Best Men by Sidney KargerLGBTQ+ Contemporary RomanceMay 2, 2023 by Berkley Review by Kate H. Max Moody is missing a gay gene or two. He’s not interested in fashion; he doesn’t know where the nearest “drag karaoke bingo barbecue” is being held in NYC; and he is hopeless at wedding planning. But his best friend, Paige, has asked him to be her Best Man, and Chasten, her future brother-in-law, and the other Best Man is helping plan the wedding. Only guess Continue Reading
Review: A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko JacksonLGBTQ+ Romance12/6/2022 by Berkley Publishing Review by Kate H. A Dash of Salt & Pepper by Kosoko Jackson is a funny yet serious novel about a young gay black man who must return to his small fishing town in Maine after losing both his dream job at a start-up and his boyfriend. Xavier is planning a quick turnaround – the last thing he wants to do is stay in his hometown. He will parlay his NYU and University of Continue Reading
Cover Reveal: The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
“Ava Reid paints a rich and complex picture of a kingdom steeped in ancient magic, straining along seams of religious and cultural tension. From the first page to the last, every facet and detail is beautifully wrought. Rooted in history and myth, The Wolf and the Woodsman is a stunning debut – a powerful and haunting tale of a young woman's will to live, of love flowering in defiance of tyranny. It will twine like a dark forest around your Continue Reading
Guest Post: Smexy welcomes author Carla de Guzman
I Hate Lumpia Lemons, in any way, shape and form, make me laugh. They bring me right back to #romanceclass, that time when theater actor Jef Flores sucked the life out of a poor, hapless lemon in the guise of kilig, reading a scene from Camilla Sisco’s “Sumbission Moves”, back when we could still be outside and suck lemons in public. Lemons are expensive, ha! And now they just make me laugh! Lumpia initiates an instant ‘ick’ reflex for me. It reminds me of Continue Reading
Review: The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
CW: death of sibling, discussion of secondary character’s relationship that included Intimate Partner Violence, ailing parent This is Desai’s debut, although she was previously published as Sarah Castille. She had some super sexy boxing series that I know I read at least one of those. I didn’t know what to expect from this book. I wasn’t sure if it would skew more women’s fiction than romance. For me it was a good blend of both. Layla, our female protagonist, is a little down on her Continue Reading
Top Ten Reasons to Read: Love Hard by Nalini Singh
Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side. As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years Continue Reading
Guest Post: White Whiskey Bargain’s Origin Story by Jodie Slaughter
The original idea for White Whiskey Bargain came to me a few years ago. The book that I started back then was pretty different from what it eventually became. One thing that stayed the same throughout, though, was the fact that the main characters were people of color -- Black and Latinx people specifically. White Whiskey Bargain takes place throughout multiple small towns in Appalachian Kentucky. The MCs are an African-American woman and a Mexican-American man respectively, both from families Continue Reading
Guest Post: Road Trip Essentials by Mimi Grace
Debut Author, Mimi Grace is stopping by Smexy today with her list of road trip essentials. Mimi's book, Along for the Ride is out on July 16. When Jolene Baxter offered to help her sister and brother-in-law move halfway across the country, she didn’t foresee the last minute changes that would leave her making the journey with the one person she can’t stand, Jason Akana. Their interactions are strained from a heated confrontation five years prior, but adding car problems, a pit Continue Reading
Release Blitz: Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
“This book was utter perfection! Hook Shot is full of emotion, sizzle and a breathtaking romance. It is a book I will never forget and one I will revisit often to get swept away in its magic.”- Devney Perry, USA Today bestselling author Hook Shot, a deeply emotional standalone set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion from Kennedy Ryan, is available now and FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Enter the Release Giveaway for a $50 Gift Card +Signed HOOK SHOT Paperback Continue Reading
Teaser: Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
I play for keeps. Hook Shot, Kennedy Ryan's deeply emotional standalone set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion, is coming March 28th! Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad. Cheated on, betrayed, exposed. My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces. The last thing I need is her. A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist. Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plans from the moment our eyes Continue Reading