For the past two weeks, my inbox has been bombarded with an unrelenting bonanza of Valentines-related content submissions from people I do not know. I received several link bait lists of 25-Things-That-Do-Things-Plus-Sex, a full week's worth of dating advice guest columns, and requests for line advertisements for dating sites, sexual health supplements, and a guide to surviving divorce. Valentine's Day, if you're at all related to the world of romance, is a very big day. … Continue reading Romance Novels and Valentine’s Day: Worth the Reminder →

Here in the northeastern US, we're getting ready for a big ol' blizzard, a Nor'easter that is likely to bring an epic dumpus of snow to New England. Here in the NY metro area, the forecasts range from 3-40+ inches (7-101cm). (Wow. Snow in cm is WAY more impressive!) So I've been preparing by making sure the crock pot is clean, the cars have gas, we have shovels and salt… and I have BOOKS TO READ. … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? →

I noticed this weird thing when I was updating my own bio (something you should probably do at the start of every calendar year, just to make sure it's up to date and doesn't talk about upcoming books that came out in October 2011, not that I am guilty of that… no, not at all): most author biographies start with geography.  Is it me, or is that a little bizarre? I mean, I'm guilty of … Continue reading Biography Geography: WTF? →

So many of us remember our first romance novel, and many more of us received (or stole) that novel from a relative. Passing down a much-loved book, romance or no, is something pretty common. Last weekend, I shared The Princess Bride with my kids for the first time. It's 25 years old (gosh, I'm ancient) and it's still 90 minutes of movie awesome. I think my husband and I could quote most if not all … Continue reading Movies that Get Passed Down →

Once again, it's holiday travel time. With Christmas Eve and Christmas Day falling on a Monday and Tuesday respectively, I'm betting there's a whole lot of moving around going on between yesterday and today – and waiting. Always waiting!  Which would mean that we're carrying books with us, right? I mean, when are we NOT carrying a book?  I'm currently between books and trying to figure out what to read next. I took a break … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? More Traveling Edition! →

I've been researching series orders and connected books, and have noticed a few times the author on GoodReads or elsewhere giving her own book five stars. I'll be honest: I pretty much always roll my eyes when I see an author giving each of their books a five star rating, not the least of which because it's disingenuous. But I also ask myself (every time I see this happening), would I give my own books … Continue reading Giving Five Stars →

Recently, after reviewing a book I finished only because I wanted to know how it ended, we discussed the term we would use to describe a book we're finishing not out of compulsion but due to morbid or frustrated curiosity.  Thinking about why I finish books and how I feel about them while I'm reading made me realize some things about how I grade books. In many cases, I begin identifying the grade while I'm … Continue reading Reading Compulsion →

If you're in the US, it's a four-day weekend, unless you're in the US AND located in western Pennsylvania, where I grew up. Then you might also have Monday off because it's the first day of deer season. I had off school when I was a kid, anyway, and was all afronted when I had to go to work the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. Don't you people know it's the first day of deer hunting … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? Holiday Long Weekend Edition (If You’re, You Know, in the US) →

As I mentioned in my review of A Stolen Season, I went from reading because I was convinced I was missing the Magic Thing that had created positive reviews for this book, to reading because I just had to find out how the plot was resolved. As I said on Twitter, there's almost an annoyed affection I feel for a book that I really dislike but am compelled to finish. I just had to know … Continue reading Compelled to Finish a Book You’re Not Enjoying: What do You Call That? →

At last week's book club chat for What I Did for a Duke, one of the participants who went by the excellent name of 'CutMyTeethonKleypas' said that she was looking forward to Julie Anne Long's next book, A Notorious Countess Confesses  ( A | BN | K | S | iB ). That book releases on 30 October (today!) and 'CutMyTeethonKleypas' said during the chat:  To which I said, “That is brilliant and why didn't I EVER think … Continue reading Reading Excuses →