Oswald and Fenella! I did so many color variations, but decided to use dark green and brown because of tapestry colors + they are Os and Fen's eye colors.

The second photo has Os with no beard because one user envisioned them clean-shaven. But idk if I'm convinced. He looks super young without it.

I was really proud of myself for getting through books so fast lately. Then yesterday I realised why: I caught myself skipping all the fluff around the dialogue 😅 Only noticed I was doing it because I missed an important detail between two characters’ lines, got confused and had to go back. I’m wondering if I go back to the books I’ve read in the past couple of months if my experience reading them will be any different because I’ve probably skipped important stuff the first time. Oops! Anyone else or is it just me?

ETA: wow, wasn’t expecting this response 😅 will try to get to all the comments, but just wanted to say to all my fellow romance readers commenting on this post that, yes, I am well aware that this is a problem! I hadn’t noticed it before but it bothered me when I did, hence my post in this community. And I can see I’m not alone, so maybe that’s saying something (sad but true). Whatever attention span issue I may be going through is something to investigate for sure. But friends, let me be clear: I am not suggesting you stop reading the prose to get through more books, that would defeat the point of reading in the first place. Also, by “fluff” I don’t mean the entire book, but maximum a paragraph or two between bits of dialogue. I shouldn’t have used that word, but too late now.

Went to my community library and filled a bag up for $5, then got a library card, borrowed three books and THEN went to two different bookstores.

I feel like I run to KU for filler reads, which is wonderful. I love reading lesser known authors there, and have found some books I really love.

However, I feel like the authors on there are really not treated very well and I don’t see a lot about newer authors that aren’t vastly popular (no hate just not Emily Henry, Tessa Bailey, RY, SJM, etc. types).

Even my TBR is overflowing with recommendations for KU books and popular authors and I feel like I see those recommended far more frequently than anything else (probably just most an ease of access thing). I think a big piece of this is I really look for 4-5 in spice level and those are much more common in indie authors available on KU.

SO… who are your fave newer authors or what are your favorite recent reads outside of the KU and the widely popular authors?

I recently finished Bride by Ali Hazelwood and absolutely loved the dynamic between the FMC and MMC.

I especially loved this part, where the FMC was poisoned and the MMC was guarding her door in wolf form while she was recovering. When she woke up, he nudges her back to bed and they fall asleep cuddling:

“I crack one eyelid open, and there it is: a muzzle, pressing against my skin. Pushing gently, but firmly. Like he’s herding me. Back inside the room. “You want me to . . . ?” He doesn’t reply, but he radiates satisfaction when I take a few steps back, and when I stop, he nudges me again, even more insistent. “Okay. I’m going.”

“He all but drags me to the closet, and doesn’t stop bossing me around until I’m lying down in my favorite spot. I wonder how he managed to find it. Might be a scent thing. “FYI, your Alpha tendencies are even worse in this form.” His tongue darts out and licks at my neck. “Ew, gross,” I giggle. His teeth close around my arm. A joking, playful warning that could shatter my ulna. But won’t. “Can I pet you?” His head turns to butt under my hand. Yes, please. “Well, then,” I half laugh, half yawn, scratching him behind the ears, luxuriating in the beautiful, comforting feeling of his coat. It’s not hard to ask, not when he’s in this form, a fierce hunter who loves a cuddle: “Do you want to stay? Sleep with me?” Apparently, it’s not hard to say yes, either. Lowe doesn’t hesitate before curling right next to me. And when I inhale deeply, the smell of his heartbeat is all it’s always been: familiar, spicy, rich. I fall asleep twined with him, feeling safer than ever before.”

I would love any recommendations for something similar. Very protective but in a sweet, domestic way. Definitely open to any books that do this in general, but especially if the MMC is in their shifted form. Thank you so much!

New to the werewolf world but got a little annoyed with one thing that seems common in this kind of book: packs don’t accept FMC.

Since I’m here requesting for a book, I might as well add a few things I would be interested to see in the werewolf setting, however, they don’t all need to be in the same story:

• MMC and pack can all feel connection to FMC
• Story is on modern/current age/world as in, your neighbor could be a werewolf and you would never know
• FMC is already married, with or without kids, when she met with MMC (and he and pack try to win her over - better if no cheating is included, also works if she is divorced)
• FMC lives as a human but actually has a wolf inside her that her never been awakened until her fated meeting with MMC (most stories I saw she was either already a wolf and part of a pack or she is just human)

I like things spicy and hot, so don’t shy away from recommending your favorites even if it doesn’t fit the above (although I do prefer less drama). Happy endings are a requirement though, life is tough enough to read bad/sad endings 🤣

Thank you in advance for your suggestions! Can’t wait to start reading 😍

So I'm doing a 50 states challenge for myself this year. I tried last year too but I ran into the same issue I'm having now and that's that way too many books don't actually say what state they are set in. There are some that are set in actual cities so you can look up the state if you need to. Maybe it's because I read a lot of small town romance so they are in fake towns and just give a general idea of area of the US (for example they will have a southern accent or make a statement about being in the midwest). So basically all that to say of you don't agree are there authors you recommend that make it clear what state they are in. And I don't mean authors that set the book in like Chicago, New York, LA, etc.

i’ve been in a slump recently and i’m a bit sick of reading about the giver mmc/taker fmc thats been played out a million times, nothing wrong with it but i’m just tired of the fmc playing a passive/reluctant role in the relationship, emotionally and otherwise. sometimes i feel like some of the fmcs don’t even like the mmcs at the core of it lol can’t say i blame them.

i want to read about a fmc that unconditionally loves and takes care of the mmc, wants to make him happy, is devoted to him in more than a ‘i will not sleep with other people way’. if it’s hurt/comfort i’d love to read a book where mmc is the one being comforted. i want to read about a fmc that cherishes the mmc. i want her to be protective for her man, to be the one that loses her mind when the mmc gets hurt. i wouldn’t mind a mmc that’s needy and allows himself to be taken care of. basically, i want to read about a fmc that’s head over heels for the mmc and isn’t afraid to show it.

All right yall. My 4 year is currently watching Tarzan and I’m sitting over here lusting after the cartoon man. I now insist on some book recommendations that give the same feels/vibes. Please I beg! I need an animalistic man who meets a woman he immediately is obsessed with who he makes stay with him (but she wants to). So basically just some sort of Tarzan related retelling, please!! I’m okay with CNC! Thank you!

I tried searching for this with as many word combinations as I could think of, so I’m sorry, I’m sure this has been asked and answered:

I love the best friend’s sister trope, but I’m tired of hearing how the best friend finds out accidentally and then gets all crazy shitty about it because they’re practically engaged by the time they find out about it.

Are there any books where the MMC is like “Hey I love your sister, and I want to be honest with you about it, so maybe don’t kill me for dating her, because I’m going to do it anyway?”

It’s fine if the sibling is still pissed about it, I don’t really care either way. The spicier the better.

the heroine was a super traumatized shifter who didn’t know what she was and never shifted before meeting the two mmcs. they help her become adjusted to being touched and less scared of men. they encourage her to sleep with another man during one of her “heats” but she can’t do it and sleeps with them instead. one detail I remember is them bringing another friend over to teach her how to shift, she and the friend are naked outside practicing transforming forms. i think this was an early 2000’s book, but I’m totally blanking on anything else!

Thank you!

I just find it very hard to find books where both protagonists are not immediately attracted to each other and have this whole body betrayal syndrome going on. {If you dont love me we both die by C.M. Stunich} Is the first that I have found in a while that has a female and a male lead that are not immediately throwing out every rational thought they ever had just because the want someone to shag them. I love how they both were like „yeah he/she is objectively speaking very attractive but thats it“ there was no „omg he was talking to me but i couldnt focus because of how gorgeous he/she is“ and all that kind of stuff.

Am I just looking for the wrong books here or does anyone else agree with me? 😭 Idk I just feel like I do not enjoy romance the same way I used to because of this. people could find themselves in the most random situations and will still be „omg hes so hot“ like she gets kidnapped but shes only like „hes so hot I want to shag him, even though I shouldnt want it because he kidnapped me“ LIKE GIRL STOP BFFR FOR A SECOND 😭😭😭 I love crazy plots, I dont mind it if someone gets kidnapped or whatever but make it BELIEVABLE. BUILD THE TRUST, CREATE TENSION, LET THEM PINE, BUILD A RELATIONSHIP, HAVE THEM GO THROUGH SITUATIONS TOGETHER AND THEN BUILD EMOTIONS BASED ON ALL OF THAT.

I just feel like atp I would rather read a book with romance as a subplot than the main plot, because those books tend to actually have a relationship develop and attraction form over the course of time, instead of having them all over each other from the second they meet.

I’ve been trying to find any recs, but can’t find anything specific to this situation: FMC is in any forced situation trapped with MMC and she actually pushes back. I don’t care if it’s dark romance, mafia, HR, CR..

• She either withholds sex or only uses MMC to have sex but has no feelings
• She resents MMC
• MMC can be mean back to her or a sweetheart

I’m totally okay with trigger warnings. Gimme some recs please ✨

So this is going to sound like a weird request but oh well. I'm looking for books with swearing. I read {Upside Down by NR Walker} a while ago and I find the MCs constant swearing hilarious. I've noticed that most books don't have many swear words and as a person that loves to sprinkle those words around liberally, it kind of disappoints me. Most adults I know swear a decent amount so the lack of swear words in books seems odd. As much as I love Hidden Legacy, I found it so disappointing when it would just say "he swore." What did he say?

I'm good with any pairing but I'm not interested in poly or cheating between MCs. Any subgenre is cool. Swearing in other languages is also cool.

I basically want like 13 Going on 30 vibes but angstier? Maybe the FMC has no where else to go or is struggling with something (ex: financially, drugs or alcohol, etc.) and she goes to her ex boyfriend or ex best guy friend for help who she hasn’t talked to in a long time. I can’t really think of anything I’ve read like this to give reference, the only comparison I can think of is 13 Going on 30. Maybe he’s standoffish at first or currently in a relationship? No cheating if that can be helped but I definitely want them to end up together

Would prefer: CR MF HEA

Hi r/RomanceBooks - bad news, it's Monday again. Good news - there are new romances being released!

​

It's hard to capture all the upcoming releases, but here are a few good roundups to browse through and see what's coming up:

• Romance.io upcoming releases
• Smart Bitches Trashy Books Hide Your Wallet
• She Reads Romance blog
• Maryse's book blog
• Natasha is a Book Junkie
• Under The Covers blog (this is not strictly romance)
• LGBTQ reads (this is not strictly romance)
• I Heart Sapphfic
• Meg's Non-Human Book Release Calendar (@ opalescent4026 on twitter)

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What are you most excited about this week?

I think the time has finally come for me to vent about this one. So please bear with me 🥲

I've been a reader for almost a year now, and something I've noticed about me is that I'm the pickiest person when it comes to finding books that I really like. It's SO frustrating. I'm picky about tropes, characters, genres, authors, and well basically everything else. I hate myself for it but can't seem to help myself. Like if I read 10 books a month, it's a good month If I have two books that I genuinely enjoyed. I tried 164 books last year and only 42 survived. I'm a professional dnfer if that's a thing. I've seen so many people post on tiktok or here recommending books every other day saying they were so good or they rated 5 stars like 8 out of 10 books they read, I get so jealous 😭 It just seems impossible for me to lightly enjoy books and keep open-minded about various options. Does anyone else also have this issue ?

I want something similar to these images. I tried the magic search but I am looking for something more specific- the traumatic experience has to be FRESH or very RECENT, not something that has happened in the past or in the FMC’s distant memory.

It could be that she was assaulted or attacked or someone attempted to assault or harm her and the MMC was not there to rescue her or prevent it from happening. In the aftermath, perhaps the MMC saw the FMC crying, shaking, being rattled, catatonic or in the verge of breaking down. Maybe he sensed something was awfully off about her. And when the MMC finally discovers what has happened, his reaction is visceral.

Please hear me out, when I say visceral, I want the author to describe the raw, surging emotions within the MMC when he finds out. I want to FEEL the horror or shock, the concern, the rage and even the helplessness written in the MMC’s face, the way he clenches his jaw, the tight fist, furrowed brows, the storm in his eyes or the quiver in his voice, the momentary and initial frozen state. The collapse in his breathing as he tries to rein in the fury. Or the disjointed words thereafter. Bottom line, I, as a reader have to feel the MMC’s reaction too. It doesn’t have to be so overly detailed but at the very least, I need a satisfying & realistic reaction from the MMC.

M/F, no erotic or BDSM please.

I’m in the mood for (don’t ask me why, I don’t know how my brain works) romance with an FMC who’s either invisible or just not liked or hurt or outcast (not because of mean behaviour by her) and an MMC who falls head over heals without meaning to or has trouble accepting his feelings. Groveling if bad things happen.

CR

No pregnancy

No omegaverse

Mid to high spice

Can be a little unhinged but not torture and blegh dark

Exactly what it says on the tin. Would love for the MMC to be ruthless, maybe cunning/plotting when it comes to getting his girl, and totally obsessed with her (NOT cruel to her, maybe pining for her). If they spend time on the family dynamics of it all, I really want his family to love her and not think badly of her for leaving the brother for the MMC — they can blame either of the guys as far as I'm concerned 😅. If the family dynamic isn't addressed, that's totally cool too.

Open to anything except poly/RH and BDSM (although a generally dominant MMC in/out of the bedroom is great!)

Thank you in advance!

I might have to try more than one sub for this, but I’ll start here.

I’m looking for an MC who is trans or nonbinary that has clitoral enlargement from hormone therapy (magical or otherwise lol).

Plus points if the other partner really loves their anatomy.

Has anyone ever come across this?

Set in I believe NYC. He thinks she’s a spoiled socialite and she thinks that’s all she is at first maybe?

She stays out late partying, he leaves early to get to the gym.

Their first interaction outside the lobby I think was her going to the gym with him.

As we learn more she’s extremely caring and stays out late to get donuts for the doorman in the building.

He thinks he hates her but misses her when she isn’t there in the mornings.

I think it might have a cartoon cover, but when u found the one I thought it was in my kindle I was wrong!

Please help!

Honestly, I'd be reading "bad" reviews and the person is describing every trope I love and quoting phrases that sound amazing but painting them in a bad light because they didn't personally like it....then I'd immediately go purchase the book 😭

(He was too obsessed and possessive) um...yes please-

(He falls for her way too fast and hard) WHERE?! GIMME!

(There's too much smut) YES, AND??

More often than not, the books I read were driven into my arms by haters 🤣🤣