Plodding through forgettable spy novels (and historicals in general) sometimes makes me forget what a truly great book looks like – and then I read one like The Forbidden Rose. Joanna Bourne’s latest novel has everything I love about romance: A strong relationship, complex characters, and effortless writing. Margeurite de Fleurignac is both the daughter…
His at Night is the first Sherry Thomas book I’ve read since Private Arrangements, a book I liked but didn’t love. To my mind, this one’s better, and certainly worth the anticipation and buzz it’s receiving. The hero and heroine are both interesting, the conflict is compelling and intriguing, and the writing itself is fabulous….
Favorite Romance Audiobook Poll Winner – First place – Favorite Paranormal Romance Audiobook 2011 Narrated by Jim Frangione Although I’m generally not a fan of vampire romance, I’ve now read (or listened to) Lover Awakened five times (a personal record). Declaring that it is a romance favorite seems to be such an understatement. I was…
You know what they say – never judge a book by its cover. I’ll amend that: Never judge a book by its synopsis and title, especially when they reek. But underneath this book’s wretched surface, is a touching character-driven romance, and a strong adult romance debut for Sarah MacLean. Lady Calpurnia Hartwell, or Callie for…
I have read Lord of Scoundrels three times now. The first time in 1999 when I discovered AAR’s Desert Isle Keeper page (back when there was a special page), again in 2004 after it won the #1 slot on that year’s Top 100 Romances poll, and this last month for AAR’s Book Club. From reading…
I read about half of Meredith Duran’s debut novel, The Duke of Shadows, last year. Somehow, the book just didn’t hit me right, but I thought the author showed promise and her choice of setting was very interesting. So when I saw this one while perusing the books-for-review list, I decided to give her another…
If you want to read Sherry Thomas’s third novel, Not Quite a Husband, choose a moment when you have some time to yourself, because this is a book not so much to devour, but to savor at leisure, like a glass of excellent wine. A short prologue provides us with a glimpse of the deep…
When you’re reading a book that is a step or two – or six or seven – above the norm, you know it almost immediately. Such is the case with The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie. The characters here are so complex and so real that I was fascinated by their journey. Add in the…
I’ve liked every Lisa Kleypas book I’ve ever read, and even loved some of them, but somehow I don’t manage to keep current with her books. Until Smooth Talking Stranger, I hadn’t even tried one of her contemporaries. I suppose I’m saving them all for a rainy day (like Dreaming of You which I’ve never…
As those who love historical romance know all too well, the landscape these days is littered with wallpaper. The Duke of Shadows, written by the winner of the Gather.com romance first chapter contest, aspires to be – is being promoted to be – something better than the usual fare. It’s on that scale that I…
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