In looking back at the posts I've done since starting this blog (and there have a crap-ton of posts, y'all), I was somewhat surprised to discover I've never talked about fated mates before. You know, that "she/he is absolutely my one true soul mate", love at first sight kind of thing that happens every so often in paranormal romance? Maybe that was a conscious decision on my part, because let's face it, the trope is POLARIZING. But when it's done right, it's also kinda fabulous. So, with that in mind, here are my picks for the fated mates trope done right. Enjoy:   

Let's face it. Things are tough all over. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything to be excited about. August has been a GREAT month for new romance releases, and September is looking pretty awesome, too. So, here's some stuff to consider adding to your TBR list that is SURE to bring you some much-needed joy:   

I'll be honest. I'm pretty new to superhero romance. I didn't even know it was really a thing until a few months ago. But now that I've discovered it, I'm totally into it! It's like Marvel movies, only if Marvel movies didn't linger too long on shots of Black Widow's butt and cleavage. In other words, it's superhero fantasy from the female gaze. So, if you love superheroes (like I do) but get sick of all the mildly misogynistic stuff that can happen in male-directed and male-written books and movies, then THIS is the reading list for you. Happy reading! Here it goes:  

You know how people complain that romance novel heroes are too physically perfect to be realistic? Not true. And in the case of THESE heroes, it's all those perfect imperfections that make them so darned delicious. So, without further ado, here are some of my all-time favorite perfectly imperfect romance novel heroes. You're welcome. 

Look, I try to review everything I read and love...but I have a life, y'all. Responsibilities. Stuff that gets in the way of me spewing all my readerly thoughts on this blog. But I don't want you to miss out on great reads just because I've been busy. So, here are 11 romances I read recently and would've given 5-starred...if I'd had the time. Sorry about that. But anyhoo, happy reading...  

Yes, I'm aware that Dean Winchester isn't a romance novel hero, nor is he a mechanic. Now, ask me if I care. (Hint: I do not.) I've said it before and I'll say it again: my sexual orientation is Dean working on the Impala. But anyhoo, while they may or may not be as hot as my Dean (that's right: he's mine), there are plenty of crazy hot romance novel mechanics who would at least give my boy a run for his money. With that said, let the binge-reading begin...   

Just because travel in the time of COVID is ill-advised (or downright impossible) doesn't mean you can't live vicariously through characters in romance novels! With that in mind, here are 12 of my all-time favorite vacation romances.

(Note: I took some liberties with what constitutes a "vacation" with this list. Some road trip romances are included. So what? It's my list and no one is the boss of me. Besides, these books are great. Just read them and you can thank me later.)

I never found Henry Cavill as Superman attractive. There. I've said it. Sure, he's a good looking guy. But as Superman? He was just a little...too vanilla for me, I guess. But when I saw him as Geralt in The Witcher? Well...that was an ENTIRELY different story. It took me a little bit of time to figure out why. I mean, he's the same buff dude he's always been. And that wig surely wasn't what was doing it for me. Then it occurred to me: it's not about Henry Cavill at all. It's about Geralt. Here was this grumpy, world-weary guy who sighs and grunts and says fuck in exasperation all the time and just wants to be left alone. But it's made clear early on that Geralt is, at heart, a great guy. He never fails to step up and do the right thing--to put himself in harm's way to save an innocent. This character is EXACTLY why I adore grumpy romance heroes with hearts of gold. That said, here's a list of my top favorite grumpy-but-sweet-at-heart heroes in romance today. Enjoy! 

Book coma: When you've read something that emotionally destroys you for a time period, making it impossible for you to move on. You can't read anything new, you can't stop thinking about the book or the characters...it's glorious, beautiful, and devastating. And despite how it sounds, it's NOT a bad thing. I ADORE books that ruin me for other books (even if only for a short time). Here are but a few of my all-time favorites:   

Let's face it: artists are sexy. Whether it's a dancer, a song writer, a painter, or a sculptor, artists are fascinating creatures that us normal folk envy the crap out of. So maybe that's why I love reading about artists in my romance novels? I dunno. All I know for sure is that you better get ready to load up your Kindles, because this list of top romance novel artists is pretty freakin' awesome (if I do say so myself). Happy reading!    

Look, some women have a fantasy of hiring the perfect man who gives them EXACTLY what they need, and that's OK. I'm a firm believer in the whole "let women like what they like and leave them alone about it" principle. So, I don't find the "escort with a heart of gold" trope at all problematic, and I don't think anyone else should, either. There. I've said it. With that in mind, here are some AWESOME, romantic reads about male escorts (with hearts of gold) who find their happily ever afters. Enjoy!    

So, earlier this week, I admitted that I was a grumpy old hag who has officially aged out of new adult romance. In fact, I broke up with it once and for all. The angst and youthful dumbassery are just too much for me to handle. With that in mind, I thought it was time to update our recommendations for mature romance--that is, romance where characters are older than 30. There's some great stuff here, so get ready to 1-click, folks. Happy reading!  

If you've been looking for ways to support #BlackLivesMatter, there are LOTS of things you can do. Smart Bitches, Trashy Books came out with a fantastic list. But one additional way you can show your support is by buying, reading, and reviewing awesome romance novels that were written by black authors. Will reading and reviewing books change the world and make it a better place? No. But it will definitely mean something to the author, which is a great place to start. So, with that in mind, here are some recommendations for books you'll ADORE that were written by black authors. Happy reading!  

To me, a feel-good, comfort romance is a book I can read over and over again and never get sick of. It can be a book that makes me laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, but that WON'T leave me in a horrible, emotionally drained book coma for weeks. (So, fairly low angst, in other words) We'll talk about my favorite high-emotion comfort reads another day. Today is all about the hilarious ones. So, happy reading, y'all!

First of all, I think I deserve a big round of applause for NOT going for the easy "out of this world" pun in the headline for this post.  You're welcome. But seriously, when you're in the mood for something a little different, why not give space romance a shot? I've checked all over the interwebs and gathered these recommendations from super smart romance readers, so get your 1-clicking fingers ready. Enjoy!