Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is partly sunny and mild. It rained a little yesterday.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a catbird, a blackbird, a blue jay, a young fox squirrel on the hopper feeder, and an adult fox squirrel running through the trees.

I put out water for the birds.

I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I pulled grass from inside the septic garden.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I pulled more grass from inside the septic garden. I discovered that a few gladioli are still surviving there.

Also there are mosquito larvae in the trough pond on the old picnic table, so I need to get some mosquito dunks for that. :/

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I pulled more grass from inside the septic garden.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I pulled more grass from inside the septic garden.

I've seen two fox squirrels in the forest garden.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I potted up a purple-and-yellow torenia, a yellow portulaca, two yellow snapdragons, and two white lobelias in a big clay pot on the patio.

I've seen a female cardinal.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I potted up crosne knotroots in one of the big taupe pots that I put on the north side of the new picnic table. I have 2 of those pots left to fill.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I filled the last two of the big taupe pots with half composted manure and half potting soil. I sowed one with ground cherry seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds, which emptied that packet; it didn't come with a lot of seeds in it. I sowed the other pot with goldenberry seeds from John Scheeper's Kitchen Garden Seeds, which still has plenty left.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- I potted up a purple-and-white picotee petunia, a purple-and-white striped 'Wave' petunia, a 'Dusty Miller' artemesia, and two white lobelias in a clay pot on the patio. I also added a 'Dusty Miller' artemesia to the pot of yellow flowers from earlier.

I've seen a skunk on the patio.

EDIT 5/23/25 -- We picked up 2 bags of potting soil, 2 bags of composted manure, new grass shears, and a package of mosquito dunks. I put one of the dunks into the trough pond.

I watered the newly planted things.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Unsent Letters: "Mr Rowl" and Dial "M" for Murder

I wrote two stories for Unsent Letters!

‘Nary a cause for tears’: Queer friendship in the diaries of Admiral Hervey Barrington, R.N. (1772–1833)
"Mr. Rowl" -- D. K. Broster
Raoul des Sablières/Hervey Barrington, Raoul des Sablières/Juliana Forrest
Epistolary, Enemies to Lovers, Bittersweet, Missing Scenes, Canon Compliant, Pining
Teen, No Warnings Apply
9,400 words

If he dies here, that will be his final judgement of me: that I take joy in his suffering.

Were it true, I would be a happier man this night.

luzula had several great requests, but I knew early on that what I really wanted to do was write my Hervey/Raoul manifesto. Broster has a bit of a trademark in writing just-this-side-of-deniable, surely-that-was-deliberate queer characters and relationships, and Hervey is one of my favorites. The text is unambiguous that he's not straight (he's gay or ace, reader's choice), and as the novel progresses, he is so obviously sweet on Raoul... And not just obvious to us, but to all the characters around him.

( Read more... )

So here we are! If you enjoy bittersweet queer romance with a naval flavor, I invite you to give this a shot -- because of the framing, this story requires absolutely no canon knowledge.

I also picked up a pinch-hit!

To: 61A Charrington Gardens
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Mark/Margot
Epistolary, Pre-Canon
G, No Archive Warnings Apply

Write M for "Margot, I'm Madly in Love"

I'd never seen the movie, but my library has it streaming on-demand through Kanopy (and it doesn't even count toward your monthly limit!), so we watched it over two nights, and then I downloaded the subtitles file for reference. (A subtitles file is not quite as good as a transcript, because it doesn't usually say who is speaking, let alone give any indication of the action, scene changes, etc. But it can still prove useful nonetheless!)

( Read more... )

I also tried my hand at picking up the other two long-neglected pinch-hits, but hardly any of the requested fandoms were quick-entry. In both cases I was three-quarters of the way through the first novel of six or a 11-hour video game walkthrough, when someone else swooped in and picked up the pinch-hit. I choose to superstitiously believe that in both cases someone swooped in because I was nearly through my canon reading/viewing, and that my attempting to read/watch these canons was my little contribution to the collection opening at last. ;-)

Entry tags:

Book Review Poll

I have been reading much more than I've been reviewing. So...

Poll #33152

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 119

View Respondents

Which of these books would you MOST like me to review?

View Answers

When the Wolf Comes Home, by Nat Cassidy. Horror novel about an out of work actress on the run with a little boy.
12 (10.1%)

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, by Shannon Chakraborty. The rollicking adventures of a middle-aged mom PIRATE in fantasy medieval Middle East.
63 (52.9%)

Diary of a Witchcraft Shop, by Trevor Jones and Liz Williams. What it says on the can: a diary of owning a witchcraft shop in Glastonbury.
18 (15.1%)

Sisters of the Vast Black, by Nina Rather. SPACE NUNS aboard a GIANT SPACE SEA SLUG.
45 (37.8%)

Making Bombs for Hitler, by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. Children's historical fiction about Ukrainian children kidnapped and enslaved in WWII, by a Ukrainian-Canadian author.
15 (12.6%)

Under One Banner, by Graydon Saunders. Commonweal # 4!
18 (15.1%)

Archangel (etc), by Sharon Shinn. Lost colony romantic SF about genetically engineered angels.
24 (20.2%)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton. Historical murder mystery with time loops and body switching.
26 (21.8%)

Irontown Blues, by John Varley. Faux-noir SF with an intelligent dog.
9 (7.6%)

Blood Over Bright Haven, by M. L. Wang. Standalone fantasy that kind of looks like romantast but isn't, with anvillicious anti-colonial themes.
15 (12.6%)

An Immense World, by Ed Yong. Outstanding nonfiction about how animals sense the world.
39 (32.8%)

Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling, by Henry Lien ("Peasprout Chen"). Nonfiction, what it says on the can. Not all stories are in three acts!
36 (30.3%)

Blacktongue Thief, by Christopher Buehlman. World's greatest D&D campaign in a truly fucked world.
19 (16.0%)

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

Fantasy Romance, Meredith Duran, & More

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/05/fantasy-romance-meredith-duran-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=145274

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley is $1.99! This is book two in the Glimmer Falls series, which didn’t work for me as I prefer my paranormal romances to be a little darker. The heroine is a gym rat witch and the hero is a snarky demon with amnesia.

Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?

Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls’ founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.

Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council—except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.

Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state—even the most despicable demon—Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth’s memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she’ll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn’t want him to recover his memories, after all.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Jasad Heir

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem is $2.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! This is book one in The Scorched Throne series. I heard about this one through a reading newsletter one of my friends sends out. She isn’t a big romance reader, but had great things to say about this fantasy romance.

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Wraith King

The Wraith King by Juliette Cross is 99c at Amazon! I mentioned this on Get Rec’d because I was certainly suckered in by a Goodreads ad. I’ve also had good experiences with Cross’s books in the past.

A brutal, bloody war against the ruthless Wraith King has cost the light fae more than innocent lives. Una Hartstone, Princess of Issos, learns the price the Wraith King demands to end the war once and for all. Her. In exchange for the safety of her people, she agrees to give her life—and her body—to her greatest enemy.

Gollaya Verbane is determined to fulfill his destiny and his god’s prophecy. When his seer points to the Princess of Issos as the key to the rise of the dark fae, he demands her submission. But when she finally yields, he realizes Una is much more to him than a priceless weapon.

A mystery that has haunted Una for years awakens when she is abducted and dragged back to Näkt Mir. The palace hides many dark secrets…and at least one traitor. A traitor determined to take King Goll’s throne—and all he possesses. What he doesn’t know is that Una’s magick is more powerful than he can imagine, and that Goll will burn the whole world to save her.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Duke of Shadows

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran is $3.99! We always get lots of comments when we feature a Duran title; many are hoping she’ll return to writing someday. If you need hope, I found a Reddit thread that mentioned Duran had updated her “About” page in the last couple years and makes references to finishing a manuscript. Sarah reviewed it back in 2008 and gave it a B-:

Julian was tortured and noble, and though he didn’t change so much as come to own himself and the power at his disposal in both of the cultures that shaped him, his journey was fascinating. Julian was marvelous, and did things I wished heroes in other historical novels would do, including beating the ever living shit out of someone who truly deserved it, and being vindicated for doing so. YUM.

In a debut romance as passionate and sweeping as the British Empire, Meredith Duran paints a powerful picture of an aristocrat torn between two worlds, an heiress who dares to risk everything…and the love born in fire and darkness that nearly destroys them.

From exotic sandstone palaces…

Sick of tragedy, done with rebellion, Emmaline Martin vows to settle quietly into British Indian society. But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiancé’s betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.

To the marble halls of London…

In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous — and that a single decision can alter one’s life forever.

Destiny follows wherever you run.

A lifetime of grief later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned…and some passions never die.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/05/fantasy-romance-meredith-duran-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=145274

Leggo My Logo

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/leggo-my-logo-2025

Susan S. ordered a birthday cake with the Ohio State logo on it, which looks like this:

Think something could have gone wrong?

Here's your sign:

"STOP!
"In the naaaame of love!"

Apparently this is a high school logo, though Missy didn't mention which one:

Now the baker reversed the colors, sure, but the W was her real crowning achievement:

JK!!
LOL

Ok, Kassandra, tell us what you want. What you really, really want.

Roger that!

Thanks to Susan, Missy, and Kassandra for spelling it all out for us.

*****

P.S. This one's for my fellow gamers who like to keep their sports virtual:

"I Paused My Game To Be Here" T-Shirt

It comes in lots of fun colors at the link, plus classic gray and black.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/leggo-my-logo-2025

Movie Review: Another Simple Favor

Posted by Carrie S

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/movie-review-another-simple-favor/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=144465

Another Simple Favor

by Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis

C+

Not a Book

There’s a lot of things I could write about Another Simple Favor. I could write about whether or not Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively get along with each other! I could write about our current societal obsession with True Crime! I could write about how the conversation about mommy vlogging has changed since 2018! I could write about stereotypes about Italians – we aren’t all in the mob! Some of us are freelance writers!

But I’m not going to write about any of those things because those things require thought and this is very much not a movie to which you should apply any thought whatsoever. This is a movie that you watch saying, “Oh, so pretty!” It is very pretty, it is very fun, and it does not have a single thought in its perfectly coiffed head.

A Simple Favor came out in 2018 and it’s one of my favorite movies. Although it’s gloriously trashy and ridiculous, it does have a thought in its head – several, in fact. For me, what makes the movie have staying power is Stephanie’s character arc. Stephanie is played by Anna Kendrick and is a widowed stay-at-mom who is trying to build a business as a vlogger. She becomes friends with Emily, played by Blake Lively, and as toxic and horrible as Emily clearly is, she still gives Stephanie some excellent advice. The mutual fascination between Emily and Stephanie, and the push-pull between Stephanie seeing Emily as empowering versus pure undiluted poison, is utter magic.

As someone who is very similar to Stephanie in terms of social anxiety, I still get a thrill every time Emily says, “Stop saying you’re sorry. It’s a fucked up female habit. You don’t have to apologize for anything, ever.”

Well I mean – “ever” is a strong statement, one that is made by a narcissistic alcoholic murderer, so maybe we want to soften that advice just a tad, but my God, I love that movie so much.

If you haven’t seen A Simple Favor then not only should you see it before you watch Another Simple Favor, but you should see it before you read the rest of this review because the entire review is a spoiler for the first movie.

Stephanie and Emily in bathrobes toast each other with martinis poolside — “To not getting poisoned!” Stephanie chirps.

Another Simple Favor begins several years after the ending of the first film. Stephanie has written a book about Emily, who appears at one of her book tour talks. Emily has been released from prison early and wants Stephanie to be her maid-of-honor at her wedding to Dante Versano, her extremely wealthy fiance, on the island of Capri. Emily has also invited her ex-husband, Sean (Henry Golding, dripping with drunken bitterness). Dante’s mother, who hates Emily, arranges for a surprise visit from Emily’s dotty mom (Elizabeth Perkins), and Aunt Linda (Allison Janney, gleefully chewing scenery).

Emily walks towards the camera, eyes shut in bliss, hair pulled back in a bun, wearing a white latex suit with opera gloves — If you aren’t getting married in white latex does it even count?

So there’s a lot of personalities on the island and they all have amazing clothes. At one point Emily wears a hat that is bigger than her entire body. I want to live in it, like a fashionable tent. Stephanie has also levelled up fashion-wise since the first movie. At one point she wears pajamas that match the wallpaper in her very fancy suite which is certainly some kind of a thing. I don’t know who was in charge of Anna Kendrick’s hair on set but they deserve an Oscar – nay – a Nobel Prize.

This movie is often very funny – can we get Anna Kendrick high on truth serum at least once in everything she appears in from now on, please? Sometimes it’s wonderfully weird. It’s convolutedly clever. But honestly, it’s mostly pretty. The clothes are either wonderfully pretty or wonderfully outrageous. The hotel where most scenes take place – pretty. The outdoor meals with floral centerpieces and candles and what have you – pretty. People – pretty. Island – beautiful, of course.

Stephanie and Emily stand side by side. Stephanie wears a floral dress and Emily wears a white shirt, black skirt, and enormous black and white hat — I’m obsessed with Stephanie’s dress and Emily’s hat

The big problem with this movie is a lack of emotional stakes. No one goes through a character arc – Emily does somewhat but not very much. End-of-movie Emily and start of movie Emily are pretty much the same person. Stephanie doesn’t change at all. They are super fun to watch, but no moment of murder and mayhem is as thrilling as the one in the first movie in which Emily spills gin on the floor and says to Stephanie, who reflexively reaches to wipe it up, “Don’t you dare touch that washcloth.”

A lot of the movie is kind of a grab bag of stuff. Inept FBI agent? Slows the movie down, and just why? I will believe the most deranged things on offer in this movie but I don’t believe that the character who is supposed to be an FBI agent is an FBI agent (admittedly, no one else does, either). On the other hand, we have Allison Janney as…well I can’t even say except that I love her, and we have a gorgeous angry mafia boss mother-in-law, who doesn’t love that?

I’m not sorry that I watched Another Simple Favor. I enjoyed it! I had a great time! But I doubt that it will become a movie I go back to again and again – unless I just want to have pretty things in the background while I do other stuff, which is a pleasure that can’t be over-rated.

Watch on YouTube

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/movie-review-another-simple-favor/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=144465

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Follow Friday 5-23-25: Het

Today's theme is Het (heterosexual pairings).

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Waterfox

Waterfox - a new privacy-oriented search engine option

This could be useful. Even if you don't want to make it your primary search engine, it's ideal for searches you want to keep secret. Regrettably the only means of support seem to be ads or subscription. A voluntary donation model would be much more flexible and appealing.

668. Hot Takes with Sarah & Amanda

Posted by SB Sarah

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/668-hot-takes-with-sarah-amanda/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=podcast&p=145104

Inspired by a recent episode of The Sam Sanders Show, Amanda and I are sharing our own hot takes and possibly controversial opinions about romance.

We’re talking:

Third act bleak moments!
Transcending the genre!
Rom coms!
Cozy things!
Conferences and gatherings!
Accessories for Readers!

TW/CW: We take a brief side trip into parental estrangement and emotional abuse.

…

Check out the SKIMS Ultimate Bra Collection and more at https://www.skims.com/sarah #skimspartner

Listen to the podcast →

Read the transcript →

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

Our midroll ad was for The Historical Romance Sampler podcast – check them out!

We also mentioned:

Check out the SKIMS Ultimate Bra Collection and more at https://www.skims.com/sarah #skimspartner

To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com
Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/smartpodcasttrashybooks

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher, and Spotify, too. We also have a cool page for the podcast on iTunes.

More ways to sponsor:

Sponsor us through Patreon! (What is Patreon?)

What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at sbjpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.

Thanks for listening!

Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/668-hot-takes-with-sarah-amanda/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=podcast&p=145104

Entry tags:

Unsent Letters recs

I meant to make these recs earlier in the day -- as it is, I'm skating this in right before author reveals! But three quick recs from

unsent_letters_exchange...

(ETA: Now edited to include authors!)

For years I've been asking to see more of Keith Windham's journal -- the bits we get in canon are so tantalizing, with its "my Warrior" this and "Achilles" that. This year for

unsent_letters_exchange a lovely anon (I'm guessing

luzula!) gave us an additional few days of his journal -- cranky, bitchy, and smitten!

Excerpt from the Journal of Captain Keith Windham for August 14-16, 1745 by Luzula
General Audiences, No Warnings Apply
The Flight of the Heron - D.K. Broster
Keith/Ewen pre-slash
Diary/Journal, Missing Scene
1,011 words

I also want to rec two other works. The first is a gift for

garonne:

Now and Forever by Kantayra
Teen, Choose Not To Warn
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
Hill House/Theodora/Nell
Horror, Diary/Journal, Letters, Found Documents
2,751 words

Long after Nell Vance's death at Hill House and Theo's mysterious disappearance some years later, a stack of letters and a diary are uncovered which may shed more - or less - light on events all those years ago.

This next I suspect is by

garonne -- but is indeed lovely, whoever is the author:

In All These Empty Halls by Garonne
Explicit, No Warnings Apply
Portrait de la jeune fille en feu | Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Héloïse/Marianne
Established Relationship, Canon Compliant
1,089 words

After her mother's death, Héloïse returns to the island where she was living when she and Marianne met.

[ SECRET POST #6712 ]

⌈ Secret Post #6712 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

( More! )

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 08 secrets from Secret Submission Post #959..
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Celebrate Sherlock Holmes Day with 21 Queer Detective Reads!

Today marks the birthday of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one of the most influential authors of modern detective stories. To honor his legacy, May 22 has been dubbed the Sherlock Holmes Day. Last year, we celebrated with a roundtable chat about the beloved sleuth. This year, we’re shifting our focus to his spiritual successors, wrapped in the rainbow flag. Enjoy the list of 21 Queer Detective Reads, compiled thanks to: Nina Waters, Shadaras, Owl Outerbridge, theirprofoundbond, hullosweetpea, Mikki Madison, Shea Sullivan, Dei Walker, Shannon, Rhosyn Goodfellow and an anonymous contributor.

Current Mood: annoyed

Entry tags:

economics,
news

Pennies

People are trying again to kill the penny. Just to add insult to injury, the law would require all prices to be rounded up.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

I've seen a young fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Of the 6 pots I sowed with Gaillardia 'Firewheel' seeds on 2/23/25, three sprouted. One of those has since died, but one of the remaining pots had two seedlings in it. I planted the survivors in one of the mowed strips of the prairie garden. So that's roughly 50% success if you count by pots, but less if you count by seeds since I put two in each pot. I plant them by pots, though, so it's not a terrible result.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I started trying to trim grass around the septic garden, but the grass shears broke. >_< Fortunately I had an older pair that I could use, but I need new ones. I did get one section trimmed. I'm taking advantage of the cool, cloudy weather for a laborious project.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I trimmed more grass around the septic garden.

I've seen a mourning dove, a phoebe, and two young ground squirrels.

The first peas sprouted a couple days ago and more are up now. :D The 'Chocolate Sprinkles' cherry tomato has the first green fruit, although it's among the last ones I planted, just over a week ago.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I wanted to go back out, but it was raining.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Eventually it stopped raining long enough for me to do more trimming.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Aaaaand now it's raining again.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I got back outside and started pulling weeds from inside the septic garden.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I pulled more weeds from inside the septic garden.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

I've seen a young fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Of the 6 pots I sowed with Gaillardia 'Firewheel' seeds on 2/23/25, three sprouted. One of those has since died, but one of the remaining pots had two seedlings in it. I planted the survivors in one of the mowed strips of the prairie garden. So that's roughly 50% success if you count by pots, but less if you count by seeds since I put two in each pot. I plant them by pots, though, so it's not a terrible result.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I started trying to trim grass around the septic garden, but the grass shears broke. >_< Fortunately I had an older pair that I could use, but I need new ones. I did get one section trimmed. I'm taking advantage of the cool, cloudy weather for a laborious project.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I trimmed more grass around the septic garden.

I've seen a mourning dove, a phoebe, and two young ground squirrels.

The first peas sprouted a couple days ago and more are up now. :D The 'Chocolate Sprinkles' cherry tomato has the first green fruit, although it's among the last ones I planted, just over a week ago.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I wanted to go back out, but it was raining.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Eventually it stopped raining long enough for me to do more trimming.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Aaaaand now it's raining again.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I brought in the flats of pots.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I got back outside and started pulling weeds from inside the septic garden.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I pulled more weeds from inside the septic garden.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

A Couple Historical Romances, a Contemporary Western, & More

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/05/a-couple-historical-romances-a-contemporary-western-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=145181

The Dead Take the A Train

RECOMMENDED: The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey is $1.49! Carrie reviewed this one and gave it a B+:

I really enjoyed this book. There’s a lot of dark, snarky humor, and snarky humor is my very favorite kind. The satire of corporate culture is as hilarious as it is horrifying. The horror is very, very horrifying with body horror, your basic supernatural beings, and just oodles of Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Not enough trigger warnings in the world, people.

Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill.

Julie Crews is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-something who packs a lot of magic into her small body. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs to claw her way to the top.

Julie is desperate for a quick career boost to break the dead-end grind, but her pleas draw the attention of an eldritch god who is hungry for revenge. Her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts her closest friends – and the entire world – directly in the path of annihilation.

The first explosive adventure in the Carrion City Duology, The Dead Take the A Train fuses Khaw’s cosmic horror and Kadrey’s gritty fantasy into a full-throttle thrill ride straight into New York’s magical underbelly.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

Holding the Reins

Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope is $1.99! Honestly, what a perfect name for a contemporary western. This is book one in a series and seems full of tropes.

In this steamy cowboy romance, a woman returns to her family’s ranch after a broken engagement and finds herself falling for her brother’s best friend—the first novel in the Silver Pines Ranch series.

Take a deep breath and let go of the reins.

Cecilia “CeCe” Ashby is finally escaping the toxic relationship that has consumed her entire adult life. She’s returning to her hometown of Laurel Creek, Kentucky, and to her family’s equestrian ranch, unsure of what the future holds.

Nash Carter, the newly retired superstar of the Dallas Stars, is Laurel Creek’s hometown hero, local business owner, and notorious bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fourth sibling in the Ashby clan. It’s been years since his days of tormenting CeCe with her older brothers Wade and Cole. So, when CeCe needs a job, he feels drawn to help her.

Nash can’t seem to take his eyes off of his best friend’s sister, and it seems she’s been staring right back, not without animosity left over from his childish teasing back in the day. Despite their initial reluctance, the fire between them ignites and it isn’t long before they jump into the flames.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore is 99c! This is book two in the Donovan Sisters series, though I think it can operate fine on its own. Have you read any of Haymore’s books?

With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess…

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn’t resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he’d fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke

Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke by Michelle McLean is $1.49 at Amazon! It’s showing up as $3.99 elsewhere. This is a standalone historical romance with a marriage of convenience.

Bookish Arabella Bromley never gave a fig for society’s rules—until her sister ran off with a man below her station. Now Arabella is desperate to restore her family’s ruined reputation to favor amongst the ton. She’ll have to marry quickly and well. But in order to carry off her plan, Arabella needs a duke… and she has just the rakish fellow in mind.

The Duke of Whittsley has an ungentlemanly tendency to disregard the rules. Unfortunately, a sense of mischief doesn’t excuse a high-ranking noble from family duty—especially where it concerns producing a son. And that’s where he can’t quite resist Arabella’s distinctly outrageous plan: if he saves her family, she’ll give him an heir.

Now the deal’s been struck. They have one year to achieve their goals and ten iron-clad rules to keep them on track. Like long, scorching kisses and ensuring they’re both exquisitely satisfied. And the only thing that could ruin their plan is the one thing they never planned on: love.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/05/a-couple-historical-romances-a-contemporary-western-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=145181

The Seven Stages of Wrecks

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-seven-stages-of-wrecks-2025

Remember, my friends: recognizing the stages is the first step to healing.

Shock or Disbelief:

"No, seriously. Where's the hidden camera?"

Denial:

"That CAN'T be my cake. I ordered a turtle."

Anger:

"This is what you call cake decorating?!"

"And I'm not paying for that one, either."

Bargaining:

"Twenty four bucks, huh?

"I'll give you five."

Guilt:

"If ONLY I'd just learned to bake, my daughter wouldn't be in therapy for coulrophobia!"

Depression:

"I just... I just wanted a nice cake for the party..."

Acceptance and Hope:

"It's fine. I've just got a dirty mind. Maybe no one else will notice."

Huge thanks to Jane R., Jodi T., Maria E., Edmund, Cheryl, Allegra R., Marissa C., and Alexis V. I couldn't have gotten through this without you guys!

*****

P.S. In case your life was missing a set of cat butt magnets, I found you some:

Cat Butt Magnets

You're welcome.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-seven-stages-of-wrecks-2025

Rebel in the Deep by Katee Robert

Posted by Lara

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/rebel-in-the-deep-by-katee-robert/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=142399

C-

Rebel in the Deep

by Katee Robert
May 20, 2025 · Berkley
Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance

I’m keeping this review brief because there’s only so much you can say about the third book in a trilogy without completely giving away the other two books. Also, this book is kind of a letdown. The glory and wonder of that angry vampire in book two is admittedly a tough act to follow. But let’s unpack.

There are two plots in this book: the romance plot and the adventure plot. The romance plot focuses on Nox, Bastian and Siobhan, all key figures in the rebellion that we’re introduced to in book one. Yes, this book features a throuple. Nox and Bastian have history, so that connection is a second chance romance. Nox and Siobhan have crushed on each other for a while now so that’s a slow burn (but you’re just told about it; there’s very little longing before sex starts). Bastian and Siobhan are currently in a romantic relationship and have been for about a decade. Aside from one very inventive sex scene, this romance is kind of boring for me. There’s a little bit of ‘learning to trust again’ but for the most part, they fall into bed and love at the same time and that’s about it for conflict. As romances go, snoozefest.

The far more exciting plot and the reason that I kept reading and even had to take little breaks to get my nerves under control: the adventure plot. The rebellion has been building and expanding for a number of years now. Bastian has been taken and Siobhan and Nox launch a rescue mission. This rescue mission forces the rebellion into the light. And so there are a series of intense skirmishes between a small group of rebellion members (made up of our main characters from books one, two and three with some of the skirmishes including Nox’s crew) and the Cŵn Annwn who are represented by council member Morrigan. The world building and exploration of myths is really interesting and it was a genuine surprise how the plot unfolded. The use of magic is unique and makes for some very compelling battles.

I absolutely read this book for the adventure plot. I needed to know how this overarching story that was set up in books one and two would culminate. I would say this book is required reading for anyone who enjoyed books one and two, but temper your expectations on the romance front if character development in romance is important to you.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/rebel-in-the-deep-by-katee-robert/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=142399

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Poor Life Choices

Never give up anything that makes you happy just because other people think it is silly or childish. Especially never give up an effective coping skill! Yes, I have stuffed animals. I am currently most fond of Snoozimals and Squishmallows for practical use, but we also have a weird stuffy collection for artistic merit.

Stuffed Animals cartoon strip

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Fossils

Dexterity and climbing ability: how ancient human relatives used their hands

Scientists have found new evidence for how our fossil human relatives in South Africa may have used their hands. Researchers investigated variation in finger bone morphology to determine that South African hominins not only may have had different levels of dexterity, but also different climbing abilities.

Diversity is strength.