Lacey Flint is a police officer who becomes involved in the hunt to catch a Jack the ripper copycat. There actually is a strong romantic element with the other lead police officer.)

2. The last hours duology by Minette Walters. A novel about the black death and a closed estate lead by a woman who’s trying to protect her people. There’s also a kind of murder mystery. But she also has a close relationship to one of the surfs that I got super invested in.

3. The Strike series by J.k Rowling (I know we don’t stan anymore but. This series about  PI and his assistant slowly growing closer? Becoming best friends and partners? Not acknowledging any feelings for each other?

[svarmodiig]

       SVARMODIIG’S 200 FOLLOWERS CELEBRATION.

Logging onto Inigo this morning, I had mostly planned to celebrate his birthday. What I didn’t expect to see was that, on this already special day, he had hit 200 followers. I’ve roleplayed Inigo for around 5 years now, and though I’ve reset his blog countless times, I never hit a milestone as grand as this before. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who came for Inigo and has stayed for my writing, for the countless headcanons and love I have poured into him, and despite my sporadic activity, continue to support not only me but Inigo, too.

Obviously I need to celebrate this, but what could I offer you all that I haven’t already? This blog is full of writing, and you all write your own characters so beautifully, I couldn’t offer a drabble, not for 200 followers. My art has hit a serious wall and it would be unfair to promise a drawing that may never be completed (ask Savvy her birthday was nearly a month ago and I still haven’t presented a final piece) so then I thought about what makes this blog special. And that’s all of you.

I couldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you! I’d just be some madman yelling about Inigo while no one else cared ― writing with all of you has helped me learn new things about Inigo (and my own writing) and the inquiries and discussions about his character has helped him to grow. I wouldn’t have been able to develop him so well on my own.

So rather than celebrating myself, I want to celebrate you. I know that this is going to look like a biased post and I truly hate the concept of mains. Naturally, everyone is going to appreciate their friends first and foremost and want to support them by hyping them up, but we’re all real people on here, and the last thing I want to make myself out to be is exclusive. If it were possible, I’d love to be able to befriend ALL of you, and of course if you consider that within those 200 followers are archived blogs and several blogs from the same people, this looks a little less special. But even then, there’s at least a hundred of you out there, supporting me and that means there are so many of you supporting me. 

So before I start ranting about the friends I have made on this blog, even if I don’t name you specifically, even if we haven’t interacted, I truly value your support and want to thank you for being here with me. I hope one day we can speak ― I know I’ve tried to make my blog look fancy but it’s to cover up my insecurities and shyness so if you can see past that, please reach out! I don’t bite, I promise. I’ll be just as scared as you.

TO MY CLOSE FRIENDS...

I dedicate this section to those of you whom I speak to nearly everyday, even outside of RP antics. A special shoutout to Orange @fatestouched​ who isn’t active anymore but you know how special you are to me already and how much I adore your Owain.

Lauren. @exaltblooded​ / @insignc​ / @brigidbcrn​

We’re coming up to 2 years of friendship in the coming months and that’s honestly so wild to me. You were one of the first friends I made at Uni and I’m so glad we kept in touch outside of gaming society. I’m thankful that you dared to ask if any of us roleplayed on that fateful day. Not only have we grown closer because of that, but your introduction into the FERPC has truly changed the dashboard for me ― not only because of all the crack you begin with Savvy ― but because of the new people I’ve met because of you, which has in turn meant I met new people through them and found myself a little community on the dashboard. Orange and I always kept our little verse to ourselves, but with you we’ve been able to expand it all, and there’s no other Lucina I would ask to join our little family. Thank you for all the memories and rp antics we’ve shared together.

Savvy. @ofconvocation​ / @ofnifl​ / @ofgaspard​ 

I normally like to put names in alphabetical order, but here I have an actual plan. Through Lauren I met you, and through you I met the others below. So before even beginning I have that to thank you for. Savvy ― we speak literally every day, you’ve been there for me through so much and I couldn’t be more grateful. At least once a week you get a little rant from me about how much I love you, but this time it’s public, and that means others will be able to see just how amazing you are (and they’re definitely going to agree with me!) The effort you put into each and every one of your blogs is inspiring, there’s so much love poured into them all and it really shows with their beautiful themes, their icons that more than leave an impression, and most importantly the writing. I think we can all agree you are incredibly talented as a writer and it’s thoroughly enjoyable to write with you when you aren’t starting crack on dash with Lauren. You’re easily one of my biggest supporters and it’s so very rare that I find myself doubting myself with you ready to launch yourself at me if I dare to think I’m anything less than amazing ― I just hope you know I am always ready to return the favour and truly admire you. Thank you for not only the memories but all the beautiful art you’ve gifted to me (and I promise Aurora will be finished by the end of the year.)

Momgan. @askrisms​ / @faerghusiisms​

I don’t care if your name isn’t actually Momgan you will always be just that to me. A lot of our conversations revolve around how amazing I think you are ― and that will never change. All the love and effort you put into Chateau will never be forgotten, and even though it didn’t end in the best light, you never gave up on it. All of your ideas are wonderful, and it’s an honour that I get to write some of my favourite ships with you ― heck, you’re the first person I’ve ever shipped an OC of mine with, because I know I can trust her in your hands and you will show her the same love you show your own muses. I absolutely adore your writing and I could easily read an entire book you wrote if I were able to. I hope that you and I can be friends for a long time, and we can write with one another often. You’re someone I genuinely look up to and I hold nothing but admiration for you. You will always be my Mom.

Ches. @unquiixotic​

I want to start off by saying that while we may not have spoken huge amounts, I absolutely adore you Ches. If you were to ask Savvy or Lauren how much we hype you up, I don’t think between even the three of us we could explain to you just how much admiration there is for you. As a person you are wonderful, always so kind and supportive and a genuine delight to converse with ― and I hope that over time we’ll be able to speak a lot more! I remember from Chateau your struggle to find a muse to write among the many you have, and I honestly at the time wondered how it was possible that you could write so many muses. I understand now that you harbour so much love, and that is put into your many beloved characters. All of them are equally loved, equally developed, and none written worse than the others. With Felix and Sylvain, I believe it will be our first time writing with one another outside of Chateau and I am genuinely excited to see more of your writing style, how you format your posts to convey your characterisations.

To those whom I wish I spoke to more often.

Shine. @beautiilance / @panic--ploy

Confession Time: I honestly was terrified of you for such a long time. Lauren and Savvy hyped you up for a LONG time before we actually got to talk and because of that you were already embedded in my mind as someone who was so cool that I was intimidated to speak to you. I know now you’re a big sinful softy and I had nothing to worry about ― bar your sin ― and I’m glad that we are friends. I’ve been trying to get Lauren and Savvy to add you to servers for a while so that we might get to speak and I’m glad it’s through Three Houses we got that chance to talk, since a new game provides a lot to talk about with all the new content. Like it or not, your Ingrid is attached to my Sylvain (as well as Ches and Mom’s Felix and Dimitri) so you’re stuck with me and we’re going to speak more! I hope in the future we can write with one another more and create some truly special memories.

Boo. @ofhoshido / @fxrmer / @nowithedragon / @misssummoningelizabeth

As one of Savvy’s real life friends, you hold a lot of respect in my heart for dealing with her antics ― I kid of course, that respect is for being there for her. She spoke of you often to me and I’m genuinely glad we got to meet and talk with one another. You’re a lot of fun to talk to and even though I’m shy and afraid to strike up conversations I do genuinely enjoy speaking with you. I hope that we can write more with one another in the future!

Pandora. @shamir-nevrand / (for the life of me I can’t find your other blog I’m sorry!)

We really really really haven’t spoken all that much but I know that Savvy and Lauren absolutely adore you and have sung your praises to the heavens above and it has me really hoping to one day speak to you for when I can stop being such a cuck and not be afraid to strike up a conversation!

...from Tumblr.

to clarify quickly, the three above are all people I’m in servers with on Discord whereas those below I am not and know only really on Tumblr but still want to talk to more!

Jessica. @i-nsubordination / @nonpareiltactician / @f-ortuity

Jessica ― I hope you already know how much I adore you. Naeva is so very special to Inigo and that puts you close to my heart. Their bond is so wonderful to explore, it’s something I’ve always wanted and you make those dreams a reality and I cannot thank you enough for that. When first I returned after my little hiatus you were so enthusiastic about my return and that has stayed with me, and every so often I’ll remember it and smile to myself that someone remembered me and was so happy for my return ― and I never said it but I truly hoped that you would still be here. There are so many things I can say about you ― the way you developed Naeva is genuinely admirable and it’s so lovely to see how much love you poured into her. She feels like a real character and is one I won’t ever forget, even when I’m off thinking about Inigo’s family away from Tumblr Naeva always comes to mind. She’s an unforgettable part of his life now and that means we are bound together. The way you write too is incredible and every post is crafted in such a way that I could read more even when I finish. It’s an honour that I get to write with you and you inspire me to be better. Part of what makes her so special is you, the person behind the screen. You’re genuinely so lovely and supportive and that makes your blog more appealing. I’ve always enjoyed speaking to you and can only hope in the future we get to talk more!

Volty. @i--gnis / @d--evotio

Volty I hope you know how much I adore your Robin ― I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to use my main verse tag with a Robin, there are so many out there that terrify me and I still remember admiring you from afar. Now, I’ll happily slap that tag onto any post with you involved. I know I vanished so the old thread didn’t get to continue but I would be more than happy to dig it up from beneath the dust piled upon this blog just to see how your Robin gets to father Inigo in his youth. That thread alone so genuinely excites me and I absolutely want to do so much more with you to explore their dynamics. I can’t put into the words the admiration I hold for you and Robin and truly wish we can speak more one day. As for Validar? Bad man, evil keep him away from Inigo he’ll CRY.

Faty. @convxction / @sentofight

FATY I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU! Lauren is your biggest hypeman. For a LONG time she hyped you and your Chrom up to me ― and I had honestly been admiring you from afar for so long before then. You seem like a really genuinely nice person and I want to try and interact with you more to be able to hype you up as well! Importantly, since Lauren considers your Chrom her main and Lucina is part of my main verse, that pulls you in, so like it or not you’re coming down with us into Awakening development hell.

Carol. @heroismdreams

I know we’ve spoken a little before but I’m putting my foot down and saying it’s not enough. I absolutely adore your Cynthia and all the love you’ve poured into her. Her portrayal is wonderfully accurate and I can read all of your posts in her voice. The development you’ve gifted her is an absolute blessing and I really want to see more interactions between her and Inigo!

To those I admire from afar.

Rey. @reycursed

Aegis. @poregida / @azelfire

Pigeon. @valflame / @cicholic

@exalted--zealotry

To each and every one of you, I want to say that I adore each and every one of you. I think your blogs are so hecking amazing and you all seem like such nice people and whenever I see you on dash I’m waving a little banner of support in your name. ― Aegis, I want to apologise for going inactive and our thread dropping with Inigo and Laurent but know that I’ll be bothering you again soon. ― and to the grandfather-in-law from hell I want to highlight how much fun it has been interacting with you in small doses on dash and to say thank you for the fun.

And to those untagged.

I’ve been away from this blog for so long that I know many of those I called friends are no longer here ― and in the same vein those I admired are long gone. Whatsmore, life has been hectic, well and truly hectic and I can only remember so much from my past times on here. There are so many of you that I would love to personally message but this post took 2 hours alone to throw together because I’m so slow and I do want to celebrate Inigo’s birthday.

[lostgirlrewatch]

1x01 - It's a Fae, Fae, Fae, Fae World

Written by: Michelle Lovretta

Directed by: Erik Canuel

Original Air Date: September 12, 2010

In the pilot episode, we meet our main character Bo Dennis, really a pretty sweet lady made a touch jaded by rather unfortunate circumstances. She meets our other main heroine, Kenzi, a street thief, and they form a partnership. This episode establishes the basics of the world of the Fae and introduces us to some of the main players.

Thought dump below the cut!

Oh my lost girl

I totally forgot that Bo and Kenzi literally meet because some dude spikes her drink in a bar. Holy shit.

Oh man Bo’s putting on the iconic outfit for the first time.

“You kids and your camera phones…” Oh wow, this sure came out in 2010, didn’t it?

But I wanted to make some key notes about the beginning of this relationship. There are a couple of ways Michelle Lovretta sets them up to be decidedly platonic off the bat, in spite of Bo being openly and enthusiastically bi/pansexual and this being a Gay Show ™. One, of course, is that Kenzi is a self-declared 100% straight from the end of the first episode (which, to my memory, she more or less lives up to), but another is that Bo is actually almost ten years older than Kenzi. Bo is 28 while Kenzi is only 19, still a teenager. Kind of crazy how young she is, really. Especially considering I watched this show for the first time in high school and now I’m like four years older than her. But also because of other much more awful things like the actually horrifying life she has lived up to this point in spite of still being basically a kid. Anyway, though they appear to be on more or less equal footing as their friendship develops, Kenzi is very much a younger sister to Bo. A kid sister, even. (Of course, as we know, there are many many other reasons why their relationship is most definitely not on equal footing, but we’ll get into that later.)

Ksenia Solo is so good. At least as good as I remember.

“Excuse me, lady…person...”

“It’s Bo.”

“Hi. Kenzi.”

I’m already gonna cry. This is their first introduction. The beginning of a love story for the ages. From the perspective of having seen all 3 seasons (and beyond), this meeting is so loaded with emotion.

Here we meet Dyson and Hale for the first time, supernatural buddy cops who totally don’t play fiddle to a corrupt, higher-than-thou ancient government.

Dyson is hot. I forgot how hot he is because his character is so much less relevant than others. I love Kris Holden-Reid.

Oh yeah. And since I may as well photographically introduce the main players when they come in, here we meet Trick, the Giles. I mean. The bartender at the Bronze. I mean the Dal. 

In all seriousness, he’s the bartender at the Dal Riata, which is a sort of no man’s land for Light and Dark Fae, and is also the main cast’s favorite haunt for obvious reasons (it being a convenient no man’s land and everyone being sort of...let’s say multicultural, in the context of this world). But of course, he’s more than he seems.

Even in just this little conversation between Bo and Kenzi at the diner, where Kenzi is asking Bo questions about herself, you can already see how Kenzi’s personality starts to drag Bo out of her shell. She’s already having that effect on her, opening up her dark, lonely, closed off little world. Just busting through a lifetime of trauma with pure warmth, empathy, and a willingness to reach out and care about Bo in spite of the fact that they just met and in spite of Bo’s trauma and how it makes her want to lash out at any attempts at intimacy. In spite of the fact that any reasonable person would not open themselves up to Bo emotionally like this, reach out to her and express care like this, because Bo’s whole presence screams that she will reject it. Kenzi bulldozes through a literal lifetime of emotional pain and she does it without trying.

But Kenzi is lonely, too. She has just come across the only person in a very, very long time, perhaps ever, who performed a selfless act on her behalf. Who actually expressed care for her well-being, in spite of not knowing her. Kenzi is a teenager, alone, isolated from her biological family, terrified though she won’t show it, and desperate for any semblance of the sense of connection and belonging she has been deprived of for most of her life. She is at once so openly loving and supportive and yet so lonely and vulnerable. This character has been on screen for all of ten minutes. And we’re just getting started. She is the greatest TV character ever written. Change my mind.

“God you are so emo. Learn to enjoy your shit already.”

“It would kick ass to be your friend.”

She is just so openly interested in being Bo’s friend, in being a part of her life. She is able to express her emotions on such a genuine level and it’s exactly the kind of supportive shit that Bo needs to hear right now. Which, the fact that she is able to express her emotions on such a genuine level is so ironic, given it’s Kenzi, and we know that this is often far from being the case. I guess that’s Bo’s influence on her. How god damn beautiful is that.

This guy is the Ash, the leader of the Light Fae, and I guess I better show him.

More importantly, we are introduced to the Morrigan, the leader of the Dark Fae, or as we in the know call her, Evony. She’s an utter queen.

Oh no, we’re about to meet Lauren, aren’t we.

Wow lol I know Season 4 and 5 are just fan seasons but just looking at Lauren’s stupid face I’m already mad that Doccubus is endgame in them.

God, wow. Lauren has been on screen for all of two minutes and she’s already creepily caressing Bo during what is supposed to be a professional medical examination. This sure is going to be a fun three seasons.

Oh no. No no no, don’t do it Maddie. Don’t do it.

Lauren has only said like three lines so far and I’m already tempted to turn this rewatch blog into a Dissection of How Everything Lauren Says Is Bad blog.

Bo makes a crack about flunking Biology and asks Lauren for clarification on what she means by, “Fae is your genus, not your species.” Lauren responds, of course, with her trademark elitist smirk and eye roll, before explaining the definition of “genus” in simple terms for the plebeian. She does a couple more of these eye rolls every so, oh…two minutes. Just Annoying Lauren Things. I shit you not, this elitism and looking down on Bo for being “uneducated” will become a staple of their dynamic.

“No one will mourn you. No one will miss you. No one needs you.”

Kenzi: BO!

It breaks her out of the illusion.

“Name your side.”

“Neither. I choose humans.”

Bo and Kenzi choose each other.

And on that note, that’s the foundation that begins this story.

[teudoongievibes]

Camren goggles™ on :  All These Years

Alright sweets, let’s get into this! The lyrics for All These Years are a little less profound and rich as the ones of Consequences, but still, it’s Camren as fuck once more… Again, this is all theory, and if you don’t like Camren move along.

“All These Years”

Your hair’s looks a little longer Your arms look a little stronger Your eyes just as I remember Your smile’s just a little softer

First verse! We know right away that Camila is talking about someone she’s known in the past, someone she hasn’t seen in a while. You can already feel the lingering in those words, making you think right away “whoops, bumping into the ex you’re still in love with…” 

Through the Camren googles™  : Lauren hasn’t cut her hair recently, she worked out, planet green eyes is still intact, and the smile Camila fell for is still there, maybe a little less bright than it used to be.

Some people living in an heteronormative world have said that the sentence “your arms look a little stronger” obviously refers to a man, hummm, no. A girl with good guns is hot as fuck, especially when they’re holding you, Camila can testify…

And I, I never prepared for a moment like that Yeah, suddenly, it all came back, it all came back

Girl is obviously shook. I noticed that Camila always describes her feelings as very intense, something almost physical. You can easily imagine her face seeing that person again. 

“It all came back” obviously a lot of history there, years of apparently. Now we all know that Camila hasn’t had any official relationships, no stolen photos of her with a boy or any indication that she was involved with someone (other than Lauren), she herself confirmed a couple days ago that her “relationship” with Austin was PR…  So who the hell could she be talking about? 🌚  

We know that Camila ran into someone during her studio sessions, we know that 5H was recording, Lauren might have been recording her solo work as well, and let’s remember that they all are under the same label, so chances are that they could’ve ended up in the same recording studio even for a day.

Having the feeling now that Camila and 5H didn’t really part in such good terms, probably civil ones but not “yeah go do your thing we’ll support you all the way” like I thought they had, it’s entirely possible that they didn’t keep in touch. Especially Camren, since I think they needed a clean break. That being said, it’s then possible that Camila and Lauren didn’t see each other for months, hence Camila loosing her shit when she saw Lauren again. You never really get over your first love…

‘Cause after all these years I still feel everything when you are near And it was just a quick hello And you had to go And you probably will never know You’re still the one i’m after all these years

Chorus time! Babe is still in love. That makes my Camren heart happy and miserable at the same time. 

I’d like to point out again the importance of the word “years”, as in a freaking long time! Not a two weeks fling, but a real relationship that consumed her whole and is still haunting her to this day *proceeds to listen to Consequences 20 times in a row*

“I still feel everything when you are near” that sentence is so important when you think about it for a sec. It implies that Camila was often “near” that person - we all know Camren’s love for little awkward spaces between their hands and giant pit between them on couches. The fact is, as years went by, Camila and Lauren had to distance themselves on camera, therefore they were never touching but somehow always stayed close and near to each other, “if I can’t hold your hand then at least I want to feel you next to me” kinda deal - that tension was always palpable, like they were trying hard to stop themselves from holding hands *goes to cry in a corner*

“And it was just a quick hello, And you had to go” referencing the studio run in. Obviously they are still on cordial terms but Lauren skedaddled quick outta there.

My personal Camren hypothesis is that Lauren fled the scene as quick as possible because she’s still crazy over hills in love with Camila, and she couldn’t handle it. #fanficmaterial

“And you probably will never know” Skinny love is a bitch.

“You’re still the one i’m after all these years “ 

Amazing play on words there, babe is hella talented. If we cut the sentence we get “you’re still the one” - you don’t call anybody “the one”  - then we get “still the one I’m after” our girl is still going for it 🌚  - and finally “after all these years” go get your girl back goddamnit! 

Couldn’t help, but overhear you Sounds like you’re happy with her But does she kiss you like I kissed you? Ooh, I wish I loved you like I miss you

Alright, I’ve read a few analysis of the song and for this part many of them are saying that the “her” there is Lucy, I personally don’t think so at all. First, because I still don’t believe to this day that Laucy was ever anything more than a friendship, but that’s just my own opinion. 

Second, if Laucy was indeed real, it obviously ended a while ago, so the timeline doesn’t match at all.

And finally, if Camila had wrote straight up “But does he kiss you like I kissed you?” she would have been out. 

In conclusion, I think she’s referring to Ty here. I know a lot of you don’t believe in Tyren and that’s fine too. But I’ve come to a point where I’ve accepted that it’s also possible that Lauren just fell for him, even if it started out as PR. Maybe Lauren found it safer to be with someone who’s the furthest away from Camila…

“Ooh, I wish I loved you like I miss you“  stab me in the fucking eye Camila.

I absolutely love that sentence, it’s my favorite of the song. Again this is about love not always being enough if you don’t put in the work to make it last. Also the fact that sometimes you don’t realize what you have until you lose it. So much regret in that one sentence.

And I never prepared for a moment like that Yeah, it suddenly came all back, it all came back

'Cause after all these years I still feel everything when you are near And it was just a quick hello And you had to go And you probably will never know You’re still the one i’m after all these years, oh 'Cause after all these years I still feel everything when you are near And it was just a quick hello And you had to go And you probably will never know You’re still the one i’m after all these years

I never told you, I should’ve told you I never told you after all these years I never told you after all these years

When I think of Camren now I always picture a very long treacherous walk. The girls went through so much together, they grew up together, they changed, and things must have been so complicated and messy at times that it was probably really hard to keep track of how they were feeling about each other. Going back and forth between being friends and being lovers, between loyalty and personal growth, having to stay hidden while wanting to be honest… it must have all been so tiring, and heart wrenching, and I think that maybe at some point they started wondering if it was worth all that hurt. I think that was their breaking point, not knowing if it was worth it. I don’t think neither of them stopped loving each other, I believe that because even in the few last days of Camila in 5H we were still getting iconic Camren stares. I just think that after a while they gave up trying to make it work. So when I listen to those lyrics, I interpret them as Camila wanting to say that even though they went through so much, and that at the end they couldn’t stay together, Lauren is still her person. Pride often gets in the way of true feelings, and I think Camila regrets that.

'Cause after all these years I still feel everything when you are near And it was just a quick hello And you had to go And you probably will never know You’re still the one i’m after all these years

Well that’s that. Everyone alright? Everyone dead? 

This song is definitely about Lauren for me *adds song to “Camren murdered me” playlist* - what more can I say than: Fuck this. Why does love have to be so freaking hard???

Yeah right Camila, we know, we know, we know…

[ashilrak]

You and exadorlion and everyone else. Are in this super cute Hamilton clique. I want to be apart, but I don't have any talent to offer😓

Okay! So, I totally understand where you’re coming from - it’s easy to look at groups of friends and want to be a part of it. I’ve been there Many times.

However, I’m going to go into what I’ll call “mom-mode” and say that it is super important to let friendships develop naturally. This might get a little long because this is something I have quite a few thoughts on, so bear with me.

If you chose not to read, it can be summed up with this: It’s not about talent, it’s about personal connection

With social platforms such as tumblr, it can be really easy to reach out to people and start a friendship - but I think it’s really important you kinda think about why you’re doing it, yeah? If you’re looking at a person and kinda thinking, “oh, their art is cool and they draw stuff for their friends and they’re popular” - that’s not a good basis for a friendship. Trust me - people are pretty good at seeing through that sort of thing, and when they aren’t, it just ends up in a lot of hurt because eventually it becomes evident.

But, if you genuinely think a person is really awesome based on what you can see of their personality - feel free to reach out to them and see what happens. There are all sorts of different types of friendships, and I’m blessed to be able to consider many people friends. But, don’t think that every person I’ve ever said hi to has become a close friend. I enjoy talking with people, and I think it’s important to be polite and kind. Sometimes, I’ll have a pretty in-depth conversation with someone for a couple of hours and then we never talk again - and that’s fine!

Yes, it can sometimes be a lot easier to approach someone and come across as genuine when both parties already have something in common - writing, in my case. However, that’s not always how it works. I became friends with @franciskinloch - a wonderful history blog with an affection for John Laurens, The Song of Achilles, and a lams tattoo - over a shared appreciation of knee-breeches and cravats. Had it not been for that, it is very likely we never would have crossed paths. 

Since you brought up the “super cute Hamilton clique” with @exadorlion, I want you to know that had I approached Mari like “hello let me be your friend because you’re a talented artist,” i wouldn’t have gotten a reply. We became friends because they made a post like “someone gimme some john/thomas/alexander” and I was bored and thought “why-not?” I forgot about the fic for a couple of months until they messaged me about it, and eventually “Of No Concern” was born, and we found ourselves growing closer.

@theinevitablesense and I awkwardly messaged each other for a week or so before settling into a sort of rhythm, I guess you could call it. We’re now working on a fic together - something which I’ve found to to be very good at creating lasting friendships. @ham-for-ham and I only really began talking because we were watching Turn and both needed someone to yell at. 

And despite you asking me specifically about Mari, I have many friends which might be grouped into cliques - the group who were originally the 177(6) RPers is the first one I associate myself with. It is that group of people who I really found a home in the Hamilton fandom with, and I’ve been talking to some of them for over a year now (shout out to @shipsdreamsandmakebelieve who was snapchatting me her adventures in washington d.c. a year ago today). Despite the fact that we might stick more to our group chat, that’s definitely where I have rooted myself, and I don’t want that to change. 

There are many people I’m blessed to call my friends, but I wouldn’t have been able to consider them as such had there not been something to connect over. I’ve gotten a messages in the past along the lines of “you’re a cool writer, let’s be friends,” and while I really do appreciate the sentiment, it’s difficult to see the heart in it. You can’t force a friendship, and I think people forget that.

There is a part of me that is totally ready to sit here and name every single person I consider a friend and explain just how that friendship began, but that would just make this already long post Longer. Maybe one day I’ll make a ~callout~ post for that purpose. 

I’m sorry if this seems rude or unwelcoming in any way, but trying to be a part of a “clique” can make a person feel as if their friendship is a commodity - something to be shown around like an expensive handbag. Chances are that the person behind the username and cute icon is much more than initially meets the eye, and they might not always be who you want them to be.

[secondchanceda2-blog]

alright so. rant below the cut about the k.aylee drama bc. i have nowhere else to do this publicly and i have shit to say.

the more i think about my friendship with kaylee, the more obvious it becomes that it was toxic and just all around Bad. like it didn’t exactly have a stellar start. when i first made my laurens last summer, i accidentally broke her rule about duplicates asking before they follow ( a rule i adopted in january this year, iirc ) and she immediately vague posted abt it. and i, being the person i am ( read: somebody who hates fucking up and is desperate to make amends when i do ), unfollowed her asap and then sent an ask apologizing. what followed was a very short conversation abt the situation and that was that for a few days. then we ended up playing cah together in a game set up by a mutual of us both ( idk who it was anymore, rip ) and like, bonded over a shared hatred for jokes about laurens and turtles. then we talked and followed each other and. after that, we very quickly became close friends and she introduced me to a lot of ppl who i befriended too ( i’m still friends with a few of those ppl, the true mvps of my gd life ).

then everything just. became sort of a whirlwind? like it all happened so fucking fast. between july and january, kaylee and i were in no less than eight group chats together, all of which were fairly large ( the biggest had smth like twelve ppl in it at one point and the smallest had five; and there was one group chat that lasted until fairly recently, like the end of last month, but she rarely, if ever, said anything in it ). a lot of shit went down in those group chats, most notably the shit talking that got both her and i in trouble with former friends of ours. and while i genuinely feel really horrible about what happened and i’m just disgusted with myself, i don’t know if the same can be said for kaylee? like the more i think about it, a lot of the apologies she made really seem like she was just trying to keep herself on ppl’s good sides. but like, i can only speak for myself and i have no fucking idea how she feels about the shit that happened. maybe she does feel guilty, maybe she doesn’t. i don’t know and i probably never will.

and it’s like. i always knew she wasn’t a nice person. it made me a little uneasy at first but once we started talking and became friends, i got used to how aggressive and opinionated she is about. well, everything. and though there were definitely times when i disagreed with her about something or was uncomfortable with stuff she was doing, i never said anything because i wanted her to keep liking me. she was the first person who made me feel welcome and accepted in the ham rpc and it was through my association with her that i got my footing and was able to gain followers and friends. besides that, she provided me with tons of resources for my blog, like base icons and a theme and i got to talk to a lot about my headcanons for laurens with her ( and others too, of course, but in the end i would always go to kaylee first if i had something i needed / wanted input on ). so the part of me that still had any unease about the situation was quickly dismissed and ignored. even when drama happened and i ended up being involved because of kaylee, i never like. blamed her for anything that happened. i was so convinced that she was right and i treated her word like law, almost.

when the call out about the first shit talking incident was posted, kaylee and i went to our friend ( who was / is friends with the person who wrote that call out ) and tried talking to her about the situation. she said she didn’t want to pick a side and we should just let it pass. ( in hindsight, she was absolutely right ----- when drama happens, if you can avoid picking a side that’s always the best thing to do ). but kaylee didn’t like that response and i personally felt like she wasn’t hearing us out about the situation. so when kaylee decided to drop her, i did too. and i mean, i don’t necessarily regret dropping that particular friend but i do regret the circumstances surrounding the situation because it was all just. immensely fucked. and there are other friends i ended up losing ( only temporarily in these other cases, but still ) because of other drama that ended up happening and i just. i feel so fucking guilty about everything i did. if i could take it all back, i would in a goddamn heartbeat. but i can’t and now i have to live with the knowledge that i fucked up really horribly more than once and there’s no fixing some of what happened. there’s trust i’ll never be able to get back, people who will probably never give me another chance ( and i wouldn’t fucking blame them bc. yikes @ me! ), and.

i wish i had realized sooner how manipulative and fucked up kaylee is. i wish i’d been able to see how negatively influenced i was by her words, actions, and general behavior. i wish i hadn’t ignored the initial warnings and gotten myself away from her immediately. but i didn’t. i was ( and still am, i guess ) so desperate for positive reinforcement and to be liked that whenever somebody gives me that i latch onto them and hang on for dear fucking life. and i have such a hard time letting go of toxic people ----- i hold grudges for years on end and allow my anger to fester. i’m doing that right fucking now, as i type this. anger is the only emotion i really know how to deal with ( and not necessarily in healthy ways ). but honestly? i’m so sick of all this shit. i’m tired of being manipulated, of getting in way over my head, of making stupid decisions and mistakes that only end up making my life worse. this situation with kaylee is just another one like countless others i’ve experienced, though i think this might be the worst one yet ( excluding some personal family issues ). and i hope me and everyone else who got sucked into kaylee’s web will be able to move past this shit and heal. we all fucking deserve it.

[thesassybooskter]

SOMEBODY LIKE YOU by Donna Alward: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Somebody Like You by Donna Alward Series: Darling VT #1 Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks Publication Date: February 7th 2017 Genres: Contemporary Romance Pages: 320 Source: Publisher Format: eARC Goodreads Buy Online: Amazon ♥ Barnes & Noble ♥ Kobo

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A kiss to last a lifetime

Aiden Gallagher was only five years old when he appeared in a photograph on the Kissing Bridge. The town of Darling, Vermont, has used Aiden’s image on the famed bridge—local legend has it that a kiss there results in everlasting love—as part of its tourism campaign. Now, twenty years later, Aiden is asked to recreate the moment with the woman he once kissed: Laurel Stone.

Recently divorced, there’s nothing Laurel wants less than to pretend happily-ever-after with Aiden. As teenagers, their romance was no fairy tale—and Laurel has never quite forgiven Aiden for breaking her heart. But now that she is back in her hometown, and keeps bumping into police officer Aiden, Laurel can’t deny that there’s still a strong flicker between her and her old flame. Could it be that the Kissing Bridge is working its magic on Laurel and Aiden—and that all true love ever needed was a second chance?

  Review

Laurel Stone and Aiden Gallagher have a lot of history, some of it good, some of it not so good. First as children in a picture that has become the iconic representation of the town of Darling, Vermont; then as high school friends and later enemies. Both have also gotten a few life experiences under the belts. For Lauren, having her marriage end in a tabloid-style way and having to return home was not part of her plans, but she’s making the best of her situation and trying to deal with her emotional wounds. Aiden is a constant reminder of the heartbreak and humiliation he dealt her back in high school and her revived feelings for him are very inconvenient.

Aiden has always regretted the role he played in the fallout with Laurel, but never got a chance to apologize, but fate has given him the perfect opportunity to do so and spending time with her only increases the intensity of his feelings for her.

Okay, this book was all kinds of cute and sweet and fun, but it was also a bit emotional for me. Laurel’s struggle to deal with her sense of betrayal by her ex-husband, the blow her self-confidence and self-esteem and having to keep her head up in the face of the gossip and everything going on, got to me. Aiden was one of the few that saw through the facade she put up to the hurt beneath and really put himself out there to earn her forgiveness for the juvenile stunt he pulled.

Both Laurel and Aiden experience a lot of personal growth and I enjoyed how they supported each other. Like there wasn’t enough between Aiden and Laurel to make you tear up, the way both of them reached out to a homeless man and gave him some dignity was so heartwarming and also a clear example the kind of good and caring people they were.

The ending was straight out of a fairy-tale and just perfect for them as a couple and hit all the high notes for me – family, friendship, community, emotion and romance. This book made my heart hurt and then smile. SOMEBODY LIKE YOU is a really great start to this series and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.

    Excerpt

By the time they were through, it was nine o’clock and time to open. Being a Saturday, business was brisk. Her dad dropped off the supplies and offered to stay to help cover the tagging, but with the heavy shopping traffic, Laurel decided to wait until things died down. For now the tarps covered the tags, and she’d focus on her customers. Otherwise her anger would get the best of her and that was bad for business. By six p.m., things had slowed considerably.

Laurel had been going flat out for ten hours, stopping for only fifteen minutes to run to The Purple Pig for a sandwich. Her stomach growled, her feet hurt, there was dirt beneath her nails and she really, really wanted a shower and a glass of wine—in that order. Laurel had just dragged out the hose to water the fruit trees when a half- ton truck drove into the lot and parked in an empty space.

The driver hopped out, and her heart slammed against her ribs as she immediately realized how she must look. Dirty jeans, mannish golf shirt that did nothing for her figure,

scrubby ponytail through a Ladybug Garden Center ball cap, and prob ably smudges of dirt on her face and arms. Not that she was trying to look nice for Aiden or anything, but it was him getting out of the truck, looking sexy as hell in faded jeans and a T- shirt that stretched across

his chest and shoulders.

She could pretend she hadn’t seen him. Resolutely she turned on the hose and started watering the apple trees.

“Hey, Laurel,” he called out, and that erased any hope of avoiding him.

She turned off the hose and faced him. “Aiden. What brings you by? Looking for a shrub or tree or something?”

Keep it businesslike, she reminded herself. The last thing she needed was for him to know that he had the ability to fluster her.

“I heard about what happened.”

Of course he had.

“Don’t even. I’m still pissed.”

“I know it’s not what you needed. Did Crystal tell you that you weren’t the only one hit?”

Crystal must be the offi cer from this morning. “She did.”

“Well, that must make you feel better.”

She stared at him. “Better? Seriously? Since I opened a month ago, I’ve had to have the driveway re- graded, I’ve had to replace shrubs that were stolen from out front, deal

with a break-in and vandalism, and now tagging. Trust me, Aiden, the only thing that would feel better is if you actually did your job and found out who was doing this.”

She turned the hose back on.

He waited. He waited a long time. Several seconds, maybe thirty. Which was really not that long at all but definitely felt that way. She was watering the third tree when he sighed. “ You’re upset.”

“No shit, Sherlock.”

He met her gaze, and his eyes were soft, even though she’d basically just accused him of not doing his job. The understanding she saw there made her stomach churn. She didn’t want to lash out, but that was what she did when she was hurt. Angry.

Stopping by was kind and thoughtful. She kept trying to make him out to be a bad guy, and he kept being nice. It definitely made it difficult for her to hate him. Particularly since her biochemistry betrayed her at every turn. Even now, when she was utterly preoccupied with the day’s events, she seemed to notice everything. His hair, his eyes, the breadth of his chest, the armband tattoo that looked like some sort of Celtic braid, peeking just below the hem of his T- shirt sleeve. The shape of his lips . . .

He muttered something that was as creative a curse as she’d ever heard, and sounded suspiciously Irish. She couldn’t help but laugh, and tried to clamp her lips shut again. But not before he saw and heard, and his eyes took on an impish gleam.

“ You’re not fine. You’re tired and upset and rightfully so. You’re also just as stubborn as you always were.” He put his hands on his hips. “I take it you’re not adverse to help, just help from me in particular.”

Her face heated. Dammit.

“Maybe this could be my penance,” he suggested, giving her a quick grin. And she wished she could take him seriously, but he always seemed to be teasing. It was one of the things she’d really liked about him and hated at the same time. Particularly now, when she wanted to be, if not mad, completely unaffected. And she wasn’t. He was trying to cajole her out of her mood and it was working.

“It’s Saturday night. Don’t you have a hot date or something?” She turned on the hose again. Focused on the large plastic pot holding a cherry tree.

“Nope. Free as a bird.”

Dammit again.

“Come on, Laurel. Peace offering. Manual labor for you to stop hating me.”

She glanced over at him. “Why do you care so much?”

He was quiet for a moment, and to her surprise the teasing expression left his face. After a while he answered, his voice a little lower. “I don’t know why I care what people think so much. I always have. I don’t like anyone to be mad at me. Maybe it has something with being one of the younger siblings in the family. I don’t know. I just know that I don’t like it that you’re still so angry.” His intense blue gaze locked with hers. “It’s starting to become a personal mission to win you over. To atone for past sins.”

“Good luck,” she said dryly, more touched than she wanted to admit.

His boyish grin was back. “Come on, Laurel. You know you can’t hold out forever. You think I’m hot.” He had the audacity to wink at her.

She rolled her eyes.

“You do. You have a thing for gingers. And you have to admit, I grew up kinda good.” His hands were still on his hips and he tensed his muscles so that his shoulders and chest tightened beneath the thin T- shirt.

“I think you’re a bit taken with yourself, to be honest,” she replied. And tried not to smile. She didn’t want to be charmed, but he was incorrigible.

“Laurel.”

Damn, his voice was all silky- smooth now. “Yes, Mr. Narcissist?”

“You know damn well you want to hate me and you can’t. Besides, I saw your face just now. Maybe if I took off my shirt . . .”

“Would you like to go somewhere private to be with yourself?” she asked, biting the inside of her lip. She shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. And she wouldn’t be, if she thought he was serious. But he was teasing her.

Like he used to do when they were friends. And today . . . she swallowed against a ball of emotion. Today she needed a friend, and all she’d had were well- meaning customers.

She looked over at him. “Jeez, Aiden. You’re looking a little flushed. I think you could stand to cool off.” And before he could reply, she flicked her wrist and aimed the spray of the hose right at the center of his chest.

The abrupt shock on his face was gratifi cation enough, but then he grinned and reached to take away the hose. She danced away, still spraying him, admiring how the shirt now clung to his skin and the little droplets lit up his face and hair. A laugh bubbled up through her chest and out her mouth as she darted around the trees, dragging the hose with her. But there were too many pots and not enough room to maneuver and within seconds he caught her, wrapped one strong arm around her and wrenched the hose away with the other, spraying her in the process.

Cold water dripped from her nose, down her neck, over her bare arms. Aiden held her close against his body, close enough she could feel the hardness of his muscles, and thrilled at it. Their breaths came fast, their chests rising and falling with both laughter and the exertion of the struggle over the hose. But it was the way he was looking down at her right now that made her feel as if the lack of air was strangling her lungs. All it would take was the tiniest move and he’d be kissing her. Her gaze dropped to his lips— he’d always had fine lips— and she swallowed, nervous and scared at her reaction and turned on as hell.

She looked up, which was a mistake. Because he was staring at her lips. And his arm tightened just a little bit at the hollow of her back. Oh God . . .

A car horn honked and Laurel jumped back. He let her go, but the gravity of the moment remained.

  Copyright © 2017 by Donna Alward and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

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    About Donna Alward

While bestselling author Donna Alward was busy studying Austen, Eliot and Shakespeare, she was also losing herself in the breathtaking stories created by romance novelists like LaVyrle Spencer, Judith McNaught, and Nora Roberts. Several years after completing her degree she decided to write a romance of her own and it was true love!

Five years and ten manuscripts later she sold her first book and launched a new career. While her heartwarming stories of love, hope, and homecoming have been translated into several languages, hit bestseller lists and won awards, her very favorite thing is when she hears from happy readers!

Donna lives on Canada’s east coast with her family which includes a husband, a couple of kids, a senior dog and two crazy cats. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading (of course!), knitting, gardening, cooking…and is a Masterpiece Theater addict.

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SOMEBODY LIKE YOU by Donna Alward: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway was originally published on The Sassy Bookster