Almost caught up! This interview with Peggy was a blast, okay, I say that a lot but then I love talking writing and books, but I could have talked to Peggy about writing and tropes/ sub-genres endlessly. I’ve read The latest in her Heaven’s Matchmaker series, Perfect Match. This is book is not my normal alien Sci-Fi romance genre! But I have to say these characters grabbed me. The heroine is the town matchmaker, as in that is her family’s business, she isn’t just winging it. It is just fun but also emotionally gripping. You yearn for these characters to have their epiphany and see how perfect they are for each other. Which is the reason people read romance! This isn’t spicy, like not at all but emotionally intimate in a way that leaves your heart pounding. Peggy was generous enough to let me read the first chapter to you, so that will be up next. Like mid-month assuming life doesn’t throw me anymore curveballs! Enjoy!

I’m still catching up with postings, but I wanted to get this one out, mostly because it was so much fun to do. Syd and I could talk for-evah. She is amazing at her job— She is the store manager for The Last Chapter in Roscoe Village in Chicago. Seriously, I can barely remember what I had for breakfast let alone authors and titles the way she can! If you are in the area check them out. They also have a lively Instagram account (@thelastchapterchi) and a book subscription box, if you don’t live near by. I hope you learn something and maybe find a new author or book for your TBR.

In the words of Josh Johnson “Oooff.”

June has been a whirlwind I have just started to recover from and it is basically over. So there is going to be a ton of content coming fast and furiously as I get caught up.

This first chapter should have come out around the 15th but I was knee deep in a kitchen renovation (that thankfully is almost done!) and by the time I looked up it was yesterday! The first chapter of On a Rift’s Edge sets the tone of the book and introduces this second book of the series. It also has not one but two overbearing mothers because evidently you can be an alien shifter assassin and still have them. Please excuse my tripping over some of the words. That is all me and not the writing which is wonderful. Note to self: Do NOT record when you are exhausted. Also note: Remember to turn on the lighting so I don’t look like I’m in Witness Protection. Still, I hope you’ll check this one out. The story is hopeful despite its slight dystopian elements. I kind of love a world that wild cataclysmic things can happen and people don’t devolve into anarchy and hate. Choose Love People!

Happy Pride Month!!! So it is fitting that I’m interviewing Maria about her M/M Sci-Fi Shifter book On a Rift’s Edge. A great, sexy romance with themes of getting along and healing. Her character’s are wild, but still manage to be relatable, because over-bearing mothers are everywhere.

I loved this tag from her description of the book “On A Rift’s Edge is a MM paranormal romance with a cinnamon-roll veterinary assistant and the ‘touch him and die’ hellhound assassin who’ll do anything to protect him.” I mean to be honest, she had me at paranormal, but spice it up with a cinnamon-roll AND some ‘touch him and die’ AND and a little morally gray antagonist. I’m all in! you can pick it up here: https://amzn.to/43psbiV

The next episode will be up in two weeks and I’ll be reading the first chapter of On a Rift’s Edge for your enjoyment.

www.BuildaBookBoyfriend.com is a romance reader concierge service that will bring readers their 5 best choices for their next favorite book, as opposed to Amazon’s 5000 along with anything else the ‘Zon is trying to sell you. BaBB is more like a boutique that has the same stock of romance novels Amazon has but we are going to work with you to pick the very best that will be exactly what you are looking for. How? We ask four questions, the answers to which will help us target the exact books you might be looking for. In addition to this service we will be offering Forums so you can chat with other book lovers, Book Clubs where you can chat with the authors of the book you are reading, and a podcast where we interview authors.

Romance Reader Concierge Service: noun; A service that helps Romance Readers find their next favorite book through a curated process that functions like the concierge in a hotel to craft the perfect experience you are looking for.

Does that make any sense? Look we all have TBR piles/files stacking up, and are all susceptible to ‘Shiny’ syndrome. You know when you hear about the next big book out or you get a sales newsletter with all those free and cheap books. But ask yourself how many have you actually read? I’m not throwing shade I’ve done it too! Book Boxes sound awesome but I read digital (EJ from Monster Romance is working on solving this problem!) How often have you search the ’Zon for your next book and come up more frustrated than enticed? I don’t want 50,000 alien romances (my current jam!) I want the one, or maybe 5 that are close to perfect for what I am looking for. Better yet! Make them Indie! No slight to SJM or RY but do they (or their publishers!) really need my money? There is a universe full of great writers who don’t have that kind of marketing budget. So yes, BaBB is weighted towards Indies because I want to hear other voices- Especially, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices that don’t get the attention of trad publishing houses. Even recs from review sites can be hard to parse because one reader’s DNF is another reader’s Ride or Die.

Build a Book Boyfriend only searches Romance. But all kinds of romance! You want Shape Shifer, Non-Binary, Alien Princept, Human Super Soldier, Forced Proximity, Sci-Fi? BaBB will find it (And that particular flavor is on my TBW pile (To Be Written, for the non-romance authors reading this).

The video is a quick tour to give you an idea of how easy it is to use. Currently all the searches are done through Amazon because I can’t think of a single author that doesn’t sell there. That said, I’m working on adding other channels because I don’t want to fund Billionaires in Space anymore than I have to. All of the links served are affiliate links, because the service is free for everyone, Readers and Authors. This way I make pennies (seriously!) that help recoup my costs. That said, if you are a KU customer and purchase access to a KU book, which are served up just as readily, I make nothing and I’m good with that.

If you are an author and would like to find some way to work with me, get in touch! I’ve got the podcast but I’m looking for other ways to help authors find their perfect readers too!

Go take a look! I mean you’ve already spent longer reading this than it would take to watch the video!

*Content Warning* This scene portrays one man pleasuring himself while another man watches. If that offends your sensibilities this may not be the episode for you. Or maybe wear headphones if you are listening at work, or don’t…

I raved about Fiorenzo when I was interviewing Sebastian, and he was gracious enough to allow me to record the first chapter. This is long but again the language is so evocative and rich it is a delight. Oh, and it is crazy sexy! If you are into Male/Male, this is a decadent treat. I hope you enjoy it and pick up the book to read for yourself. You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4380s4I

Want to find your own personal Book Boyfriend? www.buildabookboyfriend.com is now live! It is for romance readers of all kinds of romance, even LGBQ+. Check it out and give it a try!

I loved doing this interview! Sebastian was so much fun to talk to and a great interview. The book we talk about is Fiorenzo. His latest, that full disclosure I freakin’ loved! Rich decadent language, characters you want to know more about, settings that transport you to another world. If you love romantasy, but are a little done with the standard “she isn’t like other girls” assassins. And, you like Korean Boy-Love books? This is a phenomenal blend that will take you away to Medieval Venice though here it is called Halcyon. Rigorously researched but thoughtfully written. The first (very spicy) chapter is coming mid-month.

You can find 3000 Reasons to Stay at: https://amzn.to/4jyaSRW (affiliate link)

I loved this book! Romance perhaps more than any other genre is character driven but when you find a book, especially a contemporary romance, where the characters are pitch perfect, you grab it! This is one of those. While this is a military romance too, it doesn’t hit you over the head with it. There are no scenes where Ryan (the very swoony hero) gets sent off to do battle. So while it is contemporary, there is still the escapism readers love about romance. And from jump these two have sizzling chemistry you will want for your own.

Disclaimer: I’m not a pro narrator and read these in one take. If you have comments, let me know.

Available through Kindle Unlimited https://amzn.to/3EuVYNi (affiliate link)

Trying something here, I’d love to know if you like it.

I’m not a professional narrator for starters! So don’t roast me. I am learning about a bunch of great books from the authors I’m interviewing and it occurred to me that I could pass the love on by reading first chapters. For the ebook you can read the first 10% or so of the book before buying it. With the rise of AI writing books, this is even more crucial. But audiobooks give you like 5 minutes. Truth told I’m not a big audiobook listener but I know so many are. I also wanted to give a little bit of background on why I loved the book so there is a little bit of a review aspect to these. This is my book, in keeping with my “torture myself first” rule. So no real review here, I mean if I didn’t love it then why the hockey sticks would I release it! If you liked what you heard, you can pick it up on Kindle Unlimited. If you liked it enough, and wish there was an audiobook version, please let me know and I can consider that in the future. Or if you hate this and want to let me know, I’m good with that too! I’ve got a pretty thick skin.

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Jaime P. Bradley the author of the 3000 Reasons series. Her contemporary romances are filled with women so relatable you’ll find yourself talking to them. And military guys so swoon worthy you’ll start picking through military dating sites. But maybe that was just me. Seriously loved Wait, the first book and sort of a prequel with it’s own wholly developed story. And 3000 Reasons to Stay made me warm and fuzzy in the best possible way. Her next book is dropping soon! Grab them, you will smile the whole read through, when you don’t want to grab the main characters and bang them together for not seeing what is right in front of them! They aren’t perfect people, just perfect for each other, so you know, real.