My favorite books to help romance lovers remember who they are and how bad-ass they can be

Why am I passionate about this?

As a long-time expat in France, a creative and a Black woman, I get othered and rejected a lot. I’ve had to learn how to own my story – of starting over, of building something from nothing, of remembering where I’ve been, and reminding myself of where I’m going. I had to learn to reject the labels that others want to put on me and draft my own personal hype mantra then embellish it with a little bombshell sparkle. The books I’ve chosen are meant to entertain while giving you the chance to remind yourself of who you are and who you can choose to be.  


I wrote...

Not the Plan

By Gia De Cadenet,

Book cover of Not the Plan

What is my book about?

After nearly a decade of experience in state politics, Isadora Maris is damn good at her job. If all goes according to her meticulous plan, she’ll soon be managing her boss’s successful campaign for U.S. representative and finally land her dream role: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference.

But Isadora’s cool professionalism is knocked off-kilter when she meets Karim Sarda. Karim is gorgeous and brilliant and seems to share many of her ideals. So why is he working for the California Senate’s most detestable scumbag? Given their bosses’ fierce political rivalry, Isadora finds she can’t risk tarnishing her reputation by flirting with the enemy. So she deems Karim off-limits—no matter how flustered she feels whenever he enters the room.
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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Bombshell Manual of Style

Gia De Cadenet Why did I love this book?

I’ve purchased three copies of this book over the years, as I simply cannot live without it.

After a turn through its pages, I sit up a little straighter, walk into a room as if I own the place – and people respond as though I do.

Stover instructs the reader on the life and behavior of historical bombshells and how she (or he) can adopt those characteristics in daily life.

When I’m feeling frumpy, or downtrodden, or just blah, I can add a little sparkle with some ideas from this book.

In my novel, the female lead, Isadora, gives herself a little confidence before a meeting with the male lead by wearing some sexier-than-usual lingerie meant for her eyes only—an idea from this book.

By Laren Stover, Ruben Toledo (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Bombshell Manual of Style as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this glittering beauty and lifestyle guide packed with pearls of wisdom, Laren Stover has compiled everything a woman needs to know to live the Bombshell life: from how to dress and make an entrance to what to eat and where to shop. It tells readers what makes a Bombshell tick; road-tested outfits for 25 occasions; must-have Bombshell sleepwear, handbags, and fragrances; what's in the Bombshell library; and what she looks for in a man. With scads of little-known facts about real-life bombshells like Liz, Mae, and Lana this fun and ever-so-practical little book is certain to bring out the…


Book cover of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

Gia De Cadenet Why did I love this book?

Sometimes things happen in life that bring us to our knees – illness, relationships fail, job losses.

And we may feel small, overwhelmed, incapable. In this awesome book about living audaciously, Jones advises the reader to write their own oriki, or personal hype mantra.

When we are at our lowest, we need to look back and see how far we’ve come, remind ourselves of who we were, who we are, and who we will be.

Just as we have the power to write our own orikis, we have the power to write our own next steps. That’s pretty bad-ass.

By Luvvie Ajayi Jones,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Professional Troublemaker as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
 
From the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Judging You, a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear--that everlasting hater--and audaciously step into lives, careers, and legacies that go beyond even our wildest dreams

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling. But even she's been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear. She was once afraid to call herself a writer, and nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. As she shares in Professional Troublemaker,…


Book cover of Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Gia De Cadenet Why did I love this book?

Dani Brown is career-focused and does not have time for a relationship (like my lead Isadora) – but great sex is always on the menu.

When she thinks she’s found a good partner in brooding ex-rugby player Zaf (who reads romance novels on the sly!), the universe conspires to put them in a fake dating relationship for the sake of publicity for a children’s charity.

You can never go wrong with Talia Hibbert, but I particularly enjoyed Take a Hint because Dani is very clear on who she is and what she wants. Owning your wants and honoring them is – say it with me – truly badass.

By Talia Hibbert,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Take a Hint, Dani Brown as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Talia Hibbert is a rockstar! Her writing is smart, funny, and sexy' Meg Cabot

'The author's charm and wit sings off the page in this delightful fake-romance fare' Bolu Babalola, bestselling author of Love in Colour

USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him 'rescuing' her from their office building goes viral - perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang!

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown and an occasional roll in the…


Book cover of Rafe

Gia De Cadenet Why did I love this book?

Sometimes you just gotta move far away and start all over.

That’s what Karim, my male lead does in my book, and what Dr. Sloan, the female lead does in Rafe. Neither is looking for love, but as luck would have it…

What I loved about Rafe was the reversal of a common trope – male nanny hired by well-to-do single mother. A bearded, muscular, tattooed nanny who cooks and can fold a fitted sheet? Sign me up!

This book is a fun, spicy ride and poses the question, “why not?” Why can’t a woman killing it in her field come home to a man taking care of the home front, ready to meet all of her needs?

By Rebekah Weatherspoon,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Rafe as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

All Dr. Sloan Copeland needed was someone to watch her kids. What she found was the man of her dreams…After a nasty divorce and a thousand mile move, Dr. Sloan Copeland and her twin daughters are finally getting the hang of their new life in Los Angeles. When their live-in nanny bails with no warning, Sloan is left scrambling to find a competent caretaker to wrangle her smart, sensitive girls. Nothing less will do.Enter Rafe Whitcomb. He's all of those things, not to mention good-natured and one heck of a whiz in the kitchen. He's also tall, and handsome, and…


Book cover of Salt + Stilettos

Gia De Cadenet Why did I love this book?

Not just anyone can grow up dirt poor, build a successful consulting business in Miami, survive being stalked, and keep the world in the dark about their crippling anxiety.

Brett Fontaine does it without letting a lock of hair get out of place – true bombshell style. A relationship with her new client, the media-clueless cinnamon roll chef Will Te’o, is completely ill-advised. So of course, that’s exactly what happens.

I adored this book because it so easy to identify with Brett. We all want to be together on the outside and respected in our fields. But there’s still the fear that we’re whatever weaknesses we may have had in the past.

Will helps Brett see the badass inside of her. Walden-West does the same for her readers.

By Janet Walden-West,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Salt + Stilettos as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Trading her red-dirt roots for the title of Miami’s go-to image consultant, Brett Fontaine refuses to let anything jeopardize her new life.

…Not an influential client-turned-stalker who’s up for parole…

…Not post-kidnapping panic attacks…

…And certainly not the stubborn, attention-phobic chef with the tempting tataus she’s been challenged to transform into a celeb in ninety days.

Will Te’o can almost taste the dream he sacrificed American Samoa, culture, and cherished family ties for—opening a four-star restaurant in the most cut-throat culinary location in North America.

Unfortunately, that requires navigating its equally ruthless social scene.

When his first public performance ends…


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The Good Woman's Guide to Making Better Choices

By Liz Foster,

Book cover of The Good Woman's Guide to Making Better Choices

Liz Foster Author Of The Good Woman's Guide to Making Better Choices

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved reading and its ability to take you far away to a distant time and place and lift you up. As a kid, I never left the house without a book, and the ones that made me laugh were my go-to's. I believe the ability to make people laugh is a truly special talent, especially while making the text relatable, so the reader’s always asking, wow, what would I do in that situation? My readers often tell me that my writing sounds just like me, which is wonderful because there’s no need to pretend. You will always know what you’ll get with me!

Liz's book list on make you laugh and leave you smiling

What is my book about?

A heart-warming and hilarious novel about the highs and lows of marriage, fraud, and goat’s cheese.

Libby Popovic is a country girl who’s now living a golden life in Bondi with her confident financier husband Ludo, and their two children. When Ludo is jailed for financial fraud, and Libby’s friends and family lose tens of thousands of dollars as a result, she feels agonisingly complicit.

Matters go from atrocious to worse when her possessions and home are repossessed, Libby is sacked, and a priceless family heirloom is wrecked. While camping out at the family goat farm, Libby must re-evaluate her life choices. How will she crawl out of financial ruin? Can she make amends? And can she save her family from falling apart?

The Good Woman's Guide to Making Better Choices

By Liz Foster,


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