Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-11 06:00 am

Whatcha Reading? October 2025, Part One

Posted by Amanda

The woman in yellow coat jeans and boots sitting under the maple tree with a red book and cup of coffee or tea in fall city park on a warm day. Autumn golden leaves. Reading concept. Close up.Welcome back to Whatcha Reading! Here’s what we’re reading right now:

Lara: I am reading another bananas book: Tender Cruelty by Katee Robert. ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s the next book in the Dark Olympus series and the tension is at a ten the whole time. I need to take breaks from the intensity of it!

Susan:  I’m reading volume 3 of Stars of Chaos by priest (m/m steampunk in historical China) ( A | BN | K | AB ) and the main couple have kissed! There has been an acknowledgement of feelings!
I am only halfway through the book.

Claudia: Just finished The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews! ( A | BN | K | AB )

Okay, folks! Whatcha reading?

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-10 03:30 pm

Paranormal Romance, Taylor Jenkins Reid, & More

Posted by Amanda

Boyfriend Material

RECOMMENDED: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is $1.99! Carrie reviewed this one and gave it a B+:

I thought this book was lovely. It had real depth. There were characters who made me angry. Sometimes those characters were truly awful people and sometimes they were good people who made mistakes (hello, Luc, you mess). Sometimes the book made me sad. Mostly, it made me swoon and laugh in equal measure – a great stress read!

Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way

Luc O’Donnell is tangentially–and reluctantly–famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship…and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Rebel Without Claws

A Rebel without Claws by Juliette Cross is $2.99 at Amazon! This is book one in the Southern Charm series. Many of you have enjoyed her small town paranormal romances before and this is a new series to check out.

After yet another bar fight and arrest, bad boy Ronan Reed leaves Texas to live with his uncle Shane, alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Since werewolf cage fighting isn’t illegal in Louisiana, Ronan makes big plans to lead his own team in the ring. But when he sets eyes on sweet Celine Cruz, his whole world stops and she becomes a tantalizing distraction he doesn’t need.

As an Aura witch, Celine always wants to help heal the broken. She knows all too well what it’s like to battle anxiety, and so she’s dedicated her life to helping those in need. But the second she meets Ronan, she knows she’s in trouble. He’s everything her close-knit family would hate: a werewolf with a hot temper and a sinful grin to match, who runs with a dangerous crowd. So why can’t she stay away?

Ronan thinks she’s a good girl. Little does he know, all Celine wants is to do wicked things with the bad boy werewolf, who revels in breaking all her rules. But as their forbidden romance becomes too tempting to resist, Ronan notices that the wolves are circling . . . and they’re coming after his mate.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Perfect Rom-Com

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is $1.99! This is a standalone contemporary with a writer heroine and some friends to lovers. I believe Ferguson’s books are closed door.

She’s written dozens of smash-hit romance novels. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother’s financially struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitch session, she stumbles into correcting another author’s work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one condition: she’ll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony’s books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can’t let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can’t either.

A story of two seemingly mismatched hearts brought together by fate, proving that sometimes, the perfect love story is hidden in the pages of a well-loved book.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Carrie Soto is Back

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is $1.99! This was recommended on a previous podcast with Julia Whelan. The main character is a tennis player coming back out of retirement. Have you read this one?

In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime—from the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising.

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-10 08:00 am

It’s After Dark Season!

Posted by SB Sarah

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.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-10 06:00 am

688. Rewind Replay: “You have a Type and it Might be Mullet” – June 22, 2018

Posted by SB Sarah

I’m bringing back a classic episode from the archives of the show, and because she has excellent taste, Amanda said it should be this one. When I originally published this episode, I focused on how silly we were – and we are plenty silly.

But since then Amanda and I have talked about the fact that when we recorded this, we were, in fact, baked out of our gourds.

So it’s a different kind of time travel: We’re going back to June 22, 2018, when Amanda, Elyse, and I were cruising on the special herbs at the Romantic Times BookLovers convention in May – the last RT convention.

You can see how many full circles that is – I think this is why Amanda suggested this episode.

We’re going to talk about Amanda’s weakness for Val Kilmer, the ranking of Hemsworths in order of physical density, how bad of a style icon was Anita Blake really? And can Amanda and Elyse find a villain hero I’d be interested in? Nah.

As I said in the original intro:

This is what happens when Sarah, Amanda, and Elyse get really silly, and stop making sense. And given that this has been A Rough Week, we hope you enjoy our completely bubbly, goofy, discussion.

It’s still been a rough week! So I hope this makes you laugh.

Listen to the podcast →
Read the transcript →

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

And here’s a gif of Lee Pace as Garrett in Breaking Dawn Part 2.

 

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.

More ways to sponsor:

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!

Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.
Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-09 03:30 pm

Fake Dating, a Mystery, & More

Posted by Amanda

Into the Drowning Deep

RECOMMENDED: Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant is $2.99! Elyse & I really enjoyed this horror/sci-fi novel. We jointly reviewed the book and ultimately decided on a B. We loved the cast of characters, but found the ending anticlimactic.

New York Times bestselling author Mira Grant, author of the renowned Newsflesh series, returns with a novel that takes us to a new world of ancient mysteries and mythological dangers come to life. 

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.

But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

An American in London

An American in London by Louise Bay is $1.99! Elyse mentioned this in a previous Hide Your Wallet and was tempted by the fake dating plot.

For a people-pleasing New Yorker and a disagreeable (if seriously hot) Brit, it’s love at fourth sight in a funny and emotional romantic comedy by a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author.

Tuesday Reynolds’s dreamy life in Manhattan has gone belly-up. Ditched by her college sweetheart and with her Wall Street banking job at risk, she’s off to London to prove herself to a new CEO. Plans change when Tuesday meets Ben Kelley, a wealthy, scowly, and movie-star-handsome stranger. He’s just missing one thing to make his professional dreams come true.

What does Ben need? Oh, just a fake fiancée to impress a duke and duchess. What’s in it for Tuesday? Enough money to put a down payment on an apartment back in New York, a new wardrobe, and a weekend in the country at the stately home of the duke and duchess. The Bridgerton vibes are absolutely off the charts.

Everything between Ben and Tuesday is completely professional, until the rehearsals for their weekend romance start to feel…almost authentic.

It’s official. Tuesday’s life has been hijacked by a rom-com scriptwriter. But the best love stories aren’t the ones on the big screen. Maybe they’re the real ones that sneak up on you when you least expect it.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Drop Dead Sisters

Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Diane Coombs is 2.99! I know we’ve mentioned this on the site, but I can’t remember in what capacity. Three estranged sisters reunite on a camping trip, only for the night to end in murder!

“Compulsively readable, Drop Dead Sisters is perfect for readers who love shows like Bad Sisters and Dead to Me. A mystery about three estranged sisters who accidentally kill someone? Yes, please.” —Mindy Kaling

Three sisters reunite on a family vacation and rekindle their relationship the only way they know how—by covering each other’s tracks in a real-life murder mystery not even they can figure out.

Remi Finch has spent the better part of her adult life avoiding family—especially her sisters. They just don’t click. Besides, her unconventional upbringing and major anxiety have convinced Remi that she can’t build a relationship with anyone. Period.

When her parents plan a family reunion camping trip to celebrate their anniversary, Remi’s willing to reconnect, if only because she doesn’t have a choice. But then a dead body turns up at their campsite, and their sisterly bonding kicks into high gear.

No one knows the whole story, but the Finch women are prepared to cover up the pieces before anyone tries to put them together. It’s a precautionary measure, probably unnecessary. Nobody else was there, so how could they have seen anything?

Between old grudges and new dynamics, a handsome park ranger, and a body that won’t stay hidden, Remi is about to learn that nothing strengthens family ties quite like crime.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

More Than Words

More Than Words by Mia Sheridan is $2.99! This is a friends to lovers romance between childhood friends who haven’t seen each other in years. I read this one and liked it, but it’s high on drama and angst. There’s also some Joan of Arc nerdery. Content warning for abuse in the hero’s backstory.

No one lays open the heart and soul quite like New York Timesbestselling author Mia Sheridan.

The moment she met Callen Hayes, eleven-year-old Jessica Creswell knew he was a broken prince. Her prince. They became each other’s refuge, a safe and magical place far from their troubled lives. Until the day Callen kissed herJessica’s first real, dreamy kissand then disappeared from her life without a word.

Years later, everyone knows who Callen Hayes is. Famous composer. Infamous bad boy. What no one knows is that Callen’s music is now locked deep inside, trapped behind his own inner demons. It’s only when he withdraws to France to drink his way through the darkness that Callen stumbles into the one person who makes the music return. Jessica. His Jessie. And she still tastes of fresh, sweet innocence . . . even as she sets his blood on fire.

But they don’t belong in each other’s worlds anymore. There are too many mistakes. Too many secrets. Too many lies. All they have is that instinctive longing, that needand something that looks dangerously like love.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-09 06:00 am

Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer

Posted by Carrie S

B+

Crafting for Sinners

by Jenny Kiefer
October 7, 2025 · Quirk Books
HorrorLGBTQIA

Hey, you guys, remember that time that Hobby Lobby stole ancient artifacts from Egypt and Iraq? Technically they bought stolen artifacts. They didn’t do the digging themselves. I like to imagine that someone walked up to one of the high-ups in a trenchcoat and said, “Saaaayy…ya wanna buy a Dead Sea Scroll?” and they said, “Sure, what could go wrong?”

This book is totally not about that.

This book is about Ruth, who lives in the small town of Kill Devil, Kentucky, with her girlfriend, Abigail. Abigail wants them to move to someplace where they don’t have to pretend to be platonic roommates, but they are having trouble saving money, especially since Ruth was fired from her job at the local craft store, New Creations, for, as the manager puts it, having “values that do not align with ours.” Ruth makes some money making and selling crafts to buyers online, and when she has to fill a rush order she has to visit New Creations in order to get (shoplift) more yarn.

New Creations is a craft store owned by the New Creationist church, a megachurch church that moved into Kill Devil several years ago and that attracts parishioners from all the nearby towns. When Ruth gets to the store, it seems as though no one is there – until she finds herself locked in and hunted through the aisles by New Creationists who say ominous things about sacrifice and a demon and needing her alive. With only the items on the shelves to use as weapons, Ruth must battle homophobic cultists (and her own blood sugar – she’s diabetic) through the night.

I’ve been more and more interested in horror over the last decade, but I was not equipped to handle some of the gore and nastier moments in this book. I may have skimmed a little bit. I can’t tell you about it without spoiling scary moments which would send me to horror hell (which, I assume, is an especially bad version of hell). I put general warnings at the top of the review.

However, in the interest of kindness, I will put some very specific alerts here in this spoiler tag – don’t click unless you really want to know what lies ahead which, I have to warn you, will spoil some of the horror and some of the fun of the book – there’s just a lot to be gained here from not knowing what will come next.

Show Spoiler

Ruth stabs a guy in the eye with a knitting needle. This is described in LAVISH detail. Globs of eyeball keep appearing for simply ages.

Ruth superglues a guy in the face and he suffocates. It’s awesome, because Yay Ruth, but also awful. This is described in far more extravagant and lengthy detail than I would have expected. I had no idea a suffocation scene could be so drawn out and violent.

There are rats. I don’t do rats. I draw lines at creepy dolls, spiders, and rats. There are many, many, many rats. Biting, scratching, climbing rats. I had to skim.

And the cult’s evil plan involves cannibalism.

This book is scary and exciting and satisfying if you are carrying around a lot of rage. At times, it’s darkly humorous. It’s not subtle in its messaging, but lately I feel that subtly is overrated. Sometimes one wants a complex and deeply woven epic of Americana but at other times one just wants to see a cultist get threatened with the spiky bits of a “USA PROUD” lawn sign and this is one of those times.

Ruth is a wonderful character who goes from timidity to dogged fury in a plausible amount of time, fueled largely by her love for Abigail. Ruth’s emotional swings between empathy and ruthlessness are relatable and her ingenuity is admirable, but her biggest asset is probably sheer durability. This poor woman takes a tremendous amount of damage in the course of the book (there is no sexual assault). One reason I’m giving this book a B+ instead of an A is that it ends abruptly and frankly I needed at least a chapter of Ruth getting some freaking medical attention. I cannot overstress how violent the book is and how much injury Ruth suffers, although she gives considerably more than she gets. She doesn’t have superpowers or self defense training or any other advantages. She just does not stop, and I admire her so much for that.

I found this book to be exciting and cathartic and as heartwarming as a story about an evil cult can possibly be. Ruth’s use of the geography and objects in the store is inventive and fun. It’s a feminist and LGBTQIA positive story with a diabetic heroine who survives on her wits and her determination and her love for another woman. This rage-read had me glued (ahem) to the pages!

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-08 06:00 pm

Links: Quilt Shows, Kresley Cole, & More

Posted by Amanda

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.Welcome back!

For me, I think things are best described as busy, but boring. My wedding dress has officially been dropped off for alterations, our household is obsessed with Hades II, and I’m already eager for winter vacation.

The tourism in my area is about to hit its peak and I don’t love it.

That being said, October is absolutely flying. Does anyone else feel the same way? Anything exciting on your calendar or are you in the same camp as me?

Kresley Cole announced a new spinoff series! I’m pretty excited for it.

If you haven’t heard, book wholesaler Baker & Taylor has plans to shutdown following an unsuccessful attempt at acquisition. This is such a loss for libraries, on top of all the people who were recently laid off or will soon be without work.

Congratulations to Rob Stoll, who made this amazing romance-themed quilt.

Enjoy this cute browser game that my fiance shared with me!

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!

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-08 03:30 pm

A Big Kindle Daily Deal Sale!

Posted by Amanda

Most of these are KDDs and as of right now, many of the deals are only available at Amazon.

Fan Service

RECOMMENDED: Fan Service by Rosie Danan is $2.99! Lara loved this one and gave it an A:

If you’re in the mood for some giddy happiness, then I humbly put forward Fan Service as a plentiful source of it.

The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

The only place small-town outcast Alex Lawson fits in is the online fan forum she built for The Arcane Files, a long-running werewolf detective show. Her dedication to archiving fictional supernatural lore made her Internet-famous, even if she harbors a secret disdain for the show’s star, Devin Ashwood. (Never meet your heroes—sometimes they turn out to be The Worst.)

Ever since his show went off the air, Devin and his career have spiraled, but waking up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before is a new low. It must have been a coincidence that the once-in-a-century Wolf Blood Moon crested last night. The claws, fangs, and howling are a little more difficult to explain away. Desperate for answers, Devin finds Alex—the closest thing to an expert that exists. If only he could convince her to stop hating his guts long enough to help….

Once he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, these reluctant allies lower their guards trying to wrangle his inner beast. Unfortunately, getting up close and personal quickly comes back to bite them.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Dungeon Crawler Crawl by Matt Dinniman is 99c! This reminds me so much of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. After an alien invasion, a man and his ex-girlfriend’s cat are stuck competing on a deadly galactic reality TV show.

The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

My Oxford Year

RECOMMENDEDMy Oxford Year by Julia Whelan is $1.99! It also has a Netflix adaptation. Have any of you watched it yet? Sarah also had something to say:

I recorded a podcast with Julia Whelan when the book came out and I just recorded a follow up where we take a very, very deep dive in the structure and writing of the book. If you’d like to read it before we spoil the dickens out of it (No actual Dickens, though) this is an excellent opportunity to grab your copy!

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

My Funny Demon Valentine

My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher is $2.99! This is book one in the Hell Bent series. I’m super curious about this one! Have any of you read it?

From instant New York Times bestselling author Aurora Ascher, comes the first novel in a funny steamy, paranormal romance series about learning how to love—and what love is in the first place—complete with HEA, clothes-ripping-hot love scenes, a crew of devilish demon brothers who are supposed to be the bad guys—Love can be Hell.

Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, just wants to make music. Jazz, specifically. Unfortunately, he’s a demon. And he’s supposed to be evil.

Clearly, for Ash, a career as a musician isn’t exactly an option. Plus, he’s cursed. Sick of playing by the rules, Ash and his three brothers escape Hell in search of freedom on Earth. But it’s harder than they thought to keep their enemies off their tail . . .

The four rogues quickly become the Underworld’s Most Wanted, and if they’re caught, the consequences will be dire. Yet everything changes for Ash when he meets a beautiful violinist who can see through his curse. It must be too good to be true, but, no matter the risk, he has to have her.

Evangeline Gregory is just your average human. She works at a jazz bar, plays gigs on weekends . . . and, apparently, hallucinates demons.

At least that’s what Eva tells herself when, moments after she meets the man of her dreams, she sees him shift into a 7-foot-tall monster. Not believing her own eyes, Eva decides to investigate and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a supernatural clusterf**k of epic proportions. But Ash isn’t the only one keeping secrets, and the search for answers reveals a shocking truth that will change the course of her life forever. Or maybe just doom it. Eva and Ash will learn the path to love can be complete Hell.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Three Bags Full

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann is $4.99! This deal is a little higher than what we normally feature, but I mentioned this on a previous Get Rec’d and so many of you were intrigued.

This funny, surprising, and internationally bestselling mystery features a new breed of detectives you’ve got to read to baaaaa-lieve.

The deluxe edition paperback will feature bonus content and hits shelves 20 years after its original release.

Something is not right with George the shepherd. His sheep have gathered around him on a hill outside the cozy Irish village of Glennkill to assess the situation. George has cared for the sheep, reading them books every night, and now he lies pinned to the ground with a spade. His flock, far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep, set out to find George’s killer, led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world).

Her team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” of the group; Mopple the Whale, a merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a thoughtful, if gloomy, ewe—just to name a few. Together, the sheep engage in nightlong discussions about the crime and their speculations vary wildly. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, they embark on furtive missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. There’s Ham, the terrifying butcher; Rebecca, the secretive village newcomer; Gabriel, the shady shepherd of a strange flock; and Father Will, a sinister priest.

With wit and heart, this clever international bestseller is a mystery to chew on—and savor.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

RECOMMENDED: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen is still $2.99! Sarah loved this one and gave it an A-:

If you like fantasy with characters that might sound like your neighbors sometimes, in a world with big stakes and little stakes and magical talking animals who deliver the mail, and especially if you like epistolary novels that lead to characters becoming more of themselves, you’ll like this undertaking. (Bad dum bum.)

Hart Ralston is a demigod and a marshal, tasked with patrolling the wasteland of Tanria. The realm the exiled old gods once called home is now a forsaken place where humans with no better options or no better sense come seeking adventure or spoils, but more often end up as drudges: reanimated corpses inhabited by the souls of those who’ve died in Tanria before. Hart tells himself that his job is simple: neutralize the drudges with a quick zap to the appendix and deliver them back to polite society at the nearest undertaker’s, leaving the whys and hows of the drudge problem for men without the complexities of a god in their family tree. But working alone, Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder exactly those questions he’d most like to avoid.

Too much time alone is the opposite of Mercy Birdsall’s problem. Since her father’s decline, she’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son undertakers afloat in small-town Eternity—despite definitely not being a son, and in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart Ralston, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest. The work’s not the problem—Mercy’s good at it, better than any other Birdsall—but keeping all her family’s plates spinning singlehandedly, forever, isn’t how Mercy envisioned her future.

After yet another run-in with the sharp-tongued Mercy, Hart considers she might have a point about his utter loneliness being a bit of a liability. In a moment of sentimentality, he pens a letter addressed simply to “A Friend,” and entrusts it to a nimkilim, an anthropomorphic animal messenger with an uncanny connection to the gods, (and in Hart’s case, a bit of a drinking problem). Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most–Mercy. As the two unlikely pen pals grow closer, the truth about Hart’s parentage and the nature of the drudges creeps in. And suddenly their old animosity seems so small in comparison to what they might be able to do: end the drudges forever. But at what cost?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Tempting Olivia

Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton is $1.49! This is book two in the f/f contemporary Oxford Romance series. Many of Ashton’s books have been mention and recommended on the site.

Olivia Sachdeva’s life is flawless. With a first from Oxford and as the youngest partner at Bentley lawyers, she expects high standards from everyone. Her only indulgences are eating iced desserts and repeat watching romcoms, especially those featuring Kate Laurence – pure escapism and cinematic perfection.

But, when the actor walks into Olivia’s office with a bag full of divorce and a messy personal life, that perfect bubble bursts. Kate seems nothing like the screen goddesses she plays, and Olivia must put aside her comfort viewing and handle the case like the true professional she is.

It requires secrecy, especially with indiscreet friends. Will best-friend Charlotte ever read the room? And will Millie, who instantly reads the room, ever stop commenting loudly?

And Kate? She doesn’t know what to think about this frosty lawyer. But she needs a quick divorce from a mistake of a marriage, which was over before it started, and Olivia Sachdeva is the best.

But little by little, Olivia and Kate glimpse behind the mask, to find someone they weren’t looking for, who may not even be perfect, but might be the right person for them.

Read as a stand-alone romance or book two of the Oxford Romance series.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

I Can’t Even

I Can’t Even by Jenn McKinlay is $1.99! This appears to be a standalone contemporary romance. This is a small town, second chance romance, but also has hints of complicated and/or toxic family dynamics.

Julia Blumer is called home to Gull’s Harbor, California, a hilly seaside community just north of San Diego, by her two sisters, Sophie and Emily, when it is clear that their domineering mother Babs Blumer is critically ill. Julia catches the first plane out of New York City, hoping to mend the rift between her and Babs that has existed since Julia left home after the fight to end all fights ten years ago. Much to her chagrin, Babs is not happy to see her and it’s not the reunion she hoped for.

Julia moves back into her old bedroom, the one that overlooks the neighbor’s house. While unpacking her few possessions and setting up a place to work at her the desk, she is shocked to see her old boyfriend, literally the boy next door, Liam Murphy in his old bedroom. She hides, hitting the floor and creeping back up to the windowsill to watch him as he works out in his room. The years have been good to Liam, very good, and Julia is alarmed by the attraction she still feels for the buff surfer boy, whose heart she smashed to bits when she ran away a decade ago.

While Babs’s condition deteriorates, family secrets are revealed and the past comes roaring back into the present. As the clock winds down on her time in Gull’s Harbor, Julia frantically tries to help her sisters, make peace with her mother, and win back the first love she has never gotten over.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed

Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed by Anna Campbell is $1.99! This is the first book in the Sons of Sin series and has some heavy Beauty and the Beast vibes. Some readers felt this was a beautiful, emotional romance, but some felt the second half was more interesting than the first.

Will a week of seduction…

Desperate to save her sister’s life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic—even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

…Spark a lifetime of passionate surrender?

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

My Dear Mr. Ridley

My Dear Mr. Ridley by Sandra Sookoo is 99c! This is book one in the Diamonds of London series. The heroine is a widower with a son and she’s enjoying being unattached in Italy. The hero is a grizzled and retired Bow Street Runner.

Sometimes, the road to romance is littered with intrigue, harrowing danger, and wild shock.

The year is 1818 and Theodosia Netherton—Lady Ballantyne—is wintering in the sunny climes of Italy in an effort to protect her health as well as to visit her brother. Widowed for three years, she has no interest in a new romance, but when a horrific emergency leads her to the doorstep of a handsome, former Bow Street Runner with wide shoulders and a mysterious scar, she might just change her mind.

Mr. Hudson Ridley is in Rome for the warmth and relative obscurity. Retired at the age of eight and thirty, the last thing he wants is to become embroiled in a kidnapping plot that involves an attractive widow and her missing son. Yet he was the best in the retrieval business in his prime, and she did have hauntingly unforgettable eyes as well as a smile that could make a man do wicked, stupid things.

In the quest to hunt the people who nabbed the boy and heir to a viscounty, Theodosia and Hudson dance about mutual desire until passion gets the better of them one star-lit evening amidst some of the country’s finest ruins. But tracking the criminals turns deadly when shots are fired at them. Time is running out to rescue the young heir, keep a valuable jewel safe, and somehow discover if love is the ultimate reward despite the risk.

Can two fearful hearts feel less broken together? Find out in My Dear Mr. Ridley , the first book in the exciting new Diamonds of London series.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

If the Duke Demands

If the Duke Demands by Anna Harrington is $2.99! This is the first book in the Capturing the Carlisles. Readers loved the mistaken identity element that kicks of the hero and heroines deal to help each other woo other people. Though readers warn that the hero does kiss another woman, which I know some readers don’t like.

A LESSON IN SEDUCTION . . .

Miranda Hodgkins has only ever wanted one thing: to marry Robert Carlisle. And she simply can’t wait a moment longer. During the Carlisle family masquerade ball, Miranda boldly sneaks into his bedchamber with seduction on her mind. Soon she’s swept into rock-hard arms for the most breathtaking kiss of her life. But when the masks come off, she’s horrified to find herself face-to-face with Sebastian, the Duke of Trent—Robert’s formidable older brother.

Shocked to find Miranda in his bed, Sebastian quickly offers her a deal to avoid scandal: He’ll help her win his brother’s heart if she’ll find him the perfect wife. But what begins as a simple negotiation soon spirals out of control. For the longer this reformed rake tries to make a match for Miranda, the more he wants to keep her all to himself.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Highland Crown

Highland Crown by May McGoldrick is 99c! Elyse read this one and gave it a C, but notes:

If you like historicals with a lot of fast-paced action and don’t mind insta-love, then this book may work nicely for you.

Inverness, 1820
Perched on the North Sea, this port town―by turns legendary and mythological―is a place where Highland rebels and English authorities clash in a mortal struggle for survival and dominance. Among the fray is a lovely young widow who possesses rare and special gifts.

WANTED: Isabella Drummond
A true beauty and trained physician, Isabella has inspired longing and mystery―and fury―in a great many men. Hunted by both the British government and Scottish rebels, she came to the Highlands in search of survival. But a dying ship’s captain will steer her fate into even stormier waters. . .and her heart into flames.

FOUND: Cinaed Mackintosh
Cast from his home as a child, Cinaed is a fierce soul whose allegiance is only to himself. . .until Isabella saved his life―and added more risk to her own. Now, the only way Cinaed can keep her safe to seek refuge at Dalmigavie Castle, the Mackintosh family seat. But when the scandalous truth of his past comes out, any chance of Cinaed having a bright future with Isabella is thrown into complete darkness. What will these two ill-fated lovers have to sacrifice to be together…for eternity?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-08 06:00 am

Tarot After Dark: Mind, Body, Spirit with Edgar Allan Poe

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.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-08 06:00 am

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

Posted by Guest Reviewer

B-

Look Before You Leap

by Virginia Heath
June 24, 2025 · St. Martin's Griffin
HorrorLGBTQIA

This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviews at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at @‌thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next good freelance job.

Virginia Heath has crafted plenty of A-level, Squee-laden reads over the course of her historical romance writing career, and I’ve ranked her among my favorite historical authors of all time more than once. Her latest series, Miss Prentice’s Protegees, had been solid up until now, but Look Before You Leap is a weaker entry than the previous book in the line-up, All’s Fair in Love and War. I still like it more than her Meriwell Sisters trilogy, which was all right but didn’t work for me, but I found this book a small step down and a bit of a disappointment from the introductory chapter.

Miss Prentice’s School is a finishing school where young girls of good breeding go to get training for respectable occupations – in the Regency era, this means as a ladies’ companion or a governess. Horse-mad, pants-wearing Lottie Travers has just failed at being the latter twice over and is set upon being the former when a dash through Hyde Park on horseback causes her to bump into the hero – literally, and, thankfully for him, not fatally. She scolds him for not looking out, runs out and delivers his horse back to him, and leaves the man in a thunderous mood.

Said hero is Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, and he’s just as horse-mad as Lottie but has the whole Viscountency riding on his shoulders. Guy is unmarried as he approaches thirty, and is being pressured by his mother and great aunt, the Dowager Lady Frinton, to get wed and pop out some kids for the estate, already. He just wants to be left alone to ride and is gunshy about romance after being hurt by his first love years ago. He tries to talk his mother into putting together a simple house party for thirty people to celebrate his birthday. But she and her sister have begun to conspire, and plot a birthday week during which they hope Guy will find the girl of his dreams. When his aunt arrives at the estate, who should be with her but Lottie, her new companion, whom she has already taken a shine to?

Guy and Lottie had immediate chemistry, and now that they’re together again something just might spark up between them. But can Guy get over his past heartbreak so that they can finally be together?

For all of the sparkle and life that Heath’s romances bring with them, there were too many running issues going on in Look Before You Leap. Chief among them was how simply ordinary the narrative is. You’ve met this sunshine-and-grumpy pairing before. Guy is a thundercloud who broods; Lottie is fiery and outspoken with a lust for life. Sometimes they kiss, sometimes they fight. Eventually they get it together, but there’s not enough attention put on the later phase of their relationship, making it feel half-mature and failing to show us they’re growing beyond the slap-slap-kiss phase of the union. The book is an endless pattern of them fighting and making up, interspersed eventually with sex scenes.

Mild spoilers for the ending

This repetition ends up getting double-underlined in the third act, where their temporary breakup is effected by Guy and his lingering fear of being publicly humiliated and he acts ridiculously. She tries to hold his feet to the fire, and he progresses as a character, but it absolutely should never have happened in the first place and ends up feeling very abrupt.

And yet I really liked Lottie in particular. She left home at sixteen to gain employment and send money back to her family in Kent, where she has four brothers. They owned a horse farm and being raised there has shaped her into the girl she is. Their mother died young and that left a mark on Lottie. She is not gently bred or weak-willed, and she is quite the delight overall. She’s the kind of girl who gets fired for stealing her employer’s horse, after all; she had spunk and spirit. The book’s worth reading for her alone, not to mention her growing connection with Lady Frinton.

But Guy? Eh. He’s the typical grump, mourning a long-ago humiliation that shouldn’t matter this much after nine years. While what was done to him was cruel, it’s been so much time that his intense focus on his own humiliation is almost cartoonish. Thus, he often comes off as self-centered and immature.

I did like a lot of the minor supporting characters, though for a chunk of the book, Guy’s mother and great aunt fall into that kind of pushy elderly matchmaker trope that I kind of hate. His father, too, is dead, which helps explain why his mother’s so baby mad. But utterly flawless was Lottie’s friendship with Lady Frinton, which was filled with vinegar and fire. I wish I could say Look Before You Leap was equally without flaws, but the heroine makes this worth reading, even if the romance runs as hot and cold as Lottie and Guy do.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-07 03:30 pm

Baby Dragons, Fantasy Romance, & More

Posted by Amanda

Inheritance

Inheritance by Nora Roberts is $2.99! This is book one in the Lost Bride Trilogy. These skew more toward contemporary romance with some paranormal or light magical elements. Have you read this one?

Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts―a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Phantasma

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith is $1.99! This is book one in the Wicked Games series. I’ve heard good things about this one.

Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen in this spicy dark romantasy where a necromancer needs help from a dangerous phantom to win a deadly competition, only to find their partnership puts her at risk of breaking the game’s most vital rule: don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.

The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win… if her fears don’t overtake her first.

When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.

Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Love Catastrophe

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting is $2.99! This is a standalone contemporary romance. In this one, the heroine is a famous “cat whisperer.”

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t quite going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression.

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike one: he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike two: tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Baby Dragon Cafe

The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi is 99c! This is book one in a cozy fantasy series witha grumpy/sunshine romance. Book two in the series is also on sale.

When Saphira opened up her café for baby dragons and their humans, she wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult to keep the fires burning. It turns out, young dragons are not the best magical animals to keep in a café, and replacing all that burnt furniture is costing Saphira more than she can afford from selling dragon-roasted coffee.

Aiden is a local gardener, and local heart-throb, more interested in his plants than actually spending time with his disobedient baby dragon. When Aiden walks into Saphira’s café, he has a genius idea – he’ll ask Saphira to train his baby dragon, and he’ll pay her enough to keep the café afloat.

Saphira’s happy-go-lucky attitude doesn’t seem to do anything but irritate the grumpy-but-gorgeous Aiden, except that everywhere she goes, she finds him there. But can this dragon café owner turn her fortunes around, and maybe find love along the way?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-07 02:00 pm

HaBO: They’re Stuck on a Lifeboat

Posted by Amanda

This HaBO came in from Jessica, who wants to find this romance:

I’m looking for a book from Kindle but I can’t remember the cover and title.

It starts from a woman’s POV. She says she’s laying on a lifeboat or (maybe) a plastic life raft. She’s holding on to keep from sliding or flying out. There’s other people in the life raft and a certain man is pinning the woman’s legs down, so she doesn’t fly out of the raft. There appears to be a storm or maybe just big waves and it’s night.

I feel like a romance that starts with a lifeboat might be pretty memorable. Let’s HaBO!

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-07 07:00 am

Hide Your Wallet: October 7th Release Week

Posted by Amanda

Happy October!

This is a big month for both releases and highly anticipated new installments. After October, releases tend to peter off as we get closer to the holiday season.

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

Dating After the End of the World

Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose

Author: Jeneva Rose
Released: October 1, 2025
Genre: , ,

There’s nothing like the undead to bring the living together in an action-packed and apocalyptically romantic genre-shattering novel by a #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Casey Pearson grew up with a doomsday-prepping father. At eighteen, tired of living an unconventional life, she left home, vowing never to return.

More than a decade later, a mysterious viral outbreak changes everything, including the people it infects, turning them into zombielike creatures. It’s the end of the world, and no one saw it coming—well, except for Casey’s father. With no place left to run and danger lurking around every corner, Casey is forced to return home.

Upon arrival, she’s surprised to find that her dad has hunkered down with a group of survivors, including her archnemesis, Blake Morrison, the high school bully who made Casey’s teenage years a living hell.

While struggling to live on the compound, face outside threats, and survive alongside her handsome enemy, Casey will learn that although the world has ended, hers is just beginning.

Amanda: Very curious about this one, which dropped on the first.

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A Merry Little Lie

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

Author: Sarah Morgan
Released: October 7, 2025 by Canary Street Press
Genre: ,

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

Sarah’s pick!

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Alchemy of Secrets

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

Author: Stephanie Garber
Released: October 7, 2025 by Flatiron Books
Genre: , , ,

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.

Elyse: I’ve been hearing really great things about this one.

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All of Us Murderers

All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles

Author: KJ Charles
Released: October 7, 2025 by Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: , , , ,

The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for from award-winning author KJ Charles.

WHO WILL SURVIVE LACKADAY HOUSE?

When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative’s remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family—but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there’s no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house’s shadowy depths…

Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House—and live to tell the tale?

Elyse: Crimson Peak meets Knives Out? Put it in my eyeballs.

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Cinder House

Cinder House by Freya Marske

Author: Freya Marske
Released: October 7, 2025 by Tor.com
Genre: , , , ,

Sparks fly and lovers dance in this gorgeous, yearning Cinderella retelling from bestselling author Freya Marske—a queer Gothic romance perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher.

Ella is a haunting.

Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father’s house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.

Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.

Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.

You think you know Ella’s the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.

You’re halfway right, and all-the-way wrong.

Rediscover a classic fairy tale in this debut novella from “the queen of romantic fantasy” (Polygon).

Markse has a fairy tale telling novella coming out!

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Crafting for Sinners

Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer

Author: Jenny Kiefer
Released: October 7, 2025 by Quirk Books
Genre: ,

“You will compulsively turn these pages well into the dead of night.”—Paul Tremblay, New York Times best-selling author of Horror Movie and The Cabin at the End of the World

A queer woman must fight her way out of a craft store run by a megachurch in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched Valley.

The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle and Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix.

Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in Kill Devil.

In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. As Ruth fights for her life using only the crafting supplies at hand, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her but the entire town.

Urgent, scathing, and utterly original, Crafting for Sinners cements Kiefer’s status as a dazzling new star in horror.

Amanda: This just sounds like so much fun.

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The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder

The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan

Author: Kiri Callaghan
Released: October 7, 2025 by Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: ,
Series: The Hemlock Saga #1

“For all intents and purposes, we are still blissfully separated from the mortals, but there have been…complications.”

When a rise in London’s supernatural crime puts Fey society at risk of discovery, the Winter Council turns to an unlikely solution: Avery Hemlock, the changeling they sentenced to 500 Years of Nightmares. Inherently lacking social grace and missing approximately two centuries of world knowledge, Avery must find a way to acclimate and solve the case or lose her probationary freedom.

After being left at the altar and dropping out of medical school, Saga Trygg attempts to rekindle her faith in life, humanity, and witchcraft. But when her new neighbor, Avery, accidentally reveals the Fey that have been living among humanity all along, Saga realizes magic is far more than prayers, intention, and candles.

Each faced with navigating an unfamiliar world, the two form an unexpected partnership—but shortly into Avery’s investigation, they discover the threat might be closer to Saga than either of them imagined, and Avery will do anything to protect the first friend she’s had in more than two hundred years.

This one may be of interest to the Bitchery!

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Mate

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Author: Ali Hazelwood
Released: October 7, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: ,
Series: Bride #2

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

I know so many people who have preordered this one. Have you?

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Queen Demon

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Author: Martha Wells
Released: October 7, 2025 by Tor Books
Genre: ,
Series: The Rising World #2

From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes the remarkable sequel to the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling novel, Witch King. A fantasy of epic scope, Queen Demon is a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

Dahin, a beloved member of the Witch King’s coterie, believes he has clues to the location of the Hierarchs’ Well, and the Witch King Kai, along with his companions Ziede and Tahren, knowing there’s something he isn’t telling them, travel with him to the rebuilt university of Ancartre, which may be dangerously close to finding the Well itself.

Can Kai stop the rise of a new Hierarch?

And can he trust his companions to do what’s right?

Follow Kai to the end of the world in this thrilling sequel to the USA Today-bestselling Witch King.

The next book in The Rising World series. 

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Willing Prey

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander

Author: Allie Oleander
Released: October 7, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: , ,

An exhilarating, primal summer fling in the woods leads to an intensely sexy, edgy romance, where anything goes—just remember your safe word.

Divorced and buried in student loan debt, Claire Collins eagerly enters a spicy business agreement with an acquaintance who wants to explore his primal desires. The deal is thirty days as his sexual prey, $30,000 in her bank account. All she has to do is give Shane Underwood the hunt of his life.

Claire’s a physical education teacher and perfectly happy to spend her summer having wild, kinky sex instead of working her usual serving job. But once they cross the tree line, she realizes how little she knows about the corporate lawyer paying her to be his prey.

Shane is different in the woods. Brutal. Devastating. Feral.

That’s okay with Claire—she is, too. And she’s sinking her teeth a little deeper into Shane’s heart every time he catches her.

Amanda: I started reading this one and it has a really good mix of spicy content, humor, and great main characters. Bonus points for a tall heroine and characters in their 30s.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-06 03:30 pm

Books by Anne Bishop, Julia London, & More

Posted by Amanda

Tusk Love

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon is $1.99! This released over the summer and is a Critical Role tie-in. However, I think people should be fine without needing to be familiar with the source material. Please let me know if I’m wrong!

A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars.

“A true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfelt—this one is a winner all around.”—Katee Robert, author of Neon Gods

As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.

Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.

Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.

Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.

Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Daughter of the Blood

Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop is $1.99! This is the first book in The Black Jewels series and was recommended in our Inner Goth Rec League. Ellen notes that this series deserves all of the content warnings. I know for many readers this was a formative series for their fantasy reading. Peep the new cover design.

The Dark Kingdom is preparing itself for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy–the arrival of a new Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But this new ruler is young, and very susceptible to influence and corruption; whoever controls her controls the Darkness. And now, three sworn enemies begin a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, and the destiny of an entire world is at stake.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Viscount Who Vexed Me

The Viscount Who Vexed Me by Julia London is $1.99! This historical romance is book three in the Royal Match series. I’m getting a hint of Cyrano de Bergerac from the description.

Daring. Darling. Determined.

Next to the Season’s newest diamond , Harriet (Hattie) Woodchurch feels like a plain Jane. But that’s of no consequence, since Hattie’s plan for her future is to earn enough to live far, far away from her embarrassing family.

That is until Mateo Vincente, Duke of Santiava and newly minted Viscount Abbott, arrives in London. While the shy European’s spoken English is impeccable, his writing is less fluent. The ton is eager to meet the handsome bachelor, and so many invitations flood in that Mateo needs a correspondence secretary.

With her perfect penmanship and way with words, Hattie is recommended, and the two bond over books and the ton’s eligible ladies. But when Hattie’s friend Flora becomes smitten with the viscount, things get complicated. Flora is tongue-tied in his presence. To help, Hattie feeds her information about Mateo’s interests. Soon things turn around and Flora appears on track to become his duchess. Yet for Mateo, something’s not quite right. Conversation with Flora isn’t as scintillating as it is with Hattie…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Kiss of Deception

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson is $2.99! This is a YA fantasy with romantic elements and sounds pretty awesome. A princess bails on her wedding day and tries to start a life elsewhere under another identity. Some readers felt that nothing truly happened in the book, while others loved the writing and detail.

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor’s secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can’t abide. Like having to marry someone she’s never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-06 07:00 am

The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni

Posted by Carrie S

B-

The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire

by Anna Fiteni
September 9, 2025 · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Historical: EuropeanRomance

Would that I, like this book’s heroine, were newly turned sixteen again, for if I were I would have absolutely swooned over The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire. I cannot overstress how madly I would have loved this story. Now I’m old and cranky so I viewed it with a more demanding eye, but anyone interested in Welsh folklore and grumpy heroines will enjoy this road trip through the land of the Tylwyth Teg (fae).

Once upon a time (specifically, in 1842) there were two sisters, the daughters of a Welsh miner. One was beautiful and good. One was cranky, plain, and impulsive, not above taking a swing at someone or telling a lie. When the pretty sister, Ceridwen, vanishes, it’s up to the cranky one, newly sixteen-year-old Sabrina, to find her by venturing deep into the woods and into the lands of the Tylwyth Teg.

There’s more to this set up, including a stolen ring, an exiled father, an exhausted grandmother, and a desperate struggle against poverty. However, the basic plot set up is fairy tale simple: one sister vanishes into the woods and the other goes looking for her and faces many challenges along the way.

I loved this journey through Welsh folklore, and I enjoyed taking the journey with Sabrina. I liked that the same traits that caused her problems in the human world served her well on her search for her sister. I liked that Ceridwen is a very different person than the reader first assumes her to be, and that it takes time for Sabrina to understand her motivations. The writing is beautiful and the characters interesting.

Sabrina finds herself attracted to Neirin, a fae prince. Here, my friends, is where my newly sixteen-year-old self would like to give this book an A++++. He’s mysterious! He’s hot! He wears a shirt that he keeps forgetting to lace up! He teaches her to sword fight and invites her to a ball at his castle! He thinks she’s great! He’s super hot in a way that sixteen-year-old-self adores:

His brown eyes widen, lashes casting spider-leg shadows over his glass-smooth milk-white skin. They’re near human, nearly welcoming, but the perfection of their distribution is unsettling. His wavy hair is black, streaked with a gray that shines as if someone dipped a paintbrush in molten silver and ran it through his locks.

I MEAN. It’s giving Tom Hiddleston in Thor! It’s giving Jareth in Labyrinth!  It’s giving Jack in Titanic and Jack in Legend! Heady stuff for my sixteen-year-old self.

However, my grumpy-old-ass self immediately thought Neirin was untrustworthy and that Sabrina and Neirin seem to develop a romance without knowing each other at all. Sabrina proceeds to be increasingly attracted to Neirin, and he seems to have developed real feelings for her. Again, my sixteen-year-old self thought this was swoony. Grumpy-old-ass self thought this was sloppy. They didn’t seem to be falling in love organically. It felt rushed and more about plot than character growth and evolution.

At one point a twist occurs that seems to address this, and it was awesome, but it didn’t carry through in a way that satisfied me:

Major Spoiler here

I was DELIGHTED by the reveal that the reason this love affair seems rushed and artificial is that it IS artificial. Neirin has been manipulating Sabrina through magical means. This made so much sense for the story and it had immense emotional weight. There was real horror in Sabrina realizing what had happened and what the place around her really looked like.

But then for reasons I fail to comprehend, Sabrina and Neirin kinda-sorta get back together again? Again, my sixteen-year-old self totally gets this. He’s sad! He can’t change his nature, but he really cares about Sabrina inasmuch as he is capable of doing!

But alas my friends, my sixteen-year-old self cannot be trusted. She just found her first boyfriend and hasn’t yet learned that when he described himself as an asshole, he was being truthful. By the time she was seventeen, she was a whole new person who understood that when people tell you what they are you should believe them. Seventeen-year-old me, and grumpy-old-ass me, has no patience for Neirin’s shit and is disappointed that Sabrina still does.

The actual plot of this book is pretty simple and didn’t always hold my interest, and the romance is messy as hell. However I really loved how the story is rooted not only in Welsh mythology but also in Welsh history, particularly the history of its mines and miners. The way the book deals with intergenerational grief and trauma, as well as the sacrifices family members make for each other, is powerful.

This is the first book by Anna Fiteni and it ends on an open-ended note – not quite a cliffhanger, but with abundant room for a sequel. I’ll be interested to see what comes next.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-06 06:00 am

Cover Awe: Watercolor, Flowers, & More

Posted by Amanda

Welcome back to Cover Awe!

The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North. A man in Regency attire with a shadowed face looks back at a woman in a blue dress. There are watercolor splotches in red, gray, and a grayish blue.

The Gentleman Spy by Georgina North

Cover design by Jennifer Therieau

From Kareni: For a future Cover Awe post.

Claudia: Oh yes, I really like this. Incongruously it reminds me of a watercolor tattoo.

Sarah: Claudia, I had the exact same thought. And the way that the watercolory splotches are partially revealing blocks of written text adds to the intrigue of the image, which I’m presuming matches the book.

Love Like the Sun by Riss Neilson. A field full of pink and orange flowers with a bright sun, but the field is turned 90 degrees, so the field is on the lefthand side and the sun and sky are the right hand side.

A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson

Cover illustration by Vivi Campos

Lara: I want to be in that picture, basking.

Amanda: Meanwhile, my allergies do not.

Sarah: I think I can smell this cover. It’s extremely sensual in the literal, uh, sense.

Sneezy: I like how horizontal and vertical orientations layering on each other. It’s lovely to look at both ways.

A Lethal Lady by Nekesa Afia. A gold portrait hangs in the middle with the red windmill of Moulin Rogue inside of it. Sitting on the edge of the gold frame is a Black woman in a silvery white dress with gold detailing down the middle. She's holding a a white feather fan and has a gold hairpin in her hair.

A Lethal Lady by Nekesa Afia

Cover illustration by Emma Leonard

Lara: I love the expression on her face and how she’s sitting in the frame.

Amanda: The whole series has great cover illustrations.

Sarah: I love the color scheme, and the dress. I want to see multiple angles of it, and to see it in motion.

A Whisper of Cardamom by Eleanor Ford. A painted cover in a sunny yellow. it has purple and white flowers, cloves, a stick of cinnamon, star anise, some seeds, and two short parrots with green bodies and orange heads.

A Whisper of Cardamom by Eleanor Ford

From LML: If a cookbook can be included in Cover Awe, I find this cover so beautiful that I’ll probably buy it in hardcover.

Amanda: It could definitely be a painting on its own.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-05 08:00 am

SBTB Bestsellers: September 20 – October 3

Posted by Amanda

The latest bestseller list if brought you by a diet soda of your choice, porch weather, and our affiliate sales data.

  1. It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  2. Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  3. London’s Greatest Lovers by Lorraine Heath Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  4. Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  5. The Inheritance Trilogy by NK Jemisin Amazon | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay
  6. The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  7. Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  8. The Duke and Lady Scandal by Christy Carlyle Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  9. Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  10. Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard Amazon | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay

I hope your weekend reading was fantastic!

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-05 06:00 am

Sunday Sale Digest!

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.

Smart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books ([syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed) wrote2025-10-04 06:00 am

Kickass Women in History: Rosa Mackenberg

Posted by Carrie S

Most people know that Harry Houdini was a famous magician. Many people also know that Houdini devoted much of his life to debunking fake mediums during a time when Spiritualism had widespread acceptance.

But did you know that Houdini’s chief investigator was a woman named Rosa Mackenberg? I did not, but thanks to a Skeptoid podcast episode I do now!

Mackenberg began her career working as a private detective at a detective agency in New York. She was introduced to Houdini, who asked her to help expose fake mediums. Mackenberg believed that it was possible to communicate with the dead, but also agreed that mediums could be frauds. She started a partnership with Houdini that would last even after he died (in a sense).

Mackenberg joined Houdini’s team in 1924. Mackenberg would adopt a costume and a backstory and meet with psychics before Houdini came to town. She took notes on their methods and passed them on to Houdini. Then when Houdini came to town, they would discredit the fake psychics publicly.

A newspaper clipping shows some of Rosa's disguises
A newspaper clipping shows some of Mackenberg’s disguises.

Mackenberg testified before Congress hoping to convince them to pass a bill that would outlaw predatory practices among mediums. In the process, she divulged that multiple members of Congress, as well as President Calvin Coolidge, visited mediums in Washington, D.C.

After Houdini died in 1926, she continued her work, investigating fraudulent psychics and giving talks to professional and legal groups as well as the general public on how mediums were able to successfully swindle their victims.

A black and white photo of a smiling Rosa

Before Houdini died, he gave a code to his wife and a few other people, one of whom was Mackenberg. The purpose of this was to provide proof of authenticity should any medium actually be able to communicate with his spirit. Despite trying many times, Mackenberg was never able to receive an authentic message.

Mackenberg believed in an afterlife, but the mediums she investigated were not solely providing comfort based in reality or otherwise. Mediums who met with the disguised Mackenberg charged a fee, tried to sell her stocks because of ‘advice from the beyond’ in businesses they stood to profit by, and otherwise attempted to prey upon her, and their clientele, financially and fraudulently. In her work, she advanced not only the opportunities for women in investigative fields, but also some techniques of scientific investigation that are still used today.

According to Atlas Obscura,

By the time she died in 1968, she claimed to have investigated 1,500 mediums. “Rose Mackenberg dons shabby clothes and tracks down ‘spirit world’ frauds,” the Vancouver Sun wrote of her. “She has found plenty, too, having been put in touch with 1,500 departed husbands she never had.”

For more about the indomitable Rosa Mackenberg, check out: