iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

So… I finished The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson, but I’m having a hard time rating it. While I really enjoyed it, there were just too many specific instances that reminded me of From Blood and Ash / Flesh and Fire series by Jennifer L Armentrout. #booksky #romancelandia

Book cover is purple with flowers coming out of a well dripping blood. “the Poison Daughter “ by Sheila Masterson

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Ok please no spoilers but I started Mistborn and I looked at the map, right? WHY does SJM’s map of the crescent city look suspiciously similar?!?!?? 😠 Has anyone else addressed this? #fantasy #bookstagram

Map of Luthadel from Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Map of Lunathion from Crescent City by Sarah J Maas

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

If you haven’t had multiple dreams this week about shooing gawkers and shaming stalkers, are you even a real Swiftie? 😂 “No, you can’t come to the wedding” - #TaylorSwift

Text messages read:
I had a nightmare last night that randos snuck into Taylor’s rehearsal dinner and started live-streaming. Afterwards I was yelling at them “you are NOT real Swifties!!”
So I’m apparently feeling very normal about the wedding this weekend.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

May 2026 wrap up - I finished my buddy reread of #ThroneOfGlass - I read Star Shipped and it’s already on by TBRR (to be reread) list - I got into Riley Nash & Elsie Silver - Other surprise standouts were Reluctantly You by Cora Rose and Bad Dogs by Riley Nash #Booksky 📚💙 #

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Im în Boston for the week and I got to spend the afternoon around Myrtle the Turtle , seahorses, an octopus, and a few colonies of Penguins!!! 🐢🐧 🐙🪼🐠

Myrtle, a seahorse estimated to be between 75-95 years old

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Reading Star Shipped and Cat Sebastian has done it again. “I am nowhere close to ‘hinged.’” “I had to be SUPER butch so I drank 2 molecules of Heineken.” 🤣 #booksky #romancelandia

Book cover of Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian. 2 white men look into each others eyes.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Tonight I got to teach my 15 and 11 year old nieces the basics of embroidery 😃 They absolutely loved it!! It made me feel so much better about my ADHD “bin of hobbies past” ☺️

White woman with embroidery hoop and white girl smiling.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Birthday weekend trip to the tulip festival 🌷 ♉️

Man and woman standing in tulip fields. Both are white with brown hair wearing sun glasses and green tops (because at this point we match without trying).

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

This is the day we brought Westley home. 🤍

Corgi / Cattle Dog puppy sitting in grass with 1 paw on a foot wearing a gray shoe

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I got to thank her for Carry On, the first queer romance I ever read. I also mentioned it felt full circle to see her name included in the special thanks for Heated Rivalry. She laughed and said “oh, yah, that was allll me.” 😆

Two white women in a bookstore. One is holding a book, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

At an author event for Rainbow Rowell’s latest Cherry Baby 🍒 #booksky 📚💙 #romancelandia

A book cover for Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell. It is white with red and black text and a large cherry on the cover with a tied stem.

Rainbow Rowell speaking on stage. She is a white woman with curly brown hair and wearing a denim dress with cherries on them.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Rewatching LOTR. Frodo is really serving 2026 chic with his shaggy mullet and, like, Korean-skincare level skin.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

At a #Mariners game tonight and it seems like we picked a good one 🧢🔱 #TridentsUp

Man in gray hoodie and blue hat. Woman in aqua t-shirt. Both in Mariners.

T-Mobile Park baseball field with roof open

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Just one of the texts I sent to my sister while we buddy read

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I was not prepared for how hot Emmett “Monty” Montgomery would be. 🥵🫠🔥 I *love* the guys from the Windy City series. But Monty proved that they are boys compared to him. #GILF

Book review of In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde that says here i am yearning for someone's grandpa

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I had high expectations for Liz Tomforde’s latest, In Her Own League. A little over half way through, it’s exceeding those!!! 🥵🫠🥹 #booksky 💙📚 #romancelandia

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

At least it was louder for the women but uggghhhh #StorrieNightLive

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

January reading wrap up - I continued into the Sadenverse, partly in a buddy read with @violet.dftba.social & @becadreads.bsky.social - I started rereading Throne of Glass along with my sister, who’s reading for the first time. #booksky 💙📚

StoryGraph wrap up for January. 16 books and their ratings.

StoryGraph wrap up for January.
16 Books
5,066 pages
3.69 average rating

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Got to attend an author event last night with Emily Rath at Lovestruck Books. Came away with beautiful signed books to add to my collection—Alcott Hall and Pucking Strong—and a hopeful future for the Whiskey & Sin universe 🤓 #booksky 💙📚

Two white ladies holding books. Woman on the left is author Emily Rath.

Author Emily Rath. A woman is sitting in front of a white wall that has a sign reading “Lovestruck in Seattle” and flanked with pink bookcases.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

On a rewatch of episode 6, I noticed she was included in the “special thanks” card and just 🥹

Heated Rivalry’s special thanks, with Rainbow Rowell in the 3rd row from the bottom.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

They showed a sign on the jumbotron asking Buoy (our mascot) to pick Hollander or Rozanov #HeatedRivalry

Pride tape spells out “Buoy” and then asks Hollander or Rozanov.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I have spies—I mean, friends, at Seattle Kraken’s pride night tonight and I sent them with a #HeatedRivalry bingo card.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

“All the things she said” in Climate Pledge Arena

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Here are my 5 star reads this year (2 of which were rereads). Other standouts that I may not have mentioned: -Under Your Spell -Goode Brothers series -Deep End -This Summer will be Different -You and Me -Learning to Love series Oh and here’s my StoryGraph app.thestorygraph.com/profile/sama...

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

December 2025 -My sister and I decided to start a Romance Advent Weekly (RAW) Bookclub. It was delightful! 😈 -Gay hockey continued to take over my life…for no particular reason 🙃 #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

November 2025 -I was deeply committed to preparing for Heated Rivalry (TV) by rereading Hollanov’s books and starting the Puckboy series with @violet.dftba.social and @becadreads.bsky.social -I finished CC3, which means I can indulge in all the SJM theories! #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

October 2025 -I continued with the werewolves (though not omegaverse) with Mate by Ali Hazelwood and the Green Creek series by TJ Klune -Left of Forever was fabulous. Definitely recommend if you like 2nd Chance Romance #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

September 2025 -This was apparently my most “LitFic” month of the year. Both Atmosphere and Margo’s Got Money Troubles were fantastic. #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

August 2025 -The husband & I read Project Hail Mary and I’m getting very excited for the movie -My Friends was stunning -I dipped into the omegaverse this year; Whiskey & Sin was likely my favorite! If you have recs for something similar, hit me up! #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

July 2025 -I reread Windy City before Rewind it Back -Some friends & I started a Crescent City buddy read -Tress was my first Brandon Sanderson (or, as my husband calls him, Brandy Sandy) #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

June 2025 -Another beautiful Alexandra Rowland work in Tadek and the Princess, an exploration of different types of love -While on a road trip, my husband and I read Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (who he will forever call Addie LaRue) #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

May 2025 - I took full advantage of time off work in May…and that included more sight-reading -Yield to Great Persuasion will likely become a regular, therapeutic reread for me #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

April 2025 - Promise me Sunshine was a true standout of the year! #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

March 2025 - I reread ACOTAR along with my sister’s first read through - The Nightingale destroyed me in the best way possible #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

February 2025 - I read SO much this month - Did I only start reading Liz Tomforde less than a year ago?! - The Shepherd King duology was enjoyably different from most Romantasy I’ve read #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

January 2025 - I reread Fourth Wing & Iron Flame before Onyx Storm came out - Really loved The Wedding People - Lights Out was as hilarious as everyone suggested #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

2025 reading wrap up 🤓 Books: 241 Pages: 90,745 Average length: 376 #booksky 📚💙

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Like… for years I was living off of crumbs on tumblr and now it’s just… real? And everyone else loves it too?!?!?

Illustration of men in hockey gear, one whispering “1221” to the other. Fan art by https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/qU3aHPX4QK

Still of two men in hockey gear. One says “I think I’ll go to bed early tonight… 1221” to the other player. Still from Heated Rivalry.

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Samara Surface @samaras.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

I rewatched S1 E5 of #HeatedRivalry and timed the shots around minutes 22-24. To deliver lines likes those and emotion like that for over a minute with no cuts is incredible!! 😮🥹

2 men sitting and talking. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov from Heated Rivalry.

Times across 2 min 34 sec. Includes laps of 1:18 and 1:08.

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