Film Reviews19th century / China / Friday Film Review / good characterization / western6 Comments
Broken Trail (2006) Genre: Western Grade: B+ Ah, the beauty of the West, of a herd of wild horses, of a campfire crackling at night, of a group of young Chinese women being driven to a fate worse than death in a rough hewn mining camp – wait, back up, ... more >
A ReviewsAfrican American / Contemporary / good characterization / Good-Dialogue / good-narration / interracial-romance / mothers and daughters / texas / Violence / Young-Adult16 Comments
Dear Ms. Reeves, I was casually perusing the Book Smugglers' blog when I came across this midyear list of their favorite books of 2010 and saw that Ana had given your debut, Bleeding Violet a grade of perfect 10. Since the book's genre (YA with a paranormal flavor) is one ... more >
A- Reviewsgood characterization / good-description / Julie-Anne-Long / Regency England / shipboard29 Comments
Dear Ms. Long, Violet Redmond is young, beautiful, and bored. It seems that no matter what she does, her popularity with the ton will not fade. Suitors flock to her side, even though she once threatened to cast herself into a well when arguing with one of them. In the ... more >
A Review Category / A Reviews / Book Reviews19th century / adultery / Earl / good characterization / good-description / Good-Dialogue / lawsuits / Love-Triangle / rake / widow31 Comments
Black Silk was one of the first two Romance novels I read, and to this day it remains one of my absolute favorites. Submit Channing-Downs, the woman who deeply mourns the husband who was almost three times her age, is so unlike most Romance heroines. Her hair has the quality ... more >
A Review Category / A Reviews / Book Reviews19th century / adultery / Earl / good characterization / good-description / Good-Dialogue / lawsuits / Love-Triangle / rake / widow12 Comments
On rare occasion, I come across a novel that seems so rich, so sumptuous, and so sublime, that I am afraid to reread it. The first reading experience is so close to perfect that I don’t think anything can equal it. Such was the case with Judith Ivory’s Black Silk. ... more >
Letters of OpinionBeauty-and-the-Beast / character-development / good characterization / heroes34 Comments
Barbara Vey of Publishers’ Weekly asked those attending Lady Jane’s Salon in New York City for three words that describe a hero. Many of the respondents went for the superficial (tall, dark and handsome was one answer and yet another said “Sexy, handsome and luscious”): sexy and strong. One author ... more >