Jane Litte's Blog, page 968

REVIEW: Hot Under Pressure by Louisa Edwards

Dear Ms. Edwards,

I've read all three books in your Rising Star Chef series and, of all of the couples in the series, my favorite hands down is Claire Durand and Kane Slater. This, really, is a bummer because, in all three books, they are secondary characters though their love story, finally resolved in this book, Hot Under Pressure, is a fabulous one.  For me, the romance between chefs Henry Beck and Skye Gladwell, the main protagonists in Hot Under Pressure, is less compelling. The two are e...

Tuesday News and Deals: Apple iPhone Sales May Fall; Booksellers Start Lobbying Congress to Keep Agency

News

Amazon's $1 million secret – Amazon.com – Salon.com – "Amazon is picking up its literary largess during an especially charged season in the company's relationships with the rest of the book world. For the first time, the "Big Six" publishers — HarperCollins, Random House, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Macmillan — have refused to sign Amazon's latest annual contract. The main sticking point is exorbitant increases in "co-op promotional fees" for e-books that the publishers see...

REVIEW: A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan

(This one is addressed to readers, not the author) Dear Readers:

As we all know, it's impossible to be objective about a review. And this is fine, as long as we can be honest about the sources of our lack of objectivity, if we know them. This book has flaws, even major flaws that have been pointed out to me by other really astute readers, and I will talk about these flaws. But I was and am utterly unable to be aware of these flaws as I read this book, no matter how many times I read it — and I...

First Reads by the Dear Author Crew

I thought it would be fun if reminisced about our first romance read.  To prime the pump, so to speak, I asked the Dear Author crew to write up a small post about their first romance reads.  Share your own reading experiences in the comments.

Janine (link to Janine's posts)

I was thirteen years old when I discovered the genre with Johanna Lindsey's Heart of Thunder (1983) ( A | BN | K S ).  This is a vintage book.  The heroine, Samantha, was spoiled and willful, the daughter of a wealthy...

More Information on Sourcebooks "Discover New Love" Subscriptions and Store

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I spoke with Deb Werksman to ask a few clarifying questions about Sourcebooks new venture, Discovery a New Love.

Will other publishers be included in this new subscription based site and bookstore?

 Yes, other publishers are invited to participate and we are alreadyin talks with one NY publishing house.

Can a self published author be

 It would have be under special circumstances. Inquiries should come to me [Deb Werksman] directly.

Note from Jane: I got the impression that...

REVIEW: The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

Dear Ms. Stevens,

I enjoyed your previous novel, The Restorer, about the self-styled Graveyard Queen, Amelia Gray. It's a morbid name but a fitting one. Amelia is a cemetery restorer, as well as the owner of a niche, but popular, blog. What few people know, however, is that she can also see ghosts. Because I liked reading about this character with such opposing traits, I was looking forward to picking up the rest of the trilogy. But having finished the follow-up, The Kingdom, I can't help but ...

Monday Midday Links: Sourcebooks Launches a Subscription Service and Ebook Store

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Romance Ebook Club from Sourcebooks – Sourcebooks has launched a new subscription based romance reader book club. The cost is $9.99 for six months. You are entitled to one book a month from a pre-selected group of four. That works out to be less than $1.67 per book. In addition, you get up to 40% off any book in the Sourcebooks romance store. The books are DRM free. I'm signing up today. Scroll to the bottom for a Giveaway Link Sourcebooks

DiscoverANewLove.com officially launches at 9:00 a.m...

REVIEW: Heart of Flame by Janine Ashbless

And on the One-Thousand-and-Second night, Scheherazade told this story…

By day, Taqla uses her forbidden sorcery to move freely about the city of Damascus in the guise of an old sage. Her true identity known only by her faithful servant woman, Taqla is content with the comfortable, if restrictive, life that keeps her safe from the control of any man. Until she lays eyes on a handsome merchant-traveler. Suddenly her magical disguise doesn't rest so easily on her shoulders.

When long-time...

DA/SBTB Bestseller List, week ending April 3

Week ending April 3, 2012

Amelia Peabody Omnibus (Books 1-4) by Elizabeth Peters * $0.00 * A | BN | K | S A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S The English Witch by Loretta Chase * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S Frat Boy and Toppy by Anne Tenino * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S Isabella by Loretta Chase * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S Memory of Morning by Susan Sizemore * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S The Amorous Education of Celia...

Flat Out Like a Lizard Drinking and other Australianisms

Mr. T in DC

Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches had a post about Australian lingo and last year I asked Sarah Mayberry if she and her Down Under pals would be interested in writing a post about what it's like writing for an international audience. Sarah spearheaded this effort and I am greatly appreciative. You can visit Sarah at her site, http://sarahmayberry.com, and read some of our reviews of her books here.

Update: Our winner is commenter Alex.  Congratulations Alex and thank you to all the...