Harlequin Desire – The End of an Era
We’ve learned Harlequin’s Desire line, originally Silhouette Desire, is being revamped after forty years. Where the Desire stories began the hotter-than-usual plotlines for Harlequin back in the early ’80s, it’s new predecessor is Afterglow, which will take on the desires of present-day romance.
These next two weeks we will be highlighting our Desire reviews from years past. A walk down Memory Lane, if you will.
We know you more than likely have some favorite authors who began their careers with the Desire line. Drop us a comment and tell us about your fave authors and their stories.
RETRO REVIEW: His Wicked Christmas Wager by Annie Burrows
Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of His Wicked Christmas Wager by Annie Burrows
Historical Romance short story ebook published by Harlequin Historical Undone 01 Oct 12
Annie Burrows is one of those authors I like to read because I really feel like she gets the Regency “right.” Her stories aren’t always smashing successes for me, but I never walk away disappointed when it comes to the history and feel of the story. While I have some quibbles with this latest short story, it ends up being a nice holiday read with some sass thrown in on the side.
RETRO REVIEW: All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas by Stacy, Robinson & Cowan
Dinca’s review of All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas by Stacy, Robinson & Cowan
Western Historical Romance Anthology published by Harlequin Historical 18 Sep 12
With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I find short stories are ideal. Harlequin Historical has combined three delightful short stories perfect for any Christmas season. These three authors complement each other in their works quite well.
RETRO REVIEW: The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone
Veena’s review of The Christmas He Loved Her (Bay Boys of Crystal Lake, Book 2) by Julianna Stone
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 24 Sep 13
Ms. Stone is an auto-buy for me. I love her insights into human nature, her strong three-dimensional characters who feel like real people, and emotions that reach out and suck you in to make you a part of whichever world she’s painting, whether it’s a paranormal or contemporary read.
RETRO REVIEW: Million Dollar Christmas Proposal by Lucy Monroe
LynneC’s review of Million Dollar Christmas Proposal by Lucy Monroe
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 1 Nov 13
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is the boss/secretary romance. Or rather, the boss/employee romance, since Presents has come to terms with there not being any secretaries anymore, although there are still PAs. In this book the heroine works in the call center of the hero’s multi-zillion-dollar company. And so it goes. There are children, one baby and one four-year-old who need a mother. So the hero, who goes by the name of Enzu, decides to buy them one. Strike one for sanity. Except, there are rumors that some wealthy men do just that, but for far crazier reasons than providing a mother for their feckless dead brother’s babies.
RETRO REVIEW: The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by Carolyn Brown
Sandy M’s review of The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby (Cowboys & Brides, Book 2) by Carolyn Brown
Contemporary Western Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 24 Sep 13
I like the subtlety of the “miracle” of Christmas that is woven throughout this story. All it takes is the innocence of babes.
REVIEW: Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Stevie‘s review of Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
African American Historical Fiction published by Scribner 24 Oct 23
I’ve read two of Jesmyn Ward’s contemporary novels and enjoyed both the magical realism of her lyrical prose and the glimpses into other, very different, lives that her works give us. This book takes us back in time to the Southern states of America in the years before the Civil War, where we follow the life of an enslaved woman, Annis. Annis is the granddaughter of a proud warrior woman, whom she knows only through the stories her mother tells her as they practice fighting in the way of their ancestors. Her father is the white enslaver on whose property Annis was born and where she labours, as our story opens.
REVIEW: Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross
Kaitlyn‘s review of Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross
Young Adult Fantasy published by Quill Tree Books 2 Nov 23
The concept for this book is so original and intriguing – an old curse that brings people’s nightmares to life one night every month. Wardens with magical training must defend the towns on that night and defeat whatever nightmare comes to life. How amazing does that sound?
REVIEW: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Sandy M’s review of Iron Flame (The Empyrean, Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Paranormal Romance published by Entangled: Red Tower Books 7 Nov 23
If you read Fourth Wing, the first book in this series, and loved it, thought Rebecca Yarros had outdone herself, you are going to more amazed than ever when you read this next in the series.
REVIEW: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Kaitlyn‘s review of The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Paranormal Mystery published by Dell 17 Oct 23
Adrienne Young’s the absolute BEST. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. The secrets are so intriguing and the entire storyline is just perfection. Go into this one blind, all you need to know is in a small town the Farrow women are plagued by madness. A year ago June started to feel it creeping in. Now she has some very big decisions to make.