To those of you that have already read The Rook, rejoice, for the sequel, Stiletto, is finally here. For those who haven’t read The Rook, OMG, I’m so jealous, you get to read it for the first time, and unlike those of us who read The Rook in 2012, you get to read the sequel right away. The Rook and Stiletto are fantasy novels that take place in modern Britain. They are not romances. However, … Continue reading Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley
This book, like the one I reviewed previously, is part of another series, but boy howdy am I happy to say that it’s the first one. Some iffy points stand out, but overall I enjoyed this book so, so much. Scott blends coming-of-age, political intrigue, high fantasy, and romantic themes into a coherent and compelling story—I finished this book in two days, mostly because pesky things like work got in the way of tearing through … Continue reading The Shattered Court by M. J. Scott
I love cookbooks. Even if I don’t plan to use them often, they seem like such pieces of art. I remember going through my grandmother’s collection on a weekly basis, just looking at the photos and daydreaming about making such fancy things. After I earned my Master’s degree in publishing, my dream jobs were to either work in publicity for a romance imprint or for a cookbook imprint. Kissing and food are my favorite things … Continue reading Cravings by Chrissy Teigen – With Giveaway!
If I had not signed up to review this book, I would never have thought about it critically (or at all). Unfortunately, I did, and there are…problems. Let’s get this straight: I love this story. Love. I just want to acknowledge that it is liable to enrage some folks, so let’s wade right into trouble. But first, so as not to have spoilers ahead of the jump, and also because I cannot refrain from referencing … Continue reading Tremaine’s True Love by Grace Burrowes
When I saw Grace Burrowes’ Tremaine’s True Love on the 2016 RITA review list, I grabbed it like a can of insect repellant in high bug season in the Northeast back-country. While I love a well written historical, until this review, I had never read anything by Burrowes. However, I had accidentally purchased a couple of her books a year ago when I was getting ready to write a 2015 RITA review of one of … Continue reading Tremaine’s True Love by Grace Burrowes
This was my first time reading Kimberly Kincaid, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book. Fire Me Up is a quick moving story about two passionate young people determined to follow through on their self-appointed paths of duty. The book held my attention and kept me wanting more – not to that crazy point where you try to hold the book with one hand while you squeeze the toothpaste onto … Continue reading Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid
As an ardent fan of Jane Eyre, I have read many literary adaptations of her story. I’ve read about a vampire slayer Janes (Jane Slayre) and Jane in space (Jenna Starborn) and Jane in the 1950s (The Flight of Gemma Hardy) and many more, and I’m usually disappointed. Jane Steele, however, was just about the most viciously satisfying thing in the history of ever. NB: book titles in this review are italicized while names are not. … Continue reading Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
Sometimes a book just makes me sit back and sigh a happy sigh. Only Beloved is one of those books. It left me in an unexpected and rare place of peacefulness. Every time I think about it I feel calm – not bored, not “meh,” not analytical, but truly, happily, peacefully calm. This book is the culmination of a series in which people learn to come to terms with trauma, and it’s a lovely, gentle … Continue reading Only Beloved by Mary Balogh
NB: Welcome to Flashback Friday! We’re taking it back to where Elyse’s Elizabeth Hoyt fangirling all began. She recently loved the latest Maiden Lane book, Duke of Sin, and it’s pretty awesome to revisit her thoughts on the very first romance in the Maiden Lane series. This post was originally published September 26, 2013. Oh my God, you guys. I think I’ve read my first crack book. The one that has some crazy going on and some plot elements … Continue reading Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt
Two months ago, I would have told you VERY VERY firmly that sports contemporaries were not my thing. Not at all. Now I have to say that they are, but the list of sports I’m into is very very VERY narrow- figure skating and uh, polo apparently. Look, there are horses and there are white pants. I’m a simple girl. This is the first book in a series presented by Nacho Figueras, one of the … Continue reading Nacho Figueras Presents: High Season by Jessica Whitman
I don’t usually read small town romances—though Nicholas Sparks’ stuff will call to me every once in a sick-in-bed while. Yeah, I’m more of an international beach paradise or big city setting kinda girl. But when I want cozy comfort…. Ironically, the cover of Dances Under the Harvest Moon is what caught me, as the couple totally resembled Sandra Bullock (Love!) and Harry Connick Jr. (Yum!) from Hope Floats. And flu or not, sometimes you’re in … Continue reading Dances Under the Harvest Moon by Joanne Rock
