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Articles by Donna Soluri
Jane Igharo: “I’m really excited about giving readers a glimpse into Nigerian culture.”
Frolic: When did you start writing? Was there a certain book or author that made you want to be a writer? Jane Igharo: I started writing in elementary school––poems about winter turning into spring and one really cute boy I was crushing on. I wanted to be a poet. Writing novels wasn’t on my radar until I picked up “Some Nerve” by Jane Heller from the library. That was the first book that really had an impact on me.
Bingeable TV and Book Pairings by Sara Whitney
“Don’t scare me like that again.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling enough to tilt her chin upward. Her brown eyes blazed. “If I do, will you kiss me like that again?” After her widowed mother rushed into a regrettable second marriage, Thea Blackwell vowed never to commit to anything. Not jobs. Not hairstyles. Not men. Yet here she is dreaming about buying a house and having it renovated by the town playboy who never spared her a second glance. Too bad she lacks both the cash and the courage.
Daily Frolic: A Can't-Miss Virtual Book Club!
Welcome to the Daily Frolic! The place for learning about one cool thing that’ll get you through the day. Our resident YA expert Aurora is moderating an awesome virtual book club on Saturday! If you’re a YA fan, you won’t want to miss it. Grab all the details here.
New Adult Corner: Top Picks for September!
Ralph Being traded to Dallas was a dream come true. I had everything I wanted, my game had never been better, and my wife was due to have our baby any day now. What could go wrong? Everything. I was now raising our baby on my own. After hockey practice and games, I didn’t have time to sleep, let alone make sure my social media was up to par. I never thought I’d get a second chance at love.
Leaving Productivity Culture Behind in My Reading
I have nothing against productivity culture on the whole. In many ways I find that I can thrive within it. I love a good checklist. I love a measurable goal. And I certainly love the rush of endorphins I get when I definitively crush that goal. I suppose it was natural that I let this productivity mindset creep into my reading habits as well. I set monthly goals of a certain number of books to read. Then, of course, I needed to note and review all of them on all the proper channels.
Exclusive: Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst First Look and Excerpt!
From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst comes a new women’s fiction novel featuring three generations of Ferrari women who need to heal the broken pieces of their lives…and one trip of a lifetime through Italy. Workaholic, career-obsessed Francesca is fiercely independent and successful in all areas of life except one: family. She struggles to make time for her relationship with her teenage daughter, Allegra, and the two have become practically strangers to each other.
Book of the Week: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Jamaican-British Chloe Brown comes from money but has left that world behind. She is now a freelance web designer and loves her job. But her job is made difficult by her fibromyalgia — her life changed significantly when her symptoms began in her 20s and doctors and friends dismissed her illness.
Exclusive: Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler Cover Reveal
Dahlia Adler’s Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are. Lara’s had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He’s tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he’s talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe…flirting, even?
Aggressive Halloween Decorations & More: Authors Share their Favorite Fall Activity
Fall is finally here, and we’re here for it! To celebrate, we asked some great atuhors to share their favorite fall activity. Do you spy your favorite on this list? “One of my favourite fall activities is to pick a day when the sky is that bright clear blue you only get in September and October and pick a perfect place to read. Usually this is in a garden path called Philosopher’s Walk here in Toronto when all of the leaves have turned vibrant colours or sometimes High Park.
The Most Challenging Part of the Writing Process, According to Authors
[Note from Frolic: We are excited to bring you this latest spotlight on the authors writing in the K. Bromberg universes. You acn check out their great titles and more at www.kbworlds.com.] To celebrate the September releases of titles in the K. Bromberg universes, we asked authors to share what they’re looking forward to this fall as well as what they find the hardest part of the writing process.
Trope Rec Tuesday: Academic Rivals Take a Chance on Love
To explain a little about what this post will be about, every Trope Tuesday post starts with the same introduction. In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes you find inside its pages. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Every type of entertainment and media. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them even more.
Exclusive: Under a Winter Sky Anthology Cover Reveal
About the Authors: Kelley Armstrong is the author of the Rockton thriller series, standalone thrillers beginning with Wherever She Goes, and the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying middle-grade fantasy series. Past works include the Otherworld urban fantasy series, the Cainsville gothic mystery series, the Darkest Powers teen paranormal series and more. Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include novels, non-fiction, poetry, and short fiction.
How to Write the Naughty Brit of Your Royal Fantasies
[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have authors Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Louisa Edwards, Tessa Gratton, and Sierra Simone hanging out on the site today. They’re in conversation about what it was like writing their latest anthology, Naughty Brits.] The last six months have been hard for everyone. What ties together the five contemporary romance novellas in our anthology, Naughty Brits?
The Anatomy of a Story by Laura Trentham
[Note from Frolic: Today, we welcome author Laura Trentham to the site. Take it away, Laura!] Before I landed in Highland, Georgia, I wrote a series of six books set in the town of Cottonbloom. It was a town which straddles the state line of Mississippi and Louisiana and is the definition of quirky with a split personality. I knew Cottonbloom inside and out, but it was time to move on, and I was tasked to come up with a new small-town series by my agent.
Get in the Halloween Spirit with these Paranormal Romance Titles
[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have author N.J. Walters guest posting on the site today. She’s sharing some of her favorite paranormal romance titles. Take it away, N.J.!] It’s the most wonderful time of the year—and I don’t mean Christmas. I love fall with the crisp days, colorful leaves, and pumpkins, not to mention Halloween and Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect time to curl up with a paranormal romance. And luckily for us, there are so many wonderful authors and diverse storylines to enjoy.
Must-Read Web Comics: Tapas Modern Romance Collection!
Fall is the PERFECT time to cozy up with a great romance webcomic. Luckily, our friends at Tapas have just released their new Modern Romance Collection! There are SO many amazing titles in this collection. Check out all of these amazing titles below and see which ones catch your eye! Although Ilene Jung is a popular webtoon artist, she needs another job. A crappy desk job to be exact, one tyrannically controlled by the meanest manager in the world: Jim Kang.
Seriously Fun Second Chance Romances
There’s nothing like a second chance romance that includes sports, secret text messages, and a life-altering kiss. Denver, a conscientious, handsome football player, helps Avery, the unassuming heroine, see that her current boyfriend is unfaithful. Does Avery remember the special moment she shared with Denver during their freshman year? More importantly, is she willing to pick up where she left off with this truly good guy?
What Your Myers-Briggs Type Says About Your Love Life
Chances are, you’ve heard a thing or two about the Myers-Briggs test. It’s a personality test that fits people into one of C.G. Jung’s psychological types. It’s used for all kinds of things — work, friendship, school, and our personal favorite… love. If you haven’t already, take the Myers-Briggs test to find out your personality type. And then, read on to learn what it says about your love life! ISTJ Ah, the logistician. Aka, the rationalist.
An Epic Enemies-To-Lovers Playlist
If you’re anything like me, you can’t get enough of enemies-to-lovers tropes. I think the book Shatter Me first got me hooked on this, and now I’m in too deep to ever claw my way out. Of course, the only thing I love more than a good enemies-to-lovers arc is a great playlist. Today, I’ve compiled a playlist of songs that give me that enemies-to-lovers vibe.
Sunday Brunch: 2 Buzzy Authors Answer Frolic’s 5 Questions
Aurora: What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel? Christina Baker Kline: Inspiration is mysterious. I read an article in the New York Times some years ago about British convict women and children exiled to Australia in the 1800s, and was fascinated. But why was I fascinated? Not until I’d finished writing The Exiles did I realize that several strands of my own life experience had led me to this story.
Justin A. Reynolds: “Ultimately, search for your own voice, your own brand of storytelling, and once you find it, trust that it’s good enough.”
Aurora: What was your inspiration behind Early Departures? Justin A. Reynolds: It was inspired by the death of my very good friend, but it started with the question: can we ever get back the important things that we’ve lost? What character in this novel do you most relate to and why? I relate to Whit a lot; she’s a character who is focused on doing the right thing for her brother, on keeping what’s left of their family intact, even at great personal cost.
Weekend Podcast Guide: September 19, 2020
It’s no secret that Whoa!mance is a product of the university – a meeting of minds that began with the pursuit of knowledge and ended in a holocaust of emotions. But we digress. This week, Morgan and Isabeau audit a few classes with Katrina Jackson’s ivory tower romp, Office Hours. High-achieving and beleaguered Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Deja Evans is in a rut. With her 3-year track to tenure review looming, her separation between work and life has blurred into non-existence.
Comic Corner: “Allergic” is the Perfect Graphic Novel for Kids of All Ages
Aurora: What was your inspiration behind Allergic? MEGAN WAGNER LLOYD: I’m allergic to all animals with fur or feathers and (other than a couple misguided attempts) never had pets growing up. Growing up, I felt so jealous of kids who could have pets. And even as an adult, I feel like I’m really missing out on a special and unique part of the human experience (It’s hard being allergic to man’s best friend!).
Buzzy YA Retellings Releasing This Fall
Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly This Snow White and the Seven Dwarves retelling will be released on October 20. Once upon a time, Sophie rode into the forest with the Queen’s huntsman, and when they stopped to rest, he took out his knife and took her heart. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise as Sophie heard the whispers that she was a too kind and foolish princess.
Why We Need More Female Friendships in YA Fantasy by Annie Sullivan
[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have author Annie Sullivan guest posting on the site today. She’s talking all things bookish female friendships. Take it away, Annie!] Young adult fantasy books are often coming of age stories where the protagonists fight to find out who they are—and often have save themselves, others, or their kingdoms in the process. These stories are often full of first loves and first losses.
Michele Arris, Vanessa Riley and Nina Crespo
Catch Me by Michele Arris RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2020 Genre: Romantic Suspense (Description provided by the publisher) It was supposed to be a straightforward business agreement… Businessman and COO Dominic Balaska almost has it all, except $20 million to get in on a lucrative real estate deal. His trust fund document requires him to be married by his 31st birthday. In six months. With no romantic prospects in sight, he looks toward Tabitha Seils.
Book of the Week: Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo
Nigerian-Canadian Azere Izoduwa works at Xander in Toronto, North America’s top advertising agency. She was born in a Nigerian village and immigrated to Canada with her mother and sister at the age of twelve. Spanish Canadian Rafael Castellano is in the process of moving back to Toronto from NYC where he spent a few years. His time in NYC is something that he adamantly refuses to speak about with anyone, even his close family.
J. Kenner on Writing Great Settings
I’ve been reading a lot of SFF lately, which has made me think more deeply about the locations in which books are set. After all, Dune would hardly have made compelling reading without the planet Arrakis at the heart of the plot and the theme. And what would Game of Thrones be without Westeros or The Hunger Games without Panem?
Why is it so hard to get King Arthur right? By Signe Pike
[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to welcome author Signe Pike to the site today! She’s talking all things King Arthur. Take it away, Signe!] The first step is admitting you have a problem, so here it is. I am addicted to Long Ago and Far Away. If you suffer a similar affliction, you know exactly what I mean. It’s an addiction to the past, to a time we can nearly touch but not quite remember, a time without the ping of text messages and the jolting blare of a telephone.
Exclusive: Indivisible by Daniel Aleman Cover Reveal and Author’s Note!
A timely, moving debut novel about a teen’s efforts to keep his family together while his parents face deportation from the United States. There is a word Mateo Garcia and his younger sister Sophie have been taught to fear for as long as they can remember: deportation. Over the past few years, however, the fear that their undocumented immigrant parents could be sent back to Mexico has started to fade to the back of their minds.
Why Contemporary Fantasy is the Perfect Genre for Love Triangles
[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to welcome author Tracy Deonn to the site today. She’s talking all things love triangles. Take it away, Tracy!] Before I dive in, I just want to make it extremely clear that I believe love triangles can thrive in any genre. This trope is my romantic kryptonite, and when it shows up in unexpected stories that just makes me love it more.
Trope Rec Tuesday: She's Grumpy, He's Sweet
To explain a little about what this post will be about, every Trope Tuesday post starts with the same introduction. In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes you find inside its pages. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Every type of entertainment and media. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them even more.
Diverse Book Corner: New Releases for National Hispanic Heritage Month
Lila Reyes is the ultimate pastelito queen and, she is excited to inherit her family’s Miami bakery with her sister Pilar. Until Lila’s life starts to unravel when her Abuela dies unexpectedly, her best friend ghosts her, and her boyfriend breaks up with her. Her parents are concerned and decide to have her spend the summer in their Winchester, England inn. Lila is devastated and gets homesick for her home in Miami and longs for Cuban baking alongside her Abuela.
Romances that Love Bookstores
Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry, and the day before she moved away, she wrote him a love letter and put it in his favorite book at his family’s bookstore. She waited for him, but he never came. Now Rachel has returned to the city and to the bookshop to work alongside a boy she hopes to never see again. But Rachel’s brother died drowning, and now she is in need of a distraction. As Rachel and Henry work side by side, they begin to find hope with each other.
Ten Romance Fans Share the First Romance Novel They Read
As long-time romance fans, we were wondering: what’s the first romance novel you ever read? We took to Twitter to find out, and the answers were delightfully varied!
Exclusive: Sweethand by N.G. Peltier Cover Reveal and Excerpt
After a public meltdown over her breakup from her cheating musician boyfriend, Cherisse swore off guys in the music industry, and dating in general for a while, preferring to focus on growing her pastry chef business. When Cherisse’s younger sister reveals she’s getting married in a few months, Cherisse hopes that will distract her mother enough to quit harassing her about finding a guy, settling down and having kids. But her mother’s matchmaking keeps intensifying.
Book of the Week: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
Katrina King-Arora, a Thai American former model, is now an angel investor and a recluse. She had escaped her abusive father, who used to also be her manager, by marrying an older, kindly man who has now left her widowed. She has always struggled with anxiety her whole life due to her father, but her mental health struggles became more intense after being kidnapped a few years ago.
Exclusive: The Dating Dare and Off Limits Attraction by Jayci Lee Cover Reveals!
About The Dating Dare, out August 3, 2021: Tara Park doesn’t do serious relationships. Neither does she hop into bed with virtual strangers. Especially when that particular stranger is her best friend’s new brother-in-law. It isn’t an easy decision, though. Seth Kim is temptation personified. His unreasonably handsome looks and charming personality makes him easy on the eyes and good for her ego.
Sunday Brunch: 2 YA Authors Answer Frolic's 5 Questions
Aurora: What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel? Iva-Marie: The simplest answer is the scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Judge Reinhold’s character is watching Phoebe Cates get out of the pool in her red bikini. The vision of her unspools into an extremely vivid fantasy for him. (And, problematic or not, I can say I’m right there with him and you can’t take your eyes off Phoebe in that scene.
LOVE YA: Top Three YA Books for September 15
The Last Prophet has been found, yet he sees destruction ahead. In this sequel to the critically-acclaimed There Will Come a Darkness, kingdoms have begun to fall to a doomsday cult, the magical Graced are being persecuted, and an ancient power threatens to break free. But with the world hurtling toward its prophesized end, Anton’s haunting vision reveals the dangerous beginnings of a plan to stop the Age of Darkness.
Frolic Podcast Network Weekly Wrap-Up: Small Town Romances, Freaky Friday and More!
To celebrate the upcoming fifth anniversary of the podcast, we have the second Listener Favorite episode. This week the spotlight is on Lucy Lennox. The guys present four reviews featuring their all-time favorites from the “Forever Wilde” series: “Felix and the Prince,” “Hudson’s Luck,” “Wilde Love” and “King Me.” Next, they re-visit three of Lucy’s interviews. Also discussed is the film “Out of Body,” premiering at Cinema Diverse, and Joyfully Jay’s Reading Challenge Month.
The Romance Report Episode Five: Our Top Book Girlfriends
Welcome to the Romance Report! This week, Megan and Mazey are going balls to the wall as they discuss their top book girlfriends. The duo covers some of the fiercest ladies in Romancelandia and what makes them each so incredible.
5 TV Shows to Watch if You Can't Wait for Halloween
1. Teen Wolf Both campy and scary, Teen Wolf is the perfect re-watch. Full of werewolves, kitsunes and folkloric creatures like Bezerkers and Wendigos, at least one of these episodes is sure to spook you! If this is your first watch, start at the beginning of course! But if you’re a Teen Wolf veteran and want to revisit an episode with a little more bite, we recommend Echo House or Motel California.
Frolic-Exclusive Excerpt: When a Rogue Meets his Match by Elizabeth Hoyt
Ambitious, sly and lethally intelligent, Gideon Hawthorne has spent his life clawing his way up from the gutter. For the last ten years, he’s acted as the Duke of Windemere’s fixer, performing the duke’s dirty work without question. Now Gideon’s ready to quit the duke’s service and work solely for himself. But Windermere tempts Gideon with an irresistible offer: one last task for Messalina Greycourt’s hand in marriage.
4 Great Podcasters Share Their Favorite Coffee Orders
Jeffe from First Cup of Coffee says… “My favorite coffee order is the standard latte, whole milk, hot. When I make my lattes at home, which I drink during the twenty minutes I chat four days a week on the First Cup of Coffee podcast, I use my Nespresso to make a Carmelito or Ristretto espresso. The I use my beloved milk café to heath and froth the whole milk. I add a bit of Stevia and sometimes a bit of pure Vanilla extract.
The Best 20 Books of Fall 2020
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell- October 13th Lisa Jewell returns with another taut and white-knuckled thriller following a group of people whose lives shockingly intersect when a young woman disappears. Jewell is the Thriller Queen! Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties, a virgin, and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a computer science teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies.
Yuri!!! On Ice: The Heartwarming Anime You Need to See
Its Positive Tone Is Perfect As Courtney Milan mentioned on Smart Podcast Trashy Books, Yuri!!! On Ice is a special example of storytelling without a betrayal between characters or a bleak moment of hurt at the climax of the story. Of course, that doesn’t mean the show is devoid of conflict. Yuri’s relatable anxiety definitely amps up the stakes before each competition. And, of course, at the end of the day each skater is doing his best to be the best, so there’s plenty of drama and emotion.
The Can't-Miss Workshop for Teen Writers
For the creative writer in your life! The Miami Book Fair’s Speak Up Creative Writing Program Get an inside look of Speak Up’s Fall virtual program. From the Miami Book Fair: In this FREE virtual creative writing workshop mini-series, teens will partner with experienced teaching artists to empower the creative writing process, from drafting to performance to publishing, to boost literacy and empower youth in Miami through community-based writing activities.
Exclusive: Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye by Jacquelyn Middleton Cover Reveal
WILL HER FLING BECOME HIS FOREVER? Leia Scott has sworn off love. Fresh from a messy, public divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. Her vow? To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister.
Love YA: Top 3 YA Reads for the Week of September 8!
Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway. Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back.
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