Berkley Books

REVIEW: All That Bleeds by Kimberly Frost

REVIEW: All That Bleeds by Kimberly Frost

Dear Ms. Frost: This book ended up being too frothy for me. Alissa is a Muse and as such her role in life is to inspire those around her. The big concept in the book is that the heroine is competing to be the Best Muse of All (or for to be the Wreath Muse)(…)

REVIEW: An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson

REVIEW: An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson

Dear Ms. Johnson, I haven’t read too many regencies lately because they were all beginning to smear together in a Duke/spy/fiesty heroine filled blur. I had Regency ennui. When I started this book, I kind of got the feeling that it was part of a series but nonetheless, I took the plunge and dove in.(…)

REVIEW: Stripped by Tori St. Claire

REVIEW: Stripped by Tori St. Claire

Dear Ms. St. Claire: I have a feeling that this book is going to get some bad grades because the heroine does very bad things and is hard and edgy and the redemption story is hers, not the male protagonist.  But it is because of the heroine that I enjoyed this book.   Natalya Trubachev is a(…)

REVIEW: Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

REVIEW: Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

Dear Ms Doornebos, We at Dear Author get sent a lot of requests to review books and many of us have lamented at the frequency of Jane Austen themed ones. Yet, despite that, another reviewer and I were interested in the description of your book “Definitely Not Mr. Darcy.” A reality dating show with a(…)

REVIEW: India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr

REVIEW: India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr

Dear Ms. Carr, I read your debut novel, India Black, earlier this year and enjoyed it a great deal. While I can see why some people would be put off by the voice, I adored the protagonist, a brothel-madam-turned-reluctant-spy, and her unrelenting cynicism and jaded pragmatism. It was refreshing. Combined with a caper sensibility, it(…)

REVIEW: A Lot Like Love by Julie James

REVIEW: A Lot Like Love by Julie James

Dear Ms. James, I finally discovered you with the last book you wrote and got all excited when I noticed that Jane had already gotten your newest one, “A Lot Like Love” for us. Jane’s good about that. I can say that from the way I also enjoyed this one, it looks like we’re going(…)

REVIEW: Something About You by Julie James

REVIEW: Something About You by Julie James

Dear Ms. James, How do I like this book? Let me count the ways. I do like contemporaries and even the occasional romantic suspense but rarely do they combine as well as you’ve done with “Something About You.” And wow, even the cover model kinda looks like she’s wearing the dress you described. And how(…)

REVIEW: Untamed by Pamela Clare

REVIEW: Untamed by Pamela Clare

Dear Ms. Clare, After Michael Mann made the French and Indian Wars sexy, a few authors began to use this mainly forgotten episode in North American history. However, you’ve taken it to a whole new level by using it for not only one but two historical series. Brava you! Major Morgan MacKinnon knows that, even(…)