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The Shambles, Bewdley Museum, 1st July 2025

151/365: The Shambles, Bewdley Museum
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To say the government has not covered itself with glory over the welfare bill is a bit like saying that I am not a world-class golfer. The headlines may say that the government won tonight's vote, but the week leading up to that has been chaotic for a party with a majority of 170. A few days ago the whips were briefing that any rebels could say goodbye to future payroll posts. Tonight, the government only won by making not one but two very significant concessions. Even then, 49 Labour MPs still voted against it. This one is going to run and run, and Labour only has itself to blame for that. It has been, as Labour MP Ian Lavery said, a shambles, and the modified bill is still a bad one.

Talking of shambles, the origin of the word is as applied to a slaughterhouse -- and originally from the Latin scamillus, meaning something like "small stool". What you see above is The Shambles at Bewdley Museum -- and yes, this area was indeed a slaughterhouse hundreds of years ago. It's now the main pathway through the museum, and it has to be said that the small display picturing its earlier use has been somewhat sanitised! When the museum was first opened, the path had big round cobblestones, but people kept hurting their feet on them and so it was resurfaced with setts. The doors on either side lead to galleries and craft workshops.

Current Mood: tired

james_davis_nicoll

The quotation below is a quotation

CSFFA (The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association) is proud to announce the 2025 CSFFA Hall of Fame inductees.

Clint Budd, fan, convention organizer, modernized CSFFA and created the CSFFA Hall of Fame
Charles R. Saunders, author, journalist, and founder of the “sword and soul” literary genre
Diane L. Walton, editor, mentor, and a founding member of On Spec: The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic

More information here.

Congratulations to the Inductees!

jayblanc

My read on today in Parliament.

Not as bad as the Truss lobby revolt, but pretty damn bad.
Last minute promises to amend the bill in committee to the satisfaction of the middle of the party, with dire consequences to be expected if they bring it back to the house without them.
Kendall got to save face by having some kind of reform agreed to.
Reeves is now left holding the bag of her fiscal rules being shattered unless she raises taxes.
McFadden's, and by extension the Cabinet Office's authority in tatters.
Starmer limps away having made firm enemies of enough MPs to start a leadership contest.

thewayne

Well.

What's going on is slightly complicated, and not necessarily a big deal, depending. There are eight flaws found in Brother systems, and they all boil down to one fairly serious vulnerability. A flaw was discovered in how Brother generates the default system administrator password based on the serial number of the printer: if the serial number of the printer is known, you can reverse engineer the password. And here's the problem: if you have not changed that password, THEN you are vulnerable to all sorts of potential mischief! And that's where all the other flaws come into play.

Now, if you changed the default password when you installed your printer, then you're fine. Nothing to worry about. Everything's great. If you didn't, then you need to change it ASAP and patch your printer right now!

This flaw also affects 59 printer models from Fujifilm, Toshiba, Ricoh, and Konica Minolta. I'm assuming they use either Brother engines or the same algorithm for generating admin passwords.

The flaw affects 689 printers, the article provides a link with all of the models listed. Since the default password was built into the printer's read-only memory, it can't be patched. Brother is changing the way they generate the password. But again, if you've changed the default password, you're good. The other flaws are patchable, I don't know if patches are out yet but I'm sure they will be available soon if not already.

https://www.theverge.com/news/694877/brother-printers-security-flaw-password-vulnerability

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Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/fantasy-romance-a-boxed-set-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147454

Here for the Wrong Reasons

Here for the Wrong Reasons by Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang is $1.99! We mentioned on a Hide Your Wallet earlier this spring and it’s a F/F reality TV romance.

In this swoon-filled lesbian romcom, two dating show contestants vying for the affection of the leading man fall head over heels—for each other.

Fans of Ashley Herring Blake and Alexandria Bellefleur, and readers who love The Bachelor, will adore this steamy, laugh-out-loud debut romance.

Krystin knows exactly what she a husband, a horse, and a place to hang all her competitive rodeo blue ribbons. But when none of the eligible bachelors in Montana end up being right for her, she turns to reality TV. On Hopelessly Devoted, Krystin will compete against dozens of other women for the heart of this season’s Hopeless Romantic, Josh Rosen. She’s determined to win the perfect life she came here for—if she can just ignore the glossy brunette whose crimson smile gives her goosebumps.

Lauren has never done anything for the right reasons—and she’s definitely not on Hopelessly Devoted to win Josh’s heart. Lauren’s plan is simple: stay on the show long enough to build her social media following, and then gracefully leave when it’s her turn to be eliminated. With enough followers, she’ll finally have enough influencer clout to do whatever she wants—including come out of the proverbial walk-in closet. But the longer she stays on the show, the more she finds herself tangled up in a certain blonde’s lasso.

But neither contestant expects a heteronormative dating show to challenge their own deeply-ingrained ideas of who they are—and what they want. Fans of The Charm Offensive and Love Island will swoon for this sparkling debut romcom.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Servant of Earth

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley is $2.99! This is book one in the Shards of Magic series and was mentioned on Hide Your Wallet. This is a departure from Hawley’s small town paranormal romances. Did any of you pick this one up?

In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is $2.99! This is a standalone contemporary romance with class differences and fake dating.

A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!

Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.

Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.

As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.

“Sophie Sullivan consistently crafts romances to root for.” -Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Game Changers Volume 2

Game Changers Volume 2 by Rachel Reid is $3.99 at Amazon! The boxed set is available at other retailers, but I’m not seeing it at the sale price. Fingers crossed this isn’t an expiring deal from yesterday. Many of Reid’s have been favorably reviewed on the site or have been recommended in the comments.

Common Goal

Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.

Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away.

Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won’t happen if they’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings.

Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it.

Role Model

The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesn’t want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesn’t want to “work on his online presence” with the team’s peppy social media manager.

Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn’t happy about the trade—anyone could tell, frankly, as he doesn’t exactly hide it well—but Harris doesn’t give up on people easily. Even when he’s developing a crush he’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, well… That’s a man Harris couldn’t turn his back on if he wanted to.

Suddenly, Troy’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.

The Long Game

Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other for ten years and have kept it secret. From friends, from family…from the league. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything?

Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship…Ilya wants it all.

It’s time for them to make the call and decide what’s most important—hockey or love.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/fantasy-romance-a-boxed-set-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147454

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Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/fetch-me-a-hammer-cuz-im-gonna-nail-this-2025

I just realized that the term "nailed it!" can have two meanings. Well, three. But despite my naughty word outburst yesterday, this IS still a mostly family-friendly establishment, and the third meaning is a little TOO family-friendly, IF you KNOW what I'm SAYING.

Sorry, my caps lock HAS DEVELOPED A MIND of its OWN.

AND I'VE ALSO BEEN DRINKING.

Where was I?

No, I mean yesterday: where was I? Because I'm guessing these feathers came from somewhere.

Perhaps I should start again.

So. "Nailed it." It can mean, "What ho! I have successfully accomplished my intended endeavor!" *OR* it can mean you hit something with your car.

Pay attention now, because this is a very long setup for a very flat punchline:

NAILED IT.

THANKS TO ANN LEE, who I'm hoping can tell me what kind of bird sheds strawberry-scented feathers. And glitter. And...oh. Waaaaiiit....

*****

"What do you need a 5 pack of assorted body glitters for?"

"The question is what DON'T I need them for."

Unicorn Snot Body Glitter Gel Pack

Plus they're called Unicorn Snot. C'mon. BONUS.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/fetch-me-a-hammer-cuz-im-gonna-nail-this-2025

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Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/habo-her-hair-is-blonde-with-red-patches/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147445

This HaBO comes from Hannah, who wants to find this historical:

So here’s what I remember:

– It was an old-school style paperback romance I bought in the airport in like 2006.

– Set in the United States in the early 1900s.

– The mother had some drama with this wealthy family and ending up getting pregnant and married to one of them, so when her daughter was born she gave her the family last name as her first name or something because she was so proud of the important association?

– Daughter was born blue and sickly and was given to their servants to care for, her hair came in very patchy and red, and later filled in the rest of the way blonde.

– Her mother realized she could be a beauty when she was playing dress up in an old fashioned wig one day and then she hires a hairdresser to come style it so only then blonde shows, is determined for her to marry well.

– There’s a scene where they’re having a party and she’s dancing the Charleston or something and her hair comes unpinned and they see the red and the men are entranced.

– She gets married young and I feel like their first time having sex is on a ship?

– The heroine’s name definitely had “Garden” in it because her husband called her his “private Garden” later on.

– Marriage is not happy, she listens to bad advice to bleach her hair all blonde and lets her image be used in cosmetics ads, he goes off flying his plane and cheats on her.

It was one of the first historical romances I read as a teenager and I don’t remember if I finished it or how it ended but it’s driving me crazy that I can’t figure out the title or author!

Man, I hope she has a happy ending.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/habo-her-hair-is-blonde-with-red-patches/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147445

james_davis_nicoll

Only the brave, the arrogant, the naïve, or the desperate Men trespass in Arafel's Ealdwood. Into which category does the latest visitor fall?

The Dreamstone (Ealdwood, volume 1) by C J Cherryh

james_davis_nicoll

Jealous of all the people who support Aurora-finalist James Nicoll Reviews? Want to join them? Here are your options:

July 2025 Patreon Boost

moxie_man

To indicate I'm not dead yet.

Work is insane, but when is it not? Yesterday was not just end of the month, but end of the fiscal year. My office has the contract to oversee the certification of adult behavioral health workers and I'm basically a one-person email/call center. In addition, I review all travel expense reports for my portion of the uni (roughly 200 or so people) to ensure compliance with the uni's travel regulations. About noon yesterday, my email "exploded" as everyone and their first through third cousins realized it was end of month/end of fiscal year. I put in an extra hour just to catch-up on things that absolutely needed to get done yesterday. There were still 30 unopened emails in my inbox and who knows how many phone messages as I started ignoring the phone at 4pm to concentrate on what needed to get done yesterday.

Not looking forward to today, 'cause you can bet some of those individuals in the unopened emails I couldn't get to will send follow-up panic emails and make phone calls. Sorry, not sorry, your procrastination-caused emergency is NOT my emergency/problem. I'll get to 'em as I can.

In non-work, I'm not believing the current forecast for this weekend. If it proves true it'll be the first sunny with no precipitation in sight weekend since early March.

Vacation the week of July 13th can't come quick enough.

There is an American holiday on Friday. considering the current nature of our politics, I'm not feeling very patriotic about said holiday.

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Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/sign-up-for-quarterly-book-recommendations-4/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147389

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/sign-up-for-quarterly-book-recommendations-4/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147389

smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/hide-your-wallet-july-1st-release-week/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147405

Welcome to Hide Your Wallet! We’re officially in July!

We have a lone historical romance release on our radar, but fantasy and contemporary take up the rest of our new releases this week. Quelle surprise!

Which books are your excited for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Behind Frenemy Lines

Author: Zen Cho
Released: July 1, 2025 by Bramble
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance

Award-winning author Zen Cho delivers a sparkling and witty rivals-to-lovers romance reminiscent of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game and Sajni Patel’s The Trouble with Hating You.

Sparks fly when an ambitious rules-bound lawyer clashes with a maverick new hire who threatens his chances of partnership—and the walls he’s built around his heart.

Charles Goh has always played by the rules. It’s how he survived his difficult childhood as the swotty foreigner at a posh English boarding school — and now, his high-pressure job at one of the biggest corporate law firms in London. His job is his life and he’s happy that way … until she shows up.

Kriya Rajasekar’s lost her way. Her longtime boyfriend’s broken up with her and she feels trapped in her legal career. She knows she needs a fresh start — but it turns out her new job is at the same firm as her work nemesis. Charles Goh is like the bad luck charm she keeps running into, and their encounters lead to disaster every single time. And now he’s her office mate.

But just as they’re figuring out how to navigate this frenemy relationship, Kriya needs Charles’ pretend they’re dating so her boss will stop hitting on her. Soon, it becomes less clear whether they’re enemies, friends – or something else.

Amanda: I read this one and the main characters are so good!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Want this book? Here are helpful buy links..

Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

Author: C.B. Lee
Released: July 1, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: LGBTQIA, Time Travel, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult

A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee’s fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance.

When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.

The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.

As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?

Elyse: First of all the cover is adorable, but I love the coffeeshop in another universe element too. I’m also super into cozy fantasy lately.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Find buy links for this book here..

Let’s Make a Scene

Author: Laura Wood
Released: July 1, 2025 by Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance

The companion novel to Laura Wood’s “excellent, unputdownable adult debut” (Library Journal, starred review) Under Your Spell follows Theo Eliott’s best friend Cynthie Taylor as she’s pulled back into a fake PR relationship with Jack Turner-Jones, the one costar she swore she’d never work with again.

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem…Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome costar Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity—have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a they must also rekindle their pretend relationship…and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they’re playing start to feel all too real?

Elyse: My toxic trait is that I will read literally any celebrity romance.

Lara: I adored this book! Review incoming.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Find buy links for this book here..

This Much is True

Author: Vivienne Lorret
Released: July 1, 2025 by Avon
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Liars' Club #3

USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret returns with the third book in her Liars’ Club series with a sexy and hilarious romance about a thrill-seeking debutante and a highwayman who is more than he seems on the surface…

Althea Hartley has lost her spark. As the youngest daughter of an eccentric family, playwrighting is in her blood. But two failed Seasons have left her disenchanted. In desperate need of inspiration, she takes matters into her own hands by creating a tale of a dashing highwayman. What could possibly go wrong?

But her stories prove to be a little too true for the actual highwayman living beneath the tons’ nose.

Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, needs to put an end to the bewitching Miss Hartley’s incriminating tales. Society can never suspect that he isn’t the clumsy oaf he pretends to be. Or that, under the cover of darkness, he greets scoundrels and lightens their purses. Not too much. Just enough to keep those closest to him safe from his menacing uncle.

Then sparks fly when this unlikely pair meets one perfect night. And while she is eager to unmask him, he is determined to stay hidden. But there’s no denying the chemistry that neither of them are able to resist…

The only thing for certain is that Thea needs to guard her heart before the highwayman steals it.

The third book in the Liars’ Club series with a hero who is secretly a highwayman.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Want to order this one? We’ve got the links you need!.

Tusk Love

Author: Thea Guanzon
Released: July 1, 2025 by Random House Worlds
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy

A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars.

“A true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfelt—this one is a winner all around.”—Katee Robert, author of Neon Gods

As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.

Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.

Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.

Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.

Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

Elyse: I’m a sucker for the Critical Role tie-in, but I also really enjoy Guanzon’s writing.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Want this book? We can help: buy links ahoy!.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/07/hide-your-wallet-july-1st-release-week/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147405

austin_dern

Getting back now to Plopsaland De Panne. Though we were about an hour into the park's day when we finally entered they still had an opening celebration dance thing going with costumed characters --- a mime, a couple humans in marching-band-style outfits, a chef, bees --- dancing, some on elevated podiums, some just out in the open square. Some posing for pictures. They also gave us a park map that we didn't use as much as might have been maximally efficient, but we're trying to not hyper-optimize our parkgoing. Makes for better trips. Also the maps they gave out were nice things, decent quality paper with a thicker stock for the cover. If that weren't good enough we also found they had them in the gift shop at the end of the day so we were able to bring home both the map we actually used and a pristine map as souvenir.

In wandering around looking for roller coasters we found scenes to baffle us, a statue of a T-shirt-clad clown holding out his hand. Or a blue rabbit in cargo jeans folding his arms but looking way too friendly to be pulling an attitude. We assume this means something to the locals.

One of the first things we found past this was a plaque about Meli Park, the place which Plopsaland kind of overwrote. The historical plaque was in Dutch and French, neither of which either of us reads with any confidence but we could make out some pieces that seemed to make sense. In this area they had a couple pieces from the Meli Park existence, most notably a sleeping giant statue, but also a couple smaller figures of a queen bee, some statues of characters fishing or stuff like that, souvenirs of the former park, things like that. Having seen this bit of the past preserved we wanted more, of course, and we would take the rest of the day looking to see if we could find hints of the old park under the current one.

Also an early discovery: a coffee vending machine. Turns out the reason we never see coffee vending machines at any other amusement park is that Plopsaland has them all, spaced as much as one minute's walk from the next one over. Yes, it does tea and cocoa too. I can't swear that soup is not offered. Having finally found an amusement park that had the abundance of coffee she's always wanted, bunnyhugger went on to not actually get any, pretty much because it was never the right moment for it.

We were a little annoyed at the start of the day because rain came in, and while the forecast was correct that it wouldn't last, we also didn't have any kind of rain gear and the park didn't seem to have a lot to do that was under cover. We huddled near some midway games until the rain let up enough we could make it to their grand carousel. This is a double-decker, the sort of carousel we know from Freehold Raceway Mall and Morey's Piers and that La Feria Chapultepec had, all nice enough but your basic thing. Surrounding the carousel was art and sculptures of characters from, again, we don't know. One of them seems to be a chef named Albert. One that we saw a bunch was a tall skinny guy with a dog that had kind of a Dagwood Bumstead-and-Daisy thing going. Don't know.

But this brought us to the first roller coaster we found, the aptly named ``#LikeMe Coaster''. If I understand right it's a teens-and-schoolteachers show that also features some kind of karaoke-TV-show component. The queue is through a high school-themed set, labelled 'SAS School Aan De Stroom', and it has got pretty good-looking School Hallways and lockers and even doors that, thanks to wide-screen TVs set up inside, have stuff going on through the 'windows'. The #LikeMe Coaster itself is a small thing, one of those kiddie coasters that never gets too far off the ground and that confounded expectations by never bashing our knees worth mentioning.

We figured to get next to Roller Skater, the closest roller coaster to this one. But the line was weirdly long, and bunnyhugger nominated that we pass it up in favor of the park's most renowned roller coaster. So we did. We went looking for The Ride To Happiness, By Tomorrowland.

While you wait to learn what the heck that's all about please enjoy more of the fairy ball.

Signs at a crossroads. The Apothecary was the first-aid station and probably where you'd get any administrative-type care needed.

Here I am following bunnyhugger; I'd hoped to get a nice tracking shot of her in the woods and it doesn't quite work.

The Court of the Fae! And a bunch of mysterious mounds whose purpose we failed to guess on our own.

Giant chess set laid out as a trap for mortals. Behind it, and above, is the throne that the fairy court would sit at.

They made several convincing-enough giant mushrooms out of beanbag chairs and wooden spool tables.

Here's the Court entering, ready for opening ceremonies.

Trivia: In May 1931 Proctor & Gamble's Neil McElroy broke the in-house prohibition on memos exceeding one page to write a three-page suggestion that the company appoint a specific team to manage each particular brand, what are now regarded as brand managers. Source: The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea, John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge.

Currently Reading: Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator, Keith Houston.

PS: What’s Going On In Gil Thorp? What’s the problem with Clambake? April – June 2025 as I went back and did research and learned I completely misunderstood a character's behavior and then was left with new questions about well why did that happen that way, then?

james_davis_nicoll

Former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, 73, has reportedly passed away from esophageal cancer.

loganberrybunny

Public

150/365: Hop Pole Inn, Bewdley
Click for a larger, sharper image
It reached 31 °C today, and I wasn't too pleased about that as it was far too hot to do anything. Sadly there were things I had to do. At least it wasn't the 34 °C one forecast had suggested a few days ago. The sunshine was hot, but I still preferred it to the overcast humidity of yesterday. I had an ice cream cone (toffee and vanilla) in town, but walking back home was still a pretty unpleasant experience. Today's photo is of the Hop Pole Inn, a popular and mildly gastro pub on the western side of Bewdley. I've been there, but only rarely. It's not that big inside but has a fairly large beer garden. Note weather!

Current Mood: hot

alierak posting in

dw_maintenance

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

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Posted by SB Sarah

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/06/win-a-free-libro-fm-audiobook-from-our-playlist/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147406

We made a Libro.fm Audiobook Playlist of our Top Recommendations! And this graphic doesn’t contain all of them – there’s a bunch more!

If you’ve got car rides, long commutes, or a list of chores to do, we’ve gathered some of our all-time-favorite audiobooks, including romance, mystery, and some nonfiction. We picked the first books from some outstanding series, some nonfiction that will truly fascinate you, and some that are just extremely fun.

Not only that – but Libro.fm has made it possible for me to give away three audiobooks from our playlist!

Blue padded over hear headphones

Comment below with which book you’d want, and what you’ll be doing while you listen!

If you want to comment in support of our selections, we’d love that, too!

Plus, if you’ve been thinking of joining Libro.fm, here are a few things to know:

Libro.fm allows you to support an independent bookstore or a library friends group with your purchases!
The searchable index of bookshops you can support is VERY fun to play with.
If you use code SWITCH, you’ll get three audiobooks for the price of one when you sign up for a new membership (code is for one credit per month plan, new members only)
You can easily gift credits to other people if you spot something on their bestseller list that you think would be perfect for someone you know.

Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Must be over 18 and ready to wear headphones, earbuds, or maybe just whole house surround sound the audiobook – we don’t judge! Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Entries will end around noon on Thursday 3 July 2025, and winners will be announced and notified shortly afterward.

Good luck and happy listening!

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/06/win-a-free-libro-fm-audiobook-from-our-playlist/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147406

james_davis_nicoll

The English-language rulebook and supplements for Broken Tales, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of upside-down fairy tales from Italian game publisher The World Anvil Publishing.

Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales

smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/06/susanna-kearsley-contemporary-romance-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147374

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

RECOMMENDED: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvia Cathrall is $2.99! Elyse read this one and gave it an A:

If you are looking for a cozy fantasy read with excellent romance and worldbuilding, I highly recommend Letters to the Luminous Deep.

A charming fantasy set in an underwater world with magical academia and a heartwarming penpal romance, perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light, Emily Wilde’s Encylopaedia of Faeries and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

“An underwater treasure-chest to be slowly unpacked, full of things I adore: nosy and loving families, epistolary romance, gorgeous worldbuilding, and anxious scholars doing their best to meet the world with kindness and curiosity.” —Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery, piecing together the letters, sketches and field notes left behind—and learn what their siblings’ disappearance might mean for life as they know it.

Inspired, immersive, and full of heart, this charming epistolary tale is an adventure into the depths of a magical sea and the limits of the imagination from a marvelous debut voice.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Build Up

The Build Up by Tati Richardson is $1.99! This is a contemporary workplace romance. It’s also a standalone. Have you read this one?

“Plenty of sexy chemistry and sensual sizzle in a story line that celebrates family, friends, and food.” Booklist, starred review

A truly unfortunate first day of work leads to unexpected love in this sparkling debut from Romance in Colour podcast cohost Tati Richardson .

Rumpled and ragged was not how architect Ari James envisioned kicking off her first day at a new firm. And few things can top the horror of her new—and extremely hot—colleague walking in on her at the worst moment ever. Learning that she’ll be working with him on the project that’s supposed to get her career back on top makes it harder than ever to focus on her big comeback.

With a partnership at his firm on the line, nothing is going to stand in the way of Porter Harrison absolutely killing it on his new not his obnoxious rival, not his unpredictable brother and definitely not his new coworker whose gorgeous curves he accidentally saw and now can’t get out of his head.

Though neither of them is looking for love, once their creative juices get flowing, Ari and Porter’s connection is obvious. But when their shared goal has always been winning at work, building a solid foundation for a relationship might end up costing them everything…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is $2.99! Fox does a good blend of historical settings, Gothic elements, and sometimes dual timelines. Do you have a favorite of her books?

In post–World War I England, a young woman inherits a mysterious library and must untangle its powerful secrets…

With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home.

The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own.

Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Mariana

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley is $1.99! Kearsley’s books tend to be a mix of genres – contemporary, historical, fantasy, time travel, paranormal. Mariana was originally published in 1995 and some readers have named this a favorite of Kearsley’s backlist.

From the winner of the Catherine Cookson Fiction Prize, this mesmerizing, suspenseful, and richly atmospheric tale of time travel draws us into the heart of a heroine we won’t soon forget…

The first time Julia Beckett saw Greywethers she was only five, but she knew that it was her house. And now that she’s at last become its owner, she suspects that she was drawn there for a reason.

As if Greywethers were a portal between worlds, she finds herself transported into seventeenth-century England, becoming Mariana, a young woman struggling against danger and treachery, and battling a forbidden love.

Each time Julia travels back, she becomes more enthralled with the past…until she realizes Mariana’s life is threatening to eclipse her own, and she must find a way to lay the past to rest or lose the chance for happiness in her own time.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/06/susanna-kearsley-contemporary-romance-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=147374

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loganberrybunny - Today's word is "shambles"
james_davis_nicoll - 2025 CSFFA Hall of Fame Inductees
jayblanc - (no subject)
thewayne - Several hundred different Brother printer models have unpatchable vulnerability
smartbitches_feed - Fantasy Romance, a Boxed Set, & More
cakewrecks_feed - Fetch Me A Hammer, 'Cuz I'm Gonna NAIL THIS
smartbitches_feed - HaBO: Her Hair is Blonde with Red Patches
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james_davis_nicoll - The Dreamstone (Ealdwood, volume 1) by C J Cherryh
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smartbitches_feed - Hide Your Wallet: July 1st Release Week
austin_dern - Ah, Honey Honey
james_davis_nicoll - Jim Shooter (1951 - 2025)
loganberrybunny - Hottest day of the year
alierak in dw_maintenance - Rebuilding journal search again
smartbitches_feed - Win a Free Libro.fm Audiobook From Our Playlist!
james_davis_nicoll - Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales
smartbitches_feed - Susanna Kearsley, Contemporary Romance, & More

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Once upon a redhead's dream

Reading

Here for the Wrong Reasons

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Servant of Earth

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Can’t Help Falling in Love

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Game Changers Volume 2

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Behind Frenemy Lines

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Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

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Let’s Make a Scene

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This Much is True

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Tusk Love

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A Letter to the Luminous Deep

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The Build Up

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The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

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Mariana

You can find ordering info for this book here.

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