Sometimes the right book can really get you thinking about a question. In this case, the right book was actually a novella, Danelle Harmon’s The Admiral’s Heart. The premise is that the heroine ends her relationship with the hero when they are both young – without explaining why – because she’s allergic to dogs. He has a beloved dog, and she…
Today is the 16th of December and the biggest holiday of the year is growing ever closer. In between decorating, shopping, and being busier than I should be work-wise, I’ve had little time to read lately. Well, let me put it this way: Time I used to spend reading, I’m now spending more and more…
Even a casual visitor to the AAR message boards quickly learns one thing: We are an opinionated bunch. And in just about every thread somebody posts about a plot device they loathe. Be it a couple who jumps into bed right off the bat or an arranged marriage, the list of plot devices that we…
One of my children asked me recently if I’d ever given a book I’d reviewed an A+. I said I hadn’t. He then asked if I thought I ever would. I said yes, that in fact, there was a book I’d reviewed this past year and had given an A- to that I now see…
One message I kept hearing during this summer’s RWA conference was that publishers were finally ready to look at books that are different. Not every publisher was saying it, mind you, but I heard it a lot more than I had the year before – when the message seemed to be: “Take a look at…
You know, the veil between publishing and authors and readers is pretty much kaput these days. And, frankly, I kind of miss it. I miss the days when I didn’t know anything about authors and just picked out the books I wanted to read while browsing in the bookstore before author names started to leak…
They’re like bad relatives. You can’t avoid sleazy Uncle Bob or foul-mouthed Cousin Betty, because Uncle Bob married to Aunt Emily (the loveliest auntie in the world), and Cousin Betty is sister to Cousin Mark (who’s like a brother). But you’d really, really prefer not to have to see them. Ever. Give a romance detractor…
I’m willing to go a few rounds with anyone who criticizes romance novels. Usually they haven’t read any, and have no basis for their criticism that they’re all the same, or they’re female porn, or – well, whatever. But sometimes I have to admit that certain titles invite a snicker or two. When someone asks you what…
Romance readers have enjoyed Anne Stuart’s books for years with many of her titles sitting on countless DIK shelves. My own list of Stuart DIKs includes A Rose at Midnight, The Devil’s Waltz, and Ritual Sins. More recently I’ve discovered yet another way to enjoy Anne Stuart’s writing by listening to her books in audio…
I’ve been thinking lately about what is it about some writers that make their books magical for readers in ways that others aren’t. First, a confession: I read contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormals, but historical romance was my first love and remains my absolute favorite. So, with my bias fully admitted and setting aside…
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