Lone Heart Pass is a sweet book that has too many stories going on and while by the end many of them are resolved, at the end, I felt unsatisfied. This is the first Jodi Thomas that I’ve read and I chose it because I’ve been wanting to read a western romance and she seems to be a reliable author. I don’t think I’d read another. As this book has so many plots in it, I’m … Continue reading Lone Heart Pass by Jodi Thomas
I selected this book to expand my literary repertoire – I am admittedly not the target audience for a contemporary set on a ranch in Texas. However, the premise seemed interesting, and it stands alone, even as part of a series. But I had so many issues with this book that, despite the interesting set-up, I spent most of my time with this story shaking my head and muttering in irritation. The premise: First we … Continue reading Lone Heart Pass by Jodi Thomas
I was pretty excited to start reading Wanderlust. Roni Loren is an author I’ve been wanting to check out for a while–I know she has another series about sex therapists that sounds super interesting, and by all accounts H-O-T. I am also a sucker for a rock star book of any kind. Write about a hot guy who expresses his feelings through music, and I am probably going to be here for it. So when … Continue reading Wanderlust by Roni Loren
I think everybody who reads romance has one or twelve tropes that are not their cup of tea. For some it could be the unrequited love plot or the friends to lovers one. I only have two: spies and love triangles. Guess what? No James Bonds in this book. So, I was quite determined to start reading it. For me, love triangles have only two outcomes: a polyamory situation or some character gets hurt. The former is … Continue reading Tell Me How This Ends by Victoria De La O
So basically, this is your typical vows-never-to-love-again widower father meets ex-rodeo princess turned ex-famous movie star turned wheelchair-using recluse story. Unnecessarily complicated backstory aside, I had surprisingly high hopes for this book. I mean, how often do you actually find a book on Amazon with a 4.9 out of 5 rating–much less a series romance? Unfortunately, due to its lackluster plot and problematic main characters, the book didn’t even meet my relatively low expectations, much … Continue reading Back in the Saddle by Karen Templeton
NB: After gushing about RT17’s Bollywood Romance panel, we invited author Sonali Dev and guest poster Asha Ganesan to provide some recommendations for those who missed the panel. Award winning author, Sonali Dev, writes Bollywood-style love stories that let her explore issues faced by women around the world while still indulging her faith in a happily ever after. Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post and Kirkus Best Books lists. She won … Continue reading Bollywood Film Recommendations from Sonali Dev and Asha Ganesan
Cute but frustrating. Aubrey (Bree) Dunbar and Daniel (Danny) MacGregor were childhood sweethearts. With their parents living across the street from each other, it’s the idyllic hometown romance. After graduating high school they head off to college together, with Danny on a baseball scholarship. At the end of their Freshman year Danny flunks out and loses his scholarship. Danny’s way to solve the “what happens now?” problem is to enlist in the Army; unfortunately he … Continue reading Once and For All by Cheryl Etchison
I don’t normally read too much contemporary romance. I waded into the waters a few years ago and through blind luck managed to routinely pick novels featuring an overabundance of angst. And while I can certainly appreciate authors tackling modern issues, I was walking away from these novels more depressed then when I started. But when I read the summary of Off the Hook I was pretty confident this book wouldn’t fall into that category, … Continue reading Off the Hook by Laura Drewry
Taking place in a Highland setting a few years after the Rough Wooing, this is the middle story in a trilogy about young women possessed of mystical stone fragments and attendant powers. Innes Munro inherited one of these stones from her mother, and can, by the power of touch, though only with her hands, read the current thoughts and past of others. Innes accompanies her sister Ailein to the northern Highlands to attend Ailein’s wedding … Continue reading Taming the Highlander by May McGoldrick
When I first read the synopsis for Taming The Highlander by May McGoldrick I was very excited because it had so much of the catnip I enjoy in a romance novel, including a learned heroine, mystical stones and a tortured hero. Seeing it was an award nominee only whetted my appetite all the more. Once I started reading however, it became harder and harder to push through it. So many more intriguing books came my … Continue reading Taming the Highlander by May McGoldrick
A plucky heroine that can shoot a rat from a bazillion yards away and a duke who disappeared from society at age ten. What is not to love about this book? I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first book by Kelly Bowen. I pride myself on knowing what historical romance authors are out there, and somehow, until now, Ms. Bowen slipped by me. A Duke to Remember is a great reminder that Amazon reviews … Continue reading A Duke to Remember by Kelly Bowen
