Posted by Amanda

The One You Can’t Forget

RECOMMENDEDThe One You Can’t Forget by Roni Loren is $1.99 and a KDD! I love this series and highly recommend any of the books in it. However, please be warned that it deals with the aftermath of a school shooting.

Most days Rebecca Lindt feels like an imposter…

The world admires her as a survivor. But that impression would crumble if people knew her secret. She didn’t deserve to be the one who got away. But nothing can change the past, so she’s thrown herself into her work. She can’t dwell if she never slows down.

Wes Garrett is trying to get back on his feet after losing his dream restaurant, his money, and half his damn mind in a vicious divorce. But when he intervenes in a mugging and saves Rebecca―the attorney who helped his ex ruin him―his simple life gets complicated.

Their attraction is inconvenient and neither wants more than a fling. But when Rebecca’s secret is put at risk, both discover they could lose everything, including what they never realized they needed: each other

She laughed and kissed him. This morning she’d melted down. But somehow this man had her laughing and turned on only a few hours later. Everything inside her felt buoyed.

She felt…light. 

She’d forgotten what that felt like.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women

The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women by Rosalie Gilbert is $2.99 and another KDD! I mentioned this non-fiction in a previous Get Rec’d. I love a niche history deep dive.

A “wickedly entertaining, informative and thought-provoking” look at romance, courtship, and other intimacies behind closed Medieval doors (Dr. Markus Kerr, PhD, MDR).

Were medieval women slaves to their husband’s desires, jealously secured in a chastity belt in his absence? Was sex a duty or could it be a pleasure? Did a woman have a say about her own female sexuality, body, and who did or didn’t get up close and personal with it? No. And yes. It’s complicated.

The intimate lives of medieval women were as complex as for modern women. They loved and lost, hoped and schemed, were lifted up and cast down. They were hopeful and lovelorn. Some had it forced upon them, others made aphrodisiacs and dressed for success. Some were chaste and some were lusty. Having sex was complicated. Not having sex, was even more so.

Inside The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women, a fascinating book about life during medieval times, you will discover tantalizing true stories about medieval women and a myriad of historical facts. Learn about:

  • The true experiences of women from all classes, including women who made history
  • The dos and don’ts in the bedroom
  • Sexy foods and how to have them
  • All you need to know for your wedding night, and well as insider medical advice
  • How to get pregnant (and how not to), and more

“Quite compelling and hilariously funny. I have been chuckling out loud and my husband says he thinks he ought to read it if it’s such a tonic. God forbid!” —Susanna Newstead, author of the Savernake Novels

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Change of Plans

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton is $1.99! This is book three in the Matthew Brothers series and features a hero with a below‑the‑knee amputation and a chef heroine raising her three nieces. I’ve heard good things about Newton’s contemporaries, but they seem to fly under the radar.

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won’t bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It’s been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store’s baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Kitty Norville Box Set: Books 1-3

Kitty Norville Box Set by Carrie Vaugn is $6.99! This set collects books 1-3 in the urban fantasy series. Did any of you read these books? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Kitty Norville isn’t just a radio DJ, she’s a werewolf and despite her best efforts, keeping that a secret is harder than you would expect in this bind-up of three complete books that are “fresh, hip, [and] fantastic” (L. A. Banks, author of the Vampire Huntress Legends series).

KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR: Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, but it’s Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew.

KITTY GOES TO WASHINGTON: Celebrity werewolf and late-night radio host Kitty Norville prefers to be heard and not seen, but when she’s invited to testify at a Senate hearing on behalf of the country’s supernaturals, her face gets plastered all over national TV. Before long Kitty’s inherited a brand-new set of friends and enemies. Kitty quickly learns that in this city of dirty politicians and backstabbing pundits, everyone’s itching for a fight — and she’s about to be caught in the middle.

KITTY TAKES A HOLIDAY: After getting caught turning into a wolf on national television, Kitty retreats to a mountain cabin to recover and write her memoirs. When werewolf hunter Cormac shows up with an injured Ben O’Farrell, Kitty’s lawyer, slung over his shoulder, and a wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes starts sniffing around the cabin, Kitty wonders if any of them will get out of these woods alive…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Posted by SB Sarah

An image of a VHS cassette with a label that reads FRIDAY VIDEOS Smart Bitches Ep. 21 against a pink crosshatch backgroundHappy Friday!

I have been watching a lot of old, excuse me, vintage You Tube videos.

I still quote these all the TIME.

And I miss the period of time when a new Homestar Runner update was Very Exciting. Internet cartoon shows – done originally, I think, in Adobe Flash?

Oh, Flash. You were everywhere.

Haaaanyway. Remember these?

I did NOT expect that to be so…prescient.

And of course, this 23 (?) year old moment:

I know someone who, about a week or so after this video appeared, ordered a birthday cake for a co-worker that said, “HAPPY BURNINATOR TROGDOR” and the number of times they had to spell it out for the poor bakery clerk was significant.

Can you imagine? This bakery person has been elbows deep in rolls and cookies for hours, and here comes the weirdest cake writing assignment ever.

Happy Friday! May your Le Naps be wonderful, and your burnination effective!

Posted by SB Sarah

Joie de Livres logo: a side profile of two arches like the pages of an open book viewed from the side, with Joie de Livres in white inside the book image. Below it says romance fantasy sci fi and horreur Thanks for Geoffroy in the podcast Patreon (merci, Geoffrey!) my guest this week is Claire Trottier, owner of Joie de Livres, a romance and speculative fiction bookshop in Montreal, Canada. Hi Neighbors!

We’re going to talk about:

  • Opening a romance and speculative fiction book store
  • Wealth disparity!
  • Seeing the world premiere of episode 1 of Heated Rivalry at the Image+National queer film festival in Montreal
  • The effect of Heated Rivalry on Joie de Livres

Then we trade book recs and you get the scoop on the big event happening at Joie de Livres this September.

Listen to the podcast →
Read the transcript →

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

You can find Joie de Livres at their website, and on Instagram @joie.de.libres.mtl!

Claire Trottier is on IG as @docreads and @clairetrottier_.

We also mentioned:

Music: purple-planet.com

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher, and Spotify, too. We also have a cool page for the podcast on iTunes.

Thanks to our sponsors:

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Sponsor us through Patreon! (What is Patreon?)

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!


Podcast Sponsor

Support for this episode comes from The Awkward Agenda, an open-door romance featuring friends-to-lovers, found family, and pirate cosplay, from author Beth Morton.

Cali Barton is sick of playing a background character in her own life. Her plan to rock the world at her new job falls flat after she overhears her co-workers gossiping about her for being standoffish and her boss decides to coach her on her “approachability.” Turns out that for Cali, being quiet and thoughtful somehow translates to “wrong.”

Enter Simon Goldberg, her upstairs neighbor. While Cali spent her childhood flying under the radar, Simon’s Tourette syndrome taught him to roll with the punches. Simon believed he had made peace with his diagnosis. But when the company publishing his graphic novel wants him to go on tour to promote his work, Simon is panicked at the prospect. Television appearances? He’ll either make a fool of himself or become, ewww, an “inspiring story.”

When Simon comes across Cali, he offers to help her dismantle her social anxiety by taking her on a tour of the kind of awkward experiences she’s avoided. Helping her makes him realize just how closed off his own life has become, and having someone to laugh with makes opening up far easier. They learn to see one another for who they really are – but trusting themselves doesn’t come easy, and letting go is the hardest trick of all.

Reviewers are raving about the quiet depth of this romance:

“The emotional core of the book rests in the small moments: shared laughter after something mortifying, quiet late-night conversations, the realization that someone is choosing you—not because you’re polished, but because you’re you.

This is a romance about reclaiming your narrative. About realizing you were never a background character. And about how love can be the safest place to practice being seen.

It’s soft, hopeful, and quietly empowering.”

And one reader said, “I wish I had a bigger audience so I could tell more people about this book. It feels criminally under-reviewed. I’m really hoping it gets the attention it deserves, because it truly is fantastic.”

The Awkward Agenda by Beth Morton is available now digitally in Kindle Unlimited, and in print from retailers everywhere.

Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Posted by Amanda

Starter Villain

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is $4.99! I thought we ran a review of this one, but perhaps I’m just getting mixed up with Carrie mentioning she was reading it. Have you read this one?

Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.

Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world…be a cat.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Making a Play

Making a Play by Victoria Denault is $1.99! This is a hockey romance set in a small, isolated town. Some readers mentioned that the last quarter of the book seems rather abrupt, while many loved the “former crush” trope of the plot. This is book two in the Hometown Players series.

He’ll do whatever it takes to win—on and off the ice.

Luc Richard is the hottest player in the NHL—and it has nothing to do with hockey. His racy relationship with his supermodel ex set the tabloids on fire but nearly put his career on ice. To avoid being traded, Luc agrees to take a break from the spotlight—and from women—and spend the off-season at home in Silver Bay, Maine. It’s the perfect plan… until he reconnects with Rose.

Rose Caplan is tired of being shy, sweet, and safe. She’s ready for passion, romance—and Luc. Having loved him longer than she can remember, she’s finally ready to prove she’s not the same innocent little girl he once knew. Off the ice Luc doesn’t do games, but this new Rose makes him feel like playing a little dirty. If he’s really got a shot at her heart then he’s not just playing to win. He’s playing for keeps.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Dukes Are Forever

Dukes Are Forever by Anna Harrington is $1.99! This is a historical romance with what seems to be an enemies to lovers plot. It’s the first book in the Secret Life of Scoundrels series. Some readers found the heroine a bit TSTL, but others really loved the hero and his quest for revenge.

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE
Battlefields and barrooms hold much more interest for Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore, than a little girl’s fondness for dolls and lace. When he takes possession of his enemy’s estate, everything that villain held dear-including his daughter-belongs to Edward. Hire a governess, arrange a dowry, give a few reassurances, and be off on his way-that’s Edward’s plan. But he’s in for the shock of his life. For his new ward is a beautiful, impetuous, and utterly irresistible woman . . .

. . . AND WAR
Kate Benton is stunned. Who is this arrogant, infuriating man who’s invited himself into her home and taken over her life? Her vow: to do everything in her power to convince him to leave her-and Brambly House-alone. Yet as chilly days melt into sultry nights, Kate sees glimpses of kindness underneath Edward’s cool façade . . . and a passionate nature that takes her breath away. There’s so much she doesn’t know about this man. But does she dare trust this devilish duke with her heart?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Useless Etymology

Useless Etymology by Jess Zaffaris is $1.99! Calling all my word nerds! This non-fiction title may be of interest to you, especially if you like word facts or adding more to your random knowledge bank.

Did you know that an “astronaut” is literally a “star sailor,” that a thesaurus is, in fact, a “treasure trove” of words, and that someone who is “sinister” is actually just “left-handed”?

Have you ever wondered why English isn’t considered a Romance language if 60% of our
words are Latin-derived?

Did Shakespeare really invent 1,700 words, and if not, why the heck do we say that he did?

Why is the English language stuffed with so many synonyms?

Let’s be real: English can seem pretty bonkers. And, well, sometimes it is. But through thorough thought and a pinch of curiosity, method can be found within the madness of our modern tongue-even within the disparate pronunciation of the words “through,” “thorough,” and “thought.”

Derived from Germanic, Romance, Hellenic, Semitic, African and Native American languages, English contains multitudes. It has been (and continues to be) transformed by war and conquest, art and literature, science and technology, love and hate, wit and whim.

Useless Etymology takes readers on a time-traveling adventure to unlock the beauty, wonder, and absurdity within our everyday words, how they came to be, and the unexpected ways their origins weave a global, cross-cultural labyrinth of meaning.

Filled with fun facts and delightful discoveries, this is an enlightening read for anyone who wants to know more about why the English language works the way that it does.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Posted by Carrie S

NB: originally this post was published under Sarah’s byline. This post is by CarrieS.


On May 1, you can fight fascism by staying home with a good book. A coalition of organizations across the country is calling for a general strike. This strike calls for no school, no work, and no shopping.

May Day Strong is made up of a coalition including but not limited to Indivisible, 50501, Sunrise Movement, and MoveOn. Many of the coalitions joining May Day Strong are local, so in addition to visiting the May Day Strong website, you should also keep an eye on your local groups.

White letters on red background say "workers over billionaires, May Day, together we stand, maydaystrong.org

In addition to withdrawing your labor and your commerce, you can join your community to make the strike even more visible. There will be a lot of demonstrations around the country and local sources are often the best places to get information about them. Because this is a one-day strike, it’s important to be as visible as possible and demonstrate just how many workers, students, and shoppers are on the side of democracy.

black letters on yellow background say SAY NO: No school. No work. No Shopping. Friday May 1, 2026

Here’s what the strike demands (taken from the main webpage):

  • That we tax the rich so our families, not their fortunes, come first,
  • No ICE. No war. No private army serving authoritarian power.
  • Expand democracy. Hands off our vote.

How is this relevant to the SBTB community? In addition to the fact that we support the causes that this strike promotes, strikes are an important part of feminist history. Women have been crucial in the success of the labor movement in the U.S.A., as leaders, strikers, volunteers, and educators. Here a just a few examples:

  • I’ve previously written about Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Association.
  • Our Kickass Woman coming up in May will be Emma Tenayuca, a Mexican-American woman from Texas, who led a strike of 12,000 pecan shellers in 1938.
  • The Mink Brigade was the name given to wealthy society women who supported the
    Black and white photo of Lucy Parsons, a dark-skinned woman in a striped dress with curly black hair
    Lucy Parsons

    garment workers’ strikes in the early 1900’s. By marching and picketing along with workers, they lent prestige and respectability to the cause, and their presence tended to reduce violence from police.

  • Lucy Parsons led a march of 80,000 people in 1886 in the first May Day Parade. Among other causes, she championed the 8-hour workday.
  • Ai-jen Poo has been organizing domestic workers since 1996 and is currently the president of National Domestic Workers Alliance and the director of Caring Across Generations. Domestic workers had been considered too difficult to organize, making Ai-jen Poo’s success all the more remarkable.
  • My personal favorite, Emma Goldman, was a Russian Jewish immigrant who was described as “The most dangerous woman in America.” Despite dedicating her life to her work, she always prioritized joy. She is credited as saying, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution,” but what she actually said was:

    I did not believe that a Cause which stood for a beautiful ideal, for anarchism, for release and freedom from conventions and prejudice, should demand the denial of life and joy. . . If it meant that, I did not want it.

The Zinn Education Project has a wonderful list of women in the U.S.A. labor movement. You can also find stories of women in the labor movement at the National Park Service website.

I’m closing with my favorite version of “Bread and Roses,” performed by Judy Collins and choir. In 1911, Helen Todd, a suffragist and labor rights activist, used the phrase “Bread and roses” in one of her speeches:

Not at once; but woman is the mothering element in the world and her vote will go toward helping forward the time when life’s Bread, which is home, shelter and security, and the Roses of life, music, education, nature and books, shall be the heritage of every child that is born in the country, in the government of which she has a voice.

Black and white photo of woman in a white blouse standing behind a podium and speaking
Rose Schneiderman

Rose Schneiderman, a remarkable woman who was born in Poland, came to America as a child, and campaigned for suffrage as well as improved safety condition for workers, used the phrase in her speeches, including this one from 1912:

What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist — the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the humblest worker has not a right to have also. The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with.

In 1911, James Oppenheim wrote a poem inspired by the slogan. Mimi Farina set to music in 1974. The song will forever be associated with the Lawrence Textile Strike, also known as the Bread and Roses Strike, of 1912. This strike was largely organized and conducted by women, who, along with children, made up the majority of the workforce in the mills.

 

Women have always been crucial to the success of strikes in America and worldwide. Why stop now? On May 1, protest, march, or stay home and read, but if you are able, join the strike.

No work, no school, and no shopping: by ceasing these three actions, we honor our past and our future.

 

 

Search maintenance

Apr. 22nd, 2026 09:19 am[staff profile] mark posting in [site community profile] dw_maintenance
mark: A photo of Mark kneeling on top of the Taal Volcano in the Philippines. It was a long hike. (Default)

Happy Wednesday!

I'm taking search offline sometime today to upgrade the server to a new instance type. It should be down for a day or so -- sorry for the inconvenience. If you're curious, the existing search machine is over 10 years old and was starting to accumulate a decade of cruft...!

Also, apparently these older machines cost more than twice what the newer ones cost, on top of being slower. Trying to save a bit of maintenance and cost, and hopefully a Wednesday is okay!

Edited: The other cool thing is that this also means that the search index will be effectively realtime afterwards... no more waiting a few minutes for the indexer to catch new content.

Posted by Amanda

Ninth House

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is $4.99! This is Bardugo’s first adult fantasy novel and I want to warn of some graphic depictions of violence and body horror. The first chapter or so should give you a good picture on whether it’s for you. Book two, Hell Bent, is also on sale!

The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Last True Vampire

The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter is $2.99! This is a paranormal romance that got a romantasy cover upgrade for a rerelease (which I think is an odd choice). I read this one when it was first release and it’s very much of its time in terms of pop culture references.

As Michael’s eyes lit on a female not twenty feet away, he knew without a doubt that it was her blood that called to him and her scent that had awakened him. This female had tethered his soul and returned it to him.

Soul Survivor

He is the last of his race. The one true king of the vampires. Michael Aristov roams the nightclubs of L.A. after dark, haunted by his past and driven by his hunger. The last of the Ancient Ones, he alone has survived the destruction of his race at the hands of the slayers. Now he is forced to hunt and feed like a common vampire, a creature of lust. Nothing in this world can fulfill his needs…until he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever wanted. And more.

Sweet Salvation

Her name is Claire Thompson. Her blood is so sweet, so intoxicating—the smell alone draws Michael to her like a moth to the flame. Sly, sexy, and seductive, Claire seems to be the only mortal who can satisfy his craving and seal his fate…forever. Can she be trusted? From their very first kiss, the last true vampire sweeps Claire into a world in which darkness rules desire—and where falling in love is the greatest danger of all…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Love on a Bookshelf

Love on a Bookshelf by Kiah Thomas is 99c! This is a standalone contemporary romance between a bookseller and an author. Reviews mention that this is a slow burn, but I also saw some readers say this felt more like a YA romance.

A deliciously bookish romance about finding what you need in the place you least expect…

What if a gorgeous, grumpy author dedicated his new bestseller to the stranger who inspired him – and that stranger was you…?

Clarrie Brooks isn’t just having a bad day – her life seems to be falling apart. She’s struggling to keep her beloved grandmother’s bookshop afloat, her boyfriend has just dumped her and now it’s, quite literally, raining inside her run-down apartment.

To top it off, the bookshop loses power for the tenth time this week . . . just as new author Declan Archer walks in to sign stock. Declan advises Clarrie to invest in better lighting. Clarrie suggests to him that he write a better book…

Two years later, Declan’s new book is on its way to becoming a bestselling cult classic – and he’s dedicated it to the bookseller who told him to write a better one. As speculation builds over the identity of the bookseller, Clarrie finds herself thrown into the spotlight. Could it be time to open her heart and draft a brand-new love story?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Study in Scoundrels

A Study in Scoundrels by Christy Carlyle is $1.99! I don’t like this cover; the dress color washes the model out. In this one, the heroine is a secret author and the hero is an actor. This is the second book in the Romancing the Rules series, but can be read as a standalone.

Sophia Ruthven is the epitome of proper behavior. On paper at least, as long as that paper isn’t from one of the lady detective stories she secretly pens. She certainly isn’t interested in associating with the dashing Jasper Grey, the wayward heir to the Earl of Stanhope, and one of the stage’s leading men. But when she learns Grey’s younger sister Liddy has gone missing, she can’t deny her desire to solve the mystery…or her attraction to the incorrigible scoundrel.

Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.

As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Posted by Amanda

An illustrated image of a desk space with a computer, stack of books, reading glasses, and a mug.Happy Wednesday!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. It was a very chill day. My partner bought me one of those Kindle/phone/gaming stands, that will prop your device up in front of your face, leaving you with the ability to snuggle under the blankets with your controller or page turner.

Also how did April go by so quickly?

Sarah: I was a guest on the Reading Smut podcast, a new romance-focused show from the hosts of Reading Glasses.

Last year’s Cherrywood Quilting Challenge was themed “the abyss.” They have a virtual gallery of all the amazing entries, and a calendar for the traveling exhibit. Some beautiful work on display! The 2026 challenge has started and the theme is “storytime.”

Pam G. sent in this link on “Labyrinth: Muppets, Bowie, and the Pain of Impending Adulthood.” It’s very much in our house of wheels.

Lastly, Sarah and I were having a similar discussion about reading levels and romance, AND LO AND BEHOLD, this popped into my Reddit feed. It’s such an interesting convo around historical romances and anti-intellectualism.

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!

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.

Posted by Amanda

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming is $4.99! This is book one in the Comic Chaos series and came out last February. Book two is due out in August of this year.

A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has…dinosaurs?

Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio….

As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined…zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Once and Future Witches

RECOMMENDED: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is $1.99! Carrie reviewed this one and gave it a B+:

Overall I loved reading this book. I literally gasped and clapped my hands over my mouth periodically, like a silent movie star. It’s so gripping, so beautifully written, and such a powerful homage to women’s voices and the need to unify against a common enemy.

In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Silent in the Grave

RECOMMENDED: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn is $1.99! This book and series has been mentioned quite a bit on the site. Elyse recommended it if you like historical mysteries. Reader StacieH4 mentioned it for those who prefer their romance light on sex, and Reader Tina Chaney said on a podcast that the book has one of her favorite opening lines. Have you read it?

“Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.”

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward’s death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband’s murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward’s demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Fine Scottish Time

A Fine Scottish Time by Maeve Greyson is $2.99 at Amazon! This is time travel romance and it’s the first book in the The Magical Matchmakers of Seven Cairns series.

Time Travel, Tarot, and Fated Love in the Highlands

Jessa Tamson desperately needs a win. Her three-year relationship ended in heartbreak, her dream job evaporated, her car was stolen, and her rent just skyrocketed. She’s about ready to tell the universe exactly where to go—until a strange tarot card dating app starts popping up on her phone. It’s persistent, mysterious, and downright annoying, but when it promises an escape from her current mess of a life, she decides to take a leap of faith—and a flight to Scotland.

Grant MacAlester has no time for love—or meddling witches. It’s been forty years since his clan barely survived the Jacobite uprising in 1746, and between smuggling runs and keeping the peace, he’s got his hands full. The last thing he needs is old Mairwen and her apprentice scheming to marry him off again. His first marriage taught him one women bring trouble.

But when Jessa suddenly lands in Grant’s 18th-century Highlands—quite literally—everything changes. Their meeting isn’t just a coincidence; it’s the work of the immortals of Seven Cairns, who have declared them fated mates. Together, they hold the key to strengthening the Highland Veil, a mystical barrier protecting all creation from chaos.

—Magic, time travel, and destiny can lead to wonderful things—if a person’s brave enough to embrace them.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Posted by Amanda

This HaBO is from Christelle, who wants to find this romance:

I’m looking for the title of a book, the second in a series.

The story takes place in a small town. A military hero returns home with a back injruy. A night in a bar, he meet a beautiful woman named Charlotte but refuses to go home with her.

Later, he meets his nurse Charlie, assumes she’s a man, but her real name is Charlotte and she is the woman from the bar.

He is a grumpy hero and I don’t remember much else…I hope someone can help…

Let’s HaBO!

Posted by Amanda

Happy Tuesday!

We’re quickly approaching the end of the month. Can you believe it? Most of the titles on our TBR piles this week have some sort of fantasy element.

Which new releases are you anticipating this week? Let us know in the comments!

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire by India Holton

Author: India Holton
Released: April 21, 2026 by Berkley
Genre: , , ,
Series: Love's Academic #3

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they’re forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

New India Holton!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Thistlemarsh

Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

Author: Moorea Corrigan
Released: April 21, 2026 by Berkley
Genre: , ,

Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return.

Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin.

In the wake of The Great War, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.

When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.

It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh…for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

Amanda: The dreaminess of this is getting me.

Lara: I’m incredibly picky about books featuring the fae, but I’m hopeful that this one will scratch that itch.

Read Lara’s review!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Witch Queen Rising

Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens

Author: Savannah Stephens
Released: April 21, 2026 by Ace
Genre:

A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut.

For New Orleans witchkin, there is no greater honor than to become the Prime—chosen to rule. But the title is meant to pass between two rival Houses of magic, not to the wayward daughter of the former Prime who died under mysterious circumstances.

As a girl, Seraphine Barreau was dubbed the Tick Witch for her ability to feed on magic and make it her own. Even among those who alter fate and manipulate reality, she was a powerful outcast feared and misunderstood by her people. Now dragged back to continue the legacy that nearly destroyed her, Phine has her work cut out for her. She must earn the respect of her people, navigate the politics of the paranormal communities residing in her city, and heal a broken heart, all the while battling a parasitic curse poisoning witchkin. Between her werewolf ex, power-hungry vampires, and the skeletons in her family’s closet, Phine must learn to make peace with her past to save her—and all of witchkin’s—future.

Amanda: Can we get a round of applause for this cover?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Mermaid in Manhattan

Mermaid in Manhattan by Jessica Gadziala

Author: Jessica Gadziala
Released: April 23, 2026 by Avon
Genre: ,

Iris loves being a mermaid. So, when her Mom, Queen of the Ocean, declares that she’s to be wed to a human, she’s furious.

Finn wants to be the first human mayor of magical New York. He needs a magical wife as part of his PR strategy to win over his constituents, and he’s fine with a loveless marriage.

But after his reluctant fiancé Iris douses him with seawater at their first meeting, Finn finds himself wanting this romance to be more than a business arrangement.

Iris can’t stand Finn on principle, but no matter how far she pushes him, Finn just won’t break off their engagement. In fact, he keeps going out of his way to make her life easier. And soon, this mermaid is left wondering if life might be better in Manhattan than under the sea…

Amanda: This sounds silly in a delightful way.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Posted by Amanda

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab is $5.99! This came out last summer and was a big release. If you’re still waiting on that library hold, maybe grab this one.

From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Time to Shine

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid is $1.99! I believe this is a standalone contemporary from Reid. Lara reviewed this one and gave it a B:

I read this book in a day. A delicious day. A work day! In between meetings and emails I was reading this book. (Sorry, boss.)

For Landon Stackhouse, being called up from the Calgary farm team is exciting and terrifying, even if, as the backup goalie, he rarely leaves the bench. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes. The only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks.

Casey treats Landon like an old friend, even though they’ve only interacted briefly in the past. He’s endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live that’s not a hotel room and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone.

As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Wild Dark Shore

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is $2.99! I hesitate to call this one “recommended” but we had an amazing guest post about this book. Be warned, it will definitely make you cry.

From the beloved, New York Times bestselling author of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, a novel about a family living alone on a remote island, when a mysterious woman washes up on shore

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.

Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, can they trust each other enough to protect one another—and the precious seeds in their care? And can they finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together?

A novel of heart-stopping twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us is ending.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Book People

Book People by Jackie Ashenden is 99c! This contemporary romance was mentioned on Hide Your Wallet. This was also our third bestselling book of last year.

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?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Posted by Lara

DNF

Thistlemarsh

by Moorea Corrigan
April 21, 2026 · Berkley
Historical: EuropeanLGBTQIARomance

There are many reasons that I choose not to finish a book and then subsequently am compelled to write about the experience in a review. Sometimes it is irritation or anger or frustration. Sometimes, like now, it’s because I’ve stumbled across a book that will be someone’s catnip; it’s just not my catnip. I can’t force myself through the rest of the story, but I’m desperate for Thistlemarsh to find its readers. So much so that I wish I could add an asterisk to the ‘DNF’ at the top of this review and somehow flag that this is not an ordinary DNF.

Mouse inherits Thistlemarsh, a manor house, from her uncle but she has to fix up the house in a month or the house goes to Carlyle, someone she hates A LOT. She needs the house because it is where she is going to care for her brother who is deeply traumatised by World War One and can’t fend for himself at the moment or perhaps ever again.

While walking to visit her childhood friend who became the village vicar, she accidentally frees a faerie, Thornwood, from a statue in the woods around the house. In return for a (minor) sacrifice on her part, he agrees to fix up the house for her. Only it doesn’t go smoothly.

Here is my first problem with the book (that might not be a problem at all for other readers): not a lot happens. That smidgen of plot summary takes you bang up to 31% of the book, so it is slow going. In my current personal circumstances, I need something more strident and dynamic in a plot, but I can absolutely see how a slow, gentle story like this could be very comforting for a reader.

An example of the slowness is that there is just over a page talking about how Mouse is making her supper. No thoughts or things happening aside from that. Just a description of her making and eating an egg sandwich and drinking a pot of tea. That’s all that happens for a page. While this is a dealbreaker for me personally, it isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker for someone else.

The writing is lovely. Yes, it’s slow, but the description is rich and creative, especially descriptions of the magic that Thornwood does in the house. Here’s an example of it:

The shape the magic created was massive, a spiderweb of overlapping strands that crisscrossed between portraits, tables, and doors. In the entry way, tangles clustered along the tapestry, in the great elk antlers, and above the doorways.

The Faerie men stalked the lines like cats. Thornwood’s jacket sleeves bore long, dark scorch marks that reached his elbow. He raised his right hand, and Mouse gasped. His hands were clawed.

He snapped his fingers, and the glow of his magic fell away from the threads. Lines of gold remained suspended in the air, the bars of an immense birdcage. With her pinky, Mouse plucked at the closest string. It hummed like a harp. The sound echoed through the hallway, and the other lines joined in harmony where they crossed.

Mouse herself is intrepid and determined. She has some baggage from a childhood that was mostly unhappy, but she is deeply committed to her brother. Thornwood is cantankerous which I always enjoy in a character. But both characters for me lacked depth though. That might well be because I stopped reading at 31%, but life is too desperately short to force my way through a book that isn’t holding my attention.

Nonetheless, Thistlemarsh deserves readers who will be made immensely happy by this cosy fantasy. If you do pick it up, please share in the comments how you found it.

Posted by Amanda

The latest bestseller list is brought to you by birthday cake, good hugs, and our affiliate sales data.

  1. Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  2. The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  3. Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  4. Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  5. Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  6. The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran Amazon | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay
  7. Hunter’s Treasure by Olivia Jackson Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  8. The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  9. Son of the Morning by Awkaeke Emezi Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  10. Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai Amazon | B&N | Kobo

I hope your weekend reading was something to celebrate!

Posted by Carrie S

Carrie: Fellow Smart Bitch Shana has been trying to get me to go with her on the JoCo Cruise for years, and she finally succeeded. I joined Shana and two other roommates (Heather and John) on JoCo Cruise 2026 and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like it.

JoCo Cruise is named after its founder, Jonathan Coulton. Coulton is a singer-songwriter who is best known for his songs that are science fiction/fantasy adjacent. His most famous songs are probably “Still Alive” from the game Portal, “Redshirt” which was inspired by a John Scalzi book which was inspired by Star Trek, and “Re: Your Brains” which must be heard to be believed.

Here’s a video set to Jonathan Coulton singing his song “I Feel Fantastic” that gives the general vibe –  not shown is crafting, discussions with authors, and general introverting (also it’s from 2012, so we had different guests):

JoCo was co-founded by Paul and Storm, a comedy duo who are known for organizing W00tstock and for Mystery Theater 3000 among other things, and Drew Westphal. JoCo Cruise has all kinds of special guests, but there’s a real sense t hat mostly Coulton, Drew, Paul and Storm invite all their friends and see who has time to attend.

Green Letters on a white wall say Welcome! Everything is fine.
Hallway decoration – one of many

For instance, Aimee Mann, a singer-songwriter, usually comes on this cruise , having just finished a tour with Coulton as her opening act. Author Mary Robinette Kowal has been an unofficial guest on four JoCo Cruises (counting this one). Author John Scalzi has been on eleven of these things, while sing-songwriter-ukelele player Mollyele has been on every single one since 2011!

You get the idea – there’s always a lot of new guests (mostly writers and performers of comedy and/or music) but there’s also a lot of regulars who put on a great show but also seem to just really like hanging out on a boat, and this sense of a gathering of buddies pervades the entire experience.

crowd of happy people poses for photo on stage
Last performance brought everyone together to sing Sloop John B by the Beach Boys because of COURSE they did

I’ve been to a lot of conventions, large and small. But I have never had an experience like JoCo Cruise. Being on the ocean is incredibly healing – and on top of that (literally, harr harr), there is gaming and crafting and reading and various panels and performances. If you want to do something that isn’t on the schedule, you can form an impromptu, unofficial gathering, which is why I turned a corner once and ran into twenty or so people playing instrumental Irish music.

When I went, I was in a bad emotional and physical place in my life. When I came home, I was so rejuvenated, so fully myself again, that when my daughter saw me, she cried happy tears. This was such a healing and inspiring event. Here are my two favorite memories, which I have selected largely because they occupy different spot on the “tranquil – wild” spectrum.

view of the ocean from deck with a table that has a toy lizard and glass of iced tea
Iced tea with a little buddy on the Lido Deck, I did a lot of reading here!

There was an area called The Crow’s Nest that has floor-to-ceiling windows with cushioned, comfy reclining chairs lined up facing them. The Crow’s Nest was usually fairly quiet. One day I got comfortable on a chair. I fell asleep looking at the ocean and I woke up looking at the ocean and I felt that deep sense of calm that comes with knowing what you want from life, which in my case is to see the ocean waking and sleeping as many days as possible.

My other favorite memory was at the opposite end of the ‘tranquil – wild’ spectrum. Shana, Heather and I went to ‘John Scalzi’s Nerd Prom’, at which I danced so ecstatically (with my arms, since I use a wheelchair) with the whole group singing “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Titanium” in a state of pure joy, that I had a sort of tranced-out moment. Instead of the trance state taking me out of my body, I felt fully and deeply in my body (which is literally largely titanium at this point and I’m about to add more) and felt this surge of both communal and individual defiance and joy. I’ve carried that joy in my heart since.

Carrie dancing from her wheelchair, bathed in blue light
CarrieS, photo by Shana, at the Nerd Prom

Shana: Dancing with you at Nerd Prom was one of the favorite moments!

My first JoCo Cruise was in 2020 right before the first Covid lockdown. I met NK Jemisin, took a writing class by Rebecca Roanhorse, read on the beach for hours, and knit by the pool with a bunch of people who patiently answered my embarrassing new knitter inquiries. It was bliss. For months after, while other people were learning to make sourdough during the lockdowns, I started dreaming about how to get back to that nerdy summer camp.

I’d hoped you would love it as much as I did!

This was my fourth JoCo Cruise and it felt like a snacking plate with little bits of my favorite things—crafting, music, comedy, board games, food, and of course, books. The world is dark right now, and laughing till my face hurt at Ron Funches’ stories about being wildly unsuccessful on The Traitors, was just what I needed.

John Scalzi helps organize the writers track and every year some of my favorite women authors are on the Boat. This year I got to meet Amal El-Mohtar, one of the coauthors of my favorite sapphic sci-fi romance, This is How You Lose the Time War. 

Shana, a Black woman in a purple top with short curly hair, leans toward Amal El-Motar, who is seated. She has long wavy hair and glasses. they're both smiling at the camera
Shana and Amal El-Motar

Linda Holmes was there too, and when I met her I blurted out that Evvie Drake Starts Over was my favorite romance I read in 2025 about white people. And then I walked away quickly.

There honestly aren’t a lot of places where I feel like I can be my most authentic self, and I’m glad I found this one. Every year I reconnect with some new part of my younger self on the JoCo Cruise. Last year it was playing card games, and this year it was dress up. I did cosplay for the first time, as Maru from Stardew Valley.

My first day on my first JoCo Cruise, I watched people sing karaoke with varying degrees of skill while receiving resounding applause and cheers. Another Black woman sitting near me saw my first time cruiser pin and told me, “This is a great place. Yes, there are a lot of White people, but people are kind and you can be as weird as you want to be.”

I’ve found that to be true, so while I unpack all the random swag I got during my cruise, I’m missing Boat fiercely and looking forward to being back, soon.

CarrieS (short white woman) with blue and purple hair, wearing a headress with a fake crow on it and a long black dress
CarrieS at the Crow Party at which everyone wears black and trades shiny trinkets

Carrie: The feeling of being able to be your most authentic self was certainly something I felt, and I heard it stated in various ways by different people on the trip and actively encouraged by staff and volunteers.

I saw it encouraged by our name tags that said “Ask me about…” which not only allowed but encouraged people to wax eloquent about their special interests.

I saw it expressed by everyone’s generosity – I’ve never seen so many people give so many things away! Not promotional swag, just little presents, often handmade, given for no purpose other than to spark joy in the recipient!

I was most touched to hear the sentiment reflected in a discussion I attended about living as a transgender person in America. I’m paraphrasing, but basically the moderator stated that the JoCo Cruise is the version of the world we all want to live in, a world in which we are allowed to be fully ourselves and in which we are accepted as our authentic selves.

Boat gave me the chance to remember myself again, and that was probably the best thing about the trip. As I learned while solving a treasure map, the real treasure was the friends we found along the way (and also the chocolate coins).

group of people playing instruments
Impromptu Irish music, anyone? Not pictured: author talks, panels, karaoke, gaming, crafting, eating, drinking, dancing, napping, legos, treasure hunts, swimming, making friends, sea chanties, stargazing, yelling at the moon, more napping…

 

Sunday Sale Digest!

Apr. 19th, 2026 07:00 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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