Jane Litte's Blog, page 971

REVIEW: About That Night by Julie James

Dear Ms. James,

There's no easy way to say this so I guess I'll just come right out and get it over with. The bloom is off the rose. The last second basket rattled off the rim. I don't love this book the way I've loved some of your other books. That hurt me to say it but … well the review will tell.

Relaxing with her friends in a bar after finals are over for their first year in law school, Rylann Pierce is laughing and having a good time. So she doesn't shoot down the guy who tries to chat...

Monday Midday Links: Reuters Reports Agency Pricing Settlement Likely & Everyone Hates Amazon

News

On Friday, Reuters reported that Apple and five of the Big 6 publishers are moving toward settlement.  My guess is that either Random House is arguing that it wasn;t involved in any collusive activity as it's decision to move toward Agency came far later and based on market influence rather than any collusion or  Pearson/Penguin is holding the line with its argument that it really is engaged in Leegin approved retail price maintenance.

While negotiations are still fluid, the settlement is...

Dear Author Recommends for April

Historical

Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville, recommended by Janine
A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare, recommended by Dabney
At Your Pleasure by Meredith Duran, recommended by Dabney
Capturing the Silken Thief by Jeannie Lin, reviewed by Jayne and recommended by Dabney
Mariana by Susanna Kearsley, recommended by Sunita (review and giveaway to come)

Contemporary

Frat Boy and Toppy  by Anne Tenino, recommended by SarahFThe Way Back by Stephanie Doyle, recommended by JanePN...

REVIEW: Lover Reborn by J. R. Ward

Dear Ms. Ward:

I haven't read a book in this series since Book 5.  My interest waned as I felt the series moved farther away from the core romance base where the series was birthed.  I read the flyleaf of the hardcover when I received my complimentary copy and discovered that this was the love story of Tohrment.  Tohrment lost his bonded mate in book one when she was shot, a casualty in the vampire/lesser war.  Because suicide would prevent Tohr from reaching the Fade, the vampire heaven...

Open Thread for Authors (Author Promo)

What's this you say? I read quite a few blogs outside the romance blogosphere and many of the big ones have a daily open thread where the commenters drive the bus. I thought we would test out an open thread here at Dear Author. On the first Sunday of every month, there will be an Author Promo Night Open Thread. On the first Monday of the month, there will be a Reader Open Thread. Both threads will be linked to on the front of the site.

The rules for Author Promo Night Open Thread are as f...

Open Thread for Readers

Got a book you want to talk about? Frustrated with a book or series? In love with a new one? Found a buried treasure? An issue that keeps popping up in the books you are reading? Just want to chat about stuff in general? Post away.

Also, here is the coming soon catalog for April.

Happy April Fool's Day

The April Fool's jokes started early last night.  Google always participates and this year pulls out a fantastic 8 BIT NES Google Maps.

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The following video shows you how to use the cartridge. Blowing on the teeth of the cartridge is an important part of the installation process.

Sarah Wendell went old school at the Smart Bitches. Nothing beats auto play Fabio.

I'll update as the day goes on.

 

 

Recommended Reads Saturday: Memory of Morning by Susan Sizemore

Welcome to our new feature.  I had a reader email me to ask where she could buy the First Page piece. I explained that it was from an unpublished manuscript.  We exchanged a couple more emails in which she expressed interest in reading first pages from published books, as a way to discover new reads. However, it didn't make sense to post first pages up for critique when the book had been published so instead we made up a form where readers can submit a recommended read. I then email the...

First Page: Katarina, Historical 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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 Chapter One:Fateful Visitants

(August 1572)

 It was a day of blue summer breezes. I was resting in the meadow, wondering what kept the sun above, what made it move around the earth, when birds flew up in waves of panic. The ground beneath me shuddered, as if a storm ...

REVIEW: Taming an Impossible Rogue by Suzanne Enoch

Dear Ms. Enoch:

I appreciate what the Tantalus Club series is about. In the 19th Century, women held few rights. For many, there were only a few options for a life of independence. Almost all of those choices depended on the use of one's own person as the form of currency, whether the transaction was blessed by marriage or outside the bounds of what was considered appropriate by polite society. Against this setting, you've created a club that is run by women to provide a haven for women....