My review takes a quasi-newspaper article type format, with each section being worth a point. Who/Why Tensley Tanner-Starbrook is a (relatively) successful gal who works for her (domineering bitch of a) mom. Tensley (still) harbors a deep love for high school boyfriend, Max Hunter, and a violent hatred of the gal who (seemed) to have stolen him, Rhonda-the-Skank (it’s got a ring to it, right?). Tensley and Max split after Ten caught him locking lips … Continue reading Be Careful What You Kiss For by Jane Lynne Daniels→
Edmonia Lewis (c. 1844 – sometime after 1909) came from a penniless family, was orphaned at nine, was African American and Native American, and stood only four feet tall. This did not stop her from achieving international fame as a sculptor. Lewis had an African-Haitian father and a mother who was African American and Mississauga (a branch of the Chippewa people). Her mother was a weaver. She spent her early life in New York State. … Continue reading Kickass Women in History: Edmonia Lewis→
When Sarah mentioned k-dramas and the guest squee on Healer, my heart seized up for a brief moment. Ya’ll, there was a period of time where I lived for k-dramas, and just Asian dramas in general. This was pre-Netflix boom, so binge watching them was hard, though there were a few helpful sites for those wanting to watch and who didn’t speak the language. Some series I loved so much that I actually bought them. … Continue reading So You Wanna Watch Some K-Dramas?→
This review contains spoilers. Some I have tried to hide, and others will be revealed. You have been warned. I haven’t read the previous books in this trilogy (this being the third of the Private Justice series), but I have read books by the author before. I really enjoyed the author’s Heroes of Quantico trilogy, to which there was a nice reference to the RITA-Winning Award third book of that trilogy: In Harm’s Way. I don’t … Continue reading Deceived by Irene Hannon→
Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase is $1.99 right now. This is book 1 of the Fallen Women series, and features a weary and somewhat oversexed spy who is sent to retrieve some letters from a courtesan. The letters belonged to her former husband, and she has no interest in the hero – until she does have interest in the hero. Readers who liked it really liked the heroine, and that the story is set in Venice.
Continuing our conversation from last week’s podcast, Jaye Wells and Sarah discuss Jaye’s MFA program, her works in progress, what happens when urban fantasy writers combine worlds, and the future of urban fantasy. Then Sarah tackles some listener email about choosing what to review on a blog, finding new releases, and finding the books you most want to read once you’ve identified your reading catnip.
Re Jane is supposed to be a modern re-telling of Jane Eyre. It changes the plot considerably, but that’s to be expected. Unfortunately it also loses the entire point of Jane Eyre, which is that the main character is moral and has a sense of self that anchors her. While this retelling at least remembers that Jane’s self-respect is more important than romance, it has an incredibly selfish, self-centered heroine. The story is not a … Continue reading Re Jane by Patricia Park→
Yarn is coming. It’s time for another knitting pattern inspired by the badass women of Game of Thrones. This time it’s Ygritte, the Wildling Jon Snow meets beyond the wall. After all the violence and awful that’s been on Game of Thrones of late, we definitely need something fuzzy and soothing, right? Oh, yes, all the fuzzy and soothing, for everyone. Of course, Ygritte wouldn’t actually have time to knit herself because she’s busy doing stuff … Continue reading Knitting Pattern: Ygritte Cowl/Necklace→
This summer is the Summer of Love at NPR Books – all summer, they’ll be celebrating and highlighting romances, and they’d like to know your favorites! We’re bringing back our famous summer reader poll this year, and as the days get longer (and the nights get hotter), we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate romance. Whether you love historicals, paranormals, inspirationals, young adult, Amish, romantic suspense, contemporaries (or, like some people around here, you’d … Continue reading It’s the Summer of Love at NPR Books!→
NB: Patty Blount and I are both Members of LIRW chapter 160. Here’s the thing. As a general rule, I love to pull interesting threads out of books when I review. It’s wonderful to be able to talk about the books I adore through the lens of the world I live in. Some Boys is the kind of book that defeats that reviewing technique, mostly because the entire book is wonderfully crafted around an issue. … Continue reading Some Boys by Patty Blount→
RECOMMENDED: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor is $2.99! This is a YA fantasy with some romantic elements, and it’s the first in a series. I’ve heard so many good things about this book, and several friends compared it to a fairy tale. Admittedly, it’s a tad confusing at the start, trying to get your footing in the story. It has a 4-star rating on Goodreads.
