Play Book Tag discussion

The October tag vote brought awareness to all that the SPORTS tag has an overabundance of smutty romance in it. Who knew?

That led to a suggestion that we have a Trashy Romance Buddy Read, so here we are.

Idea is that everyone reads for fun a trashy romance - or three.
Doesn't have to be from the sports listopia - any will do but you might want to give one of those a try -- those covers! 🥰

You can tie to the 3 nominated tags - sports, travel (think space or time travel), or ya-contemporary.

You can tie it to Fall Flurries - October - witchy, Halloween for example, November - Veteran's Day inspires one to read those special forces or military romantic suspense thrillers which yes have smut, December of course is the mother lode.

You can just see what cowboy covers find their way to JoAnne.

Or just deep dive into your TBR and see what you have hidden there.

Keep your fans handy and enjoy!

Oh what fun-I need to find a Thanksgiving Cowboy! May spend the day searching for my Cowboy

Brilliant ... want to use the "panties went poof" tag!

Book Concierge wrote: "Brilliant ... want to use the "panties went poof" tag!"

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love this tag!

I love it. This is the fun my life needs right now.

I've got some of my Studly Dog books in my TBR looking excited - will definitely have to read one or more of those.

@Sue - hope you join me!

@Olivermagnus - hope you chime in with military, special forces, and K-9 suggestions for fall reading. I know you like those too.

Oh, and when you finally pick your read(s) and post here about them, do include the covers .... in fact it's a requirement.

*setting a pile of drool rags within easy reach*

Yes, Theresa.......I'm a big fan of trashy romances. I remember a two day NASCAR romance bingethon during Poll Ballot.

Jaci Burton has lots of sports related romances.

J.R. Ward writes a great series called Black Dagger Brotherhood about super sexy vampires finding their true love and kicking Lesser Ass. The Lessers are the enemy of the BDB. Start with Dark Lover. They are quite erotic and the audios are fantastic. They are narrated by Jim Frangione who also narrates Chet and Bernie.

Ana Huang has several more than slightly erotic romances. I came across her during the 5 Star tag because so many were rated highly.

Fiona Quinn and D.D. Ayres write some great K9 series with hot guys.

Sawyer Bennett writes a lot of sexy hockey romances.

There's a series called Armed and Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray I've been meaning to check out. It looks "trashy" to me.

Jo Davis has some great fireman romances. Who doesn't want to be saved by the cute one.

If your looking to stage your romance in another universe you have to check out Ruby Dixon and Anna Hackett. Anna writes the Galactic Gladiator series as well as a couple of contemporary ones. The Ice Planet Barbarians are so sweet.

Ann Aguirre writes some series that might qualify as "trashy".

These might be worth checking out:

Best Older Man/ Younger Woman Romance

Best Older Woman/ Younger Man Romance

Depending on your age you might want to check out the classic trashy novel Valley of the Dolls or anything by Jackie Collins.

I knew you would not disappoint, OM! I personally have indulged in many of these. Great idea in Jackie Collins!

For more 'old school' trashy romance - and those that got me started and yes are smutty -
Judith Krantz - Scruples my favorite
Sidney Sheldon - I still occasionally dip into If Tomorrow Comes

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - The Flame and the Flower - first and hooked me immediately. A classmate at Barnard College lent me her copy ... despite it contradicting our strong woman feminist leanings and education.

Another favorite K-9 series author is Katie Ruggle. She also has a bounty hunter series.

For those looking for trashy sports or other romance that's more sweet, Harlequin had for a while an entire NASCAR series I was quite fond of, especially the Holiday ones:
A NASCAR Holiday,
A NASCAR Holiday 2: Miracle Season/Season of Dreams/Taking Control/The Natural,
A NASCAR Holiday 3: Have a Beachy Little Christmas\Winning the Race\All They Want for Christmas\A Family for Christmas
A Very NASCAR Holiday: All I Want for ChristmasChristmas PastSecret Santa (NASCAR Library Collection) by Nancy Warren

Isabella’s smut fest 2024 line up 💋🫦
* ongoing list of possibilities*
If travel wins, I am reading




For Halloween

oooooo-Maybe I will grab a NASCAR stud too!

The sports tropes don't appeal to me but some Regency romances are pretty smutty, so I'll see what I have. It's hard to know ahead of time which ones are "demure", as the trendy word says.

I just remembered that M/M can definitely be smutty and I have several by Cat Sebastian, Adriana Herrera, and K.J. Charles. Not sure why I am a sucker for those, something about enjoying men having actual emotions.

As far as Fall Flurries, Better Not Pout is a Christmas M/M romance that is both a sweet story and plenty explicit.

Suzanne Brockmann has several military, FBI, and Dark Ops series, and in the later ones include M/M romance - her son is gay and she was one of the first of the long popular romance writers to incorporate M/M romance in her books, even a couple where that was the central romance. I really liked these.

Following this thread for a good suggestion. I listened to the Ex Talk on Audio and there were times I had to stop driving and fan myself, or shut it off for the 13 year old in the backseat. That audio got me so hot. I was like "Rachel Lynn Solomon, I am trying to drive this car and with a 13 year old in it! I might have to drive myself into a lake to cool off!"

Amy wrote: "Following this thread for a good suggestion. I listened to the Ex Talk on Audio and there were times I had to stop driving and fan myself, or shut it off for the 13 year old in the backseat. That a..."

That's hysterical!

Amy wrote: "Following this thread for a good suggestion. I listened to the Ex Talk on Audio and there were times I had to stop driving and fan myself, or shut it off for the 13 year old in the backseat. That a..."

😅

Amy wrote: "Following this thread for a good suggestion. I listened to the Ex Talk on Audio and there were times I had to stop driving and fan myself, or shut it off for the 13 year old in the backseat. That a..."

🪭🥵🤣

This sounds like so much fun! It's been a while since I have read a trashy romance. This is a great excuse to read one :)

Isabella Taylor wrote: "Isabella’s smut fest 2024 line up 💋🫦
* ongoing list of possibilities*
If travel wins, I am reading


"

I think I'm adding . I'm a big fan of alien romance and have never tried this author.

You are all hilarious!

I will have to join in as well, of course, despite the fact I always regret starting … usual pattern: I get enthusiastic, then read one accompanied by audible eye rolling, then write a grouchy review saying well blah blah blah but IT HAS NO PLOT!, then Theresa will say of course it has no plot, woman, they never do, what did you expect and that is not the point anyhow… and I will continue to complain … and then we both go and get wine and all is well again.

KateNZ wrote: "You are all hilarious!

I will have to join in as well, of course, despite the fact I always regret starting … usual pattern: I get enthusiastic, then read one accompanied by audible eye rolling, ..."

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🍷

I'm totally in as well! I will find something. I prefer my sports romances to be about hockey. I'm pretty sure I have a few spicy romances but not sure any with qualify with the covers. I will look!

Found another time travel series that is on Kindle Unlimited
Knights Through Time series
book one.

Not sure how smutty it is but I'm willing to take one for the team and report back.

Amy wrote: "Following this thread for a good suggestion. I listened to the Ex Talk on Audio and there were times I had to stop driving and fan myself, or shut it off for the 13 year old in the backseat. That a..."

And I am visualizing you driving into the lake .... a BIG smile on your face, and singing ... "But they never stood in the dark with you love, when you take me in your arms and drive me slowly out of my mind.... KISS ME! Kiss Me!"

Oh ... and don't forget G.A. Aiken and the Dragon Kin Series!

Book Concierge wrote: "Oh ... and don't forget G.A. Aiken and the Dragon Kin Series!"

Ohh...this is on Kindle Unlimited 🥳

In an attempt to figure out what to read, I have noticed how many shifter books there are.

Dragons, bears, wolves seem to be in the top spots however, I came across honey badgers? Really?



Recommendations are appreciated about where to start for those who enjoy shifter books.

I think my GRR (Goodreads ridiculous recommendations might hit the jackpot after this)

Isabella, I really like the Psy-changling series by Nalini Singh. The first book Slave to Sensation, is still my favorite, with a close knit leopard pack. The series is steamy, but it’s also well written, with strong relationships and a smart overarching story line that continues to build with each book. There are wolf, deer, and many other species of shifters in this world near San Francisco.

Most of the audios in the series are free to audible members, so they might be on KU too (which has cut way back on audios).

So far the smuttiest books I’ve read are the ones with space aliens that rescue kidnapped Earthlings. They often turn out to be very romantic and mate for life - which shifters often do too,

Thanks Nancy!

Adding the first book in the Psy-changling book to my TBR.

Well, I have a fondness for dragon romances ...

Maria Grace has a series retelling Jane Austen, centered mostly on Elizabeth and Darcy that I am quite fond of and they are on Kindle Unlimited - - first is Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's Dragon -- I think they are actually quite good though I don't recall any smut. There's a parallel dragon kingdom and the two are tied together. Definitely trashy fun romance but maybe not smut.

Isabel Cooper has a dragon shifter series I'm quite fond of - Legend of the Highland Dragon. Yes there is steam and smut. Here's the cover:

That's it for the shapeshifter and fantasy elements trashy romance for me. I tend to be more Regency/Victorian era or contemporary. Historical authors I like who definitely provide the steam: Sarah MacLean, Grace Burrowes, and Stephanie Laurens, and many more. Laurens' later books all tend to have some mystery or espionage plot as a framework, but the early books are what KateNZ complains about - there is no plot, just lots of typical romantic steam and smut.

I could cry salty tears
Where have I been all these years…
Little wow, tell me now
How long has this been going on?

There were chills
Up my spine
And some thrills I can’t define
Listen sweet, I repeat
How long has this been going on….

Just seeing this and I'M IN!

Heads off to the special smut section of my TBR...

Sue wrote: "Just seeing this and I'M IN!

Heads off to the special smut section of my TBR..."

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

This thread is hilarious. I'll find something to contribute, but I think I'll enjoy reading the reviews and discussions more than any book!

Robin P wrote: "The sports tropes don't appeal to me but some Regency romances are pretty smutty, so I'll see what I have. It's hard to know ahead of time which ones are "demure", as the trendy word says.

I just..."

Romances by Eloisa James ( NOT the E.L James of 50 Shades fame) have been called Regency Sex in the City. Another Regency author with spicy scenes is Stephanie Laurens. And everyone knows Julia Quinn now.

Time Travel Romance, aside from Outlander, can be fun. I just saw an ad for Once a Pirate (amusingly, there are multiple books titled Once a Pirate or Once Upon a Pirate - probably a whole mini-genre, smutty pirates, some of whom are women.)

A great suggestion for 19 September which is International Talk Like A Pirate Day… just saying … arrrrrr…

Letting all know that I pm'd Nicole R and invited her to stop by when she gets a minute, and that she will be well-rewarded.

For those of you who are new or weren't active for a bit - Nicole R was an admin, in fact ran many of the annual challenges, and she loved to read and then review trashy Christmas and other romances and they were always hysterical because of course there's that innate conflict of a strong modern feminist loving these trashy romances with their virgin etc. tropes. Nicole graduated law school and eventually (pandemic and lock down intervened and delayed) started her associate position at a big fancy Boston law firm, which of course now owns her a**. Even if you don't work in a big fancy law firm after law school, you work ridiculous hours, and there is no time or energy for anything else. I know as I of course went through it myself a long time ago. So Nicole stepped down as admin. But she does pop in occasionally to share a review or comment on a thread.

I think once she stops by here, she'll join in the fun.

Well, it looks like Fall Into Smut has infiltrated all of PBT from the comments and some images I am seeing. Love it!

I think this is going to be great fun.

No need to wait. If you are finishing a trashy romance, with or without excessive smut, regardless of tag, feel free to post here starting now. Do include salacious covers. I have my drool rags ready.

FOUND MINE!!! 6 brothers-ALL Cowboys!



The GR's blurb even has a warning

Warning: Unapologetically sexy, this book contains cowboys seducing and being seduced: in trucks, pool halls, and barns. Drool-worthy country charm, a little double-teaming, and a lot of secrets are revealed as the Coleman family saga begins. Saddle up and ride.

And when I was looking to see if it had the sports tag, it has this tag:

Save-a-horse-ride-a-cowboy

My library front desk is going to have a field day when this comes through inter library

@Theresa-did you (or anyone) notice our new over-excited reader Isabella is now "deleted-user". I swear this is the same person over and over doing this to us. We should have some kind of entrance exam for anyone who jumps in like this!

Joanne wrote: "@Theresa-did you (or anyone) notice our new over-excited reader Isabella is now "deleted-user". I swear this is the same person over and over doing this to us. We should have some kind of entrance ..."

Too much enthusiasm, too fast is her MO. Maybe she felt embarrassed by it all and had to leave when her calm side took over.

Joanne wrote: "@Theresa-did you (or anyone) notice our new over-excited reader Isabella is now "deleted-user". I swear this is the same person over and over doing this to us. We should have some kind of entrance ..."

Crap, I did notice someone was deleted but didn't know it was her. She seemed so enthusiastic. There were books under the profile, I noticed the tastes were similar to mine. So she wasn't just here to sell something or make other overtures.

You can have Mods approve new members, but if it is the same person, she must be using different names, which is weird. Good thing there weren't any team games that she could get on at this point.

Joanne wrote: "@Theresa-did you (or anyone) notice our new over-excited reader Isabella is now "deleted-user". I swear this is the same person over and over doing this to us. We should have some kind of entrance ..."

I emailed Anita yesterday that I had noticed a 'deleted user' - but it wasn't just yesterday that it popped up. I have seen 'deleted user' pop up several times over the last 2 or 3 weeks in different threads when I was looking for a comment or confirming something, not just here yesterday. I could not figure out, or didn't take the time to do so, who it was.

In the past the comments etc. would all disappear too. Not just the name. That's why I didn't immediately click on it being Isabella. Did not think she had been around that long as some were older threads.

Wonder if other groups experiencing this? Think I will check the moderator's group.

Joanne wrote: "FOUND MINE!!! 6 brothers-ALL Cowboys!



The GR's blurb even has a warning

Warning: Unapologetically sexy, this book contains cowboys seducing and being se..."

🤣

Ennaoj and her lasso pulled in a winner!

Am I the only one who cringes just as much when looking at sexualized covers with half naked men as with half naked women? I swear I’m not a prude, but I feel embarrassed for anyone who is objectified. It must be all the harassment/respect training I did in my career, and the “feminism-is-for-everyone” values. At academic conferences, my male colleagues never suggested going to see strippers, but one year all of the women wanted to see male strippers.

NancyJ wrote: "Am I the only one who cringes just as much when looking at sexualized covers with half naked men as with half naked women? I swear I’m not a prude, but I feel embarrassed for anyone who is objectif..."

Just speaking for myself, a half naked man on the cover is sometimes the only thing that 'saves' some of these books. I can pause in the middle of ridiculous dialogue and just look at the cover.

I wish I was kidding....

They are just so fake, they seem silly to me. I remember Fabio, who was famous for being a cover model.

I'm jumping in a bit early with a book that at least is a letter match for Sad.

Dark Ghost

With the required half naked man (sorry Nancy! 😀)


I have a long drive planned for today so I'll be listening to the audio in the car. Alone. There's no way I could listen to this with my husband laughing his *ss off.

More embarrassing that reading this book is the fact that this is the 24th book in the series. And yes, I've read the first 23 books. 😍

Sue wrote: "I'm jumping in a bit early with a book that at least is a letter match for Sad.

Dark Ghost

With the required half naked man (sorry Nancy! 😀)


I hav..."

Excellent! On both the choice/cover and that you have read the entire series.