A reader review blog { of genre fiction }
Romance
romance novel reviews
A Bunch of Harlequins, Part Two
Aug 26th
Here are some more books I read last month while I was neglecting the TBR Challenge.
Wedding Night with a Stranger by Anna Cleary. Harlequin Presents Extra, August 2010. Australian-born Ariadne was orphaned at a young age and taken in and raised by her older Greek aunt and uncle. After a scandal that included leaving a man at the altar, her uncle
A Bunch of Harlequins, Part One
Aug 18th
I’ve pretty much figured out that I fail at TBR 2010 Summer Edition. It’s not that I haven’t been reading, it’s just that I haven’t been reading anything with an eye to reviewing it. Some books I know I will review as soon as I start reading it and others are just too much work. I have a degree in English and since
The Sleeping Beauty, Mercedes Lackey
Jul 12th
The Sleeping Beauty is the latest in Lackey’s Five Hundred Kingdoms series. The Five Hundred Kingdoms are bound by The Tradition, a force that can and does manipulate people into various fairy tale roles, good and bad. In this instance, Princess Rosa’s mother, Queen Celeste died, leaving a grieving king who has spent years fighting
Nurse, Nanny…Bride!, Alison Roberts
Jun 24th
I’m writing about this book because I can’t get it out of my head since I read it a couple of weeks ago, but this isn’t a review. Nurse, Nanny …Bride! has one of the most ridiculous backstories I’ve ever read. It’s a Harlequin Medical Romance set in New Zealand. The hero is E.R. consultant Dr. Andrew Barrett, while the
Adam’s Fall, Sandra Brown [1988 Romance]
Jun 16th
Adam’s Fall, Sandra Brown [Fanfare 1994 Reprint, 208 pages] is an early romance that actually reads well today outside of the datedness that is inherent in contemporary romance novels. It’s a real shame that this book isn’t available in ebook as I think it would do well. Sandra Brown is a favorite author of mine. I tend to
Good Girl or Gold Digger?, Kate Hardy
May 29th
The title, Good Girl or Gold Digger?, caught my eye, and since it’s by Kate Hardy, into the cart it went. It’s not the standard HP descriptive title, à la The Billionaire’s Virgin Mistress Secretary, so I noticed it even more. How can you not want to know if she’s a good girl or a gold digger? Maybe
The Prodigal’s Return, Anna DeStefano
May 19th
After many mishaps that involved missing books and eye-rolling storylines, I have reviewed The Prodigal’s Return (HSR1358) by Anna DeStefano.
Eight years ago on prom night, 16 year-old Jennifer Gardner tried to stop Bobby, her boyfriend’s best friend, from driving drunk. She took his keys and he tried to kiss her, just in time for
Scandalizing the Ton, Diane Gaston {Guest Review}
Mar 17th
This month, I chose Scandalizing the Ton by Diana Gaston, an author I have read and enjoyed before. Events from a previous book, The Vanishing Viscountess set up the plot, but it’s not necessary to have read it as an early explanation is made.
Lydia, Lady Wexin is very recently widowed and due to the scandalous circumstances surrounding her
The Black Duke’s Prize, Suzanne Enoch
Feb 24th
Many readers have probably never even heard of this hard to find, out of print title, THE BLACK DUKE’S PRIZE by Suzanne Enoch. You can read the first chapter here.
THE BLACK DUKE’S PRIZE is a slim regency paperback dated 1995 with a teasing excerpt that I read online many years ago that made me go hunt for
Ain’t Misbehaving, Jeanne Grant
Feb 17th
Contemporary romance writer, Jennifer Greene, who currently writes for Harlequin (last I checked), wrote quite a few category romances under the pen name of Jeanne Grant for two now defunct lines: To Have and To Hold which explored life past the marital vows and Second Chance At Love which is self-explanatory.
On the back of each category
The Wrong Man For Her, Kathryn Shay [Guest Review]
Feb 17th
This review is apart of the TBR Challenge 2010 that was established to help readers focus on those buried treasure reads that they’ve yet to discover from their massive tbr piles. The following review was submitted by fellow reader, Senetra. Please, make sure to visit the other participants in the challenge.
Kathryn Shay’s The Wrong Man
The Next Best Thing, Kristan Higgins [Guest Review]
Feb 9th
The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins (HQN 2010) is a paperback, 400 pages, contemporary romance. This review was written by fellow reader, Senetra.
*****
Kristan Higgins’ The Next Best Thing features pastry chef Lucy Lang Mirabelli, who has been widowed for almost five years. Her husband Jimmy, also a chef, died in a single-car accident following a trade show, and she
Lead Me On, Victoria Dahl
Jan 26th
Lead Me On (Harlequin 2010) by Victoria Dahl is a contemporary romance at 352 pages with a list price of $7.99 for paperback. Lead Me On is the third book in the Tumble Creek series. The other two titles are Talk Me Down and Start Me Up.
I’ve been finally introduced to a Victoria Dahl contemporary romance. The
Wednesday’s Child, Gayle Wilson [Guest Review]
Jan 23rd
Wednesday’s Child (HQN 2005) by Gayle Wilson (384 pgs) is a romantic suspense novel. This TBR Challenge review was submitted by fellow reader Janet Webb aka @JanetNorCal.
This month’s TBR category is categories and as it happened, I spent most of the weekend organizing my book shelves. My keeper and TBR books are shelved together: I put little
Manhunting, Jennifer Crusie
Jan 21st
Manhunting (1993) by Jennifer Crusie, 288 pages, list price: $6.99 (B&N). That cover is of a reprint. I have in my hands the original, Harlequin Temptation #463 from September 1993. Just what is up with boxer shorts on the cover,huh?
Crusie’s contemporary romances are quite good. I say that only because I’ve had success with quite a few of
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