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97 years isn't long enough to have someone that amazing around.
My favorite song by him, as an old erotica-peddler, is "Smut."
What's your favorite?
My favorite song by him, as an old erotica-peddler, is "Smut."
What's your favorite?
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smartbitches_feed Jul. 27th, 2025 10:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 27th, 2025 10:00 am)
Superman
by James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, and Joe Shuster
I was really excited going in to see Superman, wanting it to be a technicolor, hopeful answer to superhero movies, one that would be more uplifting than recent fare. While the movie tries to do that, it’s also kind of a mess and unfortunately the best scenes have been shown already as clips in the trailer. I would recommend renting Superman when it comes to streaming services, but save your money when it comes to theater viewing.
One thing that the movie does well is casting. David Corenswet makes an excellent Superman (we rarely see him as Clark Kent), Rachel Brosnahan is perfect as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Holt chews up the scenery as Lex Luthor.
When the movie opens Superman has been in the public eye for three years, acting as Metropolis’ number one firefighter. He doesn’t fight crime so much as save people (and animals) from a variety of threats. He vows never to kill unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.
Superman isn’t the only metahuman in the world. There are other superly-abled people including the Justice Gang, made up of Mr. Terrific, the Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. What distinguishes him is that he’s the only alien on Earth, which can make him a little scary. He’s invincible and here to do what?
The first part of the film shows the world, even Lois, struggling with this. Is this guy for real? Is anyone actually this nice? He doesn’t even use swear words. No one can be that wholesome, right?
Which is what Lex Luthor is trying to prove. Luthor is obsessed with Superman, almost to the point where you wonder, is this a sexual thing? Many fanfics will follow this movie, I’m sure. Holt does a stellar job of making Luthor fixated on Superman (to the point of a vein bulging in his forehead) without it becoming comical. He’s deeply disturbing.
Luthor wants the world to hate Superman as much as he does (allegedly, I kept whispering ‘just kiss’ in the theatre) so he plots a smear campaign against our hero while simultaneously debuting some metahumans who work for him (The Engineer and Ultraman) who can fill Superman’s red boots.
The beginning half of the movie asks viewers, are we so cynical that we can’t believe someone this wholly decent exists? And it’s a good question.
Unfortunately the second half of the film devolves into a CGI chaos and the question is never answered to satisfaction.
The second half of the movie reminded me a lot of Guardians of the Galaxy which Gunn also directed. There’s a lot of brightly colored, explosive action happening along with some wise-cracking, but it’s pulling the viewer away from where the movie could really shine, substituting big, epic battles for character development. Corenswet, Holt and especially Brosnahan are so good that they’re wasted on chores like
surviving interdimensional wormholes or battling giant kaiju.
In the beginning of the movie Lois questions Superman about his involvement in international conflicts. Who does he represent? Can someone who is invulnerable and as powerful as he is intervene in a budding war and remain neutral? It’s this great, tense scene and then we just kind of forget about it.
Then that gray area goes away and…
… later the bad guys invade the good guys and it’s all dumbed down to the Green Lantern knocking over tanks with giant hands flipping the bird.
Aside from Lois, the rest of The Daily Planet staff are reduced to caricatures. Perry White makes pronouncements while puffing a cigar, the sports reporter is a jock-bully, Cat Grant is mostly cleavage and a terrible wig, and for unknown reasons every single woman has the hots for Jimmy Olsen (to the extent that it’s used as plot device). Superman is saving the world and those zany reporters are flying around in Mr. Terrific’s…flying thing. It’s not great.
The fact is the three principal actors have the chops to make a really compelling superhero film that asks questions about heroism and inherent decency and if such things are possible in a cynical and divided world, and all of that development and tension was squandered for gags and big fight scenes. It was such a bummer.
Honestly, the best part of this movie is Krypto the super dog. Krypto is not a Good Boy. He’s not even trying. He’s what happens when you give a terrier superpowers and he’s hilarious and wonderful, but not enough to save the film.
I’m hopeful there’s a sequel to this film and that Gunn gets it right, because there is so much potential with the actors playing these characters. In the meantime though, save your popcorn money.
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 27th, 2025 08:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 27th, 2025 08:00 am)The latest bestseller list is brought to you by cheese, a crisp diet sodie, and our affiliate sales data.
- The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Viscount in Love by Eloisa James Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- At First Spite by Olivia Dade Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Book People by Jackie Ashenden Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian Amazon | B&N | Kobo
- Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter Amazon | B&N | Kobo
I hope your weekend reading was tasty!
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 26th, 2025 07:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 26th, 2025 07:00 am)
It’s our last Whatcha Reading of July. Here’s what we’re reading as we reach the end of the month:
Lara: Inspired by my best friend, I’ve been reading old Tessa Dare books obsessively and voraciously. It has brought me a tremendous amount of comfort with trumpetings of Good Book Noise.
Shana: I’m reading Single Player by Tara Tai. ( A | BN | K | AB ) I love the setting—a queer romance in a video game company—but I’m feeling kind of meh about enemies to lovers romances these days.
Amanda: I couldn’t get into The Governess Game by Tessa Dare. The heroine meets the hero for all of five minutes and spends her days fantasizing about marrying him. I’ve moved onto King of Wrath by Ana Huang, and that’s hitting much better. The dark and dark-adjacent romances are really doing it for me right now.
Susan: I’m reading The Silent Concubine by Qiang Tang and Bai Li Jun Xi, ( A | BN ) and I’m not sure how I feel about it. The translation is Bad, and the protagonist is both passive and oblivious, which is a bad combo in a palace intrigue book.
But the love interest is unhinged and I do want more queer palace intrigues, so…
Update: protagonist has lost his temper, none of the love interests were prepared for this
Sarah: I read Liars Like Us ( A | BN ) and the romance was missing from my romance novel. You know the unclean hands doctrine, where evidence is declared inadmissible because the means of acquiring it weren’t valid? This guy has, forgive me, unclean peen. Not that his peen is itself unclean (there is at least one shower scene) but everything about this relationship is supremely fucked because of how it began.
There was a lot of horniness though.
Elyse: I finally had to DNF Soulgazer ( A | BN | K | AB ) because after six chapters I still didn’t understand the magic system or the world. It felt like a lot of Romantasy word salad.
Lara: You lasted longer than I did. I made it about a chapter before I gave up.
Tara: I’m reading Relationship Material by Rachel Spangler and I’m enjoying it. It’s an f/nb romance and the author is nonbinary.
Susan: I’m also reading a webtoon called Sealed With Lips, and it’s very silly. The protagonist is on a revenge spree after being reborn, and there are regular reveals of new Horrors that she’s been through. But she and the love interest match each other’s level of ruthless and vengeful, and it’s very dramatic with all of the face-slapping, so I’m enjoying it
Whatcha reading? Let us know in the comments!
I love hearing about the phrases people have incorporated into their family dialect (familect) that require explanation.
Here are some examples from around my house:
A "fuzzy" is a polar fleece jacket. (source: unknown)
Cat food comes in two varieties: gooshy (wet) and crunchy (dry). (source: Two Lumps webcomic)
"Bloop bloop?" means "Would you care to engage in sexual intercourse with me?" (source: a Tumblr post from someone who heard elk mating calls, parsed them as 'bloop bloop,' and started using the noise with their partner for the purpose, which cracked us up)
"One day... when you least expect it..." means, "I am contemplating taking you to bed." We almost never say the "I WILL HAVE SEX WITH YOU!" bit. (source: the second linked George Takei PSA)
The cat, as is the way of cats, has a zillion nicknames, including "Bunny," "[The] Fur," "Miss Fuzzbutt," and "Catface." T. S. Eliot violently underestimated the number of names my cats tend to accumulate, and none of the options are effin' ineffable. (reference: not how he officially spelled it but what we all heard)
Here are some examples from around my house:
A "fuzzy" is a polar fleece jacket. (source: unknown)
Cat food comes in two varieties: gooshy (wet) and crunchy (dry). (source: Two Lumps webcomic)
"Bloop bloop?" means "Would you care to engage in sexual intercourse with me?" (source: a Tumblr post from someone who heard elk mating calls, parsed them as 'bloop bloop,' and started using the noise with their partner for the purpose, which cracked us up)
"One day... when you least expect it..." means, "I am contemplating taking you to bed." We almost never say the "I WILL HAVE SEX WITH YOU!" bit. (source: the second linked George Takei PSA)
The cat, as is the way of cats, has a zillion nicknames, including "Bunny," "[The] Fur," "Miss Fuzzbutt," and "Catface." T. S. Eliot violently underestimated the number of names my cats tend to accumulate, and none of the options are effin' ineffable. (reference: not how he officially spelled it but what we all heard)
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(smartbitches_feed Jul. 25th, 2025 03:30 pm)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 25th, 2025 03:30 pm)Apples Dipped in Gold
Apples Dipped in Gold by Scarlett St. Clair is $1.99! This is book two in the Fairy Tale Retellings series, though I can’t quite place which fairy tale it’s based on or just an amalgamation of a few.
Orphaned at a young age, Samara is left under the care of her three, horrible brothers. Just when she thinks she cannot take another day of their abuse, a handsome prince offers for her hand in marriage.
Samara’s brothers agree in exchange for a large dowery but on her way to her new kingdom, her carriage is ambushed by Lore, the wicked Prince of Nightshade.
Samara believes that the fae has snatched away her chance at freedom to punish her for her crimes against his kind but punishment is only half of Lore’s plan.
The truth is that the Elven Prince has pined after Samara for seven long years. She is all he can think about—a toxin in his blood. Can the Prince of Nightshade, whose power over poisons rivals none in The Enchanted Forest, manage to find a remedy or will he succumb to her love?
The Scenic Route
The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle is $1.99! This is book one in a new series by Ruggle and features a forced proximity romance. Has this one been on your radar?
Why date a mountain man? Because climbing him will leave you breathless.
Felicity Pax loves her job. She craves excitement, and being a bounty hunter gives her that in spades. So when her estranged mother disappears with a small fortune in tow, Felicity chases her like she would any other skip. Too bad she didn’t barter on having increasingly infuriating (and infuriatingly hot) PI Bennett Green on her tail.
Bennett’s got a job to do, and if that means shadowing Felicity…well…he’s had worse assignments. Even if he’s 99% sure the increasingly intriguing bounty hunter is leading him on a wild goose chase through the Rockies.
If she has to drag her PI tail through endless quirky mountain towns in order to shake him, that’s what she’s determined to do…but it isn’t long before Felicity’s intended distraction turns up a mystery worth solving—and Bennett becomes the unexpected partner she never realized she needed. As things heat up, Felicity will have to decide what’s most important to staying one step ahead of the “enemy” or giving herself freedom to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new series packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.
The Viscount’s Unconventional Lady
The Viscount’s Unconventional Lady by Virginia Heath is $1.99! This was previously published in 2021, so make sure you don’t already have it. This is book one in The Talk of the Beau Monde series and I certainly don’t like that cover.
The notorious viscount
And the most gossiped-about lady…
After years as a diplomat in the Napoleonic Wars, Lord Eastwood is reluctant to return to London society. His scandalous divorce has made him infamous, not to mention cantankerous! To halt the rumor mill, he should marry a quiet noblewoman—instead it’s bold, vibrant artist Faith Brookes who’s caught his attention. They are the least suitable match, so why is he like a moth to a flame?
Something Extraordinary
RECOMMENDED: Something Extraordinary by Alexis Hall is $1.99! We had a squee guest review for this one:
Something Extraordinary is loaded with fun, with love, with passion and with devotion. Love comes in all shapes, sizes and flavors. This is the one that tastes like heaven.
From the author of Boyfriend Material comes the absurdist adventure of two friends determined to avoid marriage to unsuitable people as they race through Regency England to marry each other instead.
Sir Horley Comewithers isn’t particularly interested in getting married, especially when his match is a perfectly respectable young woman. Sir Horley is, after all, extravagantly gay. But he’s resigned to a fate there’s no point resisting—until a dear friend does it for him.
Arabella Tarleton has no interest in romance, but even she can see that Sir Horley’s nuptials are destined to end in a lifetime of misery. Well, not on her watch. And what are friends for, if not abducting you on your wedding night in an overdramatic attempt to save you from a terrible mistake?
Their journey to Gretna Green is a hodgepodge of colorful run-ins and near misses with questionable innkeepers, amateur highwaymen, overattentive writers, and scorned fiancées. Then again a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
But when it comes to marriage, Belle and Sir Horley are about to discover that it’s not what you do or how you do it but the people who you choose to do it with that matter most.
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 25th, 2025 06:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 25th, 2025 06:00 am) Jo Piazza’s new book, Everyone is Lying to You, is a trad wife influencer murder mystery out this month. I loved this book. Jo has been covering trad wives and influencers for a long, long time – she has a podcast called “Under the Influence,” and has been writing about celebrity culture for most of her career.
We are talking about trad wives, celebrity influencers, and how celebrity has changed with social media. We also talk about how and why trad wife influencers are so, well, influential, and how so many parts of our society have let women down.
Want some fresh burning feminism and critique of predatory influencing? This is your episode.
…
Inspired by other Patreon folks, including Chris DeRosa at Fixing Famous People, I’ve made some of the Patreon content free so you can sample what we’ve got.
- Do you want to do a crossword puzzle from the May 1995 issue of RT? The crossword puzzle is available for free on Patreon right now!
- Would you like to read an issue of RT Magazine? The December 1997 issue is now available for your perusal.
- Or would you like to try one of our bonus episodes? Join Amanda and me as we look back at our 2024 predictions about romance and publishing.
This collection of special previews is available now to all listeners, and there’s a link in the show notes to dive in. And if you like our free samples, join us in the Patreon community where there’s bonus content and more.
Listen to the podcast →Read the transcript →
Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:
You can find Jo Piazza – and her book tour! – at her website JoPiazza.com. Her podcast is Under the Influence.
We also mentioned:
- The Rest is History podcast
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome
- The SNL “American Girl Doll Cafe” skit with Travis Kelce
If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher, and Spotify, too. We also have a cool page for the podcast on iTunes.
More ways to sponsor:
Sponsor us through Patreon! (What is Patreon?)
What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at sbjpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.
Thanks for listening!
Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.
"Honey, why does the person you're playing a game with and watching a stream of look like that?"
"He's wearing a Mickey Mouse skin."
"I didn't know you could skin Mickey Mouse in your game."
"Yep."
"And you're the one with the socially acceptable hobby."
"He's wearing a Mickey Mouse skin."
"I didn't know you could skin Mickey Mouse in your game."
"Yep."
"And you're the one with the socially acceptable hobby."
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 03:30 pm)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 03:30 pm)Greenteeth
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill is $2.99! Carrie reviewed this one in April and gave it a C:
The descriptive aspects of this book are great. I just wish that the character development was stronger on the part of everyone not named Jenny, and that the plot had more focus.
From an outstanding new voice in cozy fantasy comes Greenteeth, a tale of fae, folklore, and found family, narrated by a charismatic lake-dwelling monster with a voice unlike any other, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.
Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce.
Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she’s worth saving. Temperance doesn’t know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor.
Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s family, as well as the very soul of Britain.
On Her Terms
On Her Terms by Amy Spalding is $3.99! This is book three in the Out in Hollywood series, which features f/f romances with one (or both) of the main characters working in Hollywood. Have you read any books in the series?
A fresh, funny contemporary romance about being true to yourself and your desires, even if it means plunging into uncharted territory . . .
Fresh off breaking up with her boyfriend and swerving away from the conventional, TikTok-ready married life she never wanted, Clementine is ready to explore the alternatives. Not that she wants to be single forever, much less die alone. But at thirty-six, it’s time for her to experience new things—including in her love life. And though an invitation to a fake relationship to appease family sounds like a recipe for disaster, Clem finds herself saying yes to smart, spirited dog groomer Chloe Lee anyway . . .
Chloe is long past her own baby gay era, but even before they’ve tackled Clem’s parents’ anniversary party and Chloe’s friend’s wedding, the two of them end up spending a lot of time together. As the attraction between them grows stronger, it all begins to feel pretty real to Clem. Chloe, however, is fine as just friends—plus she’s convinced Clem is just eager for “someone” to take her off the singles list. How to persuade her otherwise? After all, Clem is starting to realize her life is wonderfully full and being “alone” doesn’t scare her a bit. Still, being without the tiny powerhouse that is Chloe, specifically? That’s a whole other story . . .
Wise, witty, and full of heart, here is an uplifting love story with an ending worth waiting for.
Recipe for a Charmed Life
Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden is $1.99! I’d classify this as more chick lit/women’s fiction with a romantic subplot. Linden also writes books that typically have a ton of foodie elements. Maybe don’t read while hungry.
After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
American chef Georgia May Jackson has one goal—to run her own restaurant in Paris. After a grueling decade working in Parisian kitchens, she is on the cusp of success. But in one disastrous night, Georgia loses her sous-chef position, her French boyfriend, and her sense of taste! Renowned for her refined palate and daring use of bold flavors to create remarkable dishes, Georgia is devastated to discover her culinary gift has simply…vanished.
When she receives a surprising invitation from her estranged mother, Georgia flees to a small island near Seattle hoping the visit will help her regain her spark in the kitchen. There she tentatively reconnects with her mom, a free-spirited hippie eager to make up for her past mistakes. But there’s something about the enigmatic island Georgia just can’t piece together. Good luck charms keep appearing in the oddest places. Her neighbor is a puzzlingly antagonist (and annoyingly handsome) oyster farmer. And her mom keeps hinting at a mysterious family legacy.
With the clock ticking and time running out to win her dream job in Paris, Georgia begins to unravel some astonishing secrets that make her wonder if the true recipe for a charmed life might look—and taste—very different than she ever imagined.
Some Like It Scandalous
Some Like It Scandalous by Maya Rodale is $1.99! This is the second book in Rodale’s historical romance series set in Gilded Age New York. Aarya gave this one a C-, but notes your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about certain tropes.
They are sworn enemies…
Theodore Prescott the Third, one of Manhattan’s Rogues of Millionaire Row, has really done it this time. The only way to survive his most recent, unspeakably outrageous scandal is marry someone respectable. Someone sensible. Someone like Daisy Swan. Of all the girls in Gilded Age Manhattan, it had to be her.
Pretending to be lovers…
Daisy Swan has plans and they do not involve a loveless marriage with anyone. But when a devastating family secret threatens to destroy her standing in society, suddenly a fake engagement with Theo is just the thing to make all her dreams come true.
And now it’s time to kiss and make up…
Daisy Swan aspires to sell cosmetics that she has created, but this brainy scientist needs a smooth talking charmer’s flair for words and eye for beauty to make it a success. Before long, Daisy and Theo are trading kisses. And secrets. And discovering that despite appearances, they might be the perfect couple after all.
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 am)
Love is a War Song is a fun sunshine/grumpy/fish out of water romance with a New Adult feel. While the romance is fun, the cultural representation is what sets this novel apart from others.
Here’s the publisher’s plot description:
Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.
Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.
It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a deal. Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?
Carrie: This is told from Avery’s point of view, and she’s a funny, engaging heroine, if one who is almost shockingly naive given her profession. Avery is in her early 20s and has spent her life being ‘managed’ by her mother. Her mother has controlled Avery’s personal and professional life since Avery became a child actor, and signed her up with an agent and label that refuses to allow Avery to release her own music (she is a songwriter). A lot of this book is about Avery’s journey to find her own self and claim both responsibility for and agency over her own life.
Shana: Avery is marketed as a Native American pop star, but her mother refuses to tell her much about her culture. After Avery is forced to release the single “I Need a Warrior” instead of her own music she agrees to dress in offensive outfits for her music video and her Rolling Stone cover because she thinks she is doing something subversive – ironically reclaiming American Indian stereotypes by wearing a leather bikini and cultural artifacts. What made Avery likable is that when her mistakes are made clear, she quickly regrets them, even if some of the claims against her—like being a Pretendian—aren’t true.
Carrie: Unfortunately she lacks the common sense, the independence, or the knowledge required to see why her artistic choices were a problem. One thing that speaks in Avery’s favor immediately is that she is only defensive about this when confronted by a man she’s never met before who mocks her the second she gets off a miserable bus ride from Los Angeles to Oklahoma. The rest of the time, Avery is ready to learn, whether it’s about her culture, her family history, or how to clean a horse stall.
The man who makes fun of her is, of course, Lucas, and of course they fall in love over the course of the book. There’s a trend lately to have romances with only one point-of-view character, and it works fine if we think of the books as a novel about the POV character with a strong romantic element. Taken as a Romance Novel 
, I dislike this trend because I find that the non-POV character ends up being less well-developed leading to a less well-balanced romance. Lucas is an interesting person. He’s been through a lot and he has a generous and loyal heart and big but also realistic and well-thought out plans. But his character arc is from “I don’t like her” to “I love her”. I would have loved to have some time from his POV, and for him to have had a more developed story.
Shana: I usually grumble about single-POV romances, but I didn’t mind it so much here. Enemies to Lovers isn’t my favorite trope, and at first it felt like Lucas was negging Avery so I was happy not to be inside his head for that nonsense. I was overjoyed when Lucas and Avery’s animosity simmered down and the two of them started working together on the ranch.
I liked uncovering the mystery of Lucas’s backstory alongside Avery…and there were quite a few surprises to unpack along the way. One of my favorite moments was when Lucas, a seemingly solipsistic small town boy who has never left Oklahoma, admits that he’d love to visit Machu Picchu to see something built by Indigenous people that hasn’t been destroyed. My man had layers. And the more I learned about him, the more he seemed right for Avery.
Even though Lucas is also in his 20s, he seemed much older than Avery. He steps in to rescue her when she can’t cook, drive a truck, or fix a songwriting problem. I think readers who enjoy a slight age gap with a wiser hero and younger heroine might like Lucas and Avery’s dynamic. For me, Avery seemed emotionally immature at times.
Avery has a lot to learn about Muscogee culture and rural life. She makes hilarious mistakes and Lucas is a gentle teacher, even when he’s teasing her. Early on Lucas nearly convinces Avery that the tribe can tell time down to the minute based on the color of the sunrise. He quickly fesses up, and warns her not to be as naive around tribal elders who like to joke around. As someone who has repeatedly fallen for the tall tales of uncles, I can confirm this is sound advice. What keeps Avery from TSTL territory is that she’s a quick learner around the ranch and a fantastic musician. She’s a Fish out of Water but not totally incompetent. And that leads to plenty of fun banter between her and her new ranch family.
Carrie: I wanted to see a LOT more about the relationship between Avery’s mother and her grandmother, Lottie. There’s some discussion that maybe Lottie wasn’t such a great mom, and there’s discussion that her mother might go through some redemption once Avery stands up to her, but it’s barely touched upon.
Shana: Totally. I kept thinking the story would dig into generational trauma but there’s a lot that’s left unspoken between the lines. Avery learns to set boundaries, but the adults in her life don’t magically change into healed, excellent communicators. I ultimately enjoyed that the book doesn’t dwell on Bad Mom behavior and kept the tone lighthearted, but I would have liked a real showdown between Avery’s mom and grandma.
Carrie: This book works because it’s wonderful to see the Muscogee Cree people represented not as some sort of mythical figures but as fully modern day people with a strong sense of heritage and culture. It’s also lovely to see a story in which Native American communities have challenges, but are also depicted as places of strong community and joy.
It also works as a coming-of-age story: Avery is able to develop a strong sense of independence and integrity as well as a sense of being surrounded by a community that cares about her as a person, not her as a performer. While I thought she and Lucas were a great pairing and I very much enjoyed their scenes together, it doesn’t work fully as a Romance Novel for me because we never get Lucas’ POV. Overall, however, I found this book to be highly enjoyable.
Shana: I have a soft spot for untraditional cowboy romances, and this is the best one I’ve read in years. It has all the texture I love in a ranch setting, softly worn work shirts, a sweeping big sky, buttery biscuits, and a slow smile under a tipped hat. But my favorite part is how Avery isn’t forced to choose between her dreams and love. She doesn’t have to make herself small to appreciate small town life.
Readers who are fans of enemies to lovers stories, or books where celebrities learn to live like regular people might like this a lot, but it’s especially welcoming to readers who want more romances with Indigenous characters crafted by Indigenous writers. The tropes are familiar, but the characters and their community make this book very, very special.
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 24th, 2025 08:00 am)
This Rec League came from our staff reviewer Shana:
Have we done a Rec League on books where the couple’s first time having sex is awkward or bad and they had to learn how to give each other pleasure? I feel like I remember us talking about those romances but I’m not sure what we might have called the Rec League. I love historical married couple romances, and this trope feels somewhat adjacent.
Carrie: Jennifer Crusie does this a lot – a good example is in Trust Me On This ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) where the first sex is meh but as they start to trust each other the sex gets better and better.
Amanda: It’s been awhile since I’ve read it, but I believe the main couple in Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren had some awkwardness.
Sarah: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant fits this VERY well.
The Bromance Book Club but I’m not sure if specifics count as too much of a spoiler.
And Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
Amanda, what about The Bride Test?
Amanda: Hm…I honestly can’t remember? I don’t think so. There’s a lot of awkwardness in general about being around each other, but I don’t remember the sex scenes being awkward. (Commenters please chime in!)
Susan: One of Courtney Milan’s definitely fits this – The Duchess War?
Claudia: You are right, Susan — famously bad first sex.
What romances would you recommend? Drop them in the comments!
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 pm)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 pm)
Welcome back!
(WingedNike, if you’re reading this, it’s officially Wednesday and you haven’t missed the post!)
Life is life-ing. However, I’m grateful for reconnecting with friends lately. Lots of social activities on my calendar, and though I may grumble and gripe about having to leave the house, I haven’t regretted it yet.
We did a Costco run last weekend, and I love finding new things to try. I get so excited to stock my fridge! Anyone else a Costco fangirl?
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From Georgina: A retirement/care center in New Zealand was renamed the Essie Summers Retirement Village in honor of Summers, who was the NZ queen of romance.
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If you love collecting pretty book editions, this Kickstarter for special Jane Austen editions has about a week left.
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Led by Adriana Herrera and Ali Hazelwood, a collection of dystopian romance novellas is set to launch soon on Kickstarter. The plots sound really interesting and the collection has a great group of authors.
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This article is from a year ago, but I don’t remember hearing about it or posting about it. In fairness, a lot has happened in a year. Not sure if there have been any updates since, but Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series has been picked up for a possible adaptation.
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 03:30 pm)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 03:30 pm)Wooing the Witch Queen
RECOMMENDED: Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is $2.99! Thanks to everyone who let us know about this sale. Carrie gave this one a B+:
In these trying times, it’s incredibly comforting to read a book in which people have faith in other people and in which people are given the opportunity and tools they need to develop faith in themselves.
In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.
Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.
When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…
Little does Saskia know that the “wizard” she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he’s in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?
At First Spite
RECOMMENDED: At First Spite by Olivia Dade is $1.99! Lara gave this a B+:
If you’re looking for a book of sparkle and light, then this is not the book for you. It’s heavy going emotionally, but so well-written that I could not put it down. My normal routine went out the window because I NEEDED to know how things would unfold. The cast of supporting characters are sincerely charming and I do look forward to the next book in the series.
When Athena Greydon’s fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. Which is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex’s home is literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation. By, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with those windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he’s kind of…hot? Dammit.
Matthew may not regret ending his brother’s engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He’ll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?
Pipe Dreams
Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen is $1.99! This is book three in the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance series. It seems that illustration covers have claimed another series.
A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…
Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.
Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.
Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.
One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain is $1.99! This is a historical romance that came out last December. The heroine posses as a her cousin and I was pretty meh on this one.
When a young woman trades places with her noble cousin, their innocent ruse leads to true love in this sparkling new Regency-era romantic comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.
When Arabella Grant’s wicked aunt dies suddenly, both Arabella and her cousin Lady Isabelle cannot help but feel relieved. She’d made their lives miserable, and now Lady Issie is free to read to her heart’s content, and Bella is free from taunts about her ignoble birth.
Their newfound freedom is threatened, however, when Issie’s great-aunt commands her to travel to London for a come-out Issie has never wanted. Issie, who is in poor health, is convinced she’ll drop dead like her mother did if she drops into a curtsy before the queen. So when her great-aunt turns out to be nearsighted and can’t tell the noble Lady Isabelle from her commoner cousin Arabella, Issie convinces Bella to take her place. Bella can attend all the exclusive entertainments that her lower birth would typically exclude her from, and Issie can stay in bed, her nose in a book.
(smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 am)
smartbitches_feed Jul. 23rd, 2025 06:00 am)Next week I’m going to be recording a very fun podcast episode with royal commentator and art historian Amanda Matta. You might know her as @matta_of_fact from TT, or IG, or her podcast “Off with their Headlines,” or her OTHER podcast “Art of History.”
Inspired by her “Art of History” podcast, I wanted to talk with Amanda about what the old school covers communicate from an art history perspective.
For example: The Beloved One, a favorite of Candy’s.
Yes, the castle/tower/rock formation/gazebo is phallic, but what else is going on? Other than the incipient, uh, honking of the bobo.
So, here’s my request. Obviously I have a few on file already, but I’d love to know: what is YOUR favorite most bonkers, off the wall, truly bizarre old skool romance cover?
For example, the original art for The Lion and the Lark hangs in my office:
There’s a Very Erect Folly in the background, but that didn’t make the cover. What a shame.
Or then there’s The Raider, and the hair.
I’m pretty sure Rumor Has It by Cindi Myers was submitted for the AAR Cover Contest one year. And I STILL haven’t figured out what is happening on this cover.
I’ve never understood why these two were determined to visit Bhone Towne on jagged rocks:
There?! You’re doing the deed right there?
Or, the champion of covers:
She’s my avatar in a bunch of different places.
Truly incredible – but I KNOW there are even weirder ones. Which ones should I include?
I may not be able to feature all of them, but I’ll be querying Amanda about as many as I can (poor Amanda).
Please feel welcome to post the image in the comments, or just the title. I’m enabling images for a bit in the comments but only one image per comment (the spam otherwise is mindblowing).
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