Paperback Reader

Poll any serious genre fiction reader and you’ll quickly discover that they all have favorite themes, or elements, that can routinely pop up in fiction. When it comes to suspense novels, damaged characters with the stink of desperation clinging to them are my personal catnip. I love to read about characters that have been backed into a corner, either by life or their own doing, who must work their way free of their baggage. This works particularly well in suspense novels because the crime helps precipitate change, and serves as a wake-up call for the self-destructive, down-and-out protagonist.

Continue reading "Revenant by Carolyn Haines" »

While I’m uncertain whether this book is classified as Women’s Fiction or Romance, I’ll take the mystery out of it and say it’s both. The heroine, Mimi, completes a journey of discovery, requisite for Women’s Fiction, and she has a blossoming love affair with a happy ever after, certainly qualifying as Romance.

I didn’t want to like this book. I wanted to love this book. Having never read Brockway before and owing to her reputation as a Stellar Writer of Fabulous Novels, I had high expectations. Which may be part of my problem – after all, how often does anything meet our high expectations? Don’t get me wrong. Don’t think I didn’t like this book. I did. I just wasn’t wowed, blown away and consumed with the need to rush off to Barnes & Noble and buy all of her backlist. Although I do intend to go there and buy some of her historicals – I’m just not going to rush, if you see what I mean.

Continue reading "Skinny Dipping by Connie Brockway" »

I’ve mentioned, oh, a good dozen times that I was once a huge reader of historical romance. Devoured the stuff – the good, the bad, the really bad, and the really good (not necessarily in that order; I believe you must read a lot of bad romance in order to truly appreciate the good and even the tolerable). There came a time when even the best of the best was too much for me to handle.

It was all those dukes and marquesses and earls and Ton and, you guessed it, Regency overload. Some would solve the problem with a good dollop of Medieval, but it turns out that while I like a good knight errant, I spent too much time worrying about hygiene and too little time worrying about the story. Also, see above re: overload. Too much of a good thing can make you want anything but that good thing.

But I keep coming back to historicals – a fictionalized version of the olden days is often preferable to current times. I am happy to announce that some of the best romance reading I’ve encountered in the past year has come from the historical realm. I’ve even dipped back into the intrigues of Almack’s (slowly, my dears, very slowly). What has been good for me is a crop of authors doing unusual things: new twists on old stories and new time periods to explore.

Continue reading "The Spymaster’s Lady – Joanna Bourne" »

Bet you thought we forgot about this contest, didn't you? That doesn't sound like us... Actually, the real problem was a mixture of holiday activities, family visits, illnesses and general end-of-the-year rushed moments. We apologize and are back on track now.

For those wondering and waiting to hear if they won, the answers to the Holiday Contest go like this:

a. Which bestselling author recently donated all of her proceeds - royalties, advances and all future earnings - from her holiday novel to MassEquality? Name the author and the book. The author is Suzanne Brockmann and the book is All Through The Night. Kudos to Brockmann for putting her money where her heart is.

b. Which bestselling author, previously a category romance favorite and now a single title bestseller, wrote a Christmas story several years ago that features a bluebird statute? Name the author and the title of the book. Note: The book was released as a standalone title and as part of an omnibus holiday collection. The author is Linda Howard and the book is Bluebird Winter. This one is a heartwarming follow-up to her popular title, Sarah's Child.

And, the winners are...Laurie G. and Cathie Morton. Congratulations!!!! Email us at pbr@paperbackreader.net with your addresses so we can get those books out to you.

I heard a story once about a woman who found herself in financial chaos after her husband dumped her. He was the big, strong, smart man who “took care of everything,” while it was her job to look pretty on his arm, stay at home, and go shopping a lot. Then he left and she was screwed. She had no idea how much money “they” had as a couple, what banks they did business with, if there were retirement funds or savings, who they owed money to, what the bills were every month, or even how to balance a check book.

Is this story true? Who knows? It could very well be entirely false. But there is a grain of truth in it. Love and money have a tendency to turn people stupid. This is where the heroine in Jennifer Apodaca’s latest romance comes in.

Continue reading "Extremely Hot by Jennifer Apodaca" »

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

File under: better late than never Hanukkah reviews.*

So, yeah, a while back, the discussion turned to holiday books and possible holiday book reviews. While I didn't say it then, I'll say it now: I pretty much hate holiday themed romance novels. There's something about the forced conflict, the fake celebrations, and general shoving of square pegs into round holes that make these books feel contrived. Or, maybe to put it another way, rather than the holiday serving as an organic plot element, it sticks out like a certain reindeer.

Without the cute song and generally inspiring message.

I sort of decided to punt on the whole holiday book review thing, and, if I do say so myself, did a fairly good job. Until the niggle. It's always the niggle, you know? A few years ago (has it really been that long?), I reviewed two inspirational romances with Christmas themes. Both books, written by different authors, were distressingly similar -- and equally unsatisfying. To the point where the romantic and inspirational elements were paint-by-numbers interesting. In fact, if I recall correctly, I lamented the genuine lack of faith reflected in most so-called inspirational romances.**

Continue reading "Sweet Light - Judith Arnold" »