I loved 80% of this book. I loved that Dahl took a risk with a character who wasn’t what she seemed, who was a walking con artist, who fooled people who adored her, but still allowed that character to be likeable and brave and clever. I loved that Dahl played with the idea of identity in a society where one’s status is largely based on fiat, where if everyone agrees you are who you say … Continue reading A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl →
Thanks to PamG for sending in this Rec League: I have a slightly weird and persnickety request for the Rec League, but I’m having trouble framing it clearly. Let’s call it sex adjacent hilarity. Every so often I come across a romance in which the love scenes may have variable heat levels, but are both engaging and funny. The result is a hybrid of giggle and sigh, with an occasional side of energetic face fanning. … Continue reading The Rec League: Silly & Sexy →
Victoria Helen Stone has a new book out! The Last One Home is a dual-timeline domestic thriller in the genre of “Earl Had to Die.” In this conversation, we discuss her moving from writing romance as Victoria Dahl to writing domestic suspense and thrillers, growing up in poverty, and the power of nostalgia. Then Victoria figures out a key reason why “Earl Had to Die” books about revenge are so very satisfying. There are some … Continue reading 451. More Earl Had to Die: Victoria Helen Stone’s The Last One Home →
This suggestions comes from Rebecca in the comments of our Submit Your Rec League post: Heroes and heroines with unsexy jobs- e.g. administrators, accountants, city clerk. No lawyer/doctor/architect/owner of charming small business. HR professionals fall in love too! Carrie: Both the upcoming A Princess for Christmas and Get a Life, Chloe Brown have heroes who are apartment building supervisors/maintenance workers and the hero of Take a Hint, Dani Brown is a security worker at a … Continue reading The Rec League: “Unsexy Jobs” →
Ringing in the New Year is full of wicked possibilities in this sexy novella from USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Dahl… Working over the holidays on a messy bank takeover in the middle of nowhere is bad enough for federal agent Elise Watson, but then she’s partnered with the traitorous Noah James. His highly irritating presence only reminds her of the day he stole her promotion out from under her…and of the drunken, ill-fated night before when … Continue reading Midnight Assignment →
We have a very interesting Rec League today from Lace: I only just discovered Olivia Waite’s Kissing Books column at the Seattle Review of Books – lots for me to read through. But my main suggestion is a Rec League topic inspired by a comment in her review of Talia Hibbert’s Mating the Huntress, from this post. Waite’s comment: “There’s a particular type of hero I’ve come to call the Sex Puppy: hot, cheerful, usually … Continue reading The Rec League: Sex Puppy →
This request came to us from author Dahlia Adler on Twitter! Dahlia is looking for romances with great white collar/blue collar pairings where the different career dynamics are explored well. Amanda: Do you think Rebel Hard would work with this? I haven’t quite finished it yet, but I remember the hero early on in the book mentioning how his blue collarness made him stand out at the party where he meets Nayna. Sarah: Definitely. One … Continue reading The Rec League: White Collar/Blue Collar →
Welcome to Lit Wicks! This is where we pair an author’s backlist with candles to really immerse yourself in the reading experience. All of the candles featured in these post are from Etsy, which means there is often worldwide shipping and that you’re supporting independent crafters and sellers. The Etsy candle rabbit hole is one I have gone down many times. One of my favorite types of heroes is the nature-loving hero. I’m not a … Continue reading Lit Wicks: Contemporary Outdoorsy Heroes →
A HOLLYWOOD HEARTS NOVELLA: A CHRISTMAS PARTY TO REMEMBER… Arabella ‘Bella’ Valenti has big dreams for the future. Thanks to her fashion designer cousin Ally, Bella has the right connections to become an event planner to the stars. She’s just landed her first job: a Christmas party for an actor notorious for playing the villain. Bennett Moss is nothing like Bella expects. For a start, he’s super nice and the last thing she wants to … Continue reading Heartstrings →
First: my apologies. In this recording, Victoria sounds terrific. I’m somewhere underwater, and predominantly on the right side. Egads. I’m not sure what I did wrong, but I apologize in advance. But hey, this conversation is so interesting because of what she has to say! Victoria Helen Stone, also known as romance author Victoria Dahl, has a new book out, Jane Doe . I read it in one sitting – it was terrifyingly good. Her heroine, … Continue reading 310. Heroine Sociopaths and Emotional Suspense: An Interview with Victoria Helen Stone →
This request comes from Sam. Thank you, Sam! It’s been a rough year for me work-wise, and my confidence has taken a bit of a beating. I’m trying to pick myself up for a better year next year, but I’d love some inspiration/encouragement from my favorite genre. As such, I’d really love to read some romances about ladies getting their groove back. I’m looking for heroines who are wary to be burned again to clarify … Continue reading The Rec League: Get Your Groove Back →
