REVIEW: Falling Through Glass by Barbara Sheridan

REVIEW: Falling Through Glass by Barbara Sheridan

Dear Ms. Sheridan, When Tina submitted a list of new books to Dear Author for possible review, “Falling Through Glass” grabbed my attention. Hmmm, time travel to 19th century Japan in the waning days of samurai warriors. Can’t get much more different than that. Since I’m feeling lazy this morning. I’m just going to steal [...]

WINNER of the Stephanie Laurens Backlist & Vera Bradley Bag

WINNER of the Stephanie Laurens Backlist & Vera Bradley Bag

Avon put together this really lovely giveaway to celebrate the start of the new Stephanie Laurens‘ series, The Black Cobra Quartet. The premise of the Black Cobra Quartet is that there is a British traitor who is the head of the Black Cobra cult, an organization that is terrorizing villages and setting up a reign [...]

Tuesday Midday Links: Amazon’s Charm Offensive

The new draft of the Google Book Settlement was due yesterday but the parties asked (and was granted) until Friday to present a new settlement agreement. Given that the biggest part of the GBKS were orphan works and that was what drew the biggest complaints, I wonder how any new settlement could address this. **** [...]

The Rake

The Rake

see more Lolcats and funny pictures There is not a more common hero archetype in historical romance than the “rake”. In my early days of reading, I always viewed the “rake” as a sign of virility of the hero.   In romance novels, the women titter about the rake’s scandalous reputation while parading their young in [...]

REVIEW: Skin Game by Ava Gray

REVIEW: Skin Game by Ava Gray

Dear Ms. Gray (aka Ms. Aguirre): In reviewing my emails (because my memory, as you know, is terribly spotty), I see I received the book for review from you. I had enjoyed Grimspace and heard that this book was fresh for the romance genre and it is. Kyra is a grifter, working with her father, [...]

REVIEW: Memoirs of a Hoyden by Joan Smith

REVIEW: Memoirs of a Hoyden by Joan Smith

Dear Ms. Smith, Your comedic trad Regencies are always a delight for me. There are some that have had me cackling with glee as I read them since I love it when an author can turn the standard Regency conventions upside down – or at least twist ‘em a little. Miss Marion Mathieson takes no [...]

Angela James and her journey to Harlequin with Carina Press

Angela James and her journey to Harlequin with Carina Press

Today Harlequin is announcing the creation of Carina Press, a digital only epress from Harlequin.   On a personal front, this news is exciting because Angela James is a friend of mine and will be the Executive Editor of this new line.   On a reader front, I think this move signals how important the digital space [...]

If You Like…Multicultural Books

In light of the very gracious post by Handyhunter about cultural appropriation, it seems that we should compile a list of books that feature multicultural characters. Please note whether the book is a young adult (YA) or romance as well as whether the multicultural characters are main or secondary.   Please also be respectful of other [...]

Does Proofediting Matter to You?

There has been some talk of publishers moving to a digital workflow based on xml markup language. The benefit of this is that it cuts down on the errors as a book moves through production. Currently books are typeset for a printer using a desktop publishing software program. When these books are converted to digital, [...]

First Page: Contemporary Romance

Welcome to First Page Saturday. Individual authors anonymously send a first page read and critiqued by the Dear Author community of authors, readers and industry others. Anyone is welcome to comment. You may comment anonymously. *** "Em? Emily, is that you?’ Emily Standish sat down hard on the little wooden chair with its faded floral [...]

REVIEW: Home for the Holidays by Sarah Mayberry

REVIEW: Home for the Holidays by Sarah Mayberry

Dear Ms. Mayberry: I think this might be your most emotional romance yet.   I certainly felt a little misty eyed (damn you) at the end of the story.   Hannah Napier and Joe Lawson meet under inauspicious circumstances. Joe is exhausted and all he can hear is the loud sound of an engine next door. It’s [...]

Friday Midday News Roundup

[nggallery id=48] I ordered a bunch of Harlequin Stationary goods that feature the vintage covers.   The stationary goods include little matchbook notepads, bound composition notebooks and address books. I liked the address books the least. They have a spiral binding and I found them to be a little too bulky.   My favorites are the little [...]

Friday Film Review: Dear Frankie

Friday Film Review: Dear Frankie

Dear Frankie (2004) Genre: Drama Grade: A- Gerard Butler, please stop acting in rubbish films that have heroines put in vibrating underwear and do more like this one. This film is wonderful. And it’s wonderful without overdoing the important moments or slathering on the pathos in order to yank on our heartstrings. Lizzie Morrison (Emily [...]

REVIEW:  Christmas Angel for the Billionaire by Liz Fielding

REVIEW: Christmas Angel for the Billionaire by Liz Fielding

Dear Ms. Fielding: I’m not sure if you were inspired by Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck but there are a lot of similarities. Audrey plays a princess who, struggling under the strictures of her position, decides to flee. Princess Ann falls asleep on a park bench and is rescued by Joe Bradley, [...]

Thursday Midday Links Roundup: Education is moving toward digital

How good is Harlequin doing? Pretty good. In a dismal economy that sees revenues at its parent company dropping, Harlequin is bringing in the profit. David Holland, the interim CEO at Torstar, said that the decline in newspapers and digital were offset by continued growth at Harlequin. (Actually Holland stated it the other way around [...]