Apr 30 2013
In the history of American Arts and Letters there have been many persons convinced of their own ability to write. Since they speak the language, they are certain that they can wield a pen and produce a story, transferring the errant imagination into a book. Writing, in this view, is considered an extension—albeit a skilled(…)
Jul 10 2012
Dear Ms. Coffman, During my junior year of high school, I happened to take AP European History. I recall many things from that course, but what I chiefly remember is the section on the French Revolution. Perhaps it was my general interest in all things French during that phase of my adolescence, but I seem(…)
Feb 7 2012
This review is being posted in lieu of a morning opinion piece because it is an opinion piece of sorts and because, well, it is verbose. So you get three reviews today. Yay! Dear E.L. James, So I’m pretty much in the minority when it comes to this book as I hated it. Fifty Shades(…)
Jan 31 2012
Dear Ms. Livesey, The cover song has always occupied a precarious position in the annals of music lovers. On the one hand, it is quite a safe thing to do—cover someone else’s song. One already knows that it is beloved. One already knows what sort of person might like that song. It has a brand, a(…)
Dec 22 2011
This year was a bit of a crap year for me. I actually haven’t read all that much—at least in so far as romance is concerned. Between the final semester of school, exams, work and the most severe case of reading burnout I have ever had in my life, I honestly wondered if there would(…)
Dec 22 2011
Dear Ms. Dare, In the usual way of things, I am not a fan of the novella. Neither am I quite keen on the short story. I find both lacking in character, particularly in romance where that is the key to any relationship development. Neither the novella nor the short story offers an adequate length(…)
Dec 8 2011
Dear Ms. Dark, This was an especially difficult book to grade. After much reflection, I have decided to recommend it because of the strength of the prose and what, I believe, are the very engaging middle sections of the book. However, despite the fact that Ballantine is billing this book as a paranormal romance, I(…)
Oct 10 2011
Dear Ms. Mallory, I have been anticipating the release of your novel, In Total Surrender, since I read about the Merrick brothers in your last effort, One Night Is Never Enough. There’s just something about a pair of intellectual thugs that gets my blood pumping. In Total Surrender is Andreas Merrick’s book. The one in(…)
Oct 6 2011
Dear Ms. Putney, I have always enjoyed your romances, ever since I started reading romance nigh on six years ago. I particularly enjoyed The Marriage Spell, which was a hybrid of fantasy and regency—a hybrid that very much appealed to me. Although there is a tradition within YA and fantasy novels of depicting alternate histories(…)
Sep 24 2011
Dear Ms. Cooper, I was really intrigued by the description of your book, No Proper Lady, which touts itself as a being a cross between Terminator and My Fair Lady. And indeed, this is a very apt description for the plot of this book. More importantly, based upon the excerpt I read before deciding to(…)
Sep 14 2011
Dear Ms. Kroll, I was intrigued by the opening paragraph of Haunting Miss Trentwood. It was different, unusual and original. It evoked a gothic atmosphere which is not something I encounter much these days in romance, and I do so love a good gothic. I was looking forward to reading and reviewing this self-published book.(…)
Sep 8 2011
Haunting of Miss Trentwood by Belinda Kroll, Self_Published Mary Trentwood’s father is dead, but not gone. His ghost lingers, interfering with Mary’s life. Things become even more complicated with the arrival of Alexander Hartwell, a barrister looking into the blackmail of his elder sister. An interesting and different historical romance. There are some problematic aspects,(…)
Jun 28 2011
I tend to read for three things: a visceral response, a delightful and interesting use of language, and character. While genre fiction often relies on plot rather than prose to compel the reader forward, I firmly believe that the best plots are rooted in character. Even if the plot of the novel is a quest(…)
Jun 7 2011
Dear Ms. Wiggs, Your book, The Charm School (1999), was suggested to me one night whilst I was prowling around on Twitter looking for answers. I had asked for suggestions of books with ugly heroines. Ugly, mind you, not plain. Plain means that at some point in the novel there will be a paragraph in(…)
May 30 2011
Dear Ms. Noble, This is the story of a Duke and a Scholar. But you know that already. Winnifred Crane is an art historian. She is also female, as both her name and the attached pronoun would suggest. It doesn’t matter that she’s brilliant. It doesn’t matter that she’s turned the art history world on(…)
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