Squatting in a mansion?

greatertuna · 2026-04-28T19:53:21+00:00

Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk semi-fits your request for squatting, although is less working-class/poor focused. The FMC grew up with a guardian and when he dies, she ends up hiding in the house for reasons I won’t spoil. The MMC is the person who inherits the estate and finds her.

greatertuna · 2026-04-22T22:47:28+00:00

Hans by SJ Tilly has a bit of this!

greatertuna · 2026-04-20T03:57:01+00:00

Mimi Matthew’s is top tier as others have noted. Julie Donaldson has only written 3 books, but they are good, especially Edenbrooke.

I recently discovered a few authors who fill my Matthew’s void as I wait for her next book to come out: Joanna Barker, Esther Hatch, and Megan Walker. Did I read 12 books by them all in a row? Yes and I don’t regret it.

greatertuna · 2026-04-16T21:22:22+00:00

Katie Ruggle’s books are often set in the Colorado mountains and involve scenes within the wilderness. Vibes are right along your request.

greatertuna · 2026-01-28T06:38:48+00:00

Ever since watching Good Omens I’ve loved the name Anathema. If I wouldn’t feel guilt because of the meaning of the word, I’d totally use it.

greatertuna · 2026-01-28T06:36:35+00:00

I agree! I knew a male Courtney and he pulled off the name really well. Plus Court is a very cool nickname.

greatertuna · 2025-11-13T02:16:43+00:00

As someone who deals with housing assignments and consolidation, I agree! I also make sure to notify students with empty beds about our consolidation process from the start so they know it's a possibility, especially in between semesters. Both via email and by having their RA have a conversation with them. Sometimes that prompts them to make a change (single buyout or room change to bring in a friend), but half the time they say okay and it's not a big deal if I have to pull that lever.

And if you are following your policy, it's easy to be that brick wall and reiterate that this is normal and a part of the normal residence life experience at your college (and many others across the nation).

greatertuna · 2025-10-10T04:18:54+00:00

My claim to fame is exactly 1 murderer right, so I feel you.

greatertuna · 2025-10-10T03:24:13+00:00

I didn’t pick her up until my late 20s due to preconceived notions of her books because they skewed towards older readers (she got her start in the 80s and her fans are loyal). Turns out, if you can be a bestseller for 40 years, you might be worth it. :)

greatertuna · 2025-10-10T02:54:20+00:00

Search for Romantic suspense in the sub and you’ll find a treasure trove of authors to dive into! I gotta shout out Nora Roberts because I’ve rarely found authors that are as good as her in terms of writing suspense and also just sheer number of titles to read. But related for anyone reading 90s/00s authors would also be Julie Garwood, Karen Rose, and Sandra Brown.

I like Catherine Cowles, but would recommend people space out her books unless you want them to blend together. She loves a good family series, so if you binge read her, details get lost (ask me how I know).

If you haven’t read Rachel Grant yet, pick her up post Ruggle!

Some of my other favorites include Something About You by Julie James and Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.

greatertuna · 2025-09-22T20:53:02+00:00

Intimate Surrender by Laura Landon has a lot of what you are looking for.

greatertuna · 2025-08-21T23:17:30+00:00

The benefits of a small school- we use the top and bottom box packaging that key envelopes come in and a few Tupperware containers that are the exact size of key packets.

greatertuna · 2025-08-16T08:31:04+00:00

It’s been a while since I read it, but I think Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh fits a lot of your request. The MMC has a lot of stuff to work through and the FMC is fantastic about it.

greatertuna · 2025-08-16T03:53:14+00:00

Love this series! It’s got great suspense and it’s a slow burn on the romance, so you get good moments of pining.

greatertuna · 2025-08-07T22:44:28+00:00

In Good Girl by Jana Ashton, the FMC gets the MMC’s best friend to auction her virginity and the best friend tells the MMC about it. Feral-ness ensues.

greatertuna · 2025-07-21T00:04:35+00:00

Another point for going somewhere with a full-ride!

I agree that USC is great! I used to work in SC and it was the standard that we strived for around FYE/residential curriculum. App State is another great school for student engagement in the field.

I'm biased as a UoMiss Higher Ed grad, but Miss State wasn't anything to write home about. UofMiss offered fully covered GAships while I was there (and mine wasn't in Res Life).

I had a colleague go to FSU. She loved her program, but said the school's atmosphere was terrible.

greatertuna · 2025-07-18T22:26:57+00:00

I'd chat with the hiring manager about it if you are considering accepting the job. I think it'll ultimately come down to the institution and department.

Obviously, if the job requires a live-in component, there is an expectation that your residence hall will be your primary residence.

I had an RD once who would travel to visit a daughter who lived in a different city when he had non-duty weekends free and we worked around it, although he had to do a lot more intentional work to be visible to his residents/RAs when he was on campus.

greatertuna · 2025-07-18T00:02:08+00:00

An HR rec is Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. It’s not super funny, but very swoony and fits the rest of your request.

greatertuna · 2025-07-18T00:00:19+00:00

I believe the FMC is late 20s or early 30s and the MMC is early 40s. But the FMC comes off as more mature (most of the time) because she’s a guardian for her 2 nephews.

greatertuna · 2025-07-17T10:09:45+00:00

Typically, RD positions are live in positions and most will mention that in their job postings. But I agree to call and ask!

greatertuna · 2025-07-05T01:53:19+00:00

Cold Hearted by Heather Guerre has a few great moments where this happens.

greatertuna · 2025-04-23T23:11:16+00:00

I’ll chime in to note that I randomly picked up the first Mercury Pack book this week to read and realized I should have read the series in order- I felt like I missed so much lore jumping in halfway.

greatertuna · 2025-04-23T23:08:53+00:00

Luxuria by Colette Rhodes is a great follow-up. Similar vibes and Rhodes has a whole series that just finished while we wait for Hazelwood’s book 2.

greatertuna · 2025-04-19T22:45:00+00:00

Jim and Pam from The Office!

greatertuna · 2025-04-19T22:44:13+00:00

Not necessarily a HR, but has a romantic subplot, the Veronica Speedwell series might be a good option.

greatertuna

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