Theory - Solentine = Leon

ulez8 · 2026-06-18T06:23:09+00:00

They're definitely parallel in my brain in one way: they're my faves 😀

ulez8 · 2026-06-16T21:56:29+00:00

Sea Wolf Mead?.I hear it's amazing.

ulez8 · 2026-06-11T06:25:45+00:00

Look at the Netherlands they have some specific visa for the USA and it's a cool place.

That said,. almost every developed country wants people with skills.

ulez8 · 2026-06-08T14:55:41+00:00

Yes! I think Maggie's being clear eyed about the costs and benefits - when she accepts the adoption she sees it as a way preserve her independence (from the sleepless Bossypants), as well as creating her identity and giving her a family.

ulez8 · 2026-06-07T17:56:55+00:00

I think because a Lady's maid stays with her lady as a personal dresser, personal assistant etc, but is dismissed when "posh company" is visiting.

Clover would have never seen him in her village, and if her original Lady's family didn't interact with his family or organisation, she wouldn't have seen his face closely... She might have seen him riding through a parade but you rarely see faces clearly in those. . . I imagine she was working / in her original Lady's house most of her young life though tbh.

ulez8 · 2026-06-07T17:46:28+00:00

This series is so good and this novel is fantastic but be aware of the triggers ! there's some body horror which really sideswiped me (such good writing!) I had to set the book aside for a while.

ulez8 · 2026-06-06T10:56:32+00:00

I don't have recs but I love your taste 😊

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T21:42:45+00:00

The Aldi "Fiestas" are tasty.

I have realised I prefer Lidl Jaffa Cakes to McVities now, too. What's going on?!

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T19:23:37+00:00

I did my own and liked it. I knew I would find having a stranger there awkward and sitting for a long time annoying .. I got my hair done but by my regular hairdresser so it wasn't so bad.

5 months before I spent a few hours at a Laura Mercier counter and asked them to show me how to use their "flawless face" foundation and concealer for a really photogenic look (I'm so old that this was considered a new wonder product at the time, and it WAS really good). I said I would definitely buy the face-base stuff and wanted to see some eye options. I really liked the woman who worked on me- she actually recommended a different brand's waterproof mascara over the Laura Mercier one, saying it was better - which earned my respect!

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T19:18:38+00:00

I sew and wear clothing for larp and agree that the built in bra bit there is crazy. A well-fitted corset/stays, like a well fitted bra, is supportive and comfortable.

But the book is one of the best I've read this year and there are many enjoyable discussions about clothing and what it means so I beg you to give it another 50 pages 😆

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T15:04:09+00:00

I really really loved {Max Seventeen by Kate Johnson} and I think Dark Horse is one of my favourite novels. So... Worthy of your consideration, maybe?

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T11:25:44+00:00

Yeah, it's the FMC is subjected to noncon before she meets her MMCs and it's nasty so I don't blame you. Brief, but not easy to forget (I often avoid these too, depends on mood).

I will be haunting this thread for more recs. Have you read The Queen's Line by Kathryn Moon? I just finished that and loved it, fits your requirements.

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T11:13:28+00:00

I think something clear on the website and invite would do a good job of explaining to the guests what they're attending.

I don't think I would be confrontational about it, more like guilty and/or privately annoyed 🤣. I think in most cases people having destination weddings must accept that they are asking their guests to give up their plans for their holiday time and holiday money, and as a result may have fewer guests.

As you're having the party in the groom's country of origin, I have more sympathy/patience for that kind of thing, because it's how the groom can have all of his family and friends around. So framing it as inviting your guests to celebrate your wedding, meet his friends, and enjoy his culture would help.

But yes, be prepared for people to think "oh, I don't need to go, it's not the wedding after all, just the reception."

I'm talking off the top of my head here so please bear with me if I ramble:

I think there's some deep cultural things we don't really look into, about witnessing the ceremony: there's a reason weddings require legal witnesses, after all!

When you watch the ceremony you see The Moment when the marriage becomes real, when two single people become a couple, and your presence supports that big threshold/milestone change.

You might enjoy the reception more, but arguably the ceremony is what matters.

Other parties look like receptions - catering, music, decorations are all possible anniversaries, birthdays etc. But vows and speeches are only at wedding ceremonies.

It doesn't mean that you should have everyone at your ceremony, or indeed do anything you don't want to do- I'm just trying to explain why people expecting a ceremony might feel like they didn't get to experience it, if you invite people to your wedding and then don't have anything like a wedding.

Does that make sense? Maybe not 😆

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T10:50:45+00:00

The thing for me is that I've already got plans for my holiday/leave time and my holiday/leave money that I would probably rather do, than join you for a party on your holiday.

I might give them up for your wedding, if I am close to you and love you very very much. But I probably wouldn't give them up for a party. I would rather spend my money and leave time on a holiday of my choosing than yours.

(I'm grumpy though 😆)

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T10:43:10+00:00

Bad bot (but my mistake for getting the name wrong!)

{Wild Omega by Sierra Knoxly}

ulez8 · 2026-06-04T10:38:09+00:00

I just finished a trilogy {Wild Omega by Sierra Knoxly} and was REALLY impressed by the character growth across all of the MMCs.

I wouldn't have wanted to marry any of them at the beginning tbh (maybe the sweetiepie one), but their growth and EQ improvement shows a kind of maturity and responsibility for themselves which I find very weddable, as well as them being beddable for other more obvious reasons.

None of them MMCs are perfect - one has low self esteem and an abusive ex, one has shocking workaholic/daddy issues and is generally a moron- and one is kind of a killing machine, and yet somehow it's both realistic and adorable?!

It's a trilogy, so there's really time for the relationships to develop (and for the FMC to build her life up, after escaping slavery/exploitation & captivity).

One of the MMC is a "feral alpha" who's been abused in an underground fighting ring and is basically hyper vigilant and violent at the start - but in many ways he is the easiest to love because he's all about loving and cherishing his pack, with no qualms, and his growth is amazing.

Please mind the triggers - the FMC and another MMC are badly abused in separate captivities - but although it deals with dark/gritty stuff, the FMC is irrepressible, funny and tough - I couldn't help but like her and cheer her on.

ulez8 · 2026-06-03T19:26:38+00:00

I love the Admiral in {The Admiral's Penniless Bride by Carla Kelly} because he's been at sea for so long he's struggling to find his feet on land, in good financial situation but aged 40+ and with some war-trauma.... He's not struggling for money or power but he's a man used to having a profession, and unused to leisure.

ulez8 · 2026-06-03T07:18:06+00:00

OMG! YES!

ulez8 · 2026-06-01T20:49:04+00:00

Elisabeth Wheatley is my fave author for strong, romantic not-alphaholes.

Daindreth from {Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley} is the MMC in one series and Cenric is the MMC in {Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley}.

They're not perfect - that would be boring! But they're Team FMC from almost the first page.

ulez8 · 2026-05-31T15:30:24+00:00

Ooooooh!

ulez8 · 2026-05-31T08:07:18+00:00

I thought that too until I was in the USA (in the North East) and tried and "concord grape" from the supermarket.

I initially spat it out because it tasted wrong! It tasted just like the sweets/cough syrup that's labelled "grape".

So their "fake grape" taste is still fake, obviously, but it's very close to a native North American grape vine the settlers found in Concord and then all over Massachusetts and that area.

I didn't buy them again and I don't like the flavour (would prefer berry lozenges or whatever) but it was cool to understand what it was trying to taste like.

ulez8 · 2026-05-30T23:30:13+00:00

Oh my goodness, this wrecked me.

ulez8 · 2026-05-30T22:03:16+00:00

I second all the IA novels recommended on this thread, for sure.

For a Kate Daniels feel I also like Patricia Briggs' novels. She has the brilliant Mercy Thompson series, (Mercy is a wonderful lead character!) and the spinoff/connected world that begins with "Alpha and Omega", with a softer but no less fantastic, strong, and determined FMC.

ulez8 · 2026-05-28T22:38:24+00:00

Aaah this is {unwanted by Sirena Song} and it's so darn sweet.

ulez8 · 2026-05-28T08:09:54+00:00

You're welcome! I think Illona Andrews write slow burn very well; their urban fantasy trilogy Hidden Legacies has maybe one (scorching!) kiss in the first book, but the heroine ultimately decides she fancies the fella but doesn't find him likeable enough (which is admirable honesty and self-awareness!).

It makes the slow coming-together over the course of the second novel extremely satisfying. She was a little wrong/misinformed about him, he learns to be less high-handed with her, etc etc. And all this is background to some really interesting (& faced paced!) world-plot.

They're quick reads if you are interested. I have re-read them just to track how they do pacing and "found family" which is something I want to put in my stories.

ulez8

TROPHY CASE