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A Fire at Romanticon: A Steamy, Contemporary Fish Out of Water Redemption RomCom, Set in the Romance Book World
Sometimes midlife comes at you fast, and you can either wallow in your own self-pity or try something a little more positive than sitting around in your panties drinking whiskey, eating ice cream, and sobbing.
Peach Kincaid sees years of marriage dissolve in a single moment, along with her already waning dreams of being a romance author. That is, until her bestie Marny talks her into taking a small stack of her debut novel Grayson Shades of Passion Series, Book 1 to Rambling Romanticon, the big book fest Peach had signed up for on a lark, never thinking she would actually be enrolled at the same event that her favorite author Rose Ramble was headlining.
With nothing left to lose Peach sets off for the book fest hotel, half expecting to chicken out at check-in. At the evening party following the signing, she is feeling utterly un-Instagram-able and un-TikTok-able. But then her usual clumsiness pays off for the first time in her life when, after a minor conflagration, one of the male cover models at Romanticon steps in and saves the day.
Still married, and feeling like a fish out of water, Peach must now navigate the uncertain futures of both the career she desperately wants and the hunky model who fans the embers of her passion into flames.
This book is a love letter to romance readers, debut authors, and all middle-aged women working on their glow-up, with open-door romance, strong female friendships, and a plus-size heroine.
Peach Kincaid sees years of marriage dissolve in a single moment, along with her already waning dreams of being a romance author. That is, until her bestie Marny talks her into taking a small stack of her debut novel Grayson Shades of Passion Series, Book 1 to Rambling Romanticon, the big book fest Peach had signed up for on a lark, never thinking she would actually be enrolled at the same event that her favorite author Rose Ramble was headlining.
With nothing left to lose Peach sets off for the book fest hotel, half expecting to chicken out at check-in. At the evening party following the signing, she is feeling utterly un-Instagram-able and un-TikTok-able. But then her usual clumsiness pays off for the first time in her life when, after a minor conflagration, one of the male cover models at Romanticon steps in and saves the day.
Still married, and feeling like a fish out of water, Peach must now navigate the uncertain futures of both the career she desperately wants and the hunky model who fans the embers of her passion into flames.
This book is a love letter to romance readers, debut authors, and all middle-aged women working on their glow-up, with open-door romance, strong female friendships, and a plus-size heroine.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2024
4 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Brooks
11 books38 followersH.L. Brooks is a writer, photographer, and artist.
She enjoys writing character-driven dark fairy tales and dark romance stories full of adventure and drama. She is also looking forward to writing cozy witchy mysteries and short literary fiction.
H.L. was a military brat to a career U.S. Marine and Vietnam war veteran, raised at various bases across the country. She eventually settled in Maryland with her daughters and husband. She later found a husband she was more compatible with. She has a black cat. She still mourns the loss of her sweet, bright, runt of an Abyssinian cat of sixteen years. She is fond of chocolate, stripey socks, tequila, and love letters. Her defining characteristics are getting excited and talking too much, cheering people up, and making lemonade of life's lemons.
She enjoys writing character-driven dark fairy tales and dark romance stories full of adventure and drama. She is also looking forward to writing cozy witchy mysteries and short literary fiction.
H.L. was a military brat to a career U.S. Marine and Vietnam war veteran, raised at various bases across the country. She eventually settled in Maryland with her daughters and husband. She later found a husband she was more compatible with. She has a black cat. She still mourns the loss of her sweet, bright, runt of an Abyssinian cat of sixteen years. She is fond of chocolate, stripey socks, tequila, and love letters. Her defining characteristics are getting excited and talking too much, cheering people up, and making lemonade of life's lemons.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 17, 2025
Absolutely Delightful!
You never know what to expect when you open a book by a new to you author, and this one was so much fun!
Peach Kincaid has self-published her first book and been invited to a romance conference, much to her middle-aged surprise. She thinks there must be some mistake during the week leading up to the big event run by her favorite author. But real life crashes down on her head when she discovers her husband behaving badly. She admirably pulls herself together with a new look and hightails it to the romanticon despite her severe nerves and lack of confidence.
As with all great romances, Peach finds herself at the conference, in all the best ways. Her redemption and personal revolution made me cheer! Oh, and did I mention the hot cover model, Ryan, that she finds true love with? I mean, come on!
A Fire at Romanticon is a fun and steamy book that I loved!
You never know what to expect when you open a book by a new to you author, and this one was so much fun!
Peach Kincaid has self-published her first book and been invited to a romance conference, much to her middle-aged surprise. She thinks there must be some mistake during the week leading up to the big event run by her favorite author. But real life crashes down on her head when she discovers her husband behaving badly. She admirably pulls herself together with a new look and hightails it to the romanticon despite her severe nerves and lack of confidence.
As with all great romances, Peach finds herself at the conference, in all the best ways. Her redemption and personal revolution made me cheer! Oh, and did I mention the hot cover model, Ryan, that she finds true love with? I mean, come on!
A Fire at Romanticon is a fun and steamy book that I loved!
December 16, 2024
Peach Kincaid is struggling. Her marriage, her self-image, her secret project and more feel like they're beyond her control until she takes more than one leap of faith. New look, new location, new friends and new opportunities offer her time and space to step into her most authentic self and claim a life that fulfills her in every way. Lots of laughs, tenderness, steamy adult activities and layered circumstances make A Fire at Romanticon a satisfying read.
*The author is my friend and The Write Women Book Fest event co-host, so yes I'm biased but would offer the same review even if we were strangers.;-)
https://blerdybingereader.blogspot.co...
*The author is my friend and The Write Women Book Fest event co-host, so yes I'm biased but would offer the same review even if we were strangers.;-)
https://blerdybingereader.blogspot.co...
February 14, 2025
3.5 stars.
I'm always happy to see contemporary romance books with mid-life representation. Quick and easy read (body-positive, age-gap, open-door). But some of the situations and interactions were extremely simplistic and a little clumsy. (I got whiplash from one of the pivotal relationship moments, a fight that turned on a dime and left me a bit confused, but it clearly existed just to move the plot along. And did I miss the part where she talked to any of her three children about *anything* that happened with their dad?) Not a lot of depth here but this romance was enjoyable enough, the book convention scenes were fun, and Peach got her HEA.
I'm always happy to see contemporary romance books with mid-life representation. Quick and easy read (body-positive, age-gap, open-door). But some of the situations and interactions were extremely simplistic and a little clumsy. (I got whiplash from one of the pivotal relationship moments, a fight that turned on a dime and left me a bit confused, but it clearly existed just to move the plot along. And did I miss the part where she talked to any of her three children about *anything* that happened with their dad?) Not a lot of depth here but this romance was enjoyable enough, the book convention scenes were fun, and Peach got her HEA.
October 3, 2024
What a sassy romp!!
I was prepared to love this book, since I'm A volunteer at the Romanticon that inspired it, and I was not disappointed. I loved Peach in all her perceived imperfections, and her cheering section. Mean girls that get what they deserved. And a book boyfriend that checks all the boxes!!
Buy this book!!
I was prepared to love this book, since I'm A volunteer at the Romanticon that inspired it, and I was not disappointed. I loved Peach in all her perceived imperfections, and her cheering section. Mean girls that get what they deserved. And a book boyfriend that checks all the boxes!!
Buy this book!!
February 13, 2025
I love fairy tales.
The book held my interest. It was a sweet fairy tale with a happy ending for the moment. It was also about friendships. I read this book because I met the author at the 1825 Inn in Pennsylvania. So I bought the book and totally enjoyed it. I will look into other books by her
The book held my interest. It was a sweet fairy tale with a happy ending for the moment. It was also about friendships. I read this book because I met the author at the 1825 Inn in Pennsylvania. So I bought the book and totally enjoyed it. I will look into other books by her
September 21, 2024
This book was on my wish list from the first time I heard about it. I purchased it on the day it was released. But life got in the way and I am just now finishing it.
I am glad I read it! Loved Peach, she could totally be someone I know in real life!
Later in life romance. Definitely recommend!
I am glad I read it! Loved Peach, she could totally be someone I know in real life!
Later in life romance. Definitely recommend!
October 9, 2024
The author markets this as a love letter to romance authors and it delivers in a big way. As an author, I completely identify with Peach as she struggles with everything from imposter syndrome to social media. Highly recommended and completely enjoyed this book
March 10, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much! It was so entertaining and such a fantastic, feel-good read.
I adored Peach’s character and her bravery and strength in everything she went through. The amazing support she had from the side characters was one of my favorite things about this book. Women lifting other women up. It was very inspiring.
Ryan was an unexpected surprise and I love their meet cute and the sparks between him and Peach.
This was such a fun story! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!
I adored Peach’s character and her bravery and strength in everything she went through. The amazing support she had from the side characters was one of my favorite things about this book. Women lifting other women up. It was very inspiring.
Ryan was an unexpected surprise and I love their meet cute and the sparks between him and Peach.
This was such a fun story! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews