The books I (embarrassingly) didn't know I needed

First, a hot tip: If you like fantasy romance books (and I, um, hope you do), I've got a no-lose contest for you.

Three winners will get snazzy prizes including signed paperbacks and ebooks from a bunch of fantasy romance authors. Everyone who enters, meanwhile, will get the worth-your-time FaRoFeb monthly newsletter full of deals and book recs. Either way, pretty sweet.

You'll find the contest below, but let me tell you a secret first.

(It's an embarrassing one.)

I used to think I didn't like romance novels.

I honestly don't know how I came to that conclusion. Some of it was about picking up a few romance books that weren't my speed, probably. But more of it, I think, was being unconsciously swept along on the tide of societal sneering at the genre. You know, the idea that stories ending with a happy couple aren't important or the plots are thin or the women are disempowered or ... insert more lousy arguments here.

My mind was changed by degrees without me quite realizing it. By novels that I didn't grasp were romances until I was done (and enjoyed them). By books whose writers took existing non-romantic plots and romanced them up (I liked those better than the source material). By stories popping into my head with magic and secrets and, importantly, characters who would be really good together if they would just stop arguing for a minute.

How many rollicking good books had I missed by insisting to myself for years that I didn't read this genre?

Serves me right.

When did you realize you liked romances? (Or are you still in denial like past-me?) Hit reply and tell me your story.

📚🌟📚🌟📚

A few more cool & bookish things

Speaking of fantasy romance: Grab this fun book while it's FREE today and tomorrow. 👀

Marnie is a gifted witch in a world that mistrusts those abilities. When a demonic curse threatens Lord Bran, a man she’s loved since childhood, she uses her magic to save his life—and brings all sorts of trouble down on herself.

I love the mouthy, will-not-quit Marnie. The Street Witch series was recently completed, so there's no waiting for the rest of the story.

Get the book while it's free

Want more to read? From a sci-fi Beauty and the Beast retelling to a world where machines control magic, find free fantastical books here.

And here's that fantasy romance giveaway with 🏆 prizes 🏆: Enter it here, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

You made it to the end! You're awesome. (And oh hey, here are my latest books. In an America run by wizards and 100 years behind on women's rights, she resists. He's the wizard who just hired her.)

If this bookish newsletter you signed up for is no longer your cup of tea, just hit unsubscribe below. ⬇️