2021 has been… a year. One that felt both very long and over in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, we have had a plethora of romance novels come out to occupy our time, make sense of the world, and have a little fun. I read a lot of books. A LOT of books. Some I finish, some I don’t, some I buy and they sit happily unread on my bookshelves and eReader. I spend a ton of time looking at books that are coming out—I just received my first email about a JUNE 2022 book—and noticed some trends throughout the year… Trends that I think we’ll continue to see explored, subverted, and challenged into next year as well. WITCHES 2021 was the year of the witch! September and October 2021 saw a bunch of witchy, cozy, paranormal romance novels come out, and I am here for it all. Women (and men, too) discover their powers and how to control them, but also what can happen when they let loose a little, too. PAYBACK’S A WITCH by Lana Harper, who was a guest on the Fresh Fiction Podcast earlier this year. BLACK MOON RISING AND BLACK SIREN’S SONG by Mila…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Terry Shames!  What I write about: A  traditional mystery series set in small-town Texas, and featuring Chief of Police Samuel Craddock. Jarrett Creek is based on a town in central Texas where my grandparents lived when I was a child. It’s populated with characters that I hope readers will love.  I write about people faced with all the issues of small-town life, and I include a healthy dose of contemporary social issues. About Me: I grew up in Texas, and attended UT Austin. Wanderlust took me to Washington, D.C., where I worked for the CIA; Denver, where I was a computer programmer, and finally to the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a reluctant sailor (my husband’s passion), a hiker, and an enthusiastic cook. Find out more at www.Terryshames.com. What I’m Looking for in my ideal reader match: Kirkus says, “A favorite of fans who like their police procedurals with a strong ethical center.” My ideal reader likes: Traditional crime novels. Likes…