Book Reviews / Conversations / Need A Rec!Christmas / Diwali / Easter / Halloween / Hanukkah / holiday novella / holiday romance / holiday setting / Juneteenth / Kwanzaa / Passover / Ramadan / recommendations / Rosh Hashanah / Valentine's Day / winter / Yom Kippur18 Comments
Janine: ‘Tis the season for books set during the winter holidays, and I’d love to know your thoughts on the holiday settings in romances and in other books. Generally speaking, do books set during the holidays draw you? What do you like least and/or best about them? Which holidays do ... more >
Conversationsapology / family-reunion / recommendations / redemption / tropes50 Comments
Yesterday we held a conversation about redemption and reparation in the genre. Today we talk about the book redemptions that worked or didn’t work for us. Janine: What are some examples of books where redemption or reparation felt sincere, meaningful and satisfying? What are examples of books where you ... more >
Conversationsapology / grovel / redemption / tropes14 Comments
A couple of weeks before Yom Kippur, Judaism’s Day of Atonement, I started this conversation about redemption and reparation in the genre. I’ve scrapped my original intro because the Yom Kippur is well past, so I’ll just say that Rose (once a DA reviewer) joined us for this one and ... more >
Conversationsheat level / kink / pet peeves / sex scenes / vocabulary38 Comments
A few weeks ago, we discussed the emotional dynamics of sex scenes and their role in the story. Now for a broader conversation about our other likes and dislikes, what we want more of and our pet peeves. Here are the questions I asked DA’s other contributors: In general, do ... more >
Conversationsangry sex / bad sex / imperfect sex / sex scenes / tenderness / turning points9 Comments
Janine: Hi guys. It’s time for a new conversation post, and this one is about sex scenes—their dynamics and their role in books. Here are a few questions: How much does the emotional dynamic or tenor in a sex scene matter to you? Do you prefer that the sex in ... more >
Book Reviews / Conversations / Need A Rec!marriage-of-convenience / recommendations / tropes36 Comments
Last Monday we had a conversation about the fake relationship and marriage of convenience tropes. When we were putting that post together, I asked DA contributors for recommendations and/or dis-recommendations of romances involving fake relationships and marriage of convenience. Friday’s post on recommendations for fake relationship books was published last ... more >