This week on Tumblereads, we're talking about chores: what literary purpose they might serve and whether we like reading about characters doing them. Show Notes: Fated Mates Podcast: The Gorilla Twins Episode, which is about The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath (here’s Holly’s review) The book Erin was gifted about date nights at home: If you’re interested in Allie Winters, you can learn more about her books in this author spotlight. The Shoulder Check Problem Books We Mentioned:

Heat Factor: The sex scenes are barely a blip between the lovingly and viscerally described fight sequences. Character Chemistry: I am much more invested in Laila’s relationship with fighting than her relationship with Harlow. Plot: After washing out of the UFC, Laila starts hanging out at an underground fight promotion—and said promotion’s extremely hot owner. Overall: This book took me more than a week to read.

Heat Factor: The sex scenes are barely a blip between the lovingly and viscerally described fight sequences. Character Chemistry: I am much more invested in Laila’s relationship with fighting than her relationship with Harlow. Plot: After washing out of the UFC, Laila starts hanging out at an underground fight promotion—and said promotion’s extremely hot owner. Overall: This book took me more than a week to read.

Fate’s Thread, Book #1 Heat Factor: There’s a little something something Character Chemistry: grumpy x grumpy Plot: Seokga is a fallen god trying to clean up his mess to get back to Okhwang. Hani is an infamous gumiho who’s found herself in Seogka’s crosshairs. To interfere with Seogka’s hunt for her, Hani becomes Seogka’s assistant, but they find themselves in a much more dire search for a demon trying to destroy the mortal realm of Iseung. 

Bottom line: Do you like the wallflower trope? Erin: I used to like it a lot. There’s something to be said for being seen for oneself through a veil of social ineptitude or difficulty with upward mobility. Now, though, I tend to get hung up on the portrayal unless it’s framed juuuuuuust right. Holly: I also used to like it a lot…when I was an angsty, somewhat shy teenager.

tl;dr: Bookstore Romance Day expenses are up. Donations and sponsorships are not. Your d… Billie Bloebaum needs your support for Support Bookstore Romance Day

This conversation was inspired by the books of S.J. Tilly: The Alliance Series aka: the first series that was just deeply troubling (but also kinda hot?) Buy on Amazon The Sin Series aka the second series, which is still red flag city but doesn't go as hard Buy on Amazon Posts We Mentioned: Our recent mafia let’s talk tropes post…

When I started using Everand, I wanted to shout to everyone about it. Many of the indie books that I couldn’t get at the library were available there (especially audiobooks), and I didn’t have to pay per title like on Audible. Or use up all my Hoopla borrows. Essentially, it functioned as a subscription library: pay the subscription fee, borrow books as desired.

Dangerous Skies Adventures, Book #2 Review of Dangerous Skies Adventures, Book #1 Heat Factor: Most of the heat comes from the crime solving, but don't you fret--there's still plenty of the fun kind of heat Character Chemistry: They have very balancing chemistry, like any good crime solving duo should Plot: Angie is determined to solve the murder of one of her CIA informants and enlists the help of his family to get the job done.

Are you looking for the coziness of a Christmas special without the whole Christmas thing? Do you think that Thanksgiving is an under-represented romance setting? Maybe you have a secret desire to …

This week on Tumblereads, our conversation centers on self-published authors who get trad-pub deals.

Happy November! Now that Spooky Season is over and fall has finally arrived where Holly lives, we're fully ready to snuggle up with ALL the smut. Actually, that's true all the time. Anyways, here's what we got up to in October. Our Favorite Reads… Ingrid's Pick: Bound to Fall by A.K. Caggiano The hero in this book is just so sweet and stupid, Ingrid could not stop gushing.

For October's longform podcast episode, we're revisiting Monster Romances! The Buddy Reads Heat Factor: Lust is always there, but it doesn’t control them Character Chemistry: “Respecting your needs and desires is really important to me” Plot: The lust demon may have been summoned to a coven orgy, but she deserves agency and consent, too Overall: Shy cinnamon roll man + Assertive succubus woman = Max adorable…

Heat Factor: It’s basically all about the very weird sex, but there’s actually less of it than I was expecting Character Chemistry: I’m happy for these women, but I’m not sure how they ended up wit…

It’s spooky season, so it’s definitely that time for seasonal lists. Like many readers, we sometimes love a little halloween holiday special, and those have inspired our own listicles over time. We…