Dilemma in Yellow Silk by Lynne Connolly is 99c as a Kindle Daily Deal! This is book five in the Emperors of London series and all the previous books are priced at $3.99 or less. This book has all sorts of catnip – false identity, some road trip elements, friends to lovers. However, some readers felt the romance started our rather promising and just lost momentum. It has a 4.2-star rating on Goodreads.
Suddenly One Summer by Julie James is $1.99! James is a contemporary romance favorite around here and this book made it to the quarter-finals in this year’s DABWAHA Tournament. Readers warn that though they loved the ending, they warn it’s not your typical romantic way to end a story (no clue what this means, but saw several people commenting on it). Many also loved the heroine. It has a 3.8-star rating on Goodreads.
The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale is 99c at most vendors, though $1.99 at All Romance! This is a historical romance that’s part of Rodale’s “Bad Boys & Wallflowers” series. The hero and heroine have a pretend engagement, and you know those always work out the way the characters intend. Elyse reviewed the book and wound up giving it a C-:
I liked how Blake and Emma finally come together in the end, but getting there was a little rocky. The Wicked Wallflower wasn’t a bad book by any means, but with so many Regencies out there, it failed to stand out from the rest of the pack.
Marian sent me an email that began: One thing I love about the new site design is that I discovered all the rants. That reminded me I’d written something similar, so I’ve attached my rant. The book was one of those you’d like to throw to the floor and jump up and down on, except for it being library property. So all you can do is write about it, and maybe share with someone who’ll … Continue reading Book Rant: Breathless by Anne Stuart Made Marian Angry
Of the four category books that I have kept over the years – through numerous moves and countless reassessing of whether to keep this book or that – two of them were written by Anne Stuart. Somehow, I lost track of her over the years, so I was thrilled when I discovered the Ice series. I power-housed through those books! Yeah, the heroes are Alpha to a near-sociopathic degree. Yeah, more than one of them … Continue reading Closer by Jo Leigh and Night of the Phantom by Anne Stuart: A Guest Review by Test Driver Tina
This HaBO request comes from Kebra, who is looking for this romance: I read a book in the 90s that I would swear was written by Anne Stuart (maybe) but I can’t remember the title. Here’s what I know: The hero’s name is Mitch and he’s a D.A. He’s also deaf in one ear – I think it was a chigger or some such disgusting creature. The heroine’s father is on trial for financial fraud. … Continue reading HaBO: Mitch Convicted Her Dad
This is a purely selfish post inspired by a lot of squeeing I’ve been doing with my fellow reviewers over the spooky season. Which books speak to your inner (or outer) goth, whether it appeals to your 16-year-old self just going through a phase or your adult witchy aesthetic? Amanda: Obviously Gideon the Ninth and Wicked Saints. Elyse: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake Claudia: I’m going to be a little wide of the mark … Continue reading The Rec League: Books for Your Inner Goth
Is it nearly the end of October already? I feel like we were just doing Whatcha Reading last week! We hope all of you have been enjoying some quality reading time this month, and we wish we were sorry about the damage these comments are about to do to your TBR. Sarah: I’m nearly done with my fall window cross stitch, so I finished the audiobook of A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen two days … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? October 2018 Edition
I’m 90% sure that this wasn’t a request so much as an idea brought about by the hero on the cover of Pretty Face by Lucy Parker, where I took it upon myself to schedule a Rec League for all those “silver fox” heroes. See also Paul Mason, the “fashion Santa,” who made headlines a couple Christmases ago. These romances don’t necessarily have to include age differences. All they need is a hero who doesn’t mind showing … Continue reading The Rec League: Silver Foxes
This Rec League request spawned a bit of a debate a SBTB HQ. Before we get to our thoughts, here’s the request from Jacqui: I really want to read a good noir detective book with a romance in it (preferably between the detective and someone else). Penn (Penelope) Williamson’s Mortal Sins comes to mind. Am not fussy about the setting or time period. A good noir murder mystery rather than a normal crime book. Not … Continue reading The Rec League: Noir/Murder Mystery Romance
Oh, buddy. I have a feeling this request is going to generate a lot of opinions and double some TBRs. Reader Arielibra was inspired by our Heyer birthday sale post to find some alpha heroes in historical. Here is her email: Could we have a Rec League on alphas? The comments from the Heyer-birthday post have been haunting me, especially Pam Shropshire’s point that Avon is “the definitive alpha.” *sighs, fans self* Yes, yes he … Continue reading The Rec League: Historical Alphas
