What the Duke Doesn’t Know by Jane Ashford.

Taming the Highlander by May McGoldrick.

I’m on a romance novel kick right now (not unusual for me). I DNFed (did not finish) the first books in both of these series, but I enjoyed the second ones in a pleasantly lukewarm way that has me considering going back to the first ones. I wouldn’t recommend either of these for a romance amateur, simply because they’re not outstanding and you deserve a better entry point. But they’re entertaining and low-stress and they’re what my brain wanted right now.

An Elegant Façade by Kristi Ann Hunter. THIS romance novel was very well written…but also surprising. It was also a Christian romance novel, which I didn’t realize at the beginning. What does that mean? It means that near the end of the novel, when I was expecting the main characters to get it on, the heroine found God, repented her shallow ways, and everyone read the Bible and then got married.

This is the second time I’ve accidentally read a Christian romance novel and it’s always fascinating. This one really is a good story, even if the implications at the end were a little more slut-shaming than I would have liked. I did feel that the message was a little heavy-handed, but it really did work with the plot and character development. I wish the author had kept things a little less like a lesson and a little more like a story all the way through to the end – a little more delicacy with the BAM, it’s religion! ending would have made a world of difference.

Internets:

Scientists are about to try eating radishes that were grown in Martian soil. MARTIAN SOIL.

Wendy Brandes on pearls in the pool. PEARLS IN THE POOL. (Don’t do it.)

Why nobody bought the world’s largest diamond.

Still in shock from IG going all Snapstagram? Well, gird your loins – because Snap’s about to change, too.

I admit that I’m a huge nerd but this Smithsonian mag feature is so fascinating: A Secret Tunnel Found in Mexico May Finally Solve the Mysteries of Teotihuacán.

Artist adds cartoon monsters to photos of everyday life.

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Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit, by Jaye Robin Brown. I just finished this and I really enjoyed it. Sweet YA romance.

To Kiss a Thief, by Susanna Craig. Regency romance! Deception, intrigue, and sapphires.

Internets:

I went antique engagement ring hunting for About.com! See all the pretties in the slideshow here.

Just Look at the Smithsonian’s Beautiful Collection of Historically Significant Cosmetics.

The lovely ladies of Maejean Vintage take a look at the vintage jewelry trends of 2016.

Do you want a wedding cake, or a wedding cake-shaped stack of cheeses? These are the options we have available to us in this beautiful world.

How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible to Anywhere: I thought I was going to know all of these already, but actually it kind of blew my mind.

Gold Wedding Rings In The Victorian Era.

Jennifer Hudson Turned Her Son’s Baby Tooth into a Statement Necklace. Let’s talk about this, friends. What do you think?

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Nightstand: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti. A YA novel about a teenage girl gone missing – but with a twist. I’m not very far into this one, but it’s intriguing so far. I need to reserve judgement until I see where the plot is going.

Coffee table: The Ballroom by Anna Hope. This one was rather dark – it’s set in an insane asylum on a Yorkshire moor in the early 1900’s. – but I actually really enjoyed. There’s a lot of beauty in the story, despite its bleak setting. It’s not just a miseryfest.

On the balcony: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I’ve been hearing about these books for years, but am only just now getting around to trying them myself. I just started; can’t wait to really dive in.

Internets:

This guy travels the world with his pet chicken, Monique. I’m on board.

The most inspirational ways to carve watermelon. This sounds boring, but I promise it’s not.

Llamas nearly ruined the Tour-de-France, and they weren’t the first animals to try!

Let’s talk about grillz. Yes, grillz.

Game of Thrones jewelry designer announces his own Khaleesi-inspired collection.

Amateur archaeologists stumble upon largest trove of Viking gold ever found in Denmark.

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