Sunday Sale Digest!

Jul. 19th, 2025 02:08 pm
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Posted by Amanda

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

Book Beat: Jane Austen, Pugs, & More

Jul. 19th, 2025 08:00 am
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Posted by Amanda

Book Beat aims to highlight other books that we may hear about through friends, social media, or other sources. We could see a gorgeous ad! Or find a new-to-us author on a list of underrated romances! Think of Book Beat as Teen Beat or Tiger Beat, but for books. And no staples to open to get the fold-out poster.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Roazkis

Author: Caitlin Roazkis
Released: May 27, 2025 by Titan Books
Genre: ,

From the NYT-bestselling author of DreadfulBig Little Lies goes to magic school, cozy fantasy perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Olivia Atwater and Heather Fawcett. Featuring orange sprayed and stencilled edges, with magic symbols, unicorns and baked goods from the book.

Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys, and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors to demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society—shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.

And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…

This author’s debut, Dreadful, was recommended in the comments when we featured it on sale. I’m very curious how her follow-up will do!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Pugs and Kisses

Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon

Author: Farrah Rochon
Released: July 15, 2025 by Forever
Genre: ,
Series: Doggone Delightful #2

From the New York Times bestselling author of Almost There, a second chance romance between two dog lovers, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.  

From the outside, veterinarian Evie Williams appears to have the perfect but boring life. She is desperate to figure out a way to shake it up, but gets more than she bargained for when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. Suddenly, Evie is without a fiancé or a job, and isn’t sure what her next steps should be. That is, until her college crush, Bryson Mitchell, returns to town.

Now, a nationally recognized veterinary surgeon, Bryson is stunned when he encounters Evie Williams for the first time in half a decade. When they learn the animal shelter where they used to volunteer is in danger of closing, the two must work together to save it. It has Bryson wondering, can he and Evie also save the friendship they once shared and finally bring it to the next level?

Crushes, forced proximity, and some very cute dogs. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures by Emma Fontanella

Author: Emma Fontanella
Released: October 24, 2023 by DK
Genre:

Rediscover the joy of cooking simple food using fresh, everyday ingredients.

With easy recipes and time-saving techniques for your favorite pastries, breads, cakes, pasta, pizza, cookies, and more, you’ll find something to satisfy your sweet tooth—or your carb cravings.

Cooking and baking don’t have to be time consuming or difficult. With the right techniques, even the most daunting dishes can be simple to master. Chef Emma Fontanella is known for her ability to translate complex methods into approachable recipes that yield amazing results. Utilizing the conveniences of a modern kitchen, she has developed an indispensable collection of classic desserts, comfort food favorites, and everyday meals, all without sacrificing texture or flavor.

Indulge in the simple pleasure of comfort classics such as The Fluffiest Cinnamon Rolls and Melt-In-Your-Mouth Glazed Donuts, or curl up with a cozy bowl of One-Pot Mac and Cheese or Three-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo.

A section on foundational techniques provides detailed instruction on making and decorating cakes, working with yeast-raised doughs, preparing pasta, and more. Armed with Emma’s thoughtful instructions and labor-saving shortcuts, you’ll be able to execute everything from Cheater’s Artisan Croissants to a stunning fresh Strawberry Cake with confidence.

Over 100 recipes for breakfasts, breads and baked goods, pasta dishes, celebration cakes, and holiday baking.

Time-saving techniques and pastry chef shortcuts for restaurant-quality results with a fraction of the effort.

Superfast microwave snacks that cook in a minute.

Nostalgic childhood favorites, such as Instant Frozen Yogurt and Homemade Peanut Butter Cups.

Simple and indulgent? You have my attention. I’m tempted to borrow this one from the library for a test drive. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod

Author: Lindz McLeod
Released: April 29, 2025 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,
Series: Austentatious #1

Jane Austen meets Bridgerton in this sapphic romance between Charlotte Lucas and Mary Bennet that begins four years after the end of Pride and Prejudice.

When Mr. Collins dies after just four years of marriage, Charlotte is lost. While not exactly heartbroken, she will soon have to quit the parsonage that has become her home. In desperate need of support, she writes to her best friend, Lizzie. Unable to leave Pemberley, Lizzie sends her sister Mary Bennet in her stead.

To Charlotte’s surprise, Mary Bennet is nothing like she remembers. Mary’s discovery of academia and her interest in botany (as well as getting out from under her mother’s thumb) have caused her to flourish. Before long, Charlotte is enraptured, and with each stolen glance and whispered secret, their friendship quickly blossoms into something achingly real.

But when her time at the parsonage begins to dwindle and a potential suitor appears, Charlotte must make a choice—the safety and security of another husband, or a passionate life with Mary outside the confines of the ton’s expectations.

A f/f romance featuring Mary Bennet. I’m always on the fence about reimaginings with well-known literary characters, but I’m also not the target Austenite audience. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

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Posted by Amanda

The Counterfeit Scoundrel

The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath is $1.99! This is book one in The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction historical romance series, which makes me laugh. I keep thinking of the chessmen butter cookies.

New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath begins a compelling new spin-off series, The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction, centering around three heroes–Knight, Bishop, and Rook–who play to win at any cost.

Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society’s strictures, Marguerite “Daisy” Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a wife’s infidelity, she secures a position in the household of the woman’s lover, never expecting to be lured into the seductive blackguard’s arms herself.

Devilishly handsome, David Blackwood, known widely as Bishop, quickly realizes the enticing maid is interested in far more than dusting. She aims to uncover his sins. Although tempted by the dangerous beauty, he can’t risk her learning the truth: his affairs are chaste. As a boy who witnessed his mother’s abusive relationship, Bishop now helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages.

Yet when he is accused of murdering the husband of a “paramour,” he is forced to seek Daisy’s assistance in proving his innocence. As their perilous search draws them into a web of deceits, they can no longer deny their simmering desire. Once secrets are revealed, will Daisy’s counterfeit scoundrel give up the scandalous games he plays and surrender his heart into her keeping?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Hang the Moon

RECOMMENDED: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur is $1.99! Tara read this one and gave it an A-:

This book is important for women like me, showing that we can absolutely have our HEA with a man and still proudly claim our queerness. Plus, it’s such a joyful celebration of love that it’s like a warm hug. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will read it again.

In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films…

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or… has he? When his sister’s best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie… wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies… as long as you think your partner hung the moon.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Salt & Broom

Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher is $2.49 at Amazon! The Jane Eyre inspo is obvious here. Carrie said this one would get an A for concept, but the execution was more of B-/C+ territory.

A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate—and its enigmatic owner—in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre.

Salt and broom, make this room

Safe and tight, against the night.

Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort.

Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester—who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Voyage of the Damned

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White is $2.99! This is a fantasy mystery set on a ship and has been mentioned before on the site. Have you read it?

A mind-blowing murder mystery on a ship full of magical passengers. If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain. Aboard are the twelve heirs of the provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

All except one: Ganymedes Piscero—class clown, slacker and all-around disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people and without a Blessing to protect him, Ganymedes’s odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their secret Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

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Posted by SB Sarah

Atonement Sky
A | BN | K | AB
When I record with Nalini Singh, since she’s in New Zealand and I’m on the east coast of the US, it’s weird hours for both of us – so thank you to Nalini for speaking to me bright and early in the morning. We talk about Atonement Sky, about writing and worldbuilding, and saying goodbye to characters. I also mix up my animal pluralities but I fix it, don’t worry.

NOT thanks to Wilbur, my cat, who was vocally put out with my choices, and ends up with Nalini representing him in feline court.


Inspired by other Patreon folks, including Chris DeRosa at Fixing Famous People, I’ve made some of the Patreon content free so you can sample what we’ve got.

This collection of special previews is available now to all listeners, and there’s a link in the show notes to dive in. And if you like our free samples, join us in the Patreon community where there’s bonus content and more.


Music: purple-planet.com

Listen to the podcast →
Read the transcript →

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

You can find Nalini Singh at her website, NaliniSingh.com, and you can sign up for her newsletter to receive periodic short fiction! You can also join her on Facebook and Instagram.

We also mentioned:

And of course, the Nutella picture:

Nalini Singh is hugging a giant food service bottle of Nutella. Her hair is to her shoulders with bangs, and she's smiling wistfully
Nalini Singh hugging a giant Nutella, June 2013

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What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at sbjpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.

Thanks for listening!

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Posted by Amanda

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb

RECOMMENDED: The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian is $1.99! Lara wrote a Lightning Review for this on and gave it an A:

At a time when I didn’t have a lot of energy, I was gifted with pounds of joy, laughter, intrigue, and suspense. The Queer Principles of Kit Webb was a fresh approach to historical romance that made me fall in love with the genre again.

Critically acclaimed author Cat Sebastian makes her trade paperback debut in a stunning historical romance about a reluctantly reformed highwayman and the aristocrat who threatens to steal his heart.

Kit Webb has left his stand-and-deliver days behind him. But dreary days at his coffee shop have begun to make him pine for the heady rush of thievery. When a handsome yet arrogant aristocrat storms into his shop, Kit quickly realizes he may be unable to deny whatever this highborn man desires.

In order to save himself and a beloved friend, Percy, Lord Holland must go against every gentlemanly behavior he holds dear to gain what he needs most: a book that once belonged to his mother, a book his father never lets out of his sight and could be Percy’s savior. More comfortable in silk-filled ballrooms than coffee shops frequented by criminals, his attempts to hire the roughly hewn highwayman, formerly known as Gladhand Jack, proves equal parts frustrating and electrifying.

Kit refuses to participate in the robbery but agrees to teach Percy how to do the deed. Percy knows he has little choice but to submit and as the lessons in thievery begin, he discovers thievery isn’t the only crime he’s desperate to commit with Kit.

But when their careful plan goes dangerously wrong and shocking revelations threaten to tear them apart, can these stolen hearts withstand the impediments in their path?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Love at First Set

Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan is $1.99! This is a contemporary romance with bisexual leads. However, a lot of reviews mention toxic mom relationships, if that is your nope button.

The gym is Lizzie’s life—it’s her passion, her job, and the only place that’s ever felt like home. Unfortunately, her bosses consider her a glorified check-in girl at best, and the gym punching bag at worst.

When their son, Lizzie’s best friend James, begs her to be his plus one at his perfect sister Cara’s wedding, things go wrong immediately, culminating in Lizzie giving a drunken pep talk to a hot stranger in the women’s bathroom—except that stranger is actually the bride-to-be, and Lizzie has accidentally convinced her to ditch her groom.

Now, newly directionless Cara is on a quest to find herself, and Lizzie—desperate to make sure her bosses never find out her role in this disaster—gets strong-armed by James into “entertaining” her. Cara doesn’t have to know it’s a setup; it’ll just be a quick fling before she sobers up and goes back to her real life. After all, how could someone like Cara fall for someone like Lizzie, with no career and no future?

But the more Lizzie gets to know Cara, the more she likes her, and the more is on the line if any of her rapidly multiplying secrets get out. Because now it’s not just Lizzie’s job and entire future on the line, but also the girl of her dreams.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

One in a Million

One in a Million by Beverley Kendall is $2.99! This is a celebrity romance that published in March. Elyse was pretty excited about this one and mentioned it on Hide Your Wallet.

She’s got everything planned—including when she’ll have kids. Until something completely unplanned turns her world upside down.

World-famous Whitney “Sahara” Richardson is at the top of her game. With four Grammys, an Oscar nod, and a billion-dollar clothing line, her career is skyrocketing. Even her headline-grabbing dating life is looking up. And if everything goes as planned, marriage and children are just a few years away—and they will come in that order.

That is…until a mix-up at the fertility clinic where her eggs are stored puts the cart before the horse. Oops. Whitney suddenly has a daughter…whose biological father is reluctant to share her.

One in a Million is a fun celebrity rom-com with the poignancy of Abby Jimenez and a modern twist on “surprise baby” for fans of Jasmine Guillory.

“A smart, sexy rom-com that had me chuckling from the first page. I loved it.” —BRENDA JACKSON, New York Times bestselling author, on Token

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Launch Date

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator is $1.99! This is a workplace, rivals to lovers romance. I believe this is also Slator’s debut. Did any of you read thi sone?

What if the secret to finding true love on a dating app was meeting them IRL first?

In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Grace Hastings’s dream job at the popular “true love” dating app, Fate, has turned into a nightmare. Her boss is a leech, her career is stagnating, and her fiancé has just brutally dumped her. Her hope for finding her own love story is waning, and she feels like a fraud for promoting a concept she no longer believes in. When the company’s CEO offers her an opportunity to earn a big promotion, she resolves to fight her imposter syndrome to show she deserves a seat at the table.

The opportunity? To launch a brand-new app focusing on IRL dating and genuine connection.

The problem? She must develop and test-drive a series of “first dates” with the other person gunning for the job: notorious socialite playboy and Grace’s biggest work rival, Eric Bancroft.

During their disastrous hikes, dangerous cooking classes, and steamy yoga sessions, they begin to realize their stark differences may just be surface level and Eric might just be the perfect person to challenge Grace’s perceptions of love, dating culture, and self-worth.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

Jul. 17th, 2025 07:00 am
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Posted by Lara

A-

Maid for Each Other

by Lynn Painter
July 15, 2025 · Berkley
Contemporary Romance

This is an average length book at 368 pages. But it flew past in the blink of an eye. If I were to make a reading recommendation, I would say block off half a day and forbid anyone from interrupting you, then dive into this book and just revel in it.

This is a fake relationship book that has that most rare of things: the reason for the fake relationship actually makes sense. I did not have to suspend my disbelief as to why two people might benefit from a fake relationship. I could just go with what the story was telling me. Lovely!

Abi is a house cleaner and when she is mistaken for the apartment owner’s (fake) girlfriend “Abby,” the boyfriend in question, Declan, sees an opportunity to appear as ‘settled down’ at the annual shareholder’s weekend.

But let me put the blurb here, it shares almost all of the setup:

As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

This premise gave me major nostalgic vibes for the books I used to read when I first got into romance. Rich dude helps poor lady out and they fall in love. It really scratched an old itch I had. I was curious about how a premise like this would work in 2025 and I was delighted to find out that it worked wonderfully.

Abi is that most treasured thing: a character that feels like a real person. She’s rounded out and detailed and there is a coherent internal logic to her construction. Declan is initially more of a mystery but as he thaws around Abi, we see more of the nuance and depth to his character. As these two get to know each other, the gradual growth of feelings is wonderful. The primary emotion I felt is the rush of falling in love. I was properly giddy and my chest felt warm and I had that gushing feeling in my chest. It was great!

While the emotion is satisfying, it doesn’t have a patch on the BANTER. This is A-grade, magic banter of the highest order. I spent at least 70% of the time smiling at my Kindle. That kind of goofy smile that tells my partner I’m reading a great book and cannot be disturbed. They have inside jokes that run the duration of the book which I love because it made me feel like I was an insider too.

I found Abi and Declan’s emotional maturity to be really satisfying to read. For the most part, they were brave and honest and always followed best practice for enthusiastic consent. These characters had done the work in therapy and it showed.

There was one thing that I found puzzling. It involves the resolution so I’m hiding it behind a spoiler.

Show Spoiler

Their relationship is never revealed as fake to those around them. It goes from fake to real, but the people around them think it was real the whole time. Sarah pointed out to me that this isn’t necessarily a problem. Just because fake dating books usually have some kind of reveal during the ‘dark moment’, this does not need to be the case. My only reservation around the book does hinge on this lack of reveal though. Declan lied to his family and colleagues for a while before Abi entered the picture IRL. Abi fitted into the mould of ‘Abby’ with minimal lying, but there was still very much lying present. So my reservation hinges around the longevity of their HEA. For example, Abi’s parents aren’t dead but Abby’s are. Things like that. I can’t fully relax into the HEA knowing that there are these traps that lie ahead.

I really really enjoyed this book. I wanted it to be so much longer so that I could immerse myself in more of their banter. I happily recommend this book to the Bitchery.

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Posted by Amanda

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.Is it Wednesday? Who knows anymore! I sure don’t.

I’ve redownloaded Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey because mentally, I just want to be a buff lady, sneaking up on dudes, and giving them a violent dirt nap. Last time I played in on a console, but I’m trying PC out because I’d rather be cozy in my gaming chair with a beachy candle burning than downstairs on my couch where we don’t have a mini split installed. I’m finding the controls both on keyboard/mouse and a controller a little clunky. Oh well! Sacrifices must be made.

Are you revisiting any cathartic pieces of media lately?

Robin (or Janet from Dear Author as you may know her) has a GoFundMe up for medical expenses.

Author Danica Nava is over on She Writes discussing the reclamation of the cowboy romance.

Many cats are running for mayor of the Somerville community bike path. Man, I miss living in Somerville.

Love k-dramas and want to listen to other people love them too? Did you just watch KPop Demon Hunters and want to dip your toe into the kdrama waters? Might I suggest the Chasing K-Dramas podcast!

They do deep dives episode by episode on various kdramas, so it feels like you’re watching along with friends.

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!

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Posted by Amanda

The League of Gentlewomen Witches

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton is $1.99! This is book two in the Dangerous Damsels series, which I found to give me the same vibes as Shelly Laurenston. It’s just over the top, goofy fun!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the teahouse…

Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say—although it must never be said—witchcraft. The League of Gentlewomen Witches strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society.

When the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O’Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the world scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex’s not careful, he might just steal something else—such as Charlotte’s heart.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Love Lyric

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest is $1.99! This is book three in the Greene Sisters contemporary romance series. It came out in February and was featured on Hide Your Wallet!

An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

Iris Greene used to be a woman with a plan. But all of that changed after she met the love of her life at twenty-four, got pregnant and married…and then became a widow and a single mother all within the span of a year and a half. Now, after years of hustling, Iris is the director of partnerships at a beauty company and raising spunky six-year-old Calla by herself. Despite her busy life, she still can’t help but feel lonely. She just needs to catch her breath—and one night, at her sister’s wedding, when she steps outside to do just that, she sees a certain singer who takes her breath away. . . .

By all accounts, pop R&B singer Angel Harrison has it made. He’s a successful musician and has just scored a brand ambassador deal with an emerging beauty company. But he’s still not fulfilled; he’s not producing songs he’s passionate about, and there’s a gaping hole in his love life. When he visits the Save Face Beauty office to kickstart his campaign, he’s delighted to see Iris, his stylist’s sister—the beautiful woman he’s secretly had a crush on for years.

Despite their obvious attraction to each other, they must stay professional throughout the campaign tour—which doesn’t quite pan out. But when it becomes clear their lives aren’t in sync, can they fall back in step to the same rhythm and beat?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Highwayman

RECOMMENDED: The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne is $1.99! Redheadedgirl grabbed this at RT 2015 when it was held in Dallas. She reviewed it and gave it an A-:

What I liked best about this book was the liberal use of crazysauce. It’s a melodramatic tale of a broken man healed by the love of a good woman, and the good woman that’s strong enough to love this man and bring him back into the world. 

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards-dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster, in the stunning debut historical romance The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne.

STEALING BEAUTY

Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of Victorian London’s wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who’ve wronged him…and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception-and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands…

COURTING DESIRE

But Farah is no one’s puppet. She possesses a powerful secret-one that threatens her very life. When being held captive by Dorian proves to be the only way to keep Farah safe from those who would see her dead, Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. But what the Blackheart of Ben More never could have imagined is that Farah has terms of her own, igniting a tempestuous desire that consumes them both. Could it be that the woman he captured is the only one who can touch the black heart he’d long thought dead?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

World of Wonders

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil is $2.99! This is a Kindle Daily Deal. I mentioned this one on a previous Get Rec’d! It’s great if you love learning cool things about nature.

From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction–a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us.

As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted–no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape–she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance.

“What the peacock can do,” she tells us, “is remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts.

Warm, lyrical, and gorgeously illustrated by Fumi Nakamura, World of Wonders is a book of sustenance and joy.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Movie Review: KPop Demon Hunters

Jul. 16th, 2025 06:00 am
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Posted by Guest Reviewer

This guest squee is from Jeevani Charika! Jeevani Charika (also known as Rhoda Baxter) writes romantic comfort reads with a dash of fun. Her books have been shortlisted for multiple awards. Jeevani is British-Sri Lankan. She loves all things science geeky. She also loves cake, Lego and playing with Canva. You can find out more about her (and get a free book!) on her website. Her next book, How Can I Resist You? is available for pre-order.

When Netflix suggested K-Pop Demon Hunters to me, I added it to my list immediately, based solely on the title. I know very little about K-Pop, but I love fantasy K-dramas. This show is a 100 minute animated film and the title is brilliant.

The setup is exactly what you’d expect from the title. The film is about a K-pop girl band who are…secretly demon hunters. In a world where demons prey on human souls in order to bring life force to their leader in the underworld (Gwi-Ma), every generation has a trio of female hunters whose voices can ignite a force in the hearts of their human listeners and generate a protective force field called the Hunmoon. Right now, the trio takes the form of the super popular girl band Huntr/x.

Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho) is the lead singer, whose voice feeds the Hunmoon, Mira is the main dancer and choreographer while Zoey raps and writes lyrics. They all work hard balancing performing and demon slaying. When they turn the Hunmoon golden, the demons will be trapped in the underworld forever.

Rumi has an extra reason to want to turn the Hunmoon golden. She has a secret that not even her bandmates know about – she is part demon, as evidenced by the symbolic patterns on her arms. Her mentor has told her that when the Hunmoon is golden, she will banish her demon side and become fully human. So, despite her voice sometimes failing, she pushes the band to release their next new single.

Meanwhile, Gwi-Ma is annoyed that his minions have failed once again. The Hunmoon is getting stronger and they need to do something. A demon called Jinu suggests a way to steal the fans away from Huntri/x and weaken the Hunmoon. His suggestion – a demon boy band.

Let’s just sit with that a minute. Demon. Boyband.

 

Suddenly, Huntri/x’s chart domination has some competition for the mysterious boyband The Saja Boys. The girls quickly work out that the boys are demons. If The Saja Boys win the International Idol Competition, it’s game over for Huntr/x and for the Hunmoon.

This is a kids’ animated film (rated PG). There is a hint of a romantic thread, though there’s no real romance in it, but don’t let that stop you. It’s still awesome. There is an uplifting ending (but, again, it is definitely not a romance ending). There is some violence and mild horror elements because of the demons, but it’s very cartoonish. In general it is bright and jaunty.

First of all, the girls. Rumi, Mira and Zoey are accomplished performers on stage, but messy and real in private. The scenes where the girls are relaxing are some of my favourites – all they want to do is eat a huge amount of food, take long baths and lie around on the couch.

They are messy, chaotic and affectionate. The movie captures the divide between their ‘perfect’ external personas and the messy reality of being human really well. There is a lovely scene where, post-battle, the girls are bruised and scratched, but when they hear their manager coming up in the lift, there’s a flurry of activity, so that by the time the lift doors open, they’ve done their makeup and hair and are looking flawless again.

Next, the boys: The Saja boys are hot (how can animated characters be so hot?!). Jinu is voiced by the Canadian-Korean actor Ahn Hyeo-Seop, who K-drama fans will recognise as the male lead in Business Proposal. The rest of the Saja boys don’t get much air time, but they form a stereotypical boy band – the hearthrob (Jinu), the bad boy, the cute one, the mysterious one and the funny one.

Jinu has real depth. He is racked with guilt about his past, specifically about the people he betrayed when he took his deal with the devil, and if he succeeds in destroying the Hunmoon, his reward will be to have his memories wiped. Being in the real world (and spending time with Rumi) changes him subtly, but even at the end, he still has moments when he looks unsettling. He has a goofy magical tiger and a creepy black bird in a hat as companions.

The tiger is adorable. There’s a lovely scene where Mira asks about the hat the bird wears and Jinu mutters that he made the hat for the tiger, but the bird keeps stealing it. This is a lovely way to humanise a guy who is, essentially, still a demon.

The animation is mostly representations of the real world, but sometimes it veers towards anime and some of it is genuinely funny

Show Spoiler

…like how, whenever Zoey sees the abs of ‘Abby’, her eyes start making popcorn (this made me laugh every time it happened).

A lot of the K-drama tropes pop up at various times – the wrist grab, the nosy ahjummas, the moment when the hero helps the heroine when she least expects it. I don’t know enough about K-pop to spot the references, but I gather there are K-pop easter eggs in there too. If you spot any, post in the comments! There are a lot of Korean cultural elements incorporated into the visuals,

Show Spoiler

…most notably, for the final performance, when the Saja Boys wear modified hanboks and hats that make them look like mythical grim reapers.

Given that it’s a story about two rival bands battling it out for the hearts and minds of the fans, there’s a lot of music in this film. The songs are surprisingly catchy. It’s been a few days since I watched it and I still catch myself humming ‘Takedown’.

The messaging in the story is great for younger viewers: eat all the snacks, take long baths, trust your besties to have your back.

For me, it was 90+ minutes of pure, uplifting fun.

KPop Demon Hunters is available on Netflix.

After Dark at the Movies: The Damned

Jul. 16th, 2025 06:00 am
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Posted by Carrie S

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

Figure Skating, Eloisa James, & More

Jul. 15th, 2025 03:30 pm
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Posted by Amanda

Wild and Wrangled

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage is $2.99! This is book four, which is the latest installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. It released in April, so it’s a pretty new release.

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go.

From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is, until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping on her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

From Lukov with Love

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata is $2.49 at Amazon and a KDD! It’s available elsewhere, but not on sale. This romance was recommended in our Winter Olympics Rec League. Have you read this yet?

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.

After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Hate Mail

Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti is 99c! This looks like a rivals to friends to lovers romance with an epistolary element. I’m definitely curious about this one.

Naomi and Luca have been pen-pals since fifth-grade. Well, more like bitter rivals caught in an epic battle of insults and verbal jousting…

But what starts as a hilarious chain of hate filled letters, slowly develops into a friendship spanning coasts and years. That is until one day, years later, when the letters suddenly stop.

It’s been two years since Naomi last heard from Luca. Two years since the letter that changed everything.

But when a new envelope turns up out of the blue at her desk at the local news station, Naomi is determined not to let Luca have the final word.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Viscount in Love

Viscount in Love by Eloisa James is $1.99! This is book one in the Accidental Brides series, which I haven’t heard much about. This came out last summer.

Two eccentric orphans bring together a grumpy viscount and the free-spirited heroine who steals his heart in the first novel in Eloisa James’s new Accidental Brides series, in which haughty aristocrats find themselves married to the wrong women.

He wants a nanny, not a bride…

Suddenly guardian to twins, Viscount Dominic Kelbourne is luckily betrothed to a suitable lady—until she elopes. With no time to woo, Dominic decides to marry his fiancée’s unconventional sister. Torie isn’t perfect, but their kisses are so passionate that society thinks he’s actually chosen her.

She wants to marry for love…

Torie has never been able to make sense of words on a page, so she has turned her talents to art. She longs for a man who values her as she is… but marries for the sake of the twins. She doubts Dominic is capable of love, let alone respect, but as their heated debates turn into something more, Torie begins to imagine a life as a wife, not a nanny.

But when the arrogant viscount finds that his viscountess has stolen his heart, he’ll have to give all he has to win her love.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

HaBO: Pink and Gold Carriage

Jul. 15th, 2025 02:00 pm
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Posted by Amanda

This HaBO is from Nicola, who wants to find this series:

I’ve been trying to find this book for about ten years since our library updated their internal system and cleared my access to loan history before 2016.

There are for sure two books in this series, and I think only two.

The first one has the heroine move next door to an Earl (possibly other nobleman). As part of the opening he wakes up hungover, with a splitting headache, and hears a massive renovation racket next door. He goes over and starts an argument with the newly arrived heroine (newly wealthy, but I don’t think noble) which ends up in the gossip rags. To save her reputation they pretend to court, and of course fall in love.

He is a libertine who is charming, funny, and of course actually a good guy on the inside- she is funny, smart, and strong.

A key detail I remember is she at some point rides in a bright pink and gold carriage wearing a dress to match. That said, I think they get stuck somewhere and she gets covered in mud and ruins the whole thing.

The earl has a Scottish friend (also noble?) who is leads the second book. The woman he falls in love with has some shady friends and there’s a scene in that one where she has to save him from being murdered by criminal elements.

I’m fairly confident this was published sometime around 2013/2014, as it was a recommendation in the comments sections of a Jezebel article about romance novels (before Jezebel imploded thanks to VC takeover).

The internet has not saved me yet, hoping the bitches have ideas!

Let’s HaBO!

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Posted by Amanda

Happy Tuesday!

This is quite a busy week for new releases; we have a dozen on our radar. Things do calm down as we get closer to the end of the month.

Which releases are you excited for this week? Let us know in the comments!

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Author: Sangu Mandanna
Released: July 15, 2025
Genre: , , ,

An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests’ shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.

When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and definitely had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone… and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

Amanda: Is this a Grumpy/Grumpy romance?!

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Atonement Sky

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Author: Nalini Singh
Released: July 15, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: ,
Series: Psy-Changeling #9

The hunt for a stealthy predator takes a damaged J-Psy to the heart of falcon territory in this new Psy-Changeling Trinity novel from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh…

Justice-Psy Eleri Dias knows the end is near for her, her mind one step away from fatal psychic exposure. In the short time that remains, she is determined to atone for an act of omission that has haunted her for a long, cruel decade. But that decision not only means facing a powerful changeling wing leader, but also putting herself in the path of a serial killer.

Falcon wing leader Adam Garrett is fiercely protective of his family and his clan. After losing his parents as a teenager in a shocking act of malice, Adam has no forgiveness in him for the J-Psy who betrayed him, betrayed them, at the most painful moment of his life. But the evil that stalks his territory will allow him no respite, forcing him once more into contact with the J he has never been able to forget.

Everything that could’ve been between Eleri and Adam was lost years ago, a shimmering promise crushed. As they work to uncover a monster, the moment of reckoning looms ever closer. Soon, there may be no more time left for either atonement…or love…

Sarah: The whole world is based on understanding empathy, which, yes please – AND the hero does a lot of emotional heavy lifting in this one!

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The Bewitching

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Released: July 15, 2025 by Del Rey
Genre: , ,

Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

“Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches”: That was how Nana Alba always began the stories she told her great-granddaughter Minerva—stories that have stayed with Minerva all her life. Perhaps that’s why Minerva has become a graduate student focused on the history of horror literature and is researching the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure author of macabre tales.

In the course of assembling her thesis, Minerva uncovers information that reveals that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story: Decades earlier, during the Great Depression, Tremblay attended the same university where Minerva is now studying and became obsessed with her beautiful and otherworldly roommate, who then disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

As Minerva descends ever deeper into Tremblay’s manuscript, she begins to sense that the malign force that stalked Tremblay and the missing girl might still walk the halls of the campus. These disturbing events also echo the stories Nana Alba told about her girlhood in 1900s Mexico, where she had a terrifying encounter with a witch.

Minerva suspects that the same shadow that darkened the lives of her great-grandmother and Beatrice Tremblay is now threatening her own in 1990s Massachusetts. An academic career can be a punishing pursuit, but it might turn outright deadly when witchcraft is involved.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is back with some more Gothic spookiness. 

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The Enchanted Greenhouse

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Released: July 15, 2025 by Bramble
Genre:
Series: Spellshop #2

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new standalone novel set in the world of The Spellshop! Follow her to The Enchanted Greenhouse, a cozy fantasy nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love.

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

Funny, kind, and forgiving, The Enchanted Greenhouse is a story about giving second chances—to others and to yourself.

More cozy fantasy from Sarah Beth Durst. 

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Everyone is Lying to You

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza

Author: Jo Piazza
Released: July 15, 2025 by Dutton
Genre:

The #tradwife murder mystery we’ve all been waiting for. From the bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance and the creator of the Under the Influence podcast comes an explosive thriller about two estranged friends, a grisly murder, a sudden disappearance, and the truly shocking revelation that everyone is lying to you about something . . .

Lizzie and Bex were best friends in college. After graduation, Bex vanished, leaving Lizzie confused and devastated.

Fifteen years later, Bex is now Rebecca Sommers, a “traditional” Instagram influencer with millions of followers who salivate over her perfect life on her ranch with her five children and handsome husband, Gray. Lizzie is a struggling magazine writer, watching reels while her young children demand her attention.

One night out of the blue, Bex calls Lizzie with a career-making proposition—an exclusive interview with her about her multimillion-dollar business venture and an invitation to MomBomb, the high-profile influencing conference.

At the conference, Bex goes missing and Gray is found brutally murdered on their ranch. Lizzie finds herself plunged into the dark side of the cutthroat world of social media that includes jealousy, sordid affairs, swingers, and backstabbing. She must learn who her old friend has become and who she has double-crossed to try to find her, clear her name, and maybe even save her life.

Piazza’s master storytelling and razor-sharp insight into the world of social media brings us a pulpy, juicy, and cleverly plotted read that will have you guessing all the way through and leave you gasping for more.

Sarah: Trad wife murder mystery – and if you’re familiar with mommy bloggers and/or influencers, this is a JUICY fun book.

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Hit Me with Your Best Charm

Hit Me with Your Best Charm by Lillie Vale

Author: Lillie Vale
Released: July 15, 2025 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Genre: , , ,

“Enchanting, flirty, and crafted from pure practical magic!”—Julian Winters, award-winning author of Right Where I Left You

The occasionally magic, always superstitious town of Prior’s End is famous for three whimsical charm at the annual Fall Festival, the legend of the wishing well hidden in a forest bristling with secrets, and Nova Marwood’s missing hiker father.

Every year without him, it gets easier to pretend Nova doesn’t believe in myth and magic. Easier to pretend she’s doing okay. Easier to pretend she doesn’t have a secret crush on the girl she fake-hates.

Kiara Mistry is the luckiest girl in town and the thief of every crush Nova had her heart set on first. In theory, Nova should resent Kiara. But it’s getting harder to deny her feelings.

When Nova lays an unintended hex on Kiara at the Fall Festival, and one misfortune after another swiftly follows, soon Kiara’s very survival is at stake. To reverse the bad luck, Kiara’s exes turned BFFs commence a quest for the miraculous wishing well. There’s only one person who can get them there . . . Nova.

But to save Kiara—and maybe find her dad, too—she’ll have to believe in something much stronger than magic. Nova will need to believe in herself.

Tara: I think it sounds really cute.

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How to Sell a Romance

How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin

Author: Alexa Martin
Released: July 15, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: ,

Romance is the biggest scheme of them all in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from beloved author Alexa Martin.

Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?

Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder…until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.

When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?

Dahlia: I’m already a Martin fan from The Playbook series, but even if I weren’t, everything about this book looks hilarious and utterly cathartic for anyone who’s ever wanted to see multi-level marketing schemes taken on.

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In the Veins of the Drowning

In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy

Author: Kalie Cassidy
Released: July 15, 2025 by Little, Brown and Company
Genre: , ,
Series: The Siren Mage #1

An “atmospheric and evocative” (Rachel Gillig) romantasy debut about a threatened Siren who forges a bond with a brooding, self-righteous king in order to flee the king who raised her, for fans of One Dark Window and For the Wolf. 

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

Amanda: I’m clicking buy because of the siren heroine.

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Maid for Each Other

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

Author: Lynn Painter
Released: July 15, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: ,

A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.

As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

Lara: This is a romance with an old-school vibe with none of the cringe/offense that comes with reading an actually old romance. Review incoming!

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The Odds of Getting Even

The Odds of Getting Even by Amanda Sellet

Author: Amanda Sellet
Released: July 15, 2025 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: ,

A fling with a mysterious stranger leads to a rollicking adventure in the wilds of South Dakota in this madcap and romantic follow-up to Amanda Sellet’s Hate to Fake it to You.

The last thing reluctant resort employee Jean Harrington expected to find on a middle-of-the-night towel run was a bashful scientist in desperate need of company . . . and clothes. Charmed by his awkwardness and endearing tangents about reptiles, she returns the next day to give the handsome mystery guest she knows only as “Charlie” lessons in poker.

He’s reserved and she’s chaotic, but together, the two of them just click. It’s like a honeymoon without the hassle of a wedding, until Jean discovers there’s a lot more to Charlie’s story than shyness and snakes—and she isn’t the only person with a pressing interest in his whereabouts, not to mention his secretly scandalous dating history.

When Charlie has the audacity to abandon her without a word, Jean has a score to settle. She’ll do whatever it takes to get him back—no, get back at him—even if it means chasing him across an ocean to brave the wild west of his remote hometown, and the famous family business he neglected to mention. With flames from their pasts raising the stakes, Jean is gambling she can get the upper hand before Charlie calls her bluff.

The real trick will be remembering what they’re playing for, when the biggest risk is putting all their cards on the table.

Dahlia: Sellet is one of the wittiest writers out there, and after the clever romp that was Hate to Fake it to You, I am totally ready for this follow-up. (Plus, reserved guy/chaotic girl is my favorite hetero pairing.)

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Roll for Romance

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

Author: Lenora Woods
Released: July 15, 2025
Genre: ,

Two fledgling tabletop gamers find themselves falling for each other—both in and out of their weekly D&D sessions—in this charming, fantasy-tinged romance.

“Sweet, charming, and wonderful!”—Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop

When Sadie Brooks unexpectedly loses her marketing job, she flees New York City to spend the summer with her best friend in small-town Texas, where joining his Dungeons & Dragons campaign is the perfect distraction while she plans her next steps.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out—until she meets Noah Walker, the outgoing bartender roped into joining their party as Loren, an adventurous and charismatic lute-strumming elf. Just as Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.

As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie wonders if what they have might last beyond the game. But like his traveling bard character, Noah never stays in one place for long. When a new opportunity arises in New York, Sadie must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice.

Elyse: I’ve never read a D&D romance before but I am here for it!

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Taste the Love

Taste the Love by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Author: Karelia Stetz-Waters
Released: July 15, 2025 by Forever
Genre: , ,

A delicious, heartwarming romantic comedy about big dreams, life-changing friendships, and the people who bring out your best.

Six years ago, eco-chef Alice Sullivan and her culinary-school rival almost gave into the burning tension between them. But those kisses? Just the heat of competition boiling over. Sullivan never expected to see Kia after graduation . . . until Kia crashes back into her life with a plan to buy Sullivan’s beloved Portland greenspace.

Kia has worked hard building her social media empire as the big-hearted glitter-bomb queen of the food-truck scene. Now she’s one step away from opening a foodie utopia for underrepresented culinary talents. But Kia’s plans catch the attention of a bulldozer-happy food conglomerate, and now both Kia and Sullivan’s dreams are on the line. When a legal loophole turns out to be the only way to save what they each love most, they’re left with one pull off a very public fake marriage to obtain the deed to the land and keep their old rivalry under control.

As the line between fake and real love blurs, can Kia and Sullivan set aside their differences and find the perfect recipe for happily ever after?

Tara: I love fake relationship romances, so I’m looking forward to this one.

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Fae, Bookish Romances, & More

Jul. 14th, 2025 03:30 pm
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Posted by Amanda

By the Book

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is $3.99! This is a Beauty and the Beast inspired contemporary romance and we’ve had the cover on Cover Awe before. Have you read this one?

A tale as old as time—for a new generation…

Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.

Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is a romantic triumph of love and acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person you have to read between the lines.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Jasad Heir

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem is $2.99! This is book one in The Scorched Throne series. I heard about this one through a reading newsletter one of my friends sends out. She isn’t a big romance reader, but had great things to say about this fantasy romance.

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

My Feral Romance

My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette is $2.49 on Amazon! Book one in the series was on sale for Prime Day. If you picked that one up and want to have book two queued up and read, now’s your change.

A painter in need of a model.
A matchmaker seeking a subject.
An arrangement that will tangle their hearts.

Fae shifter Daphne has landed the opportunity of a illustrating her favorite author’s steamy romance novels. If only she could master male physiques…and other essential anatomy. What she needs is a model. Yet how does the socially awkward fae with a tendency to bite find a man she can comfortably paint in the nude?

Self-proclaimed matchmaker Monty Phillips is a hopeless romantic, but only when it comes to others. Meddling in the love lives of strangers via his popular advice column keeps romance a safe distance away. Yet when he’s tasked with proving his tips on modern courtship work, he’ll need to step out from behind the pen and into someone’s love life.

And he knows just the perfect plaything.

The last time Daphne saw Monty, he broke her heart and discarded their friendship. Now he wants to drag her into one of his idiotic matchmaking games—where she’s the subject! But when he promises to pose as her model in exchange, she can’t refuse. At least it’s only temporary. If he’s the expert he claims to be, she can replace him with a lover in no time.

Painting sessions and flirting lessons commence, rekindling their friendship. But when instructional seduction turns their platonic spark into burning desire, will either have the courage to fan the flames?

Bridgerton meets My Fair Lady and a dash of He’s Just Not That Into You in My Feral Romance , a spicy standalone fantasy romcom in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series. If you like fae bargains, friends-to-lovers romance, and cozy fantasy worlds, you’ll love this sizzling tale.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Book People

Book People by Jackie Ashenden is 99c! This contemporary romance came out at the end of January and we mentioned it on Hide Your Wallet. Did any of you add this to your TBR pile?

Don’t miss this utterly charming, spicy, enemies-to-lovers rom-com from Jackie Ashenden!

When Kate, a fledgling bookseller, decides to open a bookshop that celebrates the kinds of genre fiction she loves to read (popular and fun!), she’s surprised to find that not everyone in the town is as excited as she is.

Least excited of all? Sebastian, owner of the highbrow bookshop across the road, who has rules for everything: the kind of books he sells, the clothes he wears, and the people he dates (no-one local).

When the pair find themselves working together on the town’s literary festival, their growing attraction becomes harder and harder to ignore. Professional rivalry aside, just one steamy kiss can’t mean anything, can it?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Cover Snark: Juicy Pickle

Jul. 14th, 2025 07:00 am
[syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

Welcome back to Cover Snark!

A Duke Never Tells by Suzanne Enoch. A smarmy duke on a hot pink background and a lime green title.

Sarah: What the hell.

Kiki: No, thank you.

I don’t want it.

Sarah: Who is designing these covers. Like what the ever loving crap

Are they trying to be like Indies? Single dude on the cover? They’ve got it all wrong. He needs to be bald, grimy, dehydrated, and looking at his junk.

Elyse: Is that a Jonas brother?

Betrayed by the Alpha by Blue Thorne. A shirtless man with long brown hair tossed over his right shoulder. His arms are covered in dark tattoos and he has on a pair of jeans. He's standing in forest of dead trees. At the top of the cover is a pair of wolf eyes.

From Karen: His left forearm is really creepy. It looks to me as if he has a growth of some kind that he really should have looked at. The tattoo (is that feathers?) seems to emphasize the lumpiness. I can’t not notice it though I wish I could.

Sarah: Definitely has some swelling that should be looked at. That is what I look like after any encounter with greenhead flies.

Elyse: That tattoo is for sure infected.

Juicy Pickle by JJ Knight. A nondescript white dude in a white button down leans against a palm tree.

Amanda: It’s part of the “Top 100 bestselling Pickleverse”

Sarah: This is a weird timeline.

Elyse: So it’s him and the pickle on a deserted island?

Claudia: Pass!

Freed by the Marquess by Stevie Sparks. Lots of muddied colors! A man in a suite with a pink pocket square and baby blue tie wraps his arm around a curvy blonde woman. She has on a short pink corseted dress, a baby blue silk scarf, and is holding a yellow feather fan. The sky is orange and pink with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The ground is weirdly very purple and flowers are blooming everywhere.

Kiki: Hey, here’s a question: why doesn’t this woman have eyes?

Also is that man Bryan from Rachel Lindsay’s season of the bachelor?

Also why does it, ya know, look like that?

Sarah: What is happening? Some kind of pollen apocalypse? How bad would your allergies be if you were in this picture, Amanda?

Amanda: Very bad.

Claudia: I fear that the feather fan is also bad news!

Elyse: This feels like an image where you’re supposed to find hidden objects in the picture.

 

SBTB Bestsellers: June 28 – July 11

Jul. 13th, 2025 07:00 am
[syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

The latest bestseller list is brought to you by warm cookies, ice cream, and our affiliate sales data.bestse

  1. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  2. A Bride for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  3. Hell for Hire by Rachel Aaron Amazon | B&N
  4. Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  5. Change of Heart by Kate Canterbary Amazon | B&N
  6. A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette Amazon | B&N
  7. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  8. Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  9. Molly Molloy & the Angel of Death by Maria Vale Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  10. Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows Amazon | B&N | Kobo

I hope your weekend reading was scrumptious!

Sunday Sale Digest!

Jul. 13th, 2025 06:00 am
[syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

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