#there's also the fact that the pride novels are a standalone series

[pricechecktranslations]

Hi so is it okay to read novels and start from lust arc, then gluttony arc ect. Instead of reading pride arc novels first? Because my friend wants to read the novels but the time line is confusing for her and I know know in which order I should tell her to read the novels because I don't want her to get even more confused than she already is.

It's "okay" in the sense that this is a fictional series meant to be enjoyed casually and no one should be shamed about their choices regarding how they consume it (even if I do think it leads to a lesser reading experience), but if your intention is specifically to make the series less confusing then I personally think you're going about it the wrong way.

Issues with the timeline aside, Evillious as a series has a lot of concepts and worldbuilding to learn. Who certain characters are, how magic works, how demons work, the nature of the world, its countries, etc. The Daughter of Evil series (the Pride novels) introduces these concepts gradually. The plot of Cloture of Yellow can be easily described as "Fantasy French Revolution with some magic elements on the side"; the demons are barely even mentioned in them. It's mostly a political and character drama. Wiegenlied of Green, being an alternate perspective of Cloture, is able to explore more of the worldbuilding and fantasy concepts while still having the familiar setting and characters (and mostly being a romance, besides). Praeludium and Praefacio are then able to take the same setting and characters in a new direction that introduces yet more mechanics and character development for the bigger players in Evillious overall (like Elluka and Irina, the demons, etc).

The Lust novel then assumes you are already familiar with these concepts and just drops you immediately into how HER works, demonic contracts, etc.

To put it another way--the Pride novels prime you for the rest of Evillious. You build upon the foundation of your knowledge as you go. Like, I'm not going to judge someone who skips them because they find them boring or just aren't interested but I personally don't find "this book is a prequel to X" to be so difficult a concept that it's worth going out of order.

[alastanor]

In less than a week my feed has been plagued by the "hot takes" of entitled fans of the Hazbin and Helluva universe.

As a result, I know I promised some analytical information regarding what we know of Hazbin's version of hell thus far, which will be included in this post. But there will be some other things added as well to address some of the more frequently expressed "concerns" I have seen being (rather rudely) expressed in posts.

Some of the things I will be talking about in these posts, so while I will be utilizing quotes or things said in @total-mal 's very well articulated response post, I recommend going to read that response post in it's entirety. Like... now.

The complaints I tend to see typically fall along these lines.

So in this post I will be addressing these things and other things I typically see.

Story

As was very well put in the aforementioned post, the series of Hazbin barely has an hour of content. Yet for some reason people complain that it's a mess. How?

The Pilot itself is meant to establish the setting, who the characters are, what their relationships to each other are, establishing dynamic, and establish the premise of future story that is meant to follow. All of these things the pilot did exceedingly well. A pilot is NOT meant to drop dozens of hours worth of world lore and future plot points in one half hour segment. It is supposed to hook people into being interested in and watching the follow up episodes. Which, considering the rather quick cult following that preceded the pilot debut, I would say it did that and more even without the world lore dump people are demanding.

No story is going to give you every facet of the characters and the world they inhabit in the first episode or the first novel. No story worth it's weight in salt, that is. Any good story teller will tell you that content needs to be put on an IV drip as the story progresses, or else you will lose the majority of your audience's interest.

Helluva Boss is it's own standalone project set in the same universe as Hazbin, but it's job is not to provide lore for Hazbin. The kernel of lore we got from episode two was great. But that is very likely not going to be the norm every episode. Nor should anyone expect otherwise.

The comics were also their own projects, meant to strengthen an already existing narrative with Hazbin and establish both Angel and Alastor's motives for joining the Hotel. They are not meant to expand on the lore. Their existence could also very likely be overlooked by fans who only pay attention to what is popping up on Youtube or on their Twitter feed.

As for Addict, that began as a fan-created song Vivzie liked enough to animate into a music video which expanded on Angel and Cherri's relationship. It was not meant to be an entry to any Vivziepop Hell lore.

Hazbin is a story driven by its characters. This is why the characters are the focus and take up the majority of any screen time given to any entry of Hazbin. Mal puts it very well:

World

So this is where we will be getting into what we know so far about the world of Vivzie's hell.

So Vivzie's hell is, from what we understand, loosely based on Dante's inferno with other inspirations and deviations mixed in. For example, there are only seven circles of hell as opposed to 9.

In Dante's inferno only circle two through five are after the Seven Deadly Sins. Whereas in Vivziepop's version of hell, every circle is for one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

From what we understand so far, Pride is the top circle, or Ring. Sinners, AKA those who were alive prior to becoming demons, are only allowed to exist in Pride.

We do not know what "can only exist" means. As this doesn't imply that sinners can't leave Pride. Simply that they cannot exist anywhere else.

And also from what we understand, the big marker that differentiates each of the circles is the colors of the sky.

Pride, from what we have seen thus far, has a red sky.

While Greed has a green sky.

This is further confirmed on Twitter, however whether it was confirmed by Vivzie or one of the other official Twitters, I cannot recall.

Now, I know there are quite a few who keep asking this question.

And there are many who seem to think that this little detail means that the fact dump from official Twitters means the story and lore are ruined. This is actually false. Especially when you consider that Sinners are not a finite population. Nor is their influx a small trickle. So expanding Sinners into other parts of hell is only a temporary solution to a more overarching problem. It may slow down the necessity for purges, but it would also increase the number needed to be purged each time a purge was necessary. Further, it is doubtful that Lucifer would be keen on the idea of angels traveling deeper into Hell just as it is doubtful that he sees a reason to be exceedingly merciful to sinners- the creation he detests and is more or less what brought him to Hell to begin with. It also would erase any place to escape for Hell-born demons.

So in this regard, no. Nothing is ruined. People just aren't paying attention. The devil is in the details, after all.

As for what the difference is between circles and rings, perhaps this will shed some light.

Rings seem to be segments of a circle that separate sinners by the subcategory of their sin in each circle. Whether or not Vivziepop's version of hell follows this, I personally doubt it. Ring and Circle, from observation, seem to be used interchangeably. So the two could very well be the same thing.

The other bits we know are lore facts Vivzie has given previously that may no longer be true as the world exists now. For example, previously Alastor was scared of dogs. But more recently, Vivzie said that is no longer true and Alastor simply just does not like them. So any older facts should be taken with a grain of salt until they are reconfirmed.

Switching gears on the world, there have been complaints popping up that Vivziepop's hell is not "hell-y" enough because there is not enough fire and brimstone.

To take a phrase from total-mal once more, there are countless alternate depictions of hell as hell being other people instead of the place itself. The phrase exists from Sartre's No Exit, but has been revisited numerous times in other media depictions of hell to display that the definition of "punishment" can be broadened to a much larger spectrum than originally imagined.

In the Hazbin universe of Hell, punishment is the constant threat of physical and emotional harm from those around you, not unlike being in prison or living in a ghetto. You have the increased potential to be abused or taken advantage of if you show a moment's weakness.

And while some in the demon hierarchy might have it better than others, there is still the constant threat of being killed or overthrown by someone stronger or someone just wanting to prove themselves.

In the Hazbin universe of hell, you wear clues to your life, your sins, and your death on the outside for all to see (and in some cases, manipulate). You are thrust into a demon hierarchy one wrung up from the lowest class, unless you are lucky and strong enough to become an overlord. In which case, then you are two wrungs up from the lowest class. And your punishment is living every day with the constant threat of those around you. Of always needing to have your guard up because someone will take advantage of you or worse. That isn't even mentioning the annual threat of the purge.

Livestreams

This is another one that I see get mentioned and awful fucking lot in the complaint/concern/hot take posts.

There are always complaints about how the livestreams are useless, serve no purpose, or are just "jerkoff sessions." Mind, these same complaints almost always seem to come from the same people complaining about having no information about the show or having no lore surrounding the universe or the story.

Nevermind that Vivzie and the cast are all under NDA and cannot disclose much that isn't already known about the show and, where VAs are concerned, cannot do any voice lines that go beyond what has already been said in the pilot lines.

The Livestreams serve SEVERAL purposes, however. One of those purposes is to drum up interest surrounding Hazbin and Helluva, as well as to advertise and to disclose any lore that they have permission to disclose to the audience. Something to whet their appetites as they wait for the small Indie studio A24 to finish production of Hazbin's first season in the middle of a pandemic. Because that last bit people seem to forget is still ongoing.

Without those livestreams done by Viv and the cast, many of the impatient fans in this fandom would be practically breaking down the door on Vivzie's DMs demanding to know where Hazbin is or why she seems to have given up on it. Or at least, more than what is currently going on now anyway.

People need to calm down, let the Devs do their job, and pay more attention to the details given in what we have thus far. Vivzie has done a GREAT job at eluding to the bigger picture in her details. Particularly where her characters are concerned. And I for one am here for it.

[lady-whistledowns]

tag 9 people to know more about their interests, hobbies, etc.

i was tagged by @violareys

MUSIC

fav genre? - pretty much anything but I’m not a huge fan of rap or R&B although there are certainly good songs in both categories.

fav artist? - Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, & George Strait

fav song? - As Long As You Love Me by The Backstreet Boys

song currently stuck in your head? - Wannabe by Spice Girls but that could just be cause it’s the one currently playing.

fav lyrics? - “Like a river flows, Surely to the sea, Darling, so it goes, Some things are meant to be” also the entire chorus of Country Roads by John Denver you can’t be from West Virginia and not get homesick just hearing it. And pretty much almost anything Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran have ever written.

radio or your own playlist | solo artists or bands | pop or indie | loud or silent volume | slow or fast songs | music video or lyrics video | speakers or headset | riding a bus in silence or while listening to music | driving in silence or with radio on

BOOKS

fav book genre? - Historical Fiction

fav writer? - I’ve never really thought about that.

fav book? - Pride & Prejudice

fav book series? - A Song of Fire and Ice (and yes I’m resigned to the fact he will never finish it)

comfort book? - I don’t have anything specific. Just whatever I’m reading at the time.

perfect book to read on a rainy day? - literally any book?

fav characters? - Colin Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Luna Lovegood, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Jo March. I could go on but I won’t.

5 quotes from your fav book that you know by heart? - the only thing I can think of is the opening line of Pride & Prejudice “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”

hardcover or paperback | buy or rent | standalone novels or book series | ebook or physical copy | reading at night or during the day | reading at home or in nature | listening to music while reading or reading in silence | reading in order or reading the ending first | reliable or unreliable narrator | realism or fantasy | one or multiple POVS | judging by the covers or by the summary | rereading or reading just once

TV AND MOVIES

fav tv/movie genre? - any

fav movie? - Titanic

comfort movie? - Pride & Prejudice

movie you watch every year? - A Year Without A Santa Claus at Christmas, Sleepy Hollow & Corpse Bride at Halloween. Star Wars when I need to see my favs again.

fav tv show? - Smallville and Game of Thrones (we don’t acknowledge Season 8 in this house)

comfort tv show? - Smallville. My dad and I would marathon it all the time. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it since he passed away but it’s been on my list of things to accomplish.

most rewatched tv show? - probably Smallville again. Or NCIS.

ultimate otp? - Jon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen, Ben Solo & Rey

5 fav characters? - Jon Snow, Ben Solo, Daenerys Targaryen, Evan Buckley, Thor Odinson

tv shows or movies | short seasons (8-13 episodes) or full seasons (22 episodes or more) | one episode a week or binging | one season or multiple seasons | one part or saga | half hour or one hour long episodes | subtitles on or off | rewatching or watching just once depends

TAGGING: @pegsccarter, @afirewiel, @bestintheparsec, @oberynmartell, @teamnick, @perfectopposite, @nickblaine, @star-wars, @bencsolos

[dreamsofthescreen]

The Dust Of Bridgerton - Review

Based on Julia Quinn’s obsessively Jane Austen inspired nine novels, we as an audience step into a  world laced with gossip, love and historically inaccurate details.

Regé-Jean Page & Phoebe Dynevor in 'Bridgerton'

Having audiences and the online world jump from their seats at the news of yet another romantically colourful period drama, Netflix’s 2020 Christmas release set off on a high note. However, it may not have been enough satisfaction to cover all viewers, as the overzealous series that is Bridgerton can be perceived as a cute attempt to outline high-society London, rather than a sweepingly romantic love story. From overplayed themes, to the shallow one-liners, saturated costumes and quite frankly, some controversy in a modern series, we’re not so sure that this was a 2020 release. Granted, some of the artistic involvements are wonderfully intoxicating, creating interest and having it for sure be a visual spectacle. Though, this whirlwind historical insight by creator Shonda Rhimes seemed to be a whitewashed teen-drama, instead of a maturely topical period piece.    

Based on Julia Quinn’s obsessively Jane Austen inspired nine novels, we as an audience step into a  world laced with gossip, love and historically inaccurate details. Set in 1813 Regency London, Rhimes’ series is a period drama surrounding the esteemed Bridgerton family, and particularly Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the four sisters. All surrounding the pursuit and importance of finding a suitor eligible for marriage at that time, Bridgerton is the glossed over, trivial version of Pride and Prejudice. Yet there certainly still is wit, charm, enchantment and change, grabbing our attention. It is these themes that we are known to love, rather making Rhimes’ series all the more predictable and repetitive. There is beauty and moments to remember throughout, yet all in all I felt as though I was watching a weak showcase of what a mock Baz Luhrmann and Wes Anderson collaboration that exerted a blinding pastel macaron palette might look like. There isn’t really any distinguishable, first class authentic directing or writing style. We have all seen it before, which is what makes it so popular. Bridgerton’s successful reception does not seem due to the fact that it is a beautifully great show, but because of the fact that it is something written knowing that audiences will not tire of yet another stylish, skinny period drama. We have seen many renditions of Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Madame Bovary over the years, making Rhimes’ series simply another period drama that rather latches onto others for inspiration, rather than being a strong standalone piece.

Where Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl, some might say that this show bursts with fervour, yet it can be deemed as shallow in it’s character development and attempted strong plots. Some might say that Bridgerton has riveting grandeur, but it was films decades ago that originated it so, as we have already marvelled at the magic of the many renditions of Pride & Prejudice. And sure, there is drama, eroticism, as well as there are whispers in the streets filling the scenes of Rhimes’ take on a royal drama. But to have to create excitement by only overdoing sex and violence scenes like this doesn’t speak to highly of it’s quality. And it can be that this is what period dramas are about, yet Bridgerton’s over-embellishment of sex, drugs and rock & roll sometimes paints it out to be taking the easy way out; a cheaply written series by just landing on what is easily stimulating to audiences. As though you’re to a stand up only to have the comedian joke about porn and a night out he might’ve gone on, simply to quickly catch the audiences attention. It works, but does not hold as much substance as a joke with true wit, or in this case, a script with deep quality. The character arc’s end quickly, as does the mystery surrounding who ‘Gossip Girl’-like character Mrs Whistledown is. There isn’t much glory in the drama as there wasn’t enough of it. Yet, the focus on female empowerment and rather the female gaze was something that gets points for originality and  undertaking a modern stance during the Regency time period. 

Amongst the budding romance, glory and messy undertone of the series, the art department does deserve a pay raise, as there is no doubt that the costumes, set and overall work on Bridgerton make it all the more alluring. In saying alluring, it doesn’t necessary translate as the costumes being convincing. Yet the production and costume design is something that seems to define the esteemed privilege of the characters, as they dress in flashy tulle, silks and organza. Luxurious gardens, ostentatious palaces and velvet furnishings tie into the greatly pleasing aesthetics, as we are given the scoop on the Bridgerton’s drama’s, we also are taken in by their lavish lifestyles. Delicacy after delicacy in the ballroom scenes, as champagne towers flow & rich candles burn. Even in the overplayed sex scenes, velvet carpets and luxurious chaises sit on the backdrop. The combination of bountiful costumes and turns this show into an elevated treat for the eyes.

However beautiful, it can still be said that the costume & set design was just overpowering & seemed like a parody of other period drama’s aristocracy. The sickening yellow-green or floral orange gowns blinded, rather than astounded, as none of the costumes seemed entirely accurate. There are countless YouTube videos on the lack of historical accuracy in the dress. But not only are they inaccurate, they’re just unattractive. The completely saturated colours, ridiculous feathers and overall lack of style is another element that makes Bridgerton just look like a parody of that time period. Yet, cleverly enough, this may have been the point. By creating a romance-drama tale, we step into a fantasy world anyhow, so to change up the costuming can be seen as a good thing, as it does allow us to escape into it. We understand the era, but there is a twist in the aesthetic. If the intention was to accurately represent the time period, then it was far from a success. But if it was to create their own take on it, then it was an interesting move.

As much as Bridgerton may have looked beautiful, there were certainly bouts of controversy throughout, showing that it may not have been making the progressive impact that it may have hoped to. Rhimes’ twisted world is created & attempts to include actors from different backgrounds, but it rather plays out as just performative diversity. The only main characters of colour are a light-skinned bi-racial man & a snooty looking Asian queen. Obviously and unfortunately historically inaccurate to 1813 London whatsoever, this pursuit to be progressive was admirable, but rather stuck out like a sore thumb & did not blend naturally or seem at all organic. This is because it more so seemed that characters of colour were rather sprinkled in the background with no definitive lines or moments, making even the inclusion of them quite ironic, as it was not fully inclusive, for a show that may have claimed to be diverse. In saying this, of course, along with the blinding costumes and sometimes plastic-like set design, Rhimes’ had created a fantasy version of 1813 London, yet still was unable to do it justice. Colour and race were apart of Bridgerton, but only comfortably and what is suited to the media.

As stringed instrumentals playing Taylor Swift’s ‘Wildest Dreams’ or Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’, a make a modern take on classical music is made, this change much like the series itself. Whether or not Bridgerton was entirely convincing, it surely still was entertaining amongst all it’s inaccuracy or shallow writing. As to why it was renewed for three further seasons with Netflix, we are not sure. The colour and pompous nature of the series does grab our eye, but cannot hold it for too long, as we may see ourselves comparing it to any other period drama we previously loved. Shonda Rhimes’ ‘Bridgerton’ succeeded in becoming a household name on Netflix, thoroughly captivating and charming, it is a good teen-based and glossed over period piece. When it comes down to good filmmaking with Rhimes’ adaptation of the sprawling novels that Julia Quinn wrote, it really wasn’t all there.

Stars Out of Five: 2.5/5

visit at: dreamsofthescreen.com

[nessismore]

Book Rec Time

It’s ur girl V, back with another list because this is how I handle quarantines, I guess? Yelling (or politely typing) about my favorite things makes me happy sooo....

If you’re not into binge watching stuff and are looking for things to binge read, may I present (apparently in series length order)...

The Psy/Changeling Series by Nalini Singh - Paranormal Romance

The Psy/Changeling series is about a world where there are three dominant races: Humans, who are your everyday average joes and don’t have any fancy powers beyond...well, persistence and levelheadedness; Psy who have cool as shit mental powers that uh...may lead to some mental instability and like...murder, so they decided “fuck feelings” and instituted a thing called Silence where they feel nothing, and that leads to problems; and Changelings, who can shapeshift into animals and are very cool and ~primal and will possibly claw your face off if you break their rules and I love them a lot. So these three races kind of live in their silos, Psy feeling superior, Humans with a chip on their shoulders, and Changelings just wanting to left tf alone goddammit, and then things happen and it’s cool.

Nalini Singh is pretty much the queen when it comes to paranormal series, and if you’re into a big immersive world with A+ world building and political development intertwined with romance, this is the series for you. 18 (soon to be 19) novels and countless novellas/short stories strong, there’s plenty to dive into. Each novel is technically a standalone, but the deeper you get into the series, the more history you need to really know what’s happening. 

Each novel, minus one, focuses on a different couple, but you have plenty of interaction with past characters as the characters are all tightly intertwined. Seriously, this series is my fave and I re-read/listen to a selection of my faves at least once a year (usually when there’s a new one coming out). In a series this long, you’re bound to have some duds (and there are def some doozies, the couple in Kiss of Snow is super uncomfortable for me, but a lot of shit GOES DOWN) but they’re all worth reading because the political shit happening is super interesting and cool and I didn’t expect to write an essay on this, but here we are. I am down to talk Psy Changeling basically All. Day. Also, because it’s paranormal romance, there’s lotsa sex.

Series highlights (imho): Slave to Sensation (1), Caressed by Ice (3), Bonds of Justice (8), and also books 12, 13, and 14 basically I love all this shit and recommend it highly.

The Pride Series and associated spinoffs by Shelly Laurenston - Paranormal Romance

The Pride Series is another shapeshifter series, but instead of going the serious political route, she goes absolutely fucking BATSHIT INSANE. My introduction to this series was the 9th and last in the series proper, and in that one alone there are: jousting bears, shifters on roller skates, a cat/bear hybrid shifter who falls in love with a honey badger shifter who keeps burrowing into his house.

The series is irreverent and laugh out loud funny, and it also features a hella diverse cast of characters. Each novel is a standalone, but like in Nalini Singh’s series, the characters from different novels interact a lot and it’s nice to see a lot of your faves. Also, a small thing but I really enjoy the fact that while the characters from previous novels interact, they don’t always like each other? It adds a touch of realism (lol) to the relationships. There’s also a lot of fun female friendships, ridiculous shenanigans, and a surprising emotional core to each one. Prepare to think “WTF” the entire time in the best possible way.

Also, lotsa sex in these, too. Also also, gratuitous violence. 

Series Highlights: The Mane Squeeze, Wolf with Benefits, Bite Me

You may also like the books Laurenston writes under pseudonym G.A. Aiken, which is like the Pride series, but set in ~medieval-y times and with dragons. Also hilarious and batshit insane.

The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn - Historical Romance

Basically, everything Julia Quinn writes is frick fracking delightful, but the Bridgerton series in particular is near and dear to my heart. Each novel focuses on one the eight (8!) Bridgerton siblings, the oldest of whom is a Viscount and the move in high society in Regency Era England and blah blah blah. What I love about this series is that each sibling is very distinct with a very distinct love story. The family is lovely and heartwarming and the characters all have a lot of depth. There’s an element of ridiculousness to them (as there is in all Julia Quinn novels) and if you’re looking for some feel-good romance, this is the place to be.

Series Highlights: The Viscount Who Loved Me, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

(also these descriptions are getting shorter as I am getting lazier)

The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews - Urban Fantasay/Paranormal Romance idk where they fall

It’s hard to choose an Ilona Andrews series, because this husband and wife writing duo is A++. The Kate Daniels series is amazing of course, but if you’re looking for a short and contained series that’s funny and packs an emotional punch all at the same time, look no further than the Innkeeper Chronicles. Dina Demille runs an Inn in a small town in Texas. But not your run-of-the-mill Inn. Nah, this one caters to aliens and interstellar travelers and no one else should even think about staying there. Also, the Inn is sentient. I don’t want to give too much away since it’s such a short series (the original trilogy and a spinoff book that was actually posted on the Ilona Andrews website in serial format) but this series is super great and you should check it out!

No series highlights since it’s like...4 books long. 

I’ve shown you mine, Tumblr. What are your binge reading recs?

[shadowtearling]

11 Questions

Rules:

Answer the 11 questions you’ve been asked

Nominate 11 other bloggers

Ask your nominees 11 questions

Let them know you’ve nominated them!

tagged by @doughtah​ thank you, lovely!

1. What are your top 5 tv/movie/stage adaptations?

GOD I don’t know the name of it but there’s this one Korean company that did a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream utilizing elements from their own folklore and it was great!

Red Velvet at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater was absolutely amazing.

The Fault in Our Stars has a special place in my heart.

Catching Fire/Mockingjay were really good story-/aesthetic- wise...

Pride & Prejudice 1995 BBC Miniseries = perfection

2. What’s a genre that you tend to avoid, actively?

thriller/mystery/horror. i’m a chicken and these types of books often drive my anxiety way up

3. What was the last book you read? Can you give us a blurb about it?

The Storyteller by Traci Chee (the last in the trilogy); the series is about this girl Sefia, living in this world where literacy doesn’t (or barely) exists. she finds a book and unlocks a world of magic. and she has to save the world.

4. Would you rather have an endless library but you only had a week to read each book you check out before you never have the opportunity to read it again anywhere, or a small personal stock of maybe 40 books that you could read over and over but you would have to only read those 40 books from now until your death?

endless library! i didn’t know rereading until two years ago i can learn to live again without (plus i already think about the Tearling Trilogy on a daily basis)

5. Can you cook? What’s one dish you were especially proud of?

I bake more than cook, really. I love making sweets. Crinkle cookies are my Thing

6. Can you read during transit (plane, bus, train, car, etc.)?

ONLY ON TRAINS (and only if i’m facing the reverse of the direction to which we’re headed... and only when i’m sat in the middle... and there’s a lot of conditions lmaoooo); i can never sit still on a plane to read; i get too sick in the car; the bus is a roller coaster so

7. Do you have a Type when it comes to favorite fictional characters? Do you want to share what that Type is?

someone who could charm the pants off me i guess lmaooo also someone cool & collected but has a great sense of humor (basically someone who knows their way around words)

8. Do you prefer standalones or series?

I love series. I love the whole anticipation process, but also I just love getting to spend a lot more time with characters than we do in standalones. Besides that, series are honest about being this long thing; whereas, standalones can deceive you. You think it’s one and done and suddenly, surprise! New book from this world is coming out!

9. What was the first book you ever truly enjoyed?

oh god i don’t know? Number the Stars was the first book i remember finishing in the US; first series i ever obsessed over was the Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton

10. What, if any, are your reading traditions?

I don’t know that I have any? Maybe the fact that I’ve vowed to reread Persuasion yearly counts? Other than that, I never put too much stock into my reading habits. I just do it (or not...)

11. Do you read at work?

I used to! Lmao I just realized that at all three of my jobs, I’ve read at one point or another. The first job I ever had I just straight up read books and ignored my responsibilities (yikes... i was also like 17 don’t @ me). I also used to be able to listen to audiobooks and do my job but somehow I struggle with that now, so I haven’t done it in a while.

My Questions!

What’s your Most Anticipated Read of 2019?

Who’s your favorite Disney animated character? (Can include Pixar)

Do you play Super Smash Bros? Who’s your fighter? (Or Mario Kart? Who’s your racer? OR if neither, your favorite video game as of late?) 

What’s your favorite aspect of a book cover?

What are your three favorite books/series of all time? (Which one would you Burn, Reread, and Rewrite?)

What book do you want to be turned into a graphic novel and why?

Who’s your least favorite character?

What book/series do you NOT want adapted into a show/movie?

Can you read backwards?

Spill the salt! Rant about the last book you really hated.

Who’s your favorite author that you don’t care about? (To explain, it’s really easy nowadays to get updates from authors we love thanks to social media. Which author do you love but don’t care to follow and stay up to date with book news?)

i tag: @all-i-ever-do-is-read @letthebookbegin @ihaveseenthedragons @nerdishfeels @bibliophilicwitch  @katiekat917 @magnetarmaddaboutbooks @librarianlirael  @princessofbookaholics @the-girl-who-lived-to-read @literaery-me

[mikkuchan07]

When I was asked to partcipate in the #RomBkLove event on Twitter I was over the moon. :3 Last year I was in awe seeing all the amazing recommendations, the great topics and never did I imagine to be part of it.

Selecting a topic which was close to my heart was a bit difficult because as mostly as it is: you have so many to chose from!

But when I thought about it, one topic seemed to come up again and again: Retellings.

If you have followed me on Twitter or other social media (and know me for a while) you’ve seen that I adore “classics” (I use this term lightly here ;)) like Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice but also the utterly fascinating tales like Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, Tangled, Little Red Riding Hood or Peter Pan. 🙂 Naturally as a (former) student of German language and literature those titles in their original form aren’t new to me, so it’s especially fascinating to see how they are changed into a new form. What parts are used for the retelling, how many of the original cast is included in the story or is it actually put in a modern setting?

I want to share with you some of my favorite retellings and to have a better overview I will divide them into smaller categories. I hope you enjoy it!

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single reader in possession of good entertainment, must be in want of a good retelling.” – Jane Austen retellings –

I can’t say how close this part is to my heart! ❤ Jane Austen always had a certain kind of factination for me and retellings of her amazing works are something I have a close look at. Although the author “just” finished 6 full novels and wrote and drafted several unfinished pieces, there are many retellings on the market, though the focus lies clearly on Pride and Prejudice retellings. Because of my almost undying love for this title it’s only natural I start with one retelling, a series actually.

A Fair Prospect by Cass Grafton; Volume I – III: Disappointed Hopes, Darcy’s Dilemma, Desperate Measures

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  This series was simply sublime and the most factinating fact was that author divided the series into three parts as an homage to the original, set it right after the declaration of Mr Darcy’s first proposal and continued from this. It was marvelous executed and you could totally see how well researched the original was. ❤ A most delightful read. There’s a lot more to tell about this book but I just can say: grab it and read it because it catches the original’s tone so perfectly. ❤

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Set in a modern setting, into NYC’s Brooklyn and with an Afro-Latina heroine this book really picked my interest. Topics like cultural identity, gentrification and class are discussed and challanged. Haitian and Dominican food and culture are playing a huge part in the book and the author’s own experiences are coloring the book.

Out, Proud & Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway

This retelling is also set into the modern times, we have the two men Bennet Rourke and Darius Lanniker, and like in the original they loath each other on sight. From the chosen names it’s pretty obvious that there are similarities to the original but due to the blurb the reader is following  Bennet waiting in a restaurant which brings him to Darius’s table and on top an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate is suggested. This twist from the original events is definitely intriguing.

CW: (emotional) abuse; (on page talk about) filming a minor; filming people w/o their consent/approval

Perfect Day by Sally Malcolm

Next to Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion by Jane Austen is one of my favorite work by her. So this modern retelling of this amazing book was devoured and utterly loved. ❤ This queer piece has all the sensitive elements from the original, gives the most romantic declaration of love its own touch but still keeps it true to the original. The original’s conflict is here executed as having heroes coming from two different social classes; Finn is an ambitious young actor and a former mechanic while Joshua is the prodigal son of one of New Milton’s elite. Both couldn’t be more different. Sally Malcolm definitely added a healthy dose of angst to the story and it worked!

Undue Influence by Jenn Holiday

Readers were blessed with two Persuasion retellings 2018 and I can totally say I was over the moon. ❤ This retelling tackles the topic differently than Sally Malcolm’s work; I have to mention the amusing start of this book with a certain quote from another Austen book, which is that famous, you don’t have to read the original for it and I couldn’t help but cackle a bit because it was a nice homage to Austen in general. This book has a large dose of humor and snark, but is very emotional too. Advertised as it “can be enjoyed by Austen-philes and by those allergic to the nineteenth century” I have to agree to it.

The California Dashwoods by Lisa Henry

The year 2018 definitely was the year of the most queer retellings of Jane Austen’s works. Lisa Henry took her contribution to the mix with her adaption of Sense and Sensibility, one of Austen’s most famous works but which I haven’t seen as much adapted or retold (but I might be mistaken – I am open to hear suggestions from you too) ;). Having a gender switch to have a M/M, queer retelling we follow Elliot Dashwood’s tragic change of his and his sisters’ and mother’s living situation.  Very much it is s close to the original, including the heartbreak in leaving the love behind. Over the whole book we have a pretty slow-burn, simmering attraction. Partly the book is spiked with a few explicit scenes, sometimes hot, sometimes sweet and adorable, but most at all it’s a slow burn. I was especially hooked by Elliot, who’s similar to his “alter ego” Elinor in the original: he’s the caretaker of the family, the one who’s rational, rather than romantic or illusional (and therefore the total opposite of his sister Marianne). He has a calm attitude and is not impulsive, at least not on the surface. 😉 A book I dearly enjoyed!

If I Loved You Less by Tamsen Parker

If there is any other work by Jane Austen that works better for a F/F, lesbian retelling, it’s actually no other than Emma. This book is also set in the modern times, the heroine Theo is having a surf-shop in Hanalei Bay and can, as much as her alter-ego Emma,not sit still and try to matchmake everyone who’s willing – or in some cases not so! True to the original this “Emma” has to accept her failures in her matchmaking and is shown her own mistakes by people who care about her, where she learns some valuable lessons – and finds her love on the way!

��One upon a time in…” – fairy tale / Brother Grimm retellings –

As a second larger part of this post I focus on some of the most famous fairy tale / Brother Grimm retellings. As said in the preface before I am well-aware of the originals but whenever I read a new retelling I am astonished how many variations there are outside! See a few selected ones. :3

Fiendish. A Twisted Fairytale by Meka James

It might be odd I start with a dark retelling of Beauty and The Beast, which actually don’t have a HEA at all! But, before people now are outraged and yell at me, I have good news: there is a sequel to it (which can be read as standalone, confirmed by the author) with a true HEA! I added this to my list because since it’s a BatB retelling I am utterly factinated in the topic and how the overall lovely story can be have a horrible end – to have a different twits in the original. Also in connection to the sequel we can see how a former horrible event can lead into a personal HEA where we follow the heroine’s path while she is healing (physcially and emotionally).

CW: contains sexually explicit dubious, non-consent scenes, graphic violence, abuse, harm, graphic descrption of torture (including pulling teeth, starvation, cutting through skin), obsession 

More Than Enough by Elisabeth Wambheim

A certainly lighter and very cute retelling of Beauty and The Beast is this title. With its lush description of the gardening topic, the passion behind and for the fauna and all the nature around it sounds like a delightful story. With the ace represantation the book is like a fresh wind to the darker retellings of this original work and I can’t wait to read this.

Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray

This is advertised as a “m/m World War II-era retelling of Beauty and the Beast” where the beast takes the form of a dragon! I admit the blurb sounds amazing. 

In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard

One title I have seen on my Twitter timeline several times and which gives the original setting of BatB a new setting is this book. A F/F, adult fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast with an all-Vietnamese cast sound very amazing and please, have a look at the cover! Isn’t is utterly facinating?

Ash by Melinda Lo

A lesbian adaption of Cinderella with strong heroines definitely are my jam! The blurb gives the indication this isn’t a light read and deals with the topics of death, grief but also made promises and blossoming feelings and friendships.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

A Snow White retelling which is described as a “feminist fantasy reimagining”; this book, as someone asked, comes without the seven dwarfs yet has the displays of magic,  complex mother-daughter relationships, as well as powerful women triumphing in a world where they have to fight hard for being powerful. Doesn’t it sound marvelous?!

The Ice Princess’s Fair Illusion by Lynn E. O’Connacht

This title is a retelling of King Thrushbeard following an asexual lesbian princess and an aroace queen. That’s a hell of a ace represantation!

Sea Foam and Silence by Lynn E. O’Connacht

This asexual retelling of The Little Mermaid stands out for being #ownvoices and written in verse (in a free verse style). 

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Walking on Water by Matthew Metzger

Another retelling of The Little Mermaid this story is the romance story between an asexual trans man and an agender person.

“All you need is faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust.” – (children) book retellings –

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

This Peter Pan retelling was one of the best books I’ve read and I couldn’t stop reading it! I was so hooked (pun intended :D) with this story and I can say magic was happening here, it was real and honest in its writing, sometimes it was very dark and cruel, very unexpected tbh. But, oh so bittersweet… especially when Hook and Peter then finally met and did not fight. I really LOVED that Peter Pan and Captain Hook went from enemies to lovers. :3 They had a great chemistry and the reason for Peter why he has Hook as villain are logical. With a great transgender representation and the struggles of our hero Peter coming with it it’s a truely magnificent story.

Thrall by Avon Gale & Roan Parrish

Oh, this modern adaption of Bram Stroker’s Dracula with not just a M/M couple but an established lesbian one was adorable to read. The way it was fleshed out, as a epistolary format (displayed in text messages & chat logs) was a nice twist of the original and was intriguing to read.

The Henchman of Zenda by KJ Charles

It’s definitely not a secret I love KJ Charles’ writing and the way she used the topic of Prisoner of Zenda, a story which was totally unknown for me let me read the story afterwards (on Wikipedia) to have a better overview. The Henchmen of Zenda is a marvelous story full of snarky swordsmen, sarcasm and tension. The sexual tension is right there from the start between Jasper and Rupert, and their dueling with the foils is a scene you are thinking about long after you’ve set down the book. The characters are set in the historic time and setting – in a fictional country somewhere in Europe – and there is no dull moment, nothing you would consider as boring or dusty. In fact because of the snarky comments and the enormous sarcasm, the underlinging humor the characters have their own charme. As icing on top we have this marvelous cover which captures one of the scenes from the book perfectly and I always expect to see the characters moving while watching the cover!

Winterglass by Benjanun Sriduangkaew

This Snow Queen retelling has a queen made of armor and ice which loves her female general as our main heroine. The badass MC absolutely doesn’t care what gender her  lover has, female or male, enby or not, and you can be prepared for a story mixed with fightings, politics. Is is a sci-fantasy about one woman’s love for her homeland and her determination to defeat the Winter Queen who has overtaken the land.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed my post. ❤

At the end I have a few (following) questions for you (if you like) 🙂

Which retellings do you love?

What titles are you still missing?

What is the most important thing for you to have a perfect retelling? Do you care that it is close to the original or do you like changes?

Tell me in the comments below and follow the discussion on Twitter and/or Intergram. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #RomBkLove when you join the talk! ❤

#RomBkLove: Retellings. Thanks to @anacoqui ‏for hosting this amazing event. #retellings #bloggeractions #blogfeature #queerretellings #classics When I was asked to partcipate in the #RomBkLove event on Twitter I was over the moon.

[joycemerces]

Review ~ Faking It by K. Bromberg

Faking It by K. Bromberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Faking It was fun, charming and romantic! I read it in one sitting, y’all! I’m still a novice in the K. Bromberg world, and although I didn’t love the story, I liked it a lot and I was not discouraged to continue reading her books, it actually made me want to read more! The best part was seeing the arrogant, selfish and cocky hero falling in love! That’s one of my favorite things to watch. I loved how Harlow was independent and full of attitude. Together, they made a cute and steamy couple.

View all my reviews

Zane Phillips mistook me for his dog walker. It shouldn’t surprise me that the man with a suit more expensive than my rent would assume that I was there to serve him. The positive? I put him in his place. The negative? I missed my job interview because of it. Now I find out he’s a rich Australian entrepreneur, and he wants to make up for tanking my interview.

Yes, he’s impossibly hot – but he’s also an arrogant jackass – so…no thanks.

But after a little white lie I tell spirals out of control, I’m somehow offered the chance to play Zane’s girlfriend to help promote his new dating website – and the best part? He can’t say no because he’ll get caught in his lie, too.

Little did I know this would entail sharing a tour bus with him for the next few months. The fact that the bus has just one bed isn’t the most ideal of circumstances, but this spokesperson gig might be the kick in the pants my career needs, so why not take a chance?

Famous last words.

Now I’m crisscrossing the country – and sharing that bed – with the one guy I can’t stand. And even worse, my traitorous body is wondering at every turn what it’s like to be down under the gorgeous Australian. But as the miles unfurl, so does our passion…and if I’m not careful, I might end up believing that fairy tales really do come true.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QlacWd

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2wISxMX

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/FakingIt

Nook: http://bit.ly/2PYWWqM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RieoD9

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2E0KJLT

Audible: https://amzn.to/2RwGAWk

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2PDY4eX

“I have connections.” Brilliant, Zane. Fucking brilliant. That’s how you get her to not run away from you? By giving her a sleazy line? “Maybe I could help you find something.”

“I couldn’t care less about your connections.” She hangs her head and when she lifts it, I watch her reign in the pride I feel like a dick for bruising. “I’m sorry. That was rude. Like I said, thank you.” She holds up the papers and offers a reticent smile.

“Look . . .” I take a step toward her, more than aware that I don’t want her to go just yet and questioning why I’m even bringing this up. “I have an event I’m holding at the end of the week. You should come. I could introduce you to some people. There might be some job opportunities there.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not that kind of girl.” The roll of her eyes has me realizing how she took my comment.

My laugh makes my dog lift her head. “That’s not exactly what I meant, Harlow. I run a matchmaking website, not an escort service.”

“Good to know. So basically that means you cherry pick the women you want to date after you scope out all their information. I assure you now I can sleep better at night knowing this.”

“You’re exhausting.” And she is, but in the most fascinating of ways.

“You’re one to talk.” She crosses her arms over her chest and lifts her eyebrows.

I hold my hands up. “All I was trying to say is connections matter in this town. You and I both know that. My event . . . there is going to be a lot of people there. Industry people,” I say more than aware I just let it slip that I looked her up and know she works in the industry.

“Good. Great. Can you go now?”

But there’s a crack of a smile on her face. A chink in her defensive armor that tells me I’m getting somewhere.

“You have to take opportunities when they present themselves.” She doesn’t say anything but the slight smile remains. “Zane Phillips. Nice to meet you.” I stick my hand out. She looks down at it and nods but doesn’t shake it.

God, she’s stubborn.

And damn gorgeous.

“And you’re Harlow Nicks.”

“Considering you had my electric bill, I guess that means you know how to read.”

“I do.” I nod. “And I also have your email address from your interview paperwork.”

“Should I worry that you’re stalking me?”

I shake my head and sigh. “I’ll email you the information about the party—”

“—don’t bother—”

“—it’s on Friday night. Cocktail attire. Lots of networking.”

“I won’t read it.”

I flash a megawatt smile at her and then turn to walk away. “Yes, you will.”

And she will.

It’s rare that a woman resists me. She’s trying but I’ll win in the end. It just seems for the time being that I have my work cut out for me.

I’m a man who always has an end goal in mind. Always.

There’s no point in setting a goal if you don’t plan on smashing it.

Question is, what in the hell am I aiming for when it comes to Harlow Nicks?

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018.

She is currently working on her Everyday Heroes trilogy. This series consists of three complete standalone novels—Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit (late spring 2018)—and is about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

Connect with K. Bromberg

Website: http://www.kbromberg.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKBromberg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBrombergDriven

Instagram: http://smarturl.it/KBrombergIG

Amazon Author: http://amzn.to/204Qnfz

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/1koZIkL

Join her Reader Group: http://bit.ly/1PMUoG3

Stay up to date with K. Bromberg by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

from WordPress https://joycemerces.wordpress.com/2019/01/24/review-faking-it-by-k-bromberg/

[kiarazuri]

Let’s Chat!

@bookavid I’m more of a writeblr but I used to check your blog every chance I got and loved it :)

Questions:

Who are your favorite authors? (i.e. who do I reread the most)

PC Cast; circa The Goddess Summoning Series (finité)(I like all but the last one, which definitely DID NOT get edited) and Divine By Mistake (Partholon Series, finité)

Sherrilyn Kenyon; circa The League (ongoing) books 6-11 (Silence-Legend) (MINUS Cloak & Silence because Maris deserved so much more than that tiny-ass book!)

Please note that NEITHER of the above authors can do YA. They’re both shit at it, it’s ridiculous - see House of Night and The Chronicles of Nick. They need to stop.

Also, The League Series has major issues with race.

Honestly I want others to join this fandom so that SOMEONE would rewrite the series without any of its blatant -isms.

Zoe Chant, circa the Fire & Rescue Series (which is still ongoing and which I received the newest book during finals and spent 12 hours reading it nonstop instead of studying 😬) as well as the Shifting Sands Resort Series (of which I don’t like the last (third) one and am having issues finishing it. Meanwhile, the second one had wayyyyy too much sex and yet, I finished it within 2 days. I DON’T KNOW why I dislike the last one.)

What’s your favorite book that you desperately want to yell to people about?

Born of Fury (The League Book 8) and Born of Legend (The League Book 11) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I have HUGE issues with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Andarions. And most of my issues come from her word choice and the fact that she doesn’t have dark-skinned humans aside from the Qillaq - who are also very problematic! Colorism ABOUNDS in this series. That said, I love the Andarion characters. I even love little Darice.

Born of Legend is one of the only time where I’m like HELL YES REDEMPTION ARC because IT ALL MAKES SENSE. (Sherrilyn Kenyon likes redemption arcs and uses them a lot in her other series Dark-Hunters, in which the only time I was like “oh this makes sense” was Valerius) Like - to me, at least - there are very few reaches in his book, and there are plenty of hints in earlier books that the main character in Born of Legend, Jullien, is gonna come back and surprise all of them by being their ally instead of their enemy. I have a friend who refuses to read Jullien’s book because she doesn’t think he deserved a redemption arc even tho in the book before his we haven’t actually seen him in like 10 years, everyone’s just been saying shit like “Is it Jullien?!” every time something bad happens and the inevitable answer is “Apparently not.”

The worst thing about Jullien’s character arc is his weight. Sherrilyn Kenyon is uses the fat = bad, fit = good metaphor for him a lot and literally EVERYONE around is fatphobic.

Which genius book do you think absolutely deserves a movie adaptation and why?

I think the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness would make a good short series. Not a movie but like a 10-part show or something. Like a mix of Practical Magic, Underworld (the sciency-aspects), Twilight, and Pride and Prejudice. Does that make any sense?

Have you made any cool original content lately? Fan art, selfies, book photography, any other kind of art? Share your favorite! (bonus point if you post a pic)

What’s your favorite fandom that you need more people to join? What do you love about it?

What’s a book you discovered in 2017 (doesn’t need to be a new release) and absolutely are obsessed with now? What is it about and why do you love it?

Zoe Chant’s Fire & Rescue Series

I discovered this series over summer. I have a habit of going on Romance novel sprees during finals and midterms (it’s ridiculous) and had downloaded the first one during my Amazon eBook spree. I especially like shape-shifter romance and downloaded it because it was a dragon-shapeshifter who’s a firefighter. I couldn’t not.

The series as a whole is about a team of mythical shapeshifters (dragons, pegasi, griffins, unicorns, etc) finding their true mates.

Why I fell in love with it: It doesn’t start out from the dragonshifter’s PoV, it starts out from his love interest’s. Who is an American Archaeologist named Virginia Jones. As an American Black woman majoring in Anthropology, I KNEW she was black immediately, and I was not disappointed.

Let me add that the fourth book is about a Sea-Dragon from Atlantis who goes by the name John Doe. He’s a tall, dark-skinned black man with indigo dreads whose true love is a tall, fat, dark-skinned black woman. I love them.

The fifth book intersects with a different series by her and isn’t actually about the Fire & Rescue team but it’s about a Shark-shifter whose love interest is an older (she’s already a grandmother by the start of the book) Latina woman.

It’s great. It just. It is.

My biggest issue is a healing bit in the last book but I have mixed feelings since he healed a poison that was slowly eating away at the character’s body and not an irreversible physical condition. I think they went a bit overboard but other than that I like it all.

Which upcoming book release are you the most excited for and why?

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

I’m actually more excited for the cover reveal than the actual book. I just wanna know! The first cover was gorgeous, even if the book was lacking much to be desired.

Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas Book 2) by Zoraida Cordova

I read Labyrinth Lost without realizing it was a series. I thought it was a standalone!

Born of Blood (The League Book 13) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I’m always excited for a new League book, altho, the last one was . . . *cough cough* not good *cough cough.* Before the last book I thought Sherrilyn Kenyon’s most disliked baby was Maris since his book was TINY but damn, she did Bastien just as dirty.

Have you ever met an author you admired in real life? Who and how was it?

Have you discovered any new-to-you tv shows yet that people should probably ALL be talking about? Why do you love it?

Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon (on Netflix it’s titled Strong Girl Bong-Soon)

It’s a KDrama about a girl with supernatural strength. Usually I hate love-triangles but I actually didn’t mind this one. I looked at it more as Bong-Soon learning to grow out of her crush and realize what she really needs/wants in a partner.

I haven’t been THIS invested in a heterosexual relationship on TV since Westallen and Ichabbie.

How much Min-hyuk swoons over Bong-soon could literally give you a cavity. He thinks she hung the moon! He’s the most adorable puppy in the world!

The biggest issue I have with the show itself (there are some translation issues but that’s not the show’s fault . . . I don’t think) is a scene where Bong-soon’s dreaming and Min-hyuk appears in a dress to seduce Guk-doo. It’s pretty cissexist/transphobic. That’s the worst of it. And there’s a gay character in the second half of the show that I at first was super worried about but apart from a bit of them going overboard swooning over Min-hyuk I grew to really like their character. Especially their relationship with Min-hyuk’s assistant, which is really cute and I ship them (as does their whole office I’m pretty sure.)

Has something awesome happened to you lately that you’ve been dying to share with somebody? Tell me!

Do you want to rant about something annoying that has happened to you lately? Tell me!

HOW IS YOUR PET SHOW ME YOUR PET

Tag your favorite active blogs that post bookish stuff, who’s still active? Let’s all follow each other!

This may have gotten a little out of hand. 😳

[joycemerces]

Available Now ~ Faking It by K. Bromberg

Faking It never felt so good in this red-hot new standalone by New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg–available now!

Zane Phillips mistook me for his dog walker. It shouldn’t surprise me that the man with a suit more expensive than my rent would assume that I was there to serve him. The positive? I put him in his place. The negative? I missed my job interview because of it. Now I find out he’s a rich Australian entrepreneur, and he wants to make up for tanking my interview.

Yes, he’s impossibly hot – but he’s also an arrogant jackass – so…no thanks.

But after a little white lie I tell spirals out of control, I’m somehow offered the chance to play Zane’s girlfriend to help promote his new dating website – and the best part? He can’t say no because he’ll get caught in his lie, too.

Little did I know this would entail sharing a tour bus with him for the next few months. The fact that the bus has just one bed isn’t the most ideal of circumstances, but this spokesperson gig might be the kick in the pants my career needs, so why not take a chance?

Famous last words.

Now I’m crisscrossing the country – and sharing that bed – with the one guy I can’t stand. And even worse, my traitorous body is wondering at every turn what it’s like to be down under the gorgeous Australian. But as the miles unfurl, so does our passion…and if I’m not careful, I might end up believing that fairy tales really do come true.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QlacWd

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2wISxMX

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/FakingIt

Nook: http://bit.ly/2PYWWqM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RieoD9

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2E0KJLT

Audible: https://amzn.to/2RwGAWk

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2PDY4eX

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Excerpt:

“I have connections.” Brilliant, Zane. Fucking brilliant. That’s how you get her to not run away from you? By giving her a sleazy line? “Maybe I could help you find something.” “I couldn’t care less about your connections.” She hangs her head and when she lifts it, I watch her reign in the pride I feel like a dick for bruising. “I’m sorry. That was rude. Like I said, thank you.” She holds up the papers and offers a reticent smile. “Look . . .” I take a step toward her, more than aware that I don’t want her to go just yet and questioning why I’m even bringing this up. “I have an event I’m holding at the end of the week. You should come. I could introduce you to some people. There might be some job opportunities there.” “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not that kind of girl.” The roll of her eyes has me realizing how she took my comment. My laugh makes my dog lift her head. “That’s not exactly what I meant, Harlow. I run a matchmaking website, not an escort service.” “Good to know. So basically that means you cherry pick the women you want to date after you scope out all their information. I assure you now I can sleep better at night knowing this.” “You’re exhausting.” And she is, but in the most fascinating of ways. “You’re one to talk.” She crosses her arms over her chest and lifts her eyebrows. I hold my hands up. “All I was trying to say is connections matter in this town. You and I both know that. My event . . . there is going to be a lot of people there. Industry people,” I say more than aware I just let it slip that I looked her up and know she works in the industry. “Good. Great. Can you go now?” But there’s a crack of a smile on her face. A chink in her defensive armor that tells me I’m getting somewhere. “You have to take opportunities when they present themselves.” She doesn’t say anything but the slight smile remains. “Zane Phillips. Nice to meet you.” I stick my hand out. She looks down at it and nods but doesn’t shake it. God, she’s stubborn. And damn gorgeous. “And you’re Harlow Nicks.” “Considering you had my electric bill, I guess that means you know how to read.” “I do.” I nod. “And I also have your email address from your interview paperwork.” “Should I worry that you’re stalking me?” I shake my head and sigh. “I’ll email you the information about the party—” “—don’t bother—” “—it’s on Friday night. Cocktail attire. Lots of networking.” “I won’t read it.” I flash a megawatt smile at her and then turn to walk away. “Yes, you will.” And she will. It’s rare that a woman resists me. She’s trying but I’ll win in the end. It just seems for the time being that I have my work cut out for me. I’m a man who always has an end goal in mind. Always. There’s no point in setting a goal if you don’t plan on smashing it. Question is, what in the hell am I aiming for when it comes to Harlow Nicks?

About K. Bromberg

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love. A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow. Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018. She is currently working on her Everyday Heroes trilogy. This series consists of three complete standalone novels—Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit (late spring 2018)—and is about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them. She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

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