Doubt over future of Aberdeen's Pride parade after 'rise in abuse'
Nov. 12th, 2025 03:11 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
bbc_aberdeen_feedThe organisers of the Aberdeen event say they want to focus on supporting people targeted in hate incidents.
bbc_aberdeen_feed
A certain concurrence here....
Nov. 13th, 2025 07:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oursinNoted as of interest a day or so ago, ‘I don’t want anyone to suffer like I did’: the intersex campaigners fighting to limit surgery on children - am a bit gloomed to think that this is Still An Issue because I look back and surely this was brought to wider attention, oh, at least twenty or years ago?
Ah. A little delving shows me that the person I remember as doing pioneering research on the subject, published around the late 90s, and also involved in intersex activism, has become A Figure of Controversy and I think we probably do not mention them.
But quite coincidentally this emerged today: who, according to work done by A Very Reputable Scientist sequencing DNA which does appear to be his, had a Disorder of Sexual Development (as intersex conditions are sometimes termed)? Did Hitler really have a ‘micropenis’? The dubious documentary analysing the dictator’s DNA.
Here is a thoughtful and nuanced piece by an actual scientist taking issue with some of the more tabloidy accounts A slightly different take on the news that Hitler’s DNA reveals some genetic anomalies. The most interesting thing to me is that history has a profound capability for irony.
That Hitler himself had a condition that was discovered and named by a Jewish man who also held some responsibility for the scientifically misguided murderous policies of the Nazis is at least a reflection that history is often imbued with a sense of complex and confusing irony.
TLOZ:BOTW in a nutshell (spoilers)
Nov. 13th, 2025 11:27 ambrightknightieThe main plotline of the video game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) alone -- with no sidequests, exploration, minigames, or collections -- takes ~50 hours. So, roughly, 2 old-fashioned US TV seasons of 22-26 episodes or 3-4 epic Peter Jackson movies. Here's that plot, summarized:
( Massive spoilers )
( Massive spoilers )
Fuckinggotchardbox gifting event
Nov. 13th, 2025 02:17 pmluckyzukky posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
precuretokupromptFuckinggotchardbox is a small gift-giving event for the little Black Saturn friend group that regularly comes to this community. feel free to participate if you're an outsider, but please know that our requests are likely to be very insular and may consist of silly inside jokes and other weird references.
this is a very low-key event, so the below schedule will be pretty loose and we're kind of just doing what we want.
contrary to the title, this is not an event focused solely on kamen rider gotchard; sonofgodzilla joked about it in DMs with me (luckyzukky) and we are going with it for the bit. feel free to request any fandoms.
schedule
requests: November 15 to November 21
gifting: November 21 to December 26
reveals: December 26
superlove collection, of course
requests
comment your requests on this post, we're not doing individual posts per participant because this is not big enough for that
also this event is open to non-fic gifts, such as icons, graphics, fanmixes, and more! this is fic-focused but don't be discouraged!
honestly just request however you want, but if you do want a template then follow this:
Fandom:
Character(s) & Relationship(s):
Prompt(s):
Do Not Want(s):
you can also leave a DNW (do not want) list at the top/bottom of your request instead of one DNW section per fandom.
we're all friends so this should go without saying but please don't write someone's DNW lol we do not want to have to put on the mod hat but we will if it comes to that
fills
all comments are screened until reveals, but requests will be un-screened ASAP.
comment your fill in full as a reply to each request comment on the request post. there might be a post gathering all fills at the end of the event if we feel like it. if you want to help us out, make the subject line of your fill comment include the fill title, fandom, and character/ship involved.
there are no hard minimum or maximum restrictions for this event because again it's low-key af
if you're here you're probably on superlove so consider gifting your fill to the recipient on there!
Wednesday What I'm...
Nov. 13th, 2025 02:08 pmreeby10On a Thursday! And for the first time in several weeks! I have not been on top of things...
Reading
Reading
- I DNF'd No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe. I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters or their relationship and I was not digging the back and forth timeline.
- I started reading The Language of Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy by Ursula K. Le Guin. I thought this would be really interesting, but I'm not really vibing with Le Guin's takes on writing and genre, so I think it's another DNF.
- I finished Lirael by Garth Nix! So funny that nothing really resolves at all, but it's still my favorite in the series.
- Ficwise, I have... not really read anything much tbh. Nothing's sounded very appealing lately, so I've just been clearing out things I'll never actually read from my to be read list.
- The roommate and I finished Bad Buddy. I liked it a lot! The amount of scent kink was surprising but fun, and I loved seeing Jimmy. It was a little sad going into it knowing OhmNanon is no more because I did enjoy them together.
- The roommate and I watched Bites of Promise. Which is not a real show, just a webseries that's an ad for Korean fried chicken, but it did have GeminiFourth so.
- The roommate and I watched Enchante. What a wild show, at least in the last two episodes lol Otherwise my favorite version of ForceBook though. Force getting to be silly was great. Also loved Gawin and pre-AouBoom AouBoom.
- The roommate and I watched ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat. I really wanted to see more of the boys from LYKN, and this so did not disappoint! So cute and fun! Loved the WilliamEst of it (though I will certainly argue for EstWilliam...), but Nut is the one who really stole my heart lol
- The roommate and I watched Kidnap. Another show that was sad going in knowing OhmLeng is no more, and honestly maybe even sadder because I liked Leng with Ohm even more than Nanon with him. (And finding out bits about why both the breakups... oof.) This was much lighter fare than I was expecting from the premise, but I liked it a lot.
- The roommate and I watched Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist. Incredibly silly show, but fun, no matter what the haters say. I love Mark, even if I'm not 100% sold on MarkOhm yet. The less than five minutes of JimmySea might have been the best part though lol
- The roommate, best friend, and I finished Revamp the Undead Story. I know a lot of people were disappointed by the ending, but I thought it was fine. It was a good show overall! Plus surprise werewolf!Junior with Mark at the end?? That makes up for anything for me lmao Fingers so crossed for a season 2.
- The roommate, best friend, and I finished Khemjira. Very spooky and fun show! I loved FirstOne as Jet so much, what a cutie. Super excited for the special next year.
- The roommate, best friend, and I started watching Goddess Bless You From Death. There's only two episodes out so far, but it's been good. Very Hannibal vibes, plus the actual supernatural shit, so I'm having fun.
- The roommate, best friend, and I started watching My Golden Blood. I was so excited to finally see JossGawin and they have not disappointed so far. We're halfway through and I'm intrigued to see where things are going.
- The roommate, best friend, and I watched the latest episodes of That Summer. It continues to be great. I have way more Lava feels than I was expecting lol Only two episodes to go, and it looks like shit's really going to be going down!
- The roommate and I went to see Frankenstein in theaters. Pretty good. Beautiful, of course, considering del Toro's aesthetic. He did change quite a few things, but I felt like it still felt closer to the book than a lot of other adaptations.
- The roommate and I have watched like... maybe an episode and a half collectively of AEW in the past month. It's just not doing it for us right now :/
- I continue to listen to pretty much exclusively t-pop. Starting to branch out into some of the girl groups as well as the boy groups! Mirror Mirror by VIIS has been stuck in my head a lot lately.
- I got my seasonsofdrabbles assignment done pretty early this round, feeling good about that.
- I started on my omegaverseexchange assignment and it's going pretty well. I've got a couple more days until it's due, so I just need to buckle down and get through the sex scene.
- Wrote some more on the ArmTae fic I started in September. Honestly I really want to get through all my open assignments so I have time to get back to it lol
- Wrote a ficlet for Fic or Treat!
- I've gotten a pretty good start on my yuletide assignment. It's a fandom I don't think I've written for, so I was struggling with it at first, but I think it's going well now.
thursday
Nov. 13th, 2025 01:40 pmsummersgate
The view this afternoon from my window. It's been lovely lying on my bed with intermittent clouds and then the sun flooding in and warming me. Watching the clouds float over is relaxing. I'm glad I got the window bed. I'm done with my tests (echocardiogram and stress test) and am just waiting to hear the results of the stress test so I can go home this afternoon. I doubt there will be a problem. Thank you everyone for your good wishes! It'll be good to get home to Dave, Little Rainy, Andy, Skye and the chickens. I am feeling a greater appreciation for them at the moment.
ASAP: Contact Your Congresscritters!
Nov. 13th, 2025 10:32 amsquidgiepdx posting in communityactionusaBy now everyone knows that the House of Representatives is going to vote on the discharge petition to release the Epstein files - and it's going to take Trump down. What is Trump going to do?
He's going to take us to war. Read here: https://www.newsweek.com/venezuela-us-donald-trump-military-attack-war-maduro-11042677
What can we do? CALL. If you can, call your Senators and Congressperson and tell them NO WAG THE DOG! If you're not familiar with the expression, it's when a leader makes a sudden move to distract from something politically bad for them. In this case, Trump is going to send our soldiers to die in a foreign war to take the focus off of him and try and negate the imminent Epstein files release.
Do what you can!
He's going to take us to war. Read here: https://www.newsweek.com/venezuela-us-donald-trump-military-attack-war-maduro-11042677
What can we do? CALL. If you can, call your Senators and Congressperson and tell them NO WAG THE DOG! If you're not familiar with the expression, it's when a leader makes a sudden move to distract from something politically bad for them. In this case, Trump is going to send our soldiers to die in a foreign war to take the focus off of him and try and negate the imminent Epstein files release.
Do what you can!
- The Capitol switchboard where you can call and ask for your Senators & Congressperson is: (202) 224-3121
- Find your House representative at https://house.gov
- Find your Senator at https://senate.gov
FIC: Ambassador's Balcony (Tempestuous Tours)
Nov. 13th, 2025 01:33 pmduskpetersonI feel a bit embarrassed to mention this balcony, because it's named after me.
However, it is a perennially favorite visiting spot for Emorian visitors. You may see it, at a distance, as you are leaving the palace grounds; it is the balcony festooned with the Emorian royal colors.
It was here, in 976, that the Chara of Emor resided during the final days of the Emorian occupation. (I often visited his chamber during his stay - hence the name of the balcony.) It appeared at that time that the Koretians and Emorians would engage in bitter warfare with each other over Emor's lengthy occupation of Koretia. Instead, through the combined wisdom of the Jackal and the Chara, the Koretians and Emorians were able to reach a peace settlement. Since that time, this chamber has served as the residence for any visiting ambassadors from Emor.
On that peaceful note, we will leave behind the capital of Koretia.
[Translator's note: Once again, the Ambassador demonstrates his modesty, this time by failing to mention his own role in the peace settlement between Emor and Koretia. The full details are conveyed in Blood Vow. A somewhat different perspective on the peace settlement occurs in Law of Vengeance.]
SAKKA YAROUZE
Nov. 13th, 2025 07:24 pmfalknerIn a shocking turn of events, the new Inazuma Eleven game has finally officially released. With "only" a seven year delay!
(I'm busy with Pokémon right now, so I might not get it for a while... seven years late and with such awful timing.)
(I'm busy with Pokémon right now, so I might not get it for a while... seven years late and with such awful timing.)
Writing Sprints November 14-16
Nov. 13th, 2025 12:10 pmtreefrogie84 posting in weekendwritingmarathon
what’s a 1k1h?|| time zone converter || 1k1h Calendar
All sprints are run on Discord only. You can find our Discord server here.
Friday ( time zone converter)
5am PT/ 8am ET/ 1pm UTC Mrsimoshen
8am PT/ 11am ET/ 4pm UTC Max
11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 7pm UTC LittleMissTPK
1pm PT/ 4pm ET/ 9pm UTC LittleMissTPK
5pm PT/ 8pm ET/ 1am Sat UTC Treefrogie84
7pm PT/ 10pm ET/ 3am Sat UTC Alec
Saturday ( time zone converter)
4am PT/ 7am ET/ 12pm UTC PreciousAnon
7am PT/ 10am ET/ 3pm UTC Treefrogie84
9am PT/ 12pm ET/ 5pm UTC Treefrogie84
12pm PT/ 3pm ET/ 8pm UTC LittleMissTPK
5pm PT/ 8pm ET/ 1am Sun UTC Treefrogie84
7pm PT/ 10pm ET/ 3am Sun UTC Joe
Sunday ( time zone converter)
4am PT/ 7am ET/ 12pm UTC PreciousAnon
7am PT/ 10am ET/ 3pm UTC Treefrogie84
9am PT/ 12pm ET/ 5pm UTC Treefrogie84
11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 7pm UTC PreciousAnon
1pm PT/ 4pm ET/ 9pm UTC Treefrogie
5pm PT/ 8pm ET/ 1am Mon UTC Treefrogie
7pm PT/ 10pm ET/ 2am Mon UTC Joe
Watching the screen: Netflix edition
Nov. 13th, 2025 10:13 amrunpunkrunSome screens I watched recently, in alphabetical order, all on Netflix:
Abstract: Each hour-long episode features a different artist in a different medium and examines their approach to making art. Totally fascinating. Highly recommended.
Another Life: Bad SF. I watched twenty minutes of this, but the writing was terrible, the world building vacuous, and my beloved Katee Sackhoff completely devoid of charisma. Does star that beardy Teen Wolf guy, though, if you're in the market.
Archer: I used to randomly watch this on FX, and so I sat down and started over at the beginning so I could see the whole thing. The comedy style is more insulting than I enjoy now, but I could listen to H. Jon Benjamin talk all day. This was also how I learned Jessica Walter died in 2021 and it hit me unexpectedly hard.
Diplomat: Watched season three, and it was so good I regretted not rewatching season one and two before the new season. Though how Kate hasn't figured out she's exactly like her husband is a hilarious mystery. Like the moment one of them isn't getting enough attention they do something completely fucked up. Highly recommended. Contains (in part): suicide.
Four Seasons: I felt pretty sure I wasn't going to be into these middle-age married people's problems (two white straight couples, and a mixed race gay couple), but it's Tina Fey so I had to try. I liked it more than I thought I would! It was a pleasant diversion and I liked the set up of two episodes per season (Earth seasons, not TV seasons) as these old friends get together for visits and vacations. Contains: divorce, grief.
High Town: Set in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and filled with drug use, drug dealers, party queers, depressed fishermen, and cops. High production value and a hot gay woman of color as a lead (Monica Raymund as Jack), but after an episode and a half I didn't care about any of the characters. It's no The Wire.
Wayward: Starring Mae Martin. Also created, written, and executive produced by Martin, so me with my Mae Martin problem spent the entire time very distracted. But, my love for Martin's beautiful pointy face aside, this drama/thriller about a small town and its cult-like reform school lead by a chillingly maternalistic Toni Collette is very watchable. Also gory, violent, upsetting, and pointlessly set in the early 2000s, but the dog makes it. Recommended. Contains: drug use, shitty parents, child harm/death.
Wick is Pain: I've never seen a single John Wick movie, but I enjoyed this behind the scenes look at how action films get made, particularly this series with its signature gun fu style and, of course, Keanu Reeves, who does the majority of his own stunts and fighting and who is interviewed along with the directors, producers, and stunt personnel involved with the films. Contains: violence, guns, cinematic death of a dog.
The Woman in Cabin 10: Started this solely on the strength of Keira Knightley's presence, but even she couldn't rescue this glossy but limp woman-sees-something-alarming-but-literally-no-one-believes-her thriller. I watched this in twenty minute increments over three nights, swearing I was done with it every night until, on the third night, Keira Knightley did something so unforgivably stupid I immediately deleted it from my continue watching list.
Abstract: Each hour-long episode features a different artist in a different medium and examines their approach to making art. Totally fascinating. Highly recommended.
Another Life: Bad SF. I watched twenty minutes of this, but the writing was terrible, the world building vacuous, and my beloved Katee Sackhoff completely devoid of charisma. Does star that beardy Teen Wolf guy, though, if you're in the market.
Archer: I used to randomly watch this on FX, and so I sat down and started over at the beginning so I could see the whole thing. The comedy style is more insulting than I enjoy now, but I could listen to H. Jon Benjamin talk all day. This was also how I learned Jessica Walter died in 2021 and it hit me unexpectedly hard.
Diplomat: Watched season three, and it was so good I regretted not rewatching season one and two before the new season. Though how Kate hasn't figured out she's exactly like her husband is a hilarious mystery. Like the moment one of them isn't getting enough attention they do something completely fucked up. Highly recommended. Contains (in part): suicide.
Four Seasons: I felt pretty sure I wasn't going to be into these middle-age married people's problems (two white straight couples, and a mixed race gay couple), but it's Tina Fey so I had to try. I liked it more than I thought I would! It was a pleasant diversion and I liked the set up of two episodes per season (Earth seasons, not TV seasons) as these old friends get together for visits and vacations. Contains: divorce, grief.
High Town: Set in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and filled with drug use, drug dealers, party queers, depressed fishermen, and cops. High production value and a hot gay woman of color as a lead (Monica Raymund as Jack), but after an episode and a half I didn't care about any of the characters. It's no The Wire.
Wayward: Starring Mae Martin. Also created, written, and executive produced by Martin, so me with my Mae Martin problem spent the entire time very distracted. But, my love for Martin's beautiful pointy face aside, this drama/thriller about a small town and its cult-like reform school lead by a chillingly maternalistic Toni Collette is very watchable. Also gory, violent, upsetting, and pointlessly set in the early 2000s, but the dog makes it. Recommended. Contains: drug use, shitty parents, child harm/death.
Wick is Pain: I've never seen a single John Wick movie, but I enjoyed this behind the scenes look at how action films get made, particularly this series with its signature gun fu style and, of course, Keanu Reeves, who does the majority of his own stunts and fighting and who is interviewed along with the directors, producers, and stunt personnel involved with the films. Contains: violence, guns, cinematic death of a dog.
The Woman in Cabin 10: Started this solely on the strength of Keira Knightley's presence, but even she couldn't rescue this glossy but limp woman-sees-something-alarming-but-literally-no-one-believes-her thriller. I watched this in twenty minute increments over three nights, swearing I was done with it every night until, on the third night, Keira Knightley did something so unforgivably stupid I immediately deleted it from my continue watching list.
Better
Nov. 13th, 2025 09:32 amsusandennisTuesday's volleyball left me not interested in ever playing again. Today's volleyball saved the day. It was fun and invigorating.
Major cult news in today's Timber Ridge Times... Julie is retiring at the end of the year. Julie is the hair dresser. She knows EVERYTHING about EVERYBODY. She's also delightful. And come January she'll be gone. This is big. Really big. She does the hair of everyone - men and women - except me. And, on Mondays, she spends the day in Briarwood - which houses assisted living, the nursing rooms and the memory care unit.
Having someone else do their hair is huge for some of these old people. It will give them something to bitch about for months on end. I can hear Joan now.
And, also, they have finally found a nail person who will be starting soon. Everyone will be all atwitter about this one. I can't wait until elbow coffee on Saturday!
This morning, I am going to pop over to QFC to buy wine. I never drink wine but a couple of weeks ago, at dinner, Bonny pulled out a bottle of Cabernet and offered it up. It was delicious. It turns out to be pretty cheap wine that also keeps well (with a vacuum sealer) so I decided to get some. The internets say it's at QFC and Fred Meyers. Neither place has it on the shelf that I can see nor did they have anyone to ask when I was there. Now I am on a fucking quest. QFC said the wine guy was there in the mornings. So I'm going back this morning to see if I can find him or the friggin wine.
And, really, that's the extent of my to-do list. As it stands now.
Oh wait, no. I do need to cut my hair. Maybe I'll go do that now.
Major cult news in today's Timber Ridge Times... Julie is retiring at the end of the year. Julie is the hair dresser. She knows EVERYTHING about EVERYBODY. She's also delightful. And come January she'll be gone. This is big. Really big. She does the hair of everyone - men and women - except me. And, on Mondays, she spends the day in Briarwood - which houses assisted living, the nursing rooms and the memory care unit.
Having someone else do their hair is huge for some of these old people. It will give them something to bitch about for months on end. I can hear Joan now.
And, also, they have finally found a nail person who will be starting soon. Everyone will be all atwitter about this one. I can't wait until elbow coffee on Saturday!
This morning, I am going to pop over to QFC to buy wine. I never drink wine but a couple of weeks ago, at dinner, Bonny pulled out a bottle of Cabernet and offered it up. It was delicious. It turns out to be pretty cheap wine that also keeps well (with a vacuum sealer) so I decided to get some. The internets say it's at QFC and Fred Meyers. Neither place has it on the shelf that I can see nor did they have anyone to ask when I was there. Now I am on a fucking quest. QFC said the wine guy was there in the mornings. So I'm going back this morning to see if I can find him or the friggin wine.
And, really, that's the extent of my to-do list. As it stands now.
Oh wait, no. I do need to cut my hair. Maybe I'll go do that now.
Scottish government rejects crematorium bid appeal
Nov. 13th, 2025 05:19 pmbbc_aberdeen_feedA Scottish government reporter has backed the decision to turn down the crematorium near Inverurie.
Nursery pays out £10,000 after toddler breaks leg on first day
Nov. 12th, 2025 03:20 pmbbc_aberdeen_feedSkye Tucker fell from a nappy changing table at Little Clouds Nursery in Altens, Aberdeen, in January this year.
(no subject)
Nov. 13th, 2025 05:47 pmspiralsheep posting in endingsThe road west was wide open, and I listened to music my parents would have hated the whole way back to Spokane.
WIPBB - Messy in the Middle (Harry Potter)
Nov. 12th, 2025 07:24 pmchokolattejedi posting in wipbigbangProject Title: Messy in the Middle
Fandom: Harry Potter
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/70648771/chapters/183610671
Summary: An adult actually notices what is happening with Harry Potter, and his entire life changes for the better. Family, friends, and even magic await him away from the Dursleys.
Warnings: Major Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Canonical Child Abuse
Characters: Harry Potter, Dursley Family, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Nymphadora Tonks, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Augusta Longbottom, Amelia Bones, Andromeda Black Tonks, Ernie Macmillan, Other(s), Original Characters, Quirinus Quirrell, Tom Riddle | Voldemort
Pairings: Gen
When I Started: December, 2015
Fandom: Harry Potter
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/70648771/chapters/183610671
Summary: An adult actually notices what is happening with Harry Potter, and his entire life changes for the better. Family, friends, and even magic await him away from the Dursleys.
Warnings: Major Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Canonical Child Abuse
Characters: Harry Potter, Dursley Family, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Nymphadora Tonks, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Augusta Longbottom, Amelia Bones, Andromeda Black Tonks, Ernie Macmillan, Other(s), Original Characters, Quirinus Quirrell, Tom Riddle | Voldemort
Pairings: Gen
When I Started: December, 2015
Books by Jill Shalvis, Elizabeth Hoyt, & More
Nov. 13th, 2025 04:30 pmsmartbitches_feedCoffeeshop in an Alternate Universe
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee is $2.99! I believe this was mentioned on one of Dahlia’s queer romance columns. According to Goodreads, this is skewed more to YA or teens.
A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee’s fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance.
When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.
The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.
As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?
The Love Fix
The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis is $1.99! This is a contemporary romance and a part of the Sunrise Cove series. Shalvis writes some great small town romances, if that’s your catnip.
Welcome back to Sunrise Cove for this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale where found family, forgiveness, and love may just be the key to finding yourself, from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.
Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.
Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged. So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to.
Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.
No Ordinary Duchess
No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt is $3.99! This is book three in The Greycourt series. The first two books had middling to poor reviews on the site. Have you read any of the books?
A delicious tale of forbidden romance where the mystery that ties two lovers together might also be exactly what tears them apart.
Cold and brooding, Julian Greycourt, the heir to the Windemere dukedom, has always known that his uncle the duke was responsible for his mother’s death. Now he’s determined to exact revenge against his uncle—if he can find the proof. But Julian hides a secret so explosive it will destroy him if it’s ever revealed, and the duke is watching. The last thing he needs is a distractingly sensual woman whose very presence threatens to destroy his plans.
Sunny and cheerful, Lady Elspeth de Moray doesn’t know why her brother and Julian fell out all those years ago, but she can’t let the autocratic man get in the way of her mission: to retrieve an ancient family text that she believes is in one of the Windemere libraries. Locating the tome, however, proves trickier than she anticipated, and at each turn, she’s thrown together with the maddingly mysterious Julian. And the temptation to give in to her family’s greatest enemy grows stronger with each intriguing encounter…
When Grumpy Met Sunshine
When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is $2.99! I know Stein has a lot of fans, especially if you like steamy romances. However, I feel like this one didn’t do as well as I thought it would with readers. Have you read it?
A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.
When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.
And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.
But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend—until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?