(TW: pregnancy loss/premature birth) His Lost-and-Found Bride was my first foray into the world of the Harlequin Romance line. I’m fairly picky about my categories, as I’ve been disappointed in the past by the Presents line. I tend to like Blaze though, so was hoping for the best. This was certainly different from Blaze – sexy times happen behind the curtain, if you will – but I very much enjoyed it. Getting enough story into a … Continue reading His Lost-and-Found Bride by Scarlet Wilson →
The issue with Sweetest Scoundrel is that while it is well-written and has generally likeable characters who behave honorably, it was colossally boring. Eve Dinwoody is a quiet person with an unattractive face who enjoys being alone. She is prim and proper and she paints miniatures. Her half brother asks her to oversee an investment he’s made, so she ends up crossing paths with Asa Makepeace, the roguish proprietor of Harte’s Folly – a pleasure … Continue reading Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt →
SB Sarah: This rant/review/analysis comes from Vedrana, who found a 2008 BBC movie about Mills & Boon, and watched it online. It would be an understatement to say she found it frustrating. Dear Smart Bitches, I’m a listener from Australia, and I know how the Bitchery likes to pick apart representations of the romance genre, its authors and its readers in the media, so I was wondering whether anyone else had seen Consuming Passions: 100 … Continue reading Guest Rant: BBC and 100 Years of Mills & Boon →
NB: We have two reviews for Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold. One from Carrie and one from RevMelinda. Their reviews are similar but distinct in how they react to the major revelations that take place in this story. We’re running them both, but in order to keep the discussion in one place, we’re closing comments on one and directing readers to the other – which is annoying, so we ask … Continue reading Guest Review: Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold →
I received this email from Linda recently, and asked if I could run it as a guest rant. Linda mentions some specific books, cover copy, and plot points for romances she’s read that inspired this rant. If you’re a fan of these authors, or you love these particular books, we understand that using them as examples might tick you off. The point isn’t the examples; the examples highlight for Linda a larger point that’s been … Continue reading Guest Rant: Slut Shaming in Romance →
Lara emailed me about a romantic suspense that was, for her, the perfect blend of both the romance and the suspense, and she wanted to make sure more people knew about. So, behold: guest squee! A few weeks ago I did a “Library Lucky Dip:” I grab books, usually about seven, at random off the shelves. I don’t look at the covers or read the blurbs. I’m in and out of that library in minutes. … Continue reading Girl Missing by Tess Gerritsen →
SW: This review is from Lara, who so loved The Diabolical Miss Hyde, she couldn’t wait to read the sequel. Because she discovered the series here (yay!) she asked to guest review The Devious Dr. Jekyll for us. Welcome, Lara! After reading Elyse’s review of the first book in Viola Carr’s Electric Empire series, I broke my no-impulse-buying rule and bought The Diabolical Miss Hyde. I loved it. LOVED IT! I soon began a countdown to the … Continue reading The Devious Dr. Jekyll by Viola Carr →
EN: Reader Lara was so taken with the cozy mystery, Trouble in Mudbug, that she wanted to share the joy with all of you! Right now, the book is currently free at most online vendors, with the exception of Barnes & Noble and All Romance. The first book in Jana DeLeon’s Ghost-in-Law series, Trouble in Mudbug is currently free! FREE! As I am both partial to a cosy mystery/romance led by a woman sleuth and perpetually broke, … Continue reading Guest Review: Trouble in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon →
I was (un)fortunate enough to have had a day off sick and bought some ex-rental movies from the video place that week, and two of them were Harlequin books in movie format. Oh. My. God. Late nineties contemporary Harlequin in visual form was precisely as bad as you think it was. Complete with farcical comedy in the middle of what was probably supposed to be a suspenseful build-up and a WTF ending, it was everything … Continue reading Harlequin Films: Recipe for Revenge – A Guest Review from Erin →
I know that Fool Me Twice is an A read for me, but there isn’t any one overwhelming reason. I read it for the second time for this review, remembering that I’d enjoyed it the first time, but not recalling a whole lot of detail. I expect that I’ll read it again someday, and that is definitely a factor in my A grade. Duran doesn’t seem to cover any startling new ground in this historical, … Continue reading Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran →
[NB: Trigger warning for rape and assault. – SW] This is a sweet spin on the small town romance, the eighth book in a so far nine book series. The book is a prequel about the founding of the town of Harmony. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but had no trouble following the action and understanding the characters in the context of the book. I assume that there … Continue reading A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas →
