REVIEW: The Orphan’s Song by Lauren Kate
Veena’s review of The Orphan’s Song by Lauren Kate
Historical Fiction published by G. P. Putnam Sons 25 Jun 19
Modern-day Venice is romance with a capital ‘R’ with its gondoliers and canals and all manner of mysteries behind the facades that line the grand canal. Ms. Kate’s Venice is 365 days/24 hours of Carnevale, where everybody who counts wears a mask and frolics the hours away. Yet amidst this glitter is the church of the incurables where orphans with musical talent vie to make a place for themselves, a moment of glory in a drab life where their faces are always exposed to the public. The author does a superb job of bringing alive the city, almost as if it were a character in the story, as Violetta and Mino find their brief moment of fame amidst the hardships and rigor that has been their life as orphans. read more…
REVIEW: Bishop’s Knight by Kate Reus
Sandy M’s review of Bishop’s Knight (Endgame Trilogy, Book 1) by Katie Reus
Romantic Suspense published by KR Press 9 Jul 19
I guess I’ve been reading romance for so long that if an author doesn’t give me hugely sympathetic characters right off the bat, a more-than-terrific story line, and loads of romance, my interest wanes very quickly anymore. I began reading Katie Reus with her Redemption Harbor series and loved every single book. So with this new series, I was very hopeful she’d keep me fully engaged, wanting to turn the pages even after I should have closed the book to get some sleep or meet a friend or…whatever.
REVIEW: The Washington Decree by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Stevie‘s review of The Washington Decree by Jussi Adler-Olsen translated by Steve Schein
Political Thriller paperback published by Dutton 06 Aug 19
I continue to have a fascination with books originally published in other languages, although in some cases the delay between original publication and eventual English translation means the story is no longer quite contemporary. Once in a while, the passage of time makes the central issues more, rather than less, relevant to the times we are currently living. Jussi Adler-Olsen’s The Washington Decree is a perfect example of that. Published in Denmark ten years ago, it tells of what happens when a US President is allowed to take total control of the judicial process, in order – he claims – to improve the lives of all his citizens.
Spectre by Shiloh Walker
Sandy M’s review of Spectre by Shiloh Walker
Romantic Suspense published by Amazon Digital Services 22 Jul 19
I absolutely love how Shiloh Walker takes a hero whom you would never imagine to be such and turns him into one you love and cheer for, hoping he too can have that happily ever after we require in reading romance. Spectre had a shitty childhood with a lowest-of-the-low father. Then he meets Sarge when survival doesn’t seem certain. While that meeting is a saving grace, Spectre has turned into the ultimate assassin – never seen, never heard, and very successful. Thus, his name. But then one day when scoping out his next target…
REVIEW: All Roads Lead to You by Jennifer Probst
Veena’s review All Roads Lead to You (Stay, Book 3) by Jennifer Probst
Contemporary Romance published by Montlake Romance 23 Jul 19
Ms. Probst has become a go-to favorite author for me. I love her heartfelt contemporary romance stories with their right mix of humor and romance. With the animal rescue element and the wonderful animal characters added to the human characters, this one will steal your heart – especially the abandoned, abused baby goat. read more…
REVIEW REVISIT: Twist by Colby Hodge
Alicia Thomas’s ROB review of Twist by Colby Hodge
Urban fantasy/SciFi romance released 29 Jan 08 by Love Spell (Dorchester)
Original Review posted 7 Feb 08
I asked to review Twist because I enjoy SciFi Romance and this looked like an interesting idea. I really enjoyed a similar title from Dorchester, Wired. Before you read further, know that this will definitely be an “out of my box” review because the book contained elements that I don’t generally seek out for my own personal enjoyment. Since adult romance readers are probably still feeling out where Shomi will take them, I’ll go ahead and tell you what I found. read more…
REVIEW: Her Cowboy Hero by Debra Clopton
Dinca’s review of Her Cowboy Hero (Cowboys of Ransom Creek, Book 1) by Debra Clopton
Contemporary Western Romance published by DCP Publishing 20 Jun 17
Her Cowboy Hero is the first book in the Ransom Creek Series, which I will definitely continue to read. It’s a light, clean, and enjoyable read with the promise of more of these delightful characters in the series.
REVIEW: Smokescreen by Iris Johansen
Sandy M’s review of Smokescreen (Eve Duncan, Book 26) by Iris Johansen
Mystery published by Grand Central Publishing 30 Jul 19
I’ve gotten away from the Eve Duncan series over the last number of years – not because I didn’t like the books or anything. Mostly just because there’s a million other books to read too. I have read one or three here and there since those first dozen or so I read in the beginning of the series, and that includes Smokescreen. I’ve read Iris Johansen for a long time now, so believe me when I say it hurts a bit that this book didn’t work all that well for me.
REVIEW: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Stevie‘s review of Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Contemporary Women’s Fiction published by Berkley 04 Jun 19
I’m always happy to read new takes on Pride and Prejudice, particularly since so many varied authors are putting their own personal twists on the characters, plot and themes, while shifting the setting into communities that Jane Austen might never have envisioned her tales reaching. This time, our protagonists are members of Toronto’s Muslim community, parts of which are as keen to see their family members make a good match as any Regency parents – not to mention aunts and uncles – ever were. Our heroine, Ayesha Shamsi – the Lizzie Bennet character – wears a hijab, but is less traditional than many others, preferring to develop her career rather than find a husband. Although, as the story opens, she is starting to doubt her choice of profession and is unaware that one of her best friend’s co-workers, a more devour Muslim, is secretly developing an interest in her.
REVIEW: Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney
Veena’s review of Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney
Historical Romance published by Zebra Books 01 Jul 19
Ms. Putney has been a long-time favorite author. This story is quite thought provoking and left me with very mixed feelings. The first paragraph is extremely dark and almost distasteful and seems an aberration as the story picks up in a very different place. Of course, she cleverly ties the present to that episode as the story unfolds. read more…
