Best Books to Read Now - April 2018

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Because I skipped last month, I’m going to cover five books this month! Are you ready? These are good books, y’all. I think I’ve got something for everyone.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Amazon || iBooks

I really can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like this. There’s old Hollywood gossip, glamour, love and drama. This is one that would be perfect for vacations and multi-generation book clubs. And I’m probably going to re-read it again at some point, like a classic movie.

The Trouble with Twelfth Grave – Darynda Jones

Amazon || iBooks

The penultimate book of the Charley Davidson series has got me feeling… a little emotional, to be honest. The series is coming to a close … next year? (I just checked. It looks like this was moved out from October ’18). There are very few series that I’ve read twelve books of and have been still this invested. Between this and the Kate Daniels series ending, I’m going to be jonesing for a new paranormal series to adopt. Y’all hit a girl up with some suggestions!

Tempest – Beverly Jenkins

Amazon || iBooks

A mail order bride in Wyoming who greets her husband to be by shooting him. With that premise you know you can’t go wrong, especially with Beverly Jenkins’  expert hand guiding you through a passionate love story rich in amazing historical details. As always, I was swept away and I learned so much! My favorite blend.

Next Year in Havana – Chanel Cleeton

Amazon || iBooks

Much in the vein of Tempest, above, this is another fantastic historical story with strong romance story threads and fascinating glimpses of Cuba during revolutionary times and today. Even I, a former Latin American studies major, found so much to sink my teeth into and I can’t wait for the sequel next year!!

The Secret to Southern Charm  - Kristy Woodson Harvey

Amazon || iBooks

I fell in love with the first book in the Peachtree Bluff series last year and knew I had to not only read the second book but invite Kristy Woodson Harvey onto my WOMEN WITH BOOKS podcast. Listen to the episode and you’ll hear ALL MY THOUGHTS on this book (which is out today! Congratulations Kristy Woodson Harvey!!)

OH! And the first book in the series, SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE, which i featured on the blog last year is on sale for $1.99!! Grab it because you'll want to read both together! 

What have you been reading lately? I can’t wait to tell you about what I’m currently reading… NEXT MONTH! *evil laugh *

All These Things That I Love - March 2018

A monthly round-up of things that give me life…

 ...Ozark

Okay, it took me a while to warm up to this. And maybe, given the fact that it’s about a family in mortal peril from Really Bad Guys (and maybe their own father?) it’s okay if I have mixed feelings about it?  I’ve finally come around and now it’s a must watch for Mr. Emory and me. The cast is fantastic (even though I’m old enough to be disturbed that the Silver Spoons cutie pie is a strangely cold money launderer).

...Fat Mascara podcast

Surely I’ve recommended this? This podcast is – superficially – about makeup and beauty topics, but every episode I find so much more in the conversation. This is really a podcast about female entrepreneurship, self-exploration and acceptance and economic power. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but listen to Jen Akin’s episode and tell me I’m wrong.

 … Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Beach 

As the weather gets a bit warmer and the sun starts shining again, I’ve discovered (shocker!!) I’ve become deathly pale in the past five months of staying indoors. So I’ve dug out this warmer palette and now I look like a healthy person again.  I can't find it on sale anywhere but a similar one might be this Urban Decay Heat palette. 

… with my Garmin VivoSmart

We now have the whole family hooked up to their Garmins and we have nightly step checks – driven by my kids, really, who are now super competitive and invested in mom sitting down so they can win our family challenges. It’s a pretty fun way for us all to interact and be healthy. And they’re waterproof! So much win.

What are you loving these days as winter turns into spring? I'd love to hear from you and the best way for us to keep in touch is my newsletter.  Newsletter subscribers gets exclusive story content and giveaways and more every month.  

Looking for a Great Read?

Argh! Because of my responsibilities judging RITA entries, I wasn’t able to get together my usual Best Books list this month.
 

So I thought I’d highlight some of the books I’ve been talking about on the Women With Books podcast.  Almost all my recent guests (and some more distant ones) have had new releases and/or sales.

Kate Clayborn’s award winning BEGINNER’S LUCK is on sale for $.99!  Try out the book that was nominated for Romantic Times 2017 Book of the Year! 

Megan Frampton’s  LADY BE RECKLESS which we talked about in the most recent episode of WWB has just released, if you're in the mood for a historical romance series loosely based on the Bennet sisters.

Alyssa Cole’s A PRINCESS IN THEORY, which we discussed in Chapter 16 is earning raves everywhere. If you are craving more modern royal romance, check it out.

Past superstar guest Penny Reid has a new book out this week: Marriage of Inconvenience!  I'm pretty sure it's a marriage of convenience story, though, so be warned. ;-)

And the lovely Tessa Dare has her LARP-ing historical romance book on sale: ROMANCING THE DUKE (the reason why we talked about LARP-ing and fan-fic on her episode)

And if you’re looking for more recommendations, as always, check out the books recommended by Women With Books guests on my  Goodreads Women With Books Bookshelf. I love that my guests bring a huge diversity of recommendations to the pod, from classics to science fiction and erotic romance. There's something for every book lover, for sure. 

Next month, I will be back with more of my personal list. Until then, keep reading!

All These Things That I Love - February 2018

A monthly round up of things that give me life.

Collagen coffee! 

It’s my secret weapon for clear glowy skin and getting an extra shot of protein in the morning.   I have done the bulletproof coffee thing, I’ve done butter and MCT oil but lately that’s just been a little heavy for me.  One scoop of collagen in beautiful, hot, preferably-with-a-little-sugar-free-mocha-syrup coffee is enough to get me going and activated for the morning.

Slayer of Words cup: no longer available. But it basically describes my mood while editing lately.

Collagen powder I use: Available here.

to Alexa! 

(And not these guys.)

My husband has rigged a house intercom system with Alexa devices but we love the one in the kitchen the most. For jokes, for music and for shopping lists, I recommended this in my 2017 holiday gift guide and it’s still going strong for us. I sometimes put videos of our morning get up and go songs on my Instagram.

Peaky Blinders

The seasons are too short, the accents are nearly unintelligible but the story of this family is gripping and the acting is A++++.

It’s February. My feet are chronically cold. I am obsessed with warm cozy slippers. I really need Uggs to make me some fingerless-gloves for typing, too.

UGGs. http://amzn.to/2EJBDk7

And warm cozy slippers are the near-definition of hygge, the Danish concept to describe cozy-communal-feeling good.  

As you may already know, my next Mistletoe Key novella is called LOVE IN THE TIME OF HYGGE and it is NOT SOLD IN STORES! (what????) It's EXCLUSIVE to newsletter subscribers - subscribe here if you like cozy cashmere, hot Florida beaches and Lindsay Emory-style romance: http://eepurl.com/b5t7Uj

Best Books to Read Now - February 2018

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Moonshadow – Thea Harrison

Buy it: Amazon || iBooks

After my Women With Books episode with Jeffe Kennedy, I realized I had not read any of Thea Harrison’s books! And this cover. You guys. This is the sexiest cover – even sexier than Eloisa James’  Half-wet Hugh Grant cover (see here) and this book was soooo good. After a few years of struggling to find a good paranormal/fantasy series, I think I found a winner!

If Ever I Should Love You -  Cathy Maxwell

Buy it: Amazon || iBooks

This was a book I read for an upcoming book club and it was a delight. The heroine struggles with substance abuse so… definitely a first in historical romance for me. But Ms. Maxwell pulls off a second chance romance, with a complicated, stirring backstory and gives you an HEA worth waiting for.

The Wedding Date – Jasmine Guillory

Buy it: Amazon || iBooks

You’ve seen this book everywhere. And in my social media feed. I was lucky to get an ARC from Jasmine’s publisher and was able to read it before my Women With Books interview with her.  The book is that women’s fiction/ romance blend that Jasmine herself calls chick-lit – and I’ve had several listeners tell me they are so excited that chick lit is back… maybe?

The Taste of Temptation by Julia Kelly

Buy it: Amazon || iBooks

Today is release day for this gorgeous enemies to lovers Victorian historical romance! Once again, I received an advance copy because Julia is my dear friend and I was interviewing her for Women With Books. Check out our fun chat and you’ll hear all about my love for these characters and this book!

I’m trying to keep track of all my Best Books to Read Now and my Women With Books Recommendation lists over at Goodreads. Follow me there so that you’ll be able to see them all!

And if you want some free reading this year, I’ll be putting a chapter a month of my next Mistletoe Key novella, LOVE IN THE TIME OF HYGGE in my monthly newsletters!  Sign up here: lindsayemory.com/newsletter