Romance Novel TV

Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards

Marisa — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:46:23 +0000

Are you a foodie? Or are you like me, a fan of the Food Network who spends hours watching Paula Deen add pounds of butter to anything she can get her hands on, while rooting for Bobby Flay as he throws down with one of the best bakers on the east coast, at the same time wondering what the secret ingredient will be in the next Iron Chef competition, but you can’t even boil water? Well whether you’re a foodie or just a person who loves to ‘watch’ an artist at their craft as they create culinary delights to pleasure palates ranging from the ordinary to the extreme I think you’re going to love Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards. MORE

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

Marisa — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:39:44 +0000

What scares you? Me? Heights; can’t abide by them. They send me over the edge with a cold sweat running down my back and the feeling that complete insanity may take over at any moment. Now imagine if a psychopath could force you to live your greatest fear over and over again. The very thought is terrifying enough to send me screaming into the night. But instead of screaming I was turning the pages faster then I could read them to find out who was turning the town of Jasper Mississippi into a place where what scares them the most may be the very death of them. Cynthia Eden’s new book, Deadly Fear, kept me up way past my bedtime to find the answers.(MORE)

The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros

Maria Lokken — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:32:04 +0000

I found myself with a weekend of no engagements, no ‘have to attend’ gatherings or commitments. A free weekend. Quite a commodity in my life. So I did what any normal woman would do finding herself sans commitments, I planned every waking moment and by Friday night it was all mapped out. I would start with an oil treatment to tame the split ends dancing around my face, a simple, yet elegant, do it yourself mani/pedi, and an oatmeal facial scrub to wash away the grime accumulated during this beastly hot NYC summer. But blast it all if Teresa Medeiros didn’t come waltzing into my life with nary a care and her latest release under her arm. Well, Teresa didn’t literally walk into my home, but her book sure did, and all plans of a free weekend went out the window like so much summer heat, as I happily glued myself to my reading chair, cracked the spine and soaked up this very romantic romance. Oh my word – The Devil Wears Plaid is swoon worthy. (MORE)

Seduction Wears Sapphires by Renee Bernard

Marisa — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:09:02 +0000

Renee Bernard is a ‘new to me author’ and I had no idea what to expect when I picked up her latest release Seduction Wears Sapphires. What I found was a delightful historical with well drawn characters and a unique and interesting story line. It had me asking the question: “What happens when the shoe is on the other foot?” With many historical romances we have the young heroine being carefully watched by an overbearing relative, a concerned mother or perhaps a pompous brother. Much to my delight in Seduction Wears Sapphires we have the complete opposite.(MORE)

The Power of Words

Marisa — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:19:51 +0000

The difference between the language in historical romance and contemporary romance is vast. Conveying your feelings in 19th century England or Scotland is not the same as conveying your feelings in 21st century Las Vegas or Washington D.C. It’s the difference between saying “I’m quite out of charity with you” and saying “I’m so mad at you, I could hurl your body out of a ten story window.” And this month, while I was reading several contemporary and historical romance books I couldn’t help but think about the power of words. The way words are put together to form sentences and convey ideas can instantly tell you so much about a character. (MORE)

Water Bound by Christine Feehan

Marisa — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:51:16 +0000

Dear Reader:
Some things go together naturally, like a lock and key, a needle and thread, or a cup and saucer. Then there are those things that are unique and stand alone; they shouldn’t be paired with anything else. But every once in a while opposites can be paired—for example, peanut butter and chocolate. Let’s face it: the person who first dipped their chocolate bar into peanut butter most likely had everyone around them thinking they’d stepped into the abyss of ‘not quite right in the head’. But they were wrong; and it proved that two opposites can come together and make a wholly different, unique and amazing entity. The same is true for Lev and Rikki, the hero and heroine of Water Bound. Their relationship is what hooked me; a relationship between two completely—and I do mean completely—different people. And like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, it’s amazing. (MORE)

The Search by Nora Roberts

Marisa — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:49:21 +0000

Nora Roberts does it again! Seriously, she had me hooked and kept me there long after I read the last page. With two exceptionally well developed and engaging main characters and four dogs who have personalities to rival the protagonists, we’re off and running on an adventure of romance, mystery, and murder. READ MORE

A New Voice in M/M Romance

Marisa — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:00:37 +0000

Life After Joe
Harper Fox
Publisher: Carina Press

Dear Reader:
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked this one up. However, it wasn’t long before I found myself thoroughly immersed in the world of Matt, Joe and Aaron.

Life After Joe is told from the first person POV giving us a very intimate look at a man who has lost the one person he has spent his life loving. When Joe leaves Matt after almost a lifetime together, Matt is left to pick up the pieces of his life and start anew. What follows is a downward spiral of emotional pain and self-degradation that almost brings Matt to his knees. It’s when Matt meets Aaron that he begins to see a glimmer of hope and a life after Joe.

What I found wonderful about this book was Ms. Fox’s ability to bring us into the emotional story through Matt’s voice; and he has a very distinctive voice. You are easily transported into his world and feel at once a kinship for his longing and heartache. I was particularly engaged in Ms. Harper’s honest portrayal of Matt. He is a vulnerable and flawed character reacting to the circumstances of his life and there are no apologies for it. This makes him a perfect set-up for Aaron. Aaron is not a person who ‘re-acts’, rather he’s a man who thinks before he takes action. The juxtaposition of these two characters brings into sharp relief what has been missing in Matt’s life and the question becomes can he finally take stock of his life and once again become fully engaged in life and not someone who is purely mired in his own grief.

Ms Fox has drawn with fine lines the world of a man who is at a crossroads in his life and the choices he makes to find a way through to a life after heartbreak. Life After Joe is an intimate and engaging book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley

Marisa — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:27:17 +0000

Dear Reader,
Historical romance doesn’t get much better than this! It’s just that simple. Lust, wit, intrigue, romance, and abiding love, are weaved together to tell the second tale in Jennifer Ashley’s Victorian Highland Pleasure series. Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage is a must read. More

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison

Maria Lokken — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:12:38 +0000

I found a ‘must read’ in debut novelist Erin Kellison’s latest release “Shadow Bound”. This book has been categorized as an urban fantasy/paranormal romance. Personally I don’t think it can be categorized. The plot and the writing are fresh and captivating, making this a book to put at the top of your list this summer. See my review at the Barnes & Noble, Heart to Heart blog.