Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn discussion

This week I'm starting off with Small Town Christmas by Riley Knight, Mr Frosty Pants by Leta Blake, and Pay It Forward by Nic Starr.

Just finished the novella Malcolm & Isabel by Julie Anne Long. I really enjoyed it and was wondering if anyone has any intel on whether she plans on continuing writing stories for all the secondary characters in this contemporary Pennyroyal Green world! There are quite a few I'd love to see stories about - Declan, Finn, Cat, Geoff, Poppy.

Waiting until Fireworks by Sarina Bowen releases tomorrow to start up a new book. I'll probably do a quick re-read tonight... RISE by Karina Bliss has been popping up here and there. Either that or it's time to dig into my Christmas favorites!

I read my arc of Fireworks by Sarina Bowen on the weekend and really enjoyed it.

Over the years of reading, I've come across things that have caught my attention and had me curious. I'd never even heard of Snickerdoodles until I read it in a Kristen Ashley book, so I googled, found out there was cinnamon involved and now I'm known for my Snickerdoodles. I have boys...they love sharing them with their mates and smirking the name...it has doodle in it (boy humour).

After reading Fireworks, I found a new curiosity...Snakebite. An alcoholic beverage that I HAD to try. It's half beer and half cider. I don't drink a lot of beer and cider isn't my first choice either, but, I'm a curious reader, so I had to try. I really enjoyed it. The bitterness of the beer mixed with a little sweetness from the cider was really good. Hubby had just been talking about this drink with some guys from work (such a coincidence) and they mentioned that the poms add a shot of Ribena to it. I think I would like to try that too.

Anyways, thanks for letting me share a little ramblling with you all.

Stacey is Sassy wrote: "I read my arc of Fireworks by Sarina Bowen on the weekend and really enjoyed it.

Over the years of reading, I've come across things that have caught my attention and had me curiou..."

I think that's really awesome that you try and learn new things from the books you read! I've thought the same thing at times when I read books written by authors from England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia. There are just certain foods, plants, everyday items or words that are taken for granted where you happen to live that other people never know about. It's kinda interesting and also very cool that by reading a book you can bridge that gap!

I've done something similar with smells/scents. Years ago I went on a search for what sandalwood smelled like cause I kept reading in historicals about how the hero smelled of sandalwood. LOL (I wasn't impressed. Hahaha) I'll still seek out different scents if an author describes a scent I'm unfamiliar with!

Irisheyes wrote: "Stacey is Sassy wrote: "I read my arc of Fireworks by Sarina Bowen on the weekend and really enjoyed it.

Over the years of reading, I've come across things that have caught my att..."

I've thought about sandalwood too many times to count. Now, I'm going to have to try and find some. :-)

I have no idea what a snickerdoodle is and now I want to eat them toO! hahah

Leigh-Ayn wrote: "I have no idea what a snickerdoodle is and now I want to eat them toO! hahah"

They are soooo yummy. It's like a cinnamon donut (Donut King variety) in biscuit form.

A sugar cookie with cinnamon as well as sugar ...

Dls wrote: "A sugar cookie with cinnamon as well as sugar ..."

See, I didn't know what a sugar cookie was. We don't have sugar cookies here or they're not called sugar cookies. I actually use cinnamon and ginger spice mixed with my sugar for my coating. 3 tbs sugar, 2tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tsp ginger powder. I make up a tub of it and use it to sprinkle on my porridge and toast with butter...YUM!!

Irisheyes wrote: "Just finished the novella Malcolm & Isabel by Julie Anne Long. I really enjoyed it and was wondering if anyone has any intel on whether she plans on continuing writing stories for a..."

I loved the novella as well. I believe she has just started a new historical series. Her web page is julie anne long .com (just delete the spaces). This is where she posts her latest WIP news.

Yum snickerdoodles-my oldest son's fave cookie! I think I'll pass on the snakebite though LOL

I just finished historical romance Dangerous by Minerva Spencer and I did enjoy it. I'm currently reading The Princess Trap by Talia HIbbert-funny and sexy! Also, just started an audio of Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads, it's a paranormal romance and it's starting out intense and suspenseful wow.

Can't wait to get to Fireworks and Before Girl by Kate Canterbary

Snankebites black are delicious by the way. I drank them when I lived in England. And snickerdoodles are amazing. I’m reading Cassie Clare’s novella Through Blood Through Fire

Maybe I read it here, but someone said that the characters of Malcom and Isabel were introduced in The Legend of Lyon Redmond. I loved the Pennyroyal series but set Lyon's book aside because I just found myself fed up with and disgusted by second chance romances where the hero slept around and the heroine remained chaste (yes, I know that makes sense for historical romances but my modern sensibilities were ticked off anyway LOL). So, I'm wondering if I should go back and read The Legend of Lyon Redmond or can I just move on to the new stuff?

I'm not much for hard cider, the ones that I've had been a bit too sweet for me. I'd be open to trying new ones, especially craft made, like are described in Bowen's books.

Irisheyes wrote: "Just finished the novella Malcolm & Isabel by Julie Anne Long. I really enjoyed it and was wondering if anyone has any intel on whether she plans on continuing writing stories for a..."

Ladies, I need help.

I am in a reader's block. I have been unable to read anything new. As such let me whine a little about the woes of such a malady. Sigh! It is hard.
Now that I am done with the whining. I want to read something humorous and non cringe stuff. I need humor and romance like I need air.

PLEASE SUGGEST SOME GOOD BOOKS AND AUTHORS. PLEASE.

So far I have read most of the books of the following authors:
Historical Fiction:
EJ , JQ, Lisa Kleypas , Anne Gracie,
Tessa Dare, Sabrina Jeffries, Judith McNaught,
Meredith Duran, Laura Kinsale , Sherry Thomas,
Julie Ann Long , Sarah MacLean , Loretta Chase,
Alexandra Hawkins, Cathy Maxwell , Courtney Milan,
Elizabeth Hoyt , Laura Lee Ghurke,

Contemporary:
Susan Elizabeth Philips , Julia Kent , Helena Hunting,
Penny Reid , Rachel Gibson , Susan Donovan,
R.L Mathewson , Christina Lauren , Tara Sivec,
G. Whitney , Tracy Solheim , Emma Chase,
Lucy Parker , Maya Banks, Cora Cormack,
Rachel VanDyken, Elle Casey , Belle Aurora,
Kristen Ashley , Sarah Morgan, Julie James,
Sarah Manning , Jill Shalvis , Sophie Kinsella,
Alice Clayton , Erin McCarthy,

Paranormal:

Illona Andrews, Shelly Laurenston , Molly Harper,
Darynda Jones, Eve Langlais , Kresley Cole,
Gail Carriger, Thea Harrison

Chocolate Soup you could just read the epilogue and maybe they are in a prologue?

Best contemporary writer ever is Jennie Crusie—Bet Me was vote best contemp romance on the old EJ JQ site. And she has a longish back list.
I envy you having her stuff still to read.

Brynne Asher is a favourite of mine and she has a freebie at the moment Vines

https://www.amazon.com/Vines-Killers-...

Have you tried Laura Thalassa for Paranormal/Urban Fantasy?

Sarina Bowen and Tonya Eby have a fun and silly series Man Hands, starts with . Author R.S. Grey writes mostly contemporary romance, some funnier than others. A Kinda Fairy Tale series by Cassandra Gannon was a rec from Ilona Andrews and I ended up soo enjoying the whole series. Take a look at Annika Martin & Tessa Bailey, especially Martin's and Bailey's . Oh and is so so good!

Loved the Man Hands series and Getaway Girl and Runaway Girl. Haven't tried Annika Martin so I will definitely have to check her out. :-)

Screeching— not sure you saw my recommendation of Jennie Crusie above since I put it after a comment to someone else

Dls wrote: "Screeching— not sure you saw my recommendation of Jennie Crusie above since I put it after a comment to someone else"

I read her years ago. I should do a re-read. 🤔

I love Jennifer Cruisie !! Good recommend Deb!

Dls wrote: "Chocolate Soup you could just read the epilogue and maybe they are in a prologue?

Best contemporary writer ever is Jennie Crusie—Bet Me was vote best contemp romance on the old EJ JQ site. And she..."

I forgot to add Jen Cruise, She is my FAVORITE. I have not read her paranormal books such as Maybe This Time and Wilde Ride. Do you recommend these two?

Chocolatesoup wrote: "Sarina Bowen and Tonya Eby have a fun and silly series Man Hands, starts with . Author R.S. Grey writes mostly contemporary romance, some funnier than..."

I have read Sarina Bowen and R.S Grey. I like Bowen but Grey not so much. Have not read Tonya Eby and I like fairy tales. Definitely going to start with that.
The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect are pure love!

Stacey is Sassy wrote: "Brynne Asher is a favourite of mine and she has a freebie at the moment Vines

https://www.amazon.com/Vines-Killers-......"

I am starting to like paranormal genre, definitely going to give Laura Thalssa and Brynne Asher.

Dls wrote: "Screeching— not sure you saw my recommendation of Jennie Crusie above since I put it after a comment to someone else"

Sorry I was away, the last two days.

screechin wrote: "Ladies, I need help.

I am in a reader's block. I have been unable to read anything new. As such let me whine a little about the woes of such a malady. Sigh! It is hard.
Now that I am done with th..."
Have you tried Miranda Neville? She has quite the backlist.

Susan wrote: "Irisheyes wrote: "Just finished the novella Malcolm & Isabel by Julie Anne Long. I really enjoyed it and was wondering if anyone has any intel on whether she plans on continuing wri..."

Update! Julie lost her home in California in the big fire this week. Julia Quinn's Facebook feed has the latest update on Julie Anne Long. Sorry for the bad news.

screechin wrote: "Ladies, I need help.

I am in a reader's block. I have been unable to read anything new. As such let me whine a little about the woes of such a malady. Sigh! It is hard.
Now that I am done with th..."

Looks like you have lots of good ideas. I wanted to Catherine Bybee She is great at the humor/romance mix!