Romantic Times Rewind: September 2015 Reviews

by SB Sarah · Sep 6, 2024 at 1:59 am · View all 13 comments

Smart Podcast Trashy Books Romantic Times RewindIn this week’s podcast episode, we’re looking at the book reviews for the September 2015 issue of RT Magazine.

Thank you to Shannon Stacey for this issue!

You can also find all the RTRW content at our category page for Romantic Times Rewind. 

And, most importantly, if you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, but you can click play and listen and read and absorb all the visual goodness:

This cover is glorious!

RT Book Reviews from September 2015 JR Ward is on the cover and she's got blonde wavy hair in a hairsprayed style that I don't know the name of, with big diamond earrings and a triple strand of pearls. She's wearing sunglasses and a sleeveless black dress and is seated in a salmon colored chair. But the star of the cover is the Cavalier spaniel in her arms.

Do I know the dog’s name? NO. No we don’t. I’m working on it, but if you know the name of the dog, please tell us! VITAL INFORMATION IS MISSING.

Historical Romance

Amanda highlighted the review for Tarnished, Tempted and Tamed by Mary Brendan ( A | BN | K | AB ):

TARNISHED, TEMPTED AND TAMED Mary Brendan ** MILD SETTING: Regency England Brendan's first in a new Regency duet keeps to an old-school, dated vibe when a near-spinster sets off on her own adventure, only to end up desperately in need of saving by a brooding, reluctant hero. The author switches between multiple POVs, often without warning, making the story difficult to follow, and the "conflict" within the romance will leave readers unsatisfied. SUMMARY: When Fiona escapes her nefarious stepfather and takes a job as a governess, she never expects to be a victim of a botched kidnapping. But the county's resident duke and an undercover ex-military agent concoct a scheme to ferret out the local criminal - only Fiona ends up being taken instead. Now Luke Wolfson must save Fiona, and then convince her to become his mistress - after he gets rid of his previous mistress. Only after Fiona's reputation is ruined does Wolfson realize she might be marriage-worthy, but first he has to convince her that he'd make good husband material.

Two stars! We were wondering what the “old-school” vibe was, but have no idea.

The cover features a white woman in Regency Garb in a purple dress with a blonde updo standing forehead to forehead with a white dude wearing historical suit garb

I have to admit, I like her hair.

I selected Luck Be a Lady by Meredith Duran ( A | BN | K | AB ):

LUCK BE A LADY Meredith Duran ****½ HOT SETTING: Victorian England TOP Hot on the heels of Lady Be Good comes Catherine PICK® Everleigh's story, and readers know they'll be in for a fun, sexy, poignant roller coaster ride. Well paced, simmering with sexual tension and peopled with memorable characters, this is a love story to be savored. SUMMARY: No one would mistake "the Ice Queen," Catherine Everleigh, for being reckless. However, to save herself from a forced marriage and maintain her share in the family auction house, Catherine makes an outrageous proposal to Lon-don's infamous crime lord, Nick O'Shea: a marriage that will last only long enough to be consummated. After one night, Nick knows he wants her in his bed forever. Catherine hides her fascination with Nick, but after he rescues her from imprisonment in an asylum and allows her to auction off his fabulous collection of antiques, Catherine must find a way to prove her love.

A blonde white woman with an updo and a white gown and a giant ruby necklace, and she's against a blue background staring at the reader while touching her collarbone

Two blonde updos! Also, that’s a necklace.

Mainstream Fiction

I selected All the Difference by Leah Ferguson ( A | BN | K | AB ):

ALL THE DIFFERENCE Leah Ferguson ****½ Ferguson offers women's fiction a fresh new voice with her first novel, a delightful tale about the roads we choose in life. Readers will enjoy following Molly Sullivan from one New Year's Eve to the next, the chapters leach a different month between the bookend holidays) cleverly alternating between "if she said no" and "if she said yes." The brilliant epilogue ties it all together perfectly. This is a unique take on a familiar plot! SUMMARY: It's New Year's Eve and Molly Sullivan just found out she's pregnant. When her self-centered boyfriend proposes, Molly has a choice to make. Accepting his proposal means financial security, but it might go against her personal values. Turning him down means choosing single motherhood and all its struggles. She's always believed the way you take the road is more important than the road you take. Will she change her mind by next New Year's Eve?

 

An illustration of an engagement ring in a red box, and below it is the box on tis side with the ring spilled out. The title is in teal blue and the entire cover is a white background

 

That cover is a time capsule, isn’t it? White background, sparse illustrations, very Emily-Giffin-esque. I also recall a number of Sliding Doors-style plots in women’s fiction like this one.

Amanda selected The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DeCarlo ( A | BN | K | AB ): can you spot why?

THE ART OF CRASH LANDING Melissa DeCarlo *** In her debut novel, DeCarlo takes the reader on a sometimes disjointed journey through the eyes of her quirky, sarcastic 30-year-old protagonist. Matte seems more adolescent than adult land not that likable) for the majority of the book, and shifts somewhat confusingly between present and past accounts of events. The strength of the story lies in the stunning secrets Mattie must uncover, her sassy comebacks and the crusty but oddly endearing supporting cast. SUMMARY: Mattie Wallace has a history of screw-ups; it's possibly genetic. So when she finds herself broke, homeless and knocked-up, an inheritance from an unknown grandmother seems to come at the perfect time. Arriving in her mother's hometown, Mattie quickly discovers that the damaged woman she called "Mom" was not the carefree girl who mysteriously disappeared from this Oklahoma town 35 years ago. Can she unearth the secret that pushed her mother off course in time to stop her own crash landing? (HARPER)

 

A CRUSTY SUPPORTING CAST! A quirky sarcastic protagonist!

Who is crusty? We have no idea.

 

The art of crash landing has a blue sky background with some darker blue clouds and the title down the center, with a smear breaking up the words as if the crash landing happened through the title text

Once again, this cover could be on a shelf right now and I wouldn’t think it looked out of place. I like how the title is disrupted, like the crash landing happened through the title.

Teen Scene

This was THE DYSTOPIAN TIME in Teen/YA Romance. “Normal girl goes to weird land” was also a common plot.

I selected History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), which Amanda says is a “fucked up” book.

A HISTORY OF GLITTER AND BLOOD Hannah Moskowitz ** Disjointed, uncomfortable and confusing are all words that describe the experience of trying to read this novel. The author leaves out a lot of pertinent information, making the readers feel as if they've missed a chapter or two. This one is tough to finish. SUMMARY: Beckan and her friends are one of the few fairie clans left in Ferrum after war breaks out. Although a ceasefire seems on the horizon, tension remains between the fairies, gnomes and the mysterious tightropers. Beckan and her friends are forced into hiding and faced with new challenges. As danger looms, Beckan must choose between her desire for peace, her loyalty to her friends and an unexpected love. (CHRONICLE, Sep, 280 pp., $18.99)

A history of glitter and blood features a soft focus picture of a White girl with long dark hair looking over her shoulder at the reader there's glitter snow raining on her

Neither Amanda nor the reviewer in RT liked this one – two stars! “Disjointed, uncomfortable, and confusing” is some of the firmest critique we’ve read in awhile.

Amanda selected Cuts Both Ways by Carrie Mesrobian ( A | BN | K | AB ):

CUT BOTH WAYS Carrie Mesrobian ** In some ways, Cut Both Ways is an impor-fant novel, as bisexual protagonists are a rarity in YA, despite the fact that there is much to be said regarding sexual develop ment during one's teenage years. Unfortu-nately, while it is significant that this novel offers a frank portrayal of a young man dealing with his sexuality, this is a difficult novel to enjoy. Most frustratingly, Will is a

self-centered jerk. Additionally, there is a difficult-to-empathize-with cheating plotline, a lack of discussion regarding STD prevention and an unsatisfying ending. SUMMARY: The summer before his senior year in high school, Will has his first kiss with his very male friend, Angus. Will, however, does not identify as being gay. As the year goes on, however, Will is increasingly torn between Angus and his new girlfriend, Brandy. Will's mother has moved on from him, living with his stepfa. ther and half-sisters in their perfect house in the suburbs, and his father has started drinking again. Will must decide where he fits into all of the madness that surrounds him.

Cuts both ways has words scrawled over a bedsheet with two pair of big shoes by the bed on the floor

We spent some time with this review, because it uses really weird language around the concept of bisexuality (“doesn’t identify as being gay”?) and the mention of STD prevention raised both our eyebrows. This review also has a ‘HOW DO YOU DO FELLOW KIDS’ vibe.

Inspirational

First, we have a FINE HAT – FINALLY!

A snapshot of the cover of A Noble Masquerade

That’s a nice hat! Let’s see a bigger version:

A noble masquerade features a Blonde woman with her hair up beneath a red hat with a wide brim, lace, and feathers. Her gown matches and there's a lace parasol behind her She's looking to the side so she's in profile

Feathers AND ribbons AND a big brim AND a parasol behind – excellent. We are appeased given the lack of excellent millinery in prior issues!

Attention publishers! PUT A BIG HAT ON IT!

I picked the one-star review for Promises Kept by Scarlett Dunn ( A | BN | K | AB ):

PROMISES KEPT Scarlett Dunn Occasional cursing, rampant sexual innuendo and an unlikable hero will stop typical inspirational readers of this novel nearly before they start. Debuting both the author and the series, the book is light on spiritual inspiration and heavy on demeaning come-ons. The hero's thoughts are often lewd, and the majority of his actions show a lack of respect for the heroine. The remaining characters and the plot are clichéd at best. SUMMARY: Victoria Eastman, a young woman raising two boys, advertises for a husband in a gentleman's newspaper and accepts the offer of a man in Promise, Wyo. When she travels there to meet him, she's too late. He's just been killed by a man who wants his land and will stop at nothing to get it. But no one was counting on what Victoria's would-be fiance had arranged before his death, a surprise that would keep her in Promise with hunky rancher Colt McBride as her neighbor, protector and maybe more

We were surprised this was in Inspirational given the cursing, the innuendo, and unlikeable hero – all of which Amanda is in favor of, btw.

Promises Kept features a photograph of a white man in a tan shirt and brown pants wearing a black cowboy hat. he's seated on the porch of a log cabin next to a redheaded White woman with her hair up wearing a high neck blouse and long lavender skirt. she's holding flowers and looking up at him.

This is a Zebra, from Kensington, and we were surprised it was in Inspirational.

Amanda highlighted The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade by Virginia Smith ( A | BN | K | AB ).

She thought it was about an illegal goose parade, and was very disappointed that there were no illegal geese.

THE MOST FAMOUS ILLEGAL GOOSE CREEK PARADE Virginia Smith ****½ This book is so much fun to read! The entertaining characters make one laugh out loud because of their antics, but also touch a spot in one's heart. If the others in the series are anything like this install-ment, they are sure to be hits. SUMMARY: Al and Millie Richardson have lived in Goose Creek their entire lives. But Al is looking forward to retirement and the day he can get behind the wheel of an RV. Millie, however, has other plans. When the Updyke home becomes available, Millie feels her prayers have been answered. Opening a bed and breakfast in Goose Creek is exactly what she and the town need. Goose Creek ischanging. A new veierinarian receives a less than lukewarm welcome. Also, who knew that painting the town's water tower would lead to such an uproar? Sides are being chosen, and it all culminates in an illegal parade. What could possibly happen next?

A yellow cover with the title in various hand drawn fonts in blue and purple with an illustration of a town beneath a water tower at the bottom

This also sounds like nine pounds of plot in a two pound bag: retirees with different ideas of their life together, but also a veterinarian and a water tower are involved?

I also want to limit reviewers’ use of phrases like “laugh out loud,” or “touch a spot in one’s heart” because it’s awkward and trite and says not enough.

Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Amanda selected In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware – her debut novel! ( A | BN | K | AB )

Suspense IN A DARK, DARK WOOD Ruth Ware ****½ TOP PICK® Ware's debut novel sets the stage for her to become a household name. The glass house set in the middle of the forest is the perfect setting for this book full of secrets and lies - where everyone is hiding something and a rock thrown will shatter the facade of friendship. Engaging, suspenseful and mysterious, In A Dark, Dark Wood is like Pretty Little Liars all grown up. SUMMARY: When Lenora (Nora) Shaw gets an invitation to her former best friend's bridal shower, she is taken aback. She hasn't spoken to Clare for 10 years. As the interactions between the guests become increasingly awkward, Nora wants noth ing more than to go home. Then she finds strange footsteps in the snow, the maid of honor is on the verge of a breakdown and Nora knows someone is hiding something. When she wakes up in the hospital a few days later, she can't remember what hap pened or why she is covered in blood - because whatever is hiding in her memory is worse than she could ever imagine

In a dark dark wood by ruth ware has a black background with white branches? Scribbles? abstract mess? over most of the cover with the title and author in the lower right corner in black type

I selected Jade Dragon Mountain by – which sounds REALLY FREAKING COOL!

Mystery, Historical JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN Elsa Hart ****½ TOP PICK® This is an unbelievable first historical mystery. I can only hope it is the beginning of an ongoing new series. The writing is lyrically beautiful. Intricate plotting leads to an ending that is perfect and surprising. The history is fascinating and reveals the world, its atmosphere and the culture of a relatively unknown Chinese period. Li Du is a enchanting character, and his partner in solving the mystery, Hamza, adds irresistible charm. SUMMARY: Set in 1708 on the border between China and Tibet, Li Du had beenan imperial librarian until he was sent into exile by the emperor. He has roamed China since, and now he has arrived on the border of Tibet. To his dismay, he finds his cousin, the magistrate and the emperor are coming to command an eclipse of the sun. Then an elderly Jesuit astronomer who has come for the ceremony is murdered. The magistrate is frantic to clear up any possible scandal betore the emperor comes and commands Li Du to find the murderer. In a city on edge, rumors fly and intrigue grows.

An illustration in a historical Chinese style with a picture of a tower and a house set among trees alongside a mountain

This sounds SO neat and it’s in KU, should you be interested like I am.

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

I selected Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho, a book that I read when it came out, and we both agree with this review:

Cho weaves drama and I humor together seamlessly in this tale of a magic- drenched Napoleonic-era Britain. Zacharias is an endearingly resolute figure, but it is Prunella who takes center stage; Zacharias may have vision, but bold Prunella has drive and an endearing ruthlessness. Cho's comic jazz-age romance, The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo, proved Cho as a talented author. Her fantasy collection, Spirits Abroad, revealed that she was also a skilled fantasist. Sorcerer to the Crown establishes Cho as a superior novelist of note. SUMMARY: Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal, is a man with power over - but no respect from - his fellow mages in the United Kingdom's Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers. In part this is be cause he is unusually young for the position, but it is more because the prejudices of Georgian Britain prevent the English mages from accepting any so overtly African-featured man as one of their own, combined with the widespread suspicion that Zacharias won the Sorcerer Royal's staff by murdering the previous Sorcerer Royal, Sir Stephen Wythe, Zacharias' own mentor. Nevertheless Zacharias must wrestle with the thorny problem of England's dwindling magical resources. Orphan Prunella Gentleman's Indian an-

cestry and her sex mark her as eternally subordinate - or so those around her kid themselves. In a society where magic is off-limits to gentlewomen, Prunella is a gifted but unacknowledged mage Zacharias is one of the few who is able to accept Prunella's potential; together they can transform British sorcery.

An image of a red dragon against a red background with the title in gold across the middle

This issue is full of books that freaking ruled.

Amanda picked Speak Easy by Catherine M. Valente ( A | BN | K | AB ):

Valente's Prohibition-era spin on the classic story of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is thoroughly eerie and enchanting. She knocks it out of the park on both style and substance. Pairing an evocative rapid-fire narrative patter - perfectly suited to the 1920s backdrop - with the dreamy surreality of the Artemisia hotel, this fresh fairytale gets under your skin quicker than Zelda Fair's black-market booze. SUMMARY: It's 1924 and there's a seductive and strange Manhattan hotel that runs all the way through the world. On 72nd Street, all manner of jazz musi cians, showgirls, actors, ballplayers, writers and some less-than-savory folk call the glamorous Artemisia home. Enigmatic immortal Al runs the show, and he's got plenty of players to choose from. Up in room 1550, Zelda Fair is searching for her true talent - her Goods - but what she ends up finding is a mysterious door that takes her straight down into Artemisia's dark underworld. Hot on her heels is Frankie Key, a bellhop who's got a passion for writing dime-store crime novels .. when he isn't pining for Zelda, that is.

an art deco style illustration of a keyhole and inside the keyhole is a woman with short hair, a hotel bellhop, elevator buttons and a bird in the background

Look at that cover. Gorgeous!

Romantic Suspense

I picked Wicked Lies by Lora Leigh ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) – what is this doing in suspense, and WHY is the heat rating “HOT” instead of the top level, SCORCHER? We do not know.

Leigh lives up to her reputation for writing raw, passionate scenes that have readers blushing and fanning their faces. The rugged hero and the smart and mysterious beauty have a dynamic that keeps the pages turning at a fast rate. The Men of Summer series contin-ves to captivate. SUMMARY: Rough-and-ready ex-Navy SEAL Jazz Lancing has a reputation for being able to have any woman he wants - except for one. Annie, the naive schoolteacher, spurns him because she's keeping a secret more important than her sexual temptation. Although Jazz knows Annie's not who she claims to be, he still wants to trust her. Unbeknownst to him, Annie has craved him for years, longing for him to save her from her demons. Sharing her secret with Jazz could put them both in danger, and it's a chance she isn't sure she wants to take.

Wicked lies with the authors name in pink and the title in yellow with a black and white photograph of two people's faces close together the woman he looking at the man's chin and her hand is on his chin like sh'es trying to spot a pimple or something

Remember when a lot of the erotic romances had very shiny people in black and white photographs on the front? Another review with phrases I want to ban: “turning the pages” “blushing,” etc.

Amanda selected Forsaken by Lisa Renee Jones ( A | BN | K | AB ):

This first-person narrative told from Chad's POV gives a glimpse at the day his family was torn apart by the greedy men involved with the Consortium, then jumps ahead to his current captivity, escape and plan to get his sister. Chad is a hardened man determined to keep the mysterious energy cylinder away from Sheridan, which provides suspenseful elements. Yet despite being betrayed by a woman once before, he eventually falls for Gia, which leads to romance. Both elements are riveting and well-done, but at times the plot seems to be weighed down by too many secrets coiling into one big ball of suspicion. SUMMARY: Amy Bensen's brother Chad thought he had a plan to sever ties with Sheridan Scott without turning over the valuable cylinder he was hired to find, but everything changed when his family was killed in an explosion that left his sister on the run. He's been trying to keep her safe ever since, which includes

keeping silent when captured by Sheri dan's men. When he's rescued by Gia Hudson, trust seems out of the ques-tion, until necessity forces them to work together. Gia has plenty of secrets, yet lack of trust doesn't stop her from falling for Chad.When he locates Amy and her fiancé Liam, they create a plan to protect the cylinder and end the game

A close photograph of a blonde white man with his hands in his hair looking down probably at his crotch because that's what cover models do. There's some shattered glass between his elbows

So! Many! Chaotic! Details! With no explanation! Cylinder? Consortium? And Chad!

Can’t forget Chad.

Also: Lisa Renee Jones gets “SCORCHER” while Lora Leigh is merely “HOT?”

As if!

Contemporary

Amanda selected Lead Me Not by Ann Gallagher:

TWO STARS This Christian m/m romance contains a lot of bible talk and poses one too many questions for readers, which leads to confusion. Gallagher doesn't give us a chance to appreciate the slow-moving romance between Isaac and Colton because they're too busy deciphering what the main focus of the storyline is.It's quite boring most of the time, and emotionally draining. SUMMARY: Isaac Morris' sister wants to make a documentary about homosexual- ity to prove her point inar is a choice. Isaac "chooses to be gay as an example for his nephew, who is just discovering who he is. But Isaac gets bullied and beat up. Thankfully, Colton Roberts, the kindhearted bartender, saves Isaac andwants nothing more than to just care for him. Colton, a devout Christian, was abandoned by his own parents because of his sexual preterence, so he teaches Isaac to be strong and explains the scriptures in order to restore his faith. In the process, Isaac finds himself falling for Colton. Will he let love win and follow his heart, or walk away?

Boring AND emotionally draining? Egads.

Also, we were wondering why this book wasn’t in the Inspirational section, given that the description and copy lead us to believe there’s a high JBV (Jesus By Volume™).

Lead Me Not by Ann Gallagher has a picture of two white men one in a vest and tie and another in a dark shirt with protesters behind them

Paranormal and Urban Fantasy

Amanda picked Even Vampires Get the Blues by ABSOLUTE TREASURE Sandra Hill ( A | BN | K | G | AB ):

Sixth in the Deadly Angels series, Even Vampires Get the Blues is entertaining, solid and consistent in its storytelling. Fans of the Vampire Viking Angels series will be pleased. However, the

formula of same story/different characters can wear thin this far into the series. Still sexy, still rough and rugged manly men, still fighting the evil Lucip-ires and keeping the beautiful human safe, this one can be comforting even in its predictability. SUMMARY: Harek Sigurdsson, current vampire angel and former Norseman, was exiled to Siberia. Things rapidly change as his search for evil Lucipires puts him in the path of Camille Dumaine, a human who attracts him with her raw sexual energy - which can only mean she's the mate Harek has been dreaming of. Nicknamed "Camo" for her uncanny ability to go unnoticed in a crowd, she finds herself the target of Harek, the security expert hired to bring down a group of international kidnappers. When Harek proclaims her to be his "destiny," she's a little concerned, especially when the sexiest man she's ever met turns out to be a vampire.

Vampire Angel Vikings! LUCIPIRES. Sandra Hill is a treasure and we won’t hear otherwise.

And check out this cover:

A white man with a stern expression wearing a tux that's open at the chest over a very muscled abdomen with GIANT fluffy feathered white wings behind him

Mortgage refi from the neck up, vampire viking angel below.

THE WINGS.

The TUX.

Everything about this series gives Amanda joy.

Series

SO MANY COWBOYS, y’all.

I selected Coming Home to a Cowboy by Sheri WhiteFeather ( A | BN | K | AB ):

COMING HOME TO A COWBOY (3) by Sheri WhiteFeather: Ten years ago, loner horse trainer Kade Quinn unknowingly became a father. Upon meeting his son, he's instantly a proud papa - and desiring Bridget Wells all over again. Because Bridget's father had abandoned her, she's kept her son's parentage under wraps until now. But now that Kade is in the picture she fears the heartbreak that might come along with it. Building trust and overcoming painful pasts are priorities for this couple. The Victorian practice of floriography and the hero's fascination with old-time Hollywood add to the wistful feel. The family trip to California, little boy co-star and the marriage proposal inspire, but the unprotected sex scene sends the wrong message.

boy co-star and the marriage proposal inspire, but the unprotected sex scene sends the wrong message.

Floriography and unprotected sex in one book!

Amanda selected Her Favorite Cowboy, by Mary Leo:

HER FAVORITE COWBOY (3) by Mary Leo: After his divorce, Gage Remington de cides to reconcile with his rancher grand-father. He drives his grandfather to a convention revolving around author Zane Grey, where he meets gorgeous doctor Cori Parker. As circumstances bring them together, Gage finds himself desiring Cori. However, he's promised his grandfather he'd keep his distance from the single mother. Cori is also attracted to Gage, but when she finds out about his background, she knows she could never be with a man like him. Though the characters are somewhat stereotypi-cal, Leo does a splendid job weaving a heartfelt romance. The convention setting is different and highly interesting

A white man in a black cowboy hat and jeans pictured against a historical western town with a big ol mountain in the background

Gage Remington. Now that is a cowboy name. And a fancon!

Erotica

Amanda selected Pure Abandon by Jeannine Colette ( A | BN ):

From the tone of the narration, the protagonist comes across as a whiner. At the same time, much of the narrative sounds as though it were written in the '80s: Kat applies "war paint" before commuting to work, she wants to "have it all" and she's hoping to break through the "glass ceiling" of equal pay in New York City. With none of the characters, including the husband and the boss, fully fleshed out, readers may want to abandon this novel. SUMMARY: Kathryn Grayson, a stay-at home mom, is ready to re-enter the workforce. When a former coworker gets her a position in a Manhattan media agency, Kat takes it. When she meets Alexander Asher, a wealthy playboy who owns the agency, inappropriate sparks fly. Office gossip fuels a rivalry that leaves Kat feeling overwhelmed, while the arrival of Kat's mother brings news of a cousin's doomed marriage. Before long, Kat questions her own situation. Her husband is often late coming home from his law firm and a perky blonde seems to know baby Jackson too well. When Asher takes Kat along on a business trip, boundaries are tested

“…the protagonist comes across as a whiner,” and “readers may want to abandon this novel?”

Why two stars? YOU HAVE A ONE STAR OPTION?

Pure abandon has a picture of a headless couple embracing he has no shirt she's wearing some drapey crop top and a pink washed city scape beneath

And I selected Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren ( A | BN | K | G | AB ):

Finally! The third in Lauren's Wild Seasons series features the series' most anficipated couple: quiet Lola and sexy Aussie nerd Oliver. The tension is thick between these two, and nobody writes sexual tension like Lauren. A geeky friends-to-lovers romance, the established bond between Lola and Oliver makes their chemistry explosive. SUMMARY: Introverted comic book writer Lola has skyrocketed to stardom after her bestselling graphic novel is optioned for film. When producers start altering her personal story, she takes comfort in the arms of her patient, understanding best friend: nerdy comic store owner Oliver. The two eloped in Vegas months ago and never consummated their now-annulled marriage. But while neither is forward enough to make the first move, their end. less flirting and late nights can only lead to the inevitable.

Dark Wild NIght - a black and white photograph of a man from the chin down in a tshirt and jeans with a blue background with the title and author in black and white

 

Look at CLo chilling in Erotic Romance!!

Amanda read this whole series and loved it. She ranks them in the episode, in fact.

Those are the reviews from September 2015! Our next episode will examine the advertisements and features in this issue, and that’ll air on September 20. Lots of ebooks; expect Scriptina.

And remember, if you join the Patreon, you’ll get access to the entire issue as a PDF.

What do you think? Do you remember where you were in September 2015? Do you remember any of these books?

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  1. Stefka says:
    September 6, 2024 at 8:41 am

    Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart – YES, it’s wonderful! (And the start of a series!) Surprised to see that it was reviewed in RT.

  2. Elham says:
    September 6, 2024 at 11:25 am

    Is it this dog?

    If so, it looks like it’s @BestBoyFrank, maybe?

    I’m running late for work so not sure if I did the link right. In case I didn’t, I copy pasted the URL below

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C7Wkv0TvA97/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

  3. SB Sarah says:
    September 6, 2024 at 11:31 am

    OOOOH – Maybe!!!

  4. Amanda says:
    September 6, 2024 at 12:37 pm

    @Elham: I think Frank is too young! This dog on the cover is at least 9+.

    However, your link did lead me to the dog’s owner who had over Cavs and posted about the cover. Her name is Louisa!! https://www.instagram.com/p/5IYCfElGyu/

  5. Elham says:
    September 6, 2024 at 1:23 pm

    I see I did indeed not do the link correctly. Sorry about that. But the information seems to have borne fruit anyway.

    Thank you, and good work, Amanda!

  6. SusanE says:
    September 6, 2024 at 3:14 pm

    I am very impressed by the shiny clean cowboy clothes. No ranch dust even on the hats or jeans!

  7. MarciaS says:
    September 6, 2024 at 4:03 pm

    Speaking of Sandra Hill… A lot of her books are $1.99 on Amazon right now. I have several of her eBooks languishing in my TBR pile. I need to move them up.

  8. Kareni says:
    September 6, 2024 at 4:24 pm

    Wasn’t 2015 just a day or two ago? Thanks for this blast from the past (and that’s a phrase you probably don’t want to see in a book blurb either)!

  9. Julia aka mizzelle says:
    September 6, 2024 at 5:11 pm

    As someone that only really started reading romance in 2010 or so, it was wild seeing so many authors/titles I remember. I think this was the year of New York RWA when I went to the literacy signing.

  10. HeatherS says:
    September 7, 2024 at 12:12 am

    I did, in fact, read “Lead Me Not”. It would fit into the inspirational category due to Jesus By Volume, for sure, except for the fact that it’s a gay romance and any inspie reader would want the MC having turned away from his gayness before the story starts and be in search of a happy hetero home life + Jesus. It’s definitely rather dated now and heavy handed on the evangelical stuff.

    I’d say more, but don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

  11. Carrie A says:
    September 7, 2024 at 11:03 am

    This was so much fun! I added some of these audio books to my Hoopla and Libby lists! They Hank you, Sarah and Amanda!

  12. Kris Bock says:
    September 8, 2024 at 11:44 pm

    In Speak Easy, the hotel is run by the immortal Al, but with all the AI news lately, it got me thinking of a hotel run by immortal AI… Now that would be creepy!

  13. SB Sarah says:
    September 9, 2024 at 10:14 am

    I add SO MANY books to my Hoopla wish list when I edit these. It’s a serious problem.

    And @Kris – an immortal AI hotelier? I am very intrigued at how a 2015 AI would be portrayed vs right now.

    I’m so happy y’all liked this one!

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