Reading

Books Out Today: Magic Triumphs and The Governess Game

/ Book Rec, Reading

I’m peeking out of the deadline cave to let you know about two new books out today!

Magic Triumphs Cover

First up is Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews.

It’s the final Kate Daniels book and it brings everything: cute baby antics, huge battles, and the humor that Kate is famous for.

Here’s one of my favorite Kate lines from the book: “Besides, if you can’t trust an ice giant driving a creeper van with a dead body inside, who can you trust?” —From Magic Triumphs, page 111.

Fair warning, I’m friends with Ilona and Gordon, so I’m biased, but this book is incredible. I loved every page!

The Governess Game Cover

The second book I’m recommending on the my love for the author alone, because I haven’t read it yet (it’s on my Kindle and I’m desperate to start). Edit: Read it in one sitting. Loved it!

Tessa Dare is one of my favorite historical romance authors and the snippets I’ve read of this story indicate it will be no exception.

We first met Alexandra in The Duchess Deal (another favorite and a steal at $1.99 right now!) and I can’t wait to read her story.

If you want a larger preview, chapter one is available!

As always, books are very subjective, so read a sample before buying to see if it’s right for you.

Also, DO NOT POST SPOILERS for Magic Triumphs. If you must chat with someone, Ilona has a spoilers thread on her blog. Knock yourself out over there. :)

Words Learned From Reading

/ Life, Reading

We went on a mini vacation for a couple days last week and while on a tour, I learned the word gaol was pronounced jail.

Mind. Blown.

Gaol is a word that pops up every so often in historical romances, and while I knew exactly what it meant, in my mind it was pronounced something like it looks (think ga-oll).

This got me thinking of other words I know from reading, but I’ve never used in conversation. Licentious comes to mind. Or imagine if you’ve only ever read colonel. Good luck pronouncing that one from the spelling. Or chic. I pronounced that one wrong for a while as a kid. Chaise (as in the furniture) still trips me up occasionally, because in my mind it should be chase.

I know there must be more, so I’ll turn the question over to you all. Do you have any words you learned from reading only to later find you were mentally pronouncing them wrong?

Book Rec: From Lukov with Love

/ Book Rec, Reading

I am the ultimate fair weather sports fan. I watch one football game a year, become a hardcore soccer fan once every four years, and only notice gymnastics and figure skating when the Olympics roll around.

Well, in case you were living under a rock, the Olympics did roll around this year, and I watched far more figure skating than I probably needed to, but I loved every second of it.

So that got me thinking about figure skating romance books. There had to be some, right? I briefly considered writing one before I remembered that I didn’t write contemporary or really know anything about figure skating.

Luckily, a kind soul on Twitter pointed me to From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata. …

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