Conversationsanger / Christmas Stories / cynicism / emotional journey / grumpy / sunshine / grumpy hero / happiness / introvert / tropes15 Comments
Janine: Recently we had an in-depth chat about the enemies-to-lovers trope, and I thought it might be fun to do the same thing with Kaetrin’s recent favorite, grumpy/sunshine. I put the following questions to all the participants on DA’s email loop. Is grumpy/sunshine a trope you are drawn to or ... more >
ConversationsAmazon / book buying / book pimping / book reviewing / Book Reviews / critique / differences of opinion / fake reviews / Goodreads / honesty / Humor / mini reviews / negative reviews / online reviewing / reader response / recommendations / review blogs / review grades / spoilers / transparency30 Comments
Janine: As a reviewer I think a lot about what I want to see in reviews. I try to notice what kind of information I appreciate most or least in other people’s reviews because it helps me craft my own. I think that what we value in reviews is a ... more >
ConversationsContemporary / enemies to lovers / enemies with benefits / Fantasy / genre history / historical romance / mystery / Paranormal / recommendations / rivals to lovers / tropes22 Comments
Janine: In our conversation about our reading in 2021, the enemies-to-lovers trope came up. I loved some of what you said and thought we could have a wider and deeper conversation about it. Here are some questions to start us off: Do you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope? Why or why ... more >
Conversationsauthor discovery / Best of 2021 / comfort reading / Covid / diversity / DNF / enemies to lovers / genre critique / grumpy / sunshine / LGBTQIA+ / low-angst / statistics / tropes / year in review59 Comments
Janine: I’ve noticed that my reading habits change a little from year to year. Some years I read more or fewer books than usual. Some years I discover new favorite authors. At times a genre shifts in a direction that isn’t as likely to engage me while another becomes more ... more >
Conversationsanticipated hero/heroine / Cliffhanger / Contemporary romance / Easter eggs / families / Friends / historical romance / m/m / mystery / paranormal romance / sequel / Series / series conclusion / SFR / shared world / standalones / Urban-Fantasy33 Comments
DISCLOSURE: In addition to reviewing for DA, I am a writer of romance manuscripts. I wrote a standalone in the past and my current project is part of a series. -Janine Janine: A while back Rose, who was once a reviewer here at DA, suggested that “series vs. standalones” might ... more >
Conversationsbirth control / Contemporary / health / Historical / Paranormal / pregnancy / protection / risk / SFR46 Comments
READERS PLEASE NOTE: When we discuss the risk of pregnancy here, we are referring to individuals who can become pregnant, but not necessarily to M/F cis couples alone. Janine: I’ve been pondering sex scenes in nineteenth-century historical romances and how it bothers me that birth control so frequently isn’t deployed ... more >