Showing posts with label book news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book news. Show all posts

Sunday, June 1, 2025

On the Shelf: May 2025

Eighteen books devoured in May! I was definitely back in my historical romance groove. In fact, I'd even venture to say that My Season of Scandal is one of Julie Anne Long's best books—certainly the best of hers that I've read, and I've traipsed all over Pennyroyal Green and the Palace of Rogues. The love story of Kirke and Catherine is just so richly crafted and layered. It has some really great, quote-worthy, lines and lots of deep-sigh moments. (She climbs up on her desk to try and hear him breathing through their shared ceiling/floor. My heart!) 

Of course, contemporary romance can't take a backseat in a month where one has read Kennedy Ryan. Can't Get Enough, the third in her Skyland series, has hit all the lists and rightfully so! The intense and intimate connection between Hendrix and Mav—and the background flirtation of their assistants, Bolt and Skipper—had me riveted.

The Reading Rundown
Who is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr (out 8/1, suspense, for professional review purposes)
Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath (historical romance)
Losers: Part Two by Harley Laroux (dark polyam romance, BDSM)
My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long (historical romance)
The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers (gothic romance, mystery)
His Forgotten Wife by Tara Pammi (out 8/26, contemporary romance)
Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker (young adult horror, queer horror)
Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (contemporary romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I started the month reading Irresistible and Shameless, books two and three in Karen Robards's bonkers Banning Sisters trilogy. I had a little foray into older romantic suspense with Call After Midnight by Tess Gerritsen and Night Whispers by Judith McNaught. I finished Beverly Jenkins's Wild Sweet Love, and I am wildly and sweetly in love with Teresa July! The Lady and the Lie by Kate Noble was on sale for Kindle, so I snagged that and breezed right through it. And then it was all rereads! I went from Rise by Claire Kent to the still-problematic and angst-ridden Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale and returned to some high-heat contemporary romances, Messy by Katie Porter and Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl.

Currently reading: Copper Script by KJ Charles.

On the TBR/wish list
August Lane by Regina Black
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Monday, June 17, 2019

Why I'm Not Happy About My Book Deal (or anything else)

Ever since I signed a three-book contract earlier this year, I've been going through this thing. Where I tell someone about it and they exclaim, "Oh, you must be so thrilled! Congratulations!" "Thanks, I'm terrified, actually," I say, fidgeting in my seat and feeling my cheeks heat—certain the person will think me ungrateful, but unable to lie and feign joy. And then the rest of the words tumble out of me. About the anxiety, the depression, the fear that I will fail. Nothing the person asked to hear. All they want is to be happy for me and I can't allow them, or myself, that moment.

My struggles with mental illness are no secret. I was in a depressive low even before my agent emailed me in March to let me know an editor wanted this book, this series. I had commitments to write a column for Frolic.Media that I kind of just...bailed on. (Sorry, Frolic!) I was barely poking at new fiction projects. The book news just sent me deeper into the spiral. Weeks turned into months of darkness. Of staring at my Word document in despair. Of listening to that voice in my head, whispering like Iago, "You're going to fail. You're going to die before you finish this book." Pushing myself out of the house—and ostensibly out of my head—inevitably meant going to local bars...and "celebratory" cocktails quickly turned into "drink until I cry" cocktails and "black out when I get home" cocktails. 

Before people rush in with well-meaning advice...I have a therapist. We've upped from monthly to twice a month. I have a new psychiatrist scheduled. I (try to) go to an exercise class every week. No, I'm not going to try yoga. Yes, I've tried meditation. This is not about asking for help. This is an honest look at the utter clawing terror that steals joy, that inhibits creativity, that wants to ensure we don't reach our full potential. Because I know exactly what this is. I know what's causing it. I know why I push past the third-drink happies to the fourth-drink miseries. No amount of self-awareness actually helps stop it. And neither does Downward-Facing Dog, okay?


Friday, April 20, 2018

I'm Going Rogue!

My next release is coming up on May 8, in the fourth installment of the Rogue anthology series! This short story, "In Her Service," started knocking around in my head after I mainlined Star Trek: Discovery on CBS: All Access and fell head over heels for the very complicated pairing of Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Ash (Shazad Latif). Using that couple as a jumping off point, I started thinking about real-world politics and the government, and amazing women like Kamala Harris and Maxine Waters. And, lo, Letty and Shahzad* were born!     

*Yes, I know; I have no shame — I totally named my hero after the actor!  

Pre-order Rogue Hearts now!

AMZ | B&N | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
From high office to the heartland, six brand-new romances about #resistance for readers who haven’t given up hope for a Happily Ever After…
In Her Service by Suleikha Snyder
U.S. Vice President Letitia Hughes has one thing that’s hers and only hers: her relationship with much younger Secret Service agent Shahzad Khan. When push comes to shove, what will take precedence: political ambitions or protecting their hearts?
Run by Emma Barry
Public defender Maddie Clark doesn’t want to be a candidate for the state senate—but she’s running. Her high school nemesis turned campaign advisor Adam Kadlick shouldn’t be back home managing campaigns—but he is. They definitely should avoid falling for each other—but they won’t.
The Rogue Files by Stacey Agdern
Reporter John DiCenza wants to go back. To New Jersey, to his life, the hockey team he covers, and the fanbase he’s proud to know and support. Back to before he had the Rogue Files, documents rumored to be the final nail in President Crosby’s term.
Journalist Sophie Katz wants to move forward. Toward her new TV show, and a life where the stories she tells will make a difference. She needs the Rogue Files and the story behind them to get there.
But when life comes at them, John and Sophie realize that the true story behind the files is standing up for the truth right where you are.
Coming Up Rosa by Kelly Maher
When her mother’s health crisis forces Rosa Donnelly back to her hometown, she crosses paths with her former crush, and town golden boy, Ian Stroman. Ian’s shine is even brighter thanks to his advocacy work to fight inhumane government policies. However, their past hurts and a current business threat may spike their chance at happiness.
The Sheriff & Mr. Devine by Amy Jo Cousins
There’s a new sheriff in Clear Lake and he has Eli Devine, the town librarian, on edge. Between arguing with the town council about inclusive library programming and keeping his three grandmas from getting into trouble, Eli has enough on his plate already. He doesn’t need the imposing Sheriff Baxter to be so very . . . distracting. Luckily for Eli, John Baxter is full of all kinds of good ideas, both for the town and for one stubborn librarian in particular.
Good Men by Tamsen Parker
Laid-back Benji Park is the keyboard player for the world’s hottest boy band, License to Game. While LtG is no stranger to charity gigs, Benji’s never been what you’d call a social justice warrior. But when smart, sexy, and ruthless immigration lawyer Jordan Kennedy comes along and asks Benji for a favor, he just may change his tune.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Five Things About SEARED

My latest sexy contemporary romance, Seared, drops on December 12!

Here are five quick things about this soapy send-up!

1. I released Seared briefly in a much shorter and serial format in late 2015. It was called Unlock Me at the time — and I used a different pen name! I called myself Mariah Kendall Quinn, after three of my favorite soap opera women: The Young and the Restless' Mariah, All My Children's Kendall, and The Bold and the Beautiful's Quinn. I ended up pulling the installments off Amazon and scrapping Mariah, because I honestly wasn't prepared to be self-publishing at that point. You live and you learn! I eventually reworked the story a little, made it longer, and even submitted it to traditional publishers via my wonderful agent. When that particular avenue didn't pan out, I knew I wanted to try self-publishing again — and this time I was ready for it!

2. Lachlan Christie, the DomChefStepbrother hero of Seared, is a pretty blatant homage to Gordon Ramsay. I think the video below sums up why.





Tuesday, March 14, 2017

My Newish Release is Up for Pre-order!

What do you do when a bunch of your stories go away due to publisher-related natural disasters? You put up more! This labor of love is a collection of shorts and novellas, both new and old, spanning my entire publishing career so far. Some of them will be familiar to readers — like Heart Murmurs and Spice & Sand — so don't feel pressured to buy Ishq Factors if you already own those two tales! But I'm not going to complain if you DO still buy it. ;)

It's $2.99 for 12 stories of varying lengths, and I'm happy to furnish ARCs to reviewers. The book drops on April 4, 2017! 

From the past to the future, from hotel rooms to hospitals to homes, passion can bloom anywhere. In this collection of previously released and brand-new stories, Suleikha Snyder describes the many permutations of love, of ishq.

You have a thing for your hot boss. You can’t get your ex out of your head. You’re not supposed to be together. You are supposed to be together. He doesn’t remember you. You can’t forget her. She died. You die. Somehow, love and lust still find a way. These are the Ishq Factors.


Pre-order Ishq Factors at:

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  iBooks

Also, OMGWTFBBQ, this is a thing that has already happened: