Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

Archive for August, 2007

REVIEW: Never too Late by Anna C Bowling

By Jayne • Aug 31st, 2007 • Category: B Reviews, B Reviews Category, Ebooks, Reviews

Dear Ms. Bowling,
I’ve been eyeing your books for a while and decided to take the plunge with this one. After all it’s short (actually extremely short) and discounted at Fictionwise as it’s new so I figured I didn’t have much to lose. After reading it, I’ll be trying some of your other books.
As [...]



Barnes and Noble, like a politician, flip flops

By Jane • Aug 31st, 2007 • Category: Publishing News

Barnes & Noble has decided to stock copies of “If I Did It” in stores as well as selling the book online. Initially, it had claimed that lack of customer demand was keeping it from the retail shelves. Since the announcement a few weeks ago of the publication of the book, Beaufort Books has [...]



My First Sale by Alison Kent, One of the First Reality TV Stars

By Jane • Aug 31st, 2007 • Category: Interviews, Misc

A little bird told me that Ms. Kent’s birthday is today and therefore I thought it perfectly appropriate to post her first sale story, particularly when she was giving away multiple copies of her books in print, galleys and other readerly associated items to celebrate her birthday. I think it is always fun to [...]



REVIEW: The Marriage Wager by Candace Camp

By Jane • Aug 30th, 2007 • Category: C Reviews, C Reviews Category, Reviews

Dear Ms. Camp:
I don’t recall reading you before although your name sounds familiar. I may be getting you mixed up with another author whose initials are CC (kind of like how I get Connie Mason and Cathy Maxwell mixed up in my head. I know, it is completely wrong but what can I say?). [...]



USA Today Bestseller List, Ending August 26, 2007

By Jane • Aug 30th, 2007 • Category: Publishing News

The boy wizard is still defeating the needy teenage girl but she’s still hanging on to the number two spot. The new entry to the list was To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins. It was a mid month release and debuted at number 41. Next week should be more interesting as August [...]



Dear Author Recommends for September - Updated

By Jane • Aug 30th, 2007 • Category: Letters of Opinion, Misc

Usually we try to provide a recommendation list that has a little variety but this month, it’s all historicals. In my rush yesterday to post our recommendation list, I totally forgot two authors that I had read a long time ago and loved. I am an idiot.
I thought this one came out next [...]



Bookstores Buoyed by Harry Potter But Future Looks Grim

By Jane • Aug 30th, 2007 • Category: Publishing News

Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Books a Million (BAMM) all experienced profitable quarters due to the scads of people buying Harry Potter books.
Borders
Sales in the quarter ending in August 2007 rose 10.4%.
Excluding the sales of Harry Potter, the same store sales for Borders showed only a 0.4% increase compared to the previous year sales. [...]



REVIEW: Cousinly Connexion by Sheila Simonson

By Jayne • Aug 30th, 2007 • Category: B Reviews, B Reviews Category, Ebooks, Reviews

Dear Mrs. Simonson,
You’ve only written a few Regencies yet all have been ones I’ve enjoyed. As I’ve not heard of anything new from you in years, I guess I need to look into trying some of your mysteries. For readers unfamiliar with your books, I’m glad that this one has been reissued in ebook form [...]



REVIEW: Die For Me by Karen Rose

By Jane • Aug 29th, 2007 • Category: B Reviews Category, B+ Reviews, Reviews

Dear Ms. Rose:
This may be a week of talking about under appreciated gems. You consistently put out strong suspense stories with an qually strong romance. I also appreciate the thematic approach to have your books.
Die for Me’s theme was families–the families that we create and the families we are born with. Regardless of [...]



Denise Brown Backs Out of Confrontation on Oprah

By Jane • Aug 29th, 2007 • Category: Publishing News

Denise Brown has decided to not go on the Oprah show on September 13. According to Brown, at the time she agreed to the show, the book was still being shopped around. Brown wanted to make the case for the book’s non publication but now feels that appearing on the show would be [...]