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Eagerly Awaited July Titles

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Looking for something good to read this summer? We went over the list of July releases to see what all of us here at AAR were looking forward to reading. The most popular picks were upcoming historical releases from Cecilia Grant and Julie Anne Long, as well as the latest in Laura Griffin’s Tracers series. I’m looking forward to having some good reading time this summer. How about you?

Title and Author Reviewer
A Woman Entangled by Cecilia Grant A Woman Entangled by Cecilia Grant Blythe, Dabney, Lee, Caz
Exposed by Laura Griffin Exposed by Laura Griffin Lynn, Maggie, Mary, Lee
It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long Lee, Mary, Caz, Blythe
Mist by Susan Krinard Mist by Susan Krinard Anne Melanie
The Favor by Megan Hart The Favor by Megan Hart Heather S., Lynn
The Hunter by Monica McCarty The Hunter by Monica McCarty Jenna, Mary
The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Haymore The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Haymore Dabney
How to Be a Scottish Mistress by Adrienne Basso How to Be a Scottish Mistress by Adrienne Basso Mary
Paradise Valley by Roseanne Bittner Paradise Valley by Roseanne Bittner Lynn
The Newcomer by Robyn Carr The Newcomer by Robyn Carr Pat
Hot Summer Nights anthology Hot Summer Nights by Jaci Burton Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy and Jessica Clare Haley
The Office and the Secret by Jeannette Murray The Officer and the Secret by Jeannette Murray Jenna
One Wrong Move by Shannon McKenna One Wrong Move by Shannon McKenna Dabney
Austenland by Shannon Hale Austenland(reissue) by Shannon Hale Lauren
An Unexpected Wife by Cheryl Reavis An Unexpected Wife by Cheryl Reavis Lynn
From This Moment On by Bella Andre From This Moment On by Bella Andre Haley
Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas Dream Lake(mass market reissue) by Lisa Kleypas Mary
Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper Jenna
City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan Melanie
Taking Him Down by Meg Maguire Taking Him Down by Meg Maguire Dabney
Betrayed by Trust by Ana Barrons Betrayed by Trust by Ana Barrons Lynn
An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands Melanie
Recipe for a Happy Life by Brenda Janowitz Recipe for a Happy Life by Brenda Janowitz Jenna
Scandal in the Night by Elizabeth Essex Scandal in the Night by Elizabeth Essex Dabney
Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison Lee

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Posted in All About Romance, Book news, Lynn AAR | 4 Comments »

Happy Memorial Day!

Monday, May 27th, 2013

luminaria For readers in the United States, today is a day off – hopefully a good reading day! However, there’s so much more to it than that. Memorial Day has been a traditional summer party kickoff for so long that it’s become all too easy to lose sight of what it really is.

When I was writing for today, I thought about all the things I could do with this day. Perhaps write about war romances, or military characters and how their portrayals have changed over the years. We read pretty widely across both historicals and contemporaries, and I know we have plenty of examples. However, the more I thought about it, the more that seemed just a little too pale in the face of the sacrifices so many have made.

The military still makes up a very small percentage of the American population as a whole but they make contributions to our country far out of proportion to their numbers. I work in an area surrounded by military bases of various types, so I see the wounded personnel coming home, the families who have lost a father/son/brother/husband, and the veterans who are trying hard to get jobs or an education. So, while we’re enjoying the day, let’s also take some time to remember those who have died to protect us and if you know some veterans, please thank them!

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. – Joseph Campbell

– Lynn Spencer

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Posted in Life, Lynn AAR | 5 Comments »

TBR Challenge 2013: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

unclaimed Given that our “assignment” for the TBR Challenge this month involved reading an author who’s represented more than once in our TBR piles, I couldn’t wait to jump into Courtney Milan’s 2011 release, Unclaimed. If you enjoy strong, character-driven romance, this book is an amazing treat. Definitely a DIK read for me.

This book comes second in the Turner Brothers trilogy, and while it can be read on different levels, it’s deeply satisying no matter how far you want to let your mind dig into it. On the surface, Milan tells an emotional story of two painfully misunderstood people who somehow manage to figure one another out enough to make the other whole. And underneath the surface? Well, Courtney Milan devotes more than a little bit of time to skewering the “keeping up appearances” school of morals. The musings on morality and hypocrisy that run through the story are thoughtfully done and lingered in my mind as long as the actual love story. (more…)

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Posted in All About Romance, Lynn AAR, Romance reading | 11 Comments »

Eagerly Awaited June Romances

Friday, May 10th, 2013

I’ve noticed that time slip books have been having a moment (hopefully it will be a long one), and one of the masters has a book out this June. Quite a few of us here at AAR have been eagerly awaiting Susanna Kearsley’s latest release for months on end now, and the big day is almost here! We have some romantic suspense fans here, too, and we’re all anticipating Jill Sorenson’s latest release. And, given that we all have varied tastes, there are books on everyone’s lists that span most subgenres of romance. June is looking to be a busy reading month!

Title and Author Reviewer
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley Lynn, Lee, Heather S., Mary, Maggie, Lea
Freefall by Jill Sorenson Freefall by Jill Sorenson Dabney, Jane, Lynn, Maggie, Rike
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare Blythe, Melanie, Maggie, Caz, Lee
The Sword Dancer by jeannie Lin The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin Rike, Caroline, Maggie, Lynn
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Caroline, Lynn, Melanie
Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James Jean, Maggie
Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews Ladies’ Night by Mary Kay Andrews Maggie, Lee
Enticing the Spymaster by Julie Rowe Enticing the Spymaster by Julie Rowe Lynn, Rike
How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray Lee, Jane
Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh Cindy, Jean
Secrets and Saris by Shoma Narayanan Secrets and Saris by Shoma Narayanan Caroline, Maggie
Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller Pat
'She Rises by Kate Worsley She Rises by Kate Worsley Caz
In Plain View by Olivia Newport In Plain View by Olivia Newport Maggie
Sweet Revenge by Zoe Archer Sweet Revenge by Zoe Archer Rike
It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis Mary
Can't Stop Believing by Jodi Thomas Can’t Stop Believing by Jodi Thomas Pat
I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan I’ll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan Maggie
Surrender to the Earl by Gayle Callen Surrender to the Earl by Gayle Callen Caz
One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton Haley
Never a Hero by Marie Sexton Never a Hero by Marie Sexton Pat
The Sassy Belles by Beth Albright The Sassy Belles by Beth Albright Maggie

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Posted in All About Romance, Book news, Lynn AAR | 9 Comments »

Where Have All the Historical Romances Gone?

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

historicalromance1 In the past, I’ve bemoaned a lack of variety in historical romance settings, and we’ve even voted on where readers wanted to see historical set (Result: we like 19th c. England but wouldn’t mind reading about other places and times, too!). However, over the past few years I’ve been seeing change in the historical market overall.

Historical romance once dominated the market. When I started reading romance as a 1990s high school student, the vast majority of books out there were historicals – and they were set all over the place. When I started at AAR in 2003, it was harder to find a wide variety of historical settings, but there were still plenty of books. (more…)

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Posted in Books, Lynn AAR, Publishing | 61 Comments »

New Opportunities for Aspiring Writers – and Other News From Around the Web

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

writing ** I’d noticed recently that Avon redesigned its website, and it has also now announced the launch of Share Your Book, a place for aspiring writers to post writing samples and receive feedback from readers, editors, and other authors. It reminds me somewhat of the First Page feature at Dear Author, but since this one is sponsored by a publishing house, I suspect there will be more of a presence from editors giving comments and hopefully finding new talent. Avon has had similar features in the past, including the FanLit contest that brought us Tessa Dare, Courtney Milan, Manda Collins, Elyssa Patrick, and several other authors.  I’ll be curious to see what new voices emerge from this new feature.  More than a few writers have emerged from the self-publishing world recently, and it looks like Avon is trying to bring some of that talent on board. (more…)

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Posted in Lynn AAR, Online, Publishing, writing | 4 Comments »

Books With Buzz: Lauren Willig Interview and Giveaway

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Willig_Lauren_00198_final _ credit Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series is already much-beloved among readers and when news broke that she planned to release a standalone work of historical fiction set in another time period, readers really started buzzing. Ranging from Edwardian England to 1920s Kenya to modern-day (or at least 1999/2000) New York, The Ashford Affair tells an engrossing story of romance and family secrets that spans generations. The novel got a DIK review here and when we got a chance to interview the author, we jumped right on it.

And we also have three(3) copies to give away! If you would like to be entered to win a copy of The Ashford Affair, please comment below by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 22, 2013. And without further ado, here is Lauren!
(more…)

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Posted in Books with Buzz, Interviews, LinnieGayl AAR, Lynn AAR | 44 Comments »

TBR Challenge 2013: New-to-Me Author

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

sleepwalker There are so many authors out there that one simply cannot keep up with them all, so finding a book in my TBR pile from an author I’d never read before seemed like an easy way to start this month’s TBR CHallenge.

And it was. Karen Robards has been writing romance for almost as long as I’ve been alive, but somehow I’ve never actually read one of her books. I must have gotten curious at some point because I had her 2012 thriller, Sleepwalker sitting in my stacks of TBR books. Robards’ chase across wintry Michigan has its moments, but it also frustrated me more than a little bit at times. Taken as a whole, I’d call it a pretty uneven and ultimately frustrating read, and I’d give it a C- if it were a review book.

The sleepwalker of the title is the heroine, Micayla Lange, and in the prologue, it’s pretty easy to see why she might have issues. At the age of 11, she sees her mother murdered in the streets of Detroit. Now grown, Micayla(“Mick”) is a police officer and over the holidays she is housesitting at the mansion of a family friend. (more…)

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Posted in All About Romance, Lynn AAR, Reading | 13 Comments »

Eagerly Awaited May Books

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

I knew Carla Kelly’s understated, beautifully written romances had reeled in a number of fans here at AAR over the years, but it looks like her latest novel – a Western this time – has almost all of us waiting eagerly. And then there’s Deanna Raybourn’s Spear of Summer Grass. I’ve noticed publishers have been putting out fewer and fewer historicals lately, but May seems to have some nice ones to choose from. And, as always, there are plenty of interesting-sounding contemporaries, category romances and other books to enjoy, too. What will you be reading?

Title and Author Reviewer
Her Hesitant Heart by Carla Kelly Her Hesitant Heart by Carla Kelly Blythe, Lynn, Jean, Pat, Lee, Caz, Heather S., Maggie, Rike, Wendy, Mary, Caroline
A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn Lynn, LinnieGayl, Lee, Jane, Jean, Caz
A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss Lea, Maggie, Heather S., Caroline, Lynn
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris Maggie, Mary, Lea
A Counterfeit Betrothal/The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh A Counterfeit Betrothal/The Notorious Rake(reissues) by Mary Balogh Jean, Caroline, Maggie
Where It May Lead by Janice Kay Johnston Where It May Lead by Janice Kay Johnson Heather S., Pat
A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams Jane, Maggie
True to the Law by Jo Goodman True to the Law by Jo Goodman Mary, Jean
Roses in Moonlight by Lynn Kurland Roses in Moonlight by Lynn Kurland Lee, Pat
Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik Rike
Superb and Sexy by Jill Shalvis Superb and Sexy(reissue) by Jill Shalvis Caroline
The Inquisitor's Wife by Jeanne Kalogridis The Inquisitor’s Wife by Jeanne Kalogridis Caz
'Anything But Vanilla... by Liz Fielding Anything But Vanilla… by Liz Fielding Lynn
It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist Maggie
Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann Caroline
The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden Dabney
Tarnished Among the Ton by Louise Allen Tarnished Among the Ton by Louise Allen Rike
Nightbound by Lynn Viehl Nightbound by Lynn Viehl Jenna
Thinking of You by Jill Mansell Thinking of You by Jill Mansell LinnieGayl
Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster Wendy
Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith Caz
One More kiss by Mary Blayney One More Kiss by Mary Blayney Rike
The Beauty Within by Marguerite Kaye The Beauty Within by Marguerite Kaye Caz

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Posted in All About Romance, Books, Lynn AAR | 3 Comments »

Finding Romance in Literary Fiction

Friday, March 29th, 2013

heart_book I’ve heard it in various forms from many different corners. “Oh, literature is just too depressing.” “The difference between literary fiction and romance? Love stories in lit fic all end uphappily.” Stick around enough message forums and blogs, or simply talk to enough readers and you’ll hear variations on that theme. Then there are the the literary fiction “guidelines” Robin Uncapher wrote for AAR back in 2007, which definitely skewer certain authors and book trends rather aptly. But is all of it really that depressing for a romance reader?

I don’t read literary fiction all the time, but I’ll go on my occasional forays beyond the familiar genre fiction shelving. True, there are beautifully written but also tragic books such as The English Patient or Bel Canto, books full of ponderous words and perhaps an amount of pretension which seems to have an inverse correlation with the amount of actual plot action, and then there’s stuff that I quite frankly think is absolute dreck(Why do they shelve Nicholas Sparks with literary works? Why, why, why?) (more…)

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Posted in Books, Lynn AAR, Reading, Uncategorized | 38 Comments »

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