REVIEW: A Happy Accident by Evan Tyler
Stevie‘s review of A Happy Accident by Evan Tyler
Contemporary Romance published by Amazon Digital Services 9 Mar 13
Writing fiction about the recent past can lead to any number of factual errors, especially with eras that predate the internet but are not long enough ago to feature in many history books. Likewise, writing fiction about any foreign country, unless one has lived there for some considerable time, involves at least as many potential pitfalls. So why do both at once? And if one does decide to go down that road, why then launch into a novel without apparently doing enough research to not alienate readers living in the country one is writing about and who remember the era one is writing about? I grew up in the 1980s. I have some friends who grew up in the less picturesque parts of Manchester, as well as some who have lived there since. I wanted to like this book before I started. Sadly, the only thing that kept me reading after the first couple of chapters was a desire to find out how the events described in the Prologue developed from the events in Chapter One, and even there I felt badly let down.
REVIEW: Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones
Liviania’s review of Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson, Book 5) by Darynda Jones
Urban fantasy published by St. Martin’s Press 9 July 13
I am a sucker for a good bargain, which is why I bought the ebook of First Grave on the Right when it was on sale. I’d heard all sorts of good things about the Charley Davidson series back when I read Darynda Jones’s YA debut, Death and the Girl Next Door.
Little did I know that that bargain ebook would suck me into reading the whole series so far as quickly as I could get my hands on them. If you’re looking for urban fantasy that stands out from the crowd, then this is it.
REVIEW: Revenge of the Parson’s Daughter Or The Lass that Loved a Pirate by Jo Victor
Stevie‘s review of Revenge of the Parson’s Daughter Or The Lass that Loved a Pirate by Jo Victor
Lesbian Historical Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 11 Aug 13
I really wanted to like this book, and I was prepared to allow some flexibility with historical details, since it’s a comedy about pirates and all that. However, the promise of the early chapters is rather let down by some of the later plot developments. Which is a shame, but my suspension of disbelief can only be stretched so far.
REVIEW: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery
Veena’s review of Christmas on 4th Street ( A Fools Gold Romance) by Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance novella ebook published by HQN 24 Sep 13
I love these contemporary romances, so I automatically snap up anything that has to do with this series and Susan Mallery’s name associated with it. We’re back in Fool’s Gold again, and, even though it’s only been a few months, it’s Christmas. The town clearly moves to a different calendar than we do. This time it’s Noelle Perkins and the wonderful year-round Christmas store that are the featured attractions. Of course, there’s a strong, silent ex-Army type who needs the love of a good woman, along with the beauty and warmth of this small town in California to help him heal. What else can anyone need to celebrate Christmas Fool’s Gold style?
REVIEW: More Things in Heaven and Earth by Jeff High
Sandy M’s review of More Things in Heaven and Earth (Watervalley, Book 1) by Jeff High
Contemporary Fiction published by NAL Trade 1 Oct 13
I’m glad I’ve made that decision to review a few books outside the romance genre when the opportunity presents itself. This book has it all – yes, even a bit of romance. I went from laughter to curiosity to frustration to irritation to amazement to a number of other such states with Luke Bradford in his journey to Watervalley, Tennessee as the town’s resident doctor. Luke is following in his father’s footsteps and heads to small-town America where he goes through a multitude of trials and tribulations, along with the swirling emotions that he never expected.
REVIEW: The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Sandy M’s review of The Untamed Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures, Book 5.5) by Jennifer Ashley
Historical Romance ebook novella published by InterMix 10 Sep 13
I’ve been intrigued by Lloyd Fellows since it was revealed he’s a half brother to these Mackenzie men. He’s not grown up in the lap of luxury and is a working-class stiff. The brothers have welcomed him into the fold and he’s audacious enough to want to Lady Louisa, sister to Lady Isabella, Mac’s wife. He fits in perfectly with the wild and wanton ways of the Mackenzies, and I’m so happy to get to know him better.
REVIEW: Fearless by Tawny Weber
Veena’s review of Fearless by Tawny Weber
Contemporary Romance published by Cosmo Red Hot Reads 17 Sep 13
What does a girl do when she’s got a great group of friends with great sex lives but she’s not getting any? Duh! Have her friends help her plan and execute a fantasy weekend in Las Vegas with the office heartthrob, of course.
read more…
REVIEW: Detained by Ainslie Paton
LynneC’s review of Detained by Ainslie Paton
Contemporary Romance published by Escape 1 Sept 13
Detained is an odd kind of book. It’s very well written in terms of style, and yet the plot lurches from incident to incident, exhausting this reader, changing direction from closed-room erotic to straight romance to prison drama to romantic suspense. It doesn’t seem to know what it wants, and it took me several sessions to finish it. It’s as if the writer threw all the things she wanted to write about into one book, as if she’d never get the chance again. And yet she has a backlist, so it’s not as if this is her one and only. It’s also long, so be warned. 323 pages in the Kindle edition.
REVIEW: Dead Sexy Dragon by Lolita Lopez
Veena’s review of Dead Sexy Dragon (Dragon Heat, Book 1) by Lolita Lopez
Paranormal Erotic Romance published by Forever Yours 06 Aug 13
I read this book because I was very intrigued by the author’s name when I received an invitation to review it for NetGalley. The fact that it is an erotic romance featuring dragon shifters is definitely an added attraction. read more…
LYNN VIEHL WINNER!
It’s always a pleasure to have Lynn Viehl join us here at The Pond. Her guest blogs are fun and intriguing. Such was the case a few weeks ago when she talked about her secret life…
