Insider #14: Booktown Is Open for Business
Where the librarian is hot, the sheriff is complicated, and the gossip never sleeps.
The Weekly Insider is your weekly bookish roundup for romance, mystery and fantasy recs, plus all the bookish content you won’t want to miss.
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Insider #14: Booktown Is Open for Business
Welcome to Booktown, Population: Us
Okay, so imagine this: You’re wandering through a tiny town where the bookstore owner is in love with a mysterious voice on the phone, the mechanic rescues puppies and hearts, and the local potion shop is mid turf war.
That’s the vibe this week. Small towns, big feelings, and characters who are either making out in a bar or solving small-town crimes before brunch. You get the idea.
Maybe it’s the spring air. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m obsessed with small-town romances and now think I could open a B&B if someone handed me a latte and a hammer. But I couldn’t resist building our own little Booktown—a fictional starter pack full of romance, rivalries, and just the right amount of small-town drama.
Come meet the residents. You’re gonna love them.
PS: the rest of this week’s content and new releases is just a scroll away too!
Welcome to Booktown: A Small Town Starter Pack
If you've ever wanted to live in a town where the barista might be your soulmate, the bookstore owner has a secret admirer, and the sheriff looks suspiciously like a romance novel cover model... this is the neighborhood watch you actually want to join.
Nevermore Bookstore
Owner: Cady Bloomquist
Vibe: Mysterious phone calls, velvet voices, and a mountain hermit with a secret
Rumor has it: The reclusive hottie who keeps calling? Not-so-fictional.
Book: Nevermore Bookstore by Kerrigan Byrne & Cynthia St. Aubin
Grab this book on Amazon
Eli & Ambrose's Potion Shop Showdown
Owners: One charming newcomer, one grumpy half-elf
Vibe: Enemies-to-lovers with competitive cauldron flair
Town gossip: They’re definitely spiking their potions with unresolved tension
Book: A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick
Grab this book on Amazon
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
Chef: Archer, single dad with a secret soft side
Vibe: Slow mornings, syrupy goodness, nanny-turned-something-more
Bonus: Matchmaking kids are the new town council
Book: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore
Grab this book on Amazon
Blue Heron Vineyard
Resident: Faith Holland, runaway bride turned vineyard boss
Vibe: Second chances, family drama, wine-fueled tension
Fun fact: The local cop she really shouldn’t be flirting with? Her ex’s best man
Book: The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Grab this book on Amazon
Sam’s Body Shop
Mechanic: Sam Hamilton, tattooed and emotionally available (rare combo)
Vibe: Dog-rescuing cinnamon roll meets tough-but-tender romance
Warning: May cause spontaneous feelings
Book: Zero to Sixty by Marie Harte
Grab this book on Amazon
Boonsboro B&B
Renovated by: Three hot brothers and one meddling mom
Vibe: Haunted rooms, slow-burn romance, HGTV with heart eyes
Across the street: A single mom bookstore owner he’s had a crush on since forever
Book: The Next Always by Nora Roberts
Grab this book on Amazon and if you want to read more about this series, check out our Inn Boonsboro Trilogy series guide
The Rusty Anchor Bar
Bartender: He left her broken, now he’s back with baggage
Vibe: Angsty small-town second chances with extra longing
Caution: May trigger emotional flashbacks to your high school crush
Book: Reckless Memories by Catherine Cowles
Grab this book on Amazon
Sheriff’s Office
Deputy: Jackson James—Green Valley’s most eligible bachelor
Vibe: One-night stand becomes full-blown scandal with a movie star
Status: Protect, serve, and maybe... settle down?
Book: Totally Folked by Penny Reid
Grab this book on Amazon
Still craving more small town romance?
Don’t miss our classic list of small town romance books and small town paranormal romances—ideal if you like your grumpy baristas with a side of werewolf.
Do you have a favorite book you’d like to recommend?
Your April Reading Guide Is Here!
Need a seasonal reading reset? This spring reading guide is packed with trope-based recs to match your April mood.
What’s New This Week
Here’s what went live this week across Substack, the blog, YouTube, and the podcast:
On Substack
March 2025 Wrap-Up
What I read, what I loved, and how I survived reading 15 books in one month (spoiler: barely). (for paid members)Once Upon a Genre – The 1970s: Birth of Modern Romance
We’re throwing it back to disco, drama, and the decade that changed romance books forever. This is part of our new series about the evolution of the romance genre. Stay tuned for a new installment every week.
On the Blog
Romance Books About Librarians
Your Book Nook prompt has arrived—these librarian main characters are smart, swoony, and often surrounded by secrets.Small Town Romance Trope Guide
Cozy chaos, grumpy locals, and enough found family to fill a diner. This is your ultimate cheat sheet.Small Town Romance Tropes List
If you love matchmaking grandmas and rival coffee shops, this one’s for you.Small Town Urban Fantasy
Magic meets Main Street in these small towns filled with witches, shifters, and the occasional cursed antique shop.Badass Women in History
From sword-wielding rebels to scandalous duchesses, these heroines do not ask for permission.Arab American Authors to Read
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month with this powerful list of must-reads across genres.Books to Read After Verity
Twisty, emotionally messy, and full of chaos characters—just how we like it.Cozy Mysteries Set in Bookstores & Libraries
Snoop where you shelve—these cozy mysteries serve literary vibes with a side of murder.March 2025 Kindle Unlimited Books
Catch up on what KU offered last month before your credits expire or your TBR mutinies.
From the Vault
Paranormal Small Town Romance Books
Because sometimes your small-town neighbor is a vampire with commitment issues.Small Town Romance Books
An evergreen list of small town romances that bring the heat and the heart.
On YouTube & the Podcast
March 2025 Kindle Unlimited Romance Recs
What we read, what we skimmed, and what we actually finished on KU last month.Trope Talk: Small Town Romance
We break down the tropes, the appeal, and the many ways a grumpy barista can ruin your life (in a good way).Romance Books About Librarians
Nerdy, flirty, and not afraid to shush you—these recs hit every library-loving trope.Bold Girl Spring Reads
A fiery lineup of heroines who are bold, brilliant, and not here to play nice.Arab American Authors to Read
Celebrate culture, heritage, and some seriously good storytelling with this curated rec list.
On Novel Hour Live Show
Arab American Authors Panel (April 10)
We highlighted must-read Arab American authors and had some real talk about cultural rep in romance—don’t miss the replay!
Join us every Thursday at 12PM EST for our regular Novel Hour show on Youtube. Every other Monday at 12PM EST for the Bookish Tea edition on Youtube. And after every show, come over to Substack live for the after show. The after show live is free for all Substack members.
Did you miss last week’s Insider? Check it out here:
New Releases This Week: Apr 7 - Apr 13
A fresh stack of books just dropped! Whether you're craving romance, mysteries or paranormal, here's what hit the shelves this week.
🖤 = Recommended Read
Featured New Releases (Apr 7 - Apr 13):
Ireland by Sylvia Day
Gideon Cross’ little sister, Ireland, steps into the spotlight in this steamy billionaire romance full of family drama, forbidden attraction, and high-stakes secrets. When a dangerous man from the past returns, everything she loves is threatened—including her new relationship.
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
Fresh off a breakup, Avery wants to flirt and finally live a little. Enter Taylor—the ultimate flirt—who offers to teach her. But when fake lessons turn real, neither of them is ready for the emotional fallout.
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith (Available on Kindle Unlimited) 🖤
Genevieve is trapped in a cursed palace, forced to fake-date a morally gray rival to survive. Twisted trials, deadly illusions, and forbidden desire await in this spicy romantasy perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent and Kerri Maniscalco.
The Hitman and the Psychic by Jocelyn Drake & Colleen Helme (Available on Kindle Unlimited)
Stone’s a hitman. Serenity’s a psychic. She’s supposed to protect him—but keeping things professional gets harder as sparks fly. Danger, forced proximity, and unexpected feelings collide in this hilarious paranormal romance.
A Lady’s Guide to Murder by Felicity George
A duchess accused of murder teams up with her journalist nemesis to find the real killer. What starts as a reluctant alliance turns into slow burn romance in this spicy, twisty historical mystery.
💡 Looking for More? Our book database is packed full of April releases. May releases will be getting loaded this week. The Book Vault is a paid member feature.
This week’s recommendation: The Bastard Duology by Donna Grant
Read This if You Love: forbidden lovers, dragon kings, and romantic chaos on a cosmic scale
I devoured The Bastard King and The Uncrowned King this week and can confirm: this is for everyone who loves their fantasy romance with a healthy dose of fire (literal and emotional), reluctant alliances, and characters who are like, “I hate you but also I would burn the world down for you.”
The dragon hero? Broody, battle-scarred, and dead set on freeing his kin. The hellhound heroine? Fierce, lonely, and holding on to secrets that could unravel everything. Together? Messy. Magnetic. Meant-to-be. This duology is all slow-burn tension, soul-deep longing, and high-stakes danger as two sworn enemies try (and fail) to stay away from each other.
If you’re into Donna Grant’s Dragon Kings universe, this is a no-brainer. If you’re new to it, this duology is a great intro—tight, emotional, and satisfying with just the right amount of myth and mayhem.
💬 Your Turn!
If you could open any small town business in Booktown, what would it be? A witchy tea shop? A romance-themed diner? A dog-friendly library café?
Hit reply or drop it in the comments—I want to hear what you'd bring to our fictional neighborhood!
Sharing our love for books as Under the Covers Book Blog since 2011, running the Romanceopoly yearly reading challenge since 2019 and hosting the Reading Under the Covers podcast since 2020. Launched Mysterylandia in 2025.