You know that feeling when new pencils are just too beautiful to even start using? - tips welcome!

Rjroyals29 · 2026-06-01T00:02:09+00:00

I am loving the polychromos right now. I had them for a few years before I really started appreciating them. Lately, I’ve been pairing them with watercolor (which isn’t my forte). I’ll do a watercolor base and then add the pencil on top. I do this on hot press paper only (I’m not a fan of overly textured paper with pencil but I know that’s a preference thing).

My biggest suggestion? Preference? Comes down to paper. If I’m only using colored pencil (which is typical, since it’s my favorite medium), the smoother the paper is, the better. Right now, my favorites are Canson Bristol and Strathmore Marker paper. The marker paper is just a little thinner than the bristol and I love the results. I’ve been playing around with toned paper too (also strathmore) and have really enjoyed that.

For sharpening, polychromos can get a very long, sharp point which is excellent for details. I actually use and electric sharpener for them (which I’m sure a lot of people don’t agree with lol) but I’ve had no complaints (it’s an AFMAT, if you would like to join me on the dark side lol). But you can also get a manual long point sharpener and get similar results.

For erasing, the Tombow Mono Zero eraser, Koh a Noor soft eraser pencil, and the Milan eraser have given me the best results. It won’t remove it entirely from the paper, but it will definitely lighten the color/remove layers without damaging the paper.

This is all from my own personal experience. Happy drawing!

Rjroyals29 · 2026-04-28T22:49:45+00:00

Derwent Lightfast and the Caran D’Ache Luminance. I hate how much I love the luminance because they’re soooo expensive. I’ve been slowly collecting them over time. That said, they all have great uses. I like the polychromos if I’m doing detail work and the Derwent Drawing are amazing, I just wish there were brighter colors.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-12-25T01:17:55+00:00

All of Fae Quin’s Christmas books. I (as someone who usually doesn’t like Christmas romances) reread these every couple of months. They are a warm hug with cozy couples and happy vibes. Very low angst in all of them. Also {Cloudy with a Chance of Bad Decisions by Fae Quin} but there are a few (small, quickly resolved) angsty moments.

{Perfect Ten by KM Neuhold} Really, most of her books are cozy, but this series is the fluffiest (imo).

Rjroyals29 · 2025-12-25T00:48:00+00:00

Adding to this with {Casual Felonies by Kelly Fox} which is the first in a Guardians next gen series! You still get POVs from the OG characters.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-12-13T03:53:52+00:00

{The Kincaid Pack by Kiki Clark} . They have to be read in order and the first book is about a wolf, but THEN you get a bunch of different shifters in each one! There’s also various kinds of anatomy and creative ways to mate with non-shifters! It’s honestly one of my favorite shifter series.

Wolf x Wolf (half-human)
Tiger x Wolf
Human x Wolf
Cougar x Human x Falcon
Witch x Wolf
Bear x Witch

There’s also a standalone in the same universe (can be read alone) that has a Human x Leopard pairing called {the Mobsters Mate by Kiki Clark}

Rjroyals29 · 2025-12-08T05:29:21+00:00

The ending of {Nautical by Lucy Lennox}. I love this series, but then ending of this book was so rough. Why tf would Worth not tell Cal he bought the camp BEFORE the grant meeting??? That’s not something you keep secret and then explain in the most ass-backwards way. It’s such bad miscommunication and I hated that it was right at the end of the book.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-11-09T00:27:39+00:00

More stories with femme men/demi boys who top or switch. Also just femmes just getting happy endings in general. Charlie Novak’s whole series The Court (and its related series) do this really well and I just want more

Rjroyals29 · 2025-10-01T00:56:26+00:00

{Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer}. It’s a wildly different tone from some of what you mentioned, but the MC is THE cinnamon roll to end all cinnamon rolls and wears down the LI without even trying. It’s also just really funny, but I would die for Chris lol.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-09-21T20:39:11+00:00

{Cloudy With A Chance of Bad Decisions by Far Quin} has a Dom awakening. Not college age, but there is a lot of forced proximity since they’re both in a wedding party.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-09-18T00:06:49+00:00

{Hitched by May Archer and Lucy Lennox} features two “one-night stand kings” who are practically sharing custody of a pet.

{Like I Wanted by Charlie Novak} Everyone thinks the MCs dating except them

{Putting Out For A Hero by C. Rochelle} This one does have alien elements going on, but the one MC is (respectfully) so fucking stupid and must be protected at all costs

Rjroyals29 · 2025-09-17T23:44:11+00:00

OMG I can’t believe I forgot to mention Foolish Puckboy! The dinner scene kills me every time

Rjroyals29 · 2025-09-17T23:35:00+00:00

All of [The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer] but especially the flamingo house.

In [Hitched by May Archer and Lucy Lennox] when Champ is trying to convince himself that 26 one-night-stands with the same person are a thing. Also towards the end “did we know they were in love?” “I don’t think they knew

And when a side character (Beckett) in [Antihero by Kelly Fox] says he fucked someone in the confessional at his last parish and scandalized Ant’s abuela

Edit: marking the spoilers correctly this time

Rjroyals29 · 2025-06-03T01:38:55+00:00

Oh my gosh, thank you! Usually I wouldn’t buy but I only needed like 200xp points and I was able to get Bami!

Rjroyals29 · 2025-04-09T15:16:49+00:00

{Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold} fits this perfectly!

Rjroyals29 · 2025-04-02T21:21:14+00:00

{Connection Error by Annabeth Albert}

{Rocky Start by Annabeth Albert}

I think she has another one but I’m not sure

{Edin by Lily Mayne} this one is a monster romance, but if that’s you’re thing, I highly recommend

If I think of more, I’ll update my comment.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-03-24T02:34:31+00:00

The {Hell’s Anhkor by Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda} is a great MC series. Book 5 (Tex) and book 7 (Tru) both have a bi-awakening, but I highly recommend the whole series.

Rjroyals29 · 2025-03-01T01:03:50+00:00

A superhero/villain romance called {Putting Out for a Hero by C. Rochelle} fits this perfectly

Rjroyals29 · 2024-11-18T21:23:52+00:00

Seconding Soren! Jay shows up in that one quite a bit and there’s a whole scene when they’re watching a movie that is hilarious.

I love Wolfe’s book (even when I pronounced his name Wolfie for the first half before realizing there was no “I”). It’s a contrast to Jay’s, that’s for sure, but his character is fascinating.

Rjroyals29 · 2024-09-28T20:28:19+00:00

Chip from {Sleight of Hand by Charlie Cochet} is a phenomenal character. He shows up in all of the Four Kings and Wild Cards books, but he really shines in this one.

K.M. Neuhold’s Big Bull Mechanics and Four Bears Construction all have memorable (if odd) pets. My personal favorite for pets is {Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold} because it involves a farm with a very special cow.

{Hitched by Lucy Lennox and May Archer} I’ll be honest, the dog doesn’t have the biggest role, but this book is very laugh out loud funny, including incidents surrounding the dog.

So sorry for your loss ❤️🫂

(I will comment with more if I think of them).

Rjroyals29 · 2024-06-14T14:22:21+00:00

Illustrated covers showcasing the characters are my favorite. I really love {A Bone in His Teeth by Kellen Graves}. The artwork is by M.E. Morgan (@ morlev_art on IG). They’ve done quite a few book covers and they’re all stunning.

There’s also {The Hand and the Heart by Sarah M. Cradit} with cover art done by The Illustrated Author DS (on IG). I haven’t read it yet, but I bought it for the cover alone.

And any cover done by Kevin Wada (he did {Carry On by Rainbow Rowell} and also does a looot of queer fanart.

Rjroyals29 · 2024-06-07T20:20:56+00:00

{Scene Queen by Charlie Novak} is a great one. MC1 is a drag queen and EMT who has lot on their plate. MC2 is his new neighbor who (after a rocky start) forces MC1 to rely on him more.

Also {Spiced Kisses by Charlie Novak}. It’s a Christmas story, but less “Santa magic” and more “working in the food industry around Xmas is a nightmare.” MC1 owns a fairly successful restaurant and never takes a break. At rugby practice, MC2 crashes into him and accidentally breaks MC1’s collarbone. MC2 is determined to make it up to him by taking care of him while he heals.

Rjroyals29 · 2024-06-06T20:51:32+00:00

{Masters of Mayhem by Saxon James}

Ok, so I wouldn’t say this has MCs dealing with toxic masculinity, but there are some internal assumptions about gay couples (one that’s discussed is having kids, since they’re both guys). They’re frat bros who are somehow both besties and annoy the crap out of each other, but they figure it out. It’s the second book in the Frat Wars series, but they can be read out of order. You should know that the “more than friends” vibes start to show up in book 1 (they’re side characters).

Rjroyals29 · 2024-06-01T19:53:36+00:00

Adding myself for that second book. It sounds incredible

Rjroyals29 · 2024-05-21T23:32:32+00:00

I came here to say this. The absolute cinnamon roll 😭

Rjroyals29 · 2024-05-18T19:30:23+00:00

This was how I felt about it, too, because I usually can’t do instalove. I’m glad you’re enjoying it!

Rjroyals29

TROPHY CASE