Welcome to another weekly wrap up where I share the books and fanfics I’ve read from the previous Monday through Sunday. For some reason, this turned out to be a heavy fanfic week (mostly short one-shots), so I’ve linked them all for you here. I don’t usually share the fanfic I read anywhere else (unless you’re my one real-life friend who I text fanfic and books links to), so if you really want to know everything I’ve read, I recommend subscribing here to see the weekly links. My fave of the week is noted below with a “💖”
Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera (2020)
Contemporary workplace romance where a consultant (Rocco) is brought in to make budget cuts, which may include a charitable foundation run by our heroine (Julia). So it’s like workplace rivals with insta-lust. They both have their own emotional baggage from their pasts and have to work through their family stuff. The chemistry between the two was great and Rocco is most definitely a schmoopy sweetheart. However, toxic workplace politics is not my idea of fictional escapism, so I tend to skim over those parts.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm
Harry Potter Fanfic: Orbit by Kendas
Hermione/Viktor romance. Multi-chapter. I think I’ve read this one before, but my friend texted it to me, so I just skim-read it again. Hermione visits Viktor before setting out for the Horcrux hunt and asks for protection in a certain way. After the war, he continues to support her and is patient with her in terms of their relationship status. We basically have a transparently devoted and patient Viktor while Hermione figures out her life. If you haven’t read Hermione/Viktor fic before, this one is a great start.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Harry Potter Fanfic: These Are the Hands That Will Love You by LadyKenz347
Hermione/Dolohov romance. One-shot. This one was a re-read as I collected this link for a different post. Hermione is being married off to Dolohov in exchange for his allegiance to Harry in the war. It’s interesting to see how the author brings these very opposite characters together in a romance and it surprisingly works.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
💖 In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti (2022)
Historical romance novella. Margo is a scandalous young lady known for causing trouble with her twin sister. When her twin has eloped with a much older man, Margo seeks out the calm and steady Henry (her brother’s solicitor friend) to assist in chasing her down. Of course, Henry has been in love with Margo forever, knows it’s a bad idea to be in close proximity to her, and goes with her anyway. Steamy road trip romance that’s a quick read and I highly recommend it.
Ebook provided free by subscribing to the author’s email newsletter.
Get this book for free from the author’s website.
Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas (2016)
This historical romance was a partial re-read for me in preparation for listening to this week’s Fated Mates Podcast episode where the hosts did a deep dive discussion of the book. Marrying Winterborne is Book 2 of the Ravenels series and will make a whole lot more sense after having read Book 1, Cold-Hearted Rake. Rhys is a gruff and wealthy department store owner in Victorian England and was engaged to Lady Helen Ravenel in the previous book, until her guardians declared the engagement over. We start the book with Helen visiting Rhys to ask for the engagement to be re-instated and go from there. He’s basically completely devoted to her and she’s a shy mousy thing that needs to build her confidence throughout the book. I listened to the first quarter or so by audio and was absolutely delighted. If you haven’t read this one yet, or just need a swoony comfort-read, go and read this one and then listen to the commentary on the podcast.
Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm
The Marquess’s Stolen Bride by Bella Moxie (2022)
Historical romance. Rowdy marquess rescues the illegitimate daughter of an earl who is being kept in a tower and being auctioned off. Being caught in her room, he decides to marry her. It’s a pretty short and sweet read here and moved pretty quickly as our marquess teaches his new wife about pleasure.
Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.
Shop this book via Amazon // Available to read free with Kindle Unlimited
The Suitor by Mary Balogh (2013)
Short novella that’s part of the Survivors’ Club series and serves as a prequel to Book 2 of the series. Our blind Viscount is being set up by his matchmaking grandmother, mother, and sisters. The lady they’ve brought has actually been in love with someone else and awaiting her debut into society and for that gentleman to clean up his reputation. The novella is really the romance between the lady and her prior suitor. Short and sweet. I might have missed reading this one if not for my Kindle app suggesting it to me after I finished reading Book 1 of the series. Glad to have read it because it leads up to the next book.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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Harry Potter Fanfic: Trying Not to Love You by DracoIsForLovers
Draco/Hermione soulmates romance. This one has a soulmate tattoo trope where a with or wizard gets a tattoo representing their mate that appears on their 17th birthday. Hermione is pre-occupied with the looming war and horcrux hunt, so she refuses to look at her mark. Draco is just trying to survive. Ultimately, Draco realizes who his soulmate is and we have a pining Draco who feels unworthy. It’s a pretty quick read and I enjoyed it. This fic took me about an hour to read.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Harry Potter Fanfic: The Long Way Around by Fractured
One-shot. Draco/Hermione romance with their kiddos Scorpius and Rose driving the friendship. Slow burn with lots of angst. This one has a lot of quiet understanding and Draco contemplating his feelings. It’s entirely Draco’s POV here, which is one of my favorite takes on this pairing.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Harry Potter Fanfic: Perhaps Good is Better Than Nice by Debboluh
Snape/Hermione romance. Short, three chapter story. This one is told in a non-chronological timeline. Several years after the war, Snape realizes that Hermione is a single mother to young twins and suspects his own memory-modified involvement. We get to see how it all happened and the time that Snape had missed.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes (2016)
Nonfiction book describing the process of writing a romance novel. I was recently at a romance book event in town and a romance author had recommended this book for the “rules” of writing romance. I don’t personally have any aspirations of writing romance, but I liked skimming through this book to understand the story structure of the books I most frequently read. Great first step if you want to start writing.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.
Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org
Harry Potter Fanfic: Potions and Time Sand by Debboluh
Sirius/Snape/Hermione soulmates romance. After I finish reading one fic that I enjoy from an author, I’ll go back to the other fics they’ve written to find more. That’s what happened when I clicked on this one. We have Hermione taking a soulmate-finding potion that accidentally sends her back in time to find a bickering Sirius and Snape. Another really quick read, and I liked the humor and banter in this one.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
House of the Dragon Fanfics
Harwin/Rhaenyra romance. I haven’t watched Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, but with all the video clips I’ve seen this week of the chemistry between Harwin and Rhaenyra, I knew I needed more. Sometimes fanfic is the best because you don’t even need to fully understand the fandom to appreciate it.
The following three fics are pretty much the same premise. Harwin and Rhaenyra get together. Plus whatever emotional toil that involves when a married princess has an affair with someone who isn’t her husband.
tell all the stars above by MissAtomicBomb
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
you kept me like a secret but i kept you like an oath by RaindropsOnRoses
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Her Sworn Shield by cordeliacordate
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
Harry Potter Fanfic: Claiming by Ciule
Snape/Hermione romance, Omegaverse. In reading fanfic for so long, I knew that I had previously liked reading fics by the author Ciule. This author’s fics lean on the darker side of things. The author’s note here describe this as their first Omegaverse fic and explores the dubious consent tied within that mating structure. The first few chapters of this story explore the societal implications and dangers of being an alpha or being an omega. This part wasn’t very interesting for me and I wanted to spend more time with the relationship between Snape and Hermione, which happens in the last third of the fic.
Read this fic on Archive of Our Own
The Arrangement by Mary Balogh (2013)
Historical romance in Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Survivors’ Club Series. We have our charming and beautiful viscount who was blinded in the war. He’s escaped his meddling family members and off on his own. A quiet young lady rescues him from being compromised into marriage by her cousin and her guardians toss her out. When our charming viscount learns this, he offers her a marriage of convenience with the knowledge that they’d someday follow their separate independent dreams. This one starts slow, as most Balogh novels do, but sometimes I enjoy reading this slow pace of falling in love and all the character-driven emotion behind it.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm
Want more Harry Potter fanfic? Here’s a spreadsheet of my all-time favorites.
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