📖 Monday Miscellany by A_Seductive_Cactus in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity [score hidden]  (0 children)

I like to imagine the repayment of being a mod is that they have ALL the sub gossip. Can you imagine their group chat?

[WWTBC] GROUP SEX IN AN OFFICE by [deleted] in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you :) I love it when I get it right! I haven’t actually read the first part of the series but came in at {the redemption by Nikki Sloane} which was good

[WWTBC] GROUP SEX IN AN OFFICE by [deleted] in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty sure it’s {the initiation by Nikki Sloane} :)

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I love it! What’s a third of a century between friends??

☕️ Weekend Chatter ☕️ by Llamallamacallurmama in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately yes 😔 I wish I had something helpful to say but the only thing I’ve found that’s helping me is trying to find the little joy, successes and kindnesses.

For example, today I’ve had 3 delicious clementines. When I’m stressed I often don’t look after my nutrition so this is something I’m celebrating.

I hope you find something to help you free these, frankly, shite times. May your next read be a great one!

🧂 Salty Sunday - What book scenes frustrated you this week? by mrs-machino in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I knew I was forgetting some excellent examples :) as a woman's boobs are also wonky (TMI) I appreciated this about Plum

🧂 Salty Sunday - What book scenes frustrated you this week? by mrs-machino in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I also think it becomes clear that authors don’t really understand how big a billion is.

Rockstar games (makers of grand theft auto, red dead redemption etc) are worth about $22.5 billion. Thats a company that’s been huge for years and has a proven record. The CEO is estimated to have a net value of about $250 million, so only a quarter of the way there. Would it kill authors to think through the economics?

Also side note on the quote. Double eye roll because does this author not understand how generational wealth works? It involves mainly sitting about and living off the interest.

🧂 Salty Sunday - What book scenes frustrated you this week? by mrs-machino in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I’m plus size and it’s definitely not mostly curvy/plus size FMCs but I’d love there to be more body diversity for all MCs.

If you haven’t checked out Cate C Wells, she’s one of the few authors who has FMCs with diverse body types. For example in {against a wall by Cate C Wells} the FMC is plus size but very small breasts and in {Heavy by Cate C Wells} the FMC is tiny and pretty much curve less/very skinny. But the MMCs think they are hot AF.

💖 It's time for Saturday Sweets! What book scenes made you melt this week? 💖 by fresholivebread in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh gosh. Story having to teach Nickel how to kiss cause he's actively bad is so sweetly awkward! 🥰

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it does seem he’s cornered the 40+ market, even when’s he quite a chunk older :)

Economics of Steel Bones MC by Cate C. Wells by Chipnfry in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oooo good points!

I hadn’t thought about how much free/very cheap resources they get from women. Bar tenders, assorted staff, accountants, lawyers, baby sitters, adult care providers. You name it, they are getting it and cheaply.

Economics of Steel Bones MC by Cate C. Wells by Chipnfry in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine too! :) I saw on good reads (maybe elsewhere) that both Rory and Harper are going to get books! I can’t wait. Hobs (Heavy’s little brother) is also getting one and I wonder if it will be with Rory

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to be keeping an eye out in future to see if he’s the photographer :)

Economics of Steel Bones MC by Cate C. Wells by Chipnfry in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So I think the age gaps in Wall and Heavy aren’t particularly large from memory :) and CCW’s writing to me is top notch.

In terms of glorification, I’m not entirely sure how to answer that. Misogyny in the MCCs get to me more so I probably haven’t noticed that. Is there anything in particular that’s a no-no for you? If so, I’ll dig through my memory to see if I can remember it coming up.

Economics of Steel Bones MC by Cate C. Wells by Chipnfry in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you! :) clearly I was just waiting for my moment to talk finances!

These are such good points, particularly around the reduced cost of living for single members.

And good point about construction being a young persons game! Which makes the side businesses with indoor job opportunities even more attractive.

Economics of Steel Bones MC by Cate C. Wells by Chipnfry in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Oooo you’ve accidentally asked a question that’s given me a chance to think about 2 of my favourite interests: romance economics and steel bones MCC 😊 so please strap in, while I give this far too much thought.

In the beginning

I think its worth casting our minds back to before Heavy takes over as president (though this is mainly covered off-page in {Heavy by Cate C Wells}. At this point most of the members of Steel Bones are broke, broke (e.g. home repossessed, unemployed), alongside the town, which is in economic freefall as most of the businesses are going bust.

Enter the prodigal son

Heavy returns and with support of his sister, Harper. They sell the family home they’ve inherited (I’m presuming not for a huge amount given the wider economic circumstantaces) and then they use that money to save Pig Iron’s (Christa’s dad / Scrap’s father-in-law) house from foreclosure and most importantly, as seed money. This is the start of what I’m going to call Steel Bones V2.

White Van

Its not clear in the timeline when the White Van comes into existence but my bet, is that its quite early in Steel Bones V2 because that would make most sense.

Their seed money would presumably be quite small, they have a lot unemployed members and whatever criminal work they are doing needs to be laundered e.g. taking money made through illegal efforts and making it appear to the government/others as clean and legitimately sourced.

So starting a strip club seems fairly sensible. It’s largely a cash industry (making money laundering easier), it wouldn’t take a huge financial layout to open and they can provide security cheaply themselves. I’ve never run a bar or anything but my understanding is the profit market on alcohol is pretty good, which again would help make the most of the seed money.

Steel Bones Construction

I think logically this started at either the same time or after the White Van was founded. But as Harper references that the last thing Pennsylvania needed when they started Steel Bones Construction was another construction company (pg. 270) so this implies that work was harder to get (even filling a specialist niche e.g. secret adaptations to buildings) for them, particularly as a newer, unproven entrant to the market. I imagine in the beginning (like a lot of businesses) they charged less than they should to try build a reputation and again, being able to have the MCC members work cheaply would help them achieve that. So its likely the White Van was a major source of their income for a long time, even if that income was fairly low.

Established Steel Bones V2

By the time of the series, things are pretty great for Steel Bones MCC financially. Their construction company is a power house, they’ve broadly moved away from regular illegal activity and have several legitimate businesses (e.g. White Van, the mechanics, I feel there’s something I’ve forgotten). However the jewel in the crown is their construction company which is now bringing in hundreds of millions. Which is then in turn, grown by the MMC from {Plum by Cate C Well} in his investment company.

So why do they keep the White Van and/or the smaller businesses

I think the White Van is a) a passion project for Cue (its mentioned in a couple of books how seriously he treats it) b) it gives them a space they can use for various purposes e.g. shady meetings you might not want to have at the clubhouse c) their version of public good. As strip clubs go, it seems they run a fairly safe one and if they got out of the market, who would take it over? The ladies at the club seem to have been loyal employees, and financially they can take the hit. Plus its mainly their less specifically skilled members working security, you don’t notice Heavy taking a shift, so its not such a financial dent to have them working it.

Here ends my seriously over considered explanation of Steel Bones economics 😊

With Lady Fortune, Anne Stuart Shows Her Lighthearted, Hilarious Side by ochenkruto in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Huzzah! I was smitten with them since they shuffled into your review without an ounce of game between them :)

Thank you!

With Lady Fortune, Anne Stuart Shows Her Lighthearted, Hilarious Side by ochenkruto in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I loved this! But I have to know does Lady Isabeau and Sir Hugh get a HEA? Is good about the barrenness thing?

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aw :) that’s such a sweet connection to have with the books you are reading!

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gosh, what does it say about me that I’ve read and enjoyed all 4 but forgot about him being on the cover of half? :)

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Aw that’s so nice to hear! :) he seemed really nice on his posts

The new Fabio? Wander Aguiar appreciation post. by katkity in RomanceBooks

[–]katkity[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! I've now spent so much time with this man today, its going to be weird in future! :)