willaful

willaful, 6 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? I didn't love the style and tropiness of Eight Dates and Nights, but I did love reading a Hanukkah book that was really focused on Hanukkah. And it's really cool to read about Jewish history in a rural area of Texas.

Favorite moment: It's not a queer romance, but the MMC has a bumper sticker with a Pride flag and the words "Shalom Y'All Means Y'All."

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 6 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? I finished the most waste of time old Harlequin, The Wild Side by Diana Hamilton. One of those awful misogynistic old skool books that's pretty fun if you're in the right mood -- but then there's the most lukewarm ending! Why did I suffer through all that angst?! Where is my payoff?!

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

janetlogan, 6 months ago to actuallyautistic

December 12th is always an emotional day for me. It's my late wife Barbara's birthday, and the #grief wells up and spills out.

Today was absolutely just such a day. And to top it off, my roommate went off on a rant about how my depth of feeling on that topic is wrong and unhealthy. Not her words. I cleaned it up.

I had a huge meltdown as a result. Now I'm exhausted, and in pain. I'm turning in for tonight. I hope.

#ActuallyAutistic #spoonie #fibro #fibromyalgia

@actuallyautistic @spoonies

willaful, 6 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading? On my third try, I finally finished The Wake Up Call. I liked it fairly well by the end, but I don't read Beth O'Leary for tropiness and this was all trope all the time. And I'm just not that fond of the "she's a childish pain in the ass and somehow he loves her for it" relationship dynamic. There was some nice tenderness and angst... the supposedly stoic MMC really gets punched in the gut, poor sweet baby.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 6 months ago to romancebooks

I went browsing for Hanukkah romances and found such interesting stuff from Harlequin I was unaware of. A book with a Japanese and Jewish MMC, another with an autistic FMC (both in their medical lines) and a Harlequin Presents with a plus size model on the cover! They have really upped their representation game, though I don't know if it's reflected in their actual authors.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 6 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I finished Evvie Drake Starts Over and am so glad I gave it a chance. (I had read it was NOT a romance, which made me very nervous. 😂 But any book with such great banter between the leads and a happy ending is romance enough for me!)

Also read Let it Snow by three YA authors and... meh. It has not aged at all well, is kinda racist, and I only really liked Maureen Johnson's story anyway.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 6 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I read the lovely Agents of Winter by Ada Marie Soto. Third in a series and you should really read them in order; also you want to read them all. 😁 (Unless you are very agin gentle and/or asexual romance.)

My review of the first book is here: https://willaful.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/snowinlovebingo-shorts/

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

alexisbushnell, 6 months ago to actuallyautistic

It's so frustrating that I can just about function "normally" for a year max and then everything goes to shit, regardless of what I do, what's been happening, etc.

Is this a common Autistic issue?

#ActuallyAutistic

@actuallyautistic

willaful, 6 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? My last two romances were Lies and Lullabies and Love at First Spite and they were prefectly cromulent ways to pass the time but I don't have much to say about them. (Except the MMC has a rather unusual disability in LaFS. And it irked me that we don't see any decision process when the FMC gets pregnant in L&L.)

Also listening to Evvie Drake Starts Over, which is thoughtful and funny. Wonderful narration by Julia Whelan, as usual.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I just finished Seeing Blind by Poppy Dale, a very sweet, sort of "shop around the corner" romance which is my catnip. Part epistolary, which is also my catnip. Kisses only. Kiss only, really. 😁

One character has prosopagnosia, which is a significant disability for him. Can't say if it's an accurate portrayal but it was very interesting.

Slightly disconcerting that it's set in Manhattan and CA but the author is quite obviously British. 😁

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

sandralindsey, 7 months ago to romancelandia

I have a confession.

Today I finished reading my very first Georgette Heyer novel.

I know! How can I possibly write Regency Romance without having inhaled all her works years ago...
...tbh, they always sounded a bit too het for me, is why I've not read until now.

But anyway! I really enjoyed it - The Corinthian - so if anyone would like to recommend me their fave #GeorgetteHeyer novel to read next, please do!

@romancelandia

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

I discovered I could use a Nora Roberts book for a challenge prompt, which is awesome... but now how do I pick from her 143,679 book backlist?!

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I just finished Dionysus in Wisconsin and I'd feel a little delicate about mentioning it since the author is on this instance, but fortunately I loved it. 😁 It's kind of like if Neil Gaiman and Cat Sebastian collaborated on a m/m historical fantasy romance. Magic, myths, high stakes, true love.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 7 months ago to bookstodon

Reading about the elasticity of the concept of violence in Let This Radicalize You. Such an important point... so eye opening to see it spelled out.

@bookstodon

theautisticcoach, 7 months ago to actuallyautistic

How did my #ActuallyAutistic comrades come to know that they’re autistic?

#AskingAutistics @actuallyautistic

herhandsmyhands, 7 months ago to romancelandia

Randomly thinking about Elzabeth Hoyt, whose website is gone, and who hasn't been around online for three or so years; and about Lisa Kleypas, who hasn't updated her website since before the release of Devil in Disguise two years ago (in fact, her FAQ was updated while she was still writing Chasing Cassandra, which came out in 2020, so it's been at least a full year longer than that).

I hope they are both well.

@romancelandia

#Reading

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I listened to With Love, From Cold World and just like with Love in the Time of Serial Killers, I almost DNF'd because I found the FMC so obnoxious, but kept on and loved it by the end. Maybe her theme is even really obnoxious women deserve love? 😁 Score for me!

Liked how queer the book is for an m/f pairing, especially since it's set in Florida. (MMC is bisexual.) More red state queer books please! (Sensitive readers should note the CWs.)

@romancebooks
@romancelandia

pretensesoup, 7 months ago to bookstodon

Ok, if you're in a book club and the book really doesn't speak to you...do you force yourself to finish it?

Maybe a result of being in the middle of a lengthy and serious writing project, but I've bounced out of a lot of books this year, and a lot of them have been from book club. Maybe I should be pushing myself more, but this isn't grad school, so...I don't know.

@bookstodon

spika, 7 months ago to actuallyautistic

One of the things that made it really hard for me to even consider that I might be autistic was the reputation that (verbal) autistics have for being direct and literal communicators.

I've never felt like I am a particularly direct communicator because of how often I have misunderstandings with people, autistic and allistic alike, for not being direct enough and relying too much on things like context clues and body language to reveal how I'm feeling about a particular thing rather than just coming out and being direct by saying it with words, and I think it's particularly a struggle around issues where there are a lot of mixed emotions and uncertainty around feelings.

@actuallyautistic #ActuallyAutistic

herhandsmyhands, 7 months ago to romancelandia

@romancelandia Instead of finishing reading my book, this rant burst out of me last night:

#RomBkBlog #BookBans #Libraries

https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2023/11/11/the-white-privilege-of-stephen-king/ries

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I was somewhat disappointed in The Lady Unmasked by Aydra Richards.

https://willaful.wordpress.com/2023/11/09/the-lady-unmasked-by-aydra-richards/

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I finished Thrown to the Wolves, the third in Charlie Adhara's series, and it just gets better and better. Real change and growth for the characters.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

frankejames, 7 months ago to bookstodon

Do you judge a book by its cover? I'm thinking of changing the cover of our already-published book!!! 😮
Tell me which cover you would click on: the new one in sunny yellow or the existing cover in sandy beige?
The yellow reflects @TeresaHeartchild's love of life -- and the urgency of getting her freed. It should attract the eye for Amazon clicks.
But the beige may be some book-lover's sophisticated fave. 🤔 What do you think? #design #books #downsyndrome @bookstodon @bookgaga

Franke James' book cover in sandy beige for "Freeing Teresa: A True Story about Fighting Ableism." The book is sitting on a striped, multi-hued couch.

ExcessivelyDiverting, 7 months ago to bookstodon

What You Should Read Next Based On Your Favorite ‘90s Rom-Com

https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/what-to-read-based-on-favorite-90s-rom-com

#JaneAusten #AmReading #AmWriting #Regency @bookstodon #books #Bookstodon #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #Georgian #Clueless #Emma

willaful, 7 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I'm reading Upside Down by N.R. Walker and am confused, because there is so much kvelling about its asexual rep. And so far, in a support group for asexual and aromantic people, the leader/MMC has only talked about people not wanting to have sex, which as I understand it isn't even true of all ace people and is certainly not true of all aromantic people. Perhaps more nuance will appear later in the book?

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

thegiddystitcher, 7 months ago to lemmy_stitch

Is it too late to be posting spooky stuff?

This took me like a week to stitch, another week for my fingers to heal up, and then I went and forgot to post it 😭

My first ever hand embroidery piece. Not too shabby, I reckon! Good tree 😁

My official last project for the extended #FallFinishAlong. Roll on the next one!

Pattern is https://www.etsy.com/listing/1554526317/pdf-pattern-spooky-cabin-step-by-step

@lemmy_stitch #Embroidery #HandEmbroidery #Halloween

Closeup of the tree and the ghost, both made with raised puff stitches that give the piece a pleasing texture

willaful, 7 months ago to bookstodon

Has anyone read Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender? I need a book with a positive depiction of polyamory and it's tagged on goodreads, but I don't know that it's positive.

@bookstodon
#bookstodon

willaful, 7 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? I just finished a very soft, sweet romance called Kit & Basie, which I was lucky enough to snag for free. (It's no longer free but is on KU.) It's m/m cottagecore whimsy but somehow manages not to be twee. Also about grief and may be iffy for disabled readers, so check the CWs. Kisses only.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

LincolnRamirez, 7 months ago to bookstodon

I loved A Wizard of Earthsea, will the second in the series - The Tombs of Atuan live up to expectations?

#Books #Reading #BookReview #Bookstodon @bookstodon

https://conversationsaboutbooks5.wordpress.com/2023/10/27/the-tombs-of-atuan-ursula-k-le-guin/

willaful, 8 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? I finished The Culmination of Everything by Christina Jones. (KU) Two grieving main characters, one highly grumpy. (Sensitive readers should check for trigger warnings.) It's got possibly the most non-commital ending I've ever encountered in a romance -- a true HFN -- but it works. I mostly liked it except for one very recurrent author tic.

Works for "Black Love" square of #FallInLoveBingo

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

ExcessivelyDiverting, 8 months ago to bookstodon

#CharlotteBronte's novel SHIRLEY was published today in 1849.

#Victorian #AmWriting #AmReading #books @bookstodon #WritingCommunity

willaful, 8 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? There's nothing like a really good audiobook for making my work get done. Two loads of laundry and a lot of gardening done, thanks to 10 Things That Never Happened. The narrator is just fantastic, such distinct voices and accents. And you can really hear the emotions growing between the characters.

(But now I have nothing to listen to, so I guess housework is done for the day!)

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

pretensesoup, 8 months ago to romancelandia

@romancelandia any recs for m/m or m/NB novels that are lowish angst, lots of interesting plot (like...Cat Sebastian x KJ Charles I guess)? Appreciate spice, am not a TJ Klune fan.

willaful, 8 months ago to romancelandia

#WatchaReading ? I started Wolf at Bay, the Sequel to Wolf at the Door. I find it fascinating that the main character, though gay and out, has so many issues stemming from toxic masculinity. Will be interested to see if that gets explored throughout the series.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

ablueboxfullofbooks, 8 months ago to bookstodon

How cute is this puzzle that I just received from #simonkids ! I love Sandra Boyton’s books and her art is always so adorable !

Hippo Birdie Two Ewe is the perfect birthday or Christmas present 😍With its vibrant colors, it is a fun activity to do with the whole family.

#simonkidscrew #puzzle #puzzlelover #puzzleaddict #sandraboynton #sandraboyntonpuzzles #boardbook #book #bookstagram #picturebook #childrensbook #kidlit #booktok #birthday #animal #gifted @bookstodon @kidlit

willaful, 8 months ago to romancelandia

#WhatchaReading ? If "too much sex" reviews make you perk, you'll want to check out Her Halloween Treat by Reisz. Nothing but sex and banter, often at the same time. Way too much of both for me.

Also DNF'd The Road to Roswell, second Willis DNF in a row for me. To paraphrase my husband, I'm tired of her shtick.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks

willaful, 8 months ago to romancebooks

#WhatchaReading ? I read The Amazing Alpha Tau Boyfriend Project by Lisa Henry, which was very fun, but also made me uncomfortable in a way I find hard to define. Maybe the glorification of the "good" frat house, maybe the familiar humor that sounds more like my friends online than college boys. I'll probably read the next book though. On KU.

@romancelandia
@romancebooks