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Banned and Challenged Books On My TBR

Oct 3, 2020

The week of September 27-October 3 marks Banned Books Week. And I thought I would share some of the banned and challenged books that I currently want to read.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read. It also highlights current and past attempts at challenging and banning books across libraries and schools. You can find out more about Banned Books Week on the ALA website.

So today I’m taking my stand by sharing the books that I want to read that have been frequently banned and challenged. There is a range of books on this from young adult to middle grade.

George by Alex Gino: This has been banned and challenged for it’s LGBTQIA+ content, sexual references as well as conflicting religious viewpoints and the notion of “traditional family structure”. This has been on my tbr for some time now. I have a copy now and I’m excited and to pick this one up.

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and illustrated by E.G. Keller: This has been challenged for it’s LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints. This one looks adorable! I have fallen in love with the cover and it sounds like it’s going to be an amazing read. It has some incredible reviews.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier: Drama has been challenged for it’s challenged for LGBTQIA+ content. This one has been on my tbr for some time now. It’s one that we sell so well at work and I’ve always banned to pick not only this one up but anything by Raina Telgemeier. I’m so glad that we sell so many copies of Drama at work.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: This has been banned and challenged for many things including; sexual references, profanity, violence and religious viewpoints. This has been on my tbr for years now, but I just haven’t picked it up. I want to have this read but halfway through next year for sure!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: This has been challenged for its content that glorifies drinking, cursing, and premarital sex. Speak has been on my TBR since I heard about it. It is one that I have heard incredible things about and I know that I have to be in the right frame of mind for it.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan: This has been challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content. I heard David Levitan speak a few years ago now and it was pretty amazing and since then I’ve wanted to read his books. This is at the top of my list and I hope that I can get to it soon. I’ve already read a few by him and adored them so I can’t wait.

And that is it, those are some of the banned and challenged books on my TBR. What banned and challenged books do you want to read? What are some that you have read? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney

Oct 2, 2020

Tempting Lies (Tempt Me #4) by Sara Whitney

Pages: 290
Publish date: September 10th 2020
Publisher: LoveSpark Press
ASIN: 085W7KWF9
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Thea needs help renovating her house. Aiden needs help renovating his reputation. A fake engagement could solve both of their problems—or it could create a whole set of new ones.

After her widowed mother rushed into a marriage they both regretted, Thea Blackwell vowed never to commit to anything. Not jobs, Not hairstyles. Not men. Still, part of her wishes she had enough money—and enough courage—to buy her dream home and have it renovated by the gorgeous former neighbor who never spared her a second glance.

Aiden Murdoch put his playboy ways behind him to help his ailing father run the family business, but he can’t seem to escape his scandalous past. Then his childhood friend Thea shows him the listing for a tumbledown fixer-upper, and he stumbles on the perfect solution: he’ll provide the labor on her new house, and she’ll make him look happily domesticated in front of his father’s nervous clients.

But fake kisses can lead to real feelings, and their simple arrangement gets complicated fast, leaving Thea unsure if her pretend fiancé has truly given up his wild ways and Aiden aching to prove he’s worth a lifelong commitment. Are they brave enough to tear down the lies they’ve told each other, or will the future they’re building turn to sawdust?

Tempting Lies:

I received a free earc of Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t know too much about this book when I picked it up. However, I’m always looking for second chance romances and this one was something that sparked my interest. And I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

Tempting Lies follows Thea Blackwell as she tries to navigate her life not committing to anything including love. But when her dream home goes on the market she would do anything to have it. It’s her princess home after all. But the one person that can help her is her former neighbour who has never spared her a second glance. Aiden Murdoch would do anything for his family, including putting aside his playboy ways. And when an old childhood friend needs some help he thinks of the perfect solution. It starts with fake kisses and then it turns into something much more. But both Thea and Aiden have their concerns and commitment issues and things start to get complicated very fast.

Photo by Jorge Salvador on Unsplash

Thea is such a pleasure of a character and while at times I just wanted to give her a little shake to wake her up, I still enjoyed reading her. At a young age, Thea lost her father and her mother quickly moved her away from her home and married her stepfather. Because of all this Thea doesn’t like the idea of committing to anything. From her job to the way that she looks, let alone her love life. But something about Aiden changes her and it’s not something that she likes at first. I loved that Thea would dive headfirst into things. That she would help where it’s needed and not even second guess the situation.

I also enjoyed Aiden as a protagonist in Tempting Lies. On the outside, he looks like this very rough. But Aiden is sweet. He cares what people think of them and he only wants to be the best for this family. I felt for him throughout the novel when those around him judged him and he just wanted to do some good and be seen that way. The reader can see Aiden grow throughout the novel and not only get to understand Thea more but himself as well.

The romance in Tempting Lies is both adorable and sexy. I loved the build-up between the two of them. From the start, the reader can see there is a heap of chemistry between Aiden and Thea. One of my favourite things about reading Tempting Lies was seeing these two fall for one another. It’s slow at first, and then it picks up the pace and it’s fantastic. I liked what they did with each other. They made the other better and that was nice to see.

Photo by KJ Styles on Unsplash

I adore the fake dating trope. It’s a trope that is not only fun but plays with the characters and their arcs. One of my favourite things about Tempting Lies is that it was Aiden that wanted more first and admitted it. We rarely get to see a male own up to his feelings first, the way that Aiden did and I loved it.

Family is a complicated thing throughout this book. I felt that for the most part, Aiden had a great support system. He and his brother had some unsaid things, but it was nice to see them talk through it and come to terms with it. Their parents were also fantastic. I wish that Thea had more of a support system though. Her stepfather was a dickhead and her mother didn’t support her in the way that I wish she would have. I also felt that though she had friends, there were times when I felt that she was alone and I wanted her to have someone at least to talk about anything with.

Photo by Lauren Richmond on Unsplash

Overall, Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney was a lovely book. It had all the right elements and I had a great time reading. Thea and Aiden had a heap of chemistry and I loved seeing them fall for one another. Tempting Lies explores fake dating, friends to lovers as well as family, friendship and believing in yourself. It’s a great romance that has all the right elements. I might pick up the rest of the series in the future and hear their stories.

Have you read Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney? What did you think of it? Have you read anything from Sara Witney? Let’s Chat!

Author Bio

Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.

In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.

Author Interview: Hallie Alexander | Romance Thursdays

Oct 1, 2020

Welcome to the next interview in my Romance Thursdays series with Hallie Alexandra. If you missed the first post and interview with Giana Darling check it out now. Romance Thursdays is a feature that spotlights romance authors to highlight how amazing the romance writing community is.

Each week I’m will be interviewing a different romance author from across subgenres as well as both traditionally and self-published. I want to share their experience writing romance and why they love it so much. While also focusing on their writing and books.

This week on Angel Reads we have Hallie Alexander. Hallie is the author of the Sons of Neptune series, A Widow’s Guide to Scandal is the first book in the series and features heroic rebels at the brink of the American Revolution. You check out my review of A Widow’s Guide to Scandal now. Now let’s get into the interview.

Hi Hallie, and welcome to Angel Reads. For those that haven’t read anything by you yet. Tell us a little about yourself and your books?

Hi Angel. Thank you for having me here. When I’m not writing, I am a librarian in a very large public system and mom to three kids learning virtually this school year <sigh>. Before that, I was a cake decorator, and before that, a graphic designer. Would you believe I have a degree in Biology? I’m sure I’m not done figuring myself out yet.

When I started writing historical romance, I missed the memo it had to be Highlanders, Regency, or American West. Yeah, I know there are more historical sub-genres, but the American Revolution isn’t typically one of them. It’s always been a period that interested me. If I’m being honest, it was probably the clothes that drew me in. Then there’s the whole rebellion thing. I love me some nerdy, noble rebels.

I hope readers take a chance on A Widow’s Guide to Scandal even though it lacks a ‘most eligible duke’ who refuses to fall in love until he does because it features… a (wealthy) rebel rogue who refuses to fall in love until he does.

I posted the first chapter on my website. See if you like it!

Why did you start writing romance novels? Is there anything in particular that drew you to it over other genres?

Unlike a lot of romance authors, I didn’t grow up reading the genre. I came to it later in life after being drawn to and regularly dissatisfied by historical fiction. There simply wasn’t enough kissing! Or the love interest died!

As for why I started writing? I wanted to fill in the blanks for the folks for whom history disregarded.

You published your debut historical romance novel, A Widow’s Guide to Scandal, this year. What was that experience like?

I learned a big lesson along the way. Era and setting are everything in historical romance. Unfortunately for me, having read across sub-genres of both historical romance and fiction, I didn’t realize at the onset that there are specific sub-genres of historical romance that sell. My book is one of a handful of American Revolution romances. A few big names have sold books or novellas set during the American Revolution, such as Beverly Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, Laura Lee Guhrke, Julia Quinn, and believe it or not, Kerrelyn Sparks. None, obviously, made a career out of it.

Prior to accepting my contract with Soul Mate Publishing, I’d met with agents and editors at a conference who were enthusiastic about the plot of Scandal, but none had any interest in 1776 America. Ironically, all of their wishlists included new time periods and settings. I guess they wanted new, but not too new??

The one thing I did right on my path to publication was entering my manuscript into writing contests. It’s the best way to get industry feedback and get your manuscript into the hands of a decision-maker. One judge from the (NEORWA) Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest was the acquiring editor for Soul Mate Publishing.

What is your favourite thing about romance as a genre? Why do you like reading and writing it?

Absolutely the endings. No, the middle. Definitely the middle. Wait, the meet-cute. Ok, I like all the parts. The endings, because I don’t have to fear how they will end. Real-life can be too unreliable, I like my fiction full of hope and constancy. The middle, because that’s where the real work of chasing goals and falling in love happens. The characters are growing and doing on so many levels, it can be very challenging to juggle writing all the parts at once! And of course, the meet-cute. The, ‘Oh, you’re hot but toootttally not my type.’ Sure. That’s when the writer in me cracks her knuckles and says, “You sure?”

A Widow’s Guide to Scandal is a historical romance novel set in America. What drew you to writing historical romance? And what were the factors that made you decide to set it in the US?

About ten years ago, I took an American Revolution walking tour of the Connecticut town I used to live in. This was one of the Patriot towns Royal Governor Tryon burned to the ground—ok, the British left like four structures standing because the officers needed a place to sleep after all that destruction. I played around with “what if” and came up with “what if it were personal?” Then I played fast and loose with the facts because most of the time, the truth is harder to believe if told as fiction.

Of course, someone has to fall in love to make it all worth fighting for! Nothing says ‘grand gesture’ like, “I’m going to save not only you but your entire stupid town, risking my life to prove I’m worthy of your love.”

Let’s face it, there needs to be more than knuckle-bumping when it’s over. Look what they’ve gone through! They deserve everlasting love. BTW, none of that is spoilery because it’s a romance. You already know that character will have proven themselves worthy by the end. If it were historical fiction, one of them wouldn’t make it out alive or unscathed, and it would probably be the woman, leaving behind a shell of a man who will never love again. Why would I want to write that?

Who are some of your favourite romance authors? Who inspired you to write?

It’s a long list, for sure. My top two are Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan. I tried to come up with a third and realized that slot was crowded with a whole slew of talented writers. I need humour in my romance, characters with interests separate from their views on marriage, and a diverse cast.

I don’t care if your hero tied his cravat wrong, but London was a multicultural town from the beginning, and that ought to be reflected in historical romances set there. Unfortunately, though Tessa’s books are funny and populated with interesting characters, she falls short on diversity. Quite the opposite of Courtney’s whose recent books are very diverse and, incidentally, never read like a lecture or a cautious tale of what could happen if you dared to live your best life apart from the dominant (white, Christian, cishet, and wealthy) society.

Felicia Grossman, who ranks in that top three-tier, wrote two historical romances centred on Jewish characters. I hadn’t really thought about putting myself on the page like that when I started to write Scandal, but then Mrs Moskowitz—my apparent alter ego—showed up on the page. Since there was a vital Jewish community in Manhattan at the time of the Revolution, I saw no reason to send her and her outrageous friends away or change who they were. She happens to have a son of marrying age. I look forward to writing his story!

What are some of the ways that you think we can start overcoming the stigma of romance novels?

The next time someone tries to put down romance novels as smut, you can offer them a copy of your favorite book, and tell them they can either open it to page 224 if they think romance novels are just porn, or they can read it from cover to cover like a normal person, through all the stakes and rewards and personal growth, and allow their opinion on the genre to evolve organically.

(Just kidding. A hater’s gonna hate.)

Not everyone has to like reading romance just like I don’t have to like reading about gruesome murders. Emotional depth isn’t for everyone, and neither is gore.

But if the argument is that romance novels are too formulaic, the other big complaint about them, then I’m sure that reader prefers experimental literary fiction above all else, never touching a James Patterson or Agatha Christie. Guess what? All genre is formulaic because a reader comes to a book prepared to go on a journey, be it self-reflection, falling in love, solving a murder, or taking over the world. It’s all the same beats but with different interpretations. Just like music.

The bottom line is those readers who vocally shun romance because someone told them it’s shameful probably feels a lot of shame themselves for their own sexuality and for letting others think for them.

Oh, and while we’re at it, only romance authors should be allowed to write culture articles during the month of February. Books are not guilty pleasures; putting others down for what they enjoy is.

Do you currently have any books in the works? Is there anything that you are looking forward to writing, but haven’t started yet? Is there something different that you want to try writing?

Books 2 and 3 of my Sons of Neptune series are still in various stages of drafting.

I have a Gilded Age short romance in the Love All Year holidays anthology that came out September 22, and I absolutely loved writing it. Not only was it an #OwnVoices romance, but the timeline felt more accessible and personal than the 18th Century. I was able to pour through tons of photographs of Manhattan in the 1890s.

I may explore the Gilded Age again. There were so many advancements in science and engineering, and feminism! which leaves a lot for an author to play with. Plus, there was a huge wave of immigrants who came to America and made it a truly amazing place. So many heroes and heroines rising from the ashes of poverty and bigotry. My fingers itch to tell their stories!

Thank you so much for coming by Angel Reads. It was lovely having you here. And I can’t wait to read more of your books!

If you haven’t picked up A Widow’s Guide to Scandal by Hallie Alexander and you love historical romance then this one is for you. I had a blast this week and I hope that you enjoyed this interview with Hallie as much as I did.

If there is an author that you would like to see featured here, please do let me know and I will try my best. If you are a romance author and would like to be apart of Romance Thursdays, don’t hesitate to message me.

Have you read a book from Hallie Alexander before? Are you excited for more Romance Thursday posts? Let’s Chat!

About the Author

Hallie Alexander’s debut, A Widow’s Guide to Scandal, was published in 2020 by Soul Mate Publishing. It was a finalist in the 2019 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest. Hallie writes steamy, American historical romances with noble heroes and strong heroines determined not to fall in love until they do. Expect lush history and lots of smooching. And, if there is an element of humor and hijinks, or a fraying in the fabric of the patriarchy? Even better. Hallie is a Northerner living in the South with her husband, three children, and Doodles of Mayhem™, Bruno and Willow.

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