This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.

Usually on Saturdays, I turn Ink & Intrigue over to a guest author so you can meet someone new, discover another book, and perhaps add another title or twelve to that TBR pile we all pretend is completely under control.

This week, though, I don’t have a guest sitting across from me.

So I thought I’d invite you instead.

Let’s talk books.

Not necessarily my books. Not necessarily romance. I want to know about the stories that occupy your nightstand, fill your e-reader, overflow your bookshelves, and make you say, “I’ll go to bed after one more chapter.”

We all have those books.

What’s Your Current Read?

Let’s start with the book in your hands right now.

Are you reading a romance? Mystery? Thriller? Fantasy? Historical fiction? Maybe you’re rereading an old favorite because sometimes we don’t want something new. We want to go back to characters who already feel like friends.

I’m always curious about what other people are reading because recommendations from fellow readers have led me to books I might never have discovered otherwise.

And let’s face it, readers are exceptionally good at helping other readers acquire more books.

Whether we actually need their assistance is another matter.

What Was Your Last Five-Star Read?

You know the one.

The book you finished and immediately wished you hadn’t finished because you weren’t ready to leave those characters behind.

• Maybe it made you laugh.
• Maybe it made you cry.
• Maybe there was a plot twist you absolutely did not see coming.

Or perhaps there was a certain fictional man involved, and you’ve decided you’ll be comparing every future book boyfriend to him.

No judgment here.

This is a safe place for fictional attachments.

Who’s Your Automatic-Buy Author?

Most readers have at least one.

• You don’t need to read the blurb.
• You don’t need to see the cover.
• You barely need to know what the book is about.

The author announces a new release, and your response is essentially:

Where’s the preorder button?

There’s something wonderful about finding an author whose storytelling consistently works for you. You know their worlds. You trust them with your emotions. You know they’re probably going to make their characters suffer terribly before giving you the ending you’ve been waiting for.

And you happily go along for the ride every single time.

What Book Would You Read Again for the First Time?

This might be my favorite question.

Imagine being able to erase one book from your memory just so you could experience it again.

• You wouldn’t know the twist was coming.
• You wouldn’t know which character you were going to fall in love with.
• You wouldn’t know which moment was going to break your heart or make you laugh out loud.

You’d get to discover everything again.

Which book would you choose?

That’s a tough one.

And Don’t Forget the Hidden Gems

Here’s where I’d especially love your help.

Tell me about the books and authors you think more people should know about.

Maybe it’s an indie author you discovered by accident. Maybe it’s a book with only a handful of reviews that absolutely knocked you sideways. Maybe you’ve found an author whose entire backlist you’ve been quietly devouring while wondering why everyone else isn’t talking about them.

Share them.

One of the things I love most about the book community is that there’s room for all of us. One reader recommending a book to another can introduce someone to a new favorite author.

And that recommendation can travel much farther than you might imagine.

Your Turn

So today, I’m handing Ink & Intrigue over to you.

Pick one question or answer them all:

📖 What are you reading right now?

⭐ What was your last five-star read?

❤️ Who’s an automatic-buy author for you?

📚 What book would you love to experience again for the first time?

💎 What’s one hidden gem you think more readers should discover?

I’ll be reading the comments, and I fully expect my TBR pile to regret this entire experiment.

But that’s a problem for another day.

Today, let’s talk books. ❤️