”Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em laugh, don’t you know everyone wants to laugh?” Donald O’Connor immortalized those words in the popular movie Singin’ in the Rain. While they are meant to be comical they contain more than a kernel of truth. Most people do love to laugh, I know I certainly do. And one of…
Having listened to – and enjoyed – the previous two books in the Smythe-Smith series, I’m inclined to think this is the best of them so far. Each one has been full of Ms Quinn’s trademark wit and excellent characterisation, but for me, The Sum of All Kisses had a little something extra in the…
Narrated by Karen White While I’ve read a number of Julie James’ books in print, this is the first I’ve listened to, and also the first time I’ve read this 2009 release. I liked the story a little more than Ellen who gave it a B at AAR, but truly enjoyed Karen White’s narration. I…
I don’t always believe lists, especially lists of the best books of the year, which sometimes leave me wondering “What were they thinking?” However, after reading Publishers Weekly’s list of best romances of 2012, I was intrigued by Dog Days. I downloaded and read the first chapter, and thought oh, another over-hyped book and decided…
Tessa Dare had me at hello. Or rather, at A Week to Be Wicked’s dedication, which reads: “For all the girls who walk and read at the same time.” Like the book’s heroine, Minerva…or me. For the record, I only walked into a utility pole that one time. And there might have been a few…
Quirky, innovative, original, and unpredictable are just some of the words that come to mind when describing this new release by Lisa Walker. I was thoroughly charmed by these attributes – so much so that it joins my short list of Desert Isle Keepers. Developers working to put through a housing project on the edge…
As contrived as the set-up for Baby It’s Cold Outside is, the book is surprisingly good. I read it quickly, and I found it hard to put down. It’s like the winter equivalent of a beach read: Fun, romantic, and light without being totally brainless. Socialite Sloan McKinley is an old maid at 33, her…
My One and Only is my first Kristan Higgins book. I’ve been meaning to try her forever, but her books are popular and the AAR staff likes to snap them up. I definitely enjoyed my first foray, and plan to try other books by Higgins. But while I found the book very funny (at one…
What the world needs is another werewolf series, right? Well, until I read Thompson’s book, I would have answered with a resounding “Not!” But having read the book, I’ve changed my mind. There’s definitely a place for Thompson’s new Wild About You series in the realm of hairy, fang-toothed literature. Although author Emma Gavin’s best-selling…
Allow me to begin by saying I have not read a single Georgette Heyer book in print. I have, however, listened to three of her audiobooks and, although I’m far from being proficient in all things Heyer, I can lay claim to the opinion that you can’t read just one. I’m slowly exploring the audio…