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Diverse Read & Watch Picks for May & Win a Book!

May 1, 2017 Roni Loren

Happy May! I'm not sure how it's May already (isn't it only March?), but that's what the calendar keeps telling me, so I'm forced to believe them. The good news is that this means it's time for this month's picks for the Read and Write challenge!

If you're unfamiliar with the challenge, each month has a theme word, and I have guests recommend books, TV shows, and movies that go with the theme. I also throw in some of my own recs.

This month's theme is RAINBOW because it's spring and storm/tornado season in Texas and I can't wait for that scary part of the year to be done. Bring on the rainbows! But the theme also gives us a great opportunity to give extra focus to diverse, own voices, and LGBTQ reads for the month. And I have some fantastic guests ready to give you some great recommendations!

Plus, there's a CONTEST. So stay tuned until the end for a chance to win a book!

First up, author Robin Covington! A little about Robin... 

A USAToday bestseller, Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her books. Her stories burn up the sheets. . .one page at a time. When she’s not writing she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, hoarding red nail polish and stalking Chris Evans.  

A 2016 RITA® Award nominee, Robin’s books have won the National Reader’s Choice and Golden Leaf Awards and finaled in the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, the Book Seller’s Best and the Award of Excellence.

She lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, her two brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!), and her beloved furbabies, Dutch and Dixie Joan Wilder.

 Robin's website 

 

Robin's Picks

Hey ya’ll! Many thanks to Roni for letting me visit with you and share my picks for LGBTQ books, tv and film!

I’m Robin Covington and I’m the product of a fine southern storytelling tradition, mixed in with the love of music and a liberal dash of moonshine bootlegging bravado!  I write sexy contemporary and erotic romance that burns up the sheets . . . one page at a time.

Here are my picks for the month . ..

 

 

 

TV:

I’ve had two fantastic LGBTQ TV experiences lately.  The first is the web series called, THE OUTS.  Over two seasons the series chronicles the lives of Jack and Mitchell, ex-lovers who start out as-less-than-friends and then make their way back to an indestructible friendship. The writing is crisp and hilarious and sometimes poignant as their social circle includes the bitchily-lovable Oona, the wise-beyond-his-years Paul (aka Scruffy) and Alan Cumming.  The first season is free on the show website, while the second season is available on Vimeo. Season three is in the works!

 

 

I had to also tell you about LONDON SPY. This show was a roller coaster from the first episode the last second of the final and 7th installment. Lost London party boy, Denny, falls for the serious and inexperienced Alex but when Alex gets killed, Denny learns that his life has been a jigsaw of lies and truth. It’s riveting, breath-taking and engrossing. Jim Boradbent and Charlotte Rampling bring their decades of acting chops to the screen but Ben Wishaw steals every scene as the devastated Denny who finds out he’s way stronger than he thought he was.

I watched it on Netflix – so bonus!

 

Movie:

I recently watched BOY MEETS GIRL on Netflix as well and I was enchanted by the candid portrayal of a transgender young woman exploring love and her options for the future as she graduates high school and heads out into the world from her small town. I really loved that the main character was played by Michelle Hendley, a transgender woman. I’ve been searching for books, film and literature to help me understand the challenges and joys of transgender people and this film helped me grow in my knowledge. It thought it was charming, funny and poignant with characters and a story that were universal.  I loved it.

I watched it on Netflix and then I tuned into Hendley’s video blog which is funny and very honest about her transition and her life. (


Next up is author Lex Chase! A little about Lex...

Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, “We’re all going to die, I’m just trying to make it a little more interesting.” Now, she’s on a mission to make the world a hell of a lot more interesting.

Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventure—and depending on how she feels that day—Lex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. Her pride is in telling stories of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. If you’re going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love.

Lex is a pop culture diva, her DVR is constantly backlogged, she has intense emotions about Hannibal's Hannigram, and unapologetically loved the ending of Lost. She wouldn’t last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind.

Lex's website

 

Lex's Pick

TV Show:

For LGBT television, my #1 recommendation is NBC's Hannibal. All three seasons are streaming for free on Amazon Prime.

Why I would rec a show about Hannibal Lecter? It's actually a gay love story played out on mainstream television. Our hero is FBI agent and social misfit, Will Graham, who has settled for the idea he'll never fit in anywhere. Upon the first time he and Hannibal cross paths, Hannibal sees something special in him. A bond so strong, it's one that you can feel in your soul. For that one person to not only get you, but fully understand who and what you are under all the layers we put on ourselves. It's a love story without being about the love story, which is lovely.

And yes, there's cannibalism, but really, Hannibal makes them look goddamn tasty. It is a beautiful psychological horror show after all. Also Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy are pretty easy on the eyes. Just sayin'. Even if you don't think the show is your jam, just try it. Trust me.

But you don't have to take my word for it. This YouTuber sums it up best.


Next up is author Tamsen Parker! First, a little about Tamsen...

Tamsen Parker is a stay-at-home mom by day, USA Today bestselling erotic romance writer by naptime. Her novella CRAVING FLIGHT was named to the Best of 2015 lists of Heroes and Heartbreakers, Smexy Books, Romance Novel News, and Dear Author. Heroes and Heartbreakers called her Compass series “bewitching, humorous, erotically intense and emotional.”

She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.

Tamsen's website

 

Tamsen's Picks

Books

An Unseen Attraction by KJ Charles: For my money, KJ Charles is one of the best writers in romance right now. I loved this m/m historical because includes a PoC hero, and the main characters aren't Dukes or Earls, but the proprietor of a boarding house and a taxidermist. 

 

Hold Me Down by Sara Taylor Woods: This is a BDSM coming-of-age novel, and one I hope budding kinksters get their hands on. It's an #ownvoices story with a Jewish heroine and I love seeing faith integrated in non-Inspirationals. 


And finally, it's time for a few of my picks...

Roni's Picks

Books:

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

This book was one of my Friday Reads a while back and you can see my full review here, but this is about a loving family and how the handle things when they're youngest son starts saying he's a girl. This story was funny, touching, and loving. The whole family is full of people you'd like to know. And it really makes you think about how, as parents, we often have to make huge decisions for our children that could affect them long-term, and we usually don't have all the information (because it can't be known), so it's a leap of faith and trusting your gut. 

 

 

 

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - I read this one earlier in the year and it's stuck with me. It was so fantastic. Two teens meet in NYC and spend the whole day together. But it's so much more than that. It's about how one day and one person can make a difference in the whole trajectory of your life. It was romantic, funny, poignant, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting. It fits the rainbow them because the cast is diverse (the heroine is Jamaican, the hero Korean-American) and the cover has a pretty rainbow theme! My full review is here.

 

Movies:

Queen of Katwe - I saw this one with kidlet. It's based on a true story about a girl in Uganda who discovers she has an amazing talent for chess. It was a great movie that I enjoyed, but also a bonus that my normally easily distracted in non-cartoon movies kidlet was into as well.

 

Hidden Figures - I saw this one with my son as well and it was phenomenal. If you haven't seen it yet. Watch. Now. 


Thank you to our guests for this month! While you're grabbing your Read and Watch picks, check out their newest books, too! 

Third by Robin Covington

Dr. Carla Androghetti is not interested in compromise. 
 
With a thriving psychiatry practice in Washington, D.C. and a fulfilling position as a sexual third in a threesome with couples at Club D, she's living just the way she wants. When the murder of a famous former bedmate brings a sexy, tempting cop into her life, she indulges in an affair as sizzling as it is dangerous. Finding a man who can love her and accept her kink is a dream she’d given up a long time ago.
 
Homicide Detective Aiden Cross takes no prisoners.
 
Usually nothing can distract him from a case, but a sexy shrink with an unusual kink has him losing his laser-focus on the job. He’s been burned before by a cheating ex-wife and he doesn’t share, so why does he keep finding himself in the bed of a woman who breaks all his rules?
 
Passion will force them to take a risk.
 
When forbidden desire takes them to the edge of their personal limits, their walls will need to crumble if they have any chance together. 

 

Americana Fairytale by Lex Chase

Modern fairy-tale princess Taylor Hatfield has problems. One: he’s a guy. Two: his perfect brother Atticus is the reincarnation of Snow White. Three: Taylor has no idea which princess he is supposed to be. Four: Taylor just left his prince (a girl) at the altar. Despite his enchanted lineage, Taylor is desperate to find his Happily Ever After away from magic, witches, and stuffy traditions. Regrettably, destiny has other plans for him. Dammit. 

When word reaches Taylor that Idi the Witchking has captured Atticus, Taylor is determined to save his brother. He enlists the help of rakish and insufferable Corentin Devereaux, likewise of enchanted lineage. A malicious spell sends Taylor and Corentin on a road trip through the kitschy nostalgia of roadside Americana. To save Atticus, they must solve the puzzles put forth by Idi the Witchking. As they struggle, Taylor and Corentin’s volatile partnership sparks a flash of something more. But princesses have many enemies, and Taylor must keep his wits about him because there’s nothing worse than losing your heart… or your head.

 

His Custody by Tamsen Parker

He needs to be a better man for her sake, but she makes him want to be so bad...

Keyne O’Connell leads a charmed life. She has a caring family and a terrific boyfriend. Her senior year is about to begin, and her future looks bright. But one dark summer night robs her of everyone she loves, thrusting her into the care of her boyfriend’s intimidating, much older brother.

Dark and brooding, Jasper Andersson is not a good man. His business dealings are barely legal. He’s a womanizer and a casual drug user. He has no interest in becoming Keyne’s guardian, although given her limited options, he doesn’t have much of a choice. He knows he must protect her at whatever the cost.

But living in close quarters soon stirs up feelings inside them both that are far from platonic. Keyne needs a firm hand to keep her in line, but what she desires could lead Jasper into trouble...


QUICK NOTE:

BY THE HOUR came out last week! If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, what are you waiting for? ;) Read the first chapter here or just get yourself the whole thing!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Indiebound

Also, a huge thank you to everyone who has bought, read, reviewed, and spread the word about it. Huge hugs!

About the book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Off the Clockcomes a story of love, hate, and the fire that ignites when the two collide... 

Dr. Elle McCray has a plan. Work hard. Be the best. And do it alone. After her ex-husband’s betrayal, she’s learned being feared is a hell of a lot easier than being humiliated. So when trouble personified, Lane Cannon, dares to flirt with her, she shuts him down cold. Too gorgeous. Too cocky. And his job as The Grove’s sexual surrogate is to sleep with patients. No, thank you.

Former escort Lane Cannon has spent enough years with people looking down on him. Stupid. Trailer trash. Rent boy. He’s heard it all. He’s worked too hard to shed his past to let some haughty doctor cut him down. But something about Elle’s ice queen act has his dominant instincts perking up and his body taking notice. He can’t walk away.

After an evening of verbal sparring turns into a night of steamy hate sex, Lane’s ready for round two. But Elle proposes a business deal. How better to keep things strictly physical than to pay him for his services? 

Lane wants her, not her money. But he’ll play along in exchange for one thing—all the control. It’s only supposed to be a dirty little fling between colleagues, but these two are about to learn a lesson in love…by the hour.


CONTEST ALERT:

This month as a thank you to our guests, I'll give away a copy of one of the guest's books to three different winners.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now it's your turn. What are you planning to read and watch this month? And let us know if you have any recs for this month's theme!

In Book Recommendations, Books, contest, Guest Bloggers, Movies, Read & Watch Challenge, Reading, Television, What To Read Tags read & watch challenge, #weneeddiversebooks, #ownvoices, diverse reads, romance novels, romance authors, lgbtq fiction, lgbtq romance, reading, book challenge, reading challenge, rainbow, roni loren, tamsen parker, robin covington, lex chase, contest
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Read & Watch Picks for March with Agent Sara Megibow

March 1, 2017 Roni Loren

Can you believe it's March already? Welcome back for the March edition of the Read & Watch Challenge! How'd your February challenge go? (I'll update with how mine went at the end of the post.)

This month's theme is DIFFERENT. If you're new here, pop on over to this post to see how the challenge works and which themes we'll be using.

This month, I have a special treat for you. My dear agent, Sara Megibow of KT Literary, is here to give us picks for March.

One of Sara's jobs as a literary agent is to sell books to publishers, so she gets to sift through all the query letters and chapters from aspiring writers and then picks the best of the bunch to represent. So, in other words, when she gives a book recommendation, you should probably listen. She clearly has excellent taste--after all, she IS responsible for plucking Crash Into You out of the pile when I was trying to get published. ;)

Here's a little more about Sara:

Sara Megibow is a literary agent with nine years of experience in publishing. Sara specializes in working with authors in middle grade, young adult, romance, erotica, science fiction and fantasy and represents New York Times bestselling authors Roni Loren and Jason Hough and international bestselling authors Stefan Bachmann and Tiffany Reisz. Sara is LGBTQ-friendly and presents regularly at SCBWI and RWA events around the country.

So let's welcome Sara and she what she's chosen for DIFFERENT:

 

Sara's Book Pick 

FORGED IN DESIRE by Brenda Jackson

Sara’s Thoughts: I chose FORGED IN DESIRE by Brenda Jackson to be my #Different book because I read a lot of sexy contemporary romance and small town contemporary romance but not a lot of romantic suspense. I’ll let you in on a little secret – I frequently struggle with suspension of disbelief in this sub-genre. The bad guys are coming! Danger is everywhere! And…they stop to have sex. That’s the point at which most romantic suspense books lose me. When I saw FORGED IN DESIRE at my B&N I was hopeful this book would avoid that hiccup. And it did!

“Strong Enough To Protect Her. Bold Enough To Love Her.” = that’s the tagline for FORGED IN DESIRE. And wowza – that’s the perfect description for this amazing, amazing book! I loved it! The balance between chemistry and plot was superb and I was simultaneously cheering for Margo and Lamar to beat the bad guys and to...you know…get together. Bravo!

I’ve decided that a solid dose of heart-pounding suspense goes very well with a solid dose of heart-pounding chemistry. So glad I gave romantic suspense another try and I heartily recommend FORGED IN DESIRE!

Back cover:

Strong enough to protect her. Bold enough to love her. 
When good girl Margo Connelly becomes Lamar "Striker" Jennings's latest assignment, she knows she's in trouble. And not just because he's been hired to protect her from an underworld criminal. The reformed bad boy's appeal is breaching all her defenses, and as the threats against her increase, Margo isn't sure which is more dangerous: the gangster targeting her, or the far too alluring protector tempting her to let loose. 
Though Striker's now living on the right side of the law, he's convinced his troubled past keeps Margo out of his league. But physical chemistry explodes into full-blown passion when they go on the run together. Surrendering to desire could be a deadly distraction—or finally prove that he's the only man qualified to keep her safe, and win her love.

Sara also has two bonus picks from her client list to look out for!

Juno Rushdan has a trilogy of romantic thrillers coming from Sourcebooks in 2018. I pitched A LONG WAY TO FALL (Book #1 in the series) as a sexy Jason Bourne and it’s even more high-action and high-suspense than what we find in romantic suspense. Follow Juno at: www.junorushdan.com

And, for Different, follow Don Allmon whose debut M/M elf + orc romance, GLAMOUR THIEVES, comes out this summer. Elf + Orc? Now THAT’S #Different! www.donallmon.com

 

Sara's Movie Pick

Mamma Mia

I recently saw Mamma Mia at The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire with my dad – it was amazing! The singing and dancing and colors and general happiness was utter joy. Good news = it comes in movie-format too (starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Seyfried). I’m calling this my #Different because it’s a play and a movie and there’s bellbottoms and zoot suits. Want love? Want to sing along to Abba? Mamma Mia it is!

 


Roni's Book Picks

The theme DIFFERENT could be interpreted in many different ways, but I decided to choose book recommendations that if I were suggesting the books to you in person, I would offer a disclaimer of "It's a little odd/different/out there but trust me, it's awesome!" :)

The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith

Okay, so this is a LONG ASS book and there is an ALIEN LIZARD HERO and those two things along would normally make me want to run. I don't read sci-fi stuff. I don't typically like non-human heroes. I would've never picked this book up if not for a recommendation. But it ended up being one of my favorite reads of that year. I did an extensive review on it here. But this is one that I almost don't want you to read the back cover because you're going to want to run and you shouldn't, lol. It's a romance. It's horror. It's sci-fi. It's super dark. It's compelling. I read it in five days and it's long, people. LONG. So anyway, you can't get more different than this one.

Back cover:

It was her last chance:
Amber Bierce had nothing left except her sister and two tickets on Earth’s first colony-ship. She entered her Sleeper with a five-year contract and the promise of a better life, but awakened in wreckage on an unknown world. For the survivors, there is no rescue, no way home and no hope until they are found by Meoraq—a holy warrior more deadly than any hungering beast on this hostile new world…but whose eyes show a different sort of hunger when he looks at her.
It was his last year of freedom:
Uyane Meoraq is a Sword of Sheul, God’s own instrument of judgment, victor of hundreds of trials, with a conqueror’s rights over all men. Or at least he was until his father’s death. Now, without divine intervention, he will be forced to assume stewardship over House Uyane and lose the life he has always known. At the legendary temple of Xi’Matezh, Meoraq hopes to find the deliverance he seeks, but the humans he encounters on his pilgrimage may prove too great a test even for him…especially the one called Amber, behind whose monstrous appearance burns a woman’s heart unlike any he has ever known.
From R. Lee Smith, author of Heat and Cottonwood, comes an epic new story of desire, darkness and the dawn that comes after The Last Hour of Gann.
WARNING: This book contains graphic violence, strong sexual content and explicit language. It is intended for mature readers only.
 

One Cut Deeper by Joely Sue Burkhart

I read this one a while back, but it has a serial killer hero. Yes, the hero is a serial killer. And it works. (I've been heard it compared to Dexter, but I haven't seen that show so I can't say for sure.) Here's the review I did back when I read it.

Back cover:

Her needs are dark. His are dangerous.
Charlie MacNiall has been bringing his beautiful king shepherd to the vet clinic where Ranay Killian works for the better part of a year. She doesn't realize he's been slowly wooing her. She certainly has no idea that he picked her deliberately--that she is to become his. A broken heart and a desperate desire to be dominated make her the perfect victim.
His perfect victim.
Charlie fixes Ranay, testing her emotional limits while pushing her sexual boundaries past anything she'd imagined possible. Pain is their shared pleasure...until Charlie disappears and Ranay is all but destroyed.
The FBI says the man she loves is a serial killer. Ranay can't deny there's a darkness in Charlie, a monstrous hunger that drives him to the brink. She even believes he could kill. But Charlie's hunger is what bonds them--it's the foundation of their love. Would he actually kill her?
 

I could say, "And now for something completely different." But really, we're already out there, aren't we? ;) So next isn't a romance, it's a horror book. But for anyone who has ever been in an IKEA, you'll be able to relate and laugh. I thought this was such a clever idea for a story. And the paperback looks like an IKEA catalog with the drawings of furniture (and eventually torture devices) within the pages. :) Here's my full review.

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Back cover:

A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, Horrorstör comes packaged in the form of a glossy mail order catalog, complete with product illustrations, a home delivery order form, and a map of Orsk’s labyrinthine showroom. It’s “a treat for fans of The Evil Dead or Zombieland, complete with affordable solutions for better living.”—Kirkus Reviews. 
Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.
To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.
 

Charlotte Stein romances 

If you're looking for straight up romance pick, anything by Charlotte Stein will serve you well. Charlotte writes really quirky erotic romances that often have a forbidden element in them and have BETA HEROES (now that's different, right?). Her author voice is also very unique. These are sexy and funny almost always have awesomely awkward characters. If you're not sure where to start, I recommend Sheltered (awkward virgin heroine) or Forbidden (priest hero).


Roni's Watch Picks

If you want a creepy ass show to watch, this one fits the bill. Weird and spooky and strange, Channel Zero: Candle Cove from the SyFy channel kept me entertained. If you don't like scary, skip this one.


What I'll be Reading and Watching This Month:

Reading:

This one is a little different for me because I don't read a lot of what's labeled "women's fiction", which always struck me as kind of an odd genre delineation. What does that even mean? But, I've heard this recommended in a few different places and the premise intrigues me.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Back cover:

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…
 

Watching:

One Day at a Time on Netflix

I've only watched the first episode, but I thought it was really cute. I remember the original show from the 70s that it's based on, but this is a different take (see how I worked in the theme word? ;) ). Here's the summary from Wikipedia:

This Netflix-original comedy-drama is inspired by Norman Lear's 1975 series of the same name. This time around, the series follows the life of Penelope, a newly single Army veteran, and her Cuban-American family, as they navigate the ups and downs of life. Now a nurse, Penelope is raising two strong-willed children. When faced with challenges, Penelope turns to her "old-school" mother, and her building manager, who has become an invaluable confidant. The series offers a contemporary take on what life looks like in both good and bad times, and how loved ones can help make it all worthwhile.

Update from February:

I was such a fail at the challenge in Feb. However, I have a good excuse. :) This month was RITA judging, which is when romance writers get a stack of 5-7 books that we have to read in about 6 weeks and judge for the RITA contest. I can't publicly post about those books, so it doesn't show that I've read them, but I've been busy reading those and didn't get a chance to read my challenge books.

I also only got to watch an episode or two of Gilmore Girls. It's been a crazy busy month. Hopefully, y'all were more successful at the challenge this month than I was, lol.


All right, that's what I've got for you for this month's challenge. I'd love to hear what you plan to read and watch for the theme DIFFERENT! :) 

In Book Recommendations, Books, Guest Bloggers, Movies, Read & Watch Challenge, Reading, Television, What To Read Tags read & watch challenge, reading, tv, movies, sara megibow, literary agent, kt literary, books, brenda jackson, charlotte stein, one day at a time, liane moriarty, candle cove, horrostor, grady hendrix, joely sue burkhart, one cut deeper, dark romance, the last hour of gann, r. lee smith, sci-fi romance, different romance, mamma mia, reading challenge
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2017 Read & Watch Challenge: February's Word & Recommendations

February 1, 2017 Roni Loren

It's time for the next month of the 2017 Read & Watch Challenge!

 (If you missed the initial post that explained how this works, check it out here. You can join in anytime. There's also a free checklist and reading journal you can download.) 

This month's theme word is RETRO. The best thing about this challenge is that you can choose how to interpret the theme word when selecting which book to read and movie/TV show to watch for that month.

Possible interpretations of the this months' theme:

  • A book that was published more than ten years ago.
  • A story with a throwback theme (time-travel, 80s references, takes place in a previous decade even if it's a contemporary book)
  • A book or TV show/movie from your childhood
  • A non-fiction book about something from the past (or technology from that past, I'll have a rec below)
  • Historical fiction or romance
  • A TV show/movie from the past that's been rebooted
  • A book with a retro cover
  • A story or documentary about a band/singer from the past

And if you're still having trouble picking something, I've got help! Each month I invite a tastemaker, solicit reader recommendations from my reader group The Fearless Romantics, and I offer my own suggestions and what I'll be reading/watching for the challenge.

On to the recommendations, take it away Genevieve!

Tastemaker of the Month: Author Genevieve Lynne

 

Oh how I love a good retro story! Maybe it started when my husband and I netflixed Mad Men one week and actually felt like we’d accomplished something. Ten seasons in one week? You’re damn right that was an accomplishment!

What I recommend...

 

Books:

For my book recommendation I’m gonna mention a few novels. My first one is The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James. It’s set in 1920s England, and is about a young woman who takes a job helping a ghost hunter and falls in love with a wounded veteran. It started a little slow, but picked up quickly, and it is creepy you guys. Like in a good way. I’m talking what the hell was that sound?, hurry and get under the covers, sleep with the lamp on creepy. And oh mah gawd there are black crows. Everyone knows black crows mean trouble. It won two well-deserved RITAS a few years ago. What I loved about this novel is that it hit all my favorite genre buttons: romance, mystery, and thriller. 

 

What I’ll be reading:

I’m going to be reading In the Shadow of Lakecrest. It’s about a woman who discovers her new husband has a dark and disturbing past that has to do with some family secrets she tries to uncover. I do love me a good dark family secrets story. 

 

TV:

I’m telling everyone who will listen that they need to watch A Crime to Remember on the Investigation Discovery channel. It’s fascinating! Every episode tells the story of a crime that happened anywhere from the 1920s through the 1960s. It goes into the investigation techniques used during that time, and tells how the crime was solved. No DNA testing, no high tech equipment, no fancy chemicals. Check it out. It comes on Tuesdays, but they have the videos on their website, and they play reruns all the time.

What I’ll be watching:

Hidden Figures. Duh, right? I’m almost ashamed to admit I haven’t seen it yet. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who’s seen it has told me how wonderful it is. For those who may not know, it’s a true story about female African-American mathematicians who worked for NASA. Need I say more? I can’t wait to see it!


Thanks, Genevieve! Now on to some suggestions from readers...

Reader Group Recommendations

I asked the readers in my reader group, The Fearless Romantics, what their recommendations were. (And if you want to join the reader group, find us here!)

Stacy recommends Mary Balogh's Bedyn Saga series. She says, "this was/is my favorite series of hers. These books led me to Pride and Prejudice, which was set in the same time and had the same locations."

Yanina recommends: "Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series and BBC'S pride and prejudice" 

Martha said: "I can totally second the rec for Mary Balogh's Bedwyns. I would also put in a shoutout to the old Loveswept novels with Tami Hoag (Sarah's Sin) and Iris Johansen (Sedikhan series). And then there's Johanna Lindsey's Mallorys. I mean, if we're going retro, what's not to love about the Fabio romance covers?! And if you're gonna go to the 80's early 90's bodice ripper covers, then you gotta tackle Tom Cruise romance movies starting with Top Gun, but don't forget Days of Thunder and Far and Away. Round that out with the Wedding Singer Soundtrack, and you're good to go."

Randee said: "Princess bride. Book and movie. Both are amazing not traditional romances but super fun!"

Susan offered a book/movie combo: "I loved the Thorn Birds - book and movie. I remember thinking I could never read a book that long and then stayed up nearly all night two nights in a row to finish it."

And from readers on my Facebook page...

Connie said: "Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss most amazing romance author of all time!"

Dixie said: "The first romance that I read and that got me hooked was Seduction by Amanda Quick. Still a favorite reread."

Monica said: "Thirteen Reasons Why with its tape set makes me think of Retro and they just released the trailer for the netflix show to come out the 31st of March."

*From Roni: I read Thirteen Reasons Why years ago and it has stuck with me. Fantastic book. (And I had no idea there were coming out with a show.)

Sharla said: "If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon! My favorite old romance. Intrigue, deception, romance, woman finding the kickass within herself... and it was made into a movie in the 80's. Book is better."

 


Roni's Recommendations

Books:

HIstorical romance is actually a relatively new genre to me even though most romance readers grew up with them. I've mentioned before, but I didn't grow up reading romance. I was more a suspense and horror girl--but that's mainly because I didn't know romance novels existed, lol. So over the last few years, I've been working my way through some historical romances that people have told me are must reads and I'm totally in love. It's one of the subgenres that I've found I most consistently enjoy. So here are a few that could work for this month's theme.

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

This is one that was recommended to me multiple times and finally I listened. I'm so glad I did. This one got me out of a reading slump last fall. The heroine falls for a servant when they're teens and everything falls apart. He's sent away to a rough life and he thinks she did it. He comes back as a grown man who has become successful in his own right and is now out for revenge. So good.

 

 

 

 

 

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Widowed heroine and a hero who has Asperger Syndrome (though he's called mad because they didn't know how to define it back then.) This one was so well done. Super steamy, a mystery woven in, unique characters, and the Asperger aspect was handled well (my son's on the spectrum, so I'm always sensitive to how it's portrayed.) It was one of my few 5-star reads last year.

 

 


TV/Movies:

Hidden Figures

If you haven't seen this, you are completely missing out. (I'm probably one of the ones who told Genevieve to get her butt to the movies, lol.) Go. Now. So well done, fantastic acting, and a story that will make you cheer aloud. When I saw it, the entire theater applauded and whooped. I can't remember the last time I've had that happen in a movie. Even my nine-year old who sometimes has trouble staying focused for a "non-kid" movie was into it. (Though I had to do a little whisper-explaining along the way.) He just learned about civil rights and MLK so it was a great movie to add to that.

 

 

 Fuller House (Netflix Original)

When I saw that Netflix was doing a reboot of Full House with the kids from the original cast (along with regular appearances by the entire cast), I couldn't resist because it was one of my favorite shows growing up. However, I had pretty big doubts that it'd be any good. It's hard to recapture something like that. I was wrong. I've gobbled up both seasons like candy. They somehow manage to embrace the original schtick of the show (including the requisite the group hugs and cheesiness) and it totally works. There are also nods to old episodes and inside jokes. There is also an appearance by the New Kids on the Block. I mean, come on, how can a child of the 80s/90s resist? Things are stressful in the world right now, so this is a show to go to when you just want to laugh and feel warm and fuzzy. It's also a show you can watch with your kids, which is hard to find these days. 


What I'll Be Reading and Watching

Books:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is a book I chose from the Book of the Month Club and I've started but not gotten too deep into it. The premise is futuristic, which doesn't seem like it'd fit the retro them, BUT it's all about 80s references. 

Here's the summary because it's hard to explain: 

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. 
   But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

But that "obsession with pop culture" it mentions is an obsession with the 80s. Wade has to basically devote his life to studying pop culture from the 1980s to solve the game. So if you're a child of the 80s, your head is going to spin with all the references. Like I said, I started this one, but haven't gotten too deep into it. I'm hoping to fix that this month.

The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax

As someone who is dedicated to her paper planner, reads more paper books than digital, and has vinyl albums on her wall, this book is speaking to me. I've read a little so far and am finding it fascinating.

 

Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath

I read Texas Destiny this past week. I'm not sure if I've ever read a historical western romance before, but I loved this one. It's old school so there's head-hopping to get used to but it was a great story. I'll probably blog about it more on Friday. But I've bought Texas Glory, the next book in the series, and hope to get to it this month.

 

 

TV/Movies:

Gilmore Girls (on Netflix)

I am apparently one of the few ladies in my age group who totally missed this show when it originally aired. I'm fixing that now. I'm about 6 episodes into season one and loving it.

The Princess Bride

I've never seen it. I know, I know. I need to fix that. I'm taking the recs from my reader group and putting this on my list. :)


Update: What I Read/Watched for the January Challenge of BEGIN:

Read:

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (I raved about it here.)

Watched:

OJ: Made In America (Almost done with this one. It's up for a number of awards and is very well done. It's not simply about the trial but delves into so many other things. I thought this might be redundant because we already watched The People vs. OJ which was excellent, but this is documentary style and incorporates so much more than just the trial.

Missed January's recommendations? Check them out here. 


Thanks to our Tastemaker of the Month - Genevieve Lynne!

In Bokchito, Oklahoma, you know everyone and trust no one…

Emily Matthews swore she’d never expose her son Jack to her dysfunctional family that sent her running from Bokchito at only seventeen. The sins of her past still haunt her, but when her brother lands in jail, she has no choice but to go back and face her old demons.

Miller Anderson has never forgotten about the girl who ran out of his life thirteen years ago… 

And with the secret he’s keeping from Emily, he knows he most likely never will. But when his daughter Abby plays matchmaker to set him up with his lost love, he can’t resist the resurgence of emotion that has them reliving their high school glory days.

Evil has a way of waiting for what it wants…

Just when Emily and Miller discover their old flame hasn’t died, they learn another fire has been smoldering in Bokchito. Her family’s long line of sins, kindled with a generation-old grudge, ignites when Emily discovers the truth about Miller’s daughter and is forced to choose between protecting Miller’s secret and the one thing she can’t afford to lose…her son Jack. 

Caught up in a game of lies and dirt road scandal, Emily must risk everything to save her son and preserve Miller’s good name, or let her family’s darkest secret ruin them both. 

Free on Kindle Unlimited or buy for 3.99 or get it in the boxed set, on sale today for only 99 cents!

 

Find Genevieve online: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Get a free coloring sheet!


So who's in for this month? What are you going to be reading and watching? For those who did it last month, how'd your January challenge go? 

In Book Recommendations, Books, Movies, Read & Watch Challenge, Reading, Television, What To Read Tags read & watch challenge, reading, reading challenge, retro books, old school romance, historical romance, hidden figures, genevieve lynne, secondhand sinners, romance reading, 2017 read and watch challenge, #readwatch17, gilmore girls, mary balogh, lisa kleypas, jennifer ashley, fuller house, netflix, ready player one, the revenge of analog, lorraine heath, books
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Creating a Daily Reading Habit & Tackling the TBR: The 5-Page Method

January 2, 2017 Roni Loren

With the launch of the 2017 Read & Watch Challenge yesterday (have you joined yet?), I wanted to take today to focus on this month's theme word--BEGIN--in a different way. Some of the most intimidating things about reading challenges are the tasks of a) choosing which book to read and b) getting yourself to actually pick up the book and read it. So I thought it might be helpful to talk about creating a daily reading habit and what I'm personally doing this year to help with that.

I know that for some of you, I'm probably preaching to the choir. You don't need help beefing up your reading time. You're a power reader. (But read on anyway because I'm going to apply this technique to tackling that towering TBR pile I know you have.)

I used to be a power reader too. But each year, with all the things that go along with being a writer and running a business, I find that my fiction reading has suffered more and more. In 2016, I read 45 books, which is nothing to complain about, but it was my lowest count in years and a third to half were non-fiction reads.

So this year, two of my areas to focus on, habit-wise, are to get back to reading more fiction AND to tackle my completely out-of-control TBR pile. With both of these, I've found that often the hardest part for me is just taking the time to pick up a book. To BEGIN. My phone is a distraction, chores are waiting, work is always there, etc. It's easy just to leave the book on the coffee table and forget to pick it up.

But then I read this article over at Fast Company: How I Became a Morning Person, Read More Books, and Learned a Language in a Year. It's a fantastic article about starting small with habits, and it tackled what is often the hardest thing--beginning. In the article, the author talks about how she had a goal of reading 1 page a night minimum. Just one. She could read more if she wanted to, but she could check it off her habit list if she made it through one. So it lowers the intimidation factor of picking up the book and helps you feel accomplished, but also, more times than not (if the book is good), you'll end up reading more.

The 5-Page Daily Habit

So I decided to take on this technique, but altering it to five pages because it takes me about that long to get into a reading something. And I'm a fast reader, so five pages is nothing. The method is simple: Read 5 pages minimum every night.

Last night, I employed this technique and ended up reading 100 pages. The book captured me and I enjoyed an evening of reading. And I probably wouldn't have picked up the book last night at all if I hadn't told myself, I only need to read 5 pages.

Applying the Method to the Towering TBR Pile

So then that got me to thinking about my crazy TBR pile. Hundreds of books, people. Shelves and shelves of print and a Kindle full of ebooks just waiting for me. It's been a regular struggle for me to focus on the TBR. Each year, I set a renewed goal for it and fail. But often it's because I'm overwhelmed at the thought of which book to read. I think this 5-page technique can do wonders here, too.

You pick up a book you think you want to read from your TBR and read 5 pages (or 10 or the first chapter, whatever you want your litmus test to be). If it doesn't capture you, put it aside. Go on to the next one. If a book's been sitting on your shelf for more than a year and the five pages don't grab you, well, you're probably never going to read it. Life is too short to read books that aren't hooking you.

For instance, last night I was trying to decide which book to read for the BEGIN theme this month in the challenge. I had two contenders. I decided I'd read the first five pages of each and then decide. Well, I read the first five pages of The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and I never picked up the second book lol. I ended up reading a hundred pages because the author hooked me. :)

So, if you're intimidated about starting a reading habit this year or joining the Read & Watch challenge, or afraid you'll never put a dent in your TBR pile, then maybe give this a try.

Anyone have any specific reading habits they're tackling this year? Am I the only one drowning in my TBR pile?

In Books, Productivity, Read & Watch Challenge, Reading Tags reading, TBR pile, TBR challenge, reading challenge, read & watch challenge, 2017 reading challenge, reading habit, creating habits
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The 2017 Read & Watch Challenge is here!

December 28, 2016 Roni Loren

It's that time of the year again--reading challenge time! Each year, I like to choose (or create) some sort of reading challenge to do in the upcoming year. Beyond keeping me focused on reading, it's also just fun to have a list or chart to check off (yes, I'm a nerd.) But based on the volume of reading challenges that pop up each year, I know I'm not the only one. :)

For the past few years, I've done the Push Your Boundaries reading challenge, which was a challenge I created to expand my reading selections beyond my comfort zone reads. I've really enjoyed that challenge and it's still one you can use for 2017. All the info and downloads are here for that challenge. But this year, I'm looking for something a little lighter and with more flexibility since I know it's going to be an exceptionally busy year. I also wanted to incorporate movies and TV because I've found that I've stopped watching TV (because of that pesky distraction of the smartphone at night).

Therefore, inspired by the exercise I did where you choose a one-word theme for the year, I've created the...

 

2017 Read & Watch Challenge

 

Here's how it works:

1. Each month will have a one-word theme. 

2. You will read a book and watch a movie or TV show that match the theme.  

3. You can use the theme word however you see fit. I'll give some ideas about how to play with a theme below.

4. Each month here on the blog and in my newsletter, I will feature the word, tell you what I plan to read and watch, give a few suggestions, and I will also invite "tastemakers" (writers, book bloggers, editors) to share some suggestions on what to read. I also plan to have a Reader of the Month offer a recommendation. So you'll get a number of different perspectives and options if you're having trouble picking something out or if you just want a great new recommendation. :)

5. Track Your Progress. A few options: 

  • Sign up for my newsletter and get the printable Fearless Romantics Reading Journal to track all your reading this year and this handy dandy checklist for the challenge.
  • Keep a Pinterest board to pin your book covers and movies.
  • Keep a page in your journal or planner.
  • Post on Instagram

6. Chat about it online using the hashtag #ReadWatch17

 

How the theme words work

I purposely chose words that could be up for interpretation. I don't like to be told what to read, lol, so this allows for maximum flexibility while still being a fun challenge. I can't wait to see how you guys interpret them. But each month I'll brainstorm ideas to give your creativity a nudge if it needs it. For instance, here are ideas for January's theme word

January: BEGIN

  • The start of a book series or film franchise or TV series
  • A book you started and put down but still want to read
  • A book or movie about beginnings
  • A non-fiction book or documentary about some habit or activity you want to begin in the new year 
  • A book or movie with the word Begin or Beginning in the title
  • A book or film that follows a character from birth.

See what I mean? The possibilities are endless. :)

Want to join the fun?

Sign up for my newsletter and get your checklist and free reading journal. Every two weeks, you'll get an email from me with book challenge info and recommendations along with my other blog content (posts about books, productivity, life, contests, etc.) I try to make my newsletter useful and fun. Promo is rare.

Or, you can also do this solo and not officially sign up. Just be sure to check out the blog once a month if you'd like book and movie recommendations or want to chat with other readers in the challenge.

Stay tuned for the January Read & Watch Challenge post. But until then, who's with me? :)

 

In Book Recommendations, Books, Movies, Reading, Reading Journal, What To Read, Read & Watch Challenge Tags book challenge, reading challenge, read & watch challenge, read and watch challenge, movie challenge, 2017, romance reading, free reading journal, new year's resolutions, new year's reading goals, read more, watch more movies, roni loren, reading checklist
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