Restoring my Used Books
As many romance readers do, I tend to buy quite a number of my romances second-hand. The shape they arrive in can vary dramatically. Now I read most of by books in bed, which means I…
Reflections on My First Year of Reviewing
It’s been one year since I officially became a reviewer for AAR. I worked on my A and F reviews for a long time (the requirement when applying to be a reviewer), but never had the…
Best of 2008, Reviewer’s Choice (Part Two)
Last week we showcased our favorite contemporary picks; this week, it’s the historicals (and our two lucky winners…in other words, books that received more than one vote).
Best of 2008, Reviewer’s Choice (Part One)
Our annual staff poll for best romance is now in its eighth year, and it’s a tradition we’re continuing at a slightly different location: Our news and commentary blog. Sadist that I am, I always enjoy…
Sweet Vindication
One of my favorite guilty pleasures in books is something I call, for lack of a better name, a “moment of triumph.” It’s a scene, usually a short one, that has some importance to the plot…
Wartime Historical Settings
Does the thought of a bond forged amidst the destruction of war make you think of hope or despair? Seeing a couple fall in love knowing that one will have to go off to war gives…
Reading Is On the Rise
A little good news for a change: According to a study released today by the National Endowment for the Arts and reported in today’s Washington Post, more Americans are actually reading. And guess what they’re reading?…
Acceptable Anachronism
Though I read many different types of romance, historicals remain at the top of my list. At various times, I find myself turning over in my mind a certain question, though. Why is it that I…
Do We Really Have to Blame Romance for Abuse in Teen Dating, Too?
A couple days ago, an article appeared at Jezebel about a recent increase in dating abuse amongst teens, which referred to an article in the New York Times about the same subject. Both articles list recent…
The Recommendation Dilemma
Have you had this experience? All your friends tell you that you must watch this movie, this TV show. It’s hilarious, it’s so romantic, it’s so gripping. It’s a must. Yet if too many people recommend…