There are a multitude of hosts for the newly created #BlackAuthorReadathon on Instagram that I am very excited to participate in. These are the hosts: @mommywhatchureading, @stephsromancebooktalk, @falling4romance, @kaliesbookshelf, @reading.with.tara, @readingbythebayou, @lifeisapageturner, @moniquebooklist,
@brandijaneesbookshelf, @whittyreads, & @bookswith_brandie_shanae. There is a Bingo board and actually posting this TBR counts as fulfilling one of the squares, which is exciting!
Novella
If you’ve been here for a while, you may be unsurprised that I have OPTIONS, but I’m leaning toward one of the books in the FIT trilogy because it’s one of my goals to read the series this year. Those books are Fit, Tamed, and Sated. If I for some reason decide to go in a different direction, another top contender is Love, Unsolicited by Alexandra Warren, though that would also work for a New to Me Black Author so maybe I should use it for that…
Workplace Romance
I’m leaning toward making When Love Ignites by Rilzy Adams my pick for this prompt. They’re two lawyers who don’t like each other forced to work together on a murder case. Rilzy Adams’ writing is fantastic and sexy from what I’ve read so far, which makes this a very tempting pick.
Age Gap Romance
For this one, I’m going with Something Like Love by Christina C. Jones, I think. It’s sort of got hate to love vibes alongside the age gap, which means I’m more likely to like it. Plus, it’s CCJ and I love her.
Childhood to Grownfolks Romance
Is it cheating to count Deeper since it’s really just a continuation of Go Deep, which is where they figured out that they loved each other? I mean, I’m also totally willing to re-read Go Deep before ending with Deeper, but what’s honestly shocking is that it’s taken me so long to read Deeper. I’m obsessed with Go Deep. It was hot af and also so, so good on a romance level. I just adored it. I’m really excited for these 37 pages. If I do decide it’s cheating, I may do Liquor & Laundry by Tasha L. Harrison, which I’ve been meaning to read anyway!
Historical Romance
I have four historical romance books on my TBR for the month that I am determined to get through that are by Black authors. Three are Beverly Jenkins titles, Wild Rain, Rebel, and Forbidden. The other book is Honor and Desire, which would also work for friends to lovers or childhood to grownfolks romance, which actually, I may use this for. If I’ve not read these four books by the end of the month, please yell at me, thank you.
Rockstar Romance
Rock the Curves by Twyla Turner and In Tune by J. N. Walsh are two books on my TBR already that are both rockstar romances. I don’t know much about either, but I really like the covers of both. Per the blurb though, In Tune would also work for workplace romance, so that’s helpful to know!
Friend Group Series
I’ve been meaning to read The Changeup literally since it’s release since the female pitcher focus reminds me of Pitch, which was cancelled SO unjustly. And outrageously. Anyway, @whittyreads recommended this book as a Friend Group Series so it seems like the perfect time to pick this up!
Romantic Suspense
Y’all, the amount of romantic suspense I have on my TBR to not really read it that often is shameful. I tend to enjoy romantic suspense when I pick it up, but it takes a lot to get me to do that part. I’ve got Naima Simone’s Witness to Passion, which is a body guard romance with a best friend’s older brother trope, which I tend to really enjoy. Plus, I love Naima Simone. Another option though is Secret Rendezvous by Sharon Cooper, which is a very short story that serves as a prequel to the next novel in the series. I think it would give me a good taste of Cooper’s writing, whom I’ve never read from before. And, just for fun, let’s talk about a third option, Reckless by Selena Montgomery (aka Stacey Abrams!), which is about Kell who is trying to clear someone’s name of murder and she develops a thing for the Sheriff.
Realistic Contemporary
I think for this one I’m going with Love Notes by Christina C. Jones because (a) I really like her writing and (b) apparently Juliet is a professional photographer is working on a series of photographs centered around the theme of “home,” and y’all know how I feel about that! I love books exploring the concept of home and I love it even more when the characters decide that each other is home. Anyway, I’m very excited for this one.
Fantasy/PNR
I have an abundance of choices for this one. I’ve decided sci-fi counts as part of this square, first of all, which means I could finally read Crux by H. E. Trent, which I’ve been meaning to get back to for months now. Another option is Binding Shadows by Jasmine Silvera, which is like a witchy librarian set in Prague book? Idk. But everyone on Twitter was raving about this a few months ago and I trust the people I follow. I also have Awaken the Dragon by A.C. Arthur and the blurb includes this fascinating line: “And Theo must decide if standing by the woman he’s fallen in love with is worth facing his father in a battle to the death.” Janine by Chencia C. Higgins has been on my TBR for too long for me to not have read it, tbh. It’s shameful. And then there’s Bear’s Gold by Yvette Hines, which I think Rebekah Weatherspoon highly recommended in a panel several months ago and I immediately bought it. And finally, Awakened by Moni Boyce is on my list as well. So, as you can see, I have so many choices.
Fake Dating
I’m basically desperate to read Sweet on the Greek by Talia Hibbert because I watched Moony Vlogs’ video of reading Fadwa’s favorites and she raved about this book! It’s one of the two Talia’s I have left so I’ve been hoarding it, but I think it might be time to crack the glass and give myself a guaranteed dose of serotonin. Also, Greek pet names? Yes, please. Plus the hero is bisexual and we love to see queer m/f romances in this house.
Free Space
I am so excited to read One Day to Fall by Therese Beharrie and have been for a while. The first book in this series I read was One Last Chance last year and then I finally picked up A Wedding One Christmas in January and I am really keen to finish off the series with Sophie’s story. It’s also apparently got some hate to love vibes and a lot of banter, which sounds perfect.
Friends to Lovers
Another Rilzy Adams title is at the top of my list for this one, Will You Be Mine? would actually work for both fake dating and friends to lovers because JT has been in love with his best friend Hallie forever and agrees to be her fake boyfriend to a wedding she needs to attend.
Enemies to Lovers
Well, you know how I said Sweet on the Greek is one of my last two Talia’s? My other one is Work for It, which would also work for this prompt, but I’m extremely skeptical I can bring myself to read both of my hoarded Talia books in the same month. So instead, I think we’ll go with Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace, which has the most gorgeous cover. Given that the blurb starts with “Former hot mess Jolene Baxter is committed to doing better,” I can basically guarantee I’m going to love this.
Second Chance
Another ARC I have for the month is Back in the Texan’s Bed by Naima Simone and it’s my pick for second chance. Ross Edmond discovers he’s a dad and tells Charlotte he wants her to move in with him so he doesn’t lose his son (or her) again. It is a Harlequin Desire and even the blurb implies there’s going to be a lot happening, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
New to You Black Author
I’ve already mentioned a few authors who would qualify in other squares and will probably choose from one of them.
Single Parent
I’ve got Lucy Eden’s An Angel for Daddy and have for quite some time. I like Lucy Eden’s writing, for the most part, so I think this one is a good pick. It sounds like a teacher falling for her student’s father, which should be fun. Another good option might be Let Me Love You by Alexandria House, which looks like it’s two divorced people who both have kids figuring out a new relationship.
Sports Romance
Huddle with Me Tonight by Farah Rochon has been hanging out on my kindle for ages, but so has Pas de Deux by Lynn Turner and sometimes I really like to read dance books for sports romance prompts just to remind people that sports include things besides mens sports. Another option is Hearts on Ice by Janae Keyes, which I keep putting on TBRs and not reading! I really need to stop that.
Interracial Romance
At the top of my list for this square is Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon, which I have been both wanting to and meaning to read for ages. I’m genuinely obsessed with this get married to get your inheritance blurb and I can’t wait to read it!
Romance Graphic Novel
I’ll be reading Bingo Love: Jackpot by Tee Franklin for this, thanks to Hoopla. Alyssa Cole is featured in this graphic novel so basically, this is a no brainer!
Forbidden/Dark
I’ve been really wanting to go back and try Jodie Slaughter’s first self-published book since Jen and Sarah mentioned it on Fated Mates many months ago. All Things Burn is about Halle Temple hiring a hit man because she has a stalker or something. But then she and the hit man fall in love. I’m so excited about this one!
Mature Romance
Again, according to @whittyreads, Love in Catalina Cove by Brenda Jackson, which was already on my TBR, fits for mature romance! I read Jess’s review so I’m now expecting a lot of drama and I’m glad to know what is going on before I start reading since a lot of the drama seems like it will be heavy.
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