REVIEW: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorenson

REVIEW: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorenson

Dear Ms. Sorenson: They first introduction to work with the self published title, “The Secret of Ella and Micha.”  I found the writing to be a little problematic and thus I didn’t pick up The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden when it was released or when it was purchased by Grand Central for republication. However,(…)

Giveaway for Bella Andre’s Look of Love

Giveaway for Bella Andre’s Look of Love

Back when January reviewed for us, she really enjoyed the Bella Andre Sullivan family series.  Andre was one of the first self publishing successes.  She went on to sell the print rights to Harlequin and Harlequin is working hard to get the paper copy into readers’ hands. They are sponsoring a fun giveaway. Summertime is(…)

REVIEW:  It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

REVIEW: It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

Dear Ms. Shalvis: I suspect you could write your Lucky Harbor books in your sleep. That is as much a testament to their sameness as it is to your skill. Every book in the series–with the exception of the second, The Sweetest Thing–features a young woman either facing a problem or needing to reboot her(…)

Thursday News: Penguin to contribute $75 million to restitution fund; Beware of blurbs; Amazon to sell licensed fan fiction

Thursday News: Penguin to contribute $75 million to restitution fund; Beware of blurbs; Amazon to sell licensed fan fiction

Important! My family and I are doing *things* this next week so I’m taking a mini vacation from Dear Author News. We’ll still have our daily reviews and daily deals (of course) but unless I’m feeling really energetic, there won’t be any news again until Wednesday, May 29. That’s when BEA starts and I suspect(…)

Daily Deals: A couple of favorites from Jayne and a classic romance

Daily Deals: A couple of favorites from Jayne and a classic romance

This Heart of Mine by Suzanne Hayes Loretta Nyhan. $ Free From the Jacket Copy: In this short prequel to I’ll Be Seeing You, authors Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan introduce you to two extraordinary women who are worlds apart–but whose journals reveal they have more in common than they could ever imagine…. Chicago, 1921(…)

REVIEW: The Perfect Bride by Kerry Connor

REVIEW: The Perfect Bride by Kerry Connor

Dear Ms. Connor: Thank you for sending Dear Author a review copy of your book. I’m not a frequent reader of Harlequin Intrigues so I wouldn’t ordinarily pick up this book.  Jillian Jones arrives at Sutton Hall posing as a bride to be in order to investigate the death of her best friend. Jillian was(…)

REVIEW:  River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay

REVIEW: River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay

Dear Mr. Kay, I’ve been a fan of your books since I read The Lions of al-Rassan and lamented the fact that it was a standalone. While I haven’t read every GGK book published, I’ve read enough to know that they are part of an impressive and imaginative body of work. When I learned that(…)

Wednesday News: Food printer, Barnes & Noble as a showroom; and 1 Terabyte free storage from flickr

How Barnes & Noble Overlooks Its Biggest Asset – Forbes suggests Barnes & Noble become a showroom for internet companies such as the high end fashion coops like Gilt Groupe to hand crafted items from Etsy sellers. It’s not a bad idea in concept but could easily become on of those “As Seen on TV”(…)

Daily Deals: Inspies; Vegas; and Hollywood

Daily Deals: Inspies; Vegas; and Hollywood

I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler. $ Free at Amazon and Apple From the Jacket Copy: “For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy…” Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their(…)

REVIEW:  Rule of Three by Kelly Jamieson

REVIEW: Rule of Three by Kelly Jamieson

Dear Ms. Jamieson: I’ve kind of drifted away from menages but this book was free. I thought the dynamic of the three falling in love was really well done. My minus is that I really needed to see the other issues worked out – how would her family take it; what kinds of decisions would(…)

REVIEW:  Rulebreaker by Cathy Pegau

REVIEW: Rulebreaker by Cathy Pegau

  “Liv Braxton’s Felon Rule #1: Don’t get emotionally involved. Smash-and-grab thieving doesn’t lend itself to getting chummy with the victims, and Liv hasn’t met anyone on the mining colony of Nevarro worth knowing, anyway. So it’s easy to follow her Rules. Until her ex, Tonio, shows up with an invitation to join him on(…)

Tuesday News: Twitter chat with the Ghost from Nalini Singh’s series; Amazon and Apple fight over public disclosure of trial information; Stephen King snubs ebooks

Tuesday News: Twitter chat with the Ghost from Nalini Singh’s series; Amazon and Apple fight over public disclosure of trial information; Stephen King snubs ebooks

I’m hosting a twitter chat with “The Ghost” on Thursday, May 23rd, from 9:00 to 10:00 pm EDT.  Even if you are not on twitter, you can follow along at this link.  You may not want to come if you don’t want to know any spoilers about Heart of Obsidian.     Amazon Fights to(…)

The Limits of Marketing:  When Does Manipulation Go Too Far

The Limits of Marketing: When Does Manipulation Go Too Far

In 2006, a billboard appeared in New York City which announced that Emily knew all about her husband, Steve’s, cheating ways. The news of this spread through websites and emails faster than you could read the text of the billboard.  The whole thing turned out to be an advertisement for Court TV’s reality TV show,(…)

Daily Deals:  A contemporary three pack; a Japanese thief; a ruined pianist; and a gossip driven Regency

Daily Deals: A contemporary three pack; a Japanese thief; a ruined pianist; and a gossip driven Regency

Truly Madly Deeply by Carly Phillips. $ .99 From the Jacket Copy: A collection of three full length novels by New York Times Bestselling Author Carly Phillips, originally written and published in 1999 and 2000, and published under her real name, Karen Drogin. PERFECT PARTNERS No sooner had Chelsie Russell and Griffin Stuart lost their(…)

REVIEW:  Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

REVIEW: Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

Dear Ms. Camden, I’m always on the hunt for new and different in romance, and when it comes in the form of an inspirational historical suspense story centering on the opium trade in late 19th-century Boston – with a gorgeous cover as a bonus – I am helpless to resist. As a child, Lydia Pallas(…)