Blog Archive

What would you take to a Desert Island. NO CHEATING!

OK, the ship you were on sank and you and the island partner of your dreams managed to make it safely to a remote island with no hope of immediate rescue. However, when you were jumping…

She’s the Boss: CEO Heroines in Romance

When I was reading Bianca Mori’s One Night at the Penthouse Suite, one of the things that I loved was how unusual it is to read a billionaire romance where the billionaire is the heroine. And…

the ask@AAR: What’s the most romantic season?

Here in the American Southeast, summer is closing in. When Sophie and I walk in my neighborhood, people are out in shorts and slides, and the sound of air-conditioning hums all around us. It’s hot and…

May TBR Challenge – Fairytales

Caz was going to fly solo for this month’s TBR Challenge post–Lynn will be back next month for your regular dual helping of TBR reviews.  Dabney, who loves fairytale retellings, decided to step in. Enjoy! Birarley…

Coming Soon – The Romances We’re Most Looking Forward to Reading in June 2021

Time for our regular look at the new releases we think are most likely to tempt us – and you – and it seems that June is a bumper month for new romances. Contemporaries, historicals, mystery…

the ask@AAR: What famous couple would you like to inspire a romance novel?

One of my favorite country love songs of the past few years is Johnny Cash Heart by Caleb Lee Hutchison. The chorus is: You wrap me up in some kind of magic Lift me up, take me…

the Way Back on Wednesday: Are Feminism and Romance Novels Mutually Exclusive?

A Quickie with Kay Mussell originally published in November, 1997  Kay Mussell is a scholar at American University. She is a long-time reader of my column, but first came to my attention when I read Jayne…

Best Moms in Romance?

I was fortunate enough to spend yesterday, Mother’s Day, with my mom–truly the best mom and grandmother I could imagine. Until she retired at 79, she was a children’s librarian. We were talking about moms in…

A Tribute to Heather Rash

Heather Rash (listed in the AAR annals as Heather Stanton) died suddenly last week at the age of 45. Heather wrote prolifically at AAR from 2011 to 2017. Her reviews were smart, often wonderfully snarky, and…