July 5, 2013

REVIEW: The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

DabneyA Reviews / Recommended ReadsContemporary romance / novella / Recommended Reads31 Comments

Dear Ms. Rivers: I’d had your novella, The Story Guy, in my TBR for a while.  Then, last month, on Twitter, I saw a link to a post you’d written for Wonkomance, the site you and several other authors I respect run. The post, entitled Love Actually, a meditation on the nature ... more >

July 4, 2013

REVIEW: Connected by Kim Karr

JennieD ReviewsCliffhanger / Contemporary / Musicians / second chance at love10 Comments

Dear Ms. Karr: I picked this up as part of my continuing attempt to get into the NA genre. It’s a genre that appeals to me in theory, but in practice, my experiences have been mixed, at best. I’m doubting that Connected counts as NA, though, since the characters are ... more >

July 4, 2013

REVIEW: The Fourth World by Rose Christo

SiriusB- Reviewsf/f / self-published / Young-Adult5 Comments

Dear Rose Christo: “This is the Fourth World,” Grandpa Many Feathers says. His voice is scratchy, low, like tires over gravel, it takes me by surprise. “What,” I start, nervous. “What do you mean?” He turns his head away, a tinge of sadness in his eyes. I get a good ... more >

July 3, 2013

REVIEW: Archer by Debra Kayn

JaneF ReviewsContemporary / romantic-suspense3 Comments

Dear Ms. Kayn: Jane Beaumont fell in love with an illusion. She thought her attentive boyfriend was a catch but it turned out he was a violent, possessive heroin dealer who threatened her multiple times with dismemberment and death if she ever left him, ever ratted him out. Somehow, she ... more >

July 3, 2013

REVIEW: The Registry by Shannon Stoker

JiaD Reviewsdystopian / forced-marriage / New Adult / William Morrow / Young-Adult14 Comments

Dear Ms. Stoker, I can’t decide if all these dystopian YAs featuring young women as chattel are a reflection of current social anxiety about the state of womens’ rights or simply lazy writing. Not to say that oppressed young women finding freedom isn’t a story worth telling. It obviously is. ... more >

July 2, 2013

REVIEW: The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie

KellyD Reviewsgoverness / Historical / historical romance / Regency England / Regency Romance12 Comments

Dear Ms. Gracie, Despite the recent flail over the “death of the historical,” I’m ever-hopeful that unique and compelling Regencies are still being published. Unfortunately, The Autumn Bride falls short of my vague-yet-demanding criteria by quite a distance, landing squarely in the “wallpaper” and “cookie-cutter” pits of romance despair. Governess ... more >