Cultivate resilience with the Institute for Independent Journalists at the 2025 Freelance Conference on Feb. 27-28. Engage in 12 information-packed, interactive sessions on pitching, funding your journalism, podcasting, boosting your income, and more. Keynote speaker and author Celeste Headlee will share her experiences working in mainstream media (NPR, PBS, WNYC) and independently. Learn about pitching from editors with Bloomberg, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. Only $59 early bird registration for 12 live and interactive sessions. Register now and get instant access to a bonus bundle with four recorded full-length editor panels, three recorded interviews with freelance experts and New York Times opinion editor Katie Kingsbury, a layoff recovery guide, tip sheets, freelance checklists, an income tracking worksheet, and more. Register now!
💃 Thanksgiving Romance Recommendations
A Match Made for Thanksgiving
It’s not Thanksgiving without an interfering family! Nick Wong loves spending his late nights partying and returning to his hometown to discover surprise blind dates is not his idea of fun. When his family sets him up with his one-night-stand Lily Tseng, he has the chance to convince her that she should be with him.
Her Naughty Holiday
Clover’s family Thanksgiving is an annual nightmare. But this year she has her crush posing as her fake boyfriend—a hot contractor who agrees to be hers for a holiday. Like all fake dating setups, the romance between this plant nursery owner and single father turns steamy fast.
Shopping for a Turkey
Scottish football player Hamish McCormick is stuck in New York for Thanksgiving. He tags along for an American holiday when he hears Amy Jacoby will be there. It’s free today!
An Alien Price for Thanksgiving
A UFO lands in the convenience store parking lot. Sani, the 7-foot-tall alien, is a prince in search of a mate to repopulate his kingdom. Prudence now has more to worry about than a lonely Thanksgiving! This is a really short story.
Stuffed
Callie is returning home for Thanksgiving for the first time in years and will see her high school crush Adam for the first time in years. Great choice if you’re behind on your 2024 reading goals.
Thanksgiving
Like any Janet Evanovich book, Thanksgiving is full of hijinks. Megan and Patrick end up making Thanksgiving dinner together and slowly fall in love. This was written in 1988 and is a super lighthearted rom com.
🎉 Romance Releases
Contemporary | ||
|---|---|---|
Hostile for the Holidays by Erin Hawkins | The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea | Falling for the Competition by Darby Baham |
Fantasy | ||
|---|---|---|
Clonely You by Ruby Dixon | Resisting the Alien Rider by Ursa Dax | Sweetling by S.E. Wendel |
Historical | ||
|---|---|---|
Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher |
💌 Romancelandia News
Fabio Fitness.The Loose Cravat covers a lot of information I never knew about Fabio—including his fitness video and his manager’s attempt to sell nonexistent coffee beans.
The Washington Post names eight best romances of 2024. The list includes Courtney Milan and Casey McQuiston.
Bluesky has us reminiscing on the implosion of the Romance Writers of America. Jezebel’s reporting is crucial. Pages and Prejudice has a good wrap up too.
Speaking of Bluesky, a lot of Romancelandia is migrating there. The Romance Reader chat is very active and Beverly Jenkins has been posting regularly.
💾 Romancelandia Jobs
Cassidy Hudspeth needs a book cover designer
Kate Raven needs help with promo videos
Elizabeth Muse needs an indie PR company
Spellbound Editions needs bookish artists for upcoming editions
Swoon needs a writer to rank the Outlander books
Tania Damha needs an editor for a contemporary romance
Hannah Levin needs a female voice actor with a Brazilian background for an audiobook
Emily Varga needs artists for book art
I plan to launch a freelance directory of people who want to work with romance authors and publishers. Say yes if you’re interested in joining. If you are a romance author (or know one) who would like your opportunity listed on the Romancelandia Job Board let me know at kaitlyn.arford[at]gmail.com.
🥰 Free Books
‘Twas The Night Before Scandal by Merry Farmer
The Spinster of Emerson Pass by Tess Thompson
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
Big Ben by Nana Malone
Misadventures of a Single Mom by Vanessa Vale
Queenpin by Ling Walters
Temptation of Knight by Lenore Danvers
Here Comes Treble by London Price
On and Off the Field by Anastasia Dean
Going Too Far by Abbi Glines
Unchained by Helen Hardt
Bourbon Runaway by Walker Rose
Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn
Like the Break of Dawn by Bree Wolf
The Darkest of Light by Sandy Alvarez and Crystal Daniels
Lynna’s Rogue by Kitty Margo
Lord of Chance by Erica Ridley
Dancing for the Devil by Faye Pierce
Beauty and the Vampire by Demelza Brown
A Sword of Shadow and Deceit by Lucinda Dark
The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles
💫 The Classifieds
Would you like to share something of value with this audience of romance readers? Want to partner with this newsletter on a giveaway? Let me know by responding to this email or emailing [email protected].
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This newsletter was written while watching Good Eats. Forward to a friend who’s ready for Thanksgiving food.
