iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Oh, okay. The good news is I didn’t miss something local for me. The bad news is that’s awful.

Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

… wait, where in Western NC? That’s where I live and now I’m worried I might have missed something in local government news. 😬

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Trying to pomodoro sprint my way through my evening. Ten minutes of laying down, twenty minutes for dishes, ten more minutes of disassociating, twenty for dinner, etc. Will it work? We shall see. 😅

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Wrapped my friend’s gift that I have to mail only to discover the box that I was going to put the gift box in is too small.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

I’m glad it’s not just me! It just seemed so odd to me. Like I know I’ve been eating more bland foods lately, but I wouldn’t think that would mean I suddenly can’t eat a food I love!

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Can spice tolerance randomly go away because you’ve only eaten chicken nuggets and French fries for two months just trying to survive? (I have eaten other things in the last two months, but also, tell me why this chicken tikka masala that I’ve eaten 60+ times is setting my mouth on fire.)

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Melanie/Mel @melonreads.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

If you know me at all, you know that the only thing I love as much as I love reading romance novels is talking about them. So, over the course of this month, I'll lay out the books I loved in 2024 and talk a bit about why I loved them. #Romancelandia #FavoriteReadsOf2024

My Five Star Reads of 2024 featuring a person holding a mug of something warm and a blanket and an open book on their lap.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

I read Payback’s a Witch and generally enjoyed it. Sapphic and witchy. I feel like there are more but that is for some reason the only one currently coming to mind. I shall keep thinking!

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I really need to stop buying historical romance narrated by Justine Eyre because I am always confused why Elena and Raphael are doing weird historical things. 😂

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Sarah MacLean @sarahmaclean.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

⛈️⛈️⛈️ These Summer Storms, coming July 2025 sarahmaclean.net/storms

Cover of These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Came home from Wicked and tackle hugged my dad singing Defying Gravity. I know we’re all shocked I’m suddenly a high school sophomore again. 😂

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Sarah Rose @sarahroseknows19.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Finished up #FallInLoveBingo by @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social and am full speed ahead on holiday romances! #romancelandia

Completed Bingo Board for #FallInLoveBingo with 25 book covers and cute old timey Halloween decorations. Happy to share the books if you want more info!

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Anyway, all this disjointed thread to say, @oliviawrites.bsky.social is wonderful and I love her writing so much. And also, romance novels are so important to me. Because wow, Matthew just taking care of her? This is what I want. And need. 😅

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

I was crying for so much of this book. It felt so cathartic but also, the way I am overwhelmed and stressed out, it felt like this book was sending me DANGER AHEAD signs. Like, you need to change something before this is where you wind up.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

In At First Spite, Athena talks about how teaching was making her feel like she was suffocating. The book also has depression representation.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

I’ve been doing the work of at least two people at work for the last two + months and I decided to read At First Spite by Olivia Dade FINALLY yesterday…

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Carole V. Bell @cvbell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I'm so excited. It's NPR Books We Love Day! Books We Love is NPR's interactive reading guide —fully indexed, categorized and handpicked by NPR staff and freelance writers like me. I wrote about nine of my most beloved 2024 releases. apps.npr.org/best-books/#...

apps.npr.org

Books We Love

Here are 350+ great reads from 2024 hand-picked just for you by NPR staff and trusted critics.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

This weekend was simply not long enough. I have not had enough time to recover from my last work week or to emotionally prepare for the next two days in which I will try and cram in six weeks of work into 16 hours.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I really love my local indie because they never judge me when I come in with a list of ten preorders at the beginning of the year. It’s City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC. 💕

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I think you’d be surprised how many you knock out on accident in three months!

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

You’re truly the best for doing this work. 🫂

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

And finally if you want a graphic option, here you go:

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

And if you want to participate on Storygraph, here's the link to the challenge there: app.thestorygraph.com/reading_chal...

app.thestorygraph.com

#SnowInLoveBingo 2024-2025

December 1 - February 28 Created by @firewhiskeyreader, @ardentlyaarya, & @danis_bookshelf...

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Black Love has a specific meaning, which is that the book is written by a Black author and features Black love interests. Multicultural romances do not qualify for this specific prompt, though obviously we have no issue with you reading multicultural romances for any other prompt.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

So excited to announce #SnowInLoveBingo, which was created by myself, Dani, and @ardentlyaarya.bsky.social and illustrated by my sister, Sarah, who I don't think is on bsky yet. If you want to participate, which we hope you will, please make your posts as accessible as possible.

#SnowInLoveBingo
December 1 - February 28
Created by @firewhiskeyreader, @ardentlyaarya, & @danis_bookshelf
Illustrated by @sarelizabeth13
Row One: Romance Classic, Prickly, After Midnight, Wicked, Roman Empire (literal or metaphorical)
Row Two: Dreams, No Guilt, All Pleasure, Short 'n' Sweet, Sapphic, Referential Title
Row Three: Bananas, Graphic Novel or Audiobook, Happy Holidays, Reread, Black Love
Row Four: Couple with Multiple Books, Battle of Wills, Unmet Expectations, Healing, Holiday Romance
Row Five: Beautiful Gowns, Snow, Sale, Chocolate, Glasses

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Molly Keran @mjkeran.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Read gorilla twins bc it’s bonkers, but I ALSO recommend you read the book after this in the series bc it’s one of my faves.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Got a little lost this morning but the Blue Ridge Parkway remains gorgeous.

The blue ridge parkway from the passenger seat of a car, there’s snow on the trees but the leaves are all gone more or less

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Carla Luna @carlaluna.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Today is release day for Santa Maybe, my fake-dating, friends-to-lovers Christmas romance set at a struggling boutique hotel in Victoria, BC. If you need a short, festive read or a break from your holiday to-do list, then this is the perfect escape! bit.ly/3NiXN0U

Ebook of Santa Maybe on a dark red holiday background, with the book's romance tropes listed with arrows: fake-dating, holiday romance, Latina hotelier FMC, friends-to-lovers, golden retriever MMC, found family, swoony Santa, and a pinch of spiace.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

My body randomly decided to wake up at just before 3am for no reason… so that’s fun.

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Helena Greer @blumagaincurios.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Do you watch Hallmark movies and wonder when the girls will just kiss already? Do you think Hallmark needs more Jews? GREAT NEWS: my Hallmark inspired sapphic rom-traum-com about a Jewish owned Christmas tree farm is free now on KU!

A cream background with pink and yellow decorative elements has the cover of Season of Love on a Kindle screen, with the text Free on Kindle Unlimited and Read Now.

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Olivia Dade @oliviawrites.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I can finally show everyone my ZOMROMCOM cover! It captures the fun, funny, romantic, action-y, and slightly goofy tone of my book so perfectly, and I can't stop staring at it. I hope you love it too! AMZ: go.oliviadade.com/Zamz Other vendors: go.oliviadade.com/Zprh Goodreads: go.oliviadade.com/Zgr

The illustrated cover of ZOMROMCOM by Olivia Dade, featuring the tagline: Love can make you lose your head. The background is a speckly bright purple, and in the foreground are a man dressed in black and a woman in bright pink overalls and a white tank top standing back to back and holding hands. He has a huge sword at the ready, and she is brandishing a shiny cleaver. All around them, clutching at them from the edges of the image, are bright green zombie hands.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Ooh, I listened to that on Sunday! I enjoyed it so much. I love her writing.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Snowed In with my ears and currently nothing with my eyeballs. They need a break. 😂

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Shelf Love Podcast @shelflove.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

In 2024, #Romancelandia Holiday Fairies is dedicated to the memory of Melinda Utendorf, beloved member of the romance community. Melinda was known by friends as a legendary gift-giver. She was a proud supporter of RHF & also benefited from others' generosity. shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...

Romancelandia Holiday Fairies: Dedicated to the Memory of Romancelandia Community Member Melinda Utendorf. April 13, 1982-January 10, 2024. Image of smiling white woman with short blond hair and thick framed glasses standing in front of the ocean and a beautiful sunset.

Melinda Utendorf was a beloved member of the romance reader community and a supporter of Holiday Fairies. In her last year, when she needed the support, she was a wishlist recipient herself. This year, we dedicate Romancelandia Holiday Fairies to Melinda.
January 1, 2024
Hi Andrea,
I just wanted to reach out now that the holidays are over and let you know how amazing the romancelandia wish list made mine.
I signed up when I was in the hospital, and my stay kept getting extended, and when I was released I came home to a few items from my wish list and it was exactly what I needed. The coloring books and puzzles I received have been sanity saving for me the last few weeks.
Truly, my mental health was so much improved by all of this, I can't even express it properly. So thank you and thanks to anyone who was involved.
Melinda
Find a gift list to support, or submit your wishlist:
bit.ly/holidayfairies

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Omg, I hope you love it as much as I do!!

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

It’s so good. And in book two, when Jackson makes Sadia a grilled cheese… this whole trilogy is my everything really.

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

I love watching when football players show good sportsmanship. Mahomes got tackled and holds out his hand for the tackler to help him up right after. Idk why it made me so happy. Lol

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

I think it might be time for a reread of Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai, which is a second chance romance that is angsty and sexy but also has the BEST mental health rep. I love it so much.

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Olivia Dade @oliviawrites.bsky.social · 04/11/2024

Because she's not on Bluesky, I wanted to share Mia Sosa's gorgeous new cover and upcoming book! The pub date is next June, and I can't wait to read the story. ♥♥♥ Here's where to pre-order: bit.ly/4f4G8Gg

The illustrated cover of Mia Sosa's WHEN JAVI DUMPED MARI with a city skyline in the background and a man on one knee offering a woman a bouquet of flowers, which she is rejecting with her palm out, fending him off.

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DL White @booksbydlwhite.blacksky.app · 09/11/2024

ReeseRyanWrites: Now available on audiobook: A COWBOY KIND OF THING (Hollywood casting agent and a Texas rancher) A VALENTINE FOR CHRISTMAS (fake dating; younger man, older woman; family saga) HIS UNTIL MIDNIGHT (Friends-to-lovers; bachelor auction) Download now: t.co/1C2OwKMtio

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Jen @firewhiskeyreader.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

I love Scoring Off the Field SO much.

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