Jane Litte's Blog, page 1023

REVIEW: Bad Karma by Theresa Weir

Dear Ms. Weir:

I have been slowly working my way through your backlist titles, so when I came across the re-released, reasonably-priced digital edition of Bad Karma at the Kindle store, it shot to the top of my TBR list. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the "psychic heroine" trope, but the interesting twists in Cleo's characterization, as well as the undecorated prose style and dark emotional landscape of the book as a whole made me a believer.

[image error]Cleo Tyler fancies herself a fake p...

DA/SBTB Bestseller List

Week ending October 25, 2011

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo The Mistress Deception by Susan Napier Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Among the Living by Jordan Castillo Price Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo The Long Way Home by Cheryl Reavis Amazon | nook | Sony | Kobo Something...

Using Kindle Collections Plugin for Calibre

Introduction

Organizing your books on the Kindle device is one of the greatest struggles (and one of the greatest flaws) of the Kindle devices.  I admit to not being encouraged by Kindle Fire screenshots that user organization will be improved with the new devices.  This screenshot, for example, shows only the standard sorting features.

About a month ago, Kindle did release updated features on its computer apps which allows you to create collections on your laptop or desktop using the computer ...

Harlequin Medical Romance: The Penhally Bay Series

When Mills & Boon celebrated its centennial a few years ago, it commissioned a series to mark the occasion in its Medical Romance line. The series was to be set in the fictional coastal Cornwall town of Penhally Bay and all the novels would focus on characters who came to work or already lived there. Penhally Bay was too small for a full-sized hospital, but one of the focal, continuing characters of the series had established a surgery. The doctors and nurses who worked in the surgery...

First Page: YA Paranormal Romance

Welcome to First Page Saturday. Individual authors anonymously send a first page read and critiqued by the Dear Author community of authors, readers and industry others. Anyone is welcome to comment. You may comment anonymously.

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Update: You guys, I messed up. The author sent me a revised version and I put up the unrevised one so I am terribly sorry for the confusion (not to mention the early posting). Here is the revised version:

The screen door slams behind me with a loud creak and...

REVIEW: Holly Lane by Toni Blake

Dear Ms. Blake:

This book faltered in the beginning for me and never recovered. The female protagonist is Sue Ann, and in the previous books, Sue Ann has appeared happily married to Jeffrey. At some point between book 3 and book 4, Jeffrey fell in love with another woman and confesses his feelings for this woman to Sue Ann. Sue Ann is devastated by Jeffrey's emotional infidelity and they ultimately divorce. Sue Ann's emotional wounds are furthered by seeing Jeffrey swanning about town with...

Friday Film Review: Arsenic and Old Lace

Arsenic and Old Lace (made 1942, released 1944)

Genre: Screwball Comedy

Grade: B

"This is developing into a very bad habit!" – Mortimer Brewster

[image error]I had always heard great things about "Arsenic and Old Lace," but the first time I sat down and tried to watch this film years ago my reaction was a rip roaring "meh." After that, I raised an "yeah, right" eyebrow whenever I saw people gushing about how fabulous and wonderful it is. But if nothing else, doing these movie reviews has gotten me to (re...

REVIEW: You Are My Only by Beth Kephart

Dear Ms. Kephart,

After my review of Dangerous Neighbors last year, I became quite a fan of yours.  Quite a fan indeed.  It's rare that I find a literary YA author that I connect with on a writing level, but your writing sits alongside the likes of Catherine Ryan Hyde and others for me.  You have a poetic way with words that I will follow anywhere, and You Are My Only is really a take-off from what I've read from you previously.

[image error]Dangerous Neighbors is a dramatic historical novel, and House of...

Thursday Midday Links: Simon & Schuster Staff Stars in YouTube Video for a Guidette Makeover

Kobo is entering the self publishing/publishing realm. To agents and others, this will come as no surprise. Kobo has been meeting with agents, hiring content editors, and with its major competitors thriving in the self publishing space, this is an inevitable move. Kobo currently has a deal with Smashwords to supply self published content. It is unknown what will happen to that relationship. I believe that BN also accepts Smashword content and its own PubIt! branded materials.

The incentive to ...

REVIEW: A Brand New Me by Meg Benjamin

Dear Ms. Benjamin:

My blogging partner, Jayne, reviewed a few of your books and I always meant to see read them. When I was perusing the coming soon catalog I spotted the print release of Brand New Me and hopped right over to Amazon to order it. I spent the weekend reading the entire series. The reason why is because they are charming, sexy, and sweet.

[image error]For long time followers of Benjamin, this is the first book that doesn't feature a Toleffson male as the hero but they appear, in full. Having n...